While Theo was still thinking things over, the ranger directly explained the reason:
"The Teddiursa from that Ursaring group were originally quite timid when they saw so many people, and they would hide away.
But after they realized there was no danger, they also started joining in on the fun. They often follow the Spinda around and play together with the participants of the event.
Sometimes, those little Teddiursa will deliberately stay close to a Spinda and use their paws to cover the markings on its face, preventing people from seeing it clearly.
At times like that, the participants have to take out some honey to cheer the Teddiursa up.
Only then will the Teddiursa obediently move their paws away and let the participants get a clear look at the Spinda's face."
When talking about Teddiursa, the ranger could not help but laugh.
"This has added quite a lot of fun to the event.
Many couples come here not only to search for the Spinda with the heart pattern marking, but also hoping to run into Teddiursa, feed them some honey, and take photos together.
For those young couples, it's a special kind of romance."
Theo could not help but smile at the amusing scene described by the ranger. Imagining couples holding out honey to coax the little Teddiursa, it truly was a warm and adorable picture.
"Thank you for telling me all this," Theo said, expressing his gratitude once again. "I'm heading to Fallarbor Town and just passing through, so I won't disturb the event."
"I see," the ranger waved his hand.
"The forest is very large, and the activity area only takes up a small portion.
If you follow the path on the west side, you can bypass the event area without being affected.
If you run into any trouble along the way, you can ask the patrolling rangers for help. They'll assist you."
As he spoke, he turned around and took out several sealed jars of honey from a storage box nearby, handing them to Theo.
"By the way, take these with you.
There are Ursaring and Teddiursa deeper in the forest as well. If you happen to encounter them, feeding them some honey can save you a lot of trouble. You might even get on their good side."
"Thank you very much."
Theo accepted the honey. The jars felt heavy in his hands, and a faint sweet fragrance wafted out.
The ranger seemed to suddenly remember something and added,
"Oh right, I almost forgot to mention.
After passing through the forest, there will be a fork in the road with signposts.
The path on the left leads to a newly built suspended cable car. Taking it will get you to Fallarbor Town quickly and safely.
The path on the right leads to the Steel Gorge.
If you're in a hurry to reach Fallarbor Town, the cable car is definitely the best choice."
As he spoke, his gaze once again drifted toward the differently colored Metang floating beside Theo, but he quickly refocused and gave a serious warning:
"If you choose to go through Steel Gorge instead, you must be extremely careful.
That place is the territory of Steelix, Skarmory, and Magnemite groups.
Most Steel-type Pokémon there are solitary and highly vigilant. They have a strong sense of territory and are not friendly toward intruders.
Many Trainers have been injured before because they approached recklessly or disturbed them. You must not take it lightly."
"Understood. Thank you."
After thanking him once more, Theo said his farewell to the ranger and, together with Metang, followed the indicated western path deeper into the forest.
Leaving the ranger behind, Theo and his Pokémon proceeded along the relatively quiet western trail, slowly advancing into the depths of the forest.
As they moved farther away from the lively event area, the atmosphere of the forest instantly became calm and tranquil.
The cheerful chatter of the crowd faded away, replaced by the gentle rustling of leaves swaying in the wind.
Occasionally, there were the distant calls of birds and Pokémon, along with faint echoes of laughter from the event participants far away.
It was as if an invisible barrier filtered those sounds, making them seem blurred and distant.
Sunlight filtered through the overlapping canopy, casting mottled patterns of light and shadow across the forest floor and tree trunks. As the breeze stirred, those patches of light shifted and danced continuously.
Theo took a deep breath. The fresh air, filled with the fragrance of plants and the dampness of soil, flowed into his lungs, bringing a sense of comfort to both body and mind.
As he continued on his journey, Theo began to think about information regarding Fallarbor Town.
Although it was not a large town and did not even have a Pokémon League Gym, its popularity was no less than that of towns that did.
All of this was due to the mysterious and legendary Meteor Falls located nearby.
Deep within the mountains surrounding Fallarbor Town, there was a massive natural cavern, within which flowed a unique and enormous waterfall.
The waterfall roared down from the towering ceiling of the cave, sending water splashing everywhere. Its magnificent momentum resembled a meteor streaking across the night sky, dazzling and awe-inspiring.
That was how the name "Meteor Falls" came to be.
As for the origin of Meteor Falls, many legends had been passed down over time.
Among them, the most well-known and widely accepted version went like this:
Long, long ago, a gigantic meteor, so massive that it could have reshaped the entire Hoenn region, tore through the sky with a blazing tail, hurtling toward the land below.
At that time, people looked up and saw only a shadow that seemed to cover the heavens, along with an ever-approaching fiery glow. Everyone believed that a catastrophic disaster was inevitable.
However, at the very moment the meteor was about to crash into the ground, it suddenly shattered in midair.
Most of its fragments were obliterated by intense friction with the atmosphere, turning into fleeting bursts of light in the night sky.
Only a small core fragment remained, still carrying terrifying power as it continued its descent.
That remnant crashed down with overwhelming force, piercing through the thick rock layers of the mountains near Fallarbor Town and carving out a massive cavern.
The waterfall that had originally flowed down from the mountaintop was redirected by this sudden change in terrain.
Water surged into the crater formed by the meteor's impact, and over countless years, this gradually formed the spectacular sight now known as Meteor Falls.
As for the mysterious force that shattered the meteor at the critical moment, according to accounts passed down by those who had witnessed the event, it was none other than the work of Hoenn's guardian of the skies, Rayquaza.
In the legends, this Pokémon that soars high within the ozone layer has always silently protected the peace of the Hoenn region.
It was precisely because it intervened at that crucial moment that Hoenn was spared from total destruction.
The traces left by the fallen meteor, combined with the legend of Rayquaza's protection, have cast a thick veil of mystery over Meteor Falls.
Because of this, the place has become a destination longed for by countless Trainers, scholars, and explorers.
Many powerful Trainers specifically bring their Pokémon here to witness the site said to bear the marks of the strongest Pokémon in Hoenn.
What further adds to Meteor Falls' fame is that deep within the mountain cavern lives one of the most ferocious and powerful Dragon-type Pokémon.
A ruler beneath the blood-red sky—
Salamence.
(End of Chapter)