"Alola! Welcome to the sunshine, cousin! What can I get for a traveler with an eye for the exotic?"
The stall owner leaned over his counter, his grin wide enough to reveal a set of perfectly white teeth. He looked like he'd stepped straight off a postcard from Melemele Island, radiating an energy that was far too vibrant for a dusty ranching town like Solaceon.
Julian didn't hesitate. He'd seen enough. "I'll take all four varieties of that nectar," he said, pointing to the shimmering jars. "Every color. And I'm going to need a serious supply of seafood. Give me eight of those Klawf crab sticks and thirty Crabrawler claws."
He paused, his eyes drifting to a small pouch of multicolored seeds tucked away near the Pyukumuku plushies. "Also... do you have the seeds for those Alolan blooms? I'd like to see if I can get them to sprout back home."
The stall owner's eyebrows shot up. He hadn't expected a Sinnoh local to go for the high-end stuff right away. "A big spender! I like your style, cousin! Let me get those packed for you."
Julian watched as the man began carefully wrapping the items. The Crabrawler claws were relatively small—the meat inside was a delicacy, but you needed a lot of them to make a proper meal. Crabominable claws, on the other hand, were massive. One was practically a steak on its own.
The interesting thing about these Alolan crustaceans—much like the Slowpoke in Johto—was their regenerative ability. In Alola, it wasn't considered "hunting" in the traditional sense. If a Trainer had a strong enough bond with their Crabrawler or Klawf, the Pokémon would often offer a claw as a gift of friendship, knowing it would simply grow back stronger. It was a cultural exchange of flavor, unique to the islands.
"Alright," the merchant said, counting out the jars. "That's fifty small jars of various nectars in total. And I've got your Crabrawler claws on ice. As for the seeds..."
He pulled out the small pouch Julian had noticed. "I've got a few here. Hibiscus, Sea-Vine, and Oricorio-Fern. But I'll be honest with you, cousin—these seeds are used to the Alolan sun and the salty breeze. If you try to grow them in the Sinnoh chill, the survival rate won't be high. You sure you want to gamble your gold on them?"
Julian smiled, thinking of the "greenhouse" effect he could probably create using some of his technical gear. "I'm sure. I like a challenge. Besides, I think my Floette would appreciate a taste of home, even if it's just a few petals in a pot."
"Spoken like a true partner!" the man laughed. "Anything else? I've got some specialized jars back here that most people don't even recognize."
Julian leaned in, curious. He pointed to three distinct bottles on a higher shelf. One contained a swirling pink powder, another a bright yellow grit, and the third was a translucent, milky white. "What are those?"
"Ah, those are the Pollen Puffs," the merchant explained, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Harvested from Alolan Ribombee. Depending on which flowers they visit, the puffs take on different properties. The pink ones are for restoring stamina—perfect for a long hike. The yellow ones treat dizziness and confusion. And the white ones? Those are for relaxation. You mix that into a tea, and you'll sleep like a Comala."
He then gestured to a set of small, elegant vials filled with a thick, golden syrup. "And these... this is the essence of Bounsweet. It's the natural syrup they produce when they're happy. It's incredibly sweet—pure concentrated fruit energy. If you drink it straight, your teeth might actually fall out, but you dilute it with a bit of spring water? Best juice you'll ever have."
"I'll take one of each," Julian said, his brain already formulating a dozen new recipes. "If I'm going to do this feast, I'm going all out."
As the merchant tallied up the total, Julian glanced at the remaining stock. Even after his massive purchase, the table was still overflowing with Alolan goods.
[This guy must have harvested half the population of Ula'ula Island,] Julian thought, a bit of his "Scholar" skepticism kicking in. [Bounsweet syrup, Ribombee pollen, Crabominable claws... it's a lot of product for one man to carry across regions.]
If he didn't know about the Alolan philosophy of "The Great Share"—where humans and Pokémon lived in a communal symbiosis—he might have suspected some illegal farming operation. Under Sinnoh's strict conservation laws, this much "harvested" material would have had Officer Jenny knocking on the door in minutes. But Alolan exports were a legal grey area, treated more like "gifts of nature" than industrial products.
"Will you be here for the next few days?" Julian asked, hoisting the now very heavy insulated bags onto his shoulders.
"As long as the sun shines and the locals have gold, cousin! I'm not heading back until my pockets are heavy and my crates are empty," the merchant said with a hearty wave.
"Good to know. I might be back for more of that nectar once Floette realizes how good it is. Thanks again!"
Julian stepped away from the stall, feeling like a walking pantry. He wasn't done yet, though. If he was going to use Alolan spices, he needed the best base ingredients Sinnoh had to offer.
He left the Free Market and headed toward the center of town, where the Solaceon Berry Boutique was located.
Solaceon was the heart of the breeding world, which meant their Berries were top-tier. Breeders here wouldn't settle for the bruised, small fruit you found in city supermarkets. They demanded plump, nutrient-dense Berries that could enhance a Pokémon's coat, stamina, or elemental power.
Julian walked through the stalls, picking up a Sitrus Berry and pressing his thumb against it. It was firm, perfectly ripe, and smelled like a summer orchard.
"I'll take three crates of these," he told the shopkeeper. "And a bag of those Tamato Berries—the really spicy ones."
"You got it, young man. That'll be quite the load to carry!"
The Long Walk Home
Clang!
The door to the hotel room swung open, and Julian practically fell inside. He was draped in bags, crates, and pouches, looking more like a delivery Delibird than a Pokémon Trainer.
"Phew... finally... my shoulders are actually on fire," Julian wheezed, sliding the bags onto the floor with a heavy thud.
"Floette! (Is it time? Is it dinner time?!)" 🌸
Floette was the first to react, fluttering down from the top of the wardrobe where she'd been napping. She took one sniff of the bags and her eyes turned into sparkling gems. She could smell the Alolan nectar from three rooms away.
"Fly! (Did you see the Egg? How is it?)" Sylveon asked, trotting over and delicately sniffing a bag of Berries.
"Woof! (MEAT. I SMELL THE SPECIAL MEAT.)" Growlithe was already doing circles around Julian's legs, his tail wagging with enough force to generate a small hurricane.
Julian collapsed onto a chair, wiping the sweat from his brow. Togetic was the only one who didn't swarm him; the little fairy-type was hovering near the corner, his eyes closed in deep concentration as he practiced his wind-control.
"Yes, yes... I'm back," Julian panted, looking around the room. It was significantly messier than when he'd left it—pillows were scattered, and it looked like there had been a minor wrestling match on the rug. "First off, the Egg is fine. I left it with Master Theodore at the Nursery. It needs a special high-pressure environment to hatch, so it'll be staying there for the next fifteen days. We'll pick it up after we clear the Veilstone Gym."
The Pokémon let out a collective "oh" of understanding. They were used to the Egg being around, but they trusted Julian's judgment.
"Now," Julian said, his tone shifting to a mock-stern parent. "Since I've spent the last four hours lugging enough food to feed a Snorlax back to this room... we need to talk about logistics."
He looked directly at Floette. "Floette, you eat the most. You have the highest calorie-to-body-weight ratio I've ever seen in a Pokémon. And yet, when we go shopping, who carries the bags?"
Floette looked at the ceiling, pretending she hadn't heard him. "Floette~? (I am but a delicate flower...)"
"Don't give me that. You have Psychic," Julian pointed out. "You can lift ten times your own weight without breaking a sweat. From now on, whenever we do a big grocery run, you're the designated cargo lift. No more free rides on my head while I'm struggling with sixty pounds of Berries." (￢_￢)
Floette puffed out her cheeks, looking offended for a second. But then her gaze drifted toward the bag of Alolan nectar. She could practically taste the sweet, spicy Red Nectar already.
"Floette. (Fine. For the sake of the buffet, I will be your forklift.)" She nodded solemnly.
Julian laughed, his exhaustion finally starting to lift as the excitement for the cooking took over. "Good. Because tonight, I'm showing you all something special. I found some Alolan ingredients—things you've never tasted before. We're going to have a feast that'll make the Hearthome Gym look like a snack bar."
He stood up, rolled up his sleeves, and headed toward the kitchenette.