https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-487-Beating-Up-the-Father-in-Law/12537999/
Chapter 486: Zapdos and the Lightning Mantou
Chapter 486: Zapdos and the Lightning Mantou
On the 15th day of Winter, December, in the year 200 of the Pokemon League.
Naoki's Adventurer team, who had been traveling abroad for a year, returned to the ranch that day.
Accompanying them was Kira, the Jirachi of Seven Nights' wishes.
As Zapdos landed at the ranch, Kira immediately jumped into Naoki's embrace, filled with joy.
The Pokemon exclaimed happily, "Naoki! We're back!"
Lugia and Teddiursa also ran over, and Naoki hugged the three Pokemon, ruffling their fur playfully until it stood on end before letting go.
"Did you have a good time on your travels?" Naoki asked with a smile.
Lugia and Teddiursa shook their bodies to smooth out their ruffled fur.
Jirachi, having no fur, replied, "It was amazing! I saw so many things and made lots of friends!"
"That's wonderful," Naoki said, noticing their snow-covered appearance. He invited the Pokemon into the living room and offered them some snacks.
The four Pokemon eagerly devoured the treats, their cheeks puffed out with food.
Naoki watched them fondly.
"Oh, by the way," he continued, "while you were gone, the World Tree has grown, and with the help of Giratina's power, it has taken to the skies!"
"Huh?!"
"Mew?"
At this news, Lugia and Teddiursa exchanged surprised looks.
Naoki nodded, "You can go and see it later."
The Pokemon happily agreed.
Zapdos, nearby, was also eager to see the World Tree again.
It had first come to this place because of the World Tree, and now, it had finally grown to its full potential. Zapdos trembled with excitement.
A single yellow feather slowly drifted from its body and floated to the ground.
Big Brother Maid, ever vigilant, noticed the fallen feather.
As part of its duties, Big Brother Maid promptly swept the feather into the trash bin.
Naoki, sitting on the sofa, caught this action out of the corner of his eye.
With just a glance, he received a mental image of the feather's information.
[Zapdos Feather: A feather from Zapdos, imbued with powerful electric energy. It may be used in cooking to create a dish with unknown effects.]
Had Zapdos shed a feather?
"Wait!" Naoki quickly called out to Big Brother Maid.
Big Brother Maid paused, feather in hand, unsure what to do next as it looked to Naoki for guidance.
Zapdos, Lugia, and Teddiursa also turned their heads to look at the feather.
Zapdos immediately recognized it as its own. Shedding feathers was not unusual for Zapdos; every year, it would naturally lose many feathers.
"That feather isn't trash," Naoki said to Big Brother Maid. "Give it to me; it's not garbage."
Although Big Brother Maid was puzzled, it obediently handed over the feather.
As Naoki looked up, he found Zapdos staring intently at him.
Naoki: "..."
Zapdos: ?
Why did Naoki want its fallen feather? Did he want to keep it as a memento?
But it was just an ordinary feather, nothing special.
Zapdos was perplexed.
Naoki considered explaining his intentions to Zapdos instead of secretly making the Lightning Mantou and risking embarrassment later if Zapdos found out.
So, he said, "This isn't an ordinary feather. Combined with my ability, it can be transformed into a dish with magical effects. If a Pokemon consumes it, they will become stronger."
Upon hearing this, Zapdos was at a loss for words, its face a picture of disbelief.
...Eat its own fallen feather? Ugh! The very thought made it queasy! Who would eat such a thing?
Naoki immediately understood Zapdos' hesitation. If he were to liken it to a human context, it would be like using human hair or sweat to create a dish—disgusting!
Naoki awkwardly explained, "I know it sounds unappetizing, but the end result is quite delicious. Take Babo for example; he ate the Lightning Mantou and became the powerful Pokemon he is today."
Zapdos knew of Babo, the Pokemon with formidable electric powers, powers that rivaled its own.
Naoki claimed that Babo had also eaten the Lightning Mantou... But when?
"Chuu?" Teddiursa inquired.
Naoki laughed, "It was when the Adventurer team first encountered you. Teddiursa picked up one of your feathers and gave it to me."
With Naoki's reminder, Lugia and Teddiursa also recalled the incident.
"Oh..." Lugia murmured, "I think I remember that."
Zapdos: "..."
Oh well, it wasn't going to be the one eating it anyway. Zapdos decided to let Naoki do as he pleased.
After a whole year of traveling, the Pokemon felt exhausted now that they had returned to the familiar ranch, a safe haven. Their bodies felt heavy, and they yearned for rest.
Noticing their fatigue, Naoki suggested, "If you're tired, why don't you take a nice, long nap?"
Obediently, the Pokemon headed off to sleep.
Instead of going to the World Tree, they chose to stay inside the house.
Zapdos settled on the floor, while Lugia, Teddiursa, and Jirachi climbed onto Naoki's bed, snuggling together as they drifted off to sleep.
Naoki, meanwhile, went to the glass greenhouse to find Re Crown, asking it to use its psychic powers to crush the feather into a fine powder.
Soon, he returned home with a jar of Zapdos feather powder.
He set aside a portion for future use and used the rest to make the Lightning Mantou.
He kneaded the dough, let it proof, added the feather powder, shaped the dough into mantou, and finally, steamed them.
When Naoki placed the five golden, plump mantou in front of them, both Zapdos and Jirachi were stunned.
They could sense an incredible energy emanating from these buns!
Zapdos' face was a mask of astonishment.
Could this be the food made from its feathers?
[Lightning Mantou (S+)
: A legendary dish made from the powdered feathers of a legendary Pokemon. It is said that consuming it will grant the power to wield lightning.
Dish Effect: Thunder God. Allows the consumer to harness the power of lightning, enabling them to control electricity as skillfully as the feather's owner. A single flick of the finger will summon massive lightning bolts from the clouds. Exclusive to Electric-type Pokemon, and each Pokemon can only eat one.]
Naoki glanced at the information of the buns and then at Zapdos, a mischievous smile playing on his lips as he asked, "Well? Want to give it a try? Eating it will make you even stronger, you know!"
His tone was enticing.
Zapdos hesitated, its face a mixture of doubt and temptation.
It yearned to become stronger, but the thought of consuming something made from its own feathers turned its stomach.
"Hmm?" Teddiursa piped up, unable to contain its curiosity. "Can we eat it and become stronger too?"
Naoki shook his head. "No, this dish only works for Electric-type Pokemon like Zapdos. But if you want to taste it, I can let you try a little."
Teddiursa shook its head. "No thanks. Let's leave these for the Electric Pokemon. They might need it more than us."
Jirachi and Lugia nodded in agreement.
Naoki felt a warm glow of pride at how considerate his Pokemon were. He patted their heads affectionately before turning back to Zapdos.
"So, are you going to give it a shot?"
Zapdos: "..."
The proud bird Pokemon couldn't resist the temptation any longer.
It wanted to give it a try, no matter what!
"Excellent!" Naoki exclaimed. "Let's head outside, then!"
It was still snowing heavily outside, and with everyone staying indoors, plus the ranch's remote location, Naoki wasn't worried about making a ruckus and disturbing anyone.
The group ventured outdoors, and Zapdos stood amidst the swirling snowflakes to consume the Lightning Mantou.
At first, nothing seemed to happen.
But as soon as Zapdos swallowed the last bite, a thunderous roar split the sky.
A dark cloud had stealthily rolled in, and from it descended a massive bolt of lightning, striking Zapdos directly.
Intense currents of electricity surged around Zapdos, its body quivering with excitement.
It could feel its power growing, the electricity within it intensifying!
"Chuuu!"
Zapdos threw back its head and let out a sharp cry, releasing a surge of electricity into the sky.
As the energy merged with the cloud, the next moment, the cloud itself was obliterated by Zapdos' power.
The commotion ceased, and all returned to silence.
The world was once again blanketed in white.
Zapdos' aura had grown even stronger.
"Congratulations, Zapdos," Naoki said, a smile on his face.
From Zapdos' demeanor, it seemed the Pokemon had received a significant boost in power.
There were many Zapdos in this world, but the strongest among them was undoubtedly the one known as the Thunder God, residing on the Asian continent.
All other Zapdos were considered ordinary in comparison.
"I wonder how this Zapdos compares to the Thunder God now..." Naoki mused to himself.
Zapdos, meanwhile, was brimming with excitement.
As the group returned to the living room, they found Zapdos' sharp gaze fixed on the remaining four buns in the plate.
Naoki: "..."
Wasn't this the same Pokemon that had found the idea of eating its own feathers disgusting just a while ago?
Zapdos seemed to have forgotten its earlier hesitation.
Naoki explained, "Each Pokemon can only eat one. The effect won't work a second time."
Hearing this, Zapdos' face fell, its disappointment evident.
For a moment, it even considered plucking more feathers to give to Naoki so he could make more mantou.
"Chuu..." It sighed. What a pity...
But soon, a new idea sparked in its brilliant mind.
If its feathers could be used for cooking, what about the feathers of the other two birds?
Articuno and Moltres.
With a gleam in its eye, Zapdos voiced its question.
"Chuu? Can the feathers of Articuno and Moltres be used too?"
Naoki paused, then realized what Zapdos was getting at.
"If I'm not mistaken, they should work as well. Articuno's feathers can be used for Flame Mantou, and Moltres' feathers for Frozen Mantou," he explained.
Zapdos bobbed its head, its eyes sparkling with determination.
Decision made! It would get its feathers back from those two birds, one way or another!
Unaware of Zapdos' scheming, Naoki suggested they take a rest. After a good break, the Adventurer team and Kira eagerly made their way to the World Tree to see their future home.
Months had passed, and the World Tree had undergone a remarkable transformation.
The bustling Adventurer's Guild, the Milotic's restaurant, the Wobbuffet's cafe, the Gengar's item shop, the Breloom and Oranguru tending to the orchard...
The sights filled the Pokemon with wonder.
"Wow!"
This was the guild of their dreams!
"Mew..."
Jirachi, too, was mesmerized by the spectacle, only snapping out of its daze when Mewtwo sensed its presence and appeared beside it.
Although they had been traveling, they often chatted with Mewtwo via Rotom Phone.
Led by Mewtwo, the group of Pokemon began to tour the World Tree, and along the way, Mewtwo would occasionally introduce them to the various places and facilities.
They visited the Adventurer's Guild headquarters, the farmlands, the mill, the orchard, the training grounds, the item shop, and the Pokemon hospital...
After they finished touring all the places, the group of Pokemon headed to Meowth and Pikachu's tavern for some refreshments.
Teddiursa and Mew looked around, and for some reason, they felt that something was missing from this place.
"Hmm..."
Upon Teddiursa's mention, Mew also realized that it wasn't just itself feeling this way, but the other Pokemon as well.
So, what was missing?
"Hmm!" It's Naoki!
Without Naoki around, this place didn't feel like home...
How wonderful it would be if Naoki could come and live with them on the World Tree!
Mew and Teddiursa exchanged a glance, then used their Rotom Phones to call Naoki.
Soon, the call connected, and they heard Naoki's voice on the other end.
"Hello? What's up? Is there a problem at the World Tree?"
"Hmm, hmm!" Teddiursa shook its head to indicate that there wasn't a problem, then eagerly asked, "Hmm, hmm? (Will you come and live with us on the World Tree?)
"
Naoki was taken aback by Teddiursa's question.
He pondered for a moment before replying, "Of course, but not now."
"Mew? (When then?)
" Mew inquired.
Naoki: "Probably in a few decades."
By that time, they would all be old, and the familiar people in this world would gradually pass away.
If he had children by then, he would pass on the ranch to them and then, along with Kishu, Babo, and Elecduck, he would go and live on the World Tree.
Even if their physical bodies aged, their souls could exist forever.
In that case, they would be considered "Ghost-type Pokemon" of a sort, right? As long as they didn't enter the Spirit Realm and participate in reincarnation, they could live together on the World Tree forever.
This was Naoki's current plan for the future.
That way, he wouldn't have to worry about the limitations of lifespan and could always be with Babo and the others.
Meanwhile, in Violet City.
In a stately mansion.
Kishu's parents curiously looked at their daughter, who had changed her hairstyle.
"Our daughter even changed her hairstyle; it seems she has truly grown up!" The man holding the newspaper sighed.
However, the woman saw through it: "Have you fallen in love?"
"Eh?!' The man beside her exclaimed in surprise.
Kishu giggled, "He's a really great person!"
The woman narrowed her eyes, "Is it that person from last time?"
Kishu didn't hide it from her parents and nodded in admission.
Seeing this, the couple fell silent, not knowing what to say.
Thinking that this was their daughter's first love, the woman said, "I don't have much experience to offer you, but I do have a saying that I want to share. It's something a great celebrity once said."
Kishu looked at her mother.
The woman said, "Love is a two-way street. For two people to live together for a long time, they need to walk towards each other. If one party only wants to stay put and expects the other to come to them, then they are not meant to be."
Kishu was slightly taken aback, "What do you mean?"
The woman explained, "What I mean is that love is mutual. If you want the relationship to last, you need to gradually blend your lives together, and sometimes, you may even need to make changes for each other."
Kishu said, "...I don't think it's that dramatic, is it?"
At that moment, her Rotom Phone rang.
She opened it and saw that Naoki had sent her a message.
【Naoki: Come to the ranch with your Pokemon. I have a gift for you!】
A gift?
Kishu's eyes lit up, and she immediately ran back to her room to chat with Naoki.
In the living room, the couple looked at their daughter's retreating figure, feeling helpless.
Then, the man suddenly remembered something.
Their daughter had once asked them to buy something from a small shop.
He took out his phone and started searching, and as expected, he found the words 【Naoki Ranch】.
"This must be the shop that guy runs," the man narrowed his eyes.
"What are you planning to do?" his wife asked, concerned.
"Of course, I'm going to go check out that guy's character. It's our daughter's first love, and we can't let her be deceived by a bad person," the man declared righteously.
He decided to disguise himself and go to that ranch for a visit.
The woman looked at her husband helplessly, "How do you plan to assess his character?"
The man replied matter-of-factly, "Of course, I'll do it the Trainer's way!"
He would observe the other person's temperament and nature through a Pokemon battle.
Sometimes, a Pokemon battle was the best way to truly understand someone.
Although the other party was now a ranch owner, going by Kishu's behavior, that guy must have been a Trainer before.
If he didn't even have the courage to battle with him, then he was a coward!
Only by defeating him in a fair battle could he give his approval!
Recalling his own journey challenging Gyms and collecting badges, back then, his Pokemon partner's strength had already reached the Gym Leader level.
Now, he was surely still in good form.
Then, let that guy witness his Gym Leader-level strength!
(End of Chapter)
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