Chapter Text
The spring of Alliance Calendar Year 202 was warmer than usual. The winter snow had melted into rich nutrients, seeping into the earth, and fields across the land burst into vibrant life.
Fruit trees bent heavy with ripe bounty. Wildflowers blanketed the meadows. On the hillsides, young saplings stretched eagerly toward the sun.
In a cave tucked into the hillside, a Greedent, who had spent the entire winter dozing, slowly blinked awake. It rubbed its sleepy eyes and pushed aside the stone blocking its burrow.
Warm, brilliant sunlight poured inside.
The Greedent yawned, the soft spring breeze ruffling its fur. Its stomach rumbled loudly. It was time to find breakfast!
With renewed energy, the Greedent scampered out into the fresh spring morning. Before long, it found a fruit tree laden with plump, juicy fruit. Eyes gleaming with excitement, it leapt up nimbly into the branches.
Stretching out its little paws toward a particularly delicious-looking berry, it was just about to grab it when—
Whoosh!
A sudden gust of wind knocked the Greedent clean off the branch.
It tumbled awkwardly onto the grass below, rolled twice, and popped up, chittering angrily at the sky.
Overhead, a Taillow sped by without a hint of apology, riding the wind at full speed.
The Taillow soared high over the meadows, then across dense forests and winding rivers, until finally arriving at a bustling, lively ranch.
It circled once overhead, looking for a place to perch, and finally landed on the rooftop to rest.
From below, human voices drifted up.
"I'm off to work!"
Iono stepped out the front door, her lively voice carrying in the fresh morning air. She stood on tiptoe and kissed Naoki's cheek, smiling brightly.
Then, with a flick of her hand, she called Dragonite, hopped onto its back, and waved cheerfully at Naoki.
"See you later! Bye, Greavard!"
She reached down to ruffle Greavard's soft head affectionately. The little Ghost Dog Pokémon wagged its tail furiously, practically vibrating with excitement.
"Fly safe!" Naoki called back, standing beneath the eaves as he watched Iono lift into the sky, the morning sun framing them in gold.
He stayed there, gazing up, until their figures disappeared into the clouds.
Turning back toward the ranch, Naoki took a deep breath.
Today was another beautiful day, and there was work to be done!
The farmland, which had lain dormant under winter's snow, was ready to be brought back to life.
Naoki had already bought seeds in advance. Now it was time to sow the new season's crops.
With help from Gogoat, Dugtrio, and other Pokémon, Naoki set to work: tilling the rich soil, planting seeds, and watering the rows carefully.
As he worked, he couldn't help but feel that, aside from being married now, life was just as peaceful and fulfilling as it had always been.
Just then, Sylveon came bouncing over, full of energy.
"Buyee-vui?" (Naoki, Naoki, what's our plan for today?)
Naoki chuckled, already used to Sylveon's boundless curiosity.
"Plans, huh? Well, first, I need to repair the fence that some wild Pokémon knocked over."
Sylveon's eyes gleamed with interest.
"Buyeei?" (What about after that?)
Naoki thought for a moment.
"Then I need to head to the orchard and harvest fruit. After that, we'll pack up any extra and send them to the shops in town."
Several dessert cafés and Pokémon snack shops in Porto Marinada had standing orders for fruits from his ranch.
"Buyii..." (That's a lot...) Sylveon murmured, its ribbon-like feelers twitching thoughtfully.
But Sylveon was still not satisfied and pressed on.
"Buyyui?" (And after picking fruit?)
Naoki laughed and replied, "Then it'll be time to start making lunch for everyone."
At those words, Sylveon's demeanor immediately changed.
Seeing Sylveon's eager face, Naoki couldn't help but laugh.
"Alright, alright," he said, ruffling Sylveon's fur. "Don't worry. I haven't forgotten. After lunch, I'll help you with training so you can get stronger, okay?"
Hearing this, Sylveon's worry vanished in an instant. Its eyes sparkled with joy, and it jumped up excitedly, calling out, "Buyi-vui!" (Great!)
After finishing the planting, Naoki grabbed his tools and headed toward the pasture fences, which had taken some damage over the winter.
As he walked away, the Gogoat who had been lounging in the sun nearby stirred.
They stood up, trotting toward the newly planted fields with purpose.
The next moment, powerful Grass-type energy surged out from their bodies, washing over the soil like an invisible tide.
Wherever the energy flowed, the seeds buried just moments ago suddenly sprang to life.
In the blink of an eye, lush green sprouts shot up, and then, almost magically, crops laden with ripe fruit filled the fields.
"Meh~!" The Gogoats called out in satisfaction, admiring their handiwork.
Naoki would be thrilled when he saw it!
Satisfied with their secret contribution, the Gogoats quietly retreated, blending back into the peaceful ranch life, hiding their good deed without seeking praise.
Meanwhile, Naoki was inspecting the orchard's fences.
"There've been more wild Pokémon wandering in lately," Naoki muttered to himself.
Maybe it was because winter had ended and Pokémon that had struggled through the cold were finally coming out to forage.
Looking at the section of broken fencing, Naoki frowned slightly.
He had always been lenient toward wild Pokémon who snuck onto the ranch. With the abundant fruit trees and fresh crops, Naoki never minded if hungry Pokémon "borrowed" a little food to get by.
After all, this land was meant to be shared.
"Ah-gah?" Koraidon, standing nearby, tilted its head, noticing the broken fence.
It let out a rumbling noise, volunteering on the spot.
If Naoki needed it, Koraidon was ready to guard the orchard fiercely and drive off any troublemakers!
Seeing Koraidon's serious expression and puffed-up stance, Naoki chuckled warmly.
"Thanks, buddy," he said, "but it's alright."
Koraidon looked confused.
Naoki pointed to the broken section and explained gently, "See here? The damage isn't small. It's a wide area."
"It means the Pokémon that broke through was probably big, and it couldn't fly over the fence. It had no choice but to force its way in."
Koraidon huffed thoughtfully, pawing at the ground.
"It's fine," Naoki said with a smile. "I'll just install a small gate here."
"That way, if larger Pokémon want to pass through in the future, they won't have to break anything."
He glanced across the open fields toward the forests beyond.
Winter had been harsh. In those months, food would have been scarce for wild Pokémon. Many of them had likely been starving, cold, and desperate.
Now that spring was returning, berries would soon grow wild again, and forest fruits would become abundant.
By then, the wild visitors would have no reason to sneak into the ranch.
Naoki believed that everyone, humans and Pokémon alike, lived together under the same sky. It was only right to lend a hand when others were in need.
"Ah-gah, gah," Koraidon rumbled in understanding.
With the repairs finished, Naoki slung his tools over his shoulder and started heading back toward the ranch house.
But as Naoki passed by the fields and caught sight of a sea of ripe crops, he froze.
Wait a minute. Who did this?
The seeds had only just been planted, yet the crops were already fully mature. If they weren't harvested soon, they'd start falling to the ground and rotting from overripeness.
If this cycle kept repeating, plant, ripen instantly, harvest, he'd be completely exhausted every single day!
There were a few Pokémon at the ranch who could accelerate crop growth, but the moment Naoki looked carefully at the field, he immediately knew who the "culprits" were.
[The tomatoes cultivated by the Gogoats have absorbed a large amount of Grass-type energy and have ripened.]
Naoki facepalmed.
He suddenly remembered. Last time, he had specifically told the Gogoat that when helping the crops grow, they should use only a little Grass-type energy to boost healthy growth, not everything at once.
They weren't NPC farmers in a game who could harvest nonstop without ever needing rest.
Thinking of this, Naoki headed toward the Gogoat herd.
When he found them, he patiently explained the situation.
The Gogoats listened carefully, but their expressions were full of confusion.
"Meh?" (Isn't it good if we help the crops grow instantly? That way, Naoki can harvest faster and make lots of money!)
Naoki smiled and crouched down to their level.
"Because," he said warmly, "that kind of life would be too rushed."
He painted the picture for them: "Imagine if I planted seeds in the morning, you made them grow instantly, I harvested them in the afternoon, and then we repeated it again the next morning..."
"Over and over. Day after day. Year after year."
The Gogoats imagined it, Naoki toiling endlessly in the fields, never resting, never laughing under the sun with them.
"Meah..." (That's horrible!)
Naoki laughed and reached out, scratching their head affectionately.
"So you see, life isn't just about working. It's about enjoying the moments, too. Besides, we're not short on money."
The Gogoats, finally understanding, nodded vigorously.
"Meah, meah!" (Got it!)
"Good," Naoki chuckled. "Now go and play for a while."
The Gogoats trotted off happily.
Naoki turned back toward the fields, intending to check on the growth of the other crops. But just then, the Arceus Phone strapped to his belt started to vibrate.
Naoki's heart skipped.
There was new information about Mew and Teddiursa!
Since those two Pokémon had set out on their adventure into the Mystery Dungeon during the New Year, they hadn't returned. Naoki could only keep track of them by receiving occasional updates on his Arceus Phone.
He tapped the screen.
A string of new expedition logs popped up:
[Your Pokémon Mew and Teddiursa have discovered the Phantom Cavern!]
[Mew and Teddiursa entered the Phantom Cavern and, after exploring, found a large number of "Revival Seeds"!]
[Remembering how much you love planting seeds and cultivating crops, Mew and Teddiursa decided to bring these Revival Seeds back as a gift for you!]
[On the way back, Mew and Teddiursa accidentally got lost and wandered into a side passage!]
[Inside the hidden area, they discovered a stash of "Joy Seeds" and "Doom Seeds"!]
[Mew and Teddiursa picked up all the Joy Seeds!]
[Mew and Teddiursa encountered a powerful Steelix!]
[After a tough battle, Mew and Teddiursa defeated Steelix, discovered the treasure vault it was guarding, and found "Golden Seeds" hidden inside!]
The information flow paused for now, indicating Mew and Teddiursa were likely resting.
Naoki stared at the screen, blinking in amazement.
Revival Seeds, Joy Seeds, Golden Seeds...
These definitely sounded like treasures native to the world of the Mystery Dungeon rescue teams, didn't they?
Fortunately, the Arceus Phone had a feature for inspecting unfamiliar items.
Curious, Naoki quickly tapped each seed to view its details.
In the next instant, a series of descriptions appeared on the screen:
[Revival/ Resurrection Seed: Restores a Pokémon's full health and energy when consumed. When planted, it grows into the special crop "Resurrection Herb."]
[Happiness/ Joy Seed: A seed brimming with magical power. When consumed, it raises a Pokémon's level by one. Cannot be planted.]
[Doom Seed: A seed tainted with misfortune. When consumed, it lowers a Pokémon's level by one. Cannot be planted.]
[Golden Seed: A rare treasure comparable to solid gold. When consumed, it greatly boosts a Pokémon's strength, increasing its level by five. Cannot be planted.]
Naoki stared at the screen, murmuring to himself, "So they really are treasures from the Mystery Dungeon world..."
Seeing the incredible effects of these seeds, he couldn't help but imagine.
If he had 100 Happiness Seeds... could he just feed them to a Pokémon and instantly reach level 100?
Of course, in the world he lived in now, there was no formal "level" system like in the games, but the concept was still easy to understand.
Leveling up here was the same as strengthening a Pokémon through training, battles, special exercises, any kind of growth and improvement was, in essence, "leveling up."
And for Pokémon, these seeds were no different from the miraculous treasures often found in fantasy stories, the kind that could boost someone's power overnight.
Naoki couldn't hide his excitement.
Especially knowing that Mew and Teddiursa had collected all these seeds just because they remembered he liked planting things and cultivating crops, and wanted to bring them back as a surprise gift for him.
It made him feel deeply moved.
It was a pity, though, that the Happiness Seeds and Golden Seeds couldn't be planted. Otherwise, he could have cultivated endless seeds and simply raised all his ranch Pokémon to their peak forms!
Still, what he had now was already amazing.
Even just one Golden Seed could significantly enhance a Pokémon's strength. For his peaceful little ranch, that was more than enough.
Thinking about it further, Naoki realized there were even stronger possibilities.
"If I have the Pokémon from the Expedition Guild enter the world where Mew and Teddiursa are right now," he mused, "and explore that maze... they could collect even more of these seeds."
On the ranch, their life was leisurely and stable. His Pokémon companions didn't have to battle fiercely every day.
For them, these seeds were a wonderful bonus, but not a necessity.
But for the Pokémon living atop the World Tree, who regularly embarked on expeditions and sometimes faced real dangers?
Seeds like these could become game-changers.
Eating Happiness Seeds could rapidly strengthen the Expedition Team members, allowing them to explore even more difficult worlds, rescue more Pokémon, and protect their home even better.
Imagine dozens or even hundreds of powerful Pokémon, all effectively level 100, working together.
Forget Team Rocket... Even Rainbow Rocket would be crushed like paper!
Naoki smiled at the thought but quickly reined himself back in.
First things first. Even if he told the Pokémon at the World Tree about this idea now, they probably wouldn't fully grasp it yet.
It would be better to wait until Mew and Teddiursa returned.
Once they brought the seeds back, he could show them to the Expedition Team directly, explain their effects clearly, and then let everyone make their own plans during future expeditions.
Satisfied with his little bit of daydreaming, Naoki tucked the Arceus Phone back into his pocket.
He walked toward the fields to check on the crops again.
"Well," he said, inspecting the fields thoughtfully, "even though they've ripened faster than expected, they're still not quite at peak harvest yet."
He stretched and yawned lazily under the warm afternoon sun.
"Forget it. I'll just harvest them tomorrow!"
Deciding to take it easy for once, Naoki smiled and made his way back toward the ranch house.
.....
After lunch, Iono headed off to the gym for her shift, while Naoki stayed behind at the ranch.
Today's focus: training Sylveon.
Among all the Pokémon living at the ranch, Sylveon, who had been dreaming of one day defeating a "dragon," was definitely the most fitting candidate to eventually use one of the precious Happiness Seeds.
However, its current strength was still far too low. Using a rare seed at this early stage would be a waste. After all, the later a Pokémon grew, the slower its progress naturally became.
In gaming terms, the higher the level, the more experience points it takes to grow stronger.
Before rushing into anything, Naoki knelt down in front of Sylveon, looking it straight in the eye.
"Before we begin, I want to ask you one more time," he said seriously. "The 'Dragon' you dream of defeating is incredibly powerful. If you want to reach that level, you'll need to go through intense special training. It won't be easy. It'll be exhausting. You'll get hurt, you'll get dirty, and there will be days you want to quit."
He paused, then asked, "Are you sure you're ready for that?"
Sylveon didn't hesitate for even a heartbeat.
"Booee!"
Its pink ribbons twitched with excitement, and determination burned brightly in its wide, shining eyes.
That's right. No matter how tough the road ahead, Sylveon would not back down. It wanted to become just as strong as Gogoat and Koraidon, to stand tall, defeat that powerful "Dragon," and become a true hero of the ranch.
The little Sylveon was overflowing with fighting spirit.
Naoki smiled gently, then turned to glance at the nearby group of Eevee evolutions, who were lounging around watching.
"And what about you guys?" he asked.
The trio of Vaporeon, Flareon, and Jolteon siblings immediately gave a synchronized shrug.
Fighting was tiring, after all.
Getting hurt? No thanks.
They much preferred playing games around the ranch, lounging in the sun, and occasionally sneaking snacks.
Leafeon and Espeon also gently shook their heads. Fighting wasn't really their style either.
One loved quietly tending to the gardens, nurturing crops under the soft sun.
The other loved nothing more than sprawling lazily in the warmest spot and dozing off for hours.
As for Glaceon and Umbreon, the two elder siblings, they had long passed their restless training days.
They were happy simply enjoying a peaceful life now, caring for the younger Pokémon and relaxing under the stars.
And then there was Partner Eevee.
Partner Eevee looked thoughtful for a moment... and then nodded to itself.
From its perspective, it already had the ultimate move: "Extreme Evoboost", the dazzling technique that gathered the strength of all eight Eeveelutions into one burst.
If Sylveon became stronger, it would only make its move even stronger!
In other words: Sylveon getting stronger = Partner Eevee getting stronger.
Without lifting a paw.
Without sweating through any exhausting training.
The more Sylveon trained, the more Partner Eevee could just lie down and bask in the benefits.
Partner Eevee turned to Sylveon and cheered enthusiastically.
"Booee!" (Work hard, Sylveon! I believe in you!)
At that moment, Partner Eevee even felt a new inspiration rise in its heart.
Maybe...it should also encourage the others to train harder.
After all, if everyone got stronger, it would only have to keep sleeping and growing stronger by proxy!
Partner Eevee was now deeply moved by this brilliant strategy.
Meanwhile, Sylveon stood at the center of the field, unaware of its teammates' very "creative" motivations.