Gothitelle stood to the side laughing for a long time before finally using her psychic powers to rescue Lucas.
Lucas emerged from the heavy weight of affection and stood to the side, taking deep breaths of air.
That was almost the end of the whole story.
After recovering for a moment, Lucas finally looked at the Ninetales.
It was noticeably much larger than other Ninetales, yet the lines of its entire body were incredibly even and smooth. Its sleek, soft fur made it appear even more slender and beautiful.
Its aura was somewhat similar to Lilligant's and Gothitelle's, but also different.
Sitting there quietly, it exuded a noble, lazy air.
"Not bad. Much stronger than an ordinary Ninetales, yet overall, it looks very beautiful. If you entered a Pokmemon Contest, many people would probably be captivated by this Ninetales."
Professor Oak walked over to the Ninetales and carefully examined its body.
The astonishment in his eyes was plain to see.
Generally speaking, Pokémon that are stronger than their ordinary counterparts tend to look a bit disproportionate. For example, Dash is much stronger than an ordinary Machamp, which you can tell from its muscular build—incredibly tall and robust. But this Ninetales is different. Because Professor Oak often deals with Pokémon, he knows what a normal Ninetales looks like. So, the moment he saw this one, he noticed it was stronger than the average.
However, the Ninetales's muscle distribution was extremely even. Not only did it not look bulky and strong, on the contrary, it appeared very slender and slim.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk."
Professor Oak kept making clicking Lillis with his tongue.
Lucas truly was an outstanding Breeder.
Just starting with this Ninetales alone, it was already a level many could never achieve.
Lucas, meanwhile, looked at the Ninetales before him.
Really great, as expected of my good daughter.
Lucas thought happily to himself.
Then he looked at the Ninetales's status panel.
[Ninetales]
[Gender: Female]
[Type: Fire]
[Ability: Flash Fire]
[Moves Known: ————]
[Mood: Very Happy]
[Status: Blissful (I've finally grown up)]
[Description: Vulpix has finally evolved. Having grown up in the Breeding House, it was doted on by its older brothers and sisters, which allowed its strength to achieve a qualitative leap. It is believed that one day it will catch up to its father.]
[I've finally grown up. I want to protect Lucas. — Ninetales]
Looking at Ninetales's movepool, Lucas couldn't help but click his tongue.
Such a broad movepool.
In addition to its original Fire-type moves, it had also mastered many Psychic-type moves, the Dark-type move Dark Pulse, Nasty Plot, and had even learned the Ghost-type moves Shadow Ball, Spite, and Night Shade—probably from Gengar.
It had learned both the Grass-type moves Energy Ball and Solar Beam.
Lilligant had taught it well.
Lucas walked forward, sighed, and then hugged its neck.
He buried his head deeply into the fur of its neck.
Fluffy.
Smelled nice.
The next second, Lucas felt himself lifted into the air and then seated on the Ninetales's back.
Lucas was stunned for a moment, then patted its little head.
"Well then, let's head back."
Sitting on the Ninetales's back, Lucas said to Professor Oak and the others.
Professor Oak nodded.
"The next time I see Ash, I'll have him call you to let you know he's safe, Auntie Delia."
Delia quickly thanked him.
Gothitelle was saying goodbye to Mr. Mime.
"Tracey, come visit the Breeding House when you have time. Of course, Professor Oak can come too—just in time to help me with some work, hahaha."
Professor Oak gave Lucas a playful punch and also laughed heartily.
Lucas: Ouch~
Tracey: "I'll definitely come."
"Charizard, thank you. If you ever run out of opponents in Charicific Valley, you can come to the Breeding House. I'm sure it won't disappoint you."
Charizard narrowed its eyes and nodded.
Erika was seated on Gogoat, ready to leave with Lucas.
Suddenly remembering something, she looked at Professor Oak. "Professor Oak, do trainers ever come back every year complaining about a powerful Pidgeot in the forest?"
Professor Oak was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head.
"No, why do you ask?"
No? Lucas felt a bit disappointed.
"Because I heard Ash released a Pidgeot. Goodbye, everyone."
"Goth~"
Come play next time.
"Mime."
Okay.
By the time they returned to the Breeding House, it was already 6 a.m.
Mr. and Mrs. Fujino and Paul were already up and working.
Gothitelle went to the kitchen with Mime Jr. to prepare breakfast.
Lucas returned to his room to take a shower.
Coming downstairs, he found Shauna hugging the Ninetales and giggling.
Seeing Lucas come down, Shauna climbed onto the Ninetales's back and asked, "Uncle, Vulpix evolved too?"
Lucas walked over to her and pinched her little nose.
"So, what do you think? Pretty, right?"
"Pretty! Sister Vulpix is as pretty as Lilligant and the others."
"It's Ninetales now."
"Sister Ninetales~"
"Vuu~"
Ninetales smiled happily.
After breakfast, Paul had already milked the cows and loaded the milk onto Rapidash. Shauna, with her backpack on, said goodbye to Ninetales.
"Ninetales, wait for me to come home so we can play together."
Ninetales nodded.
After seeing Shauna off, Lucas returned to the backyard to check on everything. All was normal. He yawned.
Lucas went back to his room, planning to have a nice, long sleep.
Lucas leisurely lay down on the bed. Ninetales came in through the door and saw Lucas and Mime Jr. sleeping on the bed.
Mime Jr. was taking the day off today, sleeping in with Lucas.
It happily leaped high into the air and landed heavily on the bed under Lucas's surprised and protesting gaze.
Crash————
Mime Jr. opened its eyes in confusion.
"Mime?"
Wasn't I on the bed? Why am I on the floor?
Lucas stared blankly at the ceiling.
Gengar: (∀°))
The bed—the bed collapsed Σ(⊙⊙)
Ninetales: (*□)!!
"Vuu————"
I didn't mean to.
Lucas stood up, looked at the completely ruined bed, and sighed.
Then he vigorously ruffled Ninetales's little head.
"It's okay. We'll sleep on the floor today. Next time, we'll buy a sturdier bed."
Gothitelle cleared out the broken bed.
Lucas carried the blankets and pillows, placed them on the floor, and happily lay down, snuggling into Ninetales's embrace.
Mime Jr. lay down with Lucas.
"Mime~"
So warm, so comfortable.
Looking at Lucas and Mime Jr. lying in her embrace, Ninetales smiled gently.
Lilligant thought about it and decided to lie down too, settling beside Lucas.
She yawned.
Gothitelle slept next to Lilligant.
Snorunt found it too warm and ran off to sleep on its own little bed.
Dash was still sleeping in the backyard.
Seeing they had all settled down, Gengar floated up to the ceiling.
"Goodnight, everyone."
"Lilli~"
"Goth~"
"Vuu~"
"Mime~"
"Yauji~"
"Gengaaaa"
Holding Lilligant and Mime Jr. in his arms, lying in Ninetales's embrace, Lucas enjoyed this hard-won warmth.
He soon fell asleep.
Ninetales yawned and placed its tails over them for warmth.
It also fell asleep.
Listening to the snoring coming from the backyard, Gengar curled the corner of its mouth and happily drifted into dreamland.