When Jigglypuff came to visit the ranch, Silas stayed up through the night with the Indeedee siblings to prepare the most luxurious berry platter they had ever made.
Every ingredient selected was of the highest quality.
As the old saying goes, if you want to keep a Pokémon by your side, you must first win over its stomach.
[Super Luxurious Berry Platter (A): Made with Gracidea flower nectar, Drash Berry (Sponsored by Steven), premium Moomoo Fresh Milk, and several other top tier ingredients.
Dish Effect: After consumption, a Pokémon that enjoys this flavor will have its friendship raised to the maximum.]
"Jigglypuff, would you like to try some?"
Silas set the super luxurious berry platter in front of Jigglypuff, inviting it to taste. Aside from the Drash Berry, every berry he chose was sweet.
The first was the common Pecha Berry, each piece coated generously in crystal clear nectar.
Jigglypuff, who never knew how to refuse when it came to singing but was otherwise cautious, met Silas's especially sincere gaze.
It nodded lightly and reached out to pick up a piece, placing it into its mouth.
In an instant, Jigglypuff narrowed its large, sparkling eyes. The little tuft of hair on its forehead sprang upright from sheer delight, sticking up like a tiny cowlick.
"Jigglypuff~!"
The little Jigglypuff absolutely adored it. The berry platter matched its taste perfectly.
It was sweet, but not overwhelmingly sugary, rather a refreshing and gentle sweetness.
No more words were needed. Jigglypuff's expression said everything.
Silas gently pinched its plump pink cheek and smiled. "Then this whole platter is yours. Make sure to finish it all."
Jigglypuff nodded at first, then shyly lowered its head.
Its small hands instinctively covered its tummy, accidentally revealing the truth.
Jigglypuff had wandered near the party in search of food. It had not felt hungry earlier, but after just one bite of berry, its stomach began to rumble repeatedly.
"Eat slowly. No need to rush," Silas said casually. "I'll go get you a blanket. You can make do sleeping on the sofa tonight."
For now, Jigglypuff was still a guest at the ranch. Bringing it straight into the bedroom would clearly be inappropriate.
The little Jigglypuff did not mind at all. Back when it lived in the wild, it would simply find a tree hollow to sleep in.
Sometimes it even had to squeeze together with other Pokémon.
Compared to that, the ranch environment was far too comfortable.
With its tiny hands gripping a fork, it brought another piece of berry to its mouth, filling its little belly.
Each time it took a bite, the cowlick on its forehead swayed along, its small feet swinging back and forth in rhythm. It was in an exceptionally good mood.
The little one was beginning to fall in love with the ranch. If only it could stay here forever.
Silas treated it especially well, offering a kind of care it had never experienced before.
Jigglypuff liked him very much.
When Silas returned from downstairs with a blanket, Jigglypuff had already finished the entire platter and was sitting there with its round belly puffed out.
"Once you're full, it's time to sleep. Kids need to sleep early and wake early to grow properly."
He lifted Jigglypuff onto the sofa and tucked the blanket around it carefully so it would not catch a chill at night.
After finishing everything, Silas wished it good night and turned off the lights.
Only after seeing Jigglypuff obediently close its eyes did Silas yawn and head upstairs to sleep.
At the corner of the staircase, as expected, a Pokémon was lying there. The Alolan Meowth appeared to be asleep, but in reality it was secretly watching the sofa.
"Stop staring and go to sleep too."
Silas patted Alolan Meowth helplessly. Its cautious personality had been forged during those early years when three cats and a mouse wandered outside together, learning how to survive without being bullied.
"Meow."
Alolan Meowth gave Silas a grin and quickly shut its eyes.
Seeing this, Silas could only sigh.
After reminding it not to disturb Jigglypuff, he went upstairs and hugged the soft and sweet smelling Minccino to sleep.
The next day.
He arranged for Minccino and the others to play with Jigglypuff while he and Steven made a trip to the Diamond Domain. Steven brought along several newly discovered ores before finally departing reluctantly.
Before leaving, he grabbed Silas's hand. "Silas, if you ever need sponsorship, you must tell me. You can endure hardship yourself, but you must never let Diancie suffer."
Silas was speechless.
He had never imagined that Steven could be such a chatterbox. In the short stretch of road, Steven managed to give him seven or eight different reminders.
If Silas had not promised that Steven could visit the ranch anytime in the future, he probably would have continued lecturing.
"Oh right." As he climbed onto Skarmory's back, Steven suddenly remembered something. "I prepared a gift for you. Remember to check your mailbox later."
"Alright. I'll have Cyclizar check it every day."
They waved goodbye as Silas watched Steven's figure disappear into the distant sky.
Steven's gift? It would not be another stone, would it?
With idle speculation in his heart, Silas walked back inside.
After making a full round of the ranch, he paused only at the berry grove.
All the berry seeds planted earlier had sprouted.
Four or five of them had looked sickly when they first broke through the soil, but thanks to Meganium's attentive care, they had been saved.
Inviting it to help at the ranch had definitely been the right choice.
After offering a few words of encouragement, Silas went off to look for Minccino and Jigglypuff.
Minccino truly was Silas's thoughtful little cotton jacket. It understood exactly what he was thinking.
The little one had been introducing Jigglypuff to the ranch partners and explaining all the benefits of staying.
When Silas arrived, Minccino ran over and hugged his leg.
"Min Min?"
(Silas, Silas, can Jigglypuff stay at the ranch)
Lifting the small Minccino who had spread its arms asking to be held, Silas lowered his voice. "What kind of sweet talk did you feed Jigglypuff?"
"Min!"
(Jigglypuff said it on its own. Silas, please? I'll help you take care of it.)
Seeing that Silas still had not given a clear answer, Minccino twisted its body and acted cute.
"Wait a moment. Let me ask Jigglypuff first."
He walked over to the slightly nervous Jigglypuff and crouched down.
"Jigglypuff."
"Puff."
Jigglypuff gave a start, then gathered its courage. "Jigglypuff!"
When Silas heard Jigglypuff say that he was the best human, he could not hide the smile on his face.
Being acknowledged by a Pokémon was an incredibly joyful thing.
"Jigglypuff, I agree to let you join the ranch."
Silas extended his hand.
"Jigglypuff~!!"
Jigglypuff gasped in delight and hurriedly reached out. Its tiny hand tightly gripped Silas's finger. Its round body wobbled excitedly, the cowlick on its forehead bouncing along, its eyes shining like they held scattered stars.
Seeing Jigglypuff officially join the ranch, Minccino quickly extended another invitation.
"Min!"
(Little sister Jigglypuff, join us. Become a member of the ranch band!)
At the mention of singing, visible panic and fear appeared in Jigglypuff's expression. Its small hands tightly covered its mouth as it shook its head vigorously. It clearly had something it was hiding.
Silas noticed and gently pushed Minccino back.
"Jigglypuff, don't answer right away. Think about it first."
Jigglypuff nodded, but for the rest of the day it remained gloomy and preoccupied.
The Indeedee siblings, Kangaskhan, and Cyclizar all noticed.
Even when bedtime came, Jigglypuff was still the same.
After everyone had fallen asleep, Jigglypuff quietly climbed down from the bed, carefully passed by the Meowth lying on the stairs, and squeezed out through the cat door in the front entrance.
(End of Chapter)