Pokémon: Farm Story

"Wooom~"

Inside the cave, Ogerpon hummed a little tune of its own creation while tidying up its treasure trove.

Well, calling it a treasure trove might be a stretch—it was more like a cluttered storage room.

"Hmph, hmph."

Ogerpon picked up a stuffed toy, took a deep breath, and buried its face into the plush fabric. After a few affectionate nuzzles, it gingerly placed the toy onto a spot it had meticulously cleaned and lined with a sheet of plastic to keep it pristine.

Just as it was engrossed in tidying its "home," a noise from outside the cave caught Ogerpon's attention, making it instantly alert.

Ogerpon had always prided itself on its sharp sense of vigilance.

How had it managed to live peacefully for so long? Was it because of its strength, capable of taking down a Rattata in a single swipe? Its speed, which left most Pokémon trailing in its dust? Or perhaps its cute and unassuming appearance?

No.

Its survival depended entirely on its keen awareness of danger!

Crouching low in a tactical crawl, Ogerpon stealthily moved to the cave entrance and cautiously peeked outside to survey the situation.

Normally, if another Pokémon discovered its hiding spot, Ogerpon's instinct would be to grab its belongings and bolt.

But this time…

Glancing back at the treasures in the cave, a hint of hesitation flickered in Ogerpon's eyes.

Several of the items were gifts from Natsume. Taking everything would be inconvenient, and if it ran too far, it might lose track of Natsume entirely.

Wouldn't that worry him?

"Hmmm!"

After a moment of hesitation, Ogerpon's eyes sharpened with determination.

Fine! If it came to a fight, so be it!

Though it usually preferred peace, Ogerpon was no pushover.

It would show them its strength today!

But as it turned out, Ogerpon was overthinking things.

Outside the cave, a group of Pokémon didn't seem to have any intention of staying.

"Choo…"

About ten weary-looking Bounsweet sat on the ground, their faces etched with sadness. In front of them, a Steenee was speaking passionately, trying its best to rally the group. But under the circumstances, the speech seemed to have little effect.

Seeing its companions so dispirited, even the Steenee, who was holding strong, couldn't help but show traces of sorrow on its face.

They hadn't rested properly in a long time, nor had they had a decent meal. Their original territory had been taken over by a powerful Pokémon, and the group had been scattered while fleeing for their lives.

To be honest, Steenee felt like it was nearing its limit.

Sniffing, it glanced at its downtrodden companions and inexplicably felt a surge of anger.

No reason, just anger.

It really wanted to kick something.

Turning away, it crossed its arms and sat down, stewing in its own frustration.

"Hmm…"

Ah, so that's what happened.

Having eavesdropped on the conversation, Ogerpon pieced together the story.

This sort of thing wasn't uncommon in the wild.

The world was vast, filled with unknown adventures and powerful Pokémon. Occasionally, a strong Pokémon unable to hold its ground in its own territory would come to weaker areas and assert dominance.

It was just the way of nature.

With this in mind, Ogerpon tiptoed back into the depths of the cave and rummaged through its little bag, pulling out a few pieces of Pokéblocks. After some thought, it decided to bring the whole bag, slinging it around its neck before dashing out.

Ogerpon to the rescue!

"Choo!"

The Bounsweet group, initially enveloped in a gloomy atmosphere, was startled by Ogerpon's sudden appearance.

The Steenee instinctively stepped in front of its companions, ready to protect them.

Bounsweet were notably weak Pokémon, lacking in strength, speed, defense, and stamina. Even Steenee, despite its evolution, wasn't much better.

This evolutionary line only experienced a true leap in strength after evolving into Tsareena, transforming from a near-equal to Magikarp into a plant version of Pheromosa (well, almost).

Even knowing its limitations, Steenee stood its ground to protect the others.

"Hump hump!"

Sensing the tension, Ogerpon hurriedly explained that it meant no harm. It had overheard their conversation and wanted to help.

Ogerpon then enthusiastically described Natsume's farm, painting it as a paradise.

In Ogerpon's depiction, Natsume was the kindest person in the world—he didn't hate Ogerpon, gave it delicious food, and even provided shelter to wandering Pokémon.

Hearing this, Steenee raised a skeptical question.

"Choo?"

Then why aren't you living there?

Uh…

Caught off guard, Ogerpon stammered through a series of nonsensical explanations. To divert the topic, it quickly pulled out some Pokéblocks from its bag and offered them to the group.

Yes, Ogerpon had decided—it would help Natsume expand his roster of Pokémon!

It had always felt a little guilty about freeloading at the farm. Helping recruit new Pokémon felt like a step toward repaying Natsume's kindness.

Watching the Bounsweet and Steenee happily share the Pokéblocks, Ogerpon couldn't help but feel a swell of pride. Hearing them praise Natsume made its heart flutter with joy.

Yet, amid the joy, a thought lingered.

Why wasn't it living at Natsume's farm?

Its relationship with Natsume was good… right?

Fidgeting with its paws, Ogerpon felt uncertain. This kind of introspection was a bit too complex for its little brain.

"Choo?"

"Choo!"

Steenee's call snapped Ogerpon out of its thoughts.

Seeing the eager yet cautious look in Steenee's eyes, Ogerpon quickly agreed to lead the way.

The journey to Natsume's farm was a long one, and this was Ogerpon's first time bringing others along. The experience felt strange but also satisfying.

However, as the farm came into view, a sudden thought hit Ogerpon like a thunderbolt.

What if Natsume didn't want to take them in?

Panic set in, but it was too late to turn back.

From a distance, the watchdog Mightyena family was already waving in greeting.

With no other choice, Ogerpon pressed forward, silently praying that Natsume wouldn't be angry—or worse, that he wouldn't dislike it for acting on its own.

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