For now, time turned back to the previous night.
As Meloetta's graceful, tranquil melody rang out, the sacred rope meant to invite the gods' protection snapped. The boulder split cleanly down the middle, and starlight burst forth.
A purple crystal, hidden for countless years inside limestone fused by ages of sediment, finally emerged beneath the moonlight, glittering.
The scene from a children's bedtime story had come to life before their eyes. Meloetta and the others, who had been waiting in eager anticipation, leaped up in delight.
They had done it!
Jirachi really was in Mossdeep City!
"Melo~"
Time to make a wish~
With Meloetta leading the way, everyone looked toward the starlit crystal, ready to make their wishes. But just then, its light became fine, glowing threads that swayed gently in the air.
Then it shot skyward like a meteor, trailing a long tail as it streaked across the night sky. All three of them stared, dumbfounded.
What... why did it run away?
It was as if someone had snatched Jirachi right out of their hands. To get the Wishing Star back, they spent the entire night chasing it around Mossdeep City and finally caught up with it near Shoal Cave before dawn.
Perhaps because day had broken and the meteor's glow was no longer visible, its light gradually faded.
It turned into an adorable star-shaped "bun" in Meloetta's arms. The yellow streamers wrapped around its body unfurled, and the sleeping Jirachi slowly opened its eyes, melting their hearts in an instant...
That was what had happened last night.
After hearing the whole story, Mingyou slapped a hand to his forehead, trembling slightly. "Something that fun... you should've called us to help catch it! I wanted to chase a star like a kid, too!"
"All right, all right. I'll take