Deep in the Crown Tundra.
Lucas and Calyrex came to a stone-brick cabin, roof layered with snow, trees growing around.
A wooden fence ringed it, with small plots growing hardy crops.
Seeing the cabin, Calyrex pulled the reins, and Glastrier stopped.
"To build a home deep in the Crown Tundra and live alone—the owner must be quite skilled and bold."
Lucas, mimicking Calyrex, tugged Spectrier's reins. As Spectrier halted, he glanced at it, a bit rueful.
Man-and-horse as one was Calyrex's privilege. Without special power or being a Pokémon, Lucas couldn't resonate with Spectrier to achieve it.
A pity, but he didn't dwell on it.
Holding Vulpix, he dismounted and, with Luxray, studied the closed door. "Rather than courageous, perhaps something is protecting this house," he mused.
Ultra Beasts were strong. Given the anime's shiny Nihilego and their neurotoxins, most wild Pokémon would avoid provoking them.
Thus Mohn could live here for years.
Trading a look with Calyrex, Lucas approached and knocked.
"Hello—does Mr. Mohn live here?"
Soon, the door creaked open and a blond, work-clad middle-aged man appeared.
He exhaled a puff of white breath, eyeing Lucas and the two tall steeds curiously. "That's me... and you are?"
"Moo-go~"
Cosmog, just awake, floated from Calyrex's arms, landed atop Lucas's head, and yawned hugely.
Lucas smiled. "Let me introduce myself. I'm Lucas. These are my partners Luxray, Vulpix, Cosmog, Calyrex, Spectrier, and Glastrier."
Mohn's gaze fell on Cosmog, then the Vulpix in Lucas's arms. "Such adorable Pokémon," he praised. "They're your partners?"
Lucas nodded and gave the prepared explanation.
"Yes. I came to sightsee in the Crown Tundra and stayed in Freezington. I heard of you from the villagers—curious who could live deep in the Tundra—so I came to visit."
Mohn only blinked once, then repeated every Pokémon's name correctly. "I see. You're most welcome. But I must correct one thing—it's not just me here. My lovely daughter, Lillie, lives with me."
Lucas had worried about listing so many Pokémon at once. Not bad for a former Pokémon professor.
Mohn stepped aside. "If you don't mind, come in for tea."
"It's far from the village—you must be tired after a long trek."
"But... I don't ride—there's no stable. Will your two very handsome horses be alright?"
Regarded as mere stable horses, the once-royal Spectrier and Glastrier bristled, anger not even dulled by the compliment.
They snorted, but before they could act out, Calyrex soothed them with psychic power and spoke:
"My beloved steeds, wait outside. I'll be right back." It drifted to Lucas's side and nodded to Mohn. "Such kindness—then we shall trouble you for tea."
A talking Pokémon?
Mohn blinked, intrigued by Calyrex.
He felt a stirring within, a desire—but without the key to understand it.
Unable to place it, he let it go and made room. Once Lucas, Calyrex, Vulpix, Luxray, and Cosmog entered, he glanced worriedly at the steeds and shut the door.
Inside was dim.
Dust covered the windows; sunlight could barely enter. Only the brazier's coals gave enough light to avoid total darkness.
Clearly, there was no electricity.
The air was fairly clean—only the scent of burning wood.
A kettle hung from a chain, steaming—soon to boil.
Lucas and Calyrex sat on the wooden bench by the wall, keeping Vulpix and Cosmog from getting too playful.
Mohn, hands on hips, called toward the room where a piano played, "Lillie, we have guests!"
No answer came; the piano continued.
"Apologies—my daughter's a bit shy around strangers," Mohn said helplessly.
Calyrex had sensed something within and almost spoke, but remembering Lucas's warning, it held its tongue.
Had Lucas not known there was indeed a Lillie inside, he might have suspected Mohn of a condition like the Dragonite leader—imagining a daughter.
Perhaps due to Luxray and Calyrex's presence, the Lillie inside chose not to show. Lucas didn't press Mohn—forcing it would only complicate things.
When Mohn moved to fetch Lillie, Lucas stopped him. "No need. If your daughter's shy, don't force her."
Mohn paused, then smiled wryly. "You're right."
The kettle whistled shrilly; Mohn grabbed it bare-handed and brewed tea.
Taking the chance, Lucas glanced at Vulpix and Cosmog playing on Luxray's back, then leaned toward Calyrex and whispered, "Do you sense anything?"
Calyrex nodded faintly, its voice sounding in Lucas's mind. "Behind that door is a presence consistent with an Ultra Wormhole—though extremely faint."
"Consistent..."
Lucas pondered.
Perhaps Calyrex perceived a special aura. The official canon lacked a label, but Ultra Aura fit nicely.
Ultra Beasts that came through Ultra Wormholes bore a quasi-Totem-like aura, fading with time—like Cosmog now.
The Nihilego Lillie behind the door likely had an Ultra Aura so faint as to be barely perceptible.
Which meant, as a visitor from another dimension, it was growing ever more connected to this world.
Looking at Mohn brewing tea, Lucas lowered his voice further. "Let's not expose it. Otherwise, we'll miss the happy family reunion."
This Nihilego Lillie was an outlier among Ultra Beasts—like Ash's Poipole, close to humans and full of feeling—an important future family member for Mohn.
If he and Calyrex revealed it now, even if Mohn regained his memory, Nihilego might leave—that, Lucas didn't want.
The knot-tiers must untie the knot—only Mohn's family could truly win over Nihilego Lillie.
Calyrex didn't quite grasp Happy end, but nodded, following Lucas's lead.
When Mohn returned with tea and Pokémon snacks, Lucas, playing the curious traveler, asked about life in the deep Tundra—was it inconvenient, how did he manage, and so on.
Mohn answered most questions.
When he'd first arrived with Lillie, the stone house was in ruins—he'd repaired it bit by bit.
They gathered edible wild plants and valuable herbs, trading in Freezington for supplies, and grew some crops.
The piano Lillie played was traded from the village; moving it had been hard work.
Still, both he and Lillie found it fulfilling.
When the tea had cooled, Lucas stood. "Before I go, may I ask one more favor?"
Mohn nodded. "Go ahead."
Lucas took out a brand-new camera—purchased on Perrin's advice, yet to be sent to Delibird for delivery.
Holding it up, he asked, "As you know, I'm a traveling sightseer. Mr. Mohn, would you take a photo with me and my Pokémon?"
"Of course," Mohn agreed readily. "Let's go outside—the light's better."
Outside, the well-behaved steeds drew Mohn's praise. "What smart, splendid horses. With them, a thousand km a day is nothing."
"But... who'll take the photo?"
"You'll see."
Lucas, with Vulpix in arms, stood to Mohn's right. Calyrex, holding Cosmog, stood on Mohn's left. The tall steeds stood behind.
Luxray stood in front of the trio.
Once everyone was set, Lucas winked at Calyrex. Understanding, Calyrex used psychic power to focus and press the shutter.
…
That afternoon, Lucas and Calyrex declined Mohn's lunch invitation and headed toward Wedgehurst's direction.
But first, per Calyrex's wishes, they detoured to the Slumbering Weald.
Calyrex had things to tell the presence sleeping within.
Swaying with Glastrier's strides, Calyrex glanced at Lucas, inspecting the photo. "Why did you want that photo with Mohn?"
The first time Lucas used a camera to capture it and Cosmog, Calyrex had been astonished—such a small box could trap time and hold their past. Had human technology advanced so far?
Though Lucas later explained the principles, Calyrex remained curious.
Combing Vulpix's fur on Spectrier's back, Lucas paused.
He shook frost from the brush. "Proof," he said. "When I go to Alola later, I'll give it to Mohn's family to reunite them—while earning goodwill."
"I see."
Calyrex nodded thoughtfully.
The house had been odd—lightless, no mirrors, as if hiding something.
Yet Lucas, as if he knew, hadn't let Calyrex expose it. They'd simply chatted and left.
That made Calyrex even more curious about this friend who seemed to know everything.
Fortunately, the future was long—well, short for Calyrex—but enough to learn.
Then, face turning a touch serious, Calyrex urged Lucas and Luxray to stop holding back and gallop at full speed toward the Grove—as if racing time.
Around five in the afternoon, far from the Crown Tundra and back in greenery, they saw the Slumbering Weald's outline.
Its trees weren't tall but densely packed; interlaced canopies blocked the sun, leaving the forest in a perpetual, drowsy quiet.
Within slept certain presences. Calyrex had come to see them one last time before leaving Galar.
Lucas knew who they were.
Those who had driven away Eternatus from the Darkest Day and saved Galar—the heroes of Sword and Shield.
Zacian, the King of Swords, and Zamazenta, the King of Shields!