The firefly colony residing in the grass began to gradually become active.
By the time the sky became completely dark, the firefly colony gathered at the lakeside, illuminating the night.
Naoki spread a picnic blanket on the grass by the river and filled it with a variety of snacks and foods.
Fresh milk pudding, honey cake, Poffins, Pokeblocks, Berry Juice, MooMoo Milk...
The Pokemon from the ranch all gathered there, happily chasing and playing around the picnic blanket.
On the other side of the river, the Psyducks sat obediently by the riverbank, holding their heads with their hands, vacantly watching the fireflies dancing above the river.
Lono also released all of her Pokemon.
Bellibolt, Kilowattrel, Mismagius, Electrode, Luxray, Electivire.
Their Pokemon had eaten together before, so they were somewhat familiar with each other.
Therefore, upon meeting, Pawmot flew up and released a bit of current, using the specific communication method of Electric Type Pokemon to greet Luxray and the others.
Flutter Mane was still very curious about Mismagius, floating mid-air, staring at it without blinking.
Mismagius, feeling scared under its gaze, turned around and hid to the side.
Lono looked at this dreamy scene, and a feeling never felt before suddenly surged in her heart.
Before this, she had visited many attractions.
The Million Volt Skyline of Levincia City, the Casseroya Waterfall of Casseroya Lake, the Grand Olive Orchard in the southwest of Paldea...
As for Glaseado's Grasp on Glaseado Mountain, Lono hadn't been there yet because she was afraid of the cold.
But none of those places could give her this kind of feeling.
By the slowly flowing riverbank, the firefly colony gently glowed, slowly flying, their figures reflected on the surface of the clear water, gently rippling with the waves.
The serene night, filled with the chirping of cicadas in summer, the gentle evening breeze...
All of this is something you can't experience in a big city.
"So beautiful!" Lono murmured, then a smile appeared on her face: "Thank you, Naoki!"
Naoki, with his hands on the grass, looked up at the firefly-lit riverside in front of him and said softly:
"I should also thank you."
"Eh?" Lono was taken aback.
Naoki smiled: "You helped promote my ranch shop in your livestream, right?"
Lono was completely confused: "How did you know?"
She had been so cautious!
"Because your fans all came to my shop's message board and said so." Naoki opened his Rotom Phone and found those initial messages.
[Recommended by Lono's livestream! The milk here is delicious, sweet, and fresh. The Dragonite delivery is also fast, highly recommended!]
[It's indeed good, thanks to Lono, I found this hidden gem shop. The vegetables are very fresh, now my grandma doesn't have to go out to buy vegetables anymore. I'll definitely come again!]
And so on.
Lono's face turned red as she read, how embarrassing.
"Thank you." Naoki said softly.
Lono truly is a warm-hearted person! If he remembered correctly, in the anime, Lono, as a livestreamer, often encouraged her fans to lift their spirits.
Lono scratched her head sheepishly.
At this moment, Naoki suddenly remembered something.
"By the way, did you get here by taking the Squawkabilly Flying Taxi?" he asked.
Lono nodded: "That's right! There are flying taxi stations in both Levincia City and Porto Marinada Town, it's very convenient to take them directly here!"
"How long does the flight usually take?" Naoki asked.
"Not too long, about six hours or so." Lono calculated carefully.
After all, Porto Marinada Town and Levincia City are so far apart, one in the far west of Paldea and the other in the far east, six hours is quite fast.
Naoki asked incredulously: "Does it really take six hours by flying taxi?"
Lono, puzzled: "Huh? What's wrong?"
Naoki: "..."
Too slow, no, the round trip is too troublesome, isn't it?
"Tomorrow, let Dragonite take you back." Naoki suddenly felt a headache.
At Dragonite's speed, it can reach Levincia City in less than half an hour, much faster than Squawkabilly.
Now it was Lono's turn to be confused.
She felt a bit embarrassed, "Isn't that a bit too much trouble?"
"It's fine, Dragonite has to deliver goods to Levincia City anyway, you can just ride along with it." Naoki said.
"Alright then." Lono giggled: "Thank you very much!"
Not far away, Koraidon and Cyclizar were squatting on the grass.
Cyclizar looked towards Koraidon, puzzled, and asked: "Gao?" (Why can't we go bother Naoki?)
Koraidon, with a serious expression: "Gagg." (Because Naoki has something very important to do.)
"Gao?"
Something important?
Cyclizar immediately perked up, paying full attention.
Koraidon looked at the two by the riverbank and the Pokemon surrounding them, memories surfacing in its mind.
Its young owner, Naoki's child, pitifully tugged at it, asking when it would return.
At the time, when it was still a Cyclizar, it said it would return soon.
Yet it couldn't go back, its young owner never waited for its return.
Remembering this, Koraidon's mood inevitably turned somber.
But then, it pulled itself together once more.
Because it had returned, and when it meets its young owner again, it must say: I've come back.
*
The next morning, Lono rode the Dragonite back to Levincia City.