Chapter 225: The Good Friend Who Can’t Fly

The video continued playing.

Hoopa raised the bouquet of roses a little higher and spoke in an incredibly solemn tone.

"Beautiful Miss Meowstic! Please accept these flowers! And then tell Hoopa—why are you so pretty?!"

"Hoopa!"

Elaria hurried over and pulled Hoopa back, her face turning bright red.

"What are you doing?!"

"Hoopa is helping Meowstic!"

Hoopa defended itself confidently.

"Elaria’s daddy said giving flowers makes girls happy! Hoopa gave her a bouquet this huge, so Meowstic should be so happy she starts flying!"

"Daddy gives Mommy flowers because they’re married! Don’t just copy things like that!"

[VIP Chat Group]

[Steven]: As expected of my Brother Asher. He’s truly a master of romance! And Hoopa really is a Pokémon that spent time with him—even the art of flirting with girls has been passed down perfectly!

[Asher]: Steven, don’t slander me. I’m an honest man.

[Leon]: Impressive claim.

[Raihan]: Sure, buddy.

[Gary]: How many wives do you have again, and you still have the nerve to call yourself an honest man? If you’re honest, then there isn’t a dishonest person left in the world.

[Asher]: Giving flowers to girls is perfectly normal, isn’t it? Hoopa probably just picked it up from watching me. There’s really no need to make such a big deal out of it.

[Misty]:@Asher, then why didn’t you give me flowers when you were pursuing me? You gave me a fishing rod.

[Cynthia]: I mostly got ice cream.

[Elesa]: Mine was headphones.

[Asher]: That’s obviously because I love all of you so much that I specifically went out of my way to learn what each of you liked!

[Misty]: I-Is that so...

[Elesa]: Oh my, being confessed to in front of the entire livestream really does make your heart beat a little faster.

[Cynthia]: Love you. @Asher

[Steven]: Tailoring the approach to the person! Giving exactly the right gift! Brother Asher’s technique is seriously on another level.

[Brock]: Damn it! I haven’t even mastered one technique, and Master Asher has already developed at least four... This gap isn’t something hard work can make up for anymore... Please, Croagunk... just leave me numb... At least while I’m paralyzed, I can briefly forget how powerless I am...

[Croagunk]: Croak???

The video continued playing.

Elaria crouched down in front of Meowstic so they were at eye level.

"Sorry. Hoopa was only trying to make you happy."

She spoke gently.

"I know you don’t feel like talking right now, and that’s okay. If you want to be alone, we’ll leave right away."

Meowstic looked at her.

After remaining silent for about three seconds, she simply turned away, clearly showing that she didn’t want to talk.

Hoopa set the bouquet of roses down on the floor and floated back over Elaria’s head like a deflated balloon.

"Hoopa’s strategy failed. Operation Flower Delivery has suffered its first Waterloo."

"Hoopa, what you did wasn’t right."

Elaria lifted Hoopa down from her head and held it in her arms.

"Sometimes being too enthusiastic can make things difficult for other people too."

"But Hoopa really wants to help Meowstic!"

Hoopa puffed out its cheeks.

"She can’t use her psychic powers, so she must feel terrible! Hoopa wants to become friends with her and cheer her up!"

"I understand how Hoopa feels."

Lillie walked over.

"But Meowstic can’t use her psychic powers right now. She must already be feeling awful about it, so she probably isn’t in the mood to make friends."

Hoopa lowered its head.

For less than two seconds.

Then it suddenly shot excitedly into the air again.

"Hoopa just thought of an amazing idea!"

Elaria and Lillie looked at each other.

"Hoopa."

There was a trace of wariness in Lillie’s voice.

"You’re not planning to summon something weird again, are you?"

"No, no!"

Hoopa hurriedly waved both hands.

"Hoopa just realized—Meowstic not being able to use psychic powers really isn’t that big of a deal!"

"Hoopa has a good friend with a similar problem!"

"What problem?"

"He can’t fly."

Hoopa puffed out its chest.

"And he’s been depressed about it for ages!"

Elaria blinked.

"A good friend who can’t fly?"

"That’s right!"

Hoopa rubbed its little hands together.

"Hoopa thinks the two of them should meet! Hoopa’s good friend can help Meowstic feel better!"

"After all, he’s already gotten used to the pain of not being able to fly, so he must have lots and lots of wisdom to share!"

Elaria blinked her golden eyes before turning toward Gary.

"Mister Gary, Hoopa wants to take Meowstic to meet one of its good friends."

"I think talking to someone who’s gone through something similar might make Meowstic feel a little better too. Would that be okay?"

"All right."

Gary nodded.

"Just be careful. If anything happens, contact me immediately."

Lillie placed a hand against her chest.

"Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Elaria and Meowstic."

Elaria turned toward Meowstic again.

"Meowstic? Would you like to come with us? It isn’t far. We’re just going to meet a friend."

Meowstic’s expression remained cold and distant.

But the tip of her tail moved slightly.

"She said yes."

Hoopa floated beside Elaria and translated for her.

"That’s great!"

Elaria held out her hand toward Meowstic.

"Then let’s go. Hoopa, prepare for teleportation!"

"Coming right up!"

Hoopa rubbed its little hands together.

A golden ring tore open in midair in the middle of the living room, enveloping Elaria and the others.

The scene changed.

Mt. Chimney.

Deep underground.

Magma bubbled beneath their feet, and the air was as hot as the inside of a steamer.

Lillie stepped out of the ring and looked around at their surroundings.

"Elaria, who exactly is this ’good friend who can’t fly’ that Hoopa was talking about? Why does he live somewhere like this?"

"Ah, actually..."

Before Elaria could finish—

An enormous black shadow slowly rose from the very center of the magma.

The massive figure stood up from within the molten rock.

Lava streamed down its scales, revealing crimson skin and two enormous arms that looked powerful enough to crush a mountain between them.

Groudon.

It lowered its head and stared at the group of humans and Pokémon gathered at its feet, none of whom even reached the height of one of its toes.

Scalding steam blasted from its nostrils.

Then it unleashed a deafening roar.

"ROOOOAR——!!!" (Who barged into my bath without even asking?!!!)

Hoopa floated directly in front of Groudon and cupped both little hands around its mouth like a megaphone.

"Groudon! Hoopa’s here! Hoopa brought a new friend to meet you!"

Groudon lowered its head toward Hoopa.

The steam blasting from its nostrils grew even stronger.

"Roooar???" (Hoopa, you came all the way here just for this??? I was halfway through soaking in my magma bath! Do you have any idea how many years it takes to heat an entire pool of magma back up???)

"It’s fine!"

Hoopa waved dismissively.

"It’s not like you have anything else to do besides soak in magma all day!"

Groudon’s tail slammed heavily into the magma.

A wave of molten rock shot straight toward Hoopa’s face.

Hoopa dodged it without the slightest change in expression.

Then it turned toward Meowstic and dramatically spread both arms.

"Allow Hoopa to make the grand introduction——!"

"Hoopa’s good friend, Groudon!"

"God of the Land!"

"The strongest Legendary Pokémon who can never, ever fly!"

Groudon’s roar shook the entire volcano.

"ROOOOOOOOAR——!!!" (HOOPA, WHO DID YOU SAY CAN’T FLY——?!!!)