"Are you okay, Teddiursa?"
Rex looked at the somewhat dazed Teddiursa and asked with concern.
Teddiursa felt incredibly comfortable, its entire body brimming with energy. It did feel a bit hungry, but having gotten used to being hungry, it didn't think much of it.
When it recognized the human in front of it, Teddiursa happily pounced into Rex's arms, tears welling up in its eyes.
"Uh, Teddiursa, do we know each other?"
Rex was a bit taken aback by Teddiursa's affectionate behavior but patted its head and asked.
"Combusken! Combusken!"
Combusken took out the piece of charcoal infused in its body, pointed at Teddiursa, and cried out.
With Combusken's prompt, Rex finally recognized Teddiursa, realizing it was the one that had given him the charcoal.
"Oh, it's you, Teddiursa! Long time no see!"
Realizing Teddiursa's identity, Rex greeted it with a smile.
Teddiursa, recovering from its joy at reaching its destination, nudged Rex's arm with its head before looking around.
It was looking for its two companions, but not finding them made Teddiursa anxious, fearing something might have happened to Bounsweet and Exeggcute.
Fortunately, Combusken, knowing the whole situation, explained it to Teddiursa, calming it down somewhat.
However, Teddiursa couldn't help but worry about its companions until it saw them.
Combusken then led Teddiursa towards the forest, intending to fetch Carbink, Bounsweet, and Exeggcute.
Rex, watching them run off, was puzzled but didn't dwell on it. He picked up his small hoe and continued weeding the Gracidea flower field.
Teddiursa ran quickly, so they soon reached the hidden tree hollow. They found Carbink blocking the entrance, surrounded by several Ariados, presumably the companions of the one Combusken had severely injured earlier.
The attacks from the Ariados did little to Carbink. If not for protecting Bounsweet and Exeggcute inside the hollow, Carbink would have fought back already.
Seeing their attacks were ineffective, the Ariados started spraying poison, hoping to wear Carbink down with poisoning.
As forest predators, they knew persistence could eventually defeat the immobile Carbink. However, Combusken and Teddiursa had arrived.
Combusken didn't hold back, unleashing a Flamethrower. The Ariados barely managed to block it with their poison but realized Combusken's power and retreated, carrying their injured companion into the underbrush.
With Carbink stepping aside, Teddiursa hurried into the hollow.
Bounsweet and Exeggcute were unconscious from their severe injuries, oblivious to the recent attack.
Seeing this, Teddiursa paced nervously. Combusken, knowing they were not in immediate danger, reassured Teddiursa and gently picked up Bounsweet and Exeggcute, planning to return to the farm.
They walked slowly to accommodate Carbink's pace, but the farm wasn't far, and soon they reached Rex.
Rex, seeing Combusken carrying Bounsweet and Exeggcute, understood why they had rushed out.
Facing Teddiursa's pleading eyes, Rex wasted no time, healing Bounsweet and Exeggcute with his power.
Their injuries being minor, Bounsweet and Exeggcute quickly recovered.
Opening their eyes, they saw their leader Teddiursa and immediately ran over, checking it over until they were sure it was healed.
Then, they noticed their surroundings and, upon realizing Rex had healed them, politely nudged him in thanks.
Rex, understanding this as their way of expressing gratitude, smiled back.
"Gurgle..."
In this warm moment, Teddiursa and its companions' stomachs growled, making them blush.
Their long journey had left them with little food, and the healing had depleted their energy reserves, leading to their current hunger.
"Here's some food. If you don't mind, have a snack first."
Yuli, having witnessed everything, brought over a basket and offered it to the three.
The food was meant to be snacks for her and Rex, but seeing the Pokémon's hunger, she offered it to them.
Still hungry, Teddiursa looked at Rex for approval. Receiving his nod, they couldn't resist and began devouring the food.
As they ate, a sense of happiness filled their hearts, feeling it was the best food they had ever tasted, though it was just their hunger speaking.
The basket didn't hold much, so they quickly finished it.
Though still somewhat hungry, they felt much better, and such mild hunger was familiar to them, leaving them content.
"There's some time before dinner. Combusken, why don't you show them around the farm?"
Rex, seeing the three still a bit uneasy after eating, instructed Combusken.
Combusken, taking the task seriously, assured it would take good care of the three.
Once they left, Rex began explaining to Yuli how he knew them.
Knowing Teddiursa and the others were still hungry, Combusken first took them to the Berry orchard for a proper meal.
Teddiursa and its companions were stunned by the abundance of Berries, a sight they had never seen before.
They remembered Rex's promise of endless food if they came to the farm, feeling regret for their hard months.
But with their optimistic nature, they quickly moved past it, feasting until they were full.
To them, the farm was a paradise, though they didn't know dinner included energy-rich Pokéblocks made from Berries.
(End of chapter)