Chapter 25: A New Addition to the Workshop

June 14.
Weather: Overcast, light rain.
After several days of clear and cloudy skies, the rain has finally arrived. It is a light, gentle rain, just right, meaning there is no need to water the crops today.
Business has been brisk lately; my funds have suddenly become quite abundant!
Yesterday afternoon, Guangtai went into the village and brought back an anvil, which he placed in the forge. At the same time, he ordered a batch of "Crystal Honey" online. It is an essential ingredient for crafting Rare Candy, though I have yet to obtain the crucial Pecha Berry. Purchasing the honey is merely a step in advance.
Guangtai was in a great mood today. He pushed open the door and, umbrella in hand, walked out to the herb and vegetable fields.
On the edge of the fields, near the medicinal herbs, familiar leaves appeared once again.
However, this time the leaves were tattered, and two of them were snapped. Petilil had buried herself in the soil, staying just off the edge of the field, as if she believed that staying there would prevent her from being driven away by Guangtai. Beside her lay a single white Apricorn.
"It seems you lost again."
She had been beaten even worse than last time. Guangtai walked over and tried to pull her up. Petilil let out a disgruntled "Petil" sound, but upon realizing it was the owner of the house, she struggled to poke her head out from the soil.
Indeed, not only had her previous wounds reopened, but they were also much deeper than before—a rare occurrence in the Pokémon world. Some of the wounds, however, differed from the rest; it seemed she had been attacked by Bug-type Pokémon while she was in a weakened state.
"Petil..."
Petilil looked at Guangtai, then at the Revival Herb nearby, and finally pushed the white Apricorn toward him.
"No, it hasn't grown enough yet. It’s only been two or three days," Guangtai replied helplessly. Petilil nodded and slumped back down. She didn't even have the strength to hop around this time.
Guangtai picked up the white Apricorn.
[Rare Material: White Apricorn]
[Description: A white fruit with no scent. Apricorns only grow in fertile soil.]
[Knowledge Gained: 1]
[Fertile Land: The crops, herbs, and trees you plant will increase the vitality of the surrounding area, allowing the land to recover its fertility more quickly.]
"Was it because your habitat was taken away? I've heard that conflicts in the forest are intense, but you surely didn't come from the depths of the Johto Forest, did you?"
Guangtai asked. Petilil raised her head slightly:
"Petil... Petil..."
At that moment, Honedge floated out. Acting as a loyal translator for Guangtai, it relayed her words. She lived on the outskirts of the forest, not in the deep parts of the Johto Forest. She said she was only using the soil nearby to recover her strength and would leave soon, ensuring she wouldn't bring any danger to this herb garden.
"Petil... Petil..."
If necessary, she could trade her leaves for medicine and herbs, but she asked how he knew her habitat had been taken.
"I know a little about your habits. You are a social species, and usually, there is a Lilligant acting as the leader."
Hearing Honedge’s translation, Guangtai felt a bit awkward—an awkwardness stemming from the feeling that he had become the villain. But this Petilil had a truly unique personality; she refused to trouble others and insisted on trading her leaves for medicine. A stubborn nature is truly something else.
"Petil..."
Petilil responded weakly.
Honedge translated: She had abandoned her leader.
Guangtai looked puzzled. "You didn't get abandoned by a Lilligant; you abandoned the Lilligant?"
This question was soon answered by Petilil. In the meantime, Guangtai fetched medicinal items, Revitalizing Fragments, and berries as usual. After eating and receiving treatment, Petilil’s condition improved.
According to her, because her companions—including the leader—were unwilling to take back their habitat, she had abandoned them to try and reclaim it herself. If weak Pokémon have their homes stolen by stronger ones, then one simply needs to become strong enough to take them back.
Many Grass-type Pokémon dislike conflict, but some have distinct personalities and traits. They are often the rebels of their tribes. For some reason, Guangtai thought of Ash’s Sceptile. Back when it was a Treecko, it had been a rebel within its own group.
The way Pokémon grow stronger is simple: battle. Constant battles in the wild accumulate experience, leading to the conditions for evolution or the learning of new moves. However, Petilil’s evolution cannot be achieved through experience alone; she must find a Sun Stone.
"Battle, fail, get injured, heal, and continue to battle."
"Have your chances of winning increased? How many times have you fought since your habitat was stolen?"
Guangtai asked, but Petilil couldn't quite remember—at least a dozen times or more.
In other words, even before Guangtai moved here, she had been fighting other Pokémon continuously, starting from the harsh winter and cold spring before summer arrived.
"The habitat was taken in winter or spring because the warm, nutrient-rich soil is good for living... Was it taken by another Grass-type Pokémon? But there must have been other secondary types involved."
"Do you need help?"
Faced with Guangtai’s kind offer, Petilil stared at him for a long while. She neither shook nor nodded her head, but instead let out a loud cry:
"Petil! Petil!"
This time, the sound was not soft; it was filled with unwillingness and anger. If she didn't reclaim the habitat on her own, her companions would never reflect on themselves. They would only say she relied on someone else's power to take it back. Once the helper left, the home would just be snatched away again by another Pokémon, and everything would be exactly as it was before!
Therefore, she must rely on herself. She must evolve!
For the sake of becoming stronger... she didn't need temporary help, but true strength. For that, she would give anything... though all she had were the leaves on her head to trade. If he didn't mind, he could take them all!
Guangtai was moved. Generally, weak Pokémon look for trainers or coexist with stronger Pokémon to secure a stable life. Following a trainer allows them to grow stronger, and coexisting provides mutual benefits. However, a Pokémon with such a stubborn, self-reliant personality—one that even views trainers as an unstable external force—was something else entirely.
Guangtai’s thoughts were complex, but Honedge was deeply touched. It floated over to Petilil and comforted her vigorously with its blue sash!
"Yo!"
A long time ago, some of the knights I knew possessed this very spirit!
Tempering one's own power and defeating powerful enemies is a process of transcending oneself!
I support you!
Honedge was very moved and told Petilil that it wanted to help her train!
"Yo!"
I was once the sword... of a knight! And I have the glorious record of dragon-slaying! In ancient times, it was enough to be recorded in history and sung about in songs!
"That was just defeating a Gible, not a Garchomp. Even if you're a dragon-slayer, defeating a hatchling doesn't prove you're very strong," Guangtai ruthlessly exposed.
But Honedge replied that it didn't matter if it was a young dragon; it was a young sword itself! Honedge immediately patted its scabbard to guarantee it to Petilil:
"Yo!" (⊙)/~♬!
I am strong, and this human is strong too. As long as you undergo our training and wear the gear we craft, there will be no enemy you cannot defeat!
"That's right," Guangtai offered. "If you want to become stronger, come work for me. You can get stronger through work, and with the training Honedge mentioned... it’s fine. Weak Pokémon can become strong. You just need to utilize move combinations and possess a strong, resilient will!"
"So, it’s a deal."
Guangtai took out a Poké Ball: "A trainer in the Johto region once said: 'Strong Pokémon, weak Pokémon... that is only the selfish perception of people.'"
"You will definitely become stronger."
Petilil looked at the Poké Ball and, with almost no hesitation, tapped it!
The red light pulled Petilil inside, and the ball stopped after barely a shake!
"I... caught a Petilil!"