"Okay. Let's come back down to Earth. This is a potion."
Lucas ogled the simple purple spray bottle sitting in her hands.
"Lucas, this is your best friend in the whole world as a trainer. Never go anywhere without it. I'll show you how to use it later," she said, dropping it into the blue basket hanging on her arm like a handbag.
"What about this one? 'For super-effective healing.' That sounds way stronger. Why don't we just buy this one?" Lucas pulled a beautiful cream-coloured bottle that looked like chiseled marble, filled with a bright peridot fluid.
So... deluxe.
But Dawn merely pointed at the laminated tag sitting on the shelf as she casually strolled away.
Full-restore: 3000p.
Ouch.
Lucas grit his teeth and followed behind her.
"This is your other best friend."
Lucas ogled a small dark green can sitting in Dawn's hand. It had a little Pokeball printed on it. "A classic repel. When you're tired of being jumpscared by random nonsense in the grass, two quick sprays on your body, and voilà! Tu es libre!"
"What?" Lucas's face twisted in confusion.
"Sorry, that was my inner Fantina. Just apply this to avoid harassment from angry Pokémon while you trespass through their territory without a warrant."
In no time flat, the basket was full of a rainbow party of items. All for... him.
It was heavy.
All the sprays and cans.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
No wonder Dawn handed him the basket midway through their spree. Regardless, they reached the till after about twenty minutes of hardcore mentoring, where Dawn explained that he was too broke to buy any other type of potions.
"Would you like a plastic bag?" the lady behind the till asked Lucas with a sweet smile.
"No thanks, he'll just carry it in his bag," Dawn said. "Besides, plastic bags are for losers. Right, Lucas?"
"Definitely. You'd rather use a reusable bag." Lucas nodded as they walked toward the door, his bag now holding extra weight.
"Mission complete," Dawn said, letting out a light sigh and retracing her lips with more gloss. "That should last you about a week."
Lucas smiled. "Thanks, Dawn... I—"
"Excuse me, Lucas Gray?"
Both Dawn's and Lucas's heads snapped in the direction of a jolly yet professional voice.
It was a man. He wore a straight, clean green suit with black streaks and shiny golden buttons. Black gloves covered his hands, spotless as if he wanted to leave no mark of his presence on whatever he touched.
"Y-yes?" Lucas scraped the words out of his mouth. He hadn't stolen anything! He swore! His eyes squinted, trying to recognize the man, but the man's cap fit so perfectly that it almost completely covered his eyes.
"Good evening. I've been assigned to deliver a very special package to you," the man said, holding out a polished black parcel like a flawless onyx gem.
Lucas’s head slowly turned to Dawn, whose eyes were feasting on the parcel. "Wow... that looks so beautiful, Lucas," she said.
Beautiful, yes. But...
"From who?" Lucas asked, staring at the man's half-covered face.
"I'm sorry, but the sender would like to remain anonymous. They said it was absolutely imperative that you received it," the man explained.
Well, that didn’t help anyone with anything. And now a funny feeling stirred in Lucas's heart, until he felt a nudge on his shoulder.
"Are you gonna take it or…? I hate to constantly nag you, Lucas, but we kinda have things to do..." Dawn said, her head tilted toward the door.
...
"I mean... it's a free gift. Thank you, sir." Lucas gently took the black parcel from the man's hands, then followed Dawn, who was already out the door.
"Lucas."
The boy froze upon hearing the man's silent voice echo in his ears.
"It's for later."