Chapter Two: The Scallion Duck and the Change of Abilities!

Staring at the wing that had slapped his hand, Heath was momentarily stunned. Although he had shared three years of friendship with Farfetch’d, he had never truly expected that Farfetch’d would actually agree.

A wave of ecstatic joy surged through him in an instant. Heath told Farfetch’d to wait, then quickly dashed off to the Friendly Mart and purchased the most basic Poké Ball.

One hundred League coins—he had spent the last of his savings, but it was all worth it.

When Heath returned to his little cart, he saw Farfetch’d standing there, curiously poking at the batter Heath had set out with both wings.

“Do you want to learn how to cook from me?” Heath asked with a playful glint in his eye. The sudden voice startled Farfetch’d so badly that it nearly dumped the batter over Heath’s head.

“Farfetch’d!” Farfetch’d flapped its wings and protested loudly, as if complaining about being startled.

Heath produced the Poké Ball, showing it openly to Farfetch’d as he extended his hand.

“Do you really want to be my partner, Farfetch’d?” Heath asked softly, gazing at the little Pokémon before him.

“Farfetch’d! Farfetch’d Farfetch’d!” Farfetch’d patted its chest decisively, then slapped the Poké Ball with a wing.

A beam of light shot out from the ball, absorbing Farfetch’d within. The Poké Ball fell to the ground and stilled, silent, without any further commotion.

“A perfect capture!” Heath said, delighted. It seemed his bond with Farfetch’d was solid after all—he had been feeding this Pokémon for three years, after all.

[You have successfully obtained your first Pokémon. Reward: one Silver Crown.]

A strange text box suddenly appeared before Heath. He stared in surprise, waving his hand through it; the box hovered clearly in front of him for a while before slowly fading away.

Heath suddenly sensed something new in his pocket. He drew it out for a look—a finely crafted Silver Crown, beautiful and elegant.

“What is this…” Heath’s breath quickened.

The Silver Crown—something introduced in later generations of Pokémon, with a simple use: it could raise a max-level Pokémon’s individual value in a random stat to its absolute maximum.

A surge of immense joy engulfed Heath. How could he not now realize what had happened to him? He had acquired the quintessential gift of a transmigrator—a golden finger!

Heath picked up the Poké Ball, feeling Farfetch’d’s eager desire to come out. He obliged and released Farfetch’d.

“Farfetch’d! Farfetch’d!” The Pokémon emerged, happily flapping its wings, then gazed hungrily at Heath’s food stall. There was no mistaking what Farfetch’d wanted.

“You little glutton.” With his own Pokémon and a golden finger, Heath’s mood soared to new heights.

In high spirits, Heath made another savory pancake for Farfetch’d, adding an extra egg for good measure, then handed it over. Farfetch’d snatched it eagerly and wolfed it down in a few quick bites.

Watching Farfetch’d eat so contentedly, Heath felt a deep happiness. In his previous life as a chef, nothing pleased him more than seeing people’s faces light up with happiness from his food.

[You have entertained Farfetch’d. You gain one opportunity to modify its Ability.]

The text box popped up again. Heath paused—what did this mean?

Ability modification? What Ability did Farfetch’d have, anyway?

Heath rubbed his face. After being here so long, and with Farfetch’d being a rather uncommon Pokémon, he couldn’t even recall its Ability.

“No way I could change it to Desolate Land, right?” Heath joked to himself. Looks like he’d need to ask Sister Maple about it later.

[Do you wish to change Farfetch’d’s Ability to Desolate Land?]

The text box appeared again. Heath was dumbfounded—did this mean he could actually change Farfetch’d’s Ability to Desolate Land?

“No!” Heath quickly refused.

Desolate Land—the signature ability of Primal Groudon, granting immunity to Water-type moves. Of course, that was in the games; in reality…

Heath shuddered violently. He had no desire to find out what it would feel like to have Groudon standing before him in real life. That was a scene better left unseen.

He had to admit, Desolate Land and Primordial Sea were tempting, and so was Serene Grace, but Heath had another Ability in mind.

[Do you wish to change Farfetch’d’s Ability to Wonder Guard?]

“Yes!” This time, Heath nodded decisively. As he did, Farfetch’d, who had been sidling closer in hopes of another meal, suddenly shivered, then looked around in confusion.

Heath looked at Farfetch’d in delight. If the modification had truly succeeded, then Farfetch’d could only be described as overwhelmingly strong.

Wonder Guard—the signature Ability of Shedinja—meant that only moves super effective against the Pokémon could harm it!

And as a Normal/Flying-type, Farfetch’d’s only weaknesses were to Electric, Rock, and Ice-type moves.

“Farfetch’d, do you feel any different?” Heath asked, happily patting Farfetch’d’s head.

“Far?” Farfetch’d cocked its head in confusion, seriously doubting its trainer’s sanity.

“Oh, right, and this.” Heath took out the Silver Crown from his pocket, but how was it supposed to be used?

While Heath was contemplating, the inquisitive Farfetch’d picked up the Silver Crown, bit into it, and—just like that—it vanished. Farfetch’d stared at its wings in panic, as if to say, “Where did my big crown go?”

[Farfetch’d used the Silver Crown. Special Defense increased.]

Heath’s mouth twitched. Well, an increase in Attack or Special Attack would have been nice, but Special Defense it was.

“No worries… the thickest armor is the best.” Heath comforted the bewildered Farfetch’d, then set off toward his current lodging with his Pokémon in tow.

To avoid attracting attention, Heath returned Farfetch’d to the Poké Ball, though the Pokémon resisted fiercely until Heath promised five eggs in tomorrow’s pancake. Only then did Farfetch’d reluctantly enter the ball.

“What am I going to do with you?” Heath looked at his gluttonous Farfetch’d, unable to decide whether to laugh or cry.