Gardenia's second Pokémon, Cacturne, was lulled to sleep by Roserade's Dazzling Gleam.
The third was Carnivine, which took a Poison Jab and then fell into a deep sleep.
The fourth, Torterra, was directly knocked over by a Hyper Beam.
The fifth, Leafeon, fell asleep peacefully with the combined efforts of Dazzling Gleam and Poison Jab.
The last one, Breloom, fought with Roserade for a few rounds, but eventually succumbed to Seed Flare and collapsed directly into Gardenia's arms.
"In this battle, Lucas achieved victory."
Mr. Fujino raised the chess piece in his hand and announced the result.
As soon as Mr. Fujino finished speaking, Roserade plopped down on the ground.
"Ni————"
So tired———— Is battling really this exhausting?
If Breloom had held on a little longer, Roserade might have collapsed.
Roserade kept panting heavily.
"You worked hard, Roserade."
Lucas walked over and handed Roserade a cup of honey water. Roserade took it and chugged it all down, recovering some strength.
Next time, don't call me. It's too tiring.
Roserade protested strongly.
Battling is so exhausting, even more tiring than working at the Breeding House. Working at the Breeding House just requires work, but battling requires using moves, jumping around, getting hit, and it's both painful and tiring.
Listening to Roserade's protest, Lucas quickly apologized, "It's my fault this time. I should have let other Pokémon rotate with you."
Roserade heard Lucas's apology and extended its small flower hand. Lucas pulled it up.
Gardenia also returned Breloom to its Poké Ball and walked over to Lucas, sighing, "Lucas is indeed very strong————"
As far as I know, Roserade was not even among the Pokémon Lucas used to defeat Champion Cynthia.
Doesn't that mean Lucas defeated me using only his second team? And with only one Pokémon at that————
Gardenia: I really am a noob, wuwuwuwu————
Gardenia, Gardenia, is it really just a seed of vegetables?
The more Gardenia thought about it, the more upset she became, almost getting lost in her own thoughts.
"As expected of the Eterna City Gym Leader."
Lucas said sincerely, "You know, Roserade is one of the best in our Breeding House. Lilligant and the others have all lost before, but Roserade has never lost, you know."
Gardenia: Ah? Really? So does that mean———— Roserade is actually Lucas's hidden ace?
After all, Lucas said it has never lost a battle!
"Really? It has never lost a battle?"
Looking at Gardenia's expectant gaze, Lucas nodded without hesitation.
After all, it hadn't battled before, so of course it hadn't lost.
"Currently maintaining a 100% win rate."
And you contributed to this 100% win rate.
Lucas said.
"By the way, release all your Pokémon. I'll treat them."
"Oh, okay."
Gardenia released all her Breloom. Lucas, Gothitelle, and Roserade fed them some herbal medicine, then treated their external injuries and carefully bandaged them.
"Let's go, I'll take you to eat."
"Then I won't be polite."
Gardenia followed Lucas with a smile and entered the Breeding House.
At the dining table, Gardenia and Breloom were so happy they couldn't express it in words.
So delicious————
What kind of wonderland is this————
Gardenia and Breloom ate non-stop, their cheeks constantly moving, chewing food, swallowing it, then eating and chewing again———— a continuous cycle.
Then they ended up with bitter expressions, looking at the herbal tea in front of them.
"Can we not drink it?"
Gardenia asked weakly.
"This is to promote digestion and help you digest your food."
Lucas's voice sounded, full of helplessness.
How could someone get so full from just one meal that they can't even walk?
"If you don't want to be unable to eat for the next few days, then drink it quickly."
Lucas pointed to the steaming herbal tea and said irritably, "No one's fighting you for it, why are you eating so fast? You know you're full, but you keep stuffing yourselves. I'm really impressed with you two."
"Especially you, Breloom, a mushroom eating so much, and only picking mushrooms to eat. Now look what happened? You're stuffed with mushrooms!"
Gardenia and Breloom listened to Lucas's scolding, not daring to speak.
They were really too full and had stomach aches, so they didn't want to talk.
Looking at their bitter expressions, looking pitiful, Lucas raised his voice, "Do I need to ask Gengar to come back and pry open your mouths?"
Gardenia lay on the chair, trying to sit up straight, but it hurt so much that she let out a cry.
Lucas: ————
"Meowstic, you and Zoroark help them out."
"Meow~"
Okay~
Zoroark nodded, and she and Meowstic each picked up a bowl of herbal tea, scooped a little with a spoon, blew on it to cool it, and put it to their mouths.
"So bitter————"
Gardenia protested, but Lucas ignored their protests and instead instructed Zoroark and Meowstic, "Take a break. Stop for a few minutes after two or three spoonfuls, then continue feeding."
Meowstic and Zoroark nodded, indicating that they understood.
Looking at the constantly wailing Gardenia and Breloom, Mrs. Fujino on the side couldn't help but smile wryly.
"So many guests have visited before, but none of them got this stuffed."
"It's all because it was too delicious———— Ah————"
Gardenia mumbled, then wailed again.
"Rest well, talk less."
Lucas finished speaking, took out his phone, took a few photos of them, then opened Cynthia's chat window and clicked send.
Cynthia: ???
Lucas: Look, she came to take the Gym challenge, and because she failed, she turned her grief and indignation into appetite.
Cynthia: And then?
Lucas: She ate too much, and Zoroark and Meowstic are feeding her herbal medicine to aid digestion.
Cynthia: ————
Cynthia: Good thing it wasn't Maylene.
Maylene?
The Veilstone City Gym Leader? The Fighting-type Gym Leader?
Lucas: What's wrong with Maylene? Can she eat more than Gardenia?
Cynthia: How to put it———— you'll know when she comes over.
Cynthia: How are Gardenia and Breloom doing now?
Lucas: I checked them. They just ate too much, got carb overload, and have stomach aches from being too full. We're trying to help them digest now.
Cynthia: That's good. Gardenia should have passed the Gym challenge, right?
Lucas: I still don't know what the criteria for the Gym challenge are————
Cynthia: To assess whether a Gym Leader possesses the responsibility, integrity, and strength befitting a Gym Leader.
Lucas: I see————
Lucas looked back at Gardenia.
In terms of strength, Gardenia is definitely more than sufficient. As for responsibility and integrity, Lucas remembered that Gardenia had no problems when facing Moltres and Team Galactic.
Lucas: Then I think she's completely qualified.
Cynthia: That's good. Gardenia is actually completely fine when it comes to the Gym challenge. She rarely misses a Gym battle, unlike some Gyms that just leave the Gym badge at the entrance for Trainers to pick up themselves.
Is she talking about Volkner? I remember Volkner's Gym challenge was like that, right? Later, Ash helped him rediscover his interest in battling.
Lucas: Volkner?
Cynthia: Mm.
Lucas: Don't worry, when he comes, I won't go easy on him. [Gengar smirks·scratches butt]
Cynthia: [Garchomp nods·wipes scythe]
Lucas: [Life is hard] (Gardenia lies on the chair, eyes vacant)
"They're asleep.
"
Telepathy echoed in his mind. Lucas turned around and found Zoroark standing beside him, holding a bowl of herbal tea. Its fiery red fox eyes were extremely captivating. It pointed with its other hand at Gardenia and Breloom, who were lying asleep on the chairs, asking what to do now.
"It's good that they're asleep. Let them have a good sleep. They won't feel so uncomfortable when they wake up."
Lucas reached out. Zoroark's captivating fiery red fox eyes stared at Lucas, who smiled.
"I'm used to it, I'm used to it."
Lucas said awkwardly, then prepared to retract his hand, only to see Zoroark extend its head towards him.
Lucas's eyes widened, feeling the comfortable sensation in his hand. Lucas scratched Zoroark's chin.
Hmm———— Is this a Fox Mother?
It feels so good!
"You worked hard."
Lucas massaged Zoroark for a while, then withdrew his hand and said.
Zoroark nodded, then handed the bowl to Meowstic, skillfully put on its delivery bag, and looked at Lucas.
"I'm going to make deliveries. Call me if anything happens."
Lucas hummed, and Zoroark disappeared from in front of him.
I have to say, a normal Zoroark is truly beautiful————
Perhaps a male Zoroark isn't as handsome as a Hisuian Zoroark, but a Female normal Zoroark is definitely more captivating than a Hisuian Zoroark, especially a Zoroark with a little Zorua.
Extremely captivating.
The crimson mane on her back smoothly covered her entire back, swaying as she ran, just like the high ponytail of the girls in front of Lucas when he ran drills in high school, and those captivating fox eyes, fiery red eye corners, coupled with a typical fox mouth.
Another mother-level Pokémon.
Lucas shook his head and sighed in his heart.
"Nini~"
I'm back~
Mime Jr.'s voice sounded outside the Breeding House.
Lucas looked at the doorway. Mime Jr. rushed in from the entrance, followed by a Rainbow Pony.
Ponyta?
The moment Lucas saw the Ponyta behind Mime Jr., he was surprised, but he still habitually squatted down and opened his arms, letting Mime Jr. jump into his embrace.
Holding Mime Jr. in his arms, Lucas looked at the somewhat shy Galar Ponyta following behind Mime Jr., then looked at Mime Jr. in his arms and asked, "Why are you back so early today?"
"Nini."
Today's reshoot was for the scene they filmed yesterday afternoon. Ponyta and I weren't involved, so I came back.
"Nini?"
I also brought Ponyta back to play with. Is that okay?
Lucas glanced again at the shy Galar region Ponyta hiding by the door, then reached out and pinched Mime Jr.'s small nose, "Of course it's okay."
"Nini~"
Because I saw it was bored on set, and I remembered we have many fun Pokémon in our Breeding House's backyard, so I brought it back to play with.
"Well done, Mime Jr. This is your home. You can bring any friend you want back to play."
Lucas said with a smile, then put Mime Jr. down and came to the Rainbow Pony's side, squatting down, "Hello, Ponyta, welcome to the Breeding House."
"Ah! What a beautiful Pokémon."
Mrs. Fujino also noticed the Rainbow Pony hiding behind the door, quickly walked over, squatted down, and looked at the Rainbow Pony in front of her, "Hello there."
The Rainbow Pony shyly lowered its head.
"Manager, what kind of Pokémon is this? I don't think I've ever seen one."
Mrs. Fujino reached out and stroked the Rainbow Pony. The comfortable touch made Mrs. Fujino squint her eyes involuntarily.
"This is a Galar region Ponyta, and it's also what Shauna's Rapidash looked like before evolving, but it evolves into a different kind of Rapidash."
Lucas explained, looking at the somewhat shy Ponyta hiding in Mrs. Fujino's arms. It seemed that he would have to wait until Shauna came home for it to integrate into this environment faster.
Rainbow Pony————
I have an idea———— I wonder if I should say it or not————
First there was Pinsir chasing Kangaskhan, then Staraptor and Vespiquen, and in the future, maybe Munchlax and Kangaskhan————
So Mime Jr. and the Rainbow Pony————
Lucas's eyes darted around.
The Galar region Ponyta seemed to sense Lucas's thoughts and burrowed its head further into Mrs. Fujino's arms.
"Still quite shy."
As soon as Lucas finished speaking, he felt a chill down his spine.
He looked back and saw Ninetales lying on the carpet, sleeping with its eyes closed.
Gengar isn't here either.
Strange? Who would be harboring ill intentions towards me then?
Glancing at the time, Lucas's eyes widened.
!!!
Oh no!
The next second.
"Uncle, take this Rocket Headbutt!"
Lucas: !!!
Looking at the approaching small red missile, Lucas shielded Mrs. Fujino with his body.
Mrs. Fujino reached out and calmly caught Shauna.
Lucas watched his bangs being lifted by the air current and couldn't help but swallow.
If it were me———— I'd probably be covered in bruises, right?
"Uncle———— Eh? It's Mom? Hehe. Wow! What kind of Pokémon is this?"
Shauna was immediately attracted to the Rainbow Pony in Mrs. Fujino's arms.
"It's a Ponyta."
Ponyta?
Shauna looked at the colorful Ponyta in Mrs. Fujino's arms, then glanced at the gray and white Rapidash that had just entered the Breeding House.
???
"This is a Galar region Ponyta, and it's Psychic-type, isn't it beautiful?"
Shauna nodded, "It's so beautiful————"
"Uncle, can I take it to play with?"
Lucas hummed, "Mime Jr. said it was bored on set, so it brought it back to the Breeding House to play. Now I'm entrusting you to take it and have a good time at the Breeding House."
"Leave it to me."
Shauna patted her small chest, then looked at the Ponyta in Mrs. Fujino's arms, "Ponyta, let's go play together."
Before Ponyta could speak, Shauna carried Ponyta and rushed out of the Breeding House, heading straight for the backyard.
"I believe with Shauna around, it will have a happy day at the Breeding House."
Lucas said.
"That girl———— that's right————"
Mrs. Fujino echoed with a smile.
"Nini~"
I trust her~
***************************
Thoughts on where the plot is heading? Let me know in the comments! If you're enjoying the ride, please leave a quick review and toss a few Power Stones my way. Every bit of support means the world! 🙌