The next morning, Lucien rose early.
Today was a rest day. His Pokémon, having trained relentlessly for half a month, were finally allowed to sleep in.
He glanced at the still-slumbering Dratini and Servine curled up beside each other, then smiled faintly. Without waking them, he quietly took the already-awake Larvesta and stepped outside.
Gyarados Ranch
Morning mist still lingered over the grassy pastures. Megan and her brother Chris were already hard at work.
Chris hauled fresh hay to feed the two Bouffalant grazing near the fence, while Megan stood by the large pond, gently tending to the six Gyarados that lived within.
Overhead, Combee buzzed busily among the newly-bloomed flowers, collecting nectar to bring back to their hives and turn into golden honey.
"Good morning, Your Highness Lucien!" Megan spotted him first and waved enthusiastically from across the field.
"Good morning, Megan," Lucien greeted with a smile.
Megan quickly said a few words to the Gyarados, reminding them not to get too excited, then ran over to him, her boots kicking up dewdrops.
"Please, follow me, Your Highness!"
The two crossed the ranch and arrived at a section fenced off with sturdy timber posts.
Lucien paused.
The area was now completely transformed, a carpet of lush green grass and colorful wildflowers stretched before them, glistening with dew beneath the morning sun.
He even spotted a few Lileep and Foongus wandering about among the swaying flowers.
When the Foongus noticed him, they startled and bounced away, rolling clumsily into the taller grass.
"Monsters have started gathering here!" Megan exclaimed, eyes wide with surprise and excitement.
Lucien chuckled softly. "That only proves how well you've cared for this land."
Both Lileep and Foongus were Pokémon that thrived only in healthy, fertile ecosystems. Their presence meant the soil here was rich and balanced, proof that the pasture was flourishing.
"Don't worry about them," Lucien added. "They're just attracted to the flowers. They won't cause any trouble."
Megan nodded eagerly. "Even if they did, the Gyarados would protect everyone!"
Lucien paused, blinking.
Six Gyarados using Hyper Beam at once… even Geralt might not survive that.
He decided not to comment.
As his gaze wandered over the vibrant flower field, something caught his eye. Among the blossoms was a patch of pale pink flowers that looked strangely familiar.
He knelt down, brushing his fingers over the petals, and the name surfaced in his mind.
Gracidea Flower, A flower native to the Sinnoh region. Traditionally gifted as a token of gratitude on special occasions. It's said to be beloved by the Mythical Pokémon Shaymin.
Legend tells that when a field of Gracidea blooms beautifully, Shaymin itself will appear to bless the land.
Lucien's eyes widened slightly.
Shaymin… a Mythical Pokémon from Sinnoh. What were Gracidea flowers doing here?
"Your Highness, is something wrong?" Megan asked curiously when she noticed him staring at the blossoms.
Lucien blinked, collecting his thoughts. "No, it's nothing serious," he said with a faint smile. "Now that the grass has fully grown, it's time to introduce a new group of monsters to your ranch. Wait here for me, I'll bring them over."
"Yes, Your Highness!" Megan replied with a bright grin.
Lucien had already visited the gentle Mareep herd once before and knew exactly where to find them.
It didn't take long to reach the hillside. There, beneath the golden sunlight, a flock of fluffy Mareep grazed quietly, their soft wool shimmering faintly with static.
Lucien approached slowly, calling out, "Mareep, do you remember me?"
The sheep Pokémon looked up at once, their round eyes blinking in recognition. Memories flickered, this was the human who had promised to grow fresh, tender grass for them to enjoy!
"Reep?" one of them bleated curiously, ears twitching.
Seeing this, Lucien was delighted; the Mareep really did remember him!
"The thing I told you about before," Lucien said with a smile, "it's ready now. Would you like to see it?"
The Mareep looked up at him curiously. They were intelligent Pokémon and could easily sense that the human before them harbored no ill intent. After a brief moment of consideration, they all bleated softly in agreement.
Who could refuse such a generous offer, after all?
One by one, the fluffy Mareep stood up from the hillside and followed Lucien and Larvesta toward Megan's Gyarados Ranch.
Before long, they arrived at their destination.
The moment they saw the lush green pasture within the fenced area, the Mareep's eyes lit up with joy.
What rich, fresh grass! The human hadn't lied to them at all!
With cheerful cries, the flock trotted straight into the field and began happily grazing, their wool crackling softly with static.
Megan, who had been tending to the Gyarados nearby, turned in surprise when she saw them.
"Your Highness…" she said uncertainly.
Lucien smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. These magical beasts are very gentle, they won't hurt anyone. Their name is Mareep. Their wool is extremely soft and perfect for making carpets and clothing."
"Mareep…" Megan repeated, her eyes widening with wonder as she watched the plump, fluffy creatures graze. "They're so cute, and so fluffy!"
The Mareep, full after eating their fill, soon lay lazily in the sunshine, their wool gleaming faintly with tiny sparks of electricity.
Lucien walked closer, his tone gentle. "Mareep, how about staying here from now on? We'll provide you with food and safety. You won't need to fear other Pokémon here. All we ask is to collect the wool you shed naturally."
Mareep, after shedding their fleece, would regrow it on their own. They didn't need shearing like Wooloo, whose wool grew endlessly. This made them ideal for beginners in ranching.
"Maree~p!"
The flock bleated cheerfully, tails flicking. They had no intention of refusing such an offer. Here there was food, water, and warmth, far better than the dangers of the wild.
Lucien smiled. Good. That's one more step forward for the territory.
He gave Megan a few instructions on caring for the new residents, then left the ranch in her care, confident that she would bond with the Mareep in no time.
At least, that's what he thought, until the next morning.
When Megan arrived at the Lord's Hall the following day, she was cradling something carefully in her arms.
"Your Highness Lucien!" she called excitedly, her face flushed. "I found this in the Mareep pen this morning!"
Lucien turned, his eyes falling on the smooth, cream-colored egg with faint yellow patterns in her arms.
Immediately, information surfaced in his mind:
[Mareep Egg]: A Pokémon Egg laid by Mareep. After a period of incubation, a baby Mareep will hatch inside.
Lucien smiled. "That's a Mareep Egg. After some time, a baby Mareep will hatch from it. Just like humans, monsters can reproduce, Gyarados and Bouffalant too."
Megan blinked, trying to process this. Then she looked down at the egg with awe. "Then… Your Highness, how can I make it hatch?"
"Take good care of it," Lucien said gently. "Keep it somewhere warm and soft, like on a blanket. And be careful, it's fragile. Monsters are intelligent creatures. Even inside their eggs, they can sense your emotions and hear your voice."
"I'll take good care of it!" Megan said earnestly, holding the egg a little closer.
Lucien nodded approvingly. "Good. And if your Mareep lay more eggs than you can handle alone, you can share them with other ranchers. That way, more people can raise Mareep, and the territory's livestock will grow even faster."
In this way, livestock farming within the territory can develop more quickly.