Chapter 281: The Magical Fruit Wine
Chapter 281: The Magical Fruit Wine
World Tree, Zapdos...
Paiper, who was listening beside them, was more and more perplexed. What is the World Tree? And what is Zapdos? Are they Pokemon? No, that's not right!
Paiper's eyes widened and his face lit up with surprise.
As he suspected, Naoki could understand Pokemon speech!
He couldn't contain himself any longer and finally asked, "Mr. Naoki, can you... speak to Pokemon?"
Naoki snapped his fingers, suddenly remembering Paiper by his side.
As he took out a piece of translated sunflower seed cake and handed it to Paiper, he said, "This is a dish I made using my secret power. After eating it, you will be able to understand what Pokemon are saying, but the effect will only last for a while."
Hearing this, Paiper was astonished. He reached out and took the unfamiliar snack, staring at it in disbelief.
Naoki continued his bluff, "This is the power of food. A good chef can unlock the hidden potential of ingredients. I've heard that somewhere in this world, there are ingredients that can heal even gravely ill Pokemon and restore them to health."
Paiper's eyes widened in amazement, impressed.
Naoki smiled and said, "Why don't you give it a try? Maybe after eating this, you'll be able to understand Father Chan, too!"
Paiper looked at Father Chan by his side, and the older Pokemon's usually cloudy eyes now held a spark of light, as if he was intrigued by Naoki's words.
"Woof!"
Paiper picked up the sunflower seed cake and popped it into his mouth.
Instantly, a delightful sweetness filled his palate, a flavor so addictive he couldn't help but crave more.
Paiper's eyes lit up in delight. It was so good!
It wasn't until he had swallowed the whole cake that Father Chan spoke again, asking a question that only Paiper could understand.
"Woof? (Paiper?)
"
Hearing this familiar yet foreign voice, Paiper's eyes widened in shock. "F-Father Chan? Is that you speaking?"
Father Chan happily nodded, "Woof! (Yes, it's me, Paiper!)
"
"I... I can really understand Pokemon speech," Paiper stammered, standing dumbfounded as the weight of this moment sank in.
Naoki stood by, beaming with delight as he witnessed this heartwarming scene. He glanced at Father Chan and then spoke, "Father Chan, is there anything you want to say to Paiper? Now's your chance to tell him."
Paiper snapped out of his daze, realizing the moment, and looked down at Father Chan before him.
And Father Chan, with loving eyes, looked back at him.
This child... he had watched him grow up.
Back when he was just a Growlithe, Paiper was born.
At that time, Professor Oren and Professor Fort took him to Paiper and told him that from then on, Paiper would be his companion.
And so, from that day forward, Growlithe stayed by Paiper's side, watching him grow from a lively and cheerful little boy into a quiet and lonely young boy.
And Growlithe, too, had evolved into an Arcanine.
Thinking of this, Arcanine felt a pang of sadness.
Paiper was a pitiful child. His father and mother were always busy with work, leaving Paiper to grow up alone and often spending holidays by himself.
Arcanine looked at Paiper with soft eyes and slowly said, "Woof! (I'll always be by Paiper's side!)
"
"Father Chan..." Paiper's eyes stung with emotion, and he replied sincerely, "Thank you!"
Naoki, Gureddon, and the other Pokemon stood quietly by, witnessing this tender moment.
"The bond between Paiper and Father Chan is indeed strong... No wonder Paiper would later travel all over the Pasio region to find a way to heal Father Chan," Naoki thought to himself.
At that moment, Paiper stood up, wiping away the tears that had formed in his eyes. He turned to Naoki and said, "Thank you, Mr. Naoki."
Naoki took a deep breath and smiled. "Alright! Now that we're at the ranch, let's forget about our worries and sorrows and enjoy the winter countryside life. It's not often you get to experience this in the big city!"
"Yeah!"
Paiper nodded and then took Father Chan out to play in the snow.
Meanwhile, Naoki began introducing the new Pokemon that had joined the ranch during their absence to the recently returned Mew and Teddiursa.
After their adventure outdoors, Teddiursa seemed like a whole new person.
Perhaps it was because she had seen and encountered so many new Pokemon, but she had become lively and cheerful, quickly making friends with any Pokemon she met.
Perhaps it was an innate talent?
After dinner, as the night grew darker outside, the group gathered around the fireplace to warm themselves on the cold, snowy night.
The orange-red firelight illuminated the faces of the Pokemon, creating a cozy atmosphere in the room.
Gureddon lay on the carpet, his head pillowed on his arm, eyes closed in peaceful relaxation.
Motostoke was comfortably stretching his body, his tail swaying happily back and forth.
Paiper was also there, grooming Father Chan's fur.
Naoki turned to Teddiursa, who was enjoying the honey pudding, and said with a smile, "You've changed a lot since then!"
Teddiursa looked up, confused. "Huh?"
Naoki reminisced fondly, recalling their first encounter. "Back then, you pretended to be a lost and helpless little cub, wandering into the ranch with the intention of stealing honey when I wasn't looking."
"Huh?"
Teddiursa lowered her head in embarrassment upon hearing this.
Naoki laughed heartily and then confided in Teddiursa, "Actually, even before we met, I had heard about you from other ranch owners in the area. They warned me to watch out for a Teddiursa."
"The nearby ranch owners..." Teddiursa's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean the ranches I visited?"
Naoki nodded, confirming her suspicion. "That's right."
"Huh?" Teddiursa's eyes narrowed in confusion again. "Then why didn't you drive me away when you first saw me? Why did you let me stay?"
If it had been any other human, they might have chased away this "thief" at first sight.
Teddiursa was eager to know the answer, and she put down her honey pudding, looking up at Naoki expectantly.
Naoki thought for a moment before replying, "Perhaps it's because we were destined to meet. It was fate that brought me to you."
It was similar to the message players would see in the Pokemon's profile in the game—Teddiursa had crossed vast distances of time and space to encounter him, a fated meeting.
"Huh?"
Teddiursa didn't quite understand, but those words made her feel special.
She smiled broadly and replied, "Me too!"
Naoki smiled gently and then asked, "Are you planning to continue your journey from here?"
Upon hearing this, Teddiursa and Mew exchanged a glance.
Mew nodded slightly. "Mew!" (Yes!)
Teddiursa echoed, "Me too! The Big Adventure Team's journey isn't over yet!"
However, as soon as she finished speaking, her expression turned glum. "But that means... I have to leave you again..."
"Don't worry about it!" Naoki reached out and ruffled Teddiursa's fur.
Teddiursa looked up at him, her eyes wide and innocent.
Naoki smiled reassuringly. "If it's what you want to do, then go for it! I'll always be here at the ranch, waiting for you. Whenever you feel tired or homesick, you can come back, and I'll prepare a grand feast for you."
Teddiursa's eyes sparkled with emotion at these words, and a tear of gratitude formed in the corner of her eye.
She wiped away the tear and said resolutely, "Me too! I'll always remember you, Naoki!"
Wherever she went and whatever she did, she would always remember and miss Naoki.
Naoki smiled gently, yawning as he felt a wave of sleepiness wash over him. "Well, it's getting late. Time to rest!"
"Aww..."
On the 25th of November, in the year 198 of the Pokemon League.
Dr. Oren returned from the Pasio Giant Pit that day to pick up Paiper and take him home.
"Thank you for taking care of him during this time," Dr. Oren expressed her gratitude to Naoki.
Naoki shook his head with a smile. "It was no trouble at all. Paiper is very well-behaved, and he's been a great help to me."
A smile appeared on Dr. Oren's face, and then she bid farewell to Naoki and Paiper.
"We're heading back now. We'll visit again when we have the time."
Naoki nodded and turned to Paiper. "Goodbye, Paiper! Feel free to come to the ranch to play anytime!"
Paiper and Father Chan had enjoyed their time at the ranch, and they nodded, waving goodbye to Naoki.
Naoki stood in the ranch, watching their figures until they were out of sight.
Only then did he turn and head back into the living room.
It was already the 25th of November, and the new year was just around the corner.
It was quite a remarkable turn of events, as almost a year had passed since he arrived in the Pokemon world.
According to the weather forecast, continuous snowfall was expected in Drench Town for the next two weeks, and the roads might even become impassable due to the accumulation of snow.
As a precaution, Naoki decided to stock up on supplies for the new year.
He planned to stay indoors during that period, spending the entire day at home with his Pokemon, warming themselves by the fireplace and reading.
Naoki checked the ranch's inventory.
"We're running low on meat steaks, flour, and spices. Eggs, on the other hand, are plentiful since we can produce them here at the ranch, so we don't need to buy any from town.
"In addition to these supplies, I'll need to buy some more Berries. They're great for making Pokeblocks, and they can also be snacks for Gorebyss and the others."
After a moment of thought, Naoki took out some paper and a pen and jotted down a list of items he needed to purchase.
That afternoon, he rode out on Gorebyss, accompanied by his three Ride Goats, toward Drench Town.
In the winter, Drench Town transformed into a whole new vista. The roofs of the houses were blanketed in snow, and the townspeople and Pokemon walking along the streets were bundled up in thick winter clothing and scarves.
Despite the chilly temperature, the Drench Market was bustling with activity.
Naoki bought everything on his list and then hung the bulky packages on the Ride Goats, letting them carry the load.
It wasn't until the three Ride Goats were packed to capacity that they concluded their shopping trip and headed back to the ranch.
Naoki called over Motostoke and Babo, along with some other Pokemon, to help unload the goods, while he himself carried a few bags back to the ranch.
By the time they finished unloading, it was already four o'clock in the afternoon.
Glancing at the calendar, Naoki suddenly recalled the fruit wine he had left to ferment in the cellar. It should be ready by now.
He made his way to the cellar and located the oak barrel containing the fruit wine. As he uncorked it, a fragrant aroma of ripe fruit escaped, filling the air with a tantalizing scent.
Intrigued, Naoki poured himself a glass from the barrel.
This wine was made from Pecha Berries, and under the warm glow of the lamp, the liquid in the glass shone like a clear spring, its hue a delicate pink that mirrored the color of the Pecha Berries.
Naoki lowered his head to take a closer look, and information about the wine immediately appeared in his mind.
[Pecha Berry Wine (B)
: A wine made from Pecha Berries, perfectly blending the refreshing fragrance of the berries with the robust aroma of the wine. It has a sweet taste and may become a favorite among some Pokemon.
Cooking Effect: Poison Resist. Has a detoxifying effect, removing both poisoned and severely poisoned conditions from Pokemon and granting them a slight increase in poison resistance. Effects do not stack.
(Poison Resist: Pokemon with this effect will take reduced damage from poison and have a small chance of being immune to poison.)
Rating: Enjoy in moderation!]
Seeing the effect of the wine, Naoki's eyes widened in surprise.
Poison Resist? That's an incredible effect! A boon for Poison-type Pokemon.
However, upon noticing the words "slight" and "small chance," he realized it wasn't as overpowered as he initially thought.
Nonetheless, it was still a welcome bonus, especially since drinking this wine would permanently reduce the damage taken from poison.
With this, the tavern's beverage menu could finally be updated with something new.
Next, Naoki opened the second oak barrel.
The last time he made fruit wine, he used three types of Berries—Pecha, Cheri, and Wiki.
Now that the Pecha Berry wine had proven to grant poison resistance, what about the other two? With this question in mind, Naoki poured himself a glass of Cheri Berry wine.
[Cheri Berry Wine (B)
: A wine made from Cheri Berries, with a spicy kick. Fire-type Pokemon may particularly enjoy this one.
Cooking Effect: Paralysis Resist. Removes paralysis from Pokemon and grants a slight increase in paralysis resistance, reducing the chance of being paralyzed. Effects do not stack.
Rating: Enjoy in moderation!]
"As I thought, it also permanently increases paralysis resistance!"
Naoki decided to have all the Pokemon on the ranch drink a glass each. Although the increase in resistance wasn't significant, there might come a time when that little extra resistance made all the difference.
Lastly, there was only one type of wine left to try—the Wiki Berry wine.
Naoki uncorked the barrel and poured himself a glass, then examined it closely.
[Wiki Berry Wine (B)
: A wine made from Wiki Berries, with a tangy sweet flavor that may become a favorite among some Pokemon.
Cooking Effect: HP Restore. Restores the drinker's HP.
Rating: Enjoy in moderation!]
Naoki: "..."
Why did the effects have to be so lackluster with the Wiki Berry?
Well, it wasn't exactly lackluster, just average.
Staring at the three oak barrels before him, Naoki fell into deep thought.
The Pecha Berry wine, which cured poison, granted poison resistance, and the Cheri Berry wine, which cured paralysis, granted paralysis resistance.
This led him to wonder: what effects would wine made from other Berries have? For instance, a Sharpedo Scope wine—would it grant speed boosts? Or a Liechi Berry wine—would it increase attack power?
(End of Chapter)
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