Mew stared at Fang Yuan's backpack longingly, immediately reaching out to grab it.
"Ha... I don't believe a word of your lies," Fang Yuan clutched his backpack tightly and said, "Speaking of which, are you familiar with Ho-Oh? Never mind which Ho-Oh from which timeline, do you have a way to make it willingly hand over some Holy Ash?"
Fang Yuan was still concerned about the Holy Ash, figuring that Mew might know a way, since the World Tree Mew seemed to be good friends with Ho-Oh.
Auntie Phoenix King, got any dirt... like a dark past or something?
"Tell me, and the tablet is yours."
(๑･`◡´･๑) Fang Yuan revealed a grin as naive as that of a lower-level wrestler.
Mew: ...?
Hang on, how did Fang Yuan get mixed up with Ho-Oh again?
Mew took a closer look at Fang Yuan and was startled to discover the mark of The Brave of the Rainbow on Fang Yuan's body.
Mew: (｡•ˇ‸ˇ•｡)???!
Mew was furious.
"Mew!!!!"
Aren't you the Guardian of the World Tree?!!
How did you become The Brave of the Rainbow too??
Have some professional ethics, will you!!!
Although Mew despised Fang Yuan, it became angry upon seeing a sister from a parallel world vying with it for its Trainer.
No matter how tricky Fang Yuan was, he belonged to it.
Although it hadn't signed a contract with Fang Yuan... this blatant job-hopping... infuriating.
"I was coerced... It was Ho-Oh who fancied my talents, but don't worry, once I find the tablet, I'll dump it and come back here. However... now that I have taken up a side job, you have to help me think of a way to get some Holy Ash..."
"You can't just watch your Guardian being freeloaded by other Pokémon!"
Mew: Doubtful.
I have reason to doubt it's you who fancied the Holy Ash, how could Ho-Oh possibly fancy a black-hearted guy like you.
"If we can't get the Holy Ash, Monferno will need healing when it opens The Eighth Gate. That's when I'll have to come to you again."
Mew: (」゜ロ゜)」
Alert———
Having already tired of healing Monferno's injuries from the Seven Gates, Mew was weary. The full injuries from the Intersected Force, although curable, were daunting to even think about; healing them once might need a long rest afterward.
"Mew—— (I'll help you——)"
Holy Ash is a legendary resource left by Ho-Oh after its Nirvana Rebirth, with MAX healing effects, but also very rare—one portion of Holy Ash was equivalent to it going all out. If Mew could help Fang Yuan get some Holy Ash, it felt it might be released from its burdens. This favor, it had to do.
Better Fang Yuan exploits Ho-Oh than it!
"Deal!!!!" Fang Yuan happily handed over the tablet to Mew and communicated through Mind Induction, "By the way, I have some good news for you. I've brought back an extra Celebi this time. Try to keep one so later we can use it as a communicator to talk across timelines."
"It might also help prevent some accidents."
With the situation at the World Tree being unstable, Fang Yuan was quite worried about Mew. Having a Celebi to communicate would allow him to be more at ease while adventuring in the Pokémon World.
"Mew...?"
Mew, worriedly accepting the tablet, thought it was a good idea. But using the World Tree like a phone... didn't seem quite right, although it sounded pretty good?
......
It indeed had been some time since Fang Yuan and his companions had returned. After arriving back on Earth, each Pokémon busied themselves with their own tasks.
Rotom, for instance, took the 3D Dragon and hurried to refine the Cosmic Battleship project and the Destructive Bug's resurrection plan, eager to see how much the recent gains from the Pokémon World could advance these initiatives.
As for Fang Yuan, he returned to Pingcheng with only Eevee and a few other Pokémon like the Self-detonating Magnetic Monster. Having been away from home for a while, it was time to return for a visit.
Evening, at the Fang Family's home.
Father Fang, Mother Fang, and the family pets, Farfetch'd and the tree monster, were having dinner in a somewhat silent atmosphere.
Just then, the sound of a key turning in the lock broke the silence as Father Fang, Mother Fang, and the two Pokémon looked up in surprise.
Following that was the sound of the door being knocked and several voices calling out.
"Dad, Mom, I'm back home!"
"Bwoo!!"
"Magnemite!!"
Fang Yuan was reminded of the memories from his high school days when he returned home at night after special training in the evening with Eevee and Little Magnetic Monster.