But Tyrantrum could not swim, so it could only pace around the edge of the lake, letting out low roars as if expressing its dissatisfaction.
Before long, Larvesta, Metang, and Milotic all surfaced from the water.
Larvesta immediately bounced over to Tyrantrum, excitedly chattering about all the wonders it had seen underwater.
As Tyrantrum listened, its eyes lit up. It quickly ran over to Milotic and gently rubbed its head against Milotic's body, letting out a soft, pleading rumble from its throat. Clearly, it also wanted to go underwater in one of those bubbles, just like Larvesta.
Milotic showed a hint of hesitation. Looking at Tyrantrum's massive body, it did not know how it could possibly take it underwater.
But in the end, it could not resist Tyrantrum's persistent pleading and eventually came up with a solution.
Milotic flicked its tail fin toward Metang. Metang immediately understood, flew to the lakeside, and used its psychic power to laboriously lift Tyrantrum's body.
At the same time, Milotic released a water bubble several times larger than before, enveloping Tyrantrum completely.
With Metang assisting through its psychic power, Tyrantrum was carefully lowered into the lake.
Inside the bubble, its enormous body looked somewhat clumsy, its limbs moving in an uncoordinated manner, yet its excitement was impossible to hide.
It curiously watched the schools of fish passing by and the scenery at the bottom of the lake, occasionally letting out cheerful low roars, clearly fascinated by this underwater world.
Theo sat beside the tent, quietly watching everything happening by the lake.
After coming out of the water, Larvesta returned to his side, nestling close to him obediently as it accompanied him while waiting for the food to finish cooking.
Before long, Milotic and Metang brought Tyrantrum, who was still reluctant to leave, back to the surface.
Larvesta immediately rushed over and began chattering with Tyrantrum again, as if comparing whose underwater experience had been more interesting.
Soon after, Larvesta clung to Milotic again, clearly wanting to go down for another round.
The moment Tyrantrum heard this, it perked up instantly and joined in, pestering Milotic to take it along again.
Milotic and Metang exchanged glances, both showing helpless expressions.
But seeing the eager looks in Larvesta and Tyrantrum's eyes, they still agreed to their request.
As the sun gradually set, dyeing the lake in shades of gold and red, Milotic and Metang finally brought the two troublemakers, who had played to their hearts' content, back to the shore.
Theo served the heated food into portions and distributed it to everyone. The Pokémon gathered around him, enjoying their dinner heartily.
In the distance, the faint sound of the waterfall could be heard. Nearby were the soft chewing sounds of the Pokémon eating, and above, the stars gradually began to appear in the sky. It was an incredibly peaceful and pleasant moment.
The next morning.
The thin mist over the lake had already dispersed. Milotic stretched its body in the water, while Tyrantrum lay on the shore, basking in the warmth of the sunlight.
Larvesta and Metang huddled together, whispering about something unknown, occasionally letting out soft chuckles.
After a simple breakfast, Theo quickly packed up the tent and luggage with Metang's help.
"Time to set off."
Theo dusted off his hands and looked toward the direction of the Meteor Falls mountain range. Its outline had become even clearer in the morning light.
He glanced at the sky. The sun had just risen over the mountains, making it the perfect time to travel. He waved toward Tyrantrum.
"I'll be counting on you for the next stretch."
Tyrantrum immediately understood, letting out a low roar as it lowered its massive body.
Larvesta, already perched on Tyrantrum's back, cleverly spat out a few strands of silk and gently pulled Theo up onto its back.
It then curled up obediently in its trainer's arms.
Theo adjusted his sitting position and lightly grasped the mane on Tyrantrum's neck.
"Alright, let's go."
"Tyrant!"
Tyrantrum responded and shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.
Despite its seemingly heavy build, it moved with remarkable steadiness. Its powerful hind legs struck the ground with deep, rhythmic thuds.
Metang floated alongside them, matching their speed, its red eyes scanning the surroundings vigilantly.
Milotic had been recalled into its Poké Ball to rest.
Compared to walking, traveling on Tyrantrum was more than twice as fast.
The trees and grass along the roadside rapidly receded, stretching into green streaks. What would normally take most of a day to traverse was covered in less than two hours.
As they drew closer, the moisture in the air grew thicker, carrying the cool, refreshing scent unique to waterfalls.
Faintly at first, they could hear a distant rumble, like muffled thunder rolling across the land. Gradually, it grew louder and more deafening, like thousands of galloping horses, even causing the ground beneath them to tremble slightly.
"We're almost there."
Theo patted Tyrantrum, signaling it to slow down.
The scenery ahead suddenly became far more magnificent.
The continuous mountain range was blanketed in a thick layer of greenery. The trees were taller and denser than those along the way, their branches interwoven to block out much of the sky. Thick moss covered the trunks, damp to the touch.
And the most striking sight of all was the enormous waterfall hanging between the mountains.
Water poured down from the cliff halfway up the mountain like a massive white ribbon, crashing onto the rocks below and sending up a vast mist of water droplets.
Theo had Tyrantrum slow down further as they approached the waterfall.
Looking up, he saw a huge crater in the mountainside above. Water surged out from the edge of the crater, cascading down like a river from the heavens, majestic and overwhelming.
This was the middle section of Meteor Falls, one of the most spectacular sights in the entire mountain range.
"Come out, Milotic."
Theo released Milotic so it could enjoy the breathtaking view as well.
The moment Milotic appeared, it was captivated by the massive waterfall. It happily swam toward the lake, splashing water with its tail fin as if expressing its excitement.
Metang floated over the center of the lake as well, the reflection of the waterfall visible in its red eyes, making them appear especially bright.
"Milotic, take us closer so we can have a better look."
Theo called out to it.
Larvesta stood beside him, hopping excitedly, the flames on its feelers flickering vigorously. Tyrantrum also nodded eagerly, letting out a low rumble of anticipation.
Understanding their intentions, Milotic gently released streams of water, forming a large transparent bubble barrier around Theo, Tyrantrum, and Larvesta, perfectly shielding them from the surrounding water.
Metang joined in, using its psychic power to support and guide the barrier as it slowly moved closer to the waterfall.
The nearer they got, the louder the roaring sound became, and the denser the mist grew. Water droplets struck the surface of the barrier, forming tiny beads that rolled down.
Through the barrier, they could clearly see the breathtaking sight of water surging down from the cliff.
The moment the water struck the rocks, it shattered into countless fine sprays, which were then pushed forward by the continuous flow, eventually merging into the lake below.
Tyrantrum and Larvesta called out softly to Milotic, clearly wanting to go underwater again just like the day before.
Milotic nodded in agreement, and with the cooperation of both it and Metang, the bubble barrier slowly sank into the depths of the lake.
(End of Chapter)