Brock sipped his milk tea and ate snacks while watching the Ninetales sleeping lazily at Lucas's feet.
Besides being a great Pokémon Breeder, Lucas's cooking must also be delicious.
As he drank the milk tea Gengar gave him, he tasted the flavor of happiness.
"Lucas, even your cooking skills are so impressive."
Brock praised him sincerely.
Lucas looked at Brock. "I've heard your cooking skills are quite good too, Brock."
The two looked at each other, squinting their eyes.
Well, it was hard to tell if Brock was squinting, but Lucas certainly was.
Just as Dawn thought there would be a battle, Lucas suddenly spoke: "In that case, why don't we work together to prepare a delicious and wonderful dinner tonight?"
"It would be an honor."
Brock nodded seriously.
"Um—Lucas, are you a Coordinator Trainer?"
Dawn's voice rang out weakly.
Lucas smiled and shook his head. "No, I am a Breeder."
Though only a junior Breeder.
Dawn sighed regretfully. "I see."
"Seeing how beautifully you've raised Lilligant, I thought you were a Coordinator too."
Lucas thought for a moment and said, "Actually, as long as you treat Pokémon with your heart and find the direction that suits them best, you might get good results in a Pokémon Contest."
Dawn looked up at Lucas and saw him reaching out to stroke the stamens on Lilligant's head, while Lilligant looked perfectly happy.
She emitted a floral fragrance that made Brock and the others feel completely relaxed and filled with a sense of happiness.
Dawn nodded. "I understand. Thank you, Manager."
"Brock is also a Breeder, right? We should discuss our experiences in breeding later."
Lucas had finally found another Breeder. He usually didn't go out much, and almost everyone he knew besides ordinary people were Trainers. He could only learn from books, so he could finally have a proper exchange now that Brock was here.
"I was just thinking the same thing."
Brock was flattered and nodded quickly. Being able to exchange ideas with a powerful Breeder was something he had dreamed of.
Then Lucas looked at Ash, who was eating snacks and watching cartoons. "Ash, how are your preparations for Gym Badges going?"
Ash scratched the back of his head. "I'm still short two."
Lucas nodded in satisfaction.
Luckily, he had already collected them all.
If anyone asked why Lucas had collected all the Gym Badges, it was definitely because of Gary.
Gary had already mailed all the Gym Badges back to Lucas, and they were placed on the table in his room.
"How about it? Have you thought about bringing your veterans back for this Sinnoh League League Conference?"
Ash shook his head. "No, I told Paul that I will use the partners I met in the Sinnoh region to defeat him and then take the Sinnoh region Championship."
"When that time comes, I'll show him that as long as you believe in your Pokémon, you will definitely achieve victory."
Ash said determinedly.
Seeing this, Lucas didn't say much more. Instead, he stood up and stretched his neck.
"Ash, let's have a battle."
"Huh?!"
Dawn let out a cry of surprise. Why so sudden?
Even Brock couldn't figure out why Lucas was doing this.
As for Ash, he stood up. "I couldn't ask for more."
Ash's Pokémon had already been healed by Roserade's Aromatherapy.
Lucas took Ash outside the Breeding House. Some sharp-eyed people saw that Lucas was about to battle again and quickly called out.
The two people currently battling also stopped and vacated the field.
Lucas and Ash stood on the field. Lucas looked at Ash's lineup and thought for a moment, deciding not to let Gengar or Lilligant go all out.
Therefore, Gengar acted as the referee again. Brock saw Gengar's outfit; he had originally wanted to be the referee, but seeing this, he let Gengar take the role.
The first Pokémon Ash sent out was Buizel.
Lucas looked to the side. "Seviper, do you want to go?"
The Seviper leader slapped its tail heavily on the ground and then slithered onto the field.
"Buizel, Aqua Jet."
Wrapped in water, it charged toward Seviper.
"Avoid it with Dig."
Seviper hid underground. Buizel lost its target and stood on the field, constantly looking around.
"Buizel, be careful."
The next second, Seviper emerged from beneath its feet, knocking Buizel into the air.
"Poison Jab."
Seviper slithered to keep up with the airborne Buizel, its tail glowing with a purple light as it struck Buizel's body hard.
Buizel cried out in pain, a purple hue appearing on its face.
"It's poisoned."
Brock said from below.
Ash gritted his teeth. "Buizel, hang in there, Water Gun."
Buizel opened its mouth, but just as it was about to use Water Gun, it was tormented by a loud sound and covered its ears, finally losing its ability to battle.
Snarl.
The move lowered Special Defense while attacking, causing Buizel to faint instantly.
Ash recalled Buizel and then sent out Monferno.
The Eldest Disciple?
Lucas looked at the Monferno that hadn't evolved into Infernape yet and called out, "Lapras."
The big brother Lapras came to the center of the field.
"Flame Wheel."
Using a move against the type disadvantage as usual, you silly boy.
"Dragon Dance."
Lapras tanked the Flame Wheel and used Dragon Dance.
Looking at the Flame Wheel that had negligible effect, Lucas said inwardly: Sorry, Eldest Disciple.
"Earthquake."
Monferno immediately lost its ability to battle.
The third was Gliscor, and Lucas also sent out his Gliscor.
Within five moves, Ash's Gliscor was left unable to move.
The fourth was Staraptor, which was even more tragic.
It clashed with Lucas's Staraptor using Brave Bird and immediately lost its ability to battle.
For the fifth, Ash sent out Grotle.
Here it comes, the Grotle that tries to play fast like a glass cannon.
Lucas looked at the Vespiquen watching the show from the sidelines.
His eyes were full of the meaning: "My Queen, please help me."
Vespiquen feigned reluctance and came to the center of the field.
"Bee."
I'll help you this once, reluctantly.
Feeling the resonance from his heart, Lucas smiled. Facing the attack launched by Ash's Grotle, Lucas simply had Vespiquen dodge continuously and use Defend Order.
Watching Ash make Grotle run around once again, Lucas suddenly spoke: "Ash, do you really understand your Pokémon?"
Ash was stunned.
"Air Cutter."
Grotle cried out in pain and was sent flying, eventually staggering to its feet.
It was panting heavily.
Ash didn't continue giving orders, and Lucas didn't take the opportunity to attack. Everyone was watching the silent Ash.
Grotle looked back at Ash. It seemed to feel something. It looked at the flying Vespiquen in front of it, let out a defiant roar toward the sky, and then its entire body was covered in white light.
Lucas: ——
No way? It evolved even though you didn't say anything?
Lucas was dumbfounded.
Ash was also drawn by the commotion caused by Grotle. Looking at it evolved into Torterra, it was turning its head to look at him, its eyes full of drive.
Ash quickly pushed all other thoughts to the back of his mind and rolled up his sleeves.
"Great, Torterra, let's show them what we're made of! Use Solar Beam!"
Torterra began to charge.
Vespiquen looked back at Lucas, and Lucas blinked.
Vespiquen: ——
She turned her head and, without any attempt to dodge, took the Solar Beam head-on.
Bug plus Flying meant a quadruple resistance to Grass, plus the Defend Order stacks from earlier.
Vespiquen patted her body.
It didn't even itch.
"Darn it, Torterra, use Hyper Beam!"
"Hurricane."
The smoke cleared, and Torterra lay on the ground motionless.
Lucas glanced at Torterra and then looked at Vespiquen. "Good work, Vespiquen."
Vespiquen, who was flying off the field, paused for a moment upon hearing Lucas's words, then continued flying off the field.
She came to Staraptor's side. Staraptor looked at the seemingly good-humored Vespiquen beside him, shook his head with a smile, and then began preening his feathers.
The last one was Pikachu. Before Lucas could speak, the impatient Luxray jumped directly onto the field.
It looked back at Lucas, its eyes full of longing.
Lucas nodded with a smile. The corners of Luxray's mouth curved up, and then it turned back to face the Pikachu in front of it.
Its belly began to rise and fall slowly as it adjusted its breathing, electric arcs flickering on its body.
Pikachu also looked at the Luxray in front of it seriously.
The battle was about to erupt.
After a Volt Tackle, Pikachu was sent flying.
"Pika——"
Then it lost its ability to battle.
Luxray: ——
The electric arcs on its body became more and more chaotic. Seeing this, Lucas quickly stepped forward and grabbed Luxray's head.
"When we encounter a powerful Trainer, I'll let you go first."
Luxray's head kept changing shape under Lucas's hand as it squinted its eyes comfortably.
When it comes to petting cats, I'm number one.
A Luxray is also a cat.
Only then did Luxray wobble off the field.
Lucas breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the Pikachu held in Ash's arms.
As expected of you, Pikachu.
Pikachu had already recovered. Finding Lucas looking at it, it grinned.
"Pika."
Lucas made a face at it.
After the battle, Lucas brought Ash and the others back to the Breeding House and sat down in the lounge area.
Ash was dejected.
He probably didn't expect to be shut out by Lucas.
Or perhaps Lucas's words had made him think of something.
He signaled to Pikachu, and Pikachu came into Lucas's arms. Lucas stroked the Pikachu in his arms; it was so fluffy. Pikachu and the like were just too cute.
The Ninetales on the side took a glance and closed its eyes again.
Anyway, Lucas's favorite would definitely still be her.
Lucas watched Ash, who was still deep in thought. He wasn't in a hurry, slowly petting the Pikachu in his arms while exchanging breeding knowledge with Brock.
During a break while Lucas was drinking water, Ash suddenly spoke: "Manager, I still haven't figured out your question from earlier."
Lucas looked at the Pikachu in his arms and then said, "Ash, what kind of battle style do you think you are best at?"
"Going into the field and charging with my Pokémon?"
Lucas: ——
"Besides that."
Ash shook his head, unable to think of anything.
"Think about it carefully. Isn't it true that in fast-paced battles, your performance is excellent? For example, when you command fast Pokémon like Pikachu, Swellow, Sceptile, and Staraptor, your strength increases significantly?"
Listening to Lucas's words, Ash thought about it carefully and found that Lucas was right.
"Yes."
Ash nodded.
"That's because you are very suited for Pokémon with Agility and high-speed combat, but you still don't understand your Pokémon well enough."
Ash didn't speak but continued to listen to Lucas's guidance.
"Do you remember when Torterra was a Turtwig?"
"Back then, wasn't it easy for Turtwig to win? Now think back, after Turtwig evolved into Grotle, how many battles did it win?"
Ash fell silent.
"Because after Turtwig evolved, its body changed significantly. It was no longer as light as it was in the Turtwig stage; it became somewhat heavy. This is even more true after evolving into Torterra. But you still use high-speed combat tactics. For it, winning or losing is a small matter, but over time, it will leave behind indelible hidden dangers, like injuries and pain."
Ash looked up, his face full of anxiety.
Lucas smiled. "You trust Pikachu and the others very much, and I can see that they trust you too."
"I heard from Gary that you are someone who wants to become a Pokémon Master."
"I really like your battles. Although you often like to battle against type disadvantages, that doesn't stop you from winning."
Ash scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"On the road to becoming a Pokémon Master, why not spend more time understanding your Pokémon? See which battle style suits them. You don't have to categorize them too strictly; just divide them into heavy-duty and high-speed combat. See which ones are suitable for a stationary playstyle and which ones are suitable for high-speed combat. If you understand this, your strength might see a huge improvement."
"Thank you, Manager, I understand."
Ash stood up and gave Lucas a deep bow.
Lucas was very gratified. "You know, Ash, after catching a Pokémon, it means you have created a bond with them."
Lucas said pointedly, "If it's just out of a moment of spite that you leave your old Pokémon entirely at the Research Institute, that's not advisable. They also want to join hands and battle with you again."
"But——"
Ash was a bit conflicted.
"You can use your Sinnoh region partners when battling Paul, and when battling other contestants, let your old partners feel what it's like to battle alongside you again. Wouldn't that be better?"
Lucas said with a smile.
Ash also smiled. "I understand, Lucas. I'll study it well. When the time comes, I will definitely take the Sinnoh League Championship!"
Looking at the once again fired-up Ash, Lucas sighed in his heart.
If it were other regions like Kalos, there would be a high probability. But in the Sinnoh region, with that guy around, it might be very difficult.
However, Lucas was also curious about where Ash's current limit was.
And then he could trick Gary into participating in the Sinnoh League Conference. Wow~
Childhood Sweetheart vs. Rival vs. Rival.
Lucas's eyes kept darting around.
Gengar felt something and looked at Lucas.
Then he looked at Lilligant.
"Gengar gar—"
He's thinking of something bad again.
"Gengar, how could you think that of me?"
Lucas looked at Gengar.
Gengar quickly covered his mouth.
You could even hear that? How evil! (.—. :)
Lilligant covered her mouth and giggled on the side.
"In that case, Ash, why don't you all stay for a few days? Treat it as training at the Breeding House."
"Okay, sorry for the trouble, Lucas."
"Sorry for the trouble."
3
"Sorry to intrude."
"You'll have to work, though."
"No problem."
"That is also what I am good at."
"Can I play with Lilligant and the others?"
"Of course."
"Great, Piplup!"
"Piplup Piplup.