Clunk.
The doors of the Pokémon Center opened.
Dian walked in carrying Eevee. Mewa, meanwhile, had already returned to school with Oshawott and a thoroughly despondent Emolga.
The moment he entered, he discovered that every seat in the Pokémon Center was occupied, and everyone was staring at a blue-haired girl in a maid outfit.
"What is this?!"
Dian's eyes narrowed. Through the special glasses made by the Pokémon Ranger Union, he saw not a maid, but a Latias with a face full of curiosity!
Of course, this wasn't the Latias who had given him the Red Feather. If she had taken human form, these glasses wouldn't have detected her at all.
The maid Latias before him was somewhat like the young Latias in Alto Mare who had taken on the appearance of the girl Kanon.
Pat, pat, pat...
The blue-haired maid ran over like a young girl, then leaned forward and studied him carefully with her equally blue eyes, looking a little puzzled.
"Ooh!"
The blue-haired maid suddenly closed her eyes and sniffed, then hugged him delightedly.
"Vee."
Eevee raised its head and gave the blue-haired maid a curious look, seemingly noticing something unusual about her too.
It wasn't just Eevee. Snivy at Dian's feet was also poised for battle, with two vines extended and gleaming with the sharp light of Leaf Blade.
"It's all right."
Dian gestured to Snivy at his feet.
He knew why she had suddenly hugged him. She must have sensed the presence of her own kind on him.
Just then, the Nurse Joy of Aspertia City's Pokémon Center came out of the workroom with her Audino.
"La..."
Nurse Joy covered her mouth in surprise. "Huh? Lanlan, you...?"
She couldn't quite make sense of it.
"Audino."
Audino looked equally surprised.
"Your name is Lanlan?"
Dian reached