Smoochum

Suddenly, Hoppip came to a stop. "Hoppip."

It turned around and gave Dian a soft cry. The two leaves atop its head swayed back and forth, as if it were hesitating.

Dian walked over to take a look and found a small white plant dancing in the wind. Strangely, a large patch of empty ground surrounded it, with not a single weed growing there.

He stared in surprise at the Pure White Star Grass, unable to tell how many years it had been growing.

Such a pure Star Grass was probably a priceless treasure. Dian completely understood Hoppip's hesitation. After all, it wasn't a Poison-type Pokémon.

Besides, even a Poison-type Pokémon probably wouldn't dare consume this Pure White Star Grass directly.

But without a doubt, this was precious nourishment, especially for Dian's Beedrill.

The question was, how could he take it away?

Dian pondered for a moment. He found a withered blade of grass in the meadow, then carefully touched the tip of the Pure White Star Grass's leaf, which was dancing in the wind.

He had made every possible preparation and was ready to cover his mouth and nose and retreat at any moment.

But nothing happened.

Instead of relaxing, Dian's heart tightened.

The poison in this Star Grass was probably even more astonishing than he had imagined. It had already reached a level where it was completely restrained.

Just then, Hoppip seemed to notice Dian's worry. It immediately used Fairy Wind. Wisps of invisible wind began to coil around the leaves atop its head, and then the two leaves carried the wind toward the ground beside the Pure White Star Grass, slicing into it.

Pfft!

The two wind blades swept around the Pure White Star Grass, then lifted. In an instant, an entire Pure White Star Grass plant was pulled out by the roots, along with the soil surrounding its entire root system.

"Hoppip!"

Hoppip held the Pure White Star Grass up with its two leaves and cried out happily, seemingly delighted that it had been able to help Dian.

"What exquisite control."

Dian didn't take the Pure White Star Grass right away. Instead, he removed his outer garment and used the soft cloth inside to wipe the clumps of mud from Hoppip's face.

"Hoppip?"

Hoppip remained still, staring curiously at the Poké Ball pattern on his cloak.

"All right."

Dian looked with satisfaction at Hoppip's clean face, then used the cloak as a cushion and accepted the Star Grass.

Rustle, rustle, rustle.

Suddenly, a noise came from the grass nearby.

Dian's eyes immediately sharpened. "Hoppip, Fairy Wind!"

He didn't specify the direction because he believed Hoppip's senses were definitely much sharper than his own.

Bang!

The fierce invisible wind transformed into blades and swept violently toward the grass nearby.

"What an interesting welcome gift."

A clear female voice rang out. "Smoochum, Powder Snow!"

An equally powerful blast of wind and snow erupted from the grass, forming a whirlwind that perfectly blocked Hoppip's Fairy Wind.

"A Trainer!"

Dian immediately took a step back, retreating behind Hoppip, then shouted without hesitation, "Use Fairy Wind to protect yourself!"

The moment he finished speaking, an invisible whirlwind rose from the ground and enveloped Hoppip.

Grass fragments rose with the wind around them, blocking the opposing Trainer's view.

But the ice and snow Dian expected did not attack. They simply remained as they were.

"You're not a Trainer from around here, are you?"

The same voice rang out again, carrying a hint of confusion. "And this Hoppip is quite a rare Pokémon."

Dian first let out a sigh of relief, but then frowned. "Rare?"

That shouldn't be the case. Hoppip's species wasn't exactly rare in the Johto region, unless—

Unless this was no longer the Johto region, but somewhere else.

Sure enough.

Dian gave a bitter smile. He really didn't know whether to call Celebi's power immense or say that it had changed more than just time—even the location had been altered.

At that moment, the other side spoke again. "That's enough, Smoochum. You don't need to keep using Icy Wind."

"Smoochum."

The tense expression on Smoochum's face immediately relaxed, and she collapsed wearily onto the ground.

Dian also breathed a sigh of relief. "Hoppip, it's all right now."

"Hoppip."

Hoppip withdrew its Fairy Wind, then looked curiously at Smoochum, who was nearby in front of it.

A Pokémon with golden hair and pink lips, resembling a little girl, sat on the ground.

Suddenly, as if she had realized something, she immediately stood up and turned to inspect herself, checking whether she had gotten dirty.

"It's fine."

The girl with long purple hair gently picked Smoochum up, then touched her pink lips. "They're getting a little dry again."

As she spoke, the girl took a bottle of emerald-green spray from her clothing and sprayed it onto Smoochum's lips. "Be a good girl and don't move."

Dian carefully shifted the Pure White Star Grass in his hands to keep it from touching him, then watched the girl before him, who acted as though no one else was there.

"Although I don't know what you plan to do with Baiye Grass, I suggest you don't touch it with your bare hands. The old people on the island say it contains deadly poison."

The girl gently wiped Smoochum's lips as she spoke in a soft voice.

"An island?!"

Dian was somewhat stunned. This place was actually an island. "Which island is this?"

The girl finally turned around. Her dark eyes looked toward Dian. "Hey... You don't even know where this is? Just how did you get here?"

She studied Dian with an inquisitive look, then quickly lost interest and shifted all her attention to Hoppip on the ground. "What an adorable little darling."

The girl gently set Smoochum down, then ran over without the slightest hesitation and picked Hoppip up. "So soft."

"Hoppip?"

Hoppip looked confused and didn't know what to do. It looked toward Dian, only to find him giving a slight shake of his head, so it didn't struggle free.

"Smoochum?"

Smoochum adorably shook her head, then ran over and looked at Dian curiously.

Her large eyes sparkled, and then, for some reason, she suddenly became happy.

She quickly leaped up and bounced onto Dian. Her pink lips immediately moved in to kiss him.

Dian had just prepared to dodge when a transparent frame appeared before his eyes.

"Smoochum—Ice, Psychic type, Kiss Pokémon. It confirms everything with its lips. Whether it's something it likes or something it hates, it can remember it through its lips.

"Ability: Hydration."

So this was a Smoochum with the Hydration Ability.

Dian knew about Hydration. It was very similar to Leaf Guard. Both were Abilities that removed abnormal conditions, except that one worked in Sunny Day weather while the other worked in rain.