Lucas had been in Canalave City for two days. After his initial call back to the Breeding House, where Shauna had reported the recent events in her crisp voice, he learned that Lucian was helping manage the Day Care's affairs, allowing Lucas to nod in relief.
Lucian, oh Lucian, if you haven't left by the time I get back, I'll definitely prepare a grand feast for you.
Having learned that Lucian was helping at the Breeding House, Lucas let go of his worries and began to focus intently on the two Shieldon that were about to evolve.
Every day, he helped Gothitelle brew the herbal medicine they needed to drink.
"So, they're preparing to evolve?"
In the center of the rotom phone's screen, a beautiful face was watching the two Shieldon in the distance.
"Yeah, probably in the next day or two."
Lucas glanced at the two Shieldon. At that moment, they were using their shield-like faces to rub against the trunks of large trees, constantly polishing their faces.
"I guess the feeling of being about to evolve is a bit uncomfortable for them. They want to rely on rubbing the shields on their faces to alleviate that discomfort."
Cynthia nodded in agreement as she listened to Lucas.
"I've heard they naturally have a habit of polishing their faces? Like this, rubbing against tree trunks or rocks?"
Lucas nodded. "They also use those shield-like faces to dig into the soil to find succulent tree roots."
After speaking, Lucas even mimicked the Shieldon's digging motion. His head moved as if possessed, causing Cynthia to let out a burst of pleasant laughter.
When Gothitelle passed by carrying the herbal medicine, she frowned upon seeing Lucas acting like he was possessed by some demon or ghost.
What kind of mischief is he up to now? Is he possessed?
Gengar, sitting nearby, quickly signaled that it wasn't him. He doesn't possess bodies; he only possesses shadows.
After staring at Lucas for a while, Gothitelle seemed to think of something. After placing the herbal medicine in front of the Shieldon, she floated back to the kitchen.
Soon, she floated back to Lucas with a freshly brewed bowl of herbal medicine and placed it on his table.
"Goth."
Drink it.
Lucas was chatting with Cynthia when he saw Gothitelle place a bowl of herbal medicine in front of him, leaving him completely confused.
"Is my body feeling unwell?"
After saying that, he checked his own body. He coughed forcefully twice but found he wasn't coughing; he sniffed his nose but found no congestion or runny nose; he shook his head hard, but there was no headache. So, where am I sick?
Lucas was completely baffled.
Therefore, he looked at Gothitelle in confusion.
"Goth."
It's for your appetite.
Hearing Gothitelle's words, Lucas grew even more confused.
"Is my appetite bad?"
He lowered his head and picked up the herbal medicine. "Is my appetite really that bad?"
Seeing that Gothitelle didn't respond, he said, "Alright then," and drank the herbal medicine.
Gengar, hearing Lucas's words, couldn't help but curl his lip in disdain.
His appetite is bad? He snatched two of my big chicken legs at lunch today! I clearly saved those for last, and he just snatched them. Hmph!
After draining the herbal medicine in one gulp, Lucas looked at Gothitelle. "Shouldn't an appetizer be sweet and sour?"
Gothitelle looked at Lucas with an expression reserved for caring for the mentally challenged.
If it were sweet and sour, would it still be called herbal medicine?
Lucas also realized he had asked a silly question. He scratched his head and handed the bowl to Gothitelle. After taking the bowl, Gothitelle stared at him for a while. Seeing that he no longer looked possessed, she nodded in satisfaction and floated back to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Watching Gothitelle's retreating back, Lucas scratched his head and then looked at Gengar. "Gengar, has my appetite really been bad lately?"
Gengar stared at Lucas with the expression of a resentful widow.
"Gengar gargar—"
—"
Give me back my chicken legs, and then I'll tell you.
"Haha, the weather really is nice today, isn't it, Cynthia?"
Lucas put his hands behind his head, laughed twice, and changed the subject.
The things I've already eaten—you want me to spit them back out? On the other side of the screen, Cynthia watched their interaction, the smile never leaving her face. She stroked the head of the Garchomp lying on her lap. "It's so nice, isn't it, Garchomp?"
"Garch!"
Garchomp narrowed its eyes comfortably and responded.
After chatting for a bit longer, Lucas hung up the phone and sat in the pavilion, dozing off.
After an unknown amount of time, he was suddenly startled awake by a loud Growl. He looked toward the sound and found the two Shieldon using their faces to slam into each other with great force.
"Gary, Gym Leader Byron."
Lucas called out, and Gary and Byron quickly ran out. Seeing the two Shieldon fighting, they didn't quite react at first.
"Store Manager, what's going on?"
Gary asked Lucas.
Lucas glanced at the description and watched the Shieldon as they separated and then slammed together again. He said, "If I'm not mistaken, they're about to evolve."
Byron came to Lucas's side. He also had a Bastiodon, but his Bastiodon hadn't been this violent when it evolved.
Hearing Byron's doubt, Lucas explained, "That's because their nutrition was originally lacking, and they had lingering physical issues. So initially, when they faced evolution, they suffered from the pain of their faces expanding. Later, after I formulated some herbal medicine for them, it largely treated their ailments, and I made significant improvements to their nutrition. This caused them to absorb a bit too much nutrients. Combined with their improved health and the sensation of impending evolution, they've gotten a bit carried away."
"In short, they've been suppressed for too long and are now letting loose."
Hearing Lucas's explanation, Byron finally understood.
"Why are they fighting?"
The voice of Latias, who was following him invisibly, echoed in his mind. Lucas smiled and explained, "This isn't fighting; it's a happy sparring match to prepare for evolution."
Latias nodded thoughtfully.
After one final collision, white light erupted from their bodies simultaneously.
Their bodies began to change within the white light, their frames growing larger, and their faces expanding along with them.
From the silhouettes within the white light, one could see the oval shields transforming into square ones.
The white light dissipated, and two square-faced Bastiodon appeared before the people and Pokémon.
The two Bastiodon looked at each other, pulled back, and then began to run.
The shields slammed together again, producing a piercing sound.
Lucas couldn't help but frown. Goosebumps rose on his skin, and he immediately covered his ears.
Ninetales noticed Lucas's reaction.
After the two Bastiodon separated, they began to howl happily.
Then they pulled back again and started running once more.
As they ran, they shouted a chuunibyou slogan.
"Short legs, square face, remember my name is Bastiodon!"
Just as the two Bastiodon were about to collide once more and create more noise, a body enveloped in flames slammed between them. Immediately, both Bastiodon were sent flying, landing face-first and sliding a distance across the snow.
"Nine!"
Ninetales looked furious.
You call yourselves Bastiodon? You're noisy enough to kill someone!
Looking at the Ninetales, who was even taller than they were, the Bastiodon looked at each other and quickly shook their heads.
No, no, no, we're not called Bastiodon. We're called square face.
Lucas couldn't help but spit out his drink upon hearing this.
What the hell is 'square face'?