"Uncle Wallace, you must come visit me when you have time."
Shauna hugged Wallace and whispered in his ear.
Wallace promised he would and said he would bring Shauna a gift next time.
"Uncle Lance also said he'd bring me a doll next time, but he's been here many times and never brought one."
Shauna puffed out her cheeks and spoke crossly.
Wallace laughed at the sight and pinched her little cheek. "Your Uncle Lance just likes to tease. I won't lie to you. Next time, I'll drag him along, and we'll scold him together."
Hearing this, Shauna hesitated for a moment and then shook her head.
"Never mind. If Uncle Lance doesn't bring one, he doesn't bring one. We shouldn't scold him; it wouldn't be good if he got angry. Anyway, I already have plenty of dolls."
Wallace nodded. "As you wish. When I come next time, I'll bring you dolls—lots and lots of dolls."
Shauna nodded with a smile. "Then it's a promise."
After pinky-promising Shauna, Wallace stood up and looked at Lucas. "Well, I'll be off then."
Lucas hummed in response and then added, "Remember to notify me in advance."
Wallace gave an 'OK' sign. "Don't worry, I'll pay your appearance fee."
Lucas grinned. "That's more like it."
Wallace rolled his eyes, said goodbye to Gengar and the others, and then turned to leave. After resting for a week, he was ready to continue his journey.
After Wallace left, Shauna played with Tomoyo in the Breeding House for a while, then took Tomoyo's hand and went to Lucas. "Uncle, I want to go to Twinleaf Town with Tomoyo for a bit. I've made a new friend there."
Lucas put down the book in his hand and nodded. "You've made another new friend? That's good. Boy or girl?"
Shauna scratched her head. "It's a Pokémon."
A Pokémon?
Lucas's eyes shifted, and then he said with a smile, "Then remember to stay safe. Be sure to come home in time for dinner. If you get tired of playing, go to the Cottage to rest, and then come back together."
"Okay, I got it. Bye-bye, Uncle!"
Shauna waved her hand and ran out of the Breeding House pulling Tomoyo's small hand. Even as she was being pulled along, Tomoyo didn't forget her manners and said goodbye to Lucas.
Watching their departing figures as they rode on Rapidash's back, Lucas thought for a moment and called out for Staraptor.
The sound of Staraptor flapping its wings came from outside.
Staraptor flew into the air and chased after Shauna's direction.
Staraptor flew all the way to the harbor and watched Shauna and Tomoyo climb down from Rapidash's back. They went to the beach and called out toward the distance, after which a somewhat ugly-looking Pokémon swam up to them.
Staraptor looked at the Pokémon in the water from the air and confirmed once more: it really was a bit ugly.
Seeing that this Pokémon was Shauna's new friend, Staraptor landed on a nearby tree and watched Shauna and Tomoyo quietly.
"Look, Tomoyo, this is the new friend I made."
Shauna pointed to the Pokémon in the water and said to Tomoyo, "This is a Pokémon I met on the road a while ago when I was coming home with Chingling and Rapidash. It was being bullied by a lot of people then."
Shauna said indignantly, "It had been captured, but then they all said it was too ugly and didn't like it. So I asked if the Pokémon could be released. The uncles and aunties really dote on me, so when they heard me, they let it go."
Shauna took out the small cake Wallace had made yesterday from her bag, scooped a bit with a small spoon, and fed it.
"After I let it go, I passed by the next day and found some little brats bullying it by the sea. Chingling and I tried to stop them, and they even said I should battle them—if I won, they'd let me handle it."
"In the end, their parents came over, so I didn't have to battle."
"I don't even know how to battle. Honestly, I really wanted Gothitelle to teach them a lesson then."
"But you have to solve your own problems yourself."
Shauna spoke as she fed the Pokémon.
Tomoyo and Staraptor in the tree listened quietly.
Hearing Shauna's words, Staraptor narrowed its eyes.
"Tomoyo, why do you think it hasn't gone home yet? Did it forget the way back?"
"I've heard that fish only have a seven-second memory."
Tomoyo crouched by the side, quietly watching the Pokémon in the water as she spoke.
"Ah?!"
Shauna's mouth dropped open. "Really?"
She then looked at the Pokémon in the water. "You're so pitiful, forgetting your way home."
Shauna reached out and gently stroked its head.
The Pokémon's mouth moved, and Shauna began to giggle.
"Tomoyo, feel it, it's nice and cool."
Hearing this, Tomoyo also reached out to touch it, and then she giggled just like Shauna.
A child's happiness is often very simple.
Out on the distant sea, ripples appeared from time to time.
A transparent Pokémon was watching Shauna and Tomoyo.
"Look, she brought someone else to see that ugly-as-sin Pokémon."
Just then, a burst of laughter came from the harbor.
Staraptor looked over and saw several little brats pointing and mocking Shauna and the others.
"Ugly girl likes playing with ugly Pokémon."
"Exactly, exactly."
"She doesn't even dare to battle, yet she has a Rapidash. Hey, Rapidash, why don't you come with me instead?"
Rapidash gave a soft snort and then slowly walked over to Shauna's side.
It ignored them.
"Staraptor, we'll ignore them."
Staraptor looked at Shauna; she had already raised her head and was looking at it.
She said to it with a smile, "Uncle said we shouldn't talk to idiots, or we'll turn into idiots too."
Staraptor nodded and continued to stand on the tree, preening its feathers.
After the children finished their verbal taunts, they left.
"Tomoyo, why do they all say it's ugly? I think it looks pretty good."
Tomoyo nodded. "They're blind."
A very simple sentence, just two words.
Shauna and Tomoyo glanced at each other and giggled again.
Even Chingling was constantly making pleasant ringing sounds.
"Tomoyo, what do you think a battle feels like? Why do they always talk about battling?"
Tomoyo shook her head. "I don't know either. I don't have a Pokémon."
Shauna said, "Okay."
"But I know who would know the answer."
Tomoyo took a sausage out of Shauna's bag, broke it in half, and gave half to Shauna. The two of them began to munch on it.
"Uncle probably knows the answer, but battling should be a way of reasoning."
Tomoyo remembered what she had heard at home. "My mom and dad said that sometimes many people are disobedient. After you battle and defeat them, they become obedient."
"Then if I defeat them in a battle, will they stop saying it's ugly?"
Tomoyo thought for a while, knit her pretty brows, and only spoke after a long pause. "Yes."
"But I don't know how to battle."
Shauna took a regretful bite of the sausage.
"Do you think I should learn how to battle?"
"Yes."
"But I'm afraid Uncle won't be willing to teach me."
"He probably wouldn't refuse."
"If I can battle, I can protect you, Chingling, Rapidash, and it."
"Then I'll buy a Pokémon too. I'll learn as well, and then I'll accompany you."
"Heehee, Tomoyo, you're so nice. I'll give this to you too."
Seeing only a little bit of sausage left in Shauna's hand, Tomoyo quickly refused. To prevent Shauna from insisting further, she stuffed her own sausage into Shauna's mouth.
Shauna chewed the sausage in her mouth and grinned sillily.
"Tomoyo, you're so nice."
"Tomoyo, do you think Uncle will think it's ugly?"
"Didn't you say it looks good?"
"But I'm afraid Uncle won't think so."
"I don't know. Should we go ask?"
"I don't dare."
"Then I don't dare either."
"Sigh, it's really a headache for a child."
"It's your headache, not mine."
"Hmph."
"Oh, Tomoyo, why are you being like this?"