The Staraptor standing in the tree opened its eyes, which had been closed all night, and stood there quietly, watching the Vespiquen in the flowerbed directing the Combee to collect nectar.
Sensing that someone was watching her, Vespiquen turned around, discovered Staraptor standing in the tree, and glared at it.
"Star?" What are you looking at?
Staraptor tilted its head, then let out a cry. Looking at you.
A look of disdain appeared on Vespiquen's face, and she turned back to continue directing the Combee to collect nectar.
At this moment, our protagonist, Lucas, rolled over in bed. The space beside him was completely empty. Disliking this, he opened his eyes and sat up.
On the carpet, Gothitelle, Lilligant, and Roserade were lying peacefully in Ninetales' arms.
The room didn't look as crowded today because Gothitelle and Lucas had chased many of the Pokémon back to their own living quarters.
Lucas, who hadn't slept well all night, got out of bed, revealing Plane Sister's body, and went to the balcony, where Gengar was still practicing its yoga.
Lucas stood on the balcony, yawning with sleepy eyes.
"Lilli——" Good morning——
Lilligant came to Lucas's side and called out sweetly.
"Not good at all——" Lucas's voice was a bit low.
Lilligant and Gothitelle, who had floated out of the room, exchanged a look and blinked.
"Gothitelle." What do you want to eat today?
"Don't want to eat——not in the mood to eat——"
"Gothitelle." Eat a little, I'll make it for you, I'll make whatever you want to eat.
"No, I have no appetite, I didn't sleep well yesterday."
"Gothitelle." Eat just a little bit, it's very delicious.
"No."
Gothitelle clenched her fists and took a deep breath.
Lilligant blinked and silently stood beside Gengar.
"Lilli——" I'm coming to hide for a while. Lilligant whispered to Gengar.
Gengar also took a few steps back, then pulled out a handful of sunflower seeds and shared some with Lilligant.
"Gothitelle?" Are you going to eat or not?
"Not hungry, don't want to eat, don't bother me."
Just as Lucas finished speaking, his whole body flew up.
"Gothitelle?" Say that again?
Gothitelle rotated Lucas one hundred and eighty degrees upside down, floating in the air.
I gave you a way out and you didn't take it? Not eating breakfast? Say that you aren't eating breakfast one more time? I work hard every day getting up so early to make breakfast, and you're telling me you won't eat? Are you going to eat or not? What does that nod mean? Speak!
"I was wrong, I was wrong, I'll eat, I'll eat, I'll eat!"
Lucas's screams rang out in the quiet Breeding House.
"I'll eat! I'll eat a lot!"
Watching Lucas, who was being tossed up and down in the air like he was on a roller coaster, Gengar and Lilligant nodded with satisfaction.
Gothitelle gave you a way out, but you didn't take it, you deserve it.
Gothitelle placed Lucas back on the balcony, looking at him with a refreshed mind and body.
What do you want to eat?
Lucas lay slumped on the balcony, answering weakly: "Soy milk, fried dough sticks——"
Wait there. Gothitelle said, then floated directly from the balcony to the kitchen.
"Xiu." Serves you right. Ninetales walked out past Lucas while yawning, mocking him.
Yesterday, you said your body was cold and couldn't warm you up, and I endured it, but in the end, you still ran back to the room to sleep. You're truly a hopeless case; that's what you get for liking to run your mouth.
The more Ninetales thought about it, the angrier she got.
As a Fire-type Ninetales, not an Ice-type Ninetales, when he said yesterday that his body was cold and couldn't warm him up, she had endured it. If he could have used this opportunity to sleep with Cynthia, she wouldn't have minded taking the blame. But this guy was something else; even though they were sleeping together, he just had to open his mouth and ask that extra question.
Thinking about how, as a Fire-type Pokémon, she was told her body was cold and not warm, her reputation ruined, and she took the blame, all for nothing since the matter wasn't successfully accomplished, Ninetales was incredibly angry.
Yesterday, she specifically didn't let Lucas sleep in her arms and chased him back to bed.
At the same time, under her request, Lilligant and Meowstic all came over to sleep in her arms, so Lucas had to sleep on the bed all by himself.
With nothing to hold onto while sleeping, Lucas didn't sleep soundly all night.
But not a single Pokémon in the room felt sorry for him.
The Pokémon in the room had worried so much about their relationship, yet he ruined it all with one sentence.
It's infuriating to see him not strive for better; it's a tragedy! Serves him right!
"Hee hee, Ninetales sister~" Lucas looked at the Ninetales walking out, his face blooming with a smile, and opened his arms to walk toward Ninetales.
Watching Lucas, who was walking toward her with a silly grin, Ninetales got angrier the more she thought about it.
Scorching flames began to jump from her fur, and even the surrounding air began to become hot.
"Ah, so hot." Lucas was burned and exclaimed.
"Xiu." This is how I'll be from now on, otherwise I'm afraid I'll make you cold.
"Don't——Ninetales, I was wrong, I shouldn't have said that about you." Lucas was on the verge of tears.
"Gengar" Serves you right.
"Lilli~" Exactly.
"It's one thing for Gengar to kick me while I'm down, but Lilligant, aren't you the one who cares about me the most? How come you're also joining in?" Lucas couldn't believe it.
"Lilli?" Did I? You must have misheard.
"Lilli." (Literal meaning) Lilligant blinked her eyes, revealing a sweet smile.
"Meow~" I——I think so too——
"Meowstic sister——how could you too——my heart is truly breaking——" Lucas lay directly on the balcony, spread-eagled, staring listlessly at the sky where the sun hadn't risen yet, looking like life was meaningless.
"Xiu." Let him continue to feel like life is meaningless, we're going down to eat breakfast. The other Pokémon nodded one after another, then walked past Lucas.
A certain purple fatty walked to Lucas's side, and his body uncontrollably went "Pfft——".
"Gengar—" Oops, accidentally leaked a little air——
!!! "Gen!!! gar!!!" (σ;* *)σ Death penalty!
Seeing the murderous Lucas, Gengar was terrified. /（/.A）Z "Gengar"" Don't come over here——Yamero!!!
Bang bang bang, clang clang clang, crash crash crash——The Breeding House fully woke up amidst the commotion of a man flying and a ghost jumping.
"Good morning, Gothitelle." Cynthia and Diantha walked down from upstairs and greeted Gothitelle, who was floating out of the kitchen carrying breakfast.
"And good morning to everyone at the Breeding House." Diantha also greeted everyone at the Breeding House.
Cynthia and Diantha came to the counter and sat down, eating the breakfast Gothitelle and Mime Jr. had prepared for them.
Cynthia picked up a croissant, took a bite, then took a sip of Moomoo Milk, glanced at the empty seats, and asked curiously: "Where are Lucas and Gengar? Haven't they woken up yet?"
Shauna was gnawing on bread and pointed a finger toward a corner. Cynthia and Diantha looked over and discovered that Lucas and Gengar were lying on the carpet fighting.
Lucas was pulling on Gengar's long tongue with one hand and tugging at its short tail with the other, while Gengar had its toes stuck into Lucas's nostrils, one hand pulling Lucas's hair, and the other hand looking for an opportunity to attack.
"I signed a non-disclosure agreement, you can't break it!" Lucas's muffled voice rang out, stopping Gengar from pulling his hair.
"Gengar—" I don't care—— Gengar was even more muffled, its tongue being tightly pulled.
One man and one ghost, neither would yield to the other.
Cynthia seemed used to it; she just took a glance, then turned her head back to continue eating her breakfast.
And Diantha also seemed to understand that this was how Lucas and Gengar's relationship had improved, so she gradually accepted it.
It was just a bit unrefined. Under Gothitelle's "gentle" persuasion, Lucas and Gengar each went back to the dining table with a large bun Gothitelle had given them on their heads to eat breakfast.
After breakfast, Lucas went to the rest area, preparing to lie on the armchair to catch up on sleep. He hadn't slept well all night, and with nothing to hold in his arms, he wasn't used to it for the moment.
Diantha was sitting beside Cynthia, and seeing Lucas walk over, she smiled and spoke to him:
"Your Cabbage sister smells very nice~" The voice was deliberately drawn out.
Lucas had a smile on his face, "After all, you two best friends haven't seen each other for too long, it's normal to spend more time together."
"Cynthia, I remember, when was the last time we met? A week ago?"
"I think so."
Lucas: (. — . :) I'm shaking with anger! That's psychological warfare! If I had known, I should have beaten you severely during our last battle! Diantha! If I had known, I wouldn't have held back! Detestable woman!
Lucas lay down on the armchair with a smile, closed his eyes, turned his body to the other side, and started to sleep properly.
Holding Ninetales' big tail in his arms.
My Ninetales sister is still the best; women and such are all bad things. Lucas said weakly in his heart.
Diantha on the side covered her mouth, laughing extremely happily, while Cynthia looked at her best friend sitting beside her and shook her head helplessly.
"I won't be able to help you when the battle comes."
Lucas closed his eyes, suddenly feeling as if he had forgotten something.
It seemed like a very important matter, too.
"Ninetales, did I forget something?"
Lucas looked at Ninetales, who was lying on the carpet, and asked in confusion.
Ninetales opened its eyes, thought for a moment, then looked at Lucas and shook its head.
"I don't know; probably not, right?"
"Then I must have remembered wrong. Never mind, I'll take a nap first."
Just as Lucas closed his eyes, a solemn voice echoed in his mind.
"Lucas."
!!!
I know what I forgot!
I forgot my appointment with Arceus!
Lucas sat straight up from the armchair.
Yesterday, he had been busy entertaining Professor Oak and Professor Rowan, taking them to soak in the hot springs, and after sending them back to Professor Rowan's Research Institute, he had returned to the Breeding House, had dinner, and gone to bed.
"Hello, Arceus. May I ask how I should find you, or are you coming to the Breeding House?"
"Bring your Pokémon and head to the backyard. I will open a passage to my location for you."
Lucas nodded and stood up. "Gengar, call Gothitelle and the others; come with me."
Lucas shouted.
Gengar nodded and called over Gothitelle, Lilligant, Dash, Latias, and Ninetales. Seeing this, Lucas nodded.
"What's wrong?"
Cynthia stood up and came to Lucas's side, her gaze sharp. "Is something happening?"
Lucas smiled and patted her hand. "It's nothing, just heading out for a bit. Remember what I told you yesterday? I'm going to see It, and I'll be back soon."
Cynthia recalled what Lucas had told her yesterday, her eyes filled with hesitation. "Do you want me to accompany you—"
"It just asked me to go over. It's fine, It has returned to normal. Just wait for me to come back."
Lucas comforted her. Under her gaze, he took Gengar and the others to the backyard. Suddenly, a pillar of light appeared before them. Lucas stepped into it, and the dazzling light made him involuntarily close his eyes.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a palace. Beneath his feet were steps of emerald jade. Lucas led Gengar and the others, walking up the steps one by one.
Inside the Breeding House.
"Where did he go? You don't seem very worried anymore?" Diantha asked curiously.
"To see Arceus."
Diantha: ————
She knew Cynthia rarely lied. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but finally it turned into: "You—you guys—sigh, forget it. You really are a couple."
"Arceus... are you really that unconcerned?"
"You powerful people, someone as weak as me can't really understand."
Inside the palace.
Lucas looked at the alpaca, Arceus, standing in front, and walked forward.
"I'm here, Arceus."
"Long time no see, Lucas."
"Long time no see."
Arceus transformed into a form the same size as Ninetales and came before Lucas, gazing at him.
"So that's how it is—"
Arceus stared at Lucas for a long time before speaking.
"What do you mean? Is there something on my body?"
Lucas was a bit curious.
"Someone who does not belong to this world. No wonder the history of this world has become so interesting."
Arceus's solemn voice echoed in Lucas's mind.
Lucas: !!!
It could tell?!
It could even tell if I was from this world?!
No way?
What do I do now? It won't kill me for being an illegal immigrant, will it?
Lucas gripped the wooden plaque pendant in his hand tightly.
"Don't worry, I won't do anything to you."
Lucas looked suspicious.
Arceus shook its head and chuckled. "Do you think traveling to different worlds is very troublesome?"
"Do you know about the Ultra Beasts in the Alola region?"
"Ultra Beasts that come from another world."
"That's right, Lucas. There is not just this one world. On the basis of a main world, it can derive tens of thousands of parallel worlds. Each world has the same people, but there are also people unique to that specific world."
As soon as Arceus finished speaking, a light screen appeared before Lucas's eyes.
That is—
Looking at the boy in the baseball cap and the boy with the spiky hair in the light screen.
Red and Blue?
"It seems you know them?"
Arceus asked curiously, "Like you, they are powerful Trainers, and they are all Trainers recognized by different versions of me."
As Arceus spoke, the light screen kept playing.
Lucas saw all kinds of people in it.
Ruby, Kris, Gold, Silver—
They were all people Lucas was familiar with.
At this moment, they were no longer just paper characters from games, anime, or manga, but living, breathing people in different space-times.
"You—telling me this and showing me this, does it have some deeper meaning?"
Lucas voiced his confusion.
"That's right."
Arceus nodded. "Lucas, do you know that even in parallel worlds, the same event can lead to different outcomes?"
The light screen switched rapidly.
It was what happened in Michina.
In it, Ash and the others were unable to stop Arceus, so a furious Arceus directly destroyed the Sinnoh region and the entire continent.
Lucas: !
Gengar and the other Pokémon: !!!
"Actually, the strength of each world varies. Just like Red and Blue you just saw, the world they are in is very powerful because of them; they protected the world they are in."
"Then what about the world I am in?"
A chuckle echoed in Lucas's mind again. "Don't you already know the answer?"
"You protected it from me, but Lucas, what I want to say is that the crises every world faces do not just stem from me, but also from other Pokémon, and Pokémon that come from other worlds—"
Ultra Beasts—
Lucas's heart sank.
"Strive to become stronger, Lucas. I have high hopes for this world, so I hope you can take on the responsibility of protecting it."
"No, Arceus, you are wrong."
Lucas's voice rang out, and Arceus paused for a moment.
"This world is not just mine; it belongs to everyone and all Pokémon. Therefore, it is not just me alone who will protect this world. I believe you have also seen the various Champions who have stepped forward in many crises, as well as the various Trainers; they are all doing their best to protect this world."
"But if you are saying that someone with strength far beyond a Champion is needed to protect this world, then I will do my best to become that person. However, I believe I will not be fighting alone."
Lucas was incredibly confident at this moment.
Arceus looked at this exceptionally serious human before it, recalling the various miracles he had created when facing it.
"Heh—hehehe—Lucas, hahahaha."
Arceus went from a light chuckle to loud laughter.
Lucas: ?
"As expected of you. No wonder you could obtain such miraculous power. You told me, what was it? Peace and health? A blessing, right?"
Arceus thought for a moment, then said, "You are worthy. I will watch you, I will always watch you, even if I go to sleep first. I look forward to seeing if you will reach what you said—beyond the Champion."
"I also look forward to seeing if you can protect this world well from them."
"Go, Lucas. Keep your promise, and I will bestow a gift upon you—no, a blessing."
Lucas nodded and prepared to turn and leave, but he suddenly thought of something and turned back to look at Arceus. "Arceus, do you know about the one outside of space, Necrozma?"
Arceus nodded slightly.
Seeing this, Lucas understood, and then walked out of the palace without hesitation.
Inside the palace, Arceus looked up, through the palace, reaching directly beyond space.
"It? Hmph."
Arceus stomped its hoof lightly, and divine radiance passed through the palace, reaching directly beyond space. With a boom, Necrozma retreated a great distance.
Having done all this, Arceus returned to its own space and fell into a deep sleep.
Back at the Breeding House, a bunch of text suddenly jumped up before Lucas's eyes.
[Arceus's Blessing—]
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