Not Being a Trainer This Time

”Oran Berry can be used to restore stamina, Cheri Berry can ease paralysis in Electric Type Pokemon and paralysis caused by Stun Spore, and the juice of Pecha Berry can remove Poison from a Pokemon.”

”The sharp smell of Chesto Berry can wake up Pokemon that have fallen asleep, and if you want to cure a Pokemon’s burn, you need to use this blue Rawst Berry.”

In the living room, Naoki took out a bag of Berries he’d prepared in advance and laid them out on the table one by one, introducing their types and effects to Happiny from left to right in order.

Happiny hugged the Oval Stone in her arms and listened very carefully.

Naoki glanced at her and asked, ”Have you memorized them all?”

”Buku!” Happiny bobbed her little head over and over.

”Very good. Then next I’m going to test you!”

With that, Naoki mixed all the Berries together to break up their order.

A moment later, Naoki lined the rearranged Berries back up in a row.

Happiny stared wide-eyed, a hint of confusion in her gaze.

”So, do you still remember what this Berry is called?” Naoki picked up a pink Pecha Berry and asked.

”Buku…” Happiny tried to answer, ”Buku?”

Naoki: ”…” Great, she’d completely forgotten!

”This is Pecha Berry. When a Pokemon is poisoned, you just need to have them eat this Berry and it’ll remove the Poison on them.” Naoki patiently reintroduced it.

The detoxifying Pecha Berry! Happiny’s face lit up with sudden understanding—she’d got it now!

”Let’s go again.” Naoki put the Pecha Berry back into the Berry pile and mixed them up.

Then, from left to right, he went through the types of Berries once more for Happiny.

Happiny stared unblinkingly at the Pecha Berry, silently chanting in her heart:

”Pecha Berry, Pecha Berry, Pecha Berry; detox, detox, detox.”

Naoki had originally planned to keep testing Happiny on Pecha Berry’s name and effect.

But then he suddenly noticed the way Happiny was staring at the Pecha Berry, so he shifted his hand halfway through and reached to the other side, picking up a round Cheri Berry instead.

”Then do you still remember what this Berry is called?”

Seeing this, Happiny was instantly dumbfounded.

”Buku…”

Naoki gave her an encouraging look.

Happiny answered with a face full of uncertainty, ”Buku?” (The Oran Berry that heals frostbite?)

Naoki felt utterly helpless, but still explained patiently, ”The one that treats frostbite is Aspear Berry. Oran Berry is for helping weakened Pokemon recover their stamina.”

”Buku…”

Happiny was about to cry; she suddenly felt like she might be a not-so-smart Pokemon.

Looking at Naoki’s helpless expression in front of her, Happiny finally couldn’t hold back and burst into tears.

Naoki: ”…”

”Alright, alright, don’t cry. Since you can’t remember them all at once, then we’ll just learn one Berry a day. At that pace, in less than a month you’ll have all of these Berries firmly memorized.” Naoki comforted her.

Happiny stopped crying and lifted her head to look over: ”Buku?” Really?

Naoki nodded. ”Of course. For example, today you only need to remember the name and effect of this Cheri Berry.”

As he spoke, he handed the Cheri Berry to Happiny.

Happiny cupped the Cheri Berry in her hands and blinked.

”Cheri Berry tastes on the spicy side. When a Pokemon eats it, that spiciness will stimulate the paralyzed muscles on their body, achieving an ’fight fire with fire’ effect and letting them regain their energy.” Naoki explained.

”Buku!” Happiny nodded seriously, indicating that she’d remembered!

”Very good. Then today you’ll keep Cheri Berry on you and move around together with it!” Naoki said.

”Buku!”

After that, Naoki got up and went to weed the fields. The temperature had been gradually rising lately, and quite a lot of wild grass had started growing.

If he didn’t clear them out, those weeds would compete with the crops in the field for nutrients in the soil.

Happiny, meanwhile, walked all around the ranch hugging the Cheri Berry.

As she walked, she muttered under her breath, ”Buku buku…” (Cheri Berry can cure paralysis, Cheri Berry can cure paralysis…)

Her behavior attracted the attention of quite a few Pokemon around the ranch.

When Happiny wandered near the Chicken House, Pawmot, who was sitting on the roof polishing his little hammer, poked his head out curiously.

”Bamoh?” (What are you doing?)

Happiny looked up and answered loudly, ”Buku!” (I’m learning Berry knowledge. Pawmot, did you know Cheri Berry can treat paralysis on Pokemon?)

”Bamoh…” Pawmot really didn’t know that; he didn’t think he’d ever been paralyzed before!

And just then, Happiny suddenly remembered something.

Wait! What does ”paralysis status” mean?!

She asked loudly again, ”Buku?” (Pawmot, what is the paralysis status?)

Pawmot knew this one! He answered happily, ”Bamoh bamoh!” (I know! It’s an abnormal status that can stop a Pokemon from moving. I’ve got Moves that can do that!)

Pawmot was delighted that he could provide Helping Hand to Happiny.

Hearing this, Happiny started thinking seriously.

Just knowing the Berries’ names and effects wasn’t enough, because if you don’t know what kind of injury the Pokemon has, then even if you know all that, you can’t make them really work.