Elite Four Lucian jumped down from Bronzong's back and walked into the Breeding House, startled by the mountain of gifts piled up inside.
"Someone arrived even earlier than me?"
Lucian adjusted his glasses and remarked.
"Mr. Lucian, Merry Christmas."
Erika pulled her attention away from the photos, looked at Lucian at the door, and gave a polite greeting.
"Gym Leader Erika? Merry Christmas."
Lucian smiled and walked to the lounge area, placing his gift on the mountain of presents; he had prepared many gifts for this visit.
"Gen gengar~"
Thank you~
Looking at Gengar dressed up as Santa Claus, Lucian laughed, "Merry Christmas, Santa Gengar Grandpa."
Gengar responded with a big grin.
"If Lucian has already arrived, it means we didn't get here that early."
"That's only because you took too much time picking out gifts."
"How can you blame me? I felt like everything suited me, so I got conflicted."
The sound of bickering came from behind. Lucian turned around to see Lance and Clair jumping off Dragonite's back, carrying gifts as they entered the Breeding House.
After Lance and Clair greeted Lucian and Erika, they added their gifts to the mountain of presents. Seeing Lance arrive, Wallace stood up, went to the lounge area, and started chatting with Lance and Lucian.
Meanwhile, Clair and Erika took Wallace's place, helping Gengar unwrap the gifts.
The sound of high heels echoed, and everyone shifted their gaze to the door.
A figure wearing a black coat and high heels appeared at the door, followed by a Garchomp. Her delicate face was wrapped in a scarf, and her long blonde hair fell casually over her shoulders.
Seeing so many people already at the Breeding House, Cynthia peeked her face out from the scarf and said hello. She peeked into the kitchen but was chased out by Lucas, after which she joined Gengar's group.
Later, Gym Leader Gardenia from Eterna City in Sinnoh, Champion Diantha from Kalos, and Elites Shauntal and Caitlin from Unova arrived one after another. As more people arrived, the Breeding House became lively.
Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy also came over from Twinleaf Town.
As soon as Mr. and Mrs. Fujino returned to the Breeding House, they went straight into the kitchen to help.
"Yo, is everyone here?"
Steven's voice drifted in from the door. Looking at the crowded Breeding House filled with familiar faces, he gave a polite smile and spoke.
"You're the last one to arrive. How should you compensate us?"
Wallace said with a smile.
Steven shook his head, "I'm not the last one to arrive, you know."
Just as he spoke, Ash and his friends ran in. Ash's eyes sparkled as he saw the room full of Elites and Champions.
"That's Mr. Lance, and Champion Wallace, Elite Four Lucian, and——"
Ash and Pikachu looked at each other, then he shouted, "Can I battle you guys? Please!"
Ash bowed deeply.
Dawn, who came in behind him, facepalmed. "I knew it."
"Mr. Wallace, can I have a battle with you?"
Wallace flatly refused, "No can do. Today should be spent beautifully."
Ash felt a bit dejected, then he ran up to Champion Cynthia. "Ms. Cynthia, can you battle me?"
Cynthia was about to nod with a smile when she heard Lucas shout "Cynthia" from the kitchen.
She shrugged helplessly and walked into the kitchen.
"What about Mr. Lucian? Can I battle you?"
Lucian adjusted his glasses, "I refuse to work overtime."
Diantha watched Ash looking for opponents everywhere, her face full of interest.
"If you don't mind, why don't I have a battle with you?"
Diantha suggested.
Ash turned to look at Diantha, "Really? But you are——"
Diantha: ——
"Let me introduce myself. I am the Champion of the Kalos region, Diantha."
"The Champion of Kalos? Wow! Then please, I'm counting on you!"
Ash and Pikachu shared a look, and then he pointed his finger, "Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
Lance: ???
Wallace: ???
Steven: ???
Lucian: ???
Diantha: ???
I offer to battle you and you go straight for a point-blank Thunderbolt?!
Everyone: ???
Gengar turned around, a Dark Void instantly appearing in its hand.
Everyone: ?!!
Just as Pikachu jumped up, it was knocked flying by Ninetales.
"Pikachu!" Ash cried.
"Ash, did I not tell you that battles have to be taken outside to the battle court?!"
Lucas's cold voice made Ash's scalp tingle with fear.
"Um, I forgot——"
Ash picked up Pikachu and scratched his head, looking at Lucas as he walked out from behind the counter with Cynthia. Cynthia was holding an ice cream, looking like she was enjoying the show.
"Sorry about that, Manager."
Diantha wiped the sweat from her forehead. That was close; she almost got hit by a Thunderbolt.
"I'll settle the score with you later."
Lucas glared at Ash. Ash lowered his head, and Lucas stopped paying him attention, instead looking at the group sitting in the lounge area.
Diantha, Caitlin, and Shauntal were sitting together having afternoon tea; Steven, Lance, and Lucian were chatting; Gardenia and Erika were discussing tips for raising Grass-type Pokémon; Clair, Nina, Officer Jenny, and Nurse Joy were helping Gengar unwrap gifts; and Dawn was asking Wallace for Pokémon Contest techniques——
Their Pokémon were likewise eating and drinking, jumping around, or training in the backyard.
Lucas scanned the room and realized not everyone had arrived yet.
"What's for dinner today, Manager?"
Brock put down his luggage and asked Lucas.
Suddenly, everyone's attention was on Lucas.
Lucas gave a confident smile, "Outdoor Barbeque."
Everyone looked forward to it with anticipation.
Lucas snapped his fingers, "Plus new items on the Breeding House menu: Kiln Chicken and a Bamboo Shoot Family Bucket you've never tasted before."
"Bamboo shoots!"
Cynthia's eyes instantly widened.
That's right, bamboo shoots.
If you wondered where bamboo shoots came from in the middle of winter, the answer was naturally——having Darkrai deliver them overnight from Poplar Town, a Celebi special, incredibly fresh.
"I've never heard of that before."
Dawn said.
"But given Lucas's skills, it's bound to be delicious, right?"
Lucian said with a smile.
Lucas nodded confidently, "Please look forward to it."
"By the way, Steven, did you come here with Ash and the others?"
Lucas asked.
Steven was still wearing his decent suit, though it was unclear if he just wasn't afraid of the cold or if it was for the sake of propriety. After taking a sip of tea, Steven spoke: "I met them on the road. They were going the wrong way at first, so I brought them along."
Lucas suddenly looked at Brock. Needless to say, going the wrong way was definitely because of you, squinty-eyes.
Brock avoided Lucas's gaze and quickly said, "Then let this young man go to the kitchen to help."
After Brock left, the person Lucas had been waiting for finally arrived.
The spiky-haired youth, Gary, finally arrived at the Breeding House with an Umbreon by his side.
Not long after he arrived, the dead-eyed Paul, carrying a crossbody bag, also reached the Breeding House.
"Paul, you came too?"
Ash looked at Paul, the fire in his eyes burning fiercely.
Paul stared at Ash for a moment before looking away to see the people in the Breeding House, all of whom were Gym Leader level or higher.
He took his hands out of his pockets and politely greeted everyone.
Gary's gaze shifted back and forth between Ash and Paul, wondering about something.
Seeing this, Lucas was incredibly excited.
It's here, it's here, it's finally here.
The favorite scene—the Rival Edition Shura Field!
Fight, fight, fight!
A little person in Lucas's heart was shouting incessantly.
Cynthia looked suspiciously at Lucas beside her, feeling like he was thinking about something bad.
"Paul, you guy, why are you ignoring people again?"
Ash questioned Paul.
Only after Paul finished his polite greetings to everyone did he look at Ash, "Greeting seniors is a matter of politeness. I'm not like you."
"You——"
Ash was speechless.
Lucas: First Blood.
Ash: "Infernape and the others are constantly growing. I will defeat you once and for all, Paul."
Paul: "But as of now, you haven't won at all."
Lucas: Double Kill.
Ash: "Let's have a battle, Paul! I'll defeat you completely and show you the bond between me and Pikachu and Infernape!"
Paul: "Whatever."
Lucas remained calm on the surface, but he was blooming with Joy inside.
At this moment, Gary suddenly cut in, "Why don't you add me too?"
Lucas: Yes, yes, yes, exactly like that!
Ash looked at Gary, "Gary, you——"
"I just want to see if you've really improved, Ash. Also, let me remind you, Blastoise and the others have gotten a huge boost."
Gary held a Poké Ball in his hand and spoke confidently.
"How about it?"
Ash grinned and turned his baseball cap backward, "I couldn't ask for more."
"Suit yourself."
Paul said nonchalantly.
Everyone watched the three clashing youths with great interest.
"Ahem, in that case, I'll act as the refer——"
Lucas coughed twice and then started to speak.
"Uncle, we're back!"
A crisp voice interrupted Lucas's words as Shauna ran in with Tomoyo, directly breaking the unspoken understanding among the group.
"Wow! Uncle Lance, Uncle Wallace, Uncle Lucian, Uncle Steven, Sister Diantha, Sister Shauntal——you're all here?"
Shauna looked at everyone in the Breeding House, let out a 'wow', and then spoke in surprise.
Behind her, Tomoyo looked at the Gym Leaders, Elites, and Champions gathered together, all smiling at them, and swallowed hard.
Truly the darling of Champions, Elites, and Gym Leaders.
"Eh? What are you guys doing?"
Shauna felt like something had just happened, so she asked.
Diantha's eyes lit up as she saw Shauna in her Ninetales costume, and she opened her arms, "Little Shauna~"
Shauna ran over, but she ran right past Diantha's outstretched hands and went to Lucas. "Uncle, look, this is the outfit Tomoyo made for me. Does it look good?"
Diantha: ——
Lucas looked at Shauna, who had turned into a Ninetales; she was explosively cute.
"So cute, just as cute as a Ninetales."
Lucas said with a smile.
"Giggle, giggle."
Shauna covered her mouth and giggled.
Lucas looked at Tomoyo, who was wearing a Gengar outfit. With her cool, cute face, she was also explosively cute.
"Tomoyo is also very cute."
Lucas said.
Tomoyo's face turned red.
Only then did Shauna run back to Diantha to give her a hug, then stood in the middle of the crowd, looking at the men and asking with puffed-out cheeks, "Uncles, where are Little Shauna's Christmas presents?!"
"If you haven't prepared a birthday present for Little Shauna, Little Shauna will knock you flying with a Super Extreme Ultra Limit Fireball!"
Hearing Shauna's voice, everyone burst into laughter. Then Lucian stood up, took out a Girafarig plushie, and handed it to Shauna.
Steven took out a Metagross plushie, and Wallace took out a Milotic plushie.
As for Lance——
Lance: ∑(/)/
Oh no, I'm going to be knocked flying!
Meeting Little Shauna's complaining little gaze, Lance scratched his head.
In the end, Wallace secretly shoved a Dragonite plushie into his hand.
"No need to thank me, Dodo-bird."
Luckily, he had prepared a Dragonite plushie in advance, just waiting for this moment.
Lance: ——You——
Whatever, Dodo-bird it is then. I'll tolerate you for today.
Lance pulled out the Dragonite plushie from behind his back and said with a smile, "How could I forget Little Shauna's gift?"
Seeing the big, chubby Dragonite plushie, Shauna laughed happily.
"Thank you, Uncles."
"Uncles, what about our gifts?"
Shauntal said with a laugh.
"Keep dreaming."
Lance rolled his eyes and said.
After this interruption, the atmosphere of Ash wanting to battle Paul and the others had dissipated.
In the time that followed, while waiting for Lucas and the others to prepare dinner, Steven and the others began a small battle with Ash and his friends.
***************************
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! 🙌