Our Manor Takes In Pokémon

Evening, at the Manor.

"Uh... in a couple of days? All right, then. No, it's fine, it's what I should've done. A commendation banner would be nice, though. There's a cash reward too?"

Mingyou stood by the front door, reporting the Team Rocket incident to Officer Jenny over the phone.

Officer Jenny told him not to spread the word. After all, he had fought Team Rocket and gotten an entire elite squad captured. They might come looking for payback.

For now, someone responsible for the case would come by in a couple of days. Until then, she asked him to look after the rescued Pokémon. The police would cover all the expenses, and there was a reward too...

Mingyou put down his phone and looked at the Pokémon sleeping nearby. He had wanted to throw a party when he got back today, but the rescued Pokémon still hadn't woken up. Holding a party while leaving them lying there didn't feel right...

Latias had come out of Terastallization, and her injuries had almost completely healed. She was flying around above the Manor while Munchlax and the others who couldn't fly could only watch from below.

"Wuuu~"

She swept over the villa and wove through the orchard. She liked the Manor's surroundings. Its only drawback might be the lack of water: there was just one large pond in the backyard, nowhere near enough for her to dive in.

After exploring the Manor, she quickly flew back to the villa's front door. The downdraft she stirred up nearly sent Mingyou flying.

"Slow down..."

Mingyou steadied himself, then asked with concern, "You're feeling all right now?"

"Wuuu~"

Latias nodded gently and spun once in midair. Then, through Telepathy, she shared her thoughts and decision.

Once Mingyou understood, his eyes widened. "Huh? You want to stay here?"

"Wuuu~"

Latias nodded with a smile. She'd finally gotten a chance to come out, and she didn't want to go back and have her big brother keep her under his wing again. Once she'd had enough fun... no, once she'd worked hard and grown stronger, she'd make him see her in a whole new light!

He was always calling her an idiot, his silly little sister... She didn't want him protecting her forever.

"You..."

Mingyou was at a loss for words. A little sister who'd always been looked after by her big brother had decided her wings were strong enough to fly on her own... It wasn't stupidity. It was willfulness.

He wasn't sure whether to agree. After being captured by Team Rocket, Latias still wanted to stay, which showed how much she trusted him.

And with that silly personality of hers, she'd definitely get angry if he refused. But Latios would worry if his little sister suddenly disappeared, wouldn't he? Mingyou had to consider her family's feelings too.

Before he could decide, Ogerpon, who was crouching beside Wyrdeer, broke into a smile. She wanted Latias to stay and play.

Ogerpon's thinking was simple. After what had happened that morning, she'd grown to love playing with everyone at the Manor. Of course she wanted it to be even livelier.

"Ah... all right!"

Seeing how much Ogerpon wanted it, Mingyou agreed to let Latias stay and play. At worst, he could explain things when Latios came looking for her.

With permission granted, Latias flew happily into the sky. Mingyou could only sigh. He hoped she wouldn't cause trouble around the house by flying wildly into things and snapping the Berry trees.

With Latias's plans settled for now, Mingyou turned and walked with Ogerpon toward Wyrdeer, who was resting on the ground nearby.

Hearing their footsteps, Wyrdeer slowly opened his eyes. Ogerpon waved to the "big-bearded deer."

"Mmm~"

"Yoo-yoo~"

Wyrdeer looked stern, but he was surprisingly friendly. Still, his sudden appearance from the Strange Ball to help them, followed by his willingness to carry them back to the Manor, didn't quite add up.

Mingyou wanted to know why. Curious, he asked softly, "So why were you inside the Strange Ball?"

"Yoo-yoo..."

Wyrdeer shook his head. He didn't know either.

He had even realized that he'd forgotten a great many things. It seemed he had once been badly injured and had fallen into a deep sleep afterward, only waking today.

As for why he'd woken... it was because of the feelings and bond between Mingyou and Ogerpon. He seemed to have been fighting to protect something, and to change something.

"Uh... I'm not sure I follow."

Mingyou scratched his head. Wyrdeer had told him through Telepathy, an ability unique to Psychic-type Pokémon. He took a moment to sort it all out.

In other words, Wyrdeer had been badly hurt and had slept inside the Strange Ball ever since.

Mingyou and Ogerpon had accidentally awakened him, but he'd lost his memory. He'd forgotten what had happened before and what his duty had been.

Once he had it straight, Mingyou asked, "So you must have a Trainer?"

"Yoo-yoo..."

Wyrdeer nodded. He had a vague memory of one, a companion he'd fought alongside. But he could no longer remember what they looked like.

The way Mingyou cared for Pokémon felt deeply familiar to him, though, almost as if his Trainer were still at his side. That was why he'd helped.

"I see... Your Trainer must have treated you really well."

Mingyou smiled. He ought to help Wyrdeer find his Trainer. Someone like that would never abandon a Pokémon without reason.

He went on, "Do you remember what your Trainer looked like? Were they a man or a woman? Any distinguishing features?"

"Yoo-yoo..."

Wyrdeer shook his head. He couldn't remember. He didn't even know where he was now, though everything seemed very different from where he used to live.

"Ah... all right."

If Wyrdeer couldn't remember, Mingyou would have to find another way. He could check online for anyone who'd lost a Wyrdeer... No, he should look for Trainers who had one. They were rare, after all.

Then he asked, "What will you do next? Search for your Trainer on your own, or stay here until you've recovered?"

"..."

Wyrdeer didn't answer right away. He fixed Mingyou with such a solemn stare that Mingyou grew nervous, then looked around.

He watched the Pokémon playing together in the orchard, as though searching their expressions for something. At last, he looked back, made his decision, and rose to his feet.

"Yoo-yoo~"

He had decided to stay. The world was vast, and he'd forgotten too much. Finding his Trainer would be almost entirely a matter of luck.

But Mingyou's affection for Pokémon reminded him of his Trainer. Perhaps staying here would help him recover his lost memories!

"You want to stay? No problem!"

Mingyou agreed without much thought.

After all, the Manor was meant to take in Pokémon. Any Pokémon with nowhere else to go could stay as long as they liked.

"Then I'll look after the Strange Ball for now. I'm looking forward to having you here~"

"Yoo-yoo~"

Wyrdeer nodded. He didn't intend to sit around doing nothing, either. He remembered that his Trainer had loved riding him across the open fields, so Mingyou could ride him whenever he needed to go somewhere.

"Huh? I can ride you?"

Mingyou was astonished.

"Yoo-yoo~"

Wyrdeer nodded again. Besides, he needed regular exercise. Keeping his blood flowing would warm him up and prevent his body from getting "rusty," so he could react quickly if a fight broke out.

Once he was sure, Mingyou couldn't help getting excited. He'd ridden Wyrdeer all the way back from Oni Mountain. Wyrdeer was fast and steady, even on rocky slopes.

Mingyou had planned to catch a Cyclizar for transport the next time he went back to Paldea, but now he wouldn't need to. He could ride Wyrdeer when he went out instead of taking a Flying Taxi.

"Mmm~"

Hearing that riding was allowed, Ogerpon eagerly asked if she could ride too. Riding the big-bearded deer was so much fun.

"Yoo-yoo~"

How could Wyrdeer refuse someone as adorable as Ogerpon? Of course she could.

"Mmm~"

"Let's get you up there, then~"

Mingyou picked Ogerpon up and set her on Wyrdeer's back. Even without anyone holding her this time, she sat steadily. There was no need to worry about her not knowing how to ride or accidentally falling off.

"Mmm~"

"Munch?"

Munchlax stared blankly at Ogerpon riding Wyrdeer. He wanted a turn too, but his gaze slowly shifted to Wyrdeer's beard. He seemed to have spotted something fun...

Just then, as Mingyou watched over Ogerpon, blue motes of light drifted from Wyrdeer. They gathered into a spinning card.

[Wyrdeer (Lv. 2): Use on an Apricorn Tree to change it into a White Apricorn Tree. The White Apricorns it grows have a chance to grant a move (Scary Face, Facade, Calm Mind, Megahorn, Barrier Bash).]

"Apricorns? That's great!"

Mingyou was especially surprised to see that they could grant Barrier Bash. Wasn't that Wyrdeer's signature move? Could a Pokémon really learn it this way?

While he was wondering, Munchlax walked up to Wyrdeer and suddenly reached out...

I'm gonna pull your beard~

Munchlax grabbed Wyrdeer's bushy beard but couldn't tug it loose. The sudden sight made Mingyou and the others burst out laughing.

"Hahaha."