"It's New Year's Eve today."
Lucas stood by the counter, looking at the calendar hanging on the wall behind him. It was a calendar specially purchased by Mrs. Fujino that recorded the Spring Festival, and the words "New Year's Eve" were written right on it.
"Gen gengar~"
Great, it's finally New Year's Eve.
Gengar was very much looking forward to the New Year's Eve that Lucas spoke of. It had never experienced this kind of festival before. This unprecedented festival made it very expectant. Of course, more importantly, it was the festival from Lucas's hometown, and being able to spend it with Lucas was the best thing.
"Lilli~"
I am also looking forward to it~
"Gothitelle."
Gothitelle floated out of the kitchen, looked at Lucas, and said a few words.
I'm going to the Cottage first to restock, then I'll check on the Cottage, and I'll be back around noon.
"Okay, thank you for your hard work, Gothitelle."
Lucas opened his arms. Perhaps due to some reason in his bloodline, Lucas had been in a very good mood these past few days, so he acted a bit according to his own whims.
Gothitelle paused for a moment, then squeezed a smile onto its face, floated into Lucas's arms, and hugged him gently.
Lucas patted Gothitelle on the back. Gothitelle left Lucas's embrace, nodded at him, and then took Roserade, Pinsir, Heracross, and the older Meowstic brother and the others, leaving the Breeding House to head to the Cottage in Twinleaf Town.
Da da da.
A fiery red figure rushed down from the stairs. Before Lucas could react, he sidestepped to the side.
Gengar: Poof————
Gengar's eyeballs were knocked flying out.
Gengar: "Geng—"
Lucas calmly picked up Gengar's eyeballs, placed them in Gengar's hands, and then bent down to pick up Shauna.
"Why did little Shauna wake up so late today?"
Over the past two days, Lucas had discussed it with Mr. and Mrs. Fujino and asked for leave for Shauna so she could spend the New Year at home properly.
Shauna grinned, "Because when I woke up today, Mommy and Daddy gave me new clothes, and a new hairstyle too."
Lucas looked closely at Shauna in his arms. Today, she was wearing a small red dress, with small red shoes and small red socks. The small wooden plaque hanging around her neck was also red, and the key stone on it was shining brilliantly.
Even the hair tie used to tie her hair was red.
"I looked it up online and found that people wear red during the Spring Festival, it's more festive, so I dressed little Shauna in red clothes and also gave her a bun hairstyle that matches the clothes."
Mr. and Mrs. Fujino walked down from upstairs. As they walked, Mrs. Fujino explained.
Lucas noticed that Mr. and Mrs. Fujino had also changed into red clothes.
"We also changed into red clothes, how is it? Do we look okay? Is it too abrupt?"
Mrs. Fujino pulled Mr. Fujino and spun around in front of Lucas. Mrs. Fujino was wearing a red sweater and a fiery red long skirt. Mr. Fujino was also wearing a red sweater, which must have been bought by Mrs. Fujino together, but Mr. Fujino was wearing regular long pants on his lower body.
Lucas laughed sincerely, "It looks very good, it looks like a great match. Let me take a photo of you two later."
Hearing Lucas's words, Mrs. Fujino blushed and refused, "We're already an old married couple, why take any photos?"
Mr. Fujino hugged his wife's shoulder, "Let's take it, why not? In my heart, you are always a little girl."
Mrs. Fujino shyly rolled her eyes at Mr. Fujino.
Little Shauna in Lucas's arms kept clapping her hands, her mouth grinning widely.
Watching Mr. and Mrs. Fujino showing off their affection in public, Lucas couldn't help but roll his eyes.
Old married couple~
Lucas carried Shauna and walked towards the rest area.
Lilligant looked at Gengar sitting in front of it, reached out its small hand, and pressed Gengar's eyes back in.
"Lilli?"
Can you see?
Gengar blinked, then while Lilligant wasn't paying attention, made a funny face.
Lilligant tilted its head, looking at Gengar.
"Lilli?"
Do you still want to scare me?
Seeing that it couldn't scare Lilligant, Gengar pouted regretfully.
Lilligant wore a sweet smile on its face, then reached out its hand.
Plop.
Gengar's eyeballs popped out again.
Gengar: ( { ° \ c )
No! Yamero!
Ignoring the bickering between Gengar and Lilligant, Lucas put Shauna down. Shauna kept grinning, swaying in front of Lucas. Seeing that Lucas hadn't noticed anything, Shauna couldn't help but say: "Uncle, look at m————"
Shauna opened her mouth.
Lucas looked carefully at Shauna's mouth, "What's wrong? Is your tooth hurting?"
"Oh, it's not that. Look at my teeth."
Shauna stomped her feet anxiously, then leaned in to show Lucas.
"Could it be that little Shauna forgot to brush her teeth today?"
"Oh, I hate you, Uncle! Hmph!"
Seeing that little Shauna was a bit angry, Lucas laughed out loud, then pointed to Shauna's teeth and said: "Did little Shauna lose a tooth?"
Seeing that Lucas had realized it, little Shauna giggled, "When I woke up today and got dressed, it fell out by itself when I was brushing my teeth. Then I took it to show Mommy. Mommy said I lost a baby tooth and told me to throw the lost tooth onto the eaves so that the new tooth that grows out will be neat and good-looking."
"It just feels like I'm whistling when I talk."
Perhaps because Shauna had never experienced the Spring Festival either, she was very excited right now, "Uncle, Uncle, is there anything that needs to be done today? What do people usually do on New Year's Eve?"
Lucas sat on the chair in the rest area, looking at Shauna, whose eyes were full of anticipation, thought for a moment, and said: "What needs to be done on New Year's Eve? Let me think. It seems to be putting up couplets, making dumplings, having the New Year's Eve dinner, setting off firecrackers and fireworks, and then staying up for the New Year."
"Staying up for the New Year?" "Gen gengar?" "Lilli?" "Xiu?" "Nini?" "Meow?" "Pi? —————"
"The so-called staying up for the New Year is to wish that in the new year, you will be safe and sound, everything will go smoothly, and that the elders will be healthy and happy."
Lucas snapped his fingers, "Of course, children will get red envelopes."
"There is a lot of pocket money in the red envelopes."
"Pocket money!"
Shauna's eyes lit up instantly.
She had saved a lot of pocket money, saved together with Gengar, because she didn't really need to spend money at the Breeding House, so she just let Gengar keep it for her.
"Gen gengar~"
Where is my pocket money?
Gengar floated in front of Lucas and stretched out its palm.
"It's not time yet, don't worry, you all have some."
Lucas patted away Gengar's chubby hand and said with a smile.
He had prepared the red envelopes in advance; everyone at the Breeding House had one.
"Then does our Breeding House need to put up couplets? What are couplets?"
Shauna asked from the side.
"Couplets are———— Oh no, I forgot to buy them!"
Lucas remembered that he hadn't bought couplets, and it felt like the sky had collapsed.
"Oh my, I thought the Manager had bought them. When I went to Twinleaf Town a few days ago, I looked around but couldn't find the couplets Lucas mentioned."
Mrs. Fujino also spoke up from the side.
Lucas was a bit discouraged, but he shook his head, "It's okay, if we forgot, we forgot. We'll celebrate anyway."
"Forgot what?"
A familiar voice came from the doorway. Lucas looked up and saw it was Nina and Empoleon. Nina was also carrying a bag in her hand.
"Sister Nina? You came so quickly?"
Lucas had also invited Nina, Officer Jenny from Twinleaf Town, and Nurse Joy today. These three were like older sisters to him, and they had helped him a lot during this time.
"Yes, I rushed over as soon as I got off the plane. What did you say you forgot? Couplets?"
Nina carried the bag and walked into the Breeding House with Empoleon.
Lucas nodded, "I forgot to buy them. I've been too busy with too many things lately, and I forgot."
Hearing Lucas's words, Nina gestured to the bag in her hand, "I guessed you might have forgotten to buy them, so I bought them for you. There are couplets, and also the 'Fu' character. How about it, how should you thank me?"
Lucas was all smiles, "Then I'll cook something delicious for you tonight?"
"Isn't that what you should be doing?"
"Hahaha. Gengar, serve tea."
"No need. Don't we still need to put up the couplets and things? Do you need help?"
"Little Shauna can help too!"
"Alright then, I'll leave it to you all."
After Lucas finished speaking, he assigned them tasks.
Gengar took Shauna and the others to be responsible for putting the 'Fu' characters all over the house.
"Uncle, why do the 'Fu' characters need to be pasted upside down?"
"Because this implies that good fortune has arrived."
"So that's how it is."
"Uncle, is it okay to paste it like this?"
"Yes, it is."
"Gen gengar—"
Is it here?
"Yo, not bad, huh?"
"Sister Nina, is it crooked?"
"It's not crooked———— right?"
"Then is it crooked or not?"
"Hmm———— it seems a little bit crooked, but it also seems like you can't tell."
"Forget it, I'll just paste it like this."
After putting up the couplets, Lucas and the others stood at the entrance of the Breeding House, looking at the festively decorated building with satisfaction. At this moment, Gothitelle and the others returned from the Cottage, accompanied by Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy from Twinleaf Town.
"Sister Reese, Sister Joy, you've come too."
"Happy New Year, Lucas. Is that how you say it?"
"Happy New Year, Lucas."
"That's how you say it. Happy New Year~"
Lucas took out a bundled firecracker from the Breeding House, unrolled it, and hung it at the entrance. This type of firecracker usually has a very powerful one at the end, which makes a particularly loud sound.
Lucas took out a lighter and looked around, "So, who wants to light it?"
Shauna was tempted, but she was also a bit scared, so she didn't raise her hand in the end.
Everyone retreated behind Gengar.
Gengar: (/) You guys————
Lucas smiled and handed the lighter to Gengar.
"Go for it, Gengar-chan!"
Gengar looked at the flaming lighter, blew on it, extinguishing the flame, and then looked at Lucas and clicked its tongue.
It raised its chubby little hand, mimicked Lucas by snapping its fingers, and a ghostly flame appeared on its fingertip.
Gengar floated over to the firecracker, trembling as it reached out its finger, and was just about to light it.
"Bang!" Lucas suddenly shouted.
∑(ǒaǒ|||) / Gengar scrambled back to Lucas's side in the air. Discovering that the firecracker hadn't gone off, it widened its eyes and looked at Lucas. "You scared me!"
Gengar pointed at Lucas's nose, and Lucas showed Gengar's signature smile. "Hehe."
Gengar floated back to the firecracker again, but this time it was Shauna who made a sound. Seeing Gengar get startled again, everyone and all the Pokémon burst into laughter.
The last time, Gengar lit the firecracker before anyone could react and quickly returned to Lucas's side.
Crackle, crackle———— The sound of firecrackers began to ring out. Everyone and the Pokémon stood at the entrance of the Breeding House. Lucas reached out to cover Lilligant's ears, and Lilligant showed a sweet smile.
The smoke from the exploding firecrackers filled the air. Lucas smelled the scent of gunpowder that could only be smelled during the New Year, and he felt inexplicably nostalgic.
After setting off the firecrackers, considering the many residents of the Breeding House, Gothitelle, along with Mime Jr., the younger Meowstic sister, Alcremie, and Mrs. Fujino, began preparing tonight's dinner, while Lucas took some seeds that needed planting and headed to the planting area.
As it was the last day of the year, he decided to choose it as the day for sowing.
Bringing Gengar, Dash, and the others, he finished planting all the seeds and then asked the Lapras Siblings to use a small-scale Rain Dance to water them.
Arriving at the newly cultivated land, Lucas looked at the tea seeds in his hand. "I hope they will grow."
Lucas smiled as he buried the tea seeds in the soil and once again asked the Lapras Siblings to water them. Watching the soil get wet from the rain and become soft, Lucas felt something in his heart seep into the soil along with the rain.
The sound of high heels came from the stone path behind him, and then a familiar fragrance wafted into Lucas's nose with the wind. "You've worked hard."
Lucas turned around, looked at the beautiful woman in front of him, and said with a smile. "It really was hard work. In order to make it back, I finished my work ahead of schedule."
Cynthia sighed, looking a bit tired. At this moment, in the League, a certain purple-haired man with his head down: ???
Cynthia looked at Lucas, who was wearing red clothes, and smiled brightly, "So, can I get a warm hug from Uncle?"
"You're doing it again!" Hearing Cynthia teasing him again, Lucas couldn't help but roll his eyes, and then he gently hugged Cynthia.
Just as Lucas and Cynthia walked out from behind the counter, they heard Shauna shout happily. "Sister Cynthia."
Then Lucas saw Shauna bump into Cynthia's arms.
Lucas carefully looked at Cynthia's feet in high heels and found that Cynthia hadn't retreated a single step. Even after taking the impact of Shauna's charge, she was able to pick up Shauna with a smile without changing her expression.
Lucas: ?! (/) Is this right? How is she so relaxed when catching her?
Shauna introduced the clothes she was wearing to Cynthia. Cynthia noticed that everyone was wearing red clothes. She looked at the brown trench coat she was wearing and looked at Lucas, "I don't seem to have brought any red clothes."
"It's okay, it's enough that you're here." Lucas comforted Cynthia.
Cynthia smiled. At this moment, Mrs. Fujino chased Gengar, Garchomp, and Lucario out of the kitchen. Hearing Cynthia's words, she said, "I bought a red outfit for Miss Cynthia in advance, but I don't know if Miss Cynthia would mind."
Cynthia's eyes lit up, "Really?" Mrs. Fujino nodded, then took Cynthia upstairs to change clothes.
Lucas went to the lounge area and found the three Nina sisters giving him a thumbs up. Lucas put his hands on his hips, his nose almost pointing to the sky.
Gengar, Garchomp, and Lucario snuck into the kitchen again while Mrs. Fujino was upstairs, ate some of tonight's desserts, and were discovered by Gothitelle, who unceremoniously threw them out.
Garchomp, holding snacks in its arms, came to the lounge area and sat down unceremoniously, chewing on the snacks.
"Wow!" Shauna couldn't help but exclaim when she saw Cynthia, who had changed her clothes.
Lucas looked at Cynthia: form-fitting black cropped pants, Lucario-shaped slippers on her feet, a red knit sweater on her upper body, the small wooden plaque of the Breeding House tied around her fair wrist, her blonde hair draped casually over her shoulders, and the pendants on her ears making her face look even more beautiful.
"Wow!" Lucas mimicked Shauna and exclaimed.
Cynthia showed a satisfied smile, then came and sat down next to Lucas, and everyone chatted happily.
During the New Year's Eve dinner, Lucas looked at the large tables in the backyard and some of the huge Pokémon on the lawn.
Once upon a time, the Breeding House only had him and Gengar, but in less than a year, the Breeding House had gained so many people and Pokémon.
At this moment, under Cynthia's leadership, they were looking at him. Lucas stood up, holding a cup in his hand filled with honey water made from the winter sweet honey brewed by Vespiquen. Lucas raised his cup.
"Everyone, thank you for your company. I hope that in the new year, we will continue to be with each other."
"Happy New Year~" "Gen gengar!" "Ma Machamp!" x 3 "Lilli~" "Nini~" "Gothitelle." "Shu." "Ka!"
Why are you stealing my food! "Gen gengar~" The rule of the Breeding House dinner: fast hands get it, slow hands miss out!
"Bi!" Try reaching into my bowl again and see what happens! "Lilli?" Are you trying to steal mine? (Sweet smile)
"Gen gengar!" Zorua, stop turning into me to draw aggro for me! Zorua: "Hehe, is that what you chose, idol."
Gengar: {\c{c Lilligant: Seed Flare!!! Garchomp: What is that?! Gengar: Lucas, help!
Bang! Bang! Bang! Lucas continued to eat the food in his bowl unhurriedly. "Peace and safety every year, peace and safety every year." Lucas said with a smile.
"Gengar! Spit out my chicken leg! I was saving it for last!" Lucas prepared to rush up and fight Gengar one-on-one.
"Gen gengar~" I licked it~ (it tastes like chicken leg)
"Numb———— so numb————" Gothitelle demonstrated shoving a Cheri Berry in blindly again. Nothing else, just pure practice.
"Spit it out, you jerk!" "Gen gengar—" I don't want to!!!
"Yo, eating?" A figure with white hair emerged from the shadows. "Lucas, I'm back."
The little red plane flew back from a distance. Cynthia watched Lucas and Gengar, one pulling the other's red tongue, and the other kicking the other's face hard with its foot.
Cynthia held a camera in her hand, "Come on, look at the lens, three, two, one, click." There was a new family photo at the corner of the stairs.
After Lucas finished handing out red envelopes to everyone and the Pokémon, he walked to Cynthia's side and handed her a red envelope. "Happy New Year, Cynthia."
"Thank you, Uncle~ Happy New Year~" "Sister Cynthia, come and set off fireworks." "Coming."
Watching Cynthia happily setting off fireworks with Shauna, Lucas couldn't help but laugh.
Sure enough, this kind of life is what he likes the most.
***************************
Thoughts on where the plot is heading? Let me know in the comments! If you're enjoying the ride, please leave a quick review and toss a few Power Stones my way. Every bit of support means the world! 🙌