Lance looked at Lucas, who had just crawled out of a hole, with a gaze equal parts appraising and helpless.
His tightly wrapped clothes were caked in mud—hard to believe this was Paldea's champion-tier trainer and the hero who saved the Orange Archipelago.
Behind Lucas emerged two Sandslash—yet their quills were frozen and frosted.
Alolan Sandslash?
Once the Sandslash left the hole, Lance could tell there was nothing behind them; most of the tunnel had been filled with dirt. To re-enter, one would have to dig again.
And Lucas wasn't carrying a Larvitar—something that would have made Lance's heart jump. He exhaled in relief.
At least it hadn't turned into his worst-case scenario.
Lance's gaze returned to Lucas. He met his eyes, paused a moment as if choosing his words.
"I just got here and saw your Serperior and Dragonite pinning Duraludon and the Tyranitar couple. Can you explain?"
He tried to soften his tone; colleagues like Lorelei, Agatha, and his cousin Clair often told him he naturally sounded commanding and interrogatory, making people feel like suspects under questioning.
While Tyranitar are precious, Kanto–Johto doesn't monopolize them. Trainers who enter Mt. Silver through proper procedures can catch whatever's inside.
Provided they enter properly.
Caught off guard, Lucas glanced at Serperior and Dragonite, asking with his eyes why they were restraining the Tyranitar couple and Duraludon.
Locked in a standoff with Lance's dragon legion, Serperior and Dragonite shot him a baffled look. Weren't you the one who said if the Tyranitar couple panicked and tried Earthquake, we should pin them?
So Serperior used Frenzy Plant—thick, tough, and unchewable—to hold them. Then Duraludon suddenly decided to attack Serperior, so Dragonite had to pin it too.
Understanding their eye-talk, Lucas fell silent.
Coupled with Lance—fully armed—eyeing him with a mix of scrutiny, confusion, and regret, what else could he think?
So Lance mistook him for someone who "snuck into" Mt. Silver to "poach" Tyranitar, Duraludon, and even the Tyranitar's young.
As for why Lance was there, Lucas recalled a message he'd sent to Lorelei; she probably contacted Lance in Blackthorn City, the nearest city to Mt. Silver.
A complete comedy of errors.
Lucas wanted to rub his forehead but refrained due to the mud. He looked up at Lance, shrugged, and said, "…If I say I'm just here to dig dirt, would you believe me?"
Lance: "…"
"Huh?"
After a lot of explaining—and the undeniable proof of a spatial pack bulging with sacks—Lance's worldview cracked, and he accepted that Lucas had indeed come to dig dirt.
Once he recovered, he was bewildered again.
Not even poachers—ordinary trainers who sneak into Mt. Silver do it for rare Pokémon.
By Lucas's account, he didn't even consider capturing the Larvitar he saw.
Who would believe this: a champion-tier trainer goes to great lengths to sneak into Mt. Silver, only to fight a newborn Larvitar for its food—dirt.
Absurdity has limits.
Under Lance's stare, a cleaned-up Lucas grumbled, "Don't look at me like that. I traded a ton of Pokéblocks with Larvitar fair and square!"
"…Fine. We'll let it go this time. In the future, if you want to enter Mt. Silver, go through the front door. Ordinary trainers take ten days to a few weeks for approval, but with your status, you'll be fast-tracked."
Lance emphasized this several times, then returned to Dragonite and vaulted onto its back.
"I need to deal with those poachers. I'll take my leave."
"I've already had my people submit an application for you. It should be approved by now. You can explore and catch Pokémon in Mt. Silver freely."
"Oh, and please be punctual tomorrow per the invitation time for our clan's Dragon Feast. Many Dragon-type specialists from around the world will be there. You won't be disappointed."
Reciting the clan elders' mandated pleasantries, Lance nodded at Lucas, then rode Dragonite skyward toward Indigo Plateau.
Watching Lance and Dragonite shrink to a dot, Lucas nudged his own Dragonite with his elbow. "Gut feeling—who's stronger, you or Lance's Dragonite?"
Before, Dragonite might have hemmed and hawed, admitting it was still a bit behind. Now, it thumped its chest and lifted its head.
"Drago~!" (It's stronger now, but in the future, I'll surpass it!)
Feeling his growing power, his perception of the wind, and the budding of a new move, Dragonite brimmed with confidence.
Serperior glanced sidelong at Dragonite, ruby eyes holding a faint, almost imperceptible pride and yearning.
Pride in watching the one it had practically seen grow up become this excellent.
Yearning, because one day it, too, would tell Lucas—head held high as ever—that even if it was briefly weaker than other champions' aces now, it would surpass them soon!
…
At 9 p.m., after seeing Duraludon leave the Tyranitar couple's territory and the pair resume guarding their mountain—beneath which lay their offspring—
Lucas moved on to his final Mt. Silver goal—
Reach the summit once, then confirm a few things.
…
June 30, 7 a.m.
A party of trainers freshly approved by Indigo Plateau arrived at Mt. Silver's main peak for training.
This was common. For safety, even elite trainers often formed parties to mitigate risks.
As they reached the base, an orange silhouette dove from the banner cloud perpetually wreathed around the summit, raising a gale.
It was the rare Pokémon—Dragonite.
Someone sharp-eyed pointed. "Hey, look—there's a person on its back!"
All eyes followed and, seeing the wind-and-snow-coated figure, they were stunned.
What kind of trainer can summit and still have the strength to dive straight off?
Could it be the peerless Lance?
Dragon Feast, hosted for the first time by the Dragon Clan of Blackthorn, aimed to break old patterns, connecting them with Dragon-type trainers worldwide to learn and grow together.
Upon arriving in Blackthorn, Lucas contacted the number on the invitation, confirmed the schedule, then crashed at an inn. He slept until his 3 p.m. alarm, hurriedly got ready, and boarded the clan's car.
The car threaded Blackthorn's streets toward the edge of the city.
There lay the Dragon Clan's ancestral grounds and a place famed for rare Dragon Pokémon—on par with Hoenn's Meteor Falls and Unova's Village of Dragons—the Dragon's Den.
In the car, bored, Lucas noticed a document lying quietly on his right.
The driver spoke respectfully as Lucas picked it up. "Mr. Lucas, to avoid conflicts between strangers, that lists the trainers and groups attending this evening's Dragon Feast."
"A list?"
He opened it thoughtfully and skimmed.
A moment later, he closed it, slightly surprised.
The Dragon Clan's pull was terrifying. Without the list, he wouldn't have known how many big names were coming tonight.
Besides Lance and Clair, Blackthorn's Gym Leader—
There were many he knew:
Hoenn Elite Four's Dragon master, Drake.
The heir of the Meteor Village, Zinnia.
Sinnoh Champion and archaeologist, Cynthia.
Unova's Opelucid Gym Leader Drayden and his student from the Village of Dragons, Iris.
Kalos Elite Four's Drasna, like Cynthia hailing from Celestic Town.
Hammerlocke Gym Leader's Raihan had been invited, but he declined to challenge Leon.
Paldea's dragon-tamer families also sent someone, making Lucas wonder if the Dragons sent two invitations—one via the Paldea League to Hassel, and one to the Dragon tamer clan.
Among them, aside from Cynthia whose ace is a Garchomp, and Lucas, whose main team only has Dragonite as a Dragon—
Most were Dragon specialists.
This made Lucas even more curious. Not only would many famous trainers gather—there would even be a chance to learn a special Extreme Speed technique.
"Mr. Lucas, we've arrived."
The car stopped before a grand manor, and the driver informed him.
"…Alright. Thank you."
Having attended Diantha's banquet, Lucas was used to luxury. Still, he couldn't help noting the Dragon Clan's deep pockets as a longstanding Johto house.
Though the sky hadn't fully darkened, the manor blazed with light. Many people mingled in the courtyard. Lucas recognized several faces.
"An honor to meet you, Champion Lucas."
As befit an ancient family, the reception was flawless.
No sooner had Lucas stepped out than a woman in a blue uniform and a cape down to her waist approached.
"Please allow me to introduce myself. I'm Clair, and I'll be your host today."
She matched Lucas's impression of Clair.
Clair wore her familiar outfit with a shoulder cape—eccentric to some, but a deliberate cultural signal from the Dragon Clan.
Unlike Diantha's formal dress code, the Dragon Feast respected regional differences. Traditional attire was welcome—indeed preferred.
The Dragon Clan's own culture centered on fitted uniforms and capes—Lance and Clair both loved them.
"Hello, Miss Clair."
Lucas nodded, unwilling to re-explain that Paldea's "champion-level" wasn't the same as a League Champion like Lance.
He glanced at his own simple short-sleeve and fitted pants—very plain.
Compared to Clair and Lance's strong personal styles, he suddenly felt outclassed.
After greetings, Clair led him inside.
Smiling, she said, "We didn't expect Paldea would send you. When we heard the hero who saved the Orange Archipelago would come in Hassel's stead, even our most staid elders were surprised."
Lucas couldn't say he was here to steal secret techniques, so he changed the subject. "I'm not a Dragon specialist. That won't be a problem?"
Clair looked at him oddly. "The Feast is for Dragon users to exchange experience and make friends."
"You have a Dragonite that defeated the Fire Lord—maybe not inferior to my cousin's ace. How could that be a problem?"
Her gaze burned a little.
Not romance—rather, a trainer's fervor upon seeing a worthy opponent.
Under that look, Lucas felt a faint premonition.
This Feast would surely involve battles. Clair's fighting spirit was practically spilling out.
She led him into a bustling courtyard.
A feast is a feast; the Dragon Clan would showcase Johto's culinary specialties for their far-flung guests.
Having brought him here, Clair's task was done. She said with a smile, "I'll greet other guests. Please enjoy the food, battle if you wish, or socialize. If you need anything, find me."
Lucas nodded and watched her go. Seeing steaming, fragrant dishes, his appetite surged.
He'd slept through breakfast and lunch. Now hunger made itself known.
Without hesitation, he released Dragonite—also hungry from flying—and the two dug in.
If this weren't the Dragon Feast, it would be rude to release non-Dragon Pokémon. Otherwise, he'd have let Serperior and the others taste the Dragon Clan's fine Johto cuisine.
As they ate, many turned to look at Lucas and Dragonite, thoughtful.
Though his name was on the list, seeing in person the trainer who had saved the Orange Archipelago and suppressed the three birds was still surprising.
Many considered approaching him to network.
At the edge of the venue, a smiling older woman in a brown-gray dress adorned with dragon teeth—on her chest, arms, and hair—had noticed him when Clair brought him in.
Remembering his standout showing at her colleague's banquet—and that she'd exchanged contacts with him—Drasna narrowed her eyes and said to her companion, "Miss Cynthia, excuse me a moment."
Cynthia, absorbed in Johto desserts, looked up.
Her long blonde hair framed a momentarily dazed face.
Today she wasn't in her champion's black coat, but a cooler outfit.
Cynthia glanced toward Lucas and grew pensive.
She remembered—that was the person who, at an event she had attended anonymously, made the cream gelato-flavored Pokéblocks that had astonished her, wasn't it?