Understanding the urgency, Lucas prepared quickly. Before leaving, he grabbed an empty Poké Ball, didn't waste time finding Dragonite, and simply climbed onto Three Scar's back to fly to Vespiquen's grove.
Corviknight's back is broad—enough for an adult and even a child.
Lucas remembered the special short anime "Twilight Wings" for Pokémon Sword/Shield, where Galar's undefeated champion Leon rode a Corviknight with a sick blonde boy to the stadium to face Raihan.
It left a deep impression; the Gigantamax Charizard vs. Gigantamax Duraludon was explosive.
But once he actually sat on Corviknight's back, he found it wasn't suitable for riding.
The main issue was the armor—too smooth to grip, and the cold, hard plates were murder on the butt.
It was Corviknight's first time carrying a person, and it completely forgot to gather flying energy to shield Lucas from the wind—or maybe it hadn't even learned Fly.
All told, while Corviknight looks amazing and riding it is stylish, the experience didn't compare to Dragonite at all. After barely twenty minutes, Lucas's rear felt numb, and the morning wind had wrecked his face and hair.
Seeing the familiar outline of the woods, he sighed in relief. Those twenty minutes felt like torture.
Once he got the Combee, he'd walk back.
Led by Corviknight, Lucas entered the grove.
The patrolling Combee all knew him, so it was green lights all the way to the core territory and the main hive.
As soon as he arrived, he sensed something off in the air. Even the usually chattering Corvisquire were huddled quietly, sensing the tension.
He first met Vespiquen. Surrounded by Combee guards, she was clearly in low spirits. Lucas knew she was struggling against instinct—resisting the urge to order the males to swarm the newborn female Combee and drive her out.
He cut to the chase: "I'm here."
Vespiquen opened her jewel-like eyes and nodded lightly, a hint of weariness in her call: "Bzz-bzz."
She indicated the hive's edge, where a ball of male Combee had formed, covering the female with their bodies. Even with them shielding her, the female's pheromones kept needling Vespiquen's nerves, stoking irritation.
The Combee below the hive parted to open a path straight to the living ball, waiting for Lucas to approach.
He patted Corviknight's wing, telling it to stay there. As cool as Corviknight looked to him, it might be terrifying to a newborn female Combee.
Given she'd already been frightened, caution was best.
Walking the path with Combee vibrating silently on both sides, Lucas couldn't help but think it felt like a Combee honor guard.
Before he could ask them to move, Vespiquen spoke again to command them.
They slowly parted, revealing the center.
A very small Combee—freshly hatched by the looks of it—eyes shut, wings still, the three little faces that should be smiling now full of fear.
Female and male Combee look largely the same; distinguishing them is simple.
The lower face of a female has a red mark, which becomes Vespiquen's ruby-like crown structure after evolution.
Two queens in one mountain is untenable—let alone two who both can command drones.
Seeing her trembling, Lucas sighed, crouched, and spoke gently: "Don't be afraid. Come to my farm and build your own hive there."
The three little faces opened their eyes in unison, staring blankly at him for a while—as if receiving kindness for the first time. Without hesitation, Combee accepted his invitation almost instantly.
As long as she leaves, mother won't be angry anymore, right?
After a furtive glance at Vespiquen, Combee went straight into the Poké Ball Lucas held. Her first impression of him was good, and since she had to leave anyway, accepting his invitation was best.
The Poké Ball rocked three times and chimed—she was captured and became Lucas's Pokémon.
The instant the pheromones left, Vespiquen finally exhaled; the agitation in her heart eased, letting her think more clearly.
She looked at the ball in Lucas's hand, emotions mixed. In her hazy memories, she too had been treated this way by the queen who bore her.
Unlike this child, she hadn't met a Trainer who would take her in, and clawed her way up to where she was now.
She had once vowed never to repeat that mistake with her own child. Yet she could not defeat instinct. How sad.
With reason restored, she could only silently cheer the Combee on.
After a bit more conversation, Lucas left, carrying a glass jar full of honey Vespiquen had given him. He wore a strange expression—was it his imagination, or did Vespiquen seem just like a worried mother sending off her daughter with a dowry?
He chose not to ride Corviknight back. With Vespiquen and the Combee seeing him off, he walked to the farm.
Back home, he promised Corviknight an extra lunch and sent it to patrol the skies, then pondered how to settle Combee.
Combee love gathering nectar and living in groups.
Books said that when a female Combee lives apart from a hive, she trains herself to quickly reach evolution conditions, become Vespiquen, found her own hive, and produce workers independently.
So the best place for her is the flower field.
Thinking so, Lucas headed there at once.
In the field, Comfey was tending the blooms, while Victini, Vulpix, and Alcremie were playing.
They were the farm's most childish and playful trio. Thankfully, they were careful not to damage Comfey's meticulously cultivated flowers.
Spotting Lucas, Comfey floated over and crowned him with a freshly made flower ring.
He took the harmoniously colored, full-bloom garland, examined it, thumbs-upped, and smiled: "Your technique keeps getting better. I love it—thank you."
"Fey~"
Comfey beamed, pleased by the praise.
The three playful Pokémon noticed him too and swarmed over. For a moment his ears rang with their chirping.
Vulpix tugged at his pant leg, Alcremie started climbing him, and Victini—the only flyer—plopped on his shoulder.
He could only smile wryly. Perhaps this was the "trouble" of having too many Pokémon who adored you.
Once the three settled down, and sat in a row with Comfey, Lucas said, "Announcement: from now on, we have a new member. She was entrusted to me by her mother and is very lonely right now. Please get along with her, okay?"
He looked at their well-behaved faces, waited for nods, then exhaled in relief.
He wasn't worried about Comfey's attitude; he mainly needed to brief Alcremie and the others so they wouldn't accidentally hurt Combee's sensitive heart.
Just as he turned to ask Comfey to make a welcome garland, the three rascals huddled to whisper.
Vulpix trilled primly: "Vyu~?" (Is the new friend like me—entrusted to Lucas by my mom?)
Alcremie's eyes spun mischievously. With a sly smile that hooked Victini's and Vulpix's curiosity, she put her hands on her hips and went, "Maff maff maff!"
(In my opinion, Lucas went out again with food to lure some naive wild Pokémon. Used to plain berries, how could they resist refined treats? One taste and they're smitten, lost to temptation!)
Victini blinked, feeling Alcremie had a point to make.
But the ever-optimistic V-kid didn't sweat the small stuff. The last two days on the farm were great—good food, friends to play with, and now a new buddy? Perfect.
When Lucas and Comfey had the welcome garland ready, he turned to find the three sitting there expectantly.
Surprised they'd actually waited quietly, he didn't tease and instead produced the Poké Ball. "Come out, Combee."
A flash of red. The still-timid Combee appeared.
She carefully took in her surroundings. The air was rich with floral scent, a sea of blooms swaying in the breeze.
Instinct told her that, once evolved, she must build her hive here if possible!
As she dazed, Comfey slipped the garland across her body. Startled, she was immediately swaddled in the warm welcome of four enthusiastic Pokémon.
Watching the overwhelmed Combee and her eager greeters, Lucas smiled and slipped away.
Let Pokémon handle their own socializing. He needed to fetch the milking gear and prepare fresh Moomoo Milk and goat's milk; from the look of her, Combee hadn't eaten much and was likely hungry.
After lunch—Combee fed full—Lucas, for once, didn't nap on the porch lounger. He went to the flower field, using the earth as bed and sky as blanket.
With floral breeze at his nose, he cradled the sleeping, well-fed Combee, enjoying the peace of the moment.
After a while, he glanced at Combee, then at the field, thinking about the farm's next steps.
They needed to scale production and build infrastructure that made Pokémon happy.
It was already June. The Paldea region had seen more rain and was heading into rainy season. Light showers were fine—even helpful for watering.
But Los Platos sat near the Paldea Sea. Like that typhoon a few months back, he could foresee pouring rains, high winds—even multiple typhoons.
Most crops could take some punishment. These delicate flowers couldn't.
This field would be Combee's future home. Comfey loved living here, too. It had to be protected.
So, what to do?
After some thought, he had an answer.
Intervene with construction—build a protective structure over the field.
What popped up first was those transparent glasshouses from idol dramas, where the leads sat reading and looking cool.
He could install a glass conservatory enclosed on all sides; if resources allowed, add temperature and humidity control so flowers would bloom even in winter.
Inside, add rattan chairs, a swing, and other touches to make it a venue for appreciating flowers, sipping tea, and hosting guests—while Combee, Butterfree, Beautifly, Vivillon, and Cutiefly flitted about.
That would be beautiful.
Combee could gather nectar year-round, build her own hive, and truly settle.
Maybe, like the Amber Castle in Eterna Forest that Ash and friends saw in Sinnoh, she could one day create a dreamlike wonder of the world.
But that was still far off.
Thinking so, Lucas looked down at Combee's serene sleeping face and smiled.
Before building an Amber Castle, let's be practical—eat more, drink more milk, grow strong, evolve smoothly, and then build your own hive.