Pokemon: Legacy

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After scooping a ladle of water from a nearby jar to freshen up, Eric confirmed that the rice in the cooker was steaming nicely. He decided to step outside to see if Serperior and the others had found Eldegoss and the Cottonee.

As he left the kitchen, he nearly collided with Arven, who was drifting toward the kitchen, entranced.

Arven sniffed the air, murmuring, "What's that delightful, sweet aroma?"

"We're having vegetable and Berry curry for lunch," Eric replied, gently stopping Arven from floating into the kitchen. "Let's wait until Serperior and Eldegoss return before we eat. Come on, let's check the fields to see if they're back."

"Oh~"

Reluctantly, Arven tore his gaze from the kitchen and followed Eric to the five freshly sown plots in the farming area.

All five Pokémon had gathered in the clearing.

Noticing Eric and Arven's arrival, Eldegoss's eyes sparkled. With a graceful leap into the air, it began spinning rapidly, releasing cotton fibres that scattered over the watered fields.

A miraculous scene unfolded.

As the cotton fibres melded into the soil, the ground trembled ever so slightly. Within moments, green sprouts broke through, standing tall and vibrant.

The spectacle left Eric and Arven in awe, rooted to the spot.

At that moment, Eric deeply appreciated the wondrous powers of Pokémon. Such abilities would have been deemed divine in ancient times, heralding bountiful harvests.

While Eldegoss could currently only coax seeds into sprouting, with increased strength, it might one day accelerate the full growth cycle in mere days.

If Serperior learned moves like Grassy Terrain, it could potentially induce blooming and wilting overnight.

Unfortunately, Serperior's expertise lay in rapidly growing massive plants for attacks like Frenzy Plant.

After sharing its nutrients, Eldegoss landed, panting. Just aiding a small plot had left it exhausted, indicating that relying solely on Pokémon to cultivate crops wasn't sustainable.

After all, how would that differ from the exploitative practices Eric had hoped to leave behind?

Eric resolved internally.

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Lunchtime

The old couple's dining table was already cramped with Eric and his six main Pokémon. Adding three newcomers and anticipating future additions from the unhatched egg made the space even scarcer.

Serving the steaming curry over plates of rice, Eric completed the simple yet hearty vegetable and Berry curry meal.

"Let's eat!"

Starving, Arven awaited Eric's nod before grabbing his spoon and digging in messily.

Serperior ate more gracefully, using its vines to handle the spoon, taking measured bites.

Despite a year of practice, Swampert and Dragonite still fumbled with utensils, eventually opting to mimic Arven's approach, eating heartily.

Initially, Eldegoss and the Cottonee were hesitant, but soon, encouraged by the atmosphere, they began eating in small bites.

Eric alternated between feeding himself and refilling plates for the voracious Dragonite and Swampert.

The meal stretched until 1 PM. Rejuvenated, Eldegoss ventured to the tomato test field to share more nutrients, only to return weakly amidst the Cottonee's concerned calls.

Eric adopted a rare stern tone, firmly instructing Eldegoss to limit its energy-sharing to once daily and to avoid depleting its own growth nutrients.

Otherwise, Eldegoss risked harming its own health.

After assigning the Cottonee to monitor Eldegoss's rest, Eric enlisted Swampert, Serperior, and Dragonite, with Arven observing, to process the morning's collected timber.

Using Leaf Blade to strip bark, Air Slash for cutting, and Water Gun for polishing, they quickly produced wooden planks of the desired dimensions.

While a novice at farming, Eric was confident in his carpentry skills.

Following his blueprints, he assembled the planks, securing them with nails to construct a small, natural wooden cabin.

Lining the interior with a soft rug, the cosy home for Eldegoss and the Cottonee was complete.

Swampert moved the cabin to the spacious first-floor living room of the cottage, and Eric invited Eldegoss and the Cottonee to try it out, receiving enthusiastic approval.

The two Cottonees, having wandered without a permanent home, felt an overwhelming sense of belonging and burst into tears in Eric's arms.

From that day forward, the Cottonee no longer feared Eric or his other Pokémon, fully integrating into the farm within a day.

----

Three days later.

With the crops sprouting under Eldegoss's care and the Cottonee settled in, three days passed.

The previous day, Professors Sada and Turo finally contacted Eric. After a conversation, Professor Sada personally came to retrieve a reluctant Arven, promising to visit again with gifts to thank Eric for his care.

Eric's life returned to its peaceful routine.

Daily tasks included tending to the fields and planning the layout of the pasture and lake areas.

At 3 PM, Eric reclined on a newly acquired deck chair, basking in the sunlight. Nearby, Eldegoss and the Cottonee nestled into the soil, absorbing the sun's rays through photosynthesis.

Serperior lazily swayed its tail, soaking in the solar energy, while Swampert and Dragonite were off on their own adventures.

In this tranquil moment, the air's temperature suddenly rose. Serperior's previously relaxed eyes narrowed sharply as it stood, alert, gazing into the distance.

"Hmm? What's wrong, Serperior?"

Eric yawned, groggily following Serperior's gaze, only to be jolted awake.

"What the—?!"

He exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief.

Luxray, crackling with electricity, was sprinting toward them, with Aegislash close behind. A closer look revealed a corner of Mimikyu's cloth peeking from Luxray's shadow.

But that wasn't the most shocking part.

Eric was stunned to see a large bird in Luxray's jaws, its feathers charred, and orange-red flames dancing on its head, wings, and tail!

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