Although Ceruledge, due to the two flaming greatswords on its arms, couldn't do some things that required nimble fingers, its grilling skills and ingredient-slicing ability had long reached perfection.
Its sword blades danced nimbly and rhythmically on the cutting board as if playing a piano. In the blink of an eye, a small basket of carrots was chopped into neat, tiny pieces by Ceruledge.
Next, Ceruledge started preparing the other ingredients.
Lean pork, green onions, and ginger were all turned into minced meat, chopped green onions, and sliced ginger under its blades.
Lucas took out half a bag of rice from the pantry and then placed some dry firewood on two stoves. He was about to ask Ceruledge to use Ember to light the fire when an idea struck him. He picked up a small stick and quickly went to the fireplace.
Moltres: "?"
Lucas squatted down, held the small stick in his right hand to the fireplace to light it, and smiled at Moltres: "Borrowing some fire to cook rice."
Moltres: "..."
Moltres wanted to say, "Are you polite?" It's one thing for Lucas to use its flames for heating, but now he wants to use the legendary Pokémon's flame for cooking!
Its dignity, pride, and status all refused to allow such a thing!
"Oh, right." Lucas seemed to remember something and said to Moltres, "We'll have something different for breakfast today: carrot and lean pork congee. The flavor will be light—should be to your taste."
Moltres: "!!!"
Moltres' expression changed instantly, from resistance to anticipation, totally ignoring the Growlithe sleeping on it. It rolled over, stood up, waved its wings, and a gust of wind instantly extinguished the burning stick in Lucas's hand.
In the next moment, Moltres spat out a more stable-looking flame onto the small stick, reigniting it.
"The fireplace's fire is too strong and has been burning for days. This fresh flame is more stable and gentle—just perfect for slow simmering."
"Oh, and I want three bowls."
Moltres raised its flaming right wing, the fire forming the number "3".
Growlithe, caught in the commotion, rolled to the ground, but even after being disturbed, it kept sleeping soundly.
Lucas: "..."
Understanding what Moltres meant, Lucas felt that this legendary Pokémon wasn't that different from ordinary Pokémon after all.
The irresistible appeal of good food—must be universal in the multiverse.
Carrying the stick, now almost like the Sacred Fire torch from the Indigo and Silver Leagues, Lucas helplessly went to the kitchen to light the firewood under the stove.
With practiced skill, he washed half a bag of rice, waited for the two pots to boil, then poured in the rice, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
As he stirred, Lucas muttered, "Sacred Fire is different—the flame's scale and stability are both impressive. The control is really something."
"Probably only I use Sacred Fire to light a stove and cook rice, huh?"
After saying this, Lucas's expression turned a bit odd, and his tone uncertain.
"It needs to simmer a while longer to thicken. Time to wake up the lazybones."
Lucas covered the pots and spoke to Ceruledge.
Ceruledge nodded slightly, carefully took off its apron and hung it aside, then split up with Lucas to wake the Pokémon.
Lucas went upstairs to wake up Serperior and the others, while Ceruledge was in charge of waking the Eldegoss and Growlithe.
When all the Pokémon had gathered in the living room, Lucas glanced at the pouring rain outside and asked in confusion, "Why hasn't Poliwag arrived yet?"
He looked at Boss Poliwag, who had stayed overnight. By this time, Swampert usually brought Poliwag and the others for breakfast.
Although the weather was bad, for water-type Pokémon like Swampert and the Poliwag group, coming from Thunder Lake shouldn't be a problem.
As Lucas wondered whether to take an umbrella and check Thunder Lake, Swampert's figure slowly appeared through the rain, its steps steady and unfazed by the storm.
Lucas opened the door for Swampert and looked behind it, surprised to see the three Poliwag weren't following.
He looked at Swampert in confusion; Swampert shook its head and gestured.
Swampert meant that the Poliwags were too sleepy and planned to come later, so it came ahead.
Accepting this, Lucas returned to the kitchen, lifted the lids, stirred the congee a few times—thick enough—then added the prepared pork and carrot, simmered a bit longer until fully cooked, sprinkled some salt and green onion, and it was done!
Sacred Fire Simmered Carrot & Lean Pork Congee, ready to serve!
He brought two big pots of congee to the now-crowded living room, and looked around, but still didn't see the three Poliwag.
Lucas frowned. It had been over ten minutes since he started the final steps; surely they shouldn't still be oversleeping.
A bad feeling crept up. After putting down the pot, Lucas looked at the equally worried Poliwag and said seriously, "We should go check on them."
Poliwag nodded vigorously: "Poli Poli!"
The other Pokémon volunteered to act as bodyguards.
Although Lucas felt the farm should be safe, he chose Mimikyu to go with him, plus Poliwag, put on rain boots and a raincoat and set out for Thunder Lake with an umbrella.
…
Meanwhile, at Thunder Lake…
A mysterious, angular, high-tech-looking fish Pokémon was rampaging through the lake.
Its swimming speed was incredible, leaving a white line on the rain-struck surface. A blue silhouette was fleeing frantically from the pursuing mysterious Pokémon.
Poliwag swam with all its might, but its two partners had already been injured and knocked unconscious by the mysterious fish.
Only Poliwag, being faster and perhaps because the fish was toying with it, managed to keep dodging attacks.
But Poliwag felt it was reaching its limit.