Poliwag looked curiously at the mark on Lucas's arm.
"Poli-Poli-Wag?" (Did Charcadet do that?)
Lucas couldn't understand Poliwag's speech, but he guessed and sighed, "Yeah, this was left from winning over Charcadet. It's a mark of our story. Back then, I couldn't afford high-end burn medicine, so this scar stayed."
"But don't worry about Growlithe's burn leaving a mark on your back; now I can give you all better care."
"Poli-Poli!"
Poliwag wanted to say its worries weren't that superficial, but Lucas just shook the little medicine bottle, patted its head, and said, "Now, quiz time! Do you know how much this burn spray costs?"
"Poli?"
Poliwag tilted its head. How could it know such things?
"It's only 600 League coins. It's twice as effective as regular burn medicine, but only twice the price." Lucas grinned. "And you four Poliwags together don't even eat 100 coins' worth of food per day. Even if you all ate for free and did nothing, I'd still have more than enough to support you."
Of course, that was just for basic nutrition. If training began, nutrition costs would go up.
Poliwag looked dazed. It realized Lucas had seen through all its worries.
"Of course, I brought you here because I need your abilities. Even if your help is minor now, I'm focused on long-term development."
Seeing Poliwag's reaction, Lucas knew he'd guessed right and said softly, "Don't be so anxious. I told you about Ceruledge's past because I want you to know I won't abandon my Pokémon for any random reason."
"Look, even that big eater Moltres who freeloads food and lodging—I never chased it away."
Lucas pointed at Moltres, who was napping like a roast chicken and put Growlithe on its belly.
Poliwag: "…"
The conversation got sharp, but a sense of relief washed over Poliwag. Its worries seemed ridiculous now.
That's right—just like the Elder Eldegoss said, this place is home.
…
That night.
To celebrate the farm's first real profit, Lucas brought back lots of food with Dragonite—meat and vegetables.
With Ceruledge in charge, they happily made skewers all afternoon.
Poliwag's doubts were soothed. It volunteered to help, but with no hands, it could only gather firewood with Luxray and the others.
When all the skewers were prepared, Ceruledge brought out its ancestral grill, started the fire with its flaming swords, and expertly controlled the barbecue.
Lucas finally took a break and played on the ground with the Pokémon.
When he noticed Ceruledge, he remembered something, quickly went to the house, and found a bright yellow apron.
Though the apron was battle-worn, it was folded neatly, showing it was treasured.
Lucas smiled helplessly, brought the apron to Ceruledge, and half-jokingly said, "See? Oil splattered on your armor again. It's a pain to clean!"
Ceruledge awkwardly paused, its purple eyes a bit guilty.
Lucas carefully wiped the new oil stains off Ceruledge's armor.
He put the yellow duck apron on Ceruledge. The contrast between a cool swordsman and a cute apron was hilarious.
He'd missed the last few barbecues, so Ceruledge's old habits had returned.
He'd given the apron to Ceruledge when it evolved, and Ceruledge would rather get its armor dirty than wear it. The stains on it were from when Lucas forced it to wear it.
Lucas thought aprons were meant to be worn; after all, in the decades to come, Ceruledge would get plenty more aprons from him.
Too much care would go against his original intention in giving it.
"Ceru…"
Ceruledge, unable to refuse, reluctantly put on the apron and continued grilling—much more carefully this time.
Ceruledge always regretted its past, even the burn scar on Lucas's arm was its doing.
But even so, Lucas accepted this hedgehog full of spikes.
Ceruledge learned to cook to make up for its mistakes. Its arms weren't great for fine work, but grilling was doable.
Lucas didn't know all this; he just felt emotional seeing Ceruledge so focused.
That once prickly Charcadet had grown up. Still quiet and reserved, but now fully part of the group. That was enough for Lucas.
Poliwag, back from gathering wood, saw the exchange and its eyes sparkled thoughtfully.
Late at night, after eating and cleaning up, everyone went to their dens to rest.
Ceruledge sat down carefully, holding the apron that was, inevitably, a bit oily again, and sighed.
Looks like he'd have to ask Swampert to carefully wash it again.
Last time, they were so nervous about not damaging the apron that even battling the Elite Four hadn't made them sweat so much.
At that moment, Poliwag, who should have gone back to Thunder Lake, suddenly appeared, greeting Ceruledge cheerfully: "Poli-Poli!"