The morning after the lunar blessing had settled like stardust across the sanctuary, Ashwin stood at the center of his expanding farm. The breeze was crisp, carrying with it the faint scent of ripening berries from the botanical section, now flourishing under Cresselia's passive psychic energy. The Psychic Pokémon at the sanctuary were still in an almost dreamlike trance, basking in the residual warmth of the blessing.
Yet for Ashwin, the day was already bustling with purpose.
The construction of the Pokémon Care & Adoption Center had been fully approved—thanks to the League and Breeder's Guild officials who had left thoroughly impressed by the records and firsthand inspections. With some persuasion, and undeniable results, Ashwin had been granted not only a permanent breeder's license, but also a special designation as a Certified Rehabilitation & Release Specialist—a title rare even among elite breeders.
[System Notification: Pokémon Care & Adoption Center – Tier 1 established.]
[New System Functionality Unlocked: Relationship Metrics – Potential Adopter Compatibility.]
[Current Status: 1 Pokémon successfully adopted. Follow-up condition pending.]
The first Pokémon—an energetic male Elgyem—had been handed to a young trainer named Kiren, who had shown natural psychic affinity and a caring heart. Ashwin had set one condition: return in two weeks, show the Elgyem's growth and teamwork in a friendly match. Kiren had nodded solemnly, aware that trust wasn't handed—it was built.
Ashwin knew the League would be watching.
As the day unfolded, Ashwin's attention returned to the inner workings of the farm.
The Botanical Garden had entered a new growth cycle. Thanks to the recent upgrade, berries now matured within three days, and Ashwin had already planted four varieties: Sitrus, Pecha, Lum, and Leppa. Each played a specific role—not just as food, but as medicine and currency.
Cresselia, ever graceful, floated silently through the rows of glowing flora, occasionally plucking a ripe berry and savoring it with visible delight. Despite her divine aura, she had developed a very earthly fondness for sweets.
"She's going to eat through my reserve," Ashwin murmured with a smile, arms folded as he watched the Lunar Pokémon.
As the farm's rhythm returned to routine, Ashwin began tackling the next critical challenge: population management.
With the sanctuary's expansion and the arrival of various rescued Pokémon—particularly the growing number of Fire-types in recovery and training—it was clear the balance between structure and freedom needed to be addressed.
Ashwin gathered his Pokémon for a meeting—yes, a literal meeting. Gogoat, Vespiquen, Munchlax (now perpetually full and content), Elgyem, and the newly recovered Darmanitan led the lines of Pokémon sitting in semi-circles. Psychic-types floated in disciplined formation while the Fire-types basked on heated stones or stretched.
"Okay, everyone," Ashwin began, his voice clear. "We've made it through battles, blessings, and business... but we're far from done. We need teams. We need leadership."
Using the system's management interface, Ashwin organized Pokémon into function-based teams: Agriculture, Security, Medical Support, Adoption Liaison, and Reconnaissance.
He appointed leaders:
Vespiquen led the Agricultural team, aided by Skwovet and Seedot.
Elgyem oversaw Medical Support, sharing duties with a Ralts duo.
Gogoat, evolved and commanding, took Security with Zigzagoon and Rockruff.
Zorua and a clever Eevee pair handled the Adoption Liaison role.
And for Reconnaissance, a fleet of Combee and Noibat now scouted air and trees.
[System Update: Sanctuary Management Tier Upgraded to 2.]
[New Feature Unlocked: Inter-Pokémon Delegation + Team-Specific Training Modules.]
As night settled over the land, another task remained—fire-type training.
With the spore threat still looming, Ashwin resumed focused training under the Botanical Garden's heating dome, turned into a temporary Fire Arena.
The Fire-types—Charmander, Fennekin, Cyndaquil, Litwick, Houndour, and Tepig—stood in determined lines. A specially prepared obstacle course ran across the terrain, laced with flame-activated triggers and water-cooled zones for discipline.
"Heat control, endurance, and adaptability," Ashwin instructed. "You're not just going to fight. You're going to heal. Flame can cauterize spores if wielded properly."
They trained in rotating sessions, with brief rests and berry-fed recoveries. Occasionally, Munchlax brought snacks mid-drill. Elgyem monitored spore activity in Petri samples nearby, confirming the Fire-types' flames were capable of sterilizing early stages.
Each Pokémon glowed faintly as their internal energies harmonized.
[Training Boost: Fire-type proficiency increased.]
[Spores Neutralized in Controlled Zone.]
Later that night, under a half-moon, Ashwin stood atop the sanctuary cliffside, overlooking the farm and its sleeping residents. Soft winds carried the scent of blossoms and ashes. The calm was deep, but not empty.
In the woods beyond, a ripple in the shadows stirred.
A low pulse—like the hum of a heartbeat—reverberated through the land, barely audible. Only Ashwin heard it.
He narrowed his eyes. "You're watching again, aren't you?"
There, beyond the veil of leaves and psychic mist, two glowing, sea-blue eyes blinked once... then vanished.
Ashwin sat at his desk in the quiet of the night, gazing over the plans for the expanded Pokémon Care & Adoption Center. Outside the main building, the fields were dotted with resting Pokémon, basking in the serenity that had settled over the sanctuary since Cresselia's visit. The Moon Pokémon had vanished into the Psychic Subspace after the blessing, leaving behind a shimmering crescent mark on the inner chamber of the sanctuary's entrance—a quiet sign of approval.
He rolled up the last blueprint and leaned back, his eyes drifting toward the glowing orbs hanging above the center—a network of bioluminescent bulbs powered by electric Pokémon. Gogoat passed by the open window, bleating softly as it carried a basket of berries freshly picked from the botanical garden.
"I guess Cresselia really does have a sweet tooth," Ashwin chuckled, watching a Ralts pair carry slices of sweet Pecha berries into the subspace. Even the stern-looking Medicham helped, nodding solemnly with a plate of Oran berry tarts.
The farm's management had grown complex. Pokémon were being organized into care units, berry harvesters, scout teams, and healing assistants. With the guild breeder and league official visits completed earlier in the week—and both parties leaving impressed—Ashwin had full clearance to expand his operations.
He stepped outside, breathing in the scent of fresh soil. The ground around the central dome had already been prepared for the additional botanical fields. The system notification had flickered earlier:
[ Quest Progress Update: "Breeding Grounds of Tomorrow" – Infrastructure Phase: 87% Complete. ]
Ashwin tapped his notepad. The next focus would be stability: handling the growing population of Pokémon seeking shelter, training, and adoption. Some, like the recently rescued Abra twins, still flinched at sudden sounds. Others, like the excitable Chimchar troop, were ready to train daily and seemed eager to impress.
In the eastern quadrant of the farm, a training zone had been established. There, Ashwin had begun organizing elemental training regimens. The fire-types were particularly lively today.
"Alright, let's begin with heat control exercises!" he called out, as the gathered Pokémon lined up—Chimchar, Growlithe, Litwick, and a particularly moody Numel stood ready. Behind them, a lone Cyndaquil hesitated before stepping into the line.
The goal was simple: control your flame output to heat a marked stone without cracking it.
"Cyndaquil, gentle. Just let it simmer."
The Fire Mouse Pokémon blinked nervously, then ignited its back slightly. The stone beneath it shimmered, but didn't crack.
"Perfect," Ashwin smiled. "You're improving."
The others took turns. Litwick's fire was too cold. Chimchar's was too hot. Numel melted the corner of the stone. They were still learning, but their spirits were high. A trio of Squirtle observed from the water troughs, helping to cool overheated stones and offering comedic commentary with exaggerated splashy reactions.
By mid-afternoon, Ashwin noticed something curious. A trail of spores drifted in from the southern woods. He narrowed his eyes.
"Again?" he murmured, pulling out a containment vial and scooping a sample. His past encounter with the spore colony had made him cautious. But these were different—faintly glowing, almost... organized?
[ Warning: Spore Variant Detected. Potential Psychic Influence Present. Initiate Scan? ]
"Yes. Log and sample. We'll study this tonight."
As he returned to the lab, something tugged at his thoughts—a pull. Not from the system, not from his Pokémon. A deep, instinctive nudge.
"Someone's watching again…"
From the edge of the cliffs beyond the fields, a pair of eyes shimmered in the moonlight—narrow, calm, and intelligent. A shape retreated into the dark.
Ashwin didn't chase. Instead, he placed his hand on the smooth stone of the lab door, murmuring quietly:
"Whoever you are… if you're watching me, I hope you see I'm trying to do better—for all of them."
Unbeknownst to him, the Legendary being turned back once, watching as firelight from the farm flickered like a heartbeat across the valley.