Pokémon: The Reemployment of the Retired Champion of Paldea Chapter 290 289: Settling the Two Birds, Mewtwo and Coconuts

As an artificial legendary Pokémon, wtwo isn't tightly linked to nature. But anything ordinary Pokémon can sense, it can too.

Couple that with one of its most trusted abilities—its psychically micro-controlled, amplified perception—and at least for this mont, wtwo's attunent to nature wouldn't lose to legendaries born from it.

Monts later, wtwo slowly opened its eyes, having reached a conclusion.

For now, at least, the three legendary birds showed no abnormalities, and there were no signs the balance of nature had been disturbed.

wtwo couldn't help a deep frown. Was it really going to waste ti here, waiting indefinitely for the trigger of the anomaly to appear?

Sensing a flicker of impatience in wtwo, Slowking offered a suggestion: "Let's go for a walk. I haven't had breakfast. The coconuts from the palm trees on the island's beach are delicious. I really like them."

wtwo & Delibird: "…"

…

From the sky, fading from dusk to night, three avian Pokémon drew closer to the farm. Once close enough, they landed before Lucas under Moltres's lead.

Mimikyu dove into Lucas's open arms. While petting its head, Lucas looked at Moltres, then at Zapdos—especially Articuno—asking with his eyes what the situation was.

Moltres's telepathy sounded.

[On the way back, Articuno happened to be on the island too, besides Zapdos. It was reluctant to co, so Mimikyu and I displayed a little force… you know. Then we invited it over.]

Lucas: "…"

Got it. Articuno probably took a mixed double smackdown, maybe several rounds, hence the current obedience.

As for Zapdos, it'd already been beaten once, so of course it wouldn't act up—plus it had an agreent with Lucas.

Maybe it's a legendary thing, and they've spent enough ti together: as long as Mimikyu suppresses that innate special power, Moltres can barely perceive Mimikyu's presence.

So Lucas wasn't surprised Moltres could perceive Mimikyu and even tag-team Articuno with it.

Lucas looked down at Mimikyu and whispered like a mosquito: "How many tis?"

Mimikyu sneaked a tiny shadow claw from beneath its cloth.

Seeing the three sharp talons, Lucas's eyes widened.

"Three tis!?"

But Mimikyu shyly smiled and extended a second shadow claw.

"Six tis!?"

This ti Lucas nearly failed to suppress his voice; after a hushed exclamation, he drew several sharp breaths.

Good grief, good grief!

He snuck a glance at the aloof Articuno, head held high as if nothing happened, and ranted inwardly.

Not only are Moltres and Mimikyu outrageous, this Articuno is stubborn too. Zapdos folded after one beating. Moltres, after one beating, slowly got won over by Lucas.

Only Articuno looks cold, but its temper's even more bull-headed than a honey badger's.

At that mont, Moltres paced to Lucas's side and stood pressed against him, as if declaring its sovereignty to Zapdos and Articuno.

Lucas didn't expose the little act. He chuckled, then looked at Zapdos and Articuno. After eting Zapdos's black eyes and Articuno's red eyes for a beat, he opened his arms: "Welco to my farm. No ti like the present… how about a simple al first?"

To exploit them the mont they arrived—even Lucas felt a bit embarrassed.

Better to give Zapdos and Articuno so sweets first; then he could order them around with a clear conscience.

Zapdos nodded; it was curious about the delicious foods Moltres had ntioned.

Though it mainly fed on thunderstorms or electricity from human power plants, occasionally eating other foods was fine.

Articuno was more troubleso. It cried coldly—Lucas couldn't understand a word. Wondering if only Moltres could use telepathy, he had Moltres do real-ti translation.

Articuno's gist: it didn't need human food to function well—no need.

"…"

Before Lucas could say more, Moltres glared at Articuno, fury blazing, on the verge of a fight.

Mimikyu also drew out a shadow claw larger than Articuno's face, staring coldly.

Articuno's face tightened; it squared up against the two.

Yeah, these two were repeat offenders.

Lucas knew Articuno had taken… six beatings for no clear reason and been dragged to the farm. It was natural to harbor resentnt.

But though he understood, Lucas wouldn't scold Moltres and Mimikyu for pulling Articuno closer. He didn't want to be that guy—he'd be betraying Mimikyu and Moltres.

So… Articuno would have to be a little wronged.

It wasn't right, but between close and distant… he chose close. Besides, he wouldn't harm Articuno.

With that thought, Lucas snapped his fingers. Right on cue, Raging Bolt and Serperior appeared.

With Zapdos smirking schadenfreude, Articuno felt a heavy pressure facing four "big bruisers" and sensed things were going south.

Before it could act, darkness fell; instantly suppressed, it was trussed up by Serperior and set on Raging Bolt's back, heading toward dinner.

To outsiders, it might look like Articuno was tonight's dinner.

When the tightly restrained Articuno saw light again, about an hour had passed.

Serperior's vine whips withdrew. As they did, a rich, faint aroma drifted into Articuno's nostril slits on its beak, stunning it for a mont.

What was this? It had never slled sothing so fragrant.

A strange craving stirred in Articuno's heart, but more than that, resistance. It would never—

Before it could finish its ntal routine, a force pried its beak open—Swampert forcing it apart—leaving it no room to resist.

Lucas, holding skewers freshly grilled by Ceruledge, force-fed Articuno with Swampert's help.

Pinned like a chick by Swampert, Articuno could only protest silently.

But when the spicy, savory barbecue exploded across its palate, its struggling weakened. Its red eyes bulged, as if struck by revelation.

Seeing the expression, Swampert arched a brow and stepped off, no longer pinning it.

As expected, Articuno didn't resist further and instead savored the flavor.

It had no teeth and couldn't chew—just gulped it down—but that fleeting taste etched itself into its mind.

Articuno's heart scread for more—to chase that fleeting brilliance.

But pride made it reluctant to take the first step, frozen as it watched its old rival Moltres devour, and even Zapdos dripping with oil.

Instantly unbalanced, it still refused to move first.

Lucas didn't miss the shifts in Articuno's deanor and mind. He'd handled true tsunderes—this faux tsundere was a layup.

He smirked, took a platter of assorted skewers from a bustling Ceruledge and Oranguru—who on earth gave Oranguru the nerve to fan flas with its fur-and-leaf fan?—

"There's plenty more. If it's not enough, tell . There'll be desserts and drinks later."

He returned to Articuno's side, wearing an impeccable smile, his slow voice carrying an almost irresistible trustworthiness.

"Consider this my apology. While you're staying here, I'll do my best to provide you with lots of delicious food."

Articuno was stunned. It hadn't expected a human with many Pokémon stronger than itself to lower himself, apologize, and offer goodwill.

With the steps laid at its feet, refusing would be ungracious—and it did want to try the flavors…

A few seconds later, Articuno magnanimously accepted Lucas's "apology" and "compensation," then eagerly dug in.

This is delicious! That's delicious too!

Food with such rich flavors—how magical is that?

Living off energy absorption and occasional berries—what a miserable past life was that?

So good!

For the first ti since self-awareness, Articuno felt emotions so rich and intense.

After a hearty al, Lucas led the satisfied Zapdos and Articuno to two rows of Pokémon cottages—new builds for future farm recruits, perfect for Zapdos and Articuno to stay in for now.

Even if they were used to sleeping in the wild.

Zapdos had eaten a lot of richly flavored food and felt great—glad it knew which way the wind blew. Help Lucas charge sothing later and it could go ho peacefully.

Articuno's attitude had softened too. After a brief exchanged look and nod with Lucas, it entered a cottage to rest.

Having settled them, Lucas stretched, rembered the pile of greasy dishes, and muttered, "Let's wash up with Politoed and the others, then sleep early. It's almost midnight."

…

Orange Archipelago, Shamouti Island.

A day had passed since wtwo and Delibird arrived here and spoke with Slowking.

After Slowking abruptly proposed a walk and breakfast, the two, with nothing urgent to do, drifted through a day in Slowking's life.

Coconuts for three als; strolling through ruins and temples; slling blooming flowers; napping in fields of blossoms; diving into the sea upon waking; watching the sunset from a cliff with seaweed on their heads, chewing fresh kelp…

How to put it—Slowking's highly regular life left wtwo and Delibird speechless. It was like a hermit human: desireless, simply spending each day leisurely.

wtwo also discussed philosophy with Slowking as Lucas had suggested—specifically, its classic questions.

Who am I?

Where am I?

What is the aning of my existence?

Slowking's answers left wtwo silent, its mind filled with a single incantation: "coconut."

That's right, Slowking's answers were—

Coconuts, coconuts, and coconuts.

wtwo even wondered if Slowking was teasing.

But thinking deeper, wtwo extracted another aning.

Who am I? — Coconuts.

For Slowking, coconuts are its favorite. Maybe it was saying that who you are doesn't matter—what matters is who you like and want to be.

Where am I? — Coconuts.

wtwo rembered all the coconuts Slowking gave it today were rare round ones; usually coconuts are oval.

Maybe Slowking was saying the round coconut is like the planet, and they dwell on this beautiful blue world.

What is my aning of existence? — Coconuts.

For Slowking, life is regular and pleasant. As long as it has coconuts, it smiles from the heart.

Maybe, through coconuts, it's hinting that one must seek their own aning of existence—how one wishes to be on this planet.

wtwo fell into deep contemplation.

Under night, Delibird watched the sweetly sleeping Slowking and the wtwo posing like The Thinker at the cave's edge, its expression shifting.

Just a hunch, but… when Slowking is eating, its mind is full of coconuts. Ask it anything, it answers "coconut."

They're just ordinary coconuts—why is wtwo brooding at the cave's edge!?

What are you projecting?!

A sudden urge to flee rose in Delibird's heart.

Neither wtwo nor Slowking seed "normal"—one mystic, one full of philosophy.

Delibird feared if it stayed, it would turn weird too!

Amid Slowking's sweet sleep, wtwo's contemplation, and Delibird's prickly discomfort, ti slipped into the next day.

wtwo hadn't solved its three questions, but it made a decision.

After a night of stillness, wtwo drifted up, purple tail swaying.

It looked at Delibird and held out its hand. "Give the slippers."

Delibird froze. Was wtwo going to summon Lucas?

wtwo added, "I'll use the scent on the slippers to locate him and teleport directly to your Trainer's side. At tis like this, we should hear out a strong human's opinion."

Beside a Slowking sleeping like a baby, wtwo took the slippers, closed its eyes, and let its psychic power spread. Monts later, it opened them and said, "Found him."

A faint ripple of space spread, and wtwo and Delibird vanished from Slowking's cave.

Shortly after Slowking woke, far above Shamouti Island, a massive airship hidden in the clouds cut a direct course for the island.

Elsewhere, on seas a ways off Shamouti Island, a small boat carried a boy newly minted as an Indigo Conference quarterfinalist, Pikachu on his shoulder, and two companions toward a certain island.

The stage was already being set.