While Lucas and Munchlax were sleeping soundly, one was wide awake.
To be precise, the mother Altaria.
Diancie had prepared a very comfortable room for them, with thick carpets on the floor. The family of three snuggled together, covered with soft blankets, feeling incredibly cozy.
Because Diancie worried that the family might fear the darkness after experiencing the terrifying rainy night, she hadn't turned off the lights when she left. She'd also told them that if they found the room too bright, they could turn off the lights themselves, and showed them the location of the switch.
Swablu and its father were too exhausted and had already curled up and fallen asleep, but the mother Altaria just couldn't drift off.
She looked out at the dark night through the window, listening to the whistling wind and the pattering rain, her thoughts wandering to distant memories.
Many years ago, she had experienced such a rainy night. Back then, she had lost a competition, and her Trainer had punished her by making her stand outside in the rain and denied her dinner.
That night, it had rained heavily. She was cold and hungry, and eventually fainted in the downpour.
She thought, if her Trainer had called her back inside like Lucas had done tonight, and prepared warm food and shelter for her, perhaps she wouldn't hate humans as much as she did now.
But no—in the end, it was another of the Trainer's Pokémon who had carried her unconscious body into the house.
Now, looking back, all those painful memories remained vivid in her mind.
She didn't know how long she'd been lost in thought before a glimmer of light appeared on the horizon, and the mother Altaria finally drifted into drowsy sleep.
In the morning, bright sunlight streamed into the room through the window, and Fletchling gently landed on the balcony railing.
"Fletch~ Fletch~~" Lucas, wake up! The sun is shining right on you!
Lucas groggily opened his eyes and found that Munchlax was still tightly holding his arm. The sleeping cap that had been properly positioned on its head last night had long since disappeared.
"Munch~~ Munch~~" Delicious... I want more...
It murmured in its sleep, probably having a pleasant dream about food.
Lucas gently extracted his arm, got out of bed, walked to the balcony, and waved to Fletchling. "Good morning, Fletchling!"
Fresh air after the rain rushed toward him. Lucas took a deep breath and instantly felt his mind clear completely.
"Ah! There's a rainbow!" Lucas suddenly exclaimed, spotting a huge rainbow bridge in the distance stretching from one end of the mountain range to the other.
"Fletch~~" Beautiful!
Fletchling happily flapped its wings and flew upward, playing with a Swirlix that happened to pass by. Together they flew further and further away, heading toward the rainbow until they disappeared from Lucas's sight.
After standing on the balcony for a while, Lucas dragged Munchlax out from under the blanket and pulled it into the bathroom to wash up.
This Pokémon could really sleep. It was still drowsy while brushing its teeth, and Lucas had to help squeeze the toothpaste onto its brush.
Seeing that Munchlax was about to brush its nose instead of its teeth, Lucas sighed theatrically, "I was hoping my student would be able to function independently as soon as possible so I could enjoy the good life, but now it seems impossible. Someone said a few days ago that they would work hard and make progress, but today they've shown their true colors."
"Munch!!!" I'm awake!
Lucas's words made Munchlax jolt to full alertness. It immediately opened its eyes wide, brushed its teeth with a few quick strokes, and then ran out in a puff of smoke to change into its chef's outfit. After that, it was Munchlax's turn to urge Lucas.
"Munch~ Munch~~" Hurry up, Lucas! If you don't hurry, I won't wait for you!
Lucas: . . .
Probably because it had just rained, there weren't many Pokémon coming to the kitchen for breakfast that morning, but that was fine. Lucas felt he could take the opportunity to rest a bit more.
After the Pokémon had finished breakfast, Lucas asked Diancie, "Did Swablu and its family come down for breakfast?"
"No," Diancie shook her head. "They were quite tired last night, and they may have been frightened by the storm, so let them sleep a little longer."
Lucas nodded.
After the Pokémon finished breakfast, Lucas, Diancie, and Munchlax saw them to the door. Vivillon and the Dugtrio brothers also took the opportunity to say their goodbyes.
Then Lucas put on his rain boots and went to the vegetable garden behind the house.
It had just rained, and the vegetable leaves in the garden were covered with dewdrops, verdant and lush. Anyone could tell at a glance that they were fresh and tender. Lucas couldn't help but pinch off a small bok choy, deciding to stir-fry it for lunch to enjoy its freshness.
If he didn't eat it now, it might not remain so crisp and tender later.
Lucas also noticed that the tomatoes had begun to fruit, though they were still green. When he thought of the various delicious dishes made from tomatoes, he couldn't help but salivate.
Just a little longer to wait.
After the rain, the vegetable garden was wet, and the freshly picked bok choy was covered with soil. Lucas brought it to the newly dug pond to wash it.
Fortunately, he had created this pond; otherwise, the vegetable garden would definitely have flooded, and many vegetables might have rotted as a result.
After washing the vegetables, Lucas hummed a little tune as he walked home. Just as he approached the door, he saw Swablu and its father flying out of the house with panicked expressions.
"What's wrong?" Lucas asked.
"Swablu~" Mother is sick!
"Altaria~~" She has a fever!
The two Pokémon expressed themselves anxiously. Of course, even if they had been perfectly clear, Lucas wouldn't have understood.
At this moment, Diancie came over with a medicine box and explained, "Swablu's mother is sick and has a fever."
Lucas was surprised when he heard this. He hadn't fallen ill after the rain, but the mother Altaria, who was countless times stronger than him physically, was sick? And neither Swablu nor its father had become ill!
"Let's go take a look."
Lucas set down the bok choy and followed Diancie, Swablu, and its father toward the room where they had rested the previous night.
As soon as Lucas entered the door, he saw the mother Altaria lying weakly on the floor, her normally blue skin now flushed red.
Lucas walked over and touched her neck, finding it scalding hot.
Noticing someone touching her, the mother Altaria lifted her eyelids slightly and glanced at Lucas. At this point, she didn't even have the strength to glare at him.
"Diancie, quick, give me the medicine."
Diancie hurriedly opened the medicine box and took out the fever reducer.
The system had thoughtfully equipped the medicine box with common remedies for both humans and Pokémon, making it very comprehensive, though the quantities were limited. When supplies ran out, Lucas would need to purchase more from the system store using Happiness Points.
Taking the medicine and bringing it to the mother Altaria's beak, Lucas was concerned she might refuse to swallow it, so he said softly, "You'll be fine after taking this medicine. Please don't be stubborn now."
The mother Altaria truly didn't have the strength to argue. Her consciousness was muddled, and she allowed Lucas to administer the medicine and help her drink water.
Then Lucas placed a cold towel on her forehead and wiped her body with alcohol. It took some time, but gradually her temperature began to decrease.
After doing all this, Lucas noticed that Swablu and its father remained deeply worried, so he smiled reassuringly and said, "Don't worry. Since her fever has started to go down, it means she's improving. You two stay with her, and I'll prepare something for you to eat. You must be hungry too, right?"
Swablu and its father nodded, then quietly lay down next to the mother Altaria, watching her attentively.
Lucas went to the kitchen, first steaming a basket of buns, and then washing the bok choy he had just harvested.
After washing the bok choy, he took out oil, salt, seasonings, and other ingredients one by one.
He poured oil into the heated wok, added the bok choy and stir-fried it, then incorporated appropriate amounts of salt, oyster sauce, and other seasonings in sequence, finally adding a pinch of chicken stock powder before serving.
A simple yet delicious stir-fried bok choy was ready.
High-quality ingredients often needed only simple preparation, and the bok choy that Lucas personally grew was no exception.
He picked up a piece with his chopsticks and tasted it, immediately amazed by the flavor.
Fresh! Tender! Delicious!
These were indeed vegetables grown from seeds purchased from the system store.
As Lucas finished eating and was about to set down his chopsticks, he noticed Munchlax clinging to the kitchen doorframe, staring directly at him with suspicious droplets glistening at the corners of its mouth.
"Munch~ Munch~~" What delicious food are you eating in secret?
As it spoke, it gently twitched its nose, sampling the fragrance in the air, its expression seeming to say: Don't try to fool me—I can smell it!
Lucas sighed with helpless amusement, switched to clean chopsticks, picked up a piece of bok choy, and offered it to Munchlax. "I really can't hide anything food-related from you, can I? Here, have a taste."
"Munchlax~~~" Thank you!
Munchlax bounded lightly to Lucas's side, swallowed the bok choy in one bite, chewed twice, and narrowed its eyes with an expression of pure delight.
"Is it delicious?" Lucas asked.
"Munch~ Munch~~" So delicious, can I have more?
( ˊˋ ) Munchlax looked at Lucas with pleading eyes.
Lucas shook his head: "This is breakfast for Swablu and its family. If you want more, I'll make it for you at lunch. Be good now."
"Munchlax~" Okay, I'll wait.
Hearing this, Munchlax immediately stopped begging—it truly was a well-behaved little Pokémon.
Lucas saw that the steamed buns were ready, so he opened the steamer and took them out, placed them in a bowl, and handed them to Munchlax along with the freshly stir-fried bok choy. "Be good now, take these to Swablu's family."
"Munch~~" Right away!
Munchlax nodded and departed obediently with the bowl.
———
At about one o'clock in the afternoon, the mother Altaria awoke from her feverish state. Although her fever had completely subsided, she felt weak all over after her illness.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw her mate and child sleeping peacefully beside her. Seeing their tranquil expressions, a gentle smile appeared on the mother Altaria's face.
This smile was one that Lucas, an outsider, never saw.
"You're awake? How do you feel?"
Lucas's sudden voice startled the mother Altaria.
Before she could react, Lucas's hand had already touched her forehead.
"Good, the fever has completely subsided. It seems you're really on the mend."
Before the mother Altaria could speak, he quickly withdrew his hand.
Mother Altaria: . . .
"Are you hungry? I saved something for you to eat. Just a moment." Saying that, Lucas walked out of the room.
Looking at Lucas's retreating form, the mother Altaria's expression was complicated.
Why couldn't the first human I met have been someone like him?
At this moment, she finally had to admit that Lucas was different from the humans she had known before.
As soon as Lucas left, Swablu and its father also awakened.
"Blu~~ Blu~~" Mom, you're finally awake! I was so worried.
Swablu happily nestled into its mother's wings, snuggling affectionately against her.
"Taria~~~" I'm fine now, little one.
The mother Altaria gently patted Swablu with her wings, her expression loving as she soothed its anxiety. Her sudden illness must have frightened her child terribly.
The father Altaria moved closer to his mate and gently rubbed his neck against hers, silently conveying his relief and affection.
The mother Altaria responded to her mate's tenderness, intertwining her neck with his. For a while, the atmosphere in the room was filled with warmth and love.
After eating the meal that Lucas brought, the mother Altaria finally regained her strength.
Welcoming the bright afternoon sun, the family of three flew out of Lucas's house.
"Taria~ Taria~" Thank you for everything.
"Blu~ Blu~~" We'll come visit you!
In the blue sky, the melodious calls of Swablu and Altaria resonated, bringing a special vitality to Nebel Plateau.
"Come play again when you have time!" Lucas called.
Lucas stood at the door and waved to the sky, and what responded to him were more cheerful calls from the Altaria family.
———
Later that day, Lucas invited Barboach and Whiscash to his house because he had purchased lotus root seeds from the system store and wanted to ask the two brothers to help plant them in the pond adjacent to his vegetable garden.
Originally, Lucas had planned to ask Barboach and Whiscash to help plant lotus roots in their puddle, but now that he had his own pond, there was no need to use their habitat.
Standing by the pond, Lucas watched Barboach and Whiscash bury one lotus root after another in the bottom of the water. Suddenly, he asked:
"Would you two like to live in my pond?"
The two brothers were stunned by Lucas's words.
What?
Lucas explained: "Look, your original home is in a rather remote location, and you live there somewhat isolated. You're Water-type Pokémon, and it's inconvenient for you to travel on land. It can't be easy coming to my house for meals from so far away."
"Why not just live in my pond? You could help me cultivate lotus roots and maintain the pond. After the lotus roots are established, I'll give you a portion of them as food. My lotus roots will be more delicious than your wild ones—larger and tastier."
Lucas reasoned that the pond would need regular cleaning; otherwise, silt would accumulate, making it shallower and possibly blocking the passage connecting it to Nebel Lake. Barboach and Whiscash were perfectly suited for this maintenance work.
Barboach and Whiscash looked at each other, somewhat hesitant.
Lucas continued: "Consider this—my pond has a direct passage to Nebel Lake. If you ever tire of staying in the pond, you can use that passage to explore Nebel Lake whenever you wish. Isn't that more comfortable than the small puddle where you currently live?"
The two brothers were finally tempted by Lucas's last point.
"Trio~" It's a good offer!
"Trio~" You should accept!
At that moment, the Dugtrio brothers emerged from the soil and joined in persuading Barboach and Whiscash. They had come to help loosen the soil and weed Lucas's vegetable garden that day and happened to overhear his conversation with the aquatic Pokémon.
"Whis~ Whis~" What do you think, brother?
After some consideration, Whiscash made the decision and agreed to Lucas's proposal.
Lucas immediately said happily to Whiscash and Barboach: "Whiscash, Barboach, we'll be neighbors from now on! Please share your wisdom with me anytime."
"Bar~ Bar~~" We'd be happy to!
"Whis~~ Whis~~" This arrangement will benefit us all.
Barboach and Whiscash nodded, then plunged back into the water to continue planting lotus roots.