**Chapter 22: The Past Fades Away with the Wind**
The next day, Bai Feng handed the task of supervising the construction site to Bai Ye and went to the West District with Popplio and Helioptile.
The Anesthetic needed to help Helioptile activate its Hidden Energy Circuit was about to run out, so he planned to go find Nurse Joy and buy a little more.
Walking into the Pokémon Center, Bai Feng discovered that there seemed to be an unusually large number of people today, so he looked doubtfully at Nurse Joy and asked, "Is there anything special happening today? The Backyard seems particularly lively."
After helping Bai Feng pack the Medicine, Nurse Joy handed it to him and said with a smile, "There's nothing particularly special. It's just that two Trainers who don't get along are 'Duelling', and everyone is watching the excitement."
"So that's what it is." Bai Feng found it amusing, so he didn't ask any more questions. What kind of deep-seated hatred could people who Duel here possibly have?
As he was holding the Medicine and planning to leave, Popplio suddenly grabbed him.
"Woo~ woo~" Let's go take a look too.
Bai Feng said speechlessly, "What's there to see?"
"Woo~ woo~" Let's go see, let's go see!
Popplio pulled on Bai Feng's pants and refused to let go, almost tearing them off.
"Alright, alright, stop pulling! I can't do anything about you. I'll take you to see, okay? What's so good about joining in this kind of excitement!" Bai Feng said speechlessly, pulling up his pants. Then, he took Popplio and Helioptile to the Pokémon Center Backyard.
Arriving at the Backyard, as expected, there were two sixteen or seventeen-year-old Trainers having a Pokémon Battle on the Battlefield there. One was using a Chespin, and the other was using a Froakie.
The two Pokémon were fighting back and forth, and cheers would erupt from outside the field from time to time. There were quite a lot of onlookers.
"Hey, young man," Bai Feng asked, pulling on a boy nearby, "what kind of grudge do these two have?"
"Haha~ What kind of grudge could there be? These two fell for the same one..." The young man told Bai Feng about the two people's grievances in great detail.
It turned out that these two people had adventured together before. At that time, they were still good friends with each other.
Later, the two of them took a liking to the same Pokémon in the wild. That Pokémon was quite rare, and both of them wanted to capture it, so a dispute arose. Unexpectedly, that Pokémon slipped away in the chaos in the end.
Finally, the conflict between the two escalated. Later, they would even clash as soon as they met. And wouldn't you know it, they met again at the Pokémon Center today.
"So it was just for this!"
Bai Feng had a speechless expression. He had thought these two had some deep-seated hatred. He lowered his head and looked at Popplio.
"Are you satisfied now? Is this battle good to watch?"
"Woo~" So-so.
Popplio said, shaking its head. Suddenly its movements froze, staring unblinkingly in one direction.
"What's wrong?" Bai Feng looked doubtfully along Popplio's gaze, only to see a girl of twelve or thirteen not far away was also watching the excitement in the crowd.
"Woo~" I want to Duel her!
Hearing Bai Feng's words, Popplio suddenly snapped back to attention. It grabbed Bai Feng's pants and said, pointing at the girl.
Bai Feng was completely confused. You can't just see people Duelling and then randomly grab someone else to Duel! And stop pulling on my pants for no reason!
"This isn't good, is it? We don't have a grudge against them," Bai Feng said awkwardly.
"Woo~ woo~ woo..."
Popplio chattered on and on. Only then did Bai Feng understand the reason for Popplio being so Excited. It turned out that the girl was actually Captain Sanders' daughter, which is to say, Popplio's original Trainer.
Popplio wants to get revenge for the "abandonment" from back then!
"Do you really want to Duel?" Bai Feng asked hesitantly.
"Woo~" Popplio nodded firmly.
"Alright then, since you're so persistent." Bai Feng nodded, then led Popplio and Helioptile towards that girl.
"Um... hello."
"What is it?" The girl was watching the Pokémon Battle in the field with interest. Suddenly being interrupted, she had obvious displeasure on her face.
"You're a Trainer, right? Do you want to have a Pokémon Battle with me?"
Originally the girl was still a little angry, but hearing that Bai Feng was here to challenge her to a battle, the displeasure on her face instantly changed into delight.
"Alright!"
Saying this, she looked at the Popplio and Helioptile by Bai Feng's feet. Then a great look of doubt appeared on her face. *Why is that Popplio glaring at me?*
Obviously, the girl had completely forgotten the appearance of her former Popplio. Of course, Popplio's appearance had also undergone some subtle Variations.
"My name is Bai Feng, what about you?"
"My name is Aili Ya."
Soon, the Pokémon Battle on the field ended. The two people Duelling determined the winner and loser. That Froakie, because it didn't have a Type advantage, ultimately narrowly lost to Chespin.
Seeing the Pokémon Battle end, the spectators planned to disperse. Unexpectedly, two more people then walked up, so they all stopped and stood back.
Aili Ya took out a Poké Ball and was just about to release her Pokémon when she suddenly heard Bai Feng on the opposite side say, "I heard you have a Yamper, can you use that Pokémon to battle me?"
That Yamper was the Pokémon that bullied Popplio back then, and was also a Pokémon that Aili Ya's friend specially captured for her from the distant Galar wilderness.
Hearing this, Aili Ya's action in her hand paused, and she thought doubtfully to herself, *How does he know I have a Yamper? Have we met before?*
Without time to think carefully, Aili Ya asked with a conflicted expression, "Are you sure? My Yamper already Evolved into a Boltund. It's my strongest Pokémon."
"Yes, I'm sure, please," Bai Feng said.
Aili Ya looked at the Helioptile by Bai Feng's feet, thinking that Bai Feng wanted to use her Boltund to help Helioptile, which is also an Electric-Type Pokémon, reach a higher level. So she didn't refuse anymore and readily released Boltund.
"Woof!"
Boltund let out a proud bark as soon as it came out, its whole body radiating Electric Spark, giving off a rather arrogant feeling.
This was the first Time Bai Feng had seen this kind of Pokémon in reality. He looked at the other party with interest and thought Boltund was quite handsome.
The Instant it saw Boltund, Popplio immediately dashed into the center of the field, glaring with hatred at its old enemy from the past.
Aili Ya did not recognize Popplio, but Boltund recognized it at a glance. Its proud movements paused, and it looked at Popplio with an unnatural expression.
"It's you?"
"It's me, your momma! Watch me beat the crap out of you today!" The fiery little pepper was raging.
Boltund originally still felt a little guilty towards Popplio, but being cursed at like that by it, it immediately got angry too.
"Just you? Can you even use Moves now?"
"You just wait and see, you dog thing!"
...
Aili Ya outside the field unexpectedly pointed at Popplio and said to Bai Feng, "You're going to use this Popplio?"
"Yes, is there a Problem?" Bai Feng nodded.
Aili Ya was instantly fuming. *Is there a Problem?* She felt that this kid opposite her either didn't have a good grasp of basic Pokémon Knowledge or was looking down on her. Neither Situation was tolerable.
"Since you insist, then I won't hold back! Boltund, Thunder Fang!" Aili Ya angrily commanded Boltund to launch the attack first.
"Woof!"
Boltund let out a loud bark, its four legs flying. In the blink of an eye, it dashed to Popplio's side, opened its mouth full of Electric Spark, and bit towards Popplio.
Popplio has never had an advantage in terms of speed, so it didn't even think about dodging. It opened its mouth, and a string of musical notes floated out from it. The Charm Voice filled sound made Boltund's mind momentarily dazed.
Charm Voice!
Boom!
Boltund hadn't even touched Popplio yet when it was sent flying by a sound wave mixed with Water vapor, rolling several times on the Ground before shaking its head and getting back up.
It looked at Popplio, feeling horrified inside. *Is this the Popplio from before?*
Similarly, Aili Ya also didn't expect that in just one round, her strongest Boltund would fall into a disadvantage.
Without waiting for Aili Ya and Boltund to react, the beautiful Singing Voice rang out on the field again, even more pleasant than before.
People who heard this Singing Voice all felt their eyelids become heavy, but they were not the direct targets of this Move, so the Situation was not serious, and shaking their heads a couple of times dispersed the sleepiness.
This Time, what Popplio used was no longer Charm Voice, but the control Move Sing. This Move was accidentally learned by Popplio while developing its Hidden Energy Circuit.
In terms of sound-based Moves, it has unparalleled Talent. As soon as this Singing Voice rang out, Boltund instantly fell into a state of sleep.
"Popplio, Water Gun!"
Following Bai Feng's command, a Water Spout shot directly at Boltund.
"Boltund, wake up quickly!" Aili Ya called out anxiously.
However, Aili Ya's calls didn't have any effect. Boltund was directly blasted away by the Water Spout, hitting the wall not far away hard. The intense pain finally made it regain consciousness.
Just as Bai Feng and Aili Ya were having their Pokémon Battle, a girl wearing white clothes arrived at the Pokémon Center. After handing the Poké Ball in her hand to Nurse Joy, she asked, "Is someone having a Pokémon Battle in the Backyard?"
Nurse Joy answered with a smile, "That's right, it just so happens that your Pokémon's treatment will take some Time. If you're interested, you can go take a look."
The girl nodded and walked towards the Backyard. When she pushed aside the crowd and saw Bai Feng in the field, an expression of surprise appeared on her face.
"It's him!"
The newly awakened Boltund was panting heavily. It was obvious at a glance that its Stamina loss was very severe.
At this moment, Aili Ya no longer felt any anger at all. She only felt that the reason Bai Feng asked her to use her strongest Pokémon to battle, and even used the Type disadvantaged Popplio himself, was all because of his confidence in his own Strength.
Only Boltund was screaming frantically in its heart: *They are getting revenge!*
At this Time, Popplio's Singing Voice rang out again. Boltund didn't even have Time to make any movements, and its eyelids drooped again.
"Boltund! Boltund!"
No matter how Aili Ya called out, Boltund didn't react at all. She was almost going crazy with anxiety. Except for the first Time, she and Boltund actually didn't have another Opportunity to attack.
The Sing Move theoretically has about a fifty percent chance of making the opponent fall asleep. However, in actual combat, due to the Influence of various factors, this probability probably doesn't even reach forty percent.
But that Popplio on the opposite side could actually hit every single Time.
How the heck are we supposed to play like this?
"Popplio, Water Gun!"
As Bai Feng's voice rang out, Boltund on the opposite side was blasted away by the Water Spout again.
Seeing Boltund's pathetic state and Aili Ya's dejected expression, Bai Feng thought guiltily to himself, *Isn't this a bit too much?*
Although he was getting revenge for Popplio, honestly, if he had been in Aili Ya's position back then, he would have made the same choice.
Even if he didn't have the Golden Finger, he wouldn't have suggested taking in Popplio to Captain Sanders.
You can't say this kind of behavior is correct; you can only say this is human nature. People are all driven by seeking benefits and avoiding harm.
Moreover, Captain Sanders had given Popplio to him for free back then. Now that he was bullying the other person's daughter like this, he always felt a little bad about it.
After falling down this Time, Boltund finally couldn't get up again.
Having defeated Boltund, Popplio finally vented its pent-up frustration and happily hopped over to Bai Feng's side.
Bai Feng stroked its head and said, "Feel better now?"
Barely! Popplio lifted its head.
"Now that you've vented your frustration, let this matter be over. Don't hold a grudge anymore, okay?"
"Woo~ woo~" Alright, alright.
Popplio answered perfunctorily.
At this Time, Aili Ya, who had already recalled Boltund, walked up to Bai Feng and said, "You and your Popplio are very strong. It was an honor to have a Pokémon Battle with you."
Although she said that, Aili Ya was actually quite discouraged. Bai Feng's age looked about the same as hers, but his Strength completely crushed her. It's hard for anyone not to be discouraged by that.
In the past two years, Aili Ya had been traveling outside, participating in quite a few large and small competitions. She had always felt that her own Strength was pretty good, but today's Pokémon Battle made her fully realize what it means that there are always people better than you, and there's always a higher sky.
"Me too," Bai Feng said with a smile.
At this Time, Aili Ya suddenly asked again, "Have we met before? Otherwise, how would you know I have a Yamper?"
Bai Feng shook his head and replied, "We haven't met, but..." Saying this, he glanced at the Popplio by his feet.
Following Bai Feng's gaze, Aili Ya looked at Popplio again. Seeing that Popplio was still glaring at her with a hostile attitude, something suddenly flashed in her mind. Then, connecting it with Bai Feng's attitude, she immediately looked at Bai Feng in disbelief and asked:
"Could it be... It's... It's..."
Dad said he gave Popplio to a young man about the same age as her, so... But how is this possible?
Because she was too shocked, Aili Ya even started to stutter, stammering for a long Time without saying a Complete sentence.
Bai Feng shook his head and didn't speak, turned around, and left with Popplio and Helioptile.
Aili Ya took a step forward intending to call out to Bai Feng, but suddenly stopped. What could she do by calling out to someone else anyway?
After standing there in a daze for a long Time, Aili Ya only then returned Home dejectedly.
After leaving the Pokémon Center, Bai Feng was just about to take a ride to leave when he suddenly heard someone call out to him from behind.
"Hey, Bai Feng!"
Bai Feng turned around, only to see a girl wearing a white dress was looking at him prettily.
"It's you?" Bai Feng said in surprise.
"So you still remember me!" The girl smiled brightly.
(End of this chapter)