Elif bowed slightly. "Queen Rin is safe and well. Commander Geralt remains stationed in Kanto with his forces. Order there is stable, no unrest to speak of." He paused. "Since your departure for Galar, Queen Rin has been governing the country, following the regulations you established, building the Pokémon League, and promoting Trainer programs throughout Kanto.
Transportation is functioning well, and the people are living in peace." A small warmth entered his expression. "She has written frequently asking about your return, and has said that once you are back, she intends to bring a Kanto delegation to Lucien City personally to discuss cooperation between the two regions."
Lucien nodded. "Understood. I'll need a few days to settle in, then we'll arrange the meeting."
Kanto had changed considerably from what it might have been. The chaos had been resolved. Aaron, who in another course of events would have died, was alive and well. The tragedy that the film had been built around would not happen.
Back in Unova, Lucien allowed himself to rest properly for the first time in nearly a year.
No Galar affairs to manage, no campaigns to plan. Just his Pokémon and his tea. Dragonite, Volcarona, Serperior, and Kyurem moved through their days with the relaxed energy of creatures who had also been carrying something for a long time and were glad to set it down.
Eternatus remained asleep inside its Poké Ball, and Lucien was not concerned: with Kyurem and Hoopa present, even if it woke, it could be managed.
He looked at his Pokémon sometimes and thought about the fact that he had arrived in this world with nothing, and now: Dragonite, Volcarona, Serperior, Kyurem, Hoopa, Eternatus, and even a Golett somewhere in the mix.
If someone had told him this was where transmigration would lead, he would not have believed it.
Hoopa lasted approximately one day before it could not sit still any longer.
It pulled at Lucien until he agreed to take it into the city. He did, reluctantly and with amusement.
At dusk, as the sun dropped below the horizon, the streetlights along the city's main road came on simultaneously. The warm golden light spread down the street in both directions, steady and bright.
Hoopa, eating a donut by the window, was startled by the sudden illumination and jumped. Its rings spun twice around it.
"What is that?!" It pressed its face to the glass, staring at the rows of glowing lights stretching in both directions. "They're more beautiful than the sun!"
"Electric lights," Lucien said. "They run on the power of Electric-type Pokémon. No candles. They stay on through the whole night."
Hoopa turned and noticed there were bulbs in the room as well. Lucien switched one on. Hoopa touched it with one small hand, warm but not hot, and turned it over in its mind with the expression of something encountering a concept it has no prior category for.
"There's nothing like this in Galar. Or in Kalos."
"Come on," Lucien said. "I'll show you Lucien City at night."
"Lucien City?" Hoopa's face filled with surprise. "The city has your name?"
Elif, who was nearby, offered: "The people carry a sense of gratitude. They named it for His Majesty."
Hoopa absorbed this partially and moved on immediately to more interesting things.
They walked through the city streets as dusk settled into evening. Some shops had closed for the night, but others were still open, the markets lit and active.
Hoopa stopped in front of a bakery's glass case and stared at the pastries inside: colorful, varied, topped with what appeared to be honey.
"The locals make these with their own produce," Lucien said. "That's Combee honey on top."
Hoopa swallowed visibly.
The shop assistant recognized Lucien and bowed deeply. Lucien smiled and asked for a selection of the shop's best. The assistant, in considerable excitement, wrapped up approximately fifty portions.
Lucien looked at the stack. "That's too many."
"Hoopa can eat all of it," Hoopa said immediately.
Lucien paid despite the assistant's protests, "Your Majesty has done so much for us, please, there's no need"... and the shop assistant's eyes went red with feeling, which Lucien acknowledged briefly and then removed himself from before it became a longer conversation.
Hoopa, with its characteristic practicality, conjured a ring and stored the snacks in its own private dimension for later retrieval.
Then a long whistle sounded in the distance. The low rumble of machinery followed, vibrating through the ground underfoot.
Hoopa's eyes went wide. It spun, scanning for the source, rings raised.
"Is that an enemy?!"
"That's the steam train," Lucien said. "The main form of long-distance transport in Unova. It carries people and goods between cities. Faster than a flying Pokémon."
Hoopa looked where Lucien pointed. The train moved along its tracks in the distance, white steam rising from its engine, its black body catching the last of the evening light, the long chain of carriages stretching further than seemed reasonable.
Hoopa stared at it until it disappeared from view, then stared at where it had been.
"It runs by itself. And it's that fast." A pause. "I want to ride it."
Lucien laughed. "In a few days, I'll take you. We'll travel through Unova and see other cities."
Hoopa spent the rest of the day moving through the castle in a state of continuous low-level excitement, touching things, looking out windows at the railway tracks, muttering about steam trains and electric lights.
It even slipped out periodically through a ring to observe passersby from street level, occasionally startling curious onlookers and then being charmed by their reactions to it. It almost forgot about donuts entirely.
Almost.
The following days passed quickly. Lucien worked through the accumulated League business in the mornings, took Hoopa around the city in the afternoons, fulfilled the promise of the steam train ride, and watched Hoopa press its face against the carriage window with complete absorption as the Unova landscape moved past.
Then came the day of Queen Rin's visit.
The square in front of Lucien City Castle was prepared and waiting when the Kanto delegation arrived, their footsteps measured and orderly, emerging from the avenue in a long, dignified column.
Queen Rin led them, dressed in a formal ceremonial gown, her bearing composed but her expression carrying a warmth that the formality did not entirely conceal.
Beside her walked Aaron: younger than the ceremony of his role suggested, dressed simply, strong-framed and calm-faced. Lucario walked close at his side.
Lucien stepped forward with Elif to greet them. Hoopa hid behind Lucien's shoulder, peering around at Queen Rin and Aaron with unconcealed curiosity, still holding half a donut.
"Queen Rin," Lucien said warmly. "It has been some time."
Queen Rin stopped and smiled. "Lord Lucien. You've finally returned."
Aaron nodded slightly in greeting. Lucario, standing close at his side, did the same. Lucien nodded back, and the group moved together into the castle.
Sunlight came through the glass windows of the council chamber and lay across the long table. The atmosphere was both relaxed and purposeful.
Queen Rin spread a freshly drawn Kanto map across the table and touched several points with her fingertips: a high plateau, Celadon City, Lavender Town.
"Under Commander Geralt's forces and the support of Unova's Trainers, many of Kanto's Gyms have been rebuilt, and the previously chaotic wild Pokémon gathering points are stabilizing. However, some regions still have reservations about the League structure and need careful guidance."
Lucien's eyes moved across the map. "There's no need to rush. Establish trade links between the two regions first. Let Trainers from both sides exchange challenges and meet each other. Let the people see the peace and prosperity for themselves. They will accept the new order when they're ready."
Aaron had been listening quietly. He spoke now, his voice measured. "I've traveled through Kanto with Lucario since the conflicts ended. The relationship between humans and Pokémon has changed considerably. Many Pokémon that once avoided people are approaching villages now."
Lucien nodded. "The war is over and the recovery is beginning. Kanto has an enormous variety of Pokémon suited to agriculture, mining, fishing, and livestock work. If that partnership can be developed, Kanto's progress will be substantial."
Queen Rin nodded. She and Aaron exchanged a brief look, something decided passing between them.
"Your Majesty Lucien," Queen Rin said. Her voice was clear and carried through the chamber. "I did not bring this delegation solely to discuss cooperation between our regions. There is something else I need to tell you."
Lucien looked up, waiting.
"Since I took over Kanto's administration, every step has felt like walking on uncertain ground. Without Commander Geralt's protection and your guidance behind the scenes, Kanto would not be in the stable state it is now." She did not say this with bitterness. Her voice was simply honest.
"My abilities are sufficient to protect Cameran Palace, to keep Aaron and the city's people safe. But I am not able to carry Kanto's full development, and I cannot implement the vision of human and Pokémon coexistence across every corner of the region the way it needs to be done."
The chamber went quiet.
Elif, standing beside Lucien, looked uncomfortable. Even Hoopa stopped chewing and turned to watch.
Queen Rin took a breath, then bowed slightly toward Lucien.
"Therefore, I am willing to formally hand over the full jurisdiction and governing authority of the Kanto Region to the Pokémon League for unified management.
Kanto will be incorporated into the League system, following the League's established laws and order. Officials will be appointed by the League. Trainer forces will be integrated to manage the whole region."
She straightened. "I ask only to remain at Cameran Palace, to guard that small town, and to let Aaron, Lucario, and myself live quietly there."
Lucien was still for a moment.
Queen Rin handing over Kanto, it was not something he had expected her to do so directly or so soon. But in the modern era he remembered, even under the Pokémon League's full governance, places like Cameran Palace still existed within the Kanto Region, managed by Rin's descendants. The structure she was describing was not without precedent. It was simply sudden.
He looked at her, and at Aaron beside her, and felt something shift in his chest.
He did not agree immediately. "Lady Rin, what you have achieved in managing Kanto during this period is clear. There is no reason to diminish it."
"I am not diminishing it. I am being honest about what I am." Queen Rin's eyes held no resentment, only a quiet ease. "I never wanted to rule a region. I wanted stability and peace. I helped bring the situation to where it is now.
Handing it over to the League, to those more suited to carry it forward, is how Kanto actually reaches prosperity and leaves the suffering of these past wars behind. This is what the people of Kanto want as well."
She knew what Lucien had built: Unova stable, Galar established, a functioning League system with the trust of the people. Kanto belonging to that system was the path forward. For herself, she wanted Cameran Palace, and Aaron, and Lucario, and a life no longer defined by the weight of governance.
Lucien was quiet for a moment. He looked at them both.
Then he nodded.
"I agree. The Kanto League structure will be completed as quickly as possible. Cameran Palace retains its autonomy, with you and Aaron continuing to manage it as before.
The League will provide Kanto with resources, Trainer support, and everything needed for the recovery. The integration of humans and Pokémon will be carried through to every part of the region."
Queen Rin's face relaxed into a genuine smile. The weight she had been carrying since the day she took responsibility for a region she had never asked to rule had finally, properly, been set down.
...
STONESSSS 💎💎
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