Not until entering the farm and being ushered into the living room, sitting awkwardly on the sofa, did the little Tinkatink snap out of its daze.
Seeing all the Pokémon gathered to watch, the little Tinkatink, usually a theory expert, was now uncharacteristically nervous.
It had never practiced for real before!
Turns out, human homes really are just like the elders in the clan described.
The little Tinkatink's eyes sparkled with curiosity, but its shyness kept it from expressing it.
The other Pokémon had no such restraint. Ogerpon grabbed its little hand, bouncing happily and making cheerful "Bonnie!" noises.
Victini held up its favorite Poképuffs and cookies, offering them eagerly for Tinkatink to try—its friendliness tinged with invisible calculation.
Internally, Victini thought: If I befriend this future craftsman, maybe I can get a full set of battle gear just like the superhero teams on TV! Becoming Victini-Man is within reach!
Alcremie asked about Tinkatink's favorite flavors, Cosmog curiously hugged Tinkatink's hammer, and the Eldegoss, having heard its cave lacked warm bedding, planned to prepare some cotton for it to take home.
Truthfully, except for the elders and the bullies in its clan, this was the first time Tinkatink had been surrounded by such warmth.
The Little-Master-Forge-Socially-Anxious was left at a complete loss.
Just then, Oranguru brought over a cup of milk tea to pair with the cakes Alcremie would soon prepare.
Not knowing Tinkatink's taste for pure tea, Oranguru chose to brew red tea using Sawsbuck leaves, blended with Miltank milk and a hint of Gogoat's grassy milk, resulting in a smooth, fragrant milk tea.
Pushing the cup toward Tinkatink, Oranguru spread its palms, smiling:
"Yare yota." (Guest, please enjoy.)
"Kanou."
The little Tinkatink, overwhelmed, grasped the cup handle, blew on the steaming tea, and took a sip.
Its eyes immediately lit up, and it chirped softly in delight.
"Kanou!" (So tasty!)
"Yare yota" (Thank you for the compliment)
Oranguru smiled, giving Tinkatink a meaningful look before standing up.
The way Tinkatink held the cup, plus Lucas's description of its cave's furnishings, didn't seem like a wild Pokémon's habits.
Maybe it had a trainer once—or something else?
Oranguru shook its head, deciding not to ask Lucas; surely Lucas had already noticed, given his insight.
No need to play the wise ape.
As Oranguru walked away, the little Tinkatink sipped its milk tea and interacted with the friendly Pokémon, thinking contentedly—
The elders were right: in human homes, there really is sweet hot water and fancy cups. Hold the handle and you never burn your hands!
When the milk tea was finished, Lucas returned, having visited Calyrex.
By then, the Pokémon who had warmly greeted Tinkatink had left to prepare gifts for it to bring back to its cave.
Even Cosmog had fallen asleep in its crib.
The once-crowded living room was now empty, save for Tinkatink and Ogerpon holding hands, and the Eevee sisters, tired from the morning's battle, sleeping soundly on the soft carpet.
Lucas and Calyrex entered quietly—
Even though Calyrex floated rather than walked.
"Kanou."
Sitting on the sofa, Tinkatink greeted Lucas shyly.
Ogerpon, less reserved, jumped down, ran over, and hugged Lucas's leg silently.
"Bonnie~"
Ogerpon enjoyed Lucas's petting, bubbles of happiness popping out.
Tinkatink watched enviously.
Since leaving home to train, it hadn't enjoyed this kind of pampering for ages.
After Ogerpon finished snuggling, Lucas and Calyrex sat down opposite Tinkatink.
Lucas introduced, "Let me introduce—this is Calyrex."
"Hello."
Calyrex nodded gently, greeting Tinkatink telepathically, with not a hint of arrogance.
"Kanou." (Hello)
Tinkatink nodded, thinking, Calyrex has a big head, but somehow feels very dignified and unreachable.
And, if it remembered right, the Pokémon who drove away that black flying bug was Calyrex.
Such a powerful Pokémon lives right here—unbelievable.
Tinkatink looked at Calyrex, and Calyrex studied it in return.
So that's how it is.
A perfect fit for a craftsman Pokémon.
Calyrex glanced at Tinkatink, then at the hammer Cosmog hugged in its sleep. Its eyes softened, and its whole demeanor changed.
Tinkatink, secretly observing, was startled for a second.
Calyrex's expression and aura now felt like an elder holding a newborn Tinkatink.
Of course, Calyrex hadn't forgotten the main purpose.
It stood up and asked, "Would you mind if Lucas and I showed you around the farm?"
"Kanou" (Of course not)
Tinkatink nodded eagerly. It had always wanted to see the farm it had only dared to peek at from outside the fence.
Tinkatink grabbed Ogerpon's hand.
"Kanou" (Let's bring Ogerpon too)
"Bonnie!" (Sure!)
Ogerpon beamed.
The main purpose of showing Tinkatink around the farm was no secret.
It was to let Tinkatink witness the farm's strength, so that it would yearn to join.
Only then could Lucas lay the groundwork for inviting Tinkatink to become the farm's exclusive craftsman.
As Calyrex said, if they had to train Tinkatink from scratch to reforge "sacred artifacts," it would take a lot of time and energy.
It might even need to forge new "sacred artifacts" beyond the "Rusty Sword" and "Rusty Shield" to gain enough experience.
The sooner Tinkatink joined, the better. At Ash's pace of traveling a region every few months, Galar—and Eternatus's revival—wasn't far away.
…
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