As the night deepened, Rex didn't hesitate and immediately found an open space outside the airport to have his Swellow take him back to the farm. Although it was pitch dark all around, Swellow could clearly discern the direction to the farm thanks to its sharp vision, so there was no worry of losing their way in the dark.
However, Rex didn't notice that a small tail was following him. Ever since Shaymin arrived in Slateport City, it had vaguely sensed the presence of numerous Gracidea flowers nearby, as the distance to the farm wasn't far. This discovery thrilled Shaymin—it had always taken pride in its kind's tradition of living in a field of Gracidea flowers. The thought of finding a vast sea of these flowers and living within it filled Shaymin with great joy.
Shaymin also realized that Swellow was flying in the same direction as the Gracidea flower field it sensed, indicating that this human must have some connection with the flower field.
Eager to return home, Rex and Swellow soon landed in the open space in front of his house. Despite it being late at night, the lights inside the house were still on.
Rex first released all of his Pokémon, except for the Combee, allowing them to return to their respective places, and then opened the door to go inside.
At that time, Yuli, Yui, and Karen were sitting on the couch watching TV. When they saw Rex come in, they happily stood up.
"Boss, I kept some food warm for you in the kitchen. I'll go get it now!"
Yuli said as she headed to the kitchen, knowing that Rex hadn't had a proper meal all day on the plane.
Rex indeed felt a bit hungry. He hadn't had a decent meal all day and had only snacked to fill his stomach.
Soon, Yuli and the others brought the food to the table. Seeing the delicious spread, Rex couldn't wait and started eating heartily.
After finishing his meal, Rex took out the Sweet Honey he had obtained from the Vespiquen and shared it with Yuli and the others. Tasting Sweet Honey for the first time, they were captivated by its deliciousness. This sweet treat was right up their alley, and they couldn't stop praising it.
Meanwhile, Shaymin, who had followed Rex to the farm, sensed the presence of the terraced garden, so it didn't continue following Rex. Instead, it tracked the scent of Gracidea flowers to the garden.
Although it was late at night, Shaymin was overwhelmed with joy when it arrived. The unique fragrance of the Gracidea flowers and the pollen floating in the air told Shaymin that it could change into its Sky Forme at any moment.
With a thought, Shaymin transformed into its Sky Forme, resembling a small, energetic deer, and flew above the terraced garden. Shaymin was fascinated by the feeling of flight, loving the freedom this form provided. It had always pursued this freedom, and now, it had finally achieved it.
After playing in the sky for a while, Shaymin reverted to its hedgehog form, nestled into the garden, yawned, and quickly fell into a deep sleep. Following Rex for the past few days had made Shaymin a bit tired, and having found the Gracidea flower field, fulfilling its long-held dream, it easily drifted into a peaceful slumber.
With every breath Shaymin took, a mysterious power radiated outward. Not only did the Gracidea flowers expand and sprout many new seedlings, but many other unknown flowers also began to grow, like mushrooms after the rain. This power even purified the air, making it exceptionally fresh.
That night, both Rex and the three women felt incredibly comfortable, their sleep quality improving noticeably.
"Boss, wake up! Something's happened!"
Early the next morning, as Rex was still dreaming, Yuli urgently knocked on his door, her voice filled with urgency.
Initially annoyed at being woken up, Rex quickly remembered that there might be a problem on the farm, so he snapped awake, hurriedly dressed, and rushed out.
"What happened?" Rex asked anxiously.
"Boss, just come outside and see for yourself!" Yuli didn't explain directly but turned and headed outside.
Puzzled, Rex followed her out of the house.
"Am I dreaming?" Rex rubbed his eyes as he stepped outside, almost as if he were still dreaming.
What he saw was an endless sea of flowers in full bloom, their sweet fragrance filling the air. It was so mesmerizing that he found himself lost in the beauty for a long time. Not far away, a Snorlax was snoring in the flower field, while Karen and Yui were lying on its plump belly, basking in the sunlight.
"I clearly remember that when I came back last night, there weren't any flowers here," Rex said, bewildered.
This situation felt mysterious, and Rex could even sense that the air seemed much fresher than before, making every breath feel incredibly refreshing.
He began piecing together the recent events. First, when he returned last night, there were no such changes, which meant these changes occurred after his arrival at the farm. Then, he recalled the strange feeling of being watched while camping in Sinnoh, the Shaymin legend in Floaroma Town, and the mythical Shaymin's ability to cleanse toxins from the air and transform barren land into flower-filled fields.
From these clues, Rex concluded that a Shaymin had been following him all along, even to the farm. Naturally, the only thing that could attract Shaymin was the Gracidea flowers, meaning Shaymin was likely in the terraced garden right now.
Although it was just a theory, Rex knew it was the truth behind the changes at the farm. The realization made his heart race with excitement.
Rex hadn't expected that his initial goal of planting Gracidea flowers would be achieved so successfully—he had managed to attract Shaymin, like a phoenix drawn to a treasured tree.
However, the challenge now was how to establish a close relationship with Shaymin. Even if he couldn't catch it, Rex wanted to be friends with Shaymin, so he could borrow its power when needed.
The powers of mythical Pokémon like Shaymin, though not as strong as legendary Pokémon, were still beyond Rex's current abilities to control. These Pokémon each possessed unique powers akin to natural laws. While they might not have immense battle strength, in their respective domains, they were godlike.
For instance, Shaymin could revitalize barren lands and purify polluted air. Even if Swellow's strength increased, it could never accomplish something like that.
(End of Chapter)