Lance settled into the Breeding House as if he owned the place.
Every day he took Dragonite and the others strolling through the forest, coming back each time with armfuls of food.
Ever since Gengar took him on that first forest tour, Lance had been unstoppable.
Lucas had already fielded countless complaints from the forest Pokémon.
[Remember this site's domain – Taiwan Novel Network, great experience, superb]
Fortunately, Lance had only taken a small fraction.
Lucas couldn't stand waking up every morning to find a row of Pokémon staring straight at him from the balcony, so he told the reclining Lance, "Leave the forest Pokémon some winter stores."
Lance nodded, regret written on his face. "What a pity."
Lucas's face darkened.
The forest Pokémon didn't ostracize Lance—why would they? A Champion and his Pokémon? No one could beat that.
Dragonite had become thick as thieves with Gengar, following it everywhere for mischief and pranks.
Not just the forest—even the Breeding House's Pokémon shot Lucas looks of protest.
Lucas's head throbbed; every warning to Gengar and Dragonite bought only a few hours of peace before they resumed.
Now, whenever the Pokémon of the backyard or forest spotted Gengar and Dragonite approaching, they spun on their heels and fled without a backward glance.
Gengar fluttered back to Lucas, grabbed his drink and downed it in one gulp.
"Gengaaar—"
What's for dinner tonight?
Lucas closed his eyes, pretending not to hear.
The next second his deck chair was being violently rocked by Gengar.
Lucas had to promise dumplings for dinner; only then did Gengar stop, lick his cheek once, and chase after Vespiquen's departing figure.
"Lucas and those guys really are… inseparable."
Lance, having watched the whole scene, chuckled.
"They live at a Breeding House—of course they're playful."
Swish.
An Air Slash skimmed past Lucas's forehead; unfazed, he continued, "You and Dragonite get along great too—real bond."
Lance gently rocked the old-style deck chair beneath him and nodded.
He'd spotted Lucas's chair, flown to Veilstone City on Dragonite, and bought an identical one—all for a single seat.
He no longer wanted to go back to work.
Today Lance had a Glameow cradled in his arms.
He'd learned from Lucas: lie back with something fluffy—pure comfort.
Strangely, though he often dealt with mighty Dragon-types and carried their fierce aura, other Nurseries' or farms' Pokémon had always feared him. Here, they not only weren't afraid, they sidled up to him.
Very odd.
He liked it, though.
Lance glanced toward Dragonite and saw it shrinking under Vespiquen's stern gaze, Gengar beside it.
Dragonite, you're a noble Dragon-type—show some pride!
Dragonite had gone wild at the Breeding House: good food every day, occasional pranks with Gengar—even yesterday they'd gone fishing.
At Gengar's signal it had plunged into the water and surfaced with a heap of fish, eating its fill.
So it treated every Pokémon here with leniency, and its temperament was gentler than most Dragonite to begin with.
Had it not fallen in with Gengar, the Breeding House and forest Pokémon would probably adore it.
Pity its first friend here was Gengar.
Lucas shook his head ruefully.
Clip-clop-clip-clop.
Shauna, sitting on the porch hammock, ran to the gate and called to Lucas, who was sunbathing in the garden with Vulpix: "Uncle, we've got a visitor!"
Cradling Vulpix, Lucas stood and headed for the front hall.
Lance thought for a moment, then followed with Glameow in his arms.
Lucas stepped from behind the counter to see Lilligant attending an elegantly dressed young lady.
The girl accepted tea from Gothitelle and rose to greet Lucas—only to spot Lance behind him.
That's—Champion Lance of the Dragon Clan?!
"Hello, I'm the owner, Lucas. How may I help you?"
Lilligant yielded her seat; Lucas patted her head, she beamed, then joined Roselia behind the counter as poster girls.
Gothitelle served drinks to Lucas and Lance before heading to the kitchen to help.
Collecting herself, the girl looked at Lucas. "Lucas, I'm Anzie. I've come to ask your advice."
Lucas blinked. Ask me? What for?
Still smiling, he gestured for her to sit, then took his own seat. "Advice is too strong a word—what would you like to know?"
Anzie glanced at the Vulpix in his arms. "How can I raise my Pokémon as well as you do?"
Lucas looked puzzled.
"What do you mean by 'better'?"
"I want to enter the Pokemon Contest, but I'm always knocked out in the first round. I saw how beautiful and elegant your Lilligant and Gothitelle are, how cute your Vulpix and Mime Jr. are, so I came to ask."
Lucas saw the light—so she's a Pokemon Contest competitor.
He said nothing, simply studied Anzie where she sat.
Elegantly dressed, pretty, her clothes clearly chosen with care.
After a moment he spoke. "May I see your Pokémon?"
Anzie nodded, pulled several Poké Balls, and released all her partners.
Pachirisu, Arcanine, Aipom, Glameow.
A magnificently groomed, almost portly Arcanine, and similarly dolled-up Aipom and Pachirisu.
Lucas saw the problem at once.
Beside him, Lance frowned slightly.
"Anzie."
Lucas called softly; she turned, wondering why.
"What do you think the Pokemon Contest values most?"
"A Pokémon's… glamour?"
"Then what exactly is a Pokémon's 'spectacular' quality?"
Anzie wanted to answer, but didn't know how.
Lucas gave a small smile and shook his head. "It's their charm."
"Charm?"
Anzie asked, puzzled.
"Right, charm. Pokemon Contests focus not on a Pokémon's looks, but on its charm. Haven't you ever seen a Muk advance in a Pokemon Contest?"
Anzie nodded; she had seen it, and at the time she'd been baffled.
"Take the simplest example: does Glameow look better now, or does Purugly after evolution?"
"Of course it's—"
She didn't finish, but everyone present knew the answer.
Except Shauna, who blinked her bright eyes in innocent confusion.
The Glameow in Lance's arms meowed in protest; Lucas soothed it.
Then Lucas went on, "I can tell you love dressing up your Pokémon—I see you've made them very pretty."
Anzie nodded.
Lucas smiled, called out, "Lilligant," and Lilligant hopped off her stool, came over, and let Lucas gently toy with the flower on her head. Softly he asked, "Is Lilligant beautiful?"
As he petted her flower, Lilligant narrowed her eyes in pleasure.
Anzie kept nodding.
Even Lance couldn't deny Lilligant's beauty.
"Do you think, if you styled her the way you style Arcanine, she'd be even more beautiful?"
Anzie nodded again.
If she were to style Arcanine, she'd make Lilligant even lovelier.
Lucas chuckled, had Shauna pick a few blossoms from the backyard, and tucked them into Lilligant's petals; with that simple touch Lilligant looked even more stunning.
"Gengar."
Lucas shouted toward thin air.
Soon Gengar poked half its body through the wall.
"Gengar—"
Lucas beckoned, Gengar floated over, and Lucas tugged at the corners of its mouth.
"Do you think Gengar is pretty? I mean, pretty."
He had Lilligant dress Gengar in a grass skirt and floral wreath; the Pokémon broke into a fiery Samba.
Like a grand dame.
Watching Gengar dance with abandon, Lucas's temples throbbed.
"Forget it—go play; I don't need you."
He'd almost forgotten: this was the Shapeshifter Gengar, whose temperament fit every role to perfection.
"Gengar?!"
Gengar sulked in a corner, drawing circles on the floor.
Lucas gritted his teeth. "Fine, come back."
"Gengar."
Hehe.
Slurp.
Lucas silently wiped the drool off his face, then produced a pair of glasses and perched them on Gengar.
"Handsome?"
Gengar struck a cool pose for Lucas.
The glasses came off; next it donned a white coat and stethoscope.
"Looks smart, doesn't it?"
Given a shopping basket, Gengar rested it in the crook of its arm and tidied nonexistent hair with a delicate gesture.
"Elegant?"
Anzie was stunned.
Why did the sly-looking Gengar, in the Lucas's hands, transform into personas so perfectly suited to each look?
"See? Find the style that suits a Pokémon, and no matter how you dress it, people will find it pleasing."
Lucas waved; the beautifully adorned Arcanine padded over. He removed its accessories, then called, "Staraptor."
Lucas nodded to Staraptor.
Then he led them to the backyard.
Staraptor wheeled through the sky, performing practiced moves with powerful grace.
Pretty cool, right?"
Lucas glanced at Arcanine; the Pokémon's eyes shone with longing.
"You can do it too—go ahead."
Lucas ruffled Arcanine's mane. Hesitating, it looked at Anzie, then opened its mouth.
Ring after ring of fire appeared in the air; it crouched and burst forward.
Every motion flowed as if rehearsed countless times.
Clearing the last flaming hoop, it threw its head back and howled.
"Arooo~"
Anzie was transfixed.
So her Arcanine could look this cool?
Seeing her expression, Lucas exhaled in relief—good, he hadn't messed up.
Anzie stepped to Arcanine's side; the Pokémon's Roar died away.
It sat, gazing quietly at her.
Anzie hugged its neck.
"So handsome, Arcanine."
Arcanine happily lolled its tongue.
Back in the lounge, Lucas looked at Anzie.
"Now do you understand? Pokemon Contests aren't about surface glamour, but the bond—and the charm—between Coordinator and Pokémon."
Anzie bowed deeply.
"I understand, Lucas. I'll find the styles that suit them instead of imposing my own tastes."
Lucas nodded approvingly; Anzie's cheeks flushed.
"Um—Lucas—there's one more thing I wonder if I could ask…"
"Of course, and I'll still buy a pokémon egg."
Lucas eyed her blushing face suspiciously and told her to speak up.
"Could I… get an autograph from Champion Lance?"
Lucas: ————
Lance: "Of course."
Lance signed with a flourish; she left the Breeding House clutching the autograph and the Wurmple egg Lucas had recommended—and for which he'd quietly charged her an extra 5,000.
Of course, the consultation fee was waived.
Lance beamed at Lucas.
He looked insufferably smug.
Lucas couldn't bear the sight; he returned to the garden, lay back, and closed his eyes.
Lance kept chattering nearby.
"Never knew I was this famous—Pokemon Contest competitors want my autograph."
"Alas, too handsome for my own good."
Lucas ground his teeth.
You big-eyed Lance-pigeon; I was going to brew you a hair-restoring tonic—now even Gengar won't get a drop.
Far off, Gengar's backside clenched.
Murderous aura!
It scanned the area—nothing amiss.
Patting its chest, it exhaled.
Just scaring itself.
....
Power Stones PLZZZZZ
[Get 20+ chapters ahead on - P.a.t.r.e.o.n "PokeFicLord"]