Capturing Walking Grass

At dusk, Uncle Darby arrived to tidy up the Fruit Grove and stared in confusion.

The open ground outside the Fruit Grove looked as though it had been plowed by an ox. The soil was loose and full of bumps and hollows.

He gazed into the distance and finally spotted Aiven riding Ironclad Rhinoceros, heading toward him against the setting sun.

"Aiven, did Ironclad Rhinoceros do this?" Uncle Darby asked as soon as he saw Aiven return.

Aiven nodded and patted Ironclad Rhinoceros beneath him. The little guy looked utterly exhausted. He'd been far too excited earlier.

After using the Digging Move for so long, Ironclad Rhinoceros now looked rather listless. Using moves took a great deal of energy for Pokémon.

"Uncle Darby, it's about time we expanded the farm's Fruit Grove."

Hearing Aiven's words, Darby hesitated. They hadn't planted berries in the open ground in front of the Fruit Grove because the soil there wasn't suitable for growing them.

But when he thought of Aiven's miraculous potions, he felt a little more confident. Perhaps watering the ground with fertilizer first could improve the soil.

"Then I'll plant berries here when spring comes next year." Uncle Darby finally nodded, deciding to give it a try.

"Until then, we can use this area to grow pasture grass. It'll be a good source of food for Ironclad Rhinoceros," Aiven suggested.

Uncle Darby wholeheartedly agreed. Ironclad Rhinoceros ate so much that they had to find a way to provide for themselves.

Besides, Walking Grass liked grassy places, too. This ground, freshly plowed, would be just right for it to live in, Aiven added to himself.

The following morning.

Uncle Darby was as quick to act as ever.

Early that morning, he went to a nearby town and bought grass seeds to plant for pasture.

By the time Aiven got up, Uncle Darby had already returned. The two of them headed toward the Fruit Grove.

Ironclad Rhinoceros had also come to the open ground early. It was using its Digging Move to plow the soil again.

When Ironclad Rhinoceros saw Aiven, it happily trotted over. Just thinking about doing something for its master filled it with energy.

"Wawa, wawa."

Petilil happily greeted Ironclad Rhinoceros, then hopped into the freshly plowed field.

The energy here wasn't as potent as fertilizer, but the abundant vitality still put it at ease and made it feel wonderful.

"Let's get started."

"Normally, pasture grass sprouts within three days and takes about a month to finish growing," Uncle Darby said with a smile, scattering grass seeds over the plowed ground as he spoke.

But as soon as he finished speaking, he saw the seeds scattered across the field suddenly sprout and grow at a rapid pace.

"What's going on?" Uncle Darby stared in stunned amazement.

He'd just said the grass would sprout within three days, and now it had done so in the blink of an eye. Wasn't that making a fool of him?

Aiven covered his mouth and chuckled. After a moment, he explained, "That's the Digging Move. Plowing the soil fills it with vitality."

He smiled and explained the effects of the Digging Move. Uncle Darby listened with his mouth hanging open. This was the first time he'd seen such an incredible Pokémon ability!

I told you, Pokémon are the greatest force in production. And this is only the beginning. Aiven chuckled to himself.

He wondered what Uncle Darby would look like when he saw Cherrim use the Sunny Day Move.

And the Digging Move wasn't even as powerful as the Grassy Terrain Move. That one could create a whole grassy field from nothing in an instant. Uncle Darby would surely goggle when he saw it.

The Digging Move could create an environment suitable for plants to grow, but it still couldn't make pasture grass mature in an instant.

However, according to Uncle Darby, the grass would finish growing in just a day or two. That was already an astonishing rate.

At this thought, Darby wondered if Ironclad Rhinoceros could use the Digging Move in the Fruit Grove.

But when he imagined the ground being plowed over like this, he shook his head. The berry plants wouldn't withstand Ironclad Rhinoceros's trampling. Perhaps they could try it after the berries had been harvested, when it was time to plant again.

It took three days, just as he'd said.

Standing in front of the rows of grass, Darby nodded in satisfaction.

The open ground in front of the Fruit Grove had now been completely transformed into a lush green pasture.

Ironclad Rhinoceros raced happily through it, occasionally lowering its head to eat some grass. It was the happiest thing ever.

Petilil and the Cherubi had also moved their playtime to the field, growing happily as they basked in the sunlight.

But this was bad news for little Andy, who loved playing with the Pokémon. There was nothing to provide any shade in the field, and it was far too hot.

"Nana-nana~"

Walking Grass felt conflicted.

The human's words from before came to mind. During this time, he had indeed kept his promise.

The Fruit Grove, filled with mysterious energy, and this lush green field both made Walking Grass feel as though it had found a place where it belonged.

That day, Walking Grass went to Aiven of its own accord. It wanted to tell him how much it liked this place and that it wanted to stay here forever, just like Petilil and the Cherubi.

"Walking Grass, do you like it here?"

Aiven looked at the shy little Walking Grass before him and crouched down with a smile.

Walking Grass was taken aback, then immediately nodded. It loved this place so much!

"Then make this your home, just like Petilil and the Cherubi."

Hearing Aiven's words, Walking Grass raised its head and gazed earnestly at the human before it, its eyes seeming to shimmer.

After a long moment, Walking Grass nodded vigorously and placed the leaf on its head in Aiven's hand, its eyes curving into crescents.

From then on, Walking Grass, having found a place where it belonged, became a full part of the farm and happily joined the Cherubi at play.

I've finally managed to capture Walking Grass. A smile appeared on Aiven's face. Then he muttered, "But it's been so long. Why haven't any other Walking Grass come to the farm?"

A Mukkuru flew overhead. It glanced indifferently at the Pokémon playing in the field, then flew back to the Fruit Grove on its own.