Zorua

"Oh? Fire Spin!" Officer Jenny Feng's eyes lit up. She knew Heath's character well. He would never have said something like that unless he was certain the person in front of him was a bad guy.

But Asura reacted even faster. The moment he saw Officer Jenny Feng, he recalled Cofagrigus and had Xatu take him away. Just as Asura rose into the air, Fire Spin flared up.

"Aw, what a shame, Heath! And you-what are you doing out here again?" Officer Jenny Feng stamped her foot in frustration, then turned a stern gaze on Heath.

Heath swallowed. He had to admit that Officer Jenny Feng was truly intimidating when she got serious. Right then, he felt like a criminal being interrogated.

Though he knew Officer Jenny Feng wasn't doing it on purpose, Heath also knew it was an occupational hazard for her. She unconsciously carried that air of authority wherever she went, which was why members of the Officer Jenny family generally had trouble finding partners.

After all, having such an intimidating girlfriend or wife was a bit much. One raised eyebrow, and you'd be ready to confess every crime you'd ever committed.

"Well, I saw that old man come in and got curious about what he was doing in Viridian Forest so late, so I followed him," Heath said with a chuckle, his expression perfectly natural as he spoke.

That was one of the biggest benefits of living with Officer Jenny Feng. Heath had become pretty good at keeping his composure.

Officer Jenny Feng narrowed her eyes at Heath but said nothing. Instead, she looked behind him, where a Caterpie lay panting heavily.

"Was that person trying to catch this Caterpie?" Officer Jenny Feng found it rather baffling. Though she had rushed over, she had still caught sight of the old man's Pokémon, Xatu.

Why would someone who had a Xatu want to catch a Caterpie? Surely he hadn't believed the rumor that Caterpie could evolve into Rayquaza?

"Uh, no. There was a Pokémon with black fur here just now, but it seems to have run away when you arrived, Sister Feng." Heath glanced at Zorua. The Pokémon had taken on another Pokémon's appearance, presumably to avoid being recognized by Officer Jenny Feng.

So Heath didn't expose Zorua's little ploy.

Officer Jenny Feng nodded in understanding, then pointed to Arcanine's back. Heath felt a little helpless, but he knew what Sister Feng meant and had no choice but to walk over.

"Mmm~" At the strange sound, Heath turned around in confusion and saw Caterpie clutching his trouser leg, gazing up at him pleadingly.

"Wh-what do you want?" Heath asked inwardly, a little puzzled.

With Sister Feng there, Heath couldn't put down the Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs. Otherwise, Officer Jenny Feng would definitely suspect something was wrong, or scold him for wasting food.

"I'm hurt. You're a weird-looking human, but you seem pretty nice. Won't you consider taking adorable little me home and treating my injuries?" Zorua's voice rang out in Heath's mind.

The corner of Heath's mouth twitched. What did Zorua mean, a weird-looking human?

Still, being able to catch Zorua would be a good thing. At the very least, Heath would have his second Pokémon.

"This little one seems to be hurt. Sister Feng, we have some Potion at home, right?" Heath asked Officer Jenny Feng.

Sitting on Arcanine, Officer Jenny Feng looked at Caterpie and nodded.

Only then did Heath pick up Caterpie and climb onto Arcanine's back, riding back to the dorm at tremendous speed.

Officer Jenny Feng didn't ask a single question on the way. Once they arrived, she simply yawned and went back to her room to wash up, acting as though nothing had happened.

"Sister Feng really knows how to look after people." Heath scratched his head as he looked at the bottle of Potion on the table, then picked it up and returned to his room.

Heath's room was very plain: a bed, a desk and chair with some books on the desk, and a wardrobe. There was nothing else.

Heath let Farfetch'd out. Farfetch'd looked curiously at the Caterpie on Heath's head, then took out a leek and poked the other Pokémon.

"Stop! I'm not a Caterpie! You stupid duck!" Zorua instantly turned into a Farfetch'd and brandished a leek.

Heath didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the sight. He waved his hands to settle the dispute between the two Pokémon, then checked Farfetch'd's condition.

Farfetch'd was healthy and uninjured, with only some ruffled feathers. Heath breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at Zorua beside him.

Zorua had a small wound on the left foreleg. Heath picked up the Potion and sprayed it on. An injury like that could be healed with Potion alone.

Although Pokémon Centers in the Pokémon world offered free treatment, that only covered ordinary injuries. Serious injuries still required payment.

"That Asura guy captured you, right?" Heath asked curiously, watching Zorua lie on the bed with a look of contentment.

"Yeah, that bad guy. I ran off from the Zoroark who looks after me to find some fruit, but that bad guy spotted me and used that big wooden thing to catch me." Zorua nodded.

Heath gave Zorua a strange look. For some reason, he kept feeling that Zorua seemed a little...

A little sultry and languid? Like a beautiful young woman. It was a strange feeling.

"Then why did you turn into that little girl from Viridian City? Is there a story behind it?" Heath looked at Zorua curiously. He still remembered that when he first saw Zorua, the Pokémon had looked like a little girl.

By then, Heath had already dreamed up an entire million-word tearjerker: perhaps a kind little girl had taken Zorua in out of compassion, or perhaps she had actually been Zorua's first Trainer, but they had been forced to part for various reasons.

Or perhaps the little girl had entrusted Zorua with a dying wish, hoping the Pokémon would avenge her or something.

Though he thought those ideas were rather strange, Heath was still very curious.

"Huh? Do I need a reason for that? I just thought that little girl was pretty." Zorua licked a paw, then looked at Heath in confusion.

The corner of Heath's mouth twitched. Well, then. After all that, it had simply been about looks. That was why Zorua had turned into that girl.

"Zorua, would you like to travel with me and discover all sorts of delicious food together?" Heath took a deep breath and asked Zorua earnestly.