However, when it came to borrowing natural energy, Lin Feng didn't fully understand the practical implications.
"Hey, let's go find Serperior and give this a try…"
He carefully scooped the eggs into a steel bowl, holding it gently as he hurried from the garden toward the nursery.
On the way, he even passed by Growlithe, who was completely unaware of what had been going on with Ninetales.
Growlithe was exhausted, lying on the sofa near the electric heater, fast asleep.
Lin Feng stepped lightly, moving cautiously as he carried the steel bowl into the room.
It was around three in the afternoon, so many Pokémon were asleep.
Even entering the room, Lin Feng was extremely careful.
Once inside, he saw that Serperior was asleep as well.
Her long, serpentine body was coiled into several loops, her head resting gently on the edge of the bed, her mouth curled slightly as if in a pleasant dream.
Even her leafy tail was relaxed, lightly touching the side of the heater.
Soft yellow light bathed her body, making her jade-like scales glisten.
Lin Feng wanted to gently touch her but feared waking her.
In the end, he tiptoed to the bed.
He carefully set the steel bowl on the nightstand and quietly observed Serperior's sleeping form.
"Meow-ha?"
A soft voice came from beneath the covers.
Looking down, he realized it was Sprigatito, who had apparently been hiding in the blankets and had been startled by Lin Feng.
"Huh?"
Lin Feng paused, then quickly raised a finger toward Sprigatito, signaling it to stay quiet.
"Meow…"
Sprigatito quickly covered its mouth with both paws, though it seemed almost futile.
A faint voice had already emerged from behind.
"Show show?"
Lin Feng glanced back.
Serperior had awakened, her tail previously draped over the bed now curled neatly beside her.
She was the kind of Pokémon who was full of energy the moment she woke up.
No trace of grumpiness or irritability this early in the day.
"Meow-ha…"
Sprigatito looked at Serperior awkwardly, meowing timidly, and scratched its head with a paw.
"I was going to wait until you woke up naturally…" Lin Feng patted Sprigatito's small head.
"Show show…"
Serperior laid her tail gently beside Lin Feng.
Lin Feng froze for a moment, then tentatively moved his hand onto her tail. "Do you want a massage?"
"Show show!"
Serperior turned her head slightly away.
Uh… Lin Feng realized her meaning: since he had woken her, she wanted a tail massage.
"All right, all right, all right…"
He lifted her tail and began gently massaging it.
Turning his head, he looked at the steel bowl on the nightstand and opened it using his psychic power.
"I brought you something delicious. This egg can bring you good luck, and it can… enhance your natural energy to a whole new level," he explained.
He then glanced at Sprigatito. "Little kitty, do you want some too?"
There were fourteen Happiny eggs left. The first one, with its luck-enhancing effect, would naturally go to Serperior.
Lin Feng wasn't in a hurry to mention sharing any of it.
But since Sprigatito was there, it made sense to offer.
"Meow-ha?"
The little Pokémon sniffed the air and stared at Serperior, confused.
"Show show!"
Serperior nodded, and Sprigatito licked its lips and nodded in agreement.
"All right."
So, Lin Feng continued massaging Serperior's tail while using psychic power to remove the tea stains from the egg, cracking it open to reveal the slightly yellowish egg white.
He broke off a small portion and placed it in Sprigatito's mouth, giving the rest to Serperior.
"Eat up~"
Lin Feng squeezed her smooth tail lightly in greeting.
Sprigatito carefully took a bite, its eyes lighting up as it finished quickly.
Serperior, seeing the egg was a bit large, had Lin Feng pour some water from a storage ball to help swallow it.
"Show show?"
After eating, Serperior immediately sensed something unusual.
In the darkness, it felt as if a life force had connected with her, and she seemed able to borrow a certain type of energy from it.
"This is the World Tree! The one that protects Mew. You've gained its recognition, so after eating this egg, you can borrow its power."
"Show show?" (World Tree?)
Serperior had heard the name from Lin Feng before.
She knew it was where Meowth resided.
Several dishes Lin Feng had prepared for her had been connected to the World Tree.
This sparked her curiosity about it.
"Do you want to see it?" Lin Feng placed one hand on her tail and gently patted her head with the other.
"Show show…" (Yes.)
"It's almost winter. It's too cold to go outside now, so we'll wait until spring. Then I'll take you to find Mew, and it can guide us to see the World Tree, okay?"
"Show show…" (Okay…)
"Meow-ha?"
Sprigatito had finished the egg white and stayed nearby, watching Serperior and Lin Feng chat happily. It didn't understand what they were saying but noticed Lin Feng's hand always resting on Serperior's tail. Its expression gradually shifted to one of jealousy.
Unable to resist, it scampered over and pawed at Lin Feng's arm.
"All right, all right, I'll hug you."
Looking at Sprigatito like this, Lin Feng couldn't help but smile.
At this point, his Sprigatito had calmed considerably.
Originally, Sprigatito were known to be extremely jealous Pokémon.
In Paldea, new trainers who chose Sprigatito as their first Pokémon sometimes found that if they caught another Pokémon, the Sprigatito would angrily leave or loudly argue with the trainer.
Though this was only part of Sprigatito's nature, it showed their strong tendency toward jealousy.
Yet his little Pokémon was obedient, rarely causing concern, and able to get along with everyone.
"Meow-ha…"
Sprigatito's face showed pure contentment.
With one hand holding Sprigatito and the other massaging Serperior, Lin Feng basked in the warm light of the heater.
A sense of relaxation washed over him.
This was winter perfection: stroking his Pokémon while comfortably resting by the heater.
Just then, the door opened.
Looking up, he saw Ninetales and the other Pokémon entering.
When Ninetales saw Lin Feng lying on the bed holding Sprigatito and Serperior's tail, her eyes sparkled.
✪ ω ✪ "No way!" (I want a hug too…)
Then she leapt toward Lin Feng.
"Hey, hey, hey… don't pounce…"
Before long, Lin Feng found himself completely surrounded by a group of fluffy Pokémon.
Ninetales had curled up behind him, turning into a soft, living backrest…