Wuyin Mountain, a small building on the mountaintop.
As Dragon-type Pokémon, Dragon Scales are nothing to them; they simply fall off on their own.
They shed automatically after a certain period of time.
However, Dragapult could clearly sense the fluctuations emanating from this black Dragon Scale.
It even made Dragapult feel fear!
Dragapult, who had been very wary of Li Wei, instantly appeared before him.
"Gulu! Gulu?"
Lucario translated: (It's asking where this thing came from and whose it is?)
"It's a Dragon Scale from Black Rayquaza. As for where it came from, I can't tell you."
"Gulu..."
Hearing Rayquaza's name, Dragapult's mind couldn't help but conjure the image of the serpent-like figure soaring through the sky.
As a Dragon-type Pokémon, Dragapult clearly knew Rayquaza's strength.
Why would a Dragon Scale from Rayquaza be on him?
Dragapult looked at Li Wei with confusion.
Although from a human perspective, he should be a very handsome type, and he looked very approachable.
But can being handsome allow one to do whatever they want?
It seems... it's not impossible.
Drakloak and Dreepy clearly liked him.
Looking at Lucario, Arcanine, and Silver Metagross, they were all powerful Pokémon.
Dragapult could also feel Li Wei's emotional bond with them.
When Metagross smashed the TV, Lucario immediately protected Li Wei.
Arcanine intentionally or unintentionally shielded Li Wei, but in reality, all the fragments were blocked by Metagross.
Dragapult witnessed all of this firsthand.
Then, looking at Drakloak, who was happily nuzzling Li Wei with closed eyes while eating Energy Cubes...
Dragapult made a decision: following Li Wei would be better for Drakloak's future.
"Gulu..."
Lucario excitedly said, "It's telling you to take Drakloak!"
Drakloak was still engrossed in eating the Energy Cubes Li Wei had taken out, not realizing it had already been given away.
Li Wei wasn't particularly excited; instead, he pressed, "Aren't you coming with me?"
Dragapult shook its head: "Gulu."
(It doesn't want to leave.)
"Why?"
"Gulu..."
Dragapult's voice became a little lower.
(It's still waiting for someone.)
Li Wei frowned in thought, "Waiting for someone... Can you tell me your story? Perhaps I can help you."
Dragapult nodded: "Gulu..."
Time rewound twenty years...
The kitchen stove was on, and a young woman, around thirty years old, moved unusually slowly.
"Cough, cough." The woman covered her mouth, suddenly coughed, and her face instantly turned pale.
"Gulu?"
Sensing Dragapult's mood, the woman smiled gently, "I'm fine."
While Dragapult had its eyes narrowed, the woman quietly turned on the faucet and washed the blood from her palm.
Perhaps because she was in a good mood, the woman hummed a tune softly while cooking.
Dragapult also followed her in singing, and the Dreepy in its launcher also sang "Meli Meli."
This added a bit of life to the otherwise lifeless house.
This was the first time Meria felt like living after learning of her serious illness.
Meria simply cooked chicken noodle soup, one bowl each for herself and Dragapult.
"Here, this one is yours."
Meria presented the portion with more meat to Dragapult.
Dragapult didn't eat; it just nudged the bowl back with its head, "Gulu."
"I can't eat too much, you know."
"Gulu, Gulu!"
Dragapult was just urging her to eat.
"Alright, alright, I'll eat."
Perhaps it was the warmth of the chicken noodle soup that made Meria's eyes redden unconsciously.
"Gulu..."
Noticing Dragapult's low spirits, Meria subtly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"What I made is simply too delicious; it even moved me to tears!"
"Gulu!!!"
(It's the best!)
Good times are always short-lived.
Meria hired workers to cover everything here, packed her luggage; she had to go for treatment.
Before leaving, Meria released Dragapult, "From today onwards, you are free, Dragapult."
"Gulu?"
Dragapult was still in a daze.
Although it was no longer bound by a Poké Ball, it still felt it was Meria's Pokémon.
Before leaving, Meria hugged Dragapult's head and whispered:
"If I can come back... will you forgive me and be my Pokémon again...?"
"I'm leaving. Don't follow me."
Meria left.
"Awoo~~~"
Arcanine cried loudly.
"Kohkin..." Metagross, on the other hand, looked ashamed, feeling very guilty about breaking the TV.
Lucario's eyes also reddened.
Drakloak was no longer engrossed in Energy Cubes; it came to its mother's side and gently rubbed its head against her.
Li Wei could guess that Meria had passed away from her illness.
Dragapult probably knew too.
Li Wei took a deep breath, adjusted his emotions, took out his phone, and dialed Zorro's number.
The call connected quickly.
"Li Wei, is something wrong?"
"Mr. Zorro, I'd like to ask for your help."
"Tell me, as long as I can help you."
"Please help me find a woman named Meria. She should have been hospitalized. She has a house on Wuyin Mountain, outside the eastern suburbs of Jubilife City. This matter is very important, please."
Zorro on the other end of the line sighed.
"It's Meria. No need to search; go to Meria's Home in the city center, near the central hospital."
Zorro roughly explained Meria's story to Li Wei.
Exhaling a mouthful of stale air, Li Wei looked at Dragapult, "Dragapult, do you want to see Meria?"
"Gulu!"
Dragapult's eyes said it all.
"Okay, follow me!"
"Arcanine, Lucario, return for now."
"Awo!"
"Luca!"
After recalling Lucario and Arcanine into their Poké Balls,
Li Wei sat on Metagross's back, with Drakloak and Dragapult flying on either side.
"Metagross, full speed ahead, city center."
Li Wei first sent a message to his dad: [I'm going to the city center. Probably won't be back for dinner tonight.]
Dad: [Alright.]
His dad's quick reply made Li Wei guess he was slacking off. Never mind, he wouldn't expose him.
Then, Li Wei searched for directions to Meria's Home on his phone.
Metagross and Dragapult, moving at full speed, arrived at Meria's Home, not far from the central hospital, in about half an hour.
[Meria's Home.]
Li Wei looked up at the sign above the gate.
This was a children's welfare institution funded and operated by the late Meria.
She died, but she lives on forever.
"We're here. Let's go see her."