Back at the dining table, Shauntal noticed that most of the Pokémon were gathered around.
The one that caught her eye the most was the Gengar, sitting in a chair, a napkin tied around its neck, holding chopsticks and waiting for food.
She walked briskly over to it and gently pinched its cheek.
"Gengar?"
What are you doing?
"This Gengar is very well raised," she said, looking at Cynthia.
Cynthia nodded. "All of his Pokémon are very well raised."
Shauntal looked at the surrounding Pokémon and nodded.
Every single one of them was radiating positive emotions and a deep love for their trainer.
"Dinner's ready~"
Victor walked out, carrying a platter.
Jessie, James, and Meowth followed behind him.
James, along with Mime Jr. and the others, first went to deliver Poffins to the boarded Pokémon, while Victor and the group sat down to eat.
"The food today is delicious too, meow," Meowth said, moved.
"A talking Meowth?" Shauntal, seated, pushed up her glasses, a look of shock on her face.
"A rather special Meowth. How about you try the food?" Cynthia explained with a smile, placing a piece of meat in Shauntal's bowl.
Shauntal's curiosity subsided, and she put the meat in her mouth.
Her eyes instantly lit up.
Mmm!
She then buried her head in her bowl and began to eat happily.
Seeing this, Meowth and Jessie breathed a sigh of relief, and only then did they continue eating.
Champion Cynthia's friend is also terrifying, they thought.
Soon, James returned with Mime Jr. and the others and sat down to eat with them.
The cleanup duty was, as always, left to the trio.
Victor took Lilligant and the others back to the front desk, while Cynthia took Shauntal to the afternoon tea area, quietly sipping their drinks.
Shauntal glanced at Cynthia's face as she read her book intently. She had to admit, her best friend was truly beautiful.
"What is it?" Cynthia looked up and smiled gracefully.
Shauntal shook her head.
"This place really is perfect for relaxing," Shauntal said, taking a berry from the Pachirisu on her shoulder and taking a bite.
Cynthia smiled. "Isn't it?"
Shauntal nodded, then looked around.
The Pokémon were coexisting harmoniously, some playing, others lying quietly in the sun, sleeping.
A few Pachirisu were darting in and out of the flower garden, with Mime Jr. and the others chasing them playfully.
The entire backyard echoed with the laughter of Pokémon.
But surprisingly, Shauntal didn't find it noisy at all. Instead, it felt... peaceful.
Her own Pokémon had long since been released and had gone off to chat or train with Cynthia's or Victor's Pokémon.
After taking a sip of the tea Gothita had brewed for her, she lay back on the lounge chair. The autumn sun wasn't too hot, so the sun umbrella wasn't fully open.
Lying there, Shauntal could see the patch of sky not covered by the umbrella.
The blue and white sky, with cotton-ball-like clouds of various shapes drifting by. A few Staravia and Starly would shoot up, gently cutting the cotton balls apart.
A bold Pachirisu jumped into her lap.
She smiled, put an arm around it, and, fanned by the autumn breeze of the "Favorable Winds and Rains" buffed Breeding House, she slowly closed her eyes.
When Cynthia looked up again, she found that Shauntal, along with the Pachirisu in her lap, had already fallen fast asleep.
Victor quietly walked over and glanced at the sleeping Shauntal.
He gestured to Cynthia, asking if he should have her go back to her room to sleep.
Cynthia shook her head, then had Victor move a chair to sit beside her.
He sat down next to her and took out his phone to read a novel.
Cynthia's golden hair, carried by the wind, brushed against Victor's face. He habitually brushed it away.
But a moment later, it would be blown back onto his face.
This went on, back and forth.
Vulpix, tired from playing, jumped into Victor's lap, nudged him with its small head, and then fell asleep in his warm hands.
Feeling the warmth in his lap, the tickle on his face, and the comfortable autumn breeze, Victor also felt drowsy.
He turned off his phone and lay back in his chair, slowly closing his eyes.
Cynthia, noticing that Victor was no longer brushing her hair away, turned her head curiously and saw that he and Vulpix were sound asleep.
Now I know why Vulpix is such a bad sleeper.
She looked at the sleeping Victor and Shauntal.
She smiled helplessly and shook her head.
She closed her book, placed it on the table, and lay back as well.
This life, where she could spend her free time reading in the company of Pokémon, was just too enchanting for her.
To think that in a few days she would have to go back to the League to handle her duties...
Lucian had sent another message today, urging her to return.
Cynthia sighed with regret.
She then slowly closed her eyes, joining them in their nap.
Shana ran over, holding a sandcastle, wanting to show Cynthia and the others, but she found they were all asleep.
She lightened her steps, walked over quietly, and looked at the three of them, all sleeping in different positions. She suddenly felt sleepy too.
She went and found a chair, and with James's help, moved it next to Victor. She then climbed up and let out a big, beautiful yawn.
The Tinkerbell on her head chimed sweetly.
"Thank you, Big Brother James," she whispered.
James whispered back that it was no problem.
Shana nodded, then closed her eyes, with Tinkerbell, and fell asleep.
Garchomp, who had been resting under the swing set tree, saw that Cynthia and the others were all asleep, and quietly went to stand guard behind her.
Gengar, having returned from its "studies" with Shauntal's Pokémon, also floated over to stand behind Victor.
Gengar plopped down, sitting in the air, and took out some snacks.
It then looked at Garchomp and Shauntal's Cofagrigus.
"Gengar—"
Want some?
Garchomp unceremoniously took the entire jar of snacks from Gengar's hand.
Just then, Lucario also walked over, sat down next to Garchomp, and began to happily eat the snacks.
Gengar, seeing its snacks get snatched, looked heartbroken.
"Grawr—"
I know you have more.
Gengar blushed, then took out two more jars, giving one to Lucario and one to Cofagrigus.
Finally, it took out another jar for itself and began to eat happily.
Garchomp, chewing on the snacks, shot Gengar a sidelong glance.
I knew it.
Having known Gengar for this long, I know it might be lacking in many things, but it's never lacking in snacks.
It continued to eat, its conscience clear.
The four Pokémon ate, whispering quietly, though it was mostly Gengar, Cofagrigus, and Lucario talking, with Garchomp just nodding.
...
In the distance, the Team Rocket trio, having finished their work, were resting under a tree, watching the scene.
"What a warm... picture," Jessie couldn't help but say.
"You said it, meow."
James didn't speak. He was currently being swarmed by his own Pokémon.
He could only nod in agreement.
"Wobbuff—"
Wobbuffet had just popped out when the trio clamped their hands over its mouth.
Perhaps influenced by Victor and the others, after a bit of roughhousing, the trio leaned against the tree, yawned, and also fell into a deep sleep.
The autumn wind blew past, carrying away the worries of the Breeding House, and bringing with it a peaceful slumber.
...
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