Wheeeet! Wheeeet! Wheeeet!
After finishing the watering, William decided it was time to return Orthworm to Sunshine Ranch. But when he turned around, the big fellow was gone again, so he took out the whistle and blew it.
"Worm!"
The trees in the distance suddenly shook as Orthworm's massive body burst from the ground, charging towards him like a speeding train.
"Slow down, slow down!" William laughed, stepping back, but the gust of wind still lifted the hem of his shirt. He stood on his toes and gently patted Orthworm's cool, smooth cheek. "You worked hard tilling the field yesterday. It's time to take you back to Sunshine Ranch now."
Orthworm obediently lowered its head, allowing William and the two Pokémon to climb onto its back. Minccino nimbly scrambled onto William's shoulder, while Turtwig slowly climbed up and settled on his head.
"Miltank!" William called towards the pasture. "Look after the place! Be careful to avoid the fence when you're rolling! Bounsweet, I'm counting on you to watch over the seedlings in the field!"
"Ama, Ama!" Bounsweet rolled joyfully along the ridge, its face smeared with mud, beaming with an innocent smile.
"Miiil~" Miltank waved a hoof leisurely, having completely adapted to the new ranch environment in just one day.
"Let's go!" William patted Orthworm.
"Worm!"
After they left, peace returned to the ranch.
A small figure, hidden in the air, silently observed everything happening on the ranch... A small, cute, green figure...
...
"Angel Corporation is advancing a new energy plan, hmm..."
At Sunshine Ranch in Saffron Village, the old man sat at the counter as he had yesterday, reading the Almia Times with his reading glasses.
The old man's name was Yoh. Originally a Trainer from the Paldea region, he had come to the Almia region decades ago, married a local girl, and started this Sunshine Ranch.
However, their happy life was cut short when his beloved passed away before him. Since then, the old man had never remarried, had no children of his own, and had stayed in this small village, running the ranch that belonged to them.
"New energy... times are always changing. Last time it was oil and electricity, what will it be this time?"
The old man read the newspaper, speculating about the future.
Just then, the door opened.
"Sir, I've brought Orthworm back!"
William walked in energetically, a Minccino on his shoulder and a Turtwig on his head, looking exactly the same as yesterday.
"Oh, finished the tilling already?" The old man put down the newspaper and stood up, taking the whistle William handed him.
"Yes, the seeds have already sprouted today!" William said excitedly. "Thanks to Orthworm loosening the soil and Bounsweet helping to care for them."
"Twig, Twig!" "Ciino!"
"Ah, yes, yes. And of course, credit to you two as well. You really worked hard." William sighed and patted the two little ones. He could never let his guard down; he'd almost shown favoritism again...
"Hahaha." The old man watched William interact with the two Pokémon and suddenly laughed heartily. "Pokémon can be quite scary when they get jealous. You mustn't favor just one."
The old man seemed to speak from experience. "Like me, when I was young, they called me 'Yoh the Philanderer'. Every Pokémon at Sunshine Ranch received my love equally."
The old man's proud expression and sudden, quirky statement made William twitch.
"Your name is Yoh? This is the first I've heard it. Did you move here from Alola?" William's mind conjured an image of the male protagonist from Pokémon Sun and Moon, but it didn't match the old man before him at all.
"No, I moved from Paldea. I have been to the Alola region, though. It's indeed a warm place, quite suitable for retirement. I once thought about starting a ranch there."
The old man led Orthworm back into the ranch while continuing his conversation with William. "But the island space seemed pretty tight over there. I looked for a long time but couldn't find a suitable spot. In the end, I came to the Almia region. Somehow, it turned out to be a good choice."
Learning that the old man had also been to Alola, William grew interested. "You're from the Paldea region? That place is not bad! How many years ago did you go to Alola?"
The old man stroked the beard at the corner of his mouth. "About forty years ago, I'd say. I heard they later built an artificial island there called Aether Paradise or something."
Aether Paradise!
William quickly pressed, "You haven't been to Aether Paradise?"
The old man shook his head gently. "No. Since I came here, I've never left again."
As soon as Orthworm returned to Sunshine Ranch, it immediately burrowed underground. It seemed Pokémon were more comfortable in their familiar environments.
"But..." William wanted to ask more, but the old man suddenly changed the subject.
"Your name is William... right?"
It was the first time the old man had used William's name. He looked out over the ranch, his expression complex, and spoke slowly. "Your grandfather... he has... passed away, hasn't he?"
"..."
The air instantly grew heavy.
William was silent for a moment, then finally nodded.
"I see... So that's how it is..."
The old man's figure suddenly seemed lonelier. His previous quirkiness and energy seemed to have been a forced front.
William was also at a loss. The two Pokémon on him sensed the subtle shift in atmosphere and grew quiet as well.
The old man just stood there in the ranch, leaning on his cane.
After a long while, the gentle cry of a Mareep broke the silence. A Miltank rubbed against the old man's leg, and other Pokémon gathered around. The old man finally snapped out of his grievous memories.
"Ah, I'm alright..."
The old man turned away slightly, discreetly wiping his eyes. The surrounding Pokémon used their various abilities to comfort him. Surrounded by their chirps and calls, the old man gradually returned to his usual self.
"I got lost in memories of the past. Sorry to leave you standing there for so long."
"No, no! I'm the one who should apologize!" William bowed deeply, causing the Turtwig on his head and the Minccino on his shoulder to tumble off. "I shouldn't have lied to you yesterday!"
Watching the flustered boy and the two dazed Pokémon, the old man finally showed a genuine smile.
"Another one of my old friends is gone. But... he left behind a grandson who's just like him. Time moves forward. Us old folks have to make our exit someday..."
William picked up the fallen Turtwig and Minccino. As he stood up, he heard the old man speak again.
"William, could I ask you to come and visit the ranch from time to time?"
"Huh?" William stood up, unsure what the old man meant.
"After all, this old man has no one else to talk to anymore. Even though I have these Pokémon with me, they can't speak human language."
The old man, who had always referred to himself simply as "I," suddenly added the prefix "this old man." The meaning behind his words made William understand instantly.
"Of course. I'll definitely come to visit you often."
For a man who refused to admit his age to acknowledge that he was old... it usually happened when he realized he could no longer escape that reality. Perhaps he had mustered the courage to face it, or perhaps he had accepted it out of helplessness. Either way, he deserved to be treated with kindness.
Besides, coming to chat with the old man occasionally would be a good learning opportunity. An elder in the house is like a treasure. For a ranch novice like William, having an experienced mentor was like striking gold again.
The old man saw William out of the ranch. The next stop was the carpenter's shop.