Having successfully secured a temporary "employee," Wade led Rosa and his team toward the eastern foothills bordering the farm. The morning's mission was clear: get every last berry sapling into the ground.
"Wow, it's so beautiful here!"
Rosa couldn't contain her exclamations as they walked. Bathed in the morning sun, the farm was a vibrant tapestry of green. The Leppa Berry grain and Gungun bean seedlings, invigorated by Lilligant's Grassy Terrain, swayed in unison like a verdant sea, noticeably taller than just days before.
"Chirululu~!"
Lopunny came bounding back from the direction of the woods, her long ears twitching with excitement. A quick psychic inquiry from Gardevoir translated her joy: the mushroom in the forest clearing had undergone another surprising growth spurt and were nearing harvest again.
"Good work. We'll gather them together in a few days," Wade said, giving her a grateful pat. He felt a swell of pride. The land's fertility was proving exceptional. Another imminent harvest meant more capital for Uncle Yoshino, another step toward his goal. A big villa… it's getting closer.
"Mino~"
Up ahead, Mienshao pointed a graceful arm toward the rolling hills that marked their destination.
[Farm Upgrade Quest 5: The once-thriving berry orchard has faded with time. As a diligent farm owner, you must reclaim this land. Plant at least two hundred berry saplings.]
[Quest Reward: Psychic Fragment (Color Grade)]
[Psychic Fragment (Color Grade): As the name implies, a random fragment of the complete Psychic ability.]
[Note: Upon completion, the farm will upgrade to Level Two!]
Psychic?
Wade paused, the logistics of planting momentarily forgotten. This reward for the level-up milestone was on a different scale. A fragment, yes, but a Color Grade one—the highest tier. If luck was on his side...
His mind flashed to legendary wielders of such power: Caitlin of the Unova Elite Four, whose uncontrolled Psychic once wrought devastation; Sabrina of Saffron City, who could evolve Pokémon by will alone and turn challengers into dolls. Even a tenth of such power would be a game-changer.
"Big brother, let's start planting!" Rosa's eager voice pulled him back. She was practically vibrating, ready to grab a shovel and begin.
"Baru baru~" Serperior echoed, surveying the untamed slope with regal curiosity.
"Patience," Wade said, smiling as he ruffled her hair. "First, we need to reclaim the land. It all starts with turning the soil."
For the adventure-hardened Trainer, this methodical groundwork was a novel kind of challenge.
"Lopunny, you're up first."
"Chururu~!"
With a powerful kick, Lopunny became a blur of motion, her Dig attack churning the earth with incredible efficiency. The ghost of old terraces, from her grandfather's time, began to reappear as rich, dark soil was turned to the surface. Soon, neat rows of planting pits dotted the hillside.
Next came the simple, rhythmic work of placing each sapling into its new home.
However, a new obstacle presented itself: numerous wild trees and stubborn thickets still dotted the slope, threatening to choke the future orchard's growth. Clearing them manually would be tedious. Wade was contemplating the efficiency of having Gardevoir telekinetically clear the area when Rosa stepped forward, a determined glint in her eye.
"Serperior, let's help! Use Hidden Power!"
"Baru!"
The air crackled. Instead of invisible force, scorching spheres of flame materialized from nowhere. They shot forth, engulfing the unwanted foliage in a roaring, controlled inferno that swept across the hillside, reducing the obstacles to ash in moments. It was a display of raw, elemental power that was both terrifying and perfectly effective.
In no time at all, the scattered wild trees and thickets were reduced to smoldering ash and fertile charcoal.
"Perfect. Thank you, Rosa," Wade commended, genuinely impressed.
Hidden Power was a fascinating move, its type a unique signature for each Pokémon that learned it. Rosa's Serperior had manifested the Fire-type variant, and its application here was both brutal and brilliant.
Wade surveyed the berry field, now dusted with a layer of nutrient-rich black ash. It was an ideal solution—clearing the land and fertilizing it in one fiery sweep.
"Hehe~" Rosa beamed, puffing out her chest with pride at the praise.
With the land reclaimed, it was time for the main event. The air hummed with gentle psychic energy as Gardevoir raised a slender hand. Bundles of berry saplings lifted from the ground as if weightless, then descended with elegant precision into the waiting pits. Soil followed, telekinetically scooped and patted firm, the process a seamless dance of supernatural agriculture.
"So amazing~" Rosa breathed, watching the once-barren slope transform. Row upon row of Oran, Pecha, and Cheri Berry saplings stood at attention, a promise of future harvests. With such powerful helpers, farm work felt less like labor and more like a harmonious performance.
"Right, where's Skitty?" Wade asked, looking around. The final step was irrigation. But the little glutton was nowhere to be seen.
"Yami?" Lilligant tilted her head, her crimson eyes equally puzzled. She'd been there just a moment ago…
"Meowth~"
After several calls, a rustle came from within the newly planted berry bushes. A pink ear twitched, then Skitty's guilty face popped out, her cheeks bulging.
"..."
Wade sighed, a fond smile tugging at his lips as he gently extracted the culprit. The market-purchased saplings, fresh from the nursery, still had a few tender, immature berries clinging to their stems. It seemed the temptation had been too great for the farm's resident gourmand.
"Alright, little one. Save some for the harvest," he chided softly, giving her head an affectionate rub. "Now, duty calls. Rain Dance, please."
"Meowth!"
Swallowing the last of her pilfered Oran Berry, Skitty perked up. She focused, and above the newly planted field, clouds gathered with unnatural speed. A gentle, nourishing rain began to fall, a perfect localized shower that soaked the soil and glistened on every young leaf. The saplings seemed to sigh, drinking deeply as they settled into their new home.
[Farm Upgrade Quest Five Complete: Reclaimed Land & Planted Berry Saplings]
[Quest Reward: Psychic Fragment (Rainbow Grade)]
[Farm Level Upgraded to Level Two!]
[New Feature Unlocked: The Host and Farm Pokémon may now equip up to four modifiers simultaneously.]
[Note: Further farm level advancements now require the completion of ten upgrade quests.]
The notifications shimmered in Wade's mind. The reward was even better than anticipated—a Rainbow grade fragment. And the new modifier slots opened a world of strategic possibilities for him and his team. The farm had officially entered a new phase of its growth.
Patreon Seasay