"Indeedee?"
Hatterene tilted her head, looking up at Lin Feng as he suddenly approached.
Though she was already a meter tall, she still had to crane her neck to see his face. Fortunately, Lin Feng immediately knelt down.
"Do you remember that night… when Victini suddenly appeared in front of Alcremie and startled her into using the Metronome?"
"Indeedee?"
Hatterene froze for a moment, then quickly nodded as memories of that night resurfaced. The memory was clear as day.
"Indeedee?" she asked, curious.
"It's nothing major," Lin Feng said, smiling. "I just wanted to ask… did you happen to recover that sake jug that night?"
"Indeedee?"
Hatterene shook her head, then looked at him cautiously. "Did it get lost?"
"No, it's just a sake jug," Lin Feng said, patting Hatterene on the head. Suddenly, his face lit up with excitement. He seemed to have guessed something, though he wasn't entirely sure. He still needed to ask the Alcremie involved that day.
Under the puzzled gazes of Hatterene and Gardevoir, Lin Feng quickened his pace toward the nursery. Curiously, Gardevoir followed him.
Soon, Lin Feng arrived at the nursery and stood before the Alcremie. Among the confused looks of the other creamy Pokémon, he spotted the strawberry Alcremie capable of using Metronome and gently captured her.
The little Pokémon was taken aback at first, slightly flustered, but seeing Lin Feng, her fear dissipated.
"Alcremie…?"
"I just want to ask you something," Lin Feng said, realizing he was getting a little too excited. He took a deep breath, softening his voice. "I just…"
He repeated the same question he had asked Hatterene.
Upon receiving a confirming response, he couldn't help but ask, "That day, after you used Metronome, did you go straight to the orchard, or how did you get there?"
"Alcremie?"
Alcremie recalled that day, her pink eyes flickering with a hint of fear. It wasn't just that she had been scared to stay in the orchard; after using Metronome, it felt as if she had been transported to another world where everything was upside down. She didn't even know where she ended up in the end.
"Alcremie…"
She told Lin Feng everything. Then, looking at him with tears in her eyes, she said, "Alcremie… I never want to use this skill again. It's too strange. I thought I would never use it again."
Listening to Alcremie, Lin Feng understood immediately. Still, he couldn't resist saying, "Don't say you'll never use it again. This is your power. Your strength exists to protect yourself. A delicate little Pokémon like you, if left in the wild without power, could be eaten!"
Lin Feng wasn't just trying to scare Alcremie. In the wild, a Pokémon like Alcremie, born without the guidance of strong parents, would easily become prey.
Food-based Pokémon often either develop survival strategies or stay with their parents.
Just like Tatsugiri, a sushi-type Pokémon that hides inside Dondozo's mouth. The same was true for Applin.
"Alcremie…"
Lin Feng's words startled the creamy Pokémon, their faces showing genuine fear.
"Alcremie… don't eat me… I can give it cream…"
"Alcremie… scared…"
"Alcremie…"
Watching their panicked expressions, Lin Feng didn't stop; he added, "They won't tell you, but if you give them cream, they won't eat you before you get eaten."
The little Pokémon's fear deepened. Finally, Gardevoir stepped in, placing herself between Lin Feng and Alcremie, looking at him with a hint of exasperation.
"Gardevoir…" she seemed to say, meaning, why are you scaring them?
But in truth, she meant, "It's fine, don't worry. Lin Feng's other Pokémon will protect you."
Still, she had to admit that ever since arriving at the nursery, the Pokémon she encountered seemed… unusual. So she let it go.
"Ahem… no, no…"
Seeing Gardevoir's eyes, Lin Feng realized Alcremie was genuinely scared. He awkwardly smiled and said, "I just want you not to be afraid of your power."
He picked her up again. "It's alright. As long as you stay in the nursery, nothing will happen."
"Alcremie…" The little Alcremie still seemed trapped in the fear of being eaten that Lin Feng had described. Helplessly, he could only comfort her gently.
Once she was calmed, he remembered he hadn't yet explained Metronome to her.
"You see, this skill you have is like a skill lottery machine. It randomly chooses one move from all moves. It's not that you can't use it you just need to control your energy and practice using it."
Even as he explained, Lin Feng found it incredible.
Up until now, this Alcremie had only used Metronome three times. But in two of those uses, the moves triggered were exclusive to legendary Pokémon.
That was correct. According to Alcremie, when she used Metronome, she was suddenly transported from one place to another. It wasn't Teleport it was Giratina's signature move, Shadow Strike.
The sake jug that went missing last time must have been carried into the Reverse World by Alcremie's shadow ability.
And then the story began…
Though Lin Feng found it hard to believe, the events unfolded exactly as he imagined.
Giratina in the Reverse World noticed the sake jug Alcremie brought. Curious, it took a sip. Liking the taste, it decided to acquire an entire barrel.
Otherwise, it would be impossible to explain why, despite so many Pokémon sensitive to Aura, the honey grape wine vanished without a trace.
Strawberry Alcremie listened weakly to Lin Feng, gazing up at him.
"Alcremie?" she asked, "Should I practice this skill? Will it make me stronger?"
Lin Feng smiled at the little creature. "It's alright. Even if you don't practice, everyone will protect you."
"Of course, if you want to practice but are afraid… Um, have Gardevoir watch you while you practice. She'll help you!"
Lin Feng glanced at Gardevoir. "Right, Gardevoir?"