As the terrain transformed into Grassy Terrain, the ground within its reach was bathed in a faint, glimmering green light, evoking the sensation of stepping into an enchanted forest.
Kai could clearly observe that, under the intentional guidance of the four Pokémon maintaining the terrain, the fruit tree saplings were receiving the majority of the energy and nutrients.
It was almost visible to the naked eye—the saplings visibly stretched taller, and small, fresh green leaves began sprouting from the branching stems.
Once the Pokémon, visibly fatigued, ceased supplying energy to maintain Grassy Terrain, Kai let them rest nearby. He then stepped forward and measured the trees again.
What he saw left him stunned.
Each sapling had grown by nearly a tenth of its original height—seemingly a modest increase, but when accounting for the physical limits of the Eldegoss and Comfey, and how often the move could be used...
Kai estimated that if they could cast Grassy Terrain once a day for the orchard, the trees might fully mature and begin to flower and bear fruit within just a month!
Back at Naranja Academy, Kai had borrowed many books on agriculture. One of them, titled A Brief Study on the Relationship Between Pokémon Moves and Plant Life, included an entire chapter dedicated to the effects of Grassy Terrain on crops.
Without going too deep into the methodology, the conclusion was this:
"Based on rigorous data analysis, the effects of Grassy Terrain on crops vary depending on a Pokémon's strength and their proficiency with the move. Typically, when cast by ordinary Pokémon, Grassy Terrain can only provide extra nutrients to crops, speeding up their natural growth rate slightly."
"To witness visible growth in a short period, Grassy Terrain must be performed by a high-level Pokémon."
The Eldegoss, newly evolved, were still quite weak, and while Comfey—having lived in the wild—might be stronger, it too had its limits.
And yet, the combined Grassy Terrain technique taught by Tapu Bulu had transcended those limitations. What would normally be overlapping or canceling terrains were instead merged into a singular, harmonious field. What's more, it had effects only high-level Pokémon were expected to produce.
As expected of Tapu Bulu—the Sage of Grassy Terrain.
After a brief moment of reflection, Kai glanced toward the resting Pokémon—Eldegoss sprawled out on the ground, with Comfey lying across them. It was clear that this compound Grassy Terrain demanded more stamina than a regular one. Their exhaustion was plain to see.
Given the physical toll, Kai figured that twice a day would be the optimal frequency—once in the morning for the fruit trees, and once in the afternoon for the field crops.
This would help train the Pokémon without overwhelming them.
After some thought, Kai handed out the snacks he'd brought with him, letting the Pokémon rest where they were. Then, he sought out Dragonite and brought it over to the orchard.
The soil had already been fertilized, and the trees had been watered that morning. Grassy Terrain had placed the saplings in optimal condition. Now, there was only one thing left to do—
Provide bright sunlight, so the trees could begin photosynthesis properly.
On most sunny days, Kai didn't intervene to manipulate the weather. While weather-altering moves weren't considered rare, they also weren't exactly common.
Just like how Serperior stubbornly refused to learn Grassy Terrain, yet easily picked up Grass Glide and Seed Bomb, many Pokémon had natural affinities for certain kinds of moves, while others struggled to master them.
For example, once his Poliwrath evolved into Politoed, Kai expected it would become an expert in rain-based strategies.
Swampert, meanwhile, was more of a brawler—it could use Rain Dance, but wasn't particularly adept at it. In fact, the team's true weather specialist was Dragonite.
Serperior's Sunny Day was similar—usable, but not ideal.
Dragonite, on the other hand, had lost some of the fine weather control it possessed as a Dragonair, but it still retained the ability to learn all four major weather moves: Rain Dance, Sunny Day, Sandstorm, and Hail.
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Among all weather-based moves, Kai's Dragonite had studied Rain Dance the most extensively, with Sunny Day coming in second. As for Sandstorm and Hail, it hadn't trained in those at all.
Following Kai's explanation, Dragonite nodded obediently, flapped its wings, and soared into the sky. From its mouth, it released a reddish sphere of energy that shot upward, piercing through the clouds above the farm.
Moments later, warm sunlight poured down from the sky, bathing the entire farm in golden rays. The crops in the fields seemed to stretch and unfurl, eagerly absorbing the abundant sunlight.
The Eldegoss's reaction was especially amusing. Along with the curious Comfey, they picked a sunny, unobstructed patch of land, took root on the spot, and began photosynthesis in earnest.
Judging by the blissful expressions on their faces, it must've felt incredible—so much so that Kai found himself wondering what that legendary sensation of photosynthesis might be like.
Unfortunately, he couldn't exactly become a Grass-type Pokémon.
What caught Kai's attention even more was Serperior's peculiar behavior. He noticed its flicking tail tip and the way its sinuous body coiled with anticipation. Coupled with the gleam in its eyes, Kai could easily guess what was running through its mind:
With Dragonite's Sunny Day boosting the sun's rays, its Solar Beam could now be fired off almost instantly.
Solar Beam was one of Serperior's strongest offensive moves. When paired with its unique ability that amplified solar energy, its attack power skyrocketed under sunny conditions. Because of how devastating the move could be, Kai rarely let it use it during regular training.
The Grassy Terrain experiment had already left Kai pleasantly surprised, but as soon as he wrapped things up at the farm, he hurried over to Thunder Lake.
Thanks to the careful maintenance by Swampert and Poliwhirl, the lake's water quality was in good condition. Kai could now start considering introducing fish Pokémon to the ecosystem.
But that wasn't today's focus.
Today, Kai, along with Swampert, Moltres, and a crowd of Poliwhirl, had gathered to witness a long-awaited showdown—Growlithe's rematch.
After undergoing rigorous training with Professor Kukui's Lycanroc , Growlithe had learned several new moves. Upon returning, it had eagerly challenged Poliwhirl to a rematch, seeking to reclaim its pride.
It might have been a meditative dog who normally kept to itself, but Growlithe still had plenty of fighting spirit!
Naturally, Poliwhirl accepted the challenge. In its mind, having beaten Growlithe once, there was no reason it couldn't do it again—and again.
After all, it had already bested Growlithe back when it was still a Poliwhirl. Now that it had evolved into a stronger, more capable Poliwhirl, it was even more confident.
Both Pokémon were fired up, neither willing to back down.
"I won't be giving any commands this time," Kai said. "You'll both battle freely—trust your instincts and make your own judgments."
As a Trainer, he knew it was important to remain neutral—at least visibly so. No favoritism, or at the very least, not any obvious kind.
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