Just as Noah was musing, a rustle sounded from the shrubs near the fields.
"Chu-lu-lu."
A Pokémon that looked much like a rabbit from his previous life hopped out of the brush. Creamy, plush fur wrapped her graceful figure and gleamed warmly in the sunlight. Her round amber eyes shone with curiosity and a hint of shy charm. Most striking of all were her ears, nearly as long as her body, arcing like maple leaves caught by a breeze, the inner folds tinged with bashful pink.
"Lopunny?"
Noah was surprised. He had not expected an adorable Lopunny to be living on his farm.
At once, her data floated before his eyes.
[Name: Lopunny]
[Type: Normal]
[Sex: Female]
[Level: Lv. 23]
[Ability: Limber (Immunity to paralysis due to a supple body)]
[Moves: Return, Healing Wish, Bounce, Rototiller, Dig, Quick Attack, Jump Kick, Substitute, Agility]
[Egg Moves: Copycat, Power-Up Punch]
[Equipped Traits: None]
Lopunny paused, then turned to the handsome young man and the pale-teal figure beside him, gaze flicking between them.
"Chu-lu-lu?"
Her voice was soft and sticky-sweet, like fresh mochi with a tentative lilt at the end.
"Trainer, she is asking why we have suddenly intruded into her territory," Gardevoir translated coolly through telepathy.
Noah nodded. It seemed this Lopunny had been here for a while. After his grandfather passed away, the farm had gone unattended, and quite a few Pokémon had wandered in from the forest.
"Actually, the farm belongs to us," Noah said gently. "If you came from the forest, you should have seen a line of posts around the edge. Those mark our claim to this land."
In the Pokémon world, the relationship between people and Pokémon was subtle. Many Trainers lived, battled, and raised Pokémon, forging strong bonds. But in the wilds, some Pokémon distrusted humans, and attacks on travelers and even towns were not unheard of, as the League's reports often warned.
Which was why, if words could avoid a needless clash, Noah preferred to talk first.
"Chu-lu-lu..."
So that was it.
Despite her sultry, bunny-girl looks, this Lopunny was sweetly naive at heart. She tilted her head in dawning understanding. She did recall seeing a line of fencing from the forest's edge to the farm, though the poles had all fallen over.
Her shoulders drooped at the thought. Realizing she was the intruder, her face went pink with guilt.
"Chu-lu-lu."
So I have to move again...
She started to turn away when Noah lifted a hand to stop her.
"Wait. Would you like to join our farm?"
"Chu-lu-lu?"
Light rippled in her amber eyes, and her fluffy ears shot upright.
He is offering to take me in?
"Of course. Room and board included."
Noah's voice was warm. Even setting aside how adorable she was, her panel alone made his heart stir. Her level was not high, but her move set was excellent. She had Jump Kick for heavy damage and Rototiller for working the fields.
From any angle, Lopunny was a great fit.
From Gardevoir's perspective, the scene played differently.
"Sha..."
Hmph. Trainer, you are looking at her stats, are you not?
You just got dazzled by a bunny girl. Shameful.
Gardevoir puffed her cheeks with a small jealousy. Then, being an expert at talking herself down, she reconsidered. Another helper like Lopunny might not be a bad thing.
Recently, Gardevoir had noticed something else too. Her Trainer seemed to be getting stronger. Even with all their bonding experience, she sometimes found herself overwhelmed and needed extra time to recover.
She flushed, then took a steadying breath and focused on the present.
Across from them, Noah and Lopunny continued their conversation.
"Chu-lu-lu."
After a brief think, Lopunny agreed to Noah's invitation. But before joining, her expression turned solemn and she murmured something under her breath.
"You want to battle first?" Noah confirmed.
"Chu-lu-lu." She nodded.
"No problem."
In this world, Trainers were not the only ones who chose their partners. Some Pokémon also tested whether a prospective Trainer was worthy. In Unova, Professor Juniper had even complained more than once in the League Times that Snivy abandoning inexperienced Trainers had become increasingly common, with some rookies unable to get past even Route 1's tall grass.
"Gardevoir, battle ready."
At Noah's signal, the pale-teal figure blinked forward.
"Sha."
Gardevoir brought her hands to her chest, expression cool and focused. A faint flush lingered on her cheeks, though Noah could not tell why.
"Chu-lu-lu."
Lopunny's sweetness vanished the moment she got serious. She paced to Noah and Gardevoir's opposite side and squared up.
"You may have the first move," Noah said evenly.
When the breeze stilled and leaves settled, Lopunny blurred brown and shot forward.
[Quick Attack: The user lunges with lightning speed. Always moves first.]
"Nice speed," Noah murmured, eyebrows lifting. Many Trainers would not react in time to call commands against a strike that fast, leaving their Pokémon to take the hit before orders could be given.
Unfortunately for Lopunny, her opponent was Gardevoir.
"Chu-lu...?"
Lopunny skidded to a halt, eyes darting. The target had vanished.