Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon
Chapter 16:
The sign was misleading. Old and weather beaten, it had hinted at a small rustic farm. But Fara's assumptions were swept away shortly after entering the property. As they traveled down the dirt road, Kahua and Fara were treated to the sight of vibrant berry bushes and trees knitted out neatly in rows.
Gargantuan greenhouses lay ahead of them along with a large farmhouse. Its pristine white color encased large windows and a wrap around porch. Potted plants and meticulous gardens were situated upon and around the porch.
Farther out to the left of the estate Fara saw a large grey barn. Connected were several paddocks with unrecognizable pokemon within. The sheer enormity of the farm grew as the pair drove closer to the farmhouse.
The young trainer was fascinated with the colors contained in the landscape. Flowers and berries of every color dotted the grounds and surrounding jungle. The depth of color was gorgeous to Fara. Looking over at Kahua she caught him watching her with a grin.
"What do you think?" he asked.
"It's unbelievable. I've never seen anything like this, even in Pallet town, and it has some of the largest farms in Kanto. It's beautiful Kahua." she stated with awe.
"It is certainly that Fara. Andrea's been in business a long time and takes a lot of pride in her farm. People know it too. Her devotion becomes obvious when people see and eat her berries. She's become one of the top five producers of berries in the world you know."
Fara was amazed. Berry farms were almost common but usually their size was limited. Berries took a lot of specialty care outside of their native environments. As she had learned before there was more than soil factors to consider. Moisture, pokemon species vicinity, and temperature played huge roles in growth and production. It took an enormous amount of effort to cater to one or two different species. Let alone the 10 plus Fara could see off hand.
"How does she do it Kahua? I've never heard of a berry farm this large." she asked.
"Devotion, research, and a lot of help Fara. Andrea also works with a lot of different environmental and government groups. Students from many university's intern here. They help with a lot of the scientific studies devoted to the development of berry growth."
"On top of that Breeders and Rangers lend pokemon to Andrea to help the plant species that need them to grow. In turn, she gives the pokemon a safe nursery to raise their young. She helped bring a couple of endangered species, pokemon and plant, from the brink of extinction with their combined efforts."
"Her farm even saved our island Fara. She employs about a third of us now and the economy has grown tremendously through all of the combined efforts of the people here under her direction." There was obvious pride ringing in the man's voice.
Fara could only imagine the enormity of work that Kahua was implying. It was scary in a way. Watching the scenery pass by, Fara started to feel nervous. The woman she was going to meet sounded amazing and her little berry mission gained a whole new level of importance.
Fara knew she wasn't just going to a store to buy product. She was representing Earl McPherson's business. Even though it was considered a mini mission Fara knew she couldn't take things lightly. Impressions lasted a lifetime afterall.
/
Twenty minutes later Fara was sitting down at a Ranch style dining table in Andrea Lopez's home with a glass of juice and fresh cookies. Both she and Kahua had been directed in by a house worker. Elisa was a beautifully aged women with soft wrinkles in a rich shade of Mocha and had twinkling amber eyes. Her soothing demeanor had stripped Fara of her anxiety. She was a warm soul much like Fara's beloved Mrs. Packard.
Gracefully, Elisa set down a tea set on the table before sitting herself. Smiling gently at Fara and Kahua, she began to speak.
'I've just telephoned Drea for you sweet. She's just finishing a birthing with a new Ponyta. When the babe is finished being examined and everything is good with the mama Drea will come down. She wanted me to let you know she's sorry she wasn't here to greet you."
Fara shook her head and smiled. 'There's nothing to be sorry for. From what Kahua was telling me Ms. Lopez runs a big company. I'm happy to even get the opportunity to meet her.'
Elisa smiled at Kahua.. ''You were right, this one has manners." Fara blushed as the adults began chuckling. She wasn't sure what to think about the fact Kahua had been gossiping about her. Elisa cleared her throat, bringing the young trainers attention back to her.
"How are you finding Ula'Ula' so far sweet?'
Fara smiled at the older woman. ''It's been great so far. The weather is a lot warmer than Kanto but I like it. My pokemon have been enjoying it as well. Dirk, my Poochyena, had a blast running through the water at the beach this morning. I think it's the first time he has ever been tired by our morning jogs.''
Elisa's smile deepened. ''So you're a runner then?'' she asked.
Fara shook her head. ''Not really, I don't like running but I need to keep up my exercise routine. I'm training at the Vermillion City Pokemon Gym. A lot of battle training revolves around a high fitness level.''
Elisa nodded at Fara. ''That makes sense. I can remember how exhausting battles could be when I was younger. Personally, it was too much for me. I've always preferred ranching. Seemed more productive.'
Fara opened her mouth to ask a question but was interrupted. The sound of a door slamming open made the girl jump. Followed by it was the pitter patter of clawed feet running towards the room they occupied. Within seconds a brown blur launched itself into the dining room and in Elisa's lap.
Elisa's muffled later gave Fara the reassurance that the pokemon smothering the woman with kisses was safe. Quietly, Fara took several large steady breathes. She had been much better in recent weeks but unexpected noises and pokemon still startled her time to time. Raichu's attack had been becoming more clear instead of the blur it had been before.
Surge, noticing her jumpiness, had connected Fara with a psychologist through the pokemon center. Therapy determined that she did have a mild case of PTSD. Terry, her therapist, had helped her identify triggers and taught her some breathing techniques to help with situations like the one in the front of her.
Calmly, she examined the pokemon and recognized it from Kahua''''s earlier description. It was the quadruped canine Rockruff. It's cinnamon fur, ruffled around its scruff and friendly demeanour made its species obvious.
Elisa finally started to calm the pokemon down when a sharp whistle caused it to jump and race back to the hallway. In that direction, standing at the doorway entrance, was a middle-aged woman with dark hair. Gray frosted the curly locks liberally. Rich olive skin glowed and the easy smile made Fara smile in return.
''Sorry bout that. Ranger's a little wound up.'' stated the woman. Elisa frowned at the denim clad woman. ''You need to control that beast Drea. He might hurt someone by accident."
Andrea, indirectly introduced, smirked at Elisa. "Ranger would never hurt a fly and I know you love it when he smothers you in attention, so don't give me that sass."
Elisa laughed. "You know me to well Drea. Anyways, this is the girl Kahua told us about, Fara."
Andrea redirected her attention. Fara smiled and stood before waking to the woman. She raised her hand and promptly discovered Andrea Lopez had a very strong grip. Hiding her gritted teeth, Fara tightened her own grip before introducing herself.
"Names Fara Knight, I take it your Andrea Lopez?"
Andrea released Fara's. "Sure am. I heard from Kahua you had some business with me. Something about a berry shipment and pokemon?" Andrea silently gestured to the dining table. Taking the silent invitation, the young trainer joined sat down with her before replying.
"Yes, I have a berry shipment order from Earl McPherson's shop, Scavenger Retreat. He had a small farm in Kanto contact him. They are starting a small research project on transplanting and growing tropical berries."
Andrea nodded and hummed before requesting the paperwork silently. Fara pulled it from the folder she had been holding and passed it on. Andrea looked through the documentation before pulling a device from her jacket.
Patiently, Fara waited and watched as the Business women seemed to cross reference information with data in the tablet. Fara knew the order was quite extensive. There was 20 different species of berry and berry seeds and the smallest amount ordered was at least 100 lbs.
The farm who made the request was working with Kanto University's Agriculture Department in a scientific study and needed a large stock for multiple experiments. With the quantity needed Fara was glad she had at least six weeks to wait for the shipment to be ready.
Andrea put the device down and looked at the young trainer. ''The order is doable but I am going to need the Department Head for Kanto University to contact me. Some of the product he is requesting is limited right now. The Butterfree and Beautifly colonies won't be back from their migration for three months. Without them proper pollination is impossible. I don't like clearing out our current supply at all. These are medicinal berries necessary to several potions used by the Pokemon Centers. As of right now, demand is slow. But that could change if there are any kind of epidemics or natural disasters."
Fara, who had been writing notes down as Andrea spoke nodded her head and then after thinking a moment spoke. "Do you have a time frame when that order can be completed? Or is it something the farm is going to need to request for elsewhere?"
Andrea smiled softly at the girl. Privately she wondered if the girl realized how adorable she was, acting like a grown adult. The serious effect was ruined by her frizzy curls and small figure. Redirecting her thought quickly she replied to the girls question.
"Looking elsewhere will be unnecessary. I can see about supplementing the order ourselves but I would prefer to avoid it. Thats why Ill need to talk to the Department head. As far as wait time goes we should be ready in 7 to 8 weeks depending how my talk with Kanto goes. All I need is for you to tell your boss that and we should be good." Andrea paused to take a sip of the water that had been placed on the table for her.
"What I'll also need for you to do is organize the shipping and stop by every week to discuss and updates or changes. Would Friday afternoons be ok with you?"
Fara looked over to Kahua. ''I know we won't be going up the mountain for a few days at least. Do you think we could make it back by Friday or should we wait until after that day?'' It was Sunday at the moment and she was worried the weather delay and time travel would make her miss a Friday appointment.
Kahu shook his head. " We need at least four day of travel. It would be best we start on Saturday if you want to be back by the next Friday"
Andrea interrupted. "What kind of travel are you doing?"
Fara smiled at the woman. "I'm going up the peaks to look for a Alolan Vulpix. I'm building up my team in preparation for my Scavenger training."
The woman nodded. "That make sense. It's about that time for the juveniles to set out on their own and form packs." She paused then continued.
"I'd be willing to work around your trip in exchange for help with an errand if you wouldn't mind?"
Fara paused before nodding. There was something in the Ranchers tone that sounded off. Looking at her closely it seemed that there was a twinkle sparking from her brown eyes. Cautiously, she spoke.
''What kind of errand?'" Andrea smile widely and laughed. "Smart girl. Don't commit without knowing first."
Leaning back in her chair she pointed towards a large bay window facing the grey barn.
"I need you to gather some supplies for me from one of the Ula'Ula lakes. As Kahua has probably told you I run a Breeding Business on top of my Berry Farm. Most of the pokemon I help breed are rare and critically endangered species that Governments have contracted me to conserve. The thing about most of the species I work with is that there is a correlation between rarity and sensitivity as well as special needs. As a certified Berry handler I'm sure that you understand that certain pokemon and berry species need close proximity to develop. Correct?"
Fara nodded. "Between my textbooks and a conversation with a Ranger I learned quite a bit. Loss or limited supply of one can create environmental issues that can last a lifetime. When I was in Viridian forest the Ranger explained to me how disease wiped out a good portion of bug pokemon and that created a ripple effect on pokemon and Berry species."
Andrea lifted an eyebrow. "I'm impressed. That was a very good example. The Viridian Blight was small scale but it still took myself and the dedication of many trainers, breeders, researchers, and doctors for several years to stall and begin the reversal process. How's the Forest by the way. Paper reports are one thing but I wanted to know how it looks from your perspective?"
"It was pretty good I think. There were several species of Berry that I wasn't able to harvest much from due to limited availability but otherwise there were a lot of Bug pokemon and the vegetation was green and dense. The Rattata were having an issue rebounding due to an increase in Pikachu populations but I was told the League was authorizing a contest in capturing them this summer. I actually got one of the Pichu before I had to leave the forest."
"Really, do you have the Pichu here?" Andrea asked. Gesturing an affirmative Fara placed a hand on one of the miniaturized balls on her belt. "Shred is with me now if you'd like to see him."
Andrea smiled excitedly. "That would be wonderful." Quickly Fara released her small mouse. Shaking his head and scratching an ear the pokemon looked up to his trainer and rapidly jumped into her lap. Once on his seat, he looked around the room, pausing briefly on each occupant of the room, before looking back up at Fara and relaxing when he saw her calm state.
"This is Shred, Andrea. Technically, I captured him, but honestly he picked me." Andrea reached out and let Shred sniff her had. After doing so the pokemon lay a gentle paw on it. The Business woman's eyes melted. "You have a sweetie here Fara." Gently rubbing the raggad ear she continued. "A fighter too. He looks very healthy and seems bonded too. How long have you had him?"
Fara frowned lightly as she tickled at the Pichu's tail. " A few months now. It seems longer than that though." Andrea leaned back. "It always does when you make good friends. You tend to forget a time when you didn't have them in your life." The woman straightened up.
"Anyways, back to the errand. Some of the pokemon I have bred need gastroliths."
"Gastroliths?" asked the young trainer.
"They're stones that certain reptilian and bird pokemon swallow. Their digestive systems need them to optimize nutrient absorption. Other pokemon use them for buoyancy control. Normally, I have a good supply available but we had an abundance of young this Spring. Good for the pokemon species but it caught us flat footed. I need at least 100 lbs of freshwater stones for the babes. Because of their protected status and rarity the parents are restricted to the property and can't forage for supplies."
Fara smiled at Andrea. "Thats sounds doable. It also sounds like good exercise for me and my pokemon. It'll even push me to get a water pokemon sooner so I can get their help. I'd love to help."
Andrea clapped a hand on Fara's shoulder. "Good, I'll have Elisa give you the specs of what I need and you can work on getting me what I need. I need the stones within 2 weeks, so your best bet would be to finish before you head out to the mountains. In the meantime, Kahua said you are looking for transport pokemon. I have a few young ones available. Why don't we head out and look around?."
Excitedly, Fara nodded her head and walked out of the house with the Business woman.
/
AN: Im back!. My mojos back so expect a few new chapters soon. ?