The sun finally dipped below the horizon, casting a lingering, honey-colored glow across the Solaceon prairie. The once-vibrant green grass now looked like a field of spun gold, waving gently in the cooling evening breeze.
In the center of this golden landscape, Reggie had finished tending to Drapion's minor scrapes. He stood up, dusted off his knees, and offered a deep, respectful bow to Julian, who was currently occupied with a specialized comb, smoothing out the ruffled fur on Sylveon's neck.
"Thank you very much for your guidance," Reggie said, his voice sincere and devoid of his earlier arrogance. "This battle taught me more about the flow of combat than any book ever could. I've lived in Sinnoh all my life and never imagined a type could be so... versatile."
"No problem at all! I was very happy to battle you too," Julian replied, shaking out his comb and tucking it into his pocket. He flashed Reggie a bright smile, though his eyes suddenly twinkled with a mischievous memory. "But~ do you still remember what you promised me before we started?"
Reggie blinked, then let out a light laugh. "Of course! I'd be delighted to fulfill my end of the bargain."
"Alright, everyone! Formation!" Julian clapped his hands together, his excitement visible. "Come on, come on, stand still! Reggie, move over here. Let your Drapion come over too—he did a great job today. Floette, get the camera ready! Sylveon, move over a bit, give our guest some space."
"Wait, Drapion too?" Reggie asked, looking at his massive, intimidating scorpion Pokémon.
"Of course! He's part of the memory!" Julian insisted.
"Fly-ah~ (There's no more space~)" Sylveon complained, nudging Julian's leg with her head.
Julian looked down at the empty Luxury Ball on his belt. [Since Carbink is still sound asleep after the excitement of hatching, I won't disturb the little one. I'll just hold you instead.]
"Sylveon-fly! (Okay!)" (✧◡✧)
With a joyful chirp, Sylveon pushed off with her hind legs and jumped directly into Julian's arms. Her ribbons instinctively coiled around his wrist, anchoring her in place as she snuggled against his chest.
"Floette-flo! (Is that good? Everyone say 'Cheese'!)" Floette's voice drifted down from her perch on top of Julian's hat.
Julian glanced left and right, confirming that Reggie was standing tall, Drapion was looking surprisingly noble, and the rest of his team was in position. "Okay, take the shot!"
Click!
The camera shutter rang out across the quiet prairie, freezing the moment of the golden sunset into digital memory.
"Hmm, not bad at all!" Julian took the camera from Floette after she floated down. He scrolled through the playback and nodded in satisfaction, poking the little flower-wielder's cheek. "Floette, your photography skills are getting better every day. You've got a real eye for lighting."
"Floette-flo! (Naturally!)" 🌸
"By the way, Reggie, I really have to thank you," Julian said, looking at the photo. "This is going to be a top-tier addition to my collection. It's not every day you get a sunset shot with a sixteen-badge veteran."
"Don't mention it," Reggie said, scratching the back of his head with a bit of embarrassment. "My gains were much greater today. A photo is a small price to pay for such a lesson."
He looked at the darkening sky and checked his watch. "It's getting late. I should probably head toward the town center."
"Why don't you come to the hotel where I'm staying?" Julian offered. "My treat! I can whip up something better than the local restaurants."
"That's a tempting offer," Reggie smiled, "but I've already booked a room at the Pokémon Center, and they provide a standard dinner for traveling trainers. I should probably check in before the staff goes on break."
"Fair enough," Julian nodded. "I don't have that package for my friend on me right now anyway. I'll drop by the Pokémon Center tomorrow morning to hand it over. I'll be relying on you to get it to Veilstone!"
"Leave it to me with confidence," Reggie promised, giving a final wave before turning toward the town lights.
"Floette-flo! (Julian, hurry home! My stomach is making the 'Empty Box' sound!)" Floette began drumming on Julian's head again.
"Alright, alright! Sorry, Reggie, we've gotta run. My team is turning into a pack of hungry Mightyena."
Julian waved one last time and started the trek back, the cooling night air finally replacing the heat of the day.
The Judgment in Room 302
By the time Julian and the four little ones reached their hotel suite, the moon was high and Solaceon Town was quiet.
Clang.
Julian gently closed the heavy wooden door. As he turned around, the light from the hallway caught his face at an angle, his fringe covering half of his eyes. His expression was shadowed, unreadable, and—most importantly—chillingly calm.
"Floette-flo... (Julian, hurry up and serve dinner... I want the Spicy Tamato—)"
Floette, who had been mid-sentence, suddenly saw Julian's face. She froze mid-air. A shiver ran down her stem. She slowly, silently drifted backward until she was hovering near the ceiling fan.
"Jia gei~ (Sister Floette, don't always think about—)" Togetic turned back, saw Julian's "Dark Mode" expression, and immediately hid behind Floette.
"Dinner?" Julian's voice was low, smooth, and dangerously soft. "What dinner? Have you all forgotten what happened this afternoon? Did you think I had a sudden bout of amnesia?"
Growlithe, who had been trotting toward his favorite rug, stopped dead in his tracks. Sylveon, who had been preparing to launch herself onto the plush bed, stiffened into a statue.
"Carbink is still sleeping soundly," Julian continued, his tone devoid of its usual warmth. "And since there are no outsiders here... I think it's time we had a very... long... talk..."
"Floette-flo? (During the day? Did... did a Pidgey poop on your hat? I don't remember anything!)" Floette tried to play the "Ignorance Card," blinking her big green eyes innocently.
The other three huddled together in a fluffy pile of guilt, trying to make themselves look as small as possible.
"Do I really have to spell it out for you?" Julian crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe. "How about the way you all acted when Carbink was born? The laughing? The 'Mommy' comments? The mocking gestures behind my back?"
"Floette-flo! (Th-that! But I won the battle! I defended your honor! Doesn't that count for anything? Can't we just say it's water under the bridge?)" Floette squeaked.
"You have the nerve to bring that up?" Julian's eyes flashed. "The man came to me as a senior to learn about the Fairy-type, and you turned the battle into a one-shot massacre! What did he learn, Floette? He learned that his Protect shield is made of wet tissue paper! That wasn't a lesson, that was a trauma!"
"Sylveon-fly! (Exactly! Floette was so rude!)" Sylveon chimed in, suddenly trying to save herself. "I was much more well-behaved! I showed off technical moves, I displayed coordination... I'm the good one here, right?"
Julian pivoted his gaze to Sylveon. "Don't think you're getting away with it either. You were the ringleader of the laughter, Sylveon. As punishment... you aren't allowed to sleep on the bed for the next three days."
"Sylveon-fly?! (How could you be so cruel!)"
"Three days on the floor," Julian said flatly, "or the 'Cuddle Agreement' is voided for the rest of the month. Your choice."
Sylveon's ears flopped down. She looked like she'd just been told she was allergic to Pokéblocks. "Fly... fly-ah... (Three days it is... fine...)"
"Now, for Togetic and Growlithe..."
The two remaining culprits trembled.
"Jia... jia gei... (I was just a spectator! I didn't laugh! I only smiled a little!)"
"Woof! (And I let you sniff my tail for like ten minutes! I've already paid my dues!)"
"Togetic," Julian began, "you didn't stop them. That makes you an accomplice. No pudding for you tomorrow; you're on a strict Pokéblock diet for twenty-four hours."
"Jia gei~ (I accept my fate,)" Togetic sighed, relieved. One day without pudding was a walk in the park compared to Sylveon's exile.
Finally, Julian's eyes landed on Growlithe. The puppy's tail wagged tentatively, his eyes wide and pleading.
"As for you, Growlithe..." Julian's stern expression began to crack. The "Dark Mode" was failing. He looked at the fluffy orange fur, the white tufts on the chest, and the sheer 'pet-ability' of the Pokémon.
"I'm punishing you... to be my personal body pillow for a full week!"
(✧◡✧)
"You have to sleep in my arms every single night! No escaping!"
Julian dropped the act entirely, a wide, slightly obsessed grin breaking across his face as he pounced onto the rug, scooping Growlithe into a massive hug.
"Woof woof! (Julian, you scoundrel! This isn't a punishment for you at all!)" Growlithe barked, though he was already licking Julian's cheek and wagging his tail like a maniac.
Floette, Togetic, and Sylveon stood by, watching their "disciplinarian" Trainer roll around on the floor with the puppy.
"Floette-flo... (He really is a lost cause, isn't he?)"
"Sylveon-fly. (Totally. But hey, at least we're getting dinner now.)"