"Ughh—"
The morning sun streamed through the open window, shining directly onto Victor's closed eyelids.
He grumbled, blocking the light with his hand.
After a moment, feeling the sunlight disappear, he lowered his hand and opened his eyes.
He was met with the sight of an equally groggy, large, purple, chubby face.
"Gengar—"
Mornin'...
Gengar, who had been blocking the sun for him, rubbed its eyes and mumbled a good morning.
Victor stared at the ceiling.
"Morning, Gengar."
He forced the words out, then continued to stare blankly.
Strange. How did I get back to my room and into bed? Weren't we eating dinner last night?
Why is everything after that a complete blank? Did I drink?
No, that can't be right... I seem to remember Gengar triggering a Culinary Crit, and then it started to sing... Everyone was terrified, and then Lilligant had to step in.
So how did I lose consciousness and end up in bed?
Seeing that Victor was awake, Gengar stopped blocking the sun and turned to head to the bathroom.
Stabbed in the eyes by the sunlight again, Victor squinted.
He leaped out of bed and scratched his hair.
I fell asleep without showering last night. I feel disgusting.
He sniffed his clothes and cringed.
He walked into the bathroom. Gengar had already put toothpaste on his toothbrush.
Victor, toothbrush in his mouth and cup in hand, went out onto the balcony, brushing his teeth as he looked out over the backyard.
Lilligant, Roselia, Vespiquen, Gothita, and Vulpix were gathered near the flower garden, having brought chairs out to sit and chat.
There was even milk tea, which they had prepared for themselves, on a small table.
Looking at the elegant group of Pokémon, Victor couldn't help but smile.
Is this a high-society tea party? Not bad at all.
It's a shame Dali (Machoke) is missing.
He looked around, searching for the Machoke.
He found Dali sparring with the Infernape.
Nearby, Pinsir was cheering with its arms in the air, seemingly rooting for Dali.
Dali caught Infernape's fists with two of its hands, while its other two fists tensed.
They whistled through the air, aimed straight at Infernape's face.
Infernape struggled to get free, but Dali held it fast.
It squeezed its eyes shut, bracing for the impact, but all it felt was a strong gust of wind. The expected pain never came.
It opened its eyes. The fists were stopped right in front of its face.
Dali let it go and patted its shoulder.
It then ignored the towel Pinsir offered it and walked over to Lilligant and the others.
Lilligant smiled, stood up, and handed Dali a towel.
Dali grinned, took the towel with the hand that wore the Black Belt, and wiped its sweat. It then took the milk tea Gothita offered and downed it in one gulp.
Victor, his hands never ceasing their motion, watched them.
A gentle and wise Lilligant, a dignified and graceful Gothita, a majestic Vespiquen, a shy Roselia, and a cute and quiet Vulpix... all these girls of different personalities, gathered for a garden tea party. And then, a Machoke, brimming with power and bulging with muscles, joins them.
(My AI can't even render this scene, it's killing me.)
It was a sudden, yet acceptable, sight. Victor shook his head. Just as he was about to turn away, he saw Pinsir sidle up to the girls' tea party.
Lilligant and the others, who had just been laughing and talking, all stood up. They looked at the intruding Pinsir, a dangerous glint in their eyes.
You dare to butt into girls' talk? Do you have a death wish?
Victor sucked in a sharp breath.
A true warrior! Victor thought to himself.
Even I don't dare to approach them at a time like this.
Pinsir quickly waved its pincers and shook its head, then bolted.
After it left, they all sat back down and seemed to be teasing Dali.
Lilligant and Gothita would occasionally cover their mouths and giggle.
Dali just shook its head helplessly.
A purple, chubby Pokémon floated up beside Victor. He glanced at it, then shuffled to the side to make room.
He looked over to where Pinsir had fled.
It had run to the sandpit where Heracross was helping Shana build a sandcastle.
It threw an arm around Heracross's shoulder and began to recount its tragic encounter, complete with dramatic gestures.
And then, accidentally...
It trampled the sandcastle that Shana, Tinkerbell, Marill, Mime Jr., and a few Shinx had worked so hard to build.
Victor, seeing this, shook his head and looked away.
It's over. He's a goner.
Pinsir felt a chill run up its spine.
It turned around.
Shana was staring at it, her cheeks puffed out.
Tinkerbell had stopped chiming.
Marill's mouth was wide open.
The Luxio and Rapidash, who had been lying nearby guarding Shana, stood up.
One's flames began to burn hotter, the other's body began to crackle with yellow electricity.
Mime Jr. looked at the sandcastle, then at Pinsir.
And then...
It burst into tears.
From the flower garden, Gothita's figure vanished, followed by Lilligant and the others.
Victor turned his head, unable to watch. He heard the pitiful screams from behind him.
His mouth twitched.
My poor Pinsir...
Getting beaten up... again and again.
A long time later, Gothita and the others returned to their seats and resumed their morning tea.
Victor spat out the toothpaste foam and glanced at the backyard.
From near to far.
Pokémon, busy, relaxing, playing, slacking off—
The trees were red and green. The planting area was lush.
Plump berries hung from the trees.
The vegetables were crisp and translucent, the herbs a deep green.
Victor was momentarily dazed.
What an unremarkable morning. He wakes up and sees a bunch of adorable Pokémon.
He glanced at the Gengar brushing its teeth beside him.
And a cute little fatty.
He smiled. This was the Breeding House life he had always wanted.
Victor took a large gulp of water.
He swished it around, then tilted his head back and, with a powerful burst...
Ptoo—
A spray of water flew through the air.
In the sunlight, Victor saw a rainbow.
"Gengar, look! A rainbow!"
"Gengar?"
Gengar came closer to look, and its eyes went wide.
Its mouth still full of water, it gesticulated wildly, asking Victor how he did that.
Victor smiled, then took another large gulp of water and spat it out forcefully.
Gengar, having learned, took a huge gulp of water from its cup... and sprayed it all over Victor's face.
Victor, wiping the water from his face, grimaced and pulled at Gengar's mouth.
"Uncle, good morning!"
Shana and the others in the distance had heard the commotion and were looking over.
Victor turned and saw Shana waving at him.
Although he couldn't see her clearly, he could guess what she was doing.
He waved back.
"Shana! Everyone at the Breeding House! Good morning!"
"Lili~"
"Machoke."
"Ves. (Disdainful)"
"Goth~"
"Yip~"
"Roselia~"
"Mime~"
"Marill~"
Victor handed his toothbrush and cup to Gengar, and stretched.
Another beautiful day was beginning.
After Gengar was done playing, Victor took it and went back inside.
...
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