Rex began his inspection at the greenhouse, which was now flourishing more vibrantly than before his journey.
He immediately noticed that the concentration of life energy inside had increased since he left. The revival herbs and energy roots were growing sturdier and greener—clearly thriving in their environment.
Above the herbs, a flurry of Jumpluff, Whimsicott, and Hoppip danced through the air. The Jumpluff that had accompanied Rex on his travels stood out, now surrounded and admired by the rest.
The population had grown, especially with a noticeable rise in newly hatched Hoppip.
"Hey there, Lileep," Rex greeted.
In one corner, Lileep was planted beside a small pool, gently swaying its tentacles. The pool itself had been dug by Sandslash to aid in watering the herbs. Though small, it was more than enough for irrigation.
Some Poliwag swam in the pool, helping to water the plants. Of course, they weren't kept here full-time—constant exposure to this much life energy could cause them to evolve too rapidly into Poliwhirl, potentially weakening them due to a lack of foundational strength.
To prevent that, Rex rotated them regularly, balancing accelerated growth with healthy development.
As Rex approached, Lileep affectionately wrapped its tentacles around his hand, a gentle gesture of welcome.
Like the Jumpluff, Lileep had no issue adapting to the high life-energy environment. In fact, this energy likely resonated with their Grass-type affinity—perhaps because the life force itself was similar to what they created using Grassy Terrain. Rex didn't overthink it.
He also discovered that due to the enhanced conditions, both the revival herbs and energy roots were growing faster than expected. What was supposed to take 8–9 months might now mature in just 6.
Leaving the greenhouse, Rex moved on to the nearby shelters.
Currently, the Mareep and Miltank weren't inside, making the space feel quite empty. Still, everything was clean and odor-free—clear proof of Yuli's diligent upkeep.
"Rawr!" a sudden yelp pulled Rex out of his thoughts.
Bagon had wandered off and climbed onto a haystack the Mareep usually slept on. It got zapped by lingering static and bolted back to Rex, clutching his leg with its tiny arms.
Meanwhile, Infernape was laughing uncontrollably, even mimicking the shock. Bagon fumed, but knowing it couldn't win a fight, it held back from charging in with a headbutt.
Rex chuckled and gently patted Bagon on the head before continuing the tour.
Bagon's mood, true to form, bounced back quickly. In no time, it was darting around Rex again, brimming with energy.
Next, they visited Snorlax's shelter. As expected, Snorlax was sprawled out in the center of the room, snoring blissfully. Occasionally, it scratched its belly or rolled over mid-sleep.
The room wasn't empty though—Ursaring, Bayleef, and Roserade were all present. Upon spotting Rex, they eagerly approached.
Even though Rex had been away, Ursaring hadn't slacked off. It had been taking its two "little brothers" into the Petalburg Woods for regular exploration.
With their increased strength, they'd expanded their range and even returned to the area they once fled from—the one dominated by the Crawdaunt that kicked them out.
But things were different now. The once-feared Crawdaunt wasn't a match for them anymore. Ursaring trounced it thoroughly, though it didn't force the Crawdaunt to leave—after all, they no longer intended to live there.
Still, Crawdaunt was bitter about its loss. It believed it had been unfairly ganged up on, and to reclaim its pride, it rallied a group of underlings to ambush Ursaring next time.
Unfortunately, that plan also failed miserably. Ursaring and its crew wiped the floor with them. After that, Crawdaunt finally accepted reality and now hides in the lake anytime Ursaring passes by.
By the time Rex exited the shelter, his little crew had grown—Ursaring and the others joined Bagon in happily tagging along.
Snorlax, meanwhile, remained completely unaware, snoring away. Only the scent of food could stir that beast.
Rex's next stop was the Vespiquen hive. To avoid chaos, he asked Bagon and the rest to stay outside.
The moment he approached the hive, a procession of Combee came out to greet him.
Vespiquen had already sensed Rex's return and sent the Combee to escort him.
Inside, Rex saw a massive increase in Combee numbers. Even without counting the ones out gathering nectar, there were dozens stationed at the hive.
A sweet, life-rich fragrance filled the air—undoubtedly from the freshly made honey.
Compared to when she first evolved, Vespiquen now exuded an imposing queenly presence. However, upon seeing Rex, she immediately dropped the regal air and buzzed joyfully around him.
(End of Chapter)