"Phion~ Phion~!"
(That's Sister Minccino, Sister Popplio, and Sister Diancie!)
Sitting in the very front row, Phione was exceptionally excited, waving its tiny hands more vigorously than anyone else.
"Kang~"
Kangaskhan gave a gentle reminder that the performance was about to begin and told it not to disturb the others.
After Diancie and the two little ones stepped onto the stage, the Carbink gave their princess plenty of face. They swung their glow sticks with such force and enthusiasm that the air practically whistled.
Every single Pokémon at the ranch had come tonight. The three Noivern each occupied a corner, sprawled comfortably, while the three Mudsdale brothers stood together in a row.
At their feet were the five Mareep, stacked one on top of another in a wobbly little tower.
Morpeko, Alcremie, and Dolliv were entrusted to Cyclizar's care.
Litten stayed at the very outer edge; it didn't enjoy bustling crowds.
Rowlet, on the other hand, clutched the Lunar Feather Silas had given it in its beak and flitted about in the air, acting as a floating light orb.
The five Flabébé helped as well, scattering flower petals from above the stage—petals that had naturally fallen from the blossoms.
Even the usually low-presence Veluza was there, brought over by Silas in a water tank.
Tonight was the ranch band's very first performance. Naturally, everyone had to come and show their support—no one could be left out.
The surrounding clamor gradually quieted down. On stage, the three Pokémon exchanged glances, encouraging one another before beginning the evening's performance.
Three distinct singing voices intertwined seamlessly, blending together in perfect harmony. The result was pleasing to the ear and deeply captivating.
Silas felt that having lyrics would make it even better, something more memorable and easier to pass along.
When he saw Kalos's renowned actress and future Champion, Diantha, in the future, perhaps he could ask her for help in composing lyrics and arranging music.
Since they had formed a band, they should do things properly—original songs were a must.
There was another important detail as well. Next time, he could prepare a few small outfits for Minccino and the others.
That way, performing on stage would feel more ceremonial. With their natural beauty and cuteness, a light touch of styling would be enough—no need to overdo it.
Of course, all that was for the future. It was clear that tonight's performance was thoroughly loved by the Pokémon.
Even Korrina was no exception. Her eyes sparkled brightly, and she kept clapping without pause, not even noticing that her palms had turned red.
She had unmistakably become Minccino and the others' very first fan. The moment the performance ended, Korrina excitedly ran up to them.
Soon, one human and three Pokémon were huddled together, whispering softly. Before long, each of the three Pokémon pressed a tiny handprint onto Korrina's clothes.
When Silas later rode Cyclizar to take Korrina home, she was still chattering nonstop, even declaring that she would call Serena to make her jealous.
Who would have thought that before even officially debuting, Minccino and the others would already gain their first fan? Silas felt genuinely happy for them.
After sending Korrina back and returning to the ranch, peace settled once more over the grounds.
The area in front of the house had even been cleaned by the Pokémon, which made things wonderfully worry-free.
"Rowl!"
Rowlet, perched beneath the eaves, flew toward him as soon as it saw him return.
At night, the Lunar Feather was indeed different from how it appeared during the day. It was enveloped in a faint layer of moonlight, a soft radiance spreading outward from its center.
Simply looking at it made one feel at ease, as if all the restlessness in one's heart had been gently swept away.
Holding it in his hand felt like holding a cluster of pure moonlight itself, and at that moment, the system panel gave its feedback.
[Lunar Feather: Sweet Dream Factor Progress: 25% (Continuously increasing as it absorbs moonlight.)]
After returning the feather to Rowlet, Silas reminded it not to fly outside the ranch, then went back into the house to prepare for sleep.
Fortunately, the ranch had an owl. Each night, Rowlet could carry the Lunar Feather to absorb the moonlight.
At this rate, in at most three days or perhaps as few as two, he would obtain a portion of Sweet Dream Factor.
Yawning deeply, filled with anticipation, Silas lay down on his bed and casually pulled Minccino into his arms.
He needed to sleep early. Tomorrow, he would be heading out.
…
The next day.
Today, Silas planned to visit Ambrette Town to meet the Pokémon he had been longing to see—Indeedee.
Only by hiring them to work at the ranch could he truly feel at ease delegating responsibilities.
Whenever he went out to handle matters, he did his best to finish within a single day.
He absolutely dared not stay overnight elsewhere; he couldn't feel comfortable leaving the Pokémon home alone.
But with an Indeedee, he would feel much more secure.
He could even be away for several days without issue, as long as he checked in daily through his communicator to stay informed.
He had complete confidence in an Indeedee's ability to care for Pokémon.
Hiring an Indeedee to help at the ranch was something he was determined to accomplish!
After breakfast, he assigned the day's tasks to the Pokémon.
Today, even Minccino didn't fuss about going out with him. After eating, the little one dragged Popplio off to find Diancie and continue studying.
"Cyclizar, we're getting ready to leave."
Standing by the ranch gate, Silas shouted toward the chicken coop.
"Cyc~"
Cyclizar responded and herded the flock of chickens back into their coop.
Mounting Cyclizar, Silas carried a small basket in his hand. It contained the gifts he intended to bring during his visit.
After all, one can never go wrong with bringing gifts. Since it was his first meeting, he had to leave a good impression.
Of course, what Silas prepared wasn't anything extravagant—mostly fruits and vegetables produced by his ranch, along with some handmade desserts he had personally prepared.
Since it was his first time going to Ambrette Town, they stopped frequently along the way, occasionally checking road signs and the map.
By the time they arrived, more than an hour had passed.
"We're finally here!"
Patting Cyclizar beneath him, Silas said, "Let's head to the Pokémon Center to rest for a bit. I'll also ask Nurse Joy for some information."
A Nurse Joy stationed in a town could practically be considered the local encyclopedia. Asking her would definitely be the right move.
As they walked through Ambrette Town, rows of quaint, antique-style buildings slipped past on either side.
In its earliest days, the town was known only for its aquarium.
Later, after a large number of fossils were discovered nearby, the entire town gradually developed and expanded into what it was today.
Silas curiously observed his surroundings. The majority of Pokémon here were Water-types.
Occasionally, he could spot one or two Trainers accompanied by Pokémon revived from fossils.
For example, right now in front of him was an Archen causing trouble everywhere, being chased by Officer Jenny.
It was said to be the ancestor of all bird Pokémon, yet strangely, it could not fly.
It hopped about across rooftops, sticking its tongue out at the Trainer and Officer Jenny pursuing it from behind.
At that moment, Officer Jenny's reliable partner and guardian of order the coolest Pokémon's juvenile form, Growlithe made its entrance.
With a light leap, Growlithe landed on the rooftop. It sprinted forward at remarkable speed, quickly catching up to Archen.
Then it let out a low growl imbued with the Intimidate ability. Startled, Archen stumbled and slipped off the rooftop.
"Be more careful next time!"
Officer Jenny picked up Archen and returned it to its Trainer.
Pokémon revived from fossils were often like this—their moods unsettled, still needing time to adapt to the modern environment.
Incidents like this were common in Ambrette Town. Just a few days ago, a Tyrunt had even rampaged into the bustling market street.
In the end, it was defeated by a Gardevoir, which stopped the disturbance.
The residents of Ambrette Town were long accustomed to such happenings.
These were bits of information Silas had learned while making inquiries as he arrived at the Pokémon Center located at one corner of the town.
There, he found Nurse Joy.
"Trainer Silas, are you here to ask about the Fossil Duke?"
(End of Chapter)