Hearing the commotion from behind, Muping, who was peeking around, was startled.
He quickly turned around and saw a handsome black-haired young man who had somehow appeared behind him.
The young man was dressed in a blue work outfit, mounted on a strong, red, fierce-looking Pokemon exuding a wild aura.
The ferocious aura rushed toward him, and Muping gulped, while the Fuecoco on his shoulder also started trembling in fear.
At that moment, Muping saw the young man gently pat the Pokemon, saying, "Koraidon, don't scare people."
The Pokemon, referred to as Koraidon, immediately transformed into a docile appearance, obediently lowering its body.
"Um... Hello, I'm Muping, a student from Orange Academy. I just chased a Fletchling here. I want to capture it, but it ran into this ranch," Muping said.
Upon hearing this, Naoki looked up along his gaze and, sure enough, saw a dozing Fletchling on his rooftop.
"Are you a new student just enrolled?" Naoki asked.
Muping nodded weakly, "Yes, I just enrolled this year. This Fuecoco was the starter Pokemon I received from the school, it's called Xiaodai."
Naoki nodded slightly. He jumped down from Koraidon, moving a box inside, with Koraidon following by his side.
"Come in!" Naoki turned his head and said, "You can't capture Fletchling by standing there!"
"Ehh!" Muping responded instinctively, quickly following him in, "Sorry for the intrusion!"
Naoki placed the box containing the automatic milker in the Pokemon House.
Muping stood on the grass, watching his figure, unable to suppress a thought from surfacing in his mind:
This rancher is definitely not an ordinary country farmer!
How could an ordinary country farmer use a Dragonite to water the fields? That's too extravagant!
Not to mention the red Pokemon beside him, with its full and strong muscles, was clearly not typical.
And this rancher seems quite young and unmarried, so that Dragonite can't possibly belong to his children.
Thus, only one possibility remains.
This ranch, whether it's Dragonite, Butterfree, or Alcremie, all belong to him!
However, now doesn't seem to be the time to think about this.
Muping looked up at the Fletchling, pondering on how he could capture it.
When Naoki returned, he saw Muping standing idly on the grass.
He raised an eyebrow and asked, "You don't know how to capture a Pokemon, do you?"
"I do know, the school's courses have taught us!" Muping replied.
To capture a Pokemon, one should battle it, prove their strength, and then capture it with a Poke Ball.
However... the Fletchling is too far away, and he only has the Fuecoco, unable to get up there.
Naoki couldn't help him with this; capturing a Pokemon relies on a trainer's own strength, others can't really assist.
Seeing the clueless look on Muping's face, Naoki fell into thought.
Soon, he came up with an idea.
"I have an idea."
"What is it?"
Muping turned his head dumbfounded.
Naoki looked at the Fletchling and said, "I can have my Pokemon communicate with that Fletchling and see if it's willing to give you a chance."
"Eh? You can do that?" Muping's eyes widened.
Naoki smiled and said, "There is more than one way to capture a Pokemon. Different Pokemon have different personalities; some need to be battled, while others might join you because of food."
Upon hearing this, Muping looked enlightened and then gratefully said, "Then I'll be in your care, Rancher!"
"Call me Naoki." With that, Naoki called over Butterfree and told it what to do.
After hearing the instructions, Butterfree flew up to the roof.
Its movement startled the Fletchling awake, and the Fletchling quickly opened its eyes, warily looking this way.
Butterfree didn't approach rashly; it stopped in mid-air and began communicating with the Fletchling.
"Mwee, mwee!"
"Chirp?"
Fletchling tilted its head in confusion, but after a moment, it seemed to understand Butterfree's intentions and turned its head to look below at the boy with the Fuecoco.
The boy's face was full of hope, clenching his fists, seemingly very eager for it to become his Pokemon.
Fletchling tilted its head, observing him for a while, then it gave a response.
"Chirp!"
Butterfree flew back, happily nodding at Naoki, "Mwee!"
Fletchling followed suit, landing on the ground, Naoki observed with interest, "Looks like it's willing to give you a chance."
"Great!" Muping shouted excitedly, yelling at Fletchling, "I will definitely prove my strength to you!"
A Pokemon battle was about to begin.
Naoki stepped aside, leaving room on the grass, himself leaning against Koraidon, watching the battle with interest.
As a trainer just starting his journey, Muping's battle style was straightforward and simple.
Without judges or referees, the battle began directly.
Muping gave the command to Fuecoco, "Fuecoco, use Ember!"
Fuecoco moved, opening its mouth to gather a spark and spat it toward Fletchling.
At the same time, Fletchling also moved.
However, compared to Fuecoco, its speed was slower by a beat, so it was unsurprisingly hit by Ember.
Seeing this, Muping pressed the attack, but a white light flickered on Fletchling, and it struck Fuecoco with Quick Attack.
Fuecoco winced in pain, but it seized the opportunity of Fletchling's close approach.
Opening its mouth wide, a ghostly light appeared, and it bit down hard on Fletchling with sharp teeth.
Fletchling was severely injured and fell to the grass.
Perfect opportunity!
Seeing this, Muping immediately pulled an empty Poke Ball from his pocket and threw it at Fletchling.
The Poke Ball hit successfully and, after a few shakes on the ground, it stopped moving.
This indicated a successful capture, meaning Fletchling acknowledged his strength!
"Yeah! I captured Fletchling!" Muping exclaimed excitedly, quickly running up to pick up the Poke Ball containing Fletchling.
He thanked Naoki with gratitude, "Thank you so much, Mr. Naoki!"
Naoki gave him a thumbs up, "You're pretty good, huh!"