After putting away the Poké Balls containing Garganacl and Nacli, Angie refrained from letting them out. With their slow speed, traveling back to the observation station together could take until the next morning.
At this moment, Angie turned around to Arven. "Arven, since you want to be a chef, how about catching a Nacli as your partner? For a chef, a Nacli can be an invaluable companion."
Though technically children in the Pokémon world need to be at least ten years old to own Pokémon, there was a system called fostering. This allowed Pokémon to be temporarily registered under the name of a parent or older sibling until the child turned ten and could officially claim them.
Arven's Mabosstiff had been acquired this way.
With Arven approaching his tenth birthday, Angie's suggestion made him pause. He hadn't seriously considered catching a Pokémon yet.
"Can I… really?" Arven looked up at Angie, his eyes filled with hope.
Angie smiled. "That depends on the Nacli. You'll have to ask them."
Arven turned toward the group of Nacli. "Would any of you like to come with me?"
There was a brief moment of silence before one small Nacli stepped forward from the group.
"Nacli~!"
However, this Nacli wasn't going to simply let itself be captured.
"It's inviting you to battle," Angie explained. "Hurry up and accept."
"Oh—oh!" Arven, startled into action, pointed toward Mabosstiff. "Mabosstiff, I'll count on you!"
Mabosstiff nodded and leapt to face the Nacli, standing firm.
As expected, the battle's outcome was predictable. Being a baby Pokémon, the Nacli was no match for Mabosstiff. After a quick battle, Arven threw a Poké Ball. The Nacli was engulfed in red light and captured. With a satisfying "click," the capture was successful.
Arven ran to pick up the Poké Ball and returned to Angie and Mabosstiff, his face flushed with excitement. "Mabosstiff, Angie! I caught a Nacli!"
This was his first Pokémon capture, and his enthusiasm showed.
"Well done," Angie encouraged, giving him a thumbs-up.
Arven carefully released the Nacli, then pulled out a Berry from his backpack to feed it. Soon, the Nacli reopened its eyes, fully restored.
Arven had picked up the habit of carrying various Berries from Angie. Each Berry had a different purpose—some restored energy, some cured status conditions like poison, burns, paralysis, or confusion. They could be lifesavers in critical moments.
Now fully awake, the Nacli happily hopped around Arven's feet, clearly accepting him as its Trainer.
At this point, the Garganacl leader approached Angie and Arven. It broke off a part of its own body and offered it to the two of them. These fragments, composed of precious rock salt, were not just culinary delights but also vital healing materials.
Angie was taken aback by the gesture. Seeing the gap in the Garganacl's body, he asked, "Are you sure this is okay?"
The Garganacl shook its head reassuringly. Its body could regenerate by absorbing sufficient minerals, especially rock. If it knew the move Recover, this process would be even faster. Unless critical areas were damaged, these losses were insignificant.
Garganacl often filed down their excessive growths to maintain mobility. These filings were what humans prized as high-quality rock salt.
Sharing its rock salt was an ingrained part of the Garganacl's gentle nature. They often used it to help heal injured Pokémon. By offering this salt to Angie and Arven, the Garganacl leader was showing its trust, hoping they'd take good care of its kin.
Accepting the rock salt, Angie gave a solemn promise: "I'll take good care of Garganacl and the two Nacli. You have my word."
Arven followed suit, clutching his piece of rock salt tightly. "I'll take great care of my Nacli too!"
Satisfied, the Garganacl leader nodded, its eyes curving into crescent moons.
Noting the time, Angie bid farewell to the group. "Thank you, Garganacl, Naclstacks, and Naclis. We'll be leaving now."
The Garganacl leader nodded and waved as Angie and the others departed.
Once out of the rocky terrain, Pawmi eagerly stretched out its paws toward Angie.
"Pawmi~!"
Angie chuckled. "I know, I know. Here!" He handed over a cucumber.
Pawmi accepted it with glee and began munching away.
It didn't take long for the cucumber to disappear completely. Staring at its now-empty paws, Pawmi cast a longing look at Angie, who was seated atop Espartha.
It wanted more...
When they finally returned to the observation station, Diancie had already set up the tables and chairs outside, waiting for Angie's return to prepare dinner.
Seeing him, Diancie waved with a sweet smile. "Angie, you're back!"
Jumping down from Espartha's back, Angie asked, "We're back! Did the researchers finish studying you?"
Diancie shook her head. "Not yet. They'll probably continue this afternoon."
Angie nodded, briefly asking about the research before summoning Munchlax and Drizzile from home.
"Munchlax, Drizzile, how's the shop been today?" Angie inquired.
"Munchlax~!"
Everything went great, Master.
Munchlax came close to Angie affectionately, holding his hand as if to report in.
"Drizzile~ Drizzile~!"
Don't worry, I've got it covered!
Drizzile raised a proud thumbs-up to itself, clearly satisfied.
"Thank you both for your hard work!" Angie reached out to ruffle his two apprentices' heads.
Munchlax closed its eyes contentedly, basking in the moment. A surge of pride and satisfaction welled up within it. Meanwhile, a faint blush crossed Drizzile's otherwise confident face.
Angie then released Garganacl and the two Nacli from their Poké Balls, introducing them to the group.
Everyone greeted their new companions warmly, and the initially cautious Garganacl and Nacli quickly warmed up to the group, blending right in.
Seeing the Pokémon getting along so well, Angie felt a sense of relief and announced, "For lunch today, let's use the rock salt Garganacl gave us! Let's see how it compares to regular salt."
A cheer rose among the Pokémon. They were all excited at the prospect of a delicious lunch.
Angie took out a container and placed the solid chunks of rock salt inside. Using a mortar and pestle, he began grinding the salt into a finer consistency.
At that moment, Diancie walked over and offered, "Let me handle this."
Angie nodded and handed the task over to her.
"So, what should we eat for lunch today?" Angie pondered aloud.
"Munchlax!"
Let's eat fish!
Munchlax eagerly raised a paw, its favorite food already on its mind.
"Alright, let's steam a fish today. But I'm out of fish here, so you'll need to fetch one from home," Angie replied.
"Munchlax~!"
No problem!
Munchlax leaped with joy, thrilled that its suggestion was accepted.
Angie sent Munchlax back home temporarily. Before long, it returned with a fish almost as large as itself.
The fish wasn't from Angie's usual secret reservoir—those had long since been eaten. This one came fresh from Nebel Lake, caught by his Water-type Pokémon.
Looking at the massive fish, Angie thought for a moment and decided, "Let's use the head for a spicy chopped fish head dish, and the body for a tofu and fish stew." He then delegated the tasks, "Munchlax, you'll handle the fish head, and Drizzile, the stew is yours."
"Munchlax~!"
I got it!
Munchlax eagerly bounded away with the fish.
"Drizzile~!"
Drizzile hurried after to help.
Next, Angie turned to Arven. "Arven, can you lend me a hand?"
"Yes!" Arven responded enthusiastically, excited at the prospect of helping.
The thought of his parents eating a meal he helped prepare filled Arven with anticipation.
"Let's start by prepping these vegetables," Angie said, placing a heap of greens on the ground.
Suddenly, Dolliv and Charcadet scurried over to help.
Angie demonstrated the process as he worked, "See? Remove the roots and any wilted leaves like this. And for these, keep the tender parts and discard the tougher ones."
With Arven, Dolliv, and Charcadet's help, the vegetables were ready in no time.
As the clock ticked, a tantalizing aroma began to waft through the air, growing stronger with each passing moment.
Angie tasted a freshly stir-fried plate of greens seasoned with the rock salt. His eyes lit up.
These greens, grown in Angie's personal garden, were already crisp and juicy. Even with minimal preparation, they were incredibly flavorful. The addition of the rock salt, however, elevated their taste exponentially—it was absolutely divine.
The dish's appearance was equally impressive. The bright, vibrant greens glistened, seeming almost luminous. Whether it was the rock salt or the Dolliv oil, the colors had never been this vivid with regular salt and oil.
Dish after dish made its way off the stove, each one adding to the symphony of scents permeating the air.
"Oinkologne~!"
"Oinkologne~!"
The two Oinkologne, circled around Angie excitedly, their noses twitching as they caught whiffs of the food.
Angie chuckled and said, "You two better stop spinning around me, or I might step on you and spill the dishes!"
The two pigs squealed as if to say, That would be a disaster!
The two Oinkologne immediately stopped spinning around Angie and obediently lay to one side, quietly watching him cook while occasionally licking the crystal-clear drool at the corners of their mouths.
Not far away, in the grass, a Pawmi peeked its head out, drawn by the aroma. Wiping the drool off its mouth, it chewed on a blade of grass before promptly spitting it out with a "ptooey."
Just as lunch was nearly finished, the two professors, accompanied by Raleigh and a group of researchers, arrived, drawn by the enticing smells wafting through the air.
Everyone cheerfully sat at the table, enjoying the meal and chatting enthusiastically. During lunch, Arven introduced the newly captured Nacli to her parents.
The professors were genuinely happy for Arven.
On the grassy field, a picnic cloth was spread out for Pokémon who couldn't sit at the table, such as Esparthaa, Garganacl, Nacli, and the two Oinkologne. They all sat together, enjoying the meal.
Angie didn't join the table either. Instead, he sat on the picnic cloth with Arven and Raleigh, eating alongside the Pokémon as if they were having a picnic.
Diancie and Munchlax were particularly attentive, one holding the rice pot and the other carrying the dish pan. They carefully watched which Pokémon needed more food, promptly bringing the pots over to serve.
Seeing this, Angie smiled and said, "Diancie, Munchlax, you two don't need to fuss so much. Sit down and eat with us."
Diancie replied, "Coming!"
Munchlax grinned, "Got it, Master!"
The three Garganacl and Nacli were eating human food for the first time, and they found it so delicious that half their bodies were practically buried in their bowls, their joy evident.
No one noticed the sudden rise of a small mound on the grass, which quickly approached the picnic cloth.
Before long, the mound reached the edge of the cloth. A Pokémon, hidden beneath a patch of turf, slyly peeked its eyes out.
One of the Nacli was happily munching away, its eyes half-closed. Suddenly, a Pawmi shot out from under the turf and, with lightning speed, snatched a piece of fish from the Nacli's bowl.
It was such a small portion that the Nacli didn't notice it was missing.
Under the turf, Pawmi eagerly stuffed the fish into its mouth, savoring every bite before licking its fingers in bliss.
"Pawmi!"
It's so delicious!
Relishing the flavor, Pawmi couldn't resist and stealthily lifted the turf again, reaching out for another piece of fish.
As the Nacli lowered its head, it spotted Pawmi retreating with a chunk of fish.
"Nacli!"
The Nacli yelped in surprise and instinctively used Rock Throw, landing a perfect hit on Pawmi. Pawmi swelled instantly, but even then, it didn't let go of the fish. Instead, it quickly retracted back into the hole.
"What's wrong, Nacli?" Angie asked, hearing the commotion.
"Nacli, Nacli!"
The Nacli pointed at the patch of turf, shouting incessantly.
Suddenly, the turf bulged, turning into a little mound that began to flee.
"What on earth?" Angie exclaimed in surprise.
Before he could react, Espartgaa had already launched itself forward, using Drill Peck to strike the moving mound with pinpoint accuracy.
With a shriek, the mound was flipped open, revealing a yellow Pokémon sprawled on the ground, its face covered in grease. Even as it lay there, it swiped its mouth and smacked its lips in satisfaction.
It was none other than Pawmi.
"Nacli, Nacli!"
The Nacli angrily yelled at Pawmi, accusing it of stealing its food.
Pawmi didn't care. It tried to dig its way out with Dig, but Espartha was quicker, grabbing it by the scruff with its beak. No matter how much it struggled, it couldn't escape.
"Pawmi! Pawmi!"
Let me go! Let me go, or I'll get mad!
Pawmi protested loudly.
Angie couldn't help but chuckle. "You're really something, aren't you? Stealing food and now acting so entitled."
"Nacli, Nacli!"
The Nacli vocally supported Angie's remarks.
"Pawmi!"
It's just a little food! What's the big deal?
Pawmi defended itself indignantly.
"You're quite bold, huh!" Angie laughed, amused by its audacity.
Suddenly, Pawmi declared dramatically, "Pawmi!"
I stole food, so if you want to punish me, make me your Pokémon!
With this... if I became this human's Pokémon, I could eat delicious food all the time? Heh-heh.
Pawmi's little mind was already scheming.
Angie raised an eyebrow. "Wait... Are you serious?"
He suddenly had a feeling that this Pawmi had been planning this all along. Could it really have taken a liking to him?
"Pawmi~ Pawmi~"
Yes, yes, I'm reluctantly agreeing.
Pawmi nodded solemnly.
"In that case, forget it. I don't want to force you," Angie said on purpose.
Pawmi panicked instantly.
"Pawmi~ Pawmi~"
No, no! I'm very strong! If you let me be your Pokémon, you'll be super lucky!
"You?" Angie looked at Pawmi with a doubtful expression.
"Pawmi~"
Of course!
Pawmi puffed out its chest proudly. It had defeated every opponent in its clan, becoming unbeatable before venturing out to train alone. However, it hadn't expected solo training to be so difficult, often leaving it hungry.
Hearing Pawmi's boast, Angie couldn't help but activate his Eye of Observation. Despite traveling together, he had never really checked Pawmi's stats before.
...
[ Pawmi ]
Type: Electric
Ability: Iron Fist
Gender: Male
Level: 18
Moves: Scratch, Growl, Thunder Shock, Quick Attack, Charge, Nuzzle, Dig, Thief, Thunder Punch, Sweet Kiss.
...
[ Individual Values (IVs) ]
HP: 29
Attack: 31
Defense: 31
Special Attack: 30
Special Defense: 30
Speed: 31
...
After seeing its stats, Angie was stunned. He had encountered an outstanding Pokémon! Apart from Diancie, this Pawmi had the most luxurious individual values he had ever seen..
And it had already learned Thunder Punch!
Normally, Pawmi wouldn't be able to learn Thunder Punch in its initial stage; only Pawmi's evolved forms, Pawmo and Pawmot, could potentially learn it.
But this Pawmi had learned it early.
Angie couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that you're a genius?"
"Pawmi~"
Of course!
Pawmi nodded proudly.
"Pawmi~ Pawmi~"
See how amazing I am? Hurry up and catch me!
This one really couldn't be passed up! Angie thought.
Although he wasn't a Trainer, encountering such an exceptional Pokémon made it hard to resist—especially since Pawmi was practically throwing itself at him.
Besides… Pawmi was adorable! Furry and round, holding it in his arms would definitely feel great.
Angie said, "Alright, then I won't hold back!"
"Pawmi~ Pawmi~"
Bring it on, bring it on!
Still dangling by the scruff of its neck in Espartha's beak, Pawmi swayed back and forth in the air like a pendulum. Its expression of "Come at me!" was both hilarious and endearing.
Angie pulled out a Poké Ball and threw it at Pawmi. Pawmi turned into red light and was sucked into the ball.
Wobble~ Wobble~
The Poké Ball trembled on the grass before settling with a ding.
Capture successful!
Pawmi The Little Genius, GET DA☆ZE!
Releasing Pawmi back out, Angie said, "Pawmi, let's take care of each other from now on!"
Pawmi immediately clung to Angie's leg, its face filled with eagerness.
"Pawmi~ Pawmi~"
Give me food, hurry up and give me food!
"Alright, alright! The food's coming!" Angie replied helplessly.