April 3rd. The weather in Alola was clear and bright, sunshine filling the sky. Yesterday, everyone had gone to watch the battles at the Royal Dome and saw the Masked Royal up close. It was an extremely entertaining fight, full of impact and excitement, yet the opponent's fighting style made Silas feel strangely familiar.
Maybe it was just his imagination.
…
Early in the morning, Silas arrived at the area behind the vacation grounds, where a living zone had been specially set aside for Pokémon. Mudsdale and the others were all staying here. Silas had even rented an extra-large room for them to live in. Compared to staying cramped inside Poké Balls, he much preferred letting his Pokémon remain outside. When Silas arrived, a whole group of Pokémon immediately gathered around him.
"Alola~ Kangaskhan, Minccino, Cyclizar, Mudsdale…"
"Kang!"
Kangaskhan gave Silas a big, tight hug, then took an Egg out of her pouch and pointed toward it. Silas pressed his face close to the incubator and widened his eyes to observe carefully. As the Pokémon Egg gently rocked, as if greeting him, Silas noticed a tiny crack appear on the surface of the shell. The Pokémon inside the Egg was exceptionally lively, eager to come into this world as soon as possible.
"It's about to hatch already? That was fast."
Silas sighed with emotion. This was, in the strictest sense, the first Legendary Pokémon he had ever captured.
Minccino curiously climbed up onto his shoulder, wagging its tail at the Egg in greeting. Even Noivern leaned its ferocious-looking face over, full of anticipation for the birth of this new companion. After feeding all the Pokémon, Silas called over Noivern and prepared to leave. He had already promised yesterday that he would learn how to make Poké Poffins—he couldn't go back on his word.
Before leaving, Silas didn't forget to remind Cyclizar and Kangaskhan to help take Mudsdale, Flabébé, Mareep, Petilil, and Minccino to play on the beach. Oh right—he almost forgot the two little ones who had clung to him. Popplio and Rowlet: one treated this place as a safe sleeping spot, while the other regarded him as a reliable meal ticket.
After giving Kangaskhan and the others 1,000 League Coins to buy snacks, Silas mounted Noivern and flew across the island, once again arriving at Hau'oli City. He headed straight for the city center and the Alolan chef's dessert shop. Pushing the door open, he saw the Alolan chef and Oranguru waiting inside.
"Alola! Teacher Silas!"
"Guru! Guru!"
"Alola!"
Silas returned the greetings and walked into the pastry shop. The two people and one Pokémon then headed into the back kitchen together.
"Teacher Silas, since this is your first time making Poké Poffins, how about we start with the simplest kind?"
"No problem!"
Tying on an apron, Silas was already fully prepared, adopting an attentive, serious expression. He didn't know much about Poké Poffins beforehand. Instead, he had heard that some Breeders liked to take Poké Poffins they made themselves into the wild, searching for Pokémon that liked that flavor. With a certain probability, they could directly lure wild Pokémon to follow them home. It was considered an alternative method for Breeders and chefs to capture Pokémon.
"Poké Poffins are a type of dessert that Pokémon absolutely love," the Alolan chef explained. "Their ingredients are mainly various kinds of Berries, or special ingredients favored by certain Pokémon, so the finished product can have some unique effects."
"For example, Oranguru likes bitter Poké Poffins and they can enhance the effects of its meditation."
"Guru!"
Oranguru waved its leafy fan and smiled at him.
"Each type of Berry has a different flavor. By combining them, you can create countless kinds of Poké Poffins."
"Back then, when Oranguru and I first met, it was also because of a Poké Poffin. That's how it chose to follow me."
As the Alolan chef spoke about his younger days, a nostalgic look appeared in his eyes, and his hand naturally rested on Oranguru's shoulder. Silas blinked and immediately understood. Poké Poffins had effects similar to Pokéblocks and on some level, they were even stronger.
Pokéblocks needed to be fed little by little to increase friendship points; only after reaching the maximum would a Pokémon choose to follow you. Poké Poffins were different—they required a bit of luck. If you encountered a Pokémon that liked the flavor, there was a very high chance it would follow you after eating one. If you didn't… well, that was another matter entirely.
Silas couldn't help wondering whether Poké Poffins made by his own hands would receive further enhancement. Thinking this, he was already itching to try making them himself. The Alolan chef went on to introduce the origins and development of Poké Poffins, this time demonstrating the production process in detail.
Making Poké Poffins looked difficult, but in reality, it was anything but simple. First, flour and milk were mixed and stirred together, followed by thoroughly washed Berries of different flavors. If you were confident in yourself, you could put them directly into the pot; beginners were better off chopping them into small pieces. Although this would sacrifice a bit of flavor, it significantly increased the success rate. Heat the pot, and once the water was completely dyed with the color of the Berries, pour in the previously mixed batter.
Eggs and high-quality Moomoo Milk were indispensable. They enhanced the texture and were one of the main supplementary ingredients of Poké Poffins.
"Watch closely," the Alolan chef reminded Silas as his hands continued moving. "Next is the most critical step in making Poké Poffins."
"Mhm!"
Silas nodded and leaned closer, completely focused.
"Next, you need to keep stirring nonstop. This process fully brings out the Berry flavors. Whether you can make a rich, high-quality Poké Poffin depends on this stirring."
"Plant your stance firmly—three circles to the left, three to the right. Be careful not to let the Poké Poffin burn or spill out, or it will affect the final quality."
Silas carefully memorized the entire process, especially the final stirring posture. The Alolan chef stirred for a full ten minutes before pouring the finished batter into molds and placing them in the oven. With a ding, the Poké Poffins were complete. A rich, fragrant aroma spread through the air. Oranguru sniffed, immediately grabbed one, and stuffed it into its mouth—it was its favorite flavor.
"How does it taste?"
"Guru!"
Oranguru nodded happily. The taste hadn't changed at all—it was still delicious.
"Then these are all yours."
The Alolan chef turned to Silas and stepped aside. "Teacher Silas, would you like to give it a try?"
"Alright!"
Opening the refrigerator, Silas looked at the dozens of different Berries inside. He chose two: the Aspear Berry, yellow overall with green ring-like patterns, and the Papaya-shaped Iapapa Berry. Both Berries carried a faint sourness—he intended to make sour Poké Poffins. Imitating the entire process he had just watched, he first cut the Berries into small pieces and poured them into cold water to heat slowly.
Gradually, the clear water in the pot took on a yellow tint, and a light sour fragrance spread. Silas knew the timing was right, so he poured in the batter mixed with Moomoo Milk and eggs.
At this moment, the Alolan chef beside him corrected his stirring technique. Perhaps because Silas often made small cakes for Minccino and the other little ones, he found it easy to get started. With a master guiding him from the side, he quickly learned to adjust the stirring speed according to how the batter was forming.
When the batter and Berries were completely mixed together, the mixture in the pot turned a bright yellow, with the sour flavor fully locked inside the batter—this meant complete success. He then poured it into molds and placed them in the oven to set.
Carrying the Poké Poffins he had made, Silas went to the back courtyard of the dessert shop and released the Pokémon at his waist.
"Noivern, why don't you try a taste?"
(End of Chapter)