Alcremie had been at the Breeding House for a few days now.
During this time, its days were very fulfilling.
In the morning, it would wake up and make bread and desserts with Gothitelle and Mime Jr. After breakfast, it would follow Gothitelle to the small house, try its hand at making desserts there, and give them to the children in the daycare for tasting.
In the afternoon, upon returning to the Breeding House and finishing lunch, Lucas would personally step in to teach it step-by-step how to make even more delicious desserts.
At this moment, Lucas was standing beside Alcremie, watching as it slowly spread cream onto a small cake.
"That's right. Dessert is a food of happiness, because it brings satisfaction and joy to the people and Pokémon who eat it. Our role as pastry chefs is to instill the happiness we want them to feel into the desserts we create, and then let the people and Pokémon who taste them discover it."
Lucas spoke as he watched Alcremie's cautious movements.
Alcremie concentrated intensely. After spreading the cream, it placed a Cheri Berry on the very top of the cake.
"Mee~"
Alcremie looked up at Lucas. Lucas took a scoop with a spoon and put it into his mouth.
Seeing Alcremie looking at him with great expectation, Lucas first praised its progress, and then finally asked: "Alcremie, do you feel happy when you make desserts?"
Hearing Lucas's question, Alcremie looked confused.
However, it still nodded.
Seeing this, Lucas fell silent.
He took another spoonful of the dessert and put it into his mouth.
Suddenly, he spoke: "Alcremie, do you like the Breeding House?"
Without waiting for Alcremie to speak, Lucas continued: "Look at the Breeding House. Even though it's covered in snow, all the Pokémon are very happy. Vespiquen leads the Combee to gather and brew delicious sweet honey, the Miltank produce fresh and tasty Moomoo Milk, and the Gogoat produce nutritious goat milk."
"Here, Pokémon partners can play to their heart's content. When it snows, we can hide inside the house. When we're sad or upset, we can seek comfort from our good friends or humans."
Speaking to this point, Lucas looked at Alcremie with a smile. "So, Alcremie, does making desserts make you feel happy?"
Alcremie fell into silence.
Seeing this, Lucas gently pinched its nose.
"Alcremie, do you know? When I first opened this Breeding House, I didn't think I would be able to raise so many Pokémon. My encounters with them were always full of surprises, yet they also felt right. I love them, so I give a lot to love them, without thinking about what they will give back. I believe they feel the same way."
"Alcremie, this is your home. So, don't be afraid anymore, okay?"
Alcremie recalled its journey of wandering. Originally a pastry chef for a family, its position was later taken over by another Alcremie. It was forced out to wander, but no one would accept it. Later, it was caught by Pokémon Hunters and imprisoned for a long time. Finally, it escaped and followed Rhyperior all the way south—
Then it thought of the few days it had lived in the Breeding House. Vespiquen would give it delicious honey, Shauna would take it to the Lake area to play on Lapras's back, Gengar would take it to play pranks, Lilligant would tell it stories, Gothitelle would take it to play with the children, and Ninetales would bring it warmth—
Alcremie's tears pitter-pattered onto the table.
"Mee—"
Alcremie's crying attracted Gengar and the others.
Rhyperior was the first to squeeze into the kitchen, tearing the door off its hinges. After seeing that Alcremie was fine, it was promptly planted into the snow by Gothitelle.
The other Pokémon just watched quietly.
Lucas waited until Alcremie's crying slowed to a gasp before saying softly, "We are a family, right?"
Alcremie nodded heavily.
"Mee."
Yes.
Alcremie wiped away its tears and then looked at Lucas. "Mee."
I like making desserts.
I won't be afraid of being kicked out because my desserts don't taste good anymore.
Lucas nodded.
"Only by liking it can you feel happy, right? Alcremie."
Alcremie nodded.
Lilligant seemed to have thought of something, looking at Lucas and Alcremie with a gentle gaze.
The flower on its head began to emit a sweet scent, filling the entire kitchen.
Recovering its emotions, Alcremie took out a bowl, whipped up several dollops of cream in it, then poured in the sweet honey Vespiquen had given it, along with some Moomoo Milk, and stirred continuously.
Until the cream turned golden.
Then it began to make the cake base.
Step by step, its small body kept running back and forth in the kitchen. Seeing that it was a bit overwhelmed, Gothitelle wanted to help, but Lucas shook his head to stop her.
"Goth."
Hmph.
Gothitelle stopped her movements.
Lucas watched quietly as Alcremie spread the cream and then piped a flower decoration.
Alcremie's Special Golden sweet honey Small Cake was complete.
Under Alcremie's expectant gaze, Lucas took a spoonful and put it in his mouth.
It was dense upon entry, sweet but not cloying. In the middle of winter, Lucas felt the fragrance of spring, the scent of flowers in a garden, the gentle touch of a spring breeze on his face, and a trickling stream slowly flowing into his heart.
"I feel like I'm running under the sunset; that is my lost youth—"
Lucas suddenly spoke.
Alcremie didn't understand and was about to ask when it saw Lucas give a thumbs up.
"What I mean is, you are the well-deserved number one pastry master of the Breeding House, Alcremie!"
Gengar gargar
Yay!
Gengar floated over, snatched Lucas's spoon, and took a bite.
Gengar gargar—
It tastes even better than what Lucas makes—
Fantastic!
Even though you're right, isn't it a bit rude to say that right in front of the person, Gengar?
Lucas tweaked Gengar's tail, causing Gengar to sputter and zip around in the air like a leaking balloon.
"Don't zip around in the kitchen, hey!"
While Lucas was stopping Gengar, Gothitelle and the others also began to taste the small cake Alcremie had made, all giving Alcremie a thumbs up.
After seeing all the Pokémon had tasted it, Alcremie picked up a small cake, ran out of the kitchen, went to Rhyperior, and handed it to him.
Rhyperior took a bite.
He gave Alcremie a thumbs up.
That's wonderful, Alcremie.
You did it!
Alcremie smiled sweetly.
Once Alcremie returned to the kitchen, Lucas said, "Tomorrow, we can let the customers from Twinleaf Town try the desserts Alcremie made."
Alcremie looked full of anticipation.
"Well then, I'll be counting on you, Alcremie."
Using a gesture it had learned from Shauna, Alcremie patted its chest vigorously.
"Mee~"
Leave it to me.
Lucas nodded with a smile.
After Lucas and the others had all walked out of the kitchen, Alcremie saw Gengar enjoying the cake it had first started making.
It walked over, "Mee~"
I want to try too~
Seeing this, Gengar stuffed the whole thing into its mouth.
He chewed.
Gengar gargar?!
Sorry, I ate it too fast.
Alcremie smiled and shook its head to indicate it was okay.
As compensation, Gengar shared some of the snacks Lucas had made for him with Alcremie.
Then he floated out of the kitchen.
Cakes with a hint of bitterness are also very delicious.
Hehe.
Gengar pinched his big cheeks and thought happily.
There won't be any more bitter little cakes in the future~
So happy~ (*σ∀)σ