Chapter 38: Promoting to Pokémon

June 24th.

The rain from the past few days came quite timely; the medicinal herb fields and farmland were now entirely green. The newly sprouted buds greedily absorbed the warm early summer air, growing sturdily upward.

Cherubi, having learned Sunny Day, continued her work in the fields.

As a Grass-type Pokémon, her instincts gave her a certain level of expertise in caring for herbs and crops.

These herbs and crops would only need ten days to a month to be ready for harvest, and on this land, they would be harvested even sooner.

The sound of carving came from the workshop. Cherubi knew that human was making some magical tools again. After the enhancement two days ago, she felt filled with strength, occasionally curling up the small hands on her skirt to fire a Bullet Seed at the grass ahead.

She felt very secure on this land, feeling that if she stayed too long, she might even forget how to battle.

She even had thoughts of living here instead of taking back her habitat, but whenever this happened, she would think of her cowardly companions and their leader.

The leader was a standard-form Lilligant. Before this, Cherubi had also thought she would evolve into that form.

But now, she knew she had another evolutionary path, and she couldn't help but feel expectant about her future.

If she took back her habitat and evolved into that other form, how would the leader view her?

Would her companions be happy about the return of their home?

Or had they already taken root in a new place and were unwilling to return?

"Cheru."

If she took back their home and her companions didn't return, then all her actions would seem meaningless. But Cherubi had already thought about this situation.

Even if she lived there as the only Pokémon, it would be fine.

Her old companions had left, but Pokémon were social animals and had migratory habits; surely, surely new Cherubi would appear, and then, settle down in this former home.

Thinking of this, Cherubi couldn't help but stare at the distant forest.

Beyond the rolling hills, rocks, and woodlands, lay that outer forest that led directly to the Ancient Forest of Shenhezhen.

Perhaps the leader had also migrated to this forest from somewhere else, which was why her appearance was different from the other form the human spoke of. The leader's appearance was normal, and only in harsh environments could one evolve into the new form.

For the leader, migrating from one land to another was perhaps a very normal thing. She didn't understand why she was so attached to one piece of land, because fertile, rich soil existed everywhere.

And the other Cherubi probably thought the same.

"Cheru~"

But she was born in that habitat...

Cherubi withdrew her gaze, no longer looking at the forest, and focused intently on caring for every crop.

In the loose soil, the berries had also sprouted and begun to grow. Incredible fruit trees were the greatest feature of this world; these berries would fall from the trees, rot on the ground, but soon sprout again.

They were different from ordinary trees and didn't have such long growth cycles, but... these fruit trees were still growing a bit too fast.

Cherubi arrived at the soil where the berries were planted; one could tell from the color that it was different from the other land.

Although it was all loose soil, this area seemed to have been plowed many times by something fierce. She heard this was the result of the help from the Diglett and Dugtrio living far away; that was the power of a group, not the power of an individual.

A group of companions.

Cherubi's gaze involuntarily turned toward the workshop.

The sound of carving continued to drift out.

"Roar—"

Suddenly, a distant roar came from the sky. Cherubi jumped and looked up, seeing a massive black dot appear beneath the white clouds on the horizon!

The black dot approached rapidly, blowing away the surrounding clouds, and its silhouette gradually revealed itself!

It was a huge Pokémon!

The black shadow descended rapidly. Cherubi was a bit panicked at first and gathered solar energy, thinking it was an invading wild Pokémon. But just as the Solar Beam was about to be fired, she saw clearly that the Pokémon flying down from the sky was carrying a human's box.

Huh?

And that Pokémon seemed to have seen the shining solar energy; it flew straight down toward the area where Cherubi was, landing at the edge of the field with great momentum!

Hearing the commotion, Xiang Guangtai and Dou Jianqiao walked out of the wooden house.

"A Charizard from Blackthorn City!"

That's right, the courier this time was still Charizard! And Charizard was carrying the large box on its chest, arriving a day earlier than previously expected.

Because it had been here before, it was familiar with the route and flew faster.

Charizard glanced at Cherubi, staring curiously for a moment because it hadn't seen this kind of Pokémon before, but soon shifted its attention back, making "ao-ao" sounds. At the same time, just like last time, it pulled another Rage Candy Bar out of the box and started munching on it.

Afterward, Charizard began to pull some things out of the box: a large amount of fertilizer and Honey!

Speed-Up Fertilizer: Use on loose soil. Accelerates soil drying but also accelerates berry growth.

Wet-Wet Fertilizer: Use on loose soil. Slows down soil drying but also slows down berry growth.

Long-Lasting Fertilizer: Use on loose soil. Extends the time before berries fall.

Sticky Fertilizer: Use on loose soil. Increases the number of times new sprouts grow after withering.

These fertilizers were originally meant for cultivating berries, so besides these, there were also common fertilizers for herbs and crops.

Honey is a honey with an amber luster. It is a favorite food of Bug-type and Fairy-type Pokémon and can attract them to gather in the place where it is thrown. This stuff can be produced by Combee, so it's not a rare material.

If you want to talk about truly rare materials, it should be the "Dread Plate" produced by Vespiquen.

"Ao!"

Charizard scratched its head, indicating that these fertilizers and honey were simply too heavy, so the flight took longer than last time.

"Sorry to trouble you; our place is indeed quite remote."

Xiang Guangtai smiled and put the packed courier items into the box. Inside were one package to be sent to Pallet Town, one to Ecruteak City, and one to be sent to the Hoenn region.

Charizard looked at the packages, and when it discovered the package for the Hoenn region, its expression changed, and it made "ao-ao" sounds.

Dou Jianqiao translated in time:

Charizard is saying your workshop looks dilapidated; I didn't expect your business to have expanded to Hoenn!

"Looks dilapidated, huh? Indeed, I haven't maintained it much. Mainly, it doesn't leak when it rains, so it doesn't matter."

Xiang Guangtai felt a bit ashamed.

How could his dilapidated workshop compare to a Pokémon Center!

"Ao-ao... Ao-wu."

Charizard put its claws on its hips, seemingly complaining:

Couriers for the Hoenn region must be transferred at Olivine City, but its speed isn't fast enough. Otherwise, it could have delivered this package directly to Olivine City instead of taking it back to Blackthorn City.

Not fast enough? Xiang Guangtai recalled that Charizard's base speed stat was 100, right?

That's already quite fast.

Charizard: "Ao-ao."

The one responsible for transporting urgent packages of all sizes across the Johto region is Dragonite.

Xiang Guangtai was suddenly enlightened.

Oh, so it's Dragonite, whose base speed stat is only 80! But it's a pity it knows Extreme Speed; no wonder you can't compete with it!

At the same time, Charizard also explained that it does all the transport in the snowy mountain region because it doesn't have the Dragon-type, so it's not afraid of ice and snow. As for rainy weather, a "Sunny Day" solves it; it's not an issue at all.

In foggy weather, it clears the fog. Anyway, it's adapted to more climates than Dragonite! That guy is even afraid of snowy weather!

"Is that so? Then take this as a gift."

Xiang Guangtai took out a wooden carving shaped like Charizard.

"Ao?"

Charizard was a bit confused, not knowing what this wooden carving was for. An ordinary handicraft?

"No, after you go back, pray to the wooden carving, and it will show you the power you desire."

"Aren't you longing for speed? Yes, you can be even faster. I am an item craftsman; I sell some items with strange abilities. If you don't mind, give it a try." Xiang Guangtai smiled and explained to Charizard:

"Maybe you'll have to come here often to pick up and drop off packages. If you're faster, it'll be convenient for me too."

When long-term effort is recognized by talent, astonishing power will erupt.

Charizard accepted the wooden carving with some doubt and let out a roar that sounded slightly closer to Xiang Guangtai, indicating that if it picks up anything good on the road next time, it will definitely bring it to you!

"The relationship with Charizard has become a bit better!"

Charizard flapped its wings and took off, performing a mysterious dance in the sky. Clearly, it was using 'Dragon Dance' to increase its speed.

Afterward, it quickly disappeared at the end of the sky.

"This can also be considered a form of promotion," Xiang Guangtai muttered to himself.

And Cherubi also gazed into the distance at Charizard's departing back.

A powerful Pokémon that can cross high mountains and rivers to reach such a distant place.

If she evolves, can she travel everywhere like it?

"Yo?"

Dou Jianqiao suddenly leaned over to Cherubi's side. The latter tilted her head in confusion, while Dou Jianqiao's red ribbons on both sides swayed, and both eyes expressed a sense of speechlessness.

"Yo ┓（⊙）┏"

No, no, no, that Charizard isn't traveling!

It's just working as a courier; if it's late, it might even have its snacks deducted!

"Wawa..."

"Cherubi?"

Suddenly, Cherubi seemed to feel something. She suddenly looked left and right. When she looked up just now, she seemed to see a shadow flash by in her peripheral vision.

"Cherubi?"

Cherubi tilted her head.

Was it an illusion?

"What's wrong?" Xiang Guangtai noticed Cherubi seemed distracted, and Cherubi jumped up, saying she just saw a strange shadow.

"A strange shadow? It's daytime now; Ghost-type Pokémon shouldn't be out, right?" Xiang Guangtai rubbed his chin and looked at Dou Jianqiao, who was translating for him.

"Did you feel anything?"

"Yo-wu?"

"Yo-pu..."

Both of Dou Jianqiao's eyes showed confusion. Xiang Guangtai understood immediately upon seeing this.

"Sure enough, you can't expect Pokémon with a scatterbrained personality to have very keen observation skills."

"Maybe it was a flying leaf or weed drifting over from the forest; that's normal. Of course, it might also be because we made the Symbol Plate, so it attracted Unown!"

"It's said that Unown have a hobby of peeping at others! Anyway, don't overthink it. If it's Unown, there's no malice."

Xiang Guangtai held up a finger and explained Unown to the two Pokémon; they are just like the characters on the stone plate!

"Cherubi," Cherubi looked around again.

()?

Was it really an illusion? Or was it Unown?

If they were friends, why didn't they appear?

Xiang Guangtai had already entered the cabin, and Cherubi followed him inside after staying in the field for a while.

By the workshop window, that emerald-green Pokémon with wings appeared again and giggled.

However, before she could laugh for long, she saw Unown E.

"Time?"

The three eyes stared at each other, and Unown made an awkward sound:

"Unown."

Haha, what a coincidence, you're peeping at others too!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 39 =====