Pokémon: What should I do? My father-in-law always wants to tear me apart

"Shanai..."

A clear, melodious and somewhat urgent call came from behind Lin Yi. The voice was like a lively musical note. Lin Yi didn't need to look back, his heartstrings were gently plucked, and he instantly knew who the person was.

"Gardevoir, where have you been these past few days? You were absent from such an important funeral for Ms. Guangmei. This is really unacceptable..."

Lin Yi was filled with anxiety and confusion, and the words came out of his mouth. He turned around quickly while speaking, intending to question him properly, but the moment his eyes met Gardevoir, the second half of the words was choked in his throat.

Gardevoir's eyes were red, as if filled with endless sorrow and guilt. Her usually clear and bright eyes were now misty, and she was about to cry. Tears were rolling in her eyes, almost falling.

Seeing this, Lin Yi stopped in his tracks abruptly. All the questions in his mind disappeared instantly, leaving only a feeling of pity, and the rest of the words were swallowed back.

"Shainai."

Gardevoir bowed slightly and performed a standard and solemn salute to Lin Yi. Its posture was elegant yet a bit reserved. With this silent but respectful gesture, it sincerely thanked Lin Yi for all the hard work he had done for Ms. Guangmei during this period.

"No, don't be so serious."

Lin Yi quickly waved his hands and explained in a slightly faster tone,

"Even if I hadn't encountered this, any passerby in the mountain city who knew about Ms. Guangmei's deeds would be willing to lend a hand. I just happened to be here and happened to know some people who could help. There's really nothing worth thanking me for."

As he spoke, Lin Yi pursed his lips slightly, a hint of hesitation flashed across his face, hesitating to speak, and after considering again and again, he slowly spoke:

"Um... the agreement we made before, do you think we should just call it a day?"

When mentioning the agreement, Lin Yi couldn't help but recall the past scenes.

Gardevoir once solemnly promised that as long as Lin Yi could do everything he could to help Ms. Guangmei move the grave and let the hero rest in peace, it would follow Lin Yi from then on and become his Pokémon, accompanying him on his travels.

But now, Lin Yi not only successfully moved the grave, but also went through a lot of trouble to find Guangmei's mother who had been separated from her for many years. He also single-handedly organized this grand, solemn and comforting funeral. Everything about it far exceeded expectations.

While Gardevoir was filled with gratitude, she felt that what Lin Yi had done far exceeded the agreement, so how could she dare to ask for more? As a result, she was very conflicted these days and didn't know how to face Lin Yi.

"Shauna?"

When Gardevoir heard Lin Yi's words, its body obviously paused and it was slightly stunned, as if it had not expected Lin Yi to suddenly mention this matter. It raised its head and looked at Lin Yi, its eyes full of surprise and confusion.

"I mean, you see, Ms. Guangmei has passed away, and Auntie is now alone. After spending these days with her, I see that she is very kind to you. How about you stay and accompany her? She will be able to take care of you in the future."

Lin Yi scratched his head and suggested softly, his eyes full of sincerity. He really felt that his aunt needed a companion after such a big change.

After hearing this, Gardevoir slowly turned her head and looked at the old lady who was sitting alone in the yard.

The sunlight shone on the old lady, casting a long lonely shadow. She was still holding her daughter's photo tightly in her hand, with a lonely expression on her face.

There were complex emotions in Gardevoir's eyes. After struggling and hesitating for a while, she finally shook her head gently, as if she had made up her mind.

"That's it...then..."

When Lin Yi saw Gardevoir's reaction, he understood a little bit, so he said no more and raised his hand to skillfully take out an empty Poké Ball from his waist.

The shell of the Poké Ball gleamed with a brand new luster under the sunlight, and it lay quietly in Lin Yi's palm, as if waiting to accept a new partner.

Unexpectedly, when Gardevoir saw this, it seemed to be frightened and subconsciously took a step back, its body tense and a hint of resistance in its eyes.

Lin Yi was full of doubts and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows slightly. His eyes were fixed on Gardevoir, trying to find the reason behind this unusual behavior.

At this moment, Gardevoir slowly stretched out its slender arms, carefully holding a very worn-out Poké Ball in its hands.

It is covered with scratches, as if it has been repeatedly gnawed by time and suffering. The thick dust has covered its original color. If you don't look closely, it is difficult to distinguish its true appearance.

Lin Yi's eyes focused, and he instantly guessed the origin of this Poké Ball.

This must be the key item that Mitsumei threw out with her last bit of determination in an attempt to block the fatal explosion when her life was at stake in order to subdue Gardevoir.

These days, Gardevoir must have tried its best to search in the ruins of the mountains and forests and the corners of past memories, only then did it bring this old item, which carries countless memories and ties, to light again.

"You want me to use this to conquer you?"

Lin Yi asked softly, with a hint of surprise and emotion in his tone.

"Shainai."

Gardevoir nodded slightly, his eyes firm and clear.

Today, the forest surrounding the mountain city that was once shrouded in haze is heavily guarded by the Trainers Association, and the defense line is as solid as an iron wall. The rampant poachers and raging disasters of the past can no longer cause trouble. This "guardian angel" who has been silently guarding for many years can finally unload the burden.

And Guangmei, who had been in our hearts for many years and whom we could never let go of, has now been peacefully buried in her hometown thanks to everyone's concerted efforts.

Now that everything is settled, it can move on to a new journey without any worries.

Lin Yi took a slight breath, slowly stretched out his hands, and moved gently for fear of disturbing anything, and carefully took the weathered Poké Ball.

The moment he picked it up, he seemed to be able to feel a faint warmth coming from the ball, which was the lingering echo of his past passion and faith.

Lin Yi tightly grasped the Poké Ball, his expression solemn and dignified, as if he was performing an extremely sacred ceremony, and spoke word by word:

"I understand."

"Shainai."

Gardevoir seemed to have heard a silent call, and slightly opened its arms, its body stretched and relaxed, its eyes lightly closed, its face calm and peaceful, as if quietly waiting for a turning point in fate.

Lin Yi raised his wrist slightly, and with smooth and slow movements, he threw the Poké Ball gently.

The ball drew an arc in the air and touched Gardevoir's body accurately.

In an instant, the Poké Ball opened and emitted a soft light, like a gentle net, slowly drawing Gardevoir into it.

The light flickered a few times and then gradually went out. The Poké Ball fell quietly and lay firmly on the ground without any shaking or struggling.

This is because this is an old item that once formed a deep bond with Gardevoir. This reunion is like the return of an old friend. There is no need for any adjustment, and they have already achieved the same tacit understanding as before.

Lin Yi leaned over, picked up the Poké Ball with his slender fingers, and stared at the criss-crossing scratches on the ball for a long time with his eyes lowered.

Those gullies, deep or shallow, are like a silent history book, recording the thrilling events and separations of life and death in the past.

Lin Yi's lips moved slightly, his voice was low but firm:

"From now on, please give me your guidance."

After he finished speaking, the Poké Ball shook slightly a few times as if it had telepathic connection with him.