[Multi-layered Mud Fruit Cake (C)]: A cake made using mud as a special ingredient. This is a special dish that ordinary Pokémon cannot eat, but it is deeply loved by certain Pokémon.]
[Cooking Effect: After consumption, it slightly increases Ground-type energy and provides a very small probability of realizing a Ground or Rock-type move.]
'Success!!! And the Golden Finger gave it a C rating!'
If he improved the quality of some ingredients, reaching C+ or even B wouldn't be a problem.
As Natsuki inspected his work, the three figures nearby couldn't resist the temptation and crept closer.
"Mud-bray!"
'It smells so good!'
"Mud-mud..."
'I want to eat, I want to eat...'
"Mud-mud-bray~"
'Me too...`
The Mudbray's expressions: (╯>﹃<)╯
The three Mudbray watched with wide eyes, drool pooling on the ground. To their senses, the mud cake before them was the most delicious food in the world, constantly tempting their inner gluttons.
"Oh! Mudbray, you're all here." Natsuki snapped out of it and waved with a smile.
Noticing their expressions, he chuckled and extended an invitation. "Come, have a taste. See if it suits your palate."
With the delicacy right in front of them, no words were needed.
The Mudbray let out excited howls and pounced on the three-tiered cake, taking massive bites from the top layer.
Their expressions after tasting: (っ˘ڡ˘ς)
Their stomachs were completely conquered by the mud cake. They were so dazed by the flavor that they became mindless eating machines.
The entire cake vanished into their bellies, leaving them lying on the grass, too stuffed to move.
Just as Natsuki was about to approach, the leader of the three Mudbray suddenly stood up. Its face was flushed red, wearing a pained expression as if it were holding something back.
The next moment, a surge of inexhaustible power erupted from its body, wrapped in earthy yellow Ground-type energy.
It was as if it had transformed into a heavy-duty truck, letting out a rumbling vibration like thunder.
The Mudbray charged straight into the nearby forest, snapping every tree in its path, regardless of size.
After running a full circuit to vent the excess power, the Mudbray let out a long sigh of relief. It almost couldn't hold it in just now!
In contrast, Natsuki stared at the destruction, a million thoughts racing through his mind.
'Was that... High Horsepower?! But that didn't seem right— was High Horsepower really that powerful? Especially when used by a small Mudbray?'
It made no sense at all. A giant question mark appeared over Natsuki's head.
Just as he was about to check on it, the other two Mudbray suddenly stood up, Ground-type energy pulsing intensely over their bodies.
One roared excitedly at the sky, and a strange wind abruptly appeared, whipping up a massive cloud of sand and dust that blanketed a huge area.
The sand tornado swept forward with irresistible force, crashing straight toward the Donkey Shed.
The gale shattered the fence, and yellow sand swamped the building.
Natsuki: "..."
Everywhere the Sandstorm move passed was transformed into a desert environment. The earth took on a dull, earthy yellow hue, and the surroundings instantly became harsh.
'Great! One mastered High Horsepower, one mastered Sandstorm... what about the last one?'
As if in response to Natsuki's anticipation, the final Mudbray let out a series of strange cries.
It reared up its front legs, which were encased in thick, almost physical Ground-type energy, and stomped heavily on the ground.
The next moment, a sharp cracking sound rang out. Fissures spread outward, extending straight toward the Donkey Shed.
"Nooooo!"
Sensing something wrong, Natsuki shouted in a panic.
That Donkey Shed cost him 6,000 Poké Dollars, it couldn't be destroyed like this!
As if hearing Natsuki's voice, the shockwave of the Fissure move suddenly took a turn, slamming into the nearby mud pool.
With a muffled "BOOM," the mud pool exploded.
Dark brown mud shot into the sky like a fountain before raining down evenly in all directions.
The sandstorm subsided. Fortunately, the Donkey Shed wasn't destroyed— a lucky break in a series of misfortunes.
"Mud~"
The three Mudbray stood in a neat row, tilting their heads and looking expectantly at Natsuki, practically begging for praise and a pat on the head.
What could Natsuki do? They were his own kids, so he had to spoil them.
He was partly responsible for this situation anyway.
He hadn't expected the effect of the [Mud Cake] to be so powerful, allowing each Mudbray to realize a Ground-type move... and he definitely didn't expect each move to be more powerful than the last.
Thinking back, the mud cake might have just been a trigger.
Over the past few days at the ranch, the Mudbray had been eating Pumpkin Porridge as their staple food, accumulating a massive amount of energy in their bodies.
It seemed he couldn't let them gorge themselves like that anymore, he had to control their portions to avoid another "big surprise."
Natsuki knelt down and stroked each one. "You guys are really amazing. If I ever have to leave for a bit, how about I leave the ranch in your care?"
"Mud!"
The eldest Mudbray nodded vigorously, indicating he would launch any strange Pokémon flying with his charge.
The other two chimed in together, this was how they could repay Natsuki for taking care of them. They would never let anyone destroy the ranch.
At this very moment, the Pokémon who would one day shake the Pokémon world as the "Three Holy Knights" were born.
However, the young "Holy Knights" soon ran into the biggest trouble of their lives.
Minccino and Kangaskhan came running over, fuming with rage. Seeing the mess and destruction on this side, their tempers flared even higher.
The icy, menacing aura radiating from Kangaskhan and Minccino made the Mudbray tremble uncontrollably.
They shrunk back, blinking their large, innocent eyes as they looked to Natsuki for help.
Natsuki quickly stepped in to smooth things over, giving the Mudbray a personal lecture. He made them promise that such a situation would never happen again.
"Alright, I've lectured the Mudbray. Now, come help me repair the Donkey Shed."
Natsuki distributed the tasks.
"Minccino, Chatot, you guys help me clear away the sand, stones, and mud. Kangaskhan, please take the Mudbray and help haul over the lumber by the cabin. And don't forget my tools."
With an axe, saw, and hammer— a full set of woodworking tools— Natsuki found repairing the broken fences and the mud pool to be well within his capabilities.
After a long bout of busy work, the entire afternoon slipped away.
Natsuki's plan to experiment with special ingredients had to be shelved for now, he'd wait until he had more free time.
Having the recipe for the Mud Cake was enough for one day.
Dinner that night was exceptionally grand, featuring dishes made from fresh ingredients that tasted entirely different from usual.
Every Pokémon ate until their bellies were round. The groups reconciled, and the Mudbray went back to playing, following behind Kangaskhan and the others.
As for Chatot, aside from watching the orchard, he spent most of his time in the back mountains.
A bird longs for freedom. As long as he returned on time for meals, Natsuki's requirements were satisfied.
It would be even better if the bird didn't perch by his ear and make a racket early in the morning...