Accompanied by the setting sun, the people and Pokémon of the Breeding House enjoyed their dinner.
After dinner, it was time for the traditional entertainment.
The Kricketune began to play their moving music.
The grandpas and grandmas in the crowd showed off the vigor of their youth.
Some sang loudly, while others, illuminated by the bonfire, began to dance.
Everyone gathered together on the newly repaired road.
Passersby were a little confused.
When they learned that the road had just been fixed, they looked at it closely.
They found that it was indeed much better than before.
Seeing the lively atmosphere, they naturally joined in.
They also learned that this was all because of the Breeding House.
They took a good look at the Breeding House, committing it to memory.
The moon rose, and its silver frost sprinkled down on the people and Pokémon by the fire.
The bonfire gradually died down.
The crowd slowly dispersed.
The Pokémon also returned, one by one, to the forest or to the Breeding House's backyard.
Victor stood at the entrance.
He looked at the road that everyone had started calling the "Breeding Path," no longer just a numbered route.
He had argued against it at first, but he was outnumbered.
He was forced to accept that this road was now called the "Breeding Path."
This "Breeding Path"... maybe some interesting things will happen here in the future, Victor thought, then closed and locked the main gate.
He sat in the chair on his balcony, quietly sending messages on his phone.
Perhaps it was due to the blessings of Lugia and Celebi, but the autumn nights were no longer cold, just pleasantly cool.
The wind was strong, but it wasn't a cold wind.
Or maybe my own physical condition is just getting better?
Victor had that feeling.
His fingers flew across the screen.
Victor: I finished repairing the road that connects Twinleaf Town, past the Breeding House, all the way to Sandgem Town today.
Cynthia: ?
After he finished explaining...
Cynthia: I'm suddenly really looking forward to it. Walking on a road lined with blooming flowers.
Victor: While eating ice cream?
Cynthia: Yes!
Victor: With your Garchomp by your side?
Cynthia: Yes!
Victor: And with Gengar and Lilligant and the others?
Cynthia: Yes!
Victor: I planted cherry blossom trees, too.
Cynthia: Yes!
(Victor retracted the message.)
Cynthia: !
Cynthia: Cherry blossoms?
Victor: Yes!
Cynthia: I can't wait!
Victor put his phone away. He held the Vulpix in his arms, while Gengar watched its cartoons nearby.
Breathing in the fragrance from the flower garden in the backyard, Victor relaxed.
He found himself inexplicably humming a familiar melody.
"Castle in the Sky."
The backyard fell into a peaceful quiet.
When the tune was finished, Victor carried the Vulpix back inside.
"Goodnight, everyone."
"Gengar—"
"Yip~"
...
The Breeding Path, at night.
A Pokémon walked along the newly repaired road, looking around curiously.
It came to a small mound of dirt.
It smiled, then crouched down and gently smoothed the mound, leaving only a thin layer.
A small Pokémon poked its head out of the pouch on its front.
It looked around, curious.
"Kanga?"
Where are we?
The larger Pokémon looked around, then continued walking.
This place... this used to be my home.
It arrived at the Breeding House gate and sensed the auras of many Pokémon inside.
It looks like the new owner has found his new partners.
It smiled, and prepared to turn and leave.
"Gengar?"
A voice called out, stopping it.
"Kanga?"
The Kangaskhan looked at the Gengar under the moonlight.
Are you its partner?
I mean, the new owner's partner.
Gengar looked at the Kangaskhan and the small one in its pouch.
It was suddenly reminded of the Ninetales it had met before.
It nodded.
"Gengar—"
Hello, senior.
The Kangaskhan nodded gently, then prepared to leave.
It had heard from her that the Breeding House had reopened, so it had traveled a long way to see it.
Now that it had seen for itself that the Breeding House was indeed open again, and that it was filled with the auras of other Pokémon, it was satisfied.
It had seen the place where it used to live.
It turned to go.
The little Kangaskhan in its pouch turned and looked back at the Gengar.
Click~
Hearing the sound, the Kangaskhan turned its head.
The main door of the Breeding House had opened.
In the moonlight, a group of small figures stood at the entrance.
Lilligant, Roselia, Mime Jr., Gothita, and Marill.
Vulpix was fast asleep in Victor's arms.
The Vespiquen was resting in its hive.
Dali and the others were patrolling the backyard.
"Lili~"
Lilligant walked forward and gave a slight bow.
Won't you come in? Won't you come and see this place of memories?
The Kangaskhan looked down at the Lilligant.
The Lilligant before it was gentle, wise, and elegant.
It seems the new owner is a good one, to have raised a Lilligant so well.
It then looked at the other Pokémon.
It could see in their eyes their deep reliance on this place.
Mime Jr. ran over.
"Mime~"
Hearing its voice, the baby Kangaskhan looked up at its mother.
After getting a nod, it climbed out of the pouch, went to Mime Jr.'s side, and followed it into the Breeding House.
The Kangaskhan followed behind Lilligant and walked inside.
Alright. I'll come and see.
Click~
The main door closed again.
The Kangaskhan came to the backyard.
Gengar was about to go and wake Victor up.
The Kangaskhan stopped it.
Tomorrow. We can still see each other tomorrow, it said gently.
Gengar grinned.
"Gengar—"
As you wish, senior.
As the eldest brother of the Breeding House, it was his responsibility to take care of the seniors who had returned home.
Although Dali was technically the "big sis," when it came to interpersonal matters, it was always the "second sister," Lilligant, who took the lead.
So now, Gengar and Lilligant were accompanying the Kangaskhan on a tour of the backyard, explaining everything as they went.
The Kangaskhan listened carefully, its eyes full of memories as it looked around.
It could hear the voices of Mime Jr. and its own baby.
It looked over.
In a strange, dream-like way...
Mime Jr. and its baby had become a baby Kangaskhan and a Ralts.
And beside them, a Ninetales was lying next to a young girl, quietly watching them play.
The Kangaskhan snapped back to reality.
"Kanga."
I'll look around on my own. You two can go back.
Gengar and Lilligant exchanged a look, then nodded.
The Kangaskhan let its baby stay and play with Mime Jr. and the others, while it began to wander.
The afternoon tea area... the familiar sun umbrella was gone, and there was a flower garden next to it now, the flowers in full, fragrant bloom.
It seemed the planting area had finally become a real planting area.
It ran into Dali and the others.
They exchanged a few words.
It continued on.
It came to the lake area.
It saw the Golduck and Marill families resting.
It greeted their leaders and learned why they had come to live here.
It nodded, and moved on.
It passed through the forest area and chatted with the Vespiquen for a while.
Finally, it came to the entrance to the deep forest.
They don't need a fence here anymore?
Ninetales... you were right.
...
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