In the chairwoman's office, Geeta placed two steaming cups of black tea on the table and sat down on the sofa across from Lucas.
As the highest authority in the Paldea League, Geeta didn't keep a whole entourage of secretaries or assistants. She preferred to handle many small matters personally.
This trait gave her unusually strong support and influence among Paldea's people.
Geeta lifted her cup and studied Lucas, who looked like he already knew why she'd called him. She smiled. "From the look of you, I'd say you already know what I want to talk about?"
Lucas took a sip and looked up. "Blueberry Academy?"
"Yes, but not only Blueberry Academy."
Geeta pulled out a gilt-edged envelope and handed it to Lucas.
He hesitated for a moment, accepted it, didn't open it, but looked at the ink-painted emblem of a rearing dragon on the seal. He raised an eyebrow and returned the envelope.
"Is this the crest of some prominent dragon clan family?"
Geeta took it back, set it on the table, and nodded slightly. "The Dragon Clan of Blackthorn City in Johto—the Dragon Masters. It's the clan of Johto's League Champion and Kanto's Elite Four, the one who defeated that professor from Alola, Kukui—the Dragon Master Lance."
Lucas paused mid-motion of setting down his cup. "You want me to go?"
"Not bad—you're getting good at buzzing in." Geeta teased, clapping lightly, then emphasized, "This isn't an assignment from me, but an opportunity—one for your Dragonite to become stronger."
Lucas straightened. "To make Dragonite stronger?"
Geeta nodded slightly. "If I'm not mistaken, your Dragonite hasn't learned Extreme Speed yet?"
"That's right."
"The Johto Dragon Clan, Unova's Village of Dragons, and Hassel's family of Dragon tamers—all are ancient lineages dedicated to training Dragon-types."
Her fingers tapped the tabletop as she recalled.
"Each lineage has different emphases in Dragon-type training. Leaving aside the Village of Dragons and Hassel's family, let's talk about the Dragon Clan."
"Beyond their unique insights into raising Dragon-types, they have extraordinary methods for training and using the move 'Extreme Speed,' especially when used by Dragonite."
"So, I call this an 'opportunity,' not a commission. I had planned to send Hassel, but you know his current situation. I'll be blunt: are you interested in representing the Paldea League for a trip to Johto?"
Geeta met Lucas's eyes, asking his opinion.
Lucas didn't answer immediately, falling into thought.
Geeta didn't rush him, sipping tea and waiting.
Hearing "Extreme Speed," the Dragon Clan, and Lance's name, Lucas admitted he was surprised.
He hadn't expected "Extreme Speed" to be so effective in the Dragon Clan's hands that Geeta would praise it so highly.
In his mind, "Extreme Speed" plus Dragonite conjured images of a Multiscale Dragonite Terastalizing to Normal and detonating with absurd priority power.
In Gen IX, Dragonite was nicknamed a "Normal-type pseudo-legendary." That's how much weight Terastal Normal Extreme Speed Dragonite carried.
In reality, as a priority move, Extreme Speed lets a lightning-fast but somewhat cumbersome Dragonite avoid being toyed with by agile Pokémon—like Weavile, the dragon slayer.
Strategically, it's huge—and Geeta said the Dragon Clan's Extreme Speed was unusual on top of that.
Johto… It also had plenty of Pokémon Lucas coveted—ones rare in Paldea.
Native Miltank aside, there were Mareep for wool, and Shuckle whose body could brew juices and potions. Lucas had had his eye on Shuckle for ages.
Even aside from juicing, what if Herba Mystica—herbs in a sense—could be processed by Shuckle into potent tonics?
Lucas felt there was a lot of room to experiment.
From both the angle of strengthening Dragonite and his collector's itch, Johto was worth the trip.
Having decided, Lucas shed any hesitation, looked up at the smiling Geeta, and nodded. "I'm interested."
Geeta's smile deepened. She handed him the envelope again and, before he could open it, waved a hand. "Read it later. For now, let's talk business."
Lucas paused. "Business… the exchange program with Unova's Blueberry Academy?"
"Yes. The date is set."
She nodded slightly and handed him a dossier.
"Early June. You'll depart at the end of May. Unova is quite far from Paldea, so in this coming month, you need to select the students you'll bring to Blueberry Academy."
"Because this concerns the plan to restore Naranja Academy's reputation, to be blunt, I hope you can outshine them—both in your students and in you as the lead instructor."
"Blueberry Academy favors Double Battles. Once your team is set, prioritize Double training over the next month. If all goes well, the bonus won't disappoint you."
Lucas: "…"
Why was Geeta so blatant about a cash transaction? Did she take him for a money-eyed mercenary?
Still, Blueberry Academy and Doubles… That DLC content he'd never touched. He'd have to study carefully.
He remembered: Aliquis's older brother studied at Blueberry Academy, right?
Maybe he could start there.
Lucas put on a polite yet awkward smile. "Then… I'll take the job. Oh, Chairwoman, my farm's doing infrastructure right now—you know."
He'd already bragged hard in front of Oranguru; now he needed to grab every chance to make money.
Geeta smiled knowingly. "I understand."
If money alone could buy Naranja's prestige back, she'd throw all her savings at it. All the better if she could fund Lucas's bonus while raising a solid cohort.
Wicked deals sealed by money—always struck in little rooms like this.
As Lucas was leaving, Geeta added one last reminder: "The Johto Dragon Clan invitation comes later. For this month, focus on boosting your students' Doubles skills."
"Best if you consult teacher Tyme about Doubles."
…
May 3rd, bright and sunny—perfect for Grass-types to photosynthesize.
After farm chores, taking advantage of the clear day, Lucas gathered the Grass-types for a sunbath.
UV darkens the skin, sure, but in moderation it boosts immunity and prevents illness. For Grass-types, it literally provides energy for activity via photosynthesis.
Serperior loved sunbathing—ever since it was a Snivy. Its ability to command massive Frenzy Plant battles was inseparable from sunny weather.
On overcast days, Serperior might control only a few Frenzy Plant roots; under blazing sun, with its innate gift to amplify solar energy, it could command a sea of roots.
Beneath the sun, Serperior was in a great mood. Its tail-tip swished constantly. Sometimes it would coil gently around Lucas's wrist as he napped, then bask for a while in secret delight.
Then it'd catch itself, dart its gaze around like a thief, and, seeing everyone else dozing in the light, quietly exhale.
Being this forward cheapened its dignity. It had to be reserved—it was Serperior, after all!
A short while later, seeing everyone still asleep, Serperior sneakily extended a vine to wrap Lucas's wrist again.
It had seen that Sylveon do the same thing a few days ago from inside its Poké Ball!
Mimikyu under Lucas's recliner shade: Speechless.jpg
Grass-types were the most numerous and diverse on the farm.
The Eldegoss now napping in a heap; Arboliva in the coop tending slightly bigger chicks while photosynthesizing; the Sawsbuck and Skiddo sunning in the pasture; and Comfey, a Fairy-type but practically part of the plant guild.
Serperior often ran itself ragged among them, all because Lucas had said, "They're fellow Grass-types. I'm counting on you to keep an eye on them." Even though it stubbornly couldn't learn Grassy Terrain and randomly learned the near-useless Grassy Glide instead, it still cared for them its own way.
It taught them clean, efficient Grass-energy control; how to use sunlight to reduce move costs; and how to wield Grass-type offensive moves—so that in any danger that might or might not come, they could protect themselves.
Highborn and aloof as Serperior was supposed to be, its heart was gentle, doing many things at odds with its nature. It was a contradiction.
Serperior itself didn't fuss over these small things. It was itself; whatever it chose to do was its choice.
Once it felt the solar energy in its body was almost full, Serperior opened its scarlet eyes. Its gaze fell on two Pokémon Eggs basking beside Lucas's recliner, recalling what he had said when bringing them out.
"They're Grass-type Pokémon too. We can't keep them on the balcony all day. Bringing them out to sunbathe helps newborn Grass-type Pokémon be healthier."
Knowing the eggs were also Grass-type made Serperior a little tense. The farm already skewed heavily toward Grass and Water-types—wasn't the attribute distribution getting a bit lopsided?
This time, Lucas had deliberately kept Moltres away from the eggs, worried its thick Fire-type aura might not be good for Grass-type babies inside.
Better to incubate slowly than risk anything.
Which meant the duty of caring for the new Grass-types would likely fall to Serperior.
With hatching time drawing near, even though it seemed reluctant on the surface, Serperior honestly went to consult Moltres—once its nemesis, now on slightly better terms.
After all, Arcanine had often been looked after by Moltres when it was little.
Serperior cast a discreet glance at the eggs, saw everything was normal, and stretched its long body.
Just as it was about to patrol the fields for any fool pests chewing on crops, both eggs burst into blinding light at once!
Serperior: So sudden!?
Nothing was ready—Moltres had said to have hot water, towels, warm Moomoo Milk, and a draft-free environment!
Newborn Pokémon are most fragile right after hatching—and there was wind outside!
Seeing the light flicker faster—hatching any second now—
Serperior froze for a heartbeat in shock. Then its pupils burned crimson, and dozens of hardened roots burst from the ground, dirt flying, wrapping the two eggs in tight protection.
The commotion jolted Lucas and the Pokémon awake. Before they could react, Serperior's commanding voice rang out.
"Serpe! Serpe! Serperior~!"
The Eldegoss, long used to Serperior's orders, moved on instinct.
Warm water! Basins! Towels!
Comfey and Mimikyu hurried into the house. Thankfully the farm now had Skiddo and Miltank—Oranguru needed to be notified immediately to prepare warm Moomoo Milk and sheep's milk so the newborns could choose their favorite.
Still bleary-eyed from deep sleep, Lucas caught a quick, harmless vine whip from Serperior that snapped him awake. He scooped up the eggs and, urged on by Serperior, sprinted into the house!
Once everything was ready, with the windows cracked just enough for airflow, Lucas, Serperior, and the others watched anxiously as the eggs' flashing quickened—until the crisp sound of cracking shell rang out.
Two small, adorable figures appeared before their eyes.
One looked like an apple—but that was only its shell. The real Pokémon hid inside.
With a crisp little "pop," a pair of stemlike eyes rose from the apple's top, and a tiny green tail stuck out the back.
Its name was Applin, a Grass/Dragon-type Pokémon.
The other was a petite Pokémon, barely half the usual size for its species.
Its body was mostly brown-gray, with a long neck like Raging Bolt's. Fresh green leaves like budding shoots wrapped its head and neck, and a pair of enormous forest-sprite-like leaf-wings grew from its back.
Its name was Tropius, a Grass/Flying-type Pokémon.