"Don't worry, no matter how much you eat, I can afford to feed you."
That single sentence kept echoing in Torchic's mind, striking right at his most sensitive spot and making his heart race.
When he'd been with his previous Trainer, he'd initially felt how happy the Trainer was to have him. But that joy had quickly turned to shock the first time Torchic polished off half a bag of Pokéblocks in one sitting.
Afterward, even though he knew his Trainer's family wasn't exactly well-off, he'd tried very secretly to control himself and not eat too much all at once.
But how could a newly hatched Pokémon possibly have such strong self-control?
If he couldn't eat a lot at once… well, he'd just eat smaller portions several times a day…
As he grew out of his infancy, his appetite only got bigger. Until one day, his Trainer told him they were going out to buy more Pokéblocks and asked him to wait there for a moment.
But that wait lasted an entire day and night.
And still, his Trainer never came back.
That's when Torchic realized… he'd been abandoned.
At first, he blamed himself. He knew he'd become too much of a burden. Then he started feeling a different kind of anger, thinking it was the Trainer's fault that he'd only eaten a little more than normal.
But eventually, he understood.
He couldn't blame the Trainer completely, nor could he blame himself.
The truth was, his issue was simply more than that Trainer could handle.
Yet, if he claimed he didn't harbor even a shred of resentment toward his former Trainer… that would be a lie.
If only the Trainer hadn't lied to him…
"How come? You don't believe me? Well, you can trust your own eyes, can't you? Look around all these are my berry trees. Are you really worried I won't be able to afford feeding you?"
Seeing Torchic frozen in place, Lin Feng decided to stoke the fire a bit more. "But I won't let you eat for free. Once you've had your fill, I'll need you to help Pidgeotto hmm, that's the one up there in the tree guard the orchard for me. Think you can handle that?"
"Chic-chic?!" (Really?)
Torchic lowered his head, looking unsure, a far cry from the rebellious defiance he'd shown just moments earlier.
Lin Feng didn't push too hard. He simply grinned. "Of course…"
Then he leaned in close, cupping his hand around his mouth as he whispered into Torchic's ear, "And besides… we've gotta figure out how to convince Gardevoir to stay, right?"
"Chic-chic?!"
Torchic's eyes lit up with sudden clarity. He glanced at Lin Feng, then shot a quick look toward Gardevoir out of the corner of his eye, a realization dawning on him.
If Gardevoir decided to leave them here… wouldn't that mean he'd have to part ways with her, too?
That wouldn't do at all. He definitely didn't want Gardevoir to leave.
Thinking this through, Torchic scurried over to Gardevoir's side. "Chic-chic?! Chic-chic…"
"Gardevoir…"
A look of resignation washed over Gardevoir's face. Even though Lin Feng and Torchic had tried to keep their little conspiracy quiet, as a Psychic-type Pokémon, she'd heard every word of their whispering crystal clear.
Were they seriously plotting out her future right in front of her face?!
Despite feeling exasperated, Gardevoir couldn't help but feel a measure of admiration as she recalled how Lin Feng had handled Torchic just now.
This human… seemed to have an uncanny ability to sense the softest, most vulnerable places in a Pokémon's heart the things they longed for most and the needs they wished someone would notice. And he always knew how to use that to win their trust completely.
Hmm…
Don't ask her how she knew that so well.
Because that was exactly how he'd won her over, too.
After convincing Torchic, the other two Pokémon didn't voice any further objections. They merely approached Lin Feng, though still looking rather shy and hesitant.
Seeing the two timid little creatures, Lin Feng felt a surge of affection and curiosity. "Mind if I pet you both?"
"Bounsweet…"
"Spheal…"
The two Pokémon exchanged glances. In the end, they both nodded cautiously.
Lin Feng got his wish. He reached out one hand to stroke Spheal and the other to pat Bounsweet.
Both Pokémon felt incredibly smooth to the touch. Especially Spheal, whose oily skin felt polished and sleek, almost like a stone that had been finely buffed though perhaps lacking the dazzling shine of Milotic's scales or Snivy's glossy leaves.
Bounsweet, on the other hand, released a gentle fruit fragrance the moment Lin Feng crouched down beside her a crisp, refreshing scent that instantly tickled his senses.
As his fingers brushed over the leafy crown on Bounsweet's head and lingered on the soft white fruit flesh beneath her red peel, an odd thought popped into Lin Feng's mind.
That white fruit flesh…
Would it be okay to… lick it?
Almost immediately, he felt absurd for even thinking that. A ripple of silent laughter danced through his mind at how ridiculous he was being.
People would definitely call him a creep for that, wouldn't they?
Shaking off the thought, he instead gathered a gentle green energy in his palms, channeling it into both Pokémon to soothe away their lingering anxiety.
Compared to the feisty Torchic, these two little ones were far more timid and passive. Although they'd agreed to stay under Gardevoir's intimidating "persuasion," it was inevitable that their hearts still carried some hidden doubts.
Those doubts would take time and gentle care to ease away.
And to start easing them…
Well, first he'd have to borrow a bit of Bounsweet's fruit juice.
A sudden idea struck him. Lin Feng announced, "Since we've got three new friends joining the orchard today, how about a barbecue tonight to welcome them properly?"
After all, he needed to head out anyway to shop for some new berry mixers for his culinary experiments, and to pick up some grass seeds for Leaf Curtain's paddock.
So he left Gardevoir behind to keep the three newcomers company while he rushed off to handle his errands, returning about two hours later.
By then, the sky had already started to glow with a faint golden hue at the edges.
Lin Feng glanced around, spotting Spheal and Bounsweet huddled close to Gardevoir.
Apparently, they'd barely moved from her side the entire time he'd been gone.
Only Torchic seemed more lively, currently darting about beneath the Oran Berry trees, gazing up at the fruit-laden branches, lost in thought.
"Come with me," Lin Feng called out, beckoning to the group. Then he raised his voice toward Torchic. "Hey, you too!"
Torchic promptly dashed over.
As for Spheal and Bounsweet, they shot a nervous look at Gardevoir, who gave them a reassuring nod before they cautiously shuffled toward Lin Feng.
"Alright, I'll just carry you," Lin Feng said with a helpless laugh as he crouched down to scoop Bounsweet into his arms. After all, she was so tiny that even ten steps of hers couldn't match one of his own strides.
Though clearly a little stiff, Bounsweet didn't resist his touch, though she still seemed uncertain about where exactly Lin Feng was taking her.
By the side of the reservoir stood a tall tree, several meters high, its branches twisted and sprawling like a giant willow, its slender leaves hanging down in soft curtains.
Only unlike a normal willow tree, its leaves glowed with a brilliant autumn red, reminiscent of maple leaves in late fall an utterly beautiful sight.
All the various fruit trees Lin Feng had planted about ten days ago had already begun bearing fruit… except for this lone Dragonfruit tree, which had yet to produce any blossoms.
Still, in another ten days or so, even it should start bearing fruit.
"Bounsweet, once the time comes, I'll build you a little wooden house up there in this tree. Torchic can have his nest underneath it, and Spheal can live right here in the reservoir. Sound good? After all, you three are friends, right?"
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