Capítulo 341: New Recipe
The coronation ceremony was over. Spectrier, with its head held high, wore a proud expression as it trotted confidently, eager to return to the ranch and indulge in its favorite shade root carrots.
Seeing Spectrier preparing to leave, Naoki politely cut his conversation short with an overly excited Ivan, murmured a quick goodbye, and hurried to catch up with Spectrier.
"Heading back already?" Naoki asked.
Spectrier lowered its head slightly, signaling its intent.
"Alright," Naoki nodded. He walked alongside Spectrier toward the exit of the racing venue, where Alder and the rest of his Pokémon, including Koraidon, were waiting.
As Naoki and Spectrier approached, Alder and the Pokémon stared, wide-eyed, at the golden trophy perched on Spectrier's head.
"What…what's going on there?" Alder asked, his voice filled with amused bewilderment.
Naoki shrugged casually. "That's its 'crown.'"
Koraidon tilted its head, the corners of its mouth twitching in disbelief. "Raaao…" It muttered, clearly recognizing the object as a trophy.
Alder tried, and failed, to suppress a laugh. "Pfft…"
Spectrier, noticing Alder's reaction, glanced at him briefly with a haughty air, then lifted its head even higher and trotted forward as though parading its victory.
'Hmph, foolish human!' Spectrier's demeanor seemed to say.
Alder blinked, momentarily taken aback. Did the Pokémon just look down on him?
Naoki chuckled as he turned to Ogerpon. "Did you have fun today?"
"Pon!"
Ogerpon nodded vigorously, its eyes sparkling with joy. It had been a wonderful day; no one feared it, and the lively atmosphere was a delight.
"That's good," Naoki replied warmly. "Next time, we'll go to the Harvest Festival in the mountains."
"Pon~!"
Ogerpon clapped its hands excitedly, looking forward to the adventure.
With that settled, the group began their journey back to the ranch. Spectrier refused to return to its Poké Ball, instead wearing its trophy as if it were a golden crown, striding ahead like a king surveying its domain.
Naoki and Alder walked behind, exchanging amused glances.
"Do you think Spectrier actually believes that's a crown?" Alder asked, clearly trying not to laugh.
Naoki sighed, "At this point, yes."
Alder chuckled, barely holding back his laughter. "Well, it does kind of suit it."
Naoki's thoughts drifted to Glastrier, wondering how the frosty steed would react to Spectrier's triumphant return.
It didn't take long for him to find out.
As they arrived at the ranch, Spectrier immediately made its way to its stable, the golden "crown" still proudly perched atop its head.
Glastrier, still sulking in its own stable, raised its head upon hearing Spectrier's approach. Its eyes immediately locked onto the shimmering trophy, and its expression froze in sheer shock.
!!!
Glastrier's wide-eyed gaze followed Spectrier's every move as it strutted into its stable and casually lowered its head to munch on carrots.
To Glastrier, that "crown" wasn't just a trophy—it was undeniable proof that Spectrier had won the race and claimed the title of the most powerful horse Pokémon in the world.
A deep sense of envy and jealousy welled up within Glastrier. Its breathing grew heavier, and icy mist began streaming from its nostrils.
'That crown should have been mine!'
Spectrier, however, paid no attention to Glastrier's brewing storm of emotions, calmly enjoying its snack.
Naoki, noticing the tension, braced himself. He was certain the two Pokémon were about to clash over the "crown."
But to his surprise, Glastrier suddenly turned its icy gaze toward him. Its expression was filled with accusation, as though blaming Naoki for this perceived injustice. Then, with an indignant huff, Glastrier turned around and pointedly faced away angrily and turned its butt towards him.
Naoki sighed deeply. "...."
Alder, unable to hold it in any longer, burst into laughter. "Your Pokémon really have the most entertaining personalities!"
"What are you going to do?" Alder asked with a curious smile.
Naoki let out a helpless sigh. From past experience, he knew that coaxing Glastrier would be no easy task. The frosty steed's personality made it a challenge to soothe its sulky moods.
Falling into thought, Naoki recalled Glastrier's favorite food: ice carrots. Then, he remembered the sugar cubes trainers had fed their Pokémon at the horse racing competition. An idea sparked.
'What if I combine ice carrots and sugar cubes to make ice carrot candy for Glastrier?'
With newfound determination, Naoki headed straight to the ice carrot field.
The field itself was a marvel. Both the ice carrot and shade root carrot fields were tended daily by Calyrex. These special carrots took a long time to grow, but thanks to Calyrex's powers, the carrot seeds were ripened daily to ensure Glastrier and Spectrier had a constant supply of their favorite food.
Calyrex's efforts didn't end with harvesting; the fields were regularly fertilized to prevent depletion of nutrients from the continuous crop cycle.
Naoki carried the basket of ice carrots to the kitchen, where he began his experiment. Ice carrots were unique ingredients, found only in icy climates with precise environmental conditions. The carrots emitted a natural cold energy, their pure white appearance resembling fresh snow. Even to the touch, they felt icy, with a faint mist of cold air rising from their surfaces.
He carefully chopped the carrots into smaller pieces before blending them into a fine, snow-white puree. Next, he transferred the puree into a pot, gradually adding sugar while stirring constantly. As the mixture thickened, he poured it into square molds to cool.
Once set, Naoki retrieved the candies from the molds. Each piece was a perfectly formed cube with a pure, frosty luster that seemed to radiate cold energy. To his surprise, the texture was hard, much like traditional hard candies.
"Could the ice energy in the carrots have affected the texture?" Naoki mused, inspecting the candy.
As he pondered, information about the candy surfaced in his mind:
[Ice Carrot Sugar Candy (B)]
Description: This candy, made from pure ice carrot and sugar, boasts a unique flavor cherished by certain Pokémon.
Effects: Restores ice-type energy and has a chance to help Pokémon learn new ice-type moves. Effective only for Ice-type Pokémon. Increases favorability with Ice-type Pokémon.
Evaluation: A high-quality treat, superior to standard desserts like cream smoothies.
"Huh, it even has a bonus effect," Naoki noted, impressed. Compared to cream smoothies, these candies offered better benefits and were easier to make in bulk. Both Glaceon and Glastrier would enjoy them as a regular snack.
Then, another thought struck him. 'What if I used shade root carrots instead? Could it create a similar enhancement for Ghost-type Pokémon?'
Eager to test his theory, Naoki retrieved two shade root carrots. These carrots, like their icy counterparts, were charged with spectral energy and had been cultivated specifically for Spectrier.
Following the same process, Naoki chopped, blended, cooked, and molded the shade root carrots. Moments later, a row of neatly crafted purple sugar cubes placed before him, glinting faintly with an eerie light.
[Shade root Carrot Sugar Candy (B)]
Description: A candy made from shade root carrot and sugar, boasting a distinct flavor appreciated by specific Pokémon.
Effects: Restores ghost-type energy and has a chance to help Pokémon learn new ghost-type moves. Effective only for Ghost-type Pokémon. Increases favorability with Ghost-type Pokémon.
Evaluation: A unique and high-quality treat designed for ghost-type Pokémon.
"As I suspected!" Naoki thought, pleased with his handiwork.
The ranch didn't have many Ghost-type Pokémon—only two. If the neighborhood Giratina was added to the list, that made three.
As Naoki admired the purple candies, Alder, who had been observing, asked curiously, "Is that one of those Pokeblocks for Pokémon?"
Naoki blinked in mild surprise before shaking his head. "No, these are sugar cubes I made for Glastrier and Spectrier as snacks."
"I see," Alder replied, intrigued. "But they look remarkably similar to top-grade Pokeblocks. The texture is so pure."
Naoki's eyes lit up. "Mr. Alder, can you make Pokeblocks?"
Alder laughed and waved off the notion. "Me? No way! That's far beyond my expertise."
Noticing Naoki's sudden interest, Alder asked, "Wait, are you thinking about learning how to make Pokeblocks?"
Naoki nodded. "Yes. I've heard that Pokeblocks are packed with nutrients that are highly beneficial for Pokémon."
"You heard right," Alder agreed, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "But there's more to it than that. The formula for each Pokeblock is different, and their effects vary depending on the recipe."
Alder continued, "Top breeders often create custom Pokeblocks tailored to the needs of specific Pokémon. These exclusive formulas are incredibly valuable and can fetch a high price."
"But generally speaking, breeders don't sell their recipes," Alder explained.
Hearing this, Naoki's curiosity piqued. "Recipes?" he asked.
"Exactly!" Alder nodded. "There are countless berries in this world. Some only grow in specific regions, and each type of berry can be combined with others to create Pokeblocks. If you really think about it, there are probably thousands of potential recipes!"
Naoki nodded in understanding.
Seeing his growing interest, Alder offered, "When we get to Unova, I'll reach out to one of my contacts and arrange for a breeder to teach you."
Naoki hesitated, feeling slightly unsure. "Wouldn't that be a bit… troublesome?"
He had never been one to use personal favors for something like this.
"What are you worrying about?" Alder said with a laugh. "I'd be doing this as a personal favor, not as some big request. Besides, the person I'm thinking of is a close friend I met back when I was the champion. She's one of the top Pokémon breeders in the field!"
Hearing this, Naoki relented. "Then I'll leave it to you, Mr. Alder. Thank you."
Alder grinned. "Good! Now, aren't you supposed to give those candies to Glastrier? Go on, then we can start planning our trip to the Unova region."
Naoki nodded, carefully setting aside the shade root carrot sugar cubes for Spectrier, planning to give them to it the next day. Giving them both treats at the same time might only add fuel to Glastrier's jealousy.
He carried the plate of ice carrot sugar cubes to the stables.
As Naoki approached, Glastrier immediately turned its back to him, still sulking. Beside it, Spectrier stood tall, its golden trophy perched on its head like a crown. It exuded an air of serene indifference, clearly basking in its self-proclaimed status as the most powerful horse Pokémon in the world.
Naoki sighed. "I can't help but feel these two beloved steeds of Calyrex are a little too dramatic."
Clearing his throat, Naoki stepped closer to Glastrier. The icy steed made as if to turn further away but hesitated when its gaze landed on the plate of frosty treats in Naoki's hands.
Its movement froze for a moment.
Seizing the opportunity, Naoki picked up one of the candies and gently slipped it into Glastrier's mouth. Leaning close to its ear, he whispered, "Go ahead, try it. I made this snack just for you. Spectrier doesn't get one."
Spectrier, of course, noticed the exchange. With its keen senses, it heard every word. However, as the reigning Horse King, it decided such petty concerns were beneath it and didn't bother reacting.
Glastrier, meanwhile, snorted in defiance, pretending to resist, but its tongue betrayed it. It rolled the candy around and began to chew. The icy sweetness spread through its mouth, and though it wanted to stay mad, the delicious treat made it harder to hold onto its grudge.
As soon as the sugar candy slid down its throat, Glastrier's icy-blue eyes lit up instantly.
'This… this is incredible! How could something taste this good?'
Drool began to form in its mouth, and the sulky fog clouding its thoughts quickly dissipated. Its brain and gaze locked entirely onto the sugar candies.
'This human… He actually prepared such delicious food for me. Was this his way of apologizing?'
Grunting twice, Glastrier turned around and began devouring the sugar cubes with fervor.
Seeing this, Naoki couldn't help but smile. He knew he had successfully appeased the temperamental steed.
Compared to Spectrier, Glastrier was clearly not as clever. However, its straightforward, irritable nature had its merits. Pokémon with such temperaments tended to think simply, distinguishing clearly between what they loved and what they despised.
Once Glastrier was contentedly munching away, Naoki wandered off to the orchard. There, he found Glaceon and Alcremie playing hide-and-seek among the trees.
He shared the remaining ice carrot candies with them, earning happy chirps and purrs of appreciation. Then, he headed back to the kitchen and offered a few shade root carrot candies to Flutter Mane, who had floated in curiously.
"How does it taste?" Naoki asked as Flutter Mane nibbled on one.
Flutter Mane, mid-bite, scrunched its little face, baring its fangs in slight distaste. It was clear this type of carrot-based candy didn't suit its palate.
"Mrrream" ."I don't like it…" Flutter Mane grumbled softly, shaking its mane.
Naoki sighed, falling into thought. Flutter Mane, a Pokémon from ancient times, was evidently a carnivorous creature. Compared to carrots, fruits, or vegetables, it likely preferred chunks of meat or bone.
In that case, he decided he'd need to whip up an improved recipe, perhaps something like shade root carrot stew, tailored to suit Flutter Mane's taste.
But this train of thought reminded him of a small problem—Kosaji Town didn't sell vermicelli. Last winter, he had wanted to make pork stew with vermicelli but hadn't been able to find any.
In addition to regular meats, Naoki mused over other delicacies, such as seafood—lobsters and crabs, for instance. The mere thought made his stomach growl slightly.
He remembered how all the fish that Dragonites and Dragonairs had brought him in the past had been devoured entirely by Giratina. He hadn't even managed to sample a single bite. When he had gone to confront Giratina about it, the massive Pokémon had smugly declared, "Anything that enters my domain is mine."
Naoki had been too preoccupied with managing Kitakami and Ogerpon's affairs to think much about it at the time. But now, with some free time, his craving for lobster and crab resurfaced strongly.
Determined, Naoki decided to take action. However, not wanting to upset the other Dragonites patrolling and working in the area, he sought out his personal Dragonite instead.
Finding Dragonite lounging in the sun, Naoki approached. "I need a favor," he began, explaining his seafood craving.
Dragonite's expression brightened instantly. It stood up, clearly delighted that Naoki was seeking its help rather than the wild Dragonites that roamed the area.
With a joyful cry, Dragonite spread its wings, took off into the sky, and soared toward the ocean to catch lobsters and crabs for Naoki.
...
Bonus Chapter.
...
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