The moment Lin Feng returned, Serperior already knew he was home.
However, she was still teaching Steenee how to cultivate plants in the grasslands.
That was why she had not immediately gone to greet him.
"Stee!"
Following Serperior's gaze, Steenee quickly noticed Lin Feng as well.
She jumped toward him excitedly.
"Stee, stee…" (Look, Lin Feng, I can help them grow too!)
"You did very well."
Seeing the extent to which Steenee had helped the berries grow, even though the effect was still limited, Lin Feng could not help cupping her little face and praising her.
Although he had seen many Bounsweet and Steenee outside, when he looked back, his own was still the cutest.
"Stee~"
Hearing his praise, Steenee beamed with delight.
Meanwhile, Serperior gracefully slithered over.
"Serperior?" (You came back quickly.)
"Overall, things went quite smoothly," Lin Feng replied with a smile.
"Ninetales! Ninetales!" (Where did you go? Where did you go!?)
At that moment, Alolan Ninetales could not hold back her curiosity and asked.
Although he had not been gone long, he had never told them the reason for his trip.
He had not even given a definite timeline, leaving them waiting without direction.
"Of course…" Lin Feng picked up Steenee, then set her down amid her confused cry before taking out Tsareena's Poké Ball.
"Of course I went to find Steenee's mother."
Before the other Pokémon could react, he released Tsareena.
"Tsareena?"
The moment she appeared, Tsareena immediately sensed that the surrounding environment was different.
First, the sharp chill in the air.
Second, the abundant natural energy around her.
And finally…
She looked at the motionless Steenee beside her, and she too froze.
Mother and daughter stared at each other for a long time.
The surrounding Pokémon looked confused. Since Lin Feng had released Tsareena, it meant she was the goal of his journey.
But why?
The next moment
"Tsareena…"
Tsareena took the first step forward. She walked to Steenee's side and slowly extended her hand.
Steenee also reached out, placing her small hand in Tsareena's.
"Stee?!"
"Stee!"
Because Steenee had evolved from Bounsweet, Tsareena had not recognized her at first. But the moment Steenee spoke, Tsareena immediately realized that this was the daughter she had been searching for all along.
As for Steenee, she had recognized her mother at first glance, yet she had not dared to believe it.
After all, how could she possibly find her mother here? Her mother had been separated from her homeland by a vast ocean.
Sobs, disbelief, excitement, countless emotions surged through Steenee's heart in an instant.
She did not know what to say. She only knew she wanted to embrace her mother.
Tsareena did the same.
The two Pokémon held each other tightly, their reunion accompanied only by soft sobbing.
The other Pokémon looked at one another, still unsure what had happened.
Only when Lin Feng explained, "This is Steenee's mother. She and her mother were separated unexpectedly when she was very young," did everyone finally understand.
They looked at the two Pokémon, their eyes filled with joy.
After a while, Tsareena and Steenee finally released each other.
Tsareena carefully examined her child from head to toe. Seeing her radiant and unharmed, she felt an immense sense of relief.
From the moment Lin Feng had found her, she had been filled with anxiety.
Although she had seen photographs, the psychological torment of waiting could never be replaced by words.
She had even feared it might turn out to be another false hope.
Fortunately, it was not. She had truly found her child.
"Stee, stee…"
Steenee shook the leaves on her head, asking her mother how she had come here.
"Tsareena…"
Tsareena explained everything that had happened after Lin Feng arrived.
"Stee… stee…"
Steenee looked at Lin Feng, and her eyes instantly filled with tears.
Holding Tsareena's hand, she walked toward him step by step, gazing at him through her tears.
Who could have imagined that while she had been living peacefully at home, her trainer had suddenly brought her mother back to her?
The shock of it all was beyond words.
She could only stare at Lin Feng.
However, this left Lin Feng somewhat confused.
[Congratulations to the host. Steenee's affection level has reached 100. Reward obtained: SSS-grade Leaf Stone (a pure gemstone formed from extremely refined Grass-type energy, capable of enhancing genes and reversing certain Pokémon talents).]
Hearing the system notification in his ear, Lin Feng froze briefly, then knelt down and gently wiped the tears from the corners of Steenee's eyes.
He was about to comfort her.
"Alright, alright…"
But before he could finish speaking, Steenee threw herself into his arms.
She cried uncontrollably, sobbing, "Stee… stee…"
Lin Feng could roughly understand her meaning, though not completely.
It was probably something like: "Trainer… sob… you… I… sob…"
Helpless, he could only gently stroke the leaves on her head.
A few minutes later, her emotional outburst finally subsided.
Her crimson eyes stared straight at Lin Feng.
Lin Feng gave a wry smile. "Alright, alright. If you keep crying, I'm going to use your tears to wash my clothes."
Having just returned from Alola, Lin Feng was still wearing a white long-sleeved shirt, and half of his chest was already soaked from Steenee's tears.
Speaking of which, he had accidentally tasted a drop just now.
Hmm…
Steenee's tears were like a sweet-and-sour fruit juice.
The flavor was quite good, though unfortunately he had only tasted a little.
"Stee, stee…"
After her emotional release, Steenee wanted to properly thank her trainer.
But the moment she let go of the hug and heard his teasing words, seeing his soaked clothes, her fair, plump cheeks instantly turned bright red.
She waved her hands nervously, explaining, "Stee…!" (I… I didn't mean to… you need to change your clothes…)
She also knew the weather was cold.
Standing beside her, Gardevoir noticed that Steenee seemed to think she had done something wrong and immediately became flustered.
Of course, Lin Feng would never blame her.
He picked up Steenee and carried her to Tsareena's side.
"Alright, alright. Seeing your mother should be a happy thing. Today is your mother's first day here. You should properly introduce everyone to her, alright?"
"Stee!" (Okay, okay.)
Steenee immediately nodded with complete seriousness.