After Lucas, Latias, Gengar, and the others left, Lucian sat in the Breeding House, enjoying a leisurely life at the Day Care without Lucas or work.
He skillfully walked to the Day Care's bookshelf, picked out a book on Pokémon breeding knowledge, sat back in the lounge area, and read while drinking tea.
"We're back."
Shauna, carrying her small backpack, got off Rapidash and called out while holding Tomoyo's little hand.
"Welcome back."
Hearing the familiar voice, Shauna was a bit surprised. "Eh? Uncle Lucian? You're here?"
Shauna realized it was Lucian sitting in the lounge area talking to her. She hurriedly went to his side, took off her backpack, held it in her arms, and sat on the chair next to him.
"That's right. I've finished my work, so I came to the Day Care to play with you. Are you happy?"
Lucian pinched Shauna's little cheeks and said.
Shauna nodded like a woodpecker, then unzipped her backpack, took out her favorite sausages, and shared them with Lucian.
"Here, have some, Uncle Lucian. These are sausages that Uncle, Gothitelle, and Mime Jr. made specifically for me. They're delicious."
Shauna was very generous; she rarely shared her exclusive sausages.
Lucian took it with a smile and took a bite. "Delicious."
Shauna also took one for herself, broke it in half, gave half to Tomoyo, and started munching.
"Uncle Lucian, this is my best friend from school. Her name is Tomoyo."
Hearing Shauna's introduction, Lucian greeted Tomoyo.
Tomoyo was already used to such things; after all, she had seen many photos in the Day Care of numerous Champions. By comparison, an Elite Four member seemed a bit less impressive.
"Uncle Lucian."
Tomoyo, holding Dratini's egg, sat beside Shauna and greeted Lucian.
Lucian sighed inwardly. Everything about the Day Care was great, except it made one feel old.
He hadn't even had a girlfriend yet, and he was already an 'Uncle'.
Lucian pulled out a Bronzong-shaped plushie from his bag and handed it to Shauna. "Little Shauna, look. This is a plushie Uncle Lucian is giving you. It's also based on my most trusted partner."
When Shauna saw the Bronzong plushie, her eyes lit up. "Wow! So cute!"
Shauna stuffed the whole sausage into her mouth, then grabbed a passing Rhyperior and wiped her hands on its body before reaching out to hug the Bronzong plushie that was as big as she was.
"Giggle giggle."
Shauna let out a silver-bell-like laugh. "Uncle Lucian, you're the first person to give me a plushie. No, wait, the first person besides Uncle."
Hearing this, Lucian's mood became incredibly good.
Shauna hugged the Bronzong plushie. "Bronzong is so cute."
The passing Bronzong heard this and suddenly its face turned pink with embarrassment.
"By the way, where's Uncle?"
Shauna turned her head and asked.
"He has business and went on a trip."
Lucian spoke up: "From now on, the Day Care belongs to us."
His face was full of mischief.
Shauna immediately caught Lucian's drift and said with mock ferocity, "Now the Day Care is ours. I'm the Big Boss, you're the Second Boss, and Tomoyo is the Third Boss. When Uncle gets back, we'll make him work for us."
"Hahaha."
Lucian laughed.
After playing with Shauna for a while, a Trainer came to challenge.
Seeing a guest enter the Day Care, Shauna jumped off her chair and went to him. "Hello, welcome to the Breeding House. How can I help you?"
Shauna's crisp voice made the Trainer look down at her. He seemed to think she was a bit young and hesitated before speaking: "I've come from Jubilife Academy to challenge. Is it possible to have a battle?"
"Sure, but for a challenge—"
Shauna blinked. "I choose you, Uncle Lucian!"
"Elite Four Lucian?!"
The Trainer only then realized there was an Elite Four member in the Day Care and was utterly shocked.
He had heard rumors about the Day Care on his way, specifically that Wallace was accepting challenges there. He hadn't believed it at the time, but seeing Lucian, he was convinced.
So it wasn't Champion Wallace, but Elite Four Lucian?
Lucian: —
"Bronzong, I'm counting on you."
Lucian said casually.
"That won't do, Uncle Lucian. You have to take the field too."
Shauna explicitly refused to let only Bronzong battle. "It would be bad for the Day Care's reputation, and Tomoyo and I want to learn about battling."
Hearing Shauna's words, Lucian looked depressed. He put down his teacup and stood up. "In that case, let me teach you how to battle."
"Mhm, good luck, Uncle Lucian."
Shauna clenched her fists to cheer Lucian on, her voice full of energy. After speaking, she secretly tugged on Tomoyo's sleeve.
Tomoyo caught on and, holding Dratini's egg, shouted: "Uncle Lucian, go for it!"
Lucian was full of confidence. After finishing the battle, he found that several more students from Jubilife Academy were already waiting in the Day Care.
"Good luck, Uncle Lucian."
"Go for it, go for it!"
After finishing the last battle, Lucian looked up at the weather. Snowflakes fell on his eyelids and melted, making them feel a bit moist.
It's finally over—
Staraptor, standing on the eaves, saw Lucian and shook its head pityingly.
Poor Lucian—
He still couldn't escape the omen of working overtime.
As more and more students arrived, Lucian's battle style became increasingly brutal. He no longer had the mood to guide them while battling as he did at the start; he often won with a single blow.
This... this was the resentment of an overtime worker.
Even Arceus wouldn't be able to stop it.
Fortunately, on the third day, Lucian left all the battles to Bronzong and the others. He just pulled up a chair, sat nearby, and gave verbal guidance while drinking tea.
It's back, it's back. My break time is finally back.
Watching and guiding battles was already a great break for Lucian.
In short, those who came to challenge on the first and third days received Lucian's guidance, while those on the second day got a brutal beatdown.
On the other side, Lucas sat on Latias's back, sniffled, wrapped his jacket tighter around himself, hesitated, and then spoke: "Um, Latias."
Latias was flying joyfully. Hearing Lucas call her, she asked happily: "What's wrong?"
"Could we fly a bit slower? It's a bit cold."
Lucas said, shivering.
What "Red Airplane"? It's freezing. It's not even as warm as my baby Ninetales.
"Okay, but we'll be there soon. How about I speed up a bit so we arrive earlier?"
"That... that works too— AAAHHH!!!"
"Roger that."
Before Lucas could finish, Latias responded and accelerated again.
Byron and Gary were comforting the two sick Shieldon. Byron suddenly asked: "What kind of person is your teacher?"
Hearing Byron's question, Gary thought for a moment. Just as he was about to answer, he felt a cold breeze overhead.
"I feel it, it's— it's right here."
Lucas's voice drifted down. Gary looked up and saw a red figure stopping in front of him. When he saw the person on its back, he called out happily: "Manager!"
Hearing Gary call the newcomer "Manager," Byron knew this was Gary's teacher. However, he was surprised that the Pokémon the person was riding was the legendary Latias.