Lucas took out paper and a pen to plan out his upcoming schedule in detail.
The first thing to do now was to head to Galar to help Lugia resolve the issue with the three Legendary Birds there. Lucas was wondering if he could bring the three from Sinnoh over there and let them have a fight.
Ideally, the Sinnoh ones would win, and then, following the method he used to resolve the conflict between the Zangoose and Seviper clans, he could have the victorious Sinnoh Legendary Birds mock the Galar Legendary Birds, holding an annual tournament to curb the trouble caused by the Galar Legendary Birds.
This trip would likely take about a week. Since spring hadn't arrived yet and the Breeding House didn't have too many backed-up tasks, he should go and resolve it first.
Then, he would ask Officer Jenny to discuss with the Sinnoh League to see if they could prepare more pokémon eggs for his Breeding House, so it would be convenient for the Trainers preparing to travel when spring arrived.
Then, attend the Grand Festival, the Lily of the Valley Conference————
Sowing seeds, renovating the Breeding House grounds, patrolling the forest————
After all this busy work, spring would probably be almost over.
"The ancients did not deceive me; spring really is busy."
Lucas said while lying down.
"Since it's already the 31st, let's have a New Year's Eve dinner tonight!"
Lucas looked at Gengar, "How about it, Gengar?"
Gengar turned its head and looked at Lucas in confusion.
"Gen gengar?"
New Year's Eve dinner?
"It means celebrating the time we've spent together over the past year, although it hasn't been a full year yet, it's close enough."
Lucas said.
"Gen gengar"
Yay, I have no problem with that.
"New Year's Eve dinner? Then I'll go prepare the ingredients now."
Mrs. Fujino stood up after saying this. Lucas thought for a moment and said, "No need to prepare anything too grand."
Mrs. Fujino was puzzled, "Isn't New Year's Eve dinner supposed to be a bit grand?"
Lucas replied, "This is just the New Year on the new calendar. We usually celebrate the Lunar New Year—oh, I mean, where I'm from."
"Lunar New Year?"
Mrs. Fujino frowned, then relaxed, "You mean the Eastern Spring Festival, right?"
Lucas nodded, "Yes, that's the Spring Festival. Anyway, it won't be long until the Spring Festival. Let's prepare something grand on New Year's Eve. We'll just invite our own family to have a reunion dinner together."
"As you wish. I'll go buy a new calendar to keep track. I'm not sure if our calendar here will have the Spring Festival recorded on it."
Lucas smiled and said, "It's fine, I remember it. It's the 28th."
Mrs. Fujino put away the clothes and looked at Lucas, "Then, Manager, do we need to buy anything today? I'm planning on making a trip to Twinleaf Town. Little Shauna told me today that she hopes I can pick her up from school. She'll be very happy if her mom can pick her up from school."
"I'm also very happy to have the time to pick her up from school."
Lucas laughed heartily, then wrote down some things that needed to be purchased on a piece of paper. He also went to the kitchen to take a look and wrote down some items that were about to run out.
"Let's just prepare these for now. Thank you for your hard work."
Lucas handed the paper to Mrs. Fujino and said.
Mrs. Fujino took the paper and put it in her pocket, "Alright, then I'll be going."
Lucas nodded.
Mrs. Fujino rode on the back of the Gogoat and walked slowly towards Twinleaf Town.
Although the Gogoat could run very fast, Mrs. Fujino seemed to like riding it slowly when she had nothing to do.
Lucas stood at the door, watching her back, thinking that Mr. and Mrs. Fujino had initially helped work at the Breeding House only so that Shauna could have more time to stay and play at the Breeding House. But as time passed, their family rarely returned to their house in Twinleaf Town to live. It seemed they had already treated the Breeding House as their own home.
Lucas certainly didn't mind this; after all, having Mr. and Mrs. Fujino help take care of the Breeding House made things much easier.
More importantly, the Breeding House had little Shauna, and little Tomoyo who often ran over. These two children together could bring a lot of joy to the Breeding House.
Although the Breeding House already had a bunch of problem children and was destined not to be quiet, having two more extremely cute little girls didn't matter. Even if it became noisier, he still liked them very much.
Anyway, they weren't little boys. Having raised children before, Lucas felt that little boys of this age were practically demon children born into the world.
Especially in an environment with a backyard and a bunch of Pokémon.
The house could be demolished.
"She didn't like Pokémon much at first."
At this time, Mr. Fujino's voice rang out.
"Since coming to the Breeding House, from initially asking me to take care of the Pokémon, to later doing it herself, and now liking to ride the Gogoat back and forth between Twinleaf Town and the Breeding House all day, I feel like she likes Pokémon even more than she likes me now."
Lucas could tell that Mr. Fujino was jealous and complaining.
Lucas laughed out loud, "Then next time, let Mr. Fujino go to Twinleaf Town?"
"Forget it, since she likes it, let her go. As long as she's happy."
Lucas: ————
Damn, I was inexplicably fed dog food.
Lucas left the door directly and walked towards the Canteen.
"Mine Mine?"
Why are you here?
Mime Jr. saw Lucas and Ninetales following behind walking into the Canteen. It hurriedly jumped off the chair, ran to Lucas wearing a small apron, and nimbly climbed up Lucas's leg into his arms.
Lucas held it and poked its little red nose, "There was nothing to do at the Breeding House, so I came to take a look. How is it here? Can you handle the work?"
Mime Jr. nodded, "Mine Mine."
Big sister came to help me today, and the Meowstic were here too, so I'm very relaxed today.
Lucas glanced into the kitchen and found Gothitelle was processing the ingredients that needed to be used, and some simple meals were also prepared by it.
"Mine Mine."
But the orders have decreased a lot recently.
Hearing the frustration in Mime Jr.'s tone, Lucas smiled and said to it, "That's because spring is coming. Many people choose to go out and shop for themselves, and then make food."
Seeing Mime Jr. in a bad mood, thinking the food it made wasn't popular, Lucas pinched its nose, "Don't worry, when spring comes and the ice and snow melt, there will be more pedestrians on the Breeding Road, and then many people will come to the Canteen to eat. By then, don't cry because you're too busy."
"Mime Mine!"
I wouldn't! Hmph! I'm not a child anymore!
Lucas laughed happily. After chatting with the Meowstic who were helping in the Canteen for a while, he heard someone calling him at the Breeding House, so he put Mime Jr. down, greeted Gothitelle and the others, and took Ninetales back to the Breeding House.
He found an adult sitting in the rest area with a little boy. Gengar was floating on the side helping Lilligant entertain them. He didn't see Mr. Fujino, who must have gone to the backyard to handle things.
"Hello, is there anything you need?"
Lucas walked over, sat opposite them, took the milk tea pot from Gengar's hand, poured a cup of hot milk tea for them, and also poured a cup for himself. He left the rest to Gengar.
Gengar happily took the milk tea pot and floated back to its seat.
"Lucas, hello, my name is Kli, this is my child, Akel. I came here today because I have something I would like to ask for your help with."
The adult, Kli, said.
Lucas glanced at Akel. It was mid-winter, and he wasn't wearing a hat, his head was bare, mainly because he had a crew cut.
"If it's about Pokémon, then don't be polite."
Lucas took a sip of milk tea and said.
So sweet!
This Gengar, every time it makes milk tea, it puts in so much sweet honey, and it doesn't know how to hold back. It's not afraid of getting diabetes from eating so much sugar, really.
"It's like this, Akel met a Pokémon last year and became friends with it. Since spring is coming, he wants to set off on a journey in the spring with other Trainers, so he asked that Pokémon if it was willing to go with him. The result he got was that if it acknowledged Akel, it would go with him."
Lucas listened carefully.
Kli continued, "Akel doesn't have a starter Pokémon, so he went to find many Trainers and borrowed some powerful Pokémon to go over, but they all failed."
"They all lost?"
Lucas asked suddenly.
Kli hesitated for a moment, then finally shook his head, "Not exactly. Once, he met a powerful Trainer who lent his ace Swampert to Akel, and won the battle, but that Pokémon still didn't acknowledge Akel, and its attitude towards Akel even got worse. We don't understand what happened, so we thought we'd come and ask for your opinion."
Lucas understood.
That Pokémon wanted to see Akel's determination, but Akel mistakenly thought that he just needed to defeat it to get its approval.
Lucas tapped his finger on the table where the milk tea was placed. This matter was simple if you said it was simple, and complex if you said it was complex.
"Akel, can I ask you a few questions?"
Akel was stunned for a moment, then nodded.
"Please go ahead."
Lucas smiled and asked, "Akel, what does it mean to you?"
Akel answered without hesitation, "A partner, my best partner. We will become the greatest Pokémon Trainers together in the future!"
Akel clenched his fists, enunciating clearly, full of confidence.
Another "greatest Pokémon Trainer"?
The smile on Lucas's face did not fade. "A very good answer. Now for the second question: why did you choose to use someone else's Pokémon to defeat it?"
This time, Akel thought for a moment before answering, "Because I want to gain its approval, so I must defeat it."
"Hmm, a perfect answer, but Akel."
Lucas looked at him and continued, "Then why did you use someone else's Pokémon?"
"Because I don't have a Pokémon."
Akel answered instantly, then looked at Lucas in confusion. He didn't understand why Lucas would ask such a simple question.
Lucas: ————
"Akel, do you know why you still haven't gained its approval even after defeating it?"
"I don't know. That's why my dad brought me here. He said you might have a way."
Akel lowered his head in frustration, then looked up, staring earnestly at Lucas. "Big Brother Lucas, can you help me? I really, really like it. I want to go on a journey with it."
Big brother————
Lucas looked up and wiped his moist eyes.
It's been a long time since I heard those two words————
So I still belong to the 'big brother' generation after all————
Lucas's gaze was firm as he looked at Akel.
I am definitely going to help with this! No one can stop me, not even Arceus himself. That's what I said.
"Akel, but that is someone else's Pokémon; it is someone else's power."
Akel's little face was full of confusion.
"I guess the Pokémon you borrowed fought on its own, right? You didn't give any commands."
"No, because I am not their Trainer, and I don't know how to give commands."
"Is that why it doesn't approve of me, and isn't willing to pay attention to me anymore————"
Akel lowered his head and said in a low voice.
He realized something————
Just as he was feeling sad, a large, warm palm covered his head. He looked up and found Lucas looking at him gently.
"Akel, go try again. Try using your own power. I will have the Pokémon from the Breeding House help you. Try to battle it using your own power."
"But————"
Before Akel could finish, he was interrupted.
"I know. Go try again. If it doesn't work, I will help you find another way."
Looking at the gentle smile on Lucas's face, Akel clenched his fists. "Mm."
Lucas nodded with satisfaction. After going to the backyard to brief Mr. Fujino, he rode Ninetales, accompanied by Gengar, Lilligant, Gothitelle, the invisible Latias, Keli, and Akel, and headed towards Twinleaf Town.
Oh, right, and Vespiquen. When it heard that Lucas was going out, it insisted on following him no matter what.
Lucas looked at Vespiquen flying beside him and chuckled inwardly.
As expected, if you want a certain female to go out in winter, you only need one sentence.
That is, "Your waist is almost as thick as Dash's."
The huge Ninetales walked slowly into Twinleaf Town. The people of Twinleaf Town greeted Lucas when they saw him.
Lucas returned their greetings one by one.
Leaving Twinleaf Town from another direction, they arrived at a Cave, where Lucas saw a blue Pokémon from afar.
Huh? Twinleaf Town actually has this Pokémon too?
Could it be it?
Lucas was a bit shocked.
Akel ran over and shouted at the Pokémon, "I'm here, Riolu."
It really was it.
Riolu looked up, staring coldly at Akel, as well as Lucas, Gengar, and the other Pokémon behind Akel.
"Ou."
Have you invited helpers again?
Riolu's voice was cold.
Lucas narrowed his eyes slightly and beckoned to Vespiquen. Vespiquen flew over, and Lucas whispered a few words in its ear. Vespiquen nodded, indicating no problem.
Akel looked back at Lucas, and Lucas nodded at him with a smile.
"I'm lending you Vespiquen. Go battle, Akel. Rely on your own power to gain its approval."
"Mm."
"But Lucas, didn't you say————"
Keli was a bit anxious, but Lucas reached out to stop him. "Believe in me, and believe in him."
Keli focused his attention on Akel.
"Ou."
Come at me. After this time, I will leave this place.
Hearing Riolu's words, Lucas narrowed his eyes slightly.
Fortunately, it's not too late; there's still time.
Riolu saying this meant that Akel still had one last chance.
A blue ball of light gathered in Riolu's hands.
It stared at Vespiquen floating in the air.
"I'll leave it to you, Vespiquen."
Akel pointed his finger at Riolu and said.
The Aura Sphere in Riolu's hands kept its focus on Vespiquen, pondering what move Vespiquen would use.
But after waiting for a long time, Vespiquen remained in the air, showing no sign of taking action.
Riolu: ?
What does this mean?
"Big Brother Lucas————"
Akel looked back at Lucas, who was sitting on Ninetales with a serious expression.
"Akel, didn't we agree to use your own power to gain its approval? You chose to battle, so defeat it with a battle."
"But Vespiquen is————"
"Because you didn't issue any commands. Battles require the Trainer to give orders, not just rely on the Pokémon. If you only rely on the Pokémon, then that means———— that is not your power."
"But I haven't commanded before————
Lucas did not answer him.
What he had told Vespiquen earlier was not to act unless Akel issued a command.
It might even take a few hits.
Vespiquen indicated it was fine.
Akel waited for a long time, and finding that Lucas was no longer paying attention to him, he turned back to look at Riolu opposite him and Vespiquen in front of him.
"Issue a command————I understand. Vespiquen, use String Shot!"
Vespiquen did not move.
Akel looked back at Lucas.
Vespiquen also turned to stare at Lucas.
Vespiquen: Me?! String Shot?! A bee using String Shot?!
Lucas tried his best to keep a straight face. "You have to consider whether a Pokémon can use that move."
Lucas thought for a moment and said, "And, commands aren't just about moves; there are other things as well."
"Think about it, Akel, how should you actually gain its approval!"
Lucas raised his voice and shouted.
Riolu, opposite them, looked at Lucas. It seemed to understand what Lucas meant and nodded at him in thanks.
Lucas smiled slightly.
What a cute doggy————
Riolu focused its attention back on the battlefield and threw the Aura Sphere at Vespiquen.
Let me see your true determination!
Vespiquen habitually wanted to dodge, but remembering Lucas's instructions, it stopped and took the Aura Sphere hit head-on.
"Bee."
That hurt me, the Queen!
Lucas coughed and didn't dare to look into Vespiquen's eyes.
"Gen gengar"
When it returns to the Breeding House, we shouldn't be in trouble, right?!
"————Should————not be, right?"
"Lilli~"
"You cannot use bad language, Lilligant."
"Lilli~"
I didn't! (Sweet smile)
Riolu manifested a bone club in its hand and charged at Vespiquen.
Should I dodge or not?!
Vespiquen hesitated for a moment, then gritted its teeth and closed its eyes.
"Bee!"
You're dead, Lucas!
Lucas closed his eyes, refusing to watch Vespiquen being beaten by Riolu.
Akel watched Vespiquen being continuously struck by Riolu's bone club, his heart filled with extreme anxiety.
"Riolu, this time, I will definitely make you approve of me. Although I don't know how to command, and I don't know how to battle, I believe that we will definitely become the strongest Trainers. This is the promise we made at the very beginning!"
Akel's words were disjointed due to nervousness.
"Vespiquen, X-Scissor!"
Akel remembered the battles he had watched and shouted.
Vespiquen opened its eyes, knocked away Riolu's bone club, and its claws began to glow.
"Bee!"
Should have done this long ago.
Then, it slashed down at Riolu with X-Scissor.
Riolu looked at the determined Akel and recalled the promise they had made.
It opened its arms.
Before falling, the corners of its mouth curled up.
What I wanted has always been your determination————
Regardless of whether you are strong or not————
I believe that if we work hard together, we will definitely become stronger————
But when I learned that you came using someone else's Pokémon, I was very sad, and also very expectant. I was looking forward to your command, but why did you just watch without commanding?!
I am very disappointed! Akel!
Originally, today was the last day. If you were still like that, I would have just left.
Akel, you didn't forget our promise. I felt your determination. So, let's go together——
Riolu closed its eyes.
***************************
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