Led by Zorua, Natsume arrived at a sunken basin on the edge of his farm.

  inally, this basin wasn’t part of the farm’s territory, but after Natsume expahe property, it was incorporated within the boundaries. That was a deliberate decision on his part—after all, the massive Ting-Lu needed a pce to be temporarily tained.

  Following a series of modifications, the basin now resembled a deep, shadowy prison. At its lowest point, sunlight couldn’t everate.

  That was strahe sun was directly overhead, and there were no obstrus, yet the basin seemed like a void that swallowed light itself. Any rays that mao rea were gradually ed by the darkness.

  Deep within the basin, Ting-Lu y still—until, at a certain moment, it stirred.

  Its crimson eyes snapped open, gring ahead.

  “ROAR!”

  A chilling bell through the basin before everything fell silent once more. Only the increasingly heavy sound of the beast’s breathing echoed iill air.

  A few seds ter, the crisp sound of footsteps broke the silence.

  A small orb radiating a soft, gentle glotly appeared, h in the air like a mischievous spirit dang through a field of flowers. It trailed a long, wispy tail behind it as it swirled pyfully.

  “Hee hee.”

  A sly chuckle followed—a taunting, teasing ugh that seemed to mock Ting-Lu’s current state.

  “Alright, alright.”

  A voice it would never fet echoed through the basin.

  Ting-Lu’s crimson eyes wideo their limits. If rage had a physical form, its expression would embody it.

  As it gred furiously, a familiar figure slowly emerged from the darkness.

  Step by step, Natsume walked into the illuminated space, the glowing orb flitting around him as if it had found its ter.

  In the depths of the shadows, a boy, surrounded by luminous spirits, emerged, cradling a small fox with a mischievous grin on its face.

  To some, this se might have seemed poetic, evehereal.

  But to Ting-Lu, it was nothing but infuriating.

  "ROAR!"

  With a deafening bellow, it lunged forward.

  Its hooves smmed into the ground as it charged straight at Natsume with a single, clear i—crush him.

  In its long, storied existenever had it suffered such humiliation.

  Even those who once sealed it away had spent an immense amount of time, effort, and resources, gathering tless warriors just to barely subdue it.

  Yet, this human had defeated it effortlessly—alone.

  Then, with some absurd Poké Ball, he had captured it.

  And worst of all, he had sealed it in this pce, alongside that damned fox!

  …Wait. Could a fox evehis powerful?

  That sudden doubt flickered through its mind.

  The very sed, phantom s materialized within the previously empty basin.

  These s extended from the rock walls, ing around Ting-Lu’s body.

  Just as it rose to its feet, the s ya back down, smming it into the ground.

  Immediately after, an immense gravitational force pressed down on it, pinning it in pce.

  Watg his handiwork, Zorua nodded in satisfa.

  As expected of me.

  Though standard Psychic-type moves didn’t have this kind of effect, Psychic abilities themselves were highly versatile.

  If a Psychion was strictly limited by move descriptions, then what was even the point of being a Psychic-type?

  “Suo…”

  You know, this is making things really plicated for me too.

  Zorua rubbed its little paws against its head in frustration as it observed the Ting-Lu’s stubborance.

  Logically speaking, a Pokémon that was defeated in battle and then captured shouldn't be this uncooperative.

  Call it survival of the fittest, or an instinctive respect for strength.

  Even if a Pokémon disliked the Trainer who bested them, they wouldn’t normally be ed by this much rage—rage so intehat they wao kill their captor.

  Zorua couldn’t quite uand it.

  “…So unication really is impossible, huh?”

  Looking at Ting-Lu’s seething expression, Natsume sighed.

  Just what kind of creature had he captured?

  It refused to unicate. The moment it saw Natsume, it just wao kill him.

  Holy, he might as well have just captured a random wild Pokémon on the roadside instead.

  There was no way he was going to resort to extreme methods.

  Taming teiques like "eagle training" weren’t something he wao use on Pokémon.

  Pokémon captured that way would only submit in appeara never in spirit.

  There was no point in that.

  Staring at Natsume, Ting-Lu exhaled heavily, white mist billowing from its fred nostrils.

  It practically had the words "I refuse to submit" written all over its face.

  "Are all Legendary Pokémon this arrogant?"

  "...That ’t be right, it?"

  Natsume was starting to doubt reality.

  These past few days, he had tried everything.

  Verbal persuasion? Useless.

  Food temptations? Ignored.

  Even bsting it with his Viridian Aura point-bnk did nothing.

  Well, it did make some progress.

  At first, the moment it saw him, it would immediately try to kill him without a sed’s hesitation.

  Now, after one failed attempt, it would simply turn its head away and ignore him.

  Still, no proper unication ossible.

  "Suo..."

  Watg Natsume struggle, Zorua felt both upset and annoyed.

  Upset because it empathized with Natsume’s frustration.

  Annoyed because of this stubborn, ungrateful Ting-Lu.

  inally, Zorua thought that helping Natsume capture a Legendary Pokémon would make him really happy.

  And that happiness would surely lead to extra treats for Zorua.

  At first, everythi as pnned—Natsume was ihrilled and even gave Zorua a bonus meal.

  A happy Natsume meant a happy Zorua. A win-win.

  Oing-Lu willingly accepted its capture, it would be a triple win.

  At least, that’s what Zorua had thought.

  That joy sted until they realized this beast was pletely uncooperative.

  Little brother, you’re making me lose face here.

  Zorua stared at Ting-Lu, scheming in silence.

  Meanwhile, Ting-Lu, which had turs head away from Natsume, suddenly shuddered.

  Somethi off.

  A cold, uling feeling crept up its spine.

  It was being watched—no, targeted.

  A few seds ter, Zorua turoward Natsume.

  "Suosuo!"

  "...You wao leave first?"

  "Suosuo!"

  "Alright."

  Zorua insisted that Natsume step outside for a moment, saying it would have a friendly versation with Ting-Lu.

  By the time Natsume returned, it would most likely be vinced.

  Though Natsume wasn’t sure what exactly Zorua had in mind, he chose to trust it.

  Nothing bad would happen.

  …At least not to Zorua.

  As for Ting-Lu?

  Well, that was another matter entirely.

  Osume was gohe pyful expression on Zorua's face gradually faded.

  Turning around, it gred menagly at Ting-Lu.

  So, you think you just ignore me, huh?

  Heh.

  Foolish deer.

  Faced with Zorua’s gaze, Ting-Lu merely raised its head arrogantly.

  Ihis little fox was... odd.

  But so what?

  A mortal was just a mortal.

  Even if it was a little strohan usual, what did it matter?

  I am a Legendary Pokémon!

  The day you die, I’ll be dang on yrave!

  That was the fidehat came with being a Legendary.

  "Miu?"

  What nonsense are you talking about?

  Meeting its desding gaze, Zorua returned an equally disdainful look.

  Then, with a light push of its tiny paws, it leapt into the air.

  Its body began to shift.

  The floating light orbs cast a long shadow against the basin walls.

  The small, fox-like silhouette stretched and elongated—

  A long, sleail unfurled behind it.

  As Ting-Lu watched in disbelief, a new Pokémon appeared in the darkness.

  "...Oh-oh-oh-oh—"

  Seds ter, the basin echoed with a miserable scream.

  It sounded like a cartoon cat getting mercilessly beaten by a certain mouse.

  ———

  "You’re saying Ting-Lu is now willing to be my partner?"

  Looking at Zorua’s smug little faatsume felt... plicated.

  Seriously? Was this really persuasion?

  Or was it just beating Ting-Lu into submission until it had no choice but to agree?

  "Suosuo!"

  Zorua nodded enthusiastically.

  After an intense and passionate debate, Ting-Lu had reized its mistakes.

  It had reflected deeply, turned over a new leaf, repes sins, and suffered greatly.

  In short, it had realized the error of its ways.

  From now on, it was wholly devoted to Lord Natsume.

  (Error: "Lord Natsume" repced with "Natsume’s loyal panion")

  "Suo?"

  Right, Ting-Lu?

  As it spoke, Zorua turs gaze toward Ting-Lu.

  The once-mighty beast quickly nodded, hurriedly expressing that it was now willingly under Natsume’s and.

  No pints at all.

  Nope, none.

  ...Though, could it at least fix the dent in its cauldron first?

  Natsume stared silently at Ting-Lu’s battered cauldron.

  The once-imposing bronze vessel atop its head was now dented in several pces, with a visible crack running along its edge.

  Even Corviknight’s stro attack hadn’t mao cause such damage.

  Yet now...

  For a moment, Natsume didn’t know what to say.

  "...I’ll give you extra food tonight."

  Faced with Zorua’s eager "praise me!" expression, Natsume fell ba his usual solution.

  It was old-fashioned, but still incredibly effective.

  One look at Zorua’s instantly brightened eyes was enough proof.

  "Suo!"

  Ign the fox now boung around iement, Natsume turned his attention to the rge yet visibly miserable Ting-Lu.

  He had no idea what it had just gohrough.

  "...Well then, I’ll be ting on you from now on, Ting-Lu."

  Looking straight into its crimson eyes, Natsume spoke without hesitation.

  Even when fag a creature akin to a walking natural disaster, there wasn’t a trace of fear in his expression.

  For the first time, Ting-Lu felt slightly more fortable.

  At least this human wasn’t a coward.

  If its so-called Trainer had been spineless, it would have felt utterly disgusted.

  But this unwavering, fearless presence?

  It earned Natsume a slight degree of respect.

  For the first time, Ting-Lu properly examined Natsume.

  Not bad.

  He had a det aura—ohat felt rather pleasant.

  He arently skilled at making Pokéblocks, so its future diet should be det.

  Yes. If it had to submit, it might as well focus on the positives.

  With that thought, Natsume suddenly pulled out its Poké Ball.

  "Let’s make it official, then."

  A beam of red light enveloped the Ting-Lu.

  It hesitated for just a moment.

  Then, suppressing its instinct to resist, it allowed itself to be absorbed into the Poké Ball.

  Only now did Natsume truly feel like he had captured the Ting-Lu.

  With a flick of his wrist, Natsume tossed the Poké Ball, releasing the t figure once more before him.

  In a way, Natsume had a strong sense of ritual.

  After all, sualities held a certain significe, especially for Pokémon, whose thoughts were often quite straightforward.

  “Grrr...”

  A low growl rumbled from Ting-Lu as it silently y down on the ground.

  Though it had accepted its fate, it had no iion of pying the role of a loyal, affeate panion.

  A proper enforcer should step up when there’s a battle and otherwise stay out of the referably at the farm’s outskirts.

  That was the dition Ting-Lu set. It was also its st shred of dignity.

  Having already beeen down twice, it at least wao keep a little of its pride intact.

  Natsume agreed without hesitation.

  The request was hardly unreasonable.

  Besides, with the farm expanding, the Mightyena family had taken on a much heavier workload.

  Just patrolling the entire perimeter took a siderable amount of time.

  With Ting-Lu statio the farm’s edges, it could help cover a rge portion of the nd.

  That alone would ease the burden on the Mightyena pack.

  And so, nearly a week after being captured, Ting-Lu finally—begrudgingly—became Natsume’s... enforcer.

  For now, "partner" was still a long way off.

  A Small Favor

  “ht—lower your head a little, Ting-Lu.”

  Just before leaving, Natsume gestured for it to lower its head.

  Though puzzled, Ting-Lu plied without protest.

  No other reason—just that damned fox was watg.

  As it lowered its massive head, Natsume reached out and pced a hand on the bronze cauldron.

  A soft green glow radiated from his palm, spreading across the cauldron as the Viridian Force took effect.

  Feeling the power c through its body, Ting-Lu’s eyes flickered with uanding.

  No wohat ridiculous bird it knocked down so many times kept boung back like nothing had happened.

  So it was this human…

  So it was Natsume.

  With some reluce, Ting-Lu adjusted how it referred to him.

  That fox had war—if it didn’t behave and speak properly, all its teeth would be pulled out.

  Casting a resentful g Zorua, Ting-Lu slumped to the side and prepared to finally get some sleep.

  It hadn’t had a proper rest in days.

  “Natsume! Natsume!”

  Just as Natsume and Zorua were about to head back, they spotted an e Rotom Phone speeding toward them like a bullet.

  Gcell