The fruit itself only needed two or three days to ripen once grown, but for a seed to become a full-grown fruit tree, it would take several months.
However, if a Grass-type Pokémon tended to the trees during that period, their growth could be accelerated significantly.
With the combined efforts of the villagers and their Pokémon, the pomelo seeds were quickly planted across the orchard's soft, freshly turned soil.
Now, all that remained was to wait, patiently, for the first orchard of the territory to take root and flourish.
Lucien turned to the group of Minccino, their fluffy tails twitching eagerly as they gazed at the rows of newly planted seeds.
"It'll take some time for these fruit trees to grow," he said with a warm smile. "Until then, you can keep living with me."
"Chii~!"
The Minccino nodded in unison, their cheerful cries carrying a tone of promise and excitement.
Then, Lucien shifted his attention to Snivy, who stood beside him with its arms crossed, ever composed.
"Snivy," he began, "I've prepared a special training regimen for you. First, you need to master the control of the Grass-type energy inside your body."
"Snivy," the Pokémon responded calmly, its gaze steady.
"So next," Lucien continued, "I want you to channel that energy into the soil, nourish the seeds beneath it. This will help the orchard grow, and it'll also help you refine your control. Can you do that?"
Snivy didn't answer with words.
Instead, it leapt gracefully onto a nearby patch of earth where the pomelo seeds had been sown. Extending its slender hands, it released a soft, radiant green glow that flowed into the ground.
The verdant light pulsed through the soil like living breath, infusing the seeds below with warmth and life.
Lucien watched intently. "Not bad… that's exactly how it should be."
At first, Snivy's movements were hesitant, its control of the energy unsteady and uneven. But as the minutes passed, its rhythm steadied. The energy flow grew smoother, more deliberate.
Its calm, unwavering focus exuded a quiet reliability that made Lucien smile.
'So composed, so steady… far more disciplined than it lets on,' he thought.
Although Snivy had a touch of arrogance, when it took something seriously, it was utterly dependable.
Lucien couldn't have been more satisfied with his second partner.
As Snivy continued to pour its Grass-type energy into the soil, Lucien's mind began to wander through possible future techniques.
Moves like Magical Leaf, where energy is transformed into seeking blades of foliage that never miss their mark…
Or Energy Ball, focusing the same power into a dense sphere for ranged attacks.
And, of course, the most advanced of them all, Leaf Storm, a violent cascade of razor-edged leaves born from perfect energy control.
All of them required precise mastery over a Pokémon's internal energy.
If Snivy could learn to control her energy through cultivation, she'd build the foundation for mastering those powerful moves later on.
The same principle would apply to Dratini, whose training also relied on focus and flow.
To make their practice easier, Lucien had the wooden training stake moved to the edge of the orchard, so both Snivy and Dratini could practice their strikes, tails, and scales amid the calm rhythm of nature.
Just then, one of the nearby Minccino suddenly froze. Its round ears twitched, and it turned to look toward the forest path.
"Chii?"
"What is it?" Lucien asked, following their gaze.
Through the gently swaying trees, a familiar figure emerged from the light mist.
Lucien blinked. "Anna?"
The young woman stood still, the wind brushing strands of her hair across her face.
"Anna, what are you doing here?" Lucien called out.
But the woman didn't answer.
She simply stood there at the edge of the field, her expression calm and unreadable, her eyes fixed steadily on him.
Lucien instantly sensed something was wrong.
Her presence, her stillness, it wasn't human.
Within moments, realization dawned.
'That's not Anna… that's Zorua.'
Recalling the Illusion Pokémon's powers and Anna's previous training, Lucien immediately pieced it together.
He exhaled softly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Not bad," he said aloud. "You've mastered your illusion abilities faster than I expected."
His sharp gaze swept the area, and sure enough, he spotted the real Anna crouched behind a nearby tree, barely suppressing her giggles.
"Anna," Lucien called, voice half-stern, half-amused.
"Ah! Teacher, you found me!" Anna yelped, springing from her hiding spot and racing over. She skidded to a stop beside Zorua, who still wore her likeness.
Grinning, she puffed out her chest. "Hehe! Even my mother couldn't tell us apart! You're amazing, Teacher—your eyes are too sharp!"
Lucien sighed, rubbing his temples. "That's because the real Anna is far livelier than Zorua could ever pretend to be."
Zorua: "…"
Anna scratched the back of her head with a sheepish laugh.
Then her expression brightened with excitement. "Teacher, can we move on to the next step now?"
Lucien straightened, his demeanor shifting to serious. "You've progressed faster than I anticipated. In that case, it's time I teach you the most important part of being a Trainer."
Anna and Zorua immediately stood at attention, eyes wide with anticipation.
"Command," Lucien said simply. "Training your Pokémon is only half of what makes a Trainer. The other half is command, the ability to lead in battle."
"Command?" Anna repeated, tilting her head. "You mean telling Zorua what moves to use?"
"Exactly," Lucien nodded. "Battles are unpredictable. A good Trainer must see the entire field, because as observers, we often perceive things our magical beasts cannot."
He gestured toward the open space before them. "When an opponent attacks with a move that leaves them open, you can call for an 'Evade' before the strike lands. And when facing a Ghost-type, order Zorua to use Dark-type attacks to exploit the type advantage."
Anna's eyes lit up. She had read about elemental affinities in the beginner's manual Lucien had written for her, but hearing it explained so clearly made everything click.
"I get it now!" she said eagerly.
"Good," Lucien continued. "But remember, your safety matters too. In battle, wild beasts won't always follow rules. They can and will attack a Trainer if they see an opening."
Anna blinked. "So… what do I do then?"
"In that case," Lucien said calmly, "you should have another Pokémon ready to protect you."
Her eyes widened in understanding. "Ah, I see!"
Lucien smiled faintly. "There are plenty of wild Pokémon around the territory. Try sparring with them under safe conditions. Just be sure to heal them afterward."
Anna nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, Teacher! I'll start right away!"
Before Lucien could say another word, she dashed off, Zorua following close behind with a resigned sigh.
Lucien watched her retreating figure, half amused, half helpless.
"This girl…" he muttered under his breath. "I was planning to have Snivy and Zorua spar for a demonstration."
He shook his head, smiling to himself. "Oh well. Let her experiment on her own. If she runs into trouble, she'll come to me soon enough."
...
Bonus @600 PS
Read chapters ahead @Keepsmiling p@reon