"There are only these energy cubes left." Gary had only prepared one box of Ice-type Energy Cubes; the rest he carried were ordinary ones. Even without the added Ice elements, they still tasted good.
The three Cetoddle didn't seem to mind at all. Each of them ate through an entire box before finally stopping, though they still looked unsatisfied and clearly wanted more.
Watching her children enjoying themselves, the Cetitan seemed to conclude that Gary posed no threat. She relaxed her guard and gradually approached.
"Come on, you should try some too."
Gary took out another box of Energy Cubes and offered it to Cetitan.
Cetitan reached out with her fin-like hand and examined the cube carefully. She'd seen Trainers feed something like this to their Pokémon before, but she'd never actually tasted one herself.
The three Cetoddle immediately fixed their eyes on the box in their mother's hand, watching eagerly.
Gary couldn't help but be amused. You three ungrateful children have already eaten so much, and now you're eyeing your own mother's share too.
With no other choice, Cetitan tasted one cube herself before splitting the rest among her three children.
Watching this tender scene of maternal love and filial devotion, Gary felt the moment was right and spoke up. "Cetitan, I'm a Trainer. I came here hoping to bond with one of your children. If you don't mind, would you let me take one of them with me? I promise I'll take good care of it."
Hearing Gary's request, Cetitan looked over at her children happily nibbling on the Energy Cubes and fell into thought.
Gary didn't rush her. He simply waited for her answer.
After a long moment, Cetitan finally nodded.
"Cetitaaan."
She had agreed.
"Thank you for trusting me. I promise I'll raise this Cetoddle into the strongest Cetitan in the world," Gary said.
Gary wasn't particularly surprised that Cetitan had agreed so readily.
While Pokémon did care for their young, that care rarely lasted very long. Many wild Pokémon looked after their offspring for roughly a year after birth before eventually driving them away to fend for themselves in the wild.
The same held true for Cetitan. After raising her Cetoddle for about half a year, she would eventually chase them off. Once driven away, the young Cetoddle would go on to find other Cetoddle to live alongside.
The three Cetoddle in front of them were less than two months old. After another two or three months under their mother's care, they too would be sent off on their own.
Pokémon were remarkably intelligent creatures. Since they knew their children would eventually be forced to leave anyway, it made more sense to let them follow a Trainer instead, where they could receive long-term care and guidance.
Even though female Pokémon would risk their lives to protect their young, that maternal instinct didn't last forever. It typically faded away after about a year. It could be said that Pokémon did possess maternal love, but it simply wasn't as deep or long-lasting as it was for humans.
As for whether Gary could properly care for the Cetoddle, Cetitan had no doubts whatsoever. After all, hadn't she noticed the Articuno standing right beside him?
"Cetitaaan."
Cetitan gestured toward her children, silently asking Gary which one he preferred.
"This one."
Gary pointed to the Cetoddle with Champion-level potential.
Cetitan walked over and seemed to converse with the little Cetoddle for a moment, then nudged it forward toward Gary.
"Ceto!" The Cetoddle showed no reluctance about leaving its mother—in fact, it looked quite happy about the whole thing.
Gary found this a little strange. He had expected some kind of tearful farewell between mother and child, but the Cetoddle seemed completely unbothered, showing no sign of hesitation at all.
Perhaps Gary simply didn't understand how these Pokémon typically raised their young.
Cetoddle and Cetitan mainly fed on snow and ice. There wasn't much else available around Glaseado Mountain, but those two things were plentiful, so Cetitan's main responsibility was really just protecting her children from other wild Pokémon that might attack them.
Since food and water were abundant everywhere, there wasn't much of a dependent, nurturing bond between mother and child the way there might be otherwise. This particular Cetitan was quasi-Elite level in strength, essentially functioning as a minor Totem figure within the Glaseado Mountain area—no other Pokémon dared to trespass into her territory.
"Since you're willing, then come on in." Gary took out a Poké Ball from his pocket and gently tapped it against the Cetoddle.
In a flash of light, the button activated, the Poké Ball opened, and the Cetoddle was drawn inside.
The ball shook only slightly before coming to a stop, successfully completing the capture. Gary immediately checked the Cetoddle's data.
[Pokémon: Cetoddle]
[Type: Ice]
[Level: 10]
[Potential: Champion]
[Ability: Thick Fat (Damage taken from Fire-type and Ice-type moves is halved.)]
[Skills: Tackle, Powder Snow, Echoed Voice.]
[Egg Move: Icicle Crash.]
[Friendship: 150 (max value 255)]
The Cetoddle's friendship level toward Gary was already quite high, though it was a shame its ability turned out to be Thick Fat. While it did eliminate one weakness, the overall impact wasn't especially significant—after all, Ice-type Pokémon had four weaknesses to begin with, so removing just one still left three behind.
Still, it didn't matter much. Cetoddle actually had three possible abilities total, and the other two—Slush Rush and Sheer Force—were both excellent options.
More importantly, this particular Cetoddle had inherited a genetic move: Icicle Crash. This was one of the rare physical Ice-type moves that came with a flinch effect. Combined with Cetoddle's potential Sheer Force ability down the line, it could eventually produce absolutely terrifying power.
"Come on out, Cetoddle, and say your goodbyes to your mother and siblings."
After reviewing the data, Gary released Cetoddle from its Poké Ball.
"Ceto!"
Cetoddle was quite obedient, dutifully saying farewell to Cetitan and its two remaining siblings.
"Ceto!"
"Ceto!"
The other two Cetoddle looked on with envy at their sibling, who got to leave early and go on to train with a Trainer.
Because the area around Glaseado Mountain was blanketed in snow, Cetoddle possessed a special trait—the ability to glide smoothly back and forth across the snowy terrain. Combined with its large body size and considerable carrying capacity, it made for an excellent means of transportation in snowy regions.
Whenever the residents of Frost Village needed a reliable way to get around, they would often head out into the wild specifically to tame a Cetoddle. After all, since Cetoddle could simply eat snow to sustain itself, who wouldn't want such a convenient and low-cost mode of transportation?
"Brother, look, it's the Articuno!"
Just then, a voice called out from behind them.
"Huh?"
Gary was startled—the voice sounded oddly familiar. He turned around and saw a man with blue hair wearing a yellow down jacket approaching. Walking alongside him was a small blue-haired girl.
"It's her!"
Gary was taken aback. The little girl was, of course, Luna, whom he had met that very morning. And the man walking beside her—Gary recognized him too. It was Grusha, the Gym Leader of Glaseado Mountain.
"...!"
Gary hadn't put it together before, but now, seeing the two of them appear together, and hearing Luna call the man "brother," it was obvious the two were siblings. If not blood siblings, then at the very least, close cousins.