บท 264: Winter Tea Party
Naoki Ranch, 7 p.m.
It was already late, and after a joyful reunion dinner with the Pokémon, everyone settled into their evening routines.
Sister Indeedee went to open the Pokémon Tavern, ready to greet the Pokémon visitors who came daily for a bit of relaxation and company. Brother Indeedee handed Naoki a stack of postcards and a few unique items.
Naoki looked through the postcards and found they were sent by Teddiursa and Mew. Each postcard had a picture on the front and their little paw prints on the back. It looked like they had captured scenes of new Pokémon and landscapes they had encountered on their journey.
The items included a glittering red star fragment, a heart-shaped scale, a strange-looking bone, and a solid rock. Clearly, Teddiursa had gathered these using its "Pickup" ability.
Naoki set the postcards and trinkets aside, planning to read through them more thoroughly as bedtime stories. For now, though, he had a few tasks to take care of.
First on his list was to thaw the fresh grass harvested in autumn and prepare it into grass dumplings. The batch he'd made before he left had been entirely eaten by the three Gogoats, so it was time to make a new supply.
He mixed the grass with dough, placed it in a pot, and set it to steam.
While Naoki was busy, the other Pokémon gathered in the living room or scattered around the cozy house. Occasionally, he'd catch a glimpse of Alcremie and Pawmot playfully racing up and down the stairs.
With the nightfall, the temperature outside dropped quickly, and Naoki knew that no Pokémon would want to be out in the cold when there was a warm, well-lit house with a crackling fireplace, plus an endless supply of fruits and snacks inside.
Naoki smiled, checking on the grass dumplings. He set the timer and adjusted the alarm, which would go off once the dumplings were ready.
While he waited, Naoki prepared a few cups of his favorite sweet black tea from Kitakami. He brought the tea back to the living room, placing one cup in front of Calyrex, who was resting on the sofa, and another two cups in front of Sinistea and Polteageist.
After drinking that cup of bitter black tea on the boat, Polteageist had remained downcast, without a trace of a smile.
Seeing this, Naoki decided to offer it a fresh cup of tea.
"Care for another try?" he said, pushing two cups of sweet black tea in front of Sinistea and Polteageist.
The two Pokémon stared down at the tea.
Sinistea floated forward, happily absorbing the tea. A moment later, the cup was empty, and it let out a contented sigh, visibly cheered by the sweet flavor.
It was clear this tea was just to Sinistea's taste.
Beside it, Polteageist gazed down at the tea with the lid balanced on its head, seeming a bit unsure. After a moment, it let out a small sigh.
Naoki raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"
Just then, two curious little faces peeked out from under the table—Pawmot and Alcremie, each with a look of encouragement.
Alcremie beamed and chirped, "Mree!" (Naoki's tea is really tasty! It's sweet!)
Pawmot nodded with enthusiasm. "Pawmot, Pawmot!" (Yeah, give it a try!)
Polteageist looked at the two Pokémon, sensing the warmth and friendliness in the room. It was a far cry from the lonely, dusty warehouse it had once called home.
With a small, determined shake of its head, Polteageist seemed to make up its mind. It reached out with two delicate hands, picked up the tea, and poured it carefully into itself.
A moment later, Polteageist's form swelled slightly, brimming with tea, and a small drop of purple tea spilled onto the table.
Polteageist looked a bit flustered, but Naoki simply smiled, grabbing a cloth to wipe it up. "No worries, we'll just clean it up."
As it looked at the caring human and friendly Pokémon around it, Polteageist's once-downcast expression brightened. Its eyes sparkled, and it let out a joyful little sound, "Ho~!"
"Feeling better now?" Naoki asked.
Polteageist gave a happy nod, the sadness from before now gone.
Calyrex, watching from nearby, smiled warmly. "It's amazing that a Pokémon's mood can be lifted so simply by a cup of tea. Even in all my years, I've never seen anything quite like it!"
Naoki chuckled in agreement. "Yes, it's quite magical. How about you, Calyrex? Would you like to try some? I'm curious if this tea suits your taste too."
The King of Bountiful Harvests nodded and took the cup of tea, sipping it elegantly.
After savoring it, he smiled gently, "This is delightful. I quite enjoy the taste."
"Glad to hear it!" Naoki grinned, watching Calyrex with admiration. He couldn't help but imagine a scene—Calyrex sitting gracefully in a field of flowers under the warm sun, enjoying a peaceful afternoon tea.
Naoki thought, 'It would be even more perfect with a slice of grass cake alongside. Afternoon tea paired with a grass cake dessert sounds just right.'
Recalling that Calyrex is a Grass-type Pokémon, Naoki thought about the grass dumplings and grass cakes he'd developed before. He realized that these treats could not only strengthen Calyrex's Grass-type moves but also boost the Grass-type energy within him.
And with Calyrex's influence, there could be amazing results when cultivating crops—just like the enormous watermelon he'd grown before.
He also wondered if Calyrex's power might help speed up the growth of the ranch's World Tree, a tree that would normally take 100,000 years to mature.
But that would have to wait until another day. For now, Naoki had a lot to prepare.
For example, building separate stables for Spectrier and Glastrier and creating special fields in the ranch, using the power of Calyrex and the two horses to make snow-covered fields and spectral areas to grow Ice Carrots and Shade root Carrots, the horses' favorite treats.
While deep in thought, he heard the alarm go off.
Naoki quickly headed to turn it off, then opened the pot to find his freshly steamed grass dumplings ready.
He called over Koraidon, handing it a small basket of dumplings. "Could you help me deliver these to the Gogoats?"
"Raao!" Koraidon agreed enthusiastically, trotting off with the basket in tow.
Naoki took two soft, round grass dumplings and returned to Calyrex. "Would you like to try these? I made them especially for Grass-types."
Calyrex lowered his head, looking at the green dumplings on the porcelain plate with interest.
In the next moment, a soft blue glow appeared around one of the grass dumplings.
The dumpling floated gently into the air, guided by the light, and landed in front of Calyrex. With a delicate motion, Calyrex caught it, took a small bite, and began to chew thoughtfully.
After a moment, his eyes widened in astonishment.
'This food… it actually contained a trace of natural energy!'
Was it just his imagination?
He took another nibble to be sure.
'No, it was real.'
He could clearly feel a trace of natural energy merging into his body! 'How could this be possible?'
Calyrex looked at his little believer with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.
Seeing his expression, Naoki grinned. "You can feel it, can't you?"
Calyrex nodded slowly. "Yes, there's a hint of natural energy within this food. How did you manage this? No, I think I already know the answer from looking at you."
Naoki nodded. "It's something I can do—I can bring out the potential in food, giving it different effects, like restoring energy, healing, or even helping to understand new moves."
Hearing this, Calyrex looked pleasantly surprised and then gave a slight nod, quickly accepting the explanation.
"You truly are a remarkable follower! To hold such an ability… nature must have chosen you. I am so proud of you!"
Naoki chuckled, feeling a bit bashful. "Maybe it's not that impressive."
It seemed Calyrex might be overestimating his skills just a bit, but Naoki decided to let it be, returning the king's smile with one of his own.
At that moment, Koraidon returned with the basket. Naoki took it, thanked him, and headed back to the kitchen to clean up for the evening.
After finishing his tasks, Naoki couldn't help but yawn. He'd been on the go for several days, and now, feeling a bit worn out, he glanced at the clock: it was already nine in the evening.
He wanted to head to bed but remembered he needed to arrange a place for Calyrex to rest.
"By the way," Naoki asked, "do you have any particular place in mind for sleeping?"
Calyrex gave a gentle shake of his head. "No particular preference. You go ahead and rest. I'd like to take a look around outside, and I'll find a spot to settle in afterward."
Since he was here to stay, Calyrex wanted to explore the ranch and get a feel for the land and its surroundings.
"Alright, if you need anything, don't hesitate to call for me," Naoki replied.
With a warm nod from Calyrex, Naoki bid him goodnight. Turning to the other Pokémon, he said, "I'm heading to bed, so feel free to keep playing!"
"Raao~!" Koraidon, who was lounging on the carpet, responded enthusiastically.
Naoki glanced around, looking for Pawmot, but guessed it must have gone upstairs to play with its friends. Giving up on his usual bedtime cuddle with it, he picked up the postcards and little trinkets Teddiursa had sent back from its travels and went to his room.
He placed the letters by his bed and headed to the bathroom to get ready for bed.
...
Meanwhile, Calyrex floated outside, surveying the peaceful, moonlit ranch from above.
He noticed Spectrier blending into the shadows and Glastrier standing proudly in the field, snorting softly.
He saw a brightly lit little house bustling with activity, where Pokémon were gathered, happily drinking and chatting.
In a nearby glass greenhouse filled with blooming flowers, several Bug-type Pokémon were dozing, their eyes closed in peaceful slumber.
He saw Pokémon nestled in cozy wooden cabins near the orchard, sleeping soundly.
And then, in a fenced enclosure, he saw three Gogoats happily munching on grass dumplings near a feeding trough.
Calyrex felt a surprising energy radiating from these Gogoats, which caught him by surprise.
Curious, he watched the Gogoats as they finished their meal and made their way over to a small sapling. They lay down around it, drifting off to sleep. With his keen senses, Calyrex saw a faint, natural energy emanating from the sapling, nourishing the three Gogoats as it circulated gently among them.
"This is…"
...
Back inside the cozy living room, several Pokémon had gathered around Sinistea and Polteageist, who floated contentedly in the air, joining the welcoming crowd.
Dragonite clapped joyfully. "Awoo~" (Welcome to the family!)
Following Dragonite's lead, the other Pokémon joined in with welcoming cheers:
"Dolliv~"
"Bui~"
"Gaah~"
"…"
Sinistea and Polteageist felt the warmth and friendliness radiating from everyone around them, and it was clear they were wholeheartedly welcomed.
The two Pokémon looked a bit overwhelmed, especially Polteageist.
It had been alone for a very long time, living in isolation.
One day, the teapot it called home cracked, forcing it to set out in search of a new shelter.
Eventually, it stumbled upon a warehouse filled with old antiques.
There, it found a beautiful, antique teapot that felt just right, so it moved in.
One year passed, then two…
Over time, Polteageist began to feel the weight of loneliness. Wishing for companionship, it poured a bit of its own essence into a matching antique teacup nearby.
And so, Sinistea was born.
But Sinistea was quiet and a bit shy, not one to speak much.
Together, the two Pokémon stayed in the dim, dusty warehouse for many long years, until a human discovered them and sent them to a trainer named Naoki.
Initially, Polteageist felt anxious about what might lie ahead.
But as they journeyed with Naoki, it saw the care he showed, personally brewing tea to refill its body. Though the tea was a bit bitter, it drank it gratefully.
That bitter tea had mirrored the sadness in its heart, and under its influence, Polteageist found itself once again reminded of its lonely days.
Seeing its downcast expression, Naoki had sensed something was wrong and made it another cup, this time a sweet, delicious black tea.
Drinking it, Polteageist felt the lingering sadness wash away. The world seemed brighter, warmer, and its heart felt lighter.
Now, not only did it feel physically warm, but the kindness and friendship from those around it filled its heart with a warmth it hadn't felt in ages.
After a moment of disbelief, Polteageist and Sinistea let out happy cries.
"Polteageist!"
"Sinistea!"
Polteageist swayed joyfully in the air, with little musical notes of happiness appearing above its head.
A magical aura spread throughout the room, and the Pokémon below looked up at Polteageist floating merrily, their eyes lighting up in delight.
Each Pokémon took a berry from somewhere and began to nibble, holding their own little tea party alongside the cheerful Polteageist and Sinistea.
Inside, Naoki, who had just finished his shower, heard the lively sounds of the Pokémon and thought they might be arguing. Curious, he opened the door to check.
But instead of a quarrel, he saw a heartwarming scene: a group of Pokémon gathered by the warm fireplace, happily holding a berry tea party.
Seeing this heartwarming scene, Naoki stood there, momentarily stunned.
"A tea party…?" he thought, recognizing it as the exclusive move of Polteageist. Known as Tea time, this move could only be used when Polteageist was truly happy, inviting other Pokémon to join in for a gathering filled with berries and treats.
"This is truly a beautiful move," Naoki whispered to himself with a smile.
He chose not to approach, knowing this was a moment for the Pokémon to enjoy together. Just then, Koraidon trotted out of the room, looking curious.
Naoki leaned down and whispered, "Why don't you join them too?"
Koraidon gave Naoki a happy lick, then dashed over to the fireplace, eager to reunite with its Pokémon friends.
Watching Koraidon join the group, Naoki felt his heart warm. He returned to his room, sat on the bed, and pulled out the postcards Mew and Teddiursa had sent from their travels. He sorted through them with quiet delight.
The first postcard showed a group of Clefairy gathered around a campfire under a full moon, seemingly engaged in some kind of ritual. Teddiursa peeked into the shot with a grin, proudly holding a small fragment of a star it had picked up.
"Are these Clefairy from Mount Moon?" Naoki wondered, examining the star fragment that Teddiursa had sent. It sparkled gently, an unmistakable match to the fragment in the photo.
The second postcard displayed a range of majestic, snow-covered mountains.
"Could this be the famous Mt. Silver?" Naoki mused. "Have Mew and Teddiursa traveled all the way there?" He smiled, imagining the pair exploring such distant lands.
The third postcard depicted a touching scene with a Cubone and Marowak, each holding a bone. The young Cubone was reaching out, offering one of the bones to Teddiursa as a token of friendship.
"Looks like Mew and Teddiursa helped the Marowak and Cubone somehow," Naoki thought. "And Cubone must have gifted them the bone in gratitude."
The fourth postcard showed a sparkling lake, with a stunning Pokémon moving gracefully across the water in the sunlight.
"That's… Milotic!" Naoki realized, his eyes widening with admiration. Known as one of the most beautiful Pokémon in the world, Milotic was a rare sight. Even through the photo, he could feel the Pokémon's radiant presence. Its scales shone like rainbows under the sunlight, their colors vibrant and enchanting.
Naoki held the photos close, smiling as he thought about the adventures his Pokemon were having. The laughter of the Pokémon still echoed from outside, filling his heart with peace as he settled in for the night.
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