"Welcome! Huh, Bellossom, why are you back?"
Koko heard the door open and greeted the visitor out of habit, only to turn and see her Bellossom walking in.
It had been about an hour and a half since Rex left the farm. He had just landed in the Pokémon Plaza near the Mauville Food Court. Initially, he planned to enjoy some food there before heading to Koko's flower shop.
However, Bellossom had other plans and ran straight to the shop as soon as it came out of its Pokéball. Rex had no choice but to follow it, ensuring nothing went wrong.
Despite leaving Koko only recently, Bellossom missed its trainer dearly. Once it sensed it was near the flower shop, it eagerly escaped from its Pokéball and rushed over.
Bellossom, seeing its trainer, happily leaped into Koko's arms and started chattering excitedly. Koko was equally thrilled to see Bellossom. This Bellossom was her first Pokémon and had been with her since it was a Oddish. They had hardly ever been apart, so Koko had missed it dearly and even regretted sending it to Rex's farm.
"Am I interrupting, Miss Koko?"
Rex entered the shop, smiling at the sight of the joyful reunion between trainer and Pokémon.
"Oh, not at all! Did Bellossom ask you to bring it back?"
"Bellossom has learned Grassy Terrain. Plus, I had some business here, so I thought I'd bring it along."
"Really? Bellossom, that's amazing!"
Koko stroked Bellossom's head, praising it for mastering the new move. Bellossom jumped to the ground and began dancing happily, releasing a wave of vibrant green energy that formed a grassy terrain in the shop.
"So this is Grassy Terrain?"
Koko felt a surge of vitality as the green energy enveloped her, rejuvenating her tired body.
"Yes, this is the Grassy Terrain Bellossom has learned. With its help, you'll be able to grow even more rare flowers."
"Thank you so much, Rex! I can't believe you taught Bellossom this skill so quickly"
"It's mostly due to Bellossom's natural talent. I just guided it a little."
Rex modestly replied. Then, he took out the Gracidea flowers he had picked from the backyard. There weren't many, only enough to make seven or eight bouquets. The Gracidea flowers in the backyard had fully bloomed, and Rex had harvested all the seeds. Since the backyard frequently used Grassy Terrain, the flowers' development accelerated, shortening their blooming period. Not wanting to waste them, Rex decided to bring them to Koko's flower shop.
After exchanging some insights on growing Gracidea flowers, Rex bid Koko farewell. By now, it was noon, so he planned to have lunch at the food court before heading to Fortree City. The food court was as bustling as ever, filled with people eager to taste and share the delicious food. The atmosphere didn't bother Rex; everyone seemed content, their faces reflecting satisfaction from the delectable offerings.
Rex headed to his favorite mixed noodle shop, which was packed. He waited for over ten minutes before finding a seat. After enjoying a bowl of seafood mixed noodles, he left the shop, satisfied with his meal. At the Pokémon Plaza, he fed his Pokémon some Pokéblocks before setting off on Swellow towards Fortree City.
As he flew, the landscape below turned from sparsely populated areas to dense forests, indicating he was nearing his destination. Fortree City, though called a city, was more like a large town where residents lived in treehouses, closely connected to nature. This lifestyle contributed to their health and longevity. The abundant rainfall supported tall trees, ideal for building treehouses, keeping residents dry and safe from ground-dwelling Pokémon.
Approaching Fortree City, Rex noticed someone flying on a Skarmory. It was Winona, the Fortree Gym Leader, with a young girl seated in front of her, happily pointing out things in the sky.
"Winona! Fancy meeting you in the sky!"
Swellow flew close to Skarmory, allowing Rex to shout over.
"Rex! Are you here to challenge the Fortree Gym?"
"Yes, I've been looking forward to battling you, Winona!"
"Let's land first."
"Alright."
They descended and landed near a bustling market.
(End of Chapter)