The so-called power of bonds and friendship isn't some mysterious Mega Luxray, nor a fusion-transformed Luxray.
Rather, it's an even more mystical, almost spiritual force.
Just like in the finals of the Pokémon World Championships: Leon's Charizard's G-Max Wildfire, and Ash's Pikachu unleashing a friendship-fueled Thunderbolt.
It's a power born from the bond between trainer and Pokémon.
Lucas thought that this would be a worthy goal to pursue in the future.
After all, in the world of Pokémon, you can't get by without a bit of mysticism.
Completely unaware that Lucas already had his future all mapped out, Luxray walked ahead with a spring in his step, actively leading the way.
The little hill behind the farm was an area Luxray had visited a few times, so he was quite familiar with it.
Sometimes he'd go with Oranguru to pick mushrooms, or munch on some wild grass to help with hairballs in his stomach.
It wasn't just Raging Bolt, either; every so often, Luxray would even help Arcanine, Dachsbun, or Vulpix groom their fur.
After all, Luxray simply couldn't stand seeing their fur get tangled.
It's perfectly normal for cats to be a bit obsessive about cleanliness.
Looking at the mud caked on his paw pads, Luxray decided to endure it for now, planning to clean up on the way back.
Water sources in the wild are precious, and after having wandered for so long in human cities, he wasn't about to pollute a clear stream.
The White Dew had arrived; the summer heat was fading.
Autumn's official harvest season was nearly here.
Even before entering the back hills, Lucas heard the dense chorus of cicadas from within.
There were still many traces of summer left in the world.
Staring at the lushly vegetated hill, Lucas began planning how to fully explore it when autumn's harvest came.
Autumn turned this place into a hidden treasure trove, filled with mountain delicacies bursting with flavor!
Luxray paused, glanced at the excited Lucas, meowed, and gestured with a muddy paw toward the far side of the hill, as if reminding Lucas of something.
Lucas, catching Luxray's meaning, looked to the other side of the hill.
"There's something dangerous over there?" Lucas asked.
Luxray shook his head.
Not exactly dangerous—just a bit tricky. The far side of the hill was home to some wild Pokémon tribes that could be a little troublesome.
Not to mention the lizards that spewed poisonous flames.
The group that rivaled those lizards—the ones who had played a big part in the farm-raid incident sparked by the secret seasoning—was a wild family of Houndoom and Houndour.
Although Luxray could handle them alone, Lucas's development plans complicated things. Those particular Pokémon were legally protected; he couldn't just drive them off without disrupting the local ecosystem.
So, either they'd have to be recruited or relocated to a suitable home.
The Salazzle-led Salandit gang was the same.
But such things weren't Luxray's concern; he left those headaches to Lucas.
Luxray ran to the base of the hill and looked back, urging Lucas to follow.
"Meowr!"
This way leads up the hill!
"..."
Looking at the near-vertical slope ahead, Lucas fell silent.
There isn't even a proper path!
Probably because hardly anyone climbed this hill, most of its surfaces were shrouded in dense vegetation—you couldn't tell if there was a steep wall or a barely passable path beneath the leaves.
Perhaps for agile Pokémon, this wasn't a problem.
Seeing Lucas hesitate, Luxray sighed, crouched low, and motioned for Lucas to climb up.
Honestly, what am I going to do with you?
Leave the climbing to me.
It had rained the night before, and with little sunlight reaching the hill, the path was even more slippery.
Even a professional climber would tread carefully, wary of stepping on what looked solid but was actually hollow beneath.
Luxray was like a Gogoat leaping along dangerous cliffs, agile and surefooted, hopping from one rock outcrop to the next.
His eyes shone like lightbulbs—his species talent allowed him to see through the undergrowth, finding the best footholds.
He never worried about "landmines"—whether a rock was sturdy or rotten, he could tell in a glance.
They made it to the hillside, where Lucas finally found a spot to set his feet.
With non-slip boots on, he wasn't too worried about the muddy path.
Gazing at the winding trail vanishing into the undergrowth, Lucas mused aloud: "Looks like I'll have to clear a proper path soon, or this will always be a hassle."
Fortunately, there was a path—just overgrown with unchecked vegetation.
Once the hill's treasures were fully explored, clearing a convenient trail would be enough.
The path was littered with fallen leaves, which would eventually return to the earth and nourish new, tall trees—a natural cycle.
The thick canopy blocked most of the sky, but some sunlight filtered in, dappling the ground as the breeze stirred the leaves.
As he walked, breathing in the post-rain mountain air, Lucas watched for signs of wild Pokémon.
There were fewer wild Pokémon than he'd expected.
Aside from the occasional bird Pokémon, whose wings made telltale noises, there were only traces of Diglett and Dugtrio, or glimpses of Bug-types like Scatterbug, Vivillon, or Mothim.
"That's odd."
He muttered in puzzlement, somehow producing a basket from nowhere, already lined with various mushrooms.
With the basket on his back, Lucas gathered mushrooms along the trail, planning to cook a hotpot with them later.
…
The mushrooms near the path varied—some tiny and star-like, others with big, meaty caps.
They came in all colors: pure white, fiery red, even dazzling multicolored ones that looked poisonous.
Not wanting to end up in a stretcher, Lucas carefully avoided the showiest mushrooms, only picking the plain, even ugly, edible-looking ones.
Generally, the more eye-catching the color, the more likely it's poisonous—bright hues attract attention.
Of course, there are exceptions; in this Pokémon world, some colorful mushrooms are delicious and harmless.
But not the one Lucas spotted next.
…
He and Luxray stopped short, staring at a "mushroom" at the edge of the grass, their expressions odd.
The cap looked exactly like a Poké Ball, pure white stalk rooted in the moist soil—if you ignored the pair of little hands growing from the stalk.
Neither of them got any closer. Instead, they kept their distance to see how long it could keep up the act.
They both recognized that the "mushroom" was actually a living Pokémon.
Lucas relied on experience; Luxray, on his ability to sense auras.
That mushroom was a living Pokémon.
After several minutes, seeing neither Lucas nor Luxray fall for its trick, the Foongus finally opened its eyes in frustration, glanced at them, then hopped off into the grass, disappearing with a rustle.
If these two won't fall for it, I'll find someone else!
Once the Foongus was gone, Lucas explained to Luxray, "That was a Foongus. I didn't expect to find one on this hill. Since it's Grass/Poison type, getting too close could mean getting poisoned by its spores. We'll need to warn everyone on the farm once we develop this area, just to avoid any accidents."
Luxray nodded solemnly, deciding to remind everyone back at the farm.
Continuing to gather mushrooms as they ascended, Lucas grew thoughtful.
He might have an idea why there were so few wild Pokémon here.
He and Luxray had come up a path with no clear trail, hard even to climb, and close to human dwellings—most wild Pokémon wouldn't use this route.
The other side of the hill, according to Luxray, was occupied by two fierce wild Pokémon tribes.
Only local Bug-types, Foongus, Diglett, Dugtrio, and flying Pokémon could really get around freely.
He was also interested in that Foongus.
Its evolved form, Amoonguss, is known among fans as "the Pokémon you feel safest with when your back's turned." Thanks to its moves, typing, and abilities, it's a versatile and "annoying" support tank.
With Regenerator, Spore, Synthesis, Rage Powder, Protect, and Pollen Puff, it's frustrated many a sunny-day team.
But Lucas was more interested in its natural abilities than its battle potential.
He remembered a medical book from Nurse Joy, which described a way to use Foongus spores—collecting the spores from its hands, drying them thoroughly, and making medicine for digestive ailments.
Mixed with sweeteners, it could make a useful tonic.
Thinking of this, Lucas kept picking mushrooms, unconcerned about wild Pokémon attacks—after all, Luxray was an expert at detecting danger in this terrain.
Before he knew it, his basket was full. Just a few more steps and he'd reach the summit.
Seeing dusk approach, Lucas resolved to check out the peak, then descend quickly on Luxray's back.
At a fork in the trail—one path to the summit, another to who-knows-where—Luxray suddenly growled low, as if warning Lucas.
"Meowr!"
"Hm? Did you spot something?"
Lucas's guard went up. He peered down the mysterious side path, listening carefully—
Clang! Clang! Clang!
A crisp hammering sound, like someone forging iron.
Who would be up here, forging on a hill?
Frowning, Lucas's mind conjured up a figure, but he couldn't be sure without seeing for himself.
After a moment's thought, he whispered to Luxray, "Let's check it out quietly."
If it really was that Pokémon, what a coincidence.
Just this morning, he'd been discussing finding a suitable Tinkatink with Calyrex!
…
A short while later...
Luxray crept up to a cave shrouded in vines.
Inside, rhythmic hammer clanging echoed nonstop. Lucas peered in—and sure enough, a small pink figure was hammering away at a metallic feather, striking off iron filings!
It was Tinkatink, the forging Pokémon!
Unaware of Lucas and Luxray's presence, Tinkatink focused intently on two hammers forged from the Steel-type feathers she'd gathered.
"Kanun..."
Examining her handiwork, Tinkatink looked dissatisfied.
Only having Corviknight feathers, and lacking proper ore, meant the hammers were poor quality.
With hammers like these, beating the nasty fliers—let alone that black dragon—would be tough. Even becoming queen of this little hill would be hard!
If she couldn't even rule the hill, how could she gather all the Corviknight feathers she wanted?
Taking a deep breath, Tinkatink raised both hammers and kept hammering, relentless.
No matter what, she had to craft a proper weapon first!
…