The simplified map showed only major locations—in reality, numerous towns dotted the route between Celestic Town and Snowpoint City.
"Next stop is Celestic Station. Passengers arriving at their destination, please prepare to disembark."
Wayne returned to Celestic Town by train from Sunyshore City, located south of Snowpoint City.
Traveling without a Flying-type Pokémon was still inconvenient.
He could ride Arcanine, and while Metang wasn't incapable of flying with a rider, it wasn't as stable as Metagross would be.
The Breeding House occasionally utilized Flying-type Pokémon to deliver Pokémon to clients.
However, this transportation issue would resolve itself once Metang evolved.
Celestic Town.
November brought heavy snowfall from the sky, and every breath created visible mist in the frigid air.
Celestic Town was small but renowned throughout Sinnoh.
Not only because the shrine at the town's center dated back to ancient times, preserving Sinnoh's rich history, but also because it was the hometown of Sinnoh Champion Cynthia.
Wayne hadn't returned to Celestic Town for over half a year, yet everything remained comfortingly familiar.
"Fresh Moomoo Milk, straight from the farm!"
"Sweet honey, freshly brewed by Combee!"
The shopkeepers' and stall owners' calls echoed endlessly along the street, creating a bustling marketplace atmosphere. The main difference from typical markets was that most vendors brought their Pokémon partners along.
"Wayne, you're back! Come and try some!"
Enthusiastic uncles and aunts continually invited Wayne to sample their wares.
"I'm back! No hurry though—I'll stop by another day!" Wayne replied, waving with one hand while holding a skewer in the other. Lucario stood beside him, similarly occupied with food.
"Wayne! Lucario! You're back!"
A sneaky figure jumped up from behind, patting both Wayne and Lucario's shoulders.
They had noticed her presence long ago but chose not to expose her attempt at surprise.
"Sister Eden, it's been a while."
"Luca!" Lucario greeted cheerfully.
Before Wayne stood a young woman in her mid-twenties, bundled in a cotton coat and matching cotton hat against the cold.
Her name was Eden.
Passersby didn't interfere with their reunion, flowing naturally around the group.
"Why did you come back so suddenly?"
"My journey concluded, so I came back to visit Grandpa."
"Come here, come here!" Eden grabbed Wayne and Lucario, one hand on each, and pulled them toward her stall.
A Farfetch'd with sleek, well-maintained feathers perched on a chair, its plump body completely concealing its webbed feet.
"Gaa!" Upon spotting Wayne and Lucario, Farfetch'd raised its leek and greeted them warmly.
"Long time no see, Farfetch'd."
"Perfect timing! I just made some Blissful Muffins. Take a few extra back for Grandpa Lionel to enjoy."
Without waiting for protest, Eden moved to pack them in a box for Wayne and Lucario.
Blissful Muffins were pastries made from Berries and other ingredients, similar to sweet cake bread.
They resembled Poffins but differed fundamentally.
Muffins had a soft, cake-like texture, while Poffins were crispy biscuits.
Despite being named after Blissful Island in Sinnoh, they were actually a specialty of the Galar region.
Blissful Muffins weren't widely known yet, which made it surprising that Sister Eden had learned to make them.
Wayne and Lucario simultaneously stepped back, tacitly crossing their hands in front of their chests in an 'X' formation.
"We can't accept them without paying."
"That's right," Lucario agreed.
Eden's eyes widened in protest. "What payment? Grandpa Lionel has taken such good care of me!"
"In that case, we'll just leave." Wayne pointed his thumb over his shoulder toward his home's direction.
Eden pouted, her resolve deflating like a punctured balloon.
Wayne roughly counted about ten muffins.
After he and Lucario each tried one, Wayne waved his hand magnanimously. "Sister Eden, I'll purchase all of these. I'll bring them back for Grandpa and the Pokémon to enjoy."
While Eden packed them, Wayne asked, "Sister Eden, why did you start making these?"
Eden used to sell ingredients directly, and Grandpa Lionel always purchased supplies from her.
Eden's family circumstances weren't favorable—her parents had died young, and her grandparents had also passed—but she maintained an optimistic spirit.
This was precisely why Wayne's grandfather helped her.
Eden smiled brightly. "No competition! Only I make Blissful Muffins here. I specifically traveled to learn the recipe."
Wayne gave a thumbs up. "Smart thinking."
Eden placed her hands on her hips, beaming with pride. "Of course!"
Eden's culinary skills were genuinely excellent; the Blissful Muffins she crafted were definitely superior to anything Wayne could make.
"I'll head home first. Let's catch up when we have time."
"Okay, get going!"
After bidding farewell to Sister Eden, a notification chimed in Wayne's mind, and another side quest appeared.
Eden's Trouble (Optional): The Berries in Eden's Berry fields have recently been stolen by unknown Pokémon. Please help resolve her problem.
Task Reward: Random Pokémon Item Gacha Ticket × 1
She was still so reluctant to trouble others.
Wayne glanced back at Eden, who was busily packing up her stall, and shook his head helplessly.
"Lucario, tomorrow we'll visit Sister Eden."
"Luca!" Lucario agreed enthusiastically.
Even without a reward, helping her was the right thing to do.
Wayne's old house featured a small courtyard enclosed by a waist-high bamboo fence.
From a distance, Wayne spotted a plump purple Gengar sitting at the entrance, happily eating noodles.
Upon closer inspection, it was beef noodles.
The braised beef possessed a rich color, cut into generous chunks, with an aroma that filled the air—definitely Grandpa's handiwork.
You shouldn't eat that, Gengar—you'll get weak! Let me help you with that!
"Koujie!" Gengar, who had been grinning foolishly, noticed Wayne staring at its beef noodles and quickly retreated several steps, clutching its bowl protectively.
"Gengga! Gengga!"
Lucario dutifully translated. "There's more in the kitchen. Go get it yourself."
"Gengar, where's Grandpa?"
Gengar pointed toward the backyard with its short arm. "Gengga!"
"Come out, Arcanine, Metang!"
Wayne threw out two Luxury Balls, releasing Arcanine and Metang in flashes of light.
"Awoo~~"
Upon landing, Arcanine shook its body, its fluffy mane swaying majestically in the wind.
Arcanine sniffed the air, then followed the scent toward the kitchen, disappearing in a flash.
Its speed was remarkable.
"Using Extreme Speed just to eat noodles?!" Wayne exclaimed.
"Bika!"
Metang's first action was surveying its surroundings, assessing the environment cautiously.
Born in the wild and being a Shiny Pokémon, Metang had endured a harsher survival environment, making it naturally more cautious.
"This is my home. No need to worry."
"Me." Metang's mechanical voice acknowledged.
Gengar, being the sociable type, produced a bottle of ice-cold Coke from its mouth and approached the silver Metang.
"Koujie, Koujie?"
Lucario's expression faltered.
Gengar's meaning was clear: "Friend, want some?"
Metang's processing unit almost short-circuited at the gesture.
On the way to the backyard, Wayne heard Grandpa's voice.
"Arcanine, is that you? Wayne's back?"
"Awoo~"
"Good, good! I'll serve you right away."
A robust, black-haired old man wearing a cotton coat and radiating vitality walked out of the kitchen, meeting Wayne head-on.
"Grandpa."
"Why did you come back so suddenly?"
Wayne's expression turned serious. "I want to come back and learn Pokémon breeding and cooking from you."
As soon as Wayne finished speaking, a mechanical female voice sounded in his mind again.
[Ding, you have a new side quest.]