Scyther waved its arms once more, standing tall now that its injury was healed. The tension in its stance relaxed slightly as it glanced around at the cherry trees it had cut down during its stay. It appeared regretful, realizing the trouble it had caused to the humans who had shown it unexpected kindness.
"Pah, pah, pah!"
Anna's cheerful clapping broke the silence. The little girl's innocent joy was infectious, but Elif remained conflicted. Though relieved that the Scyther was leaving, he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret for the damage to his cherry trees, which he had nurtured with so much effort.
Scyther looked at Naoki for a long moment before turning away. Without another word, it spread its wings and took off, gliding smoothly over the orchard.
"Goodbye, Scyther!" Anna called out, waving her small hand enthusiastically.
Naoki and Koraidon stood by, watching the scene with quiet satisfaction. Elif, now visibly more at ease, turned to Naoki with gratitude in his voice.
"This wouldn't have been possible without you, Naoki," Elif said earnestly. "Come inside for a while. I'll bring you some fresh cherries from the batch I picked a few days ago."
Naoki, realizing he had no pressing matters, agreed and followed Elif through the orchard to his home, with Koraidon lumbering amiably beside him.
Beyond the cherry orchard, a cozy two-story wooden house came into view. The structure exuded warmth and simplicity, with several logs stacked neatly outside and an axe embedded in a chopping block nearby.
Inside, Naoki was greeted warmly by Elif's wife, Mana, who immediately poured him a cup of tea and set a plate of bright red cherries on the table. She even brought out a Pokémon snack for Koraidon.
"Thank you very much!" Naoki said, bowing slightly.
Mana waved off his thanks with a kind smile. "You're always welcome here. Please make yourself at home. Living alone on the ranch must get lonely sometimes, doesn't it?"
Naoki shook his head lightly, smiling. "Not at all. I have plenty of Pokémon to keep me company, and they make sure life is anything but dull."
Mana nodded with understanding, then excused herself to go upstairs and attend to some tasks. Meanwhile, Elif and Anna sat together on the sofa, with Anna's attention fixed on Koraidon.
Squatting on the floor, she stared in awe as Koraidon munched on cherries. "Big brother," she asked eagerly, "this Pokémon is so cool! What's its name?"
Naoki chuckled. "That's Koraidon. It's a Dragon- and Fighting-type Pokémon."
"Wow! That's amazing!" Anna exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. "Big brother, are you a Pokémon Trainer?"
"Sort of," Naoki admitted. "But my main job is running the ranch."
Anna turned to her father and declared, "Dad, I want to become a trainer as awesome as big brother someday!"
Elif teased her gently, "Weren't you just saying last week that you'd stay here in the cherry orchard with your parents forever?"
Anna gasped, covering her mouth as if caught in a lie. "That's not what I said!" she protested, shaking her head.
"Hahaha!" Elif laughed heartily, pulling her into a warm hug.
Naoki smiled as he watched the playful exchange.
A Minccino diligently swept the stairs with its fluffy tail, while a Dachsbun dozed by the sofa, its slow, deep breaths a sign of its advanced age. Overhead, a Chatot perched on a lamp, chirping occasionally, and an Araquanid rested in its corner, its watery orb glinting softly.
Naoki's gaze wandered to a framed photo hanging on the wall. It depicted Elif, Mana, and their two daughters posing happily alongside their Pokémon. The family's joy was palpable in the captured moment.
The sight stirred something in Naoki's heart. He recalled the times Zack and Mayor Thomas had suggested that he should find a partner to help run the ranch, take care of Pokémon together, and maybe even start a family. For a fleeting moment, he couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.
Family... The thought lingered. In his previous life, Naoki had been a cog in the machine of urban life, working tirelessly in a concrete jungle. His meager earnings had barely covered the basics, let alone allowed for dreams of homeownership or marriage.
In his previous life, Naoki often thought it would be fine to live his life alone, avoiding the complications of marriage and family. He had convinced himself that solitude suited him.
But now...
Watching Anna's cheerful antics and her affectionate bond with her father, Naoki found his long-held beliefs wavering. What if he had a child? The thought took root in his mind. What would it be like to share his life with someone who carried his legacy?
If the child preferred staying close to home, he could teach her the ins and outs of running the ranch, imparting the skills needed to care for Pokémon and the land. If she yearned for adventure, he'd entrust her with the offspring of his Dragonites—a newly hatched Dratini to accompany her on her travels.
Elif caught Naoki's gaze, following it to the family photo on the wall. His face softened with pride and warmth.
"The two girls in the photo are my daughters," Elif said, a hint of fondness in his tone. "The older one is Gina. She turned ten last year and started her journey as a Pokémon Trainer."
Naoki nodded. The name sounded familiar. Zack had mentioned her a few times last year.
"You had quite the argument about that, didn't you?" Naoki asked with a knowing smile.
Elif chuckled, a bit sheepishly. "So you heard about that, huh? I didn't want her to leave so early. The world outside can be dangerous. But Gina locked herself in her room and cried for days, insisting that she was ready."
"Why not enroll her in the Padia Academy?" Naoki asked curiously.
Elif sighed, shaking his head. "Gina didn't want to go. She thought she'd learn more by experiencing the world herself than by sitting through boring lessons."
"Ah, that explains it," Naoki said, understanding Gina's adventurous spirit.
Their conversation was interrupted by a sudden knock on the door.
Anna, ever the eager helper, sprang up from the sofa and ran to open it.
When the door swung open, it wasn't a human visitor standing there but the Scyther from earlier. It held a bundle of fruit in its scythe-like claws, looking almost apologetic.
Both Naoki and Elif blinked in surprise, caught off guard by the Pokémon's unexpected return.
The Scyther stepped forward and gently offered the fruit to Anna. Its actions seemed deliberate, as though it was trying to convey a message.
Anna's face lit up with excitement. "Are these for me?" she asked, her voice full of wonder.
Scyther nodded.
Little Anna cheered in delight and rushed forward to hug Scyther around its waist.
"Anna!" Elif's voice rose, his heart nearly leaping into his throat.
Scyther froze for a moment, startled, before glancing down at the little girl. While it was visibly flustered by the sudden hug, it made no threatening moves, remaining calm.
Anna, oblivious to her father's anxiety, beamed up at the Scyther. She thought it was incredibly cool—its sleek frame, sharp scythes, and the way it carried itself.
Having seen her sister capture Pokémon before, Anna hesitated only briefly before asking, her eyes sparkling with anticipation, "Scyther, will you be my Pokémon?"
Both Naoki and Elif stood stunned, processing the unexpected question.
Scyther tilted its head, looking at the small human before it. Remembering the damage it had caused to the cherry orchard and feeling the girl's genuine affection and kindness, its icy demeanor softened. After a brief pause, it nodded.
"Scythe!" it called out with determination, signaling its agreement. It had decided to stay and work to repay the damage it had caused to the orchard.
"Yay!" Anna cheered, spinning in excitement before turning to her father. "Dad, I caught a Pokémon! Now I'm a Trainer like Gina!"
Elif's jaw hung open, his expression caught somewhere between shock and disbelief.
Naoki, however, took the situation in stride. Pokémon had always been magical creatures capable of forming deep connections with humans. He smiled warmly and said, "Congratulations, Anna! Scyther is a strong and skilled Pokémon. It's great at cutting and clearing things—it'll be a big help."
Anna nodded seriously, puffing out her chest. "From today on, chopping wood is Scyther's and my job! That way, Dad can take a break!"
Scyther gave a firm nod of agreement. "Scythe!"
Elif clutched his chest, looking dazed. "Naoki... is this really happening?"
Naoki chuckled, his voice calm and reassuring. "It seems Scyther feels bad for cutting down your cherry trees earlier. Staying here to help must be its way of making amends."
Elif sighed, a small, wry smile appearing on his face. "I've never seen anything like this before."
Scyther wasted no time proving its capabilities. It followed Anna outside, heading straight for the woodpile. With two precise flashes of its scythes, a single log was sliced into perfectly even firewood, ready for use.
Elif's eyes widened as he watched, his mouth falling open in astonishment. "Wow… that's incredible!"
Scyther continued working tirelessly, its movements swift and efficient. Within moments, the entire pile of wood had been neatly chopped, leaving only a few stray chips on the ground. Despite its efforts, Scyther's breathing grew heavy, and beads of sweat formed on its brow.
Seeing this, Anna rushed back into the house. A few moments later, she returned carrying a glass of water and a tissue. Standing on her tiptoes, she gently offered the water to Scyther before using the tissue to dab away its sweat.
Scyther, unused to such tender treatment, was visibly moved. Its bond with Anna grew stronger, its trust in the little girl solidifying.
Watching the pair, Naoki turned to Elif with a satisfied smile. "Looks like everything worked out."
Elif nodded, a mix of gratitude and astonishment on his face as he watched Scyther and Anna interact.
From that day forward, Scyther became a part of the cherry orchard, staying to help with various tasks as a way of repaying its debt.
Before leaving, Naoki and Koraidon were invited into the house. As a gesture of thanks, Elif handed Naoki several bottles of cherry wine and a large bag of fresh cherries, expressing his heartfelt gratitude.
...
Bonus Chapter @1500PS