Even without speaking to Freezington's people, Lucas had guessed, from Peony's reaction to the statue alone:
There likely weren't any meaningful records about Calyrex left even in this rare Crown Tundra village.
Some might reduce it to a bedtime story, or an invention of elders.
Otherwise, given the villagers' behavior—and their regard (or lack thereof) for the field-side statue—Peony, carefree but not stupid, would've noticed.
After all, he settled here to investigate the King of Bountiful Harvests, the legendary birds in the tree, and the titans in the ruins.
A legendary king forgotten by posterity, sitting day after day upon an empty throne, feeling his body grow weaker as time flows.
Could there be anything more cruel?
Who was to blame?
Lucas doubted Calyrex had lost hearts through tyranny.
Even among legends, Calyrex was gentle; its power was associated with kindness and bounty.
He recalled in Sword and Shield's postgame those two Galarian royals who hid while Eternatus rampaged, then popped out to seize the Rusted Sword and Shield, trying to force Zacian and Zamazenta to fight for them.
He remembered that their royal line had appropriated the honor of the sword and shield heroes, claiming the glory for themselves.
Might the forgetting of Calyrex be tied to the Galar royal lineage?
The games didn't say, but it seemed likely.
Some humans are greedy. After stealing the heroes' glory, maybe they set their sights on the title of king.
Perhaps they gradually made society forget Calyrex, then proclaimed themselves Galar's royals. The sword-and-shield theft may have come later.
Hence Lucas's belief that Calyrex wasn't a tyrant.
It was lenient—too lenient, even.
If Lucas himself had been betrayed like that, wrath at the Galar royals wouldn't be surprising.
For such a gentle king to repeatedly appear in Freezington, possessing humans—descendants of its own people—there had to be a message it desperately wanted to convey. Lucas wanted to know.
This wasn't in the games; Calyrex appearing in Freezington like this was a first.
Fortunately, Calyrex didn't flee or try to shake Lucas. It stopped in the grove's center and turned to him—and to Peony, who irked it a little.
Its gaze fell on the Vulpix in Lucas's arms. Seeing those young, curious eyes, Calyrex paused and abandoned the idea of testing Lucas in battle.
Lucas slowed, locking eyes with Calyrex a moment before looking it over.
With fewer flakes in the grove, he could see clearly.
Just as he remembered:
A huge dark-green bud like broccoli with silver-gray tendrils, a face like deer and rabbit both with regal blue eyes; dark-green bead-like collar; a gray-white petite body with cloak-like wings; long pure-white legs hovering centimeters above the ground—Psychic-type.
As he observed, Peony committed his second rude outburst.
"Whoa! Up close it's even clearer."
"What a huge head!?"
Lucas: !!!!
Calyrex: …
Whether angered or just trying the same trick as in the village, Calyrex's eyes flared blue.
It floated up to Peony, locked eyes, and unleashed psychic power before Peony could reach for Scizor.
Peony yelped, lifted by blue light, eyes shut, going limp.
Vulpix stared, aghast, then looked up at Lucas—who did nothing, watching the broccoli-headed figure and its blue aura, as if waiting.
Moments later—
To Vulpix's shock, Peony, still seemingly asleep, spoke.
"Hmm… At last, a body sturdy enough to bear mine psychic power and convey mine will clearly."
"Though pressed by necessity—compared to her peers, that silver-haired girl's physique was stronger—her age rendered her still unsuitable. For this, I feel remorse."
"A thousand apologies for borrowing this body, and for the trouble caused your village. I offer my apology."
Lucas was sure.
Though the voice was Peony's, the speaker—given Calyrex hovering before him—was Calyrex.
From its words, possession seemed to require certain physical conditions.
Likely only Peony qualified in Freezington.
Noticing Lucas's steady gaze, Calyrex, thinking he didn't recognize it, felt a pang—until Lucas spoke:
"Calyrex… Why do you keep entering the human village?"
"Thou knowest me!"
Calyrex's eyes shone with joy; hearing Peony's voice created dissonance for Lucas and Vulpix.
After the burst of joy, Calyrex examined Lucas and then said sadly:
"But why… art thou not mine follower?"
Facing its dejection, Lucas felt like he was talking to a lonely elder.
Before he could comfort it, Calyrex, used to this, shook its head as if to scatter the worry, exhaled a thin mist, and appraised Lucas anew.
"O human who alone these countless years knowest mine name and visage—regarding the Pokémon in thine arms, thou seemest adept at rearing children?"
Lucas: "?"
Why the sudden turn to childcare?
But… thinking it over…
He glanced at Vulpix's innocent eyes.
Dragonite, Arcanine, Applin, Tropius, Combee, Vulpix flashed through his mind.
Most he'd raised from eggs: Dragonite by himself; Arcanine with Moltres; Applin and Tropius with Serperior; Combee and Vulpix from early stages needing care.
Not to mention the farm's many partners raised to their final evolutions.
In a sense, yes—he was good at raising kids.
Not understanding why Calyrex asked, he nodded. "I know a thing or two."
Seeing his quiet confidence, Calyrex mused and, through Peony, said, "Thou art modest."
"Very well. Hast thou time? I wish to take thee somewhere."
Its tone was reserved, but beneath it was the yearning of one who'd been lonely too long—wanting to talk more, even if this human wasn't its follower.
Better that he wasn't—no believer would have to witness its fallen state.
A cold wind stirred its cloak-like wings.
Lucas caught a bleak, autumnal sense of withering from Calyrex and felt a twinge of sadness. "I'll accept. But first, please release my companion."
If Peony stayed controlled, Penny would worry, and who knew about side effects.
Calyrex looked back at Peony, having read Lucas's concern. "Be at ease. This bears little negative effect upon humans. I but use his mind to speak."
"Should I release him, our speech would again fail—for my power is too faint to sustain a telepathic channel…"
Lucas had a solution. "It's okay. I have a way."
"Oh?"
Calyrex studied him, then, though it could ill afford a bad bet, chose trust.
"I believe thee."
It released Peony and, not wanting to be seen by others, rose and vanished.
Only its last words lingered in Lucas's ears:
"I shall await thee further out upon the snowfields. Come when night hath cloaked the heavens."
Lucas couldn't tell if it had used Teleport; in his memory, Calyrex didn't learn it, but a Psychic legend not knowing Teleport felt odd. Perhaps things had changed.
"…Ugaa!?"
Peony came to, clutching his throbbing head, muttering about big heads that seemed not so big anymore, shivering with cold till he recovered.
Lucas: "…"
No serious side effects—just a headache.
In the games Peony didn't have a headache after control; given his broccoli remarks, perhaps Calyrex did it on purpose.
"Vulpix~!"
Vulpix, with an easy laugh, giggled in Lucas's arms, making him smile despite Peony's pitiful, reproachful look.
What to say…
This Calyrex differed somewhat from his impression, yet was oddly likable.
A living being of flesh and blood—not a fool of naive goodness on an empty throne, unmoved by ages.
When Lucas brought the shivering Peony home, although only a few hours had passed, dusk's approach roused the kids.
They clustered by the fireplace with hot milk from Peonia, peeking outside, waiting.
As Lucas and Peony returned, five gazes turned on them. Peonia asked, "Idiot Dad—and Mr. Exorcist—did you find anything important?"
Nemona and the others looked at Lucas with hope.
Peony brushed off snow, head still aching, and said weakly, "I got possessed too…"
"What!?"
They gasped. Before, it only happened in the dead of night—was the ghost so strong it could now act by day?
Fear surged. Penny, more perceptive, sensed something off and looked at Lucas. "Teacher Lucas—did you drive it away?"
Lucas nodded. "Starting tonight, there won't be any more possessions in Freezington."
"What!?"
Joy burst; days of fatigue evaporated. Peony and Peonia looked at Lucas like a savior, gratitude beyond words.
Lucas didn't let them speak and explained:
"But it isn't fully resolved. I still need to go out tonight. You all stay here."
"And… this wasn't a ghost, but a certain special Pokémon. We've made an agreement. I'll go alone tonight."
He didn't name Calyrex yet. From its words, it wanted only him.
Even Peony wasn't invited.
He'd tell the full story after.
…
Night fell quickly. The snowfall eased.
Despite worry and requests to accompany him, Lucas firmly refused everyone—including Peony.
This was Calyrex's wish.
The others split up to inform the villagers the hauntings were over.
Lucas, following Calyrex's indicated direction, rode Dragonite to a place called the Snowslide Slope. Under a tree in the white world, he found Calyrex waiting.
Seeing Dragonite but no Vulpix, Calyrex chirped curiously in a tongue Lucas couldn't understand.
"Koron… jiji mm?"
Not wanting Dragonite to freeze, Lucas recalled it, then released Victini from a Level Ball.
Victini circled Calyrex curiously.
"Viti~"
For some reason, it sensed in Calyrex the same royal aura it once felt from the old king of the people of the land, bringing a touch of warmth and nostalgia.
Calyrex's regal eyes examined the small, cute Pokémon. It seemed to sense a special power—but language barred questions.
Lucas brushed off snow, scooped up Victini, and smiled. "Don't worry, we'll be able to talk in a moment."
He signaled Victini to charge Calyrex.
"Vini~!"
Victini took its hand. Golden aura rose, a trickle of Infinity Energy flowing into Calyrex's faith-starved body.
In an instant—
Like parched earth drinking rain, Calyrex could no longer hide its shock. Feeling the resurgence within, it spoke via telepathy, "Unbelievable. Both that ball that houses Pokémon and this Pokémon—everything exceeds mine expectations."
"…Wait. Mine power hath recovered enough for telepathy?"
It looked at Lucas, astonished; perhaps this was its wisest choice in ages.
"I used a Poké Ball to recall Dragonite. Vulpix is also inside one now."
"This child is Victini. It's a bit special… Think of it as producing universal energy to aid humans and Pokémon—like you just felt."
Holding beaming Victini, Lucas smiled and explained.
"Poké Balls… Victini…" Calyrex looked at its hands, murmuring, "In that case… I can do it!"
Forgetting its royal diction in excitement, it turned to Lucas. "As I said this afternoon, I want to take you somewhere. Please don't be alarmed."
Lucas nodded—ready.
Calyrex floated up in blue light.
Space began to distort. Lucas, used to it, knew what came next.
Sure enough, as the twist peaked, weightlessness washed over him. In a blink, the snowy world became a ruin—an ancient, desolate temple.
"This is… the Crown Shrine?"
Victini chirped in wonder as Lucas whispered to himself.
Calyrex looked toward the shrine's interior, at a space shrouded in a membranous glow, and spoke into his mind. "I wish to entrust it to thee."
It carried Lucas inside to a damaged throne, where a Pokémon slept deeply.
Shaped like a little nebula—body gases colored from purple to light blue; pale yellow eyes now narrowed in slumber; blue round cheek marks; a golden crescent on both upper and lower body; cloud-like ear tufts that twinkled like hands.
Seeing the tiny nebula, Lucas's pupils shrank. He whispered:
"Cos…mog?"