After much deliberation, Cole finally called Ramos.
When the old man answered, he was surprised but teasing.
[I never thought someone as busy as you would remember to call me. What favor do you need this time?]
"Hehe..." Cole said sheepishly, "I do have a small favor to ask."
[I knew it. Well, what is it?]
Ramos feigned anger.
"I'd like to borrow your Jumpluff, if possible." Cole requested.
[Just for that? Alright then.]
The old man agreed immediately, without asking why Cole needed Jumpluff.
Cole gratefully replied, "Great, I'll have Talonflame pick it up. Just have Jumpluff follow it back to my place."
✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲
Soon, Talonflame returned with Jumpluff from the Coumarine Gym.
The experiment continued.
"Jumpluff, would you please use Sleep Powder on Popplio?"
"Wada~"
Jumpluff gently waved its cotton puffs, releasing a brown powder that floated down on a gentle breeze toward Popplio. Within seconds of inhaling the Sleep Powder, the sea lion's eyelids grew heavy and it drifted off to sleep.
Seeing this, Cole once again injected his Special Ability energy into Popplio's body and resumed the experiment.
The experiment began smoothly. Drawing from his experience with fruit trees, Cole knew this process required patience as he carefully probed the dormant energy circuits bit by bit.
The hidden energy circuits within Pokémon were more stubborn than those in fruit trees, demanding greater effort and concentration from Cole.
However, he overlooked something crucial: even while asleep, Popplio's pain receptors remained active. Just as Cole was about to illuminate a corner of the dim energy circuit, Popplio's body began convulsing violently.
Cole quickly stopped, startled by the reaction.
Soon after, Popplio regained consciousness. Upon opening its eyes, it felt sharp pains radiating through its body. Though it had been in a deep sleep, the pain had persisted, lingering even after it awoke.
"Popplio, are you alright?" Cole asked worriedly.
Popplio shook its head, trying to indicate the pain wasn't serious.
But Cole could tell from its expression that the sensation was far from minor — it must have been quite intense.
"Maybe we should give up." Cole said hesitantly, not wanting to cause his Pokémon any more suffering.
"Woo~woo~"
Popplio shook its head vigorously. While Cole was ready to stop, it wasn't. The experiment hadn't even produced results yet — giving up now would make all its previous pain meaningless.
"Alright, one last try. If this doesn't work, we'll stop!" Seeing its determination, Cole nodded, "Jumpluff, use Stun Spore on Popplio this time."
Since Sleep Powder hadn't worked as intended, they would try Stun Spore instead. Popplio had convulsed because it could still feel pain while asleep. Perhaps blocking the pain signals altogether would work better.
Stun Spore could paralyze Pokémon, making their bodies unresponsive and effectively blocking pain signals. While not a complete numbing — Pokémon could still feel a slight tingling — the sensation remained within tolerable limits.
As the Stun Spore settled on Popplio, paralysis took hold. Its body became unresponsive and sensations dulled, leaving only a faint tingling from the electricity coursing through its body.
"Popplio, does it hurt?" Cole pinched it to test.
Though paralyzed and numbed, it remained aware.
"Woo~" — Not painful, just feels a bit strange.
"That's good, let's start again."
Once again injecting Special Ability energy into Popplio's body, the experiment finally succeeded. Cole managed to illuminate a corner of the hidden energy circuit.
This time, Popplio showed no defensive reactions.
The process proved time-consuming, though. Cole had Jumpluff reapply Stun Spore several times to maintain the paralysis.
Even after all that time, he only illuminated a small portion before stopping. Unlike with fruit trees, illuminating a Pokémon's hidden energy circuits was far more challenging — it had to be done gradually.
He also couldn't work continuously, needing to pause between sessions. Though paralysis blocked the pain, it didn't eliminate it entirely, and he worried about pushing Popplio and Daisy too hard.
After finishing with Popplio, it was his mother's turn, which went even more smoothly.
After the experiment, Cole had Talonflame return Jumpluff to the Coumarine Gym. He realized he should catch his own Pokémon that knew Stun Spore — he couldn't keep borrowing from Ramos forever.
"How do you both feel?" He asked the Pokémon, who had fully recovered from their paralyzed state.
"Woo~" — Feeling good.
Popplio explained that while subtle, its sensitivity to external energy had become clearer.
"Garde~"
Daisy's experience matched the sea lion's.
"That's good." Cole nodded with satisfaction, "From now on, I'll need to conduct this experiment with you periodically. Be mentally prepared."
"Woo~" — No problem, bring it on!
"We need a Pokémon that knows Stun Spore to help with this work. Instead of troubling others, let's go catch one while we have time."
Since it was still early, Cole took Daisy and Popplio to the nearby wilderness mountains.
There were many unclaimed peaks near Ascendant Mountain — which was why he had bought land here initially. If he needed to expand his planting area in the future, he could purchase additional mountains.
These mountains hosted a moderate population of Pokémon. Cole was confident about finding one that knew Stun Spore, since many Poison-type and Grass-type Pokémon knew this move, and the mountains were full of Grass-types.
Before setting out, he packed berries in his bag as compensation for the Pokémon they'd meet.
Since not every Pokémon would know Stun Spore, he'd need to ask them individually. To avoid angering them with his questions, he planned to offer the berries as a peace offering.
Cole chose a mountain east of Ascendant Mountain as his destination, having heard from Talonflame and the Fearow that Pokémon often came from that direction to raid his orchard.
The mountain's vegetation grew thick and wild, rarely disturbed by humans. Cole had to forge a path as he walked with Popplio and the others.
Occasionally, Flying Pokémon like Fletchling and Pidgey would soar past in the forest, but they weren't his targets. Cole stayed vigilant, scanning his surroundings carefully to avoid missing any potential finds.
After walking for a while, rustling sounds came from nearby bushes. Parting them to investigate, he discovered a Paras planting mushrooms.
Startled by the intrusion, the Paras sprayed a cloud of purple powder — Poison Powder, not Stun Spore — at Cole.
Popplio reacted swiftly, creating a water screen in front of Cole that dissolved the powder completely.
"Don't be afraid, we mean no harm." Cole said quickly, trying to calm the Paras, "We just wanted to ask if you know the move Stun Spore."
Sensing his peaceful intentions, Paras relaxed and gently waved its pincers to indicate no.
"Then do you know if there are any Pokémon nearby who do?"
Paras shook its head again — being a reclusive mushroom-grower with little social interaction, how would it know any Pokémon that could use Stun Spore?
"I see, sorry to bother you." Cole said, disappointed. He offered a berry, adding, "Here, take this as payment for answering my questions."
At the sight of food, Paras accepted happily.
Bidding farewell to Paras, Cole ventured deeper into the forest with Popplio and Daisy. They met various Pokémon — Bunnelby, Caterpie, Pidgey, Spritzee, Swirlix — but none knew Stun Spore.
"This is weird. Did I step in Trubbish droppings or something? Why is my luck so terrible?" Cole grumbled.
The forest should have been teeming with Grass-type Pokémon — where had they all gone?
"Woo woo woo~" — Hahaha...
Popplio trailed behind him, laughing at his misfortune.
Just then, Cole noticed a Sunkern lounging in the grass, basking in the sunlight.
Finally, a Grass-type Pokémon, Cole thought with relief, before realizing — wait, this one probably can't learn Stun Spore, can it?
He went up to ask, and sure enough, it couldn't.
"Do you know if there are any Pokémon nearby who know Stun Spore?" He asked again.
Sunkern shook the two leaves on its head, indicating it didn't know.
Cole: ('̀-'́)
He felt exhausted.
"Thanks anyway, here's something for you." He took out another berry to give to Sunkern.
Swoosh!
However, just as Sunkern was about to take the berry, a shadow darted out of nowhere, swooping past Cole's hand and snatching it away.
Hey~ What the heck!
Already frustrated, he was now furious enough to curse. Not only had he failed to find the Pokémon he wanted after searching for so long, but now he'd been robbed — talk about terrible luck!
"Daisy, after it!" Cole quickly tossed another berry to Sunkern, scooped up Popplio, and chased after the thief with his mom.
The shadow moved with incredible speed. Though small in size, it was exceptionally agile, darting between grass and trees, nearly running him ragged.
Damn it, just wait until I catch you — I'll teach you a lesson!
Fortunately, Daisy could use her psychic powers to track their target, or it would have long disappeared.
After quite a chase, seeing it couldn't shake off the Gardevoir's psychic lock, the figure finally stopped. Only then did Cole get a clear look at the berry thief's true identity.
It was an adorable little Helioptile.
Such a fair maiden, why turn to thievery?
"Helio~ Helio~ Helio~" — It's just one berry, did you really have to chase me so far?
The Helioptile clutched the berry while scolding the human.
Cole shouted angrily: "Shut up! You steal from me and still act righteous? Give my berry back right now!"
Helioptile held the berry tightly and stepped backward.
"If you won't give it back, don't blame me for getting rough — Popplio, Water Gun!"
"Woo~"
✲ Water Gun ✲
Popplio shot out a stream of water at Helioptile, but it was too quick, vanishing from the spot in a flash.
Cole was surprised — this Helioptile was incredibly fast, reminding him of Ramos's Deerling.
Bzzt bzzt bzzt...
Electrical sparks emerged from Helioptile's body, and a golden orb of light appeared above its head, which it directed toward the sea lion.
Popplio opened its mouth and released sound waves, using Protect to create a barrier that easily dispersed the incoming golden orb.
But Cole's eyes lit up at the sight.
"Wait — isn't this Thunder Wave?" He suddenly realized he'd been thinking too narrowly. Stun Spore wasn't the only move that could paralyze Pokémon. Thunder Wave would work just as well! If he couldn't find a Grass-type that knew Stun Spore, an Electric-type with Thunder Wave would be perfect!
"You're the one!"
Cole's gaze toward Helioptile became intense, making it involuntarily shudder.
"This... this human isn't some kind of pervert, is he?"
Seeing they were numerous and clearly not to be trifled with, Helioptile tossed the berry back to Cole.
"Here, take it back, okay!"
It turned to flee after throwing the berry, but how could Cole let it escape?
"Daisy, catch it with Psychic!" He quickly called out.
"Garde~"
✲ Psychic ✲
A purple flash gleamed in her eyes, and in the next moment, the fleeing Helioptile was suspended in mid-air.
It twisted its body, trying to break free, but aside from its speed, it knew no attacking moves.
"What... what are you going to do? I don't taste good."
Cole picked up the Pokémon with a grin.
"From now on, you'll come with me. I promise you'll want for nothing — you can have all the berries you want to eat."
The struggling Helioptile suddenly grew quiet. It lifted its head, looking at him with bright, eager eyes.
✲✲✲
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