A town built among the mountains: Eindoak.
It's said that long ago this was the kingdom where the People of the Vale once lived. After countless cycles of time and change, and the turning of seasons, the People of the Vale dispersed across the world. Only a handful still live in this town now—almost like a small minority group.
Walking along tree-lined roads decked with lanterns and ornaments, a bustling festive town unfolds.
Tourists and locals fill streets lined with stalls. Many families have come specifically to attend Eindoak's Harvest Festival.
At this moment, Comfey's floral ring floats above Lucas's head; Alcremie stands on his right shoulder, Mimikyu on his left, Vulpix cradled in his arms, and Luxray calmly pads at his side. Since they're here for a festival, of course the Pokémon he carries should enjoy the lively atmosphere too.
Their lineup draws looks from passersby. More than once, giggling kids running by have asked, "Big bro, isn't it tiring carrying so many Pokémon?"
They snack their way along and even play the goldfish-scooping game. Lucas has no idea why Alcremie, Vulpix, and Comfey love it so much.
Because bringing too many Pokémon at once blocks the road, the partner walking at his side rotates—Luxray to Swampert, Swampert to Dragonite, then to Ceruledge and Serperior, and finally back to Luxray. By then, the four who had scattered through the festival to ask around—Nemona and the others—return to regroup.
Penny finds it hard to talk to strangers, and it's not convenient nearby to open her portable micro-computer to hack into the town's surveillance. Arven and Eri asked many people too, but none knew which direction within the town Juanita was in.
In the end it's Nemona who helps a vendor shoo away some Tranquill trying to steal berries, and from the grateful vendor they learn where Juanita might set up her stall.
Because the town mayor is also one of the People of the Vale, their stalls are arranged on the scenic high terraces with less foot traffic. They mostly sell Eindoak-themed trinkets—popular with couples who have cash to spare.
After a quick huddle, they look toward the stairs leading to the giant castle called the Sword of the Vale and decide to search there.
Climbing the stairs, Lucas warns the Alcremie on his right shoulder, who's blissfully eating a candied hawthorn skewer: "Hold it steady, okay? There's nowhere to change clothes around here."
"Alcremie~~"
Alcremie nods vigorously without really hearing him, mind completely focused on the sugar fruit.
This festival-only treat could inspire a brand-new cake recipe!
After Alcremie responds, Lucas offers his half-eaten skewer to Vulpix, who nibbles with the elegant poise of the Ninetales line—nothing like the way it gobbles greedily inside a burrow.
So tiny, yet two faces indeed.
Eindoak's stairway is no less formidable than the long steps from Mesagoza to the Naranja Academy gates. At the top, Nemona is burnt out and can only move step by step with Eri's help.
Oddly, Penny—the tech-and-gaming homebody—has surprisingly good stamina. What does she do at home that burns so much energy?
Idol dances, maybe?
On the terrace, the view opens up, and they finally see stall owners in distinct ethnic garb.
After asking a passing People of the Vale and following their warm guidance, Lucas quickly locks onto a stall hung with many pendants and ornaments, beside which stands a towering Golurk.
They say the stall with the Golurk is Juanita's.
At the stall, Lucas's eyes fall on merchandise shaped like Pokémon—and he's surprised.
Isn't that… Victini?
"What Pokémon is this?"
Arven leans in, curious about the carved wooden decorations.
"This is the Victory Pokémon, Victini. They say long ago it lived in this town."
From behind Golurk comes a gentle, kindly explanation.
Arven looks up to see an intellectual middle-aged woman in a red striped knit cap step out.
Nemona's eyes light up. "What a cute Pokémon—I'd love to see one in person!"
The woman smiles at the stall. "Few ever see it with their own eyes, but with the Harvest Festival in full swing these days, you might just spot it somewhere."
To these obviously visitors, the woman stays friendly and doesn't flatly kill their hope—even though, in the town's near-millennial history, those who've seen Victini are vanishingly few.
Children should have dreams.
Lucas takes a deep look at her. If his memory is right, she's that significant People of the Vale supporting character from the movie.
He props Vulpix with one hand—good thing the skewer is finished—and takes a letter from his bag. Under the woman's surprised gaze, he hands it over.
"You're Mrs. Juanita, right? Ranger Mr. Tron from Montenevera asked us to bring this letter to you."
At Lucas's words, Nemona and the others—who had been absorbed by the Victini trinkets—finally remember.
Right, we're here on a mission—we almost forgot!
"I see, you're from Paldea? You must be tired from the long trip." Juanita carefully puts the letter away, evidently not planning to read it now. Seeing the gossip in their looks, she smiles. "It's no secret—back when I was younger, I was saved once by Mr. Tron while he was on a cross-region assignment."
"Come to think of it, you seem familiar… Is it just my imagination?"
Juanita studies them, her gaze lingering on Lucas. She even feels like she's seen him in the past few days—odd.
Only after Arven blurts out that they just left Blueberry Academy does Juanita point at Lucas in surprise. "My goodness, are you the one who defeated Champion Alder!?"
"My daughter said that if she ever had the chance, she absolutely wants to battle you!"
Lucas finds the praise a bit much and laughs it off. Before he can say more, the very thing he'd been dreading happens.
While eating, Alcremie's half-bit hawthorn wobbles, and the half-melted sugar shell draws a long streak across Lucas's shirt and pants.
"Mah… mah…"
Alcremie looks guilty and wants to help, but its tiny hands can't do anything. It even misses its pre-evolution—back when it could fly.
"Oh dear, that's troublesome."
Juanita covers her mouth, quickly hands Lucas some wet wipes from the stall. He tries wiping his shirt and pants, but it's useless.
It's summer, and thin clothes turn sticky when covered in syrup. He wants to change, but the area has open sightlines—no trees big enough to hide behind.
He asks Arven and the others to mind the stall with Juanita for a bit, and follows Juanita up toward the Sword of the Vale castle.
After lightly scolding Alcremie, Lucas, wearing an apologetic smile and a contrite Alcremie on his shoulder, says to his guide, "Sorry to trouble you."
Juanita shakes her head. "It's fine. The place is the mayor's orchard—no one's there at this hour, just Pokémon. You can change there and I'll let him know."
"An orchard, huh… Then I appreciate it."
With Juanita leading, Lucas and his team arrive at a grove full of fruit trees. A few berries still hang on the branches; on the ground, large watermelons ripen. Shy Petilil peek at them from behind the melons.
Seeing the watermelons, Lucas starts thinking of planting some back at his farm. What pairs best with summer, besides shaved ice and ice cream? Watermelon, for sure.
Add a few fireflies—on a summer night, watching them, listening to cicadas, and sharing watermelon with his farm Pokémon—that atmosphere would be perfect.
Once Juanita leaves, Lucas changes under a fruit tree. Luxray, guarding nearby, twitches its ears—picking up the sound of running water not far away, likely a fountain owned by the castle's master.
Meanwhile, the two crafty little ones—Alcremie and Vulpix—conspire. They'd just had snacks, but now they're hungry again. While Lucas's away, they'll quickly try the hidden menu Vulpix has been craving: Alcremie's fresh cream perfectly paired with Poké Puffs!
Mimikyu and Comfey can't resist their pleading, and figure a few Puffs won't hurt. Vines and shadowy claws reach into Lucas's satchel to retrieve the box of Puffs.
As soon as it's opened, that special puff aroma spreads. With Vulpix looking expectant, Alcremie pours freshly made sweet cream over the Puff on Comfey' vine.
As for Mimikyu, holding up its Shadow Claw—it gets accidentally ignored.
In an instant, Alcremie's rising happiness makes its sweet creamy aroma grow even richer, hooking all the nearby hiding Pokémon's appetites.
By the pond not far from the orchard, a cream-colored, small Pokémon sits on a windmill, bored, shaking its leg. Its nose twitches; its big blue eyes light up at the sweet scent in the air!
Its name is Victini, a Pokémon that lives in this area.
Without hesitation, Victini masks its presence and flies toward the scent.
Soon, it finds the source: three Pokémon gathered around a box of unknown round treats drizzled with cream.
"Vee-nii! Vee-nii!"
Invisible, Victini stares at the food, drooling at the mouth.
It glances around, finds a gap among the three, and excitedly moves in to use its best-learned move—Steal-a-Bite!
But with a crisp "bonk," Victini ends up on the ground, dazed, unsure what it ran into.
Momentarily distracted, it even drops its invisibility, revealing itself before a stunned Vulpix, Comfey, Alcremie, and a very unfortunate Mimikyu—ignored earlier and just headbutted by Victini.
Dead silence—
Alcremie freezes mid-pour; Comfey' vine stops midair; Vulpix's cream-smeared Puff falls from its mouth as it gapes, landing in dust and dirt—making Victini wince with heartbreak.
Only when Victini notices all three staring straight at it does it realize something's wrong—its invisibility… seems gone?
Vee-nii~ (<ゝω)★
It tries to get by on sheer cuteness, blinking, but the three remain unmoved. Awkward, Victini lifts off, thinking to run.
A rushing whoosh cuts the air; before Victini can react, a ghostly purple Shadow Claw snatches it!
Only now does Victini realize that the "gap" it aimed for was occupied by a doll-like Pokémon! It hadn't sensed it at all before the grab—an even better hider than Victini!
Victini struggles with all its might, but the claws are immovable, like a mountain.
From the others' perspective, though, Victini is flailing midair, pretending to be restrained by nothing—a whole mime act.
"What are you doing?"
Spurred by Luxray who heard the commotion, Lucas finally returns, newly changed.
Seeing Vulpix and Alcremie caught snacking, Comfey as accomplice, and a cream-colored Pokémon inexplicably caught by Mimikyu, Lucas admits his CPU is overheating.
What is even happening?
My Mimikyu… caught me a Victini!?