Soon, Swampert returned with a familiar figure in tow.
"Mr. Su, I've been waiting forever~" Xiao Da greeted weakly, her tone dripping with exaggerated exhaustion.
"How long was 'forever'?!" Su Feng asked urgently, fearing she'd been trapped here for months—or years.
"Three hours," Xiao Da yawned. "So… tired… from playing."
Su Feng: "…"
Why does this feel familiar? Did I do this to someone else before?
"Something wrong, Mr. Su?" Xiao Da tilted her head, noticing his strained expression.
"No… nothing," Su Feng replied flatly. "Just realizing karma's a swift little gremlin."
Satisfied, Xiao Da perked up and pulled an Audino forward. "Mr. Su, meet my new partner! She wants to come with us!"
"Audiii! (Yes!)" Audino chirped, bouncing eagerly.
[Livestream Chat]
[What Pokémon is that?! So cute—like a plushie!]
[Xiao Da's collecting partners like Pokémon cards! Teach me your ways!]
[Step 1: Follow Wind Bro. Step 2: Profit.]
[Me, rotting at home: cries in no-Pokémon.]
"Come with you?" Su Feng glanced at Gardevoir for confirmation.
"Groon. (I don't control anyone's choices.)" Gardevoir shrugged. "Groon. (But leaving this land? Impossible. The exit lies in Dragon territory—they'll never let you pass.)"
"Why?"
"Groon. (Dragons are selfish, deceitful oath-breakers.)" Gardevoir stated matter-of-factly.
Su Feng: "…And how do you know where the exit is?"
"Groon~ (I have my sources~)" Gardevoir smirked.
Swampert muttered, "Grr… (Blissey told her…)"
Gardevoir: "…"
Maybe fire these two.
"Has no one tried escaping?" Su Feng pressed.
"Groon. (After centuries of strife, life here has stabilized. Few crave the unknown.)" Gardevoir explained. "Groon. (Those who left… I hope they found joy.)"
Nodding, Su Feng turned to Xiao Da. "Any sign of Xiao Di?"
Xiao Da shook her head. "When I woke up here, I was alone. Just trees and… her." She gestured to Audino.
Gardevoir interjected, "Groon. (Xiao Da appeared in my territory. As for Xiao Di…)" Her voice darkened. "Groon. (A powerful Fire-type—your Blaziken—landed at the forest's edge. He vanished into the mountains… Dragon territory.)"
Su Feng's blood ran cold. Blaziken wouldn't recklessly enter enemy lands unless…
"Will the Dragons attack him?!"
"Groon. (Normally, trespassers are beaten and dumped back here. But Blaziken hasn't returned. Something's… different.)"
"Then I'm going after him." Su Feng tossed Gardevoir a bag of high-grade Poké Puffs. "Thanks for keeping Xiao Da safe."
"Groon. (Safe travels.)" Gardevoir accepted the gift, eyeing the treats curiously.
As Su Feng turned to leave, a tiny voice piped up:
"Raaa! (Mama!)"
A Ralts peeked out from behind Gardevoir's skirt, its green hair swaying as it stared up at Su Feng with wide, curious eyes.