June 1st, summer.
A typhoon that suddenly made landfall in Shalour City completely disrupted Silas's plans for the beginning of the month.
Especially the birthday party he had been preparing for Kangaskhan. The celebration had been cut down again and again, and in the end it could only be held indoors.
There would be no grand surprise, but at least there would still be a small one.
Right now, however, he had to focus on preparing for the typhoon's arrival.
The ranch lay directly within the storm's impact zone.
Fortunately, the League had issued a timely warning, leaving enough time to respond.
Calling out to Cyclizar, Silas stepped outside.
The sky was a murky gray, and the air, thick with moisture, brushed unpleasantly against his face. In the distance, the branches of the fruit trees swayed wildly, rustling loudly as if issuing a silent warning.
"Cyclizar, take me to the beach."
"Cyc!"
Human and Pokémon soon arrived at the beach cabin, where the Heliolisk tribe had already huddled inside.
The cabin had only been built recently, yet it was already proving its worth.
Pushing the door open, Silas saw the Helioptile squeezed tightly together, sharing body heat to keep warm.
The Heliolisk leader lifted its head and slowly walked over, gently rubbing against the back of his hand.
"A typhoon is coming. I came to check on you."
After glancing around, Silas felt uncertain whether this temporary structure could withstand the storm. He suggested, "Why not come back to the ranch with me for shelter? You can return after the typhoon passes."
"Helio!"
The Heliolisk leader shook its head in refusal, expressing gratitude all the same.
In the past, they would simply find a random cave to hide in, enduring both the cold and hunger. The conditions Silas had provided were already far better than anything they were used to. They did not want to trouble him further.
Seeing how firmly they resisted, Silas could not bring himself to force them to leave. After thinking for a moment, he leaned close to Cyclizar and whispered a few instructions. Cyclizar nodded and dashed off.
Turning back to the tribe, Silas explained, "You will not be able to sunbathe during the typhoon, so I asked Cyclizar to bring you some food."
This time, the Heliolisk leader did not refuse. Perhaps the adults could endure, but the five young Helioptile certainly needed to eat.
"Helio."
"It is only what I should do. Think of it as paying your wages in advance."
Cyclizar moved quickly, returning alongside Tropius with two large baskets of berries. If the tribe rationed carefully, the supply would last until the typhoon passed.
In addition to food, Cyclizar also brought several spare batteries from the ranch and a heater, at Silas's instruction.
The Heliolisk leader looked at the two large metal objects in confusion and turned toward him. "Helio?"
"This is a storage battery," Silas explained while demonstrating. "It stores excess electricity. It can be used to power the heater."
As soon as it was connected, the round heater began to operate.
An orange glow steadily brightened, resembling a small sun. The damp chill inside the cabin gradually receded.
The first to react were the tightly huddled Helioptile. Feeling the rising warmth, the one squeezed in the middle began to sweat from the heat.
Silas noticed their reaction and smiled knowingly.
"That is how it works. It will help keep you warm."
He did not give the Heliolisk leader a chance to protest. Instead, he adjusted the temperature himself, occasionally asking the young Helioptile how they felt.
"This setting is just right. It will not burn you, and it will keep the cabin warm. The battery should last two or three days. When it runs low, I will have Cyclizar recharge it for you."
There was no telling how long the typhoon would last. Without sunlight, the Heliolisk could not generate electricity. If they used up their own stored power just to maintain activity, the loss would outweigh the gain.
"Cyc!"
Cyclizar patted his chest confidently, signaling that electricity generation could be left to him.
With the situation resolved, Silas waved goodbye and reminded them not to go outside unless absolutely necessary.
He did not return to the ranch immediately. Instead, standing on Tropius' back, he gazed out at the sea.
The once tranquil ocean now revealed its ferocious side, like a beast enraged.
Dark waves churned violently, white foam at their crests torn apart by the raging wind and scattered into fine mist beneath the gray sky, blending into a hazy expanse of pale blur.
The waves crashed onto the shore, swallowing great stretches of sand in an instant. One wave rose higher than the last, never pausing.
This was only the effect of a typhoon. If it were the legendary Pokémon instead, how much greater would the change in the heavens be?
Surely the phenomena they could cause would surpass this many times over.
"Let us head back, Tropius."
He gave Tropius a gentle pat.
With a powerful flap of its wings, Tropius stirred up a gust tinged with the scent of sea salt and flew straight toward the ranch, while Cyclizar raced below, chasing after them.
Cyclizar seemed to particularly enjoy typhoon weather, occasionally accelerating to overtake them or circling around Tropius as it ran.
Once back, Silas informed the ranch Pokémon to prepare for the storm.
After carefully checking that everything was in order, he finally returned to the ranch house.
Before going to sleep, there was still a faint glimmer outside the window. When he woke in the middle of the night and looked again, the sky had grown terrifyingly dark.
It was like an endless mass of thick ink, without even the slightest trace of light.
Actually, that was not entirely true.
There was light in the room.
Unable to go outside because of the typhoon, Rowlet had toppled onto the roof. Tucked among its feathers was something that emitted a faint silver glow, soft moonlight spilling into the room. No wonder the little ones were sleeping so soundly.
Despite the raging wind and pounding rain outside, they slept peacefully. Even Litten was no exception.
This little one had rarely joined them before, yet tonight it slept curled beside his pillow, its tail wrapped loosely around Silas's neck, breathing steadily.
Carefully, Silas sat up and caught Rowlet as it drifted down without a sound.
"Rowl~"
Rowlet rubbed its round face against him affectionately. Finally someone was awake to keep it company.
"Feeling bored? Would you like me to take you to Noivern to play?"
He made the suggestion.
Rowlet's schedule was completely opposite to the others. As a lone bird awake at night, it must feel rather lonely.
"Tomorrow then. I will have Cyclizar take you over."
After soothing Rowlet, the little one returned to hang above like a glowing lamp.
Silas climbed quietly out of bed and surveyed the room.
Tonight there were more Pokémon sharing the bed than ever before.
Minccino and Dolliv slept sweetly beneath the same small blanket, nestled close together. Morpeko and Popplio were also on the bed. Even Litten had joined them tonight.
On the bedside table rested five Poké Balls containing the Floette.
With the rainy weather outside, the little ones were sleeping especially deeply.
Closing the bedroom door softly, Silas noticed three differently colored fluffy shapes curled up on the stairs.
They had tucked themselves into tight balls, tails wrapped around their bodies.
He smiled to himself and was about to step past quietly when the Alolan Meowth suddenly opened its eyes.
With drowsy curiosity, it stared at Silas sneaking around so cautiously.
"Meow?"
(Is it morning already? Silas, where are you going?)
"Shh," Silas whispered, glancing back. "Do not wake Kangaskhan. Come downstairs and I will tell you."
(End of Chapter)