In Kalos, in front of a semi-abandoned farm next to Route 12.
A young boy with short, brown, eyebrow-length hair sighed with emotion.
Beside him stood a bipedal giant, brown all over, with armor-like protrusions covering its shoulder and leg joints.
Standing a massive three meters tall, it looked like a mini-Godzilla from a distance.
"Big Boss, this will be our home from now on."
The boy, Natsuki, stepped forward and patted the giant's thigh, his joy evident in his voice.
"Kanga~"
Kangaskhan cried out to Natsuki in excitement. With a permanent residence, she could finally raise her young.
She looked down at her pouch, which was currently empty.
Recently, as Kangaskhan approached full maturity, her desire for offspring had made her somewhat irritable.
Having lived with her day and night for years, Natsuki understood her condition better than anyone.
He patted her soothingly. "Don't be in such a hurry. Let's head in first."
As he spoke, Kangaskhan reached out, scooped Natsuki up, and placed him on her shoulder.
Man and Pokémon walked through the dilapidated side gate into the farm.
From his high vantage point, Natsuki took in the entire farm.
"A farm bought for only 100,000 Poké Dollars... I really shouldn't have expected much."
Before him was a scene of decay. Overgrown weeds, neglected for a long time, filled the entire ranch.
Some were growing so wildly they reached Kangaskhan's waist.
"Big, clear a path," Natsuki pointed toward the ranch house faintly visible through the tall grass.
"Use Slash!"
With a sharp clang, a dangerous white glow ignited on Kangaskhan's claws.
As she stepped forward, white claw-arcs flashed before them, and large swaths of weeds were sliced off at the root.
In no time, a path leading from the gate directly to the ranch house was cleared.
Standing before the house, Natsuki's eyes sparkled.
The system prompt that had been stuck in his mind for a long time finally rang out.
[Ding! Ranch core detected. Bind to this ranch?]
'Yes.' Natsuki thought.
The next moment, a white light swept over him, covering the ranch house and then expanding to encompass the entire property.
Simultaneously, a semi-transparent blue panel expanded before his eyes.
[Ranch LV1]
[Owner: Natsuki]
[Area: 500 Hectares (Mountains, Plains, Lakes, Beach)]
[Facilities: Ranch House (LV0)...]
"Huh?" Natsuki looked around after a moment. "That's it? You could at least give me a Starter Gift Pack."
[Starter Gift Pack has been issued.]
"...If I didn't ask, you really weren't going to give it, were you, you junk system?"
He quickly opened the pack, and two items appeared before him.
[Kangaskhanite: A mysterious Mega Stone. When held by a Kangaskhan, it allows for Mega Evolution.]
[Key Stone: A stone harboring unknown power that allows a Pokémon holding a Mega Stone to Mega Evolve.]
"System, I misjudged you," Natsuki said with a grin, feeling the warm texture of the two stones in his palm.
Mega Evolution wasn't exactly a secret in Kalos. Professor Sycamore had recently been appointed a League Professor because of his research on it.
Natsuki had battled several trainers with Mega Evolutions during his previous adventures.
As for the results? It was a 3-7 split.
In three seconds, seven punches had KO'd his carefully trained Kangaskhan.
"Big, this gem is for you."
"Kan?"
Kangaskhan's nose twitched as she clearly felt the power sealed within the Kangaskhanite. After curiously observing it, she solemnly placed it into her pouch.
A gift from Natsuki had to be kept safe.
Natsuki tucked the corresponding Key Stone into a hidden compartment in his waist bag.
When he went to Shalour City tomorrow to buy supplies, he'd find a craftsman to make two bracelets.
After circling the ranch house, Natsuki made an assessment.
The house was too dilapidated, it had to be torn down and rebuilt.
As his gaze fell on the house, a small pop-up appeared in the corner.
[LV0 Ranch House → LV1 Ranch House]
[Poké Dollars: 0/10,000]
[Lumber: 0/450]
[Description: Rebuild your ranch house. Provides a single bed, a stove, and other optional accessories.]
[Building Effect: Energy Recovery LV1. A cozy house that belongs to you. When you sleep in bed accompanied by a Pokémon, you will wake up refreshed the next day.]
This was his " Pokémon Ranch Story" Golden Finger. It was 80-90% similar to a casual game he had played in his previous life.
Natsuki wanted to fix the house immediately, but he couldn't.
First, he lacked Poké Dollars.
Raising Pokémon was a money-sink. Spending 100,000 on this ranch had drained most of his savings, AND the remaining 10,000-plus had to cover food and drink for the time being.
Second, he lacked lumber.
There was a forest to the east belonging to him, so he could have Kangaskhan go chop some wood later.
The house repair would have to wait.
Gurgle.
While Natsuki was thinking, a stomach growled like thunder from beside him.
Natsuki jumped down from Kangaskhan's shoulder.
"We've been busy all morning, it's time to eat. Big, wait a moment."
Natsuki didn't hesitate. A man can't work on an empty stomach, and neither can a Pokémon.
His Kangaskhan was much larger than others of her species, so her consumption was massive.
Natsuki unpacked his camping gear, set up a tent, and took out pre-prepared ingredients.
Kangaskhan watched for a while before walking toward the weed-filled fields.
Since Natsuki was cooking, she couldn't be lazy.
With her claws glowing white, she turned into a merciless harvester, sprinting through the weeds as leaves flew everywhere.
Eating in the wild wasn't fancy. He used toast purchased from the Shalour City Department Store, heated bacon, and freshly sliced tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and pickles.
Layering them on the toast, a makeshift mega-burger was born in his hands.
"Eh?" Natsuki looked at the burger in surprise. "The food I make has descriptions too?"
[Burger King (C): A super-deluxe burger merging various ingredients. Well-balanced and nutritious. Best served with Moomoo Milk.]
[Cooking Effect: Energy Recovery (Small). Allows Pokémon to quickly recover stamina and grants a "Voracious Appetite" buff for 30 minutes.]
"Energy recovery?"
Natsuki was surprised. He glanced at Kangaskhan and waved her over.
"Big, dinner's ready!"
A whirlwind of falling grass kicked up as Kangaskhan sprinted to his side.
"Here, try this."
"Kan-looong!"
With a twitch of her nose, Kangaskhan couldn't wait and ate the Burger King in one bite.
'So delicious...'
That was her first thought, followed by a surge of endless power spreading through her limbs.
She roared at the sky in excitement and glared intensely at the remaining weeds.
The Kangaskhan-brand lawnmower was back online!