Chapter 268:
Gardevoir ultimately didn't take any, merely giving him a strange look, as if to say, "What's the big deal if I did want some?"
"Is that really so strange?"
But seeing the surprised expression on her Trainer's face, she chose not to argue. Instead, she turned and went off with the Indeedee sister to clear the dining table.
Meanwhile, Kaede headed toward the flock of Pidgeot.
Coincidentally, just then, the last remaining Pidgetto, having finished its meal, evolved into a Pidgeot in a flash of white light.
Kaede's eyes lit up, and he nodded with satisfaction. "Perfect timing—everyone's evolved now!"
As he approached, the Pidgeot began calling out happily.
"Pidgeot!"
"Pidgeot…"
They had already heard from the youngest, newly evolved Pidgeot that there would be a special treat waiting for them today.
The largest Pidgeot spread one wing, signaling for everyone to settle down.
"Alright, alright, you've all worked hard these past few days."
"Come on, everyone gets one…" Kaede said, using Psychic to float an Ocean Current Energy Cube in front of each Pidgeot's beak.
"Pidgeot?" The flock looked puzzled—the treat seemed rather small.
"Let me be clear first," Kaede warned, "you'll need to control your energy after eating it."
Unlike Hail or Sunny Day—weather conditions that didn't affect the plantation too much in the short term—
this Weather Master ability was Wind. And if the air currents got too strong, it could definitely disrupt the plantation.
"Pidgeot…" The group nodded in unison before eating the Energy Cubes before them.
The first Pidgeot to swallow froze on the spot, standing stiff as a board as a strange, indescribable sensation washed over it.
It felt an overwhelming urge to flap its wings—to summon an air current. Or rather, it felt like it could summon wind even without flapping.
That faint, tingling sense… as though even the smallest motion could stir up a gale.
But remembering Kaede's warning, it dared not move.
This reaction wasn't unique—every Pidgeot that ate the Energy Cube stood dumbfounded in the same way.
Even the largest Pidgeot froze, not daring to so much as twitch.
Kaede frowned in confusion. "Why are they all frozen like that?"
"Pidgeot…" One of them finally explained.
"Pidgeot…" *(The wind… it's too strong to control…)*
"So intense?" Kaede exclaimed in surprise.
He immediately called Gardevoir over and had her use Psychic to lift one Pidgeot high above the forest canopy. "Alright—try it here."
The Pidgeot nodded slightly, then suddenly spread its wings.
As it did, a violent gust swept across the sky. The fierce winds howled, making the trees below sway and rustle loudly.
The air currents surged outward, spreading until it seemed the entire area within ten kilometers was being engulfed by roaring winds.
"Stop, stop, stop!" Kaede called urgently.
The forest Pokémon were probably preparing for winter—it was best not to disturb them.
As the Pidgeot stopped flapping, the raging wind vanished instantly.
"So quickly?" Kaede murmured, astonished.
From that brief display alone, he could tell—the Pidgeot's control over air currents had improved drastically.
From a move standpoint, there were many techniques tied to wind:
Gust, Blizzard, Icy Wind, Twister, Leaf Storm, Whirlwind, Tailwind…
But most of these were attack moves—once unleashed, they couldn't be easily recalled or precisely controlled.
Yet just now, the Pidgeot had created that massive air current simply by flapping its wings—and could stop it instantly.
That wasn't a move.
Was this the power of the Weather Master—Wind?
If mere control over air currents was already this powerful, Kaede didn't even dare to imagine what it would be like when combined with actual moves.
"Pidgeot?" The Pidgeot let out a cry of surprise and excitement.
This was a brand-new power—something it had never experienced before.
"Can you control it now?" Kaede asked.
"Pidgeot~" It nodded.
After that first attempt, the sensation became familiar—it could now wield the power as naturally as moving its own limbs.
With a joyous cry, the Pidgeot soared higher and higher, streaking through the sky like a shadow.
Its speed had at least doubled—maybe even more.
At this rate…
even a Dragonite of equal strength might not be able to keep up.
Kaede didn't stop it this time. Instead, he smiled and nodded. "At that speed… I'm reassured."
"Gardevoir…" (So amazing…) Even Gardevoir, who had seen plenty of incredible things, couldn't help but be impressed.
Just one Energy Cube had brought such a dramatic transformation.
"Hehe, with this, there's no way they'll get caught while delivering takeout!" Kaede said with a laugh. Truth be told, even after their evolution into Pidgeot, he'd still been a little uneasy.
But now—with their mastery of the wind—he finally felt at ease.
(ˉ▽ˉ;)… "Gardevoir…" (Is takeout delivery really all you ever think about?)
Kaede grinned. "Also, based on their wind control, we could integrate it into the Sky Challenge! Let's add a Sky Challenge Plus—dodging Pidgeot's attacks or hitting targets while battling the strong winds!"
Gardevoir fell silent for a moment, then smiled softly.
She remembered when she'd first been caught—her Trainer had only wanted help fixing irrigation channels and picking berries.
Things had just gradually expanded from there.
Him thinking like this… really did feel like the Kaede she knew.
"Come back when you're done playing, okay?" Kaede called up to the soaring Pidgeot with a smile.
Then he and Gardevoir headed back toward the plantation.
The rest of the Pidgeot were still waiting.
So Kaede announced, "No takeout deliveries this afternoon! Everyone, go find a quiet area and get used to your new powers!"
"But don't disturb anyone too much, alright? And don't damage the ecosystem, got it?"
"Pidgeot!"
The flock cheered in unison.
After nodding to Kaede, they all spread their wings and took off in different directions and in an instant, the plantation felt like a great aviary suddenly opened, a hundred birds soaring freely into the sky.