https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-55-A-Night-of-Stars-and-Moon-Iron-Clad-Chrysalis-Transformation-/12537054/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-57-Why-Is-Your-Cooking-Making-My-Pokemon-Breathe-Fire-/12537056/
Chapter 56: The Sakura Blossom Soiree
Chapter 56: The Sakura Blossom Soiree
The morning after, shortly after breakfast, Naoki began to pack his bags. He was leaving the Pallet region to explore other areas.
Before departing, he turned to Naoki and said, "You should definitely visit the Galar region sometime. It's a breathtaking place."
Naoki nodded in agreement, "If I get the chance."
With a cheerful smile, Yoshisuke bade farewell, shouldering his backpack and embarking on his solo journey.
Naoki stood at the entrance of the ranch, watching his figure grow smaller until it eventually faded from view.
Life is like a journey on a train, with many stops along the way. People suddenly enter our lives, and others depart, bidding us fond farewells and exchanging heartfelt goodbyes.
Yet, life goes on.
Shaking his head gently, Naoki turned and made his way back into the ranch.
Today, the weather remained clear and sunny, with no rain in sight, leaving no opportunity to practice Rain Dance with his newly evolved Dragonite.
After completing his daily chores around the ranch, Naoki gazed out at the empty fields and decided to purchase some decorations to liven up the place.
Flowers, for instance.
Not only would they beautify the ranch, but they would also provide a source of pollen for his newly evolved Butterfree, creating a pleasant living environment for it.
And so, at 9:30 in the morning, Naoki mounted his Lizardon and set off for the seed shop in Cherrygrove City. There, he purchased several packets of flower seeds and a spacious backpack for two hundred thousand Pokedollars.
Tulips, irises, and grape hyacinths...
Upon their return, they cleared a new patch of land on the farm and planted the vibrant flower seeds.
Before long, a beautiful flower field would grace the ranch.
Naoki smiled at the Butterfree by his side and said, "It'll take about 20 days for these flowers to sprout from the ground. Then you can collect pollen and nectar from them."
"Bu'ii!"
Butterfree was delighted.
It eagerly anticipated the day when the flowers would bloom.
Meanwhile, Naoki fell into a thoughtful silence.
It was common knowledge that some Pokemon underwent personality changes upon evolution. Ash's Charizard was a prime example.
This raised a question in Naoki's mind: Had Butterfree's personality changed?
"Butterfree, how do you feel now?" Naoki asked. "Do you still want to work hard to become stronger, like Caterpie did?"
"Bu'i..."
Butterfree paused to reflect and realized that its once urgent desire to become stronger had faded.
Instead, it now yearned for a peaceful life, guarding and protecting the ranch.
However, safeguarding the ranch also required strength, just as Butterfree had protected Caterpie from bird Pokemon in the forest.
And so, it remained determined to train hard!
"Bu'ii!"
"That's the spirit!" Encouraged by Butterfree's resilience and resolve, Naoki smiled as he patted its head. "Keep at it, and I'll help you along the way."
Butterfree chirped in response, "Bu'i!"
Unbeknownst to them, noon had quietly arrived.
Naoki returned to the house to prepare lunch, his mind drifting to the recent events as he chopped and sliced ingredients.
Caterpie's evolution had made him realize something—all the Pokemon on the ranch had the potential to evolve.
There was Minnow, who could become an Arrokuda, his riding sheep that would one day be a riding mountain sheep, and Salazard, destined to transform into a mighty Salazarl.
Upon evolution, their appetites and productivity would surge significantly.
However, without the concept of levels and experience points in this reality, Naoki had no way of gauging their progress, and so he could only wait patiently.
Nevertheless, the thought of nurturing all these Pokemon to their final forms filled him with a sense of satisfaction and excitement. Perhaps this was the true joy of raising Pokemon.
Today was February 5th, just two days shy of the Sakura Blossom Soiree.
With the ranch work relatively light, Naoki seized the opportunity to join his Dragonite in observing the weather, eagerly anticipating rain on the morrow.
Unfortunately, their hopes were dashed as the next two days brought nothing but clear skies. Not a hint of rain or even a cloudy day graced the horizon, much to Dragonite's dismay.
And so, on a bright and sunny day, the Sakura Blossom Soiree finally arrived.
Naoki's heart quickened with anticipation as he prepared to attend his first large-scale event.
According to the letter he had received, ranch owners were invited to set up stalls and sell some of their unique produce.
Naoki surveyed his ordinary ranch, deep in thought, wondering what he could possibly offer.
What about sheep milk and rock salt, then? Naoki thought it was feasible, but it lacked a bit of novelty.
Just then, he suddenly thought of the dish he had made the day before, the fiery boiled meat slices that caused Ace to breathe fire!
While there were Chinese restaurants in the Padia region, they were not very common, and the flavors had been slightly altered to cater to local tastes, making them inauthentic.
Sharing his hometown cuisine with the locals would likely be well-received and fit the theme of the Sakura Blossom Soiree. Moreover, Chinese dishes would fetch a higher price than ordinary crops, potentially bringing in a substantial profit for the day.
With that in mind, Naoki immediately set to work on his preparations.
At 7:00 a.m., just an hour before the Sakura Blossom Soiree was set to begin, Naoki mounted his Lizardon, his pockets filled with Poke Balls.
Within the Poke Balls were Frost Magi, Mini Cream, and Saltrock, all eager to attend the day's event.
Upon hearing that Naoki was going out, they had insisted on coming along to see the festivities.
As a result, all the Pokemon on the ranch, except for the three uninterested riding sheep, had accompanied Naoki on this excursion.
Following the directions in the letter, Naoki soon arrived at the Elif Cherry Orchard.
It was a vast area, filled with rows upon rows of cherry trees laden with heavy, red cherries.
From a distance, Naoki spotted the vacant lot that had been set aside within the orchard.
The spacious area featured neatly arranged iron display racks, ready for vendors to set up their stalls.
The venue was already bustling with people, mostly farmers from the nearby farms.
The owner of the cherry orchard, Elif, was busy welcoming and attending to them.
At that moment, he noticed a figure descending slowly from the sky, riding an unfamiliar Pokemon.
Initially puzzled, Elif's eyes lit up with recognition as he took in the man's appearance, connecting it to what Mayor Thomas had told him. "Naoki?" he guessed.
"Hello, Mr. Elif," Naoki greeted politely, having also deduced the man's identity.
"Haha!" Elif laughed heartily. "So, this is our first meeting! Apologies for not visiting your ranch to greet you personally, but as you know, this is the season for cherry harvesting, and we've been busy. But now that the busy period is over, I'm glad you could join us, Naoki!"
Naoki smiled in response.
Elif's eyes then fell on the items in Naoki's hands, and he looked intrigued. "Cooking? Wonderful! I can already smell the delicious aroma. We've set up stalls for everyone, so feel free to choose any vacant spot you like. The townspeople, tourists from other cities, and even passing trainers will be arriving soon!"
"Alright!" Naoki nodded and, with Lizardon by his side, selected an empty stall.
He took out a pot and ingredients from his spatial backpack and arranged them neatly on the stall. Once everything was in place, he released several Poke Balls, freeing the Pokemon within.
"Everyone, come on out!"
With a series of white flashes, the Saltrocks and Frost Magi appeared behind the stall, their faces bright with excitement at the lively atmosphere.
Naoki picked up the five Saltrocks and placed them in a row at the front of the stall, using them as a cute and eye-catching display. The Frost Magi and Mini Cream stood behind them, adding to the stall's charm.
Motorizard and Golurk stood on either side of Naoki, ready to assist him.
Meanwhile, Dragonite lounged against a cherry tree behind the stall, resting since there was nothing for it to do at the moment.
Butterfree hovered above the stall, curiously observing the surrounding crowd.
For today's menu, Naoki had prepared boiled meat slices, a dish that provided energy for Fire-type Pokemon; tree fruit juice for hydration and recovery; a tangy and appetizing tomato and egg stir-fry; and silky steamed eggs that made Pokemon feel smooth and slippery.
Each dish had a different price, with the boiled meat slices being the most expensive at 800 Pokedollars, as the portion size was modest.
Naoki displayed a sign with the prices clearly listed in front of the stall.
With everything ready, they awaited the arrival of customers.
At that moment, a blonde-haired elderly lady at the neighboring radish stall caught sight of Naoki's preparations and was drawn in by the intriguing display.
The old lady was about to say something more when a childish voice piped up from beside her, "Dad, look over there! It's a Salamence! And a Butterfree and a Froslass! Wow, so many Saltrocks too! They're so well-behaved, just sitting there so obediently!"
Naoki looked up and saw a little girl of about seven years old, tugging excitedly on an adult's hand as she ran over.
Her eyes were glued to the Froslass on the stall, and she couldn't help but exclaim, "So cute!"
"Mama~" Froslass beamed with happiness.
The man behind her, however, was more interested in Lizardon. He asked in surprise, "What kind of Pokemon is that?"
"It's called Lizardon, my most reliable partner," Naoki replied with a smile.
Hearing the words "most reliable," Lizardon straightened its back proudly.
"Agas!"
Indeed, Lizardon was Naoki's most reliable partner and his favorite Pokemon!
"Lizardon?" The man murmured, "Never heard of it..."
Compared to the intimidating-looking Lizardon, the little girl was clearly more drawn to the adorable Froslass.
She gazed at Froslass with admiration.
Froslass, being the smart Pokemon it was, pointed to the sign in front of the stall. "Mama~"
The girl followed its gesture and spotted the sign with the menu written on it. She asked innocently, "Do you want me to buy the dishes listed there?"
So cute! Buy, buy, buy!
The girl turned to her father and shouted, "Dad, I'm hungry!"
The man sighed and reluctantly pulled out his wallet, buying a cup of juice and a bowl of steamed eggs for his beloved daughter.
The father-daughter duo then turned to continue exploring the orchard.
Naoki and Froslass shared a knowing look, and he gave it a thumbs-up, impressed with its performance.
Froslass proudly replied, "Mama~"
It was indeed a clever Pokemon!
As time passed, more and more people arrived at the cherry blossom orchard.
In addition to the humans, there was also a large number of Pokemon.
Some were companions to passing trainers, much like how Ash would bring Pikachu along when he heard about a competition or event in a nearby town during his travels.
Some were Pokemon raised by Elif in the cherry orchard, like the tiny Sakura and Cherryla, similar in size to the Saltrocks, and a Watchog that patrolled the area nearby.
Watchog, evolved from Yungoos, could emit a charming fragrance from its body, which aided the growth of wheat and certain other crops, making it quite valuable in rural areas.
There were also wild Pokemon living nearby that had been drawn to the lively atmosphere.
For example, the Angry Dodo flocks that perched on branches, attracted by the commotion, and the Binacle that crawled through the muddy forest floor.
Even before the Flower Wine Party officially started, Naoki sat on a bench, curiously observing the Pokemon that accompanied the trainers.
"Newleaf, the Grass-type starter of the Padian region..."
"Is that a Festival Duck? Its butt looks so weird..."
"Wow, a trainer has a Charcoal-chan! I wonder if it will evolve into a Blade Agnikana or a Crimson Paladin."
"An Electrotank? That's Kichu's signature Pokemon."
"One, two, three, four, five, six. Yup, Six-tails has six fluffy tails. So cute! I wish I could cuddle it."
He imagined hugging the Six-tails close, kissing it all over, and sleeping with it every night, just like a kitty.
Unfortunately, the Six-tails wasn't his Pokemon, so Naoki could only fantasize.
He gazed longingly at the Six-tails nestled in its trainer's arms, its soft little paws dangling adorably.
Before he knew it, it was 8 o'clock.
The owner of the Elif Cherry Orchard, Elif, surveyed the growing crowd and cheerfully announced, "Welcome, everyone, to the Elif Cherry Orchard! I now declare the Sakura Blossom Soiree officially open! Please enjoy yourselves!"
At that moment, Naoki also welcomed his second customer—a male trainer wearing the orange uniform of the Orange League, accompanied by a Little Lion.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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