The First Guest of the Tavern

Naoki's plans for the day were thrown off by the sudden arrival of Ninetales. He checked the time and realized it was too late to join the fishing competition.

He quickly used the video phone to inform Mayor Thomas that he wouldn't be able to attend and then turned his attention to dealing with Ninetales.

Ninetales entered gracefully, its nine large, golden, fluffy tails swaying gently behind it. The Pokémon looked like something out of a dream, its presence surreal.

Behind Ninetales, a curious group of Pokémon—Cyclizar, Naclstack, Dragonite, and Alcremie—gathered, watching the mysterious Pokémon with wide eyes.

"Is there anything I need to do?" Ninetales asked, breaking the silence.

It seemed that Ninetales, like many Pokémon, assumed that humans expected some kind of payment for services, just as one would pay at a restaurant or café.

Money... Ninetales didn't have any.

This realization made Ninetales feel slightly embarrassed, and it began thinking about how it could possibly gather money.

Naoki, understanding the situation, smiled kindly. According to his original plan, his Pokémon tavern wasn't going to charge any fees. Of course, if a Pokémon wanted to offer something in return—be it berries, stones, or even flowers—he would accept it with gratitude.

Given the powerful illusion Ninetales had displayed earlier, Naoki could tell it was a Pokémon of immense strength. Plus, it could communicate telepathically, which saved Naoki from needing translation seeds.

After a brief pause, Naoki said considerately, "There's no need for payment. You just need to wait a moment."

Ninetales relaxed, a gentle nod signaling its gratitude. "Thank you."

Naoki, without further words, turned to check the ingredients in his refrigerator. The dessert he had in mind was a bit complex, requiring ingredients like cream, cake, and fruit.

Luckily, he had been sparing with his cake-making lately, so the refrigerator was stocked with all the ingredients he needed.

He placed the necessary items on the kitchen table and glanced back to see Ninetales patiently waiting, sitting calmly on the floor.

The sight made Naoki smile to himself. "This is exactly the kind of atmosphere I imagined for the tavern," he thought.

His mind wandered, and he began to picture what the tavern might look like once it opened. The kitchen counter transformed into a bar, a rich red carpet laid over the wooden floor at the entrance, a cozy fire crackling in the fireplace, the warmth of the room inviting all who entered. Wild Pokémon would gather, drinking and chatting, filling the tavern with life.

In his daydream, Naoki saw himself as a bartender, dressed in a crisp white shirt, vest, and suit, calmly wiping glasses while watching the lively scene unfold before him. 

Realizing he had more pressing matters at hand, Naoki refocused his attention and began preparing the dessert in earnest.

Time passed, and Ninetales waited patiently, watching Naoki bustle around the kitchen. As it waited, memories surfaced of the Baby Bear Teddiursa and Mew meeting it not long ago.

They called themselves the Hero Expedition Team, traveling the world and had asked why Ninetales seemed so sorrowful. After hearing the reason, both Pokémon had shared sympathetic expressions but were powerless to help. Saddened, they had turned and left.

Days later, to Ninetales' surprise, the two Pokémon returned, their faces filled with excitement. They told Ninetales about a magical Pokémon tavern across the ocean, run by the kindest human they had ever met—a human who had the power to help Pokémon fulfill their deepest wishes.

Ninetales still recalled Teddiursa's bright, hopeful eyes as it said, "Naoki can help you! You should go find him!"

And so, Ninetales had traveled across mountains, rivers, lakes, and the sea, all in the hope of seeing its old friend one last time at this magical tavern.

Naoki called Alcremie to whip up fresh caramel cream, which he carefully spread over the cake base. As he worked, the kitchen filled with the sweet scent of cream and caramel.

The cake, once a simple creation due to limited kitchen tools, now looked far more refined, thanks to the better ingredients and equipment.

The final touch was adding slices of fruit to decorate the top of the cake.

"Done!" Naoki said, stepping back to admire his work. Information about the cake instantly appeared in his mind.

[Caramel Cream Fruit Cake (B)]: This cake is made with fresh cream whipped by Alcremie. The delicious caramel flavor and beautifully arranged fruit make it incredibly appealing.

Effect: Sweet Dream lv2. After feeding this cake to a Pokémon, it helps them forget their worries and sorrows temporarily, allowing them to have a sweet dream where they can see the people or things they miss. This dessert is blessed by The God of Dreams.

Evaluation: A dessert that brings joy and comfort to both humans and Pokémon.

"Using higher quality ingredients definitely improves the dish's overall effect," Naoki thought to himself with satisfaction.

Naoki remembered that the last time he made this cake, it had been rated D-.

Now, however, the cooking effect had been upgraded from level 1 to level 2, and the description included the phrase "blessed by the God of Dreams."

The God of Dreams... A beautiful figure in pink gauze, like a fairy, appeared in Naoki's mind. That was Cresselia, the goddess of dreams, the incarnation of the new moon, and the counterpart to Darkrai.

There was a legend passed down in various regions—it was said that if you slept with a feather from Cresselia, you would be free from nightmares and enjoy sweet, peaceful dreams.

Though the cake's description had changed, Naoki didn't know what specific improvements the level 2 Sweet Dream effect held over level 1.

After a brief moment of thought, Naoki cut a small slice of the cake and placed it in front of Ninetales.

The sweet, fragrant scent wafted through the air, causing Ninetales to pause. Its bright red eyes blinked in puzzlement.

"Try it?" Naoki suggested gently.

Ninetales, still focused on its one desire, responded, "I just want to see her."

Naoki smiled softly. "If you eat this, you can see her—in a dream."

At those words, Ninetales stopped protesting. It bent down, hesitated for only a moment, then ate the cake, still unsure but willing to give it a try.

"Take a nap," Naoki advised, feeling slightly disappointed that the cake didn't have a drowsy effect. It would only work once the Pokémon fell asleep naturally.

Ninetales was momentarily stunned, recalling Naoki's earlier question:

"Just want to see her? In any way?"

It now realized what Naoki had meant.

Sure enough, Naoki's next words confirmed it:

"This cake will give you a dream where you can see the one you miss."

Ninetales remained silent, contemplating. 'A dream? It was a clever solution.'

"Just rest here. Don't worry, it's safe," Naoki reassured the majestic Pokémon.

"Thank you," Ninetales said quietly, before turning away. It gazed into the distance, then walked gracefully on its flame-like paws to a large tree nearby, curling up beneath it.

Closing its eyes, Ninetales prepared to sleep, listening to the soft murmur of the nearby Pokémon and the soothing rhythm of the breeze. Slowly, a deep sense of calm and sleepiness washed over it.

...

When Ninetales opened its eyes again, it was shocked to find itself standing before the ancient mansion from its memory—a place from over 1,500 years ago.

Ninetales looked around, recognizing every familiar detail. Everything was exactly as it remembered, unchanged by time. Its long-silent heart stirred, as though a drop of clear water had touched a long-forgotten place within.

A spark of hope flickered in Ninetales' heart.

At that moment, the door of the mansion gently opened, and a young girl in a kimono and wooden sandals walked toward it with a warm smile.

"So, here you are!" the girl said softly. "Isn't the sun too bright? Come over here and rest in the shade."

She bent down, scooping the small Vulpix up in her arms, and carried it over to a large tree in the yard. Sitting under the shade, the girl began to read a book.

Ninetales, now in the form of a Vulpix, didn't mind this sudden transformation. It curled up in the girl's lap, and a name it hadn't thought of in centuries resurfaced.

Ryoko…

How long had it been since it last heard that name? Ninetales couldn't recall.

The afternoon sunlight cast a golden glow across the ground. The girl sat beneath the large tree, her book open, while Vulpix lay quietly in her lap.

'Is this really a dream?'

The scene felt so vivid. Ninetales could even smell the fresh scent of the plants around them.

Though the thought crossed its mind, Ninetales didn't dwell on it. Instead, it stood up and nuzzled closer to the girl.

The girl seemed to understand its unspoken feelings. Smiling, she gently grabbed Vulpix's front paws, placing them on her lap as she playfully scratched its nose.

"Naughty little one!" she laughed. "Alright, rest here for a while."

Ninetales didn't want to sleep.

The girl frowned playfully, "Not tired? That won't do! We still need to gather herbs in the forest later. If you're too tired, we might miss the herbs hiding in the bushes!"

Upon hearing this, Ninetales closed its eyes obediently.

The girl smiled with satisfaction. "That's more like it. Good Vulpix!"

But then she noticed something strange. "Huh? Why are you crying all of a sudden?"

"Woo…" Ninetales blinked quickly, pretending as if something had just blown into its eyes.

"Is there something stuck in your eye? Let me help!" the girl leaned closer and gently blew into its eyes a few times. "There, all better! You can sleep peacefully now."

Ninetales nodded slightly and closed its eyes again, curling up on her lap, letting itself savor the comforting warmth of the moment.

Even after many centuries, it would remember this afternoon—a moment so gentle, so peaceful, that it filled its heart with warmth.

At the ranch, Naoki had been observing Ninetales' dream through the bubble floating above its head.

He noticed that as Ninetales cried in its dream, a tear also rolled down its real cheek.

Several Pokémon gathered around, also watching Ninetales' dream unfold. A sad expression appeared on the Cyclizar's face. "Gaao..." (So sad...)

Naoki, still munching on the bowl of melon seeds he had started earlier, naturally understood what Cyclizar was trying to express. 

As a companion who had been with him for a long time, Naoki didn't need an explanation to understand what it meant.

"Yeah, it's sad, but unfortunately, there's nothing we can do," Naoki said.

"Ah, gah?" (Why is that?)

Several Pokémon turned their heads toward Naoki, their curious eyes fixed on him.

Naoki continued, "Because the lifespan of different beings varies. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are a part of life for everyone. Everything in the world has its time. It's just sooner or later."

Dragonite quickly asked, "Awoo?" (Will Naoki die one day?)

The question caused all the Pokémon to droop their heads in unison, feeling a wave of sadness wash over them.

"Gaao..." (I don't want Naoki to die...)

Koraidon looked particularly troubled. Despite coming from the future, the idea of Naoki's mortality filled it with dread. 

Though it knew humans were fragile and had relatively short lives—often only a few decades, maybe a century for the lucky ones—the idea that Naoki could be gone soon was terrifying.

What if Naoki was gone tomorrow, like the short-lived humans Koraidon had seen?

The more it thought about it, the more anxious Koraidon became. Finally, it blurted out, "Ah, ah, ah, ah!" (Naoki, how long can you live? It won't be just a few more years, right?)

Naoki was taken aback. "Seriously? Are you cursing me?"

Realizing its mistake, Koraidon quickly covered its mouth, embarrassed.

Naoki understood what was going through their minds—they had been reminded of mortality after seeing Ninetales' sorrowful dream.

After thinking for a moment, Naoki said with determination, "Don't worry. For all of you, I'll do my best to live until I'm 200 years old!"

Dragonite tilted its head and asked, "Awoo?" (And what happens after 200 years?)

The other Pokémon perked up, eager to know the answer as well, all eyes on Naoki.

Naoki coughed, trying to come up with something reassuring. "Well, maybe I'll turn into a Pokémon! You know, I've heard that some Pokémon are transformed from humans after they pass on. Ever seen a Gengar?"

He remembered a short Pokémon animation from his previous life, where the protagonist turned into a Gengar. With the help of another Gengar, she overcame her struggles. Some viewers even speculated that the Gengar who helped her was her own sister.

Though it was just a theory with no concrete proof, Naoki figured it wouldn't hurt to share.

"So, as long as you remember me and don't stop thinking about me, maybe a miracle will happen. If I become a Gengar, I'll come find you no matter where you are."

Naoki smiled and gently patted the heads of the Pokémon in front of him. "Just promise you won't fail to recognize me!"

After all, it had already been a miracle that he was here in this world.

Though his explanation was a little fantastical, the Pokémon believed him with all their hearts.

They knew one thing for sure—they would never fail to recognize Naoki, no matter what he became!

...

"Alright folks, here's the deal: the more stones you chuck my way, the more chapters I'll unleash like a rapid-fire, stone-powered vending machine! 💎 It's like feeding a Snorlax snacks—give it enough and who knows what'll happen? Maybe an extra chapter or two will magically appear! 🎉 So let's rock this, literally!"

And if you just can't wait and want to skip the line, head over to my Patreon—you can read up to 30 chapters ahead! It's like time travel but with way more drama and less worrying about paradoxes. 

patreon.com/Keepsmiling818