The Final Experiment

"Meow."

Espurr waved a paw pad at Yue Jifei, signaling that someone was about to wake up.

"Ah!"

Yue Jifei's face immediately flushed. She took out a small mirror and checked her reflection, then coughed and composed her expression. She picked up a book and forced herself to focus on the words.

Then, catching sight of familiar black hair out of the corner of her eye, she said as usual, "Good morning, Dian."

"Good morning, Jifei."

The familiar scene felt strangely comforting to Dian, and he couldn't help smiling.

"The soup tastes a little different today."

He sounded puzzled. "But it's delicious. Thank you!"

"Mm."

Yue Jifei remained absorbed in her novel and gave her usual cool reply.

Dian didn't mind. That was simply how things were.

Espurr sighed. Since there was apparently a problem, she might as well go back to sleep. Meow.

"Hee-hee."

Misdreavus came happily out of the tent. At the sight of the sun high overhead, she let out an exaggerated sigh, circled Espurr, tapped her cheek, and winked. Then she returned to the top of Dian's head and snuggled down.

"Come back and rest."

Dian recalled Beedrill into its Poké Ball and handed the ball to Yue Jifei.

Today, he was taking Larvitar out to train again, with only Aggron along as a precaution. All his other Pokémon would stay at the oasis.

He glanced at Cacnea sleeping in the shade. "Please look after this Cacnea too. You don't need to do much, just feed it some Pokéblocks."

After a pause, he added, "It has Stardust on it, so it probably knows where Mirage Tower is. We should head there before long."

"Mirage Tower..."

Yue Jifei answered evenly, as though she had little interest in it.

Misdreavus, lounging on Dian's head, thought it over and