The two Legendary Pokémon stared at each other for a brief moment like this until Xerneas said, "Let's go back!"
"Aren't you two going to talk to each other?" Ange asked, feeling quite confused.
"Everything that needed to be said has been said," Xerneas replied.
Is that so? The way you Legendary Pokémon communicate is truly special, Ange thought.
By the time Ange and the others returned home, Inteleon had already come back from the Royal Capital along with Meowstic and the other Pokémon.
Seeing this, Ange said, "Then let's start making lunch!"
With that, Ange led Munchlax into the kitchen.
Because Inteleon had been exhausted from working hard in the shop all morning, Ange did not let it help make lunch, telling it to take a good rest instead.
Furthermore, Gengar had to go and work in the shop tonight as well, which would definitely leave it utterly exhausted, so Ange did not let it help either.
As the reputation of the Munchlax Home Noodle House gradually spread, the business at the shop during the evening became incredibly popular as well, making Gengar's workload not a single bit lighter than Inteleon's.
Before long, Ange and Munchlax had prepared a table completely overflowing with dishes.
There were pan-fried fish chunks, using the excess flesh provided by the Veluza. After being fried, the outer layer turned completely golden while the inside remained snow-white, releasing a wonderful char aroma that made anyone salivate just by looking at it.
There were also steamed egg dumplings, with the dumpling skin made from Chansey's egg liquid and the filling prepared by combining pork raised by Ange himself with leeks grown by Farfetch'd.
The pork had been marinated with a small amount of bean paste. Once steamed, it became so remarkably fresh and savory that it could almost make someone swallow their tongue.
Next was beef cubes stir-fried with Rolycoly beans, where vibrant green bean pods adorned the brown beef cubes, creating a visually pleasing display.
Ange kept very few cows, and they had not reached the point where they could be harvested for meat yet. Therefore, this beef was purchased from the Royal Capital at a premium price, boasting top-notch quality.
The Azoth Kingdom did not produce much beef itself, and this premium beef was said to have been flown in directly from the Alola region.
Moreover, before the beef cubes were tossed into the wok to fry, Ange had similarly marinated them with his home-produced bean paste, making the savory deliciousness simply unimaginable.
Following that was tomato stir-fried with eggs, with the tomatoes harvested from Ange's vegetable garden and the eggs coming from Chansey. Although the style of the dish was ordinary, the final delicacy was anything but common, appearing bright red and perfect in color, aroma, and taste.
In addition to these, there were sweet and sour ribs, stir-fried shredded eggplant, smashed cucumbers, garlic water spinach, sautéed potato, eggplant and green pepper, tofu claypot, and various other dishes.
Mew stared at this table of food, its drool virtually running down for thousands of feet.
Back at its own home, although Ange had cooked large meals for it before, the limited conditions meant the spreads could never be as lavish as the one before it now.
Xerneas's meal consistently included Tree of Beginning Tofu, which it could enjoy alongside the other dishes.
Since Yveltal was not present, Ange specially set aside a portion for it, planning to deliver the food after finishing his own meal, which worked out perfectly since Yveltal had not returned yet.
Yveltal's normal routine involved flying freely through the skies in the morning, returning at noon to rest after enjoying lunch, and continuing to rest until evening.
Once late night arrived, it would resume soaring through the night sky, flanked by Honchkrow and the Murkrow, before finally returning to the bar around dawn.
After the lavish lunch concluded, Xerneas went out to play with Diancie and Magearna, while Munchlax and Inteleon ran off to some unknown destination.
Because Gengar had to work tonight, it stayed behind in the kitchen to prepare ingredients.
Komala, needless to say, set down its bowl and immediately headed to the brewery alongside Passimian. Ever since Passimian arrived on the Nebel Plateau, it had practically started living inside the brewery.
Meanwhile, Metagross went back to its room to perform maintenance on the Nebel Plateau's payment system. Metagross checked the payment system at regular intervals to prevent any glitches from occurring.
Aside from this, it was also attempting to develop new functions for the system to expand the scope of its operations.
Furthermore, Volcanion leisurely strolled outside for a walk after finishing lunch, looking exactly like an old grandpa.
In the end, the only one remaining by Ange's side was Pawmot, who followed him around dynamically.
Consequently, Ange and Pawmot each carried a basket, walking together to deliver the meal to Yveltal.
Just as they arrived at the main entrance of the bar, Mew suddenly bid him farewell.
Although Mew was playful and gluttonous, it had not forgotten its mission, which was to guard the Tree of Beginning and protect the Pokémon living inside it.
Ange felt neither reluctant nor did he try to make it stay because there was simply no need. With the spatial pathway available, Mew could come over to play whenever it wanted, and Ange could visit it anytime as well.
Ange patted Mew's head and said, "Go on, go on, I'll visit you when I have time."
Mew mew~
Mew nodded, subsequently plunging into the spatial pathway and vanishing from sight.
Just as Ange and Pawmot finished setting the lunch out on the table, Yveltal returned, accompanied by the Honchkrow group.
Looking at the Honchkrow and Murkrow flanking Yveltal, Ange said with a smile, "So you've all become Yveltal's underlings now?"
Hon hon~
Murk~ Murk~
Honchkrow and the Murkrow proudly puffed out their chests, not finding anything bad about being Yveltal's underlings at all.
Ange patted Honchkrow's neck, "I never expected you to see a day like this."
Back when Yveltal had not arrived yet, Honchkrow acted like a grand lord every single day, ordering the Murkrow around with immense frequency.
Now that the positions were reversed, Honchkrow held the exact same status as the Murkrow in front of Yveltal.
Hon~
Honchkrow tossed its head up with a grunt, as if saying, Don't meddle in the business between a deity and its underlings.
Subsequently, it hopped attentively in front of Yveltal, serving tea, bringing water, carrying food, and placing dishes. The Murkrow all followed its example, crowding around Yveltal to curry favor.
Yveltal did not need to use its own limbs to eat at all, needing only to lie there quietly and open its mouth, while the Murkrow and Honchkrow served it in an attentive and flawless manner.
A few Murkrow were even specifically assigned to groom Yveltal's feathers.
However, Ange quickly understood the reason why Honchkrow and the Murkrow were being so exceptionally attentive to Yveltal.
Once Yveltal finished enjoying its lunch, Honchkrow pulled out a small handkerchief, considerately flying forward to wipe Yveltal's beak.
Right after that, Ange saw wisps of dark energy begin to pour out from all over Yveltal's body.
The dark energy cascaded down Yveltal's form, spilling onto the sofa and the floor, ultimately forming a circle with a diameter of roughly 2 meters.
Thick dark energy drifted within the circle, radiating intense Dark-type energy fluctuations.
Is this... Dark Aura? Ange was taken aback.
He watched as Honchkrow and the Murkrow leaped into the circle with joy, hopping and jumping inside while absorbing the wisps of dark energy into their bodies.
After inhaling the dark energy, they instantly became lightheaded and dazed, looking exactly as if they had consumed fake wine. They lay sprawled out on the sofa or the floor, silly smiles plastered across their faces.
So serving Yveltal actually comes with this kind of benefit!
Ange thought to himself: I knew it, given the personalities of Honchkrow and the Murkrow, how could they possibly do something that requires effort without any reward.
He shook his head with a smile, lifting the Murkrow who were still experiencing the lingering afterglow of happiness one by one onto the sofa, placing them right next to Yveltal.
Yveltal glanced slightly at Ange holding the Murkrow, subsequently closing its eyes to begin a short nap.
Once the Murkrow and Honchkrow were properly settled, Ange finally left the Secret Fortress alongside Pawmot.
Following that, the human and the Pokémon patrolled the Nebel Plateau aimlessly.
Ange first checked on the pastures belonging to the Gogoat and Skiddo.
During the time he had been away from home, the lush green grass had grown even more vigorously, and the total area had expanded by nearly half.
Leaving the pastures, Ange and Pawmot went to the fishery.
By now, the fish, shrimp, and crabs in the fishery had all grown to an edible size, and had even begun reproducing on their own.
Thus, Ange first dialed Jeremy's number, asking him to come over.
Next, he commanded Poliwrath and the Poliwhirl group to pull the nets to catch fish, shrimp, and scoop up crabs.
Seeing this, Azumarill, Marill, and the Azurill group hurriedly came over to help as well.
The Water-type Pokémon worked with high efficiency, and within a short while, the buckets Ange placed on the shore were completely filled with fish, shrimp, and crabs.
Once Jeremy arrived operating his flying vehicle, Ange directed the Pokémon to move the buckets onto the vehicle, subsequently instructing Jeremy to deliver these fish, shrimp, and crabs to the Palace.
Since the home fishery had yielded a bountiful harvest, he absolutely had to let Lila and Edward have a taste too!
Of course, he did not let Jeremy make the trip for nothing, giving him a bucket of fish, shrimp, and crabs each, while also gifting him two chickens and a portion of pork.
Jeremy left in a highly joyful mood.
After leaving the fishery, Ange patrolled the fruit orchard for a round, and before he knew it, the sky began to darken.
Consequently, he planned to head home to make dinner for the Pokémon. At this moment, Munchlax and Inteleon happened to return from outside, so the trio of master and apprentices entered the kitchen together.
Ange had promised Armarouge and Ceruledge that to celebrate their evolution, they would have a barbecue tonight. Therefore, the three of them began processing the ingredients needed for tonight's barbecue.
When the Pokémon returned from outside and learned that today's dinner was barbecue, they cheered with joy one after another.
While Ange and his apprentices were preparing the ingredients and seasonings, Diancie, Magearna, and Passimian moved the barbecue grills, charcoal, and other equipment outside ahead of time.
Xerneas looked at the busy Diancie and the others, asking the Oinkologne next to it in a puzzled tone, "What is a barbecue? Is it very delicious?"
What is a barbecue... This question completely stumped the two Oinkologne, as they did not know how to explain it. Thus, they could only say to Xerneas repeatedly:
Honk honk~ Delicious, exceptionally delicious!
Seeing this, Xerneas stopped making things difficult for the two Oinkologne, squinting its eyes as it said, "Really? Then today's dinner is truly something to look forward to!"
Honk honk~
Honk honk~
The two Oinkologne nodded repeatedly.
At this moment, Aromatisse and Floette descended from the sky on his left and right respectively, sitting directly upon Xerneas's antlers.
The aura radiating from all over Xerneas's body made them desperately want to be close to it.
Seeing Aromatisse and Floette being so disrespectful to Xerneas, the two Oinkologne immediately stood up and bellowed with looks of displeasure.
Honk honk~
Honk honk~
However, Xerneas lowered its head, gently tapping the foreheads of the two Oinkologne with its chin, and said to them gently:
"It's alright, Aromatisse and Floette are only doing this because they like me."
Zee zee~
Flo~
Aromatisse and Floette immediately nodded vigorously, and right after that, they flew down from Xerneas's antlers, giving Xerneas a soft kiss on each side of its cheeks respectively.
Seeing this, the two Oinkologne were no longer angry, lying down on the left and right sides of Xerneas.
Upon seeing this, Aromatisse and Floette flew back up to sit on Xerneas's antlers once more.
Xerneas suddenly asked at this time, "Is Yveltal not coming to have dinner?"
Zee zee~ It usually doesn't come, Munchlax always delivers it over.
Aromatisse answered.
"So that's how it is." Xerneas fell into deep thought, "It would be wonderful if it could enjoy dinner together with everyone as well."
Scra~ Is it alright if I go call it?
At this moment, Scrafty popped out from some unknown place and suggested.
Hearing this, Xerneas looked at it gently and said, "Then I shall trouble you!"
Scra~
Scrafty immediately pulled up its loose trousers and ran toward the Secret Fortress.
After a short while, to everyone's surprise, Scrafty actually managed to bring Yveltal over, and it even returned riding on Yveltal's back.
Yveltal swooped down from the sky, flanked by Honchkrow and the Murkrow, creating an exceptionally grand display.
After landing, Honchkrow and the Murkrow still acted like a band of bodyguards, surrounding Yveltal in a majestic and spirited manner.
Scrafty quickly hopped down from Yveltal, subsequently running over to its companions in a flash, speaking to them with intense emotion and incoherence:
Scra~ I... I just... just sat... on Yveltal's back!
Pancham, Stunky, Buneary, Pachirisu, and Litleo surrounded Scrafty, staring at it with looks of pure admiration.
Pan pan~ Scrafty, you're so amazing!
Pancham's eyes shone like stars, his gaze revealing a hint of envy.
Bunne bunne~ Scrafty, you're so brave!
Buneary praised without holding back any compliments.
Leo leo~ You actually managed to call Yveltal over, I admire you so much!
Litleo wore a face of deep respect.
Litleo's words caused Scrafty to pause, as it recalled the situation when it went to call Yveltal. Yveltal seemed... like it had not come out because of it.
At that time, it had arrived at the entrance of the bar, gripping the doorframe and carefully poking its head inside, only to see Yveltal sleeping with its body curled up.
Honchkrow and the Murkrow were resting their minds around Yveltal with their eyes closed.
It had called out gently: Scra~ Yveltal, dinner is almost ready, do you want to come out and eat with everyone?
The moment its voice fell, Honchkrow and the Murkrow snapped their eyes open simultaneously.
The lights in the bar were not turned on at the time, and since the sky was about to turn dark, the interior was very dimly lit.
When Honchkrow and the Murkrow opened their eyes at the same time, those eyes capable of glowing in the dark gave Scrafty quite a massive scare.
Scra~ Why are you scaring me!
Scrafty showed its dissatisfaction.
Murk~ You are not allowed to disturb Lord Yveltal's rest, Lord Yveltal would never go out to eat things with you guys!
One of the Murkrow warned Scrafty, its expression haughty as if it were Yveltal itself.
Using a formidable presence to intimidate others was exactly what this looked like.
Scrafty pouted and said: Scra~ What's the big deal, Lord Xerneas was the one who told me to come!
Hearing Xerneas's name, Yveltal, who had its eyes tightly shut, snapped them open instantly, subsequently flapping both wings to take flight.
Yve~ Let's go out for dinner.
Yveltal's slightly chilly voice echoed in the ears of the Murkrow, Honchkrow, and Scrafty.
As it flew past the main door, Yveltal clamped its beak onto the back of Scrafty's neck, directly tossing the Pokémon onto its back.
Seeing this scene, Honchkrow and the Murkrow were utterly dumbfounded.
Yveltal had actually gone out!
Hon hon~ Follow, hurry and follow!
Murk~ Lord Yveltal, wait for us.
Honchkrow hurriedly led the Murkrow to chase after it.
So why exactly did Lord Yveltal suddenly change its mind?
Unable to figure out the key reason, Scrafty shook its head and stopped thinking about it.
However... Lord Yveltal did not seem as terrifying as it looked! And it had even allowed itself to ride on its back!
Scrafty glanced at Yveltal, its gaze carrying a trace of admiration.
After landing, Yveltal cast a glance toward the location where Xerneas was stationed.
Xerneas happened to look over at this exact moment as well, nodding toward Yveltal with a smile in its eyes.
Yveltal nodded back in response.
The two Pokémon exchanged merely this single interaction before subsequently going about their own business.
Xerneas was surrounded by a massive crowd of Pokémon, who were talking to it all at once.
Listening to them recount the interesting occurrences on the plateau, Xerneas had a face full of smiles, chiming in from time to time.
Conversely, Yveltal's side was completely deserted, without a single other Pokémon present aside from Honchkrow and the Murkrow.
Scrafty looked at Xerneas, then looked at Yveltal, comparing the situations on both sides.
After hesitating for quite a long time, Scrafty finally gritted its teeth and ran toward Yveltal's side.
It did not forget to drag Pancham and Stunky along to boost its courage.
Pan pan~ What are you doing?
Pancham bellowed.
Scra~ Don't worry about it, just follow me.
Scrafty said.
Once they arrived next to Yveltal, Pancham and Stunky shivered uncontrollably as they hid behind Scrafty, carefully poking their heads out to steal glances at Yveltal. The moment Yveltal looked over, they instantly pulled their heads back.
Hon hon~ What have you come for?
Honchkrow puffed its chest incredibly high, looking down at Scrafty with a dominant air.
Scrafty plucked up its courage and said: Scra~ What? Only you guys are allowed to stay by Lord Yveltal's side, and we aren't?
Honchkrow stared sharply at Scrafty.
Seeing this, Scrafty also did its best to puff its chest as high as possible, striving not to lose to Honchkrow in terms of presence.
After a long while, the sharp pressure radiating from Honchkrow dissipated, and it nodded, saying:
Hon hon~ Forget it, the more attendants Lord Yveltal has, the better, you may stay!
Scrafty thought to itself: Hmph, we aren't any kind of attendants!