Having just endured the cold of the night, the temperature immediately rose once the sun came up. Tetsuya and Catherine did not linger for long. They set off at daybreak.
By noon, the blazing sun hung overhead. The scorching heat baked the desert, and every step felt as though it would burn their feet. The difference between day and night truly was like fire and ice.
They needed to replenish fresh water from time to time just to maintain their bodily functions as they continued forward.
---◓---
By around two in the afternoon, the heat had become unbearable. Even drinking water did little to help. Left with no choice, they stopped to rest for a while.
They had just stopped and taken a drink of water, when a Pokémon came staggering toward them.
At first, Tetsuya thought he was seeing a mirage. He rubbed his eyes and realized it was a… Miltank?
Judging by the way it walked, it was already extremely weak. Suddenly, it collapsed into the sand.
"Do you have a Poké Ball?"
Tetsuya asked.
Catherine nodded. She had bought a few while shopping in Olivine City the day before yesterday.
"Here. Are you going to catch that Pokémon?"
"Yes."
After saying that, Tetsuya walked toward the Miltank.
Miltank was a Pokémon unique to Johto. The nutritional value of the milk it produced was the highest among all kinds of milk. Not only could it restore energy'stamina, but it could also strengthen physical condition. However, humans could not drink it directly and it had to be diluted and processed first.
Human physiques simply could not handle such rich nutrition. Even people who did not normally gain weight would become heavyweight chubby people if they regularly drank Miltank milk. As a result, many girls who cared about staying slim would never touch Miltank milk…
However, this milk was an excellent supplement for Pokémon. Its market price was exceptionally high, and it played a significant role in improving a Pokémon's physical condition. Yet nearly all of Johto's Miltank were controlled by the Howard's family of Goldenrod City.
In other regions, Miltank were extremely rare, and due to differences in breed, the quality of their milk could not compare to that of Johto's Miltank.
In his previous life, when surviving in the wilderness, Tetsuya had no choice but to steal two Miltank from Howard's ranch to help his Pokémon recover and improve their physical condition.
This Miltank was probably far inferior to the carefully raised Miltank of Howard's family, but it could still occasionally provide nutritional supplements for his Pokémon. Moreover, it reminded him of something…
Although he had never encountered it in his previous life, he still vaguely remembered Ash's experience in this desert¹[1]. There was an oasis within the Olivine Desert, and its leader was a Miltank. It was said that all the Pokémon in the oasis had been rescued from the desert by that Miltank. It also provided milk to every Pokémon living there.
Even the Howard's family Miltank could not compare to such milk production efficiency!
Tetsuya approached the Miltank and caught it without any difficulty. Afterward, he released the Miltank and gave it some water. At the very least, it would not die now.
He then left the Miltank where it was. If that Miltank truly existed, some Pokémon would definitely carry this Miltank back to the oasis.
Tetsuya vaguely remembered that Ash's Cyndaquil and Team Rocket's Meowth had once been injured in the desert and had quickly been taken to the oasis by the desert's "transporters".
Now, a Miltank was lying in the desert, the very Miltank Tetsuya had just caught. Using it as bait, he wanted to see whether he could discover anything.
However, nothing came of it. The Miltank lay in the desert until nightfall, and no desert oasis transporters appeared. Moreover, a so-called desert oasis was not something easy to find in such a vast desert.
Was this Miltank really going to be wasted…?
He might as well see what its milk production was like. If it truly was not up to par, he would have no choice but to sell it on the Black Market.
---◓---
Night had already fallen. Tetsuya used fresh water to wipe down Miltank's skin. After lying under the sun all day, it was already severely dehydrated. If he did not deal with it soon, it could very well die.
The moisture quickly seeped into Miltank's skin. Afterward, he began feeding it water. The water slowly flowed down its throat and into its body. Although it had not yet awakened, its complexion had already improved considerably.
"Heh…~ I didn't expect you to have such a gentle side."
Catherine remarked casually.
"Oh, really?"
Tetsuya neither confirmed nor denied it. He was actually quite skilled at taking care of Pokémon. This was also one of the basic qualities of a Pokémon Trainer, and he was no exception.
Half an hour later, Tetsuya wiped down Miltank's body once again.
About two hours later, the Pokémon had all finished training and were sitting on the desert sand, gazing at the sky.
Miltank also woke up. Its expression was blank. There was not a single familiar face around it. It did not even know how it had gotten here, and could hardly believe it was still alive!
"You're awake?"
Tetsuya walked over carrying several bottles of Ditto's milk.
"Recover first. We can talk about everything else later."
Miltank's milk production ability could only be judged when it was in peak physical condition!
Miltank blinked its eyes. Although it did not understand what was happening, hunger had long since shattered its mind defenses. It drank five bottles of milk in succession without leaving a drop behind.
"I'll take you out of this desert."
After saying that, Tetsuya recalled all of his other Pokémon into their Poké Balls and returned to his tent to rest.
Miltank looked at Tetsuya as he entered the tent and felt a trace of disappointment. Its feelings were complicated. It had already been caught, which meant it was now Tetsuya's Pokémon. Yet Tetsuya had caught it while it was weak. On the other hand, it was precisely because Tetsuya had caught it that its life had been saved. Furthermore, it had once had a Trainer before…
The night was cold. Outside, with no shelter from the wind, Miltank could not sleep at all. It curled up and shivered.
"Why aren't you sleeping inside the tent?"
Tetsuya's words left Miltank stunned. Although his tone sounded almost like a command, it made Miltank feel an indescribable warmth.
Miltank could not refuse and slowly walked into the tent.
Without the cold night wind blowing against it, its body gradually warmed up, and it finally fell asleep.
---◓---
In the middle of the night, Miltank suddenly let out a series of miserable cries, waking Tetsuya as well.
'A nightmare…'
What one thought about during the day would appear in dreams at night. Tears were already streaming from the corners of Miltank's eyes. Tetsuya was certain that it must have experienced something painful.
A faint red glow appeared in Tetsuya's eyes as his psychic power entered Miltank's dream. This ability was truly useful. Not only could it allow him to communicate with Pokémon, but it could also provide a great deal of information through their dreams.
A group of young Miltank were playing in a vast ranch. Tetsuya finally focused on one particular Miltank. It should be this Miltank.
'…Wait, this ranch looks familiar.'
Following the Miltank's movements, Tetsuya carefully observed the ranch's surroundings and location.
•.
•.
¹. Got Miltank? 91st episode of Pocket Monsters: Gold and Silver Arc of Pocket Monsters.
[1] Got Miltank? 91st episode of Pocket Monsters: Gold and Silver Arc of Pocket Monsters.