The Enemy Arrives?

Noon.

Baimu bid Dawn farewell at the docks.

From Slateport City to Littleroot Town, the fastest and most efficient option was undoubtedly by ship. It was possible to travel overland, but that meant taking a massive detour.

Dawn was worried Brock might leave at any moment, so she chose to sail to Littleroot Town.

Their parting was suddenly tinged with sadness, but they also made a new promise:

If they didn't meet again at the next few Pokémon Contests, they would reunite at the Wallace Cup or the Grand Festival.

They were not only friends, but rivals as well.

Unless one of them was so hopeless that they couldn't even collect five Ribbon Badges, they would meet again sooner or later. There was no doubt about that.

"See you around!"

Dawn leaned against the railing and waved down at Baimu below.

"Piplup—"

Beside her, Piplup was crying its eyes out as it reluctantly bade farewell to a thoroughly baffled Mawile. It had been looking forward to traveling with her, but who could have expected that the two Trainers were heading in completely different directions? Its sweet dream had been shattered.

The love it had only just found was about to be severed by the distance between them.

"Mawile~"

Out of courtesy, Mawile waved back to say goodbye.

The moment it responded—

Piplup on the ship immediately cried even louder, flapping its little wings as though it were about to take flight. "Piplup—!! Piplup—!!"

Unfortunately, its cries were swallowed by the ferry's departing horn.

"Mawile?"

Mawile turned around and curiously questioned Baimu.

Baimu smiled. "It said it likes you and really doesn't want to be separated from you... something along those lines, anyway. I can't understand Pokémon language."

"Mawile!"

Mawile rolled its eyes at him. You couldn't understand it, yet you'd