Chapter 288: Friendship Fruit
In the heart of the newly restored forest, the rangers assigned by the Paldea League stared in awe at the Pokémon with the large, radiant head standing beside the young man.
What they had witnessed was beyond anything they had imagined.
"What kind of Pokémon could make seeds planted only moments ago sprout into a full-grown forest?" someone murmured in amazement.
At that moment, hurried footsteps approached from behind the crowd. A few forest rangers, who had been planting trees in other areas, arrived breathlessly, their expressions full of disbelief as they took in the transformed landscape.
"What happened here? How did an entire forest appear so suddenly?" one of them asked, eyes wide with shock.
"That Pokémon did it!" one ranger responded, his hand trembling as he pointed toward the King of Bountiful Harvests, who was hovering just a short distance away.
The newcomers looked over and saw the extraordinary Pokémon with a serene expression, its gentle smile casting a soft glow on the grassy field.
None of them recognized the Pokémon, but from its hovering stance, radiant aura, and regal demeanor, it was clear that this was no ordinary Pokemon.
Curiosity ignited among the rangers, who couldn't help but wonder about the identity of this powerful being.
"This Pokémon… it can make plants grow instantly?" one of them whispered in awe.
"What kind of Pokémon is that?"
All eyes turned toward the young man beside the King, sensing that he might be the trainer who knew the answers they sought.
Naoki felt the weight of their gazes and responded with a calm smile. He spoke clearly, "This is Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests. Long ago, he ruled over an entire region."
"C-Calyrex? A King of Pokémon?" murmured a few rangers, struggling to process what they were hearing.
A gentle smile appeared on Calyrex's face, feeling a sense of pride and warmth as Naoki shared his name with others.
However, the King of Galar has become a thing of the past, and now he is just an ordinary farmer Pokémon.
"Alright, Champion, we've finished up here. Let's head back," Naoki said, turning to Geeta.
Geeta, finally snapping out of her amazement, responded with a grateful smile, "Once again, the Paldea League owes you a debt of gratitude. As Champion, I'd like to extend our sincerest thanks to both you and Calyrex on behalf of the League."
Naoki replied with a calm smile, "Whether human or Pokémon, we're all part of this world. Helping each other just comes naturally. There's no need to thank me."
After all, the mountain behind his ranch was as much a resource for him as for others, filled with wild berries and vegetables in spring and summer, and abundant with mushrooms and pine cones in autumn. Even the poisonous mushrooms he found here once led him to encounter the legendary Pokémon Giratina.
But Geeta shook her head. "Regardless, you've helped the Paldea League immensely in restoring this area's ecosystem. If it had continued on a normal schedule, it would've taken at least a year or two for this mountain to recover."
"Not only that," she continued, "the League would have had to dedicate substantial manpower and resources to rehabilitate the natural landscape here. Thanks to you, we can redirect those resources to other important projects."
Naoki nodded, choosing not to decline her gratitude further.
Then, in a familiar gesture, Geeta extended another invitation.
"The Paldea League would be honored to have talented trainers like you join our ranks. If you're interested, I'd be happy to submit an application on your behalf, inviting you to join directly."
Naoki sighed inwardly. Here it was again.
He knew exactly what Geeta was proposing. Working for the League was much like civil service in his past life—a stable career with benefits and a reliable future. Once you retired, the League provided a generous pension, ensuring financial security in later years.
For many professional trainers, such an offer was a rare and appealing opportunity.
After all, no matter how skilled or young, every trainer eventually grows old.
But he truly didn't need it!
Seeing this, Geeta sighed in mild disappointment.
Naoki simply smiled and offered his farewells, turning to wave goodbye to Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny before departing with his Pokémon.
Geeta watched as Naoki and his Pokémon disappeared into the dense forest. Only then did she turn to the gathered forest rangers and say, "Thank you all for your hard work today!"
The rangers, momentarily lost in thought after the day's incredible events, snapped back to reality, realizing it was already dusk. Their work for the day was complete.
They began packing up their tools, eager to head down the mountain and share the astonishing story with their friends and families. The mysterious Pokémon, Calyrex, had restored the entire mountain to its former glory in an instant—it was nothing short of a miracle!
At last, the restoration of the back mountain was complete.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow across the sky, Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy took a moment to relax, letting out sighs of relief.
"Calyrex is truly incredible," Nurse Joy marveled, her eyes still filled with wonder.
Officer Jenny nodded, her initial skepticism completely gone after witnessing the miracle firsthand. "I never imagined I'd see anything like this… and to think Naoki has a Pokémon with such power."
Geeta overheard their conversation but chose to stay silent, lost in her own thoughts about how best to thank Naoki for his efforts.
...
In the forest near the ranch, Naoki bid farewell to Pokémon.
"Alright, from today on, this is your new home," Naoki said with a warm smile. "Find a spot you love and make it yours!"
"If you get hungry, feel free to roam around the forest. I planted plenty of fruit trees in this area, and they're now full of ripe, juicy fruit. You can pick as much as you'd like."
"Squeak!"
Minccino responded eagerly, already glancing around to find the tallest tree to make its new nest.
The other Pokémon also looked delighted, each one ready to explore and settle into their new surroundings.
Seeing their excitement, Naoki felt a sense of relief. Although they hadn't been together for very long, he'd come to know these little creatures well—their personalities, their quirks, and even their favorite places to rest.
Naoki's gaze swept over each Pokémon as he shared some parting advice:
"Minccino, it might not be the best idea to stash your berries in a tree hollow. If something happens to it, you'll end up going hungry," he advised with a playful wink.
Turning to Tandemaus, he added, "I hope your little one grows strong and healthy."
"Wattrel," he continued, "I noticed a flock of Wattrel flying toward Casseroya Lake earlier. If you're looking for company, maybe you could try flying there. But remember to be careful."
Then, with a nod to Tinkatuff, Naoki said, "Thank you so much for helping Pawmot make that hammer. Though you got separated from the other Tinkaton and Tinkatuff, I think you've made some great new friends here. You won't feel lonely anymore, right? Make sure you all get along!"
Each Pokémon listened intently to his farewell words. Gradually, as they came back from the joy of having a new home, they realized that it was nearly time to say goodbye to Naoki.
Their expressions softened with sadness and reluctance.
Wattrel, in particular, remembered the time when it was too injured to fly. Naoki had tirelessly cared for it every day, applying medicine and preparing its meals.
Smeargle also lowered its head, a sad expression in its eyes. It, too, remembered how Naoki had rescued them, bringing them into his care.
Without Naoki, they never would have survived the harsh winter.
"Smear…" Smeargle murmured, holding its paintbrush tail and gazing up at Naoki with tears shimmering in its eyes. Seeing this, Naoki felt a wave of emotion rise within him.
He knelt down, gently reassuring them, "It's okay. It's not like we'll never see each other again. This place is just a short distance from the ranch. If you ever miss us, you can always visit anytime."
"Oh, and since we're neighbors now, I might need your help finding mushrooms when I come back here to forage," he added with a warm smile.
Minccino perked up at this, wiping its tears with its tiny paws. With a determined nod, it squeaked its agreement, promising to help Naoki find every mushroom on the mountain.
The other Pokémon nodded eagerly, each of them cheering up a bit at the thought of future visits.
Naoki smiled softly, waving to the group of Pokémon. "Alright then… See you all soon!"
"Wooooooa!" the Pokémon called out in response, their voices echoing through the trees.
With a final nod, Naoki turned and began his descent down the mountain, accompanied by Koraidon and the others as they made their way back to the ranch.
By the time they arrived, it was already 6:30 in the evening. The sun had dipped low, casting long shadows across the fields.
Naoki noted with a slight frown that they'd missed Zack, who usually came by around this time to collect goods. But seeing the quiet, empty ranch, he realized Zack must have stopped by earlier, finding no one there and leaving empty-handed.
Looking at the barrels of Gogoat milk stacked under the eaves, Naoki paused in thought. He decided to move them into the cellar for safekeeping, planning to have Zack inspect them tomorrow before adjusting the price.
The ultra-pure Gogoat milk, with effects akin to potent healing medicines, was a precious resource. Naoki briefly considered keeping it all for himself. But then he reasoned, with Gogoats producing milk daily, he would never be able to use it all.
Rather than letting it sit in storage, he thought it better to sell it to those in need.
Maybe it could even help some injured Pokémon recover or save those in dire straits.
He thought of Alder, the Champion of the Unova region. Years ago, while defending the Pokémon League, Alder's partner Pokémon, Volcarona, had been gravely injured in battle. Despite treatment at the Pokémon Center, Volcarona never fully recovered and eventually passed away due to its weakened state. The loss had left Alder disheartened and distanced from battling.
"If only Alder had been able to give Volcarona a bottle of this Gogoat milk," Naoki mused. "Perhaps it might have made a difference and saved Volcarona."
The thought of this milk potentially helping trainers like Alder and their beloved partners brought Naoki a sense of purpose. And if he could make a bit of money to keep the ranch running, then why not?
Feeling satisfied with his decision, Naoki sighed, a weight lifting from his shoulders.
After the long day on the mountain, both he and his Pokémon were ready to call it a day.
After a simple dinner, Naoki and the Pokémon soon drifted off to sleep, their exhaustion from the day's work quickly pulling them into slumber.
Meanwhile, deep in the back mountain, a small celebration was taking place.
Gathered under the gentle glow of the moonlight filtering through the leaves were Minccino, Tinkatuff, Bellibolt, Tandemaus, Smeargle, and a few other Pokémon. They sat in a circle, each holding a fresh, juicy fruit in their paws, basking in the quiet joy of their newly restored home.
Minccino, stomach full and feeling content, exclaimed happily, "Squeak!" (I'm ready to dig in!)
But when it looked around, it noticed that the other Pokémon weren't eating. They simply held their fruits, lost in thought.
Confused, Minccino tilted its head and asked, "Squeak?" (Why aren't you eating?)
Bellibolt, blinking its yellow eyes thoughtfully, replied, "Gumo…" (Naoki has done so much for us. I want to give him a gift to thank him, but I'm not sure what to give…)
Tinkatuff nodded in agreement, her eyes reflecting a similar sentiment. "Woowa!" (I also want to give Naoki a gift to show my thanks…)
But none of them had anything to offer. The forest had just been restored, and they had very little to give.
Seeing the disappointment on their faces, Minccino blinked, then looked down at the fruit in its paws. An idea began to form, and it thought of the little stash of fruits it had hidden earlier in a hollow of a tall, sturdy tree—its new, carefully selected home.
"Squeak!" (I know what we can give him!)
The other Pokémon looked at Minccino, curious and hopeful.
"Gumo?" (What should we give?)
Minccino stood up, proudly holding a berry high in its paws. The ordinary Pecha Berry gleamed beautifully under the moonlight.
"Squeak!" (It's berries!)
"Berries?" The other Pokémon looked at each other, puzzled.
Naoki's ranch already had plenty of fruit… Would he appreciate this?
Minccino nodded confidently. "Squeak!" (Of course, he will! If we give Naoki the big, round berries we've collected, he'll be so happy!)
For Minccino, these berries were its most prized possessions. Now, it wanted to offer them to Naoki as a way to show its gratitude.
"Woo…" Tinkatuff, the little blacksmith, looked on, awestruck.
Big, round berries?
That's it!
Tinkatuff's eyes sparkled with excitement. They could give Naoki the best, ripest berries they could find!
The next morning, when Naoki opened his door, he found Minccino sitting on the ground, struggling to hold up a makeshift bag crafted from large leaves. As soon as Minccino saw Naoki, its eyes brightened, and it loosened its little claws, letting the leaf bag unfurl. A pile of berries immediately spilled out, rolling across the porch.
"Squeak!"
Startled, Minccino quickly used its tail to stop the berries from rolling too far.
Naoki knelt down to help, pleasantly surprised by Minccino's early visit. "Why are you here so early?" he asked with a smile.
Minccino's big, shiny eyes sparkled as it picked up a berry and pushed it toward Naoki.
Realization dawned on Naoki. "Are these… for me?"
"Squeak!" Minccino chirped excitedly, nodding.
Minccino nodded vigorously, then added, "Squeak!" (They're from everyone in the forest!)
Watching as Minccino mimicked Tinkatuff's hammer-swinging motion, Naoki quickly understood the little Pokémon's message.
"Is this you and the others prepared together?" He asked with a smile.
"Squeak!" Minccino nodded, looking up at Naoki with hopeful eyes, eager to see if he would like the gift.
After all, this was the best they had to offer.
Seeing the eager look in Minccino's eyes, Naoki smiled warmly, nodding as he said, "Thank you. I love it very much."
Upon hearing his words, Minccino's eyes sparkled with joy. It waved its tail, and turned to dash away, but paused when it reached the grass. Turning back, it waved its tiny paws at Naoki.
"Squeak!"
It wanted to rush back and tell everyone that Naoki truly loved their gift!
"Wait!" Naoki called after it, thinking of giving it some berries as a treat, but Minccino was already a blur, vanishing into the distance before he could say another word.
Naoki chuckled to himself. "Was this really from all of them?" he wondered, looking down at the pile of fruit.
As he observed them more closely, his eyes widened in surprise as he saw their description.
[Friendship Fruit: A unique ingredient, imbued with the gratitude of Pokémon. A token of friendship.
When used in cooking, it enhances the dish's quality by one level, unless the dish has already reached the maximum level.]
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Stones💎💎
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
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