As dawn broke, Lucas got out of bed, stretched, and walked to the balcony.
Gengar was doing calisthenics, following a video on the tablet Lucas bought for him.
Leaning against the balcony door, Lucas watched Gengar's short legs hop and skip. When he couldn't clap his hands above his head, he clapped them in front of his chest.
"A disciplined little fatty."
Gengar finished the set of movements, then stopped and looked at Lucas.
"Gengar!"
Lucas thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright, I'll give it a try too."
Gengar made room for him, and then one person and one Pokémon started doing calisthenics on the balcony.
After an unknown number of times of accidentally sending Gengar flying, Gengar couldn't take it anymore and chased him away.
Shrugging his shoulders, Lucas walked out of the room. Next door was Cynthia's room. Yesterday, he had picked a room for her that overlooked the backyard and helped her tidy it up. She didn't stand on ceremony and moved her luggage in.
He checked the time; it was a little past six in the morning. She wasn't awake yet. Lucas shook his head and went downstairs.
Mime Jr. had already prepared breakfast. Ever since Mime Jr. arrived, Lucas had a much easier time with cooking; Mime Jr. was too capable.
After he went downstairs, there was a sound from the door of the room next door. Then the door opened, and Cynthia yawned as she walked out of the room.
"Good morning, Lucas."
"Good morning, Uncle."
Voices came simultaneously from upstairs and outside the door. Lucas, who was sitting at the counter eating breakfast, looked up, first at Cynthia, then turned to look at Shauna.
"Good morning, Cynthia, good morning, Shauna."
Cynthia walked straight downstairs, and Shauna, with Chingling, also came behind the counter. She glanced at Cynthia, then skillfully hid behind Lucas.
Cynthia gestured with a confused look in her eyes.
"Is this the girl?"
Lucas nodded, then swallowed the egg in his hand in one bite, wiped his hands, and patted Shauna's little head.
"It's okay, Shauna. This older sister is big brother's... Uncle's friend."
Shauna poked her head out, curiously looking at Cynthia, and was completely captivated.
"Hello, my name is Cynthia."
Cynthia showed a gentle smile. Not only was Shauna stunned, but even Lucas was as well.
However, Lucas quickly recovered and encouraged Shauna to step forward.
Shauna walked out from behind Lucas and stood in front of Cynthia.
"H-hello, my name is Shauna."
Looking at the little girl in front of her whose voice was trembling slightly, and remembering what Lucas had told her yesterday, Cynthia felt a pang of sympathy. She then bent down and, imitating Lucas, patted her little silver-haired head.
"Shauna is so cute."
Shauna looked up at the face so close to hers. The gentle eyes were like spring water, with a charming smile.
Her cheeks instantly turned red.
"Sister Cynthia is so beautiful."
After saying that, she threw herself into Cynthia's arms, hugging her leg tightly.
She was too shy to look up.
Cynthia looked at Lucas, both amused and helpless. Lucas shrugged.
Seeing them getting along well, Lucas asked them to come and eat breakfast. Mime Jr. came out of the kitchen with their breakfast.
He told them to eat breakfast quietly, then Lucas returned to the kitchen to make two cups of honey water for them.
"Thank you."
"Thank you, Uncle."
"You're welcome."
After Lucas said that, he returned to the backyard, helped Torterra clean up a bit, then took out the lawnmower.
It was time to mow the lawn again.
Gengar finished his breakfast, phased through the wall, then squeezed past Lucas, and started the lawnmower with a rumble, driving it himself.
Lucas put his hands on his hips, watched Gengar's back as he drove the lawnmower into the distance, and gave him a couple of warnings.
Then he went to find some usable woodblocks, carried them in his arms, and returned to the counter, where Cynthia and Shauna had just finished breakfast.
"Are you going to the backyard or watching TV in the front?"
Cynthia didn't hesitate, "I'm going to the backyard."
Then she took Shauna, pushed open the door, and walked towards the backyard.
Lucas nodded, then hung out the 'Open' sign, sat at the counter, and began to work with his tools.
In the backyard, Cynthia took Shauna directly to the swing. After Shauna sat down, Cynthia looked and saw there was no room for her. She patted Shauna's little head, told her to be careful, then returned to the parasol and, with practiced ease, lay down.
The fragrance of freshly cut grass wafted to her nose. Not far away, her Pokémon were communicating with Lucas's Pokémon. Feeling the aura from Gengar and the others, Cynthia nodded to herself.
Lucas had raised them very well. The bond between trainer and Pokémon connected them tightly, which Cynthia really liked.
Cynthia thought for a moment, then took out her phone and took a selfie.
Then she opened a group chat and clicked send.
Caitlin: So beautiful.
Diantha: As beautiful as ever, Cynthia.
Iris: Looking at that background, are you on vacation again?
Cynthia saw this message, paused for a moment, then looked up into the distance, a slight curve forming on her lips. Immediately, her slender fingers tapped rapidly on the screen.
Cynthia: I found a very suitable place for a vacation.
Iris: I knew it.
Caitlin: I really want to go on vacation with Cynthia too.
Cynthia: Next time, we'll go together.
Diantha: Isn't your Sinnoh League Conference about to start? Do you still have time to go on vacation?
Cynthia remembered that the League Conference was about to begin, pouted, then tapped on the screen.
Cynthia: I'm in Sinnoh.
Cynthia: I'm at a very good Breeding House in the Sinnoh region. The owner is a very strong breeder.
Caitlin: A Breeding House? Then you might as well come to me and vacation with me.
Iris: Really? Is it true?
Diantha: But is it really okay? The League Conference is starting soon, aren't you going to train? It would be terrible if Caitlin defeated you then.
Caitlin: Hmph, hmph, just wait to be defeated by me!
Cynthia sent the last message, then turned off her phone screen. She looked at Lucario guiding the Machamp, and Gengar learning from Togekiss nearby.
"Training? Very well, Garchomp, let's train!"
Cynthia stood up, her gaze firm and fierce.
"Grrra!"
"As a thank you, I will personally guide you too, Gengar."
Cynthia looked at Gengar and the others. Lucas's breeding ability was very strong, so he had raised Gengar and the others very well, but Lucas didn't seem to have trained them much. Since that was the case, she would help train them to express her gratitude to him.
"Gengar!"
"Mime!"
"Attention!"
Cynthia nodded, then led them away into the distance.
Boom!
The huge noise from the backyard startled the wooden sign in Lucas's hand, making him drop it. He quickly ran to the backyard.
He found them all gathered in front of the kitchen window.
Lucas walked closer and found that the window glass was shattered.
Cynthia saw Lucas, nodded, and said, "Their potential is very strong."
Lucas was a bit stunned, then he looked at Gengar and a few Machamp.
A certain move on their move list was flickering.
Gengar and the others had expressions like they had done something wrong.
Lucas sighed, then tugged at Gengar's mouth and said,
"It's okay, I'll just find someone to fix it. Next time, remember to aim farther."
"Gengar!"
Hehe.
Checking the time, Lucas looked at Cynthia, "You all be careful, I'm going to make lunch. What do you want for lunch?"
Cynthia thought, then Cynthia gave up thinking.
"Anything is fine."
Lucas nodded, then took Mime Jr. back to the kitchen, while Cynthia led the Pokémon to train in the distance.
After lunch, Cynthia and Shauna sat in the lounge area watching TV. The TV was showing a warm-up for the upcoming Sinnoh League Conference.
Lucas brought them soda and a fruit platter. Cynthia took a sip, then said, "The League Conference is starting soon, and I'll have to go back then."
"League Conference?"
"Yes, do you want to come and watch? I can get you tickets, the seats are very good."
Lucas thought for a while, then shook his head.
"If I leave the Breeding House, no one will look after it."
Cynthia nodded, showing understanding.
"But Gengar and I will watch on TV and cheer for you, right, Gengar."
"Gengar! (◦ ˙ ▽ ˙ ◦)"
"Okay."
Cynthia smiled faintly and nodded.
Lucas, who had returned to the counter to continue working, suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, by the way, Cynthia, do you know a trainer named Ash?"