Sensing that Miu was about to deny Charlie's request, possibly with the addition of another cutting remark, Jess bulldozed right over her. "Sure thing! We're headed that way anyway. The Pokemon Professor herself has asked us to go to Snowbelle City." She turned back in the general direction of the pathway, though her eyes were still fixated on the boy's map, identifying familiar locations. For the moment, it seemed she had forgotten all about her Zubat in the excitement of meeting and dealing with this new person. She turned in such a way that she was between Miu and Charlie, and she motioned for him to walk with her. "Come on!"

Meanwhile, in the brush, Belial reacted to the cackle with a second of hesitation. He had been expecting anger, even a full-on battle. Instead, he found his potential aggression rebuffed by the Gastly's joviality. Once he had realized this, he perked up from a ready stance and breathed in deeply, getting a feel for the other Pokemon's powerful scent. He found the unmistakable, enjoyable aroma of a poison-type on his tongue, which settled the matter. With a happy squeak he executed a series of little flapping jumps, moving around the ghost and taking in his scent as the Ghastly examined him.

The two might have commenced playing around had both their trainers not started moving away together. Not wanting to be separated from his partner, Belial fluttered across the loamy soil until he was free of any vegetation and then took to the air in a flurry of frantically beating wings. In no time at all he was darting through the still forest air to land on his trainer's shoulder. No doubt the Gastly would be doing something similar.