A Curious Encounter

With nothing else to do, Baimu decided to explore the ship.

The Love Milotic was huge. If he didn't take a good look at its facilities, wouldn't Shan Ren's premium membership ticket go to waste?

Most facilities allowed Pokémon to accompany their trainers, though they imposed height and weight limits. A few barred Pokémon entirely because of their layout or other concerns, to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Of all Baimu's Pokémon, only Mawile took a special interest in this dazzling world. Whenever they passed a shop, she wanted him to buy this or that, but a closer look always revealed things she had no use for.

He could afford them, but he didn't want to carry around a pile of junk. So he agreed that Mawile could buy only two things.

In the end.

Mawile bought a tiny bottle of perfume, a red ribbon she could tie to her Soothe Bell, and a slice of cream cake that was supposedly delicious.

"Watch out or you'll get fat!"

That warning earned Baimu a kick from a puff-cheeked Mawile.

"Chido!"

What kind of thing is that to say to a lady!?

Seeing her annoyance, Baimu smiled and tied on her new red ribbon.

"Chido? Chido?"

Mawile touched the ribbon, checked her reflection in the nearby floor-to-ceiling window, then tilted her head from side to side and asked her trainer how she looked.

"Of course you look lovely."

Baimu rubbed her head and continued exploring with her.

They wandered until noon.

Both were hungry, and a fancy restaurant happened to be nearby. It looked good and only barred Pokémon that were too heavy or too tall, so they went in for a meal.

Mawile was enthusiastic at first. Who knew where she had learned it, but she pulled Baimu over to photograph her with