Chapter 61: Praying for Rain, a Ten Thousand Fold Path to an Ultimate Art!
Chapter 61: Praying for Rain, a Ten Thousand Fold Path to an Ultimate Art!
As noon approached, the rain finally let up.
The dark clouds in the sky parted, revealing a bright yet gentle sunlight.
Naoki removed the hood of his raincoat and gazed at the nearby Garchomp, which had entered a state of profound contemplation. He asked Golurk, who was beneath him, "Golurk, do you think Garchomp will be able to grasp the art of summoning rain?"
Golurk yawned and stretched its mouth wide. "Aga...ssss."
Suddenly, Garchomp's eyes snapped open.
The very heavens seemed to stir.
The dark clouds that had just dispersed moments ago regrouped and converged above Garchomp, swirling and colliding.
Witnessing this, Naoki's heart stirred with excitement.
Success? he wondered. But to his surprise, the expected rainfall didn't materialize.
The clouds rushed together and then swiftly dispersed once more.
The sky cleared, returning to its previous sunny state.
Garchomp, confused by the failure of its prayer, stared blankly up at the sky.
Naoki rode Golurk over to Garchomp and inquired, "What happened?"
"Roaargh!"
Following Garchomp's gaze, Naoki looked up at the sky, deep in thought. "Is it similar to what happened with Thunder?" he asked.
Garchomp contemplated for a moment, then wore an expression of bewilderment.
It didn't understand either.
Seeing this, Naoki fell into contemplation.
Thunder was a formidable Electric-type move, and as such, it was understandably challenging to master.
From Garchomp's earlier display, it seemed to be mimicking the process of lightning striking its body and then discharging it.
However, it hadn't grasped the true essence of Thunder, which was why it had failed to use it successfully.
What about Prayer? Garchomp had managed to summon the clouds, coming tantalizingly close to success, only to fall short at the final hurdle.
Nonetheless, Garchomp appeared to have gleaned some insight from this experience.
That was more than enough, Naoki thought. At the very least, it had managed to call forth the clouds, and with continued practice, it would undoubtedly master Prayer one day.
After all, this was its first attempt, and it had already come remarkably close.
Naoki was pleased, and the thought occurred to him that Garchomp seemed to be getting smarter.
While it had stumbled upon the knowledge of Thunder by sheer luck, it had independently sought to understand Prayer.
For an ordinary Pokemon, this was an astonishing feat.
Or perhaps that lightning bolt had jolted Garchomp's intellect?
But on further reflection, he recalled how Garchomp had swiftly grasped Dragon Tail within a few days, indicating that its capacity for comprehension wasn't inherently lacking; it just needed guidance on how to employ moves effectively.
Naoki couldn't help but think that his little white lies might have played a part in Garchomp's progress.
Moreover, this Garchomp was undeniably diligent!
If this hypothesis held true, he had struck gold!
Upon returning to the ground, Naoki led Garchomp to the farm's irrigation area and outlined its training regimen. "Let's put Thunder on the back burner for now. Focus on Prayer, which you seem to be picking up more quickly. From now on, this will be your Prayer practice ground!"
"Garch! " Garchomp readily agreed. Even without Naoki's prompting, it would have diligently practiced Prayer until it perfected the move.
Witnessing Garchomp's enthusiasm, Naoki smiled. "Once you've mastered it, I'll be counting on you to help with the irrigation!"
"Gar?" Garchomp blinked, looking perplexed.
Naoki didn't explain further but instead shared a story. "There once was a Pokemon named Keldeo," he began. "It was diligent and hardworking. Every day, it practiced drawing and wielding its sword. After unsheathing its blade ten thousand times, Keldeo awakened an ultimate, divine move."
Naoki continued, his tone turning dramatic, "With just one strike of its Sacred Sword move, Keldeo defeated the legendary Pokemon known as the strongest dragon, Kyurem!"
"Roaargh!" Garchomp's eyes lit up at the tale of power and triumph.
Though it didn't understand who Kyurem or Keldeo were, they certainly sounded impressive!
Without hesitation, Garchomp accepted the irrigation task and turned to face the farm's irrigation area, ready to begin practicing Prayer with renewed vigor.
Naoki stood there, momentarily speechless.
So pure and eager as ever, he thought.
He patted Garchomp's shoulder affectionately. "Keep at it, and don't give up!"
Leaving Garchomp to its practice, Naoki removed his raincoat, draped it over the fence, and made his way toward the chicken coop.
As he walked, his mind continued to turn over ideas for dishes that could aid Garchomp in its development.
However, his limited culinary knowledge failed to yield any inspiration for a dish that could enhance Dragon-type Pokemon.
For instance, what about dragon fangs or dragon scales?
Could he grind those into a powder and incorporate them into a dish for Salamence? The idea intrigued Naoki, but acquiring those ingredients would be challenging.
While he could pluck out the dragon's teeth and scales directly, this particular Salamence was still young and hadn't reached the age where its scales would naturally fall off or its teeth would be replaced. Forcing the issue would cause it significant pain and possibly even harm it.
Naoki continued to ponder, his mind racing through a myriad of possibilities—from Pokemon moves to items from the games, and then to various dragon-related objects.
And then, suddenly, a particular move caught his attention.
Natural Gift! A Normal-type move where the user draws power from a held berry to attack, with the move's type and power depending on the berry used.
This move implied that different berries contained varying inherent attributes and energies!
Naoki's mind immediately brought up several berries associated with dragons: Liechi, Ganlon, Salac, and Petaya berries.
Could he use these berries as a starting point?
While using the berries directly in a dish was an option, Naoki had an even better idea.
Pokeblocks and Poffins!
These treats were made from berries, specifically for Pokemon.
With that decision made, Naoki resolved to visit the dessert shop in town as soon as the weather cleared up tomorrow.
For now, he had newly hatched chicks to tend to.
Entering the chicken coop, Naoki surveyed the interior, taking note of the lingering paw prints on the floor. Aside from that, there were no signs of any unwanted visitors during his absence.
Without further ado, he decided to check again later.
Newly hatched chicks were incredibly fragile and vulnerable. They required a warm environment, ample water, and a carefully measured amount of feed.
Indeed, a measured amount of feed.
Unlike Pokemon, these little chicks lacked intelligence, and they wouldn't stop eating just because they were full.
As long as there was food in the feeder, they would keep eating until they literally stuffed themselves to death.
Consequently, Naoki decided to do away with the free-feeding system in the chicken coop and instead implemented manual feeding until the chicks grew older.
He filled the feeder with an appropriate amount of feed, then made sure to close the coop's doors and windows securely to prevent the chicks from wandering outside or letting in the cold drafts and rain.
After taking care of these tasks, it was already noon, and Naoki began preparing lunch for the multitude of Pokemon in his care.
Once lunch was done, he started making rice grass balls using glutinous rice flour and the fresh grass from the pasture.
Since his riding Wooloo ate faster than he could make them, Naoki made a large batch this time, working tirelessly until four in the evening, when the first of the green rice grass balls were finally ready.
After setting the rice grass balls aside, Naoki checked the time.
Whoa! It was already 4:30; he needed to start preparing dinner soon!
Having spent the entire day busy with various tasks, Naoki felt physically exhausted, his wrists sore, as if he had depleted all his stamina in a farming game.
He dragged a small stool and sat under the eaves, gazing at his thriving ranch. Despite his fatigue, a sense of satisfaction warmed his heart.
"Ah, if only there were a hot spring here!"
He could soak in it whenever he felt tired and needed to relax.
However, Cicarma Town was located in the northwestern part of the Padaria region, and the surrounding terrain consisted mainly of plains, snowy mountains, and lakes. There were no volcanoes, which meant no natural hot springs.
But it wasn't entirely impossible.
Naoki suddenly recalled a dish he had made in the past—the Fiery Iron Block.
That dish had an additional effect of slightly increasing Cidoren's favor toward him when consumed.
If he could persuade Cidoren...
He could dig a cave beneath the ranch for Cidoren to live in, where it could generate magma, and then build an artificial hot spring on the surface.
Cidoren would get a caretaker and a new home, and he would get his hot spring.
Then, he could enjoy soaking in the hot spring with his adorable Pokemon.
The thought of it was truly enticing! However, as wonderful as the imagination was, reality could be harsh.
The old-fashioned wall clock inside struck five, reminding him that it was time to start preparing dinner.
Facing the mountain of ingredients that awaited him, Naoki took a deep breath.
This wouldn't do! He needed a Pokemon skilled in household chores to help him with food preparation and cleaning, like a Mr. Mime or a Claydol.
Indeed, Mr. Mime is no slouch when it comes to housework either, as it assists Nurse Joy in the Galar region.
There are male and female variants of Mr. Mime, and their strengths lie in different areas.
The male Mr. Mime acts like a butler, always by its trainer's side, tending to their every need. It can use its psychic powers to anticipate its trainer's actions and take care of their daily life.
Female Mr. Mime, on the other hand, are excellent with children. They abhor conflict and can exchange information by bumping their horns together.
Regardless of gender, both types of Mr. Mime will eagerly care for humans and Pokemon alike, driven by their desire to spread joy and receive gratitude, which brings them happiness. They feed off positive emotions, absorbing them through their horns and converting them into energy.
However, it seems that Haunter doesn't inhabit the Hisui region, unlike Mr. Mime.
"I should probably pay more attention to information about Mr. Mime from now on," Naoki thought.
As he had been extremely busy the day before, Naoki retired early after dinner and fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, Naoki woke up feeling lethargic and dizzy.
His heart sank as he wondered, "Could I have a fever?"
Could it be because of the rain yesterday? He sat up in bed, his body aching, and looked around, his cloudy mind slowly processing the situation.
Without any medicine or a thermometer at home, he realized he would have to make a trip to the town's clinic.
Golurk and Thwackey, who were lying by the bed, noticed his condition and gathered around, their faces filled with concern.
"Groo..."
"Thwaaa..."
Naoki patted each of their heads gently and smiled reassuringly. "It's nothing serious. I probably just caught a fever from getting caught in the rain yesterday. It's a minor illness; I'll just head into town to get some medicine after breakfast."
As he got up to prepare breakfast, Golurk and Thwackey followed closely behind, not leaving his side for a moment.
Audino and Cutiefly also wore worried expressions.
Audino jumped onto the stove and said sadly, "Maa..."
The Dragonite that had come out of its Poke Ball to help with milk delivery now looked guilt-ridden upon hearing the news.
"Wuu..."
If it hadn't been for its rain-summoning practice, Naoki wouldn't have gotten sick.
Dragonite was filled with self-reproach.
Seeing their worried faces, Naoki couldn't help but find the situation a little amusing. He sniffed and began giving instructions to his Pokemon: "It's really nothing serious. Dragonite, go ahead and deliver the milk to Mrs. Tang Thys. Golurk, Thwackey, Audino, Cutiefly, go wait over there; don't crowd around here."
Dragonite reluctantly flew off to deliver the milk, its heart heavy with concern.
Golurk, Thwackey, Audino, and Cutiefly exchanged glances, communicated with each other briefly, and then began to help Naoki with the ranch work.
Golurk went to help Naoki with watering, Thwackey fed the riding sheep, and Audino, carrying salty feed, went to visit the Rock Salt Pokemon living in the Salt House.
Suddowoodo, who was perched on the eaves, flew inside upon witnessing this scene and joined the others by the bed, its eyes filled with worry.
Little Cutiefly could only pace anxiously, feeling helpless.
Naoki found the whole situation amusing, but for some reason, seeing the backs of these Pokemon filled him with a sense of pride, as if they were his children helping out with chores.
That feeling was akin to seeing your child, whom you've raised, taking the initiative to help their parents with household tasks.
Indeed, they've grown up.
Naoki smiled contentedly and continued preparing breakfast.
Due to his physical condition, he kept the breakfast simple, frying a few eggs and slicing some tomatoes to make sandwiches.
As he finished making the sandwiches, the Pokemon returned.
Naoki didn't have much of an appetite, so he let them eat first while he went to the chicken coop to feed the chicks.
And that was when he spotted the small, plum blossom-shaped footprints again.
The ground was still damp from the rain, and it seemed that the mysterious creature had accidentally picked up some mud on its way, leaving behind another set of tracks.
It appeared to be a quadruped.
The intruder's target was clear—the chicken feed in the trough once again.
This time, Naoki decided to be more cautious. He planned to set a trap later to catch this "thief."
(End of Chapter)
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