On the day of the Harvest Festival, Lucy stood in front of the “Forest Dew Farm” booth, making her final checks.
On the light green display shelf, the nanab berry seedlings on the left had grown to twenty-five centimeters, their leaves thick and glossy; on the right were crisp cabbages, plump radishes, and a few bottles of homemade sauce; in the middle was the display area for Bulbasaur and Budew, covered in photos of their daily weeding and pest control routines, with a training log placed to the side.
“Budew…
Budew…” (So many people…) Budew hid behind the display stand, revealing only half of its flower bud, its leaves trembling slightly as it nervously peeked at the passing crowd.
“Bulba!” (Don’t be afraid!) Bulbasaur puffed out its chest and patted Budew’s leaves with its Vine Whip.
“Bulba!” (Our booth is the best!)
Lucy crouched down and patted the heads of the two Pokemon.
“Just act like you do when working on the farm.
Showing our true selves is just fine.”
“Lucy!” Circe squeezed through the crowd, wearing a light green dress with leaf patterns, followed by Grovyle and Breloom.
“Wow!
The setup looks so good!
My grandfather just passed by and praised you!”
“Grovyle.” (Clean and clear.) Grovyle nodded.
“Breloom.” (You can tell effort was put into it.) Breloom agreed.
As soon as she finished speaking, a young man in exquisite training clothes with neatly combed hair walked over, followed by a Vileplume and a Victreebel.
It was Luo Ke, the young master of Golden Ear Farm.
His booth was diagonally opposite, displaying huge carved pumpkins and a pile of Berries, looking very impressive.
Luo Ke’s gaze landed on the nanab berry seedlings.
“nanab berry that germinated in three days?
A nice gimmick.” He turned to Lucy, his tone carrying a hint of arrogance.
“Instead of spending all day recording the status of soil and seedlings, you should spend more time practicing Pokemon battles.
They are partners, not tools for farming.
Whether they are strong or not is only proven in battle.”
Bulbasaur immediately blocked Lucy, its Vine Whip tensing up.
“Bulba!” (Don’t say that!)
Budew also summoned the courage to move out from behind the display stand, its leaves shaking uncontrollably, yet it tried hard to open them.
“Budew…” (We…
we are partners too…)
Vileplume let out a low cry, and Victreebel’s Vine Whip swayed, the atmosphere instantly becoming tense.
Circe frowned, wanting to retort, but was gently held back by Lucy.
“I see it differently.” Lucy looked at Luo Ke calmly.
“By observing and understanding them more, you can take better care of them.
That is also a way to get along with partners.
Battles can demonstrate strength, but they aren’t the only way.”
Luo Ke scoffed.
“Easy to say.
Let’s see if your methods actually work during the exhibition match later.” After saying that, he turned and left, with Vileplume and Victreebel following behind.
“What a person!” Circe said indignantly.
“It’s fine.” Lucy shook her head and continued organizing the booth.
The exhibition segment began, and the judges went around inspecting and asking questions.
When they reached Forest Dew, Lucy held her record book and explained, “This is the status of the nanab berry from sowing until now.
The soil was improved by mixing in compost and sand.
Usually, I have the Pokemon help with weeding and loosening the soil, so no pesticides are used.”
“You say that having Bulbasaur bask in the sun helps the seedlings grow better?” a middle-aged judge wearing glasses asked with interest.
The little one walked over to a slightly wilted spare seedling and spread its leaves toward the sun.
A few minutes later, the leaves of that seedling had indeed perked up significantly.
“Interesting.” The judge nodded and made a few notes in their notebook.
On the other side, Luo Ke had Vileplume use a skill to ripen a Berry, and had Victreebel use Vine Whip to carve a pumpkin, attracting many onlookers who marveled at the sight.
The exhibition ended, and it was time for the 2v2 double exhibition match, which was voluntary.
Luo Ke was the first to raise his hand, pointing at Lucy.
“I want to have a match with Lucy from Forest Dew Farm to see which of our different raising methods makes the Pokemon more effective.”
Circe nervously pulled at Lucy.
“If you don’t want to compete, just refuse.
It’s okay!”
Lucy looked at the two Pokemon.
Bulbasaur’s eyes were firm, and it set its Vine Whip into a battle stance.
“Bulba!” (We can do it!) Although Budew was still shaking, it held its flower bud up high and gently touched Lucy’s hand.
“Budew…” (I will…
do my best…)
“We will compete.” Lucy’s voice rang out clearly.
They stood at opposite ends of the battle arena.
Luo Ke sent out Vileplume and Victreebel, looking very imposing.
On Lucy’s side were Bulbasaur and Budew, who looked much smaller by comparison.
“The match begins!”
Luo Ke gave the first command: “Vileplume, use Sunny Day!
Victreebel, use Vine Whip to block them!”
The flower crown on Vileplume’s head lit up, and the sunlight suddenly became intense.
Victreebel’s two thick Vine Whips whistled as they lashed out toward Bulbasaur and Budew, attempting to block their path.
“Bulbasaur, throw Leech Seed to the side of Victreebel’s feet!
Budew, prepare Stun Spore, and wait for my command!” Lucy didn’t have them rush in head-on.
Bulbasaur flicked its Vine Whip, and a Leech Seed landed precisely on the soft soil at Victreebel’s feet, instantly using Ingrain, and tiny tendrils wrapped around its roots.
Victreebel shifted, looking a bit uncomfortable.
Budew held its breath, its flower bud glowing with a yellow light.
“These little tricks are useless!” Luo Ke shouted.
“Vileplume, Solar Beam!
Victreebel, knock Bulbasaur away!”
Vileplume gathered energy under the sun, the center of its flower crown shining blindingly bright.
Ignoring the discomfort at its feet, Victreebel lashed its Vine Whip even harder toward Bulbasaur.
“Now!” Lucy said immediately.
“Budew, scatter the Stun Spore into Vileplume’s flower heart!
Bulbasaur, use a mist of water to block it!”
Budew summoned all its courage and blew the Stun Spore toward Vileplume’s flower crown.
The powder landed on the stamen, causing Vileplume’s energy-gathering motion to falter.
The Solar Beam shot out crookedly, hitting the protective barrier without causing any damage.
At the same time, Bulbasaur used its Vine Whip to scoop up water from the nearby irrigation ditch, kicking up a mist of water.
Victreebel’s vision was blocked, and its Vine Whip grazed past Bulbasaur.
“What the?” Luo Ke was a bit surprised.
“Bulbasaur, use Razor Leaf on the point just below Vileplume’s stem!” Lucy had long since noticed that Vileplume’s stem supported its large flower crown, and the third section down didn’t seem as sturdy.
Three sharp leaves spun out and struck exactly the same spot.
Vileplume swayed in pain, and its coordination with Victreebel was thrown off for a beat.
“Forget that!” Luo Ke was getting anxious.
“Victreebel, use Power Whip and sweep them away!”
It looked like they were about to hit the nanab berry seedlings!
“Budew—!” Budew shrieked.
Seeing the seedlings it had worked so hard to grow about to be destroyed, it forgot its fear.
A large cloud of Stun Spore erupted from its flower bud, forming a barrier of powder in front of the Vine Whips.
The speed of the Vine Whips slowed down, and their direction shifted, ultimately only knocking over a pot of decorative grass.
Just as Victreebel’s movements slowed and it lacked the strength to swing its Vine Whips again, Lucy saw a ring-like spot on its stem that seemed to be a weak point.
“Bulbasaur, use your Vine Whip to wrap around that ring and pull down hard!”
Bulbasaur’s Vine Whip wrapped around it like a serpent.
It dug its four feet into the ground, using the strength it usually applied to moving logs and turning soil, and gave a fierce tug!
“Boom!” Victreebel lost its balance and fell heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
It struggled to get up, but its rhythm was already broken.
Vileplume tried to help, but its movements were awkward from Budew’s Stun Spore, and it couldn’t get close at all.
The referee checked the time and raised their hand.
“Exhibition match time is up!
Both sides were excellent!”
The whole arena went quiet for a moment, and then thunderous applause erupted.
Everyone could see that although Lucy’s side looked weaker, they had resolved the crisis and even gained the upper hand through cleverness and teamwork.
Luo Ke silently recalled his Pokemon and walked to the side of the arena, watching as Lucy checked to see if Bulbasaur and Budew were injured, comforting them softly.
During the awards ceremony, Forest Dew Farm won the “Best Novelty Crop Award” and the “Most Innovative Cultivation Technique Award.” To everyone’s surprise, the judging panel added a special award: the “Best Partner Collaboration Display Award,” which was presented to Bulbasaur and Budew in recognition of their efforts to protect the exhibits.
When presenting the award, the middle-aged judge said, “Your cultivation methods and your attitude toward Pokemon are very unique.
We can chat again if there’s an opportunity later.”
Jonathan also walked over and said with a smile, “I brought the contract, Lucy.
I also have a Berry research project that really needs a partner like you who understands farming and cares for Pokemon.
Would you like to join?”
Circe’s grandfather, that stern Grass-type Gym Leader, also came over and said to Lucy, “Taking root in the soil to work hard, and still being able to handle trouble—your parents would be proud of you.
From now on, the Gym will buy its Berries from you.”
After the crowd dispersed, Luo Ke walked over again, this time alone.
He looked at Lucy and hesitated for a moment.
“How…
how did you know that Vileplume’s stem and Victreebel’s ring were weak points?”
Holding the sleeping Bulbasaur and letting Budew lean against her leg, Lucy said with a smile, “By watching them grow and work every day, I slowly discovered it.
Every Pokemon has its own way of being; understanding them isn’t about defeating anyone, but about being able to work well together.”
Luo Ke was silent for a long time before saying, “…I understand.” As he turned and left, his back didn’t seem quite as stiff.
As the sun set, the festival came to an end.
Lucy and Circe packed up the exhibits together and took Circe’s family truck back to the farm.
On the way, Bulbasaur fell fast asleep in Lucy’s arms, and Budew was also dozing off curled up on her leg.
“Today was amazing!” Circe was still excited.
“You didn’t see the look on Luo Ke’s face at the end!
And my grandfather, he rarely praises anyone!”
Lucy nodded with a smile.
Back at the farm, the Lotads came swarming up, “Hap-bo, hap-bo”-ing and cheering around them.
Lucy gave the two Pokemon some care, fed them dinner, and then sat on the steps in front of the house.
Bulbasaur and Budew leaned against her, one on each side, snoring softly.
The Lotads also quieted down, lying by the pond.
In the night, there were only the faint sounds of the farm; everything was quiet, yet it was filled with a sense of contentment.