Pokemon: I'm a Farmer

After spending about half an hour, Rex and Mai finally returned to the underground lake. Judging by the scattered footprints, it seemed that many Pokémon had been here during the day. If they hadn't packed up their tents and taken them along, the area would likely be in disarray by now.

Since Machoke had been helping dig all day, Rex decided to let it rest in its Poké Ball. He sent out Combusken and Heracross, both full of energy, to guard the campsite.

However, Rex soon changed his mind and released all of his Pokémon, as he didn't like keeping them confined to their Poké Balls—it felt like wasting their lives.

As expected, Swellow stretched its wings and flew a few laps around the low underground ceiling before landing near him. Politoed immediately jumped into the lake, enjoying a leisurely backstroke.

Victreebel, slightly wilted due to the lack of sunlight, soon walked over to a cluster of glowing plants, evidently intending to absorb some light to rejuvenate itself.

"Rex, why did you release all your Pokémon?" Mai asked curiously, having just finished setting up the tent.

Based on her past adventures, it was usually best to keep only a few defensive Pokémon out while letting the rest rest in their Poké Balls until needed. Having too many Pokémon out could also attract attention from local groups of Pokémon, who might see them as a threat and attack.

"I just don't want to keep them locked up in Poké Balls all the time," Rex replied, watching his Pokémon play. "It feels like a waste of their lives."

"That's an interesting perspective, Rex. The more I think about it, the more sense it makes," Mai admitted. "In that case, I'll let mine out too!"

Mai felt a deep resonance with his words. She had always seen her Pokémon as friends, but Rex's view made her realize she hadn't fully considered things from their perspective.

As beloved creatures of this world, Rex believed that, except in rare cases, most Pokémon wouldn't enjoy being confined to a small Poké Ball.

Mai's Pokémon joined them, bringing new life to the dim underground world. Golduck, like Politoed, immediately leaped into the water, playing with Politoed in the lake. It was clear that it, too, was glad to escape the confines of its Poké Ball.

Altaria, Rex's Swellow's biggest fan, quickly joined its side, eager to learn more about flight techniques. Swellow was equally enthusiastic, and the two Flying-type Pokémon quickly struck up a lively conversation.

Rapidash took off at a gallop, effortlessly clearing obstacles in its path, its flames lighting up the underground scenery. Combusken, noticing this, chased after Rapidash, eager to compete in speed in this underground environment.

Umbreon, as a native inhabitant here, wasn't as excited and preferred to hide in the shadows, blending in to feel secure. Its habit of lurking in the darkness was quite similar to Rex's Gastly, which observed everything from within Rex's shadow.

Sandslash and Excadrill, who had been instrumental in the day's excavation, both curled up protectively, covering their soft undersides in case of a surprise attack while they slept.

Sceptile, Mai's ace Pokémon, quickly sought out Machoke, sensing a kindred spirit in terms of their shared dedication to training and self-improvement. Machoke gladly met Sceptile's challenge, and the two began an intense sparring session near the lake, relying solely on their physical strength.

"I figured this would happen, but as long as they're happy, it's fine!" Mai chuckled as she watched her Pokémon interact energetically. She noticed a different kind of vigor in them—something she rarely saw during training.

The only Pokémon who stayed by her side was Gallade, who took guarding her as its primary duty, feeling fulfilled in protecting its Trainer.

Rex, undisturbed by sentimentality, started preparing dinner. Since he and Mai had only eaten some bread in the mine earlier, he wanted to treat himself to a good meal tonight.

Unlike before, Rex brought out a frying pan and began cooking instead of making soup or noodles. The preparation was more complex, but he figured the effort would be worth it for a hearty meal.

Mai, drawn by the delicious smell, eagerly offered to help. As a self-professed foodie, she was excited to sample Rex's cooking.

The noise from Rex's group caught the attention of nearby Pokémon tribes, but sensing the strong presences among the group, they hesitated to approach, waiting to see if someone else would take the lead.

"Mai, could you get the Pokémon food ready? Once I finish this last dish, we can eat," Rex said, glancing at the Pokémon around them.

"Leave it to me! I can't wait to try your cooking!" Mai said, taking one last look at the spread on the table before setting out portions for each Pokémon.

With each Pokémon happily enjoying their meal and Rex's dinner ready, they settled down to enjoy a rare moment of peace.

"I'm so full! All I want now is a hot bath and a good night's sleep," Mai sighed, leaning back in her chair and rubbing her full belly.

"I'll go change the water in the pool, so you can wash up afterward," Rex offered.

Rex headed over to the small pool. Even though the water was already crystal clear, he asked Politoed to help clean it up. Politoed, holding out a single hand, made the water shoot out like a cannon to a distant spot.

Afterward, Rex moved a large stone to block the water flow from the underground lake to the pool. Once the pool refilled, he placed the stone back, creating a self-contained bathing area.

With everything ready, Rex found a spot away from the pool to start his All Star Fitness training regimen, giving Mai the privacy to enjoy her bath uninterrupted.

(End of Chapter)

Merry Christmas!