Standing in the wide, open field at dawn, the air felt crisp and refreshing. The earthy scent of morning dew drifted through the breeze, mixed with the faint sweetness of ripening berries and blooming flowers from the neighboring fields.
Before us stretched a large, empty patch of land waiting to be worked. Beside it, rows of berry plants swayed gently in the morning wind. Looking at the vast, untouched soil made one question where the work should even begin.
"Kir~?" (Bunnelby, do you know what we should do now?)
Kirlia asked while slowly wandering across the field, her eyes scanning the ground as if hoping the answer might appear there.
"Bunnel~…" (Well… yesterday my parents told me what we should do in the field, but I don't think they meant for us to take care of an entire field by ourselves…)
Bunnelby replied while nervously scratching the back of his head. ╥﹏╥
It was true that I had said I wanted to help with the work in the fields. But realistically, there was no way a two-year-old kid could actually be useful. I had only come here to observe. It wasn't like they expected me to do any real labor… or at least that was what I thought.
The three of us stood there staring blankly at the empty land.
Then suddenly—
A soft giggle echoed from behind us.
"Flo… floe… tete~"(Fufufu… what are you all doing standing there?) (＾ω＾)
We turned around.
Behind us stood a small Pokémon. Her upper body was white while her lower half was deep green. Her black eyes were framed by leaf-shaped extensions that looked like delicate eyelashes. Long, notched ears extended from her head, each base wrapped with a yellow ring. A spade-shaped tail swayed gently behind her, and in her mitten-like hands she held a bright red flower. Two thin black lines decorated her head.
It was Floette.
"Kir… Kirlia!" (Oh, Floette! What are you doing here?)
Kirlia asked, looking at her with a puzzled expression. (ﾟーﾟ)
Floette and Kirlia had been childhood friends, just like Bunnelby.
"Flo… Floette… Flo~?"(I was in the field with my mother when I saw you all arrive, so I came to welcome you. But more importantly… why are you all standing here like statues?)
Floette tilted her head curiously.
"Bunnel… Bu… Bunnelby…"(Well, we wanted to help out in the fields. But they just brought us here, handed us some seeds, and left… so now we don't know what to do next.)
Bunnelby explained awkwardly while rubbing the back of his head. (._.)
I looked toward Floette with hopeful eyes.
"Now that you're here… could you help us, Floette? We really don't know what to do after this."
"Flo… Floette~" (Okay. It can't be helped, since it's a request from my friends after all. First, before we start planting, we need to prepare the field.)
Floette began explaining what needed to be done while pointing at the ground in front of us.
According to her, the first step was to remove all the weeds and rocks from the field. After that, the soil had to be plowed so it would be soft enough for planting.
Fortunately, the field had already been used before by other Pokémon. Because of that, aside from the weeds, there were almost no rocks left in the soil.
Removing the weeds turned out to be much easier than expected. With a small wave of her hands, Kirlia used her psychic power to uproot the weeds straight from the ground, lifting them effortlessly into the air before tossing them aside.
As for plowing the field, Bunnelby took the lead. Using moves like Dig and Bulldoze, he loosened and turned the soil with surprising efficiency.
Even though we called it "fast," by the time we finished the work it was already around seven in the morning.
Still… compared to my previous world, the process was incredibly quick.
Oh, and Bunnelby didn't stop there either. He also helped level the ground afterward, using Earth Power to smooth out the soil.
Once that was done, only a few steps remained: spreading fertilizer, planting the seeds, and watering them.
The fertilizer was stored in the warehouse, so Kirlia and I headed there to retrieve it while Bunnelby stayed behind to rest.
***
While Noah and the others were busy working in the berry field, a very different scene was unfolding elsewhere in the forest.
Deep within the woods, hidden behind thick vines and jagged rocks, a quiet meeting was taking place inside a dimly lit cave.
The sound of dripping water echoed faintly through the cavern as several Pokémon gathered in silence.
"Report to my Lord. That child, Noah, and his companions have already begun the mission."
The voice came from a familiar figure.
It was the same Lombre who had guided Noah and the others earlier. Now, however, his usual relaxed demeanor was gone. He stood respectfully with his head bowed toward the figure before him.
In front of him stood a black, canine-like Pokémon.
Its body was sleek and imposing. Green markings covered parts of its neck, muzzle, mouth, eyebrows, and even its left front paw. Two green hexagons were embedded in the center of its chest, while another rested on its rear.
From its neck extended a strange green ribbon-like structure beside an elongated orange hexagon, making it resemble a leash and dog tag.
Its eyes were shaped like glowing white hexagons, and a thin white line ran across its forehead. When its mouth slightly parted, rows of razor-sharp fangs could be seen. Each of its legs was reinforced with black hexagonal extensions, giving its entire body a geometric, almost mechanical appearance.
There was no mistaking its identity.
This was one of the legendary Pokémon that resided in the Kalos region—
The Order Pokémon, Zygarde.
The cave fell silent as the legendary Pokémon listened to the report.
"Keep watching him. Do not help him unless he asks for it."
Zygarde's voice echoed quietly through the cave.
"Yes, my Lord."
The Lombre straightened, gave a respectful salute, and quickly departed, disappearing back toward the forest and the berry fields where Noah and the others were working.
Silence returned once again.
For a moment, only the faint sound of water dripping from the cave ceiling could be heard. Then Zygarde spoke again,
"Well then… it has been more than five hundred years since the last Guardian died. Since that day, no one has managed to pass the test."
His white hexagonal eyes glowed faintly in the darkness.
"Will this one succeed… or will he fail as well?"
As the words faded, something stirred within the shadows beside him.
A presence slowly emerged from the darkness.
Its body was enormous and intimidating. Black wings spread wide, dotted with pale spots along their surface and back. Its front half, neck, chest, and head was a vivid crimson, streaked with branching black lines that resembled cracks spreading across a surface.
It had a sharp, beak-like snout and piercing blue eyes. Above each eye curved a black horn, while thin antenna-like appendages trailed behind them. Around its neck was a feathery gray ruff that spread across its back like a cloak.
Its wings were lined with spikes, and at their tips were five large, clawed talons. Even its tail mirrored the same structure.
The cave seemed to grow colder as it fully revealed itself.
This was another of the legendary Pokémon of the Kalos region.
The Destruction Pokémon, Yveltal.
"After the rules of the test were revised following the death of the previous Guardian," Yveltal said quietly, a hint of melancholy in its voice, "no one from Kalos has managed to complete it."
Zygarde's gaze remained fixed ahead.
"The fact that none of them succeeded means they lacked what it takes to become a Guardian. You know the reason we changed the rules in the first place."
A faint tremor of anger and sorrow lingered within Zygarde's words.
"So that what happened to our previous Guardian… will never happen again."
Yveltal slowly folded its wings.
"What happened back then showed us how far human greed can reach," it said solemnly. "We realized it too late… kindness alone is not enough."
Its blue eyes hardened slightly.
"What we need now is someone who can also wield a blade when necessary—someone who can retaliate against those kinds of people. That is why I agreed with Xerneas to revise the rules of the test."
Hearing those words, Zygarde fell silent.
For a moment, it thought of its old friend.
A gentle Pokémon.
One who always brought peace wherever it appeared. A being surrounded by blooming flowers and soft mist, whose presence alone filled the land with life and warmth.
Xerneas.
Yet even that gentle light had once cried out in grief.
The heart-wrenching cries from that day still echoed in the memories of every Pokémon who had witnessed it.
The cave grew quiet again.
And deep within their hearts, both legendary Pokémon shared the same silent wish.
Please…
Never let something like that happen again.