"Eek~ Raichu!?"
Raichu's sudden collapse made the hope in Iono's eyes freeze mid-glimmer. In the next instant, she threw her head back and wore an exaggerated look of disbelief.
It was such a theatrical expression it almost seemed staged—but the viewers watching Iono's stream loved it.
The chat flooded with strings of capital Hs to show how hard they were laughing.
After the laughs, though, many trainers who followed her because she's a Gym Leader started discussing the battle seriously, hoping to learn something.
The focus: the sequence of commands Lucas had used to bewilder Raichu. If Iono hadn't pulled out that odd black, glowing gem to trigger Terastallization, Shuckle might really have soloed Raichu without taking damage.
A user named Monk distilled and summarized the tactics:
First use Protect to block Raichu's full-power Thunderbolt, then use Power Split to weaken Raichu and empower Shuckle. Rely on the shell's hardness to tank Quick Attack, then seize the one chance to land Toxic on the extremely fast Raichu.
At close range, spray poisonous fluid directly at Raichu's wound to badly poison it, while goading Raichu into anger so it makes a misjudgment and fails to notice the difference between Substitute and the real body—thus whiffing an enraged strike.
Finally, lay Sticky Web to clamp Raichu's speed so that in the ensuing exchanges, Shuckle—with half of Raichu's power—can match Raichu's move timing and links, thereby securing advantage.
"What masterful command—brilliant!"
"If that little miss Iono hadn't used that very peculiar Terastallization to force move-for-move trades between Shuckle and Raichu, Raichu might have fallen outright to this combo of Power Split, Protect, Substitute, Toxic, and Sticky Web."
"Even so, that man still calculated exactly when the poison would sap Raichu's stamina, making its final Thunder fail before it could fire. That level of tactical acumen is truly impressive!"
"Not to mention developing the potential of a Shuckle—a Pokémon more associated with daily life in Johto—to this degree. Worthy of a champion-level trainer!"
In a several-hundred-character mini-essay, Monk unabashedly praised Lucas's tactics, marveling like he'd discovered a new world that Shuckle could fight this way and that these moves could chain so powerfully.
Iono was stunned—this Monk had dissected details she herself hadn't noticed while facing Lucas.
Who in the world was he?
In distant Kanto, at a sprawling lab in the pure-white Pallet Town that symbolizes the start of a journey, Professor Oak—was typing his essay with both hands flying.
Even if it required relays through several servers and incurred hefty costs just to connect real-time to Paldea's network, Professor Oak was tireless. As he put it: as a Pokémon Professor, you must broaden your horizons to avoid stagnation.
After sending his analysis and seeing the barrage of compliments in chat, Professor Oak grinned like a child, folded his arms, and mused: "When I invite him to the Oak Lab, besides observing that Arcanine, I'm also very interested in those two Shuckles with inverted colors."
"Ah, if only Ash and Gary would show some spirit during their Johto travels and catch a Shuckle to send back to the lab!"
…
"Shuckle~"
Watching the Shuckle siblings hugging each other in excitement, Lucas's lips curved slightly. He asked patiently, "How does victory taste?"
Hearing his voice, the little brother Shuckle pulled away from his joyful sister and felt the surge in his chest from winning, recalling the wave-like roar of the crowd at the moment of victory. He nodded vigorously.
In that instant, the gathered crowd no longer felt terrifying; instead, they took on vivid color.
"Shuckle~!" (It feels amazing!)
The Shuckle brother thumped his shell with a tentacle, producing a "thump-thump"—his body language alone showed his excitement.
Lucas watched him. With some training in psychology, he could tell from the Shuckle's movements that the victory had greatly boosted his self-confidence and somewhat softened his sensitive, timid traits.
The first success really can give boundless power to people and Pokémon alike.
Just then, having finished interacting with the stream, Iono came over.
Though losing to Lucas and Shuckle's strange tactics irked her a bit, she had lost—Terastallizing her just-acquired Raichu still hadn't saved her.
A loss is a loss. Her tone turned a bit lax as she started her usual line: "You and Shuckle shine like ten million volts—"
Before she could finish, Lucas raised a hand in front of her and cut her off, expression flat. "Skip. I've heard that one. Just give me the Badge."
Iono: ????
Hey! Don't treat Iono like an NPC who only recites fixed lines!
Feeling a mysterious ache in her shark teeth, Iono ground them. "Champion Lucas, if Iono remembers right, you've already cleared the Pokémon League, haven't you?"
"At this point, what do you even need Gym Badges for?"
Lucas found her question oddder still.
Scooping up the Shuckle brother, he spoke with impeccable logic. "First off, your stream is literally drawing views under the banner of taking Gym challenges. Issuing a Badge to the victor is only right."
"Even if it's just as a keepsake for my Shuckle's first win, you're handing over that Badge today!"
It was as if Iono had just met him anew. She widened her eyes. "Fine, fine! It's not like Iono can't afford a Badge! No one's taken a Badge from me today anyway—no problem!"
She stomped over to her assistant, snatched a Badge, shoved it into Lucas's hand, then used both hands to push him toward the edge of the battlefield.
"You got your Badge and your warm-up. Off you go, off you go! Iono has new challengers to handle!"
Probably bottled it up too long and finally exploded.
Like a bristling, flailing cat, her petite body erupted with surprising strength and literally shoved Lucas—Shuckle in arms—off the field.
He'd boosted the Shuckle brother's confidence and secured a Badge that would forever recall this big win.
Seeing how eager Iono was to shoo him away, Lucas chose not to linger. Under many gazes, he left Levincia's central square.
At a quiet park, he set down the many shopping bags he'd just hauled from the city's biggest department store, found a bench, sat, and then used his arm strength to lift the two 20-kg Shuckles up beside him.
"Whew—"
Only then did he have a moment to take out the Badge Iono had stuffed at him and, under the Shuckles' curious eyes, hold it up to the sun.
At a glance, he saw something different.
He'd heard about Paldea League reforms in recent years. But in just one year, even the Badges had been redesigned?
He remembered the Badges he'd earned weren't crafted this finely.
Levincia Gym's Badge used a copper-red filigree border with an Electric-type motif inset in the center—a small but exquisite piece.
"Not just the benefits getting better—Badges too, huh."
With a soft sigh, he pulled two silk scarves from his pocket—just bought at the mall, one blue and one red.
Silk Scarf boosts Normal-type move power, which is basically useless for Shuckle. But Lucas hadn't planned to boost the siblings with items.
He valued the silk texture and the keepsake meaning.
Credit to modern retailers: in the games Silk Scarf is only white, but merchants had made many colors to suit different Pokémon—very considerate.
Sensing the scarves were for them, the Shuckle siblings grew visibly tense, watching him unwrap them and tie them gently around their necks.
To match their shell colors and show their bond, Lucas put the sister's shell color (blue) on the brother, and the brother's shell color (red) on the sister.
"Shuckle!" "Shuckle~"
They admired each other's scarves, their voices full of delight.
It was clear they loved the gifts.
As they nuzzled him, Lucas smiled and looked at the shopping bags.
Of course, not just the Shuckle siblings—every Pokémon on the farm had a gift.
To be fair all around: if the Shuckles got gifts, then everyone would.
It wasn't a special day or holiday—he just wanted to give.
For Luxray, he finally skipped the quirky cat beds and bought a new scratcher with excellent quality—no shedding, no snagging claws. It should love it.
By the way, Organguru's gift was an extra-giant scratcher several sizes up.
Serperior got a crown that perfectly suits its regal air.
Swampert got a heavy bag that might survive a few punches—used with restraint, it should last a while.
For Mimikyu, Lucas bought a bolt of cloth close to Pikachu's color; he planned to hand-make its disguise doll.
For Ceruledge, as always, an apron—but this time patterned with Charcadet; he figured it would be a hit.
Dragonite, being a girl, got a custom cute dress after much thought.
Since Dragonite is always by his side and was measured in person, there'd be no jealousy from not seeing the gift yet.
Also: a Frisbee for Arcanine, a whole roast chicken for Moltres, a Castform for Politoed (its own request), gloves for the Poliwraths, little capes for the Eldegoss, dessert ingredients for Alcremie, and more.
Choosing gifts for everyone had nearly made him go bald, but in the end he settled them all.
He then took a small fitting from his pocket, attached it to the back of the Badge, and beckoned the Shuckle brother over.
With the sister smiling on, Lucas pinned the Badge to the brother's blue silk scarf.
As it cried out in surprise, he gently patted its head.
They'd taken the first step. As long as that symbol of his first victory followed him, the Shuckle brother would eventually complete his metamorphosis.
Lucas believed it.
…
Time rolled back to early July.
The Galar region—vast lands, varied terrain.
From tranquil farmlands to modern cities, from great plains to perilous snow mountains.
Pokémon battles are wildly popular—Galar's favorite entertainment, a hallmark of the region.
Once summer vacation started, Nemona, Arven, Penny, and Eris took a plane to Galar, not far from Paldea.
They came partly to travel, but mostly to train in the region where battling is honed to the extreme.
But because Penny's father, Peony, invited them, their already-short month-long trip was cut even shorter.
After enjoying the roaring Gym challenges in Turffield, Hulbury, and Motostoke, soaking in the arena-wide cheering and heat—
Nemona and Eris cut down three Badges in a row like a hot knife through butter. Arven took more effort but still clinched his third.
As for Penny, she wasn't interested in collecting her home region's Badges; that would only encourage her uncle to reignite plans to hire her into the Galar League.
So she became their sparring partner, slacking off while briefing them on Gym Leader styles—contributing greatly to Eris and Arven's wins.
In Galar, any trainer who clears the first three Gyms draws league attention—sometimes even a lunch or dinner with Chairman Rose.
Though his secretary Oleana often rushed those meals, that never dampened trainers' desire to earn one.
Nemona, who blasted through three Gyms and didn't flinch even against Dynamax, naturally caught Rose's eye.
Arven and Eris, too, looked like promising talents. At Rose's request, Oleana arranged a multi-person dinner to invite and possibly recruit them.
If Rose had known his niece was with them, he would've prepared better; with his corporate patter, he might've snowed these naive youngsters.
Thanks to Penny's sabotage—and after learning they didn't plan to settle in Galar—Rose reluctantly wrapped up the dinner.
As they left, Rose asked Nemona: between this "Teacher Lucas" she kept praising and Galar's champion Leon, who was stronger?
Nemona answered without hesitation: Lucas. That made Rose even more curious about Paldea's champion-level trainer.
Galar was pushing that project; perhaps he could coordinate with Chairwoman Geeta. If the plan gained other leagues' support, he might arrange a Lucas vs. Leon battle in Galar.
After dinner with Rose in Motostoke, Nemona's group continued on, reached Stow-on-Side via the Wild Area—
—but when they tried to challenge the Leaders, they found Bea was away training, and Allister had gone off to some ruin and was unreachable.
After waiting a day, they gave up and returned to Postwick, caught a Corviknight taxi south to the Crown Tundra.
…
The Crown Tundra is Galar's coldest land.
Jagged snow peaks rise in a place called an extreme-cold zone; only a few villagers live scattered across the Tundra.
At the station, the four met an enthusiastic middle-aged man who'd been waiting.
In full mountain expedition gear and a multi-function hard hat, the man squealed in a voice that made them all shiver, called Penny "Pen-pen," and lunged in for a hug.
His name was Peony—one of Galar's former Champions, specializing in Steel, and Chairman Rose's brother.
But in front of Penny—who'd learned a few grapples from Eris and earned praise for her flexibility—Peony ended up sprawled on the station's cold floor, watching Peonia lead the others away.
On the way, Peonia roughly explained why she and her father had come to the Crown Tundra and took them to their base in Freezington.
They were investigating legends tied to the Tundra.
But the Tundra is vast; verifying those legends meant cracking texts, finding places—hard work. Though they'd found some ruins in the Snowy Slope valley, they were still far from entering.
In the meantime—just as Peony had said when inviting them—he took them sightseeing all over the Tundra.
The wilds were dangerous, the mountains treacherous, and vicious Pokémon like Salamence, Garchomp, and Hydreigon prowled.
But with Peony—a former Champion with rich expedition experience and solid strength—Nemona's group had a blast for a while.
Until, with only a week left before they had to leave—
One night, or perhaps earlier, strange happenings began in Freezington.
Crops vanished from fields. Villagers sometimes floated as if possessed, muttering nonsense…
The former could be wild Pokémon; the latter could be Ghost-types.
But under Peony's guidance, even with his overwhelming strength, several long nights yielded no Ghost-type culprit. Instead, everyone's nerves frayed.
In the end, even Arven and Penny were possessed once.
Just as they were about to bail from the haunted village, they remembered a story Lucas had told in class—how he'd driven off ghosts in an abandoned Alola supermarket.
Plus, Peony had made progress on the ruin he'd named the Iceberg Ruins.
They put their heads together: why not use the ruin as a pretext to invite Lucas to the Tundra, and ask if he had a way to resolve the haunting?
They hesitated, though. They'd be leaving soon; asking Mr. Lucas to come all this way felt like too much.
And so it was July 30th, early morning.
After nights of seeing Penny, Nemona, and Peonia possessed before their eyes, they all had panda-grade dark circles when they dialed a Paldea number.