Naoki was slightly surprised when he heard Eevee’s declaration. He hadn’t anticipated that one of the little Eevees would have such a determined idea.
But on further thought, it made sense. In many ways, Pokémon were not so different from human children. Just as every child in a family wants to stand out and feel unique, every Eevee also wishes to carve out its own identity.
Naoki’s gaze swept over the group of Eevees. Each one looked up at him with earnest eyes, their expressions full of trust and curiosity.
“I understand,” Naoki said with a warm smile. Exhaling softly, he added, “Alright, I’ll help you work toward your goal of becoming Partner Eevee. But first, you’ll all need to wear this stone.”
He reached into his bag and pulled out several Everstones. Gently, he placed one on each unevolved Eevee, tying the smooth stones securely around their necks.
The Eevees glanced down at the stones with puzzled expressions. “Eevee?” (What’s this?)
Naoki crouched to their level and explained, “These are Everstones. They’ll prevent you from evolving accidentally due to environntal factors.”
Eevee’s genetic instability made them highly susceptible to evolution in certain conditions. At Naoki’s ranch, there were many such conditions—areas rich in energy that could trigger evolution, such as the grassy fields near Gogoat, the icy cave that housed Glaceon’s Ice Stone, or the natural deposits of elental stones scattered across the land.
Without the Everstones, it was all too easy for an Eevee to accidentally evolve simply by wandering into the wrong area. Naoki felt the stones were a necessary precaution, especially since he wanted to wait until the Eevees were at least one or two years old before helping them evolve.
For now, however, he planned to focus on preparing for their future evolutions. Leafeon’s evolution was straightforward, but Sylveon and Espeon required special conditions.
“I’ll have to start teaching them Baby-Doll Eyes soon,” Naoki mused. The move was a Fairy-type technique, and mastering it was one of the prerequisites for evolving into Sylveon.
With the Eevee’s future plans settled, Naoki moved on to another task. He grabbed a bag of supplies and set out with Dugtrio and Calyrex, heading toward the lake on the ranch.
Passing through a shimring portal created by Giratina, they entered the Distortion World.
In this surreal and chaotic realm, the majestic World Tree stood tall, its lush greenery radiating a quiet, awe-inspiring power. Naoki gazed at the tree, marveling at its progress.
More than twenty days had passed since Calyrex last nurtured the World Tree. According to Naoki’s calculations, tomorrow would mark the next scheduled cultivation.
As his eyes road the massive tree, information surfaced in his mind:
[World Tree (Mature): A seedling that has absorbed vast amounts of Grass-type energy. Enhanced by Gogoat's influence, it has undergone a unique mutation, giving it imnse vitality. Said to support an entire ecosystem, it requires 64,054 years to reach full maturity.]
Naoki let out a breath. “It’s nearly halfway there.”
Over the past months, Calyrex had been visiting the Distortion World regularly to accelerate the World Tree’s growth. Each month, its efforts reduced the tree’s remaining growth ti by approximately 4,000 years.
At this rate, Naoki estimated, “64,054 divided by 4,000… It’ll take about 16 more months.”
That ant the World Tree could potentially reach maturity by December of the 200th year of the Alliance Calendar—just over a year away. Considering the tree’s natural tiline, this accelerated pace was nothing short of miraculous.
Reflecting on this, Naoki felt a deep sense of gratitude. Without Calyrex’s help, he likely wouldn’t live to see the World Tree reach its full potential.
But Naoki wasn’t in the Distortion World today for the World Tree. Instead, he had another experint in mind. Since the current season in the outside world wasn’t suitable for cultivating Gracidea flowers, Naoki decided to plant a batch here to see if they could thrive in the unique conditions of this realm.
Being careful not to disturb Giratina, who was resting among the flowers, Naoki led Dugtrio and Calyrex to an untouched island within the Distortion World. The three set to work imdiately: Dugtrio tilled the soil, Naoki scattered the seeds, and Calyrex used its powers to accelerate the flowers’ growth.
Before long, a breathtaking sea of pink blossoms stretched out before them.
Dugtrio stared at the scene with sparkling eyes. “Dig-dig…” (How beautiful…)
Calyrex was equally moved. “This is the first ti I’ve seen flowers as enchanting as these.”
“Yeah,” Naoki agreed, smiling warmly. “After all, these are magical flowers capable of attracting mythical Pokémon!”
While Shaymin might not be as well-known as legendary Pokémon like w, Jirachi, Celebi, or Diancie, it was still a mythical Pokémon in its own right, with a special connection to these flowers.
At that mont, Giratina glided over, drawn by the spectacle. The imposing dragon-like Pokémon observed the island blanketed in vibrant pink blossoms and asked in its deep, resonant voice, “What are these flowers?”
“They’re Gracidea flowers,” Naoki replied, turning to Giratina with a mischievous look.
The sight of Naoki’s half-smile made Giratina uneasy. It narrowed its glowing red eyes. “Why are you looking at like that?”
Naoki snapped out of his thoughts and chuckled. “Nothing… I just rembered sothing amusing.”
“What is it?” Giratina asked, curiosity evident in its tone.
Naoki avoided giving a direct answer. “Just protect this sea of flowers well. When the ti cos, you’ll understand.”
He couldn’t help but wonder what Shaymin’s reaction would be upon seeing this transford corner of the Distortion World.
With that, Naoki left the island, accompanied by Calyrex and Dugtrio. Giratina remained behind, gazing silently at the sea of pink flowers.
A gust of wind swept through the island as Giratina moved its massive body. Countless petals were lifted into the air, dancing like a pink snowfall against the surreal backdrop of the Distortion World. The spectacle left Giratina montarily awestruck.
The mighty Pokémon leaned down, sniffing the flowers delicately. To its surprise, the blossoms carried a pleasant and soothing fragrance. Feeling unexpectedly relaxed, Giratina laid down amidst the flowers, curling its massive body around the sea of pink, and soon drifted off into a peaceful slumber.
...
That evening, Naoki was in the Pokémon Tavern, inspecting the fruit wines aging in barrels, when a distant siren pierced the air.
Curious, he stepped outside to find Officer Jenny driving past the ranch in her police car, with Growlithe trotting alongside her.
“Officer Jenny, where are you headed?” Naoki called out.
Jenny stopped the car and got out, letting Growlithe hop down beside her. She approached Naoki with a calm but determined expression.
“I’m leaving the patrol car here for a while,” she explained. “Growlithe and I are heading to the forested area behind the ranch for a patrol.”
Naoki tilted his head. “Why the sudden patrol?”
Jenny sighed, brushing her uniform absently. “It’s autumn again, and we want to prevent another forest fire like the one we had last year. The police station has stepped up patrols to monitor the backwoods.”
Naoki nodded in understanding. “That makes sense. Would you like to keep an eye on the car while you’re gone?”
“That would be helpful, thank you.” Jenny smiled. “The Fire Departnt is also involved this year, but the forest ranger is stretched thin. The backwoods are vast, and there’s only so much one person can do.”
“It sounds like everyone’s working hard,” Naoki said, kneeling to pat Growlithe’s head. “Thanks for keeping the area safe.”
Jenny’s smile softened. “It’s our job. Alright, I’ll get going now.”
Naoki watched as Jenny and Growlithe disappeared into the forest, their silhouettes fading into the golden hues of the autumn evening. He couldn’t help but admire the dedication of the police and fire departnt in this world.
Naoki shook his head, turned back to the Pokémon Tavern, and refilled the empty barrels of fruit wine. He also brought out so berries and sandwiches to stock up for the evening.
Once guests arrived, the tavern could officially begin its operations for the night.
After setting things up, Naoki returned to his ho. The clock read 4:30 in the afternoon. As far as he knew, Officer Jenny wouldn’t return until at least 9:00 PM.
Naoki’s thoughts wandered. It was currently sumr vacation for the students of Paldea Academy, but unlike the sumr breaks in his past life, he doubted these students would simply stay ho to rest. Most of them were likely traveling across the Paldea region, challenging gyms and honing their skills as trainers.
After all, gym leaders in the Paldea region only got their holidays after November, following the conclusion of the annual Pokémon League Conference. It was only during this downti that gym leaders could enjoy a well-deserved two-month break.
Naoki sighed, shaking his head. While Geeta had always been kind to him, he couldn’t imagine ever wanting to be a gym leader himself. The life of a free man, without the constraints of such responsibilities, was far more appealing.
Smiling at the thought, Naoki pulled out a cookbook titled 300 Unique Recipes from his bag. He had purchased it earlier that morning while in town, intent on learning so new dishes. Cooking for his Pokémon had beco a daily routine, but he realized the als he prepared often lacked variety. Even if the Pokémon didn’t complain, he himself was growing bored of the sa repetitive nu.
He flipped through the pages, his eyes lighting up at the colorful photos of delicious-looking als.
“Mushroom soup... requires shiitake, button mushrooms, king oyster mushrooms, and bamboo shoots…”
“Spicy at broth… needs fatty cuts of at, salad oil, minced garlic, and mashed ginger…”
“Wine-braised Paldea tomatoes? Vodka-stead Carlos eggplant? Paldea crab at and ham dumplings? Paldea-style seafood rice…”
The pictures were mouthwatering, and Naoki’s enthusiasm grew. Many of the recipes seed feasible with the ingredients he already had on hand. He decided to try the mushroom soup, spicy at broth, wine-braised tomatoes, and vodka-stead eggplant first.
However, the crab at and ham dumplings seed out of reach for now. The recipe required raw ham slices to replace the dumpling skin—a luxurious and extravagant twist that Naoki wasn’t prepared for.
“Let’s keep it simple for now,” he muttered, closing the book.
Naoki stood up and began pulling ingredients from the refrigerator. With a growing sense of excitent, he set to work cooking. The warm aroma of simring sauces and roasted vegetables soon filled the kitchen.
Ti passed, and as dusk began to fall, the Pokémon who had spent the day playing outside started returning ho. By then, Naoki had finished preparing dinner.
One of the dishes he’d made was the mushroom soup, a creamy concoction that looked inviting in its bowl. A notification in his mind popped up as he finished plating it:
[Mushroom Soup (C)]: A thick and hearty soup made by blending various mushrooms into a flavorful broth. A popular specialty from a certain village, this dish is both comforting and nutritious.
Cooking Effect: Mushroom Hunter – Pokémon with the Pickup Ability beco better at finding mushrooms after eating this dish, with a high probability of bringing mushrooms to their trainer.
Naoki blinked, slightly baffled. “Mushroom Hunter? Really?”
He glanced around the room, realizing the only Pokémon on the ranch with the Pickup Ability was Baby Bear, who had been away on an extended journey for quite so ti.
“Well, that’s... oddly specific,” Naoki murmured, scratching his head. However, this seemingly niche dish sparked an idea.
Naoki mused over an idea: maybe he could train a group of Pokémon with the Pickup ability and send them out to gather mushrooms and rare items. It reminded him of the Felyne expedition teams in Monster Hunter, where the hired Felyne helpers would venture out to collect herbs, mushrooms, and other useful materials for hunters.
The more Naoki thought about it, the more he felt that the Pickup ability in Pokémon served a similar purpose. This idea intrigued him.
Setting that thought aside, he focused on the next dish.
[Spicy at Soup (C )]: A hearty soup made with tender cuts of at. Chicken essence and soy sauce are added to a rich beef broth, simred slowly with mashed ginger to infuse it with a robust, spicy flavor.
Cooking Effect: Sprint Level 1 – Drinking this reduces stamina consumption during running and battles for both humans and Pokémon. Effect lasts for 15 minutes.
Naoki raised an eyebrow, impressed. “Reduced stamina consumption? This is perfect for intense training sessions or long treks!” He made a ntal note to prepare this dish during monts when endurance was key.
Next, he turned his attention to the Wine-Braised Paldea Tomatoes. This dish had a simple yet enticing effect: it stimulated the appetite. As the na implied, it was ideal for humans or Pokémon who had lost their appetite.
The recipe involved simring cherry tomatoes in white wine until they softened, their natural sweetness blending with the wine’s aroma. The result was a tangy-sweet dish that could coax even the pickiest eater into taking a bite.
“This will be perfect for any Pokémon that’s reluctant to eat,” Naoki thought. He decided to save this recipe for when the need arose.
The next dish was Vodka-Stead Eggplant. Its effect was similar to hot soup dishes: warming up the body. While practical, Naoki found it less exciting compared to the others.
Finally, Naoki studied the most complex dish of the bunch: Paella.
[Paldea Seafood Rice (B)]: A fragrant delicacy made with head-on shrimp, mussels, and rice that absorbs the essence of a rich seafood broth. Infused with the blessings of the sea, this dish embodies the culinary spirit of Paldea.
Cooking Effect: Blessing of the Sea – For humans, this increases the chance of catching rare fish when fishing. For Pokémon, it significantly boosts the effectiveness of sea-based special training. Effect lasts for 3 hours.
Comnts: “A dish imbued with the blessings of the sea, perfect for anglers and sea-dwelling Pokémon alike!”
Naoki’s eyes lit up with excitent. “Finally, a dish that benefits Pokémon directly!”
This dish was not only versatile but also incredibly useful. For humans, it enhanced their chances of catching rare fish—a boon for fishern. In the Pokémon world, "rare fish" often referred to elusive aquatic Pokémon. Common ones like Magikarp, Goldeen, and Finneon were easy enough to find, but rarer species like Wishiwashi, Carvanha, and Relicanth required effort—and a bit of luck. This dish could even improve the odds of encountering powerful aquatic Pokémon like Gyarados or Milotic.
Naoki chuckled at the thought. “Who knows? With enough courage and luck, maybe soone could even fish up Kyogre.”
After all, there was that one morable mont in the ani where Lana managed to reel in a little Kyogre with her fishing rod.
For Pokémon, the dish’s effect was equally impressive. It significantly enhanced the efficiency of water-based special training, making it ideal for Pokémon like Dragonairs aiming to evolve into Dragonites.
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