King’s Blessing

A/N: If you want to read up to 40 chapters ahead go to patreon.com/Keepsmiling818

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The next morning, the sunlight streamed through the window, filling the room with warmth. Pawmo, who was lying on the bed, rubbed its eyes and realized that it was getting late.

It glanced over at Naoki, still sleeping soundly, and decided to act. Climbing onto Naoki's chest, it chirped, "Pawmo~."

"Hmm," Naoki mumbled as he woke up groggily. Seeing Pawmo on his chest, he pulled it into a gentle hug.

"Pawmo!" Pawmo squeaked happily.

Just then, the old wall clock chimed loudly. Naoki's eyes shot open in realization—he had overslept and needed to prepare breakfast for the Pokémon.

He quickly got up, dressed, and headed to the kitchen while Pawmo jumped down from the bed. As Naoki started gathering ingredients from the refrigerator, Alcremie and Pawmo chased each other playfully around the room, eagerly awaiting their meal.

Today's breakfast was simple: sandwiches and fresh Moomoo Milk for everyone.

After breakfast, Naoki stepped outside, preparing to milk the Gogoat as part of his daily chores. As he walked towards the pasture, he couldn't help but take in the beautiful morning. The ranch was full of life, and the weather was perfect. 

But something unusual caught his attention.

Out of the corner of his eye, Naoki noticed something enormous in the farmland. Turning his head, he was stunned.

There, in the middle of the field, was a gigantic watermelon.

A group of Pokémon—Dolliv, Nacli, Gogoat, and Miltank—were all gathered around the enormous fruit, looking at it curiously. Even the normally diligent Combee had abandoned their honey collection to observe this massive watermelon.

"What is happening?" Naoki thought, bewildered.

His initial reaction was to wonder if some magical creature, like a fairy, had visited the ranch overnight. It reminded him of events from Stardew Valley, where fairies would occasionally appear to speed up crop growth. But then he shook off the thought—this wasn't Stardew Valley, and there were no fairies here.

Walking over to the field, Naoki approached the gigantic watermelon. He reached out and tapped it, hearing a satisfying, crisp sound—a sign that it was fully ripe.

The watermelon towered over Naoki, and he stood there in deep thought. 

"This must be the work of Gogoat," he mused. "There's a chance that after eating those special grass cakes, the crops it helps grow using grass-type energy might mutate."

As he examined the watermelon, Naoki realized that this mutation had manifested in sheer size. It seemed that becoming gigantic was one of the possible effects of the energy Gogoat was channeling into the crops.

But there was still one question: how did it grow so big overnight?

Naoki quickly brainstormed and checked the other crops around it, finding that only this one watermelon in the entire field had changed.

First of all, it couldn't be because of Gogoat—if that were the case, why were the other crops not ripe, and only this watermelon had grown so large?

Secondly, it was impossible that the God of Time, Dialga, had accelerated the growth of this watermelon. After all, Naoki had no connection with Dialga or any time-altering deities.

The answer was becoming clear.

Turning around, Naoki looked at the small, empty shrine.

"It's the King of Bountiful Harvests!" he realized.

The King of Bountiful Harvests must have noticed his actions, rewarding him by causing the watermelon to mature early! The power of the King of Bountiful Harvests, combined with the energy from Gogoat, must have resulted in this gigantic watermelon.

"Wow, the King of Bountiful Harvests really sensed it!" Naoki exclaimed in amazement.

Considering the vast distance between the Paldea region and Galar, it was astonishing to think that the King had reached out to bless his crops.

But… why had the King of Bountiful Harvests only ripened one watermelon? Naoki was puzzled. Before he could think further, he heard Kora's voice calling from not far away.

She stood near the entrance of the ranch, calling out, "Is Naoki there? I'm here to bring your wood carving!"

Hearing her voice, Naoki and the other Pokémon turned to look.

Kora noticed them as well, her gaze landing on the giant watermelon. Her face transformed into an expression of pure shock.

"Oh my god! How can there be such a big watermelon!" Kora exclaimed.

Naoki: "..."

Kora was shocked by this.

She walked up to the watermelon, looked at it in disbelief, walked around it, and gently patted it with her hands.

"A really big watermelon!"

"Actually, I was shocked too," Naoki said.

Then, as if she had thought of something, Kora opened her eyes wide and asked:

"Is this the power of the King of Bountiful Harvests you mentioned yesterday?!"

Naoki: "…Uh, maybe?"

The King of Bountiful Harvests ripened the watermelon, but it grew bigger thanks to the power of Gogoat.

"I never thought that the legend was actually true!" Kora murmured to herself, and then a beam of light burst from her eyes. "As expected of the King of Bountiful Harvests, this is amazing!"

Kora looked as though she were ready to start believing in the King of Bountiful Harvests herself.

For a moment, Naoki wasn't sure if he was taking advantage of the King or if the King was using him. 

Oh no, he really became a missionary of the King of Bountiful Harvests.

After thinking for a moment, Naoki decided to think of it as a future favor when he borrows a horse from the King! When the time comes, he'll ride the King's horses—both the Spectrier and Glastrier—alternating between them.

Kora handed over the polished and waxed statue.

Naoki took it and "respectfully" placed the polished statue into the shrine, placing two berries in front of it as an offering.

Kora witnessed the whole scene.

Finally, Naoki had the chance to ask, "Why are you here?"

Kora pointed to the big truck outside and said, "I received a commission to build a mill today, so I had to go out. Since I wouldn't be at the store, I brought it to you on the way."

So that's how it was.

Naoki nodded.

The two turned to look at the huge watermelon, and Kora asked, "What are you going to do?"

Naoki pondered for a moment, and a great idea popped into his mind.

Since the King of Bountiful Harvests needs believers, why not use this opportunity to actively spread His legend in the Paldea region to help Him regain His strength and increase His favor?

While thinking, Naoki organized his words and asked, "What do you think about me holding a [Summer Watermelon Festival]?"

He thought to invite nearby farmers and some acquaintances from the town to the ranch for a party, where they could all enjoy the massive watermelon, since he couldn't finish it alone.

They'd surely be amazed by the size of the watermelon.

Then he could share the legend of the King of Bountiful Harvests.

Hearing this, Kora's eyes lit up and she agreed, "That's great! I'll definitely come."

"Then it's settled," Naoki nodded with a smile. "Tomorrow! Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, at Naoki Ranch."

"No problem." Kora smiled. "But I have to go now. I'm looking forward to the festival."

With that, she said goodbye to Naoki and drove off.

Naoki glanced at the sky and, in his heart, apologized to the people of the Galar region.

From today onward, your King of Bountiful Harvests belongs to the Paldea region!

Naoki didn't feel any guilt about "borrowing" a legendary Pokémon from another region. After all, it was a matter of mutual benefit, right?

He smiled, patted Koraidon on the head, and began his work for the day.

Meanwhile, in the Galar region, in the Crown Tundra.

The King of Bountiful Harvests observed the little believer's joy with an elegant smile.

But, how come He didn't know His power could make watermelons grow so big?

Looking at the watermelon, which was larger than His two horses, the King of Bountiful Harvests was filled with confusion and bewilderment.