Chapter 292: Waving Farewell to a Friend

After four long days of training.

The wild Boldore finally learned the inherited move Dragon Rush, successfully adding another brick to the growth of its own strength.

Therefore.

The wild Boldore's mission was now over.

When All Baimu sent it back, the latter showed obvious reluctance to part, though anyone could guess what it was actually reluctant to leave behind with a little thought.

"These things are for you, they keep pretty well, ration them out — heaven knows when I'll be back next time."

He handed can after can of Pokéblocks to the wild Boldore.

The wild Boldore's eyes were brimming with tears, yet it clung to the cans and refused to let go — if this one didn't eat iron, that glass jar probably wouldn't have survived either.

"Farewell, take precious care of yourself."

All Baimu patted the wild Boldore on the forehead and waved goodbye to it.

The latter tried to wave a claw back, but lost its grip and a can dropped to the ground; it frantically lowered its head to scoop it up, and by the time it raised its head again, there was no one left to be seen.

It looked at the clear stream of water, the empty cavern, and recalling the days gone by, felt for some reason a touch of desolation in its heart.

But that feeling came and went quickly — once its territorial instinct resurfaced, it began sweeping its territory; it had been away for quite a few days, and the ground was covered in unfamiliar footprints.

Some wild Pokémon must have come to scout the place.

The wild Boldore was determined to defend its territory to the death.

Meanwhile.

All Baimu twisted and turned his way to Dusclops's den, and happened to run into the Dusclops walking back from afar.

"Dusclops? Dusclops!"

"Yes, it's me."

He laughingly caught the Dusclops that had excitedly flung itself at him, stroked the latter's oddly textured skin, and said: "I'm about to leave this place, so I came to see you before I go, and brought you a little something."

All Baimu took out the high-quality Pokéblocks he had prepared in his bag, and under its puzzled gaze, smiled: "A parting gift — who knows when we'll meet again, so the more I can give you now, the better."

"Dusclops…"

The Dusclops looked at the Pokéblocks on the ground, then looked up at All Baimu's smiling face, and suddenly its eyes were brimming with tears as it threw itself into his arms again.

"Dusclops! Dusclops!"

In its past life, when had the Dusclops ever met a being so good to it — and it had never expected that the friend it had made by chance would think of it so fondly; the surging emotions could no longer be held back.

"Easy, easy…"

All Baimu gently stroked its forehead, soothing it in a low voice.

Not long after.

The Dusclops gradually calmed down, turned and burrowed into its den, and dug out another big pile of crystals — this time it insisted he take every last one.

"Alright, alright, I'll take them all."

Unable to win against the stubborn creature, All Baimu had no choice but to accept those crystals.

Afterwards, the two sat leaning against each other outside the den and chatted for a while — though their words didn't quite match, it was clear the Dusclops was happy.

But the moment of parting would always come in the end.

"I should go now, take good care of yourself, I'll come see you again next time."

All Baimu waved his hand.

He had never felt any ill will toward the Dusclops from start to finish, but there were plenty of reasons not to lure it away — for instance, its attachment to Shi Zhi Cavern.

In the final analysis.

It still came from his own understanding of the relationship between humans and Pokémon.

Must the relationship between humans and Pokémon be limited to that between a trainer and his partners?

No.

It need not be.

Perhaps trainers and their Pokémon are closer, but that doesn't mean humans and Pokémon can only ever be that to each other — a friendship that brings joy at meeting and sorrow at parting is also possible.

Looking back at Ash's journey, he too often encountered wild Pokémon he couldn't catch but with whom he shared an extraordinary bond.

All Baimu hoped to have Pokémon partners close enough to him, and likewise hoped to have wild Pokémon friends — life must be colorful and varied to be truly beautiful.

"Dusclops!"

The Dusclops watched its human friend gradually depart, its gaze filled with both reluctance and blessings for his journey ahead; mimicking the way humans did it, it waved its claw — "Dusclops! Dusclops!"

Take precious care, my friend!

"I will."

All Baimu, as if he had understood what it was saying, replied with a smile.

The Dusclops lowered its claw, its mouth stretching into a wide grin, and watched its human friend go.

For one brief instant, it wanted to chase after him — to follow in his footsteps and see the sights only he could see; surely that wouldn't be boring, surely it would be wonderful, wouldn't it?

But it was only that one brief instant.

Because Shi Zhi Cavern held countless things it was attached to as well — perhaps it had only one human friend, but it had more than one Pokémon friend.

Ah~ what a wonderful day today~

The Dusclops returned to its den, looked at the cans it had carefully set aside, and the grin on its face grew even wider.

——

Saffron Town Docks.

All Baimu purchased a ship ticket to Cianwood City and successfully boarded.

But compared to that time going to Saffron Town.

There were quite a few more people this time — perhaps because Cianwood City was big enough; it wasn't the kind of backwater town that Saffron Town was.

"Kaina City... it's that time again for the gorgeous contest. Wonder if I'll run into one or two tough opponents this time."

He scrolled through his phone screen.

Although the organizers didn't strictly require it, to keep their moves fashionable and fresh, most Coordinators changed their performance theme every time they entered a gorgeous contest.

To avoid being criticized for living off past glories and damaging the Orei region's reputation abroad, he decided to switch things up too.

What should he switch to?

Just as he was thinking, a voice suddenly came from beside him.

"B-big brother! Let's have a Pokémon battle!"

All Baimu turned his head blankly and saw a little brat whose bangs were almost covering his eyes holding a Poké Ball, speaking to him with a mix of nervousness and excitement.

"Are you talking to me?"

He pointed at himself, then immediately noticed the brat glancing at the empty Poké Balls hanging all over his waist, and instantly understood.

"Sure, but this place isn't great for a battle. Let's go up to the deck."

"—Okay!"

The brat nodded hurriedly.

They arrived at the wide deck, checked that there were no signs posted forbidding battles, and each threw out a Poké Ball.

Pop pop!

Bai Guang flickered.

"Lili!"

A Marill appeared — round-bodied like an enlarged duck egg, with a pair of elongated rabbit ears and rather short limbs.

Its opponent was a Darumaka.

The brat scanned Darumaka's data with his Pokédex, and his eyes lit up when he heard it was a Dark- and Dragon-type Pokémon!

Heaven was helping him!

"Marill! Use Ice Beam!" he shouted first.

"Lili!"

Marill quickly opened its mouth, and a small bolt of icy-blue lightning shot toward Darumaka!

"Dodge!"

All Baimu gave the order, and Darumaka immediately ran toward the cabin wall beside it. With an explosive burst of speed, it actually ran along the side of the cabin, causing the icy-blue lightning to miss again and again, streaking past the cabin and forming brilliant ice crystals.

Then.

Darumaka had already landed behind Marill.

"Thunder Fang!"

"Mo Nao!"

It opened its teeth charged with blue electric current and bit Marill hard on the back!

Boom!

The current writhed like silver snakes, then exploded violently into a cloud of smoke.

All Baimu had been about to shout something else, but when he saw the ice crystals flickering within the smoke, a sudden flash of inspiration struck him.