Chapter 140

Chapter 140: Chapter 140

Melodi had been listening quietly from the side and finally asked, "Do Pokémon people worship as gods really have feelings and relationships like ordinary Pokémon?"

"Of course," Cynthia replied, turning toward her. "A ’god’ is simply the title humans give them because of their extraordinary power or role in mythology. Fundamentally, they’re still Pokémon."

Mike nodded. "Exactly. Take Manaphy, the Prince of the Sea. Under the right circumstances, it can produce Phione Eggs with other Pokémon."

Cynthia immediately looked at him. "You know that too?"

"Some older guy I met recently told me."

Cynthia stared at him for a moment, then wisely decided not to ask what kind of old man casually discussed Manaphy breeding biology with wandering photographers.

Instead, she changed the subject. "You’re entering Floaroma Town next?"

"Yeah. I want to visit the Gracidea fields and see whether anything there connects back to Enamorus."

"In that case, I’ll go through the records I have on Dialga and Palkia again," Cynthia said. "If Enamorus was involved with the space-time distortions, there may be details I previously ignored because I had no reason to connect them."

"Sounds good."

Cynthia stood and carefully closed the journal. "Tell me immediately if you discover anything."

"Of course."

She turned toward him once more. "By the way, I only learned that you had found this journal because Lucian mentioned it."

Mike scratched his head.

Cynthia didn’t press the point. She simply climbed onto Garchomp’s back and added, "Remember to watch next week’s exhibition match. Wyrdeer should make his official debut there."

"I already talked to Lucian about it."

"Good."

Garchomp pushed off the ground and shot into the sky, disappearing rapidly into the distance.

For several seconds, Melodi stood perfectly still.

Then her face slowly collapsed.

"...The autograph."

Mike looked over.

Melodi stared toward the empty sky with the expression of someone who had just watched the opportunity of a lifetime vanish over the horizon.

"I forgot the autograph..."

Mike blinked. "Why didn’t you ask her?"

Then he remembered that he had also forgotten.

"Oh. Right."

Melodi lowered her head miserably. "I got nervous."

"I can message her. She can sign something and mail it back to you."

The moment Mike said that, Melodi lifted her head and stared at him with such intense hope that he didn’t even need to hear the answer.

"...Fine."

He sent Cynthia a message.

A short while later, another rush of air swept across the flower field as Garchomp returned.

Melodi stared in complete disbelief as Cynthia landed in front of her for the second time that morning.

"Where do you want me to sign?"

Melodi snapped back to reality and hurriedly pulled out a photograph she had prepared.

Cynthia signed her name with an elegant flourish, then looked at her and casually asked, "Would you like a picture together too?"

Melodi’s eyes widened, and she nodded so rapidly that she almost looked dizzy.

"Can I?"

"Of course."

Mike immediately found himself promoted to official photographer.

He took several photographs of Cynthia and Melodi together before Cynthia climbed back onto Garchomp and departed once again.

This time, Melodi remained standing in place with the signed photograph held carefully in both hands and a foolishly delighted grin on her face.

Mike laughed. "Satisfied now?"

"Very."

He began packing the last of his belongings. "Then I should probably get moving too."

"You’re not staying for lunch?"

"No. I’m planning to spend today eating my way through Floaroma Town."

Melodi laughed and carefully put the autograph away. "All right. Just remember to come visit again if you ever pass through here."

"Definitely."

Before leaving, Mike remembered the growing collection of signatures and marks he had been gathering throughout the journey.

Since they were already saying goodbye, he brought out another sheet and asked Melodi to sign her name and leave her handprint while Gardevoir, Gallade, Kirlia, and Ralts each added marks of their own.

Melodi looked curiously at the sheet after pressing her palm against it.

"What’s this for?"

"A record of the friends we meet along the way."

Mike unrolled several older sheets, revealing all kinds of paw prints, footprints, claw marks, tail impressions, and other signatures left behind by Pokémon and people from earlier parts of the journey.

Melodi smiled. "Then I hope you fill a lot more pages before your travels are over."

Mike carefully rolled the sheet back up and handed it to Gengar. "I’ll take that blessing."

With his camera once again hanging around his neck, he waved. "We’re off."

He turned and followed the narrow path through the flower fields toward Floaroma Town without looking back.

"Goodbye!" Melodi called after them.

She remained there until Mike and his Pokémon had disappeared from view, then picked up her watering can and exchanged a smile with Gardevoir and the others before beginning another quiet day among the flowers.

...

Mike continued along the path, and for once, Gengar was remarkably restrained.

His bamboo staff remained firmly under control, and he made no attempt to cut down any of the flowers lining the road.

Perhaps even Gengar understood that these flowers had been planted and cared for by a friend, which made them different from the random weeds he normally attacked for entertainment.

Snivy walked along the top rail of the fence with her arms spread slightly to maintain her balance, while Glameow disappeared into the flower field beside the road.

Mike could usually tell roughly where she was because butterflies kept vanishing from the blossoms one after another.

Beedrill flew quietly on his other side.

"So," Mike asked as Floaroma Town drew closer, "what does everyone want to eat once we get inside?"

Gengar immediately raised one hand.

"Gar!"

[Meat! A huge piece of meat!]

"Sni~"

[Noodles.]

Beedrill hesitated before giving his own answer.

"Bee..."

[Meat.]

Then Glameow’s voice came from somewhere inside the flowers.

"Meow."

[I’m full.]

Mike looked ahead just as Glameow emerged from the flower field and began walking in front of him, letting out tiny satisfied burps every few steps.

"How much did you eat in there?"

"Meow."

[They tasted good. You wouldn’t understand.]

Mike stared at her.

She was right.

He genuinely didn’t understand.

Somehow, he had ended up raising a bee that liked eating other bugs and a cat that treated butterflies like snacks.

After watching Glameow waddle along for another moment, Mike asked, "Want me to carry you?"

Glameow stopped in the middle of the path, sat down, and slowly looked back at him.

Her crystal-blue eyes remained fixed on Mike without a word until he felt the tips of his ears beginning to heat up.

He coughed twice. "I only asked because you ate so much. I figured you might get tired."

Glameow kept staring.

"And what if you get hungry again before we reach town?"

She blinked.

"Meow."

[Then that’s perfect. I’ll have room to eat again.]

With that flawless piece of logic delivered, Glameow stood and continued leading the way.

Mike had no answer to that.

Gengar floated closer and looked hopefully at him.

"Gar?"

[You could carry me instead.]

Mike slowly looked over Gengar’s broad, barrel-shaped middle.

His face darkened.

"Get lost, Gengar!"

Gengar recoiled in horror.

"Garrr??!!!" Σ(°∀°ﾉ)ﾉ

The betrayal on his face could not have been clearer.

’You used to call me your adorable little Gengar all the time!’