"Is it settled?"
Cynthia finally spoke as Lucas walked back to her side.
Lucas nodded. "They shouldn't cause destruction for no reason anymore. Sinnoh shouldn't have to worry about them."
Cynthia smiled upon hearing the good news.
As long as they didn't cause destruction for no reason, her workload wouldn't be so heavy. With less work, she would have plenty of free time to do things she enjoyed.
Cynthia was in a very good mood for a moment.
"Thank you for your hard work, Ash."
Lucas said to Ash and the others.
Ash scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly.
"It's nothing. Azelf and the others are our friends after all. When a friend needs help, I definitely have to come back and help them."
Ash looked at the Azelf beside him. "Besides, they were captured by bad people, so it was only right for us to rescue them."
"Impressive."
Feeling Ash's sincere feelings for Pokémon, Lucas couldn't help but smile. "As expected of the one chosen by Azelf and the others. Keep it up, everyone."
Seeing that everything was mostly resolved, Azelf and the others flew high into the sky.
"Azelf, are you going back?"
Ash asked.
Azelf nodded. It, Mesprit, and Uxie circled Ash and the other two a few times before coming in front of Lucas.
"Lucas."
Telepathy echoed in his heart.
"I hope you can be happy and joyful forever."
Mesprit's crisp voice rang out. "Once I finish handling things at Lake Verity, I'll go find Mime Jr. to play, and then I'll fall into a deep sleep."
Lucas remembered that they would fall into a deep sleep for a long time to protect the Sinnoh region, so he said, "It's okay if you don't have time. I'll tell Mime Jr., and I'm sure it will understand."
Mesprit shook its head.
"Don't worry, it's fine. We'll go to the Breeding House together to find you then."
A gentle, warm voice sounded.
This was Uxie's voice.
Lucas nodded with a smile. "Then Mime Jr. and I will wait for everyone's arrival at the Breeding House."
Azelf nodded, then touched its forehead against Lucas's one by one.
They flew high into the sky, circled around, and then their figures vanished into a ring of light.
Watching Azelf and the others leave, Lucas waved his hand. "Everyone's tired, right? Miss Cynthia is treating us to a meal."
Cynthia: ?
"You're quite good at playing the nice guy."
"Of course."
Looking at the somewhat proud Lucas, Cynthia sighed helplessly.
"Really? Miss Cynthia!"
Ash looked at Cynthia expectantly.
Cynthia nodded. "Let's go, I'll treat you all to a meal."
"Great! Miss Cynthia is so cool!"
"Miss Cynthia is so kind!"
"Gengar gar"
Yay!
"Then I shall not refuse."
"Thank you, Miss Cynthia. Miss Cynthia is the best."
Cynthia looked at Lucas, who was as happy as Ash and the others, and ignored him. Instead, she left with Garchomp, Gengar, and Lilligant.
Seeing this, Lucas hurried to catch up. He approached Garchomp, wanting to ask if it could step aside, only to be glared back by Garchomp.
Lucas could only silently move to Gengar's side. Seeing this, Gengar looked at Lucas proudly, as if waiting for him to beg.
Lucas wouldn't indulge it. He reached out and pulled the corners of its mouth, tugging it to the side, snatching the spot next to Cynthia.
Gengar clutched its cheeks, looking heartbroken.
Seeing Gengar looking dejected the whole way, Lucas couldn't help but lean into its ear and whisper, "Stop pretending. Do you still want new snacks?"
Gengar instantly grinned.
How did you know I was faking?!
Lucas looked at it and rolled his eyes.
No one in the world understood Gengar better than he did.
"Gengar gar—"
It's a deal then, make me new snacks.
Gengar said.
Lucas nodded. "When have I ever lied to you?"
Gengar giggled and then gave Lucas a lick.
No paralysis.
"Do you want to walk by my side that much?"
Cynthia's beautiful eyes curved as she asked Lucas teasingly.
Lucas nodded honestly.
Cynthia seemed to remember something funny and smiled softly, then said, "Are you worried I'll be kidnapped by bad guys?"
"Un~cle~"
She intentionally elongated her voice.
Lucas was utterly defeated.
After a long while, Lucas spoke up, "I hit the wrong Pokémon earlier."
Cynthia frowned in confusion.
"Hmm?"
"Zapdos forgot our agreement and made up its own."
Lucas laughed, remembering Zapdos's miserable state earlier. "Then it got pummeled."
"What agreement did you make back then?"
Lucas deliberately kept her in suspense. "What agreement... well, it was—"
"I'm not telling you. Do you want to know?"
"Beg me."
Upon hearing this, Gengar immediately took Lilligant and the others as far away from Lucas as possible.
Cynthia smiled slightly, and in the next second, two scythes were held against his neck.
Lucas gently pushed the scythes away with his finger and gave a sheepish laugh. "Look at you, getting impatient again."
Cynthia ignored Lucas upon seeing this.
Once you've known Lucas for a long time, you'll realize he's really like a child—so childish.
No wonder Gengar and the others were all like children; it turned out their Trainer was still a child himself.
Cynthia said to herself.
"Don't you think Lucas and Champion Cynthia have a really good relationship?"
Dawn and the others walked behind Lucas and Cynthia. Dawn whispered her question to Ash and Brock.
Ash didn't think much of it; on the contrary, his mind was filled only with battles.
"Maybe Champion Cynthia thinks Lucas is very strong and is discussing where to have a battle later."
Speaking of this, Ash glanced at the Pikachu on his shoulder.
"Pikachu, if they go to battle later, let's battle too."
"Pika."
Pikachu nodded.
Dawn couldn't help but facepalm.
"Ash, you really are... hopeless."
"Huh? What's wrong?"
Ash looked puzzled.
Brock, however, kept nodding.
"There is indeed something a bit off."
"Right, right? I'm telling you, my intuition for these things is very accurate."
Dawn said to Brock excitedly.
Meanwhile, Lucas was explaining his agreement with Moltres and the others to Cynthia.
"When they were controlled by Team Galactic, I rescued them and promised that when I found Team Galactic, I would notify them to come for revenge. In return, after their revenge, they couldn't run wild or cause destruction in the Sinnoh region anymore."
Cynthia nodded after listening. "I see."
"Then what about Zapdos?"
Recalling Zapdos, Lucas couldn't help but laugh again.
"You mean Featherless—oh no, Zapdos? I really can't say that; I have to save some face for it."
Cynthia looked at Lucas, who was laughing uncontrollably, with a helpless expression.
"Your expression has already completely thrown its face away."
"And 'Featherless Bird'? It's a Legendary Pokémon after all; can't you show some respect?"
Cynthia rubbed her forehead.
"Forget it, let's eat first."
Cynthia looked at Garchomp and then hopped onto its back.
"I'll go book a table first. You guys follow behind."
Lucas flipped onto Ninetales's back, nodded, and chased after Cynthia.