Pokémon: Farfetch'd (Galarian Form)
Gender: Male
Type: Fighting
Ability: Scrappy (This Pokémon can hit Ghost-type Pokémon with Normal- and Fighting-type moves, and is unaffected by Intimidate.)
Quality: Gold
Base Moves: Peck, Sand Attack
Egg Moves: Night Slash, Brave Bird, Simple Beam, Quick Attack, Counter
Auron quickly shook his head. *I must be losing it. Why am I getting interested in a Farfetch'd's leek? I'm a breeder—would I really steal one's leek just because I ran out?*
He thought about it for a moment. Yeah, he actually would.
For a breeder, the food made for Pokémon had to be perfect. So—sorry, Farfetch'd.
With that thought firmly in mind, Auron picked up the Farfetch'd egg with a wicked grin.
"Heh heh heh~"
Dratini gave him a look of pure contempt before diving into the backpack. *Embarrassing.*
"What are you cackling about? What Pokémon is it?"
"Farfetch'd. Want it? The quality's pretty good."
Tim's eyes lit up. "Does Farfetch'd's Mega Evolution have the Dragon type?"
"As if. You think Dragon-type is as common as cabbage? And setting aside the fact that nobody's even found a Mega Stone for Farfetch'd, this one's Galarian—it's still got another evolution ahead."
Watching Auron's exasperated expression, Tim scratched his head sheepishly. "Alright, fair enough. It's just that Dragon-types are so rare."
"Wait—a Galarian Farfetch'd? A Fighting-type? You picked it for yourself?"
Auron nodded, looking at the egg with a satisfied smile. "Yeah. Not decided yet, but I'm definitely interested in its leek."
"Besides, none of you have room for a Farfetch'd on your teams." He shot them a look of mild annoyance.
Every single one of them—one wanted a pure Dragon-type team, another wanted a pure Ghost-type team. Neither Dragon nor Ghost was exactly a common type, okay?
At least he'd managed to steer Serena away from her fixation on a pure Ice team. Otherwise... well.
Tim grinned and slapped Auron's shoulder. "Hey, those who can, do more! My whole team's riding on you, buddy."
"Beat it, Tauros!"
"Hahaha~"
Auron swatted Tim's hand away and the group burst out laughing.
"Tim's going all-in on this. If he doesn't find anything, he's gonna cough blood."
Tim turned to Lucas with a helpless expression. "I've already been coughing blood, okay? Auron's Munchlax is not a normal eater."
Ahead, Auron overheard this and waved dismissively at Tim without looking back. "Relax. Munchlax will be out late tonight—he'll miss the dinner."
Then he turned around, a sly smile spreading across his face. "Of course, I could always call him over~"
"Don't!" Tim shuddered at the memory of the last time at the Charizard Hot Pot restaurant. "Just us is fine. Munchlax has important things to do—let's not bother him."
If Munchlax came along, a whole month's allowance wouldn't be enough. That Pokémon could eat, and Auron's Munchlax seemed to eat even more than others of its kind.
If Auron could've heard what Tim was thinking, he'd have retorted: *No kidding. My Munchlax grew up on handmade Energy Cubes. He's taller and heavier than the average Munchlax. Of course he eats more.*
"Hey, speaking of which, it's noon already. Should we grab some food first?" Lena perked up at the mention of eating and tentatively suggested lunch.
"Sure." Auron checked his phone and confirmed it was indeed lunchtime. "Let's do it."
"Hehe, great! Lunch is on me and Simon—our treat! Let's go."
Lena beamed and linked arms with Simon, bouncing toward the exit.
Serena shook her head with a smile and followed. It seemed she'd have to find another way to repay Auron.
"Master, let's go. Food first."
"Coming."
Auron made a mental note of the egg number he'd just been looking at, then joined the group.
...
"Chuu~"
"You just ate hot food. Eating something cold right after will give you a stomachache."
"Chuu~~"
"Okay, okay, let's buy it first and you can eat it in a bit, alright?"
"Chuu~ Chuu~"
Auron stared at Dratini, who had wrapped herself around the ice cream stand and refused to budge. They'd just finished hot pot—eating ice cream right away would wreck her stomach.
"Chuu! Chuu!"
"Fine, fine. One vanilla ice cream, please. You guys want any? My treat." After placing the order, Auron turned to his friends.
"No, no way. We don't want stomachaches." Tim waved his hands, grinning.
"See? You really will get a stomachache. Would I lie to you?"
Auron flicked the forehead of Dratini—who had darted back the instant she heard him order—and gave her a look.
"Chuu~"
"Alright, alright. It's already bought~"
Dratini nuzzled against him with those big, pleading eyes, and Auron's voice went soft.
"Chuu! Chuu!"
Dratini puffed up and thumped her chest with her tail, looking proud as she declared herself to Auron.
"You might be a Pokémon, but Pokémon can still get stomachaches, you know."
Auron said this while handing the finished ice cream to Dratini and paying the vendor.
"Chuu~"
Dratini didn't care about any of that. She was a pseudo-legendary Dragon-type. She could tank Ice-type and Fire-type moves. Hot pot plus ice cream? Please.
Watching Dratini grin blissfully as she licked the ice cream with the tip of her tail curled around the cone, Auron couldn't help but smile.
"Let's go. Leave her be. Let's keep looking at eggs—the sooner we're done, the sooner we head home."
"Yes!"
Lena perked up immediately. Right now, aside from Serena, she was the only one without a new Pokémon.
And even if Serena didn't find the right match here, she could always try Auron's mom's shop—there were plenty of Eevee eggs there.
The group made their way back to the main Pokémon store. Dratini had finished her ice cream and was now lounging contentedly in the bag on Auron's back, settling in for a nap.
*(A vanilla ice cream on a hot summer day... truly a little slice of paradise~)*
She thought of the taste from moments ago and unconsciously licked the corner of her mouth, as if savoring the memory one more time.
Back at the spot Auron had marked earlier, he resumed moving forward, scanning the eggs. Tim and Lucas, Serena and Lena followed behind, chatting and laughing softly.