While Lionel was pondering, the ranger directly explained the reason: "The Teddiursa in their pack were initially afraid and hid when they saw so many people.
But after realizing there was no danger, they started joining in the fun, often following Spinda to play with the participants.
Sometimes, the cubs would deliberately stay close to a Spinda, using their paws to cover the marks on its face, making it difficult for people to see.
At this time, the participants would have to take out some honey to cheer up the cubs.
Only then will the Teddiursa obediently move its paws, allowing the contestants to see the Spinda's face clearly."
Speaking of the Teddiursas, the ranger couldn't help but laugh.
"This adds a lot of fun to the event. Many couples come here not only to find the heart-shaped Spinda but also to bump into the Teddiursas, feed them honey, and take photos together. For these young couples, it's a special kind of romance."
Lionel was amused by the ranger's description of this scene, imagining couples comforting the Teddiursas with honey—it was indeed a heartwarming and adorable sight.
"Thank you for telling me all this," Lionel thanked the ranger again.
"I'm on my way to Fallarbor Town, just passing through, so I won't disturb the activity."
"I see." The ranger waved his hand.
"The forest is vast, and the activity area only occupies a small portion. If you follow the path to the west, you can bypass the activity area and won't be affected. If you encounter any problems along the way, you can always ask the rangers patrolling the route for help; they will all assist you."
As he spoke, he turned and took out several jars of sealed honey from a nearby storage box, handing them to Lionel.
"Oh, and take this. There are also Ursaring and Teddiursa roaming deep in the forest. If you encounter them, feeding them some honey will save you a lot of trouble, and maybe they'll even become friendly with you."
"Thank you so much." Lionel took the honey; the jar was heavy and had a faint, sweet scent.
The ranger seemed to suddenly remember something and added, "Oh, I almost forgot to mention. After passing through the forest, there's a fork in the road with a sign on the side. The left one is our newly built cable car; taking the cable car will get you to Fallarbor Town quickly and safely. The right one leads to Steel Canyon. If you're in a hurry to get to Fallarbor Town, the cable car is the best choice."
As the ranger spoke, his gaze involuntarily fell on the shiny Metang beside Lionel.
Then, he looked away and earnestly warned: "If you choose to go to Steel Canyon to detour to Fallarbor Town, you have to be extra careful. That's the territory of Steelix, Skarmory, and Magnemite. These Steel-type Pokémon are mostly solitary and wary, with a very strong sense of territory, and they never have a good temper with intruders. Many trainers have been injured before because they approached rashly or startled them. Never let your guard down."
"Okay, I understand. Thank you." Lionel thanked the ranger again and bid him farewell.
Then, with Metang, he followed the path indicated to the west, heading deeper into the forest.
Having said goodbye to the ranger, Lionel led his Pokémon along the relatively secluded western path, slowly entering the depths of the forest.
Far from the hustle and bustle of the activity area, the atmosphere in the forest instantly became tranquil. The sounds of laughter and chatter from the crowd were gone, replaced by the rustling of the wind through the leaves.
Occasionally, the calls of birds and wild Pokémon could be heard from afar, and even further away, the faint sounds of playful banter from the participants in the activity reached him as if filtered through an invisible barrier, appearing blurry and distant.
Sunlight filtered through layers of branches and leaves, casting dappled patterns of light through the forest.
With the gentle breeze, spots of light moved across the ground and tree trunks. Lionel took a deep breath; the fresh air, carrying the fragrance of grass and the moisture of earth, filled his lungs and made him feel refreshed.
As Lionel traveled, he pondered the information about Fallarbor Town.
Although Fallarbor Town was small and didn't even have a Gym, its popularity was in no way inferior to towns that did.
All of this stemmed from the Meteor Falls near Fallarbor Town, which was shrouded in mysterious legends.
Deep in the mountains surrounding Fallarbor Town lay a huge natural cave within which flowed a peculiar, enormous waterfall.
The waterfall roared down from the towering cave ceiling, its spray splashing with a spectacular sight as dazzling as a shooting star streaking across the night sky.
Thus, the name "Meteor Falls" originated.
Many legends surround the origin of Meteor Falls.
The most well-known and widely accepted version is as follows: Long, long ago, a colossal meteor, large enough to shake the entire landscape of Hoenn, streaked across the sky with a long, fiery tail, hurtling towards the land.
People at the time looked up at the sky and could only see the overwhelming shadow and the ever-approaching flash of light; everyone believed a devastating catastrophe was inevitable.
However, just as the meteor was about to hit the ground, it mysteriously shattered in mid-air.
Most of the fragments were annihilated by the intense friction with the atmosphere, transforming into a brief burst of fireworks in the night sky.
Only a small core fragment remained, crashing to the ground with astonishing force.
The debris smashed through the thick layers of rock in the mountains near Fallarbor Town, carving a massive crater.
The waterfall that originally cascaded down the mountaintop was redirected by this sudden change in the landscape.
The rushing water surged into the crater formed by the meteorite impact, and over time, it formed the spectacular Meteor Falls.
As for the mysterious power that shattered the meteorite at the crucial moment, according to those fortunate enough to witness the scene, it was the work of Rayquaza, the sky guardian of Hoenn!
Legend has it that this legendary Pokémon, soaring above the ozone layer, has always silently protected the peace of the land.
It was Rayquaza's intervention at the critical moment that saved Hoenn from this catastrophic disaster.
The traces left by the meteorite impact, intertwined with the legend of Rayquaza's protection, imbue Meteor Falls with an exceptionally rich mystique.
Meteor Falls has become a place of longing for countless trainers, scholars, and explorers.
Many powerful trainers bring their Pokémon specifically to Meteor Falls to witness the legacy of the strongest Pokémon in Hoenn.
What makes Meteor Falls even more famous is that deep within the caves of this mountain range dwells one of the most ferocious and powerful creatures among Dragon-type Pokémon:
the king under the blood moon sky—Salamence.