"Ahem."
Yushu cleared his throat and assumed the air of a newly appointed official:
"Since we've decided to run a farm, it's time to get to work."
The Pokémon all stared at him expressionlessly, their eyes conveying exactly the same message.
You decided that. We didn't say anything.
Yushu ignored the protest in their eyes and continued:
"Anyway, let me assign today's tasks."
"Miltank, you're in charge of clearing the pasture. Push away any big rocks and tree roots you can. Make a note of anything you can't move, and I'll figure something out later."
"Mooo~"
Miltank nodded.
This was a job it could do. Whatever else it might lack, it certainly had strength.
Yushu walked over to Luxray next.
"Luxray, you're in charge of patrolling the entire ranch and checking for safety hazards."
"Things like loose fences, big holes in the ground, or wild Pokémon running around on our turf."
Luxray's ears twitched.
This really was a job it had to handle itself. With its X-ray vision, it could spot hidden caves or pipes underground, something the other Pokémon couldn't do.
Yushu walked over to Torterra and patted its enormous body.
This fellow really was huge. Standing there, it looked like a light tank.
"Torterra, you're in charge of tilling the land. Use whatever you like, as long as you loosen the soil. Turn up the grass roots and loose stones while you're at it."
"Terra!"
Torterra nodded slowly.
As a Grass- and Ground-type Pokémon, tilling the land was theoretically right in its field of expertise.
It had never done it before, but it already had the moves. It would find out by giving it a try.
Yushu looked at Rotom. "Rotom, you can possess that lawn mower, right?"
"Rotom!"
At those words, Rotom's eyes suddenly lit up.
Time to show what I can do!
It zipped toward the shed. A metallic rumble followed from inside, and a Rotom-like lawn mower came rolling right out.
Mow Rotom had arrived!
"Great. Start by clearing the weeds around the farm, then. Remember to stay safe."
Yushu gave it a thumbs-up. This beat any smart home device.
"Rotom!"
Rotom spun around at top speed, then zipped over to Torterra's side.
Yushu turned to Vespiquen next:
"Vespiquen, you should patrol too. Clear out any bugs or things like that. We're going to plant trees here, after all. We can't have too many bugs."
"Bzz~~"
Vespiquen gently fluttered her wings.
Clearing out a few Bug-type Pokémon was nothing to her.
With those assignments finished, Yushu turned to the last Pokémon left, Staraptor.
Staraptor held its head high and puffed out its chest, watching him with bright, alert eyes.
Yushu would definitely give it the most important task!
It was a Flying-type Pokémon, after all. Whether it was aerial reconnaissance or long-range strikes, it could handle either!
Come on, Yushu. Tell me what the mission is!
Yushu looked at it and fell silent for two seconds.
Then he sank into thought.
Hmm...
Torterra has plowing and soil preparation covered. Right in its field.
Luxray has ranch patrol covered. X-ray vision and incredible hearing make it a born head of security.
Rotom has clearing the pasture covered. Possessing the lawn mower doubles its efficiency.
Miltank has hauling things covered. Strong and steady.
Vespiquen has pest and disease control covered.
There really doesn't seem to be anything Staraptor needs to help with.
Most of the ranch work right now is on the ground. What can a Flying-type Pokémon like Staraptor do?
Flap its wings to blow the weeds away?
That wouldn't even be as efficient as Miltank using its mouth.
Watching Yushu's silent expression, the anticipation in Staraptor's eyes began to freeze.
Its brain's CPU started running at high speed.
Why isn't Yushu saying anything?
Is he planning a particularly important mission for me?
Yes! That must be it!
At that thought, Staraptor puffed its chest out even farther, fierce fighting spirit blazing in its eyes.
Come on, Yushu! For the ranch! I, Staraptor, will brave fire and boiling water!
Yushu noticed the change in Staraptor's eyes too.
No, I have to give it something to do. Even if it's just fetching a twig, I can't let it feel this family doesn't need it.
Pokémon have their pride too!
"Staraptor!"
"Star!" (Present!)
Staraptor flung its wings open and let out a loud cry.
Here it comes! Here comes my mission!
"Come on. You're going shopping in town with me."
"Star???"
Staraptor froze mid-motion.
Solaceon Town was a medium-sized town. It certainly wasn't as developed as Hearthome City, but it was considerably larger than starter towns like Pallet Town and Twinleaf Town.
A main street ran from one end of town to the other, lined on both sides with all kinds of shops. Signs stood one after another, with various samples and goods displayed outside.
Standing at the entrance to the street, Yushu took out the shopping list he had written the night before and glanced over it.
It was a long list.
He needed to buy Berries for the Pokémon.
He needed maintenance supplies for the sheds and pasture.
He also needed saplings for the Berry orchard.
Then there were daily necessities, cleaning tools...
With the farm just getting started, he had to buy everything.
It was like moving house. You thought you didn't have much stuff, only to discover while sorting things out that you even needed to buy a new screwdriver.
The cost of starting from zero was always higher than you imagined.
Most people who said returning to pastoral life was wonderful had probably never cleared wasteland themselves.
When Tao Yuanming picked chrysanthemums beneath the eastern hedge, he probably hadn't told you how many servants were working behind him.
"Let's go. We'll start with the saplings."
Yushu folded the list, tucked it into his pocket, and headed down the street with Staraptor.
He entered an old shop called the Flower and Fruit Nursery.
The storefront was small, but several rows of lush green seedlings stood outside.
A lazy Poochyena lay by the entrance. When it saw customers arriving, it merely lifted its eyelids before going back to sleep.
"Hello? Is anyone here?"
A middle-aged man with graying hair rose behind the counter. He wore an apron stained with a little dirt and still held a pair of scissors.
"Oh, don't recognize you, young man. You're not from our town, are you?"
"Hello, sir. Uncle Zongping referred me. I just took over the ranch north of town, and I'd like to buy some saplings."
Yushu greeted him politely.
"Oh! The boy from Qingmu's family! Zongping told me about you!"
The man slapped his thigh, nearly smacking Yushu in the face with the scissors.
Holy shit!
Yushu instinctively leaned back. The man didn't notice a thing and continued enthusiastically:
"Just call me Uncle Kaisuke. Come on, take a look. Do you want ordinary saplings or Berry saplings?"
"A bit of both."
Yushu stepped up to the counter. "Could you recommend some that are easy to keep alive? I don't know much about this."
Kaisuke chuckled. "Nothing wrong with not knowing. You're young. You can learn as you go. If you came in pretending you knew everything, I wouldn't even want to bother with you."
Yushu said, "...You really tell it like it is."
In a way, that sort of straightforward personality was pretty nice.
The man led Yushu to the nursery area, where rows of saplings sat neatly arranged in seedling trays.
"I wouldn't recommend ordinary ones. You've got good land over there. Go straight for Berries."
"If you're just starting out, plant some easy ones. Pecha Berries, Oran Berries, and Wepear Berries all work."
"As long as you water and fertilize them on time, there's basically nothing else to worry about. Perfect for beginners."
Kaisuke paused, then added:
"Provided you don't go asking for trouble, of course."
"Asking for trouble?"
Yushu was a little curious.
How do you even do that? What sort of tricks could anyone get up to planting trees?
"A young fellow bought some last year. After planting them, he watered them every day, three times a day. Rotted the roots, then came running back to ask me why all his saplings had turned yellow."
Kaisuke glared. "I asked him, are you growing vegetables or raising fish?"
That really takes talent.
Yushu kept his lips pressed together and held back his laughter.
He was afraid laughing would only get the man more worked up.
"I'll take those, then. Ten of each."
"Hm? You sure?"
Kaisuke raised an eyebrow.
Yushu took out his wallet. "Sure. I'll take my time growing them. There's enough room anyway."
"All right. You've got guts, young man."
Kaisuke nodded and began deftly packing the saplings, talking as he worked:
"Pecha, Oran, and Wepear saplings are a hundred in Alliance Currency each. Sitrus saplings are a hundred and fifty each. That comes to four thousand five hundred."
"Not cheap."
Yushu quickly did the math in his head.
Four thousand five hundred... In the Pokémon world, that's roughly the price of an Evolution Stone. Not outrageous, but not cheap either.
Still, as long as these saplings survived, they would become assets that produced repeated harvests. He could recoup the cost in a month or two, and everything after that would be pure profit.
It was definitely worth it.