Daichi moved to the next group. Excadrill was first. He used a fine metal brush to polish the steel claws until they shined it the light. Next was Flygon, Daichi simply wiped down its large red goggles with a soft cloth and on its wings, removing every speck of dirt and grit.
Nidoking stood , waiting for his turn. Daichi scrubbed the thick purple plates of his back. Snorlax on the other hand took the most time. The children tried to help, but they mostly just passed Daichi the soap rolls and watched in silence, shocked by the sheer size of the behemoth .
Drapion and Gastrodon were next. Gastrodon hadn't fought in the mountain raid, but it nudged Daichi's leg until he relented. He sprayed the slug-like Pokémon with a gentle mist. It cooed gently ,swaying side to side.
Crobat and Salazzle were quick. Daichi used a damp sponge for Crobat's wings and a specialized oil for Salazzle's scales to keep them from cracking.
Then there was Hippowdon. The massive Pokémon stood near the back, huffing and stomping. It refused the hose.
"I know, I know," Daichi sighed. "No water for the stubborn bastard."
He led the team and the kids to a sandy plot behind the villa. Hippowdon let out a satisfied roar and dove into the sand. Daichi used a shovel to toss the dry sand over the Pokémon's back, he still didn't understand how it was cleaning hippowdon. The kids grabbed small buckets and joined in, laughing as they helped bury the giant. Hippowdon exhaled sand, creating a small dust cloud that made the children cheer.
Daichi leaned on his shovel, wiping the sweat from his forehead. The kids were covered in sand and dirt. His Pokémon were finally clean, or at least satisfied in Hippowdon's case .
"Alright," Daichi said to the kids. "Who's hungry?"
The children cheered in response, Daichi headed to the kitchen and made a quick lunch for the kids. He handed out some sandwiches and pressed some pokedollars into their hands for ice cream later.
"Go on," he said. "Get the your scoops."
The children shouted and sprinted toward the town center. Daichi watched them go until they were just small specks against the road. He felt a shadow loom over him.
Tyranitar stood there. At 3.2 meters tall blocking out the sun. He looked down at Daichi, a low chortle vibrating in its chest. The Pokémon had a smug glint in his eyes, clearly amused by its master's soft spot for the local brats.
Daichi caught the look. He let out a short chuckle and landed a playful punch against Tyranitar's thick chest plates.
"Yeah, yeah. Shut it, you big lizard," Daichi muttered, grinning. "Like you weren't purring when that little girl touched your arm."
Tyranitar huffed, and turned his head away to maintain its "tough" reputation. But it didn't move. It stayed right next to Daichi, leaning slightly towards him as they both watched the quiet road.
Daichi leaned against the villa's stone wall and then he looked at the giant beside him.
He remembered being nine. He had nothing then but the clothes on his back and a single egg. An old couple from Kanto had taken him in before moving here to Hoenn. That egg was the only thing his parents left behind before they disappeared.
The Larvitar that hatched was a coward. It used to hide behind Daichi's legs, trembling at every loud noise. Now, he was the pillar of the team. He had grown agd matured fast, becoming the big brother that everyone relied on.
Tyranitar turned away from Daichi and stomped over to the garden.
Hippowdon was shaking sand out of its ports, coating the fresh grass. Tyranitar let out a light roar. It stood over the his "small brother", gesturing sharply toward the designated pit. It was clear that he was scolding his little brother .
Hippowdon let out a low groan, looking embarrassed, and began shuffling back toward the sand plot.
Daichi watched the exchange. The timid hatchling was gone. In its place stood a leader who kept the peace.
"Good job, big boy," Daichi chuckled.
Daichi's PokeNav buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out , It was from Steven.
The smile vanished and his face went flat and hard.
The shift was instant. The air in the yard grew heavy, every Pokémon stopped what they were doing. Tyranitar turned away from Hippowdon, his eyes narrowing. Even Snorlax opened one eye, the lazy haze gone. They felt the change .
Daichi let out a long, heavy sigh. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked at the blue sky of Verdanturf.
"Two weeks," he muttered. "That's all we got."
He looked at his team. The peace was over and the "hero" was back on the clock.
"Pack it up," Daichi said, his voice like iron. "We have work to do."
He turned toward the villa to grab his gear. The team followed, moving in perfect formation. The vacation was unfortunately over.