Lost in Joy, Forgetting Home

"Follow me," Angie said to the two Golett.

"Golett~ Golett~"

The two Golett nodded weakly, pretending to be feeble as they trailed behind Angie.

Pancham, who had been staying by Angie's side, come forward to support one of the Golett. The other Golett leaned on Scrafty for support.

Both Golett glanced at the Pokémon helping them. Pancham and Scrafty both beamed at them with pure, radiant smiles.

Why does this feel a little... guilty? The thought briefly crossed the minds of the two Golett.

Soon, Angie brought the Golett to his house. He asked, "Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?"

The Golett were stunned. There's food? Could this really be so generous?

If it's free, why not? They nodded eagerly.

"Golett~"

Yes!

"Golett~"

Starving!

"Wait here for a moment," Angie said as he walked into the kitchen.

Opening the refrigerator, Angie found some leftover rice and shrimp. He decided to whip up a simple shrimp fried rice for the two Golett.

Taking out the rice and shrimp, he first marinated the shrimp with pepper, cooking wine, and rock salt.

Then, he prepared some diced carrots, chopped greens, spring onions, and minced garlic as additional ingredients.

Heating the frying pan, he added oil, tossing the marinated shrimp in and stirring until they turned pink before setting them aside.

Next, he sautéed the spring onions and minced garlic until fragrant, then added the diced carrots and greens, cooking until tender.

Once the vegetables were ready, Angie added the rice, breaking it apart with a spatula and frying until every grain was distinct. Finally, he mixed the shrimp back in and seasoned it with rock salt, pepper, and a dash of soy sauce for extra flavor.

Right before taking it off the heat, he sprinkled a small amount of MSG, and the shrimp fried rice was complete.

Initially, the two Golett sat quietly, but as the aroma wafted out of the kitchen, they couldn't stay still. It was like the chairs had grown spikes pricking them into restlessness.

So fragrant! So fragrant!

The two Pokémon inhaled deeply, savoring the smell.

Before long, Angie brought out two plates of fried rice and placed them in front of the Golett.

"Go ahead and eat."

The Golett immediately picked up their plates, ready to dump the rice directly into their mouths, but Angie stopped them. "Use these!"

He pointed at the spoons nearby.

The two Pokémon looked puzzled, so Angie picked up a spoon and demonstrated how to use it.

"See? Like this."

The Golett caught on quickly, grabbing their spoons and digging in with gusto.

The moment the fried rice touched their tongues, they froze. Then, tears welled up and rolled down their faces.

Alarmed, Angie asked, "What's wrong? Are you still hurting somewhere?"

The Golett slowly shook their heads.

"Golett~"

It's so delicious.

"Golett~"

We've never had anything this good before.

Will there be anyone else who makes such delicious food for them? And... this human is so gentle.

Hearing the words of the two Golett, Angie chuckled and said, "As long as you like it. If it's not enough, there's more. Eat as much as you like."

At Angie's words, the two Golett began crying even harder.

Waaahhh~~~ Lord Darkrai, we can't keep up this undercover mission any longer!

While crying, the two Golett devoured all the fried rice and even asked for an extra bowl.

After they were full, Angie asked, "Do you want to rest?"

Having been busy all day, the two Golett indeed felt tired and obediently nodded.

"Then follow me."

Angie led them to the secret hideout. In the employee dormitory, he found an empty room and quickly set it up so they could rest.

Already exhausted, and now full from the meal, the two quickly became drowsy. Before long, they were curled up together on the bed and fast asleep.

They slept all the way until evening when Munchlax came to wake them for dinner. Slowly, they stirred awake.

Dinner too? The two Golett were astonished. What kind of paradise is this?

"Golett~"

Can we eat as much as we want?

"Golett~"

Do we have to pay a price for it?

The two asked nervously.

"Munchlax~ Munchlax~"

No, no!

Munchlax pulled them along.

"Golett~"

Really no price?

"Golett~"

Truly, truly no price?

On the way, the two Pokémon kept confirming with Munchlax.

"Munchlax~ Munchlax~"

I've told you many times already—no price!

Munchlax replied.

It was fortunate that it was Munchlax leading them. If it had been Pawmot, it might have raised its fist and started a fight with these overly talkative fellows.

Arriving at Diancie's grand dining hall, the two Golett finally saw their mission target—Komala.

That wretched Komala! It dared to escape from Lord Darkrai, who had designated it as "backup food." How insolent!

Although they didn't fully understand what "backup food" meant, Lord Darkrai had always treated them well. Naturally, they believed it was the Komala's fault for fleeing.

The fact that Komala was Darkrai's "backup food" was something the two Golett had heard directly from Darkrai. They had never met Komala before that.

Darkrai had only taken the Golett under its wing after Komala's departure.

In this context, "backup food" didn't mean that Darkrai intended to eat Komala physically. Instead, Darkrai fed on Komala's dreams—specifically, its nightmares!

Komala's ability, Comatose, ensured it was always asleep. Darkrai's ability, Bad Dreams, caused perpetual nightmares for any Pokémon near it. As long as Komala stayed by Darkrai's side, it would continually produce nightmares, providing Darkrai with an endless feast.

Komala had fled because it could no longer endure such relentless torment. Eventually, it encountered Angie.

The injuries Komala had sustained when it met Angie were caused by Darkrai.

After Komala escaped, Darkrai scoured the northwestern mountains, almost turning them upside down in its search. It never expected Komala to end up with a human.

Ironically, Komala owed its strength to Darkrai.

Darkrai was an incredibly picky eater, rejecting the nightmares of ordinary Pokémon. Before encountering Komala, it often went hungry.

Darkrai and Komala's fateful meeting happened a hundred years ago. Back then, Komala was weak, easily defeated by any wild Pokémon. Coupled with its Comatose ability, it was frequently bullied.

One particular Musharna had a habit of using its Dream Eater move to torment Komala.

Darkrai encountered Komala at a time when it was being harassed by the Musharna. Darkrai intervened, rescuing Komala and driving away the Musharna.

It's hard to say what drove Darkrai to do so, but after saving the Komala, it decided to imitate a Musharna's Dream Eater technique and used the move on Komala.

And what a decision that turned out to be! Komala's dream was absolutely delicious, far surpassing any dreams Darkrai had tasted before.

From that day onward, Darkrai kept Komala by its side.

At first, it refrained from consuming Komala's dreams because the little Pokémon was too frail—there was no way its tiny body could endure such consumption. So, Darkrai started nurturing Komala, providing it with all the resources it could find, training it, and even taking it to battle other wild Pokémon.

What other Pokémon could ever receive such special treatment?

Day by day, Komala grew stronger.

Initially, Komala truly regarded Darkrai as its savior and shared a joyful time with it.

But one night, Komala began having endless nightmares. No matter how much it struggled, it couldn't escape the torment of the dreamscape.

It was then that Darkrai showed its true fangs. Komala's dreams were simply too irresistible. After one indulgence, Darkrai was hooked.

From that point on, Komala's life became a nightmare, both literally and figuratively.

Whether trapped in endless nightmares or attacked by Dream Eater, Komala endured constant suffering.

And yet, this became a daily ordeal for Komala.

It tried to escape multiple times, but even though it had grown quite powerful, it still wasn't a match for Darkrai. No matter how far it ran, Darkrai would always find it and drag it back.

In the years that followed, Darkrai continued to train Komala, not out of kindness but so that Komala could endure its Dream Eater for longer periods.

And so, the two Pokémon spent a century together.

A hundred years later, Komala had grown in ways even Darkrai could never have anticipated. It seized the opportunity to plan another escape.

But once again, it was found.

This time, Komala decided to fight back.

Though it didn't win and sustained severe injuries, it managed to wound Darkrai and escaped right under its nose.

On the Nebel Plateau, Komala found Angie, becoming a true family member and partner. Finally, it began living a genuinely happy life.

But fate works in mysterious ways. The two Pokémon eventually crossed paths again.

After dinner, the Pokémon gradually returned to the staff dormitory.

Among them, two Golett were escorted to the dormitory by their fellow Pokémon.

The two lingered in their room for a while. Once the commotion outside died down, they decided to sneak out to investigate and then report back to Darkrai.

But before they had gone far, they heard strange noises ahead.

They followed the sounds and soon found a group of Pokémon sitting on the sofas, staring intently at something on the wall.

That "something" displayed moving pictures of a Pichu exploring a forest.

The two Golett were captivated by the scene and approached unconsciously.

One Golett tapped Drilbur's shoulder and asked.

"Golett~ Golett~"

What is this?

Drilbur turned around to see the Golett and replied.

"Drilbur~"

It's a television!

"Golett~"

Television?

The Golett exchanged confused looks, not understanding what the term meant.

Drilbur began explaining what a television was.

Although its explanation wasn't particularly clear, it didn't matter—by then, the two Golett were thoroughly engrossed in the program, Pichu's Adventures.

Without realizing it, they joined the group of Pokémon, laughing and chatting about the story while enjoying the movie.

Meanwhile, outside the Nebel Plateau forest, Darkrai anxiously awaited the Golett's report. But as the night wore on, there was no sign of them.

The next morning, the two Golett sat on their beds for a long time before remembering they had forgotten to meet with Darkrai the previous night.

That "television" thing was too fascinating! After the movie ended, they had excitedly discussed the story with the others. By the time the conversation wound down, everyone went to bed, and so did they.

As for Darkrai... they hadn't thought about it at all.

Maybe... they should go see Darkrai now?

The two Golett hesitated.

But it was broad daylight. If they were caught sneaking out, wouldn't everyone realize they were spies? Wouldn't they be attacked?

Just then, Drilbur knocked on their door.

"Drilbur~ Drilbur~"

Hey, are you coming to breakfast?

Breakfast? The Golett's eyes lit up. Of course!

Remembering last night's dinner, they couldn't help but drool—it had been delicious!

Happily abandoning thoughts of Darkrai, they joined the others for breakfast.

Once again, the meal was as satisfying as dinner, leaving the two Golett completely content.

After breakfast, they sat on the wall, swinging their legs as they watched Pokémon roaming the grasslands and flying in the skies.

They thought, Everyone is outside. There's no way we can leave. So... Darkrai won't blame us, right?

At that moment, they spotted Croconaw waving at them from afar.

"Croconaw~ Croconaw~"

Hey, you two over there! Do you want to play soccer? We're just two short!

"Golett~ Golett~"

Soccer? What's that? Is it something fun like on TV?

The two Golett's eyes lit up. They jumped off the wall and sprinted toward Poliwril.

Today's soccer match was divided into two teams, just like always.

The team led by Infernape included 2 Watchog, 2 Gogoat, Espathra, 2 Scovillain, Quilladin, and 2 Oddish.

The team led by Volcanion included 2 Poliwhirl, 2 Azumarill, Croconaw, Gallade, 2 Shroomish, and the newly added 2 Golett.

The referee was Gardevoir.

When Gardevoir blew the whistle, the two teams began a fierce competition.

At first, the two Golett struggled because they weren't familiar with the game rules and were technically inexperienced. They made many mistakes, causing Xerneas's side to lose several points.

Seeing Infernape's smug expression, Volcanion jumped up and down in frustration and decided to personally coach the two Golett in soccer.

As they gradually became familiar with the rules, the Golett started to experience the joy of Pokémon soccer. Soon, the field echoed with their happy laughter and excited shouts.

Of course, they still lost the match in the end because the points they'd lost earlier were too many to recover.

Volcanion, however, didn't blame the two Golett. Instead, it surprisingly encouraged them, pointing out that everyone starts as a beginner.

Volcanion's encouragement touched the two Golett deeply. They had thought Volcanion was hot-tempered and would surely scold them for losing so many points!

Although Volcanion didn't blame the Golett, it didn't hesitate to pick a fight with the mocking Infernape.

The other Pokémon came over to comfort the two Golett, sharing snacks and toys they had bought from the convenience store.

Feeling the warmth from everyone, one Golett turned to the other and said.

"Golett~ Golett~*

Should we really help Lord Darkrai act as spies?

The other Golett also seemed lost in thought.

"Golett~ Golett~"

I don't know either.

Meanwhile, outside Nebel Plateau, beneath a large tree in the forest, Darkrai was waiting for its two underlings, almost petrified from waiting so long.

Back on the field, just as the two Golett were dazing off, the two Oddish who had just stepped off the soccer field suddenly started glowing.

The Shroomish, Watchog, and Quilladin walking alongside them instinctively stopped in their tracks.

Seeing the glowing Oddish, Quilladin excitedly shouted.

"Quilladin~ Quilladin~"

Oddish is evolving!

In no time, the evolution was complete. The glow faded, revealing two newly transformed Pokémon.

The evolved forms were much larger than Oddish, about the size of a plant bulb. Their bodies were blue, their mouths drooled, and flower buds with spots adorned their heads.

Unlike Oddish, they also now had a pair of hands.

These were the Weed Pokémon, Gloom.

Gloom emitted a strong odor. What looked like drool dripping from their mouths was actually sweet honey.

It's said that the scent Gloom emit isn't actually unpleasant but rather a sweet fragrance so overpowering that it stings the nose. The stronger the smell they emit before evolving, the more likely they are to evolve into a Bellossom with a beautiful flower.

The evolution of the Oddish thrilled everyone, who rushed over to congratulate them. The Shroomish, in particular, were the happiest since they were closest to Paras and Oddish. Now that Oddish had evolved, no one was happier than them.

The two Gloom were also overjoyed by their evolution, holding hands as they jumped up and down in excitement.

But their excitement caused the intense stench from their bodies to spread uncontrollably.

At first, everyone tried to endure it, thinking it would pass. But the two Gloom were so thrilled that the overwhelming smell became unbearable.

In the end, the two Shroomish, two Watchog, and Quilladin couldn't hold it in any longer. They turned away and vomited on the spot.

When Gloom were calm, their stench could be restrained, but when they got emotional, the smell would spread uncontrollably.

Seeing everyone's reactions, the two Gloom's expressions visibly froze. The joy from their evolution vanished in an instant.

Realizing their reactions had hurt the Gloom, the other Pokémon quickly tried to explain, but the Gloom tstopped them.

"Gloom~ Gloom~"

"Gloom~ Gloom~"

The two Gloom with tears brimming in their eyes, turned around and ran away, hand in hand, crying as they went.

Oh no! What should we do now? Quilladin and the others were dumbfounded.