"Chuu-lulu~!"
With a powerful kick of her hind legs, Lopunny shot into the farmland like a cannonball.
Mud and dirt flew in all directions as her body glided beneath the soil like a dragon swimming through water. The once-hard, compacted ground was quickly overturned and loosened by her movements.
"Sha~"
Gardevoir watched curiously from the side, her emerald eyes full of fascination.
Then, to her surprise, Lopunny began spinning rapidly underground.
A whirlwind of brown earth rose up, swirling into a compact tornado that carved deep furrows across the field. The freshly turned soil gleamed with a moist sheen under the sunlight.
Before long, Lopunny popped her head up from the ground, shaking off the dust clinging to her fur. The whirling storm she'd stirred up faded into the calm air.
[Mission One Complete: As a Farm Owner, clear three acres of farmland.]
[Reward: Premium Wangwang Rice Seeds ×500, Premium Rolling Bean Seeds ×200, Rare Candy ×3]
"Nice work."
Marzillo smiled and reached out to pat her on the head.
"Chuu-lulu~"
Feeling her Trainer's fingers lightly brush against her cheek, Lopunny's face flushed a delicate shade of red.
"Here, Lopunny—take one of these."
Marzillo grinned and, like performing a magic trick, produced a blue-wrapped candy from his pocket.
"Chuu-lulu~"
Though she didn't quite understand what it was, curiosity won out. She opened her mouth and swallowed the candy without hesitation.
Her instincts told her—it tasted pretty good.
[Lopunny ate a Rare Candy. Her level increased to Lv.25.]
"Not bad at all."
Though the candy only granted moderate experience, Marzillo was pleasantly surprised by the result.
Without hesitation, he fed her the remaining two candies as well.
[Lopunny ate a Rare Candy. Her level increased to Lv.27.]
[Lopunny ate a Rare Candy. Her level increased to Lv.28.]
With a crisp ding-ding, her level had rocketed from 23 to 28 in the blink of an eye.
"How do you feel?"
Marzillo watched eagerly as Lopunny closed her eyes, quietly sensing the rush of power flowing through her body.
"Chuu-lulu~!"
After a moment, she let out a happy cry—she could feel herself growing stronger!
[Notification: Your Lopunny has learned Headbutt.]
"Sha~"
Just then, Gardevoir's pale-blue figure glided over, the faint fragrance around her drifting into Marzillo's nose.
Master… what about mine?
She blinked those beautiful emerald eyes at him, her expression a mix of hope and quiet longing.
"Oh, right, yours is—"
Marzillo's hand instinctively reached into his pocket—then froze.
Crap. He'd already fed all three Rare Candies to Lopunny.
He glanced between the content-looking Lopunny and the Gardevoir who was nearly pressing her snowy chest against his face. A pang of guilt hit his heart.
"Sha~"
Of course Gardevoir understood immediately. She let out a soft, pitiful hum, her eyes glistening with tears.
Master, how could you be so biased?
I was the first one to become your partner… the first for everything!
Her expression turned sorrowful—like a lonely wife weeping for her husband who had been gone too long.
"Alright, alright—how about I owe you this time? Next reward, you'll be the first, I promise."
Seeing her about to burst into tears, Marzillo panicked and tried to console her.
"Please don't cry. I'll make it up to you—whatever you want, I'll give it to you."
"Sha~"
At once, her tears vanished. She quickly dabbed the corners of her eyes, the corners of her lips curving upward.
He said it! You can't go back on your word now, Master!
Her sly smile told him he'd walked straight into her trap again.
Marzillo sighed helplessly.
Another lesson learned. She's always plotting something.
"Alright, alright—if I lie, I'll be a Mightyena."
"So? What do you want as your reward?"
The moment he said that, Gardevoir's face bloomed into a dazed smile. She leaned closer, a wave of snowy softness threatening to overwhelm his senses.
If they weren't out in the open, Marzillo was pretty sure she'd have pounced on him already.
"Sha~"
Gardevoir licked her finger playfully, then flashed a "6," followed by a "10."
"You planning to skip dinner or something?"
Marzillo flicked her forehead with his finger, exasperated.
"Sha~!"
Rubbing her forehead, Gardevoir puffed up her cheeks indignantly.
"No way," Marzillo said firmly. After thinking for a moment, he raised nine fingers, then three.
What?! Only three times? That's not enough!
Seeing his hand gesture, Gardevoir's eyes went wide, shaking her head furiously.
How can it only be three? I'm not even close to satisfied!
But in the end, faced with her Trainer's quiet authority, she reluctantly nodded—especially after he flashed her a zero next.
Fine… three times it is.
Better than none at all, she thought gloomily.
"Sha~"
Hmph! I'm going back!
Pouting, she turned her head and vanished on the spot with Teleport.
"Chuu-lulu~?"
Lopunny tilted her head, watching the entire exchange in confusion.
She didn't understand a thing.
And what kind of "deal" had her Trainer just made with Gardevoir?
"If you don't understand, don't ask. Little ones should just stay put and behave."
Marzillo chuckled and reached over to ruffle her head again, his fingers absently toying with her long, fluffy ears.
By the time he finally pulled his hand away, the poor Lopunny's face was burning bright red.
"Remember," Marzillo said with a half-smile, "don't pick up bad habits from your Gardevoir sister."
"Chuu-lulu…"
Lopunny lowered her head shyly, cheeks flushed.
"Alright, let's head back for dinner."
The setting sun had nearly faded from the sky. Twilight crept slowly over the fields, signaling the coming of night.
Although the system had gifted him plenty of crop seeds, Marzillo decided to leave planting for tomorrow—it was already too late to start.
Hmm… I should install some lamps along the path too.
As he walked back toward the cabin, he glanced at the darkening farm and thought to himself.
With lights installed, nighttime inspections will be much easier… and maybe we could even have a little nighttime camping trip together someday.
Lying on the grass, counting the stars above, drifting off under the glow of warm lights… that's probably what makes this Pokémon world so beautiful.
"Chuu-lulu~"
Trailing behind, Lopunny followed cautiously, her mind still filled with the memory of her Trainer's fingers brushing her ears.
That tingling, shivering feeling—it was like a current of electricity running through her whole body.
She hadn't realized until now just how sensitive she really was.
After walking a while, she finally regained her composure—but then she puffed her cheeks in indignation.
What's that supposed to mean, calling me a kid?
She glared at Marzillo's back, fuming silently.
I'm not a little kid! I'm… I'm totally grown up, okay?!