Chapter 248:
[S-grade Dish – Sweetheart Steamed Eggs. Steamed eggs made using Honey and Chansey eggs. After consumption, it brings auspiciousness and happiness.
Dish Effect 1: After consumption, feel happy for the entire day.
Dish Effect 2: Auspiciousness – for the rest of the day, when facing matters of choice, gain a stroke of good luck.]
Two dish effects.
The first—feeling happy for an entire day—was undoubtedly a great one.
Hayashi Kaede couldn't help but nod in approval.
But the second effect left him a little puzzled.
An auspicious effect when facing matters involving choice?
What exactly did that mean?
Would it improve your luck when playing games like dice or cards?
If so, gamblers would go crazy for it.
Of course, it wasn't of much use to him—after all, he already possessed Aura Power.
Still, he thought it could pair nicely with tea brewed from World Tree leaves for a cheerful breakfast gathering.
The three Chansey eggs had produced quite a lot of steamed egg—enough to fill seven or eight plates. Yet, once portioned out among all the Pokémon, each serving was only about half the size of a tangerine.
For some Pokémon, that was barely enough for a single bite.
But that wasn't a problem.
At least the dish's effects were genuine and active.
After preparing the usual breakfast items, Hayashi Kaede planned to wake up the still-sleeping Pokémon.
However, when he reached the plantation, he found the Eevees and Alolan Vulpix already awake.
They were gathered by the reservoir, sipping clean water and then spitting it out—imitating Hayashi Kaede's morning rinsing routine. Over time, they had all learned it from the quirky Alolan Vulpix.
"Eevee~"
"Vulpix…"
Their eyes lit up as soon as they spotted Hayashi Kaede.
"Vulpix…" (What's for breakfast?)
"Head to the garden first!" Hayashi Kaede didn't answer directly, instead gesturing for them to go ahead.
"Vulpix…" (Let's go!)
Alolan Vulpix immediately led its little friends running toward the garden.
Hayashi Kaede went inside the house.
There, the sister Indeedee was feeding milk to Sprigatito with a bottle.
As soon as Sprigatito saw him, it dropped the bottle and trotted over.
(￣︶￣*)): "Meow meow meow…" (Hug… hug…)
After a few days, Hayashi Kaede could more or less understand what Sprigatito was saying.
He naturally wouldn't refuse such a request—if anything, he was delighted.
"Alright… hugs…"
He scooped Sprigatito up and couldn't resist tickling its soft belly with his fingers.
The newborn Grass Cat Pokémon squirmed and giggled, trying to escape from his playful hands.
"Sprigatito…" (Bad… no…)
Hayashi Kaede laughed, amused and a little unsatisfied.
You're the one who asked for hugs, but when you get them, you complain?
With a helpless smile, he set Sprigatito down and said gently, "Be good and finish your milk. Listen to the sister Indeedee."
"Sprigatito…" (Mhm… mhm…)
The kitten replied in its milky little voice before scampering back.
Hayashi Kaede then picked up the Poké Balls for Dragonite, Goodra, and Salamence and headed to the garden.
When he arrived, he found that besides Alolan Vulpix, Milotic, Brionne, Butterfree, and the others were already there.
Even the Combee had begun their morning work.
But as the season shifted, many of the garden's flowers had withered compared to midsummer or early autumn.
Even with the sister Indeedee's meticulous care, the garden felt emptier.
After a brief thought, Hayashi Kaede approached one of the Combee. "Alright, it's getting colder now. You don't have to work so hard collecting honey every day."
"Combee?"
The Combee looked happy to see its "King," but upon hearing it shouldn't gather honey, the smile on its honeycomb face immediately faded.
It glanced regretfully at the remaining flowers.
" Combee…" (But there are still so many…)
"You can't finish collecting all the nectar" Hayashi Kaede said gently.
Nectar is endless. Money is endless. Learning, too, has no limits.
But all of it should come second to physical and mental well-being.
He already had plenty of Honey stored—enough to last through the winter.
The Combee still looked unwilling.
"Alright, alright… you can keep collecting" Hayashi Kaede relented with a sigh. "But if it gets too cold, don't push yourselves, alright?"
The Combee's expression brightened instantly before buzzing happily back to work.
Hayashi Kaede couldn't help but smile. They were frugal little workers—too diligent for their own good.
Still, it was a good habit to have.
He thought to himself, When the temperature drops a bit more, I'll make them stop no matter what.
"Mew…"
Mew, who had been out all night, suddenly appeared—along with Jirachi and Victini.
They'd gone to Eindoak Town—Victini's hometown.
Now, all three of them looked a little disheveled, their expressions unusually gloomy.
It wasn't like Mew to look this way. Normally, it was always smiling, carefree, and even daring enough to greet Rayquaza.
Hayashi Kaede distributed breakfast to everyone, then walked over to the three Mythical Pokémon. He picked up Mew gently. "What's wrong?"
"Mew?"
Mew hesitated, then, seeing Hayashi Kaede preparing food, curled up in his arms.
It looked up with a sorrowful expression and whispered softly, "Mew…" (They're leaving, aren't they?)
Hayashi Kaede froze for a moment before realizing Mew was talking about Victini and Jirachi.
He glanced at them—both looked troubled, as though they wanted to comfort Mew but didn't know how.
Victini fidgeted with its fingers.
Jirachi's small mouth trembled, unable to speak.
Last night, they had gone together to Eindoak Town, flying above the ancient city and watching the stars.
But there, Victini had confessed its truth.
It couldn't stay with them forever—it had to remain in Eindoak Town.
The old king had once shown it the beauty of the land—the prosperity, the people and Pokémon living in harmony.
But after the conflict between the two princes—the battle between the Dragon of Truth and the Dragon of Ideals—the land's ley lines were damaged, and the earth began to cry.
Victini had seen the old king sacrifice his life to protect his people.
His final request echoed in its memory:
"Victini… I need your power… The dragon veins must not break, or this land's vitality will fade away."
Victini couldn't let the old king's kingdom fall into ruin or forget that final wish.
So, it stayed behind in Eindoak Town.
At first, Mew hadn't been too sad.
It thought: That's fine. There's a portal. We can always visit.
But then… Jirachi spoke.
It revealed that tomorrow night, after the Millennial Comet's arrival, it would fall back into slumber.
Mew was stunned.
It suddenly remembered Hayashi Kaede mentioning that a certain Pokémon could only stay awake for seven days… but it hadn't paid attention at the time.
Now it understood.
'So today… is the last day.'
Looking at the sad Mew in his arms, Hayashi Kaede sighed quietly.
The Millennial Comet would fall tonight.
"Jirachi…"
The little Pokémon floated over, wanting to say something comforting—that after a thousand years, they could meet again.
But the words wouldn't come.
A thousand years was too long.
Each time it woke, it felt as though the world had forgotten it.
Mew murmured softly, "Mew…" (I don't want to… I don't want to say goodbye…)
It didn't understand why so many stories ended in parting.
Vaguely, it thought of Sir Aaron and Lucario.
Sir Aaron had once borrowed its power to stop a war… but when the war ended, he disappeared too.
Would Jirachi and Victini disappear as well?
Hayashi Kaede stroked Mew's fur gently. "It's okay… Everyone has their own duty."
"You too—you bear the responsibility of guarding the World Tree."
Listening to Mew's quiet breathing, Hayashi Kaede recalled the movie The Prince of the Sea – Manaphy.
Manaphy, born in Haruka's hands, had chosen to return to the sea to protect the marine world.
It was the same with Victini—after all its adventures with Ash, it still stayed behind in the old king's land.
Some things… simply couldn't be changed.
Hayashi Kaede sighed inwardly and brought out the steamed eggs for Mew, Jirachi, and Victini.
After eating, they looked a little better—but still somewhat distant.
Wanting to lift their spirits, Hayashi Kaede started a conversation. "By the way, Jirachi, do you dream when you sleep?"
"Jirachi?" The little star Pokémon tilted its head. "Dream? What's that?"
Hayashi Kaede smiled softly. "When you're asleep, do you ever feel aware? Like remembering past events or seeing things you've never experienced before?"
"Jirachi?" (That's called dreaming?)
Jirachi's eyes brightened with curiosity.
"Yes! Sometimes, I dream of Akaze and the Caterpie back then…" it said. "And further back, I dream of Pokémon from ancient times—some were fierce and huge, as tall as mountains. I remember them chasing me… it was scary."
"Jirachi…" (Every time I fall asleep, I seem to recall those things again and again… until I fade into confusion.)
It spoke animatedly, occasionally glancing at Mew.
Seeing Mew listening quietly, it became more enthusiastic—trying to cheer it up, even if just a little.
Hayashi Kaede listened quietly. When Jirachi finished, he smiled and held up a bottle.
"Jirachi, would you like to have a dream you can control this time?"
"Jirachi??" (A dream I can control myself?)
Jirachi was stunned. Could dreams really be controlled?
"More or less," Hayashi Kaede said, showing it the bottle.
[A-grade Dish – Dream Spinach Sweet Liquid. A juice made from mutated spinach and sweet fruit. It has a curious either-or effect.
Dish Effect 1: Weave Dreams – After consumption, can induce a dream in a Pokémon with no resistance. The maker can craft the dream's contents. Effective for the first sleep after consumption.
Dish Effect 2: Control Dreams – If the maker doesn't interfere, the drinker can control their own dream. Effective for the first sleep after consumption.
Note: Sweet dreams are wonderful, but don't lose yourself in them.]
It was the same drink he had once given Salamence.
"Jirachi~!" (I want to drink it! I want to!)
Jirachi's eyes sparkled. If it could control its own dream, maybe a thousand years wouldn't feel so long.
"Not now" Hayashi Kaede chuckled. "Tonight. I'll make a special dish just for you. After drinking it, you'll get sleepy."
"Jirachi…" (Mhm! I'll wait!)
Even if it was the last day, it wanted to spend it happily.
"Victini…"
Nearby, Victini stared blankly.
A dish… that lets you dream whatever you want?