In the special space, Zekrom and Reshiram were discussing what just happened. This was a place of diversion for their thoughts, allowing them to perceive external situations.
Ideals and reality are not absolutely opposed. Although Zekrom and Reshiram symbolize different directions, they are not absolute enemies. Ideals rely on reality, and reality is born from ideals. The combination of the two is perfect.
After a few simple words, Zekrom and Reshiram stopped speaking and concealed their existence; they had no interest in watching people get beaten.
...
A while later.
[Ocean Calendar, December 7, 1511, Cloudy.
The two little ones are full of energy, maybe they inherited Zeraora's talent. They are so active...]
"Meow~ Meow!"
At this time, there was a meowing sound next to Setsuna.
Setsuna continued to write in the diary while in the other hand holding a quickly swinging cat teaser stick. The toy made of feathers at the end was capturing his daughter's attention.
"Hey, hey, is this really reasonable?"
Zeraora, who had just returned, looked at Setsuna with a head full of black lines, always finding Zou's parenting methods nerve-wracking.
"No problem, no problem at all. Zou has always been like this for centuries. After all, we are the Fur Race. You grew up in the open sea, so you don't know. It's just that your philosophy is more human-oriented.
These two little ones have too much energy. If they don't get properly tired out in the day, they simply cannot sleep well at night."
Setsuna continued to wave the cat teaser stick, occasionally letting his daughter catch it a few times. When she lost interest, he switched to a new cat teaser stick, even using Perona's Negative Ghost as a part-time plaything.
Cat fur folks are always interested in similar things.
What Setsuna said wasn't wrong. Zeraora isn't truly part of the Fur Race. His lifestyle philosophy came from Arceus, which was largely common knowledge for humans and Pokemon. Even for Cat Pokemon, using a cat teaser stick wasn't part of child-rearing.
Suddenly, the cat teaser stick in Setsuna's hand swished past Zeraora, but Zeraora didn't react at all.
"See, you're the weird one. You're the first cat fur I've seen with no response to a cat teaser stick. Even that Nekomamushi bastard would react to it."
The Fur Race bears animal traits, and for cat furs, a cat teaser stick is considered the best toy. Setsuna had initially wanted to try some tricks with Zeraora using a cat teaser stick, but unfortunately, he was uninterested.
Similarly, they also have a certain infatuation with catnip, though not as strong as regular cats. Perfume with catnip ingredients is the most beloved item for cat fur folks.
If his daughter wasn't so young, Setsuna would've brought some catnip home.
To be precise, she already had catnip-scented perfume, but it was locked away after his daughter was born.
Although catnip doesn't affect Zeraora, perfumes of the Fur Race are usually mild, plant-based fragrances. A strong scent would seriously affect their own sense of smell.
"For me... no matter how fast you swing, I'm still able to catch it."
As he spoke, Zeraora demonstrated his near-teleportation speed, quickly grabbing the cat teaser stick from Setsuna's hand and conveniently picking up the teased daughter.
"That's why I say you're different from others. Speaking of that stupid Nekomamushi... I wonder where he and Inuarashi went. Why run? It's not like they can really be killed."
Within the Fur Race, true deep grudges are rare. Due to their scarce numbers, they are more united. Setsuna wasn't particularly concerned about Nekomamushi; not having deep grudges doesn't mean relationships are necessarily harmonious.
If there were a ranking for intra-clan animosity, Nekomamushi would definitely top the list, but Inuarashi is different.
Over the years, the Fur Race also searched for them, but found no clues at all.
"Stop thinking about it. It's probably nothing serious. Just... how were you raised when you were a kid?"
"Huh?"
"Cat furs are interested in cat teaser sticks. You're a wolf... Did your parents use bird bones or fish bones? Or balls?"
As Zeraora spoke, he glanced towards a bag of random toys Setsuna had bought; theoretically, the things prepared for their son should be what Setsuna played with as a child, right?
"I can't remember. I don't think that's important. Don't bother, there are no toys for our son in there, only for our daughter. Our son's were taken by my parents this morning."
As he spoke, Zeraora pulled a ball of yarn from the mess, and as his daughter showed interest in it, the voices of Hatch and their son came from outside the door.
Hatch and Rin also helped Setsuna look after the children. When one child wanted to go out and the other didn't, they'd care for them separately. As they looked outside from the window, they also understood what was happening.
Above Ghost Island, flames and frost erupted, along with various energies. One glance and you'd know Yamato and Kaidou were at it again.
...
The parenting routine of the Fur Race continued, while Yamato struggled for survival in the hell he built himself. Iscariot learned mantis abilities under Emmalyn, strengthening his power. Page One and Ulti weren't at that level yet, but recently they've been more relaxed.
Ulti even made a few hairpins for Yamato. Although quite tsundere, her hobby was to create such accessories or ornaments, and many Alcremie had sugar decorations she crafted atop their heads.
In this regard, Ulti was well-received by the Alcremie.
"Sis, you actually made something for Big Sis Yamato?"
"I hope she can hold on a bit longer. The longer she persists, the more focused that idiot Kaidou's attention will be, which will make him selectively ignore us. Do you want to experience his training?
Oh right, how many times have I told you, don't call others sister. Having me as your sister is enough!"
Page One selectively ignored the later part of the sentence, instead thinking about himself under Kaidou's training.
Everything else was bearable, but Kaidou's training....
"Sis, I'll help you. Do you need any more materials?"
Better let someone else take the hit. There's no one more suited for the role than Yamato.
But such days didn't last long. Once Kaidou's enthusiasm waned, the two of them were also dragged into the fights, and it was a sibling battle at that.
Kaidou gave a bizarre reward. If Ulti won, Page One would have to obey her orders for three days, no matter what. If Page One won, he could enjoy three days of peaceful life.
With this goal in mind, the siblings gave it their all in the fight.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was February 1512, and Yamato's Aken No. 7 was about to be born.
During this period, the blacksmiths in the forge had found a new way to compete.