The next morning.
After a night spent entwined with the delicate, surprisingly enduring bunny girl, Wade awoke to his now-essential morning ritual: the daily milk feeding.
"Uh… M-Master, here… for you."
The Milk Cow Loli's pretty face was flushed as she stammered the offering. Though a flicker of curiosity passed through her innocent mind at the sight of Lopunny, still fast asleep in the Trainer's bed and glistening with a certain dampness, she didn't dwell on it. Her nature was pure, untroubled by complex questions. Instead, she focused on her duty, obediently pressing the overflowing, creamy abundance to the Trainer's waiting lips.
After a hearty breakfast, Wade led his small troupe of Pokémon toward the farm's central lake. The air was crisp with promise.
Today was a day for the happy, simple art of fishing.
"Miiino~"
Mienshao lifted her beautiful eyes, taking in the new landscape with quiet curiosity. This was her first venture beyond the deep woods, and the open expanse of the farm under the morning sun was a novel spectacle.
The early light was soft, painting the mist that clung to the lake's surface in hues of gold and silver. Beneath the shimmering veil, dark, sizable shapes glided lazily in the cool depths. By the water's edge, a line of Lotads sat like little green meditation cushions, basking with their lily-pad hats tilted toward the sun. A particularly drowsy Slowpoke had planted itself on the bank, its short, stubby tail dangling in the water as a makeshift fishing line.
Splash!
The next second, the placid creature yelped, yanking its tail back to reveal a vivid red mark from an ambitious fish's bite.
Looking out over the fertile water, Wade couldn't help but grin. "The fish here are huge! Once we've got most of the fields cultivated, setting up a proper aquaculture base here will be the next step."
The mental image of future days spent lazily fishing here with his companions filled him with a deep, contented delight.
"Sha~"
Gardevoir, ever composed, knelt gracefully by the shore. She dipped a slender, smooth hand into the water, testing its temperature. It was refreshingly cool.
Wade set down the empty fish bucket, then carefully extracted the large, meticulously woven fishing net from his backpack. He held it up, announcing with ceremony:
"Let the fishing begin!"
"Chu ru ru~!"
Lopunny, brimming with energy, didn't wait a second longer. With an excited hop, she plunged straight into the shallows, sending a cascade of droplets sparkling in the light.
The cute Petilil, however, remained on the dry bank. She peered into the water, watching the shadowy forms flit about with mild interest.
"Ya mi~"
After a long, silent stare, she shook the green leaf on her head and let out a delicate, unconcealed yawn.
Wade, having just finished laying out the net, walked over. He rubbed her head dotingly. "Petilil, aren't you going to join us?"
"Ya mi." A small, dismissive sound.
"Do you find fishing… boring?"
Seeing her give a tiny, affirmative nod, Wade pondered for a moment. Then, like a sage revealing a cosmic truth, he declared, "You're missing the profound point. Fishing, you see, is a deep philosophy of self-improvement. A path to true strength."
"Ya mi?"
Petilil tilted her head, a picture of adorable skepticism. The single leaf atop her head perked up straight, quivering like a curious anime heroine's ahoge.
She'd never heard that sitting by water could make one stronger!
Seeing he had her attention, Wade pressed his advantage, his tone dropping to a conspiratorial, tempting whisper. Unlike the naturally obliging Milk Cow Loli or the shyly eager Lopunny, Petilil carried herself like a precious, slightly spoiled princess—the kind one instinctively wanted to coax, challenge, and yes, discipline a little.
"Of course I wouldn't lie to you," he murmured, leaning close to her ear as if sharing a delicious secret. "And you want to grow stronger and evolve into Lilligant sooner, don't you? When that happens… that particular area will likely also develop quite… impressively."
"Ya mi!"
The little one's crimson eyes suddenly blazed with newfound purpose. Strength was an abstract concept, but the implication of the final part of his sentence was crystal clear. She glanced down at her own modest front, and the memory from last night's living room flashed before her eyes—the outrageous, snowy abundance the Milk Cow Loli had so shamelessly flaunted before the Trainer.
A competitive fire, fierce and sudden, ignited in Petilil's heart.
Just wait! Once I'm stronger and evolve into Lilligant, I'll feed Master my own snowballs in exactly the same way!
Seeing the determined glint in her eyes, Wade smiled and pointed toward the other Pokémon already at work. "Here, why don't you go observe their techniques first?"
"Ya mi!"
Petilil turned her gaze, now filled with studious intent.
Lopunny was a whirlwind of excitement in the water. She'd been dreaming of these plump fish for ages.
"Chu ru ru~!"
A sleek, black shape tried to dart past her. In a blur of pink motion, Lopunny's hand shot out, snatching the sneaky fish mid-escape.
Flap-flap-flap—!
The captured Magikarp thrashed in a panic against her palm.
"Chu ru ru!"
Lopunny's eyes widened. She fixed the flailing fish with a gaze that was suddenly, surprisingly serious and disarmingly sweet.
Instantly, the Magikarp's frantic struggles ceased. It lay still in her hand, momentarily pacified, its beady eyes glazed over.
[Lopunny learned a new move: Baby-Doll Eyes.]
[Baby-Doll Eyes: The user stares at the target with its baby-doll eyes, which lowers its Attack stat. This move always goes first.]
"Ya mi~"
Petilil nodded, a thoughtful expression on her face. She then turned her attention to Gardevoir, who had chosen a far more elegant approach than wading into the lake.
"Sha~"
As the morning mist still clung to the water's surface, a circle of faint, psychic-blue ripples suddenly emanated from the very center of the lake, disturbing the calm with silent, potent energy.
Gardevoir closed her eyes, a picture of serene concentration. She raised a slender hand, and a light pink halo of Psychic energy bloomed around her, expanding in delicate, concentric layers like the petals of an ethereal flower. The energy gently cradled her, lifting her slender, graceful form effortlessly into the air, her moon-white dress swirling like mist.
Just as Petilil watched in wide-eyed wonder, a clear, hauntingly beautiful melody began to flow from Gardevoir's throat. It was wordless, a pure sonic enchantment.
Gardevoir's eyes remained softly shut, her expression one of profound peace. Her delicate body, draped in its skirt of psychic light, hovered just above the lake's surface, not a single drop of water disturbing her pristine form.
The song, invisible yet overwhelmingly tangible, wrapped around the entire lake. It seemed to weave the very sunlight into its fabric, scattering the morning's golden glow across the ripples. And as the last, lingering note trembled in the air and began to fade…
Plip. Plop. Splash.
Crystal-blue blossoms of water erupted across the lake's surface—not from impact, but as if the water itself was applauding. Then, from the depths, silvery shapes responded.
"Ya mi!"
Petilil's jaw went slack.
Before her, entire schools of sleek, silver-white fish arched into the air. They didn't leap in fear, but in a kind of dreamy, captivated dance, drawn upward by the siren song. When the final vibration of sound dissolved into the morning, dozens of fish were left stranded on the grassy shore, flopping gently as if waking from a pleasant dream.
[Gardevoir learned a new move: Disarming Voice.]
[Disarming Voice: Lets out a charming cry with an angelic tone. This attack never misses, and Pokémon whose stats were boosted during the same turn will become confused.]
Just as Wade was happily hauling in the fishing net, now heavy with a squirming catch, he saw Petilil skipping over to him, her tiny face set with determination.
"Ya mi! Ya mi!"
Evidently, her observation session had filled her with a surge of misguided confidence.
Wade gave the emerald leaf on her head an encouraging rub. "Excellent! Then come, train yourself alongside us in the art of the catch!"
"Ya mi!"
She puffed out her small chest, ready for her debut. However, mere minutes later, standing at the water's edge, her bravado had evaporated. Although she intellectually understood this was "special training," a practical problem presented itself. She stared at the lake, her enthusiasm cooling into palpable bewilderment.
"Ya… mi?"
Petilil scrunched her face in concentration. First, she tried widening her large, clear eyes to their absolute maximum, attempting to replicate Lopunny's intimidating Baby-Doll Eyes.
The fish continued to swim. Unimpressed.
Hmm. Perhaps a different approach? She closed her eyes again, took a deep breath, and parted her small mouth.
…
Silence. Then a tiny, squeaky exhale that wouldn't startle a Caterpie.
After a long, fruitless moment, Petilil's whole body sagged, deflating like a week-old Berry. Her leaf drooped. She didn't have psychic powers to levitate majestically, nor a voice that could enchant entire lakesides. She was just a small grass-type with a leaf on her head, feeling distinctly out of her depth.
Beside her, Wade stroked his chin, watching her struggle with equal parts amusement and genuine thoughtfulness. How did one conduct special training for a Pokémon whose primary skills involved absorbing sunlight and sprinkling spores?
A spark lit in Petilil's eyes. The verdant leaf atop her head, which had been hanging limply, suddenly shot upright with a springy boing!
"I've got it!" she seemed to say, a new, mischievous plan taking root in her mind.
Patreon Seasay, been a busy week, sorry for the update delay