Shining Umbreon, Rising Swordsman[379]

"Quack!"

In the onion garden, Farfetch'd darted excitedly through the towering "onion forest," with the green stalks reaching over two meters high.

For a Pokémon known for its calm demeanor, it was unable to contain its excitement.

This was paradise—the dreamland Farfetch'd had always imagined! If only it had been born here, it mused, life would have been perfect.

But it quickly snapped out of its daydream, its eyes narrowing with vigilance. Farfetch'd darted its gaze around the garden, wary of potential rivals.

After all, in the wild, Farfetch'd often clashed with one another over the best leeks. This onion garden, with its gigantic green stalks, was too tempting a prize to leave unguarded.

To its relief, it found no rival Farfetch'd nearby. Instead, it saw Naoki standing at the edge of the onion garden, quietly observing.

"Farfetch'd !"

Farfetch'd cried excitedly. It struck one of the giant onions with the smaller leek in its hand, as if to show Naoki just how magnificent these crops were.

Naoki smiled. "Calm down," he said. "They won't be ready to harvest until tomorrow. You'll have to wait just a bit longer."

Farfetch'd paused. It had already waited nearly a month for this, so one more day wouldn't hurt. Taking a deep breath, it suppressed its excitement and nodded.

"Farfetch'd !" Understood!

At that moment, a group of yellow-feathered Psyducks waddled over from the nearby riverbank.

The onion garden had been planted close to the water, and the Psyducks lived on the other side of the river. They often wandered over out of curiosity.

Farfetch'd stiffened, eyeing the newcomers suspiciously.

Naoki noticed and explained, "Don't worry. These Psyducks are Water-types. They don't eat onions, nor do they use them. They're probably just here to play."

Hearing this, Farfetch'd relaxed slightly, though it kept a cautious eye on the Psyducks.

The Psyducks wandered into the onion garden, their dull eyes scanning the forest of stalks. They seemed fascinated by the sheer size of the crops, occasionally looking up through the gaps at the canopy above.

One of the Psyducks waddled closer to Farfetch'd, its webbed feet slapping against the ground. It stopped in front of the onion-wielding Pokémon, tilted its head, and stared blankly.

Farfetch'd recoiled slightly. "Quack!"

The Psyduck blinked. "Quack?"

What followed was an enigmatic conversation of quacks and clucks, incomprehensible to anyone but themselves.

Naoki, watching the scene, simply shook his head. 'Whatever. These onions won't be ready until tomorrow. We'll talk more about this then.'

He waved goodbye to the Pokémon and headed off to the warehouse to prepare the day's shipments of fresh produce and milk.

Later in the Day

By the time Naoki finished loading the goods, Zack arrived at the ranch in his truck. Together, they transferred the crates into the vehicle.

As they worked, Zack mentioned, "The fireworks festival is coming up soon. Don't forget to attend—it'll be a good time!"

Naoki smiled. "Of course. I'll take the Pokémon to experience it as well. It'll be a fun outing."

He was especially eager to show the festival to the newer residents of the ranch, such as Ogerpon, Eevee, Farfetch'd, and Slugma.

Once the truck was loaded, Zack climbed into the cab and leaned out the window. "Alright, I'm off!"

Naoki waved as Zack drove away.

Zack's life was a busy one—traveling between rural ranches and bustling towns daily to distribute fresh produce. His stops at the ranch were always brief, but his cheerful demeanor never wavered.

...

After dinner, Naoki settled on the sofa, watching the weather forecast for the coming days.

On the TV screen, a cheerful weather reporter in uniform pointed to various regions on a map of Paldea.

"It's expected that thunderstorms will begin tonight in parts of the northwest," the reporter announced. "Residents are advised to prepare accordingly."

Meanwhile, the southeast region, where Kosaji Town was located, would remain sunny, with high temperatures continuing.

Naoki's gaze shifted to the area marked for thunderstorms. To his surprise, Kosaji Town was among the affected regions.

"A thunderstorm..."

After handing the remote to Calyrex, Naoki got up and went outside to collect the clothes drying on the line. 

Sure enough, it began raining later that night. 

Raindrops drummed against the windows, accompanied by flashes of lightning and the deafening roar of thunder. 

Pawmot and Eevee pressed themselves against the glass, their wide eyes staring out at the dark, stormy world beyond. The windowpane blurred from the rain streaks, muting the view into a somber gray. 

"Pawmot…" 

"Eevee…" 

The storm outside was wild and intimidating, but within the house, there was a warm, tranquil atmosphere. 

The wooden floor was layered with soft carpets, and several plush Pokémon nests lay scattered near Naoki's bed. Beneath the cozy glow of the room's warm lights, Naoki sat beside Koraidon, sharpening its claws with care. 

Koraidon closed its eyes, a look of serene contentment on its face. 

Glancing toward the window, Naoki noticed the anxious expressions of Pawmot and Eevee. He offered some advice. "If the storm frightens you, you can close the curtains. That way, you won't have to look outside." 

"Pawmot!" 

Pawmot puffed up its chest, insisting it wasn't scared. However, noticing the nervousness on Eevee's face, it scampered over to the window and pulled the curtains shut with a quick hop.

Relieved, Eevee ran over to the bed and leaped onto the covers. "Eevee!" it cried, the sound carrying a tone of determination, as if trying to boost its courage. 

Naoki chuckled as he finished sharpening Koraidon's claws. He gave the dragon an affectionate pat on the head, then climbed into bed himself. 

"Eevee," he asked gently, stroking its soft fur, "did you face storms like this back when you lived in the mountains?" 

"Eevee…" the Pokémon replied with a hesitant nod. 

When Eevee lived alone in the wild, it would always seek shelter in a hollow tree during storms. The rainy nights were cold, dark, and terrifying, filled with the distant cries of aggressive Pokémon prowling through the woods. 

Sensing Eevee's lingering fear, Naoki comforted it with soothing strokes along its back. "You're safe here. The ranch is your home now. There's nothing to fear on rainy nights anymore." 

"Eevee…" The little Pokémon pressed closer, rubbing its head affectionately against Naoki's arm. 

Over time, Eevee had grown to love life on the ranch. It had made many new friends and enjoyed the delicious Poffins and juices Naoki prepared. 

It adored Naoki. To Eevee, he was the kindest human in the world, and the ranch was the happiest place it had ever known.

At that moment, Eevee's heart swelled with affection and gratitude, reaching an emotional peak. 

Then, all at once, a dazzling light burst forth from its small body, illuminating the entire room.

Naoki froze in surprise, watching as the radiant energy swirled around Eevee, intertwining with the night's atmosphere. The raw power of emotion transformed into a brilliant force that enveloped the little Pokémon, reshaping it. 

Under the brilliant glow, Eevee's form began to shift, its silhouette stretching and morphing into a new shape. 

Naoki's breath caught. "Evolution?" 

The light finally dimmed, revealing a sleek black Pokémon with luminous blue rings glowing faintly on its forehead, tail, and ears. 

It was a Shiny Umbreon—a radiant Moonlight Pokémon standing confidently before him. 

For a moment, Naoki simply stared, stunned. 

After evolving, Umbreon's demeanor shifted slightly. Its yellow eyes gazed at Naoki with a calm, calculating expression, exuding a unique air of mystery.

It reminded Naoki of a hunter cloaked in shadows.

"Umbreon?" Naoki called softly, testing the waters.

Umbreon's sleek form responded with a faint smile, its voice low yet filled with unmistakable affection.

"Umbree~"

Umbreon glanced down at its transformed body, taking in the glowing blue rings adorning its sleek fur. However, the realization soon dawned—it hadn't evolved into Sylveon, as it had originally hoped, but instead had become Umbreon.

A flicker of disappointment crossed its face.

Noticing this, Naoki quickly leaned down to comfort it. "It's okay! Umbreon is just as amazing. You're still incredible."

The evolution didn't surprise Naoki; Eevee's genetic instability often resulted in unexpected outcomes. Though not Sylveon, Umbreon's shiny form was undeniably striking.

The glowing blue rings emitted a faint luminescence, their eerie beauty giving Umbreon a captivating and mysterious presence.

Naoki gently touched one of the glowing rings. "Glaceon's going to be so surprised when it sees you tomorrow," he said with a chuckle.

Sure enough, the next morning, Glaceon emerged from its icy cave only to freeze in its tracks at the sight of Umbreon.

The newly evolved Pokémon bounded toward Glaceon with an elegant leap. "Umbree!"

Glaceon blinked in shock, turning its head toward Naoki as if seeking confirmation. "Bu-yi?"

Naoki smiled warmly. "It's Eevee! It evolved into Umbreon last night."

Umbreon nodded slightly, its calm demeanor reinforcing Naoki's words.

"Bu…" Glaceon hesitated for a moment before accepting this unexpected reality.

It began circling Umbreon, its curious eyes scanning every detail of the dark-furred Pokémon. Umbreon, serene as ever, stood still, allowing Glaceon to inspect it.

Watching the two Pokémon interact, Naoki felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

"Great! Two Eeveelutions down," he thought.

By morning, the rain had dwindled to a drizzle, though the clouds still lingered.

Farfetch'd, however, could barely contain its excitement. The oversized onions in the field were finally ready for harvest, and it couldn't wait to claim its new weapon.

With an amused sigh, Naoki asked Koraidon for help.

"Let's clear the skies," Naoki said, patting its neck.

Koraidon's Sunny Day ability activated, and in seconds, the clouds parted, replaced by a vibrant blue sky and warm golden sunlight.

Naoki and Farfetch'd made their way to the onion garden.

Standing before the towering onions, Naoki hesitated. "Are you sure you can handle onions this big?" he asked, gesturing to the oversized vegetables.

"Farfetch'd!" The duck Pokémon quacked confidently, its determination shining through.

"These are the ultimate onions," its gaze seemed to say. "With one of these, I'll be unstoppable!"

Naoki sighed. "Alright then."

The rain had left the garden damp, and the green onions glistened with droplets of water. Naoki approached one of the tallest onions, nearly as tall as himself, and began digging it up. After cleaning the roots of mud and trimming the leaves, he handed it to Farfetch'd.

Farfetch'd didn't hesitate. It tossed its old leek into its beak, swallowing it whole in a single gulp, before striding toward the massive onion with purpose.

Stretching its wings wide, it grasped the thick stem of the super onion with a mighty pull.

The moment it wielded the massive leek, Farfetch'd transformed. It swung the oversized onion experimentally, its movements smooth yet powerful, as though testing the weight and balance of the new weapon.

After a series of impressive flourishes, Farfetch'd struck a pose, resting the super onion on its shoulder like a seasoned warrior with a greatsword.

Farfetch'd seemed to have undergone a significant transformation, one that felt reminiscent of the regional variant from Galar. It gripped the massive Super Onion confidently, as though it had already decided to make this its new weapon of choice.

Naoki watched with fascination as Farfetch'd carried the oversized green onion out of the garden and into the training area filled with wooden dummies.

"How does it feel?" Naoki asked thoughtfully. "Can you still use your usual sword techniques?"

"Farfetch'd!"

Farfetch'd nodded with determination.

The bird steadied itself, holding the giant onion tightly in its wings, and focused intently on the dummies ahead. Taking a deep breath, it unleashed its signature move, the One-Word Slash.

A brilliant flash of light accompanied the strike, and when the dust settled, all the wooden dummies had been sliced cleanly in half.

Naoki's jaw dropped slightly. The raw power behind Farfetch'd's move was undeniable.

"Just as I thought," Naoki murmured to himself. "The power of your techniques has increased with this new weapon."

However, as he observed more closely, he noticed something concerning. Farfetch'd was breathing heavily, clearly fatigued after delivering just one strike. The Super Onion was evidently much heavier than its previous weapon, making it far more taxing to wield.

"Why don't you try holding the onion with both hands?" Naoki suggested. "It might be easier to manage."

Farfetch'd paused, considering the advice, and then adjusted its grip, holding the Super Onion with both wings. 

Watching the change, Naoki's mind filled with vivid imagery. A swordsman holding their blade with both hands… Iaido… powerful upward slashes…

The possibilities were endless. Naoki couldn't help but imagine teaching Farfetch'd a variety of techniques: sweeping slashes, vertical strikes, overhead smashes, and even moves like a true greatsword user.

With its new weapon, Farfetch'd could adapt its fighting style depending on the situation, choosing between the finesse of a katana or the raw power of a broadsword.

However, as Farfetch'd attempted a few awkward swings with the Super Onion, it became clear that this transition wouldn't be easy. Its movements were uncoordinated, and the sheer weight of the weapon was too much for its current strength.

Naoki sighed, quickly shelving his dreams of teaching advanced techniques for the time being. "Your strength and stamina aren't quite there yet to handle this weapon properly," he pointed out gently.

Farfetch'd stopped swinging and lowered the Super Onion, looking at it with a mixture of frustration and longing. It could feel the immense potential of the weapon but wasn't yet capable of unleashing it fully. 

"You feel it, don't you?" Naoki said, watching the bird closely.

"Quack…" Farfetch'd nodded, its expression serious.

"Then here's what you need to do," Naoki continued. "Starting today, you're going to train your strength until you can handle this Super Onion like it's a part of you!"

.....

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