Soon it was the eve of the celebration, and the Breeding House was brightly lit.
The Breeding Road outside the Breeding House was also adorned with various lights and decorations.
Along the Breeding Road from Twinleaf Town to Sandgem Town, vendor trucks were already set up, just waiting for dawn when the shopkeepers would arrive to start their businesses.
Inside the Breeding House, Lucas was watching Shauna, who kept changing into new outfits and coming before him.
"Hmm, this little dress is nice," Lucas said, looking at her in a long red princess dress.
Elite Four Lucian pushed up his glasses and nodded in agreement.
Gengar, twirling its beads and pushing up its black glasses, also nodded, feigning profound thought.
It wasn't until Shauna's last dress that Lucas and Elite Four Lucian both sat up straight.
A long green princess dress, with a small orange slanted hat on her head, silver hair, and a delicate, cute little face showing a smile.
Lilligant · Human Version?!
Lucas, Elite Four Lucian, and Gengar exchanged glances.
Actually, Gengar's gaze couldn't be seen.
Then they all nodded with great satisfaction.
Lucas had Lilligant stand next to Shauna.
Again, he nodded with immense satisfaction.
"You two look like sisters," Lucas said with a smile.
Shauna and Lilligant looked at each other, and Lilligant, seeing the cute Shauna, opened her arms and hugged her.
"Laji~"
Shauna, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes happily and laughed joyfully.
"So, how about wearing this one tomorrow?"
Listening to Lucas, Shauna nodded.
"Mm."
"Gengar, isn't Shauna cute?" Lucas suddenly asked.
No response.
Lucas walked over and waved his hand in front of Gengar.
Still no reaction.
Lucas reached out to take off Gengar's glasses and found that Gengar was asleep with its eyes closed.
But the beads in its hand were still twirling non-stop.
This fellow.
Lucas smiled helplessly.
"Hmph! Gengar is a big bad guy," Shauna pouted, saying angrily.
At the same time, she stomped her foot.
Gengar suddenly opened its eyes and quickly floated in front of Shauna.
"gengar sound"
Hehe, I was just kidding.
"Hmph!"
Shauna turned her head to the other side.
"gengar sound"
"Hmph!"
Finally, Gengar hung upside down, displaying its big cheek in front of Shauna, and also made a funny face.
Shauna was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
She used her small hand to pull at its mouth, just like Lucas.
"Gengar is the best."
Seeing this, Gengar was moved and stuck out its tongue, wanting to lick Shauna's cheek.
You big idiot, what are you doing?!
Lucas quickly pulled Gengar back.
"gengar sound"
Let me go.
"You wish!"
Elite Four Lucian watched Gengar desperately trying to move forward by clawing at the air with its hands, and Lucas behind it, holding its two feet with both hands, desperately braking.
He shook his head and laughed.
In the end, Shauna kissed Gengar on the cheek.
"gengar sound —"
Gengar smiled foolishly with joy.
Afterward, Shauna, pulling Lilligant and Gothorita, with Chingling on her shoulder, dashed back to her room on the second floor.
Gengar recovered and saw Lucas, who had lost his color.
It floated over to Lucas tremblingly, pointing at its own cheek.
It was incredibly smug in front of Lucas.
"gengar sound —"
No one hasn't been kissed by little Shauna, right? So pitiful Not like me I only—
Before it could finish speaking, its mouth kept changing shape in Lucas's hand.
Let you be smug, let you be arrogant!
Lucas thought viciously.
The next day, early in the morning.
After breakfast, Lucas took Shauna and the others out of the Breeding House.
Many vendors had already arrived at their stalls, setting out the items they needed to sell.
Upon seeing Lucas, they all greeted him warmly.
"Good morning, Shopkeeper Lucas."
"Good morning, Shopkeeper Lucas."
"Have you had breakfast, Shopkeeper? Would you like some here? It's free."
"Little Shauna is so cute today."
Lucas greeted them one by one.
After a simple stroll, Shauna, Gengar, and Mime Jr. all had their hands full of snacks.
Shauna gently ate cotton candy.
Following behind Lucas, she looked left and right.
So many delicious things.
Shauna blinked her eyes.
If I also opened a shop, wouldn't I also earn a lot of money?
But Uncle said today was a celebration, and I only needed to focus on playing.
Shauna sighed in her heart.
Uncle just doesn't know how to make money; what's so good about playing? Wouldn't it be better to earn more money?
He's even more playful than me, a child. Oh well, he's my uncle, after all.
Shauna sighed, thinking of this.
Lucas, who was chatting with Mayor Quinn, heard Shauna sigh and looked down at her.
Why is this little one acting like an adult?
"Then I'll leave it to you, Shopkeeper Lucas, later," Mayor Quinn said, patting the back of his head.
Lucas nodded.
He had seen the arrangements Mayor Quinn handed over; he and the Breeding House would announce the official start of the celebration after the performance.
When most of the people had arrived, Mayor Quinn held a microphone, and Rotom flew in the air.
Mayor Quinn's voice came from Rotom.
"We are grateful that we overcame difficulties, and we also understand that difficulties cannot defeat the people of Twinleaf Town. Therefore, we are holding this celebration with the theme 'Breeding Road' to celebrate our victory over difficulties, and also to thank the doctors, nurses, and many Trainers who supported and helped us, as well as Elite Four Lucian of our Sinnoh region."
As soon as his voice fell, cheers erupted all around.
Elite Four Lucian pushed up his glasses and greeted everyone gracefully.
"Last but not least, let us once again thank the owner of the Breeding House, Shopkeeper Lucas! If he hadn't made a timely decision, if he hadn't decisively told us to come to the Breeding House, if it weren't for his cold herbal medicine, the consequences would have been unimaginable! So, let us offer him our most sincere thanks!"
"Shopkeeper Lucas!"
"Shopkeeper!"
"Shopkeeper, I want to have your children!"
Lucas, who was a bit shy, felt his mind go blank.
Grandpa Yask, where did you learn these words—
Grandpa Yask, ignoring the gazes of the people around him, with Teddiursa on his shoulder, was laughing heartily.
"Shopkeeper Lucas heard about our celebration and seems to have prepared a grand performance for us. Now, let's hand the stage over to him and the Pokémon of the Breeding House."
As soon as the words fell, thunderous applause erupted in the venue.
Lucas walked up and looked at the people and Pokémon below, who had recovered their health and had excited, happy smiles on their faces.
It's really great that everyone is okay.
Lucas smiled, then suddenly spoke.
"Staravia!"
Staravia suddenly appeared from the horizon, followed by several Staraptor, Staravia, and Starly.
They emitted white light all over, streaking across the sky in formation, then swooped down towards the crowd.
Just as they were about to approach the crowd, they pulled up, flying over the heads of the people, and finally ascended sharply, heading back towards the horizon.
Many people's hair was blown by the strong airflow, and listening to the whistling sound in their ears, they felt incredibly thrilled.
"Woohoo~"
Someone couldn't help but shout, and instantly the atmosphere was ignited.
Immediately after, they saw many water gates appearing on the horizon, and below the water gates were one fire ring after another, burning with grey-purple flames.
Staravia flew with its back to the ground, beneath the water gates, and as it passed through the fire rings, it flipped over, flying through one fire ring after another with a smooth posture.
It listened to the cheers of the people below, felt the emotions of the people and Pokémon, and recalled the scene of itself, Lucas, and the Pokémon of the Breeding House working together to protect them.
It felt that it had become stronger, as if it had understood how to become even stronger.
By protecting the people and Pokémon it needed to protect, it would eventually undergo a transformation.
Without using Brave Bird, its body also began to be covered in white light.
As it passed through one fire ring after another, its body within the white light began to grow larger and larger.
Until the last fire ring.
It suddenly flapped its wings, carrying the fire ring and white light, and dissipated them together.
With the posture of an eagle soaring through the sky, it let out a loud cry.
Cool, passionate, and defiant, it instantly ignited the blood of the Trainers present.
Cheers rose and fell continuously.
Immediately after, all the water gates were frozen, and someone noticed several Pokémon sliding down along a passage on the frozen water gates.
As they were about to reach the ground, a blue Pokémon suddenly shot out Water Gun, which then froze into ice, creating an ice passage above everyone's heads.
Several Pokémon then slid along this passage.
Mime Jr. held a flower basket, coming along the aisle above the heads of the people, its body involuntarily dancing Teeter Dance. The swaying dance made the people below spontaneously follow along, while its small hands continuously gave flowers from the basket to some of them.
Vulpix sat on its six tails, came above its trainer's head, and then jumped down. A female trainer hugged it, and it gently touched its trainer's forehead with its own. Then, from the female trainer's arms, it jumped back into the aisle.
The female trainer touched her forehead, as if something extra was there. She peeled it off and saw it was a Vulpix sticker, then happily stuck it back on.
Following behind was Marill, which continuously used Water Gun towards the sky. The mist, illuminated by the sun, formed round after round of rainbows.
Finally, there was—
A purple figure sliding with difficulty in the aisle, getting stuck from time to time, then wiggling its butt to move—
Skipping that part.
The crowd, who were still enthusiastically greeting Gengar while it struggled to slide, suddenly heard a thud.
Looking in the direction of the sound, Heracross and Pinsir were locking horns, using the powerful horns on their heads.
The simplest of moves.
The atmosphere in the arena once again reached a new climax.
The intense battle, fueled by the shouts of the people below, slowly began to shift.
Heracross slowly pushed Pinsir.
A group of grandpas and uncles kept cheering and shouting.
Just as the battle was about to be decided, a rather strong Machamp appeared. It stretched out its hands and forcefully pulled Heracross and Pinsir apart. One Pokémon began to challenge two Pokémon.
Then, Vex simultaneously gripped the horns of the two Bug-type Pokémon, lifted them up forcefully, spun a few times, and threw them directly out.
Pinsir, in mid-air, originally intended to change its posture to land safely, but found many people below extending their arms, seemingly waiting for it to come over. It then changed to a safe posture and landed safely into their embrace.
The Machamp in the arena pounded its chest, its four arms clenched tightly, and its muscles bulged.
Just then, it was hugged around the waist by hands reaching out from behind, performing a 'reverse pulling of the weeping willow' move.
It was picked up by the Machamp that appeared from behind. In mid-air, it rotated its body and landed in a safe posture.
Upon landing, it found two Machamp around it staring menacingly.
It let out an excited cry, and its Black Belt-bound arms bulged again.
It confronted the two Machamp.
Vex took on Machoke and Vex in a one-on-two battle.
The Breeding House's traditional festival, Machamp wrestling, officially began.
The purest clash of strength, no fancy moves, just muscle against muscle.
It was this most primitive way that made the atmosphere and cheers in the arena the most explosive.
Regardless of age, male or female, everyone was frantically cheering for the Machamp in the arena.
Especially the trainers.
They felt their blood boiling, wishing they could go up and wrestle with Machamp themselves.
Lucas, who was directing, almost lost his composure when he heard a whistle from who knows where.
Brother, it's a female Machamp! And you can still whistle!
Vex, by its own strength, forcefully lifted Machoke and Vex, then leaned back, stood up, and had its right hand raised by Gengar, who had floated up, gesturing to the crowd below: the winner, Vex!
It exerted force with its arm, directly lifted Gengar, and then, under Gengar's frightened gaze, threw Gengar out.
Gengar, thrown out, landed among petals. It stood up, found itself surrounded by petals, then gathered the petals, ran over, and handed them to Lilligant.
Lilligant covered her mouth and smiled, then spread her arms.
"Laji ~"
Petal Blizzard: Twister Version appeared in the center of the arena.
Gothorita's eyes emitted a strange light, and the petal tornado was stopped in place. Then Luxray struck it with a Thunderbolt, and all the petals became electrified.
Suddenly, many Gengar appeared in the arena, throwing Shadow Sneak into it.
The tornado was dispersed, and petals scattered into the air.
Rapidash and Luxray, their bodies covered in flames and electricity, ran towards both sides of the crowd, with petals trailing behind them.
The petals, carrying flames and lightning, formed a giant heart, tightly encircling them.
The remaining petals fell into the crowd.
Someone reached out and caught a petal; it felt a little tingly, a strange sensation.
"Laji ~"
Lilligant, with petals on her head, shot a ray towards the sky, instantly clearing the clouds.
Sunny Day.
Lilligant, holding Gothorita's hand, slowly began to dance gracefully under the sun.
Petals continuously appeared around them, until the petals enveloped their bodies.
Staraptor flapped its wings, and the petals were blown into the crowd. Lilligant and Gothorita, hidden within the petals, disappeared.
People were still wondering when, the next second, Lilligant, accompanied by Gothitelle, emerged dancing from the center of the petals on the ground, concluding the dance.
Lilligant grabbed the petals on the ground and threw them forcefully.
Many words formed by Combee appeared in the sky.
Celebration! Begins!
Without Lucas needing to say a word, the crowd cheered again.
Elite Four Lucian watched this performance, which perfectly combined elegance, cuteness, power, and confidence, especially Lilligant's elegant posture at the end.
Could it be that Shopkeeper Lucas was also an extremely excellent Coordinator?
And Lucas, watching from the arena, was equally surprised.
It was this beautiful?!
It would be great if the surrounding flowers were blooming now.
Shopkeeper Lucas smiled and shook his head. It was almost late autumn; how could cherry blossoms still be blooming?
That's right, what Shopkeeper Lucas planted back then were cherry blossoms.
Under the blessing of the Breeding House, the cherry trees grew quite fast, but for them to bloom, it would probably take a long time.
The crowd had already begun to disperse, starting to look for places that interested them.
Many people, paired up, were still discussing the opening performance.
People from Sandgem Town also began to arrive one after another, and from the mouths of those watching live, they learned they had missed the performance, immediately filled with regret.
Shauna had long since disappeared with Mime Jr. and the others, but Shopkeeper Lucas wasn't worried.
After all, almost everyone knew Shauna.
He, meanwhile, was looking at the Staravia in front of him. No, it should be Staraptor.
[Staraptor]
[Type: Normal, Flying]
[Gender: Male]
[Ability: Reckless]
[Known Moves: Tackle, Growl, Quick Attack, Wing Attack, Aerial Ace, Double Team, Take Down, Brave Bird, Air Cutter, Whirlwind, Endeavor, Close Combat, Acrobatics, Feather Dance, Flip Turn.]
[Mood: Happy]
[Status: Confident]
[Friendship: 100 (Old employee of the Breeding House)]
[Description: From initially seeking a trainer to become stronger, to now understanding what truly makes it stronger, it soars through the sky with its most agile form, leading to its evolution.
"Congratulations, Staraptor, you've become even stronger."
Staraptor nodded, its gaze gentle.
Lucas reached out and stroked its head.
A different kind of touch.
Just as Lucas was about to leave.
He suddenly felt a warmth in his chest.
Followed by a gust of wind, a petal blew onto Lucas's face.
Lucas took it off and glanced at it, but froze in place.
Then he abruptly looked up, and all along the way, cherry blossoms were in full bloom.
Not just Lucas, everyone present was stunned.
What's going on? In autumn, cherry blossoms are blooming?!
And in an instant?!
[Long ago, a Celebi traveling alone accidentally came here. It recalled certain things and buried its gift here.]
Seeing this, Lucas felt a warmth in his heart.
Thank you, Celebi.
This feeling was transmitted to Celebi through the wooden tag.
Celebi, who was playing with a little boy, looked up at the small wooden tag around its neck.
"Chirp ~"
It happily spun a few circles.
The young boy named Samuel Oak looked at the happy Celebi and curiously asked if this was from the person Celebi cherished most.
Celebi happily nodded.
After regaining its strength, Celebi said goodbye to the boy and sent him back to his original time.
As for itself, it continued its journey with the wooden tag.
Perceiving the emotions transmitted back from the wooden tag, Lucas smiled happily, then took out his phone.
Lucas: Can I call you?
Cynthia: ?
Lucas, who was typing, suddenly received a video call from Cynthia.
....
Power Stones PLZZZZZ
[Get 20+ chapters ahead on - P.a.t.r.e.o.n "PokeFicLord"]