Afterglow (Please bookmark)

"Ratta, ratta!"

Three Rattata ran over, chirped their thanks, then quickly scampered away.

A Pidgey flew down from the sky, clutching several red Berries in its talons.

It flew up to Liyin, handed her the Berries, then returned to its flock.

Sentret was as haughty as ever. It flicked its big tail and ran into the nearby grass, already ravenous.

"Delicious!"

Liyin took one of the Berries cradled in her arms, wiped it clean, and took a bite. "What kind of Berry is this?" she immediately asked in surprise.

"I don't know either."

Dian shook his head. He wasn't an encyclopedia. "Too bad. That Pidgey seemed to really like you. You could've caught it if you had a Poké Ball."

Liyin paused, then suddenly laughed. "Why would I have to catch it? It's perfectly happy as it is."

She stretched. "This really has been a dreamlike journey."

"I've been out for so long. It's time I headed back."

She gave a carefree smile. "Otherwise, someone might just go crazy."

Liyin shared the red Berries in her arms with Beedrill and Misdreavus beside her. Then, after a moment's hesitation, she reached out and stroked Misdreavus's head. "Sorry for the trouble, but I'll need you to get my precious bike down for me in a bit."

"Mis?"

Misdreavus looked quizzically at the red Berry in her hands. She studied it curiously before taking a bite. "Mis!"

The Berry really did seem delicious. She smiled happily, then nodded.

As Dian watched, regulating his breathing and recovering his strength, a smile crept onto his face.

"Thank you."

He thanked Liyin sincerely. "My name's Dian. If you ever need my help, just ask."

"No, no, I'm the one who should be thanking you."

Liyin brushed a finger against her cheek shyly. "I'm Liyin. If you ever come to Goldenrod City, look me up."

"Mis."

Misdreavus seemed to have spotted something and pointed. A brilliant rainbow had appeared on the horizon, stunningly beautiful against the setting sun.

"Bye, Dian!"

Liyin put on her red helmet, turned to call out to him, then sped away on her beloved, stylish bike.

Only after watching Liyin leave did Dian ask Misdreavus to take him back to the lakeside.

Liyin had asked if he wanted a ride to Violet City, but he had declined.

He still needed to gather some supplies in this forest, while Liyin apparently had work of her own to do. She had therefore left first for nearby Violet City, saying she would stay there for a few days and that he could contact her if he came by.

"Phew."

Dian let out a relieved breath once he landed. Truly relieved.

Every previous trip on Misdreavus Airlines had come with all sorts of unexpected incidents. It was quite the thrill ride.

Not recommended for anyone with a weak heart.

Yet this time, they had actually reached their destination without a single hitch, leaving Dian a little disappointed.

He glanced at Misdreavus and found her still eating red Berries. He had no idea where she had gotten them.

"Mis?"

Noticing Dian looking at her, Misdreavus offered him a bright red fruit.

Dian accepted it and took a bite. Yes, it really was delicious—crisp and refreshing, with a faint, sweet fragrance.

Meanwhile, Misdreavus went over to Hoppip, who had been sitting on the ground resting. "Mis."

She offered it a red fruit.

"Hopp, hopp!"

Hoppip smiled happily, then accepted the red fruit and took a bite.

By then, Beedrill had finished escorting the Weedle and Kakuna home.

Dian stretched a little and prepared to build a fire to dry his clothes. He still had another night to spend in the forest, after all, and he had no desire to crawl into a soggy sleeping bag.

Night fell, and tiny sparks drifted through the air, radiating warmth.

Nearby, Hoppip had already settled beside the fire and fallen asleep from exhaustion.

Indeed, everything it had experienced lately, along with its battle against Ekans, had taken a great deal out of it, so it had drifted off early.

Dian gently stroked the leaves on its head, then recalled it into its Poké Ball.

Thump, thump, thump!

Nearby, Beedrill was still swinging its white stingers, rapidly thrusting them at the blocks of wood Misdreavus threw its way.

Simply knocking them aside wasn't enough. It had to pierce them completely, pull its stingers out, and swiftly move toward the next target.

Misdreavus wielded strands of black shadow, continually catching the wooden blocks Beedrill pierced and throwing them again. As time passed, their movements grew faster and faster, leaving streaks of afterimages in the darkness.

After watching them for a moment, Dian rallied his spirits. His Pokémon were working so hard. How could he slack off as their Trainer?

By the firelight, he took a wooden box from inside his clothes and opened it. Inside lay white Star Grass wrapped in cotton cloth.

Dian had put the cloth there specifically because he feared the white Star Grass might get damaged from being jostled, leaking juice that could corrode the wooden box or even hurt him.

As for the other specimen, the astonishingly old Pure White Star Grass, Dian had no intention of using it yet.

He put on a pair of black gloves as before, then added a layer of cotton cloth for extra protection. Only then did he carefully pick up one stalk of white Star Grass and slip it into a glass bottle he had prepared earlier.

Rather than crushing it to extract its essence, Dian poured in the leftover Coelacanth Grass juice from before.

Hiss...

A wisp of smoke immediately rose, and the milky-white liquid inside suddenly began to churn, gradually turning cloudy.

Dian felt the glass bottle in his hand rapidly grow scorching hot.

His expression unchanged, he continued pouring in the milky-white liquid until the entire stalk of white Star Grass was submerged.

Dian screwed the cap on tight, then, still feeling it wasn't secure enough, wrapped another layer of cloth around it. Only then did he feel a little more at ease.

He treated the other stalk of white Star Grass the same way. Once he finished, he realized he had broken out in another cold sweat.

"Phew..."

Dian breathed a sigh of relief. He put the two glass bottles away, then took out the box containing the Pure White Star Grass and checked it. Only then was he completely reassured.

"Mis."

Misdreavus flew over, yawning.

It seemed their evening activities had come to an end.

Beedrill quietly went to the lake to wash its stingers.

Dian felt his sleeping bag and found it just about dry enough to use. He put out the fire, then prepared to go to sleep.

Tomorrow would be a new day.

A fresh beginning, and fresh faces.

"I'll say goodbye to the Beedrill leader tomorrow and trade for some more honey while I'm there. Damn it, once I have money, I'm going to bankroll this whole place."

Dian silently made up his mind, his sweet tooth blazing with determination.