Pokémon: Starting with a Pokémon Ranch.

Chapter 30: Big Green Onion Duck, Have Some Backbone!

After finishing most of the work on the ranch, Su Yu returned to the tropical dragon's side.

At this moment, Tropius was still practicing how to gather grass-type energy into the wing-like leaves on its back, making them sharp enough to split an apple.

But after many attempts, it wasn't difficult to concentrate the energy onto the blade, but it just wouldn't become sharp.

In this way, it can no longer be called a leaf blade technique; it is merely a simple mobilization of energy within the body.

"It's okay, you keep practicing, I'll just watch from the side."

Seeing that the tropical dragon had noticed his arrival, Su Yu said something and then found a place to sit down.

"Hey."

Seeing this, the tropical dragon became even more serious. It carefully controlled the grass-type energy on its leaves and practiced continuously.

Until one time, it seemed to have succeeded, the leaves on its back actually sliced ​​open the apple on the table, leaving a cut about an inch deep on its surface.

"So, it's a success?"

Seeing this, the tropical dragon's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly. However, this was not yet a complete success.

Although the grass-type energy successfully sharpened the leaves, this power was clearly far from enough for battle; it would be difficult to even use it for cutting vegetables in daily life.

The tropical dragon clearly knew this, and after its first success, it immediately tried to remember the feeling it had just experienced, wanting to recreate the situation.

Then it began a new round of attempts.

……

After succeeding halfway through the first attempt, Tropius's ability to enhance its leaves using Grass-type energy stabilized.

Several times in a row, it successfully cut the apple to the same depth as the first time.

But that seemed to be the end of it. After that, the tropical dragon's training progressed no further.

Tropical Dragon practiced from morning until noon, but made no progress in cutting marks on the apple, which made him very impatient.

But thinking of its companions captured by poaching gangs, Tropical Dragon calmed down. This was how training was; it wasn't as naturally gifted as Caterpillar. All its growth could only come from its own hard work.

During this time, Su Yu also left for a while to prepare lunch for the Pokémon. When he returned, Su Yu brought back a grass cake and some energy cubes for the Tropius.

"Let's have lunch first. You can't train on an empty stomach, and the grass cake might help you too."

Su Yu said this.

Upon hearing this, Tropical Dragon stopped training and rested for a while.

Meanwhile, on the other side...

A giant green onion duck had been starving in the forest for several days.

It's the dead of winter now, and the fruit trees are almost bare.

A few days ago, a heavy snow destroyed Farfetch'd's home, freezing all the stem plants it had carefully tended to to death, leaving only the leek in Farfetch'd's hand that survived.

Seeing that its entire home was flooded by heavy snow and that it couldn't dig out any of the stem plants inside, the farfalle duck had no choice but to leave its home and begin its life as a wanderer.

During its wanderings, it also encountered other farfalle ducks.

Farfetch'd's home also seemed to have been destroyed in the heavy snow. However, Farfetch'd decided to go to a nearby human city to try its luck and see if it could be captured by a wealthy human trainer.

If it could be tamed, it would probably never have to worry about food or shelter. Therefore, the giant green onion duck longed for the city.

Farfetch'd, however, scoffed at this behavior, thinking that Farfetch'd had no ambition whatsoever.

How could a capable Farfetch'd be kept by humans?

Choosing to actively seek refuge with a human trainer is an act of utter weakness, something a proud Farfetch'd like me would never do.

Green onion duck, you must have backbone!

After looking at the scallion in its hand, even though it hadn't eaten for several days, the scallion duck shook its head frantically. No, no, this is the last scallion; it can't just be eaten like this.

This is its favorite green onion, and it's the most convenient weapon to use. It can't just be eaten like this.

But after taking another look at the scallion, DaCongDuck's mouth was practically watering.

Shaking its head again, Farfetch'd decided to stop thinking about leeks. It had come to this place to reach an abandoned pasture to the south.

There is a lake on that pasture. Farfetch'd has seen many stem plants there, and it doesn't seem to snow here to the south, so it should be a good place to spend the winter.

After emerging from a thicket of bushes, Farfetch'd thought it was almost at its familiar, abandoned pasture. However, upon stepping out of the bushes, it found itself staring at a tropical dragon having lunch nearby.

"Gah...!"

Seeing Tropius enjoying the grass cake, Farfetch'd's eyes almost welled up with tears. But when it saw its human trainer beside it, it froze.

Humans? Weren't there no humans here before?

Could it be that this ranch...

Looking at the ranch, which was completely different from when he had seen it months ago, Farfetch'd knew that his relocation plan had been completely ruined. Not only had it resumed operation, but it had also been occupied by a young trainer.

And the Pokémon here seem to have pretty good food?

Farfetch'd glanced at the grass cake out of the corner of its eye, and even from a distance, it could smell the tempting sweet aroma in the air.

Meanwhile, Su Yu was also examining the giant green onion duck.

Compared to a normal green onion duck, this green onion duck... seems a bit too thin?

A normal green onion duck should be a bit bigger than this one, not so thin that its bones are almost showing.

And... a skinny leek duck doesn't look very appetizing, oh wait... such a skinny leek duck looks so pitiful...

However, when Su Yu glanced at the green onion in Farfetch'd's hand, he remembered that Farfetch'ds were all sword masters.

Su Yu didn't know about the others, but Ash's Farfetch'd was quite powerful. During Ash's journey to win the championship, Farfetch'd carried the entire time, making it much better than Dragonite, which is a version of trap.

Moreover, its special evolved form in the Galar region, Sirfetch'd, is also very powerful and a great choice for trainers.

More importantly, as sword masters... Farfetch'd will definitely use leaf blades, right?

So, if I only use one grass cake, this Farfetch'd should be able to teach the tropical dragon how to use leaf blades, right? Hmm... this Farfetch'd is so skinny, it shouldn't be a problem.

Thinking of this, Su Yu tried to speak:

"Um...hey Farfetch'd over there, do you know the Leaf Blade move?"

"If you know how, I'd like you to teach my tropical dragon the Leaf Blade move. As for the reward, a grass cake, I wonder if that's enough?"

"Gah!"

Farfetch'd was shocked to hear Su Yu's words. What had it just heard? The other party had actually bid for a grass cake?!

Is it the kind of cake that the tropical dragons over there are eating?

That trainer is really generous!

Su Yu's words made Farfetch'd somewhat tempted. But then, Farfetch'd remembered its fellow Farfetch'd who had gone to the big city. Accepting human food now, it seemed, wasn't much different from that Farfetch'd.

Hmm... no, no, you big green onion duck, you have to have some backbone!

So, under Su Yu's surprised gaze, the giant green onion duck shook its head and chose to refuse.

……

I'm eager to continue reading. I asked the editor today, and it seems the author is really going to flop...

(End of this chapter)