"Do you remember now?"
Lucas spoke softly.
Charizard hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Lance casually followed over and sat down beside Lucas.
Erika brought Lilligant and the others over to sit as well, quietly listening to the conversation between Lucas and Charizard.
Lucas spoke as if to himself: "I don't know what your rival said to you, and I don't know what you're thinking, but what I do know is that if you continue like this, you won't even need your rival—the opponents you've defeated will soon catch up to you, defeat you, and then look down on you just the same."
"What kind of strength do you consider to be truly powerful?"
"Do you know how to become even stronger?"
"Strength is never something a single person or Pokémon can achieve alone; it's about working together."
"A powerful Trainer will react quickly to different situations during a battle and issue commands to secure victory."
"And a powerful Pokémon can act according to the battle situation, but when the strength of both sides is roughly equal, only one method remains."
Lucas reached out and patted Charizard's big belly.
Unlike Dragonite's bouncy feel, Charizard's was a bit more muscular.
The texture was actually not bad!
Lucas remarked in his heart.
However, on the surface, he continued: "That method is for the Trainer and the Pokémon to believe in each other."
"They both trust each other and follow each other's lead. Even if they lose, they still believe they will become stronger and that they will definitely win next time."
"Think about yourself again. Mocked by your rival, you couldn't accept failure, couldn't bear it together with your Trainer, pushed all the blame onto her, and at the same time started to discriminate against the weak, showing no mercy when going all out against weak Pokémon."
At this point, Lucas laughed.
"So, Charizard, don't you understand yet?"
"Unable to face your own failure head-on, you are just a weakling who deceives himself."
Charizard fell into deep thought.
Lance couldn't help but think to himself.
As expected of someone who runs a Breeding House; he is better at handling Pokémon issues than I am.
On the other side, Erika had the same thought.
Lucas: "Have you forgotten that your past successes were built on the foundation of previous failures?"
"Where did the Charizard who refuses to lose go? Didn't you become stronger and stronger precisely because you didn't want to lose, and didn't want to disappoint or sadden your most beloved Trainer?"
"Or rather, Charizard, are you just trash?"
Lucas's tone suddenly became cold.
"Coward."
"Loser."
"A piece of trash who will be stepped on by his rival for a lifetime!"
Charizard let out a roar.
I am not!
Lucas held the small hand of Lilligant, who had raised her hand beside him.
"What do you have to prove it? Just a pathetic roar?"
Charizard's eyes bulged.
Lucas ignored it and continued to shout: "Don't you know what you should be doing most right now?"
"Do you really still think you're strong?"
"Do you really think you haven't caused harm to the person who loves you most?"
"What exactly are you so indignant about!"
"If you're not satisfied, then take this experience to heart and keep fighting until the day you defeat it. Only then can you come and tell me you're not trash."
"Instead of just standing here being angry and indignant on your own."
"Dragonite's strength isn't as great as yours, but in my eyes, it is more of a powerhouse than you are."
"Because it knows how to overcome difficulties with its Trainer and defeat the enemies that once hurt it, rather than pushing all the blame onto its Trainer and its partner!"
Lucas's sudden verbal lashing startled Erika, Jally, Loke, and Dragonite.
Even Lance was a bit surprised.
But then, the look in his eyes toward Lucas showed even more admiration.
For a situation like Charizard's, perhaps scolding it awake or beating it awake was much more effective than comforting it.
"It's okay, Charizard, it's okay. I'll always be with you. I'll work hard to get stronger and help you defeat your rival."
Jally hugged Charizard, crying as she spoke.
Seeing the struggle and hesitation on Charizard's face, Lucas said: "Take a good look at how much your Trainer loves you, and whether you can return that same love to her."
After Lucas finished speaking, he stood up and led the group and the Pokémon away.
After they left, it slowly raised its hand.
Then it pulled Jally into its embrace.
"Roar."
I'm sorry.
Jally was stunned in its arms, then wept with joy.
"It's okay, Charizard. We are the best family. I will always stay with you, we'll get stronger together, and then we'll defeat them."
"Roar."
We will; we will become stronger.
"Really, Lucas, they really have made up."
In a corner in the distance, several sneaky figures were huddled together, watching Jally and Charizard's direction.
Loke shouted happily.
Lucas pressed down on Loke's shoulder and looked up.
He saw Charizard and Jally embracing tightly.
He nodded with gratification.
"But Lucas, how did you know they would definitely reconcile?"
Hearing Loke's question, Lucas smiled and said: "Charizard is a very competitive child. After being criticized, its pride wouldn't let it admit its mistake in front of everyone. That's why I led you all away, to let them talk things through properly."
Erika nodded, "Lucas really is a very gentle person."
Lucas grinned.
Beside him, Lilligant pulled on Lucas's hand.
"Lilli~"
I would never make Lucas sad.
Feeling the connection from his heart, Lucas was overjoyed.
As expected, raising a daughter is the way to go.
Unlike a certain little fatty.
Lucas glanced over.
Gengar and Dragonite were leaning against the wall, peeping at the situation over by Charizard.
How could gossip-loving Pokémon refuse such a thing?
They were even eating snacks.
Sensing Lucas's gaze, Gengar turned back to look at him.
"Gen Gengar"
What are you looking at?
Lucas shook his head.
"Nothing. Tonight, let Lance treat us to something delicious. We'll eat whatever is most expensive."
Lance: ----
"I strongly suspect you only came over just to make me treat you."
Lance muttered.
"How did you know?!"
Lucas feigned shock, speaking with surprise.
"You guy..."
Lance gave Lucas a playful punch.
The group burst into laughter.
Jally brought Charizard before everyone.
"Thank you, Master Erika, Mr. Lance, and Lucas."
Jally bowed in gratitude.
Lucas waved his hand and went to Charizard's side.
Charizard turned its head away tsundere-style.
Lucas went right for it.
He patted its big belly.
It was warm and had a muscular feel.
"I'll be waiting for the good news of you defeating it. When that time comes, come to the Breeding House and I'll make you something delicious that will definitely leave you wanting more."
Charizard's face turned red.
"Roar."
Tha—Thank you.
Heh, what a prideful boy.
۞۞۞۞
p-atreon.com/PokeFicLord
20+ Chapters in p-atreon.com.
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)