"So when did you arrive?"
Lucas asked again.
"Sister Cynthia, look at me, look at me."
Shauna's voice came from afar.
Shauna ran over, holding a sand sculpture.
To Lucas's shock, she presented it to Cynthia.
How did you run over holding this sand sculpture?
Won't it fall apart?
Cynthia carefully looked at the chibi Gengar Shauna had made, and smiled gently.
"So cute, Little Shauna is amazing!"
Cynthia praised Shauna, and Shauna nodded happily, then turned and ran back.
"Wait for me, I'll make you an even better one."
After saying that, she ran off in a hurry, holding the sand sculpture.
"Hey, I haven't—"
Lucas reached out, wanting to say he hadn't seen it yet.
But Shauna ignored him completely and just ran off.
Sure enough, when Cynthia arrived, she didn't want her uncle anymore, right?
Cynthia covered her mouth and laughed at the sight.
"I arrived last night."
Lucas turned his head to look at Cynthia.
On her fair, snow-white wrist was the small wooden tag he had given her.
"I was on my way back from Hoenn yesterday, passed by here, and thought I'd been working hard for so long, so I came over to slack off a bit," Cynthia continued.
"Not welcome?"
Cynthia glanced at Lucas, then grabbed the Pachirisu standing on her shoulder and held it in her arms, stroking it continuously.
"How could that be? You're very welcome, aren't you, Gengar."
"gengar sound—gengar sound!!!"
Gengar's Growl, and Vespiquen's exasperated voice, came from afar.
Lucas then remembered that Gengar wasn't by his side.
Cynthia smiled, then didn't continue speaking.
And when Lucas saw that Cynthia didn't continue speaking, he also stopped talking.
The two sat quietly on the chairs, drinking the tea Gothorita brewed for them and eating the prepared desserts.
Lucas suddenly felt that when he was with Cynthia, he rarely talked incessantly.
There seemed to be a strange unspoken understanding between them.
However, Lucas also liked this mode of interaction very much.
Holding a Pokémon in their arms, sitting together, enjoying the breeze, basking in the sun, drinking tea, eating desserts, and occasionally chatting for a few words.
"The Breeding House seems to have changed a lot."
A clear, mature voice came, and Lucas came back to his senses.
He looked at Cynthia and found her looking at him.
"I mean, there seem to be a lot more wild Pokémon?"
Lucas reached out and stroked Vulpix's tail, saying:
"Maybe they think I saved the forest where they live, and then became friends with the Breeding House."
"Friends?"
"Yes, friends."
Cynthia laughed.
It was contagious to Lucas.
Then Lucas also started to laugh.
Cynthia stroked the somewhat unintelligent-looking Pachirisu in her arms.
"The encounter between humans and Pokémon is very magical, isn't it?"
Lucas nodded, then he briefly told Cynthia what had happened after she left the Breeding House.
Cynthia listened silently beside him.
Her movements were incredibly gentle.
Pachirisu: Mom, I think I've met the human I love most in my life—
Pachirisu squinted her eyes.
She's not like that pervert...
A gust of autumn wind blew, and Lucas shivered, causing his words to pause.
Vulpix quickly snuggled closer into Lucas's arms, wanting to bring him more warmth.
Then, with Lucas's movements, it relaxed its body and lay comfortably in Lucas's arms.
Listening to Lucas and Cynthia's conversation.
And Lilligant and Gothorita nearby also seemed to be able to join the conversation.
Vulpix suddenly thought, if it grew up.
Would it be able to join their conversation then?
If it grew up, would it be able to bring Lucas warmth better—
If it grew up, would it be able to protect Lucas like Gengar and Lilligant?
It also remembered the day Lucas returned with Shauna, riding on Rapidash.
His smile was so happy.
Suddenly, it really wanted to grow up quickly, so it could do more for Lucas.
Feeling that Vulpix's mood in his arms was a little off, Lucas lowered his head and looked at it.
Looking at the concern in Lucas's eyes.
Vulpix shook its head.
Smiling, Lucas pinched Vulpix's nose and continued chatting with Cynthia.
"Breeding Road?"
Cynthia said, then looked at the Garchomp beside her.
"The Breeding Road that corresponds to the Victory Road?"
Lucas's eyes widened instantly.
"How could that be."
Lucas immediately denied it three times.
I'm not, I don't know, I don't have it.
"Lucas, actually, I've always believed in you."
Lucas stopped shaking his head and was stunned for a moment.
"You will become an excellent breeder."
Cynthia said softly, but her tone was unusually firm.
"You won't disappoint your Pokémon."
Listening to Cynthia's words, Lucas picked up the milk tea that Gothorita had poured for him. He didn't see Gothorita replace his milk tea at an extremely fast speed.
"Who knows."
After saying that, he tilted his head back and took a big gulp of "milk tea"—
His eyes instantly widened, like brass bells.
Swallowing it down, he lowered his head and looked at the Gothorita standing by, pouring tea.
Gothorita pointed at Lilligant.
"Gothorita's cry/sound~"
She made it.
Lilligant saw Lucas looking at her, and didn't hesitate for a second.
She immediately showed a sweet smile.
"Laji~"
Her voice was also very sweet.
Hey, it's not right to act cute when you've done something wrong!
Lucas wasn't falling for that, so Lilligant, seeing this, could only look at Dash.
Lucas turned to look at Dash.
Dash was watching the show when he realized Lucas and everyone else were looking at him.
"Niko?"
Huh? Me?
Looking at Lilligant's hint.
Dash nodded sharply.
"Niko!"
It was me, so what?
Then he picked up the herbal medicine and handed it to Lucas.
His two arms were also rubbing together, as if preparing for a fight.
He had the look of someone who would make Lucas suffer if he didn't finish drinking it.
Lucas drank another cup of herbal medicine with tears in his eyes.
This time there was no sweet honey.
Vulpix jumped down from Lucas's arms and ran towards Rapidash.
Lucas looked at its small body, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.
But then he withdrew his gaze.
No matter what decision Vulpix made, he would support it.
It must be said that the herbal medicine Gothorita brewed was very effective; Lucas ate a large bowl of rice for dinner.
After saying goodbye to Cynthia and Shauna, Lucas returned to his room. After showering, he came out and found Vulpix sitting on the dressing table, looking at a box.
Vulpix gazed at the fire-energy-filled stone inside the box, lost in thought.
Finally, it recalled its conversation with Rapidash.
It stretched out a paw, approaching the stone.
"Are you really sure?"
Lucas's voice startled it, and its paw retracted.
It looked up at Lucas.
"Vulpix's cry/sound?"
"I mean, have you really made up your mind? Decided to grow up?"
Lucas sat down on the bed, Gengar followed closely behind.
Looking at Vulpix sitting on the dressing table, Lucas continued:
"Perhaps the reason you want to grow up is because of me, but Vulpix, what I hope is that this is truly what you want."
Lucas picked up Vulpix.
"Perhaps everyone has a day when they grow up, and you might be no exception."
"But what I hope is that this is what you want."
"Actually, the world of growing up isn't that beautiful, but I will work hard to make it more beautiful with all of you."
Looking into Lucas's eyes, Vulpix's eyes instantly welled up.
It had always thought that Lucas's illness today was because of itself, that it couldn't bring Lucas warmth better, and also couldn't be like Rapidash. Lucas gently pressed his forehead against Vulpix's forehead.
"It's okay, Vulpix, with me here, you just need to be happy."
"Leave other things to me and Gengar."
Listening to Lucas's words, it hummed in agreement.
"Vulpix's cry/sound~"
It also didn't want to grow up so quickly.
After growing up, it wouldn't be able to tug on Lucas's pant leg, wouldn't be able to lie on Lucas's lap, and even less be able to snuggle into Lucas's arms.
Vulpix thought this, then fell asleep in Lucas's warm embrace.
Placing Vulpix on the bed, Lucas also lay down.
The room's light changed color.
"Gengar."
"gengar sound?"
What's wrong?
"Nothing, just calling you."
Lucas finished speaking and closed his eyes.
"Gengar."
"gengar sound?"
"Gengar."
"gengar sound?"
"Gengar."
"gengar sound?"
No matter when, Gengar can always respond to him.
"Nothing."
"Gengar."
"Good night."
"Sweet dreams."
"gen gar Lucas, good night, sweet dreams!"
A red light flashed by.