Winter at the Breeding House; bright sunlight spilled onto the balcony, where a Gengar was floating upside down in the air, following a Medicham in an upside-down tablet to do yoga.
Today was Yoga Pose · Gengar.
If it weren't for the fact that it couldn't touch its own feet, it would probably look a bit better.
At this moment, Gengar had its eyes closed, giving up on trying to touch its feet with its hands and choosing to join its hands together instead, while the sunlight spilled right onto its big, chubby face.
The warm feeling on its face made Gengar feel as if its entire ghostly self had been sublimated.
"Gengar."
Zorua jumped over from the balcony of Shauna's room and looked at the upside-down Gengar. "Are you practicing this yoga again?"
Gengar didn't open its eyes, only nodding with an aloof air.
Maylene's voice came from the tablet, "We must carefully perceive our current mood and environment; that way, we will find that our souls have been sublimated."
"Gen gengar—"
That's right, my soul has already been sublimated.
Zorua felt a bit bored; since coming to the Breeding House, it had been sleeping in Shauna's room, but today Shauna had slept in, leaving it, who was used to waking up early, with nothing to do.
It walked from the balcony into Lucas's room. No one was on the bed. It looked toward the floor on the other side of the bed, where Lucas was lying in Ninetales' embrace while holding Mime Jr. on the floor covered with a beautiful carpet. Lying on the other side was Lilligant; ever since winter began, Lilligant had increasingly liked coming to Lucas's room to sleep.
Lilligant didn't much like the weather outside; even with the blessings of Celebi and Lugia, winter at the Breeding House was still a bit cold.
At that moment, the alarm clock on the table rang, giving Zorua a start.
"Mine mine?"
Good morning, Zorua.
Mime Jr. crawled out from Lucas's embrace, nimbly climbed onto the chair to turn off the alarm on the phone, then sat on the chair, yawned, rubbed its eyes, and greeted Zorua, who had appeared in Lucas's room.
Lucas opened his eyes and glanced at Mime Jr. sitting on the chair, then rolled over. Not feeling the Meowstic sister, he reached out to hug Lilligant and continued sleeping.
"Isn't he getting up?"
Zorua was a bit puzzled.
Mime Jr. shook its head.
"Mine mine."
I set this alarm; I need to get up to prepare breakfast and the ingredients for the Canteen. He still needs to sleep for a while longer.
Zorua jumped onto the bed, nodding as if it half-understood.
After sitting and dazing for a while, Mime Jr. looked at Zorua.
"Mine mine~"
Do you want to go prepare the ingredients together?
Mime Jr. extended an invitation to Zorua.
"But I don't know how; I'm afraid I'll be a bother to you."
Zorua was a bit hesitant.
Mime Jr. shook its head and showed Zorua the Breeding House's signature smile, "Min mine~"
It's okay, tell me what you want to eat, and I'll make it for you.
Zorua's eyes lit up.
"Really? But Lucas isn't awake yet."
Mime Jr. jumped off the chair, "Mine mine."
It's fine, we'll eat something delicious ahead of time.
Zorua followed and jumped off the bed, "Then I want to eat cake."
"Mine mine."
Okay.
Mime Jr. ran into the bathroom, climbed onto a chair, and brushed its teeth with a toothbrush that Gothitelle had already squeezed toothpaste onto for Lucas and them early this morning.
After Mime Jr. finished washing up, Zorua followed Mime Jr. as it opened the room door and walked out.
Mime Jr. closed the door quietly and then skipped downstairs with Zorua toward the kitchen.
When they arrived at the kitchen, Gothitelle, the Meowstic siblings, and Alcremie were already there.
Due to the large population of the Breeding House, these few Pokémon usually worked together to prepare breakfast in the morning. Mr. and Mrs. Fujino used to get up to help as well, but after the Meowstic siblings arrived, the kitchen work could be handled with Gothitelle leading the way. Therefore, they let Mr. and Mrs. Fujino sleep in a bit longer in the morning, leaving the breakfast duties to them.
"Mine mine~"
Good morning, everyone.
Mime Jr. greeted them and received responses from all the Pokémon.
The Meowstic brother took two cups of freshly ground soy milk and handed them to Mime Jr. and Zorua.
"Meowstic mew."
Mime Jr. took it and gulped it down in one breath.
Zorua lowered its head and quickly finished the soy milk as well.
Seeing Zorua looking like it wanted to say something but was hesitating, Mime Jr. gave it a little push with its small hand, pushing it toward Alcremie.
"Al cre cremie?"
Alcremie looked back at Zorua curiously, asking if it needed anything.
Zorua was a bit afraid.
"Mine mine~"
It's okay, go for it.
Looking at Alcremie, who was staring at it curiously, Zorua closed its eyes and asked, "Alcremie, I want to eat a cake, is that okay?"
After speaking, it opened its eyes and looked cautiously at Alcremie, only to find a sweet smile on Alcremie's face.
"Al cre cremie~"
Of course, please wait a moment~
Gothitelle, who was frying nearby, chuckled.
"Gothitelle."
In the Breeding House, we are one family; just tell us what you want to eat.
"Mine mine~~"
Big sister is right.
Seeing that Zorua had finally spoken up, Mime Jr. clapped its hands happily.
It had noticed a while ago that Zorua often came to the kitchen, looking like it wanted to say something every time but never speaking up. It remembered Lucas saying that this wouldn't do.
Living in the Breeding House means being one family; if there are any needs or anything at all, it can be said. Only by speaking up can you truly be a family.
It had specifically gone to ask its big sister, who said it was because Zorua was shy and didn't want to cause them any trouble.
It then asked its sister what should be done. Its sister, Lilligant, Latias, and the others discussed it and came up with a solution: let Zorua take the first step and speak up itself, and then they would give a positive response. That way, things would get better.
So when it saw Zorua in Lucas's room just now, it remembered this matter and "tricked" Zorua over, letting it take that first step.
After Alcremie agreed to make the cake for Zorua, she handed over her bread-baking duties to the Meowstic sister and began making the cake herself.
Watching the Pokémon in the kitchen all start to get busy and seeing Alcremie begin to make the cake, Zorua looked happily at Mime Jr. "I'll go wait for you outside."
Mime Jr. nodded, "Mine mine~"
Zorua, remember to tell us next time you have any needs.
Zorua was stunned.
Mime Jr. gave a big smile.
"Mine mine~"
Because we are one family~
Hearing Mime Jr.'s words, Zorua also gave a big smile.
"Mm!"
Gothitelle, listening to their conversation from the side, didn't stop her hands for a moment.
That's the way~
Gothitelle was in a pleasant mood, and her movements became much faster.
Gothitelle, Lilligant, and Roserade were the early "Three Beauties" of the Breeding House. Lilligant handled the work arrangements perfectly; Roserade was the one in charge of healing, as the injuries Dash and the others received from their sparring sessions were always healed by Roserade; and Gothitelle knew the dietary habits of everyone in the Breeding House like the back of her hand.
For example, for breakfast on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Lucas liked to eat soy milk with fries; on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, he liked to eat bread with Moomoo Milk or fresh goat milk. Gengar was exactly the same as Lucas. Shauna liked noodles and didn't like fresh milk (Lucas's rejected version). Mr. and Mrs. Fujino liked noodles——
It could be said that Gothitelle was simply the most reliable "mother" of the Breeding House.
Zorua sat obediently by the counter and waited. The Meowstic brother came over carrying a plate and placed it in front of Zorua.
"Meowstic mew."
Please enjoy your meal.
"Thank you."
After saying thank you, Zorua looked down at the cake on the plate.
This was——
A chibi Zorua cake was lying on the plate.
Zorua smiled and lowered its head to eat.
Mime Jr. was right; we are one family.
One family——
Zorua's eyes grew a bit moist.
Originally, it thought that it and Zoroark were just guests staying at the Breeding House, which was why its ma worked so hard on deliveries. It didn't expect that the people and Pokémon of the Breeding House had already treated it and "ma" as family.
The cake was very sweet; as soon as it was eaten, the sweetness flowed into its heart.
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