Emerging from the forest, Leo held up the basket, turned his head, and said to Linus, "I'll head to the lake and wash them first!"
"Go ahead," Linus waved his hand. He watched Leo skip cheerfully toward the bridge before slowly making his way back to his tent.
Passing by Leo's treehouse, Linus paused for a moment. He squinted, staring uncertainly at the small window.
There seemed to be a shadow moving around inside.
Just then, a fluffy head poked out.
"Vincent? What are you doing here?"
"We're preparing a birthday surprise for Leo," he whispered, keeping his voice deliberately low. "Linus, where is Leo?"
Linus paused, gesturing with his eyes toward the lake. "Over there, washing things."
"Then could you stall him for a bit?" Vincent continued. "Miss Penny and Jas are still busy. Half an hour at most."
Linus's gaze lingered on Vincent.
It wasn't unfounded that he was suspicious. Vincent could be a bit mischievous, just like his older brother Sam. Although he had no proof, Linus had indeed suspected that these kids were the culprits throwing rocks at his tent in the middle of the night.
Of course, without evidence, it was just a hunch. Maybe he was just judging a book by its cover—he couldn't be sure. Plus, Vincent seemed to have a slight rivalry with Leo usually, so Linus was a little worried this might be a prank played on him.
Having been through a lot himself, he knew exactly how much it would hurt a child who was expecting a surprise only to be met with a prank.
Just as Linus was thinking this, Penny's face popped out from behind Vincent.
She smiled at Linus, looking a bit apologetic. "We'll have to trouble you then, Linus. We're just about finished."
As she spoke, a small tuft of duck feathers drifted down from her hair. She quickly reached out to catch them. "It'll be ready in just a second."
"Alright."
Seeing that Penny was involved, Linus lowered his guard a little. He turned around, took a few steps to the campfire, and began to light it while keeping an eye on Leo in the distance.
Leo was washing the food so carefully that he didn't notice the commotion over here at all.
It was actually quite nice. He had blended into Pelican Town so quickly, getting along with everyone and forming his own social circle.
Linus thought to himself as he set his small pot over the fire, multitasking between prepping the ingredients and letting his mind wander.
The water was boiling in the pot. In that short span of time, Leo had already returned and was squatting by the fire, holding the washed wild fruits and vegetables.
"Is there anything else I can help with?" Leo asked, resting his chin on his hands.
"Just sit down here," Linus said. "How does going to school feel?"
"It's awesome!"
Inside the treehouse, outside the window, Leo's chattering voice could be heard as he eagerly shared the knowledge he had learned from Penny and the games he played with Jas and Vincent.
Penny tucked the last few duck feathers neatly into place. Listening to the voice outside, she took a deep breath.
Being a teacher truly brought a sense of accomplishment. Especially in moments like this, it made her feel that staying in Pelican Town for the sake of the children was the best decision she could have made.
At that thought, she smiled and rubbed her eyes, which were inexplicably beginning to sting a little.
"Miss Penny—" Jas asked, "Are we going to hide in the treehouse to surprise him?"
"Right when he thinks everyone has forgotten his birthday—" Vincent chimed in, "We'll jump out and give a disappointed Leo a surprise he won't see coming!"
"No," Penny shook her head. "We'll go down as soon as we're done."
"Why?" Vincent asked.
"A surprise that comes only after letting someone feel disappointed isn't really a surprise," Penny said. Seeing Vincent's puzzled expression, she ruffled his hair. Unable to think of a more reasonable explanation for the moment, she asked him instead, "Would you want Jodi and the others to pretend they didn't know on your most anticipated birthday, letting you wait in vain all day, only to tell you right before the day ends that it was a surprise they planned?"
Vincent frowned, recalling that Sam had indeed done that to him once.
The surprise was real, but so was the disappointment.
So, he shook his head and joined Penny and the others in finishing up the preparations.
By the time Leo finished his cheerful chatter, the food in Linus's pot was perfectly cooked.
Linus began to wonder whether he should go up and call the three in the treehouse down, or just pretend he didn't know and start eating with Leo directly.
"Are we not going to eat yet?"
"Wait," Linus replied, "I'm thinking."
"Thinking about what?" Leo looked at Linus in confusion. He glanced around and sniffed at the food in the pot.
It wasn't burnt—
Did he accidentally drop something inedible into the pot?
Just as Leo was pondering this, a slight commotion came from behind him.
Leo turned his head. First, he saw a large flock of parrots flying in from the horizon, carrying items from the Fern Islands in their beaks, and landing right in front of him.
The parrot at the front squawked, "Happy birthday, Leo!"
Leo froze for a second. While his attention was still fixed on the parrots, the three in the treehouse climbed down. "Happy birthday!!!"
It felt like a dream. His parrot friends parted, revealing the three behind them, who seemed to have appeared by magic, holding gifts out to him—
Leo leapt to his feet, so overcome with joy that he started speaking incoherently.
"What is this? Why? How did this happen?"
"Happy birthday, dear," Penny said warmly. "It's your first birthday in Pelican Town, so we put together a little surprise for you. I hope we're not too late."
Leo was completely speechless. This was an entirely new experience for him, and he couldn't yet put a name to this unfamiliar emotion swelling in his chest. All he knew was that tears suddenly welled up and spilled over, and he threw his arms tightly around Penny.
"..." Linus paused. "So, are you all going to eat?"
The dilemma he had been pondering was effectively resolved.
"If you'd have us," Penny said, lifting up a basket. "We can camp out here today."
"So you're all going to stay with me tonight?" Leo looked at the group, his eyes shining with pleasant surprise.
"If you want us to," Jas replied, mimicking Penny's phrasing.
"Of course!!!!"
Meanwhile, at the Farm.
Ron had been so busy he barely had time to touch the ground. It was only when he finished a stretch of work that he remembered Penny had come by earlier asking for some feathers.
Looking up and seeing the sky getting dark, Ron did a quick sweep of the Pokémon on the farm. Ultimately, he handed the task of delivering a gift over to Meowth, who happened to be nearby, plotting to trade today's juicy gossip for some snacks.
"Meow?" Meowth turned to look at Ron with a guilty conscience, hastily hiding his little notebook behind his back. "What is it, meow?"
"Take this, please deliver it to the treehouse for Leo," Ron handed the gift over. "And wish him a happy birthday for me."
"Oh, so it's just that, meow. No problem, meow." Meowth let out a sigh of relief.
"Or else what?"
"Nothing, I was just wondering when you were planning to give Leo his gift, meow," Meowth said, safely stashing his little notebook away before taking the gift. "Delivery guaranteed, meow."
------------------------------------------------------
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Emerging from the forest, Leo held up the basket, turned his head, and said to Linus, "I'll head to the lake and wash them first!"
"Go ahead," Linus waved his hand. He watched Leo skip cheerfully toward the bridge before slowly making his way back to his tent.
Passing by Leo's treehouse, Linus paused for a moment. He squinted, staring uncertainly at the small window.
There seemed to be a shadow moving around inside.
Just then, a fluffy head poked out.
"Vincent? What are you doing here?"
"We're preparing a birthday surprise for Leo," he whispered, keeping his voice deliberately low. "Linus, where is Leo?"
Linus paused, gesturing with his eyes toward the lake. "Over there, washing things."
"Then could you stall him for a bit?" Vincent continued. "Miss Penny and Jas are still busy. Half an hour at most."
Linus's gaze lingered on Vincent.
It wasn't unfounded that he was suspicious. Vincent could be a bit mischievous, just like his older brother Sam. Although he had no proof, Linus had indeed suspected that these kids were the culprits throwing rocks at his tent in the middle of the night.
Of course, without evidence, it was just a hunch. Maybe he was just judging a book by its cover—he couldn't be sure. Plus, Vincent seemed to have a slight rivalry with Leo usually, so Linus was a little worried this might be a prank played on him.
Having been through a lot himself, he knew exactly how much it would hurt a child who was expecting a surprise only to be met with a prank.
Just as Linus was thinking this, Penny's face popped out from behind Vincent.
She smiled at Linus, looking a bit apologetic. "We'll have to trouble you then, Linus. We're just about finished."
As she spoke, a small tuft of duck feathers drifted down from her hair. She quickly reached out to catch them. "It'll be ready in just a second."
"Alright."
Seeing that Penny was involved, Linus lowered his guard a little. He turned around, took a few steps to the campfire, and began to light it while keeping an eye on Leo in the distance.
Leo was washing the food so carefully that he didn't notice the commotion over here at all.
It was actually quite nice. He had blended into Pelican Town so quickly, getting along with everyone and forming his own social circle.
Linus thought to himself as he set his small pot over the fire, multitasking between prepping the ingredients and letting his mind wander.
The water was boiling in the pot. In that short span of time, Leo had already returned and was squatting by the fire, holding the washed wild fruits and vegetables.
"Is there anything else I can help with?" Leo asked, resting his chin on his hands.
"Just sit down here," Linus said. "How does going to school feel?"
"It's awesome!"
Inside the treehouse, outside the window, Leo's chattering voice could be heard as he eagerly shared the knowledge he had learned from Penny and the games he played with Jas and Vincent.
Penny tucked the last few duck feathers neatly into place. Listening to the voice outside, she took a deep breath.
Being a teacher truly brought a sense of accomplishment. Especially in moments like this, it made her feel that staying in Pelican Town for the sake of the children was the best decision she could have made.
At that thought, she smiled and rubbed her eyes, which were inexplicably beginning to sting a little.
"Miss Penny—" Jas asked, "Are we going to hide in the treehouse to surprise him?"
"Right when he thinks everyone has forgotten his birthday—" Vincent chimed in, "We'll jump out and give a disappointed Leo a surprise he won't see coming!"
"No," Penny shook her head. "We'll go down as soon as we're done."
"Why?" Vincent asked.
"A surprise that comes only after letting someone feel disappointed isn't really a surprise," Penny said. Seeing Vincent's puzzled expression, she ruffled his hair. Unable to think of a more reasonable explanation for the moment, she asked him instead, "Would you want Jodi and the others to pretend they didn't know on your most anticipated birthday, letting you wait in vain all day, only to tell you right before the day ends that it was a surprise they planned?"
Vincent frowned, recalling that Sam had indeed done that to him once.
The surprise was real, but so was the disappointment.
So, he shook his head and joined Penny and the others in finishing up the preparations.
By the time Leo finished his cheerful chatter, the food in Linus's pot was perfectly cooked.
Linus began to wonder whether he should go up and call the three in the treehouse down, or just pretend he didn't know and start eating with Leo directly.
"Are we not going to eat yet?"
"Wait," Linus replied, "I'm thinking."
"Thinking about what?" Leo looked at Linus in confusion. He glanced around and sniffed at the food in the pot.
It wasn't burnt—
Did he accidentally drop something inedible into the pot?
Just as Leo was pondering this, a slight commotion came from behind him.
Leo turned his head. First, he saw a large flock of parrots flying in from the horizon, carrying items from the Fern Islands in their beaks, and landing right in front of him.
The parrot at the front squawked, "Happy birthday, Leo!"
Leo froze for a second. While his attention was still fixed on the parrots, the three in the treehouse climbed down. "Happy birthday!!!"
It felt like a dream. His parrot friends parted, revealing the three behind them, who seemed to have appeared by magic, holding gifts out to him—
Leo leapt to his feet, so overcome with joy that he started speaking incoherently.
"What is this? Why? How did this happen?"
"Happy birthday, dear," Penny said warmly. "It's your first birthday in Pelican Town, so we put together a little surprise for you. I hope we're not too late."
Leo was completely speechless. This was an entirely new experience for him, and he couldn't yet put a name to this unfamiliar emotion swelling in his chest. All he knew was that tears suddenly welled up and spilled over, and he threw his arms tightly around Penny.
"—" Linus paused. "So, are you all going to eat?"
The dilemma he had been pondering was effectively resolved.
"If you'd have us," Penny said, lifting up a basket. "We can camp out here today."
"So you're all going to stay with me tonight?" Leo looked at the group, his eyes shining with pleasant surprise.
"If you want us to," Jas replied, mimicking Penny's phrasing.
"Of course!!!!"
***
Meanwhile, at the Farm.
Ron had been so busy he barely had time to touch the ground. It was only when he finished a stretch of work that he remembered Penny had come by earlier asking for some feathers.
Looking up and seeing the sky getting dark, Ron did a quick sweep of the Pokémon on the farm. Ultimately, he handed the task of delivering a gift over to Meowth, who happened to be nearby, plotting to trade today's juicy gossip for some snacks.
"Meow?" Meowth turned to look at Ron with a guilty conscience, hastily hiding his little notebook behind his back. "What is it, meow?"
"Take this, please deliver it to the treehouse for Leo," Ron handed the gift over. "And wish him a happy birthday for me."
"Oh, so it's just that, meow. No problem, meow." Meowth let out a sigh of relief.
"Or else what?"
"Nothing, I was just wondering when you were planning to give Leo his gift, meow," Meowth said, safely stashing his little notebook away before taking the gift. "Delivery guaranteed, meow."
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)