After a pleasant breakfast, Lucas and Ash said temporary goodbyes to Nemona's group, who would set out for their final destination, Glaseado Mountain.
Nemona needed to earn her final badge at the Glaseado Gym, Arven wanted to catch a Teddiursa or Ursaring, and Eri needed to enter the Fighting Tournament finals.
Everyone was moving steadily toward a better future—which put Lucas in a great mood.
With that in mind, he and Ash rode Dragonite and arrived at the farm before lunch.
After a day, there weren't any big changes at the farm.
The clingy Larvitar once again leapt into Ash's arms, and Ash caught it expertly.
Lucas, who was ready with his camera, snapped a rapid-fire sequence of photos.
After pixelating Ash's face, Lucas imported these photos into his computer and selected a few action shots to send to Perrin.
Perrin replied quickly.
[Perrin: ????]
[Perrin: wide-eyed Growlithe.jpg]
[Perrin: Wait—]
[Perrin: Larvitar's average weight is 72kg, right? Where'd you find Superman?!]
[Lucas: Hehe]
Closing the computer and ignoring Perrin's follow-up messages, Lucas turned to the Oranguru waiting nearby.
"Need something?"
Oranguru nodded and gently reminded him, "Did you forget something?"
At first, Lucas was puzzled.
Then, following Oranguru's gaze to the Ogerpon on the sofa, playing with Cosmog, he suddenly remembered.
He'd promised Tinkatink he'd invite it to visit, but never set a date or even told it where he lived.
It just so happened that he had free time today—and Calyrex was here as well.
Having just parted with Nemona, Ash's battle itch was flaring up again. In a bit, he'd go "torment" Paul, Penny, and Shizuka at the Academy.
Inviting Tinkatink over would be perfect!
Lucas told Calyrex, who was watching Ogerpon and Cosmog play, and reminded Oranguru to take Ash to find Dragonite for a ride to the Academy later.
Then, with the bouncy Eevee elder sister and the quiet Eevee little sister, he left the farm.
"Eevee Vee-vee Vee-vee-vee~"
Having not roamed the wilds in a while, the big sister was full of energy—humming tunes and bouncing along.
As they walked, Lucas joked, "If we get ambushed, I'll be counting on you to protect me."
"Vee!"
Eevee elder sister raised her head proudly, as if to say: "Leave it to me!"
Lately, with good food and drink at the farm, she'd grown healthier and more agile. She'd even defeated those Houndour who once ganged up on her.
The little sister was much quieter, her steps light—perhaps because of past frailty, she was used to getting out of breath after every step.
Thanks to Lucas's gentle medicine, she was getting healthier every day, but her personality remained quiet and observant, relying on Lucas—the one who'd given her a new life.
The two sisters were opposites, but supported each other perfectly, once depending on each other for survival.
Lucas found this to be the ideal relationship.
He let them interact with any Pokémon on the farm, but they'd learned completely different moves: the elder sister focused on offensive skills, both melee and ranged, while the little sister learned various status moves, with a few supportive attacks.
If Pokémon talent could be quantified, the elder sister would have 31 IVs in both offenses!
The little sister, meanwhile, excelled at support and utility.
Thanks to their rapid growth, Lucas brought them along to find Tinkatink. With their strength, they could handle any wild Pokémon they'd meet.
On the way to the hills, any wild Pokémon that leapt out was handled by Eevee elder sister—using Quick Attack to play with them, then Swift to kite, and even using Sand Attack and a kick if they got too close.
The little sister would help at just the right moment, using Helping Hand, Baby-Doll Eyes, or Yawn to control the enemy.
As twins, their minds were in sync—they always knew what the other needed.
Lucas thought they'd make an excellent doubles team.
But in this world, doubles wasn't mainstream—singles, 3v3, or even 1v1 were the real standard. A pity.
Although they weren't steamrolling through everything, they still reached Tinkatink's lair before lunch.
The Eevee sisters gazed curiously at the neat, well-kept cave.
Was this the home of the wild Pokémon Lucas was inviting over?
Compared to the tiny, muddy holes they used to dig for shelter, always on guard for troublemakers, this was spacious and well-ventilated.
But now, they had an even bigger home.
The two Eevees lifted their heads with pride.
Lucas, carrying a thermal container, entered the empty cave and, seeing the tidy setup, mused to himself.
"Doesn't look like it left in a hurry—must still be nearby."
Remembering how, on his second visit, Tinkatink was on the hillside in a homemade "ghillie suit," spying on the valley below, Lucas figured it might be there.
He headed to the hillside.
As soon as he arrived, he heard a commotion.
"Woof woof woof woof—!"
He looked and saw a dozen or so Houndour and two Houndooms, barking viciously at a crooked tree on the edge of the path.
Sure enough, up in the tree, Tinkatink in "ghillie suit" was clutching its hammer, trying to scare them off.
But that clearly wasn't working on the Houndour and Houndoom.
They ruled the base of the hill—how could Tinkatink's bluff scare them?
But Lucas sensed something off.
Of the two Houndoom, one was charging at the front with three Houndour, while the other Houndoom and a dozen Houndour were huddled at the back, looking like they were slacking off.
Lucas didn't know why, but as a former office worker, his instincts told him that Houndoom and its group were definitely slacking!
He'd bet on it!
No one knew slacking better than him!
That kind of lazy aura couldn't be faked.
Eevee elder sister paused at the sight of the Houndour.
Her nose twitched—they were the same species as those that once attacked her.
Memories of those savage faces flashed in her mind, and she shivered instinctively.
That was the closest she'd ever come to death—exhausted, dehydrated, and barely able to move.
Even though she'd driven them off in the end, relying on her wild survival skills and the belief that her sister needed her, the trauma remained.
That memory was still a thorn in her heart.
Eevee little sister noticed her unease and comforted her with a lick and a gentle call.
"Vee" (Don't be scared, big sis—we're together now)
Together?
Surprised, the elder sister glanced at her sibling. She hadn't expected to be comforted by her. She retorted, "Vee-vee-vee!" (I'm not scared!)
But her body calmed, and the word "together" made her think of Lucas guiding his Pokémon in battle. Suddenly, she wasn't afraid anymore.
She stepped forward to shield both her sister and Lucas.
Just then, the rowdiest Houndoom seemed to lose its patience—or maybe it was just bored.
Flames leaked from its teeth as it prepared to incinerate the tree and Tinkatink.
Tinkatink panicked, waving its hammer and yelling.
Lucas couldn't make out the words, but he understood the gist.
Why are wild Fire-types so rare in forests?
Besides Water-types with Rain Dance and Fire-types living near volcanoes, there's another reason:
Even wild Fire-types will hold back from using fire moves in forests—it's an unspoken agreement.
If the forest burns, they lose their home.
For this Houndoom to try and burn the tree—its own minions were shocked and tried to stop it.
Seeing this, Lucas said to the Eevee sisters, "I'll command you both. We may have to fight multiple enemies. Are you up for it?"
"Good thing they aren't united. With division, we can pick them off one by one—and Tinkatink will help us."
"Vee!"
Eevee elder sister, eager to fight and banish her shadows, leapt out without hesitation.
Eevee little sister nodded quietly, following close behind.
Lucas also checked his shoulder bag.
If all else failed, he had a few tricks he'd made with Perrin's help.
"Doom!" (You can't use fire!)
The slacking Houndoom joined the chorus of persuasion—but whether it was sincere or just worried about getting in trouble with the leader was unclear.
Thinking of the new boss's power, Houndoom felt sure the current leaders were just small fry—this newly evolved fool most of all!
As it tried to persuade, Houndoom glanced at Tinkatink up in the tree.
It remembered this one—when it and its minions charged, the new boss had blocked them.
Houndoom guessed Tinkatink must have some connection to the boss. Couldn't let the fool bully it, or the boss would be angry—even if the boss hadn't shown up in ages.
But the fool just wouldn't listen, determined to show off its new Flamethrower.
Houndoom was getting desperate. The boss had told it to lay low—it couldn't blow its cover!
Luckily, help was coming.
Footsteps echoed from the path up the hill. The keen-nosed Houndoom and Houndour saw Lucas and the Eevee sisters heading right for them!
Houndoom's eyes lit up.
Those two weaklings aside, that human smelled familiar!
He'd been with Tinkatink and the boss!
Angry that Lucas and the Eevee sisters dared approach, the fool Houndoom barked threats at them, motioning for its three minions to guard the tree.
Then, it stepped forward, snarling at Lucas and the Eevee sisters, and called out:
"Roar!" (Brothers, let's work together and drive out these trespassers!)
But Lucas and the Eevees weren't scared at all—they even stepped closer.
Surely, with so many dogs, that human should be afraid. But…
Houndoom, fool as it was, still had keen senses.
It glanced back—and froze.
Its trusted senpai was far away, under the tree, not helping at all.
Even its minions were blocked by other minions.
Houndoom's pupils shrank in disbelief.
Why are you just watching from the sidelines, senpai!!!
…
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