After spending a day resting at the World Tree, Lin Feng didn't stay much longer.
Early the next morning, they began their journey home, sailing across the vast ocean.
Looking at Victini, Mew, and the now miniaturized Lugia before saying goodbye, Lin Feng carefully chose his words. He took out a Storage Ball that he had prepared for Lugia.
"These contain some Everchanging Pokéblocks. I had to prepare them in a hurry, so there aren't many. If you run out, ask Mew to bring you to the Breeding House."
Before Lugia could even take the Storage Ball...
Mew had already snatched it away.
Sticking out its tongue at Lugia, Mew proudly declared through its actions that such a tiny Storage Ball would surely get lost if Lugia kept it, so naturally it should be entrusted to it instead.
The scene left Lin Feng speechless.
Sometimes he genuinely felt that Mew shouldn't be classified as a cat Pokémon.
It should be a mouse Pokémon.
No...
A squirrel Pokémon.
After all, Greedent back home had exactly the same habit of hoarding everything.
"I understand."
Lugia wasn't angry.
Or rather...
It had already grown quite accustomed to Mew's personality.
Originally, Lin Feng had wanted to tell Lugia that Mew tended to cause trouble wherever it went and hoped Lugia would keep an eye on it.
But after thinking it over...
He swallowed those words.
Saying something like that would definitely upset Mew.
Besides...
If those three Legendary Pokémon ever encountered a situation they genuinely couldn't handle together...
It would already be a catastrophe far beyond his ability to interfere with.
In the end, he simply smiled at Mew.
"Keep having fun."
"Meow~"
The three Pokémon vanished across the sea in the blink of an eye.
Watching them disappear into the distance, Lin Feng shook his head with a smile.
In the past...
Mew had always wandered the Pokémon world alone.
Now, with Victini, Lugia...
And even Mewtwo occasionally traveling on its own...
Who knew what unexpected adventures awaited them?
But that was a story for another day.
Right now...
He simply wanted to go home.
"Let's go, Dragonite. Time to head back!"
"Roooar~!"
Around noon on May 6th, Lin Feng finally returned to the Breeding House.
His timing couldn't have been better.
Everyone was just preparing for lunch.
Gardevoir rolled her eyes at him.
The Breeding House prepared the same amount of food every day.
Since Lin Feng had been away for two days, they intentionally cooked less to avoid wasting ingredients.
Even though Blaziken had an enormous appetite...
There was no way it could eat as much as Dragonite, Serperior, Milotic, and the others combined.
Which meant...
There wasn't nearly enough food now that Lin Feng had suddenly returned.
"Hehe..."
Lin Feng scratched his head awkwardly before immediately following Gardevoir into the kitchen.
About an hour later...
A simple but hearty lunch was finally ready.
The steamed egg custard had been made using the last few Chansey Eggs he had received from Mallow's family.
They were officially gone.
If he wanted to eat them again...
He would have to wait until his own Chansey eventually evolved into a Blissey.
Fortunately...
That was only a matter of time.
Alongside the custard were fresh seasonal vegetables...
And, naturally...
Plenty of meat.
The moment the dishes were placed on the table, Dragonite's eyes sparkled.
Lin Feng laughed and patted its round belly.
"Easy now."
Then he released every Poké Ball.
"Come on out, everyone. Time to eat!"
"Sweet! Sweet!"
(We're home! We're home!)
"..."
(It smells amazing... so good...)
"Bui! Bui!"
Several hungry Pokémon immediately rushed toward their usual spots and started eating.
Some Pokémon behaved much more politely whenever they were outside, such as when visiting Mallow's house.
There was always a subtle sense of restraint.
But once they returned home...
That feeling completely disappeared.
Lin Feng himself was starving.
He had barely sat down and picked up his chopsticks when Gardevoir quietly removed her apron and walked over.
"Hm?"
He looked up curiously.
"Is something wrong?"
From a logical standpoint, he had only been gone for two days.
Nothing significant should have happened at the Breeding House in such a short time.
Gardevoir gently shook her head.
She placed both hands on his shoulders and softly began massaging them.
"Gardevoir..."
(Was this trip tiring?)
Lin Feng immediately relaxed.
The tension melted away beneath Gardevoir's gentle touch.
A smile naturally appeared on his face.
"Not at all."
"This trip was actually very relaxing."
"And Serperior changed quite a bit."
"Look."
He gestured toward Serperior.
Obediently, Serperior raised her head.
The transformation was unmistakable.
Although her appearance and size hadn't changed...
Her power had increased so dramatically that traces of natural energy almost seemed to overflow from her body.
The greatest change, however, was her presence.
Before, Serperior had always carried herself with calm dignity.
People who met her couldn't help but admire her elegance.
Now...
She resembled a sacred snow lotus blooming alone at the center of a tranquil lake.
Beautiful...
Untouchable...
Simply standing near her inspired instinctive awe.
Ordinary Trainers and Pokémon would likely feel intimidated just by her presence.
It reminded Lin Feng of one particular Ability.
One possessed naturally by many Legendary Pokémon.
Pressure.
Had Serperior begun developing something similar?
"Gardevoir?"
(What happened?)
Gardevoir stared at Serperior in astonishment.
From her perspective, the changes were impossible to overlook.
"Well..."
Lin Feng didn't hide anything.
As he ate, enjoying Gardevoir's soothing shoulder massage, he recounted everything that had happened at the World Tree.
Standing behind him, Gardevoir listened quietly.
The more she heard...
The more astonished she became.
"Gardevoir..."
(Does that mean... Serperior may eventually become a Legendary Pokémon?)
"Theoretically..."
Lin Feng nodded while chewing thoughtfully.
"But I'm not completely sure."
Gardevoir fell silent for a moment.
Then she asked softly,
"Gardevoir...?"
(Then... will she become your strongest Pokémon someday?)
"I'm not sure about that either."
Lin Feng smiled.
"Besides, I also brought back some incredible materials this time..."
Halfway through his sentence...
He suddenly froze.
Something felt...
Off.
He slowly turned around.
Gardevoir was still smiling gently.
That alone startled him.
For a moment...
He had assumed she might be jealous.
That would have been a disaster.
But no matter how he replayed the conversation in his head...
Her tone hadn't sounded jealous at all.
"Gardevoir?"
"Gardevoir?"
(Hm?)
Lin Feng looked at her quietly.
Then, from the bottom of his heart, he smiled.
"...I'm really glad you're here."
"Gardevoir..."
(You're acting strangely...)
------------------------------
Love the story? Show your support and unlock early access to new chapters by joining me on Patreon! and if we hit every 250 Power Stones, a bonus chapter drops!
[email protected]/_tey
Change @ to a.