"The next match is Ash's, right?"
Hearing Steven's question, Lucas let go of Ninetales's head and nodded.
"Ash's opponent is—let me see, Nando? Such a familiar name."
Lucas looked at the man appearing on the field and finally remembered who he was.
That man from Diamond & Pearl who liked to wear a long green cape and a green hat, always holding a harp in his hand.
He had a Kricketune, and it seemed that Kricketune's strength was not weak.
Ash ran out from the player tunnel with Pikachu. Seeing Ash standing opposite him, Nando gently plucked the harp in his hand, then spoke: "Ash, let me see if you have made any progress."
Ash adjusted his baseball cap. "Mm, Mr. Nando, don't worry."
The referee's whistle sounded, and the first Pokémon Nando sent out was Roserade.
"Oh? Roserade?"
Lucas turned back to look at Roserade sitting beside Lilligant. Roserade saw Lucas looking at it and gave him a sweet smile.
"Ni~"
The flowers in its hands began to emit a sweet scent, refreshing and invigorating.
Although Lucas rarely took Roserade out, Roserade's role in the Breeding House was irreplaceable. Its healing ability was far ahead in the Breeding House, and she could also handle many things in the Breeding House. Over at the Cottage, her status in the hearts of the children was something other Pokémon could not reach.
"Our Roserade is truly beautiful; she is worthy of being one of the Three Beauties of our Breeding House."
Lucas raised his eyebrows and complimented her without hesitation.
"Three Beauties of the Breeding House?"
Aaron asked with some confusion, "Which three beauties?"
"Little Shauna knows this."
Little Shauna sat on Cynthia's lap and raised her little hand. Everyone looked at Shauna. Shauna spoke crisply: "Lilligant, Gothitelle, Roserade. Uncle often says they are the Three Beauties of the Breeding House. Although Little Shauna doesn't know what it means, Little Shauna knows that Uncle is complimenting them."
Aaron and the others looked at Lilligant and Gothitelle respectively.
Lilligant hopped off the seat, came before everyone, and slightly lifted her dress to signal.
"Lilli~"
Complimented multiple times~
"Oh~"
Aaron's heart melted.
No one could refuse Lilligant's cuteness.
Just when Lucas thought Gothitelle wouldn't have any reaction, Gothitelle also made a sweet cry toward everyone.
"Gothitelle~"
Lucas: °
Looking at Roserade, Lilligant, and Gothitelle, Grandma Bertha nodded. "No wonder they are called the Three Beauties of the Breeding House; they are all very beautiful."
That's for sure!
Lucas proudly puffed out his chest.
Raising them as his own daughters, how could they not be beautiful!
At this moment, Ash's shouting voice came from the field.
"Staraptor! Stand up!"
Lucas looked back and found Staraptor lying on the field, while the Roserade opposite it was almost unscathed.
Lucas: ----
As expected of you, Ash----
Even a flying type can be forced into a predicament.
Just when Roserade's Petal Blizzard was about to hit Staraptor, Ash's signature skill began to exert its power.
"Fly up, Staraptor!"
Staraptor flapped its wings and flew high, dodging the Petal Blizzard, and then used an Aerial Ace to knock Roserade flying, causing her to fall to the ground and lose her ability to battle.
Pallet Town · 50/50 · Ash seems to have finally opened his Ren and Du meridians today.
He won this match with only two Pokémon being defeated.
However, what made Lucas feel uncomfortable was that Ash's Heracross lost to Nando's Kricketune----
But these were irrelevant. Ash seemed to value this match very much, starting to rotate based on the situation and utilizing type advantages for battles.
Because the field needed to be repaired after each match, there was a half-hour break between each match.
"Next is the battle between Gary and Paul----"
Lucas cracked melon seeds, sitting beside Steven, and spoke.
For some reason, he actually felt nervous himself.
It might also be because the venue was too stuffy; he was wearing a knitted sweater, which made him unable to help but tug at his collar.
Just after he adjusted his clothes, a cool breeze came from beside him. Lucas turned his head and found Gothitelle holding a small fan, which he didn't know where it came from, fanning him.
Lucas: ----
Mom----
I am really crying to death.
I want to see who still doesn't go and raise a Gothitelle mom----
"Lilli."
You really spoil him.
Usually Gothitelle says this, but now it was Lilligant's turn.
"Gothitelle."
He is hot, no choice.
Lilligant rolled her eyes in a human-like manner.
"Lilli~"
He is hot~
Gothitelle had an expression of "so what".
"Lucas really has a great relationship with his Pokémon."
Aaron looked at Gothitelle, who was fanning Lucas, and Lilligant, who was bickering with Gothitelle, and couldn't help but speak.
"Because they care about me. I just felt hot, and Gothitelle mom—Miss—fanned me."
"Nobody asked you that, okay----"
Flint couldn't help but interrupt.
"Right, they don't even need me to speak; they know my intentions."
"I said nobody asked you that----"
"Sigh, no choice, they take such good care of me."
Listening to Lucas talking to himself, Flint had nothing to say.
"Got it, got it."
Cynthia interrupted Lucas.
This guy, everything is good, but his personality is like a child.
After Lucas's words were interrupted, he could only pout helplessly.
Looking at Gengar, who was fiddling with new things again, Lucas said to it: "You, Gengar, yes you, go fry two dishes for me."
Gengar turned back with an expression of looking at an idiot.
Me? Fry two dishes? For you?
After Gengar made a face at Lucas, it turned around, faced Lucas with its butt, squatted down, and continued to fiddle with its new things. Gengar was a bit tired after squatting for ten seconds, so it just sat down.
Lucas: ----
"Lilli~"
Lilligant is mocking me too?!
"Lilli."
A cry sounded in his mind.
Latias, stop trying to act cute like Lilligant; you can't learn it, and you aren't a fragrant, soft little girl.
Latias: ???
Latias: I will bite you to death, you jerk.
Latias: ( dish)
Bang!
"Ah----"
Lucas covered his head and let out a scream.
"What's wrong?"
Flint was startled by Lucas's scream and asked quickly.
Lucian calmly poured tea for himself and Steven. It had to be said that the tea Gothitelle brewed was really good, much better than what he brewed himself.
He picked up his teacup, clinked it with Steven's, then took a breath, finished the tea, pushed his glasses, and said: "According to my understanding of him, he probably spoke ill of Latias and got hit by Latias."
"I see."
"Ah? Does Lucas have a Latias too?"
Aaron asked in surprise.
"A Latias with a bad temper, ah!"
Lucas held his head and cried again.
Whose Latias knows Iron Head!
"Don't bother with him, Latias, come over to our side."
Cynthia said, and then Latias revealed her form and came to Cynthia's side.
"Hmph! He is a big bad guy!"
Latias's voice sounded in Cynthia's mind.
Cynthia nodded in agreement. "He dares to bully such a cute Latias. Next time I go back, I will teach him a lesson for you."
"Good! Beat him up for me!"
"Don't worry."
Cynthia reached out to touch Latias's head. It felt cool and comfortable, but she still preferred the feeling of Garchomp's rough skin.
Half an hour passed quickly, and the referee's voice sounded.
"Now let us invite the next group of contestants to enter!"
Lucas rubbed his head, which was still aching, and came to the fence. Mime Jr. handed him a cat ear, and he took it and put it in his mouth.
Looking at Gary and Paul on the field, Lucas's mood tightened again.
Although he really wanted to see them fight, no matter who advanced to the next round, Lucas would feel regret.
They were all characters he looked up to. When they truly stood in front of him and became living people, Lucas truly treated them like his own students.
"Nini~"
Don't worry, Mime Jr. will be with you~
Lucas's hand was pulled up by Mime Jr. He looked at Mime Jr. and squeezed its little hand with a smile. "Mm."
On the other side, in the auditorium.
"The battle between Gary and Paul----"
Ash sat next to Brock and said softly: "They are all powerful opponents. I really want to battle them too, damn it!"
"No matter who advances, it will be quite difficult for Ash."
Brock sat on the side, analyzing for Ash.
"Paul's strength is very strong, but Gary doesn't feel weak either. It's so scary, I'm so nervous."
Dawn hugged Piplup, who was standing on the edge of the field, back into her arms and said.
"It's the spiky-haired boy and the dead-fish-eyed boy."
Jessie pushed the huge sunglasses on her face and said.
"That's right, they are both the students the manager values the most."
James continued.
"I feel it's better for the dead-fish-eyed boy to advance, meow."
The whistle sounded.
A Poké Ball appeared in Gary's hand instantly.
"Paul, we meet again."
Hearing Gary's words, Paul nodded. He lost to Gary last time, and he still acknowledged Gary's strength. Moreover, Gary's personality was more to his liking, much better than Ash.
"Finally, we have another chance to battle."
Paul also produced a Poké Ball in his hand.
"Let me see what you've learned from Lucas. Go, Nidoking!"
With a flash of red light, Nidoking stood firm on the battlefield.
"As you wish. Go, Froslass."
Watching Froslass floating on the field, Lucas let out an "Oh."
Then, feeling a weight in his arms, Snorunt jumped into Lucas's embrace.
"Look, that's your evolved form, Snorunt."
Lucas pointed at Froslass and said softly.
"Hail!"
"Toxic Spikes."
Froslass spread its arms and let out a melodious sound, and then hail began to fall from the sky, while Nidoking scattered Toxic Spikes all over the ground at Froslass's feet.
"Weather control and field control. No wonder Lucas thinks so highly of them."
Steven watched the first command given by the two and couldn't help but speak up.
Finally, it's not just mindless attacking anymore.
Everyone was watching the battle intently. Shauna and Tomoyo also ran to Lucas's side, holding up their pom-poms, and started cheering along with Lilligant and the others.
"Ice Shard."
Froslass gathered small ice blades in its hands and launched them toward Nidoking.
Ice hits Ground; it's a type advantage. Will Gary switch out?
Lucas thought to himself.
"Flamethrower!"
The scorching flames melted all the Ice Shards and then surged toward Froslass.
Froslass swayed, and the Flamethrower passed right through its body.
Seeing this, Gary's eyes widened slightly.
"Close the distance! Use Ice Spin."
Froslass quickly closed the distance, gathered ice under its feet, and began to spin its body rapidly.
Nidoking, taking damage from the hail, couldn't help but raise its hand to fend off the hail.
"Brick Break, block it."
Nidoking's palm glowed with white light and slashed toward the spinning Froslass.
Both sides retreated.
"Flamethrower."
Froslass passed through the Flamethrower again.
"Snow Cloak Ability?"
Lucas said.
Cynthia gave a nod.
Snow Cloak Ability increases evasion in snowy weather.
"Ice Shard."
Small ice chunks attacked Nidoking again. Nidoking, suffering from the hail, couldn't dodge in time and was hit by the Ice Shards, letting out a pained cry.
"So it's the Snow Cloak Ability."
Gary realized it too, and then he said, "In that case, Nidoking, Sunny Day!"
"Interrupt it, Froslass, Ice Beam!"
"Flamethrower!"
The Flamethrower, boosted by Sunny Day, melted Froslass's Ice Beam and struck Froslass.
"You've worked hard, Froslass. Next is you, Gastrodon."
The blue-green Gastrodon made a dazzling entrance.
Then, purple light rose from its body, and Gastrodon let out a painful wail.
Affected by the Toxic Spikes, Gastrodon became poisoned.
"Body Slam."
Gastrodon leaped high.
"Ice Beam."
Nidoking spat an Ice Beam toward the Gastrodon above it.
Gastrodon pushed through the Ice Beam and slammed down toward Nidoking.
Due to the poison effect, Gastrodon would not be frozen.
The heavily injured Nidoking was taken down by Gastrodon.
"I have to say, Nidoking's move pool is truly vast."
Lucas couldn't help but exclaim.
Both of them recalled their Pokémon and then threw another Poké Ball.
Arcanine and Drapion.
"Drapion, Toxic Spikes."
"Don't even think about it! Arcanine, Flamethrower, burn all those Toxic Spikes away!"
The two countered each other's moves.
Compared to mindless offensive battles or one-sided matches, these evenly matched battles are often the best at stirring up the atmosphere.
Arcanine fell.
"Go, brother Gary!" "Go, brother Gary!" "Nini~" "Meow~" ————
Drapion fell.
"Go, brother Paul!" "Go, brother Paul!" "Meow————" "Gen gengar!!!"
The cheering squad's strategy was simply to cheer for whichever side had a Pokémon fall.
"Go, Aggron!"
Aggron entered the field and took down Gary's Umbreon.
Gary took a deep breath and sent out Blastoise.
Paul looked at the intimidating Blastoise and also took a deep breath. "Manager, watch this. The bond between me and it is also the power you taught me to master————"
Paul squeezed the wooden plaque around his neck. "Aggron, Mega Evolution!"
Lucas straightened up, staring intently at the field.
The brilliant light faded, and a terrifying giant stood on the field. Mega Aggron, like a steel Godzilla, caused everyone present to fall into a moment of silence.
"If I'm not mistaken, the Manager gave that to you, right?"
Gary smoothed back his spiky hair and asked with a smile.
Paul nodded faintly.
"Looks like he values us equally."
Hearing Gary's words, Paul frowned.
"Because I have one too. Blastoise, Mega Evolution!"
White light also emerged from around Gary's neck, converging with the light on Blastoise, and then Blastoise's body began to change.
The light faded, and Mega Blastoise appeared!
On the field, the giant and the small giant looked at each other, then roared simultaneously.
"Roar!!!"
"Roar!!!"
"Come on, use all your strength and end this battle!"
"As you wish. Aggron, Heavy Slam!"
"Blastoise, Aura Sphere!"
Boom!
"Flash Cannon!"
"Dragon Pulse!"
Boom, boom!
"Focus Punch!"
"Focus Blast!"
Both sides began to charge up.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
"Wow, a battle where every hit lands."
Flint stood up, walked to the railing, and said excitedly.
Steven also stood up, and everyone else stood up and went to the railing?
"It's the complete opposite of the previous battle."
Steven said with a smile.
"But this kind of battle is also pleasing to the eye, especially Aggron; it's full of charm from head to toe."
"Are you sure that's not because you like Steel-type Pokémon?"
Lucas said.
"Don't you think Steel-type Pokémon are cool?"
"That may be true; Shiny Metagross is indeed cool, but our Lilligant is more beautiful."
"Lilli~"
I think so too~
The battle below had entered the hand-to-hand combat phase.
"Aura Sphere!!!"
"Heavy Slam!!!"
The two Pokémon were face-to-face, using Heavy Slam and Aura Sphere respectively.
Blastoise was knocked back, slammed into the ground, and reverted from its Mega form. Aggron stood its ground, also reverting from its Mega form.
"Aggron is unable to battle."
The referee raised the flag.
Paul recalled the motionless Aggron into its Poké Ball. "You've worked hard. Leave the rest to me."
Then he threw the last Poké Ball. "Electivire, go."
Heavily injured and at a type disadvantage, Blastoise only lasted three rounds before being struck by Thunder and losing the ability to battle.
Gary's last Pokémon was Nidoqueen.
"Brick Break!"
"Earth Power!"
"The final blow."
Lucas said softly.
Electivire took Nidoqueen's Flamethrower head-on and landed the Ice Punch it had been hiding the entire match right on Nidoqueen's face.
The scene fell silent.
At this moment, sparks flickered on Electivire's body, and it let out a cry of pain.
Nidoqueen fell backward, unable to battle.
————
"Nidoqueen is unable to battle. Electivire wins the final victory. Therefore, the contestant successfully advancing to the next round is, Paul!!!"
Electivire fell backward, losing its last bit of strength, and fell unconscious.
"Oh!!!"
The cheers from the audience reached the sky.
Gary looked at Nidoqueen lying on the ground, unable to battle, and sighed.
He recalled Nidoqueen into its Poké Ball, then walked up to Paul with his hands in his pockets. "Congratulations, you won."
"You've worked hard, and, thank you."
Paul said to Electivire's Poké Ball, then put the Poké Ball back in his pocket and extended his hand toward Gary.
"Let's battle again next time."
Gary was stunned, then smiled, reached out his hand, and they shook hands.
"Okay."
In the stands, Ash was exceptionally excited.
Cynthia looked at Lucas's back, exchanged a glance with Garchomp, and shrugged.
Gary walked in the contestant tunnel, his fist clenched in his pocket.
"We were so close."
A familiar voice rang out. Gary looked up and found Lucas leaning against the wall, accompanied by Gengar, Lilligant, Gothitelle, Ninetales, Mime Jr., Dash, and Latias.
"I'm sorry, I lost."
The next second, a pair of warm and large palms patted the back of his head. "You did very well. If the burn effect had happened a little earlier, victory would have been yours."
Lucas patted his spiky hair and comforted him: "But that's how battles are. You never know what will happen, so we can only fight with all our might, so as not to have any regrets, right?"
"Gen gengar——"
You're right, but I definitely won't lose!
"Gothitelle."
I know, you're the best.
"Gen gengar"
Hehe.
"Doing your best is enough. Didn't you also enjoy the fun of the battle? Didn't you?"
Hearing Lucas's words, Gary felt much better. "Yeah, I will continue to train hard."
"Then keep it up. Let's go, let's go watch the next match."
"Okay."
***************************
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