Who knows how those people are doing now...
Raikou gently rose and walked towards the lush forest, feeling a bit more recognition for Trainer Baimu in its heart, initially just out of some special reason, hoping that its injuries would heal soon, which led to this helpless decision.
Now, however, it felt agreeing was the right choice.
Even though this guy is quite strange and a bit annoying, his cooking is quite delicious, and no matter which Pokémon he's dealing with, he is always kind.
Mm, the food he makes is indeed delicious.
Raikou felt this was the fate and practice that Ho-Oh, the Tower Master, had bestowed upon it, walking the world as Ho-Oh's envoy, punishing evil while maintaining a distance from humans, but not completely severing connections with them.
This is the way of the Ho-oh Guard.
It pushed off the ground with its hind legs and leapt onto a moss-covered rock like an agile big cat.
Unexpectedly, Baimu's voice suddenly rang out.
"Well, Lavaridge Town is behind you, you're heading in the wrong direction. Also, be careful, your bandage is about to fall off..."
Raikou froze suddenly.
"Roar..."
It turned around, pretending as if nothing had happened, and leaped onto a big tree, as though heading in that direction simply to gather strength.
Creak...crack...
The branches of the large tree groaned, protesting the unbearable weight of life.
Baimu's face broke into a teasing smile, just as he was about to say a few words, he noticed extremely unfriendly glances hidden among the treetops.
The wide-open bright red pupils were somewhat intimidating.
He decisively closed his mouth.
——
Evening.
Baimu set up camp on the mudflats close to the riverbank.
Raikou initially feigned indifference, choosing to lie down in a cluster of grass more than ten meters away, maintaining a perfect distance at all times to remind the other party that it was not his Pokémon and not to have any expectations.
But soon, it was forcibly moved to a closer spot by the ever-concerned Blissey.
"Roar..."
"Happy!"
Blissey looked at it very seriously; although it could tolerate many things daily, it would never yield an inch in health matters!
Raikou felt helpless, and before this guy could grip its teeth, obediently laid down on the blanket Blissey prepared for it—being slightly more comfortable than the grass.
"Heyoo!" "Heyoo!"
Zweilous came to Raikou's side, sniffing its scent, its face partly obscured by fur showed a shocked expression.
Usually.
It identified the enemy's strengths and weaknesses by their scent, always successful until today when it failed.
To discern whether this big guy's scent was strong or weak—Impossible.
Maybe...try biting?
If scent doesn't work, taste might.
"Hey..." "Hey..."
As Zweilous was about to open its mouth, it saw the bandages on Raikou and immediately one head turned towards Blissey, who was chopping vegetables nearby, with a kind smile, swiftly slicing down with the knife.
Da-da-da-da.
The vegetables quickly turned into slices and shreds.
Seeing those unfortunate vegetables, Zweilous slowly closed its mouth.
Curiosity demands a price, and that price...Zweilous felt it could not afford.
Everyone knew that although it seemed to be the most pampered one in the team, it was actually Blissey who was spoiled.
No matter what Blissey wanted, the Trainer would always fulfill it unconditionally; no matter how big it grew, there was always a place for Blissey on the bed, and during any "episode," it would always seek out Blissey first.
Retreat.
Zweilous withdrew quietly, went to bother the Trainer.
"..."
Raikou observed this odd fellow, not quite understanding what it was doing, but it had always been very tolerant towards Pokémon, so just pretended it hadn't seen anything.
Its gaze shifted, and it saw a shiny one, full of angles, diving into the water, obviously lacking fins or flippers, resembling a Rock Attribute Pokémon, yet so adept at swimming, even its friend was merely walking on water.
Alongside it was a purple strange fish.
On the shore.
There was a somewhat cute-looking Pokémon spinning on one foot for unknown reasons; the particularly huge Steelix, clearly a Ground Attribute Pokémon, was flying back and forth in the air;
Huh? Is that a rock? How can it fly too? Is it a Pokémon?
Raikou shifted its gaze from Galarian Corsola back to Porygon, remembering that it was the one who shut down the Crystal System...yet it was also something it hadn't encountered before, looking quite strange.
Blissey...didn't really want to mention it much.
Raikou folded its paws, placing its large head onto them, and closed its eyes for a nap.
Indeed, the weird person should have a group of equally odd Pokémon companions; seeing it's not just that person alone being weird, it felt relieved.
Moreover, since it had already boarded this pirate ship, it was too lazy to worry about anything more.
Not long after.
An irresistible aroma hovered around its nose.
"Dinner time!!"
Baimu's call gently twitched the ears hidden beneath its white fluffy fur, followed by countless voices and sounds; Raikou slightly raised one eyelid and found a bowl of food already placed in front of him.
"Your portion. If it's not enough, just call me, you are not limited."
Hmm?
What does it mean by you are not limited?
Raikou lifted its head to look around, noticing even the much larger Steelix had not received as much food as it had. Though two bowls were in front of that double-headed Pokémon, the portions were halved.
"They must control their food intake, eat less but more frequently as it aids growth."