Pokemon Paldea [361-363] (Patreon)

Chapter 361: Overnight in the Snowy Valley

“It seems I, too, would retire... from being Galar's king.”

Calyrex’s voice cracked like thunder on a clear day.

The most dramatic reactions didn’t come from Lucas, but from the two steeds at Calyrex’s side—Glastrier and Spectrier.

It was Lucas’s first time seeing such human-like shock on two horse faces. No longer able to feign sleep, Glastrier and Spectrier opened their eyes and stared incredulously at Calyrex.

Their beloved steeds’ reactions left Calyrex half-amused, half-exasperated. It continued, “This is a conclusion I reached after deep consideration. This Galar no longer needs the King of Bountiful Harvests. And for that king, the Galar I cherished is already a thing of the past, a memory.”

Ever since meeting Lucas and, upon his reminder, deciding to no longer rely on human faith, Calyrex had been thinking through many things while searching for its beloved steeds.

Now that it had found both steeds—where should it go next?
Return as Galar’s king and clash with the current Galar League?
Live in seclusion in the Crown Tundra, keeping clear of the mortal world?

Or, as Lucas suggested, leave the Crown Tundra with him and personally raise Cosmog?
Calyrex felt it had perhaps found the answer now.

Whether from the atmosphere between Lucas and his Pokémon, the feelings between them, or the debt it owed him—one of rebirth, really—its answer was clear.

That grace was too great to repay, so Calyrex wished to accept the invitation Lucas had extended in front of the Iceberg Ruins.

From Lucas’s mouth, it knew the world was vast. So it wanted to go see it, to see scenery different from the Crown Tundra.

Gazing intently at Lucas, Calyrex spoke again: “My friend, would your farm be able to accommodate me, my steeds, and Cosmog living together?”

Lucas froze, then his joy was plain to see. He nodded emphatically. “Of course!”

Almost instantly, Lucas noticed Calyrex’s change in self-address: Became the modest (I), and the lofty (thou) turned into the down-to-earth (you).

Calyrex’s mindset had long been ready for this step. From this moment, it would no longer be the King of Bountiful Harvests, no longer Galar’s king.

It was simply Calyrex.

Lucas’s farm was large and could welcome more friends. Even if it got cramped someday, he could always expand it.

Besides, no farmer ever hates expanding their fields!
With Calyrex accepting his invitation and joining the farm, Lucas was naturally delighted.

Cosmog didn’t understand much but sensed Calyrex and Lucas were happy, so it giggled. Glastrier and Spectrier exchanged helpless looks; the two rivals, so often at odds, found themselves strangely in agreement.

What else could they do?

They had already renewed their fealty to Calyrex—they could only follow to the end.

Calyrex joining with Glastrier and Spectrier was wonderful news, to say nothing of Cosmog needing Calyrex and Lucas’s care.

This was something Lucas hadn’t expected before setting out.

He’d only been dragged here by Nemona and the others to solve a haunting, yet he ended up bringing back Calyrex, Glastrier, Spectrier, and Cosmog—four Legendary Pokémon.

Not to mention he had honestly battled and captured the Titan of Ice, Regice, with Ceruledge’s straightforward victory.

Lucas even felt he’d come to the Crown Tundra on a wholesale procurement run.

Since Calyrex had agreed to return with him to the Paldea farm, and since he’d barely eaten after a busy day, Lucas decided to let everyone get acquainted. He released all the Pokémon he was carrying and introduced each one to Calyrex.

Luxray, Swampert, Ceruledge, Dragonite, Mimikyu, Vulpix, Victini, Comfey, and Arcanine all made an appearance before Calyrex.

Pent up in Poké Balls for a while, Arcanine wanted to run around to burn off energy after greeting everyone.

Seeing Glastrier and Spectrier itching to stretch their legs too, Calyrex permitted them to race with Arcanine—but strictly forbade fighting.

Arcanine’s thick coat could handle the Tundra’s cold; as a Fire-type, even more so. Lucas let it run freely.

For safety, Lucas exchanged a look with Calyrex and still asked Luxray to trail the three.

Not out of fear for their safety—just in case they caused trouble and disturbed wild Pokémon.

After sending them off, Calyrex watched Lucas pull odd tools from his pack and asked curiously, “What do you intend to do?”

Lucas paused while taking out seasonings, remembering Calyrex might not recognize these things. He explained seriously, “Pots, bowls, and kitchen tools. We haven’t eaten all day—I’m making a late-night snack to fill up.”

Then, with seasonings out, Lucas—helped by Ceruledge and the others—cleared the snow to expose the frozen-hard ground and set a pot to boil water.

Realizing Lucas had barely eaten while helping find its steeds, Calyrex apologized. “I’m sorry. You must be tired after a full day.”

It had accepted human fealty for many years. Though it had never seen food being made and didn’t recognize cookware, Calyrex recalled Lucas’s words: humans, unlike itself, were like wild Pokémon—they needed time each day to eat and replenish energy.

That was why it apologized.

“It’s fine. Don’t take the blame,” Lucas said warmly, hands still working. “Being hungry once in a while makes the meal that follows all the more satisfying.”

“By the way, can you help me with something?”

Asked suddenly, Calyrex nodded without hesitation. “No problem.”

Whether for past subjects or today’s friend, Calyrex always tried to grant requests. That was its nature and way of conduct.

Even retiring from Galar’s throne wouldn’t change that.

It was still the legend brimming with compassion.

Handing the pot of Swampert’s purified boiling water to Ceruledge and Swampert to watch, Lucas took out several sacks of seeds, and asked Mimikyu, Dragonite, Vulpix, and Victini to find edible snow mushrooms and winter bamboo shoots.

Then he took Comfey and told Calyrex the favor he needed.

“Could you reuse some fields to grow ice radishes, black radishes, and ordinary radishes? I want to cook for everyone.”

He waved the seed sacks bought from villagers earlier that day while hand-twisting the Reins of Unity in Freezington.

He had berries and rations on hand, but no proper ingredients.

The hi-tech space backpack wasn’t stasis storage; meats and other spoilables weren’t practical for someone always on the move.

So if he wanted to cook outdoors, they’d have to forage—or have Calyrex help grow them.

Calyrex instantly understood and mused, “Since we have seeds, growing black radishes and ice radishes is no problem—just a matter of switching plots. After resonating with my steeds twice, my power is fully restored.”

“However, for ordinary radishes...”

Calyrex trailed off, unsure. It couldn’t recall a suitable place right now.

Its power could restore barren land, but that required preparation time and suitable soil.

Crown Tundra radish seeds are peculiar—depending on environment they grow different traits. If it merely turned snowfields into farmland, the result here would still be ice radishes.

Calyrex admitted that though it could bless the land, it couldn’t force crops to grow into what it wished.

Lucas’s reply was a wake-up call.

“It’s the dead of night—why don’t we quietly borrow Freezington’s fields?”

“Good idea!”

Calyrex’s eyes lit up. Its friend was clever indeed.

Soon, Calyrex demonstrated true automated farming before Lucas.

With vast psychic power, it scattered a bag of seeds evenly. Then its blessing washed over the field like the tides, and ice-blue ice radishes sprouted fully.

Harvesting was as easy: a thought, and the radishes were lifted neatly, unscathed.

Watching the whole process, Lucas’s mind could only form a few bold characters—

Born with the Farming Sage Physique!

Calyrex was born for farming, the ultimate fantasy of every farmer!
He gave the ice radishes to Ceruledge to chop into rolling chunks, then took Comfey and Calyrex to the Old Cemetery’s fields.

As expected, many Ghost-types were around.

In the distance, Lucas even saw a Dragapult with a Dreepy.

When Calyrex prepared to repeat its trick and mature the seeded fields into black radishes, Lucas stopped it, looked to Comfey, put on a Z-Ring, and performed Grassy Terrain Z in front of Calyrex.

Bathed in intense light under Calyrex’s surprised gaze, Comfey made nearby Ghost-types scatter. The light formed a Grassy Terrain that halved the growth time of the radishes in one go.

That reminded Calyrex of the sprouted radishes they’d seen in the Old Cemetery during the day.

“This is Grassy Terrain? It seems different from what I recall—what a wondrous effect.”

Lucas nodded slightly. “It’s Grassy Terrain, but learned from Alola’s Island Guardians, specially enhancing crop growth.”

“As for the glowing on my hand, that’s a Z-Ring and Z-Crystal. They boost move power or effects—both from Alola.”

“Alola—that’s the place you said has frequent Ultra Wormholes and the secret to Cosmog’s final evolution?”

“Right. It’s uniquely connected to Cosmog and its future evolutions.”

Calyrex nodded, remembering Alola, then, after harvesting black radishes, they silently borrowed an unused plot in Freezington to plant normal radishes.

Before leaving, perhaps to say a final goodbye to its past, Calyrex empowered Freezington’s ailing crops to full maturity overnight and upgraded the fields’ quality for easier cultivation.

Lucas watched without intervening; this was Calyrex’s will.

“With this, including the Reins of Unity, I’m even with you all.”

Calyrex cast a last glance at Freezington and left with Lucas and Comfey without looking back.

Back in the Snowy Valley, Ceruledge had already cut both radish types into perfect rolling chunks, placed separately to avoid mixing flavor and texture.

Handing the ordinary white radishes to Ceruledge, Lucas gathered enough snow mushrooms and winter shoots from Dragonite and the foraging team. With water rolling, he began to cook.

There were over a dozen Pokémon present, each with different tastes. Even without meat, he would divide flavors.

Ice radishes were crisp—he’d make them into salad with berries.

Black radishes suited Ghost-types; Lucas and most others wouldn’t eat them, so he made a special dish for Mimikyu, Ceruledge, and Spectrier.

Chunked black radish simmered with snow mushrooms and winter shoots, finished with umami seasonings—perfect, warming soup in the icy snow.

Ordinary radishes would be cooked much the same—simmered till tender with mushrooms and shoots for a delicious soup.

When Spectrier, Glastrier, and Arcanine returned, hot soups and the ice-radish salad were ready.

His own Pokémon were used to portioning themselves, so Lucas focused on Calyrex and company.

He served Calyrex a steaming bowl of white radish, bamboo shoot, and snow mushroom soup, plus a crisp ice-radish berry salad.

Watching Calyrex share small spoonfuls with Cosmog, Lucas smiled, then set the black-radish soup and ice-radish salad before Spectrier and Glastrier.

Glastrier promptly forgot about Lucas chiseling ice from its mane. It snorted frost, eyes wide at the salad bowl, brain short-circuiting.

What did this human make with ice radish?
Unable to resist, Glastrier gingerly picked up a piece of ice radish and berry.

Instantly, crisp ice radish and berry matured by Applin’s fermentation intertwined, punctuated by a just-right dressing—a flavor cannon blasting Glastrier’s worldview to pieces!

“Iiiice-neigh—!” (What exquisite taste!)

Having only ever gnawed raw ice radish, Glastrier’s world expanded.

So ice radish could taste even better cooked by humans.

Wolfing it down, Glastrier not only forgot the hair-pulling offense, but its favorability toward Lucas spiked, grateful it had re-sworn fealty and could leave with Calyrex.

Otherwise, it couldn’t bear to imagine a future without ice-radish berry salad!
Glastrier could not live without Lucas!
Spectrier was much the same, happily drinking black-radish soup emitting a faint eerie black aura—feeling warmth for the first time as a Ghost-type.

Seeing everyone eat happily, Lucas smiled in relief.

As a cook, you hope for positive feedback. The sense of achievement rivaled beating a tough opponent.

While eating crisp ice radish, Lucas pictured a snowy mountain, and a red-clad figure upon it.

Mt. Silver’s peak might suit ice radishes too. If he visited Kanto, perhaps he could bring some?

Resources up there were scarce—mostly snow, little vegetation, high altitude, bitter cold—ice radishes might take.

Thinking of the last time he and Dragonite climbed Mt. Silver and that dueling legend nearly stranded for lack of food, Lucas’s lips twitched, once again grasping that great strength doesn’t mean skill in other areas.

Chapter 362: Regice’s Operating Mechanism, and the King’s Epiphany and Farewell

After a hearty meal, drowsiness followed.

Camping overnight in the open Snowy Valley was asking for trouble. The temperature hovered below freezing, with occasional gusts. Even after hot soup, you couldn’t last.

So Lucas, with help from the Pokémon, set up a tent.

Moments later, a one-to-three-person tent was ready. He recalled most sleepy Pokémon, leaving Arcanine, Luxray, and Victini as big warm pillows and hand-warmers.

Calyrex cradled a sound-asleep Cosmog and, once Lucas finished, asked curiously, “Lucas, what is that?”

Isolated from the world, and of a different era, with everything familiar gone, Calyrex was eager to learn.

Knowing this, Lucas explained patiently.

“This is a tent. Trainers in this era travel. In the wild, tents shelter from wind and rain and serve as lodging. Folded up, they’re compact and portable.”

Worried Calyrex might not fully grasp it, Lucas took out another, more weathered tent and demonstrated.

Calyrex remembered humans inventing things Pokémon never imagined back when it ruled Galar.

“A portable home you can carry—humans grow ever more remarkable.”

True to its reputation as a quick-witted Psychic-type, Calyrex grasped the tent’s key use from one explanation.

For physically frail humans, a shelter in the open was crucial.

Before crawling into the tent, where Arcanine, Luxray, and Victini already lay warming it, Lucas asked, “By the way—when I captured Regice at the Iceberg Ruins, we smashed a big piece off its ice body. Does it need immediate treatment?”

Regice, like Brandon’s Regirock, could repair itself by absorbing ice/stone, but did it have a time limit?

Perhaps Calyrex knew.

Calyrex paused, then said softly, “You’re truly impressive—always bringing me surprises.”

“Even for me, to inflict such significant damage on the Ice Giant’s sturdy body would take some work.”

Images of Lucas’s strongest Pokémon passed through its mind.

Dragonite, Mimikyu, Luxray, Swampert, and Ceruledge.

If any had broken Regice’s defense, likely Ceruledge or Swampert.

Lucas nodded. “Ceruledge did it—technique blooming. I just provided environment and command.”

He briefly described Ceruledge focusing repeated blade strikes on one point and bursting through at the end.

“Very creative, and extremely difficult,” Calyrex assessed.

As for Lucas’s question, it answered:

“I don’t know exactly what that convenient Poké Ball does, but for bodily damage, you can rest easy.”

“So long as its core crystal isn’t destroyed, given time or materials, the Ice Giant can self-repair to completeness.”

“From your description, Ceruledge likely forced it into a crash-and-reboot state. Before it could finish rebooting, you captured it—quite the lucky break.”

Calyrex then shared what it knew of Regice’s operating principles.

In short, Regice was a specialized Pokémon meant to guard places—like the Golurk Lucas had encountered.

Once set to guard, they would expel intruders at any cost. They often accompanied ruins; legends say they also appear at the Tree of Beginning.

Changing their guarding target is hard. Fortunately, Calyrex knew a way.

Force Regice to crash and reboot, then use its power for adjustments—you could change what it guarded.

But before that, Calyrex asked, “Do you intend to bring it to your farm?”

“If not, I can return it to the ruins now, though that ruin no longer has anything it needs to guard.”

Lucas took out the Ultra Ball holding Regice, gazed at it for a long time, then spoke slowly. “Mechanical and stiff as they act, they should still have emotions, right?”

“Would being trapped in a lightless ruin be lonely—or numbing?”

“I don’t know,” Calyrex shook its head. “Perhaps.”

As if deciding, Lucas said firmly, “Then let’s try—see if they have feelings.”

If Regice showed emotion, he might return to the Crown Tundra to free the other giants from their four ruins.

“If that’s your decision, I won’t object,” Calyrex nodded. “But let’s repair and wake it on the way back. Otherwise, it will become the Snowy Valley’s guardian.”

Lucas agreed, put away the ball, took Cosmog from Calyrex, and entered the tent warmed by fur.

Before Calyrex joined, Lucas fell asleep hugging Victini and Cosmog, with Arcanine and Luxray curled around them.

Calyrex said it wanted to look at the Crown Tundra’s sky once more.

Perhaps to bid farewell to the land it had lived in for who knows how long.

…

August 2nd, morning.

Another rare sunny day in the Crown Tundra; the subzero cold seemed to ease slightly.

Though they’d only been here for a little over two days, Lucas felt two weeks had passed—too much had happened.

After packing up camp, leaving no trash behind, Lucas kept only Luxray and Vulpix outside; the rest returned to their balls.

Calyrex was already mounted on Glastrier, with a slightly jealous Spectrier at its side, waiting for Lucas.

Today’s plan was simple.

Return to Freezington to tell Peony everything was resolved, and have Nemona’s group prepare to head back to Paldea.

Lucas would ask for Mohn’s address in Freezington, pay him a visit, then depart for Paldea.

They neither teleported nor flew, but followed the half-thawed stream’s winding path back.

Perhaps thanks to Glastrier and Spectrier, no wild Pokémon blocked the road—their presence was imposing here.

When Lucas noticed Spectrier seemed jealous because Calyrex hadn’t switched mounts, honest as he was, he helped the flustered Spectrier ask why.

Calyrex’s reply was amusing.

Dead serious, it said as a Grass-type it disliked the cold. So it fought poison with poison—switching to an Ice-type to enjoy the environment.

Spectrier was stunned, feeling vaguely unreal.

Perhaps it had found the reason Calyrex had favored Glastrier all those years.

Since Vulpix hadn’t played in natural snow in a long time, Lucas let it romp while Luxray watched to prevent it from wandering off.

The steeds were quick, and when Vulpix tired, Lucas carried it, removing worry. Led by Luxray, they reached the woods outside Freezington.

The same grove where Lucas first met Calyrex.

Calyrex had its steeds wait and drifted down from Glastrier’s back. “I’ll wait for you here,” it told Lucas.

Knowing Calyrex wished no further entanglement with Freezington, Lucas nodded. “We’ll be right back.”

He carried a sleeping Vulpix and walked with Luxray into town.

It was just past eight in the morning—early start plus fast steeds.

Freezington was unusually lively. Almost everyone clustered by the fields in heated discussion, even the tourists.

Lucas’s arrival went unnoticed by most; only sharp Nemona and Peony spotted him.

“Teacher Lucas, over here!” Nemona waved, calling softly.

He joined them to find only Nemona and Peony outside; Penny and the others seemed further in.

Feigning ignorance, Lucas asked, “What’s going on?”

The burly Peony pointed inward. “They’re saying the King of Bountiful Harvests manifested.”

An elderly voice rose within—Lucas recognized the village chief.

“Heavens! Could it be that, because we revived the village’s ancient tradition yesterday, the King of Bountiful Harvests finally showed itself!?”

Even from the outer ring, standing on tiptoe, Lucas could see the short old chief’s exaggerated gesturing and expressions as he bragged that his revival of tradition pleased the king, who then blessed the fields to mature overnight.

From his micro-expressions, Lucas could tell the chief had even convinced himself, and now wore the airs of true piety toward a legend he once used to market the village.

Spurred on by the chief, many villagers—especially field owners—knelt in thanks, making Lucas frown.

He glanced toward the grove, then had Nemona call the others over—he had things to say.

The four students quickly gathered, and even Peonia, turned away from the spectacle.

They knew that Lucas, who had spent a whole night with Calyrex, knew the truth better than the chief leading townsfolk in prayer.

Lucas didn’t dawdle. He told Nemona’s group they should get ready to return to Paldea, and shared that Calyrex had regained its power and didn’t intend to resume being Galar’s legendary king.

The four, who’d hoped to stay longer, were crestfallen.

Then Lucas dropped a bomb that left all four—and Peony and their companion—barely able to control their expressions.

The quick-witted companion reasoned, “So... this manifestation signifies the King of Bountiful Harvests farewell to the last village that still preserves its legend?”

Nemona asked the key point: “Where will the King go now?”

Lucas smiled. “It agreed to come live at my farm in Paldea.”

“...”

Silence.

Peony’s expression was particularly complicated.

He had half expected it. But hearing that the king would leave Galar for neighboring Paldea, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of loss.

He thought of his annoying brother, who worried about Galar’s future resources—what would he think of this?

Lucas had informed Nemona’s group—especially Peony, and the local two who’d helped—because they’d contributed to Calyrex regaining power.

He didn’t know how the three from Galar would feel. After reminding Nemona’s group to prepare, and asking Peony to get them to the airport, Lucas asked a villager for Mohn’s address.

Having done what he came to do, he ignored the celebration in the fields and returned to the grove.

There, Calyrex stood with Glastrier and Spectrier, watching pale golden motes circling it.

Lucas paused and glanced at Luxray. It nodded lightly.

“Rawr!” (I can see them too!)

So those golden motes were faith. Were they from the villagers just now?
Like Lucas, the steeds worried Calyrex might accept that faith and repeat past tragedy.

They glared at the motes, bristling.

If not for Calyrex’s authority, they would have scattered them on the spot.

Perhaps Luxray’s sound drew Calyrex’s attention—or it already knew Lucas had returned. It spoke:

“Rest easy. I won’t repeat my mistakes.”

“This faith, now that my mind is calmer, feels impure—shot through with desire for nothing but boons. In sincerity, it doesn’t even compare to my steeds’ devotion.”

Calyrex was certain.

What the villagers were offering was faith in the power it had displayed last night to sever ties with the past.

If it lost its power again or failed their expectations, this faith would be a meteor in the night—gone in a flash.

“I won’t keep answering their endless demands.”

Lowering its gaze, Calyrex glowed bright blue and used its psychic power to disperse the faith seeking to merge with it.

After, it felt light, as if a weight had lifted.

It believed it had chosen rightly this time.

Delighted, Glastrier and Spectrier pressed close. Calyrex hurriedly held up sleeping Cosmog in psychic hands to free its arms and nuzzle them.

Lucas knew Calyrex was reborn now—not living for its subjects anymore.

It was simply the Pokémon Calyrex, with its beloved Glastrier and Spectrier.

It would no longer accept endless, tangled faith blindly; it had learned to discern. Likely, it would never again fall into that sorry state from waning belief.

Once the steeds calmed, Calyrex looked at smiling Lucas and Luxray and gestured. “We should go.”

Lucas’s smile widened. Stroking Luxray’s mane, he nodded.

In the white woods, friends chatted idly.

“Want to go back to the Crown Shrine to fetch anything?”

“No need. Let the past rest there.”

Chapter 363: Mohn and Nihilego

Deep in the Crown Tundra.

Lucas and Calyrex came to a stone-brick cabin, roof layered with snow, trees growing around.

A wooden fence ringed it, with small plots growing hardy crops.

Seeing the cabin, Calyrex pulled the reins, and Glastrier stopped.

“To build a home deep in the Crown Tundra and live alone—the owner must be quite skilled and bold.”

Lucas, mimicking Calyrex, tugged Spectrier’s reins. As Spectrier halted, he glanced at it, a bit rueful.

Man-and-horse as one was Calyrex’s privilege. Without special power or being a Pokémon, Lucas couldn’t resonate with Spectrier to achieve it.

A pity, but he didn’t dwell on it.

Holding Vulpix, he dismounted and, with Luxray, studied the closed door. “Rather than courageous, perhaps something is protecting this house,” he mused.

Ultra Beasts were strong. Given the anime’s shiny Nihilego and their neurotoxins, most wild Pokémon would avoid provoking them.

Thus Mohn could live here for years.

Trading a look with Calyrex, Lucas approached and knocked.

“Hello—does Mr. Mohn live here?”

Soon, the door creaked open and a blond, work-clad middle-aged man appeared.

He exhaled a puff of white breath, eyeing Lucas and the two tall steeds curiously. “That’s me... and you are?”

“Moo-go~”

Cosmog, just awake, floated from Calyrex’s arms, landed atop Lucas’s head, and yawned hugely.

Lucas smiled. “Let me introduce myself. I’m Lucas. These are my partners Luxray, Vulpix, Cosmog, Calyrex, Spectrier, and Glastrier.”

Mohn’s gaze fell on Cosmog, then the Vulpix in Lucas’s arms. “Such adorable Pokémon,” he praised. “They’re your partners?”

Lucas nodded and gave the prepared explanation.

“Yes. I came to sightsee in the Crown Tundra and stayed in Freezington. I heard of you from the villagers—curious who could live deep in the Tundra—so I came to visit.”

Mohn only blinked once, then repeated every Pokémon’s name correctly. “I see. You’re most welcome. But I must correct one thing—it’s not just me here. My lovely daughter, Lillie, lives with me.”

Lucas had worried about listing so many Pokémon at once. Not bad for a former Pokémon professor.

Mohn stepped aside. “If you don’t mind, come in for tea.”

“It’s far from the village—you must be tired after a long trek.”

“But... I don’t ride—there’s no stable. Will your two very handsome horses be alright?”

Regarded as mere stable horses, the once-royal Spectrier and Glastrier bristled, anger not even dulled by the compliment.

They snorted, but before they could act out, Calyrex soothed them with psychic power and spoke:

“My beloved steeds, wait outside. I’ll be right back.” It drifted to Lucas’s side and nodded to Mohn. “Such kindness—then we shall trouble you for tea.”

A talking Pokémon?
Mohn blinked, intrigued by Calyrex.

He felt a stirring within, a desire—but without the key to understand it.

Unable to place it, he let it go and made room. Once Lucas, Calyrex, Vulpix, Luxray, and Cosmog entered, he glanced worriedly at the steeds and shut the door.

Inside was dim.

Dust covered the windows; sunlight could barely enter. Only the brazier’s coals gave enough light to avoid total darkness.

Clearly, there was no electricity.

The air was fairly clean—only the scent of burning wood.

A kettle hung from a chain, steaming—soon to boil.

Lucas and Calyrex sat on the wooden bench by the wall, keeping Vulpix and Cosmog from getting too playful.

Mohn, hands on hips, called toward the room where a piano played, “Lillie, we have guests!”

No answer came; the piano continued.

“Apologies—my daughter’s a bit shy around strangers,” Mohn said helplessly.

Calyrex had sensed something within and almost spoke, but remembering Lucas’s warning, it held its tongue.

Had Lucas not known there was indeed a Lillie inside, he might have suspected Mohn of a condition like the Dragonite leader—imagining a daughter.

Perhaps due to Luxray and Calyrex’s presence, the Lillie inside chose not to show. Lucas didn’t press Mohn—forcing it would only complicate things.

When Mohn moved to fetch Lillie, Lucas stopped him. “No need. If your daughter’s shy, don’t force her.”

Mohn paused, then smiled wryly. “You’re right.”

The kettle whistled shrilly; Mohn grabbed it bare-handed and brewed tea.

Taking the chance, Lucas glanced at Vulpix and Cosmog playing on Luxray’s back, then leaned toward Calyrex and whispered, “Do you sense anything?”

Calyrex nodded faintly, its voice sounding in Lucas’s mind. “Behind that door is a presence consistent with an Ultra Wormhole—though extremely faint.”

“Consistent...”

Lucas pondered.

Perhaps Calyrex perceived a special aura. The official canon lacked a label, but Ultra Aura fit nicely.

Ultra Beasts that came through Ultra Wormholes bore a quasi-Totem-like aura, fading with time—like Cosmog now.

The Nihilego Lillie behind the door likely had an Ultra Aura so faint as to be barely perceptible.

Which meant, as a visitor from another dimension, it was growing ever more connected to this world.

Looking at Mohn brewing tea, Lucas lowered his voice further. “Let’s not expose it. Otherwise, we’ll miss the happy family reunion.”

This Nihilego Lillie was an outlier among Ultra Beasts—like Ash’s Poipole, close to humans and full of feeling—an important future family member for Mohn.

If he and Calyrex revealed it now, even if Mohn regained his memory, Nihilego might leave—that, Lucas didn’t want.

The knot-tiers must untie the knot—only Mohn’s family could truly win over Nihilego Lillie.

Calyrex didn’t quite grasp Happy end, but nodded, following Lucas’s lead.

When Mohn returned with tea and Pokémon snacks, Lucas, playing the curious traveler, asked about life in the deep Tundra—was it inconvenient, how did he manage, and so on.

Mohn answered most questions.

When he’d first arrived with Lillie, the stone house was in ruins—he’d repaired it bit by bit.

They gathered edible wild plants and valuable herbs, trading in Freezington for supplies, and grew some crops.

The piano Lillie played was traded from the village; moving it had been hard work.

Still, both he and Lillie found it fulfilling.

When the tea had cooled, Lucas stood. “Before I go, may I ask one more favor?”

Mohn nodded. “Go ahead.”

Lucas took out a brand-new camera—purchased on Perrin’s advice, yet to be sent to Delibird for delivery.

Holding it up, he asked, “As you know, I’m a traveling sightseer. Mr. Mohn, would you take a photo with me and my Pokémon?”

“Of course,” Mohn agreed readily. “Let’s go outside—the light’s better.”

Outside, the well-behaved steeds drew Mohn’s praise. “What smart, splendid horses. With them, a thousand km a day is nothing.”

“But... who’ll take the photo?”

“You’ll see.”

Lucas, with Vulpix in arms, stood to Mohn’s right. Calyrex, holding Cosmog, stood on Mohn’s left. The tall steeds stood behind.

Luxray stood in front of the trio.

Once everyone was set, Lucas winked at Calyrex. Understanding, Calyrex used psychic power to focus and press the shutter.

…

That afternoon, Lucas and Calyrex declined Mohn’s lunch invitation and headed toward Wedgehurst’s direction.

But first, per Calyrex’s wishes, they detoured to the Slumbering Weald.

Calyrex had things to tell the presence sleeping within.

Swaying with Glastrier’s strides, Calyrex glanced at Lucas, inspecting the photo. “Why did you want that photo with Mohn?”

The first time Lucas used a camera to capture it and Cosmog, Calyrex had been astonished—such a small box could trap time and hold their past. Had human technology advanced so far?

Though Lucas later explained the principles, Calyrex remained curious.

Combing Vulpix’s fur on Spectrier’s back, Lucas paused.

He shook frost from the brush. “Proof,” he said. “When I go to Alola later, I’ll give it to Mohn’s family to reunite them—while earning goodwill.”

“I see.”

Calyrex nodded thoughtfully.

The house had been odd—lightless, no mirrors, as if hiding something.

Yet Lucas, as if he knew, hadn’t let Calyrex expose it. They’d simply chatted and left.

That made Calyrex even more curious about this friend who seemed to know everything.

Fortunately, the future was long—well, short for Calyrex—but enough to learn.

Then, face turning a touch serious, Calyrex urged Lucas and Luxray to stop holding back and gallop at full speed toward the Grove—as if racing time.

Around five in the afternoon, far from the Crown Tundra and back in greenery, they saw the Slumbering Weald’s outline.

Its trees weren’t tall but densely packed; interlaced canopies blocked the sun, leaving the forest in a perpetual, drowsy quiet.

Within slept certain presences. Calyrex had come to see them one last time before leaving Galar.

Lucas knew who they were.

Those who had driven away Eternatus from the Darkest Day and saved Galar—the heroes of Sword and Shield.

Zacian, the King of Swords, and Zamazenta, the King of Shields!