Roasted black sesame powder—throw it in.
Crushed walnuts—throw them in as well.
Pumpkin seed powder, matcha powder, and a small amount of turmeric powder.
As long as the ingredients could promote hair growth without altering the original flavor of the Biscuit, Silas added them all without hesitation. In the end, he also made sure to include powder ground from Zapdos's feathers.
With a soft ding from the oven, Silas took out this brand-new Biscuit dish. At the same time, an introduction panel popped up before his eyes.
[Zapdos Biscuit (A+): A dish made using legendary ingredients, possessing extraordinary effects and delivering remarkable results specifically for Zapdos.
Dish Effect: Lightning Affinity (Zapdos only). When fed to Zapdos, it grants a large amount of friendship points.
Trait Effect: Hair Growth Lv.3. Due to the addition of certain unique ingredients, after consumption, a Pokémon's fur or feathers will grow at 150% speed—an absolute savior for baldness and hair loss.]
"Success! It really wasn't a waste to add all of Zapdos's feathers into it."
Silas happily stored away the Biscuit, ready to take it out for Zapdos to eat. These past few days, Zapdos had been pestering him nonstop—asking every day, urging every day. At last, he had developed the perfect recipe, even using up the very last bit of white truffle.
"Min!"
Suddenly, the cry of Minccino came from outside the kitchen, and the little Pokémon dashed straight toward him.
Silas reached out and picked it up. "What's wrong, little guy?"
"Min—"
Played too hard, missed Silas, tummy hungry.
Rubbing Minccino's little head, Silas took out a small snack from the side. Holding it with both hands, Minccino nibbled at it bite by bite, its gaze drifting toward that special Biscuit, curiosity clear as it asked Silas about it.
"This is a hair-growth dish made for Zapdos. Do you want to try it, Minccino?"
Hearing that, Minccino shook its head vigorously. "Min!"
(I don't want to turn into a little furball—better save it for Zapdos. Silas, Silas, I'll take you to find it!)
"All right then. Let's go find Zapdos."
Scratching Minccino under the chin and making it purr comfortably, Silas took the freshly baked, still-warm Biscuit and headed toward Zapdos.
When they reached the grove near the lakeside of the ranch, before even getting close, the cries of various bird Pokémon flooded their ears. Zapdos hadn't come alone—it had brought an entire flock with it. The ranch had been unbelievably lively these past few days. At any given moment, bird Pokémon could be seen flying overhead.
Naturally, food consumption had skyrocketed as well. The feed that came as a bonus when he previously bought Cyclizar and the others had already been completely eaten up.
Once again returning from leading the flock out to forage, Chatot let the birds disperse on their own, then went to find Zapdos.
"Cha-tot."
(Let's leave.)
Zapdos, its head wrapped in cloth to cover its bald spot, cast a dull, lifeless glance over.
"Zap? Dos?"
(Isn't this your home? Why are you leaving?)
Chatot explained calmly.
"Cha-tot~"
(Precisely because this is home, we have to leave. The flock has grown too large—Silas simply can't afford to support us all.)
Chatot had been watching the ranch's feed consumption closely. That was why it had been taking the flock out to search for food so frequently these days—to reduce Silas's burden. Unfortunately, resources around the ranch were limited. If they stayed any longer, food shortages would inevitably arise. To Silas, they would become an enormous burden.
"Zap…"
Zapdos lowered its head. In its current state, it didn't want to leave—especially not when it might run into those other two damned birds.
"Zapdos, so this is where you were hiding. Come quickly and try the new dish I made!"
Silas's voice came from outside the grove. "Oh, Chatot, you're here too!"
"Zap?! Dos!?"
Zapdos sprang to its feet in excitement, its eyes filled with hope as it looked toward Silas.
"Want to give it a try?"
Zapdos: (p_q)
It couldn't wait anymore. As long as it could cure its bald head, it was willing to do anything.
"Alright, let's go outside."
Seeing the golden, shimmering biscuit Silas took out and smelling its alluring aroma, Zapdos swallowed it whole in one bite. At first, there was no obvious reaction. The taste was indeed excellent—but after a short while, a thunderclap suddenly echoed across the sky.
At some point, dark clouds had drifted in. In the next instant, lightning flashed within the clouds, and a bolt struck down directly onto Zapdos. Zapdos blinked, feeling as if it had been lightly bitten by a mosquito.
But in the following moment, lightning bolts came crashing down one after another—relentless, unending. After being struck repeatedly, Zapdos gradually sensed something different, its expression growing excited. It could clearly feel the lightning power within its body increasing. Each strike boosted it just a little. One increase alone was negligible—but the lightning simply kept coming.
"Zap! Dos!"
Zapdos lifted off the ground, letting out a clear cry as it rushed straight into the thunderclouds, actively embracing the baptism of lightning. This rapid surge in strength intoxicated it. The thunderclouds persisted for a full ten minutes, and once their energy had completely poured out, they finally dissipated.
Zapdos descended back to the ground, imposing and majestic.
"Congratulations, Zapdos," Silas said.
It was obvious that Zapdos had gained tremendous benefits. Most importantly of all—its bald head had been cured. Its once bare forehead was now crowned with brand-new golden crest feathers, making Zapdos look even more extraordinary than before.
One couldn't help but wonder—among its kind, where would this newly strengthened Zapdos rank now? There were many third-tier legendary Pokémon like Zapdos in the world, and among the Zapdos species, the strongest was said to reside on Kanto—the one known as the "God of Lightning." Together with the "God of Fire" and the "God of Ice," it could rival Lugia itself in power.
Using the lake as a mirror, Zapdos looked at the crest feathers that had grown atop its head. It let out one loud cry after another in excitement—it was no longer a bald bird, wuuuu!
Immediately afterward, it pounced on Silas, rubbing against him affectionately with its body. In Zapdos's heart, its favor toward Silas skyrocketed.
"Well? I didn't lie to you, did I?" Silas said with a laugh as he pushed away the overly excited Zapdos. He knew that at this moment, he had gained the friendship of a legendary Pokémon.
Zapdos puffed out its chest and nodded vigorously at Silas. ""Zap! Dos!"
(Silas, if you ever need anything, just call me! Your business is my business!)
As it spoke, Zapdos painfully plucked a single crest feather from its head, lightning energy crackling around it. Even separated by seas and mountains, Zapdos could sense Silas's call through this feather.
Taking the special feather, Silas fell silent for a moment before asking, "Are you leaving now?"
"Zap-Dos."
(I've recovered. It's time for me to continue following in Lord Lugia's footsteps.)
(End of Chapter)