By the lakeside.
The calligrapher admired the scenery of Lake Valor, hesitating to put pen to paper.
Despite envisioning something beautiful, the lack of a glimpse of the Lake Trio made her feel as though she couldn't grasp that feeling.
The characters she wrote became increasingly strange.
What to do?
The calligrapher felt a bit lost, deciding to put down her pen and wander around Lake Valor.
During her stroll, she stumbled upon a peculiar tree.
It had a brownish trunk with two branches, each topped with six green spherical objects that might be leaves or fruits, its odd appearance intriguing the calligrapher.
Soon enough, she understood its true identity—
Sudowoodo.
A mimic Pokémon that disguises itself as a tree to avoid being attacked, fooling some fools, but unable to deceive those with strong perception abilities.
[You find Sudowoodo intriguing; you decide to capture this Pokémon because it reminds you of your former self — no matter how much it looks like a real tree, a copy is never original]
The calligrapher sent out her Smeargle, and without much effort, captured it successfully.
[You've gained a Sudowoodo, adding a new companion to your journey]
From here.
The calligrapher had only one spot left in her team, sparking Baimu's curiosity about which Pokémon it would be.
After capturing Sudowoodo, the calligrapher felt much better, returning to the lakeside to pen down a script about the legends of Lake Valor.
Still not particularly satisfied, but she had reluctantly found her own path.
As the calligrapher admired her work, she noticed her Smeargle, busy grinding ink, gazing dumbfounded at Lake Valor, lost in thought.
She approached it.
[You notice Smeargle frequently pinching its tail, understanding that it's time for a frank talk]
[You apologize to Smeargle, whose sudden apology left it flustered, but you expressed how previously focused you were on writing, neglecting its feelings, and never considering what it wanted]
[You mentioned glimpses of Smeargle often sketching in the sky during your travels these days, but never having the opportunity to enact it due to you holding it back]
[You recalled the first day out when Smeargle drew with the kids in the square to motivate you, but you paid it no mind then, now deeply regretful]
[You said, having tried to find your path, it was time for Smeargle to pursue its desires. From the Gym Challenges, you perceived Smeargle's love for art, and you acknowledged you couldn't and shouldn't limit Smeargle's artistic efforts; just grinding ink was a waste of its talents]
[You embraced the overjoyed Smeargle, and seeing its happiness brought you joy too]
In the scene, the calligrapher and her Smeargle embrace, their close bond prompting Baimu to hug the Deino beside him tightly.
Indeed.
The one using an envious gaze on Mime Jr. was Smeargle, as Mime Jr. could advance towards the Silent Master, while it had to suppress its artist's instinct for the Trainer.
If it genuinely liked writing, why had the calligrapher always been the sole writer?
Pure accommodation, nothing else.
The calligrapher realized this during her travels, inspiring Smeargle.
As they hugged, Lake Valor's center suddenly emitted a pink light.
Soon after.
A petite Pokémon appeared before the calligrapher and vanished in her surprised exclamation.
It was evident that the calligrapher's deep feelings for Smeargle attracted Mesprit's attention.
Witnessing Mesprit firsthand, the calligrapher felt inspired, pouring her emotions into a manuscript praising Mesprit.
A script emerged, gleaming as if bathed in golden light.
[You are very satisfied with the script in your hands, deciding to use it as an entry piece]
On the other hand.
Smeargle also painted a beautiful image of Mesprit floating over Lake Valor, but because the paper wasn't suitable for painting, the colors quickly spread.
Fortunately, the calligrapher captured its artwork with a camera, preparing to purchase professional art supplies for Smeargle.
—
Leaving Lake Valor.
The calligrapher headed north to Hundred Generations City.
Here she witnessed the fading and forgotten relics of ancient history, observing mythical artifacts like the Space-time Tower model and the Vajra Pearl through the Hundred Generations History Museum.
She even encountered stone slabs inscribed with ancient scripts.
From the ancient ambiance, her understanding of antiquated scripts deepened.
[Having gained some insight, you decide to challenge the Gym]
The calligrapher embarked on her third Gym Challenge, facing Gardenia, who specialized in Grass-type Pokémon; it seems she won, but Gardenia, having heard something from somewhere, also hoped she'd leave a script behind.
This left the calligrapher perplexed.
What should she write?
Vegetable?
Hundred Generations?
Ultimately, she decided to transcribe a piece of ancient script from the Hundred Generations History Museum in her style and present it as a gift to Gardenia.
Baimu thought he saw a fleeting line on Gardenia's forehead.
'More words than theirs! Victory!'
What nonsense.
Was there a chat group for Gym Leaders in the Carlos Region and the Sinnoh Region too?
Baimu smirked.
After completing the Gym Challenge in Hundred Generations City, the calligrapher headed to her villa in Hundred Generations City, entrusting her previous work from Lake Valor to the butler to bring to Hearthome City for a calligraphy contest.
Meanwhile, she picked up the Pokémon at the villa and headed towards Snow Peak City and Lake Acuity, the next site of a Lake Trio.
[You've gained Bellossom, a childhood companion—adding another companion for the journey]
Baimu initially didn't understand why the calligrapher took Bellossom.
But when they reached the wilds, the calligrapher began writing, Smeargle drawing, Mime Jr. performing mock skits, while Luxray snoozed.
Altaria let out a loud chirp, followed by Bellossom dancing.
What was this?
Not content with just background music, they added dance too?
Continue playing, continue dancing?
Baimu simply felt the calligrapher was quite the player, exceeding his expectations.
Unfortunately, her luck was not as good this time. Traveling through snow-covered forests to the snow-white mysterious lakeside, the wise Uxie did not wish to appear before her.
The calligrapher felt regret but still left behind a script praising Uxie, recorded personally by Smeargle.
The beautiful icy lakeside journey concluded.
Unexpectedly, upon reaching Snow Peak City, the city brought them an unforeseen surprise—
Frozen weather.
Unlike typical snow, this rare phenomenon only appears on certain dates with snowflakes resembling stars, transforming into glittering ice crystals.
Incredibly beautiful and moving.
Moved profoundly, the calligrapher didn't wait for Snow Peak Gym Leader Xiaosong to ask for a script, and she voluntarily presented a "winter."
A character representing winter felt like a canopy of falling ice crystals, despite the cold, stirring a longing with eyes sparkling as though blessed by divine light.
Upon seeing this character.
The calligrapher knew she was halfway along her path.
And as if in telepathy with her, Mime Jr. finally learned to mimic, evolving into Mr. Mime.
They advanced their future, one step further.