Chapter 938: A Change of Heart

Modan is naturally lazy.

Get angry, get angry, and eventually stop being angry.

The key was All All Baimu saying: "There's no choice—I know no one more reliable than you."

What a "no choice"!

So what do we do?

Of course we choose to forgive him!

Modan slumped into the chair, playing with the sword-and-ball toy clack-clack-clack in his left hand, waving his right hand casually: "Alright, if there's nothing else, leave quickly!"

Aserola covered her mouth and giggled, inviting All All Baimu to come play with her.

The Mimikyu hovering beside her wobbled back and forth.

It was still early.

All All Baimu had nothing else to do, so he followed along.

Seeing him leave, Arola, who had been guarding the Rainbow Pokémon Blocks from the others, froze for a moment.

"You can still catch up if you hurry."

Modan said softly.

After a brief hesitation, Arola looked down at the small box filled with Rainbow Pokémon Blocks, then suddenly snatched it in her mouth and dashed out on all fours.

But she didn't chase after the two—instead, she trailed them from afar, hiding beneath a roadside tree to spy on them.

Unfortunately, Arola's self-deceived stealth was completely exposed by the Gyarados' extraordinary sense of smell.

"Shā sōng~"

"I know."

All All Baimu patted its head as reminded.

Aserola asked curiously: "What's wrong? Does Gyarados feel hungry?"

"No… Do you often help Mr. Modan take care of Arola?" he forcibly changed the subject.

Aserola didn't mind and laughed: "Occasionally! My uncle may be lazy, but he truly cares for Arola and the others. By the way, the Arola you brought often thinks of you!"

"Thinks of me?"

All All Baimu fell silent.

Aserola continued: "Yes, you used to come visit it often.

"Then suddenly you disappeared for a long time, and it kept asking me where you went. And it asks every single week!"

Here she paused, then said seriously: "You said it wanted to join Team Rocket, but I think it wants to be your Pokémon more than anything!"

Indeed, as Aserola said, Arola wanted to be his Pokémon.

But their ideals clashed.

All All Baimu needed a Pokémon willing to work hard and grow alongside him; Arola only wanted to enjoy the luxurious life money could buy.

In the end, he reluctantly gave up.

He sent it to Modan because he feared it would go back to Team Rocket's trio and steal their savings to fly away and join them.

But it never once tried to escape.

It naturally blended into group life, its bad temper seemingly worn away.

It even made All All Baimu view it differently.

Now, hearing Aserola's words and sensing the faint presence behind him, Arola still seemed to want to be his Pokémon—

So it's true?

Its behavior just now didn't look like it held any hope—unless it was playing hard to get.

Besides, he made his position crystal clear last time: they were destined to never be together.

What exactly is Arola thinking?

As he pondered—

They arrived at the library.

Aserola enthusiastically served black tea and pastries, avoiding further talk of Arola and instead bringing up Xiao Zhi, which All All Baimu had mentioned before leaving.

"Xiao Zhi is exactly as you described—full of energy and friendly! We've become very good friends!"

Aserola pursed her cute cat-like lips.

He nodded without surprise: "Good."

The little girl treasured her few friends and always tried to find topics to talk about, worried he might not be interested.

Now that they'd mentioned someone they both knew, Aserola grew excited and chattered endlessly about how she met Xiao Zhi.

In short—

Xiao Zhi's Duskull had a cleanliness obsession, causing it to go berserk whenever its fur got dirty.

To help Xiao Zhi, who had been defeated by Modan, Aserola took him to the Harvest Ruins to train with CAPU-MU, successfully curing Duskull's obsession.

Later, she even went to Melemele Island's Pokémon School and helped Kachi and others build a haunted house.

Thus, a deep friendship formed between them.

As All All Baimu listened to Aserola's tale, occasionally responding, he suddenly sensed something odd.

He looked down and saw a menacing ghostly face within his own shadow.

"Ji xi xi xi!"

A sharper, more piercing laugh echoed.

Gyarados, too large to fit through the door, frowned outside.

"Shā sōng!"

Why are Pokémon like Gengar always so annoying!

Inside the room—

Aserola frantically stopped Greed-Lap from playing tricks; this was a Gengar sealed for hundreds of years, its size rivaling that of a Legendary Pokémon.

It wasn't evil by nature—only lonely, and desperate for attention, so it stole things everywhere.

It fell in love at first sight with Aserola and decided to live with her.

All All Baimu opened his mouth, letting Greed-Lap slip inside; this Gengar had the special ability to enter living beings and control their movements.

His own Shiny Gengar couldn't do it, so he found it fascinating.

"Lap! Get out right now!"

Aserola panicked, terrified of angering All All Baimu; when it ignored her, she escalated: "If you don't come out, I won't be friends with you anymore!"

As soon as she said that—

Greed-Lap dared not defy her and tried to retreat the way it came.

But All All Baimu closed his mouth, blocking its escape.

Desperate, Greed-Lap tried to take control of his body—but the expected puppet-like manipulation never occurred.

"..."

All All Baimu clenched his fist and felt a faint force trying to make him move.

But he could stop it with almost no effort.

Was it because his willpower was unusually strong?

Seeing Aserola pacing anxiously and the Mimikyu seeming to want to do something, All All Baimu slowly opened his mouth.

"Gēn gā!"

Greed-Lap felt as if granted divine mercy, darted out quickly, and stared at All All Baimu as if seeing a ghost.

In the past, it had controlled hundreds of people—this was the first time it encountered someone it couldn't influence at all.

It felt…

It felt like being sealed inside this person's body!

Greed-Lap hid behind Aserola, who was concerned for All All Baimu, acting as if it were the victim.

"I'm fine. It's the one that's in trouble."

All All Baimu waved his hand.

Aserola was bewildered.

"What…?"

"It just went inside me, trying to control me—but failed."

He said plainly: "It's a fascinating ability. I have a Gengar too, but it can't do this. I'd like my Gengar to learn from it—can I?"

Aserola didn't follow his train of thought, but she never refused a friend's request.

So—

She turned to Greed-Lap and negotiated.

Greed-Lap found All All Baimu highly suspicious—likely sent by that lazy uncle to seal it—but Aserola had asked it…

"Gēn gā!"

Greed-Lap nodded.

An unexpected gain.

All All Baimu had only come to sit and chat with Aserola, the intriguing and mysterious ghost girl.

He never expected such a reward from a sudden whim.

Remember, Greed-Lap can enter any body—human or Pokémon—meaning he now has another trump card!

Even if its specific effects were questionable, even he could easily break free from the restraint.

——

Say goodbye to Aserola.

All All Baimu called to the Arbok lying at the door, but did not leave immediately.

He walked to the edge of the roadside grove and said:

"Come out. I'm leaving."

The grove remained silent.

"Are you going to keep hiding? If this is your choice… I respect it."

All All Baimu said another line, feigning to turn away.

Rustle…

The sound of leaves rubbing together arose.

Meowth emerged from the bushes, holding a Poké Block box in its mouth; unlike its earlier determined look of seeking a free ride,

Now it hung its head, unable to make eye contact.

The self-respect it had barely regained was lost again—it had followed him shamelessly, and now it was caught.

Meowth's mind was a blur.

Why had it chased after him?

It had planned to start a new life with its new companions, completely abandoning the complexities of the past.

Perhaps it was missing him.

Even though they had only met for one day.

Spent one night together.

Yet Meowth's heart was filled with All All Baimu's shadow, always recalling the young man's heartfelt words beneath the blue sky.

He truly hoped it would hold on!

No one had ever held strong expectations for it—but that person had suddenly appeared.

Meowth believed its nature was unchangeable; it could never give up the obvious comforts to strive and struggle.

Yet.

During these past few months living among its kind,

it discovered life wasn't so luxurious—and somehow, it didn't matter.

If it changed, would he come for it?

Perhaps it was this unworthy thought that made it miss him day and night.

A week, two weeks, a month, two months.

The familiar figure never reappeared.

Meowth suddenly realized—they would likely never meet again.

But on such an ordinary day,

a calm afternoon,

he came.

He gave it a gift unlike any other among its kind, still radiating an intimidating aura, yet his smile was warm.

Meowth thought it had strong self-respect.

But suddenly, it wanted to lose it again—to shed that proud shell.

Just to…

Gain one more chance.

"Meow~"

Meowth lifted its head—and was startled by All All Baimu, who had already crouched down, peering at it with large eyes.

"Meow!!"

The Poké Block box dropped.

"Do you still want to come with me?"

All All Baimu whispered.

Meowth froze; an indescribable bitterness surged in its heart, moistening its eyes.

Yes!

It wanted to!

The dream that endlessly replayed that day was for these words it had missed day and night!

Meowth wiped away its tears and nodded frantically.

"Meow, meow!!"

Seeing it weep, All All Baimu's faint doubts vanished.

Was Meowth pretending?

Intuition told him this was genuine emotion.

He softened, sighing: "I originally thought you'd likely turn bad, so I left you with Modan.

"I didn't expect you… sigh. It seems Wushang's Arbok was right."

'There are no inherently evil Pokémon—only evil Trainers make Pokémon evil.'

All All Baimu said to Meowth: "Perhaps I can't give you the luxurious life you want, but I also can't irresponsibly leave you here anymore."

"In a distant region, I have a great mountain, and on it, my home. Do you want to live there?"

He feared the environment was too unfamiliar, and Meowth would refuse.

Uh.

This thing had flown alone to Team Rocket's headquarters!

All All Baimu tugged at his lips, meeting Meowth's sparkling gaze, and said: "If you're willing, put your paw in my palm."

He opened his hand.

Meowth placed its paw on it without hesitation.

It had never imagined it could fulfill its wish—and suddenly understood why it had chased after him, and why it had refused to meet him.

It had come to say goodbye.

To bid farewell to the one person who had truly cared for it, and to the worthless version of itself.

But in the end,

the chance had returned to its side.

Meowth didn't know why All All Baimu had changed his mind—right now, its heart was filled only with joy.

"Come with me."

"Meow!"

It followed the young man's steps, stepping toward a brand-new life.

——

"Don't look at me like that. I only raised it to Platinum Mountain."

All All Baimu, seeing the Arbok's incredulous stare, quickly explained.

After Platinum Mountain was officially established,

his view of Alolan Meowth shifted from rejection to acceptance.

After all, with Regieleki around, who needed another meal?

Besides,

he was enriching Platinum Mountain's ecosystem!

"Shazong."

The Arbok was convinced.

It had barely looked away, and now another companion? Raised to the mountain?

Hmph.

Didn't they also raise the Legendary Pillars to the mountain? Didn't they raise Weavile and Spiritomb to the mountain too?

Like it's going to compete for attention.

One moment of inattention, and another big surprise.

Now not only could it not sneak around transferring power—it had a new rival!

So annoying!

The Arbok bared its teeth.

Meowth shrank behind All All Baimu's feet, instinct telling it this fierce dragon hated it.

Back at the library,

when All All Baimu mentioned he planned to take Meowth away, the little girl clapped excitedly.

Then they walked to the police station and told Modan.

"Hmph! Finally willing to pick up your fostered cat? Pay the boarding and food fees!"

Modan snorted.

Aserola puffed out her cheeks, "Ugh! Uncle, you always say such depressing things."

All All Baimu: "Of course, of course."

But despite saying that, Modan was just joking.

As a cat lover, All All Baimu was more than happy to take back Meowth if it changed its mind.

"Meow~~"

Meowth excitedly bid farewell to its companions.

Though it hadn't made many close friends these past months, the other cats had been kind to this newcomer, always leaving it a share of food during feeding time.

To thank them,

Meowth decided to share the Rainbow Poké Block that All All Baimu had given it.

It didn't give out the box.

It planned to keep it for itself.

"Swoosh!"

Dragonite took flight, Meowth turned its head and waved its paw downward; Arceola and Modan watched it depart with smiles.

Nothing could be more beautiful than a Pokémon and its Trainer choosing each other.

Across the sea.

Before the wooden villa on Melemele Island.

Meowth at All All Baimu's feet drew the attention of every Pokémon.

How did this thing come back?

Bonsly and the other Pokémon exchanged glances, then turned to look at Dragonite, whose face was full of annoyance.

Dragonite shook its head violently and flew off in anger.

This damn business!

It didn't even want to talk about it!

Everyone turned to look at All All Baimu.

All All Baimu said calmly: "I plan to take Meowth back to Platinum Mountain—not to join the team."

"Meow… meow~"

Meowth gathered courage and greeted the other Pokémon.

Ah, so that's it.

The other Pokémon showed indifferent expressions; there were thousands of Pokémon on the mountain—adding one made no difference, nor did removing one.

Only Dragonite would fuss over such trivial things.

"Grrrr~"

Bonsly stepped forward gently; as the official lord of Platinum Mountain, it welcomed all Pokémon who wished to live on the mountain and followed its rules.