7:00 PM – Pokémon Tavern
The Pokémon Tavern was buzzing with life, illuminated by warm, cheerful lights. A diverse group of Pokémon had gathered to unwind, raising their mugs in a celebratory toast. Among them were Pokémon from the nearby town, along with wild Pokémon who had heard of the Tavern's welcoming atmosphere and ventured there to join the fun.
This evening, Naoki had brought Farfetch'd to the Tavern with a specific purpose in mind. He was searching for two "fitness coaches" to help Farfetch'd build its strength. After scanning the room, his eyes landed on two towering, muscular Machamp sitting near the bar, their four powerful arms holding wooden mugs filled with juice.
These Machamp were regulars at the Tavern, coming every evening to relax after a day of work. As Pokémon who had helped out on the ranch before, they were familiar with Naoki.
Naoki approached them with a friendly greeting. "Good evening, Machamp."
The two Machamp turned toward him, their expressions curious but welcoming. "Champ?" one of them rumbled.
Naoki gestured toward the Farfetch'd beside him and explained, "This little guy wants to get stronger, just like you. I was hoping you could share some of your fitness tips."
The Machamp glanced at the determined Farfetch'd and quickly understood. Their kind-hearted nature made it impossible to refuse such a request. They nodded enthusiastically, their four arms flexing in unison.
"Champ!" the pair agreed cheerfully.
The Next Evening
True to their word, the Machamp returned to the Tavern the next evening with several pairs of dumbbells in tow. They approached Naoki and Farfetch'd, ready to begin the training session.
One of the Machamp lifted a dumbbell with each arm, raising them high overhead before lowering them back down in a smooth, controlled motion. Repeating this movement several times, it demonstrated the proper technique to Farfetch'd. The exercise was clearly designed to build arm strength, and the Machamp performed it effortlessly.
Farfetch'd watched intently, its eyes shining with determination.
After a few repetitions, the Machamp set the dumbbells down in front of Farfetch'd and motioned for the bird Pokémon to give it a try.
Farfetch'd approached the dumbbells with curiosity. They were black, sleek, and unlike anything it had seen before. Inspired by the ease with which Machamp had lifted them, Farfetch'd flapped its wings confidently and grasped the bar.
"Farfetch'd !" it quacked as it strained to lift the dumbbells.
However, the weights didn't budge—not even an inch. Farfetch'd pushed harder, its beak clenched tightly in determination, but the effort was futile. Exhausted, it plopped onto the floor, panting heavily.
"Farfetch'd …" it muttered dejectedly.
Naoki crouched down to examine the dumbbells and was stunned when he saw the specifications. "Wait a minute… these weigh 300 kilograms?!"
He glanced at the Machamp, who had been lifting one in each hand earlier. That meant they had been effortlessly handling a total of 1,200 kilograms, or nearly 2,400 pounds, at once.
"As expected of Machamp…" Naoki muttered in awe. "That's insane."
The Machamp, noticing Farfetch'd's struggle, exchanged puzzled glances. They scratched their heads, clearly realizing they had overestimated Farfetch'd's capabilities. After a moment of thought, one of them brightened, an idea sparking in its eyes.
"Champ!" it declared, lowering itself to the ground and demonstrating a new exercise: push-ups.
The Machamp used all four of its arms for stability, its powerful muscles flexing as it moved up and down with ease. It then gestured for Farfetch'd to follow suit.
Farfetch'd hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Farfetch'd !" Determined to succeed, it positioned itself on the ground and began imitating Machamp's movements, using its wings to support its body.
The Machamp watched closely, correcting Farfetch'd's form when necessary. Once Farfetch'd got the hang of it, the Machamp nodded approvingly. "Champ!" they said in unison, their smiles wide.
Naoki, watching the scene unfold, couldn't help but feel grateful. "Thank you," he said warmly. "The drinks are on me tonight—consider it my treat."
When Naoki first opened the Pokémon Tavern, his goal was simple: to create a safe and welcoming space where Pokémon could gather, relax, and support one another. He didn't charge for drinks or services, aiming instead to help Pokémon in need.
What he hadn't anticipated was that many of the Pokémon visiting the Tavern had trainers or families of their own.
For instance, Officer Jenny's Growlithe, Kelly's Machamp, and the fire brigade's Quaquaval… all of them had become regular visitors at the Pokémon Tavern.
Initially, both Officer Jenny and Kelly were surprised to learn that their Pokémon were frequenting the Tavern for drinks. However, they quickly came to accept it. After all, their Pokémon, Machamp and Growlithe, couldn't eat and drink for free every day. To cover the costs, Officer Jenny and Kelly started giving their Pokémon small change each morning before sending them off, instructing them to pay the attendant at the Tavern.
Wild Pokémon were a different story. Lacking money, they improvised. After observing the town Pokémon handing over currency, the wild Pokémon began mimicking this behavior, bringing small offerings such as fruits, shiny stones, or other treasures from the wilderness as payment. Some vain Pokémon even plucked and presented their most beautiful feathers as "currency."
Over time, this became a quirky habit among the Tavern's visitors.
After Naoki's conversation with the Machamp, they gave a cheerful laugh and turned back to their drinks, satisfied with their contribution to Farfetch'd's fitness journey.
That night marked the start of Farfetch'd's fitness career.
The very next morning, Naoki visited Kosaji Town and purchased a pair of appropriately sized dumbbells for Farfetch'd. Returning to the ranch, he set them up in the onion garden, which Farfetch'd promptly turned into its personal gym.
As Farfetch'd trained—lifting dumbbells and doing push-ups—the Psyducks from across the river would waddle over to watch. They stood on the riverbank, their dull eyes fixed on the determined duck Pokémon. After a while, most of the Psyducks would lose interest and leave.
But one Psyduck stayed.
Naoki couldn't help but notice the way this Psyduck looked at Farfetch'd. Its gaze wasn't just one of curiosity—it had a peculiar softness to it.
It reminded Naoki of Grovyle's infatuated expression toward Nurse Joy's Meganium in the anime.
"What's going on?" Naoki wondered aloud. "Could this Psyduck be… in love with Farfetch'd?"
He shook his head at the absurdity of the idea. Psyduck and Farfetch'd couldn't possibly… Could they? A sudden thought struck him. "Wait, are they even compatible egg groups?"
Unable to resist his curiosity, Naoki hurried back to his computer and searched for information about Psyduck and Farfetch'd's egg groups. The results left him stunned.
Both Pokémon belonged to the Field Egg Group. They could lay eggs together.
Naoki sat back in his chair, overwhelmed. "This is… unexpected."
Determined to confirm his suspicions, Naoki spent the next few days discreetly observing Psyduck and Farfetch'd.
Farfetch'd maintained a disciplined routine. After eating a few berries in the morning, it would patrol the onion garden to ensure no bird Pokémon were stealing its prized crops. Once satisfied, it would begin its daily workout—lifting dumbbells, doing push-ups, and honing its strength.
Psyduck would always show up during Farfetch'd's training sessions, standing quietly by the garden fence to watch. Occasionally, it would catch small fish from the river and present them to Farfetch'd as gifts. However, Farfetch'd, focused entirely on its fitness regimen, had no interest in the offerings and politely declined each time.
Disheartened by the lack of response, Psyduck eventually stopped visiting the onion garden altogether. It returned to the riverbank, its steps heavy with disappointment.
Naoki: "..."
Just as Naoki was about to leave his observation post near the onion garden, a familiar sound startled him.
"Awoo?"
Turning, Naoki saw Dragonite standing behind him, its large eyes filled with curiosity. It tilted its head, clearly wondering why Naoki was crouched behind the garden fence.
Watching Farfetch'd tirelessly exercising nearby, Naoki couldn't help but feel deeply moved.
The love and dedication of Pokémon were so pure and heartfelt.
As this thought crossed his mind, he suddenly remembered something. Turning to Dragonite, he asked with a teasing smile, "Hey, Dragonite, didn't you have a crush on another Dragonite a while back?"
Naoki vividly recalled Dragonite's awkward attempts to court its crush. The memory of Dragonite's clumsy moves, inability to land any impressive attacks, and its habit of sulking by Casseroya Lake under the moonlight flashed vividly in his mind.
Hearing Naoki bring this up, Dragonite visibly stiffened, an embarrassed expression crossing its face.
"Awoo…" Dragonite growled softly, flapping its wings in an attempt to wave off the past. It let out a long sigh, indicating that those days were behind it and that it no longer had feelings for that Dragonite.
Naoki chuckled. "Alright, alright, I get it. But does this mean you're planning to be a single Dragonite for the rest of your life? No interest in finding another Dragonite to raise a family with?"
Dragonite blinked, startled by the question, before shaking its head vehemently. "Awoo!" it cried out, flailing its arms for emphasis.
"No way! I still have you and everyone else!" Dragonite seemed to say.
Naoki tilted his head, watching the passionate response. Although he wasn't using a translator device, he could piece together Dragonite's meaning from its actions and tone.
"So… you're saying you don't care about finding a mate? You're happy living as you are, and when it comes to laying eggs, it's all about love, not necessity?"
Dragonite nodded, its golden wings ruffling with what looked like pride.
Naoki leaned back, marveling at the complexity of Pokémon emotions and social behaviors. "Pokémon really are magical creatures," he murmured.
After lunch, Naoki headed upstairs to check on the Dragonite egg resting in a specially designed crib.
The egg was enormous, its creamy surface marked with faint blue patterns resembling the scales of a Dratini. The sight of it exuded an undeniable sense of vitality and promise.
This egg was the result of a pair of Dragonites on the ranch who had bonded deeply. Naoki and Indeedees had been entrusted with its care.
As Naoki gazed at the egg, he couldn't help but muse aloud, "I still don't get why those two Dragonites trust us so much. They just handed over their egg without a second thought."
In the wild, it was common for Pokémon parents to guard their eggs fiercely, often refusing to leave them unattended. Yet, these two Dragonites seemed perfectly at ease letting Naoki and his team take responsibility.
"It's trust," Naoki thought, his heart swelling with gratitude. "They know we'll take care of their child as if it were our own."
The midday sun streamed through the window, casting a soft glow over the room. Outside, the cheerful sounds of Pokémon playing echoed faintly.
Naoki kicked off his shoes, sitting cross-legged beside the crib. Gently, he reached out and ran his fingers along the smooth shell of the egg.
"It's already been over two months since it was laid," he murmured. According to the care guides he had studied, Dragonite eggs had an exceptionally long incubation period, often taking up to ten months to hatch.
"It's the end of June now," Naoki calculated. "At this rate, it'll probably hatch sometime in January next year."
As the cicadas chirped outside the window, their sound resonating through the summer air, Naoki sighed, feeling the unyielding passage of time.
"Wow, time seems to crawl!" he thought as he listened to the rhythmic buzz.
He stood and began descending the stairs, wishing that by the time he reached the bottom, he'd somehow skipped ahead to the day when his Rotom Phone project would finally be completed. Of course, such miracles were impossible.
At five o'clock in the evening, Zack arrived at the ranch as usual, his truck pulling up to collect the day's harvest.
Naoki was busily sorting through the crates of fruit, calculating the quantities to be sold.
Watching him work, Zack wiped the sweat from his brow with a towel and grinned. "This ranch has really come a long way! It's hard to believe it's been less than two years since you started. What a transformation!"
Naoki returned the smile. "It's all thanks to the Pokémon," he said, glancing fondly at Koraidon and Cyclizar, who were busy loading crates into the truck.
Hearing their trainer's praise, Koraidon and Cyclizar perked up and let out cheerful cries.
"Gaao~!"
"Ah gah~!"
Zack chuckled at their enthusiasm. "Haha! Koraidon and Cyclizar really are reliable! But you know," he added with a teasing glint in his eye, "it's time you started thinking about settling down. Find yourself a wife, build a family. Life will only get better with someone by your side."
Naoki froze, blinking at the unexpected turn in the conversation. 'Is Zack seriously trying to set me up?' he wondered. He gave a helpless laugh. "It's a bit early for that, don't you think?"
"It's not early at all!" Zack countered, his tone shifting into the gossipy enthusiasm of an old friend. "Come on, do you at least have someone you like?"
"No way…" Naoki shook his head.
'It's not like that. Sure, people in the Pokémon world are good-looking, but relationships aren't just about appearances. It's about the connection.'
He silently ran through the women he'd spoken to since arriving in this world. There weren't many. Kelly, Madame Dantes, Geeta, and Professor Sada were the few that came to mind.
"None of them are suitable," he muttered under his breath, though his mind lingered for a moment on Iono—the bright, energetic girl he'd met by chance in Levincia, who had dragged him off to a local restaurant to try her favorite dishes.
Zack's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Then how about I introduce you to someone?" His eyes sparkled mischievously. "A friend of mine has a daughter who's also a trainer. She might be a good match. What do you think?"
"…" Naoki was dumbfounded. Blind dates? In the Pokémon world?
"No, no, no!" He waved his hands frantically. "I'm not in a rush. Really!"
"Alright, alright." Zack relented, though his grin showed he wasn't entirely convinced. "But if you change your mind, let me know. I'm sure your grandfather would love to see you settled down."
Naoki sighed. "Okay. Thanks, Zack."
With a friendly laugh, Zack helped load the remaining crates into the truck, handed Naoki the payment, and drove off toward town.
As Zack's truck disappeared down the road, Naoki turned and headed back into the house. His gaze fell on the calendar hanging on the wall. It was June 29th—tomorrow would be the summer fireworks festival.
As he started preparing dinner for the Pokémon, Naoki found himself wondering which Pokémon he'd take to the festival.
...
The next morning, the sky was bright, the air clear and fresh. Naoki was busy milking his Gogoat when he noticed sister Indeedee running toward him in a flurry.
"Ai-ai!" she called out, waving her hands frantically.
Naoki straightened, startled. "What's wrong?" he asked, setting down the pail. "Did something happen?"
Indeedee pointed urgently toward the entrance of the ranch.
Following her direction, Naoki spotted a striking figure standing near the gate—a young woman with long, flowing blue hair and piercing ice-blue eyes. She was watching the Dragonite grazing on the grass.
Sensing Naoki's gaze, the woman turned slightly, her serene expression meeting his.
"Hello. I am Grusha, the Gym Leader of Glaseado Gym. I've been sent here by the Pokémon League for special training."
.....
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Bonus Chapter @500 PS