Vulpix dreamt of swimming in an ocean of bubble tea, only to be lifted by the scruff of its neck by an evil hand.
"Vulpix?"
It opened its eyes groggily, only to see another Vulpix across from it, also looking at itself groggily.
"Vulpix?"
It tilted its head curiously, and the Vulpix opposite also tilted its head.
Vulpix was greatly shocked.
Then a wet towel blocked its sight.
It made itself sit steady, narrowing its eyes.
It let the large hand rub the towel all over its face.
After a while, the towel was removed, and Vulpix saw the light of day again.
Its first thought was to see the Vulpix from earlier.
Was it a new friend Lucas found for it?
But it found the Vulpix opposite also sitting, staring straight at itself.
"Vulpix."
It was a mirror.
It shook its head, then jumped off the sink.
It ran straight out of the house.
"Remember to eat breakfast first."
"Vulpix~"
Vulpix responded without looking back, then disappeared.
Lucas turned around and continued brushing his teeth with Gengar.
After washing up, he went downstairs to enjoy the breakfast Gothorita and Mime Jr. had prepared for him.
After eating, he went to the backyard, and the Pokémon of the Breeding House all gathered around Lucas.
They knew Lucas was going fishing today.
"Today I plan to go out and play, so I need a few Pokémon to stay home and look after our home."
As soon as he finished speaking, Machamp gave a thumbs up.
"Machamp!"
We'll stay.
They weren't particularly interested in fishing; it was too boring.
It was better to stay and look after the Breeding House, and they could also practice.
Lucas smiled, then spoke.
"Then I'll trouble you all, Machamp. You, with your two companions and Vespiquen, look after our Breeding House and the Pokémon in the forest."
"Machamp!"
The three Machamp saluted.
"I'll make you something delicious when I get back!"
"Machamp!"
No one can cross our bodies!
Then, looking at Vespiquen, Lucas went to the flowerbed.
It was quite magical.
It was already autumn, but the flowers in the flowerbed were still blooming.
Lucas picked a flower suitable for Vespiquen.
"Excuse me, Vespiquen, would you be willing to guard this Breeding House for me?"
Lucas presented the flower to Vespiquen, then bowed slightly.
Vespiquen's face flushed upon seeing the flower.
Then she turned her head away.
"Vespi!"
Lucas put the flower in Vespiquen's hand.
Vespiquen fled in a hurry.
"If anything happens, remember to find me."
Vespiquen did not respond.
Lucas looked at Vespiquen's retreating figure and smiled knowingly.
Vespiquen is so cute.
But he wouldn't dare say that out loud.
There were bees behind the wall.
Then Lucas looked at Gengar and the others.
"Everyone, then, let's go!"
"Gengar-"
"Lilligant~"
"Mime Jr.~"
"Goth~"
"Vulpix~"
"Roselia~"
"Marill~"
At this moment, a Pokémon's cry stopped Lucas.
Lucas turned to look and found it was a Marill.
He remembered this Marill, the one that bravely used Play Rough against Salamence during the battle with Hunter J.
"What's wrong, Marill?"
Lucas looked at Marill with a smile.
Ever since he obtained the forest Pokémon's restoration, this Marill had followed Azumarill and the others to live in the Lake area of the Breeding House, residing with the Golduck family in the Lake area of the Breeding House.
"Marill~"
Can I come with you?
Marill ran to Lucas's side and cried out shyly.
Lucas didn't understand.
He looked at Marill intently.
[Marill]
[Type: Water, Fairy]
[Gender: Male]
[Ability: Huge Power]
[Known Moves: Defense Curl, Water Gun, Bubble Beam, Play Rough, Charm, Aqua Tail, Superpower, Double-Edge, Rain Dance, Ice Punch.]
[Mood: Anxious]
[Status: Scared, Anxious]
[Friendship: 100]
[Description: It fought against Pokémon Hunter J with you, and then followed its small family to live in the Breeding House, to prevent the bad guys who destroyed the forest from returning to take revenge on you. They are guarding your Breeding House with the Golduck family, but it seems to like you, or even you all? Every time you play, it watches you from a distance, perhaps due to its personality, it doesn't dare to come forward.]
[We will protect those who guard the forest —Marill]
Lucas was a little surprised.
So the Azumarill family and the Golduck family came to live in the Breeding House to protect him?
Lucas looked at the last sentence of the description.
Likes me? Wants to play with us, but is too shy to?
Lucas smiled.
So that's how it is.
"Marill—"
Seeing Lucas not respond, Marill's azure face instantly turned red.
Is it really not possible?
It finally mustered up the courage to ask if it could join, but was it rejected?
Just as Marill was about to leave in disappointment.
"Okay."
Lucas's voice came over, and it turned its head in disbelief.
It looked at Lucas.
Lucas squatted down and patted its small head, a different sensation.
It was cool to the touch.
He gently stroked its round ears with his fingers.
"Let's go together, Marill, let's go play together."
"Marill~"
Looking at the gentle smile before it, Marill shed tears of joy.
Then it wiped its tears and looked at Lucas's side.
Lilligant smiled gently, Machamp and the others gave a thumbs up, Vulpix happily circled around it, Mime Jr. ran over and held its hand, Gothorita and Roselia clapped softly.
Finally, Gengar, who offered it cat ears, round and somewhat resembling Marill's ears.
"Gengar?! (!") / "
Marill happily took it and took a bite.
"Marill~"
II
Arriving at the Twinleaf Town port, Lucas looked at the sea.
The water surface constantly undulated, with a few Magikarp jumping out of the water from time to time.
At the same time, many Tentacool were still swimming on the surface.
On the distant shore, there were many Shellos on the beach.
There were also many trainers playing on the beach with their Pokémon.
A whistle sounded.
A huge passenger ship docked at the port.
Then many people disembarked from the ship.
Many of them had their Pokémon with them.
Trainers from different regions.
All came to the Sinnoh region to travel, looking for different Pokémon to make their team stronger.
At the same time, many Pokémon accompanying people had different Charms.
Even the people themselves were dressed elegantly and luxuriously.
Lucas stood aside, quietly watching the people disembarking from the passenger ship.
Quietly identifying the Pokémon accompanying them.
Serperior, Blastoise, Krookodile, Pikachu, Delphox—
He was watching others, and others were watching him.
Feeling the aura emanating from the Pokémon accompanying him.
Their gaze carried scrutiny.
Lucas didn't mind this at all.
Occasionally meeting eyes, he would smile slightly, signaling a greeting.
During this process, a few trainers, feeling enthusiastic, invited Lucas to a battle.
Lucas declined, stating he wasn't a trainer.
Apparently, that trainer didn't believe him, but he politely left anyway and found another trainer to challenge.
Lucas saw many people gather around to watch their battle and smiled.
Then he glanced at the Pokémon around him.
He was filled with emotion.
Unknowingly, he had so many family members around him now?
"Sigh~"
A gasping sound came from beside him.
Lucas turned to look.
Gengar was sticking out its tongue, evidently spiced by the spicy stick.
"..."
"Don't lick me if you haven't rinsed your mouth after eating spicy sticks."
"It smells like spicy sticks."
Gengar heard this, thought for a moment, and put the spicy stick away.
Then it pulled out a cup of bubble tea, which Marill had frozen with Ice Punch.
"Where did you pull this bubble tea out from again?"
Lucas's head ached a little.
"Slurp~"
Do you have a problem?
Lucas shook his head.
As long as you're happy.
Then he looked at Marill; its personality still made it a bit reserved.
But its moves were not at all.
Except for Defense Curl, all were offensive moves.
Lucas smiled, then looked into the distance.
The sun was just right.
Since it had just entered autumn, it wasn't particularly cold yet.
"The weather is perfect today, truly suitable for fishing."
Lucas spoke from the heart.
"Manager~"