Morning sunlight streamed softly into the ranch house, dappling the wooden floors. Kai sat at his old oak table, a mug of warm tea cradled in his hands. Chimchar and the Charcadet were already outside, helping tidy the fields under Iron Thorns' watchful gaze.
But Kai's mind was elsewhere — thinking about the future.
If he was going to be away from Dawn Valley for even a short while, he needed more than just one helper. He needed a small team — smart, caring, reliable Pokémon capable of keeping the ranch running, tending to the others, and even healing if needed.
He knew exactly what he needed:
One Chansey, two Indeedee (male and female), and one Gardevoir.
Pokémon gifted in caregiving, intuition, and psychic communication — perfect guardians for his ranch family.
But finding them in Paldea on short notice? That would be tough.
He needed help.
Without hesitation, Kai reached for his old Pokégear and scrolled through his private contacts — most of them long quiet — until he found one name glowing faintly:
Steven Stone.
Ex-Champion of the Hoenn Region. Heir to the Devon Corporation. And, more importantly, Kai's old, trusted friend.
Kai tapped the call button.
The line buzzed a few times before connecting, and Steven's familiar calm voice came through, tinged with pleasant surprise.
"Kai? Well, this is a rare call."
Kai allowed himself a small smile. "Been a while, Steven."
"Too long," Steven said warmly. "How's life treating you? Still hiding out with your Pokémon?"
"More or less," Kai replied. "But... I need a favor."
Steven chuckled. "Name it. You know I owe you more than a few."
Kai leaned back, voice steady. "I need specific Pokémon. For my ranch. One Chansey, a pair of Indeedee — male and female — and one Gardevoir. They have to be reliable and strong enough to help manage and care for other Pokémon."
There was a short pause.
Then Steven spoke, serious now.
"You're planning to leave the ranch for a while, aren't you?"
"Yeah," Kai admitted. "I have some business in Kanto. But I can't leave the others without good hands… and good hearts."
Steven hummed thoughtfully. "You're asking for a lot. But… you're lucky. Devon's research teams have been assisting trainers rehabilitating abandoned Pokémon. I think I can find exactly what you need — and fast."
Kai's eyes brightened slightly. "Really?"
"I'll start making arrangements today," Steven said. "I'll personally make sure they're ready and well-trained for ranch life. Might take a couple of days. Where do you want them delivered?"
"Direct to Dawn Valley, Paldea," Kai said.
Steven chuckled again. "So you really did settle in that sleepy corner of Paldea. Figures."
"I like the quiet," Kai said simply.
Steven's voice softened. "You always did."
There was a beat of companionable silence.
Finally, Steven added, "Take care of yourself, Kai. And... don't vanish for too long. Some of us still want to see you one day."
Kai smiled faintly. "Maybe someday."
The call ended, leaving Kai staring at the fading screen, thoughtful.
The ranch would have its guardians soon.
And he could prepare, at last, for his journey to Pallet Town — without worrying about leaving his family behind.