"Ghast!"
The Altered-color Gengar hurriedly floated up to catch up.
Not long after.
Fields covered in green sprouts everywhere.
The rich scent of soil and fertilizer wafted in the air, swirling around the nose with the breeze.
The Altered-color Gengar looked around curiously with a strange expression.
"Ghast..."
"Does it smell really bad? Actually, it's not that bad, right?"
Baimu looked at the Altered-color Gengar with curiosity, wondering how this creature with only a pair of eyes and a mouth could smell anything.
However, before considering this, perhaps it's more important to think about the form in which Ghost-type Pokémon exist.
Suddenly.
"Stop! I am the Masked Messenger Taichiro— huh? Why is it you?"
The familiar watermelon-headed Little Ghost jumped out, with two vegetable leaves on his face. He froze upon seeing Baimu and the Altered-color Gengar.
"Long time no see, I came back especially to check things out."
Baimu greeted him, leaning forward with curiosity and gesturing: "How come you haven't grown at all in these months?"
The watermelon-headed Little Ghost Taichiro blushed, reached out to push him, but couldn't budge him.
"It's because you're too tall... Don't talk nonsense! Let's battle! My Grand Generals have become stronger! They definitely won't lose to you this time!"
Taichiro shouted excitedly.
"That's exactly what I wanted."
He naturally wouldn't refuse, taking out a slightly moving Pokeball from his pocket. He laughed: "I have a partner who's been thinking about you for a long time, don't let it down."
After speaking.
The Pokeball was thrown.
Bang!
"Milo~"
In the gentle white light, the Altered-color Milotic landed, and the Altered-color Gengar immediately turned its head, afraid its soul would be sucked away.
Taichiro and his Victreebel were shocked.
"This this this—"
"The Feebas from before evolved, how is it? Isn't it pretty?"
Baimu said: "It always remembers you."
The Altered-color Milotic responded with a low hum, "Milo~"
Taichiro looked puzzled and said: "Remembers me? Is it because the watermelon in my house was really delicious? Sorry about that, we don't plant watermelon this season anymore. If you want to eat, come next year, I'll save a few more for you."
"Hahaha, perhaps that's part of the reason."
Baimu laughed, reaching out to stroke the Altered-color Milotic's chin.
The latter closed its eyes and rubbed against him, looking comfortable.
He continued:
"The more important reason is your past comment of 'face value'... Ah! I know you didn't mean to belittle it, and the Altered-color Milotic doesn't hold a grudge against you."
With a slightly panicked expression, Baimu smiled and said: "It just wants to prove to you with its strength that it's not just a face value, let's battle! There's nothing more direct than a battle!"
To the simple-minded fool that is Altered-color Milotic, proving itself to those who once mocked it has become an important part of its life.
Those past Pokémon are probably hard to come across again.
But at least here with Taichiro, it wants to gain recognition from the other side.
Truthfully speaking.
Baimu doesn't really agree with his Milotic's idea, unless the other party did it unintentionally, otherwise those who mock it deliberately are unlikely to admit their mistakes.
Even if they defeat the opponent or surpass them in beauty.
However.
Disagreement and discouragement are two different things.
As his partner, Altered-color Milotic should have its own will, and if it believes this is right, and doesn't violate any public norms and morals, then as a Trainer, he should encourage and help it.
That's why Baimu brought it here.
"I don't understand, I totally don't understand!"
Taichiro's face was almost twisted into a knot, grabbing his hair, then waved his hand: "I don't care anymore! Battle, battle!
"Seed Machine Gun!"
Baimu laughed: "Just waiting for you! Go!"
"Milo!"
The Altered-color Milotic let out a low hum, its curled body suddenly stretching like a spring, rushing towards the Victreebel!
Not far away.
The Altered-color Gengar hid in the vegetable field, watching Baimu, who was calm and smiling, and the confident Altered-color Milotic. Its habitually wide grin shrank, its expression filled with confusion, perhaps even some yearning.
What should the relationship between humans and Pokémon be?
It didn't know before.
It also still doesn't understand now.
But if it could become like them, that would be great, just like them, that would be even better.
"Ghast..."
The Altered-color Gengar quietly observed and made its own small wish.
Meanwhile.
The Altered-color Milotic gracefully swam around the Victreebel, which was turning its head and shooting out numerous emerald-green seeds, but unfortunately, all missed their target, falling into the vegetable field and splashing up dust and vegetable fragments.
"Ahhhh—why can't I hit it?"
Taichiro shouted in frustration.
The swirling seed machine gun of the Victreebel finally came to an end.
An opportunity.
"Frozen Wind."
"Milo!"
The Altered-color Milotic took a deep breath and then blew forward fiercely!
Whoosh!
A powerful icy breath instantly covered the surface of the Victreebel with a layer of dazzling ice crystals, freezing the movements of this giant Pitcher Plant.
"Victreebel!" Taichiro screamed in panic.
The Victreebel's eyes had dark circles around them as it fell backward helplessly.
Bang~
Dirt scattered everywhere.
"Milo!"
The Altered-color Milotic excitedly raised its upper body, looking down at Taichiro and the incapacitated Victreebel with great anticipation.
"Gulp."
Taichiro picked up the Victreebel and glanced at Baimu on the other side, seeing him clasp his hands together and blink his right eye apologetically. After hesitating for a moment, he said to the Altered-color Milotic: "Humph! Sorry for calling you just a pretty face before! You're really amazing!"
"Milo!"
The Altered-color Milotic's eyes suddenly glowed brightly, returning to the Trainer's side with immense satisfaction, affectionately nuzzling his face, "Milo! Milo!"
"Alright, I know you're amazing."
Baimu chuckled, stroking its chin and cheeks, quietly giving Taichiro a thumbs up, then waved to the Altered-color Gengar in the vegetable field, "It's over! Come back quickly!"
For some reason, this guy was hiding far away, even though his position was perfectly safe.
"Geng!"
The Altered-color Gengar floated over but was still reluctant to directly face the Altered-color Milotic.
It had seen Baimu's small gestures earlier, although it didn't quite understand their specific meaning, it could tell Baimu was asking that human child for something.
Asking for what?
From the Altered-color Milotic's demeanor, it wasn't hard to deduce it was something pleasing for the Milotic.
Honestly, the Altered-color Gengar was envious.
Jarvis had never done anything for it, only endless manipulation and hurt...
"Come over quickly! Taichiro is inviting us for a melon feast!"
Baimu's voice broke through its thoughts, and it saw that somehow, Baimu and Milotic were already in the fields, holding a large oval fruit and beckoning it over.
"Geng?"
The Altered-color Gengar scratched its head in confusion.
"These are sweet melons my grandfather grew! They're just as good as watermelons! Take a few with you!"
Taichiro enthusiastically picked melons from the field, the Victreebel, restored from basking in the sun, cheerfully trailing behind him.
Baimu, full of smiles, said: "We couldn't possibly accept them."
"Consider it a gift to apologize to Milotic."
Taichiro glanced at the person cradling an armful of melons, huffed.
By the stream.
After a simple wash, the melon feast began.
The Altered-color Gengar looked down at the half melon in its hand, then at the surrounding Pokémon with varied smiles, displaying a big grin, stuffing it whole into its mouth.
"Hahaha!"
Delicious food always lifts its spirits.
Too bad there's not enough.
Just as it felt regret, a hand offered a fresh slice of melon.
"Is half not enough? You can peel it and spit it out."
Baimu chuckled, noticing the Altered-color Gengar staring at him in a daze, he asked suspiciously: "What's wrong? Not to your taste?"
"Geng-geng!"
The Altered-color Gengar shook its head quickly, smiling broadly, grabbing the melon slice and stuffing it into its large mouth, playfully and skillfully chewing between both cheeks.
Swiftly.
It pulled from its mouth a melon peel no thicker than paper, proudly displaying it to Baimu, "Hahaha!"
"Impressive, impressive!"
Baimu marveled at it.
What kind of mouth did this guy have? How could it eat like this?
The surrounding Pokémon gathered, amazed at the thickness of the melon peel, prompting the competitive Hydreigon to bury its head in devouring, producing a piece akin to "wilted lettuce."
"Geng~"
The Altered-color Gengar sheepishly put down the peel, rubbing its chubby little paw against its cheek.
Just smiling, its happiness was filled with warmth.