At five o'clock sharp, Zack arrived for his usual pickup, but today Naoki had nothing to sell. It seemed that Koraidon's fishing expeditions had drastically reduced the fish population in the nearby river. Naoki had only managed to catch three ordinary Basculin.
Zack, unfazed, offered words of comfort. "It's normal," he reassured Naoki. "Fishing is all about luck. You've been pretty lucky so far. Some folks can sit by the river all day and not catch a single thing!"
Naoki chuckled inwardly. He knew all about "air fishing" from his previous life.
After selling the three Basculin for a meager 600 Pokédollars, Naoki contemplated trying his luck at the ocean west of Mesagoza. The river was practically depleted, and it would take time to recover. With the crops not yet ready for harvest, fishing was his only source of income.
However, Naoki wasn't in a rush. The priority was to finish the chicken coop.
After rinsing himself and his Pokémon companions under the faucet, Naoki returned to the cabin and began preparing dinner. With the Feebas gone, all that remained were some smoked sausage and ham, common staples from the Mesagoza Market. They were non-perishable and ideal for situations without refrigeration.
Unfortunately, sandwiches made with smoked sausage and ham wouldn't trigger any special effects. But Koraidon and Cyclizar still ate their meals with gusto.
Naoki was reminded of the old saying, "A dog doesn't care if its owner is poor." In this world, Pokémon were like loyal dogs, never judging their trainers based on wealth.
But Pokémon were more than just pets. They lived alongside humans, forming deep bonds. With their emotions and intelligence, Naoki felt it was more fitting to consider them family.
As for Caterpie, Naoki knew it had been diligently practicing its new move in the forest all day, taking breaks to munch on leaves whenever it got tired.
It hadn't returned for dinner, likely still full from its leafy feast. Naoki checked on it and found it asleep on a large tree in the pasture. It seemed the Caterpie preferred the outdoors to the confines of the house.
After dinner, exhausted from the day's work, Naoki decided to retire early.
...
Meanwhile, in the back mountains.
A ten-year-old boy with blond hair crawled out of a ditch, covered in mud. His Orange Academy uniform was soiled and damp, clinging to his skin with rotting leaves.
The boy, Carter, a freshman at the academy, had been on a school-sponsored outdoor excursion when he'd gotten lost two days ago. He had hoped to find a town or settlement, but the relentless rain had forced him to take shelter in a cave.
After the rain stopped, he attempted to continue his journey, only to fall into the ditch. Not only were his clothes ruined, but he had also scraped his leg. His food supplies were depleted, and he leaned against a tree, hunger gnawing at his stomach.
"I hope the Delibird found a town nearby," Carter muttered, tears welling up in his eyes. "Ugh, I shouldn't have signed up for this stupid field trip."
In the afternoon, Carter had released his only Pokémon, a Delibird, instructing it to scout the area from the air and locate any signs of civilization.
Suddenly, a familiar cry echoed through the trees. Carter looked up, his face brightening with hope.
The Delibird landed in front of him, proudly presenting a blue Berry from the pouch it carried.
"You found food for me?" Carter exclaimed, tears of gratitude streaming down his face. He hugged the Delibird tightly, "Thank you so much, Delibird!"
"Bibi!" the Pokémon squawked, struggling to breathe in Carter's tight embrace.
Thankfully, Carter quickly released Delibird, took a bite of the berry, and regained his determination. "Alright! Let's keep going!"
Delibird led the way as Carter followed closely behind.
After an hour's walk, a solitary wooden house emerged from the darkness under the moonlight.
"Is that...a cabin?" Carter was disappointed. He had hoped for a bustling town. But at least it was a sign of human habitation, a welcome sight compared to the wilderness.
Delibird nodded, confirming it had detected signs of activity there earlier.
"It's better than nothing," Carter reasoned, approaching the house and knocking on the door. "Hello? Is anyone there?"
Soon, footsteps approached from inside. The lights flickered on, and the door creaked open, revealing a tall, slender young man.
Naoki looked at the mud-covered boy in front of him, surprise flashing across his face. "Can I help you?"
"Hello, my name is Carter," the boy introduced himself quickly. "I'm a student at the Orange Academy. I got lost in the mountains. Could you tell me, is the nearest town far from here?"
Naoki assessed the situation. "About three hours on foot," he replied.
"Three hours?!" Carter's face fell. His energy was depleted, and he doubted he could make it that far.
Naoki noticed the academy badge on Carter's chest and raised an eyebrow. "Come inside," he offered. "You're in no shape to travel. You can stay here for the night."
Carter's eyes lit up with gratitude. "Thank you so much! We won't stay for free, though. I'll pay for the room."
"Don't worry about it," Naoki assured him. "It's just a small favor."
He knew from the original owner's memories that hotel prices in this world weren't too expensive, the cheapest being around 200 Pokédollars per night. He stepped aside, gesturing for Carter to enter.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Carter thanked him profusely. What a kind person!
He stepped inside with Delibird, taking in the cozy interior. The cabin was small but well-furnished, with a single bed, a desk, a cupboard serving as a partition, and a crackling fireplace. The wooden floor was spotless, and the entire space exuded an air of warmth and cleanliness.
"The owner must be very tidy," Carter thought to himself.
Concerned about dirtying the floor, he removed his shoes before entering, padding across the room in his socks.
His eyes were drawn to the two Pokémon resting by the bed: a Cyclizar and a crimson-colored Pokémon he had never seen before. Though unfamiliar, his trainer's intuition told him that this Pokémon was extraordinary.
.....
DROP MORE POWER STONES