Chapter 0642: Energy Tea and the Plant Badge

Natsume browsed the herb shop's display cases, examining various medicinal products.

Unlike Eterna City's apothecary, Kalos' herb shops were bright, spacious, and distinctly modern.

"These traditional medicines require prescriptions. While fast-acting, they significantly reduce Pokémon's Friendship," the clerk explained.

"No worries. My team's Friendship actually increases with this stuff," Natsume remarked casually.

The clerk blinked. The customer didn't seem to be joking—which only deepened their confusion.

...Are you from a competing store?

"Togepi doo-ee~" Togepi pressed against the glass, peering at the illuminated herbs inside.

Natsume lifted it up, mildly disappointed.

The Revival Herbs at this Kalos herb shop were actually inferior to what Blastoise grew in-house.

However, they did carry something called Heal Powder—a status-healing item Natsume-sensei had never seen before.

"They say it tastes extremely bitter... but Blastoise prefers bitter flavors anyway."

Natsume fell deep into thought.

If Red could load his Blastoise's cannons with Mt. Silver hot spring water...

Then couldn't I mix this Heal Powder with "Energy Tea" for a dual cleanse-and-heal blast?

A close-range mage moonlighting as a healer? Perfectly reasonable!

Since the powder was just processed berry extracts, replicating it would be trivial.

Natsume bought three packs, planning to have Rotom analyze and recreate the formula later.

The shop also offered prescription services, but the wait would be long.

Glancing outside, he saw Blastoise still maintaining its stoic "rear guard" position, soaking up sunlight—

And the old man standing beside it.

At first, Natsume paid no mind... until realization struck.

"Wait... does that old man look familiar?"

……

Ramos leaned on his shears, basking in the sun, and chatted with Blastoise:

"I love reading and farming, you see. Reading is like sowing seeds in the field of the mind, while farming lets flowers bloom. Every morning, seeing the plants grow taller brings me such joy."

"Blastoise."

Blastoise nodded in deep understanding, recalling his own experience cultivating Revival Herbs.

"Oh? You understand, do you? That’s wonderful."

Ramos assumed the demeanor of an old man fond of rambling, clasping his hands behind his back as he smiled.

"Health comes first, after all. This old man loves tea—nothing beats a good cup after a day of tending the fields. It does wonders for the body."

"Blastoise." Blastoise nodded toward Ramos and gestured to the cannons on his back.

"This is…?" Ramos blinked in surprise.

"Blastoise…"

Blastoise’s hand withdrew into his shell, then emerged with a thermos he carried. He poured a steaming cup of hot water, blowing away the rising vapor.

Ramos’s mouth fell open slightly.

He recognized that move—it was the Water-type move Scald.

But… was Blastoise using Scald to brew tea?

Leaning closer to the thermos, Ramos caught the bitter yet fragrant aroma of tea leaves and hesitantly asked,

"Is this… tea made from Energy Root?"

"Blastoise!" Blastoise nodded vigorously, looking as if he’d finally met a kindred spirit.

"May this old man have a taste?"

A Pokémon that loved tea—and even knew how to brew it!

Ramos couldn’t hide his curiosity.

Not to mention, this "Energy Tea" was something he’d never encountered before!

Digging into his pocket, Ramos pulled out a tea packet and unfolded it cheerfully.

"I’d be happy to share some of my own treasured leaves with you as well."

Along with the tea, Ramos’s Plant Badge tumbled out. He was about to tuck it back in when—

"Blastoise."

Noticing the badge, Blastoise remembered Gengar’s instructions to the group.

After confirming it wasn’t some miniature explosive, Blastoise reached out to stop him, making a request instead.

"You… want my badge, not the tea?"

Ramos studied Blastoise’s strength for a moment before pulling out a Poké Ball and releasing his partner, Victreebel.

Despite being a Grass-type with an advantage over Water-types, Victreebel took one look at Blastoise and trembled, hiding behind Ramos.

"It seems you have a truly remarkable Trainer."

Ramos recalled Victreebel and chuckled. "Well, I suppose there’s no harm in giving you my badge!"

Besides Gym challenges, a Leader’s personal approval was another way to earn a badge.

Blastoise’s strength was outstanding, and he shared Ramos’s passion for tea.

"Blastoise… ヾ(■_■)"

Accepting the badge, Blastoise gave a small nod.

The two stood by the roadside, soaking in the sunlight, each holding their thermos as they blew on the steaming liquid.

A peaceful moment.

Ramos hunched slightly, smiling. "What a lovely day."

Blastoise: "Blastoise…"

Then, from the herb shop behind them—

"Holy—!"

"Sir, are you alright?" the clerk asked.

Natsume clutched his chest, wiping his face.

"I’m fine… probably."

[Ding! Quest Updated!]

[Badges Collected: (6/8)]

Now I know why that old man looked so familiar…

That was Ramos, the Grass-type Gym Leader of Kalos—a tea enthusiast!

Glancing outside, where Blastoise and Ramos were chatting happily, Natsume’s expression turned complicated.

You two can bond all you want, but did you really have to exchange badges too?

And now remote badge collection counts toward quest progress… I swear this berry stand is sabotaging me again!

[?]

As his strength grew, Gym Leaders seemed more willing to hand over badges…

Only a week after accepting the quest, and he’d already obtained six of Kalos’s eight badges.

Natsume almost wished he could lose to a Leader like Ash and forfeit the badge honorably—

But his strength just wouldn’t allow it!

"The remaining two badges belong to Fairy Leader Valerie and Psychic Leader Olympia."

Natsume sighed, looking up at the sky.

"I’ve already met Valerie once, so the Fairy Badge is probably on its way too."

"Guess my only hope lies with Madame Olympia now…"

Olympia was a psychic with prophetic abilities.

Compared to a certain psychic whose power was "speed-reading" (useful only for overtime work), her foresight was downright broken.

In Pokémon XY, Olympia had predicted Ash and Greninja would reach the top of the Kalos League.

Given how things turned out, her prophecies seemed more like curses.

Natsume coughed lightly and stepped outside to greet Ramos.

"Ah, you must be Blastoise’s Trainer…"

Ramos squinted, studying him before murmuring in surprise, "Natsume-sensei?"

"You flatter me."

"Hahaha! I’ve played your game, Plants vs. Zombies—quite entertaining!"

Natsume invited Ramos to visit the café, but the old man still had business at the herb shop.

After some small talk, Natsume accepted the Plant Badge from Blastoise.

He let out a quiet sigh.

Bad news: Only two badges left.

Good news: This should be the last one before heading to Unova.

Back inside the café, Delibird had already returned to courier work.

Darkrai emerged from the shadows, arms crossed, his tone cool.

"When do we depart?"

Logically speaking, Legendary Pokémon weren’t common—it shouldn’t be possible to run into them every time Natsume took action.

And given Darkrai’s strength, even facing one of the Temporal or Spatial Dragons alone, he could retreat unscathed.

"As for Legendary Pokémon fusing… That’s just unrealistic!" Darkrai mused.

"We leave tomorrow."

Natsume had recovered from the shock of acquiring another badge and rubbed his temples.

Tracking ‘N’s movements wasn’t something even the International Police could easily accomplish.

But when it came to surveillance, Natsume knew three elite operatives who were absolute experts.

No matter where the twerp went in the movies, Team Rocket always managed to tail him—impressive in its own way.

Confirming the other side still had phone credit, Natsume called the trio.

"Jessie, James, Meowth—you’ve got a new mission!"