Snover came before Lucas and pulled out a small metal box from its cap-like head.
"Ka-boon!"
Like a treasure, Snover reached out, offering both items to Lucas.
If it was just a guess before, now Lucas was sure.
This Snover was the very same lost child he'd encountered months ago while carrying out Geeta's commission on Glaseado Mountain, together with Interpol's Anabel and the old hunter Mr. Tron, hiding from Hunter J in a snow cave.
Snover's arrival was unexpected for Lucas.
After all, it should have lived higher up on Glaseado Mountain.
Perhaps due to the accident last time, they'd moved down to mid-mountain. Lucas knelt down, gently patted the somewhat shy Snover's head, and asked kindly, "It's been a while, Snover. Are you doing well?"
Worried that Lucas might have forgotten, Snover's eyes sparkled and it jumped into his arms.
Snover had met Lucas on its loneliest, stormiest night. After Lucas left, it always thought, if it could ever meet him again, it must express its gratitude.
Over the months, it had often watched climbers and trainers from under trees, but never saw that unforgettable figure.
It thought it would be disappointed again—but this time, hiding under a tree, it spotted him in the crowd.
Excited, but afraid to enter the patrolled venue, it ran home to fetch its parents for courage.
In Lucas's arms, Snover burrowed and chirped happily.
"Ka-boon~"
This time, Dad and Mom didn't get lost, and life had been great!
Watching Lucas and Snover interact, Grusha was amazed, even stroking Altaria's soft feathers in surprise.
Even the two Abomasnow relaxed. These Pokémon were famous for being "cold and aloof," preferring to live deep in snowy mountains, away from humans.
But seeing the metal box in Snover's hand, Grusha had a vague guess.
On the other side.
After its excitement, Snover calmed down and again offered the two items to Lucas, urging him to take them.
One was a clean, well-maintained metal box.
The other was a beautiful ice-blue stone, its pure body adorned with exquisite snowflake patterns.
They were the energy cube box Lucas had given Snover, and a high-quality Ice Stone.
To Snover, this was both returning and repaying kindness.
Lucas looked at the items, met Snover's innocent gaze, smiled, and accepted them.
"I love your gifts."
Since it was Snover's sincere gesture, Lucas couldn't refuse.
Seeing Lucas accept them, Snover looked excitedly at its parents.
Their efforts to get this coveted, energy-rich Ice Stone, even fighting that big one with the sword on its back, weren't wasted!
The Abomasnow couple, seeing Snover's look, felt a bit awkward, as if recalling bad memories. Even their joy at seeing their benefactor was tempered, and they muttered internally.
Troublemaker! Always making trouble for your parents!
But facing Lucas, the couple became flustered.
For these two homebodies who never left the mountain, interacting with humans or Pokémon was harder than fighting a Baxcalibur!
"I want to take them to my camp."
Lucas told the Abomasnow family to wait and approached Grusha and the staff to make his request.
The atmosphere froze.
An older staff member stepped forward, helplessly saying, "Sir, wild Pokémon are inherently unpredictable—let alone powerful ones like Abomasnow living on Glaseado Mountain."
"It's not that we're being difficult, but we have to be responsible for the contestants, staff, and audience!"
There was no hard edge to his words, just helplessness.
Lucas wasn't pushy. After thinking, he said, "How about this? I'll take full responsibility for the Abomasnow and Snover, including signing an agreement. I'll do my best to keep them in line, so you don't have to worry."
If they still objected, he'd just sacrifice some sleep to go outside and interact with them.
He also wanted to show them the finished sculpture.
His offer made the staff look at each other, unsure.
Then Grusha stepped up: "As head of security for the contest, I can vouch for them and take responsibility."
Grusha knew most staff were from various leagues and didn't want to press them, so he helped Lucas out.
With even the gym leader backing him, the staff quickly reported up and allowed Lucas to bring the Abomasnow family to camp.
Grusha had Altaria keep watch from above, then jogged after Lucas, saying, "It's not your fault. If the organizers hadn't introduced me, the staff wouldn't know I'm the gym leader—no big deal."
Lucas, not particularly upset, glanced at Grusha's legs and asked sincerely, "Are you different at night than during the day?"
Grusha's face, hidden by his scarf, turned slightly red—whether from embarrassment or something else. Looking at Lucas, who'd once triggered complicated feelings but was now his savior, he retorted, "You're imagining things!"
With that, Grusha ran off to Shawa's tent, looking almost like he was fleeing.
Lucas could only shake his head, giving up on his question, deciding to ask about Grusha and Shawa's relationship tomorrow.
Tonight?
He'd spend time with the Abomasnow family and Snover, then get a good night's sleep.
Tomorrow, he'd finish the sculpture and show it to them.
…
Morning.
Having slept five or six hours, Lucas yawned and got up. While washing, he enjoyed Calyrex's service—the energy wash felt like a spring breeze, washing away most of his fatigue.
Afterward, Calyrex mentioned, "This is a special exception—don't get used to it."
Lucas noticed Calyrex seemed to be holding something back.
He didn't mind, guessing Calyrex had overused this power before, leading to dependency, hence the restraint.
Calyrex walked out of the tent with him. The Pokémon had been active for a while.
At some point, Frosmoth had arrived and was now teaching both Vulpix and Snover Aurora Veil.
Calyrex commented with a smile, "When Frosmoth arrived, the Abomasnow thought it was picking a fight—almost started a brawl, but Ceruledge stopped them."
Surprised, Lucas looked over to see Ceruledge practicing with its sword, sneaking glances his way.
Its eagerness for praise was obvious.
Even if Ceruledge tried to hide it, Lucas, who knew its personality well, wouldn't miss it.
Praise good behavior, correct the bad—that was Lucas's principle in raising Pokémon.
He clapped his hands, and exaggeratedly said, "Ceruledge did great! My excellent and reliable shadow swordsman!"
Ceruledge, though seemingly unaffected, was clearly working harder.
Calyrex: "..."
Oh well, already used to it.
Coming to Vulpix and Snover's training spot, Frosmoth was using a double Snow Warning to set up an aurora, demonstrating how to spread the energy.
Nearby, the Abomasnow couple—who'd been like gatekeepers—were now chatting amicably with the Sandslash couple.
If they'd met on the mountain, they might have fought, but here, the two couples were happily sharing parenting tips.
Especially after learning the Sandslash couple were still caring for an egg, the Abomasnow shared many child-rearing tips—though whether they'd help a Sandshrew egg was another matter.
Seeing Lucas, Frosmoth paused her teaching and flew over.
Lucas smiled knowingly, "The tea is ready in the tent—help yourself later, I'll keep an eye on your trainer."
"Moss~"
Frosmoth was very satisfied with Lucas's tact and taught with unusual dedication today.
Yesterday, Lucas had thanked Frosmoth for teaching Vulpix Aurora Veil by giving her a bit of his precious, genuine Combee honey.
For Frosmoth, who'd been on a diet for ages under Miss Shawa's orders, this was like rain after a drought.
She was determined to pass on all her skills to Vulpix.
All for that delicious honey.
Happily, Frosmoth flew off to the tent, while Lucas looked at Vulpix and Snover.
After a night together, Snover and Vulpix had become friends.
But being close wasn't all good—Snover's openness meant Vulpix learned a few things.
Vulpix grabbed Lucas's pants and shirt, climbed onto his shoulder like a little monkey, and urged him with a cry.
"Mew!"
Nearby.
Hearing Vulpix's cries, Snover looked at Lucas, a little guilty.
Lucas reassured Snover—it wasn't its fault.
Last night, after hearing from Snover about the Ice Stone, Vulpix had been pestering Lucas to evolve.
So Lucas picked up Vulpix, held her up like Simba in The Lion King, and looked into her eyes, asking, "Are you really ready to evolve?"
Unlike certain other worlds where you can freely evolve and devolve, even changing species, Pokémon evolution is irreversible.
Once she evolved, Vulpix would lose a lot.
As a Vulpix, she was pampered by the farm Pokémon, could be held, and snuggled by Lucas...
A lot would change.
Vulpix had been on the farm for two or three months, and Lucas had taken good care of her. She was ready, physically and energetically, to evolve.
The Ice Stone brought by Snover was top quality, hard to find on the market. Calyrex had also promised to help Vulpix evolve perfectly.
Indeed.
When she evolved, Vulpix would gain the Fairy type, becoming a true dragon-slayer.
Alolan Ninetales was once the first choice for hail teams in the games—if you faced a Rayquaza without Mega, the pressure was immense.
Evolution is a leap in life—a new awakening of power.
But Lucas worried about one thing—
Was Vulpix truly ready?
Vulpix's eyes wavered with hesitation.
She knew that after evolving she'd look like her mother, couldn't be cuddled by Lucas, couldn't ride Glastrier, and wouldn't be pampered as much.
Like she'd heard about Growlithe—the farm's former darling—after evolving, even her doting siblings wouldn't go easy on her if she misbehaved.
Evolution meant losing privileges, but also gaining new things.
Vulpix's little brain didn't hold too much, but one thing was clear.
After evolving, she could finally master Aurora Veil!
Even if Calyrex could make an aurora, that wouldn't stop Vulpix—
She wanted to help Lucas with her own power!
With that thought, her eyes grew determined. She called out.
"Mew!" (I need to evolve!)
"I see."
Lucas smiled helplessly, choosing to respect her wishes, and looked at Calyrex.
Calyrex, as if expecting this, used psychic power to float the Ice Stone before Vulpix.
"I'll help you evolve perfectly," Calyrex promised.
Vulpix nodded, jumped from Lucas's arms, and touched the Ice Stone with her paw.
In an instant, dazzling light burst forth.