"Flaaffy~"
Feeling the tremors from the research institute, Whimsicott leisurely lifted its wobbling teacup, took a sip, then gently set it down.
It wasn't alone. The other Pokémon had grown used to this sort of thing. Some kept training, others kept sunbathing, all acting as though nothing had happened. Only the researchers looking after them seemed nervous and mentally exhausted.
"What's been going on with the professor these past few days? First there was a fire, then flooding, and now earthquakes every so often!"
"Tell me about it. Yesterday, Stun Spore even drifted out of the laboratory. Luckily, a researcher sounded the alarm in time. By the time we got inside, everyone was lying on the floor. So much experimental data nearly got ruined."
At that, relief showed in many researchers' eyes. Quite a few of them had been disappointed when they weren't chosen for the Core Research Team.
Then yesterday, they had seen the Core Team members emerge from the laboratory, eyes sunken, faces pale, lips dry, hair disheveled, fingers trembling, clothes in disarray, and bodies covered in grease. Only then did they realize that looking after Whimsicott was actually a good thing. It wasn't nearly as hard to accept as they had first thought.
The only trouble was that Oh-no Amoonguss had recently gone out, evolved into Amoonguss, and come back. Now, whenever anyone got close to Amoonguss, they became extremely excited, then stood off to the side drooling and grinning.
According to Amoonguss, that was the best effect it could manage after adjusting and suppressing its spores. Otherwise, it was afraid the researchers might suddenly start fighting.
"All right, all right. Professor Nishinomori's dedication to science is still worthy of praise. We must carry on that spirit and forge ahead through hardship, so we can live up