Three months flew by, and now it was February 2023. Winter in the capital was bitterly cold, with average temperatures hovering around -10°C.
Julian had just completed the first semester of his freshman year and was now in the second semester.
In the villa's spacious living room, Julian sipped on coffee brewed by Slowking. Its coffee-making skills were even better than those of a professional barista.
Outside the window, snow fell steadily, blanketing the world in white. It had been snowing for four days straight, but there wasn't much snow accumulated in the yard. The credit for that went to the Arcanine venting its energy outside.
As it ran, waves of heat radiated from its body. The snow never even reached the ground, melting into droplets before falling as rain.
Pokémon: Arcanine (Fire)
Level: 62
Potential: Blue
Ability: Flash Fire
Held Item: Charcoal
Gender: Male
Moves: Leer, Ember, Howl, Bite, Flame Wheel, Helping Hand, Agility, Extreme Speed, Reversal, Flamethrower, Crunch, Fire Fang, Roar, Retaliate, Play Rough, Take Down
TMs: Protect, Fire Spin, Hyper Beam, Dig, Sunny Day, Giga Impact, Heat Wave, Wild Charge, Psychic Fangs, Blast Burn
Egg Moves: Flare Blitz, Overheat, Double-Edge, Outrage
Note: Fire-type moves' power is increased by 20%.
---
A little over a month ago, Growlithe had fully absorbed the Fire Crystal within its body. With the help of the top-grade Fire Stone Julian gave it, it finally evolved into an Arcanine.
Thanks to the absorbed Fire Crystal, Arcanine's Fire-type moves became noticeably stronger.
Its coloration remained red, unaffected by the crystal's disappearance. While it wasn't a true Shiny Pokémon, it retained the rare appearance of one, albeit without the unique abilities.
Outside in the yard, it wasn't just Arcanine. Steelix was there too—its towering height prevented it from entering the villa, and it wasn't keen on returning to its Pokéball. So, it stayed outside, just like Aggron.
"Slowking, where's Celebi? Don't tell me it's still sleeping," Julian grumbled.
"Slow~"
Slowking nodded, confirming his suspicion.
"Go wake it up already! You're spoiling it too much. It gets to sleep in and skip breakfast, but I can't?!"
Julian's face filled with envy and frustration as he muttered the last part.
'Why can't I just stay in bed on a freezing winter day?'
Slowking: "It's different"
"Yeah, sure. Different because it eats, sleeps, and drinks all day," Julian retorted with a sneer.
Slowking: "It's still young"
"Two hundred years old and still young? Two hundred years ago, my ancestors were young!"
As they chatted, a green blur descended gracefully from the second floor and landed skillfully on Julian's head. But before it could settle, Julian grabbed it the next second.
Celebi: "You were bad-mouthing me just now—I heard it."
"So what? Was I wrong? Just look at you! In two months, you've managed to grow a little belly!"
Celebi had woken up two months ago. Julian had told it to rest for a while before leaving, though he clearly had other motives for keeping it around.
The naive Celebi believed him, and after a short rest, it decided to stay.
Between the delicious food Slowking cooked, the energy cubes and snacks Julian provided, and addictive games like 'Pokémon Glory', it couldn't bring itself to leave.
Julian poked at Celebi's tiny belly with his finger. Sure enough, a small pouch had formed.
"You might just be the first Celebi in history with a belly."
Instead of feeling embarrassed, Celebi puffed out its chest proudly.
Celebi: "I got chubby because you take such good care of me."
Julian's lips twitched at its response.
Who would have thought that the mighty guardian of the forest, a mythical time-traveling Pokémon, would succumb to food and gaming?
"Slowking, no more snacks for Celebi. Look at what it's turned into! It's all junk food and processed treats," Julian said.
Celebi was fortunate to be a mythical Pokémon, its physique far superior to that of ordinary Pokémon. Otherwise, any other Pokémon eating human snacks as often as it did would have been malnourished long ago.
But Celebi? It only seemed to get plumper.
"Slow~"
Slowking: "It mainly eats the energy cubes."
Slowking wasn't taking the blame. While it doted on Celebi, it still kept the snacks under control.
Julian, on the other hand, constantly complained about Celebi's eating habits but caved the moment it said—
Celebi: "I'm hungry."
"Fine, fine. All you ever do is eat."
Julian grumbled, glaring at it. He pulled out a high-grade energy cube from his system inventory and handed it over.
Slowking: "Case in point."
"Hurry up and eat. Once you're done, we're queuing for a match," Julian said.
Celebi: "I can eat and play at the same time. But this time, I'm going for the Top lane."
"Listen to me. The Top lane's too complicated for you—you're still too green. I'll take it, and you go as a marksman."
"Ugh, that marksman last night was absolute trash."
Celebi: "Says the useless support."
"Rubbish! It was totally their fault! They were hopeless!"
Celebi: "Doesn't even buy gems, hogs the marksman's farm—how is that supposed to work?"
"You don't get it. Every support has the heart of a carry."
Celebi: "Heh!"
The usual bickering began. Ever since Celebi learned how to play 'Glory', these arguments had become a regular occurrence.
What frustrated Julian the most was that Celebi was better at the game than he was. That little detail stung his pride.
Slowking: "Most 'Glory' players are better than you. Even elementary schoolers."
"Lucario, get Arcanine in here!"
Gaming in winter wasn't complete without Arcanine.
Soon enough, Arcanine trotted into the house, making itself comfortable in the middle of the living room.
Julian immediately sprawled across its warm fur, snuggling closer, while Celebi perched itself on Arcanine's head.
The steady heat radiating from Arcanine's body was the ultimate comfort in the freezing winter.
Sure, the house had central heating, air conditioning, and even a fireplace, but none of that compared to cuddling up against Arcanine's soft, fluffy fur.
Arcanine: 'In winter, I'm your "baby". In summer, I'm just "doggy"'
Leaning against Arcanine while playing games was the pinnacle of winter luxury.
Julian had barely launched the game when a flurry of messages from Luis appeared. At first, Julian ignored them, but the constant notifications became impossible to overlook.
Luis: Brother Walker, did you hear? There's a new ruin discovered in international waters.
Luis: Our country already sent two Champions to investigate.
Luis: But Celestria also sent two Champions.
Luis: Brother Walker, are either of our Champions your grandfather?
Luis: Brother Walker, why aren't you replying?
Luis: Brother Walker, I'm calling you!
Sighing, Julian realized ignoring Luis wasn't an option anymore.
Julian: I know. I'm busy!
Luis: Busy with what? Need my help?
Julian: Send one more message, and I'll have Metagross come flatten you.
*****
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