Having finally reunited with the long-anticipated Sirfetch'd on Route 5, Yuri could now check one wish off her list. The next day, she cheerfully set off on the road once again.
What's worth noting is that, due to his recent evolution, Sirfetch'd seemed to have outgrown the small lake he used to dwell in. He couldn't even find a decent opponent to spar with anymore.
So Marie suggested he travel with her for a while see the world, meet stronger challengers, and maybe detour through the Wild Area in search of worthy foes.
It wasn't that Marie had her eye on Sirfetch'd and wanted to recruit him as one of her own Pokémon. Judging by his demeanor, he didn't seem particularly interested in being anyone's Pokémon in the first place.
Her suggestion was more about finding a good sparring partner for Ee-chan and Baru.
Before evolving, Sirfetch'd had already been able to push Ee-chan to her limits. Now that his attacks were sharper and more refined, he was definitely a solid match for both Ee-chan and Baru a valuable opponent in their training.
And the same went for Sirfetch'd. Finding worthy rivals wasn't easy, especially in the wild. Out there, there were no humans to help treat injuries, no potions or care between battles.
So, since he had already been planning to leave the area post-evolution, Sirfetch'd thought it over and agreed. If anything, he felt like he was getting the better deal.
Regular battles with evenly matched opponents, free food, free medicine, and daily massages? All in exchange for doing what he loved training? Who wouldn't take that?
Both sides walked away feeling like they'd won. Even Yuri was delighted, fascinated by the existence of a Pokémon like Sirfetch'd.
After leaving the lakeside and passing the Pokémon Nursery once again, the group eventually arrived at the bridge leading to Hulbury.
The bridge spanned the vast Wild Area. Looking northward, one could see the towering energy conversion tower in Motostoke a massive, iconic structure said to absorb Galar's natural energy and convert it into power for daily use.
A very familiar premise.
It was almost identical to the legend of Eternatus how it consumed Galar's energy to survive, and in the process, released the Dynamax energy.
Marie didn't dwell on it. With her current strength, anything having to do with the Chairman's secret investigations into Eternatus was well beyond her reach.
Instead, she pointed toward the expansive wildlands below and turned to Sirfetch'd, who stood beside her, gazing out at the horizon with longing in his eyes.
"Down there is the Wild Area. There aren't many signs of human activity. You could live there in the future if you wanted."
"Farfetch'd… (It looks promising…)"
He tightened his grip on his leek-sword and shield, still watching the untamed wilderness with a gleam in his eye.
"But if you ask me," Marie continued, "you might consider heading to Stow-on-Side instead. There's a Gym Leader there who might suit you. Her name's Bea."
Sirfetch'd didn't respond.
Marie didn't press further. She simply handed him a photo of Bea. As a fellow Fighting-type specialist, Sirfetch'd would undoubtedly match well with her. Mentioning it now was simply to give him another option whether he chose the Wild Area or sought out Bea later would be his own decision.
"Marie-chan! The view here is amazing!"
Yuri's voice suddenly echoed from overhead. Marie looked up in surprise and saw that she had gotten Baru to carry her into the sky.
Several brave, non-flying Pokémon had joined them, clinging to Yuri and Baru as they soared through the air, curiously peeking around at the scenery.
Baru was holding Yuri in a full-on princess carry. Marie let out a small sigh. That explained why she herself had never asked for something like that just imagining being carried like that made her squirm.
But she hadn't expected Yuri to be bold enough to go ask on her own, just for the thrill of flying.
"Don't wander too far," Marie called out. She had originally intended to tell them to be careful, but with Baru's strength and awareness and Apple Dragon and Pichu flying nearby it didn't seem necessary. Her warning morphed into something more casual.
No sooner had she spoken than Baru, following Yuri's directions, glided toward a floating puffball drifting through the sky. Marie wasn't even sure what species it was or where it was headed.
She let out a sigh. That girl really couldn't be stopped. Baru clearly had a soft spot for kids... but to spoil her this much?
Then again, it made sense Dragapult came from a line known for their nurturing instincts.
"Um... excuse me..."
A timid voice called out from behind Marie as she leaned leisurely against the railing, enjoying the view.
"Hmm? Hello, can I help you?"
She turned around and saw a man dressed like he'd just walked out of a lab. His hair was a mess, he wore glasses and a mask that obscured most of his face honestly, kind of sketchy-looking.
Still, Marie responded politely.
"Um... well, I was wondering... Are you a Trainer with a Rotom Phone by any chance?"
"...Yes, I do have one."
Marie wasn't sure how he knew that. Rotom Phones, while based on mature technology, weren't widely distributed. They were rare due to the limited number of Rotom available.
To get one, you either had to spend a lot of money or have the right connections.
Marie's phone came through her older brother's status as a Gym Leader. Yuri probably got hers thanks to Hop, the Champion's little brother.
"Ha... that's a relief. I was afraid the detector glitched again..."
The researcher visibly relaxed. Marie picked up on some interesting implications in his words but didn't pry. It might involve confidential research, after all.
"So, is there something you need from me?"
Seeing how awkward he was, Marie decided to move things along.
"Ah right, yes! Here's the thing!"
He still didn't remove his mask, but he turned and pulled a bicycle from his bag, placing it carefully between them.
"This! I call it the Rotom Bike! I'm currently looking for Trainers who own Rotom Phones to help with prototype testing! Here's the manual!"
The moment the topic turned to research, his demeanor did a complete 180 he suddenly became animated and enthusiastic.
Marie took the slim manual and skimmed it. Apparently, the bike was a by-product of his efforts to study new forms of Rotom. Not terribly useful, but intriguing nonetheless.
It worked by generating power through pedaling, which charged the Rotom inside. In turn, the Rotom provided a speed boost and helped conserve the rider's energy.
To Marie, it sounded like a neat little novelty nothing groundbreaking, but not bad either. Maybe they could bundle it with the Rotom Phone someday and call it a day.
"So, what do you think? Would you be interested in participating in the test? It's easy all you have to do is use the bike regularly. Our lab will handle the maintenance and adjustments!"
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