"Let's give it a try."
Yushu prepared the Berries in the prescribed proportions, washing, peeling, and chopping them before putting them into the machine.
He pressed the switch, and the machine began working with a low hum.
Half an hour later.
Yushu stared at several blackened Pokéblocks, lost in thought.
They were the color of burnt coal, with cracks across their surfaces and a scorched smell.
Never mind feeding them to Pokémon; he didn't even want to touch them himself.
"I'm probably just not used to it yet."
Yushu reassured himself, then dumped the failed batch into the trash and started over.
Another half hour passed.
He picked up one of the finished blocks, cautiously tasted it, and scrunched up his entire face.
"So sour! How could this thing possibly be sour? That makes no sense!"
After several consecutive failures, Yushu finally started getting the hang of it.
On his next attempt, he strictly followed the proportions provided by the Eye of Detection, adding the ingredients in two batches and controlling the temperature precisely.
Finally, when the machine stopped, several translucent, pale pink Pokéblocks lay quietly inside.
[Pecha Berry block (basic): gently clears toxins, promotes circulation, relieves soreness and fatigue, steadily restores stamina and energy, and soothes discomfort]
"These look pretty good."
Yushu picked one up and took a bite.
The instant it entered his mouth, a sweet, refreshing Pecha Berry fragrance blossomed on his tongue, followed by the slight tartness of Lum Berry rising from beneath it, and finally the sweet aftertaste of Wepear Berry.
The three flavors unfolded layer by layer in his mouth before blending into an indescribably wonderful taste.
"Hey, this tastes good."
Yushu's eyes lit up. He broke off another small piece, popped it into his mouth, and chewed.
Yep, a hundred times better than that last defective batch that was so sour it made me question my life.
Yushu immediately struck while the iron was hot and began preparing the second batch.
Torterra's recipe used confusion-curing Chesto Berries as its main ingredient, paired with Wepear Berries and Oran Berries.
The proportions were completely different from the previous recipe.
Soon, another few translucent Pokéblocks were ready.
[Chesto Berry block (basic): stabilizes internal energy, repairs the outer layer, and replenishes expended stamina]
"Okay, next..."
Then came Staraptor's recipe, with Razz Berries as the main ingredient and Wepear Berries and Oran Berries as supplements.
This recipe could be called just the right medicine for the overstrained tendons in Staraptor's wings.
[Razz Berry block (basic): rich in anti-inflammatory compounds, soothes tendon discomfort, and maintains joint health]
Then...
Luxray's, Vespiquen's, Rotom's-he made a corresponding recipe for each one according to the Eye of Detection's recommendations.
Like an emotionless medicine-making machine, he endlessly repeated the process of washing, cutting, measuring, loading, and waiting.
After an entire afternoon of work, six small dishes of differently colored Pokéblocks sat neatly in a row on the counter.
"Give them a try. See how they taste."
Yushu handed the finished Pokéblocks out to the six Pokémon, then watched them expectantly.
"Moo~"
Miltank took the first bite. Then its movements froze, and its eyes flew wide open.
Clang!
Its entire body-no, the entire cow-seemed to have had its pause button pressed.
A warm current welled up inside its body, flowing slowly along its meridians.
Golden light seemed to appear before its eyes.
There was beautiful nature, clear lake water, rolling snowy mountains, and grasslands stretching as far as the eye could see...
Only after a long while did Miltank slowly swallow and open its eyes, with one message written in them.
Another one!!
"Looks like they really worked."
Yushu was very pleased with Miltank's reaction.
It was even better than he had expected, showing that the Pokéblocks really did have a significant effect.
Seeing this, Torterra lowered its head and picked up its own Chesto Berry block in its mouth.
Clang!
Golden light seemed to flare before its eyes as well!
It felt like soaking in a hot spring, so comfortable it made one want to sigh.
At the sight, the other Pokémon all began eating.
Clang!!!
"Star!"
"Bzz!"
"Rotom!"
"Roar!"
For a while, cries of surprise rang out incessantly throughout the house.
Watching the Pokémon's reactions, Yushu felt a sense of accomplishment well up inside him.
It worked!
He had spent hours making them and was aching all over, but seeing the Pokémon's satisfied expressions made him feel it had all been worth it.
"I'm going to bed. You should all get some rest early too."
Yushu yawned and headed for the bedroom.
Today had been incredibly full, keeping him busy from morning to night without a break.
His eyelids were already fighting to stay open. He could fall asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.
The Pokémon watched him leave, then exchanged glances.
Miltank spoke first.
"Moo~" (Have you noticed anything different about Yushu?)
"Tor..." (He does seem a little different...)
Torterra nodded slowly.
In the past, all Yushu thought about every day was training. He never cared whether their bodies felt comfortable.
But today, he had not only assigned them easy work, but also made Pokéblocks for them himself.
He hardly seemed like the same person.
"Roar~" (He really is a little different~)
Luxray gave a low cry.
Not letting them train was one thing, but Yushu really did care about them more than before.
"Bzz~" (I like those Pokéblocks~)
Vespiquen gave a soft buzz.
She had never eaten anything so delicious before. Not only did it taste good, but her body felt especially comfortable afterward, as though she had enjoyed a full-body spa treatment.
Rotom followed right after her.
"Rotom..." (Same here!)
It felt as though even its electricity flowed more smoothly after eating them.
As Staraptor listened to its companions talking back and forth, a sharp gleam flashed in its eyes.
"Star..."
(You've all got it wrong! Unless I'm mistaken, this is actually a new training method!)
All the Pokémon turned to look at it in unison.
Luxray looked disdainful.
"Roar?" (Has your brain overheated? Didn't we switch to farming? All you think about all day is training, training, training. Farming is farming. What's this about training?)
"Star..." (Shallow! So shallow!)
Like a flightless chicken, Staraptor strutted back and forth before its companions, gesturing with its wings.
"Star..." (You foolish creatures. We've been partners for so long. Think about it. With Yushu's personality, how could he possibly just give up?)
Miltank gave a thoughtful low moo.
"Moo..." (You mean we're farming on the surface, but he's actually using farming to temper us, and once we're strong enough, we'll keep traveling and competing?)
Staraptor nodded emphatically, its eyes gleaming with a look that said, You finally get it.
"Star!" (That has to be it! Think about those Pokéblocks just now. Didn't your bodies feel much better after eating them?)
Torterra nodded slowly.
"Tor..." (They really did, come to think of it...)
After eating those things, its back no longer ached and its legs no longer hurt. Even that energy pathway in its back that had always felt wrong seemed to flow a little more smoothly.
It felt ready to work another whole day!
The other Pokémon nodded one after another as well. Staraptor's analysis really did seem to make some sense.
With Yushu being as stubborn as a mule, would he really just give up?
They just couldn't believe it.
"Roar..." (Then what should we do? Go along with him?)
Luxray got up, its tail swaying slowly.
After thinking for a while, Miltank slowly spoke.
"Moo..." (Didn't Yushu give us tasks today? Maybe those are our training plans!)
(Having me move rocks must be to train my strength. He wants to develop my close-combat abilities!)
"Tor..." (That explains it...)
Torterra looked thoughtful.
Having it till the soil was actually training its Ground-type moves.
If it could master them while tilling the soil, it would be able to use them with greater ease in battle later.
Looks like I can't let Yushu down!
"Roar..." (So that's it...)
Luxray's eyes lit up.
Yushu was having it patrol to train its reflexes and powers of observation.
He's hinting that I rely too much on Electric-type moves and need to develop all my abilities, right?
"Rotom!"
Rotom suddenly understood.
Then I'm training to possess appliances. If I can master possessing all sorts of appliances, I'll be able to adapt flexibly in battle instead of being limited to fixed forms.
Looks like I still haven't been here long enough. Only now have I understood Yushu's deeper meaning.
"Bzz~"
Vespiquen gently fluttered her wings.
My job is catching bugs? How is that training?
Could it be... he wants me to summon the nearby Combee and practice my command moves?
So that's it. Yushu knows I'm not good enough at fighting alone, so he wants me to develop in a different direction.
Yet Staraptor, which had been the loudest just moments before, now fell silent.
Then what am I doing? Carrying things?
A different form of weighted flight?
So I'm still training my stamina!
"Moo!" (In that case, let's start carrying out Yushu's training plan!)
Miltank sounded the call.
"Roar!"
"Tor!"
"Rotom!"
"Bzz!"
"Star..."
Their fighting spirits soaring, the Pokémon each rushed to their posts and threw themselves into training with fiery enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, Yushu had absolutely no idea that his Pokémon had already completed a spectacular round of "convincing themselves."
He was merely dreaming that the Berries he had planted were flowering and bearing fruit, and business was booming.
He rolled over, a faint smile on his lips.
In his dream, the ranch was flourishing.