The major reason Lei Gong agreed to travel together.
Perhaps it's because I never took out a Pokeball, trying to capture it.
The Ho-oh Guard has always been the target of many Trainers; they often accept challenges from Trainers and use their actual combat strength to shatter their delusions fiercely.
Then they leave behind a fleeting silhouette and disappear.
Overall.
It's about never allowing anyone to lust after them.
Baimu watched as Lei Gong kept a certain distance from him, slowly moving through the foggy mountain forest, feeling that the other party constantly emitted an aura of "don't take out the ball, or we can't be friends."
He believed this was not his illusion; when he took out a Pokeball to recall Blissey earlier, Lei Gong kept staring, as if it wanted to get into the ball too.
"I didn't notice before, are you really that big?"
Baimu couldn't help but speak to Lei Gong, but the latter didn't respond, only giving him a very aloof glance.
This guy's shoulder height plus its head is about 1.9 meters, resembling a magnificent stallion, but its limbs and body are much sturdier than a horse's, with streamlined muscles and mottled tiger stripes making it quite intimidating.
When it lay down earlier, it looked like a small mountain, and standing up, it was even more majestic.
"Walk carefully, don't get the bandages too wet, or dirty them, otherwise I'll have to redo them for you," he said again.
Lei Gong still didn't respond, even yawning with an extremely cool demeanor.
It was very much like the white-sleeved tabby cat Baimu's family owned in his previous life, never letting anyone get within a meter of it unless it was feeding time, not even glancing at you when passing by.
Clearly not understanding its position as a pet, nor that the person providing daily food was its owner and not some fool.
Baimu had recently gotten used to Pokémon who were either enthusiastic or pretended not to care, especially Zweilous, who clung to people like a dog 24/7, catching such a cold one was really a bit hard to get used to—
And kind of thrilling.
No help for it; people sometimes are just like this.
They reached the Forest Ranger's Cabin on their way.
The iron cages near the cabin were all empty. A new Forest Ranger and a Ludicolo were cleaning and disassembling, while four Drifloons were hanging under the eaves, eyes closed, seemingly enjoying the fresh post-rain humidity.
As Wild Pokémon mainly appearing in damp seasons, this sunny post-rain period might be their favorite.
Suddenly.
A Drifloon glanced towards the forest, spotting Baimu and Porygon emerging with dewdrops, "Fuuu~!"
As soon as it made a sound, the other Drifloons opened their eyes and flew over happily.
"Fuuu~"
"Why are you still here? Are you waiting for me?"
Baimu asked the Drifloons with pleasant surprise, pinching their heart-shaped hands, then looked towards the new Forest Ranger nearby, "Uncle, are they also Pokémon that live here?"
Miss Jun Sha takes care of Wild Pokémon caught by Pokémon Hunters, usually releasing them on the spot if possible, finding original habitats, or finding Trainers willing to adopt if they can't be released.
If none of that works...
They can only be placed in a designated Pokémon Reserved Area.
"No, they're not."
The Ranger who was rescued earlier came out of the cabin, carrying luggage and smiling, "They insisted on saying goodbye before they would leave."
"Eh? Do they fly back by themselves?"
"Not exactly, I arranged with Miss Jun Sha to take them back to Sinnoh myself," the Ranger pointed to himself, boastfully saying, "Don't think this old man hasn't traveled to various regions when he was young — conveniently going to Hearthome City to recuperate."
"Hahaha!"
The new Forest Ranger almost burst out laughing, "Come on, stop bragging!"
"Ludi!" Ludicolo chuckled along.
The former's face turned red, "How is that bragging?"
"You know yourself if it's bragging."
The two started bickering, looking quite familiar with each other.
Baimu looked away, gently touching the heads of several Drifloons. Although the time together was very short, and they initially fought because of bad intentions, they bonded over one meal afterward.
In animations, Wild Pokémon always seem to take a liking to humans for simple things, maybe a meal, a battle, being saved or saving, or picking up glasses that fell into the water and being praised.
That's different from the Wild Pokémon in "Legendary Arceus," who either run or fight upon seeing people.
"Till we meet again, if fate allows!"
He patted the Drifloons' heads one by one, taking out some Poké Blocks from his pocket to give them.
Fortunately, he had stocked enough food, and could gather wild greens, mushrooms, and Tree Fruits outside, otherwise, even a well-stocked pocket would run empty.
"Fuuu~"
The Drifloons happily finished eating the Poké Blocks.
Soon after.
The Ranger took the Drifloons on an inflatable kayak down the stream, while Baimu stood among the trees, watching as the kayak disappeared from view.
"Travel is always accompanied by encounters and farewells, a cycle that repeats."
He couldn't help but feel a bit sentimental, looking at Porygon and Lei Gong, who was hiding in the woods and hadn't come out, "Isn't that right?"
"Pory!"
"...Roar."
Lei Gong, who had been silent all along, surprisingly gave a response.
Evidently, during its long journey across various regions, it too had encountered one or two poignant farewells, leaving a deep impression on its heart.
Seeing the Drifloons waiting for a long time just to say goodbye to Baimu, having adjusted its perception of this human, was inevitably stirred with thoughts of its own.