After receiving the certification Professor Rowan had prepared for him, Victor and his group said their goodbyes to the professor.
They then mounted the Pokémon the lab had lent them and headed back towards the Breeding House.
Several of the professor's assistants accompanied them to help settle in the Pokémon that needed to be boarded.
"Cele~"
Celebi flew up from Victor's head, rubbed its dark-ringed eyes, and looked around.
Is it over? Celebi seemed puzzled.
Watching its movements, Victor felt a bit helpless.
"So you were sleeping on my head just now?" he sighed, twisting his slightly numb neck.
"Cele~" Hearing Victor, Celebi covered its mouth and giggled, then flew over to Shana's side.
Watching it go, Victor could only sigh helplessly. Such a bunch of kids.
Upon returning to the Breeding House, Victor opened the door and walked inside. He suddenly heard the sounds of Pokémon coming from the backyard.
He walked into the kitchen, opened the back door, and stepped out.
The backyard was teeming with Pokémon.
Just then, he felt a weight on his shoulder. He turned to see a white squirrel Pokémon holding out a berry to him.
Victor took the berry. As the Pachirisu turned to leave, he quickly grabbed it and gave its large tail a thorough petting.
The Staravia, seeing Victor return, flew over and landed on the nearby sun umbrella, quietly preening its feathers.
Jenny and Joy also came over. Seeing the scene before them, Jenny smiled.
"Looks like your Breeding House is starting to get lively."
Shana squeezed through between them, gasped "Wow!" at the sight, said "So many Pokémon!", and then ran out with her Tinkerbell, Petilil, and the others.
Watching Shana play with all the Pokémon, Victor rubbed his forehead.
He led Gengar back to the front to help the lab assistants bring the rescued Pokémon into the backyard.
These traumatized Pokémon were stunned when they saw all the other Pokémon already there.
They looked towards Victor and the others, silently asking if they could go play too.
Seeing this, Victor had an idea.
It seems the companionship of other Pokémon will speed up their healing process.
Looking at the Roselia, Heracross, Misdreavus, Teddiursa, and the other rescued Pokémon, Victor asked them to wait a moment.
He then looked at the wild Pokémon gathered in his yard and took a deep breath.
"Everyone!"
All the Pokémon looked over and gathered around him. Several Azumarill, Azurill, Marill, Psyduck, and Golduck came running from the lake area as well.
Looking at all the Pokémon before him, Victor was about to speak when a crisp voice interrupted him.
"Line up! Stand straight!"
"Lili!"
It was Shana and the Petilil. Victor and the others looked over in confusion and saw them standing seriously before the crowd of Pokémon.
Even more shocking was that the Pokémon actually listened to them, lining up neatly one by one.
"?!" Victor stared at Shana and the Petilil in disbelief.
What just happened?
"Okay, uncle. You can speak now."
Shana's voice brought Victor back to his senses. He looked at the orderly lines of Pokémon and swallowed hard.
Why does this feel like inspecting a security team?
He then explained the situation of the rescued Pokémon behind him and reiterated the rules of the Breeding House.
The wild Pokémon nodded continuously. When they first arrived in the backyard, the Vespiquen and Staravia had already explained everything clearly.
They were just here to play, not to cause trouble.
Victor understood this. He nodded to the rescued Pokémon behind him.
After entrusting the management of the backyard to Shana and the Petilil, Victor and the others returned to the front counter.
From the reaction of the forest Pokémon just now, Victor was confident that Shana and the Petilil could manage them well.
Besides, Dali and the others were also watching.
He then took Mime Jr. and began explaining the workings of the Breeding House to the Gothita.
"So, from now on, I'll be counting on you and Mime Jr. to help me with the work here."
"Mime, mime~"
"Goth~" Gothita smiled and nodded.
With that settled, Victor stretched.
He, Jenny, and Joy went to the afternoon tea area in the backyard and began to enjoy a relaxing moment after a busy day.
Although it was more like evening tea time.
Joy took a sip of her milk tea, looked at the bustling Breeding House, and said nostalgically, "It's starting to feel more and more like it did back in Grandma Jasmine's time."
Hearing his great-aunt mentioned, Victor looked into the distance. Celebi, Vulpix, Gengar, Dali, Erli, Sanli, the forest Pokémon, and the Pokémon brought back from the lab were all helping Shana with her flower garden.
His gaze drifted further. A Teddiursa was hiding alone under the swing set tree, watching the Pokémon surrounding Shana. It wanted to join in, but it was afraid of being attacked by humans and Pokémon again, just like when it was held by the hunters.
As it hesitated, its shoulder was tapped. It jumped, startled, and turned to see the Pachirisu holding out a berry.
Is this for me? the Teddiursa wondered, looking at the Pachirisu.
The Pachirisu nodded, pushed the berry into its paw, then took its hand and started running around the big tree. It attracted a group of other Pokémon, and soon they were all holding hands, circling the tree.
The Petilil, meanwhile, led the Roselia to the grassy area by the lake—the very spot where it had finally overcome its fear of the dark. Now, a few Oddish and Bronzor were there, while Psyduck, Golduck, Azurill, Marill, and Azumarill swam in the lake.
The Petilil found its old favorite spot and began whispering secrets to the Roselia, occasionally giggling.
Their laughter attracted a few Oddish, who came over to join the conversation.
Victor smiled as he watched.
"After all, this Breeding House is called Gengar's Paradise. I hope it can become a paradise for other Pokémon too, and for all of us."
Hearing this, Jenny took a sip of her milk tea and thought for a moment.
"Perfect. I'll take tomorrow off, come over for a meal, and play with Shana."
"If Jenny's taking off, then I will too," Joy added.
They both laughed.
"Remember to make us something delicious tomorrow," Jenny said.
"Definitely."
Time passed quietly.
The Pokémon from the lake stayed in the lake. Most of the other wild Pokémon chose to return to the forest.
The Breeding House suddenly became quiet again.
The Petilil stayed by the lake with the Roselia.
Mime Jr. and Gothita moved into Shana's room.
The sound of playful fighting could occasionally be heard.
After his shower, Victor went out onto the balcony. Celebi was sitting on the railing, looking out at the distant forest.
Victor walked over and gently ruffled its small head.
"Is it time for you to go?"
Celebi looked up at him, then nodded.
"Cele~"
"How about you leave tomorrow night instead? We can have a farewell party for you."
"Think of it as saying goodbye to the friends you've made here these past few days. How about it?"
Celebi closed its eyes, thinking of the little friends it had made.
Discussing the flower garden with Shana, swinging with the Petilil, running around with Mime Jr., lying in Victor's arms with the Vulpix...
And so much more.
It nodded happily.
"Cele~"
Friends~
...
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