Tonight's dinner was on Young Master Lance's tab.
As a result, Lucas, Gengar, Erika, and the others ate with immense joy.
"I never thought the day would come when I'd get to eat a meal treated by Mr. Lance."
Erika pressed her hands together and spoke with a look of pure satisfaction.
Lance: "..."
"Why do you make it sound like I'm some kind of cheapskate?"
Erika and Lucas locked eyes, only to see Lucas nodding incessantly.
Erika covered her mouth and began to giggle.
Lance: "Believe it or not, I could sue you for slander."
Lucas sat up straight with a solemn expression.
Beside him, Erika laughed even more joyfully, her shoulders shaking.
Lance massaged his temples helplessly, then asked, "Do you have any other plans while you're here?"
"I'm planning to look around Kanto this time; I'll probably head back in a couple of days."
Lucas replied, "Besides, since I've come to the Kanto Region, it feels like I'd be leaving with regrets if I didn't pay Professor Oak a visit. Plus, Professor Oak's grandson, Gary, worked at the Breeding House before. As his Master, visiting Professor Oak for a sort of 'home visit' would be quite nice."
Lance nodded in agreement. "It's a pity I have a mountain of work to do, otherwise I'd stay and show you around the sights of our Kanto Region."
As the Champion who had also taken over affairs for the Hoenn region, he had to handle the matters of three regions until Wallace returned to Hoenn. This was becoming a bit much even for someone as dedicated to work as he was.
Lucas patted Lance on the shoulder: "Hang in there, the esteemed Mr. Lance."
"If you need my help with anything, just say the word."
Hearing Lucas's words, Lance laughed. "Don't worry, I certainly won't be formal with you."
Listening to the conversation between Lucas and Lance, Erika was somewhat surprised. Lucas was actually Gary's Master?
She remembered Gary—he was a Trainer with a very distinct personality and strong opinions, and he was also Professor Oak's grandson.
She hadn't expected Lucas to be his Master.
Upon hearing that Lucas would be staying in the Kanto Region for a while, Erika spoke up during a lull in their conversation: "In that case, why don't I host Lucas for the rest of his itinerary?"
Lance thought about it and nodded.
"Then I'll leave it to Gym Leader Erika."
Just as Lucas was about to say he didn't need anyone to host him, he heard Erika say, "It would be my absolute honor."
Lucas: "..."
Well, alright then.
After dinner, Lance mounted his Dragonite and departed.
Gengar stood on the ground, waving a piece of cloth he'd produced from somewhere, bidding a tearful farewell to his buddy Dragonite.
Lucas tugged at the corner of Gengar's mouth and looked at Erika.
"Then I'll be in your care, Miss Erika."
"Lucas can just call me Erika. How about I accompany you to Pallet Town to visit Professor Oak tomorrow?"
Erika asked politely.
Lucas nodded, and after saying his goodbyes to Erika, he returned to the hotel.
The next day, Lucas took Gengar and the others to the Celadon City Gym.
Erika was busy handling Gym affairs, so Lucas gave her a nod and started wandering around the Gym on his own.
The layout of the Celadon City Gym was very different from the Eterna City Gym; the Celadon Gym was filled with various refreshing fragrances.
Lucas remembered that Erika was supposedly a perfumer.
He had to admit, the scents were indeed very pleasant.
Erika came over to Lucas's side, and he looked at her. "Is someone here to challenge the Gym?"
Erika nodded.
"Then, may I watch?"
Erika was about to speak but paused when she heard the anticipation in Lucas's voice. She then replied, "You may."
She figured Lucas simply wanted to observe the strength of the challengers.
Then, she looked at the Lilligant beside Lucas.
Her eyes brightened slightly as a great idea seemed to occur to her.
After Erika left, Lucas took Gengar and the others to the battlefield, picked a spot with an excellent view, and sat down.
After Erika spoke a few words to the challenger, the challenger went to prepare, while Erika returned to Lucas's side.
"Lucas, I have an idea. I wonder if you would agree to it?"
Lucas looked puzzled. "What idea?"
"Could I ask Lilligant to help this humble lady with this Gym challenge match?"
Erika asked gently.
Lucas looked at the Lilligant sitting beside him, feeling utterly bewildered.
Erika wanted Lilligant to help her with a Gym match too? It was the same when they went to Eterna City last time.
Lucas thought to himself.
Is Lilligant going to end up fighting a Gym match every time I visit a Grass-type Gym in a new region?
Lucas didn't refuse Erika. "Lilligant, what do you think?"
Lilligant gently placed her hand on Erika's and hopped down from the chair.
She elegantly lifted her skirt toward Lucas and was then led onto the battlefield by Erika.
Seeing Lilligant step up, the challenger flicked his wrist, and a Simisear popped out of a Poké Ball.
Lucas was a bit surprised to see the Simisear.
A Simisear from the Unova region?
Lucas recalled the Pokédex entry: the Grass, Fire, and Water trio. They required an ite to evolve, yet their Abilities were somewhat underwhelming, as the Starter Pokemon's standard Abilities became their Hidden Abilities.
Truth be told, they were quite lackluster.
Snorunt hopped onto Lucas's lap; Vulpix yielded Lucas's embrace to it and ran into Gothitelle's arms instead.
Snorunt watched the battle with some excitement.
Erika's command style was very different from Gardenia's. Lucas remembered Gardenia's commands being very direct and straightforward, whereas Erika's were more elegant, yet also featured bold, sweeping movements.
To put it simply, it was elegantly domineering.
For instance, right now, Lilligant faced the Simisear's Flamethrower head-on; under the Sunny Day conditions, she met it directly with a Solar Beam.
As the smoke cleared, Simisear had lost its ability to battle.
Erika was also a bit surprised by the power of the Solar Beam, but she didn't hesitate. She called Lilligant back down and let her own Pokémon handle the second round.
Erika's Pokémon and the challenger's Pokémon traded blows for several rounds before she finally won.
Lilligant watched from the side and nodded, seemingly understanding something.
For the final Pokémon, the challenger sent out an Excadrill. Erika turned to look at Lilligant.
Lilligant nodded.
Consequently, Erika sent Lilligant back onto the field.
Dodging the Excadrill's X-Scissor, Lilligant, under Erika's command, used Energy Ball.
A normal-sized Energy Ball.
After being hit, Excadrill cried out in pain and immediately burrowed underground.
Lucas saw Lilligant slow down and take the hit from Excadrill's Dig.
He chuckled.
"Lilligant has learned how to go easy on others too."
Gengar grinned from the side.
"Gen Gengar—"
Lilligant is great.
Lucas gave Gengar a side-eye.
"Sno?"
Why go easy on them?
Hearing Snorunt's question, Lucas patted its little head.
It was icy and cool.
"Because this is a Gym challenge. When a challenger comes to the Gym, we want them to enjoy the fun of battling. We need them to understand that the Gym's strength isn't insurmountable, so we choose to hold back a bit. This way, we don't crush their spirits and they can maintain their passion for battling."
Lucas explained.
"If a Gym Leader used their full power from the start, there would be no fun in the Gym challenge. Winning just for the sake of winning goes against the original purpose of the Gyms."
Snorunt signaled its understanding with a nod.
"Sno."
So that's how it is.
On the field, Lilligant took a Metal Claw from Excadrill, then ended the battle with a point-blank Solar Beam.
Afterward, Erika still chose to award the badge to the challenger.
Excadrill was his ace; if it hadn't been for Lilligant, he might have been able to defeat Erika's own Pokémon in their match.
After receiving the badge, the challenger bowed happily to express his gratitude.
"Lilligant, you were wonderful."
Erika looked at the Lilligant beside her and praised her with a smile.
Lilligant covered her mouth and giggled, looking very happy.
۞۞۞۞
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