"Hah!" Rosaria swung her spear with a sharp arc, slicing through the cluster of fireballs hurtling toward her. Perched atop her dozing Pokémon, Ponyta, she triggered its ability Run Away, dashing from her 'foes' with speed and grace.
She wasn't in any real danger.
Right now, she was simply training—galloping around the horse track on Ponyta's back, trying to teach it either Double Team or Substitute.
Rosaria would admit that she had no idea how to actually train those two moves. But ever since Arthur had introduced her to the concept of TMs, she'd been a little obsessed—especially with Protect, Double Team, and Substitute. Of the three, she felt more hopeful about Double Team and Substitute. The principles behind them seemed somewhat similar, and with Ponyta's natural speed, success felt within reach.
Or so she thought.
Double Team showed some promise, but Substitute remained frustratingly out of reach.
She could only guess the functions of the moves from their names and vague descriptions. So naturally, she had no idea that Substitute created an actual stand-in made from the user's energy—not just a harmless decoy to draw attacks.
Her approach had been wrong. Still, Double Team felt close—almost within reach.
During the endless repetition of their training routine, Ponyta had grown comfortable with Rosaria riding it. But sometimes, even Ponyta got bored. On one such occasion, she dozed off mid-run…
That's how it accidentally learned Sleep Talk.
Yes, at this very moment, her Ponyta was actually asleep—galloping along the track while unconsciously using Sleep Talk to simulate the effect of sleepwalking.
What a talent!
It had even learned Facade this way.
Unlike the games, where only burn, poison, or paralysis activated Facade's bonus damage, in the real world, sleep counted too—if used through Sleep Talk. The downside? It drained a ton of stamina.
Fortunately, being asleep helped it recover that lost stamina quickly.
Rosaria didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She was aiming for Double Team and Substitute—but somehow, Ponyta had picked up Sleep Talk and Facade instead.
The reason Rosaria chose this training path for Ponyta was simple: she believed in tailoring its growth around its ability—Run Away.
After hearing Arthur's mother, Anna, once say, "A disgusting tactic is still a tactic," Rosaria had been inspired. If that was the case, then why not turn Ponyta into the most frustrating, elusive force her enemies would ever face? A master of hit-and-run warfare.
Ponyta had been skeptical at first. "I am the most elegant and mightiest fire horse! Why must I fight in such a cowardly way?!"
But after discovering it could literally sleep during training—and witnessing the exasperated faces of its would-be pursuers afterward—it had started to come around. In fact, it began to enjoy this style more and more.
Stylist or laziness? Why not both?
The only thing that still bothered Ponyta was its size. Compared to other horses, it still felt small. It wanted to grow quickly—so that Rosaria, its Trainer and rider, would look even more majestic atop its back.
"Her horse... Ponyta, is always this fast?" one of the pursuers asked, panting.
"Hah! You must be new," another pursuer laughed heartily, conjuring another flame. "Our horses can't even come close, and they're bigger and stronger, too." With that, he hurled the fireball toward Rosaria's retreating figure.
Rosaria didn't even bother swatting it aside this time.
Still sound asleep, Ponyta veered sharply to the side, effortlessly dodging the chantless fireball.
It didn't need to avoid such a simple attack—but this was training, after all. Practice made perfect.
Rosaria, face damp with sweat, smiled brightly and patted Ponyta's mane in praise.
She had grown used to this exhilarating sense of speed. The moment Run Away activated, it was as if time slowed for everyone else. No ordinary horse could keep up.
Not just speed—evasion, reflexes, awareness—everything that could help Ponyta escape was enhanced. Only vitality and endurance lagged behind. But who needed those when you never got hit?
If Flame Charge was added to the mix during their escape, Ponyta's speed would skyrocket—leaving nothing behind but a trail of dust and astonishment.
"Ponyta, jump!" Rosaria suddenly shouted, spotting a string trap stretched across the track.
But Ponyta let out a loud snore instead, completely ignoring her command.
Its hooves caught the string. Momentum shattered, balance lost, it flipped clumsily into the air—spinning once, twice—and crashed hard into the ground, taking Rosaria with it.
"Princess Rosaria!"
"Your Highness!"
The pursuers—the Bloodthorn Knights—immediately rushed forward, panic etched on their faces.
Rosaria stood up with practiced grace, brushing dust from her uniform. Without a word, she recalled the still-sleeping Ponyta back into its Poké Ball and walked away coldly, her composure flawless.
Only once she was out of sight did she quietly sigh. Maybe I'm doing something wrong... How am I supposed to train Ponyta for Double Team and Substitute?
After reuniting with Wentia and Reden farther down the path, she held Ponyta's Poké Ball gently in her hand and murmured, "Good work, Ponyta. We'll do better next time, kay~?"
The Poké Ball wiggled slightly, and a soft neigh came from within—Ponyta's sleepy, but spirited, agreement.
The combo of Rest and Sleep Talk was undeniably powerful, but there were downsides. Sometimes Ponyta would drift into a deeper sleep and miss her commands entirely—like today, when it failed to dodge the trap in time.
Learning new moves was of average difficulty. But mastering them—that's where the true line was drawn between Rookie Trainers and Professional Trainers.
It was clear: Rosaria and Ponyta still had a long way to go before they could turn Sleep Talk into a true battle-ready, sleep-walking technique.
Followed closely by Wentia and Reden, Rosaria left the horse track and made her way toward the newly constructed Pokémon Battle Arena. Inside, many of her Bloodthorn Knights and Mages—those who had already received their Pokémon—were engaged in lively battles.
Two distinct groups were currently sparring within the arena. One group battled with their Pokémon, fighting side-by-side in synchronized movements. The other relied solely on their partners, standing back and issuing commands from the sidelines.
"Growlithe, Ember!"
"Rise high and ascend—Flame Pillar!"
"Nidoran, Poison Sting!"
"Diglett, Sand Attack!"
The field crackled with energy. Multicolored bursts of flame, toxin, sand, and more, danced through the air, clashing and exploding in dazzling displays. The battlefield, despite its chaos, possessed a kind of scenic beauty—elements colliding in a vivid demonstration of elemental might.
Around the perimeter, other Bloodthorn Knights watched enviously. Some had not yet received a Pokémon Egg. Others waited for their eggs to hatch. Their eyes lingered on the smiling, sweat-drenched faces of the battlers with a quiet longing.
Many others trained their Pokémon elsewhere. Each Pokémon required different care and methods depending on their nature, type, and potential.
For example, Pokémon suited for riding had to undergo additional training to develop the balance and coordination needed to carry a rider smoothly into battle.
While Rosaria admired the chaotic yet coordinated Pokémon battles unfolding before her, Reden suddenly let out a satisfied sigh. "Delish!" she exclaimed, cheeks full of roasted pink meat, her face glowing with bliss.
The aroma reached Wentia a second later. She sniffed once, startled, before quickly frowning. "We're on duty protecting Her Highness," she said, voice sharp with reprimand. "What do you think you're doing, eating right now?"
"Who would dare attack Her Highness here, right in front of the royal castle?" Reden shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant, though Wentia knew she was actually very vigilant.
Rosaria, who had stayed silent until now, finally spoke up after making sure no one else was nearby to eavesdrop, "What are you eating? It smells incredible," she asked. Her stomach gave a small, involuntary growl at the tantalizing aroma wafting from Reden's food.
Reden's eyes sparkled with theatrical delight as she hoisted the plate of roasted delicacy like a sacred relic.
"I'm eating Slowpoke's tail!" she announced grandly. "Not just any tail, though. This one was soaked overnight in a poisoned berry reduction mixed with powdered meteoric rocks, then roasted over a fire fueled by enchanted broomsticks that only sweep during lunar eclipses!"
She took a huge bite, chewing with exaggerated focus—as if trying to unlock some ancient secret. "The texture is like if velvet cake and jellyfish had a child. And the flavor? Sweet, savory, and slightly confused. Like it can't decide whether it wants to be dessert or dinner, tasting like a fruit whispered to by a philosopher!"
Pointing to the roasted tail with deadly seriousness, she added, "I'm pretty sure you can taste the exact moment the Slowpoke stopped thinking. There's this dreamy, floaty aftertaste—like licking a thought bubble."
Wentia and Rosaria exchanged stunned glances. Then, slowly, their expressions twisted into mild disgust as they stepped back slightly from Reden.
How to put it? It was as if Reden was earnestly critiquing the dish, but her description was just a mix of disgusting nonsense.
After a pause, Rosaria frowned and finally asked, "Reden, did you cut off your Slowpoke's tail?"
As if wrongly accused, Reden quickly shook her head. "Of course not! Its tail fell off on its own." She pushed up her round glasses and explained, "According to the Pokédex, Slowpoke occasionally sheds its tail. It's considered quite a delicacy, so I decided to roast it."
"They grow back, like a lizard's tail. The Slowpoke doesn't even notice!" she added with a grin, happily chewing on her roasted treat.
Wentia and Rosaria glanced at each other, their looks saying in unison: Reden's description makes me want to vomit, but somehow it still sounds delicious...
"So... is it delicious?" Rosaria finally asked. "And make it short," she quickly added, not wanting to hear her long nonsense again.
For Rosaria and Wentia, it seemed hopeless that Reden would 'recover' from her mad researcher state anytime soon, as she continued struggling to crack Arthur's magic circle with no visible progress.
Clearing her throat, Reden smiled as she stuffed another piece of Slowpoke tail into her mouth. "It's delicious!"
Then, eagerly, she handed a piece to each of them. "Come on, Wentia, Your Highness—try it! I can guarantee the Pokédex's authenticity! It's truly delicious!"
Wentia and Rosaria exchanged blank looks at the pieces of pink meat Reden offered and shook their heads.
The tail looked delicious, smelled delicious—everything about it seemed perfect.
But knowing it was Slowpoke's tail, and how it was prepared, completely killed their appetite.
"Too bad..." Reden said, staring sadly at the meat in her hand. Then her eyes suddenly lit up. "I should send some to Arthur later as a gift!"
"No, you're going to poison Arthur!" Rosaria quickly interrupted. "If you really want to gift it, send it raw and fresh. Don't cook it yet! Let Arthur handle that."
That way, Arthur could decide whether to toss it or eat it, without the risk of accidental poisoning!
Reden pouted, staring at the delicacy on her plate, and mumbled, "Eevee, do you want some?"
"Eev!" Eevee's eyes sparkled like stars as it jumped onto her arm, leaned in, and eagerly started eating.
"Is it really that delicious?" Rosaria murmured, watching Eevee devour the meat as if it were the finest feast ever.
High above, from the balcony of the royal castle, King Gadeon Roseflame Krosia watched his daughter and the Bloodthorn members with clenched teeth. Frustration bubbled over as he slammed his fists against the balcony railing, sounding like a petulant child throwing a tantrum. "Lavi! I can't take it anymore! I want a Pokémon! I want a Pokémon!"
"Wah! Wah! W—ouch!"
"Stop acting like a baby and behave like a king for once," Queen Lavinia Moonstone Krosia snapped, pulling her staff away from the King's head with a sigh.
She glanced down at the lively scene below and smiled softly. "The castle has been so much livelier since they brought back those Pokémon."
Secretly, she shared her husband's feelings. She longed for a Pokémon of her own too, and often threw tantrums when no one was watching. But in public—especially in front of her husband—she had to be beautiful, elegant, and majestic.
After all, a majestic queen must keep her childish king firmly in line!
King Gadeon rubbed the bump on his forehead and grumbled, "Two hundred Bloodthorns have their own Pokémon now. Surely it's our turn to demand one, right?"
"You are the king. What can't you demand?" Lavinia retorted with a raised eyebrow.
"But… what about my dignity? That kid Arthur had to send his Pokémon himself, hmph!" Gadeon pouted and turned his head away.
"You still have dignity?" Lavinia sighed once again , resting her arms on the balcony railing as she watched Pokémon and their Trainers bustling below.
King Gadeon straightened, a soft smile spreading across his face as he joined her gaze.
He exhaled slowly. "I hope this peaceful scene can be preserved in our Krosia Kingdom for many years to come…"
---
"Are these Slowpoke's tail?" Arthur stared blankly at the fresh pink tails wrapped in leaves that looked like banana leaves.
Just moments before, Reden had appeared, beaming with pride as she presented three of the tails to him. She eagerly offered to cook them herself, boasting that she was the best chef around—having learned the secrets of preparing Slowpoke's tail from none other than the legendary God of Empty-Head.
Of course, Arthur politely declined.
What a joke!
Letting Reden cook for him? His stomach might not survive the next day!
But as he examined the Slowpoke tails, a thought struck him: sooner or later, people would find ways to profit from Pokémon.
"Well, as long as it doesn't harm the Pokémon…" Arthur sighed, recalling the first time he made templates for Pokémon like Slowpoke.
Honestly, it was a different kind of challenge compared to Ghost-types or Porygon. He wasn't a chef or a food scientist—how could he know how to make Slowpoke's tail sweet and delicious?
So, there was only one thing he could do: wing it.
No, truthfully, he relied on a Memora Potion to recall the most delicious sweet pork recipe he'd ever tasted, then tried to replicate it himself. It took many attempts, but eventually, he succeeded—and even improved his cooking skills along the way.
Then, he embedded the recipe into the Pokémon template.
After Slowpoke hatched, various factors would influence the taste of its tail—some making it worse, others better. In fact, it could even surpass his recipe's flavor.
It was like letting meat simmer for days: the longer it matured, the richer the taste. The same applied to Slowpoke—the better their growth, the better the flavor.
Planning to cook the tails for his family—and for the lazy dragon lady lounging inside the Luxury Ball—he carefully placed them in his magic-powered refrigerator before heading to his research lab.
Thanks to Virelyra's touch, the weather and environment within Rastor's Safari Zone had been perfected in just a single day.
Today, at last, a thousand Eggs would be released into the wild!