Chapter 57:
There was no doubt that Gardevoir possessed immense power. Hayashi Kaede, moving in haste, had subconsciously struck the shimmering psychic barrier before him.
The result, however, startled them both.
My fist… is this strong? he thought in disbelief.
Or… could it be that any energy-based move is reduced to only a fraction of its original strength—99.9% weaker—when facing me?
"Gardevoir?" the Pokémon called softly, her voice tinged with curiosity, her crimson eyes narrowing as if trying to read his thoughts.
Hayashi Kaede quickly waved his hands in reassurance. "Yes, it's… a kind of part-time work. You just tell me how many Pokémon you have, how many Berries you need, and I'll prepare the workload for you. It's simple—just help me pick these Berries and vegetables, like you're doing right now."
"Gardevoir…" Her tone was uncertain, her gaze shifting toward the neat piles of freshly picked Berries.
Deep down, her nature urged her not to simply take them without giving something in return. Yet her survival instincts, honed from years in the wild, whispered another truth: with a single thought, she could Teleport away with all of it, leaving this human powerless to stop her.
And yet… something about this human felt different.
Seeing her hesitation, Hayashi Kaede pressed on, "Of course, you can also take some now to feed the Pokémon you care for. I can wait for your answer."
This Gardevoir had survived countless dangers—no simple trick, no coaxing like one would use to lure a wild Caterpie, would sway her. The only path forward was through what truly mattered to her… the Pokémon she protected.
With that thought, Hayashi Kaede reached into his pack and tossed her a small bottle. "And these—Energy Cubes. They're far better for feeding weaker Pokémon."
Before the bottle could land, it froze midair, caught in an invisible hold. A faint psychic hum filled the air as Gardevoir's Telekinesis drew it into her grasp. One of the Energy Cubes—a deep, translucent green, crafted from the rare Petaya Berry—rolled into her palm.
Her eyes widened slightly. As a Psychic-type, she could sense its quality instantly; even at her current level, it would be beneficial.
"There's more," Hayashi Kaede continued, his tone steady. "I have other types as well. All of them are developed with the needs of young Pokémon in mind—perfect for those still growing."
The sharp glint in her gaze softened into something more layered—surprise, thoughtfulness, and perhaps… trust.
Finally, she spoke, her voice calm yet firm. "Gardevoir…" (I understand. I will give you my answer before tomorrow night.)
And with that, her form shimmered and vanished into nothingness, the space she had occupied folding in on itself. Along with her, a small portion of the Berries disappeared.
"Teleportation…" Hayashi Kaede murmured, watching the faint afterimage fade. A trace of envy glimmered in his eyes. With a partner like that, he could travel anywhere, unrestricted.
"I hope she decides to stay," he whispered.
Shaking the thought aside, he unclipped a Poké Ball from his belt—the one containing the Caterpie he had caught earlier that day—and released it into the grassy pasture. "This will be your home from now on. You can eat anything except the Berries and leaves, alright?"
The little Caterpie blinked, took in the scenery, then leaned down for a nibble of grass. The instant the fresh taste hit its tongue, its eyes went wide in shock.
⁽ƪ(•̩̩̩̩\_•̩̩̩̩)ʃ⁾
So much… so much food!
---
Eastern Sycamore Forest
The moon hung high, its silver light spilling over the still surface of a lake, turning it into a dreamlike mirror. The forest was quiet, save for the faint rustling of leaves in the night breeze.
Without warning, a small round head broke the surface of the water—no ripples, no splash. Azure fur glistened under the moonlight, eyes wide and bright as copper bells. A wing-like fin rested lightly on the shore, and a pale pink nose twitched in the cool night air.
"Popplio?" (Are you there? Are you there?)
The call was answered by a high-pitched "Torchic!" as a small Fire-type Pokemon with orange feathers burst from the bushes in a flurry.
"Popplio!"
"Torchic."
Before either could say more, a third figure dropped from an overhead branch—a plump, round Bounsweet, its green leaves rustling.
"Bounsweet?" (Is she back?)
"Popplio?" (I don't know. I don't think she's returned yet.)
The three glanced around nervously, each glance toward the shadows betraying the same fear: that a predator might emerge from the darkness.
"Torchic…" (She should be back soon, right?)
It was a strange sight—three Pokémon from different regions: Popplio from Alola, Torchic from Hoenn, and Bounsweet from Alola as well—huddled together in the wild, far from any trainer.
"Popplio…" (I'm hungry…) The little sea lion's stomach growled, his ears drooping.
"Torchic?" (Should we go look for food?) The chick's eyes gleamed with the thought.
Bounsweet shook her head rapidly, her voice sharp with worry. "Bounsweet!" (She told us to stay here. If she comes back and we're gone, what if we get lost? Or worse—what if something dangerous finds us?)
"Popplio…" (Let's just wait a little longer…)
"Torchic…" The fire chick's wings drooped, conceding the point.
Then, without warning, the air shimmered.
Gardevoir appeared in their midst, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Gardevoir?" (Didn't I tell you to hide?)
Popplio immediately stepped forward, explaining in a flurry of words that they had been waiting for a long time and were simply too hungry.
Gardevoir fell silent. She looked at the three—small, fragile, and unprepared for the dangers of the forest—and finally sighed. Reaching into her satchel, she produced the Energy Cubes she had taken from Hayashi Kaede.
"Gardevoir…" (Eat.)
The moment the cubes hit the ground, their faces lit up, and they began to eat eagerly, crumbs clinging to their mouths.
As she watched them, a rare gentleness softened Gardevoir's gaze. Each of these children had suffered. Popplio and Torchic had been abandoned by trainers who saw them as burdens. Bounsweet had been left alone when her mother was captured, only days after her birth.
They were inexperienced in the ways of the wild, and when Gardevoir had first found them, they had been on the verge of collapse. She, too, had known the sting of rejection, cast out from her own kind when she was still young.
It was that shared pain that had driven her to take them in. She had once stood alone in the rain with no one to shelter her—now, she would be the one to hold the umbrella for others.