[Ding! Quest "Friendly Match Against an Elite Four Member" complete!]
[Reward: 1000 BP, 1x Premier Ball, 1x Random Orange Item]
Completion rate: 150%. Bonus reward: 1x Random Purple Item.
The system chimed in. The target had only asked for ten rounds of survival. Luke had forced a draw in three, pushing his completion rate well past expectations. Had he actually beaten Lance outright within ten rounds the reward likely would have doubled.
Lance was, after all, a genuinely seasoned Champion-tier Trainer. Luke's own real-combat experience was still thin by comparison, and this trade had already exceeded anything he'd realistically expected. Two months into this whole ordeal and he'd already tied a Champion.
Granted, it had been Cynthia's Pokémon on loan, and Spiritomb had never been at full strength to begin with. Even so, Teacher Luke's performance in that exchange had been genuinely remarkable.
Lance recalled his unconscious shiny Druddigon, mentally replaying the match that had just ended. He'd made real mistakes of his own, and Luke had capitalized on every single one with precision. If Sleep Talk hadn't rolled Dragon Claw randomly the outcome might have gone the other way entirely.
Lance frowned. I genuinely risked losing that one.
Clair and Cynthia had both noticed the same thing. Overall the two Pokémon had been roughly matched in raw power. Spiritomb, for all its pedigree as one of Cynthia's own, was fundamentally built as a physical tank. And coming straight off a full six-on-six match, even boosted by Luke's Sitrus Berry Pokéblock, it had been nowhere near peak condition. Lance's shiny Druddigon, meanwhile, served as Clair's dedicated damage-focused ace. It was, functionally, a glass cannon fighting a tank stripped of most of its defenses.
Despite the clear disadvantage Luke had still pulled off a Destiny Bond finish exactly as planned.
"That was—" Clair's eyes lit up. "Genuinely incredible."
Cynthia smiled faintly. "Mr. Lance would've had a much rougher time of it if that hadn't been a Dragon-type on loan."
Clair turned the comment over in her head. Forcing a draw from a clear disadvantage against an Elite Four member and reigning Johto Champion put Luke's command skill on par with Lance himself, if not better in the moment.
"Miss Cynthia," Clair asked, unable to hold back any longer. "How exactly do you know him? I've never once heard of a Trainer this skilled coming out of the Orient region before."
Cynthia thought it over. "We met through a video game."
"A video game?"
"Mm. I've lost to him more times than I'd like to admit."
Wait. Cynthia has actually lost to this guy?
Clair's eyebrows rose as she studied Luke across the field with fresh disbelief. His other Pokémon have to be Champion-caliber too, then. Rather than exploit Lance's fatigue from his earlier six-on-six match Luke had chosen the fairer rental format instead.
A note of genuine admiration crept into Clair's expression. "A genuinely outstanding Trainer."
"The path of a Trainer never really ends," Cynthia said, nodding gently, a small smile forming. "That's probably why he's already back to raising more Pokémon."
______________________________
The friendly match between the two had wrapped up. Beyond fulfilling Red's request Lance had gotten a genuinely thrilling duel out of it. Spiritomb's approach had leaned conservative, maybe overly cautious at points, but that likely just reflected Teacher Luke's personal style more than anything.
Lance turned the thought over. A rental match only tested one slice of a Trainer's overall strength. If Luke ever fielded his own actual team against him the outcome was genuinely anyone's guess.
Lance exhaled, his sharp expression softening as he stepped forward and extended a hand with a small smile. "I look forward to the day we get a real all-out battle."
Luke, still catching his breath, coughed hard at the fresh challenge. "I've only caught two Pokémon so far. Might be a while before that's possible."
Only two? Lance blinked, then caught on quickly. Teacher Luke was clearly still building out a proper lineup from scratch — common enough among serious Pokémon specialists relocating to a new region.
Still in his Champion cloak, Lance crossed his arms, nodded, and smiled. "I don't mind waiting until that lineup's complete."
He glanced at Haunter and Eevee beside Luke. "Judging by the look in their eyes, I doubt they'll settle for anything less than watching you reach the top of the league."
Luke's expression turned complicated. Are you two even speaking the same language I am? At this rate I'll be bankrupt long before either of you leads me anywhere near a championship.
Still, the sentiment was genuine, and Luke sighed. "Appreciate the kind words."
______________________________
Lance and Clair prepared to leave. Before heading out Clair turned back for one last long look at the Trainer who'd both "defeated Cynthia" and "drawn with Lance" in the span of one visit.
Her eyes sharpened. "If you ever challenge the Blackthorn Gym I won't be holding back."
Clair carried real pride in her position — she'd once challenged for an Elite Four seat herself and remained one of Johto's top-tier Gym Leaders. She'd never once beaten Lance in a match, not even a draw. Which meant, in her eyes, Luke had just earned genuine respect as a worthy opponent.
Luke smiled. "Don't worry, I have zero plans to take that challenge."
Clair nodded, satisfied, before something visibly clicked and she let out a small, flustered noise. Lance, though, had already moved the conversation along.
He glanced around, a touch apologetic. "I came here in a hurry this trip and didn't prepare anything for our meeting properly." He held something out. "This scale carries a trace of genuine Dragon energy. Small token, but sincere."
"You really didn't have to," Luke said, taking the Dragon Scale smoothly, laughing. "You already came all this way."
Sharp-edged and beautifully patterned, the scale alone would probably fetch a serious price on the open market.
Watching this, Cynthia rested her chin on one hand and nodded to herself. "I should have something for you as well, then."
"Here — take the Return TM. You'll find a use for it." She pulled a small gray USB drive from her handbag, tucking her hair back. "It might give Eevee's evolution a real boost."
Luke paused, staring down at the drive in his hand. Unexpectedly, he'd just been handed what amounted to the strongest theoretical Normal-type move in the game. A Pokémon at maximum friendship could push Return's power to 150, edging out even Hyper Beam. He hadn't gone looking for any particular TM, but hearing it would specifically benefit Eevee, he accepted without hesitation.
Two genuinely significant gifts, back to back. Luke coughed lightly and turned a pointed look toward Clair, who looked completely lost.
Your cousin already gave a gift. Not going to follow suit?
Clair froze for a beat, then gripped her whip tight, a vein practically visible on her forehead. "Right. I have something too!"
"Genuinely, no need—"
"Enough," Clair cut him off, silently pulling a Dragon Claw-shaped ring off her finger and pressing it into his hand.
[Quick Claw: A light, razor-edged claw. Grants the holder a small chance to act first in battle.]
Cynthia's brow creased slightly, though she stayed quiet.
Once Lance and Clair had properly said their goodbyes and left, Luke suddenly slapped his own forehead.
"Wait — wouldn't this Dragon Scale actually suit Garchomp better?"
"Feels weird keeping your Return TM without giving something back. Here, take the scale instead."
A flicker of surprise crossed Cynthia's face. Is it really appropriate to regift something someone else just gave you? Still, the Dragon Scale genuinely would benefit Garchomp. Cynthia accepted the beautifully patterned scale with quiet reverence and offered a gentle smile.
"Let's head home."