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Lucas fell silent, listening to the girl's words.
You came to buy an Evolution Stone for Eevee, and you don't know which Evolution Stone you want to buy?
"I don't know?"
Hearing Lucas's question, the girl scratched her head, embarrassed.
"I just wanted to buy an Evolution Stone to keep for Eevee, so if it ever wants to evolve, I'll give it the Evolution Stone."
Listening to the girl's words, Lucas nodded, understanding her meaning.
"Then which Evolution Stone do you prefer? Or rather, which evolved form of Eevee do you like more?"
Lucas continued to ask.
"I don't know."
Lucas's head began to ache.
---
How can she not know again?
Lucas looked at the grinning girl in front of him, gave up on questioning her further, and shifted his attention to the Eevee on her shoulder.
"So what about you, Eevee-chan, what do you prefer to evolve into?"
Lucas's voice became high-pitched.
Gothitelle frowned, looking at Lucas as if he were some kind of monster.
"Lilli~"
Eevee-chan~
Lilligant imitated Lucas's words.
"Gengar gargar——"
Ugh~ Shameless.
Ninetales stood up from the floor, slowly walked over to Lucas, and yawned.
The smile on Lucas's face vanished instantly.
"Xiu?"
Ninetales's voice was soft and cute, asking Lucas what was wrong.
Feeling the stinging sensation from Ninetales's tail whipping his back, Lucas shook his head.
"It's nothing, I just woke up."
After saying that, he gasped inwardly.
A bunch of jealous Pokémon.
"Bui."
I don't know.
Lucas: ————
You don't know either?!
After hearing Eevee speak, Ninetales yawned and lay back down, relieved.
So it's a boy.
Lucas's work became complicated.
The Trainer doesn't know, and Eevee doesn't know either.
Then there's only one way left.
"Alternatively, you could choose a complete set of evolution stones. Once you've decided, you can pick the Evolution Stone you prefer."
Lucas introduced with a smile.
"Our Breeding House's complete set of evolution stones includes common ones like the Fire Stone and Thunder Stone, as well as rarer ones like the Ice Stone."
These were gifts from the residents of Twinleaf Town.
Eeveelution Family Bucket.
"I'd like to, but I don't have enough money."
The girl said regretfully.
"Why don't you tell Lucas what you want to do after Eevee evolves?"
Wallace, sitting nearby, saw their conversation hit a dead end and offered a suggestion.
Lucas gave Wallace a grateful look.
Wallace shook his head, indicating it was no trouble.
The girl became excited upon hearing Wallace's words.
"I'm also a Coordinator Trainer! Eevee and I have always aimed for Champion Wallace!"
Then the girl's cheeks flushed, and she began to stammer.
"Al-although I don't have any badges yet————"
By the end, the girl's voice was barely a whisper.
Wallace listened and smiled gently.
"Then I look forward to the day you and I perform together on stage."
"Yes, I will! Eevee and I definitely will!"
"Bui!"
Lucas was also deeply moved by her firm belief.
After taking a sip of the tea Gothitelle brewed for him, he thought for a moment before slowly speaking: "So, Sally, what style of Coordinator do you think you are?"
The girl named Sally asked confusedly, "Style?"
Lucas gently tapped the table with his finger and said, "You need to know that every excellent Coordinator Trainer has their own unique style."
"It is precisely their unique style that creates their unique performance style."
"For example, some people prefer grand and expansive performances."
Lucas stood up at this point, "Would you like to come out with me?"
Sally nodded and followed Lucas.
"Can I come too?"
Lucas paused, then looked at Wallace, "Of course."
Arriving at an open space on the Breeding Road, Lucas continued what he had been saying in the lounge.
"Every Coordinator Trainer's style is different. There might be similarities, even high degrees of similarity, but when you watch their performances, you can always feel their unique style and the charm of their Pokémon."
"For example, some are uninhibited and excel at grand, sweeping movements."
Lucas paused, then pointed sharply.
"Ninetales, burn everything before me to ashes."
His voice was full of unrestrained flamboyance.
Ninetales leaped out, standing in the open space. Its lazy aura vanished as it stood, then an unmasked, domineering aura swept across the entire area, followed by sparks of fire igniting on Ninetales.
The sparks slowly formed rings of fire, enveloping Ninetales.
Ninetales breathed fire skyward, forming rings of fire suspended in the air.
The rings of fire surrounding Ninetales suddenly tightened as Ninetales ran, turning into flames that wrapped around Ninetales's body upon contact.
Ninetales, completely engulfed in flames, leaped high, then soared through the rings of fire in the sky one after another, before landing with force.
Like a fiery meteor, it crashed down from the sky.
Gothitelle unleashed its psychic power.
Sally watched, dumbfounded.
Ninetales, its flames dispersed, stood quietly in place, its nine tails gently swaying in the wind behind it.
Its figure, much larger than an ordinary Ninetales, combined with the incredibly majestic scene just now, made people involuntarily captivated by its posture.
Even Wallace stared intently at the Ninetales before him.
Lucas was indeed right; a flamboyant personality is a major characteristic of Fire-type Pokémon.
Fiery temper, carefree personality, unconventional — these are also the most attractive characteristics of Fire-type Pokémon.
Passion and an unwillingness to give up have always been people's understanding of fire.
And Lucas's Ninetales, while perhaps not exhibiting the subtlety of Grass-type Pokémon, the gentleness of Water-type Pokémon, the steadiness of Rock or Ground-type Pokémon, or the robustness of Flying-type Pokémon, perfectly showcased the best aspects of a Fire-type Pokémon: passion and competitiveness.
Mr. Lance, Mr. Lance, you finally didn't lie to me.
I won't call you Dodo-bird anymore.
Wallace thought to himself.
Lucas himself was somewhat shocked; he hadn't expected Ninetales to perform with such overwhelming majesty.
After Ninetales returned to his side, Lucas reached out to massage its chin.
Hehehe, his Ninetales baby is really handsome.
Although these were his inner thoughts, Lucas's expression remained calm on the surface.
"Do you see? This is what we often refer to as a Coordinator Trainer's style. I believe every Coordinator Trainer spends their life searching for a style that suits them. Of course, each Coordinator Trainer's style is unique, but it's not the only one; an excellent Coordinator Trainer might have diverse styles."
"Does diverse mean having multiple styles?"
Sally asked thoughtfully.
Lucas nodded, "I think so, because a Pokémon Contest isn't just about the Coordinator Trainer themselves; it's also about their Pokémon. Can you integrate the charm of your Pokémon into your style, thereby forming a kind of————"
"To use a term common in our Breeding House, it's about creating an alluring flavor that makes judges, the audience, and yourself unable to resist savoring it."
"This is what I believe a Coordinator Trainer should master to become an excellent, or even top-tier, Coordinator Trainer."
"Every Trainer becomes a different person due to their gender, personality, habits, and upbringing, possessing different personalities, different perspectives, different views, and even different 'flavors'."
"Take Trainers as an example: some prefer to defeat opponents using tactics in battle, some prefer to defeat opponents with their Pokémon's sheer strength, and some will defeat opponents with the deep bond between themselves and their Pokémon."
"Coordinators are the same. I believe Pokémon Contests focus on the charm of the Pokémon, and what kind of moving symphony you, as a Coordinator, can perform with your Pokémon, or what kind of enticing delicacy you can create."
As he spoke, Lucas secretly glanced at Wallace's expression.
He found that Wallace was listening with great interest.
Lucas breathed a sigh of relief; fortunately, as a top Coordinator Trainer, Wallace didn't refute him.
Lucas looked at the Eevee on her shoulder and said, "A qualified Coordinator Trainer can discover the unique charm of their Pokémon, and an excellent Coordinator Trainer will integrate these charms into their own style, thereby creating their own unique performance style."
Sally's eyes sparkled as she listened.
Lucas suddenly remembered something and said with a smile, "For example, a burly, strong bald man who looks fierce and intimidating, but he brings a gentle Bellossom to participate in a Pokémon Contest. They perform a beautiful Petal Dance on stage. What would be your first impression of this scene?"
Sally thought for a moment, hesitating, not quite daring to say.
"Doesn't it look a lot like Beauty and the Beast?"
Sally nodded like a woodpecker.
Wallace also laughed beside them.
"You might as well look at it from another perspective; they really enjoy the stage and equally enjoy the opportunity to dance together."
"At the same time, the judges and audience discover that this fierce-looking contestant's dance moves are gentle, while Bellossom's dance moves lean towards being wild."
"Do you think they would have a chance to win the championship?"
Sally shook her head.
"If I were the judge, I would give them such a chance."
Wallace spoke up from the side.
Both Sally and Lucas looked at him.
"Because this is also a beauty that is not inferior to any other. I actually look forward to encountering such contestants."
Wallace answered truthfully.
"A Coordinator Trainer once came to the Breeding House to ask me for advice. I suggested she first look for the charm that belongs to her Pokémon. She searched carefully and later participated in a Pokémon Contest, and now she seems to have achieved quite impressive results."
Lucas said.
"Champion Wallace should also have an impression of her."
"Anzie?"
Wallace asked curiously.
Lucas nodded.
Wallace recalled that bright and flamboyant young girl who used her massive Arcanine to forcefully display her own style in the Pokémon Contest, thereby winning the ribbon.
Recalling Arcanine's performance style and Ninetales' performance just now.
So that's how it is.
Did she learn it at the Breeding House?
"So I think what you need to consider now isn't what Evolution Stone to buy for Eevee, but rather what your style is, or what kind of style you like."
Lucas reached out and poked Eevee's little head.
It felt so good.
Lucas's heart almost melted.
Withdrawing his finger, Lucas continued, "Eevee has many evolved forms, which means its style and charm after evolution are also diverse."
"For example, the evolved Flareon is fiery and bright, Jolteon is domineering, Vaporeon is gentle, Glaceon is reserved and cool, Leafeon is beautiful, Sylveon is elegant and cute, Umbreon is cool and steady, and Espeon is elegant and handsome."
"So don't worry. Once you find a performance style that both you and Eevee like, or a style you're good at, come back to me. By then, you might know which Evolution Stone you want to buy."
Hearing Lucas's words, Sally gave a heavy "Mhm."
"I understand, Lucas. I will find my own style and then come back to buy an Evolution Stone from you."
Lucas laughed, "Alright, I'll keep it for you."
Just as Lucas was about to lead them back to the Breeding House, Sally's voice rang out again.
"Um—Lucas."
Lucas turned his head and looked at her curiously, "What's wrong?"
Sally asked shyly, "I wanted to ask, is Lucas's style diverse?"
After saying that, she continued, "I mean, I see Lucas as a very gentle older brother who is good at taking care of people, but it feels like that doesn't quite match Ninetales' style, so I wondered if Lucas has a variety of styles."
Lucas laughed, "Did you know? Besides being a Breeder, I'm also a chef."
"Huh?"
Sally was a bit slow to react.
"A chef is good at making delicacies with different flavors, so I suppose I could be considered to have a versatile style."
Sally nodded, "Then can I see Lucas's other styles?"
Then she looked at Lucas, "Please, Lucas."
Lucas pursed his lips and looked up at the sky.
The sun was shining brightly.
"The weather is really nice today."
"Huh? Yeah, it stopped snowing today."
Sally replied to Lucas.
Lucas lowered his head and looked at Sally, "I'll perform a dance for you."
Sally's eyes widened.
Lucas took off his coat and handed it to Gothitelle.
A beam of light shooting straight into the sky caught everyone's attention.
Lilligant had walked onto the clearing at some point, and the flower on her head was currently firing a beam of light towards the sky.
After the light beam, the sunlight became even brighter, spilling over everyone and the Pokémon present.
Lilligant began to dance an elegant and beautiful dance.
After she finished, she slowly lifted her skirt and retreated into the crowd.
Lucas passed by Lilligant and began to perform the dance she had taught him on the field.
Sally watched Lucas without blinking.
"Mr. Wallace, Lucas's fingers seem to be dancing together."
"Yeah."
Wallace was mesmerized, only letting out an "Mhm."
Lucas danced his way in front of Lilligant, knelt on one knee, and held out a hand.
Lilligant smiled sweetly and then placed her hand on his.
In the next second, Lilligant was thrown directly into the air by Lucas.
At this moment, a Twister formed by petals began to blow in the air, surrounding the airborne Lilligant. Lilligant rose higher and higher along with the Twister, which then suddenly dissipated, and Lilligant fell from the sky.
Sally's mouth fell open and her heart tightened, only to see a pair of hands catch Lilligant.
Lucas placed Lilligant on the ground, and the man and Pokémon began to dance gracefully on the petals on the ground.
Petals continued to fall from above.
Lucas sat on the petals, watching Lilligant dance like a butterfly, clapping a beat with his hands to accompany her dance.
Once Lilligant danced her way back to his side, Lucas stopped clapping and took a deep breath.
He exhaled forcefully.
"Lucas can use Seed Gun?!"
Sally cried out in shock.
Then she covered her mouth.
"It's Lilligant's Seed Gun. Lucas blocked Lilligant from view, and under the bright sunlight, it created a cognitive illusion, making it look like Lucas was spitting out the Seed Gun."
Wallace explained.
The Seed Gun hit the petals overhead.
A gust of wind blew.
Those petals were like butterflies, flying over everyone's heads and then continuing to fly into the distance.
"Wow—"
Lucas bowed, and Lilligant lifted her skirt to exit.
As for when Lucas learned Pokémon Contest performances...
It was really because there was often nothing to do at the Breeding House, and since Lilligant loved to dance, she had dragged him along, forcing him to learn many dances.
Also, Shauna liked to watch, so many Pokémon in the Breeding House knew some Pokémon Contest performances.
*Clap clap clap.*
Lucas let Gothitelle drape his coat over him. Hearing Wallace's applause, his face turned inexplicably red.
"A perfect performance, Lucas."
Wallace praised from the bottom of his heart.
"If you weren't the owner of a Breeding House... I would really want to scout you and have you accompany me on a global tour of Pokémon Contests."
Wallace's tone was full of regret.
"You would truly become an excellent Coordinator Trainer."
Wallace looked at Lucas with eyes full of pleasant surprise.
Dodo-bird, I've really decided not to call you Dodo-bird anymore.
Wallace said to himself.
Lucas glanced at Lilligant and saw she was very happy, her body still performing small dance movements.
Lucas patted her little head.
"You flatter me."
"Lucas, you're really amazing, and Lilligant too."
Sally's eyes were now full of admiration as she looked at Lucas.
Just as she was about to continue speaking, a white light suddenly glowed on her shoulder.
Lucas watched as the Eevee on her shoulder burst into white light, then jumped to the ground, its body growing larger and sprouting ribbons.
The white light dissipated.
"Bui~"
Sylveon cried out softly.
Lucas looked at the Sylveon before him.
He was stunned for a moment.
What happened? It evolved just from watching him dance? Could he be an "Evolution Person" too?!
"Wow! Lucas, Eevee evolved into Sylveon!"
Sally jumped for joy.
"Congratulations."
Lucas offered his congratulations with a smile.
My Evolution Stones won't sell now.
Lucas wept silently in his heart.
However, he still said quietly.
"Congratulations on evolving, Eevee-chan!"