A cool breeze swept past. Lin Feng didn't feel cold, but his new Pokémon, the female Indeedee standing beside him, shivered slightly as she watched Liang Feng leave.
Lin Feng noticed right away.
"Come inside first. It's probably a little chilly out here," he said warmly.
The two Indeedees hesitated for a moment before quietly following behind Lin Feng, stepping into the nursery.
The first ones to spot them were the Alcremie still perched on the counter.
They stared curiously at the new arrivals behind Lin Feng.
"Al~cremie?" (Are these new friends?)
"Yes. They'll be our future helpers," Lin Feng answered without hesitation, affirming their place right away.
"Indee…?"
The male Indeedee froze at those words.
They hadn't even started helping this new trainer with anything yet, and already he trusted them so much?
"Veeehhh~?"
Just then, Alolan Vulpix emerged from the backyard, wondering why Lin Feng still hadn't shown up at the orchard. When she walked in, she immediately noticed the two new Pokémon.
They weren't very big.
Vulpix quickly connected the dots, remembering how Lin Feng had been muttering lately about waiting for a Pokémon that could help him with chores.
So it was these two?
Her natural outgoing personality took over, and she ran straight up to the female Indeedee. After a moment of consideration, she rubbed her paw against the Pokémon's snowy white "skirt."
"Veeehhh?"
"Indee~"
The female Indeedee glanced at Lin Feng, then her eyes softened. She crouched down gently, and before Vulpix could react, lifted her up in a tender embrace.
"Indee~" (There, there.)
She could sense that this little fox, despite its size, wasn't very old perhaps only two months.
That was why her instincts as a caretaker kicked in. She held Vulpix the same way she would comfort the younger Pokémon back home, using the nurturing methods she had learned from her mother.
To her, not just Vulpix but even the Alcremie on the counter were like children in need of care.
That realization delighted her.
The more "babies" there were, the more she had to do.
Meanwhile, the male Indeedee wasn't paying attention to them. His sharp eyes swept across the room. When he saw the slightly messy counter, scattered supplies, and a tabletop smudged with dirt, his hands itched to tidy up.
He wanted to start cleaning immediately.
As for Vulpix, she let out a small whine from within the Indeedee's arms.
"Veeehhh…"
She felt like she was being treated like a child.
But… being held like this was actually quite comfortable.
So instead of wriggling free, she tilted her head curiously toward the female Indeedee.
"Veeehhh?" (Can you really help Lin Feng with a lot of things? He's been so busy lately, he barely has time for us.)
The female Indeedee blinked, surprised to hear Vulpix speak up first.
But she quickly smiled and replied softly, "Indee~" (Yes, I can. I'll help him however I can like taking care of all of you.)
Even though she had only been here a short while, she could already sense the emotions filling this nursery.
Most of them were warm and positive.
She remembered her brother's words before they arrived:
We have to test this new trainer. If he isn't good, we'll leave. No need to serve him.
But now… he seemed more than good.
He seemed wonderful.
Vulpix pouted. "Veeehhh…" (I want to help too, but I can't do much. I feel useless to Lin Feng.)
The female Indeedee's smile grew gentler. "Indee~" (That's alright. My brother is very good at these things. He can help the trainer with plenty of work.)
She turned toward her brother. "Indee~?" (Isn't that right, brother?)
The male Indeedee nodded, serious as ever. "Indee!" (Yes. But don't forget what I told you earlier.)
"Indee~" (I know, I know.)
The female waved him off, though her eyes were already sparkling with curiosity as she looked at the Alcremie.
What kind of Pokémon were they?
They looked absolutely adorable.
Standing nearby, Lin Feng watched the two Indeedees exchange what looked like a secret conversation. He couldn't help but ask, "What are you two talking about?"
Tasks?
Why hadn't Liang Feng mentioned anything about them needing to discuss tasks between themselves?
The male Indeedee straightened and said, "Indee!" (We just want to ask what exactly is our main job here?)
"Oh, that?" Lin Feng smiled. "No need to rush. Come with me, I'll show you around the orchard first."
"Indee?"
The two Indeedees glanced at each other, then followed behind him through the back door.
The moment they stepped outside, their eyes went wide.
At the entrance stood two berry trees, marking the start of winding paths that connected to neat fields of crops. At the center of it all shimmered a crystal-clear reservoir.
Its surface glimmered with shifting colors, and with a splash, a graceful Milotic rose from the water, gleaming in the sun.
Around the berry fields, a green Pokémon worked patiently, casting its moves to nurture the plants. Under its care, the crops glowed faintly, radiating vitality.
Overhead, a pink butterfly Pokémon noticed Lin Feng and showered the air with sparkling powder, its scales catching the sunlight like glittering jewels.
The dazzling sight left the female Indeedee utterly speechless, her eyes wide with awe.
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