Kimura had once poured his heart and soul into Charcadet, hoping it would carve a path for him through the seventh Gym.
He could never mistake it. This Ceruledge was the Charcadet he had released.
His gaze flicked between the calmly waiting Ceruledge at Lucas's back and the fallen Tyranitar.
The Tyranitar that had been a wall to them was a lamb to the slaughter before Ceruledge. The difference in battle strength was beyond comprehension.
He remembered his most recent trip to Alfornada Town a few months ago to challenge the Gym, and how he'd been beaten down again.
Compared to this Ceruledge, he'd at least seen a glimmer of hope against the Pokémon Gym Leader Tulip sent out for challengers. Ceruledge's sheer presence crushed even the thought of challenging it.
And this powerhouse was the very Pokémon he himself had let go.
A pang of regret stabbed through Kimura.
Meanwhile, the rescued Trainers clustered around Lucas, full of gratitude and nostalgia.
"Lucas, long time no see—and thank you for saving us!"
"That Ceruledge is incredible. Did you catch it later in your travels?"
"That Tyranitar we couldn't do anything against didn't even get to fight back!"
Lucas fielded their enthusiasm with a few smiles, explaining that he'd only swung by because he saw Nanna's group asking for help at the Pokémon Center.
Then someone said, "You and Mr. Kimura are close, right? Why aren't you two talking?"
"Come to think of it, he used to raise a Charcadet like a treasure. It's a shame he entrusted it to a talented relative. Otherwise, that Charcadet might've become a strong Ceruledge too, huh?"
Kimura's body went rigid. For an instant, Lucas's and Ceruledge's eyes flickered.
Lucas had wondered why no one had asked about Charcadet's sudden disappearance when everyone knew it was Kimura's great hope.
So that's the story he'd told them.
Lucas didn't need to look to know Kimura was probably begging him with his eyes not to expose him.
Saying it out loud would only rip open Ceruledge's scars. With a silent scoff, Lucas said, "You and your Pokémon are hurt. Head back to the Pokémon Center for treatment. I'll handle Tyranitar."
Only then did they fully feel the aches all over. After thanking Lucas again, they left, not noticing that he'd neatly changed the subject.
With Ceruledge, Lucas walked past Kimura to the fallen Tyranitar. Thanks to the Arcanine back home, he'd gotten used to big Pokémon. Tyranitar didn't faze him.
He took out a Poké Ball and captured it. Generally, there were two options for a Tyranitar like this: release it into the deep mountains, or have a Trainer take it on.
Since the others had left without comment, they clearly weren't getting involved. Lucas wasn't interested in raising a Tyranitar right now, so he'd have Dragonite carry it out to a rocky mountain area and release it.
With Tyranitar's ball in hand, Lucas didn't spare Kimura a glance. He turned with Ceruledge to leave.
Kimura's hoarse voice came from behind. "Thank you. You and Ceruledge saved me. If it's not too much… could you tell me how many Gyms you've cleared now?"
Lucas paused, didn't turn around, and said flatly, "Champion rank."
Before Kimura could react or respond, Lucas and Ceruledge's footsteps faded away, and they were gone from the mine.
Kimura rose unsteadily to his feet, face tangled with regret, complicated feelings, and—more than anything—an unprecedented clarity.
He wiped at his forehead and came away with a hand black with dust. With a crooked, bitter smile, he rasped, "So it was a gap in skill as a Trainer. It wasn't that Charcadet couldn't answer my expectations—I just wasn't qualified as its Trainer."
"What have I done…"
Tears of regret tracked down a face that had lost its youth. The glittering drops mixed with grime, turning murky.
…
Outside, once Lucas left the cavern, he recalled Ceruledge and summoned Dragonite again.
Ceruledge's emotions had been steady from start to finish. It hadn't shown the slightest turbulence at Kimura's appearance. That was why Lucas felt comfortable letting it handle Tyranitar.
"Let's fly out a bit farther, find some rocky mountains, and release this Tyranitar so it won't come mess with the mines again," Lucas said softly from Dragonite's back.
In a blink, Dragonite rode the wind and climbed away from the area.
In the distant woods, drawn by Tyranitar's commotion, a Pokémon that looked like a fusion of Gardevoir and Gallade lifted its head to the sky. Its red eyes tracked Dragonite and Lucas's silhouettes receding into the distance. Remembering Ceruledge's razor-edged presence from earlier, a stream of data rippled through those eyes.
Result: Strong
…
The release went smoothly. Lucas left Tyranitar a few farm-grown berries to replenish its strength.
He watched Tyranitar wake in a daze, eat in a daze, and then wander off into the mountains—still in a daze—and suddenly thought of something Hanza had mentioned that morning.
Could this Tyranitar be the same one Hanza had encountered on his travels?
Tyranitar were rare to begin with. The odds weren't bad that it was the same one.
But it was only a guess. With nothing to go on, Lucas rode Dragonite back to the Pokémon Center in Zapapico to hand Yumi Joy video proof of the release.
Even though he hadn't formally accepted the job, the paperwork and procedures still needed to be done. It saved trouble later.
From Yumi, he learned that everyone from the mission had been treated, and their Pokémon were receiving proper care. Lucas made no comment, skipped past the topic, and took his leave.
The sudden incident had eaten a lot of time. By the time Lucas flew back to the farm on Dragonite, night had fallen. Without disturbing the Pokémon on the farm, he washed up and went straight to bed.
Ceruledge was unusually clingy that night. It insisted on staying in the same room as Lucas—even standing guard would be fine, it said without words.
Helpless, Lucas let Ceruledge rest leaning against the side of his bed.