Long Life (Scratched Out) Immortality! (BONUS)

December 31st, clear skies.

With a loud whoosh, Gengar yanked open the curtains, gazing at the frost patterns on the window and the serene view of the garden and slow-moving river outside. Taking a deep breath, it bared its teeth in a wide grin.

"Ka-kaah!"

Another day full of energy!

Whoosh—

A pillow came flying at it, but Gengar twisted midair and caught it with ease.

"Ka-kaah~~"

Hands on its hips, Gengar burst into laughter.

It had the talent of a baseball player! A mere pillow was nothing—

Just as it was feeling smug, another object came flying. This time, Gengar opened its mouth and caught it in one bite.

Huh?

It was an Energy Cube?

Gengar was overjoyed.

However, after chewing twice, it instantly realized something was very wrong.

"Ka—Ka-kaah! ～(TロT)σ"

So spicy!

It was Charcadet's Energy Cube! Damn it!

Johan let out a long yawn, rubbing his head.

Looked like Gengar hadn't gone out last night—full of energy first thing in the morning…

"Oowoo~(︿)"

Ninetales blinked its deep blue eyes and looked at Johan pitifully.

"Ah, sorry, I pressed on your fur—cough, I mean, your tail." Johan grinned apologetically.

Walking to the floor-to-ceiling window, he stretched lazily, looking out at the scenery.

"Today~~ is another energetic day!"

"Ka-kaah! |*▼皿▼)"

Why are you copying me?!

Gengar, its tongue now even redder from the spice, cried out in mock resentment.

Johan gave it a side glance.

Copying it?

What a joke.

"If anything, you're copying me."

Man and ghost wrestled into a tangled mess.

"Ka-kaah, Ka-kaah~~"

Wrong, wrong, my bad!

Seeing Johan clutching the Dusk Stone he had just bought, Gengar immediately admitted defeat, bowing deeply in exaggerated sincerity.

Johan smoothed out his hair, letting out a cold laugh.

"A mere 'little ghost' dares challenge me, the Mighty Celestial Dragon, wielder of Supreme Dharma?"

After playing around, Johan and his Pokémon finished washing up.

At the large oval dining table, Johan and his family enjoyed breakfast together.

Watching the little ones happily munching away, Johan couldn't help but sigh internally.

Before he knew it, his household had grown to this size.

Aside from Gengar, Ninetales, Tinkaton, Dragonite, Kubfu, and Charcadet, there were also Rotom, the Indeedee siblings, and the recently recruited employee—Alcremie.

And in the center of the table, basking in the delicious aromas—

The Pokémon Egg.

Rustle~ Rustle~

The egg gently shook.

"I have a feeling that if this continues, whatever hatches is definitely going to be a foodie…"

In those cultivation or high-martial worlds, spirit beast eggs were surrounded by the purest energies and rarest materials, ensuring they were born with unparalleled potential.

Meanwhile, in his household, this Pokémon Egg was bathed in the scent of gourmet food.

If it hatched…

Johan shook his head, unwilling to think further.

Just imagining it might give him nightmares.

Oh, and there was also Marshadow—hiding in the corner, increasingly developing a peeping tom habit.

Don't get the wrong idea.

It was only spying to make sure no one was sneaking extra food behind its back.

After breakfast, Johan clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.

Then, he announced the day's plan.

"Today's mission is—Spring Cleaning!"

December 31st.

Tomorrow was a new year!

In the Pokémon world, there were no distinctions between solar and lunar calendars, so Johan simply treated tonight as New Year's Eve and tomorrow as the New Year.

People here had their own ways of celebrating, but Johan—

He preferred New Year's Eve.

Which meant… there had to be a big feast!

And today was all about welcoming the new and bidding farewell to the old!

With his encouragement, the Pokémon immediately sprang into action.

Spring cleaning!

The café's first and second floors, the living area, the backyard garden—everywhere had to be cleaned.

The little ones were full of enthusiasm.

After all, this was their first time celebrating New Year's Eve with Johan. They had to take it seriously!

Meanwhile, the Indeedee siblings and Alcremie followed Johan into the kitchen.

Starting preparations for the feast bright and early.

With a new assistant, the once strictly "No Entry Except for Johan and Gengar" kitchen was now bustling with activity.

As for the cleaning?

That was left to Gengar and the others.

Technically, it was spring cleaning, but to the Pokémon, it was mostly just an excuse to play around.

"Draaa~~"

Dragonite sprayed a stream of water, flooding the entire room in an instant.

Tinkaton and Kubfu—one with a mop, the other with a broom—turned the living room into a martial arts arena.

"Ka-kaah~"

Floating midair, Gengar gently exhaled at the chandelier before wiping it clean, nodding in satisfaction as it gleamed.

"Make way, make way, Rotom coming through!"

Rotom, possessing the cleaning robot, zoomed around the house.

Anyone who didn't know better might have thought it was piloting a boat rather than vacuuming.

"Oowoo~~"

Ninetales curled its tail around a duster and a cloth, dusting the sofa while wiping the coffee table.

According to Gengar, Ninetales alone was worth nine workers—a true Natural-Born Labor Saint.

That is… until Ninetales glared at it fiercely, and it promptly shut up.

As for Charcadet, it was in charge of the final step—

Burning trash while radiating heat to dry the wet floors.

Overall—

Everything ran pretty smoothly.

Except for some minor incidents.

Like the lampshade getting melted by Gengar.

Or the floor being smashed open.

Or the walls getting scorched.

Minor details.

Johan kept poking his head out of the kitchen to monitor their progress, making sure they didn't destroy the place completely.

Night fell.

Johan's entire household—from the oldest (Gengar) to the youngest (the Pokémon Egg)—sat around the table, which was packed with all kinds of dishes.

There was the roast duck Gengar had requested, the cakes and desserts loved by Ninetales and Kubfu, the fire noodles for Charcadet…

And, of course, Rotom's Oil-Dressed Battery Salad—a special dish on their table.

The TV was on, though no one was really watching.

The ongoing New Year's Eve Festival broadcast simply added to the atmosphere.

"Feels a bit off without the Spring Festival Gala… But having these little guys around is more than enough."

Outside, light snow began to fall, symbolizing a bountiful year ahead.

Inside, warmth filled the air as they excitedly discussed their goals for the new year.

"The new year is almost here, so let's—"

Johan raised his glass, filled with freshly squeezed Berry Juice.

All the Pokémon did the same.

Even Marshadow, feeling the atmosphere, stepped out of the shadows and raised its glass of Moomoo Milk.

"Cheers!!"

A chorus of cheers erupted.

Alcremie, though new, couldn't stop smiling, deeply moved by the warm family atmosphere.

The cream on its body released a rich, luxurious aroma—as if reaching peak quality.

After downing their drinks, Johan smirked as he saw the little ones getting restless.

Lowering his voice deliberately, he said,

"Alright then—let's eat!"

BOOM!!

The room exploded into motion.

"Alcremie, hurry up! If you're too slow, Gengar will eat everything!" Johan quickly placed a drumstick into Alcremie's bowl.

The Indeedee siblings were used to it, but Alcremie—

Seeing its helpless, wide-eyed expression, Johan made sure to slip it some extra food.

"Yimay! o(^▽^)o"

The New Year had arrived.

Gengar and the others made their wishes under the dazzling fireworks.

Johan, watching his little family, smiled.

This year—

And every year after—

They had to be happy.

As for his wish?

Jirachi, if you're listening—forget long life. Just grant me immortality!

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Powerstones?

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