February 19, 199th Year of the Alliance Calendar
Seven days had passed since the expedition team's departure, and life on the ranch had settled back into its peaceful routine.
Under the diligent guidance of Koraidon and Naoki, Flutter Mane was slowly adjusting to this unfamiliar era. However, one thing remained a persistent challenge: Flutter Mane's erratic schedule.
During the day, Flutter Mane would sleep soundly, only to emerge at night, gliding silently above the ranch with an air of mystery. While it appeared to simply be enjoying the tranquility, Naoki couldn't help but worry. The unsettling possibility of it hunting other Pokémon on the ranch weighed heavily on his mind.
These concerns eventually crept into his dreams.
Late one night, Naoki awoke with a start, heart pounding from a vivid nightmare. In his dream, the shadows of Flutter Mane and Roaring Moon had intertwined, morphing into a savage predator mercilessly preying on a helpless Wattrel.
Unable to shake the lingering dread, Naoki climbed out of bed and ventured into the moonlit ranch to check on Flutter Mane.
To his relief, he found it perched serenely on the chimney, seemingly admiring the moon. Flutter Mane's ethereal form glowed faintly under the pale light, a stark contrast to the violent image that had haunted his dream.
Hearing Naoki's soft footsteps on the grass below, Flutter Mane tilted its head curiously. Spotting him standing there, wrapped in a coat, it floated down gracefully.
"Mrrream?" it murmured softly, as though asking if Naoki needed something.
Naoki let out a small chuckle, realizing how irrational his fears had been. Reaching out, he gently patted Flutter Mane on the head. "How are you liking it here?" he asked.
Flutter Mane paused, its crimson eyes reflecting the silvery moonlight as it pondered the question.
Here on the ranch, it had found safety—a haven where it didn't have to fend off predators, defend its territory, or struggle to find food. Everything about this place exuded a sense of calm and gentleness: the wind, the moon, and even the nights.
But as much as it appreciated this newfound peace, Flutter Mane couldn't deny that something felt... off. It was too quiet. The primal instincts etched into its very being made it long for the thrill of a hunt or the adrenaline of a fight. More than anything, it had a peculiar discomfort—an itch in its sharp teeth that left it restless.
As it wrestled with these feelings, Naoki studied Flutter Mane's expression carefully. Noticing the faint grinding of its pointed teeth, he began to piece things together.
"Are your teeth itchy?" he asked. "Does it bother you that you haven't hunted in a while?"
Flutter Mane's eyes widened in surprise, its body language betraying its astonishment. Its sharp, blood-red gaze seemed to ask, 'How did you know that?'
Naoki chuckled, his suspicions confirmed. He gestured to its small, pointed fangs and added, "Do you feel like biting something to make it stop?"
Flutter Mane blinked, thoroughly shocked that Naoki had pinpointed its discomfort so accurately.
Satisfied with its reaction, Naoki nodded to himself. While the ranch provided for Flutter Mane's physical needs, he realized he had overlooked its innate instincts. If it had something safe to chew on, perhaps it could satisfy that primal urge without causing harm or distress.
The question was: 'What would work for a Pokémon like Flutter Mane?'
At that moment, Naoki suddenly recalled a thick bone that Teddiursa had picked up during one of its adventures. This type of bone, often used by wild Pokémon like Marowak and Cubone as weapons, was renowned for its toughness.
"Could this help Flutter Mane?" Naoki wondered. If the bone was sturdy enough, it might provide Flutter Mane with an outlet for its restless instincts.
Without hesitation, he headed to the utility room, retrieved the bone, cleaned it thoroughly, and presented it to Flutter Mane. The Pokémon extended its wing-like claws, taking the bone cautiously.
Flutter Mane's demeanor shifted immediately. Its wild instincts surged, and it began gnawing on the bone with surprising ferocity, sharpening its fangs on the durable material. As it ground its teeth, it emitted low growls, reminiscent of the ancient Pokémon it once was.
In between gnawing, Flutter Mane cast a glance toward Naoki. Its crimson eyes gleamed with a mix of curiosity and gratitude.
Naoki chuckled, reaching out to pat Flutter Mane gently on the head. "Good job," he said warmly.
Flutter Mane paused mid-bite, tilting its head to study Naoki's face. Bathed in the soft moonlight, the human's expression was kind and sincere, filled with care and hope. Flutter Mane could sense the emotions radiating from him—expectation, tenderness, and an unspoken wish for its happiness.
Memories of life on the ranch flooded Flutter Mane's mind: Naoki preparing meals, patiently teaching it to avoid eating raw meat, guiding it during training, and even worrying over it late at night. For the first time, a strange but pleasant feeling stirred in Flutter Mane's heart.
It understood now why Koraidon held Naoki in such high regard. Flutter Mane realized it, too, had started to like this gentle yet thoughtful human.
---
The next morning, Naoki decided to address Flutter Mane's nocturnal habits. After tending to the ranch, he headed into town to buy some coffee beans, inspired by an idea to help keep Flutter Mane awake during the day.
Returning to the ranch, Naoki made his way to the glass greenhouse. He selected an empty flowerpot, filled it with soil, and planted the coffee beans. Then he carried the pot to the living room, where Calyrex was engrossed in a TV show.
"Could you help me with this?" Naoki asked, holding up the flowerpot.
Calyrex, too absorbed in the show to turn around, waved its hand lazily. A burst of dazzling light engulfed the pot. When the light faded, Naoki was left holding a fully-grown coffee tree, about one and a half meters tall, with branches laden with ripe coffee cherries.
Startled by the sudden transformation, Naoki let out a cry of surprise. Awkwardly cradling the tree, he hurried back to the greenhouse and carefully placed it in a corner.
The bright red cherries gleamed invitingly on the tree. Naoki inspected them closely.
[Coffee Cherries: The berries inside can be used to make coffee.]
Over the next week, Naoki dedicated himself to the laborious process of turning the cherries into coffee beans. He removed the fruit's flesh, fermented the beans, shelled them, washed, dried, and finally roasted them. Once the beans were ready, he ground them into powder, preparing for the final step: brewing coffee.
Naoki prepared a simple setup in the kitchen. Taking the freshly ground powder, he combined it with hot water in a cup handed to him by Indeedee. As the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, he murmured to himself, "I wonder if this will actually work…"
Moments later, the coffee was ready. Naoki inspected the drink eagerly, curious about its effects. A small notification flashed in his mind:
[Coffee (B-): Coffee brewed with freshly ground coffee powder.
Effect: Insomnia Lv. 2. After drinking, the user will be unable to fall asleep for 6 hours.
Comment: A magical drink that helps maintain focus. If you feel drowsy, drink a cup to stay awake and alert!]
Naoki beamed. "This will definitely help Flutter Mane adjust its sleep schedule!"
Naoki was thrilled. At last, he had found a way to help Flutter Mane adjust its nocturnal schedule! Thinking about it, Naoki turned his attention to Flutter Mane, who was soundly sleeping on a cushion nearby.
Carrying the cup of coffee, he approached the drowsy Pokémon and gently woke it. "Flutter Mane, do you want to play with everyone?"
Flutter Mane yawned as it blinked sleepily at Naoki. It tilted its head, confused. 'Play with everyone?' It wanted to, but every time it woke up, the others were already asleep! Still half-asleep, it gave a small nod.
Naoki grinned. "Then try drinking this!" He carefully lifted Flutter Mane and held the cup to its mouth.
The moment the bitter coffee touched its tongue, Flutter Mane's crimson eyes snapped wide open. Any trace of sleepiness vanished instantly. It reared back, coughing and gagging as it floated up, spitting out the offensive liquid.
Naoki: "…"
Koraidon, who had been watching from a distance: "…?"
Once Flutter Mane had successfully rid itself of the bitter taste, it hovered in place, panting dramatically. Now fully awake, it glanced around in confusion, unsure of what had just happened.
Naoki tried to suppress a chuckle and asked, "So… do you still feel sleepy?"
Flutter Mane hesitated for a moment, assessing itself. Much to its surprise, it realized it wasn't sleepy at all. Its gaze shifted back to Naoki, a glimmer of confusion and understanding in its expression.
Naoki nodded, pleased. The coffee's effect was unmistakable—it worked perfectly!
"Alright then," he said, clapping his hands. "Now you can go play with everyone! Koraidon, why don't you take Flutter Mane along?"
Koraidon gave an enthusiastic growl of agreement and led the now wide-awake Flutter Mane toward the other Pokémon, who were happily playing on the ranch grounds. Naoki watched them leave, silently hopeful that interacting with the others would help Flutter Mane adjust to life at the ranch and modern times.
With the pair gone, Naoki turned back to clean up the coffee Flutter Mane had spit out. As he scrubbed the floor, he mused, "Maybe I should add some milk and sugar next time. That might make it easier for Flutter Mane to drink."
---
Later that day, Naoki peeked outside to check on Flutter Mane. It was floating in the air, watching Alcremie and the others play below. Seeing this small step toward socializing, Naoki nodded with satisfaction. Progress, no matter how small, was still progress.
Knowing the coffee's effects would wear off in six hours, Naoki stayed close, ready to brew another cup. Sure enough, as soon as the effects faded, Flutter Mane's energy began to dip. This time, Naoki brought coffee sweetened with milk and sugar.
Reluctantly, Flutter Mane tried the new concoction but immediately spat it out again. The smell alone seemed to irritate it.
Naoki sighed. "Come on, Flutter Mane, just bear with it for today. After this, you won't need to drink any more."
Flutter Mane stared at him, its expression unamused. Naoki added another generous spoonful of sugar to the coffee and presented it again. This time, after some hesitation, Flutter Mane reluctantly gulped it down.
---
After an eventful day of trial and error, the evening finally arrived. At dinner, Flutter Mane ate heartily, and once the coffee's effects wore off, it immediately fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.
Naoki let out a sigh of relief. "If it's sleeping now, it should be fine, right?"
Later that night, Naoki woke up and quietly checked on Flutter Mane. The Pokémon was still sound asleep, its breathing soft and steady. Feeling reassured, Naoki returned to his room and fell asleep with a peaceful heart.
---
The next morning, Flutter Mane woke up naturally, blinking groggily as sunlight streamed into the room. It stretched and looked around, its gaze settling on Naoki, who was sitting nearby.
Naoki smiled as he saw Flutter Mane waking up. "Good morning, Flutter Mane!" he greeted cheerfully.
Flutter Mane blinked groggily and looked around, its expression mildly confused but not unfriendly.
Just then, Glaceon dashed past in hot pursuit of Alcremie. It turned out that Alcremie had mischievously decorated Glaceon's face with cream while it slept, transforming it into a giant, cream-smeared tabby cat.
After spending time with the ranch Pokémon yesterday, Flutter Mane had begun to accept the gentle, playful nature of its new companions. Watching Glaceon angrily chasing after Alcremie, it found itself smiling for the first time, as though the scene was genuinely amusing.
Glaceon, however, noticed Flutter Mane's smile and misinterpreted it as mockery. Embarrassed and fuming, Glaceon turned away from Alcremie with a huff, its face flushed a deep red.
Realizing it had upset Glaceon, Alcremie quickly rushed over to apologize. To make amends, it smeared its own face with cream, mimicking the tabby-cat look. The gesture earned Glaceon's forgiveness, and the two Pokémon soon burst into laughter together.
Flutter Mane watched the entire scene unfold, its smile growing wider. For the first time, it felt genuinely entertained by its new environment.
Naoki, who had been observing from a distance, nodded in satisfaction. From this perspective, Flutter Mane was beginning to resemble Pawmot—light-hearted and content.
The plan to help Flutter Mane adapt to its new life was working, and Naoki finally felt reassured. The ranch Pokémon, particularly the friendly and spirited Alcremie and Pawmot, were proving to be the perfect influences to help Flutter Mane feel at home.
Given time, Naoki believed Flutter Mane would integrate seamlessly into the ranch's peaceful way of life.
As Naoki reflected on Flutter Mane's progress, his thoughts drifted to the Area Zero Research Institute and its enigmatic professors. He wondered what methods they might have used to help the Paradox Pokémon adapt to this era.
In the games, Professors Sada and Turo had managed to command Paradox Pokémon in battles, a testament to their success in taming these creatures. Yet, despite their achievements, they hadn't accounted for the sheer number of Paradox Pokémon that would spill into Paldea, overwhelming the region's defenses.
Naoki shook his head, brushing away the troubling thoughts. There was no use dwelling on events beyond his control. With a soft sigh, he turned back to the group of Pokémon and said, "Alright, everyone, let's have breakfast. After that, I'll head into town."
"Pawmot?" Pawmot immediately perked up, curious about the trip.
Noticing its interest, Naoki smiled and replied, "We're running low on supplies. I'll go buy more food—and yes, I'll make sure to get plenty of meat for you all."
Since the ranch already produced its own milk, eggs, and vegetables, Naoki only needed to purchase meat and a few extras. After breakfast, he entrusted the daily chores to the Indeedee siblings and set off for Kosaji Town on Cyclizar, leaving Koraidon to keep an eye on Flutter Mane and the others.
---
Upon arriving in Kosaji Town, Naoki made his way to the bustling market. He purchased a variety of meats and, noticing the abundance of fresh seafood, decided to splurge a little. Shrimp, crabs, squid, oysters, and clams—all looked irresistibly fresh.
The sight of the seafood sparked an idea. Naoki thought about hosting a seafood feast back at the ranch, a rare treat for everyone. Inspired, he bought several thousand Pokse dollars' worth of seafood, already imagining the delicious dishes he could prepare.
As he loaded his purchases, Naoki recalled videos he'd once seen of people foraging along beaches for clams, mussels, and crabs. The idea intrigued him. Perhaps, in a few days, he could visit the nearby coast to try his luck at gathering seafood himself.
After purchasing the groceries, Naoki prepared to head straight back to the ranch. Riding on Cyclizar along the streets of Kosaji Town, he noticed a new antique shop that had recently opened.
At first, Naoki paid it little attention and continued on his way, but a thought soon struck him. He slowed Cyclizar to a halt and looked back toward the shop, recalling the Gimmighoul hiding in the corner of his tavern.
Despite having discovered the Coin Chest Pokémon some time ago, Naoki had yet to interact meaningfully with it. Gimmighoul was a fascinating Pokémon, both elusive and enigmatic. Its evolved form, Gholdengo, was particularly rare and highly sought after—not only for its unique appearance but also for the lore surrounding its ability to bring good fortune.
However, evolving Gimmighoul into Gholdengo required a staggering 999 coins. The sheer number made the task daunting, but Naoki had always considered it a worthwhile challenge. Besides, a Gholdengo would be a perfect addition to the tavern, both as a quirky companion and as a living fortune charm to attract more customers.
With that in mind, Naoki had an idea. The antique shop might have coins that Gimmighoul would treasure. If he could find such coins, it might help him bond with the Pokémon and take a step closer to its evolution.
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(P)(S): If you're interested, you can read up to chapter 348@ patreon.com/Keepsmiling818
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Bonus chapter @500 PS