The next morning.
Lucas was awakened by the Delibird's alarm-clock service.
Not to mention, after traveling alone for so long, the bird's voice had undergone a "Mega Evolution"—louder than even the farm's punctual Moltres.
The bed in Steven's guest room was absurdly comfortable. Even in an unfamiliar environment, Lucas had slept soundly.
He briefly considered asking the butler where to buy an identical bed for his own home.
Rising, he knocked on the "turtle shell" on the nightstand. Terapagos was still fast asleep.
Glancing upward, he spotted Victini sleep-flying against the ceiling.
Yesterday really had exhausted the two little ones. One had helped the giant Dragonite shock Kyogre awake; the other, together with the Tera Orb, had supplied Terastal energy to Terastallize Lugia and turn the tide against Groudon.
They had worn themselves out.
Steven's guest room was spacious enough to be its own elegant little house. Floor-to-ceiling windows opened onto a courtyard where gossamer curtains swayed in the breeze, scattering sunlight into golden motes. A gentle wind carried the scent of grass and flowers into the room—refreshing and pleasant.
Before crossing into this world, such an unguarded design would have been an all-you-can-eat buffet for insects and small animals.
Now, Lucas found even breathing comfortable.
It was nearly noon. Sunlight streamed in just right.
By the window, an Alolan Ninetales lay curled lazily, its pale-blue fur gilded with soft gold. In the shifting light it radiated an almost divine, otherworldly grace.
Although Ninetales preferred icy environments, even Mount Lanakila in Alola wasn't perpetually locked in blizzard and cloud. On rare clear days, shafts of sunlight would break through and bathe the peaks. Alolan Ninetales and Vulpix would gather outside to bask in the gentle warmth.
Perhaps that was why ancient Alolans, climbing the mountain after a storm, had mistaken sunbathing Ninetales for divine incarnations.
Lucas gazed at it and sighed from the heart.
In both temperament and beauty, the evolved Ninetales was simply unbeatable.
He groomed his Luxray, helped Mimikyu into a fresh doll disguise, and checked with Comfey on the condition of the "Eternal Flower" it tended. Then he used a warm, damp towel to give the Pokémon Egg on the nightstand a gentle bath.
Only after all that did his morning truly begin—though lunch was only two and a half hours away.
Moltres had slept inside its Poké Ball last night. Swampert, Politoed, and Milotic had stayed in the artificial lake within Steven's private estate.
Lucas decided to fetch them first.
Before stepping out, his eyes fell on the Mysterious Crystal resting quietly on the side table.
Yes—after careful consideration, he had accepted it from Steven the previous night.
Its exact purpose remained unclear; Lucas had no interest in relying on cheats outside of true emergencies. But his instincts told him this was the most special item in the entire collection room.
He would ask the Calyrex about it once he returned to Paldea.
Leaving Luxray and Ninetales to watch over the sleeping Victini and Terapagos, Lucas took the Delibird and Mimikyu and headed out.
He had intended to go straight to the lake, but at a corner he nearly collided with Lance.
The Dragon Master stood perfectly groomed, clothes crisp, face upright and radiating righteousness. He looked as though he had been waiting for some time.
Before Lucas could speak, Lance said, "Awake? Mind chatting for a bit?"
"Sure."
Lucas blinked in surprise but agreed readily. Even if he wondered why Lance— who had planned to leave at dawn—was still here, a short conversation wouldn't hurt.
They walked to a large tree in the courtyard. The Delibird and Mimikyu watched from a respectful distance.
Lance had clearly rehearsed this moment many times. He got straight to the point.
"I heard… well, the reports made it obvious. You actually pulled off something that insane."
Lucas's expression froze. Was he talking about the LaRousse City incident?
Lance continued, voice steady. "Rayquaza—the Sky Dragon of Hoenn legend, the god that rules the heavens—became your defeated opponent. When I first heard the news, I was genuinely shaken. After actually confirming you fought that super-ancient legendary Pokémon, I became certain of one fact."
He looked Lucas directly in the eye.
"You're already far stronger than me, aren't you?"
Lucas sensed the blazing fighting spirit hidden beneath Lance's calm exterior. He didn't answer with empty humility.
After a few seconds of silence, he nodded quietly. "Yes."
With the experienced Calyrex as a constant sparring partner, the farm's nutrient-rich crops, and his own guidance, Lucas knew his team had undergone another transformation this past year. He had long suspected he had surpassed most Champions. Now he admitted it outright.
Whether facing Lance or the returned-to-peak Alder, Lucas was confident of victory.
Lance exhaled the breath he had been holding. A fierce smile spread across his face—his fighting spirit burning brighter than ever.
"Let's make a promise. Next, I'll go all-out to claim the Kanto League Championship. After that—we'll meet again at the Pokémon World Championships!"
"Huh?"
Lucas's reply died in his throat. He stared at Lance in utter bewilderment.
What are you even saying?
But Lance gave him no chance to question further. He summoned Dragonite, skipped lunch entirely, and shot into the sky with decisive speed.
Lucas stood frozen for a long moment, expression blank.
What… what just happened?
Also—how did Lance even know about the Pokémon World Championships? Had Galar already contacted Kanto?
Lance was gone in a flash, leaving Lucas alone in the wind, thoroughly confused.
Even after retrieving his water Pokémon and sitting down to lunch at Steven's table, he still hadn't figured it out.
Had Lance waited just to "talk big"?
He couldn't make sense of it.
Perhaps because Lance had set the tone, after lunch Lucas heard similar declarations of renewed determination from both Steven and Wallace. He accepted it all with calm acceptance.
Team Aqua and Team Magma really did have some skill. The Groudon and Kyogre they had awakened had reignited the fighting spirits of three Champions—and probably Nemona as well.
Lucas, who understood that feeling of powerlessness all too well, looked forward to seeing how they would grow.
As for the World Championships… he had no plans to participate anytime soon.
Besides the motivational speeches, Lucas also learned from Steven where the kids had disappeared to. Early that morning, Nemona's group and Ash's group had all rushed off to the rocky mountain on Steven's estate, determined not to leave without catching a Pokémon.
Steven didn't seem to mind how long they stayed, but Lucas still reminded him gently, "Their tournament deadlines are approaching fast."
Steven set down his teacup and thought for a moment before nodding. "You're right."
Wallace had already mentioned that the Grand Festival was nearly upon them, and Steven knew the annual Ever Grande Conference tournament for ordinary trainers would begin in just over two weeks.
While he didn't mind the kids staying to bond with potential partners, he didn't want them to miss the events they had worked so hard for.
"If they haven't connected with a Pokémon they like by tonight, I'll have to issue a firm 'eviction notice' and tell them to try again next time," Steven said with a smile.
After chatting a while longer and sampling tea pilfered from his father's private stash, Steven took Lucas to see Devon Corporation's fossil-revival machine.
It had been airlifted in at dawn—complete with a small fleet of flying Pokémon and accompanying scientists. Only Steven could arrange something so extravagant on a whim.
The massive silver-white device, brimming with futuristic technology, was performing a near-miraculous feat: extracting the gene sequence from Brock's chosen Old Amber and attempting to revive the ancient Pokémon within.
Brock waited nervously beside the nutrient tank the entire day.
The process lasted until the stars wheeled overhead and night fell.
When it finally ended, a light-gray Pokémon floated inside the transparent capsule—eyes closed, resembling the bipedal dragons of myth or the pterosaurs of the dinosaur age.
Revival successful.
Brock's luck had held. The Old Amber contained Aerodactyl's genes.
Even though the data had already confirmed it, seeing the living Aerodactyl before him made Brock's excitement impossible to hide.
Lucas smiled and shook his head as Brock pressed his face against the glass in pure joy.
Unfortunately, the story that would unfold between Brock and his new partner was one Lucas would probably never witness.
Still, knowing Brock's gentle nature, it would likely be a warm and touching tale.
Around eleven o'clock, a dusty Nemona, Ash, and the others finally returned to the estate.
Ash's protagonist luck hadn't worked its usual magic this time. May hadn't found a compatible Rock- or Steel-type either. Nemona and Shizuka had also come back empty-handed.
As expected, most of them had left without a new partner. One day simply wasn't enough time.
The only one who succeeded was Paul.
A Beldum floated calmly beside him via magnetic levitation, its single red eye mirroring its trainer's composed demeanor.
Lucas blinked and teased mischievously, "Beldum eats expensive metal ores every day, you know."
A crack appeared in Paul's usually calm expression.
The remark had struck his weak point perfectly.
Just as Paul had once joked that Ash must have a mine at home to support so many Pokémon, Paul's own family—despite his brother Reggie running a breeding house—was still a little tight on funds.
He knew how much the young Larvitar Ash had caught could eat. A "late bloomer" like Beldum probably had an equally large appetite.
It looked like Paul would have to start "borrowing" pocket money from novice trainers along his journey…
Before Paul could put his evil plan into action, Steven—the former Hoenn Champion—stepped forward magnanimously.
Smiling like a successful matchmaker, he handed Paul a large bundle of items.
"These are my personal notes on raising Beldum, a VIP card for 50% off ore and metal purchases at all Devon stores, and some spending money. Consider it startup capital for your new partner—wedding gift, I mean!"
Paul looked utterly flattered.
Steven had been right—Paul and Beldum were a perfect match. In just one day, a Beldum had chosen to leave with him.
Ignoring Paul's overwhelmed expression, the generous Steven made the same promise to Ash and the others: focus on your upcoming tournaments first. Afterward, if you still want to build bonds with the Pokémon on the mountain, contact me anytime. My personal thank-you gift is valid for life.
Another day passed. It was now January 28th—only a few days remained until Naranja Academy reopened after spring break.
After seeing off Nemona, Paul, Shizuka, and Ash, Lucas formally announced his own departure to Steven and Wallace.
Both men understood completely and didn't try to keep him. They knew Lugia and the two giant Pokémon were still waiting.
That afternoon, after a farewell lunch, Lucas departed Mossdeep City aboard Moltres and flew to the edge of Hoenn's territorial waters.
There, Lugia, the giant Dragonite, and the giant Tentacruel were already waiting.
Lucas turned first to the giant Dragonite.
"You said you want to take me to an island?"
…
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