Angie and the others carefully stepped onto the ice, fearing that they would slip and fall.
"Vulpix~"
Just then, a soft sound reached them, and a little head peeked out from behind an ice stone, curiously observing Angie and the others.
"It's a Vulpix!" Angie exclaimed, noticing it was an Alolan Vulpix with its ice form.
"Vulpix~"
As if frightened, the Vulpix quickly ducked back behind the ice stone.
"Oh no~~" Angie scratched the back of his head in embarrassment, calling out in the direction of the ice stone, "Sorry for scaring you, Vulpix."
As he spoke, several more little heads began peeking out from behind various ice stones, revealing that they were all Alolan Vulpix.
"Come on out, everyone."
Princess Kimia stepped forward, calling to the Vulpix, who then gathered around her, emerging from behind the ice stones.
She knelt down, petting the Vulpix while explaining to Angie, "These Vulpix have just arrived at the Pokémon Nursery and are still getting used to it."
"I see," Angie replied with understanding.
"Would you like to pet them, Your Highness?" Kimia offered.
Thinking about what had just happened, Angie asked, "Will it scare them?"
"Not anymore," Kimia laughed. "They were just startled by Your Highness's sudden exclamation."
Hearing this, Angie slowly approached Kimia's side, and the Vulpix didn't shy away this time.
"May I pet you?" Angie asked, kneeling down to speak to one of the Vulpix.
"Vulpix~~"
The Vulpix closed its eyes and nodded.
Angie's face lit up, and he gently placed his hand on the Vulpix's head, giving it a soft rub.
"Vulpix~~"
The Vulpix was affectionate, nuzzling into Angie's hand.
Its fur was wonderfully soft and cool to the touch, silky smooth like satin, completely different from any fluffy creature Angie had touched before.
After petting its head, Angie stroked the Vulpix's back, and it happily allowed him to continue.
Seeing this, the other Vulpix gathered around Angie.
"Vulpix~"
"Vulpix~"
"Vulpix~"
…
They encircled Angie, some jumping into his arms to cuddle, licking his cheeks; others snuggling against his arms and licking his palms; some nuzzling his legs, calling for attention and petting… Angie felt truly happy in that moment.
This must be what paradise feels like.
"It seems they all really like Your Highness," Kimia said with a smile, covering her mouth as she laughed.
After playing with the Vulpix for a while, Angie and the others began their descent down the mountain. When they reached the edge of the flower fields, Angie called out, waving his hand, "Munchlax, time to go home!"
"Munchlax~~~"
Munchlax immediately abandoned the playmates it was so happily playing with and hurried over to Angie.
"Did you have fun?" Angie asked, giving Munchlax's chubby cheeks a playful pinch.
"Munchlax~ Munchlax~"
It's so fun, I loved it.
Munchlax replied happily.
"It's getting late; let's head home," Angie said. "I'll bring you back next time."
"Munchlax~"
Munchlax nodded its enthusiastically.
Just as Angie was about to continue down the mountain, he sensed something amiss.
"Munchlax, where's Komala?"
Munchlax looked down at its empty hands, suddenly realizing that it had somehow lost Komala. It jumped up in alarm, like a puppy with its tail stepped on.
Where is Komala? That big Komala, where did it go?
"Hurry up and look for it," Angie urged.
The group began searching all around for Komala.
"Don't worry, Your Highness," Kimia reassured Angie. "It can't have gone far in the Pokémon Nursery."
Angie nodded, "You're right."
Kimia thought for a moment and then asked Flamel to notify the breeders working nearby, asking them to help search. After all, they knew the Pokémon Nursery best.
Soon, from the area of the flower fields near the waterfall, a breeder's voice called out, "Your Highnesses, I've found it!"
Angie and the others followed the voice and arrived to see Komala facing off with another Pokémon.
"Komala!" Angie called out.
Hearing Angie's voice, Komala instantly hugged its log pillow and rolled over to Angie's feet. Angie bent down skillfully and picked it up.
"Sylveon~"
The Pokémon facing Komala suddenly let out a surprised cry, staring unblinkingly at Angie.
Before Angie could react, the Pokémon hurried over to his side.
"Sylveon~ Sylveon~~"
The Pokémon bounced around Angie eagerly, looking very excited.
At that moment, Princess Kimia suddenly slapped her forehead. "Oh no! I got so busy that I forgot to tell you about Sylveon, Your Highness."
Angie looked at Kimia in confusion.
Kimia then formally introduced Angie, "Your Highness, this is Sylveon, the guardian of the Azoth Kingdom and also once Queen Anna's Pokémon."
(Note: In this story, the higher the level of a Pokémon, the longer its lifespan. With a high enough level, even ordinary Pokémon can have lifespans as long as Legendary Pokémon.)
After listening to Kimia's introduction, Angie looked at Sylveon in shock. "Could it be…you're…Anna's Eevee?"
"Sylveon~ Sylveon~~"
Sylveon nodded its enthusiastically.
However, Sylveon quickly grew puzzled, thinking, wasn't His Highness Angie already deceased?
Kimia noticed Sylveon's furrowed brows and explained, "Sylveon, it's like this…" She recounted Angie's well-practiced story to Sylveon.
Of course, Sylveon had no doubts, as in its heart, Angie was a truly remarkable person.
Angie said with admiration to Sylveon, "So, you evolved into a Sylveon!"
In reality, Angie and Sylveon weren't particularly close. First, Eevee had only just arrived at Anna's side when Angie was already close to "dying"; second, Angie's health was very poor, so aside from the young Diancie, he didn't have many opportunities to interact with other Pokémon.
Still, encountering an old friend (or Pokémon) five hundred years later was something that brought both Angie and Sylveon great joy.
"By the way, Sylveon, why were you and Komala in conflict?" Angie asked.
"Sylveon~ Sylveon~"
Sylveon explained sheepishly.
It turned out to be a misunderstanding. While taking a stroll, Sylveon had sensed an unfamiliar presence nearby that set off its instincts. It assumed that some ill-intentioned intruder had sneaked into the Royal Pokémon Nursery, so it hurried over to investigate, leading to the confrontation with Komala.
Angie tried to use the Eye of Observation to check Sylveon's stats, but, as expected, he couldn't see them at all.
Sylveon had truly lived for five hundred years—unlike Angie and Diancie, who had "slept" for five centuries—its level was likely unimaginable by now.
Diancie was also acquainted with Sylveon, and meeting again now brought immense happiness to them both.
After that, Angie, Diancie, and Sylveon sat on the grass and chatted for a long time. They reminisced about events from five hundred years ago, talked about Anna, the changes over the past five centuries, and shared their hopes for the future.
From Sylveon, Angie learned that Anna's Pokémon were not limited to just Sylveon. Back in the day, Anna herself had fought on the battlefield, leading her Pokémon to quash domestic uprisings and fend off invasions from neighboring countries, earning great renown. She was even honored with the title of "The Battle Queen."
Unfortunately, Anna's fighting companions gradually passed away within a century after her death. Only Sylveon continued to guard the Azoth Kingdom that she had worked so hard to protect, safeguarding her descendants.
Angie also learned something else from Sylveon—Nikola had actually created more than one Magearna.
At that time, there was a princess and a prince in the royal family. Nikola' original plan was to create two identical Magearna, one for each of them, to accompany them as they grew up.
But creating Magearna proved far more challenging than anticipated. Nikola spent an enormous amount of time, and by the time Angie passed away, he had only managed to complete one.
Nikola actually intended to give the first Magearna he created to Angie, hoping it would help take care of Angie in his frail condition.
However, that Magearna was a bit absent-minded and wasn't particularly good at caring for patients, so it ultimately became Anna's companion instead.
By the time Nikolabegan working on a second Magearna, Angie was already on his deathbed.
Even after Angie "died," Nikola was determined to complete the second Magearna.
Unlike the first Magearna, which was widely known, only Nikola and Anna, who had ascended the throne by then, were aware of the second one.
Sylveon only learned about it later by chance, at a time when both Magearna had already vanished.
Now, no one knows where those two Magearna are or if they are still alive.
After listening to Sylveon's story, Angie was filled with mixed emotions.
Seeing that it was getting late, Angie embraced Sylveon and said, "Sylveon, I'll come see you again sometime."
"Sylveon~ Sylveon~~"
Sylveon extended a ribbon to hug Angie and Diancie in turn.
Angie released Sylveon and stood up, "Alright then, Sylveon, see you later."
"Sylveon~"
Sylveon waved its ribbons, bidding Angie farewell.
After leaving the Pokémon Nursery, Angie sighed deeply, then smiled and said to Diancie and Munchlax, "Let's go home!"
Outside the palace, Angie put away the dining cart and transported Diancie and Munchlax home first, before taking Komala to the Nebel River, where Lapras was waiting to ferry him back to the Nebel Plateau.
Later that evening, after his cooking training, Angie soaked in the bathtub with Munchlax and Komala. Leaning against the edge, he stared blankly, his mind drifting to his conversation with Sylveon.
He already knew that his sister Anna had endured numerous hardships after ascending the throne, but he hadn't expected her to have fought on the battlefield herself.
His sister, who used to be so delicate, always laughing and full of playful energy, had somehow become remembered as the "Battle Queen."
He couldn't begin to imagine the trials Anna must have faced to grow into the image of the perfect Queen Anna in the hearts of her people…
And Magearna…where could they be now? How are they doing…
"Munchlax~~"
Munchlax, noticing Angie's furrowed brow, suddenly scooped up a handful of water and splashed it in Angie's face, laughing smugly afterward.
Angie snapped out of his thoughts, pointing at Munchlax, "Oh, you're so bold, daring to prank your master! Unforgivable—take this!" he said, flinging water back at Munchlax.
"Munchlax~~"
"Hahaha~~"
The two of them ended up having a water fight in the bath.
Poor Komala, floating on the water, was tossed back and forth by the waves they created, unable to get any peaceful sleep.
Suddenly, it raised its wooden log and slammed it into the water, sending a massive splash everywhere and reducing the water level in the tub by half in an instant. Now, Komala, which had been floating, was left sitting in shallow water.
Munchlax and Angie exchanged a glance, then burst into even louder laughter.
Komala: o(▼皿▼メ;)o
After a while, Diancie's voice called from outside, "How long are you two planning to stay in there? Are you going to sleep or not?! Don't you have work tomorrow?"
Upon hearing Diancie's question, Munchlax covered its mouth, snickering like a mouse that had stolen some oil.
After the bath, Angie helped dry the fur of both Pokémon, and then they all headed off to bed.
The next morning, as usual, Angie took Komala to the azoth city to set up their stall, and Raleigh brought Slurpuff to help him again.
Business was still booming, and both Angie and Raleigh were kept on their toes, busy from start to finish.
Days passed quickly, and it had already been ten days since Raleigh started helping out.
In these ten days, Raleigh had indeed gained experience. While he might not have become much more cheerful or outgoing, at least he could now handle customers' teasing without flinching.
He had also become efficient at his work—even with his eyes closed, he wouldn't give a customer the wrong item.
That morning, after selling out of buns, Angie began tallying up the day's earnings.
He had sold 3,079 buns, earning 61,580 PokéDollars, and 4,683 steamed buns, earning 46,830 PokéDollars.
In total, he had earned 108,410 PokéDollars.
Angie checked his bank account balance: 1,293,714 PokéDollars.
Now that he had a bank account, he finally didn't have to count cash one bill at a time.
His daily income over the past few days had been around 90,000 to 100,000 PokéDollars.
However, while over a million PokéDollars seemed like a lot, it was still far from enough to buy a shop in the azoth city, Angie thought to himself.
He glanced at his happiness points balance: 850,567—quite a lot, just shy of a million.
Angie opened the system interface, and a prompt immediately appeared.
[ Congratulations to the master for achieving the milestone of serving 5,000 Pokémon. ]
[ Reward: Constitution +3. ]
A smile appeared on Angie's face. Great, his Constitution had increased again!
He looked over his personal stats.
...
[ Angie ]
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 16 (+500)
Constitution: 16
Intelligence: 10
Culinary Rating: A little fledgling, good enough to eat.
...