As time passed, the sky grew darker. Not long after Ange and the others returned home, the rain began to pour down in sheets.
Ange stood at the doorway, watching the rain blur everything ahead. "I didn't expect such heavy rain this late in autumn," he said.
Diancie came over and said, "The Nebel Plateau has a unique terrain. It's not unusual for the weather to differ from other places. And according to the other Pokémon, a special Pokémon lives here. Because of it, most of the time the Nebel Plateau stays like spring all year round."
As she spoke, Diancie draped a coat over Ange's shoulders. The temperature had dropped along with the rain, and she worried he might get sick again.
Although Ange's body had been gradually strengthening as his Constitution points increased, he still only had a few points. He still needed to be careful.
Ange felt a bit cold too. Pulling the coat tighter, he asked, "A special Pokémon? What kind of special Pokémon?"
Diancie shook her head. "I don't know. Everyone just says that because of that Pokémon's protection, all who live on the Nebel Plateau can live carefree."
"I see…" Ange said thoughtfully. "I hope I'll have a chance to meet it someday." After all, he was now a part of the Nebel Plateau too.
"I'm sure you will," Diancie said with a smile.
"I just hope it doesn't dislike me."
"It definitely won't."
"Let's go inside, the rain's getting heavier." After standing at the door for a while, Ange saw water splashing at his feet, and the air thick with mist. He turned to Diancie.
Diancie, being a Rock-type Pokémon, naturally disliked water, so it nodded and went inside with Ange.
The rain lasted a long time, showing no sign of stopping even after dark.
That night, Ange and Munchlax steamed mantou, made some cold lotus root salad, and cooked a pot of soup. Then he, Diancie, Komala, and Vivillon sat around the table for dinner.
The Dugtrio brothers stayed underground, each with three bowls in front of them: one for mantou, one for the salad, and one for the soup.
Warm light filled the room. The aroma of food spread through the air. Everyone ate and chatted, feeling warm both in body and heart.
Munch~ Munch~
But halfway through dinner, a hurried cry came from outside. Ange quickly ran to the door to check. Munchlax jumped down from its chair, stumbling after its teacher.
At the doorway, Ange saw a large puddle and a Totodile standing in it, carrying a drenched Swablu on its back.
"What happened?"
Seeing the soaked Swablu, Ange was startled and rushed forward to take it from Totodile's back.
But Totodile seemed afraid of Ange. The moment he approached, it jumped back as if its feet were on springs.
Munchlax hurried forward to help. Totodile didn't resist this time and let it gently take Swablu.
Ange quickly took Swablu from Munchlax's arms and ran back inside.
"Diancie! Diancie!" Ange called anxiously. "Get me a dry towel!"
"Got it!" Diancie answered, dashing into the bathroom. Moments later, she returned with a bath towel.
"What happened?" she asked, handing him the towel.
"I don't know," Ange said, shaking his head while quickly drying Swablu's wet feathers.
As he wiped, Swablu slowly woke up. It blinked, looking around in confusion, then, recognizing Ange and Diancie, suddenly cried out in panic.
Chiru~ Chiru~~
With Diancie's translation, Ange finally understood. Swablu wanted him to help its parents.
The rain had come so hard that their nest had been washed away. Once this kind of Pokémon's feathers got wet, flying became nearly impossible.
If Totodile hadn't passed by and saved the fallen Swablu, who knew what might have happened to it?
"All right, all right, I'll go right now. Don't worry," Ange promised.
But Diancie looked worried. "With the rain this heavy, can you manage? What if you get sick again?"
"I don't have a choice," Ange said, shaking his head. "I can't send you, and I wouldn't feel safe letting Munchlax go alone."
"But…" Diancie still hesitated.
"Don't worry." Ange smiled. "My body's much stronger now. I'm not as fragile as you think."
Seeing that it couldn't stop him, Diancie sighed and took Swablu from his arms. "Then go quickly and come back fast."
"I know."
Ange changed into a raincoat and boots with Munchlax, then grabbed a flashlight. Standing at the door, he looked at Totodile, who was peeking inside. "Totodile, can you take me to where Swablu's parents are?"
Totodile hesitated for a moment, then nodded and dashed into the rain. Being a Water-type Pokémon, it could move freely in the storm.
Ange slipped the flashlight inside his transparent raincoat so it could still shine through and ran after Totodile with Munchlax close behind.
The night was pitch black, rain pounding heavily, and wind howling across the plateau, making it look especially eerie.
Running over wet grass, Ange felt a twinge of fear. Munchlax, terrified, pumped its little legs as fast as it could, unwilling to let its teacher get even a step ahead.
Munch~ Munch~ Teacher, slow down, it's scary.
Through the grass and bushes, Totodile led Ange to a cliffside. Shining the flashlight down, Ange saw a huge tree lying in a puddle below, with a shattered nest beside it.
That must have been Swablu's home.
Swablu nests were special, woven tightly from branches and dry grass like little houses, and normally they were strong enough to withstand the wind and rain.
Unfortunately…
The tree that had supported the nest grew halfway down the cliff, but the heavy rain had eroded the cliffside, collapsing it and sending the tree down with it.
Ange searched the area but couldn't find Swablu's parents, so he, Munchlax, and Totodile split up to search farther out.
"Altaria!"
"Altaria!"
Ange shouted into the storm, but the rain drowned out his voice.
"Altaria!"
"Altaria!"
An hour passed. Still no sign of the two Altaria. Even though his raincoat kept him dry, he couldn't help shivering a little.
Dile~ Dile~
Totodile suddenly ran over, crying excitedly.
"Totodile, did you find them?" Ange asked hopefully.
Dile~ Dile~~
Totodile nodded hard.
"That's great! Let's go!"
Following Totodile, Ange soon found the Altaria couple.
Ria~ Ria~
Weak cries came from a bush. When Ange looked closer, he saw the two drenched Pokémon huddled inside, covered with large leaves.
But no matter how wide the leaves were, they couldn't stop the cold rain.
The father Altaria had already fainted, and the mother lifted its head weakly, as if to ask about their child.
It was the one who had sent Totodile to find Ange.
"Don't worry, Swablu's fine!" Ange shouted.
Hearing that, the mother Altaria let out a sigh of relief, then lowered its head, losing strength.
Ange reached out to hold it, but it struggled with the last bit of strength it had left, trying to stop him. It didn't want the help of a human.
Ange couldn't take it anymore and shouted, "You're still being stubborn at a time like this? Forget about yourself for a second, what about Swablu's father? Can you stand by and watch it freeze? And if both of you collapse, what will happen to Swablu? It's still young, how will it survive?"
Hearing that, Swablu's mother looked at its unconscious husband and finally stopped resisting.
Ange turned to Totodile. "Totodile, could you help me find Munchlax?" he asked, draping the two extra raincoats he'd brought over the Altaria couple.
"Dile~ Dile~!"
Totodile nodded quickly and disappeared into the curtain of rain.
Soon, Totodile successfully returned with Munchlax. The moment Munchlax saw Ange, it burst into tears and dove straight into his arms.
"Munch~ Munch~~" Master, I was so scared!
When it had gone searching for the Altaria couple alone, Munchlax had been terrified, but it endured the fear to not delay the rescue.
Now that they had found the Altaria couple, it couldn't hold back anymore.
"You did great. Let's go home," Ange said softly, patting Munchlax on the back to comfort it.
"Munch~ Munch~~"
Munchlax nodded obediently.
Then Ange and Munchlax each carried one of the Altaria parents on their backs and rushed toward home.
Before leaving, Ange had wanted to call out to Totodile, but when he turned his head, the little crocodile was already gone.
When Ange and Munchlax brought the Altaria couple back home, Diancie was at the door, pacing anxiously while holding Swablu.
Seeing the two familiar figures appear through the rain, Swablu cried out first.
"Blu~ Blu~~" You're back!
Diancie quickly handed Ange and Munchlax the towels it had prepared in advance.
"Let's head inside," Ange said, wrapping the couple up in the towels with Munchlax's help.
"Blu~~ Blu~~~"
Swablu looked worriedly at its unconscious parents. Ange noticed and reassured it, "Don't worry, your mom and dad will be fine."
After Ange and Munchlax set the Altaria couple down, Diancie helped them remove the soaked raincoats and said, "Leave the Altaria to me. You two go take a hot shower before you catch a cold."
Vivillon quickly fluttered over to help Diancie, while the Dugtrio brothers, having no hands, could only watch.
Ange didn't stand on ceremony. After entrusting the Altaria couple to Diancie and Vivillon, he immediately went to bathe with Munchlax.
When the two came downstairs after their shower, the Altaria couple had already woken up. Diancie had dried their feathers and warmed them with a hairdryer, making their once-soaked plumage fluffy and snow-white again.
The little family was huddled together, sharing warmth while eating the food Diancie had prepared.
After enduring the torment of the stormy night, even the stubborn Altaria mother could no longer refuse the food Ange had given them.
After all, since they already owed him a favor, one more debt didn't matter.
+200
+200
+200
At that moment, being able to eat warm food filled them with bliss, and Ange's happiness points shot up by 600.
When Swablu saw Ange come down, it immediately flew out from between its parents, diving into Ange's arms while cooing gratefully.
Ange gently stroked its feathers. "How do you feel? Are you hurt?"
"Blu~ Blu~"
Swablu shook its head. After having its feathers dried and eating the warm food, it had fully recovered its strength.
"That's good," Ange said with a smile.
Swablu's father then stood up and sincerely thanked Ange. The mother still had a sour look on its face, but at least it wasn't openly hostile anymore.
Deep down, it was still grateful.
"Ria~ Ria~~" I'll repay this debt one day.
Diancie translated Altaria mother's words for Ange.
Ange didn't say much, only smiled and nodded. "Alright, I'll be waiting."
Hearing that, Altaria's expression visibly softened, as though a weight had been lifted.
"Go ahead and finish eating. Stay here tonight. You don't have to worry about anything else," Ange said.
Both parents nodded.
After dinner, Diancie arranged rooms for the Altaria family, Vivillon, and the Dugtrio brothers so they could all rest. Ange and Munchlax, as usual, went to the training room for an hour before bed.
Ange slipped into his warm blankets and was about to turn off the light when a knock came at the door.
"Who is it? Come in."
"Munch~~ Munch~~~" Master, can I sleep with you tonight?
Creak~~ The door opened slightly, and Munchlax poked its head in, wearing a nightcap and looking pitifully at Ange.
"You want to sleep with me?" Ange asked.
"Munch~ Munch~~"
Munchlax nodded repeatedly.
"Alright then, come on over."
Ange readily agreed, patting the spot beside him.
"Munch~~~"
Munchlax cheered, grabbed its pillow, and scurried over, diving into the blankets in one smooth motion.
Seeing Munchlax's blissful expression, Ange smiled and shook his head.
"Good night, Munchlax."
"Munch~~" Good night, Master.
Click.
The light went out. As Ange lay down, he noticed Munchlax inching closer, so he quietly stretched out an arm and rested it over the Pokémon's soft belly. Munchlax instinctively hugged him back.
"Hu~~ hu~~~"
Before long, the room was filled with the peaceful, content sound of Munchlax's breathing.