At first, these Vulpix were a bit timid; however, after taking a single bite of the Energy Cubes, their eyes lit up with delight.
Their six little tails wagged joyfully as they began to devour the treats with gusto.
As they ate, they would occasionally glance up at Drake, tilting their little heads and flashing sweet, endearing smiles—their muzzles still smeared with crumbs from the Energy Cubes.
Watching this scene unfold, Drake and his own Pokémon couldn't help but be amused by the adorable innocence of these little creatures.
Drake immediately reached into the backpack slung behind him, pulled out several more boxes of Energy Cubes, and offered them to the Vulpix:
"There's plenty more if you need it. No rush—take your time and enjoy."
At the same time, Drake retrieved a few *High-Grade* Energy Cubes from his bag and offered them to the Ninetales to sample.
Seeing her children eating so happily, the hostility in the Ninetales' eyes gradually began to dissipate.
She realized that for a human to offer such precious food to her and her children, it indicated—at the very least—that he harbored no ill will.
"What exactly is it that you want to say?"
The Ninetales spoke up again, her tone now significantly softer.
Drake gathered his thoughts and spoke earnestly:
"I am a member of the Hoenn League's Elite Four. I came to Alola on this trip to study the region's general environment and terrain.
I observed you earlier, and I noticed that you are quite different from the other Totem Pokémon.
As far as I know, many Totem Pokémon possess their 'Totem Aura' only because they have received a blessing from the island's Guardian Deities. But you..."
The Ninetales fell silent for a moment before responding via telepathy:
"I am different from them. I have simply lived for a very long time; over the years, I naturally evolved into this form."
"How long, exactly?"
Drake pressed. "I can't quite recall. It's probably been a few hundred seasons—springs, summers, and winters—by now."
Upon hearing this, Drake felt a stir in his heart.
Although he didn't know why this particular Ice-type Ninetales had spontaneously evolved into a Totem Pokémon, if he could strike a deal with this Ice/Water-type Ninetales—persuading it to assist the League in researching Z-Power—then his expedition to the Alola region would have achieved its objectives in the most perfect manner imaginable.
As for the reason behind the Ice-type Ninetales becoming a Totem Pokémon...
If Lionel were present, he would likely have been able to guess the cause:
It was almost certainly the result of the energy radiating from the Legendary Pokémon found within the Ultra Wormhole—Necrozma.
After a prolonged period of absorption, the Ice-type Ninetales had gradually accumulated a sufficient reserve of energy within its body, thereby evolving into its Totem Form.
The Ultra Wormhole is an unstable conduit connecting the Pokémon World to Ultra Space—essentially, a rift in the fabric of space-time.
According to the lore established in his previous life, the Alola region is the area where the energy emanating from the Ultra Wormhole is most active.
Both Z-Crystals and the very source of Z-Power are formed from the energy radiated by Necrozma.
The very air of the Alola region is already permeated with traces of Necrozma's radiant energy—even without the direct bestowal of power from the four Guardian Deities.
Through sheer, prolonged accumulation, this Ice-type Ninetales had absorbed enough energy from the atmosphere to ultimately evolve into a Totem Pokémon.
After a moment of contemplation, Drake decided to broach the subject of the League's latest discovery—Mega Evolution—in his conversation with the Ice-type Ninetales:
"What do you think of my Salamence? The energy it just utilized is known as 'Mega Evolution'—a unique power recently discovered by our League."
"Unlike your Totem Pokémon form, it doesn't require such an immense amount of time to manifest."
As he spoke, Drake gestured toward his Salamence, which was currently resting nearby:
"It took you such an incredibly long time to reach your current state. Have you ever stopped to consider how your offspring might grow up in the future? They surely cannot follow the same path you did..."
"Our League has been conducting extensive research into the Mega Evolution capabilities of various Pokémon species."
"As expected, we currently possess no data regarding the Ninetales species.
However, if you are willing to cooperate with our research—
I can guarantee that before long, both you and your descendants will have the opportunity to master this very power."
The Ice-type Ninetales' nine tails swayed gently; clearly, it was intrigued. After all, what parent wouldn't wish for a better future for their children?
Sensing this, Drake seized the moment and pointed toward the small, red Vulpix standing nearby:
"And what about your children? Surely you cannot keep them constantly sheltered by your side forever?
Take that little red Vulpix, for instance—it is a Fire-type Pokémon.
It is naturally suited to thrive in warm environments; keeping it with you here, amidst this world of ice and snow, will only stifle its innate potential.
Just look at it: despite being a Fire-type, it is forced to live perpetually in the snow, suppressing its own power. That can only be detrimental to its growth."
The Ice-type Ninetales glanced at the little Fire-type Vulpix. It knew that the environment of the snowy mountains was indeed ill-suited for the growth of a Fire-type child; yet, the thought of leaving it out in the world all alone was something it simply could not bring itself to do.
"What is it you require of me? Speak plainly,"
the Ice-type Ninetales asked.
"It is quite simple."
Drake gathered his thoughts and spoke earnestly:
"I hope you will relocate to our League territory and cooperate with us on various research projects—specifically regarding the mysteries of Z-Power, the biological principles behind Totem Pokémon, and so forth...
In exchange, our League will designate a specific zone for you—an area perfectly suited to your species' needs—and will regularly provide you with the very same Energy Cubes you sampled earlier."
"Furthermore," Drake said, pointing to the little red Vulpix and its icy sibling, "I would like these two little ones..."
"Vulpix's Big Sister," he addressed the Ninetales,
"As a testament to our cooperation, let them become partners to our League Trainers.
Our League possesses excellent Trainers who will assist them in their growth.
In the future, should we be the first to achieve breakthroughs in Mega Evolution research regarding your species, we will ensure that these two are the first to benefit from it.
Please do not misunderstand; we have no intention of tearing you away from your children. You may visit them at any time via Poké Ball transfer, and you can even use this device for video calls..."
"Very well."
Drake took out his mobile phone to demonstrate; they could visit one another as often as they pleased.
The Ice Ninetales gazed at her children, then looked back at Drake, pondering the matter for a long time.
Petalburg City—sunlight filtered through the leafy canopy of the city's tree-lined avenues, casting a shifting mosaic of light and shadow upon the ground.
The day after concluding his Gym Battle, Lionel arrived punctually before a modest two-story house situated beside the Petalburg Gym.
The residence was enveloped by lush, verdant foliage, and its courtyard was planted with an abundance of tropical flowers unique to the Hoenn region.
A wooden plaque affixed to the entrance bore the inscription "The Norman Family," exuding an air of warmth and domestic comfort.
Lionel had arrived bearing a selection of carefully chosen gifts:
A fruit basket prepared for Norman and Caroline, and a exquisitely packaged Treecko plushie—a gift intended specifically for Max.
Shortly after he rang the doorbell, the door swung open to reveal a small face framed by a pair of round-rimmed glasses.
It was none other than the young boy who had been cheering for Norman at the Gym the previous day—Norman's son, Max.
"Brother Lionel!"
Max recognized him; his eyes lit up, and he hurriedly pulled the door open to greet him:
"Dad said you were coming today!"
Smiling, Lionel handed over the gift he held in his hands—a Treecko plushie:
"You're Max, right? This is for you. Just a little gift; I hope you like it."
Max took the plushie, his eyes widening in rare roundness as he cried out in surprise:
"Wow! It's a Treecko!"
He hugged the plushie close to his chest and rubbed his cheek against it:
"Brother Lionel, how did you know that Treecko is my absolute favorite? I've always thought it was the coolest Pokémon ever!"
"I just took a guess—I didn't expect to actually get it right."
Lionel smiled and ruffled his hair.
"Brother Lionel, come on in!"
Max enthusiastically grabbed Lionel by the arm and pulled him inside, calling out as they walked:
"Dad! Mom! Brother Lionel is here!"
For Lionel—who had watched the Pokémon anime in his previous life—how could he not know that Max was fond of Treecko?
Lionel followed the little boy into the living room, taking a moment to look around. The interior decor was warm and cozy, with numerous photographs hanging on the walls:
There were photos of Norman challenging Gyms in his younger days, snapshots of May participating in Pokémon Contests, and a group photo featuring Max surrounded by a bunch of Pokémon, smiling with exceptional radiance.
Lionel handed the fruit basket he was carrying to Caroline, who had just emerged from the kitchen; she was wearing an apron and wore a gentle smile.
"Good afternoon. Sorry to intrude."
"Please, come in and sit down. Norman is out back in the greenhouse forest; he'll be back in just a moment."
Caroline accepted the fruit basket and smiled as she welcomed him:
"Max, why don't you pour Brother Lionel a glass of water?"
Max gave an affirmative shout and dashed off toward the kitchen. A moment later, he returned carrying a glass of juice, which he placed on the coffee table in front of Lionel. His eyes were fixed intently on the Poké Balls hanging at Lionel's waist.
"Brother Lionel, could you let your Pokémon out so I can take a look at them?"
"Your Pokémon are quite different from any I've seen before. I'd really like to see them up close—would that be alright?"
"Of course!"
Smiling, Lionel tossed the Poké Balls from his waist, releasing his Metagross, Milotic, and Larvesta in turn.
When Metagross first emerged, it seemed a bit hesitant; however, upon sensing the unfamiliar surroundings, it immediately scanned the area with heightened vigilance—its crimson eyes gleaming with a guarded intensity.
Milotic, meanwhile, glided gracefully into the open space of the living room. With a gentle sway of its tail fin, it manipulated the surrounding moisture, giving the room a thorough—albeit subtle—cleaning that left the entire space looking refreshed and revitalized.
Finally came Larvesta. The moment it appeared, it waddled straight over to the sofa, found a comfortable spot, and settled down with a contented, lazy sprawl.
"Is this the Shiny Metagross—just like Champion Steven's? It looks absolutely stunning up close! I remember it's a Steel-and-Psychic type!"
Adjusting his glasses, Max stood before Metagross and cautiously reached out a hand. Seeing that Metagross didn't flinch or pull away, he gently gave its metallic body a light tap.
"It's so hard! It looked incredibly cool yesterday when it battled against Dad's Slaking!"
Metagross seemed to grow a little bashful at the compliment; its metallic frame gave a slight twitch as it let out a low, rumbling purr.
"And Milotic—it's a Shiny one, too!"
Max scampered over to Milotic's side, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I've seen Master Wallace's Milotic before, but its colors were completely different from yours!"
"The colors of their tails are different, and look at the ribbons on their heads!
Their colors are different, too... but both Pokémon are equally beautiful. I love them so much!"
Milotic seemed a little flattered by the young boy Max's admiration; it gently nudged his cheek with its tail, eliciting a fit of giggles from him.
Finally, Max's gaze settled upon the Larvesta, and he whipped out his Pokédex to scan it:
"Huh?"
"The Pokédex doesn't have any data on what kind of Pokémon this is."
"It's called Larvesta. It's a dual Fire and Bug-type Pokémon. It's not native to our Hoenn region, but rather comes from the Unova region.
I estimate we'll have to wait a while—until our League and the Unova League officially form an League and the Pokédex receives an update—before its data will appear."
Lionel explained to Max.
"Larvesta?"
Max repeated the name, reaching out a finger to touch the Larvesta. However, he hesitated slightly; his hand hovered in mid-air as he wavered for a moment.
Seeing this, the Larvesta took the initiative and nudged its head right into Max's palm. Max's hand was enveloped in a soothing warmth, and he couldn't help but smile:
"It's so warm! Much warmer than May's Torchic was when it was little. It's a shame May went off to Johto; otherwise, I know she would have absolutely loved Larvesta if she saw it."
Seeing how outgoing Larvesta was, Max immediately began playing with it on the sofa.
While Max and Larvesta were playing, the sound of footsteps drifted in from outside the door.
Moments later, Norman—wearing a light-brown casual jacket—walked in. He had just returned from the greenhouse; there was still a bit of soil clinging to his cuffs, yet his face wore a gentle, warm smile.
The moment Max saw him, he immediately hopped down from the sofa, grabbed Larvesta, and ran over to Norman. Pointing at Larvesta as if showing off a precious treasure, he exclaimed:
"Look! This is Lionel's Larvesta! Its antennae can shoot fire!"
As he spoke, he gave Larvesta a playful wink.
Larvesta immediately caught on, letting out two cheerful little chirps: "Chirp! Chirp!"
The five tentacles encircling the Oil Bag instantly flared up with tiny flames; just as quickly, they dissolved into sparks that drifted away—as if putting on a little magic show.
"Oh? Impressive, little guy."
Norman smiled as he ruffled Max's hair, then turned his gaze toward Lionel, taking a seat on the sofa opposite him.
"Please excuse his behavior; this child is simply obsessed with Pokémon. Whenever he sees a new one, he just can't tear himself away."
His eyes then swept over Metagross, Milotic, and Larvesta, a flicker of admiration flashing within them.
"You've raised your Pokémon magnificently. Whether judging by their physical condition or the synergy they share with you, it's clear that you've put a great deal of heart and effort into caring for them."
Receiving such praise from Gym Leader Norman, Lionel felt a surge of warmth in his heart.
"You flatter me, Gym Leader. I still have many shortcomings and much to learn from you."
At that moment, Caroline walked over carrying a platter of sliced fruit, which she placed on the coffee table.
"Here, have some of this. These are mangoes grown in the greenhouse forest out in our backyard. They were just picked this morning and are incredibly sweet—when Max lived at home, these were his absolute favorite."
Lionel picked up a piece of mango and popped it into his mouth. The crisp, sweet juice burst upon his tongue, carrying with it a faint, refreshing fragrance.
"This tastes wonderful, Auntie. Fruit grown in a greenhouse really is something else."
"If you like it, have some more."
Caroline smiled and said:
"Speaking of which, I really wish May were home right now. She called back a while ago to say that she's been competing in the Grand Festival in Johto, and she's already secured two Ribbons.
She actually thinks very highly of you; she said that your performances in the Contests gave her a lot of fresh ideas, and she's especially eager to watch you compete live.
She also mentioned how wonderful it would be if she ever had the chance to compete alongside you."
Lionel gave a slight smile:
"Miss Caroline is flattering me far too much. When it comes to Contests, she is actually the one who paved the way for me—I'm merely following in her footsteps. I, too, am very much looking forward to the opportunity to share the stage and compete against her."
"You're being far too modest, Lionel."
Norman picked up a piece of mango and said in a serious tone:
"I've watched your performances in the Contests. Whether it was Milotic's mastery over the raindrops or Larvesta's transformation into a blazing sun, they were all incredibly creative concepts.
It's widely rumored out there that you are the most anticipated dark horse of this year's Grand Festival—a genius Coordinator with the potential to take the top spot right in your debut season!"