Chapter 282: The Time an Awkward Dance-Off Summoned the Being of Knowledge

The video continued playing.

Surskit gently poked Shaymin with one antenna.

"Sur-sur?" (Shaymin, what do you think of Master’s dance with Garchomp?)

Shaymin rested one paw beneath its chin.

"Shaymin thinks this kind of cross-disciplinary fusion of art deserves an official name."

Surskit immediately raised one front leg.

"Sur-sur!" (This disciple proposes—"Quax-Dragon Style"!)

"Shaymin thinks that’s too straightforward."

"Sur-sur-sur!" (Then how about "Dance of Lake Acuity"?)

"Too ordinary."

Surskit’s front legs drooped helplessly.

"Sur-sur..." (This disciple’s knowledge is shallow. Please bestow a name upon it...)

Shaymin planted both front paws on its hips and proudly declared,

"Then it shall be called—"

"About the Time a Duck and a Pseudo-Legendary Had an Awkward Dance-Off by a Lake and Somehow Danced the Being of Knowledge Out of Hiding."

"..."

Surskit remained silent for three seconds.

Then it flattened its entire body against the ground.

"Sur-sur-sur!" (Shaymin possesses extraordinary wisdom! This disciple prostrates itself in admiration!)

Without anyone realizing it, Quaxwell and Garchomp had already been dancing for nearly ten minutes.

Emerald-green motes of the Power of Viridian had completely covered the surface of Lake Acuity.

Faint green ripples spread across the water one after another, as though the lake itself were responding to Hina’s power.

Suddenly—

The blue mark on the back of Hina’s hand began to grow warm.

Blue light seeped from her skin and condensed into a tiny point in the air.

The speck of light spun halfway around—

Then shot straight toward the center of the lake.

The next second—

The water split apart from the center.

A small yellow figure was revealed beneath it.

Uxie.

Its eyes were closed.

The psychic barrier surrounding its body had become so transparent that it was almost impossible to see with the naked eye.

Clearly, it had been maintaining the barrier for a very long time.

Hina crouched beside the lake.

The Power of Viridian traveled through the water and formed a glowing emerald ring around Uxie.

"It’s okay now."

Hina’s voice was soft.

"We’re here to help you."

Uxie’s head moved slightly.

Then—

Extremely slowly... It opened its eyes.

It raised its head and met Hina’s gaze from beneath the lake.

A moment later, Uxie floated upward from the water and stopped in front of her.

It slowly raised one hand.

A pale pink light appeared in its palm.

When the glow faded—

A faint yellow pattern had appeared on the back of Hina’s hand, resting alongside Azelf’s blue mark.

"This is..."

Hina lowered her gaze toward her hand.

"The Mark of Knowledge."

Uxie’s voice sounded directly through telepathy.

"With this, you may borrow a portion of my power."

Hina blinked.

"Borrow your power...?"

"Like with Azelf?"

"Not quite."

Uxie slowly floated around her once.

"Not only will you be able to summon me at any time, from anywhere..."

"This mark will also grant you one special ability."

"Forced Q&A."

Hina looked down at the faint yellow mark, which was still glowing softly.

"Forced Q&A..."

"Does that mean if I ask someone something, they have to answer me?"

"Correct."

Uxie stopped in front of her.

"However, the ability has certain limitations."

"It may only be used once per day."

"And you cannot ask someone for information they genuinely do not know."

"I see."

Hina nodded lightly.

Then she turned toward Cynthia.

"Aunt Cynthia, I’m going to Lake Verity next to look for Mesprit."

"Would you like to come with me?"

Cynthia finished the last spoonful of her ice cream.

Then she pulled out her communicator and tapped the screen a few times.

"Lucian, how much of this week’s paperwork have I approved?"

Lucian’s voice came through the communicator.

"Only one quarter."

"Then you can handle the rest for me. Something came up over here."

"...All right."

[VIP Chat Group]

[Steven]: Uxie’s "Forced Q&A" ability?! That ability is perfect for me! If I could use it on Brother Asher just once, I could finally ask him where Diancie is!

[Wallace]: You get an ability that useful... and that’s the only thing you want to ask?

[Steven]: What else would I ask? How many daughters Brother Asher actually has? I already know that answer—A whole lot.

[Asher]: Steven, are you starting to think I’ve been too gentle with you lately?

[Steven]: Brother Asher, when have you ever been gentle with me?

[Asher]: ...Fair point.

[Misty]:@Asher, hubby, if I used Forced Q&A on you, would you answer honestly?

[Asher]: Wifey, I’ve always told you everything I know and held nothing back. There’s absolutely no need for something like Forced Q&A between us.

[Elesa]: Great. Then tell us right now—exactly how many things are you still hiding from us?

[Asher]: ...Well, about that... Cynthia, what flavor of ice cream do you feel like having today? The Oreo mint flavor from that shop last time was pretty good—

[Cynthia]: Don’t change the subject.

[Elesa]: Exactly! Every single time we get to the important part, you start changing the subject! (｀Д′)

[Diantha]: Hehe. Hubby has used this trick more than once already. Girls, I think it’s time we upgraded our interrogation methods.

[Asher]: Interrogation? Wifeys, the way you’re talking makes me sound like some kind of criminal.

[Diantha]: You’re not a criminal. You’re a repeat offender. Come on, hubby. Let’s go inside and have a nice, long talk.

[Asher]: ...Do I have to?

[Misty] / [Cynthia] / [Elesa] / [Diantha]:Yes.

The video continued playing.

Lake Verity.

Unlike the tranquility surrounding the previous two lakes, there was something indescribable permeating the air around Lake Verity.

It wasn’t a sound.

It wasn’t a smell.

It was more like an invisible hand had reached inside your chest and gently plucked at the strings of your heart.

The wild Pokémon around Lake Verity were all doing things that made absolutely no sense.

An Ursaring was hugging a large tree, lovingly licking the moss from its bark.

A Toxicroak crouched on a rock beside the lake, holding a water lily in both hands as it sang a love song to its own reflection with an affectionate expression.

But the most outrageous scene of all—

Was a Zangoose kneeling on one knee in front of a Seviper.

Both front paws held a bouquet it had woven on the spot from aquatic plants growing beside the lake.

Its expression was utterly sincere and devoted.

"Zan-goose! Zan-goose!" (Marry me!! There isn’t another couple in this world who loves each other more than we do!!)

Seviper covered its face with its tail and let out an unbearably shy, sweet cry.

"Sev-viper~"

Zangoose immediately lunged forward.

The two Pokémon tightly embraced.

Two mortal enemies from opposite ends of the food chain had just completed a forbidden romance transcending species itself on the shore of Lake Verity.

Hina stood beside the lake.

Her gaze moved back and forth between the Pokémon several times.

Then she slowly turned toward Cynthia.

"Aunt Cynthia..."

"Are they..."

"A little strange?"

"Mm."

Cynthia took another bite of ice cream.

"Their emotional fluctuations are far too intense."

...

TL: Tsk, tsk. They don’t know how to appreciate forbidden romance. What do you mean it’s strange when they’re affectionate? This is called TRUE LOVE!!