Boarding Pokémon

After seeing his grandparents off, Fang Yan returned to the Pokémon Day Care, holding the Lucky Egg and examining it closely.

It was shaped like an egg, cool and smooth to the touch. After playing with it for a while, he handed it to Gengar to play with.

Fang Yan had no intention of selling this Lucky Egg. Both its significance and its effects made it worth keeping.

After learning how effective the Petilil herbal tea was, Fang Yan had Gengar bring him his notebook so he could make some plans for the Pokémon Day Care's future.

First, his cheat would reward him with specific items under certain conditions, and these could be sold. There were also Pokémon Eggs to sell, as well as a Pokémon consignment service.

Second, Fang Yan decided to offer herbal tea, which both people and Pokémon could drink. He therefore needed to learn more about the subject. The herbs he had planted today could also be used to brew herbal tea, and he was prepared for this service not to make much money.

Next, he would gradually introduce some dishes. With his great-aunt's recipes in hand, the food he made had a chance of triggering beneficial buffs and improving moods, so he planned to turn these dishes into a form of "food therapy" unique to his Pokémon Day Care.

As for his great-aunt's item list, most of the entries were wood carvings. He did not currently have the means to make them, so he planned to consider them later.

For the time being, Fang Yan planned to study these areas carefully, while also exploring what other effects his cheat might have.

Fang Yan bent over his notebook, writing down one plan after another before carefully fleshing them out.

Watching Fang Yan work with his head down, Gengar put away the Lucky Egg, then passed through the wall into the kitchen. After searching around, Gengar found a few Berries and began making hand-pressed Berry Juice, copying Fang Yan.

"Ge... Gengar."

Hearing Gengar's slightly dejected voice, Fang Yan looked up curiously.

"What's wrong, Gengar?"

At Fang Yan's question, Gengar brought out the Berry... mush.

"Gengar..."

It failed...

Seeing Gengar's dejected expression, then looking at the cup in Gengar's hands, Fang Yan realized what had happened.

Gengar was still feeling down. Gengar had wanted to make Fang Yan a delicious cup of Berry Juice, only to mess it up. While Gengar was blaming itself, the cup was suddenly taken from its hands.

"Gengar?"

Gengar looked up and discovered that Fang Yan had eaten all the Berry mush in the cup.

"It actually tastes pretty good?"

Fang Yan was a little surprised, but he looked at Gengar and smiled as he chewed. "Thank you, Gengar. It tastes nice."

"Gengar?"

Really?

Fang Yan nodded and handed the cup back, then continued, "I'll teach you how to make Berry Juice next time. Would you like to learn?"

A smile returned to Gengar's face, eyes narrowing with delight.

On the road to Twinleaf Town, a man wearing glasses and carrying a backpack walked toward town with his head lowered.

Passing the Pokémon Day Care, he looked up in confusion. "When did a Pokémon Day Care open here?"

After reading the introduction on the sign, he thought for a moment, then walked inside.

"Hello, is there anything I can help you with?"

Seeing a customer enter, Fang Yan tugged at the corner of Gengar's mouth, then approached the customer and spoke gently.

Seeing this, Gengar floated back to the kitchen to tidy up.

"Hello. When did a Pokémon Day Care open here?"

The man in glasses asked as he looked around at the facilities.

"Just recently. I'm the owner of this Pokémon Day Care, Fang Yan."

Fang Yan explained patiently.

The man in glasses studied Fang Yan, who looked a little younger than him but wore a gentle, confident smile. Meanwhile, a Gengar floated through the wall behind Fang Yan and came to his side.

He could sense the great strength within Gengar, considerably greater than that of his own main Pokémon.

Only then did the man in glasses speak. "I'd like to board my Pokémon here. Would that be possible?"

Hearing that he had come to board Pokémon, Fang Yan's eyes lit up. Someone had finally come to board their Pokémon.

He nodded and said, "Of course. I can show you around our Pokémon Day Care's grounds first."

With that, Fang Yan gestured for him to follow, then led the way toward the grounds out back.

The man in glasses followed him through the doorway, and a vast expanse of grounds appeared before him.

The surroundings were very well maintained, and he saw several Machamp working.

After a tour, he was very satisfied with the place.

Seeing his expression, Fang Yan knew it was settled. He continued, "We can also help with breeding Eggs here, but you'll need to provide the Pokémon."

The man in glasses nodded, then took out his Poké Balls.

Several flashes of red light followed, and a few Pokémon appeared before Fang Yan.

[Torterra]

[Type: Grass, Ground]

[Electivire]

[Type: Electric]

[Ambipom]

[Type: Normal]

Fang Yan took a quick look at their conditions. Without exception, their moods had hit rock bottom.

"Rest here for a while. Once I've gotten myself back into shape, I'll come pick you up, and we'll continue our journey."

The man in glasses spoke to his Pokémon.

Then he looked at Fang Yan. "I'll leave them in your care, sir."

Fang Yan nodded and said, "Don't worry. We'll take good care of them. After all, our Pokémon Day Care is called Gengar's Happy Paradise. What we're creating isn't just a paradise for Gengar, but a paradise for all Pokémon."

Fang Yan's words reminded the man in glasses of the introduction he had seen outside. Looking at Fang Yan's reassuring smile, he somehow felt relieved.

"Thank you."

Fang Yan said it was no trouble; it was his duty. After seeing the man in glasses out of the Pokémon Day Care, he returned to the backyard.

Torterra and the others were standing there awkwardly, looking at Fang Yan with some nervousness.

Fang Yan walked over, clapped his hands, and smiled. "It's all right. Let me take you to where you'll be resting."

With that, Fang Yan led the way toward the lake.

Behind him, Torterra and the others exchanged glances, then followed.

Hearing the sounds behind him, Fang Yan could not help looking back. Torterra's enormous body made it slow-moving and considerably noisier.

He signaled to Torterra that it was all right. When they reached the lakeside, Petilil was resting lazily with its eyes closed. Hearing the noise, it opened its eyes and saw a huge Pokémon following Fang Yan, which frightened it a little.

"Petilil, this is a Pokémon our customer is boarding here. Don't worry."

Hearing Fang Yan's words, Petilil relaxed, then studied Torterra closely.

"Peti."

It's so big.

Fang Yan crouched down and patted its little head, then stood and turned to Torterra.

"Torterra, are you happy with this spot? If not, we can find somewhere else."

Torterra was surveying the surroundings, with most of its attention on Petilil. Only when it heard Fang Yan did it look at him, nod, and give a deep call before lying down.

It liked this place very much. The surroundings were lovely.

After settling Torterra's accommodation, Fang Yan took Electivire and Ambipom to find places they liked, both within the forest.

Fang Yan reminded them that Vespiquen and her Combee also lived in the forest, telling them not to be afraid and to try not to disturb them.

Back by Torterra, Petilil watched it from a short distance away. After thinking for a while, it slowly approached Torterra on its short little legs.

"Pe... Peti?"

Compared with when it had first arrived, Petilil had become much more outgoing.

Torterra opened its eyes and looked at Petilil. It was quite fond of the little one too, and softly greeted it to avoid frightening it.

Fang Yan returned to the lakeside and smiled when he saw Petilil getting along well with Torterra. After asking Petilil and learning that it wanted to stay here and play with Torterra, he returned to the kitchen with Gengar. He asked Gengar to close the Pokémon Day Care's doors, then began preparing tonight's dinner.