Pokémon Breeder's Story

Chapter 33: A Day at the Breeding Center

Perhaps because Jenny Jun had once again helped promote the breeding center in Fallarbor Town, a customer arrived the very next morning, just as Kenji and Growlithe were getting out of bed.

There were two types of customers at the breeding center.

One type consisted of breeders, trainers, or coordinators who wanted to hatch Pokémon for battles. This group had high standards for the quality of the Pokémon eggs.

The other type were non-trainers. Their Pokémon were not for battling, but for companionship and living together.

Today's customer, Ms. Reiko, belonged to this second category.

Ms. Reiko was about twenty years old, a very gentle and virtuous lady.

"I work here in Fallarbor Town by myself, and I'd like a Pokémon to keep me company," Reiko said, looking at the young owner before her.

"What kind of Pokémon do you like?" Kenji asked, glancing towards the kitchen where the Clefairy were busy preparing breakfast.

Reiko thought carefully for a moment and said, "Hmm... I don't really know, actually. I want a Pokémon that can spend a lot of time with me and make me feel less lonely. Do you have any recommendations?"

Kenji was thoughtful, then asked, "May I ask what Ms. Reiko does for work?"

"I'm a painter," Reiko replied. "I used to live in Lilycove City, but then some unfortunate things happened... so I moved by myself to this quiet little town of Fallarbor to live."

"But living alone is just too lonely, so I wanted to buy a Pokémon to keep me company."

Kenji nodded and asked again, "Has Ms. Reiko had any contact with Pokémon before?"

"Never... because I wasn't interested in becoming a trainer. I just went to school like everyone else when I was young, and after graduating from university, I started looking for work everywhere, and now... here I am."

"I see!" Kenji pondered for a moment. A suitable Pokémon choice quickly came to mind. He then asked, "What does Ms. Reiko think of a Pokémon like Skitty?"

"Skitty?"

"That's right. It's a very cute little cat Pokémon. They have pink fur. Although they aren't easy to get close to, I don't think that will be a problem if you raise it from an egg."

"Skitty has a very gentle temperament and isn't very strong offensively. They are also quiet by nature and will quietly accompany you while you paint. For a painter, it couldn't be more suitable," Kenji slowly explained.

"A Skitty, you say?" Reiko murmured. An image of a Skitty she had once seen with someone on the street surfaced in her mind. It was a pink, well-behaved little cat with a very cute appearance.

"And, if you don't like Skitty's cute appearance, you can also use a Moon Stone to evolve it into a Delcatty," Kenji added.

"In that case, I'll take the Skitty!" Reiko made her decision.

"Then, the price for the Skitty egg is 70,000 Pokédollars. Cash or transfer is fine," Kenji said.

Compared to the Trapinch from before, Skitty was not particularly rare. They could be seen almost everywhere in the cities and surrounding forests of the Hoenn region, so their price was also a bit cheaper than Trapinch.

For a painter, this price was not expensive. Reiko paid the money, and Kenji handed her the Skitty egg.

"Thank you very much. I will take good care of this little one," Reiko said politely, then prepared to leave the breeding center.

"Then, take care, Ms. Reiko."

Reiko smiled, nodded, and left.

After seeing Ms. Reiko off, the Chef Clefairy had just finished preparing breakfast. Today's breakfast was fried eggs with milk. The Waiter Clefairy carried several servings to the dining area.

"Thank you for your hard work, Clefairy!" Kenji stroked the Clefairy's fluffy head.

"Clefairy~"

After breakfast, the breeding center officially began its business day. Unfortunately, Kenji waited for a long time, but no other customers came.

With nothing to do, Kenji took a stroll around the breeding center. The Taillow still hadn't come today. Kenji stood on the main road out front and looked around, but he couldn't see any sign of it.

With the number of Pokémon at the center increasing, the berries from the trees were becoming insufficient for everyone to eat. To supplement their household income, Bewear took a basket and went into the forest to forage. Kenji said goodbye to it with Growlithe, and after watching Bewear leave, he returned to the breeding center.

He made his usual trip to the backyard, checked on the condition of the previously fostered Pokémon, and looked around for any new eggs. Swampert and Quagsire were in the lake, cultivating their relationship, but had not yet begun to produce an egg. For a breeding center, this was a common occurrence. There was nothing Kenji could do about it but wait patiently.

The Clefairy were playing everywhere in the breeding center. Although they each had their own duties, with several Clefairy working together, they could finish their work in a short time. Therefore, they spent most of their time playing in various parts of the center.

In the herb garden, the night-owl Oddish was curled up under a fruit tree, fast asleep. Kenji didn't disturb it. Instead, he turned his gaze to the two Farmer Clefairy who were holding Wailmer Pails and walking between the fields, watering the plants. They looked at the newly sprouted crops with eyes full of anticipation. It was clearly the result of the combined efforts of Oddish and the Farmer Clefairy.

Kenji slowly let out a breath, his heart feeling incredibly light.

"Once Castform hatches, I can ask it to help with the watering here," Kenji thought to himself. Castform could simply transform into its Rainy Form and use Rain Dance over the fields.

The entire breeding center was a scene of thriving prosperity. Compared to its initial abandoned state, the breeding center was now gradually becoming lively.

"Woof woof!"

Growlithe obediently sat to the side. Compared to when it had just hatched from its egg, Growlithe had already grown quite a bit. Its size was finally that of a normal Growlithe. Once it evolves into an Arcanine, he can unlock ride mode! An Arcanine, a behemoth nearly two meters tall and weighing over 150 kilograms... Kenji couldn't even imagine how cool it would be to ride it down the road.

"Growlithe, you have to grow up quickly too!" Kenji stroked Growlithe's head.

Growlithe comfortably narrowed its eyes and responded, "Woof wo-woof!"

At the same time, in Meteor Falls.

Steven Stone, who had just turned ten, looked at the fork in the road before him, lost in thought.

"My training in Meteor Falls this time is almost over. Not only did my Beldum evolve into a Metang, but I also found quite a few rare stones."

That being the case, it was time to move forward. Steven took out his map and checked his next destination. After passing through Meteor Falls and a vast expanse of Fallarbor Woods, he would arrive at the town famous for its agriculture, Fallarbor Town.

"Metang, return!"

After storing the stones and recalling Metang into its Poké Ball, Steven set off, heading in the direction of Fallarbor Town.