Chapter 70: Mischief

As a Grass-type Pokémon belonging to the plant category, soaking up the sun is always beneficial for a newly hatched Cottonee. Sunlight helps with growth and development, making it an essential part of its daily routine.

Even for a normal Cottonee, its body size isn't particularly large, with an average height of around 30 centimeters. As for weight? There's not much to speak of—Cottonee's body is primarily made of cotton. How heavy can a fluff ball really be?

"Ha~ so tired."

Maki let out a yawn. After spending an entire afternoon outside with Cottonee in his arms, basking in the sun, both Charmander and Cottonee seemed to be having a great time. Maki, on the other hand, was struggling.

After just a short while, he wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he could swear his skin had already gotten a shade darker from the sun.

"Cotton~"

Cottonee happily flapped its tiny, cottony "wings." While it was content being cradled in Maki's arms, Charmander was visibly envious.

However, given its own weight, there was no way Maki could hold it all day without straining himself.

Cottonee, on the other hand, was a different story—small, soft, and feather-light. Holding it took no effort at all. How could a Pokémon be this adorable?

"Sabrina, do you want to hold her? She's really cute."

Maki lifted Cottonee slightly, its fluffy white face swaying gently toward Sabrina, fully expecting the typical reaction most girls would have to something so cute.

"Boring."

Sabrina, however, remained utterly indifferent. In her opinion, how could a Cottonee compare to the elegance of a Psychic-type Pokémon? She simply couldn't understand why Maki had chosen such a soft, girly Pokémon.

More importantly, she had just managed to get rid of that persistent guy, Lance, who had been bothering them earlier. She thought she'd finally have some quality time with Maki, only for him to spend the entire afternoon sunbathing with a puffball?

For a brief moment, Sabrina seriously considered using her psychic powers to toss Maki straight into the skies above Saffron City and let him get all the sun he wanted up there.

"Cotton~"

Hidden beneath its fluffy exterior, Cottonee pouted slightly, clearly displeased by Sabrina's lack of attention.

Then, with a mischievous glint in its eyes, a small tuft of cotton separated from its body and floated discreetly toward Sabrina's nose.

Feeling an unexpected tickle, Sabrina's nose twitched a couple of times before she finally couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Achoo!"

"Cotton~"

Cottonee clapped its tiny "wings" in glee, giggling uncontrollably at its successful prank.

Maki had specifically instructed Sabrina not to use her psychic powers for now, hoping it would help her better control them. Under normal circumstances, Cottonee's cotton wouldn't have gotten anywhere near her—it would've been obliterated by sheer telekinetic force before even coming close.

"Cough, cough! I… I think I'll take them back inside now."

Maki gulped. He knew full well who was responsible for this mischief, and before Sabrina could react, he grabbed Cottonee and made a run for it.

"Huh?"

Charmander blinked in confusion as it watched Maki escape with Cottonee in tow, suddenly feeling a deep sense of abandonment.

Then it turned back to see Sabrina's face darkening, looking as if she were about to explode.

"Char!"

[Wait for me, Master!]

Without hesitation, Charmander bolted after Maki. It didn't know exactly what had happened, but it was smart enough to guess that sticking around wouldn't end well.

Back in his room, Maki finally breathed a sigh of relief. Looking down at Cottonee, he sighed in exasperation.

"Try not to pull pranks like that again, okay? You almost got both of us killed."

"Cotton~"

Cottonee nuzzled deeper into Maki's arms, acting all cute and innocent, making it impossible for him to stay mad.

How was he supposed to resist such an adorable troublemaker?

Given Cottonee's personality and natural inclination for mischief, Maki was now certain—it had the Prankster ability.

After all, Sabrina wasn't the first target of its pranks. Before Lance had left due to his job transfer, he too had fallen victim to Cottonee's mischief. Even Maki and Charmander hadn't been spared.

"Well, just be careful next time."

What else could Maki do? He could only give a light warning. Pranking was part of Cottonee's nature, and trying to suppress it too much might even hinder its growth—or worse, prevent it from fully utilizing its ability.

At the very least, now he was sure about its ability. As for what Egg Moves it had inherited, that was still uncertain. Since Cottonee was still so young, there was no rush to test it just yet.

As long as it had Prankster, Maki's expectations were already met.

Among Cottonee's potential Egg Moves—Nature Power, Fake Tears, Encore, Grass Whistle, Attract, and Tickle—Maki was most interested in Nature Power. It would play a core role in its future training.

Although Cottonee could learn Nature Power as it leveled up, the sooner it mastered it, the better.

As for the other five moves… well, Maki had to admit—they were all downright annoying moves. But that was exactly what he wanted!

What's a Cottonee without a bit of mischief?

No matter which moves it ended up inheriting, Maki was looking forward to the results.

Besides, once Cottonee grew out of its infancy, it would naturally learn moves like Helping Hand, Absorb, and Fairy Wind. Even if its offensive power wasn't impressive, it could still use Helping Hand to boost Charmander's attacks.

Not to mention, despite its low offensive capabilities, Cottonee could also learn Growth quite early. This move boosted both Attack and Special Attack, making it valuable for both Cottonee and its evolved form, Whimsicott.

And compared to moves like Dragon Dance, Growth put far less strain on the user's body—a definite advantage.

"Cotton~"

Seeing that Maki wasn't truly angry, Cottonee giggled gleefully once again. Good thing Sabrina wasn't here, or she might have lost her mind.

From this moment on, Cottonee's mischievous nature was already beginning to show.

Feeling excited, it flapped its tiny "wings" and, for the first time, managed to lift itself into the air.

"You can already fly on your own?"

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