The next day, after breakfast, Naoki called for Diglett, planning to carve out a piece of land in the southeast corner of the ranch for planting sunflowers.
After devouring the sandwich Naoki offered, Diglett felt brimming with strength.
Its eyes were filled with determination, and as soon as Naoki designated the area to be cultivated, Diglett began to move.
It tucked its head underground and moved swiftly with astonishing agility.
Naoki was very interested in Diglett's plowing, so he didn't go anywhere and simply stood on the lawn, observing.
As Diglett passed by, mounds of earth rose on the once flat surface, resembling neat rows of field ridges.
The surrounding soil became loose, making it perfect for cultivation.
Time ticked by, and after about forty minutes, the entire field had been plowed.
Exhausted, Diglett emerged from the ground, sweating and letting out a breath of relief, with an excited look on its little face.
It's done!
Well, not bad, right?
Diglett looked hopefully at its employer.
Seeing its expression, Naoki couldn't help but smile: "You've worked hard, Diglett. Here, have an Oran Berry first, and leave the rest to me!"
Diglett happily accepted the Berry, then sat to the side, munching on it while watching Naoki busy at work.
Planting sunflowers is different from planting wheat; each sunflower needs to be spaced further apart to absorb enough soil nutrients for healthy growth.
With experience from planting, Naoki had accumulated some knowledge.
He first judged the distance between each ridge with his eyes, then used his hand to dig into the soft earth, planting a sunflower seed each time, repeating the process.
By the time everything was done, it was already half-past ten in the morning.
The sun was shining brightly, and the temperature in the air was growing hotter.
In such weather, the crops in the field can easily dry up and lack water.
Naoki called for Dragonite to bring down rain to nourish the field, ensuring the sunflowers grow healthily.
Dragonite used Rain Dance.
Before long, a gentle drizzle began falling from the sky.
Diglett stood in awe.
It looked at the sky, then at the field, its furry little face full of confusion.
It's raining? Why is it only raining in that one spot?
Naoki moved to stand beside Diglett, watching Dragonite control the weather.
He noticed Diglett's expression and explained, "This is a Water Type move called Rain Dance, which causes it to rain."
"Chirp chirp," Diglett nodded absentmindedly.
Then, suddenly recalling something, it squeaked at Naoki before turning around to lead the way.
"What's the matter?" Naoki raised an eyebrow in surprise, then followed it.
Soon, with Diglett leading, he arrived at a field of golden wheat.
Naoki planned to use this wheat for malt, brewing beer alongside hops and other materials.
Diglett stopped by the wheat field, and Naoki noticed a small hole in the grass.
Diglett burrowed into the hole, poking its head out: "Chirp chirp chirp!"
Seeing this, Naoki quickly went back inside to get some sunflower seeds and started snacking on them.
"Say it again."
Diglett, though puzzled, repeated: "Chirp chirp chirp!" (You can... call me... from here... I'll hear... and come out!)
Naoki understood that Diglett was letting him know he could call it from this hole; it would hear and come running from underground.
"Got it," he nodded.
"Chirp chirp~," Diglett chirped twice more, then retreated back into the hole.
With the weather so hot, staying outside was making its body weaker under the sunlight.
"Then you should head back first!" Naoki understood.
Then, he went to the storage room, using wooden planks, nails, and a hammer to craft a small wooden sign, on which he wrote "Diglett's Home" before placing it by the hole.
Watching this scene, Naoki clapped the dust off his hands in satisfaction.
The farm work in the field was mostly done for the day, and with the heat, he didn't feel like staying outside. Instead, he returned inside to watch TV and enjoy the air conditioning.
Dragonite, Cyclizar, Koraidon, and other Pokémon who disliked the cold but were fine with heat weren't affected by the hot weather at all, still playfully running and chasing each other on the lawn.
Gogoat and Dolliv stayed in the pen with a rain shelter, so they didn't feel hot for a while.
Moreover, the ample sunlight benefits Grass Type Pokémon with Synthesis, aiding their growth.
Alcremie followed the five Naclstack into the cool underground cave to escape the heat, not forgetting to bring along Glaceon.
As a result, Naoki was left alone in the room.
He ate watermelon with the air conditioner on, reclining in a chair and watching a Pokémon movie on TV, enjoying his leisure time.
But this leisure was soon interrupted.
Dragonite came running in from outside, holding a wilting watermelon rind, looking at Naoki with a wronged expression.
At first, Naoki was puzzled, but upon seeing the rotten watermelon rind in Dragonite's claws, he was speechless.
"I thought something serious had happened; this thing is bound to rot."
Dragonite's eyes widened: "Roar roar!"
Naoki laid back in his chair: "Don't worry, I'll order a plastic watermelon helmet for you online later."
Realizing afterward, however, that in this world online shopping wasn't a thing yet, Naoki couldn't help but facepalm: "I'll take you to the toy store in town later this evening to see if they have any watermelon helmets."
Dragonite was satisfied: "Roar~"
Seeing its expression, Naoki added, "But I'm not sure if a plastic watermelon helmet would still give you the same help."
After all, the description in the recipe was for a helmet made of watermelon, not a helmet styled after one, and there's a significant difference between the two.
"Roar?" Dragonite was stunned, unsure of what to do.
It looked down at the rotten watermelon rind in its claws and then back at Naoki, contemplating it before saying, "Roar..."
It decided against it, thinking it didn't need the helmet since it lived on a ranch and didn't usually battle.
"Really don't want it?" Naoki raised an eyebrow.
Dragonite nodded earnestly, "Roar roar," explaining the reasons to Naoki.
"Alright then," Naoki thought of the large harvest of crops yet to be collected in the field, some of which might have mutated to help Pokémon grow stronger.
He told Dragonite, "But perhaps soon, I'll find other ways to help you grow stronger."
Naoki casually said this to comfort Dragonite, not expecting that by the next morning, there would actually be a mutated crop in the field.