In the middle of the night, Lucas and his Gengar took an ambulance back to the Pokémon Center, asking Joy to treat his Pokémon.
He watched Gengar grin, float through the wall, and appear by his side.
"Gen gar—"
Looking at the recovered Gengar, Lucas wearily pulled at its mouth, making it grin wider.
"I really don't know how your small body managed to withstand two Flamethrowers from Salamence."
After Lucas finished speaking, he walked over to Dash and the others, fist-bumping Dash and Bolt, then looked at Vespiquen and Staravia.
"Thank you all so much today. I'll make you something delicious later, as much as you can eat."
Vespiquen haughtily turned its head away, while Staravia nodded.
Gengar looked at Lucas's back and grinned.
"Gen gar—"
Because I want to protect Lucas.
"Go back and rest. Reese and I will handle the rest."
Joy smiled warmly at Lucas and then spoke.
"Okay, thank you for your hard work, Sister Linnea. Good night, and Blissey too."
"Good night."
"Happy—"
...Breeding House.
Shauna suddenly opened her eyes, looking at the Petilil surrounding her, her eyes filled with worry.
Then she gently lifted the covers, stepped over Chingling, and climbed out of bed.
The movement woke Chingling and Petilil.
"Ling Ling~"
"Shh!"
Shauna put her index finger to her lips, signaling them to be quiet.
Then she quietly opened the door; Dash was not standing outside.
"Dash?"
She softly called out, but there was no response.
A hint of fear flashed in her eyes. She returned to the room, looked at the slightly brightening sky outside the window, then at the Pokémon on the bed, and gritted her teeth.
She quietly walked out of the room, her lips trembling, as if she had returned to her previous state.
It wasn't until she heard faint sounds from downstairs—the clatter of pots and pans.
She recognized the sound, and tears instantly filled her eyes. Barefoot, she rushed downstairs.
Upon reaching the stair landing, she saw a young man setting out breakfast, with Gengar helping him arrange the plates.
The young man sensed something, looked up, saw Shauna on the stair landing, and gave her a gentle smile.
"Good morning, Shauna."
His voice was hoarse but full of a sense of security.
Seeing his bloodshot eyes, Shauna rushed towards him.
She threw herself directly into his arms.
"Wah!!!"
Her cries echoed throughout the Breeding House.
Yesterday, when she pulled back the curtains, she saw a huge fire, so large it had turned the sky red. She didn't dare to tell Petilil and the others, so she could only close the curtains.
Holding Shauna tightly in his arms, he quietly listened to her cries, his hand continuously stroking her small head.
"I'm sorry for making you worry and be scared, but it's okay now. Gengar, Dash, and I have already resolved it."
Hearing Shauna's cries, all the Pokémon in the room ran out. Then, seeing Lucas smiling at them, they all happily ran down and gathered around.
Looking at the scene before him, Lucas's heart melted.
Shauna looked up, wiping the tears from her face with her arm, her nose constantly sniffing.
"Go wash up quickly, then I'll tie your hair, and you can have breakfast."
Shauna nodded understandingly, then ran back to her room.
Not long after, Shauna came downstairs wearing a beautiful little dress.
Lucas smiled, picked her up, and sat her on his lap, then styled her hair into a bun.
Thankfully, before he transmigrated, he had acted as 'De Hua' for his sister for many years, so he was quite adept at tying hair and taking care of children. Therefore, a simple hairstyle was easy for him.
Looking at Shauna with two buns, Lucas nodded, very satisfied with his handiwork.
Does this count as raising a daughter?
Lucas thought silently to himself.
"Everyone, come eat breakfast!"
"Gen gar—"
"Ni Ke." × 3
"La Ji~"
"Mime Jr.~"
"Xiu~"
Vespiquen had returned to its hive; he would call it for dinner. Staravia had flown off somewhere again.
After Lucas finished breakfast, he turned around to find Gengar squinting and 'fishing,' poking its own cheek with the spoon it held.
Dash and Bolt had already finished eating and were asleep in chairs. Listening to their snores, Lucas took the spoon from Gengar's hand.
"Gen gar..."
Gengar opened its eyes, looked at its hands, and wondered where its spoon was.
Lucas flicked its forehead, then fed it the remaining breakfast spoon by spoon. After it finished, he patted its head, signaling it to go back to its room to sleep.
Gengar, chewing its breakfast, nodded, then slowly floated up, passing through the ceiling to return to its room to sleep.
"Uncle, you should go to sleep too. Mime Jr. and I can help with the dishes."
Lucas looked at Shauna, about to say it wasn't necessary, but then he saw her bright, watery eyes fixed on him. He smiled and then said:
"Then I'll leave it to you two."
Shauna nodded.
Lucas continued: "The Breeding House won't open today. You, Chingling, and Petilil can watch some TV, maybe the League Conference, for a while. When I wake up, I'll make you a sumptuous dinner. Dash, help me take good care of them."
"Okay!"
"Ni Ke."
The crisp voices reached Lucas's ears.
Lucas nodded, then turned and walked towards the stairs, returning to his room and falling asleep immediately.
Shauna, meanwhile, brought over a small stool for herself and began washing dishes with Mime Jr. and the others.
Lunch was made by Shauna and Mime Jr. After they finished eating, they sat in chairs, Shauna holding Petilil in her arms, Chingling perched on her head, eating the cat ear-shaped snacks Lucas had stored yesterday, and intently watching the League Conference broadcast on TV.
Outside, a motorcycle started, then its engine died.
Shauna, with Chingling on her head and Petilil in her arms, ran to open the door.
As soon as she opened it, she saw Jenny, dressed in uniform, standing at the doorway.
"Sister Reese, you're here."
"Little Shauna, good afternoon! And everyone at the Breeding House."
Jenny followed Shauna inside, a large Arcanine trailing behind her. Not seeing Lucas, she asked:
"Where's Lucas?"
"Uncle is still sleeping upstairs. Should I go wake him?"
"No, let him sleep. He must have been exhausted yesterday."
Jenny waved her hand, sat on an empty chair, and casually picked up a Vulpix whose tail already had clear branches, placing it on her lap. She looked at the cat ear-shaped snacks on the plate, curiously picked one up, and popped it into her mouth.
It tastes pretty good, actually.
Jenny's eyes lit up.
"Sister Reese, is that a Growlithe?"
Shauna stretched out a small hand and stroked Arcanine's head, asking doubtfully.
"Yes, it evolved."
"Wow, it's so big and handsome!"
Shauna exclaimed.
"Awoo!"
Arcanine proudly lifted its head and let out an "Awoo!"
"Shh!"
Shauna quickly shushed it, "Don't wake Uncle."
"Awoo~"
Arcanine swallowed the rest of its howl, lowering its head and whimpering.
Jenny watched from the side, looking amused.
"Sister Reese, have you eaten?"
Shauna turned and asked Jenny.
After seeing Jenny shake her head, Shauna happily said: "Then I'll get you some food. Mime Jr. taught me how to make lunch today. You should try it and see if it's good."
"You and Mime Jr. made it? Then I definitely have to try it."
"Then please wait a moment. Help me hold Petilil and Chingling. Let's go, Mime Jr."
Shauna handed Petilil and Chingling to Jenny, then ran towards the kitchen with Mime Jr.
"Slow down."
Jenny called out.
"It's okay."
Shauna's voice came from the kitchen.
Jenny looked at Chingling, Petilil, and Vulpix in her arms.
The heavy love made her feel a little toothache.
Fortunately, Chingling and Vulpix ran off to play nearby, so she only needed to hold Petilil.
....
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