"All right, all right, Psyduck, stop crying. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, my head is about to explode."
Covering one ear with his hand, Silas struggled to hold down the wailing Psyduck.
"Psy!"
Psyduck responded with its usual vacant expression and the large bump swelling on top of its head, as if saying, have you ever been hit on the head with a hammer? Do you know that kind of sharp, throbbing pain?
"Pfft."
An ill timed laugh sounded from the side. Silas turned his head and saw Galarian Meowth puffing out its cheeks, desperately trying to hold back its laughter.
"Meow meow!"
(I was not laughing. It was not me.)
To be fair, the sight of a swollen bump on Psyduck's head paired with its blank, dazed expression was undeniably comical.
If Silas had not been the one who caused it, he probably would have burst out laughing just like Meowth.
Meeting Psyduck's watery, innocent little eyes, Silas could not help but sigh.
The poor thing was already not very bright. After getting hit like that, would it not become even more muddle headed?
"Psyduck, can you use Water Gun?"
"Psy!"
The duck blinked in confusion at first, then pursed its flat bill and spat out a tiny spray of water.
An ultra low power Water Gun.
As expected of Psyduck.
With that level of power, it would not even be enough to water the ground properly, though it might just barely be suitable for watering flowers.
"You two can stay in the garden from now on and help out. Food and lodging included." Silas pulled the other Psyduck over as well. "When I get the chance, I will buy you a Psyduck shaped watering can."
There was no helping it. He was genuinely worried that they might spit out all the water in their bodies and dry themselves up.
"Psy~?"
The two Psyduck cried out in confusion, and just like that, in a daze, they joined the ranch.
With a flip of his wrist, Silas took out an Oran Berry. "Here. An Oran Berry to restore your strength."
In an instant, the tufts of hair on top of the two Psyduck's heads seemed to turn into radar antennas, locking onto the berry. Their eyes widened and stared fixedly at it. Drool spilled from their mouths and dripped from their flat bills onto the grass.
Smiling, Silas broke the Oran Berry in half and handed each of them a piece.
"Once you eat my berry, you are my ducks."
"Psy!"
The two Psyduck immediately clamped their bills onto the berry and began nibbling away, their heads bobbing up and down. Juice smeared all over their faces, making them look adorably foolish.
And just like that, Silas gained two duck assistants by his side.
They carried wooden planks over their heads, wobbling back and forth with an exaggerated duck emperor stride as they bustled about.
With Psyduck helping, Silas's progress noticeably sped up.
By the time the Florges and the three Mudsdale brothers transported the flowers over, Silas had already finished repairing the fence.
"Psyduck, come here for a moment."
Standing beside Red Flower Florges, Silas waved at the two Psyduck who were squatting by the stream staring blankly into the water.
The two ducks waddled over unsteadily, then tilted their heads and stared at the delicious Oran Berry in Silas's hand.
"This two Psyduck from now on will stay in the garden to help you, mainly responsible for watering the flowers." He patted each Psyduck on the head to make them look over. "You two silly ducks will listen to Florges from now on."
"Psy!"
Psyduck tilted its head and cried out, staring at the bright flower atop Red Flower Florges' head for a long while before slowly nodding, as if it had finally understood Silas's words.
Red Flower Florges gently stroked them. A small yellow star shaped flower floated down and landed on Psyduck's head, like a little badge marking their new identity.
Having just joined the garden, Psyduck immediately began working.
Under Florges' direction, they helped water the transplanted flowers.
The two Psyduck toddled forward on their short legs and spat out two tiny spurts of water.
They were supposed to aim at the flowers, but due to the lack of force, the weak Water Gun fell onto the soil beside the plants instead.
Florges originally intended to remind and guide the ducks on how to water properly, but seeing their seemingly practiced appearance, she changed her tone into one of praise instead.
"Flor!" (Psyduck, you are so smart!)
Standing nearby, Silas's expression froze.
Based on his understanding of Psyduck, it was clearly not intentional. They simply lacked pressure control. Their mastery of Water Gun was even worse than Popplio's.
After working for four or five minutes, the two Psyduck suddenly stopped moving, staring fixedly at the flowers in front of them.
Curious, Silas stepped forward. "What is going on?"
"Psy!"
Psyduck turned toward him and opened its mouth wide.
Silas immediately understood and pressed a hand to his forehead. "Forget it. Go back to daydreaming. I will call Popplio to help with watering later."
As expected of Psyduck. They had completely used up the water in their bodies while watering, and their mouths were so dry they looked cracked.
It seemed absolutely necessary to equip them with a Psyduck watering can. His earlier concern had been justified.
"Well, at least our Psyduck can use Water Gun and can swim. They are not landlocked ducks."
He comforted himself like this, and his mood improved considerably.
Everything depended on comparison. Compared to Misty's Psyduck, his two ducks were practically amazing.
They could use Water Gun. They could swim. That already surpassed ninety percent of Psyduck in the world.
Glancing over, Silas saw that the Florges were still transferring flowers, with Mudsdale and Galarian Meowth helping out.
After speaking to them briefly, he returned to the ranch house, found Popplio, and brought it to the garden.
Pointing toward the transplanted flowers ahead, he said, "Use Rain Dance. A light rain."
"Lioo!"
Popplio clapped its flippers and raised its head, letting out an indistinct cry.
A small rain cloud gathered overhead, and soon a gentle drizzle began to fall, nourishing the flowers.
However, within the rain, two large yellow ducks clutched their heads and let out panicked cries of "Psy! Duck!"
All right.
I take back what I said earlier. Perhaps my ducks are part of that ninety percent who get surpassed.
They were Water type Pokémon and yet they disliked the rain. That was very Psyduck.
Now he could truly understand Misty's feelings whenever Psyduck did something strange.
Speechless. Helpless. Completely at a loss.
He signaled for Popplio to stop for a moment, grabbed the tufts of hair on top of the ducks' heads, and dragged them to the side to take shelter before letting Popplio continue using Rain Dance.
"Psy?"
One on the left and one on the right, the two Psyduck tilted their heads and stared blankly at him.
"This is the last one today. You guys do not work much, yet you two eat a lot."
Helplessly, he gave each duck another Oran Berry. After they quickly finished eating, they waddled cautiously into the water and floated on the surface.
Once the watering was done, Popplio hurried back to the house. A cartoon was playing inside.
Silas continued working with the Florges, helping them clear the excess weeds in the garden. At the same time, he laid down two intersecting paths using small stones.
"Step on it and press it down. Do not use too much force."
Silas reminded them. The three Mudsdale brothers lined up from largest to smallest and walked back and forth over the stones once.
After that, Silas filled in the gaps between the stones and had them step over it again. Only then was a simple gravel path completed.
With that finished, there was little else Mudsdale could help with.
Waving to the Florges, Silas said goodbye and headed back.
On the grass in front of the ranch house, he saw Dolliv. The little one had buried its lower half in the soil and was facing the sun, slowly improving itself through photosynthesis.
Dolliv was working hard to evolve and become stronger, steadily improving in its own way.
(End of Chapter)