"Next stop, Celestic Station. Passengers arriving at their destination, please prepare to disembark."
Austin returned to Celestic Town by train from Sunyshore City, located south of Snowpoint City.
It's still inconvenient without a Flying-type Pokémon, he thought.
Sure, he could ride Arcanine — and his Shiny Metang could technically fly — but it wasn't nearly as stable as a Metagross.
The former Breeding House sometimes used Flying-types to deliver Pokémon, but this little problem would soon be solved once Metang evolved.
...
Celestic Town
In November, heavy snow blanketed the quiet mountain town. Even talking caused white mist to drift from one's lips.
Celestic might be small, but it was well known — not only because of the ancient shrine at its center, which preserved Sinnoh's old legends, but also because it was the hometown of Sinnoh's own Champion, Cynthia Shirona.
It had been over half a year since Austin last came home, yet everything still felt familiar.
"Fresh Moomoo Milk!"
"Sweet honey, straight from Combee hives!"
The cheerful shouts of shopkeepers and stall owners filled the snow-dusted streets, like a lively winter market — only here, nearly everyone had a Pokémon by their side.
"Hey, Austin! You're back, come try some!"
Friendly food vendors waved from their stalls.
"I'll come by later!" Austin called back, holding a skewer in one hand and waving with the other while Ryu walked beside him.
"Hey, Austin! Ryu! You're finally back!"
A mischievous voice piped up from behind just before someone patted both their shoulders. Austin and Ryu had sensed her presence long before — they hadn't said anything.
"Long time no see, Rose."
"Luca!"
(Long time no see!)
Standing before them was a young woman in her mid-twenties, bundled in a cotton coat and hat, her cheeks rosy from the cold.
Rosalina Star — or as Austin always called her, Rose— grinned from ear to ear.
Passersby paid them no mind; greetings like this were a common sight in a small town.
"Why the sudden visit?" Rose asked.
"My travel ended," Austin replied with a faint smile. "Thought I'd drop by to see Grandpa."
"Come on then!" she said eagerly, tugging both Austin and Ryu toward her stall.
A Farfetch'd with glossy feathers sat proudly on a chair, its plump body covering its webbed feet entirely.
"Far!" it cried in greeting, waving its leek like a baton.
"Long time no see, Farfetch'd," Austin said warmly.
"Perfect timing," Rose chimed. "I just finished baking some Blissful Muffins. Take a few home for Grandpa."
Without hesitation, she started packing them into a box.
Blissful Muffins — pastries made from berries and other ingredients — were soft, sweet, and a little like Poffins, though less crunchy and more cake-like. Despite the name, they weren't from Sinnoh's Blissful Island at all, but a regional specialty of Galar.
They weren't exactly famous, so it genuinely surprised Austin that Rose had learned how to make them.
Austin and Ryu exchanged a glance, then simultaneously crossed their arms in an X.
"We can't take them for free."
"Rio."
(That's right.)
Rose blinked.
"What money? Your grandpa's always looked out for me!"
"Then we'll just leave them," Austin teased, jerking a thumb toward home.
Rose pouted, her enthusiasm deflating like a balloon.
Austin counted quickly — about ten muffins in total. After he and Lucario each tried one, he smiled.
"These are great. I'll take the rest home — Grandpa and the Pokémon will love them."
As Rose packed them neatly, Austin asked, "What made you start baking these?"
Rose used to sell plain ingredients — his grandfather often bought from her. Her parents had passed away when she was young, and she'd lost her grandparents too, yet she remained remarkably upbeat. That was part of why Austin's grandfather looked after her so much.
Rose smiled brightly.
"No one else sells them here! I learned it myself so I'd have something unique."
"Smart move," Austin said, giving her a thumbs-up.
She struck a proud pose, hands on her hips. "Of course!"
Her Blissful Muffins were genuinely delicious — even better than what Austin could make himself.
"Alright, I'll head home first," he said, lifting the box. "Let's catch up properly sometime soon."
"Got it! See you around!" she called as he left.
As Austin and Ryu walked down the snowy road toward home, a familiar chime echoed in his mind.
Ding
Side quest unlocked
Rose's Trouble (Optional)
Quest Description:
Unknown Pokémon have recently stolen the berries in Rose's berry fields. Please help the host resolve her trouble.
Task Reward: Random Pokémon Item Gacha Ticket ×1
"She still doesn't like troubling others…"
Austin glanced back at Rose, who was busy packing up her stall for the evening, and sighed helplessly.
"Ryu, we'll head to Amanda's place tomorrow."
"Cario."
Even if there weren't a reward, he'd help. That's just how he was.
...
Austin's old house stood quietly at the edge of Celestic Town, its small courtyard enclosed by a bamboo fence no higher than his waist.
From a distance, he could already spot a familiar figure — a plump, purple Gengar sitting happily at the gate, slurping a bowl of noodles.
Upon closer look, they were beef noodles — the broth was rich and steaming, the chunks of beef large and tender. Just from the smell, Austin knew this was Grandpa's cooking.
You can't eat that, Gengar. Ghost-types and noodles don't mix! Let me help you out a little...
"Gengaaar~!"
Gengar, who had been grinning foolishly moments before, froze the instant it noticed Austin eyeing its noodles. It instantly took a few steps back, hugging its bowl protectively.
"Gengar! Gengar!"
Ryu raised a paw and calmly translated,
(He says there's more in the kitchen — get your own.)
Austin chuckled. "Gengar, where's Grandpa?"
Gengar pointed toward the backyard with one stubby arm.
"Gengga!"
"Alright. Come out, Agni! Metang!"
He tossed out two Luxury Balls, and in a flash of red light, Arcanine and his Shiny Metang appeared beside him.
"Arcanineee—!"
Agni landed gracefully, its thick mane swaying like waves of fire in the cold breeze.
It sniffed the air, instantly picking up the scent of food, then dashed straight toward the kitchen, cloaked in white light.
Austin blinked. "Extreme Speed… for noodles?"
"Metang."
Metang's first instinct was to look around, scanning the area cautiously.
Born in the wild and having survived as a Shiny Pokémon, it had learned to be careful.
"This is my home," Austin said softly. "No need to worry."
Metang gave a low hum in response. "Tang."
Gengar, ever the social one, opened its mouth wide and pulled out… a bottle of iced cola drink.
"Gen? Gengar?"
Lucario's composure finally cracked.
(He's offering it to you — he says, 'Want some?')
Metang hovered in silence, its computing power trying unsuccessfully to decipher this nonsense.
Austin could only shake his head, amused. "You never change, Gengar."
As Austin made his way toward the backyard, he heard a familiar voice from within.
"Agni, that you? Wait— Austin's back?"
"Nine!" Agni barked from the kitchen.
"Good, good! I'll serve another bowl!"
A moment later, a sturdy old man with dark hair and an ever-youthful spark in his eyes stepped out from the kitchen, wearing a padded cotton coat and holding a ladle.
"Grandpa Alex," Austin greeted with a grin.
"Why'd you come back all of a sudden?"
Austin straightened up, his tone turning earnest. "I want to come home and learn from you — breeding and cooking both."
The old man's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but before he could speak, a familiar mechanical chime echoed in Austin's mind.
Ding!
New side quest available.
[IMAGES]
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