Pokémon from Galar

"As someone who takes on the challenge, you not only need the strength to battle, but also to learn how to get along with Pokémon and nature. Then, the island will determine whether you are qualified to use Z-Moves."

Dr. Kukui's explanation is simple, but it's actually quite complicated because there are no specific standards. What constitutes acceptable and unacceptable behavior is entirely determined by the Pokémon themselves.

Moreover, obtaining the Z-Bracelet is quite subtle. One way is that the Island King will give it to you directly after you pass the test. Another way is that you have to be lucky enough to find a Radiant Stone. If you do, the Island King will consider it a gift from nature and help you make the bracelet.

In short... although she obtained the qualification quickly, Marnie was still mentally prepared to come back to Alola next year to obtain the Z Crystal. After all, getting along with Pokémon is something that can't be rushed.

Well, I'll try my best.

P.S.: I checked the anime, and the Z-Rings are either inherited by your family after passing a test, made by collecting Shiny Stones, given by Pokémon, or given by the Island King after obtaining a Z-Crystal.

It feels like this thing is all about fate. If you find a Radiant Stone, it'll make you a bracelet; otherwise, if you get a Z-Crystal, then it'll be another story.

As for Mary's bracelet and the Z-Crystal, I have a plan, but it will be a bit later.

I'm taking a day off today.

Hmm... I thought about it and realized that the timeline I had planned was basically after Rosamund was absorbed, including Mizuki's storyline. But it seems like I started writing a bit too early, although I didn't elaborate.

In short, I plan to watch those episodes from the original story, then adjust my schedule and quickly get into the main plot, so that Marie doesn't spend twenty or thirty chapters in Alola without getting the bracelet and Z-Crystal.

Chapter 114 Invitation to Mao's Welcome Party

"Oh, right, Mary, come to my house after school today! I've prepared a welcome party!"

During break, Mao suddenly walked to Mary's desk, put his hands on the table, and invited her with a smile.

"Welcome party? There's really no need. I'm only staying here for a while before leaving..."

"Mao's cooking is absolutely delicious! Everyone, from people to Pokémon, raves about it! And this time, I even helped come up with the recipes. Marie, you absolutely have to come and try it!"

Before Mary could finish her refusal, Lillie interrupted her, hugging the gleaming white figure and seemingly quite confident in her recipe.

"Pokémon too?"

After Lillie mentioned it, Marie vaguely remembered that Mallow seemed to have such a background, that she was a very good cook, and that the Pokémon food she made seemed to be quite good as well.

"Mmm~! You can leave Mary's Pokémon food to me without worry!"

Mao, far from being modest, raised her hand and patted her chest, looking quite confident.

The boys were doing something on the other side and seemed unaware of the commotion, but Shui Lian, carrying the sea lion Qiu Qiu, also came over.

"Are you talking about the welcome party? I helped with the preparations too! Right, Ball Ball Sea Lion~"

"Ball~ (Yeah, yeah~)"

"..."

Seeing that all three people's eyes were focused on her, Mary couldn't withstand the pressure and could only nod, smiling as she said:

"Well then, I'll gladly accept. I'll look forward to it. Thank you."

"Hehe! Look forward to it!"

Mao held her sweet girl in her arms, and it seemed that she was very happy to be able to show off her skills.

"By the way, Mary, I actually wanted to ask you yesterday, what are those little cubes that your Morbeco often eats?"

Shui Lian, seeing that another small cube had been taken out of the table and put into her mouth, pointed to the bulging little pocket and asked curiously.

"That cube, if I'm not mistaken, theoretically speaking, should be an energy cube, right, Mary?"

Lillie is quite knowledgeable. Although she has always lived in Alola, she has a broad knowledge of Pokémon from other regions and related information.

"Well, I'm not really good at making proper nutritious meals, so I mostly use special energy cubes to supplement my nutrition."

Mary nodded, readily admitting it. Nutritional meals not only cost more than energy cubes, but they are also more complicated to make and harder to store. If different meals had to be prepared for each Pokémon for every meal, then camping life would be too tiring.

At least Mary definitely couldn't get used to it.

"For example, the Energy Cube I gave Xiao Mo is an Electric/Dark type one. It tastes pretty good. Want to try some?"

As she said this, Mary reached into her backpack and casually pulled out a half-eaten energy cube.

"Can people eat this...?"

"Well, they're mostly made from tree fruits, so there's nothing inedible about them."

While answering Mao's question with a smile, Mary opened the box and glanced inside. It contained the cubes that Yuri hadn't finished eating. Yuri had already been able to make qualified energy cubes on her own.

So Mary put all the remaining ones together and put them in a box.

"The light blue ones here are water-type, the light green ones are grass-type, and there are also poison and normal-type ones, but ice-type... I think I have a small box of them."

Since they were all leftovers from Yuri's Pokémon, they were rather scattered. While explaining, Marie casually picked up a Grass-type Pokémon and popped it into her mouth. The crisp texture and fruity flavor were still quite good.

While savoring the flavor, I started searching for ice blocks that I had prepared before but never used and that had been sitting for quite some time.

However, Pokémon react faster than humans. Popplio and Slimie were the first to jump over, pick up the Water and Grass-type Energy Cubes, and put them in their mouths.

"Wait—Sweeney?"

"Ball-Ball Sea Lion—"

"Sweet~ (Delicious~!)"

"Ball~! (Mmm-hmm!)"

"I'd be so glad you like it."

Mary took the opportunity to pat the head of the sea lion, and probably because of the energy cube, it didn't resist.

Meanwhile, Water Lily, Mao, and Lillie exchanged glances, then simultaneously reached out, picked up an energy cube, and ate it themselves.

Mao chewed thoughtfully, seemingly trying to identify the ingredients? Meanwhile, Shui Lian observed the sea lion's reaction as she ate.

Not wanting to be left out, Whitey made a couple of calls to its trainer. Lillie had no choice but to put the Normal-type Energy Cube in her hand into Whitey's mouth.

"Ah, I found it. I made it last winter, but I didn't finish it and it's been sitting there ever since."

Mary pulled out an even smaller box from her backpack. There was no other way; ice-type items were indeed rare in everyday life, so Mary only prepared some when she went to the wilderness on snowy winter days.

Mary handed the white, translucent cube to Bai Huanghuang and reached out to touch its fluffy head; the cool, soft texture felt surprisingly comforting.

"What?! I think I smell something really nice! Oh, isn't this an Energy Cube? It brings back memories, Pikachu."

Ash, with his ever-present dog-like nose, followed Pikachu after smelling the odor.

The energy cubes had been sitting for so long that their flavor had actually faded quite a bit, but when a few people gathered together and chewed on them, the aroma of the mixed tree fruit spread out.

"Hmm, Ash, do you and Pikachu want to give it a try?"

Seeing Kachi and Mamane who had also been attracted by the sight, Mary shrugged and took out a box of electric and fire energy cubes and placed them on the table.

"Oh ho! Then I won't be polite!"

Ash and Pikachu, upon hearing Marnie's invitation, readily reached for the Electric-type cube and popped it into their mouths. Then, Ash and Pikachu gave it a quick shake, revealing expressions of pure bliss.

"How does it taste? I left a very slight paralysis effect on the electric cube. How does it feel?"

"It's delicious! And that 'bibibi' feeling, how should I put it—it's just so comfortable! Right, Pikachu!"

"Pikachu pikachu—! (Mmm! This is a taste I haven't had in ages!)"

"Oh my god! This color! It must be a fire type! Marie, thank you, Blazemon, let's eat together!"

"Wait, Kachi, let's choose someone else, preferably a fire-type—"

Before Mary could stop him, she saw Kaki stuff several fire-type blocks into his mouth. His dark skin quickly turned red, and sweat poured out instantly.

"So spicy!!!"

As Kachi opened its mouth wide and howled in agony, flames could even be seen emerging from its mouth. Fortunately, Lily reacted quickly, grabbing the water-type block and shoving it inside.

This finally calmed Kachi down.

"...These energy cubes contain various types of energy, and the fire element is a bit spicy, so I usually use them for seasoning rather than eating them directly."

"...Well, you should have...said it earlier...ha..."

"I didn't expect you to act so quickly."

Mary looked away, unable to bear to look at Kachi's current appearance; he looked extremely hot and could barely speak.

P.S.: After some research, I realized that I can't skip too much of the plot. The entire Nihilego arc revolves around Lillie, so I have to write about Lillie's storyline.

Otherwise, directly writing about mythical beasts would seem abrupt.

Chapter 115 The Comedians of Team Rocket

After school, Mary originally planned to go directly to Mao's restaurant and learn a skill from him, but Mao instead sent Lillie to take Mary shopping, saying they would come back when they were ready.

Unable to refuse, I had no choice but to follow Lillie out of the school and begin a leisurely stroll.

Lillie didn't carry the spiky Pokémon; instead, she let it walk alongside Marie's Pokémon. Marie also entrusted Momo to Sue's care and walked empty-handed beside Lillie. Two little Dragapults were slung over Lillie's shoulder, as if they wanted Marie to buy them some snacks along the way.

Baloo and Chirp, on the other hand, returned to their Poké Balls first.

Lillie, looking both eager and hesitant, eyed the two dragon-like creatures encircling Mary's neck. Mary, seeing Lillie's expression, knew perfectly well what was going on, but still asked:

"What's wrong? Are you curious? Do you want to touch them? They're quite well-behaved."

Mary raised her hand and touched Xiao Zuo's little paws. The two little guys were looking around, seemingly searching for something delicious.

"Ah...no, I'm sorry, I can't touch other Pokémon..."

Lillie looked away, her tone tinged with sadness. Mary pursed her lips, then nodded without pressing the matter further. Although she wanted to say something, Mary understood the importance of not speaking too intimately with someone she didn't know well.

I've only known Lillie for a few days, so it's not a good idea to pry into this kind of thing so rashly.

"I'm sorry, it seems I've touched on something that's painful for you."

Faced with the apology, Lillie simply shook her head, her smile returning. She glanced down at the white figure beside her, her eyes filled with a sense of relief.

"It's okay, at least it's not completely impossible to touch. I'll be able to overcome it someday!"

"Uh-huh."

Mary nodded and smiled in response to Lillie's words, then changed the subject.

"By the way, could you come with me to buy some tree berries? I'd like to ask about the recipe for the Power Cube; maybe I can improve it."

After spending the last few days with her, Mary discovered that Lillie's knowledge was indeed astonishing. She was intelligent and hardworking, and with the vast resources of the Ether Foundation, she could easily access almost any knowledge that interested her.

Marnie was quite envious of Lillie's resources; after all, there was still a significant gap between a Gym Leader and the entire Aether Foundation.

Of course, it's just a bit of envy; it's something you can't really compare to. Besides, Lillie doesn't mind sharing her knowledge at all, and it's really hard to feel any negative emotions towards such a gentle girl.