"Yes, this will be our second home from now on!" Lucas said to Munchlax, Diancie, and Komala.
"Munch~ Munch~" Yay~ Yay~
Munchlax cheered, spreading its arms and running around the living room in excitement before diving onto the couch.
The couch was very bouncy, and Munchlax giggled as it bounced up and down on it.
"Hey, Munchlax," Lucas cautioned, "if you keep bouncing like that, you might break the couch."
Hearing this, Munchlax quickly slid off the couch and patted it gently, realizing that if it got broken, they'd have to spend money on a new one.
It then scampered over to Lucas, taking his hand with a sweet look on its face.
Amused, Lucas said, "Don't worry, as long as you don't go overboard, the couch should be fine."
Munchlax sighed in relief and even patted its own chest, looking so adorable that Lucas couldn't resist pinching its chubby cheeks.
"Come on, let's go check out the first and second floors," Lucas suggested.
The family of four headed downstairs.
Once they reached the second floor, Lucas turned to Diancie and Munchlax and said, "Diancie, Munchlax, you two keep exploring. I'm going to head to the Nebel River to pick up Fletchling's dad. She's still waiting for me there."
"Munch~ Munchlax~"
Munchlax began gesturing animatedly to Lucas, and with Diancie's help as translator, Lucas understood that Fletchling, along with Espurr and Flabébé, had all evolved that morning. Now, Fletchling's dad should be called Fletchinder's dad.
Surprised, Lucas exclaimed, "Really? What a coincidence!"
"Munch~ Lax~ Munchlax~" They must have evolved because of the breakfast I made for them—I'm amazing!
Munchlax lifted its head high with pride, nose in the air.
"Yes, yes, you're amazing," Lucas said, patting its head in resignation. "Look at how pleased you are."
"Munch~" Hehe~
Munchlax chuckled sheepishly.
"You all keep exploring; I need to go, or Fletchinder's dad will get worried." With that, Lucas held Komala and left the shop.
Arriving at the Nebel River outside the city, Lucas called out to the nearby woods, "Talonflame!"
A strong gust of wind stirred as Talonflame flew out of the trees.
"Hungry?" Lucas asked, taking out the lunch he'd prepared for her. "Here, enjoy!"
"Talon~ Flame~" Thank you!
Talonflame chirped gratefully as she began to eat.
"Oh, by the way, I have some good news," Lucas continued, "your little Fletchling has evolved into a Fletchinder!"
Talonflame looked up in surprise and delight.
"It evolved just this morning, so hurry up and eat! Once you're done, we'll head back together, and you'll get to see your evolved Fletchinder at home," Lucas said.
Talonflame nodded and quickly finished off a big bowl of steamed buns and dumplings.
After finishing, Talonflame was about to let Diancie ride on her back to fly back to the Nebel Plateau when Lucas said, "Follow me; I have a faster way to get you home."
Although Talonflame was puzzled, she obediently flapped her wings and followed Lucas.
Once they entered the city, Talonflame and Lucas boarded the cable car. Talonflame had never ridden anything like it, so Lucas suggested she try it for the experience.
She crouched nervously by Lucas's feet, looking around, but soon became captivated by the bustling Azoth Kingdom.
There are so many people here!
The lively Azoth Kingdom and the peaceful Nebel Plateau each had their own beauty.
As Talonflame watched almost everyone get along harmoniously with their Pokemon, she suddenly felt that humans might not be as scary as everyone said.
Seeing this, Lucas gently stroked her back and said, "There are bad people in this world, but there are more good people, so don't be so afraid to interact with humans.
"Of course, if you ever go out alone and meet a stranger, it's still good to stay cautious."
Talonflame nodded.
After getting off the cable car, Lucas and the others needed to walk a short distance back to the shop.
Wanting to get back quickly, Lucas decided to take a shortcut and led Komala and Talonflame down a quiet street.
As they walked, a shadow suddenly darted into Lucas's own shadow at such speed that he couldn't make out what it was.
Before Lucas could investigate, he heard hurried footsteps. Soon, a man and a woman appeared in front of them.
The man was tall with a fierce face, accompanied by a Houndoom.
The woman, tall and sporting a cool expression, had short red hair that looked very rebellious, and a Banette by her side.
"Prince Lucas? What brings you here?" the man asked in surprise upon seeing Lucas.
"And you are... that one next to Alva... Levi?" Lucas tried to recall the man's name.
"Yes, I'm glad you remember me, Your Highness," Levi replied.
"So, this is Prince Lucas?" the woman beside Levi looked Lucas up and down.
"And you are?"
The woman's gaze was impolite, causing Lucas's brow to crease slightly.
Smiling, she introduced herself, "My name is Cherie. I work with Levi. It's an honor to meet you here, Your Highness."
"Prince Lucas, did you happen to see a Haunter pass by just now?" Levi asked.
Lucas shook his head, "No, did you lose a Haunter? What happened?"
Levi explained, "We're trying to catch it for Lord Alva, but it's quite fast."
Lucas asked, puzzled, "Lord Alva needs others to help him catch Pokemon?"
Levi and Cherie looked slightly embarrassed.
Lucas, with a meaningful look, said to them, "It's best to catch your own Pokemon yourself."
Levi replied, "I'll pass your words on to Lord Alva."
"Alright then, I'll be on my way. See you." With that, Lucas, Komala, and Talonflame continued on their way.
"Goodbye, Your Highness."
"Goodbye, Your Highness."
Levi and Cherie watched Lucas's figure as he walked away.
Soon, Lucas and his group arrived at the shop. Talonflame looked at the small building in front of them, puzzled. Lucas smiled and explained, "This will be our new home in Azoth Kingdom!"
Talonflame immediately grew anxious.
"Talon~ Talon~ Flame~" Lucas, are you moving away from the Nebel Plateau?
Lucas quickly reassured her, "Calm down! This place will just be for business; my real home is still the Nebel Plateau. That will never change."
Even without understanding Pokemon language, Lucas knew what Talonflame wanted to say.
"Talon~ Flame~" That's a relief!
Hearing this, Talonflame sighed in relief. They were all used to Lucas being on the Nebel Plateau.
"Come on, I'll take you inside for a look. Later, we'll be heading back to the Nebel Plateau from here." Lucas pushed open the shop door as he spoke.
"Munch~ Lax!"
Seeing Lucas enter, Diancie and Munchlax, who were chatting in the hall, leapt off their chairs with excitement.
"Lucas, you're back!" Diancie exclaimed.
"Flame~" Hello everyone!
Talonflame waved her wings in greeting to the two Pokemon.
"We're back." Lucas also greeted them with a smile.
Then Lucas glanced at his shadow and stomped lightly, saying, "It's safe here; you can come out now."
Diancie and the others looked at Lucas's shadow in surprise.
After a few seconds, a Haunter slowly floated out of Lucas's shadow, though it seemed a bit wary as it eyed Lucas's group.
In a gentle tone, Lucas said to Haunter, "Don't be afraid. We won't hurt you."
Haunter stared at Lucas for a while, then seemed to remember something, and its gaze softened slightly.
However, it still didn't approach Lucas, choosing instead to drift slowly toward the wall, vanishing into it in the blink of an eye.
"Wait!" Lucas called out, taking out a bag of leftover steamed buns and dumplings from Talonflame and holding it out. "This is for you."
After a while, an arm reached out from the wall, quickly grabbed the food, and disappeared just as quickly.
"Well, have you all finished the tour? If so, let's head home," Lucas said to Diancie and the others.
"We're done; let's go," Diancie replied.
With that, Lucas led the Pokemon through a space tunnel back to the Nebel Plateau.
Back home, after seeing Talonflame off, the family of four sat around the table, and Lucas said, "Shouldn't we come up with a name for the new shop?"
"Yes, we should," Diancie nodded. "What should we call it?"
"Lax~"
Munchlax eagerly raised its hand.
Lucas chuckled, "Alright, Munchlax, let's hear your suggestion."
"Munchlax~"
Munchlax cleared its throat dramatically, putting on a serious expression. Lucas and Diancie exchanged glances and stifled their laughter.
Munchlax was everyone's little joy-bringer.
"Munch~ Lax~ Munchlax~" How about we call it 'Lucas, Diancie, Komala, and Munchlax's Restaurant'?
Lucas: ...
Diancie: ...
Komala: zzZZ
"Munchlax, that name is way too long. No one will remember it," Lucas said.
"Munch~"
Munchlax sat back down, disappointed.
However, as soon as it sat down, it sprang up again like a jack-in-the-box, looking at Lucas with sparkling eyes.
"Munch~" Master!
Lucas asked, puzzled, "Munchlax, did you come up with another good name?"
"Munch~"
Munchlax grinned proudly.
"Please share, Munchlax," Lucas said, holding back a laugh.
"Munch~ Lax~ Munchlax~" Let's call it 'Lucas's Cozy Nest'!
Lucas couldn't help but laugh, thinking it sounded nothing like a restaurant name.
At this moment, Diancie suggested, "How about 'Munchlax's Home'?"
"That name isn't bad," Lucas mused, deep in thought.
Munchlax froze for a second, then shyly covered its face.
"Munch... Lax..." You... you're keeping... my name?
"Don't like it?" Lucas asked with a smile.
"Munch... Lax..." Like it... like it.
Munchlax became even more bashful.
Lucas pinched its cheek, "You know how to be shy, huh?" He continued, "Since we've named the shop in Azoth Kingdom, let's name the restaurant here at home too." After a few seconds, he added, "Let's call it 'Diancie's Cafeteria.' What do you think?"
"Using my name?" Diancie, feeling both happy and shy, tried to maintain a composed expression befitting a royal lady.
"Yes, one for you and one for Munchlax," Lucas said. "Any objections? If not, the names are decided—'Munchlax's Home' in Azoth Kingdom, and 'Diancie's Cafeteria' here at home."
Diancie and Munchlax exchanged a glance and shook their heads, indicating they had no objections.
"Alright, then I'll have two signs made for each shop."
Just as Lucas finished deciding on the names, Gardevoir and Gallade returned, levitating several large barrels of Gogoat milk with their psychic powers.
After they set the milk down and came out of the kitchen, Lucas said, "Thank you for all your hard work."
"Garde~ Voir~"
"Gall~ Ade~"
Gardevoir and Gallade waved their hands, showing they didn't mind at all.
The work for the day was over, and as the couple was about to head home with their pay, Lucas called out to them.
"Gardevoir, Gallade, I have a gift for you both."
He had mentioned before that he'd reward the hardworking couple with a bonus.
Gardevoir and Gallade turned around, looking curious.
A gift?
Lucas took out the present he'd bought for them in Azoth Kingdom—a glass cylinder about as thick as an adult's arm, filled with green, viscous liquid.
The couple looked at Lucas in confusion, and Lucas explained, "This is a special nutrient solution. If you apply it to the surface of your Pokemon egg daily, the baby inside will absorb it and be healthier when it hatches."
The couple's eyes lit up with excitement, but, not wanting to accept something without earning it, they hesitated to take it.
Lucas pressed the glass cylinder into Gardevoir's hands, saying, "Take it. If you really want to thank me, then keep working hard."
Gardevoir and Gallade's eyes sparkled with gratitude.
Lucas smiled, "Hurry home and use it for your baby. I hope it hatches strong and healthy."
"Garde~ Voir~"
"Gall~ Ade~"
Gardevoir and Gallade, delighted, went home with hearts full of joy.
After they left, Lucas called Kimia and asked her to help order two signs, carefully describing his requirements for them.
That afternoon, Lucas and his family had nothing to do, so they pulled out some chairs and sat on the front porch, enjoying the sun and watching a show.
In the Pokemon world, tablet computers could project images in the air like a TV, making it a comfortable viewing experience.
Lucas, Diancie, and Munchlax watched the show and discussed the plot together.
Meanwhile, Meowstic appeared at Lucas's front door, hiding behind a flowerbed, hesitating about whether to approach.