"Cin! Cin!" (Hand over that dirty watering can right now, or else!)
Cinccino stood there with its tiny paws on its hips, fluffy tail swishing sharply behind it, trying its best to look fierce and intimidating.
But in Silas's eyes, instead of looking scary, the little fellow only looked unbearably cute.
He had the sudden urge to scoop it into his arms and give it a thorough rub. His petting addiction was acting up again.
Opposite it, two Psyduck stood united in resistance. Each one had an Oran Berry stuffed in its mouth, their short little hands protecting the Psyduck watering can perched on top of their heads.
One tilted its head to the left, the other to the right, both wearing equally silly and adorably clueless expressions.
"Psy!" (No way, run!!)
Silas could not help but burst out laughing. He quietly stepped forward and crouched nearby to watch the show unfold.
Cinccino was about to lose its mind. After panting heavily for a moment, it abruptly stopped, then ran straight to Silas and grabbed onto his hair with its tiny paws.
"Cin!"
"Hey, hey, don't pull." Silas quickly held its little hands and took out an Oran Berry with his other hand. "Here. Psyduck loves these. Use the berry to trade with them."
As soon as Cinccino approached with the berry, the Psyducks immediately ran back.
They tossed the watering can aside, and the two ducks began fighting over the berry.
Seizing the opportunity, Cinccino used its fluffy tail to thoroughly clean the Psyduck watering can. Only then did the germaphobic little mouse finally feel somewhat satisfied.
It stayed in Silas's arms for a while, acting spoiled, before running off at Jigglypuff's call to go play.
As for the two Psyducks, they had already fallen into their usual dazed state.
Silas walked over and lightly knocked each of them on the head. He placed the watering can back on one of their heads and split the Oran Berry into two halves.
"Hurry up and get back to work. You haven't finished today's tasks yet."
"Psy!"
The Psyducks scampered off to water the flowers.
After reminding Cinccino and the others not to play too late, Silas left first.
He headed straight toward the berry orchard. He had not seen Litten at all today.
When he arrived, Litten did not rush up to greet him as usual. Even Butterfree was nowhere to be seen.
Curious, Silas walked deeper into the orchard. From a distance, he could hear Litten's irritated and angry meows.
"Could it be that another Bug Pokémon sneaked in again?"
With that thought, Silas quickened his pace.
It turned out not to be the case. Litten was actually hissing at a Pokémon.
The Pokémon had a round body, somewhat like a turtle, with a lattice-like fruit pie crust covering its back.
It was an another evolution of Applin, evolved using a Sweet Apple. The Apple Nectar Pokémon, Appletun, a Grass and Dragon type.
That is right, despite its strange appearance, it was a genuine Dragon-type Pokémon.
Who else nowadays has "dragon" in their name yet is not actually Dragon-type?
Litten bared its sharp little fangs, which gleamed coldly. "Meow!"
(Tell me, where did you come from, you bad Pokémon?)
"Tun Tun!"
(It is me! Boss Litten, I am Applin!)
"Pa!"
With a quick slap-like strike, Litten attacked, clearly angered. "Meow ha~"
(Still trying to get friendly with me? Take my claw!)
By the time Silas arrived, he saw Litten pinning Appletun to the ground and giving it a solid beating.
It was not that Appletun was weak. Its level was simply too low.
It had accidentally found a Sweet Apple and evolved by chance. It had no intention of fighting at all.
"Litten!"
Silas shouted and hurried forward.
"Meow?"
The cat looked puzzled.
He first checked Appletun. Fortunately, Litten had not used much force, and its injuries were not serious.
"This is Appletun, an another evolution of Applin."
"Tun! Tun!"
Appletun nodded quickly, looking on the verge of tears.
It had just evolved and already gotten beaten up.
Litten looked at it, then grabbed a nearby Applin for comparison. Confusion filled the cat's eyes.
How could that tiny Applin evolve into something like this, becoming so chubby?
For a moment, Litten remembered that last night, while playing with Silas, they had mentioned a certain cat Pokémon.
It could not recall the name and became so anxious that it scratched its ears and cheeks.
"What is wrong with you?" Silas asked in confusion, stepping forward and picking Litten up, gently squeezing its paw.
"Meow meow meow~"
So that is what this is about.
Silas rubbed its head and casually explained, "You are thinking of Glameow. Its evolution, Purugly, is a big fat cat."
Litten nodded and then hurriedly asked, "Meowr?"
(Silas, Silas, will I get fat after I evolve too?)
So the little cat cared about its looks.
"No, you will not. You will become Incineroar."
Silas shook his head. Litten's final evolution was Incineroar, a Pokémon often regarded as one of the strongest, standing proudly alongside Amoonguss in competitive battles.
Litten did not really understand, but as long as it would not get fat, that was enough.
It rubbed its head against Silas's chest before reluctantly jumping down and walking with light steps over to Appletun.
Seeing Litten raise its paw, Appletun shrank back in fear and closed its eyes.
"Tun!"
However, the expected pain never came. Litten gently pressed its paw against Appletun's body, leaving a small cat paw mark.
"Meow meow~"
After letting out a couple of meows, Litten turned and walked back to Silas.
The considerate Butterfree stepped forward on behalf of its boss, offering a few plump Oran Berries as an apology.
Once Appletun had eaten its fill, Silas stepped closer. The Applin that had been playing around it all turned to look at him.
He crouched down so that he was eye level with Appletun.
It was worth mentioning that the red fruit shell on Appletun's head was not its ears. The parts beneath were actually its eyes.
"Tun~!"
Appletun took the initiative to greet Silas. It wobbled its round body, indicating that Silas was free to take some whenever he liked.
"Thank you." Silas smiled and shook its little limb. He really did want to taste it.
Appletun's peel was famously delicious, especially sweet. In the past, it had even been used as a snack for children.
Silas tore off a strip and divided it into smaller pieces. He gave some to the Applin watching eagerly, fed some to Litten, and kept the rest for himself.
The sweet peel melted in his mouth, carrying a faint floral fragrance and a rich honeyed flavor.
"It tastes really good, much sweeter than an ordinary apple."
The little apple dragons chirped in agreement as they competed for more. The sweet flavor was very popular.
Litten did not usually like sweet food, but since Silas personally fed it, the cat reluctantly ate a bit and gave a decent evaluation.
Seeing how well received it was, Appletun generously said, "Tun Tun~"
(If Silas wants to eat more, you can take some anytime. I grow it every day.)
"Thank you so much." Silas smiled and rubbed Appletun's round body. "You can live here in the orchard from now on. Your work will remain the same."
Normally, wild Appletun would not allow their back peel to be completely taken away. Combined with the sweet aroma they release, it is a powerful way to lure in small Bug Pokémon.
In the wild, Appletun do not only enjoy Sweet Apples. Some Bug Pokémon are also part of their diet.
But living on the ranch, Appletun did not need to worry about food. Even if all of it was taken, it would not matter.
After getting Appletun's consent, Silas took most of the peel. It was perfect to bring back for the other Pokémon to try.
He could not forget the group of little food lovers at home.
He was sure everyone would love it.
(End of Chapter)
TN: I really thought they cut up Appletun and stop at its green skin in Pokémon.