Wang Hechuan had no idea how much traction today's stream would bring him once the officials weighed in. At the moment, he was still happily teasing a wild Pancham.
Tim Wynn was directing his Rotom to snap photos of the mischievous little Fighting-type. Of everyone on this outing, Tim was arguably the biggest winner.
Not only did he get intimate shots of Auron Vale with Serena Elm, he also captured cozy photos of Simon Greaves with Lena Greaves—
—and, more explosively, a shot of Victini that could blow up every newsfeed the moment it got out.
After the group followed the recommended tourist route and played their way through the sights, evening finally fell.
Auron and the others invited Dax Jonas and Wang Hechuan to come back to last night's farmhouse inn, where they grilled up another round of skewers. For the sake of keeping the peace, they unanimously banned Simon from touching alcohol. While everyone else clinked cups and traded toasts, Simon, armed with the barbecue skills he'd learned just the night before, kept their plates piled high.
Early the next morning, to avoid getting roped into a battle challenge by Dax, Wang Hechuan slipped away after sending Auron a quick message.
With Victini's permission, Auron waited until Dax was probably already on his flight before sending him a selfie of himself and Victini in the car—hoping Dax could discreetly tip off the authorities about Victini ahead of time and see what stance the officials would take.
The result: the moment Dax's plane landed, he started calling Auron like a madman.
But Auron, in the middle of a joyful game with Victini, had zero intention of picking up. He simply powered his phone off, nearly driving Dax to the brink of turning right around and catching the next flight back.
…
After two days of hopping between the connected scenic areas with Victini and their Pokémon friends, the group had to head home. Their itinerary still had a next leg; no matter how reluctant they were, they had to go.
The car ride coming in had been full of laughter and chatter.
The ride back was silent.
Victini seemed to realize they were about to part. Listless, it lay sprawled on Auron's head, absentmindedly twining his hair around its fingers.
The twenty-odd-minute drive that had felt leisurely on the way in seemed to pass in a blink on the way out. In no time, they rolled up to the front of the Guanyin Chan Monastery.
Even then, no one in the car moved.
At last Auron sighed, opened his door, and stepped out. The others followed him one by one, dragging their feet.
Outside, Auron released Crobat, Snorlax, and Charmander.
The others let their partners out as well.
Victini understood: it was time to say goodbye. Unwilling but resigned, it lifted off from Auron's head—
—and then dived straight into his arms, hugging him tight.
Auron tugged one corner of his mouth into a passable smile and stroked Victini's head.
"It's okay. We're only going to be apart for a while. I'll come back to find you soon enough, right? And besides, you can come find me too."
Victini tipped its head up at him, eyes brimming.
Auron's chest tightened, but he kept his voice gentle.
"Here—this is for you. Something to remember us by."
He took out a photo he'd had printed that morning—just for this.
To keep anyone from recognizing Victini, he'd told the shop it was a picture of him and his girlfriend, then handled the printing himself. For extra caution, he'd slipped the owner some Dracocoins to ensure his data stayed private, wiped the computer clean after the job, and, just in case, took every hard drive and memory device with him.
Victini accepted the photo with a puzzled look, glanced down—
—then looked up at Auron in happy surprise. It spun giddily in midair.
After a few loops, Victini dropped to hug Auron again, then went down the line hugging everyone else and every Pokémon, one by one.
At last, with great reluctance and many backward glances, it shouldered a large sack and flew into the Guanyin Chan Monastery.
The group stood watching until Victini's silhouette vanished. Silence pooled around them.
Auron let out a long breath. "Okay. He's home. We should head home too. Let's get in."
They climbed back into the car, all still gloomy. Tim Wynn was so downcast he declared he couldn't drive; Jace Rowan slid behind the wheel instead.
…
Dragging its large sack, Victini returned to the room it shared with Empress Zhangsun and Xiao Sizi inside the Guanyin Chan Monastery.
It set the sack down on the floor, then floated to perch on Xiao Sizi's head, just as it liked to drape itself across Auron's. In that position, it began chattering about the trip with Auron's group.
(Sis, Xiao Sizi, listen, listen—these past few days I met a super interesting human. He can actually see me even when I'm invisible! Amazing, right? But he's also a bit much—who makes fun of someone's little tummy the first time they meet? So then I…)
On the drive back, in the car—
At last Tim couldn't hold it in anymore. He twisted in his seat to look at Auron.
"Why didn't you just tell Victini to come back with us? Or, if he likes you that much, you could have caught him."
Everyone perked up at that. Even Jace eased off the gas and tilted his head, ears pricked for Auron's answer.
Auron slumped against the seatback with a wry smile. "If only it were that simple. He's clearly waiting for someone important here. Why would he leave with us?"
At that, heads drooped all around the car. Sighs filled the cabin.
Auron couldn't just let the mood sink all the way home. Forcing some brightness into his voice, he said, "It's not a big deal. He can't leave, but we can go to him. When their off-season hits and the tourists thin out, we'll come back and play with him again."
That clicked. The car lit up with chatter as they started planning when the crowds would be lighter—and when Victini would dare show itself so they could all have fun together again.
…
(We played together for days and days. It felt just like the old times back in the palace with Xiao Sizi. I was so, so happy.)
Victini wiped the dampness from the corner of its eye and smiled.
(Enough talking—time to open presents! See that? Those are all the gifts they picked out for me. Jealous?)
Preening, Victini pointed proudly at the big sack on the floor and tossed its head at Empress Zhangsun and Xiao Sizi. Then it zipped to the bag and began unloading items one by one.
(This one… mm, a photo of me and Auron. I like it.)
(This one—Poffins?!!)
＼(＠＾０＾＠)/
(Auron is the best!)
Victini set the photo and the Poffin box neatly aside, humming a little tune as it "unboxed" its blind-bag haul of gifts.
(Hee-yah! My little pillow~)
Clutching a small pillow, Victini nuzzled into it with pure bliss.
On the first night of staying with Auron, it had been instantly captivated by the pillow Auron plopped onto Snorlax's belly. Trying the hotel's pillows later, Victini discovered there were such wonderfully comfy tools for sleeping in the world and refused to let go. Auron had even gone out into the nearby streets to buy it a smaller, softer pillow of its own. For the last two nights, Victini had fallen asleep with its cheek sunk into that cushion.
It patted the little pillow happily, then flew over to Empress Zhangsun and set it carefully in her hands.
After placing the pillow in its usual sleeping spot, Victini floated back to the bag to continue.
(Mm… and this is…)
(End of Chapter)