Over the next few days, Ange established a very fulfilling routine. He spent his mornings running the shop and his afternoons building shelters for Gogoat and the others, occasionally patrolling the riverbank.
After several days, several wooden huts appeared under the large trees to the north.
Oddish, Shroomish, and Paras integrated well into the Nebel Plateau family. They got along harmoniously with the other Pokémon and worked hard. Every day, Ange saw bright smiles overflowing on their faces.
The Murkrows were kept perfectly in line by Honchkrow. They worked diligently every day, serving Honchkrow like a lord, which made even Ange feel a bit envious.
On this day, after settling everything at home, Ange prepared to head to the palace with Komala.
Today was the day Professors Sada and Turo were scheduled to return to Paldea.
Seeing Munchlax looking unhappy, Ange comforted it. "Once I reach Paldea, I'll summon you over immediately. I won't make you wait long. Besides, the house can't do without you! You are the pillar of our home, Munchlax. Can you watch over the place for me?"
While Ange was away, Munchlax would be sent to help at the Munchlax Home. As for Nebel Plateau, the Pokémon there would unfortunately have to eat standard Pokémon Food for a few days.
Sigh... going on a trip means I'll lose out on earning so many Happiness Points.
The pillar of the home?
Hearing its master value it so highly, Munchlax immediately turned its sorrow into joy and confidently puffed out its chest.
That's right, I am the pillar of the home!
"Munch munch~" Master, don't worry, I will definitely look after the house!
At this moment, Munchlax was bursting with a sense of responsibility.
"Mhm, I believe Munchlax can do it!" Ange said with a look of absolute certainty.
"Munch~"
Hearing this gave Munchlax even more confidence. It clenched its small fists tightly, and its expression became more serious than ever before.
"Drizzile, Munchlax Home relies on you and Munchlax now. You two work well together, okay?" Ange said to Drizzile.
"Driz driz~" Don't worry, I'm strong, leave it to me!
Drizzile half-squinted its eyes and gave Ange a thumbs-up with a face full of confidence.
Seeing it like this actually made Ange more worried, so he whispered into Diancie's ear. "I'll leave these guys to you."
Diancie covered her mouth and giggled. "Don't worry, I'm here."
After finishing his instructions, Ange spoke to the other Pokémon. "Well... I'm heading out!"
"Be careful on the road," Diancie urged. "Remember to call home every night."
"Driz driz~" Safe travels, Master!
"Munch munch~" Master, remember to call me over as soon as you arrive!
"Pin pin~"
"Kirl kirl~"
"Voir voir~"
"Meow meow~"
...
The other Pokémon also came to see Ange off. The scale of the send-off made it feel like Ange might never return.
Soon, Ange and Komala arrived at the palace. A massive airship was parked in the palace square, flying a very large flag of the Azoth Kingdom.
Seeing Ange from a distance, Romeo waved his arms frantically. "Prince Ange, over here! Over here!"
"Slurp slurp~"
The Slurpuff beside him also waved along.
Seeing this, Ange waved back as he walked toward them.
Romeo was coming along on this trip as well. As a fanatic of scientific research, how could he pass up this opportunity for exchange?
Originally, Lila intended to accompany Romeo, but since Ange agreed to go, she left the task of looking after Romeo to him.
During Sada and Turo's time in the Azoth Kingdom, Romeo had spent a lot of time following them to learn.
Walking up to Romeo, Ange asked, "How much longer until we leave?"
"We're leaving shortly," Romeo replied. "Your Highness, please board the ship with me!"
As he spoke, he took Ange's hand and led him, along with Slurpuff, up the stairs of the airship.
The style of the Azoth Kingdom airship was very vintage, looking like a product from over a hundred years ago. However, its internal facilities were very advanced. The retro exterior was merely a tribute to the origins of Mysterious Science.
After entering the airship, Romeo excitedly pulled Ange around for a tour. Ange saw everything from the crew quarters and the cockpit to the dining hall and leisure lounge.
This was the first time Ange had seen an airship from the Pokémon world, and he explored with great interest. Romeo kept explaining the principles of the airship to him, though he didn't understand most of it.
In the cockpit, Ange met Professor Sada and Professor Turo, who were very happy to see him.
"Prince Ange, you've arrived!" Sada greeted.
"Professors, please stop calling me 'Prince' and 'Highness.' Just call me Ange," Ange requested.
"Then we shall do as you wish!" Turo laughed.
At that moment, Arven popped out from somewhere. He walked up to Ange with Mabosstiff and asked, "Did Munchlax not come?"
"No, it didn't," Ange shook his head.
Arven's disappointment was visible to the naked eye.
"It seems this child has become friends with Munchlax," Sada said, caught between laughter and tears.
Ange patted his shoulder with a smile. "Once we reach the Paldea region, you'll have a chance to see Munchlax."
"Mhm," Arven nodded, assuming Ange would use a Pokémon transfer device to bring Munchlax over later.
Afterward, Ange saw Mr. Nasir, who was as enthusiastic toward him as ever.
At 8:00 AM, the airship took off from the palace on schedule, carrying them toward the Paldea region.
Sitting by the window and watching the Azoth Royal Capital grow smaller below, Ange felt inexplicably excited.
In his 16+500 years in the Pokémon world, this was his first time leaving the Azoth Kingdom.
"Komala~"
Komala rolled over in Ange's arms, and a snot bubble inevitably popped out. Ange helplessly took a tissue to wipe it.
Transportation technology in the Pokémon world was very developed, making exchanges between regions increasingly frequent. It took only two days for them to travel from the Kalos region to distant Paldea.
On the airship, Nasir said to Ange, "Below us is the town where I live, Medali."
Ange looked through the window at the crowds of people coming and going in Medali and couldn't help but praise, "It's such a lively town."
"Isn't it?" Nasir felt very happy with Ange's compliment.
At that time, Professor Sada and Professor Turo approached with Arven and Romeo.
Seeing them, Nasir suggested, "It's getting late. Professors, Your Highnesses, why don't you stay at my house for the night? We can head to the Great Crater of Paldea tomorrow."
"Then we shall gladly accept your hospitality!" Turo replied.
Nasir then shouted to the airship pilot, "To my house!"
"Understood!" the pilot replied.
Before long, the airship landed in the courtyard of a luxurious villa, frightening the resident Pokémon into fleeing in all directions.
But... why were there so many Lechonk and Oinkologne kept in Nasir's courtyard? Was this some special hobby?
Once the airship doors opened, Nasir hopped down immediately while clutching his "little darling" (a Lechonk) and shouted loudly:
"Darlings, I'm back!"
The Lechonk and Oinkologne that had hidden in the bushes and flowers due to the airship's arrival jumped out in surprise upon hearing Nasir's voice. They rushed to his side and enthusiastically surrounded him, nuzzling and kissing him.
Nasir petted one and patted another, muttering continuously. "Good, good, my sweet babies. Have you been eating well while I was gone? I missed you so much. What? You missed me too? Oh, how pitiful! I feel like you've gotten thinner. Is it because you missed me? As expected of my darlings!"
After finishing his monologue, Nasir stood up again. He straightened his collar, gave a light cough, and said with a serious expression to Ange and the others following him down:
"I apologize for the display. I will have someone prepare your accommodations immediately."
Turo and Sada were old acquaintances of Nasir and were long used to his behavior, but Ange, Romeo, and Arven watched him with expressions of total shock.
(ω) Nasir acted as if he saw nothing.
Romeo walked curiously toward the Lechonk and Oinkologne with Slurpuff. The sweet scent emanating from Slurpuff instantly caught the attention of the Oinkologne and Lechonk.
Oinkologne and Lechonk are Pokémon with a very keen sense of smell.
Consequently, Romeo and Slurpuff were instantly befriended by the pigs and began playing together.
Seeing Arven looking at the Pokémon with an eager gaze, Sada patted her son's back. "Go play with them."
Arven nodded and walked over with Mabosstiff. Romeo said happily, "Arven, come here!"
Hearing this, Arven quickened his pace.
The two children of similar age unknowingly became friends.
Under Nasir's arrangements, Ange and the others settled into the villa. By the time they were unpacked, the sun had begun to set, and the orange sunlight shone into the courtyard, dyeing the grass with a soft glow.
At that moment, a Squawkabilly flapped its wings and flew into the courtyard, landing on the windowsill of Ange's room and eyeing him with curiosity.
This was a rare white-feathered Squawkabilly.
Squawkabilly come in four colors: Green, Blue, Yellow, and White.
Among them, Green Squawkabilly have the largest influence. Blue ones often view the Green ones as rivals. Yellow ones have a violent and domineering personality and are even unwilling to live in the same town as other bird Pokémon.
White Squawkabilly are the fewest in number, but because their white feathers blend well with white city buildings, they find it easiest to survive in urban areas.
Ange walked to the balcony, opened the window, and took a carrot from the System backpack to offer. The Squawkabilly immediately pecked at it with a clack-clack-clack sound, finishing the carrot in just a few bites.
"Thank you! Thank you!"
After letting out a burp, the Squawkabilly said "thank you" to Ange twice, then flapped its wings and flew away contentedly.
Like Chatot, Squawkabilly are very good at mimicking human speech, so Ange wasn't surprised that this Pokémon living in a human town could speak.
Checking the time and feeling it was right, Ange summoned Munchlax, Drizzile, and Diancie over.
"Munch munch~" Master, I missed you so much!
As soon as Munchlax appeared, it impatiently dove into Ange's arms.
Being apart from its master for the first time for so long, Munchlax had been anxiously pacing at home every day. Once work ended, it would sit on the front steps, counting on its fingers how long until Ange would fetch it. One hour, two hours, three hours... unfortunately, its math wasn't great, and it often counted until it was dizzy.
"I missed you too. How have you been at home these past few days?" Ange asked while holding Munchlax, nearly squishing the Komala already in his arms into a pancake.
"Munch munch~" Not good. Master wasn't there, so I had no appetite for food.
Munchlax replied with a face full of grievances.
Ange thought to himself: Couldn't even eat? Then life really must have been bad.
"Alright, alright, didn't I just bring you over?" Ange kept patting its back, his face full of heartache.
After comforting Munchlax, Ange looked at Diancie. "Is everything okay at home?"
Diancie nodded. "Don't worry, Munchlax and Drizzile were very capable. Everything at home and the shop is normal."
"That's good. Thank you for your hard work," Ange said.
"Driz driz~" I'm amazing, it wasn't hard!
Drizzile said while giving a thumbs-up.
Afterward, it scurried to the balcony and looked through the window at the courtyard. Romeo and Arven were still playing with the Lechonk and Oinkologne, their cheerful laughter echoing through the area.
"Driz driz~" Is this Paldea?
Ange suggested, "Should I take you all out for a walk?"
"Munch~"
Munchlax was the first to respond. After being away from its master for "a day that felt like three years," it was now very eager to spend time together.
"Driz driz~"
"Yes!"
Drizzile and Diancie also agreed.
"Then let's go."
So, Ange took the Pokémon and headed out.
Nasir's villa was located on the outskirts of Medali. When the butler learned Ange wanted to go out, he asked, "Sir, should I prepare mounts for you?"
Ange nodded. "That would be appreciated."
"Not a problem at all, please wait a moment." The butler left after speaking.
Before long, the butler returned leading two bird-like Pokémon. These Pokémon had vibrant yellow and orange feathers, the feathers on their heads resembled a human hairstyle, their tail feathers looked like a skirt, and they had two very long legs. Their height was estimated to be over 1.9 meters.
These two Pokémon were the ostrich Pokémon unique to the Paldea region: Espathra, a Psychic-type Pokémon.
Under the butler's direction, the two Espathra lowered their bodies, signaling for Ange and the others to mount. They were equipped with saddles, clearly showing they were professional riding Pokémon.
It is said that Espathra are very violent Pokémon. Seeing how docile these two were, Ange guessed they had undergone strict training.
Ange held Komala and shared a mount with Munchlax, while Diancie took Drizzile on the other one.
Once they were settled, the two Espathra immediately sprinted out on their exaggeratedly long legs. Ange was so startled he quickly grabbed the saddle.
In the blink of an eye, they were out of the villa area.
"Espathra, can we go a bit slower? I just want to look around, I'm not in a hurry!" Ange shouted loudly against the strong wind blowing in his face.
Hearing this, the two Espathra immediately slowed their pace, changing from a sprint to a stroll.
Ange took a deep breath. "That's more like it." As he spoke, he felt his hair and realized it had been blown into a messy bird's nest.
"Giggle giggle~~"
"Driz driz~"
Diancie and Drizzile, following behind, couldn't help but laugh out loud at the sight.
Munchlax, sitting in front of Ange, couldn't see his current state. Upon hearing everyone's laughter, it struggled to turn its round body around.
Once it saw Ange's hilarious hairstyle, it also unfaithfully joined in the laughter.
"Munch munch~" Master, you look so funny~ Hahaha~~
Ange gave it a gentle pat. "You're laughing at me with them too? And here I thought I spoiled you."