"Shu-Shu."
From the garden entrance, Serperior slithered gracefully into view, its emerald body gleaming faintly under the sunlight. The regal serpent tilted its head and hissed softly, asking, "Shu-shu…?" (Should I use Grassy Terrain on these flowers too?)
Lin Feng's eyes lit up instantly. That suggestion struck him like a spark. Until now, whenever he planted flowers in the garden, it was mostly to provide nectar for his Combee so they could produce honey. He had never really thought too deeply about the plants themselves.
But things were different now.
Serperior's Grassy Terrain didn't just restore vitality or energize allies it had the strange ability to trigger mutations in plants. If one of these flowers mutated, would the nectar change as well? Could it create a completely new fragrance, a new property, maybe even a new effect in battles or medicine?
Lin Feng felt excitement stir in his chest. "That's a great idea. Go ahead. Whenever you have free time, use Grassy Terrain on these flower beds. Let's see what comes of it."
"Shu-shu~" (Alright.)
Serperior's eyes gleamed. It lifted its body high and, with a graceful sweep of its tail, released shimmering green energy that spread outward like rippling waves of spring. The vibrant aura cascaded across the flowerbeds, filling the entire garden with life.
Almost instantly, the flowers seemed to bloom brighter and fuller. Their petals unfurled with an energy that felt alive, like tiny flames of color dancing under the sun. Even the Combee buzzing above seemed delighted, flitting more actively between blossoms, their wings shimmering as if celebrating the sudden abundance.
Under the aura, the freshly sown seeds planted earlier by Florges's younger sister had already begun to sprout, tender shoots pushing through the soil far earlier than expected.
Lin Feng crouched, scanning eagerly among the flowerbeds. His eyes swept the rows, searching for signs of change.
Then he spotted it.
Amid fading lilies, one stood out a soft lavender bloom that seemed almost ethereal. The other lilies drooped with age, their petals curling toward the ground, but this one glowed with vigor. Its petals were larger, fresher, exuding a delicate fragrance that lifted his spirit simply by breathing it in.
It was no ordinary lily.
His pulse quickened as he activated his Appraisal Eye.
[Fresh Lily A mutation of the common lily. Radiates a refreshing fragrance that attracts flower-type Pokémon. With the right temperature, it will not wither year-round.]
"Really? A flower that attracts flower Pokémon?"
Lin Feng's eyes widened. His mind raced with possibilities.
There were quite a few Pokémon it could draw. He thought back to the Flabébé flower shop he'd once visited. Pokémon like Venusaur, Lilligant, Gloom, Vileplume, Bellossom… All flower-based species that could respond to this unique scent.
Flabébé would be wonderful. Lilligant too, so elegant and rare. Bellossom had its own kind of charm.
As he muttered possibilities under his breath, Lin Feng chuckled, realizing he was letting his imagination run wild. After all, this was just a single mutated lily, not a magical beacon guaranteeing that flower Pokémon would flock here.
Still, he couldn't shake the flicker of hope.
Shaking his head with amusement, he waved to Florges's little sister and Serperior, signaling to continue their stroll through the garden. They wandered among the beds, searching for more unusual blooms, but after some time, it became clear that only the one lily had mutated.
Satisfied, Lin Feng turned toward the kitchen. "Alright. No more experiments for now. Let's get lunch ready for everyone."
But just as he stepped out of the garden into the plantation field, a sudden whoosh split the sky.
The sound was sharp, powerful, and unmistakably fast.
Lin Feng looked up. His heart skipped a beat. Few Pokémon could move with such speed. Only two came to mind immediately: Dragonite and Mewtwo.
And indeed, it was Dragonite who appeared first. The orange dragon swooped down like a comet, eyes sparkling with joy. The moment it saw Lin Feng, it let out an ecstatic cry, rushed straight at him, and before Lin Feng could react scooped him up into its massive arms, soaring into the sky in a dizzying spiral of joy.
"Wha hey! Stop, stop!"
Lin Feng's stomach lurched as Dragonite spun him through the air. The ground blurred below in dizzy circles. By the time Dragonite finally slowed and carefully descended, Lin Feng was clutching at its scales, his hair windswept and his eyes wide with shock.
Dragonite released him gently, eyes apologetic yet still gleaming with affection.
Lin Feng exhaled sharply, trying to calm his racing heart. "Next time… at least warn me, alright?"
Dragonite gave a sheepish laugh, scratching its head as if to say it was just too happy to see him.
And then Lin Feng noticed Mewtwo descending behind it, silent as ever. Its movements were unhurried, yet there was a softness in its gaze that hadn't been there before.
Strange. Mewtwo's presence always carried weight, like a storm in waiting. But now, standing here in this small town, it seemed… lighter, almost at peace.
Was it Dragonite's carefree joy that softened it? Or was it the town itself, with its inexplicable air of comfort?
Lin Feng straightened his clothes and looked at Mewtwo curiously. "So? Did you finish your task? How did it go?"
He had wondered for days how Mewtwo planned to carry out this so-called "Rebellion." After all, this wasn't just some casual project it involved another so-called "Super Rookie" making their move as well. And with Lin Feng himself involved, the course of events was bound to differ from anything written in history.
Mewtwo's expression darkened slightly at the memory. Its eyes flickered with emotion, an unusual complexity that rarely surfaced. "…That human. The one I faced. He was… absurd. Beyond reason."
Lin Feng resisted the urge to press for details. Instead, he asked the second question weighing on his mind. "Well, since you're back here, I take it things went fairly well? Now that the test game is over, what's next? Where do you plan to go?"
He knew Mewtwo's options. In the stories, it once planned to gather its cloned Pokémon and escape to a distant place far from humans. But now, with things changed, with Lin Feng's influence in play, perhaps its path would be different.
Mewtwo fell silent, its gaze turning distant. Finally, it admitted, "…I don't know. I feel… more lost than before. I was created by humans, born with rage against them, against the bond they shared with Pokémon. Now that hatred is gone. And without it… I don't know what purpose I have left."
The confession hung heavy in the air.
For all its power, for all its unmatched strength, Mewtwo's voice trembled with uncertainty.
Lin Feng studied it for a long moment. Then, suddenly, he grinned. His tone was light, almost teasing, but his words carried warmth. "If you don't know what to do, then just work with me. How about it? Sitting around idle isn't good for anyone. I'll give you things to do, keep you busy, stop you from overthinking. Otherwise, you'll just keep spiraling until you actually develop depression."
Dragonite burst out laughing at the comment, wings fluttering as if to say it agreed wholeheartedly.
Mewtwo blinked, caught off guard. Its gaze flicked to Lin Feng, who was still smiling easily, as if the solution to its crisis was as simple as stepping forward.
For the first time in a long while, Mewtwo felt the weight on its chest ease just a little.
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