"What does it feel like to battle?"
Lucas was taken aback by Shauna's question.
After thinking for a moment, he replied, "If I had to say what it's like, it's probably the feeling of fighting side by side with the Pokémon you love."
"Is there any difference between saying that and saying nothing?"
Hearing Lucas's answer, Shauna shook her little head.
"Do you remember the sandcastles? You loved building them before winter came. It's probably like the feeling of you, Chingling, and the others working together seriously to build a sandcastle. You'll be very happy if you succeed, and you'll be sad together if you fail. It's something like that."
Shauna let out an "oh." "Then I understand."
Then, Shauna looked as if she wanted to say something but was hesitating.
"What's wrong, Shauna? It's okay, you can ask whatever you want."
Lucas put down his phone and said with a smile.
Shauna nodded. "Uncle, can I battle too?"
Pfft—
Gengar spat out the water in its mouth, looking at Shauna in shock.
All the surrounding Pokémon looked shocked; even Ninetales opened its eyes.
Mr. and Mrs. Fujino asked Shauna curiously, "Little Shauna, why do you suddenly want to battle?"
Shauna hesitated for a long time before she began to speak, "Because if you win a battle, you can make others listen to you. That way, they won't say Pokémon are ugly."
Lucas caught the meaning behind Shauna's words. "Why do you think winning a battle can make others listen to you?"
Shauna tilted her head. "Tomoyo heard it from her parents."
Lucas glanced at Tomoyo, who was nodding.
Lucas sat up straight and said, "That's not the right way to put it. A battle is just a battle. Others won't listen to you just because you won."
"Look at Big Sister Cynthia. She is our Sinnoh Champion, and she has almost never lost a battle, but she can't make everyone listen to her either."
Sensing Shauna's mood, Lucas pinched her little cheek. "But sometimes, if you want to talk sense into people, battling is a very useful method."
"If they aren't convinced, then beat them until they are, so they won't dare to gossip."
Shauna's eyes darted around. "I understand, Uncle."
"Mm, as long as you understand."
"Then Uncle, can I learn how to battle? Because sometimes I want to talk sense into people too."
After saying that, Shauna even clenched her little fist.
"Beat them until they're convinced."
"Who bullied you guys?"
Lucas's eyes narrowed instantly.
Finally, he had coaxed the truth out.
"No, no one."
Shauna shook her head like a rattle.
Tomoyo sighed repeatedly from the side.
Uncle was actually tricking a child into talking.
"Then you said 'beat them until they're convinced.' Who are 'they'?"
"No one, I was just giving an example."
"Oh~ giving an example~"
Shauna nodded like a woodpecker.
"Little Shauna finally hates Uncle after all."
Lucas sniffled aggrievedly.
"No, Shauna likes Uncle the most."
"But Shauna has started lying to Uncle now."
"I haven't."
Shauna got a bit anxious and finally lunged into Lucas's arms, telling him the story about her and that Pokémon.
Only then did Lucas feel relieved.
Tomoyo looked at Shauna, her heart full of helplessness.
She had spilled everything.
"Then can Shauna take Uncle to see your new friend tomorrow?"
"Mm, but Uncle has to promise me not to say it's ugly. It's not ugly at all."
Lucas quickly gave his promise.
After Shauna and Tomoyo went upstairs to sleep, Lucas sat in the rest area, looking at Gengar and the others around him.
"Tell me, if one day Shauna really comes to like battling, what should we do?"
Lucas asked.
"Lilligant?"
Then let her battle.
Lilligant's answer was simple.
Gothitelle, Ninetales, and the others all nodded.
"Gengar gargar."
As long as she likes it, I'll support her. Just like whatever you like to do, Lucas, we will all support you.
Lucas smiled as he held Snorunt in his arms.
"True. It's just battling; we can teach her."
"If all else fails, we'll just make Lucian work some overtime to help guide us, or ask Lance, Wallace, Diantha, and Cynthia. We might not have the strength ourselves, but connections..."
Lucas grinned.
"We have plenty."
"Gary and Paul would also work. After Ash becomes Champion———— Forget it, Ash won't do."
An image suddenly flashed through Lucas's mind of Shauna, after studying under Ash, directly uprooting a tree in front of him and personally stepping onto the field to battle Pokémon.
No, no, no, how could my sweet little cupcake turn into a powerhouse like that!
It's decided; Shauna must stay away from Ash in the future.
So it really is a Feebas?
Lucas thought to himself as he looked at the Pokémon underwater.
"Uncle, look, isn't it beautiful?"
Shauna looked up, her bright eyes full of expectation.
Lucas nodded. "That's right, Feebas is very cute."
"You promised me you wouldn't say it's ugly."
Shauna puffed out her cheeks.
Lucas quickly protested his innocence. "Its name is actually Feebas."
Shauna's mouth fell open. "Ah? Really?"
Then she looked at Feebas. "Are you really called Feebas?"
Feebas blew a few bubbles.
"So you're called Feebas. How cute."
Shauna giggled.
Lucas also squatted down between her and Tomoyo, took some Energy Cubes from Gengar, and fed them to Feebas.
"Did you know? Feebas isn't ugly at all. In fact, it's quite beautiful."
Shauna and Tomoyo glanced at each other, not believing a word of it.
Lucas took the opportunity to pat their little heads. "Do you remember Big Sister Cynthia's Milotic?"
"Mm, it was so beautiful!"
Shauna nodded.
"Feebas evolves into Milotic."
Hearing Lucas's words, Shauna and Tomoyo's mouths fell open in unison.
Feebas... evolves into Milotic?
"So, Feebas isn't ugly at all,"
Lucas said.
"But it forgot its way home. It's so pitiful."
Shauna suddenly sighed.
"What happened?"
Lucas looked confused.
"Because fish only have a seven-second memory."
Lucas couldn't help but burst into laughter. "You two little sillies."
Wiping away tears of laughter, Lucas then said, "This is a Pokémon. It doesn't have just a seven-second memory."
"Really? Then why hasn't it gone home yet?"
Shauna asked.
"Because———— it can't bear to leave the person who saved it."
Lucas said gently.
"It probably wants to stay by your side."
Hearing this, Shauna looked at Feebas. "Is it true, Feebas?"
Feebas blew some bubbles.
Lucas watched Shauna quietly, his hand in his pocket, turning a Poké Ball over and over. If she liked it and Feebas was willing, he would give the Poké Ball to Shauna.
"Feebas, you should go home."
Lucas was filled with confusion.
Shauna grinned and said, "You belong to the sea. I can't keep you confined in a small Lake. Besides, the Breeding House is very busy, and I can't come to play with you every day."
Just as Lucas was about to speak, he heard Shauna continue, "The sea is very vast, isn't it?"
Feebas blew bubbles in affirmation.
Shauna looked at the sea's surface and said after a long time, "Are there many Pokémon on the other side of the sea too?"
"Go see them for me. When I grow up, I want to go out and see them too. I'll come find you then, okay?"
Lucas's gaze was gentle.
Feebas leapt out of the water, bumped its forehead against Shauna's, then fell back into the water and swam toward the distance.
"I'll remember our promise, Feebas."
After Feebas left, Shauna stood up and looked at Lucas. "Uncle, can I go on a journey too?"
"No, you can't."
Lucas refused.
"Oh————"
Shauna's face was instantly filled with grievance.
"You have to wait until you're ten years old."
Shauna looked up instantly. Ten years old. She had turned nine after her birthday the day before yesterday, so there was only one year left.
Shauna asked Lucas happily, "Then can Uncle teach me how to battle?"
Lucas didn't refuse this time.
"Mm."
Tomoyo looked at Shauna and suddenly spoke up, "Uncle, can I learn too?"
Lucas was stunned for a moment, then laughed.
"Mm."