Mu Mu

"Wait, don't tell me this is your house?"

Tong Hua was a little startled. This was his first time seeing such a huge tree in real life.

The scene was so dreamlike, as though this magnificent tree had stepped straight out of a fairy tale. It looked even more luxurious than Tong Hua's wooden cabin.

"Yep." Mu Mu nodded. "This is my home. Mine and Tangrowth's."

The tuft of hair on Mu Mu's head perked up proudly. He pushed open the exquisite wooden door, and the dry scent of pine unique to the house wafted out.

"I've lived here with Tangrowth and the others since I was little. They helped me make a lot of this furniture."

Hearing that, a question immediately popped into Tong Hua's mind.

Then what about your parents?

Of course, Tong Hua wasn't tactless enough to blurt that out. Instead, he exchanged a silent glance with Chuang Yi, both of them curious about Mu Mu's background.

Judging by his appearance, Mu Mu was only twelve or thirteen. If he had lived in the forest since he was little, he must have been here for at least six or seven years.

Besides, no matter how they looked at it, this treehouse didn't seem like something a child could build.

And so Tong Hua, Chuang Yi, and Meimei all got up and followed Mu Mu into the treehouse.

The interior was much more spacious than they had imagined. The entire lower section of the enormous tree had been hollowed out, but the simple furnishings made it feel rather empty.

Rugs, hammocks, wicker chairs, clotheslines, baskets...

Nearly every piece of furniture in sight had been woven from vines.

Meimei ran inside and happily jumped onto a hammock, with Turtwig, Minccino, and a few other Pokémon following her.

"Are these vines from Tangrowth's body?" Chuang Yi looked around curiously and picked up a basket from the floor, astonished by the exquisite weaving.

"That's right!" Mu Mu's tuft of hair bobbed cheerfully.

"Tangrowth wove all of these from shed vines.

Tangrowth's vines always grow really fast, so Tangrowth often pulls them off.

They're tough enough that anything woven from them lasts a long time."

After hearing Mu Mu's explanation, Tong Hua and Chuang Yi both turned toward Tangrowth outside the door.

"Not bad!"

"That's really impressive, Tangrowth."

Tangrowth shyly covered its face with its vines, but still nodded quietly, accepting their praise.

"But even though Tangrowth is really skilled, these things alone aren't enough. That's why I went to learn how to become a woodcarver."

As he spoke, Mu Mu pulled a small wooden stool out of the room. Its four legs were all different lengths, yet it managed to stand at a peculiar angle.

"Is this the stool you mentioned last time, the one that fell apart when someone sat on it?"

Tong Hua recalled their conversation while they were looking for Miltank the day before yesterday. But hadn't Mu Mu said someone had broken that chair by sitting on it?

"No, this is the second chair I've made. What do you think? It doesn't look wobbly anymore, right?"

"Uh..."

Tong Hua was at a loss for words. His fellow apprentice really didn't seem to have any talent for woodworking.

Yet he was so confident that Tong Hua didn't know what to say.

"Come on, junior apprentice, try sitting on it."

Mu Mu set the somewhat abstract stool in front of Tong Hua and enthusiastically invited him to take a seat.

Unable to refuse, Tong Hua cautiously sat on the oddly shaped wooden stool. To his surprise, it stayed perfectly steady, without the slightest wobble or any sign of falling apart.

The seat wasn't quite level, though, so he had to brace his feet against the floor.

"Well? Pretty impressive, right?"

Tong Hua: "..."

"Mu Mu, how about I make one for you instead?"

Half an hour later, Ranger Hitomi arrived at the location Chuang Yi had sent her, accompanied by Meimei's parents.

When the three arrived, Meimei and Chuang Yi were playing with the wild Pokémon.

Tangrowth had woven its arms into a swing and was swinging Meimei high into the air, while Turtwig and Minccino chased and played with several wild Pokémon nearby.

The couple had intended to give their daughter a stern talking-to, but the harmonious scene softened their hearts.

"Meimei, it's time to go home. Look, your mom and dad have come to pick you up," Chuang Yi reminded her gently.

Only after seeing her parents standing there did Meimei reluctantly climb off the swing.

"We're so sorry for the trouble."

"No, no, as long as she's safe." Chuang Yi waved his hands. "Handling requests is our job as Rangers. If you ever need help, please come to us."

"But next time you come out to play, make sure you tell your mom and dad where you're going." Chuang Yi gently tapped Meimei's forehead, and she obediently nodded.

"Let's head back, then. Oh, and we still need to thank the helpful locals."

Chuang Yi turned toward the treehouse, only to find Tong Hua and Mu Mu crouched beneath the tree, concentrating intently. Both held tools and seemed to be tinkering with something.

"Tong Hua, Mu Mu, Meimei's parents are here to pick her up!" Chuang Yi called.

"Ah, coming!" Tong Hua looked up to answer, then quickly lowered his head and went back to work.

Mu Mu excitedly waved the wooden mallet in his hand. "Mr. Chuang Yi! Look, it's almost done! My junior apprentice is amazing, isn't he?"

Chuang Yi approached and saw that, sure enough, a brand-new little wooden stool was taking shape.

Its four legs were straight and even, and its seat was smooth and level-a far cry from the previous "abstract" piece.

"Impressive, Tong Hua. I didn't know you could do this." Chuang Yi crouched down in surprise and gently ran a hand over the seat.

Tong Hua smiled sheepishly. "I'm only a beginner. Since I'm running a ranch, I want to try a bit of everything."

[Square Wooden Stool: quality D. Entirely handmade wooden furniture crafted using traditional mortise-and-tenon joints. Although the workmanship is somewhat rough, it is sturdy and durable.]

[Effect: adaptive · small. Anyone who sits on it will find it just the right size.]

[Evaluation: small frame, big stool.]

[Recommended processing method: alchemy.]

Looking at the stool in his hands, which seemed barely large enough for a child, Tong Hua suddenly grew curious. What did that effect mean?

"Thank you for looking after our Meimei."

Meimei's father stepped forward and solemnly thanked Tong Hua and Mu Mu. He was tall and straight-backed, dressed in a crisp suit, and on his face

he wore rimless glasses. At a glance, he was clearly a respectable figure in Windring Town.

"You're welcome. We were only doing what we should." Tong Hua hurriedly stood and brushed the wood shavings off his trousers.

He had thought these parents would at least give Mu Mu, the one responsible for this whole disappearance, a good scolding. Instead, they had actually thanked him.

What nice people.

Beside them, Meimei's mother crouched down and gently stroked Mu Mu's head. "You must be Mu Mu, right?

Thank you for playing with our Meimei."

The tuft of hair on Mu Mu's head swayed gently beneath her hand, and he scratched his cheek shyly.

"Actually, I'm the one who should be thanking you. Since I live in the forest, I've never been able to make friends. I've only ever had the forest Pokémon for company. Meimei is the first person who's wanted to play with me.

Oh, sir, ma'am, could you please not take Meimei home just yet?

We want to go draw at Gale Hill. The rain's about to stop, so we might get to see a rainbow!"

Meimei's parents exchanged a hesitant look.

Meimei immediately ran over from her mother's side, took Mu Mu's hand, and looked up pleadingly. "Mom, Dad, just a little longer, please? I want to see the rainbow with Mu Mu!"

Noticing the anticipation in Mu Mu's eyes, Tong Hua couldn't help speaking up for him. "I can go with them. I promise I'll bring Meimei home before dark."

Chuang Yi smiled and nodded too. "Gale Hill is very safe. If you have time, why don't we all go together?"

"Tur!" "Min!" "Tang!"

Even the Pokémon beside them raised their hands in agreement. Finally persuaded, Meimei's parents exchanged a smile and spoke.

"All right, let's go take a look together." Meimei's father adjusted his glasses, a faint smile curling his lips.

"Yay!" Meimei cheered, grabbing Mu Mu's hand and running north. "Mu Mu, let's hurry!"

Watching the two children run off happily, Tong Hua couldn't help smiling.