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In Twinleaf Town, Wallace held a map while a Staraptor circled above his head.
"I can't make sense of it. In that case..."
Wallace folded the map and looked up at the Staraptor. "Staraptor, could you please lead the way for me?"
Staraptor nodded in the sky and took the lead, flying forward. Wallace followed on the back of his Gogoat.
Arriving in front of a house, Wallace looked at the Staraptor perched on the eaves, which gave him a nod.
Wallace dismounted from Gogoat, walked to the door, and knocked.
Soon, Wallace saw the door open, and a kind-looking grandmother appeared at the entrance.
"Oh? Has the Breeding House hired a new employee?"
The grandmother looked at the long-haired Wallace standing before her; he was quite handsome. She asked with a smile.
Seeing the kind smile on the grandmother's face, Wallace smiled back. "Yes, I'm a new employee at the Breeding House. Lucas asked me to deliver some herbal tea to you all today."
The grandmother smiled as she took the herbal tea and asked Wallace to wait a moment. She went inside and returned with a handful of snacks.
She handed the snacks to Wallace. "Here, have some. Usually, it's little Shauna or the Gengars who come to deliver the tea, so every household prepares some snacks. I didn't expect you to be the one delivering today, so I don't know if you like snacks—"
The grandmother kept talking to Wallace while holding the snacks. Wallace smiled, cupped his hands to accept them, and listened to her speak.
Finally, the grandmother grabbed Wallace's hand. "You must work hard and follow Lucas well."
She continued, "Lucas is truly good to us elderly folk. The milk and herbal tea are always delivered to us first, and the price is lower than what others pay."
Having finished, she withdrew her hand and waved. "Alright, I won't keep you from delivering the rest of the herbal tea. It's cold outside and the ground is slippery. Deliver them slowly, there's no rush. Focus on safety first."
"Alright, grandmother. Goodbye."
After the door closed, Wallace looked at the snacks in his hands. He finally understood why the Breeding House's Pokémon always brought back snacks; so this was how they got them.
Following the example of those Pokémon, he put the snacks into his bag. Finally, he took out three pieces of Candy. After peeling them, he gave one to the Staraptor on the eaves, one to the Gogoat, and put the last one in his own mouth.
Savoring the sweet Candy, Wallace hummed a little tune and continued following Staraptor to the next resident's house to deliver herbal tea.
Meanwhile, in a forest elsewhere, Paul was in a battle with a Trainer from Kalos.
"Electivire, Thunder!"
"Avoid it, Lopunny!"
Lopunny nimbly dodged Electivire's Thunder. Then, the Kalos Trainer adjusted the frames of his glasses.
"Lopunny, we are unrivaled!"
"Mega Evolution!"
A brilliant light began to burst from Lopunny's body, intertwining with the white light erupting from the Trainer's glasses frames, forming a violent Aura.
Paul took a step back with his left foot.
Once the light dissipated, Mega Lopunny appeared before Paul.
He can Mega Evolve too?
A hint of surprise appeared in Paul's dull eyes.
Paul steadied his mind. "Electivire, Thunder Punch!"
Electricity flared on Electivire's fist as it swung a punch toward the Lopunny in front of it.
"Lopunny, Dig!"
Electivire's attack missed. Paul told it to stay alert of its surroundings.
In the next second, Electivire was struck by Lopunny emerging from underground and was sent flying backward.
"High Jump Kick!"
"Protect!"
Electivire blocked Lopunny's attack. It countered with Thunder Punch, but Lopunny tanked the move and used a High Jump Kick to knock Electivire back.
Paul recalled the incapacitated Electivire into its Poké Ball. "You worked hard. Get some rest."
Then Paul threw out his last Poké Ball. "I'm counting on you, Aggron!"
Aggron appeared on the field.
As soon as Aggron appeared, it took a Drain Punch.
Aggron, pushed back, steadied its body and let out a roar toward Mega Lopunny.
Paul looked at Aggron, whose typing was completely countered. A thought of giving up flashed in his dull eyes.
"I—"
Aggron looked back at Paul.
Looking into Aggron's eyes, Paul had a premonition.
Aggron was asking him: are you really going to give up?
Had Aggron not given up yet? But what was the point? With a four-times type disadvantage, what was the point of persisting?
While he was thinking, Aggron took another Drain Punch, yet it still stood firmly in front of Paul.
Paul took a deep breath, prepared to forfeit. Sensing Paul's mood, Aggron lowered its head, also ready to give up.
"Try believing in your Pokémon."
Lucas's voice surfaced in Paul's mind.
Paul remembered the words Lucas had said to him when they parted ways.
"Believe in my Pokémon—"
Paul narrowed his eyes and muttered to himself. Clearly, according to his own analysis, he couldn't win at all. But why did he still feel so unwilling to lose?
Paul exhaled, glanced at the Aggron that had already given up, and recalled its gaze from a moment ago. Paul suddenly snapped his eyes open.
"Aggron, Protect!"
Hearing Paul's voice, the dejected Aggron jerked its head up and did its best to expand a barrier, protecting itself.
So he hasn't given up yet.
Thinking this, Aggron used all its strength to force Lopunny back.
It let out a roar.
If he hasn't given up, then I can't give up either. I will do my absolute best, my utmost, and even more to win this victory for him!
Amidst Aggron's emotions, Paul felt a burning sensation in his chest.
Paul pulled out the wooden plaque hanging from his chest.
The opposing Trainer felt this familiar fluctuation and was stunned for a moment. Quickly recovering, he smiled and let Lopunny stand still while he watched Paul's actions.
Paul looked at the wooden plaque in his hand and remembered what Lucas had told him back then.
"If you feel the time is right, or when you need to secure a victory you're unsure of, open it and take a look."
Paul opened the wooden plaque and found two smooth stones lying quietly inside.
Paul recognized what they were, and his eyes widened.
The opposing Trainer was also somewhat surprised.
Paul looked at the two stones in his hand and laughed.
Thank you, Lucas. I think I understand what you meant now.
With that thought, Paul tossed one of the stones to Aggron.
"Aggron."
Aggron let out a roar.
"We shall forge ahead undaunted!"
Paul gripped the key stone in his hand and let out a shout.
"Mega Evolution!"
Two beams of light representing their connected hearts converged, producing an astonishing Aura.
The light faded, and Aggron had evolved into Mega Aggron.
"Please, guide us."
A wild, unrestrained expression appeared on Paul's face.
The opposing Trainer also burst out laughing. "Come then, let's have a proper battle."
"Focus Punch!"
"Focus Punch!"
Boom!
Smoke filled the air.
Elsewhere, Gary looked at the Mega Abomasnow before him and its Trainer, a Gym Leader from the Kalos region.
Gary pulled down the key stone hanging around his neck and gripped it tightly.
"Blastoise, answer my call!"
Blastoise knocked Mega Abomasnow back with a punch, and an incredible Aura began to erupt from its body.
"Mega Evolution!"
"Blizzard!"
"Dragon Pulse!"
Boom!
*Slurp~*
"This Beauty Tea is really delicious."
Lucas sat in the lounge area, sipping Beauty Tea as he spoke.
Gengar nodded in agreement beside him.
"Gengar gargar—"
I think so too.