Glaceon and Umbreon never thought they would one day find themselves playing the role of mothers.
After delegating the care of the Eevee eggs to the two of them, Naoki headed downstairs to answer a call, leaving the two evolved Eevee alone with the unhatched eggs on the second floor.
Umbreon stepped forward, curiously tapping one of the eggs gently with its paw, its yellow-ringed eyes full of wonder.
"Umbre?" (Can Eevee really hatch from this?)
Glaceon let out a small sigh, its tone reluctant but resigned. "Gla-ceon." (That's right.)
Umbreon tilted its head, contemplating, before it brightened up. "Umbre?" (When the Eevee hatch, do you think they'll see us as their mothers?)
Glaceon froze, staring in disbelief at its companion. "Gla-ceon?!" (You want to be a mother?)
Umbreon nodded firmly, gazing at the eggs with a mix of determination and warmth. "Umbreon!" (I never had a mother growing up, and these little Eevee don't have one either. I want to be their mother and take care of them!)
For a moment, Glaceon was at a loss for words, simply murmuring a soft, "Gla…"
Downstairs, Naoki was on the phone with Geeta.
Geeta's cheerful voice came through the line. "So, have you received the gift?"
Naoki sighed, a mixture of gratitude and mild exasperation. "Yes, I have."
"Good," Geeta replied with a smile audible in her tone. "Grusha mentioned you were planning to build an Eevee Park, so when I saw the Eevee eggs at the Alliance Breeding Center, I thought they'd be perfect for you."
Naoki hesitated, feeling overwhelmed. "Chief, this feels like… too much."
Geeta chuckled lightly. "It's not too much at all. To Paldea, you're a significant talent with Champion-level strength. Even if you're not officially part of the Paldea Alliance, I sincerely hope you'll stay here."
Naoki frowned slightly. "I don't have any plans to leave Paldea. My home is here—where else would I go?"
Geeta, on the other end, held her thoughts.
'Other regions might not share that sentiment.'
She'd heard rumors that Galar was introducing special incentives to attract foreign talent, and the idea of losing someone like Naoki to another region was… unacceptable.
Out loud, she simply said, "Think of this as a personal gift from me as a friend."
The word "friend" struck a chord in Naoki's heart. Since coming to this world, he'd spent most of his time with Pokémon and had very few human friends.
He smiled warmly. "In that case, thank you. I'll take good care of them."
Geeta added, "These Eevee eggs were laid two months ago. They'll hatch in about two weeks, so you'll need to keep an eye on them until then."
Naoki nodded. "Got it. Thank you again, Chief."
After exchanging farewells, Geeta hung up, leaving Naoki deep in thought. He appreciated Geeta's kindness, but he didn't want their relationship to feel one-sided.
After pondering for a moment, he decided to send Geeta a few bottles of his homemade special coffee. Its unique property, [Insomnia Brew], allows the drinker to stay awake and fully energized without fatigue. It seemed perfect for someone like Geeta, who often worked long hours.
Naoki packed the coffee carefully and decided to send it via mail. He headed into town, handed the package to the postman Ivan, and asked him to deliver it to the Paldea Alliance headquarters.
By the time Naoki returned to the ranch, dusk had fallen. After washing his hands, he went to the kitchen to prepare dinner for the Pokémon.
He cleaned the wild mushrooms he'd gathered from the mountains earlier, tossing them into a pot with freshly prepared chicken to stew.
While the aroma filled the air, Naoki noticed Glaceon and Umbreon bounding down from upstairs.
He called them over, smiling. "How are you two feeling about taking care of the Eevee eggs?"
"Umbreon!" Umbreon nodded enthusiastically, its blue rings glowing faintly with excitement.
"Glaceon…" Glaceon hesitated but ultimately nodded as well.
Naoki chuckled. "Great! The eggs will hatch in about two weeks, so I'll be counting on your help."
Umbreon tilted its head in confusion. "Umbre?" (How long is two weeks?)
Understanding its question, Naoki explained, "When the apples in the orchard on the other side of the river ripen, the Eevee eggs will hatch."
He'd checked the orchard earlier in the day. Thanks to the nurturing efforts of his Gogoat, the apple trees were growing strong, and the apples were just starting to ripen.
Umbreon's ears perked up at the mention of apples, and it darted off toward the orchard, eager to investigate.
Glaceon, however, stayed indoors. Feeling peckish, it trotted over to its bowl and began munching on the Pokeblocks and Poffins Naoki had prepared earlier.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm amber glow across the ranch, the Pokémon playing in the pasture began to trickle back to the house. One by one, they sprawled out comfortably across the living room, awaiting dinner.
Naoki surveyed the scene with a soft smile, content with the calm energy of the ranch. Yet, his mind was already spinning with plans for the coming days.
Today was July 15th, leaving just five days until his scheduled adventure with Raifort on July 20th. As a history teacher at Paldia Academy, Raifort would be free to explore the underground ruins once the academy began its summer vacation. The two had planned this expedition for weeks, anticipating that it might take a day or two to complete.
Snapping back to the present, Naoki turned to the Indeedee siblings and instructed, "I'll be heading out soon and won't be back for about two days. I'm leaving the ranch in your care while I'm gone."
The elder Indeedee and younger sister nodded eagerly, their expressions brimming with confidence.
"Indeedee~!" (Don't worry, Naoki! We'll handle everything here!)
The following morning greeted the ranch with a crisp, clear autumn sky. The gentle breeze carried the scent of ripening crops and freshly churned earth.
Naoki began his day early, tending to the various chores on the ranch. He milked the Gogoat, collected honey from the buzzing hive of Combee, and supervised Dragonite as it summoned light rain to water the fields. With Psyduck's help, he harvested the ripe crops, then moved to the orchard with Dragonite to gather fruits. Lastly, he made sure to feed Snorlax a hearty serving of Pokeblocks.
Among all this activity, he noticed that the Wooloo's wool had grown lush and fluffy once again. Normally, shearing the wool himself with electric clippers was an arduous task, one that left him sore for hours afterward. But today, he had a different idea.
Spotting Farfetch'd diligently training nearby, Naoki approached with a smile. "Farfetch'd, do you mind giving me a hand?"
Farfetch'd, who had been honing its leek-handling skills, immediately straightened up and nodded. Taking its well-worn leek in hand, it marched confidently toward the Wooloo enclosure.
The Wooloo watched curiously as Farfetch'd approached. With precise movements, Farfetch'd spun its leek, slicing through the fluffy wool with surgical precision. In mere moments, the first Wooloo's wool was neatly shorn, its wool pooling on the ground like a soft white blanket.
"Baa!" The Wooloo, startled at first, glanced at itself and, realizing it was unharmed, calmed down.
Farfetch'd wasted no time, moving swiftly to the next Wooloo, then the next. Within five minutes, every Wooloo in the enclosure was completely sheared, their wool stacked neatly on the grass.
Naoki stood slack-jawed, marveling at the efficiency. "Oh… wow."
If he'd done this himself, it would have taken hours and left him exhausted. Farfetch'd had accomplished it in minutes with finesse. The power and precision of Pokémon never ceased to amaze him.
Grateful and impressed, Naoki collected the wool.
By the time he finished his morning chores, it was already 9:30 a.m. Feeling a bit parched, Naoki headed back to the house for a quick drink and a moment's rest.
He had barely sat down when the sound of his Videophone interrupted the quiet. Frowning slightly, he picked it up and checked the caller ID. His eyes widened in surprise.
It was Uncle Elif from the neighboring cherry orchard.
'Why was he calling?' Curious, Naoki pressed the answer button.
Naoki picked up the receiver, and Uncle Elif's voice came through immediately, sounding anxious.
"Naoki! Are you at the ranch? Can you come to the orchard? A wild Pokémon broke in and injured one of my Pokémon!"
Naoki's expression grew serious as he listened. "I'm here, Uncle Elif. I'll be over right away. Don't go near it for now—it could be dangerous."
In this world, it wasn't uncommon for wild Pokémon to intrude on farms or orchards, sometimes causing serious damage. Not all farmers were equipped to handle aggressive Pokémon, and Elif was no exception. Naoki instantly understood that Elif was reaching out to him for help.
After hanging up, Naoki hurriedly sought out Koraidon, who had been sparring with Cyclizar and Dragonairs nearby. Quickly explaining the situation, he climbed onto Koraidon's back, and together they raced toward Elif's cherry orchard.
When they arrived, Elif was already waiting at the entrance. His tense expression relaxed slightly at the sight of Naoki and Koraidon.
"You're here!" Elif exclaimed.
"Where's the Pokémon?" Naoki asked, sliding off Koraidon's back.
"It's deeper in the orchard," Elif replied, already leading the way.
As they walked, Elif recounted the situation. "It started yesterday morning. I was just tending to the trees when I noticed a feral Pokémon in the orchard. It's been tearing down the cherry trees, and whenever I or my Pokémon get close, it lashes out."
Elif sighed heavily. "I tried finding someone to help, but there were no trainers available nearby. You're the only one I could think of."
Naoki gave him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about it, Uncle Elif. That's what neighbors are for."
They soon reached the heart of the orchard, and there it was—the intruding Pokémon.
The creature resembled a massive praying mantis, its sharp scythe-like forearms gleaming ominously in the light. It had three jagged horns on its head, and two pairs of small wings buzzed softly at its back.
"A Scyther," Naoki murmured, recognizing the Pokémon instantly.
The Scyther sat in a patch of trampled grass, its eyes closed as though resting. But the moment it sensed their presence, its sharp eyes snapped open, fixing them with a piercing glare.
It didn't take long for its gaze to shift to Koraidon, the most imposing figure in the group. Scyther stood abruptly, the wings on its back vibrating at a high frequency, lifting it slightly off the ground. It wasn't attacking, but its posture was unmistakably defensive, a clear warning to stay back.
Elif took a cautious step behind Naoki, his fear evident. "It's aggressive," he whispered.
Naoki, however, noticed something Elif hadn't. The Scyther wasn't as threatening as it appeared. Its right leg, slightly bent and stiff, betrayed an injury.
'It's hurt.'
Naoki observed the tense Scyther carefully and thought to himself, "Its heightened alertness must be because of its injury."
Normally, wild Scyther wouldn't venture into human territory unless something was seriously wrong. Scyther typically lived deep in forests, sharpening their skills by slicing through trees with their sharp scythes. According to the Trainer's Guide, signs of extensive tree damage often marked the territory of a Scyther.
Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Naoki decided to try reasoning with the injured Pokémon.
"Scyther, we mean you no harm," Naoki said calmly. "If I'm not mistaken, you're here because you're hurt, right?"
The Scyther's sharp gaze didn't waver, its eyes locked on Naoki with mistrust.
"But staying here like this isn't ideal. You've caused some damage, and it's troubling the people who live here," Naoki continued, glancing at the felled cherry trees. "I want to help you. Let me prepare something to heal your injury. After that, you'll be able to leave on your own."
Naoki realized he hadn't brought any medical supplies. He quickly decided to make a simple healing concoction on the spot. Turning to Elif, he asked, "Do you have any berries—like Oran or Sitrus Berries—and a bottle of MooMoo Milk?"
Elif, caught off guard, nodded. "Yes, I think we do."
"Great. I'll need two berries and one bottle of MooMoo Milk."
Before Elif could respond, a small, high-pitched voice interrupted. "Big brother, are you going to heal that Pokémon?"
Startled, Naoki turned to see a little girl peeking out from behind a cherry tree. She looked no older than five or six and stared at the scene with wide, curious eyes.
"Anna, this is dangerous! You shouldn't be here!" Elif scolded, his voice stern.
The girl's face crumpled, tears welling in her eyes. "I just wanted to check on Daddy!" she cried.
Elif sighed in exasperation and introduced her sheepishly. "Naoki, this is my younger daughter, Anna. My older daughter, Gina, is out traveling, so Anna keeps us company at home."
Naoki smiled gently. "It's alright." Turning to Anna, he crouched down to her level. "Yes, the Scyther is hurt. I'm going to make something to help it heal so it can leave peacefully."
Anna's tears dried quickly, her eyes lighting up. "Do you need berries and MooMoo Milk? I can help!"
Without waiting for a response, she darted off, her small figure disappearing toward the farmhouse.
Elif shook his head with a mixture of fondness and frustration. "This child…"
"She really cares about you," Naoki remarked with a smile.
Elif chuckled, his tone softening. "Anna's always been very thoughtful."
Anna soon returned, carrying two berries and a bottle of MooMoo Milk in her small hands. She handed them to Naoki, who thanked her warmly before getting to work.
He crushed the berries, squeezing their juices into the MooMoo Milk, creating a makeshift healing milk. Though it wasn't as potent as Life Dew or Max Potions, it was far more effective than the average over-the-counter medicine.
As Naoki worked, Anna perched in her father's lap, watching intently. "Big brother, are you going to give the milk to that Pokémon?"
"That's right," Naoki replied with a nod. "Milk can help Pokémon recover faster."
He approached Scyther cautiously, holding the bottle in his hands. "Scyther, this milk will heal your wounds. Drink it, and you'll feel better."
The Scyther remained tense, its wings buzzing softly in warning. Naoki stopped a safe distance away and set the bottle on the ground.
"I won't come any closer," he reassured. "You can take it yourself."
The Scyther hesitated, its sharp eyes darting between Naoki and the milk.
"Don't be scared, Scyther!" Anna encouraged from her father's arms. "Mom says milk helps you grow strong and tall!"
The Scyther's wings slowed, the tension in its stance easing slightly. Slowly, it lowered itself back to the ground, its injured leg trembling with each step. It moved cautiously, its gait uneven but determined.
Anna clapped her hands in delight. "You can do it, Scyther!"
Encouraged by her innocent cheer, Scyther's pace quickened slightly. One step, then another, until it finally reached the milk. It raised one of its massive scythes, carefully scooping up the bottle and tilting it to drink.
The effects were almost immediate. The wound on its right leg began to heal, the jagged edges of the injury knitting together with visible speed.
Elif exhaled in relief, the tension in his shoulders melting away. "It's working."
...
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