However, Gulpin did not eat the food Ange had prepared.
After waiting for a long while, Ange saw that Gulpin still had no intention of eating. He let out a deep sigh.
After some time, Ange said to Gulpin, "The food is right there. You can eat whenever you want. Afterward, just rest. You don't need to worry about anything else. This place is safe."
After speaking, he called Diancie, and together they returned to the second floor to continue sleeping.
Because he worried that Gulpin might be scared, Ange did not turn off the lights on the first floor.
After Ange left, Gulpin stared blankly at the food in front of it. It was extremely hungry and eventually could not resist the aroma of the steamed buns. It leapt to the bowl and swallowed a bun whole.
The moment it ate the bun, Gulpin was stunned. It was so delicious. The soft, cloud-like bun slipped down its throat, and it felt like it was floating among countless drifting silks. The smooth sensation was marvelous.
Once its appetite was awakened, Gulpin could no longer restrain itself. It plunged its head into the bowl and began to eat voraciously.
Halfway through, it suddenly began to cry, big tears falling and hitting the edge of the bowl, blossoming like flowers.
It remembered its trainer.
Gulpin's trainer had come from a very ordinary family, but his dream was to become a strong trainer. He found a Gulpin that survived by scavenging garbage and caught it as his first Pokémon.
The time spent with the trainer was the happiest Gulpin had ever experienced. It ate, slept, played, and trained every day. It no longer had to hide in garbage piles or live among filth.
To help it grow stronger, the trainer scrimped and saved, giving Gulpin the best food. He cared deeply for it, and Gulpin loved him the most.
However, the trainer later realized that Gulpin could eat an enormous amount. To train it into a strong Pokémon, it required vast amounts of food.
But the trainer had no way to supply so much.
One morning, under bright sunlight, the trainer prepared a hearty breakfast for Gulpin. After it finished eating, he took it to the forest.
Gulpin thought the trainer had brought it for training and was very happy. It hopped along, picking wildflowers by the path, and sticking its tongue out at Fletchlings in the trees.
It felt immense joy as long as it was with its trainer.
Deep in the forest, the trainer suddenly crouched and hugged Gulpin tightly, almost suffocating it.
"Gulpin, I'm sorry..." the trainer whispered in a nearly inaudible voice.
Gulpin felt wet droplets falling on it, but it did not yet understand what was happening.
The trainer suddenly let go and ran away.
"Ku~ling~~ Ku~ling~~" Gulpin hopped after the trainer, but the trainer vanished in an instant.
"Ku~ling~ Ku~lingling~~"
It stood in the forest, calling its trainer's name, and suddenly realized something.
It had been abandoned.
Although it knew the way back to the trainer's home, it did not return. Instead, it wandered deeper into the forest, heartbroken.
It did not want to trouble its trainer.
Gulpin wandered for who knows how long. On the way, it trespassed into other Pokémon's territory and was attacked. Eventually, it stumbled onto the Nebel Plateau and collapsed in front of Ange's house at night.
Because of its previous trainer's abandonment, it became fearful of humans.
Snapping back from its distant thoughts, Gulpin wiped its tears and continued to devour the buns. Soon, it finished a whole bowl.
After a satisfied burp, it glanced toward the second floor, paused for a moment, and then leapt toward the door, disappearing resolutely into the night.
This was not the place it belonged. If it stayed, one day it might be abandoned again. Who would want a glutton who knew nothing? Gulpin thought.
As it left, Komala in the house gently twitched its ears and quietly turned over.
Gulpin wandered aimlessly across the Nebel Plateau. Eventually, it found a crevice under a cliff that offered shelter and curled up inside.
Drowsy, it fell asleep but did not rest long. When it awoke, the sky was still dark, and the silver moon hung high.
In this unfamiliar environment, it could not sleep soundly.
When it opened its eyes, a flickering candlelight shone before it.
"Mmhi~ Mmhi~~" Who are you? I don't think I've seen you before.
Litwick curiously examined Gulpin. It knew most Pokémon on Nebel Plateau.
Gulpin shrank back, fearful, making no sound.
Litwick, lively by nature, leapt onto Gulpin's head. Its flame flickered, illuminating the narrow crevice.
Bathed in warm light, Gulpin felt a small sense of comfort.
"Mmhi~ Mmhi~" You're new here, right?
Gulpin nodded instinctively.
Seeing Gulpin's pitiful expression, Litwick gently patted its head.
"Mmhi~ Mmhi~~" You've worked hard.
Hearing this, Gulpin felt a pang of sadness, and tears streamed uncontrollably.
Litwick remained silent, simply comforting it with gentle pats.
When Gulpin's emotions settled, Litwick asked, "Mmhi~ Mmhi~" You don't have a home yet, right? Do you want to come with me?
Litwick treated Gulpin kindly, just as others had treated it when it first arrived on Nebel Plateau.
Like Gulpin, Litwick had also been abandoned by a human trainer.
Perhaps moved by Litwick's kindness, Gulpin nodded slightly.
Gulpin followed Litwick to the entrance of a cave, Litwick's home.
"Mmhi~ Mmhi~~" Let's go inside.
Gulpin nodded and entered the cave with Litwick.
Inside, the cave was spacious and very clean. Hay and leaves covered the floor for Pokémon to sleep on.
The cave was home to Litwick and other Pokémon: Litleo, Pancham, Skitty, Scrafty, Stunky, Spritzee, Zigzagoon, Helioptile, and Bunnelby.
All of them had been hurt by humans to some degree.
Litwick and Gulpin's arrival awakened them, and they curiously watched Gulpin.
Gulpin, frightened, hid behind Litwick.
Litwick encouraged it with a look and introduced Gulpin, declaring it the newest member of their family.
All the Pokémon welcomed it warmly, as they had all once been rescued by Litwick.
Gradually, Gulpin relaxed, comforted by their warmth.
Litwick reminded everyone, "Mmhi~ Mmhi~" It's late. Let's sleep. Don't forget we have to gather food tomorrow.
They had run out of stored food, so they needed to go out early to avoid going hungry.
Several Pokémon agreed and clustered around Gulpin as they went to sleep.
Surrounded by warmth, Gulpin fell into a deep sleep, a small smile appearing on its face.
It was good. It had a home again.
Watching the sleeping Pokémon, Litwick smiled, then stepped outside.
Being nocturnal, it was more energetic at night.
It jumped onto a rock, looking at the sky. The silver moon shone like a disk, casting gentle light over the Nebel Plateau.
It believed that as long as they were together, life would only get better.
When the first sunlight touched the earth, the cave's Pokémon woke up, including Gulpin.
Litwick said to Pancham, "Mmhi~ Mmhi~" Pancham, Gulpin is new and unfamiliar here. Can you guide it?
"Yacha~ Yacha~~"
Pancham held a bamboo leaf in its mouth and confidently nodded.
Once everyone left, Pancham said to Gulpin, "Yacha~ Yacha~~" Let's go.
Gulpin nodded and followed quietly.
"Yachacha~" Pancham marched ahead proudly, explaining that it knew where to find plenty of food and would not let Gulpin return empty-handed.
At the pond, Pancham pointed out many long water plants along the edge.
Seeing the plants, Pancham cheered, pulling one out and separating the tender root.
"Yacha~ Yacha~" What are you waiting for? Come on!
Gulpin quickly hopped over and copied Pancham, pulling water plants from the water and separating the roots.
"Ku~ling~ Ku~ling~" Can this really be eaten?
Gulpin asked while gathering.
"Yacha~ Yacha~~" Of course, it's delicious. Try it.
Pancham handed a root to Gulpin, which obediently ate it.
It was tasty but far from the food it had eaten the day before.
Thinking of last night's meal, Gulpin swallowed. That was the second-best food it had ever eaten. The first was the first meal with its previous trainer, an unforgettable taste.
"Yacha~ Yacha~" How is it? Delicious, right?
Pancham's voice interrupted Gulpin's thoughts.
"Ku~ling~ Ku~ling~~"
Gulpin nodded vigorously.
It was satisfied with the water plant roots. As for last night's food and its previous trainer, they were like a dream, unreal.
Pancham was pleased, smirking proudly.
After gathering for a while, Pancham called Gulpin.
"Yacha~ Yacha~" Let's go back.
Gulpin asked, "Ku~ling~" Not gathering more? There's plenty.
Pancham said, "Yacha~ Yacha~" You can't take too much at once. Otherwise, there won't be any next time.
"Ku~ling~"
Gulpin understood and looked at Pancham with admiration.
They packed the water plant roots in large leaves and carried their harvest home.
On the way, Gulpin saw a colorful flower field and stopped.
"Yacha~~" What's wrong?
"Ku~ling~~ Ku~ling~~" Can I pick some flowers?
Pancham nodded. "Yacha~ Yacha~" Of course. Go ahead, I'll wait.
Gulpin happily picked a bouquet and returned.
"Yacha~ Yacha~~" Why pick those? They can't be eaten.
Gulpin shyly replied, "Ku~ling~" I have a use for them.
Pancham did not ask further, and they returned home happily.
Soon after, the other Pokémon also returned, bringing berries, roots, or leaves.
Compared to them, Gulpin and Pancham's harvest was abundant, earning Gulpin praise. It felt shy; it was all Pancham's work.
Pancham winked at Gulpin.
Litwick then said, "Mmhi~" Let's eat breakfast.
The Pokémon cheered and began distributing food.
Gulpin noticed something unusual: most of the food was placed in front of it, while the others had little.
"Ku~ling~~" Everyone…
Litwick smiled. "Mmhi~ Mmhi~~" You just joined us. Today's breakfast is a welcome meal. Eat to your heart's content!
Everyone agreed, explaining that every new member received the same treatment.
"Yacha~ Yacha~~~" We're not hungry, so we don't need so much.
Pancham patted its round belly.
"Ku~ling~"
Gulpin's eyes filled with tears. It ate slowly, savoring this hard-earned breakfast, feeling both full and touched.