The first League Tournament is still in full swing.
After the first round of qualifying matches, the even more intense knockout rounds have begun. Lucien didn't attend to observe; he heard the results secondhand from Elif.
Meanwhile, the Royal Factory's large-scale production was proceeding at a frantic pace. Skilled craftsmen blew glass casings and carefully fixed refined tungsten filaments onto lamp holders. Elif then assembled the electric lights and paired each one with a small bioenergy generator. Every day, he would visit the factory to inspect progress and report back to Lucien in a timely manner.
In the castle's study, Lucien stood before a slightly scaled-down model of Lucien City, gazing at the roads etched into it with a distant, longing look in his eyes.
"First, we lay the road from the castle and the central avenue outward, then gradually extend it into the residential areas and the factory districts. We must ensure that every single light bulb can be properly illuminated."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Elif replied.
Dragonite leaned to one side, its face full of curiosity as it examined the electric lights on the table. Every so often, it would pick up a bulb and release a faint current through its fingertips, coaxing the glass to glow. The behavior amused Lucien. He smiled, reached over, and stroked Dragonite's head, his mind already turning toward far more ambitious plans.
Electricity could not only illuminate and banish darkness. It could power machinery, enhance training, revolutionize transportation, and, combined with the abilities of Pokémon, give rise to tools of extraordinary power.
Universal electrification was just the first step in Unova's rise. Beyond that lay unexplored Pokémon abilities, a perfected power system, and an ever-expanding grid that would one day bring light to every corner of the region.
A few days later, Lucien City's first bio-based power plant officially opened its doors.
Inside, the workers looked at the Electric-type Pokémon gathered before them, their faces filled with cautious wonder.
"With these little guys... can they really supply the whole city with electricity?"
One worker reached out and patted a Magneton on the head, then nodded confidently. "Absolutely. His Majesty Lucien ordered it himself." At the mention of the King's name, his eyes lit with fervent admiration.
"His Majesty said the machines can capture the Pokémon's electrical output, and more than that, they emit a special electromagnetic field that draws Electric-types here naturally, turning this place into their home."
"And the electricity they release just going about their day..."
"Becomes the city's power source," he finished. "His Majesty called it the highest form of symbiosis between Pokémon and humanity."
The workers turned to look at their new charges: Magnemite, Magneton, Jolteon, and by the looks on their faces, these Pokémon seemed genuinely content.
"So next, we string the power lines through the whole city?"
"Already underway, Gero and his crew started this morning!"
Under the foreman's direction, the workers quickly fell into their rhythm. Amid the bewildered and curious stares of Lucien City's residents and visiting tourists, crews erected concrete poles along every major street.
Within a few days, the city's first main avenue blazed with streetlights.
As night fell, dozens of electric bulbs switched on at once. Their warm, steady white light swept away the darkness and lit the streets as bright as noon.
Passersby froze in their tracks, heads tilted upward, faces caught between wonder and awe, some almost afraid of the miracle before them. The streetlights shone clean and unwavering, unlike anything fire or candle had ever offered.
"Mommy, what is that? It's so bright!"
A small child on the street tugged at her mother's sleeve, eyes wide.
"That's an electric lamp, sweetheart, invented by His Majesty Lucien, so we'll never have to sit in the dark again." The woman's voice carried a tremor of genuine excitement. No more dim, reeking kerosene smoke. No more groping through blackened streets at night.
Children ran circles beneath the glowing poles, laughing. Adults gathered in small clusters, speaking in low, hushed tones, their eyes full of quiet dreams for the future.
The following morning, residents flooded the department store to buy electric lamps for their homes. By the time night fell again, Lucien City blazed like a second sun. Every visiting tournament spectator who witnessed it wore the same expression, one of profound and speechless admiration.
Inside the castle, Lucien stood on the rooftop with his Pokémon, watching the city below, windows glowing, streets shimmering, the whole of it alive with light.
Dragonite leaned against the window, gazing out at the brilliantly lit city below. It let out a gentle, soft cry, as though it somehow understood that this world, transformed by the advent of electricity and the growing bond between humans and Pokémon, was becoming something more beautiful with every passing day.
Lucien could almost picture it: his people gathered around electric lights in their homes, sharing warm meals, while children laughed and chased Pokémon through the streets in the golden glow of the evening. Perhaps this was the meaning of his being here. Perhaps this was what he had come to build.
He watched the city breathe with light, his heart full of quiet anticipation. He knew that before long, electricity would reach every corner of Unova. Humanity would bid farewell, once and for all, to darkness and stagnation, and step forward into a new era. An era of harmonious coexistence between humans and Pokémon. An era where science and nature grew together, not apart.
Kingdom Calendar, Year 151 - December 1st.
After several grueling rounds of competition, the first Unova Kingdom Pokémon Tournament's top ten had been decided, and the knockout stage was now officially underway. Ten competitors whittled down to five, full 6v6 battles, no holding back.
In the great arena, Lucien and Elif sat in the VIP box, watching the fierce battles play out below. The higher the stakes climbed, the clearer it became: every Trainer who had made it this far was extraordinary. Only five spots remained, and the weight of that fact hung over every match.
Elif understood Lucien's intentions better than anyone. Beyond the ultimate champion, the remaining four victors would be appointed as the Four Heavenly Kings, guardians of the Kingdom, protectors of peace across all of Unova.
The match currently underway was the first of the top-ten bouts. Derrick faced a female Trainer named Elza, and the battle had reached a fever pitch. Both sides had spent their reserves, and the outcome remained impossible to call. On Derrick's side, only Lucario and a gravely wounded Hydreigon remained. Elza still had her Azumarill and a Jolteon, both in considerably better shape.
"Elif, who do you think wins this?" Lucien asked, eyes bright with excitement.
Elif smiled wryly and shook his head. "Your Majesty... you know I understand nothing about Pokémon battles."
"That's fine, just guess. It doesn't matter if you're wrong."
Elif studied the two Trainers on the field for a moment, then said, "I think Elza will win."
"Oh?" Lucien turned to him with interest. "Why?"
"Because Derrick's Hydreigon is already severely wounded. And while Lucario hasn't even entered the arena yet, Elza's Jolteon still has plenty of stamina left. Her Azumarill is also in far better condition than the Hydreigon." Elif paused. "The numbers simply favor her."
Lucien nodded slowly, his gaze drifting back to Derrick. From everything he had observed, this man's bond with his Pokémon ran far deeper than most, and his team bore the unmistakable mark of rigorous, disciplined training. A bond that surpasses the ordinary, combined with relentless effort, had a way of producing miracles.
He found himself hoping for one now.
Down on the battlefield, the referee raised his flag. "Derrick, please send out your next Pokémon!"
Derrick exhaled steadily. He reached for the Poké Ball containing his battered Hydreigon, ran his thumb gently across its surface, then set it aside. His hand moved to a different ball. His eyes were calm and resolved.
"Lucario, I'm counting on you."
The ball arced upward. A burst of white light, and Lucario landed with quiet precision, a faint blue Aura already rippling across its body. It glanced back at Rick, just once, its eyes carrying the full weight of trust. It knew what this moment meant.
"Azumarill, Water Gun!" Elza moved first, her voice crisp and confident.
Azumarill sprang forward. A high-pressure stream of water shot toward Lucario with startling speed.
"Agility, then Aura Sphere!"
Lucario's body flickered like a shadow, slipping clean through the Water Gun. In the same breath, it compressed a dense ball of blue energy between its palms and drove it straight into Azumarill's side.
Elza's expression shifted. "Azumarill, Protect!"
Too late. The Aura Sphere connected squarely, sending Azumarill stumbling backward several steps. It steadied itself, but the damage was plain to see.
"Lucario, Extreme Speed!"
Lucario became a streak of white, crossing the arena in an instant. Elza called her counter the moment she saw it coming, but even her sharp reflexes couldn't match the sheer velocity of the move. Azumarill was launched off its feet and hit the ground hard.
"There's no coming back from that," someone in the crowd murmured.
"Azumarill is unable to battle!" the referee announced. "Elza, please send out your next Pokémon!"
Elza drew a slow breath, recalled Azumarill, and then made her decision. A flash of white light erupted across the arena, and Jolteon materialized opposite Lucario, crackling with barely contained electricity, its needle-sharp fur standing on end.
"Jolteon, Thunderbolt, now!"
Jolteon's body blazed with blinding light. A torrent of electricity screamed toward Lucario.
"Bone Rush, block it, then close in!"
Lucario condensed a bone staff from pure Aura energy and spun it at blistering speed. The Thunderbolt struck the spinning staff and scattered in a brilliant cascade of sparks. For a breathless moment, lightning filled the air in every direction.
Then Lucario launched itself forward.
It drove toward Jolteon with ferocious momentum, but Jolteon was faster than it looked. In an instant, the Electric-type redirected its current, threading it like a net to lock onto Lucario mid-charge. Lucario reacted on instinct, compressing a sphere of blue Aura between its palms and firing it point-blank.
Aura and Thunderbolt collided in the center of the arena.
The resulting explosion was deafening. A shockwave of raw energy tore outward in every direction, and both Pokémon were hurled back by the force of it, landing hard and sustaining serious injuries in the same instant.
In the VIP box, Elif leaned forward, his expression shifting with genuine surprise. He had not expected Lucario to neutralize a Thunderbolt that way.
Lucien's lips curved slightly. His eyes burned with anticipation.
On the field, Jolteon was panting heavily. Lucario's breathing had grown ragged too, its body marked with wounds, but it stood. Planted firmly in the center of the arena, gaze locked unwaveringly on its opponent.
"Jolteon, Thunder Punch, everything you have left!" Elza's voice was tight but steady.
"Lucario." Rick's voice dropped low, almost quiet. "Give it everything. Full Aura, now."
He couldn't lose. He absolutely could not lose. His mother's future rested on this. Every grueling day of training, every sacrifice, it had all led here.
Lucario. Please. Hold on.
As if it had heard every unspoken word, Lucario glanced back at its Trainer, just for a fraction of a second. Then it charged.
Blue Aura and yellow lightning tore toward each other across the arena. They met in a blinding collision, flooding every corner of the stadium with light. The crowd fell silent for one suspended moment.
Then the dust settled.
Jolteon lay on the ground, motionless.
"Jolteon is unable to battle!" The referee's flag snapped up. "Rick wins!"
The arena erupted. Thunderous applause rolled through the stands like a wave.
Rick ran forward and threw his arms around Lucario, pulling it close. His shoulders shook. He didn't try to hide the tears.
Up in the VIP box, Lucien smiled and turned to his advisor. "It seems your prediction was off, Elif."
Elif laughed quietly, his voice warm with admiration. "So it was. The bond between Rick and Lucario is something else entirely."
Lucien looked back down at the two figures embracing in the center of the arena, his expression thoughtful and unhurried. "Only someone like that deserves to be a guardian of Unova."
One of the Four Heavenly Kings' seats already had a name on it.
Not far away, in the waiting area beneath the stands, Anna stood at the mouth of the corridor, eyes fixed on the arena. The fire in her gaze was already lit. Her match was next.
Across from her stood her opponent, a young man in an ornate robe, dressed in the unmistakable fashion of old nobility. They sized each other up across the passageway for a brief, wordless moment. Then both turned and walked toward the stage.
"Your Majesty, Miss Anna is entering the arena," Elif said.
"Mm." Lucien's tone was calm.
He had studied her opponent's previous matches carefully. Arthur was talented, polished, even, but if he fought Anna relying solely on what he had shown so far, it wouldn't be enough. More importantly, no one in the entire tournament had yet forced Anna to reveal her true ace. Zoroark hadn't set foot on the field once.
As Lucien expected, the match was decisive without ever being close. Arthur had skill, and his tactical instincts were sharper than his age suggested, but against Anna, a Trainer with years of seasoned experience, every strategy he attempted was read and dismantled before it could take shape. In the end he resorted to attrition, trading six of his Pokémon to bring down three of hers. For someone with barely a year of training behind him, it was a respectable showing.
But it wasn't enough.
In the second bout of the top-ten stage, Anna advanced.
She stood in the arena below, celebrating with her Pokémon, and then, as if sensing something, she paused. She turned her head and looked upward, scanning the rows of the VIP box until her eyes found his.
Lucien smiled and gave a small, quiet nod.