Before Ash rushed back, Lucas had been inspecting the new house's construction.
The frame was fully built, and interior finishing underway.
Compared to the old house—originally built by the previous, now-deceased owners, and since renovated by Lucas—this new home was at least three times larger.
There would be more rooms for Pokémon, more space throughout, and dedicated large kitchen and medical rooms as promised to Alcremie and Comfey.
For decor, Lucas chose a warm, cozy palette—to make "home" feel like home.
Once renovations finished and furniture/appliances arrived, with help from the Pokémon to freshen the air, they could move in soon.
After the inspection, Lucas returned to the current house to prepare dinner.
Just as he was about to serve the steaming food, Ash burst in, shouting for help.
"What's wrong, what's wrong—"
Lucas dashed from the kitchen, still wearing his matching white duck apron and sleeves.
Seeing him, Ash instantly felt reassured.
He lifted the Pokémon in his arms, anxiously calling, "Brother Lucas, please save it!"
Lucas and the nearby Pokémon all looked over and froze when they saw what Ash was holding.
Especially Luxray, Serperior, and Ceruledge—who was in the middle of grilling with Cyndaquil—stared in shock, emotions roiling.
"…Is that a Charcadet?"
Lucas frowned. No matter how complicated his feelings, the priority was the Charcadet's safety.
Taking Charcadet from Ash, Lucas examined its injuries while instructing Luxray:
"Go find Comfey. The priority is to stabilize it."
Luxray didn't reply, knowing Lucas needed to focus. As his most trusted partner, all Luxray had to do was carry out orders.
Electricity sparked over Luxray's body, and in a blink, it vanished.
"Serpe…"
Serperior, unable to sit still, hissed quietly and slithered toward the fields.
Even if it couldn't help, it'd go find Eldegoss and the others to use Grassy Terrain—to help stabilize Charcadet.
Ceruledge stopped grilling, ignoring the burning skewers. With a complicated look, he stared at Charcadet.
With Ash still anxious, Lucas assessed Charcadet.
First, its injuries.
Severely wounded, near death—if Ash had been any later, it might not have made it.
Judging from the wounds, they were caused by a much larger opponent.
Because of the size difference, Lucas couldn't tell what kind of Pokémon had attacked Charcadet.
Plus, Charcadet's body temperature was abnormally low for a Fire-type—cold as ice, as if conflicting elemental energy was rampaging inside.
The treatment plan: stabilize vital signs, raise body temperature, then treat with special herbal potions made by Sister Shuckle in her shell with secret spices.
If Calyrex were home, it'd be easier, but it was away these days.
"Eevee…"
The Eevee sisters looked on with concern. From their wild experience, Charcadet seemed unlikely to survive.
But in Lucas's care, even the frail younger sister had grown stronger by the day. They trusted Lucas.
"…Brother Lucas."
When Lucas looked up, Ash asked nervously.
Pikachu wore the same worried expression.
Knowing what Ash wanted to ask, Lucas nodded, "Leave it to me."
His words were like a stabilizing anchor in a storm, instantly reassuring Ash and Pikachu.
At that moment.
Luxray returned with Comfey.
Along with them came Arcanine, Moltres, and Ash's Charizard.
"Everyone, don't crowd around. Comfey and Moltres, come with me. Luxray, go find Oranguru to bring the locked-up secret herb potions from the warehouse."
Lucas gave clear orders.
Soon.
With Comfey's Aromatherapy and healing, and Moltres carefully controlling its flames to warm Charcadet, treatment began.
With Serperior and Eldegoss's Grassy Terrain, Charcadet's condition improved.
Luxray brought Oranguru with the potions from the warehouse.
Five types of potion, taken together, expelled the rampaging Water energy from Charcadet's body as moisture, stabilizing its condition.
Once fully absorbed, Charcadet should wake up in a few hours.
Unlike in the games, where Arven used whole secret herbs for sandwiches, Lucas's potions worked more gently but slower, making them suitable for all Pokémon.
"…Charcadet's condition is stable now."
When Lucas pushed Charcadet out, he announced the news with a strange look.
"That's great! Thank you, Brother Lucas!"
Watching Ash—Larvitar on one shoulder, Pikachu on the other—run over energetically, Lucas felt more and more like a male Nurse Joy.
Shaking his head to clear the thought, Lucas announced to Ash and the peeking Pokémon, "After a few hours, once Charcadet's absorbed the medicine and wakes up, it'll be fine."
Instantly.
A cheer almost blew the roof off.
But under Lucas's death glare, the uproar quickly died down.
"It needs to rest. Oranguru, take it to a quiet room."
Lucas handed Charcadet to Oranguru, then stopped Ash from following.
"Let's eat first. It won't wake up any sooner if you go now."
"Also, I have some questions for you."
Ash paused, and Lucas scooped up the always-overlooked Mimikyu.
"Mimikyu too."
After a delicious but tense dinner,
A roundtable "meeting" began in the living room.
Lucas, Ash, Mimikyu, and Oranguru sat together.
Charcadet was left in the care of Luxray, Serperior, and Ceruledge.
"Ahem."
Lucas cleared his throat and got right to the point.
"Ash, where did you find this Charcadet?"
"Why was it so badly injured?"
"Huh? It's called Charcadet?"
Ash blinked, only then realizing the name of the Pokémon he'd saved.
Lucas was speechless.
So you knew nothing and just rescued it.
But that was typical Ash.
"Yes, Charcadet is a Paldean Pokémon. My Ceruledge evolved from a Charcadet."
Lucas explained patiently.
"!"
Ash's eyes sparkled.
That cool Ceruledge evolved from Charcadet!?
But Lucas wasn't here for a lesson; he wanted to know why Charcadet was so badly hurt.
Ash realized he was off track and tried to explain what he'd seen.
If Ash couldn't explain, Mimikyu would add details, and Oranguru translated.
Soon, Lucas pieced together the truth.
After leaving the farm, Ash and Pikachu ventured into the wild to catch Paldean Pokémon.
But luck wasn't on their side—wild Pokémon always escaped before being caught.
Eventually, Ash reached a lake, a hotbed of wild Pokémon.
There, he encountered Charcadet.
But this Charcadet had a trainer, who was forcing it to fight a group of Water-type Tauros.
Against so many enraged, type-advantageous Tauros, little Charcadet stood no chance.
Soon, it was battered and barely standing.
Ash, ever the hero, tried to stop it.
The trainer insisted it was "special training" before challenging the Pokemon Gym—Charcadet had to overcome its weakness, or it wasn't worthy to be his Pokémon. He told Ash to mind his own business.
But Ash wouldn't let it go.
After some argument, the trainer lost his temper and prepared to attack Ash with his other Pokémon.
That's when Mimikyu, who'd been hiding in Pikachu's shadow, intervened.
Mimikyu despised the trainer's actions, scared off the Tauros, and pinned the trainer down with Shadow Claw.
Describing this, Ash's eyes sparkled: "This Pikachu—even skinnier than mine—was super strong!"
"In one move, it pinned that guy down. I didn't even react!"
Ash mimed the scene, complete with sound effects.
"…So what happened to the trainer?"
Lucas asked.
He couldn't have just been let go, right?
Ash would have prioritized Charcadet's injuries, so maybe…
But Ash shook his head. "Officer Jenny was patrolling nearby. After learning what happened, she arrested the trainer."
Lucas breathed a sigh of relief.
Arrested—good.
He looked at Ash with a strange expression.
He'd only been in Paldea for two days—
How does he always end up rescuing abandoned Pokémon—and Fire-types at that?
Ridiculous.
At that moment, Mimikyu tugged Lucas's sleeve, wanting to say something.
Lucas told it to speak freely.
Mimikyu, angry, explained through Oranguru:
That trainer, as he was taken away, shouted that he "had connections" and would make Ash "pay" when he got out.
Lucas was furious.
No matter how good a world, there are always scumbags.
Looking out the window, the night was deep, but under the lights, everything was clear.
Outside, Ceruledge was swinging its flaming swords over and over, venting its frustration.
Lucas knew—seeing Charcadet must have stirred up bad memories for Ceruledge.
Ceruledge had made peace with its past, Lucas knew that.
But seeing a fellow Charcadet suffer, it couldn't help but feel upset.
"…"
After a moment, Lucas asked Ash seriously, "Did Officer Jenny tell you which town she was from?"
Ash thought hard. "I think it was Officer Jenny from Mauville City!"
"Mauville City… I see."
Lucas recalled—a city northwest of here, not in the games, but it existed in Paldea.
He didn't bother with other thoughts—he pulled out his phone and called.
You say you have connections? Let's see whose connections are stronger.
You're already hopeless—dare to upset my Ceruledge? I'll deal with you myself!
…
The next morning.
Lucas's phone received a reply.
Seeing phrases like "permanently revoked Trainer status," "one pair of silver handcuffs," and "umbrella under investigation," his mood brightened.
Gotta say,
Though she usually loves squeezing people, when you need her help, she's efficient.
Just one night and everything was done—he didn't even have to show up.
His only worry was that this job might get dumped on Brother Larry again.
Just as Lucas set down his phone and prepared to nap, it buzzed again.
He checked his messages.
And just like that, his sleepiness vanished.
[Clavell: Notify all teachers. In coming days, Naranja Academy will hold a Pokémon Contest in collaboration with the Hoenn Contest Association. Both students and teachers may participate.
At that time, Hoenns Contest Master and former League Champion Wallace will attend in person!]
…
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