Morning of October 22.
Fences that Lucas had ordered began arriving at the farm. After a quick installation, the whole area was loosely ringed off.
These fences were symbolic only—a wooden fence couldn't deter most wild Pokémon. It served more as "psychological comfort" or a visible boundary.
True farm security came from the Corviknight and Corvisquire working overhead, and regular patrols by Luxray, Arcanine, Dachsbun, as well as the newly-added Houndoom.
Shortly after submitting the report, the Paldea League sent officials to inspect the expanded farm. No favoritism due to Lucas's status—they checked thoroughly, only stamping approval after verifying everything.
Which meant that a large swath—including the back hill and up to the stream—belonged to Lucas for development.
But there was still much to handle before that.
The weather was uncommonly bright today, and the temperature climbed up—a tender sunshine dispelling the autumn chill.
Wearing a straw hat, Lucas with Luxray in tow first visited the farm's cultivation zone. They examined the three now-two-meter-tall fruit trees.
Two months had passed. Under the care of Eldegoss and Comfey, the three special trees from the Gold and Silver generation had boomed.
According to the Indigo Plateau's handbook, it would normally take close to a year—even with Grass Pokémon intervention.
Managing it in just two months was thanks to Tapu Bulu's field abilities.
Even without Tapu Bulu or someone as powerful as Calyrex, making saplings grow into trees with fruit in a breath, this was already plenty fast.
And since the farm's Pokémon had done it through their own hard work, it was more meaningful still.
Lucas ran his fingers along the rough trunk, thinking,
When they bear fruit, I'll be sure to let everyone taste... not just Luxray.
Meeting Luxray's gaze, man and cat smiled.
Their minds were perfectly in sync.
Originally, Lucas planned to search for Ursaluna with Luxray, but before leaving the old orchard, something caught their attention.
Tropius, Shuckle siblings, and Appletun were in the new orchard; now was Comfey and Eldegoss's break, and Oranguru just mentioned giving Mudsdale and the three Diglett a sand bath.
Who'd be in the old orchard at this hour?
Wild flying Pokémon?
A stealing Corviknight or Corvisquire?
Unlikely.
Without further hesitation, Lucas walked over to see for himself.
Luxray, already sniffing out the intruder, followed without revealing the secret.
Behind the trunk, Lucas paused at the sight.
This plot had the very first fruit trees planted on the farm.
Most were cheap and abundant Pecha trees.
Among them, Ogerpon was staring up glumly at a high, unreachable Pecha fruit. It seemed to be deep in thought.
From behind, Lucas and Luxray couldn't see its face.
A question popped into Lucas's mind:
What was Ogerpon doing? Craving a taste?
But it shouldn't be hungry. Even Alcremie had made fruit desserts before! There's no reason for Ogerpon to sneak here for Pecha fruit.
Maybe curiosity?
Lucas waited, holding his breath.
Luxray just tilted its head, silently analyzing the shape of Pecha berries.
Soon, Ogerpon sprang into action.
Short in stature but tremendously agile, it hopped up the trunk in wooden clogs, quickly reaching a branch and plucking a Pecha berry.
A neat solution to its natural limitations.
Staring at the berry, Ogerpon paused, then with a burst of strength—a hallmark of its base 120 Attack—snapped the berry in half.
At that instant, facing Lucas, Ogerpon's face twisted with utter distaste.
Real, unmistakable disgust.
It looked ready to toss the berry on the ground and stomp it flat.
But then it recalled Lucas's lesson: Don't waste food. It remembered how Eldegoss, Comfey, Mudsdale, Dragonair, and Politoed had all helped grow these.
After a long, awkward pause, Ogerpon slowly lowered the berry.
"Bonnie!"
It pouted, then finished the berry in a couple of grudging bites, and stalked off angrily.
Lucas & Luxray: "..."
Another glance told the story.
That split Pecha berry looked just like the two halves of a Pecharunt shell.
Ogerpon's expression all but screamed,
Better destroy every Pecha before Pecharunt can revive from one!
Looks like Ogerpon can never see another whole Pecha berry again...
This would need to be passed on to Oranguru and Alcremie, to avoid future misunderstandings.
As for whether to tell Ceruledge—
Lucas instinctively felt Ceruledge was the type who'd barbecue Pecha berries just for fun. Better to mention it.
When Lucas finally tracked down Ursaluna, it wasn't snoozing in its burrow. It was wrestling violently with Raging Bolt.
Lucas almost wondered if he was dreaming.
These two, stats so close (Attack 70 vs 73), both specialized for energy attacks, yet loved close combat instead.
It was almost comical.
Even Luxray, forced to play "double blades" due to its Electric pool, hadn't been stopped from just being a turret.
The two fought hard. Ursaluna battered Raging Bolt, trying to pin its whip-like neck.
Heavy impacts shook the ground.
After a long battle, Raging Bolt emerged victorious, pinning Ursaluna.
Unlike the now "slacker" Ursaluna, settled in the Northern Forest just sleeping and eating, Raging Bolt had recently arrived from the "ancient" world of harsh struggle.
In a pure contest of strength, with no moves, Raging Bolt's peak condition gave it the win.
"Roar—!"
Ursaluna plopped onto a rock and groaned in frustration.
If I hadn't pulled my old back, the result could have been different!
Raging Bolt didn't mind and flopped down to sun itself, totally content.
So that's "Ability," right?
Lucas had told it—its ability "Protosynthesis" gave boosts under sunlight or "Harsh Sunlight."
No wonder every time it sunned itself, it felt blood boiling and mood soaring—even writing in its "Diary" got easier.
Ursaluna and Raging Bolt started chatting about their pasts.
Both Pokémon from "the ancient time," each was curious about the other's story.
In their minds, they wondered what the ancient world was truly like for the other.
But Ursaluna's "hundred years ago" and Raging Bolt's "ultra-ancient" or "Jurassic" eras hardly compared.
As Lucas approached, both Pokémon—with instincts as sharp as Ash's—looked up at once.
For anyone else, facing two pairs of wild eyes would be nerve-wracking. Lucas, calm, waved:
"Hi, Ursaluna. Hi, Raging Bolt."
"Nyaao~!"
Luxray meowed in greeting.
Lucas had a simple reason for seeking Ursaluna.
He needed to return to Naranja Academy soon to see Nemona's team, now back safe. He'd also promised them three pieces of Peat Block.
He'd checked: tonight, the full moon rises.
With Peat Blocks, all three will get their Ursaring evolved to the mighty Ursaluna.
And after capturing Ursaluna and bringing it to the farm, for reasons unknown, the system advised Lucas to let Ursaluna keep the Peat Blocks.
Upon seeing its hometown relic, Ursaluna got a little homesick, moping for several nights before perking up.
Now all those Peat Blocks were safely stored in its burrow. Lucas could've just taken them, but chose to ask, to respect Ursaluna's feelings.
When Lucas asked for three blocks, Ursaluna, though reluctant, made no fuss.
They belonged to Lucas anyway—he'd just been asked to keep them, not receive them as a gift.
But with three now missing, the "hometown flavor" would fade noticeably.
Ursaluna felt a bit melancholy.
As Lucas, Luxray, and Ursaluna departed, Raging Bolt—who'd nearly been caught in a wrestling match—let out a sigh of relief.
It rushed off to erase evidence, expertly scorching the ground with electric shocks.
Soon, the topsoil was bald and clean again.
No one hides things like me!
At Ursaluna's burrow, Lucas sat cross-legged, staring in confusion at the pile of Peat Blocks.
He counted again:
"One, two... three... six... ten... eleven, twelve—twelve?"
His tone was baffled. He stared at the Peat Blocks, brain churning.
He called Oranguru to check—Oranguru confirmed only eleven were in inventory when Lucas brought them back.
So where did the extra block come from?
Did Ursaluna stash one away?
No, Ursaluna looked completely innocent.
Or was the legend true?
If you plant Peat Blocks in the ground, you reap a bumper harvest next year?
But it hadn't even been a year!
At a loss, Lucas consulted the system.
The answer floored him.
It was like that: Peat Blocks sown produced more Peat Blocks!
Why would Ursaluna's burrow sprout new blocks? This was as unscientific as it was "Pokémon logic."
Ursaluna had picked a burrow near Thunder Lake. That ground, moistened by the lake, mirrored its ancestors' wetlands. Peat Blocks naturally form for Ursaluna under such conditions.
Plus, the block itself subtly changes the soil, and Ursaluna, using its ability unconsciously, caused a new Peat Block to form.
As for how some blocks ended up in the arid Asado Desert, Lucas guessed they were lost by treasure hunters, not formed locally.
All logically consistent.
So, Lucas took three, left nine, and told Ursaluna to bury the rest as usual and be ready to come out later.
Ursaluna nodded blankly. Lucas put the hefty blocks into the bag on Luxray's back, ready to transfer them to his spatial backpack at home.
…
Time flew. By 7pm, it was dark.
The warmth of the day vanished without sunlight.
Before leaving, Lucas donned a thick baseball jacket—not for baseball—exhaled a visible puff, and called for Moltres.
He didn't call Dragonite because it was already snug in the nest with its mom and aunties—no need to disturb them in the cold.
Moltres needed exercise, and riding it was warm enough.
Though slower than Dragonite at full speed, Moltres's flight was fast enough.
Nearing 8pm, Lucas saw the distant lights of Levincia.
The city, less flashy than Mesagoza's neon, oozed deeper warmth.
Yellow lights shone from every window, brimming with life.
Flying high above, Moltres's radiant flames were masked by thick clouds, avoiding any commotion.
Lucas had let Clavell know in advance and landed at Naranja Academy's sports field.
Nemona's team was already waiting, bundled up tight.
When they saw Lucas and Moltres, Nemona's sparkling eyes lit up, and she ran over.
Arven and Eri abandoned all pretense, sprinting past Nemona to reach him.
Unexpectedly, Penny and Shizuka joined the rush too, though they'd just seen him days earlier.
Confronted with all his excited students, Lucas hesitated.
He only had two arms!
It turned out he was overthinking.
Eri, ahead of the pack, ignored Lucas's open arms and dove straight for Moltres.
Soon, all five girls had surrounded Moltres.
Penny sighed contentedly: "So warm. No wonder you're a legendary Pokémon, Moltres!"
Nemona and Arven even buried their faces in Moltres's feathers, mumbling incoherently.
Lucas was left standing, arms open, making awkward eye contact with Paul—both cold, both awkward.
Lucas: "..."
Paul: "...Achoo!"
…
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