"I’m gonna get’cha, son!" Volcan exclaimed, his voice full of playful determination as he chased Ignus through the yard.

The Rockruff zigzagged to keep out of his father’s reach, happily panting and yipping every time Volcan missed him. With a quick twist of his body, Volcan leaped into the air, aiming to cut off Ignus' escape. “AHA!” he shouted, extending his hands to grab the young pup.

But Ignus, quick and clever, banked right at the last second, just as Volcan made his move. His father’s outstretched hands grabbed nothing but air.

Volcan stumbled, nearly falling face-first into the grass, but managed to catch himself with his hands. "Clever boy!" he called out, chuckling as he quickly regained his footing. "You're not making this easy, huh?"

“Gonna have to be more clever than that, Dad!” Ignus barked joyfully, taking off again as Volcan got back to his feet and resumed the chase.

At the door to the house, Luke stood, a proud smile on his face as he watched his husband and son play. His heart swelled with pride, especially when Ignus outmaneuvered Volcan with such skill. Luke glanced back inside, his smile faltering for a moment as the sound of a pot lid rattled from the kitchen. He quickly turned, spotting the pot of water boiling on the stove.

"Alright, you two!" Luke called out, his voice carrying across the yard. "Time to settle down—breakfast is almost ready!"

Ignus’ ears perked up at the mention of breakfast. He stopped mid-sprint, his attention suddenly fixed on the house, leaving him wide open for capture.

Volcan didn’t miss a beat. "Ha!" he shouted as his hands closed around Ignus' sides, lifting the squirming pup into the air. "Got’cha!"

"Heeey!" Ignus yelped in surprise, wriggling in Volcan’s grasp, but he couldn't escape the grip of his father. "No fair! I wasn’t ready!"

Volcan chuckled, bringing the Rockruff close to nuzzle the top of his head. "Gotta learn to tune out distractions, son," he said with a grin. "Even if it’s your papa’s cooking."

"But it’s so good!" Ignus whined, his tail wagging with excitement. "Just hearing ‘breakfast’ could make anyone stop! Just ask Caulin or anyone else!"

Volcan chuckled again and set Ignus back down, ruffling the pup’s fur. "I know," he said. "So, what do you say we go dig in?"

"Heck yea!" Ignus barked, his enthusiasm bubbling over. With a burst of energy, he bolted toward the house. "Race you there, Dad!" he called back over his shoulder as he ran.

Volcan grinned and took off after Ignus, sprinting toward the house. He didn’t push himself too hard, allowing Ignus to reach the door first so they could crown him the winner. As they entered, Volcan waved to Luke, who was busy in the kitchen.

"Hey, love," he called, his voice warm.

“Good morning, you two rascals,” Luke replied with a chuckle, turning from the stove. “I hope you two worked up an appetite with all that early morning play, because I’ve prepared quite the feast for breakfast today.” He lifted the pot off the stove, steam rising from the freshly boiled water.

"I’m so hungry, I could eat a whole Bibarel in one sitting!" Ignus exclaimed, licking his lips as the tantalizing smells of food filled the air.

Luke laughed. "Glad to hear it." He turned to Volcan. “Honey, could you set the bowls on the table for me?”

“On it,” Volcan replied, heading into the kitchen. He stole a quick kiss from Luke’s cheek before moving to the sink to wash his hands.

Once his hands were clean, Volcan retrieved three bowls from the cupboard and set them neatly on the table—one for each of them. Meanwhile, Luke ladled oatmeal into the bowls, setting the first course before quickly returning to the stove to plate the next dishes.

"Since today is your cheat day," Luke said with a teasing smile, “I figured I’d spoil you a little.” He set Volcan’s plate down first, a hearty serving of steak and eggs with hash browns on the side.

Volcan practically sang with joy. “Oh, best part of every week,” he said as rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Luke leaned down to kiss him quickly. “Just remember, you only get one of these a week.” He winked before serving Ignus his share—bacon and eggs with a side of greens—and sat down with his own plate.

“Alright, everyone. Dig-!” Luke called, only to be interrupted by the sound of Ignus diving into his food.

The Rockruff tore into his bacon with such enthusiasm that bits of food flew everywhere. He growled in delight, shaking his head as he gnawed on his meal, and soon the table was a mess of greens and crumbs.

“…in.” Luke finished, his voice a mix of mild amusement and disbelief.

“Ignus!” Volcan scolded, his tone sharp. “That’s not how we eat at the table!”

For a moment, Ignus froze, eyes darting between his parents. His gaze dropped to the mess he had made, and he slunk back into his seat, ears lowered in embarrassment. “Uh oh…” he whimpered, his tail tucked between his legs. “I-I’m sorry, Dad. I don’t know what came over me just then…”

Luke shook his head with a small smile. “Wow, you must’ve really worked up an appetite.” He stood and gently scooped the scattered greens back onto Ignus’ plate, his voice firm but kind. “Your father’s right though. That’s not how we eat at the table. You know better than that.”

“I know, Papa,” Ignus whimpered, lowering his head. “I… I really don’t know what happened. The food just looked so good. I couldn’t wait.”

Volcan’s expression softened. He reached over to rub Ignus’ back, his voice gentle now. “It’s alright, son. Just don’t do it again, okay?”

Ignus nodded, a bit of shame still visible in his eyes, but the tension eased. He licked Volcan’s hand as he pulled it away, then slowly resumed eating—this time much more calmly and politely.

“So, with that out of the way,” Luke said, taking a bite of his breakfast. “Are you two all packed and ready to head out today?”

“I’m ready when you two are,” Volcan replied with a smile, chewing a mouthful of hashbrowns before swallowing. “Which way are we going first?”

“I thought we’d start at Hadleigh and go from there,” Luke answered. “That was the original plan, after all.”

“Hadleigh… That’s the big city I saw from Auntie’s flying ship a while back, right?” Ignus asked, letting out a small burp before quickly excusing himself.

“That’s right, son,” Luke confirmed, smiling at his son’s enthusiasm. “It’s a trip I’ve been looking forward to since the day your father and I got married. I thought now would be the perfect time to finally take you there.”

“Made even better by the fact that we have some close friends down there,” Volcan added, with a thoughtful nod. “We’ll probably stay with them while we’re in the city. Remember Neilla? The Lopunny who came back with us from the west?”

Ignus’ ears perked up. “Uh-huh! That really nice Lopunny lady, right?” He giggled softly. “I heard she once had a crush on you, Papa.”

Luke chuckled, shaking his head. “Now that was just a rumour,” he said, his voice light. “Don’t get me wrong, Neilla’s a wonderful woman; I’d have certainly considered dating her if I’d met her before your father.” He glanced at Volcan with a teasing grin. “No offense, love.”

“None taken, Luke,” Volcan replied, his smile softening. “I’d probably have felt the same way. Like you said, Neilla’s a fine woman. Beautiful, brave, and easily as tough as either of us.”

“True that,” Luke agreed, his voice full of admiration. He paused, his expression thoughtful. “It’ll be good to see her and her team again. I wonder what they’ve been up to all winter.”

“We’ll be sure to ask when we get there,” Volcan said with a smile.

The trio were just finishing their breakfast, clearing the table of dishes when there was a soft knock at the door. Ignus perked up, his ears twitching as he darted his eyes toward the sound.

“Who could that be?” Volcan wondered aloud, wiping his mouth with a napkin. He stood from the table and made his way to the door.

The door swung open to reveal Lashanne, stepping into the house with a radiant smile and a confident air about her. Ignus’s face lit up as soon as he saw her.

“Aunt Lashanne!” he exclaimed, bouncing to his feet and making a beeline toward the Delphox.

Lashanne chuckled warmly, bending down to ruffle the young Rockruff’s head with her paw. “It’s good to see you, Ignus,” she said affectionately. “How’s my favourite nephew?”

“I’m doing great!” Ignus barked happily. “Papa, Dad and me are going on a holiday today!”

“Oh yeah?” Lashanne asked, lifting her eyes from Ignus to look at Volcan as he came over to join them. “Finally taking that trip, are you?”

Volcan nodded. “We’ve had plenty of time to relax at home over the winter,” he said, “Now, time for our long-awaited and long overdue honeymoon.”

“You guys have earned it,” said Lashanne. “But, don’t take off just yet. I’ve got some news,” Lashanne replied, her tone light but with a glint of excitement in her eyes.

“News?” Luke echoed from the kitchen, peering over from his place by the sink.

“Please tell me it’s not another crisis,” Volcan said, losing his smile; he was only half-joking, remembering how the day after he and Luke had married had been interrupted by the ongoing crisis with the Dark Crusade.

But Lashanne only laughed. “Only if you consider a growing family to be a crisis,” she replied, paws on her hips. “You two are about to become uncles again.”

Both Volcan and Luke exchanged surprised looks. Ignus, his tail still wagging with enthusiasm, tilted his head in confusion. “Uncles? Wait, what do you mean?”

Lashanne grinned, her eyes twinkling with the pleasure of delivering a bit of unexpected news. “Didn’t they tell you?” she asked. “Serena’s been with child for a few months now. And today was the day.”

Ignus’s eyes widened as he processed the news. “Serena? With a baby?” His tail flicked back and forth in bewilderment. “Is that why we haven’t seen her all winter?”

“That’d be a big part of it, yes,” Luke confirmed.

Volcan smiled softly. “Looks like you’re going to have a little cousin to look after, son.”

“Wow…” Ignus muttered, staring at the floor for a moment as he processed the news. “I can’t believe it… Serena’s going to be a mom?!” His excitement returned in a flash, and he stood up on his hind legs, almost jumping for joy.

“Looks like it,” Volcan replied with a chuckle. “I’m sure she’s got quite a bit of adventure ahead of her, raising a little one.”

Lashanne nodded, a playful glint still in her eyes. “It’s even more exciting than you think,” she said.

Volcan raised an eyebrow at Lashanne’s cryptic remark. “What do you mean by that?”

Lashanne just smiled, a little too smug for Volcan’s liking. “Oh, nothing major. Just something you’ll find out when you get there. Trust me, it’ll be a bit of a surprise.”

Luke laughed softly. “You’re full of mysteries today, Lashanne. We’ll see for ourselves soon enough, I suppose.”

With that, Lashanne turned and headed back out the door, leaving the three to finish their morning routine. Ignus, full of questions but too excited to voice them all, bounced in place, eager for the trip ahead. “Wow! I have another cousin?” He asked, tail wagging wildly as he practically danced by the door. “Come on dad; come on papa! We gotta go see them!”

Volcan laughed. “Okay, okay, we’ll go. Just give us a moment to clean up and we’ll be right out,” he said. “Go see Caulin for a bit; I’m sure he and his dad will be going to see Serena too, if they haven’t already.”

“Okay! But please hurry; I wanna meet the new baby!” Ignus urged before he turned and raced out the door, nearly barrelling into Lashanne in the process.

“Good grief, that boy has so much energy that if he were an electric-type he’d be as powerful as my brother,” Volcan remarked as he headed over to the kitchen to help Luke with the dishes.

Volcan, Luke, and Ignus made their way toward Serena and Katsumoto’s home, accompanied by Caulin, Minato, and Lashanne. Together, the six of them left the town behind, traveling down the worn path that led through the forest, toward a small clearing with a peaceful pond. At the end of the path stood the modest home of their dear friends, nestled among the trees—a welcoming sight.

As they approached the house, Luke knocked firmly on the door. The moment the door swung open, a booming voice rang out.

“Aha, Luke! How pleased I am to see you!” Katsumoto, a towering Samurott, practically beamed as he stepped outside, his wide grin nearly as large as his frame. Without hesitation, he swept both Luke and Volcan into his massive arms, crushing them into his chest with a powerful embrace.

“Gah! H-Hey, Katsu, we’re happy to see you too, but—!” Luke gasped, his voice muffled as the air was squeezed from his lungs. He instinctively kicked his legs, tapping on Katsu’s massive arms to signal for a release.

“Can we… Breathe, please?” Volcan wheezed his plea.

Katsumoto froze, then quickly set them both back on their feet, his joy-filled expression not dimming in the slightest. “Oh! My sincerest apologies! Today is such a joyous day, I can hardly contain my elation!”

Luke and Volcan both took in deep breaths, grateful for the return of air to their lungs.

“Elation?” Ignus repeated aloud, tilting his head with wide-eyed curiosity. “What’s that mean?”

“It means he’s really happy,” Lashanne explained with a chuckle, stifling her laughter as she watched the scene unfold. “You know, a little too happy.”

“Please, please, come in! I can’t wait for you all to meet our young ones!” Katsumoto grinned, his voice brimming with excitement as he gestured for them to enter. He then turned back to usher them into the house, his tail flicking behind him.

“Wait, ‘young ones’?” Volcan echoed, still catching his breath but unable to hide his curiosity. “How many did you guys have?”

Entering the house, the group was greeted by the sight of a warm and cozy gathering. Luke’s teammates were present, though Minato and Caulin remained at the foot of the bed, watching with quiet smiles. They all looked up as Luke and Volcan stepped inside, offering friendly greetings before moving aside to allow the two fathers to approach the bed.

There, nestled comfortably among soft blankets, lay Serena, her emerald green eyes sparkling as she turned her head to greet them. Her smile was gentle and welcoming, though it widened in delight when she spotted Ignus peeking curiously over the edge of the bed.

“Hello, everyone,” she said softly, her voice full of affection. With a small adjustment of her tail, she revealed a surprise hidden beneath it. “Come on out, my darlings. Meet my friends.”

The group leaned in as three tiny heads emerged, one after the other, from behind Serena’s tail. The three little Eevee pups squeaked and blinked their eyes open for the first time, looking up at the unfamiliar faces around them. When they saw Ignus closest, the pups cautiously waddled toward him, their tiny paws stumbling as they sniffed him curiously.

Each of the babies was small, no bigger than half the size of Ignus, with their ears flattened and eyes still heavy with the aftereffects of their hatching. Their tiny bodies still smelled faintly of the eggs they had come from, adding a fresh and innocent touch to the scene.

Volcan stood frozen, his mouth slightly agape as he gazed at the tiny family. His voice was almost a whisper. “Triplets…” he breathed, wide-eyed. “She had triplets.”

“That,” Luke began, struggling to find words as he found himself just as shocked by the reveal of the triplets as his husband. “That must have been… Very stressful,” he said, and looked at Serena.

“Laying all three eggs was exhausting,” she admitted, “but to see my little ones out of the shells…” Her green eyes sparkled with love as she looked down at her newborns. “I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Katsumoto beamed proudly, his broad chest swelling with joy. “They’re perfect, aren’t they?” he rumbled, his voice filled with warmth. “Three little ones to carry on the legacy.”

Volcan took a moment to recover from the shock, then smiled softly. “You’ve got your hands full now, Serena,” he said, his voice laced with affection. “But they’re beautiful.”

Caulin watched with an amused smile as the three Eevee slowly approached Ignus. He chuckled as Ignus lowered his head, sniffing them with curiosity, his little curled tail wagging excitedly as he observed each one. “Heh, of course Ignus would take a shine to ‘em instantly,” Caulin remarked with a smug grin. “Little guy just gets along with everyone. It’s impossible to dislike him.”

“Congratulations, you two,” Minato added, his voice full of pride. “Three healthy babies. Like Volcan said, though, you’re going to have your hands full.”

“It’s a challenge I’m prepared for,” Serena responded, a calm smile on her face.

As she spoke, one of the Eevee, startled by a playful bark from Ignus, quickly darted behind Serena’s tail, peering out from behind it with wide, uncertain eyes. Serena leaned down to give the timid little one a gentle, reassuring lick on the back of the head, her soft touch helping calm them.

The other two, however, were much bolder. The second Eevee, a bit braver, waddled up to Ignus and attempted to mimic his bark. The sound that came out was more of a squeak than anything resembling a proper growl, but the little Eevee’s attempt at bravado was endearing, nonetheless.

Meanwhile, the third, a little girl, was already exploring her surroundings with an adventurous spirit. She climbed right onto Ignus' back with no hesitation, her tiny paws kneading the fur on his back like a kitten searching for comfort. Ignus couldn’t help but giggle as the tiny paws tickled him, and he rolled over gently before playfully pouncing on them.

“Gotcha!” he laughed, giving her a gentle nudge with his nose.

“Gently now, son,” Luke called out, kneeling down to remind Ignus, “They’re still newborns.”

Volcan, kneeling beside the group, smiled warmly at the scene. “How many boys and girls?”

Serena looked at the three little ones fondly. “This one,” she said, motioning to the Eevee cowering behind her tail, “is a boy. The one in front is also a boy, but the third—” She looked at the one that Ignus was still wrestling paws with, “—is a girl.”

“Did you guys have any names picked out for them?” Lashanne asked, glancing between Serena and Katsumoto.

“We’re still deciding,” Serena answered with a soft smile.

“Oh, I’m sure you’ll come up with something for these tykes,” Minato chimed in, his voice warm and inviting. “If you want, we could throw in some suggestions.”

“As generous as that sounds,” Katsumoto replied, smiling, “I believe we shall pick their names ourselves. No offense to any of you, but we would like to give them names that best suit their natures, isn’t that right, my fair maiden?” He glanced lovingly at Serena, his tone full of affection.

Serena chuckled softly. "I wouldn't be offended by any suggestions. But ultimately, I would like it to be us who decides."

“That’s fair,” Caulin added with a shrug. “Knowing my dad, he’d probably suggest something lame.”

Minato raised an eyebrow at his son. “I’m standing right here, son…” he said, his voice low and a little exasperated, though there was a playful edge to it.

Caulin, now fully in teenage sass mode, shrugged again and smirked. “Yeah? And?” He leaned back in his chair, clearly amused. “I mean, I’m not wrong, ya know. Mom gave me my name as a baby, not you.”

Minato’s jaw tightened as he fought back a grin. “…That… never mind.” He groaned, rolling his eyes dramatically. “It’s like talking to a brick wall sometimes,” he muttered under his breath, though there was no malice in his tone.

Caulin, clearly satisfied with his little jab, leaned back further in his seat. But Minato wasn’t done yet.

“...Say,” Minato began, his voice a little more mischievous, “the sun’s getting mighty high in the sky. Sure you aren’t forgetting anything today?”

Caulin blinked and tilted his head in confusion. “The heck are you—?” His eyes widened in sudden realization, and his ears flattened with shock. “Oh crap!! My date with Koa’s today!!!”

Before anyone could react, Caulin was already scrambling out of his seat. “Uh, sorry Serena, I gotta jet!! Congrats on the babies!!” he called out quickly, his voice rising with panic as he darted out the door. The sound of his feet pounding against the dirt path was quickly drowned out by a cloud of dust as he took off at full speed.

Volcan chuckled, watching the scene unfold. “Nice comeback, Minato,” he said with a grin.

Minato let out a hearty laugh. “I know what makes my kid tick.” He gave an exaggerated wink, his proud smile unmistakable.

Turning back to the bags Luke and his family were carrying, Minato’s grin softened slightly. “...Time for that little honeymoon trip of yours, eh?”

“Yep,” Volcan said with a sigh of relief. “We’ve held off long enough; had more than enough time to relax at home. Time for us to take a well-earned vacation, and take our little boy with us too.” He reached over and ruffled Ignus' head, though the Rockruff barely noticed, still focused on playing with the two Eevee.

Minato shrugged, clearly relaxed. “Good a time as any, I guess. Work’s been slow lately, so it’s given me more free time to train and spend time with my family.”

“True,” Lashanne mused, glancing toward the window. “With the Crusade gone, we may need to take up part-time jobs.”

“Yeah, true…” Minato muttered, looking up thoughtfully. “I’ve been thinking, maybe I should open a sword training dojo of my own, so I can pass on what Victor taught me to other aspiring sword fighters.”

“On that note, I still need to speak to Degra about that part-time position at her diner,” Luke added, tapping his fingers on the table as he thought.

“Right. It’s just about up and running,” Volcan said, nodding. “Soon the whole town will be feasting on the hard work of its best cooks.”

“Consider us your first customers when that day arrives,” Minato said with a grin, making the two fathers chuckle in return.

But as the conversation turned to future prospects, Katsu’s smile faded a little. His gaze lowered, and a distant thought seemed to cloud his expression. “Alas…” he began, his voice softer than usual. “I’m afraid that with the addition of my dear children, I may not be as active as I normally would be, if at all, honestly.”

Luke raised an eyebrow in concern, noticing the shift in his friend's demeanor. “What’s on your mind, Katsu?”

Katsu looked up at Luke with a heavy heart. “It pains me to say this, but… I fear my time among your ranks might be over, Luke.”

The words hit Luke like a cold wind. He felt a pang of disbelief and sadness, but he kept his composure. “Wait… You’re retiring?” His voice was barely a whisper.

“Aye,” Katsu said solemnly. “Since the day you and I met, I made it my solemn vow to stand at your side and protect you to the best of my abilities. I have lived by the sword, and I always envisioned I would die by it.”

He turned to Serena, his gaze filled with warmth. “That changed when I met Serena. I now have a new purpose to fulfill; a future to look forward to, and it starts with laying down my swords and becoming a father to my dear children, and a husband to the woman who blessed me with them.”

Volcan frowned, his face clouded with the weight of Katsu’s decision. "I… Respect your choice, Katsu…" He let out a long breath, his voice tinged with unease. "But it feels like our teams are coming apart slowly now…”

Lashanne looked at him, perplexed. “What do you mean?”

“Well,” Volcan said, his tone heavy with the realization, “Hank’s gone, and he’s made it clear he may not want to come back to rescue work. Plus, he’s with Sickle now… so even if he does, he might join Team Kama. Tristan’s been distant too—he seems to have his mind elsewhere. And no, I don’t mean the usual way he does. I’m just not sure his heart is still in it.”

Luke's heart sank. The weight of what Volcan said hit him harder than he anticipated. With Hank gone, and now Katsu retiring to start a family, it felt as though the foundation of Team Valiant was crumbling. The uncertainty of what the future held left Luke with a knot in his stomach. Could they continue with such a small crew? Could he even keep the team together?

Lashanne, ever the pragmatist, leaned forward with a raised brow. “Well, I just got into this gig,” she said, her voice firm. “I’m certainly not bowing out yet. Especially not when Caulin wants to start his own team someday.” She shot a glance at Minato, waiting for his reaction.

Minato grinned, proud but teasing. “I have no plans on retiring anytime soon. I’m far from over the hill, and someone has to help Caulin fine-tune his skills both as a fighter and a leader.” He smirked at Volcan. “You’re stuck with me, whether you want to retire or not.”

Volcan laughed despite the serious conversation, shaking his head. “And what the hell would I do, go strum my guitar down by the docks?” He rolled his eyes dramatically. “When I… replace the old one. Anyway, I have no intention of stopping now either.”

Luke remained quieter than usual, his thoughts distant. The weight of what Katsu said lingered heavily on his mind. He needed to think—really think—about the future. But for now, there was something he needed to address.

Katsu noticed the shift in Luke's demeanour and stood, moving over to the Lucario. Slowly, he lifted his large paw and placed it on Luke’s shoulder. “For what it’s worth, Luke… It was truly an honour serving you. We have faced considerably powerful foes together, and you have become the hero this world needed in a time of crisis.”

Luke quickly brushed Katsu’s paw aside and, without thinking, threw his arms around the Samurott. Katsu flinched slightly at first, taken aback by the sudden embrace, but then wrapped his arms around Luke in return, holding him tightly for a long moment.

“The honour was all mine, Katsu…” Luke murmured softly. “Thank you for your service.”

Katsu patted Luke’s back a few times before they pulled apart. “And thank you for broadening my horizons, my Captain.” He gave Luke a small smile, then stepped back and straightened up. “Now, I believe you three have a ship to catch. Do not let me keep you from enjoying your much-needed time off.”

"We sure do," said Volcan, moving up beside his husband and taking hold of his paw. "Come on. Worries for later, okay?"

“Yea,” Luke concurred, smiling at Volcan and holding his hand tighter in his paw. “Come on, son. It’s time we went on our way.”

“Okay!” Ignus barked, gently rolling one of the Eevees off of him and trotting back to rejoin his parents. “Your babies are fun to play with~ I hope we can play some more when we come back!”

"I'm sure they'll be happy to see you, Ignus," Serena called after him. "Maybe when you come back we'll have picked names for them all."

“That’d be cool!” The Rockruff called back. “See ya~”

“Guess it’s time we departed ourselves,” Minato added, sliding his arm around Lashanne’s hip and pulling her against him. “Feel like getting something from the market for lunch later, or should I risk stomaching one of your attempts at a meal?” He asked, teasing her with a grin.

"Hey, I'm working on it," she replied in mock offense. "I figured out how to tell sugar from salt now at least, right?"

“Progress~” Minato continued to tease, leaning over and sneaking a nibble along her cheek. “Maybe next time I won’t choke half to death from one of your pancakes, hehehe.”

"Keep it up and the next one will have you in the bathroom for the entire night," she said out of the corner of her mouth.

~~~~~

Volcan was the first to hop aboard the Trident as they crossed the pier, setting his bag down on one of the fold-up cots as Luke and Ignus also hopped aboard. He made his way to the main console and examined the instruments that covered it, far higher end than anything he had on his old boat.

"Finally get to take this baby for a real test run since coming home," he said with a smile.

“You’re feeling just as excited, eh?” Luke added, dropping his bag down in the lower cabin before dropping through a trapdoor into the hold below, still in earshot, and checking their supplies in the mini kitchen.

“So am I! I’ve never been on a boat ride before,” Ignus remarked, scampering along the deck and peering over the edge to look at the water below, seeing his reflection in the calm waters. “Whoooaa… It’s like I’m looking into a mirror.”

Volcan let Ignus have a moment, giving him time to be fascinated by the ocean’s surface and let the Blaziken do his check of the boat’s instruments, before he called back to the Rockruff. "Come get seated, son,” he said. “Until you find your sea legs I'd like to have you in reach, okay?"

With a turn of the key, the boat roared to life, the floor vibrating below their feet. Ignus came into the cabin, looking at the floor warily. He found his way to a seat close to the front, hopped into it, and sat down.

Luke returned from the hold below moments after the engine roared to life. “We’re all stocked up and ready to go.” He announced as he went to stand at his husband’s side. “I’ve also got some spare Poks that we can use to resupply when we get to Hadleigh.” He added, gently leaning against the Blaziken as he took the helm into his hands. “...Ready to start our honeymoon, my dearly beloved Blaziken?”

"Been ready for ages now," he said, smiling. "Help Ignus get buckled up, if you please. Remember, this thing is fast."

“On it,” Luke answered, though not before giving Volcan a playful swat on his tail feathers.

He then made his way over to Ignus and knelt in front of him, helping him fasten his seat belt and adjust it so that it was more comfortable for the Rockruff. With that, Luke seated himself in an adjacent seat, fastening his own seatbelt, and calling up to Volcan that they were ready.

“Next stop: Hadleigh. The City of Art,” Luke announced with subdued glee.

With that, Volcan planted his feet and pushed the throttle forward, gently, so as not to jolt the passengers. The Trident’s engine roared as the boat accelerated, even with a gentle takeoff managing to push Luke and Ignus back in their seats a bit.

"Hey son? Since this is your first time on a boat, you let us know you feel seasick, okay?" Volcan called back to Ignus as they headed for open water. "I brought medicine for that, just in case."

“Don’t worry, Dad. I’m fine.” Ignus assured the Blaziken. “How long till we reach Hadleigh anyway?”

“Well, on our old boat it’d probably take us about six days,” said Luke, doing the math in his head. “But the Trident’s a newer, faster vessel so… I’d say we’ll get there in half the time. Three days at least.”

"Easily," replied Volcan. "On foot it was about a week but we can bypass a lot of obstacles with this." He patted the console. "Heh. Hell of a present, wasn't it?"

“No kidding. This thing was Romulus’ pride and joy. I’d never expect he’d just give it to us after finding out we lost our old boat,” Luke added, then his expression soured slightly. “Or the airship for that matter…”

Volcan sighed. "No replacement for the airship," he said. "Not unless we build one ourselves, but that kind of carpentry is beyond me, let alone all the other knick-knacks that probably go into them."

“As convenient as it was, maybe it’s for the best that we don’t have an airship,” Luke remarked softly. “Like you said, it’d probably take us years to build a new one, and no one in Azure has that level of carpentry to accomplish such a feat.” He added, rubbing the back of his neck with a paw. “Besides, boats like that were never meant to fly anyway…”

“Maybe not. Still, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss that creaking tub sometimes," Volcan added as he eased the throttle forward a little more, increasing the Trident’s speed. “Though… Man, even at only half-throttle this thing could outrun my old boat…” He muttered, mostly to himself, but the others caught it.

“Dare we push it to its full speed and really test the waters?” Luke asked, grinning slightly. “Maybe give our boy here a bit of a joyride in the process?”

“I dunno what that is, but it sounds fun!” Ignus added, squirming in his seatbelt. “Do it, Dad! Let’s see how fast this boat can go!”

“Alright… Hang on you two!” Volcan called before he went ahead and gunned it.

The Trident roared, and Volcan had to cling to the wheel for dear life as it shot forward, throwing Luke and Ignus back in their seats as the boat accelerated. Through the side windows of the cabin, they could see plumes reaching higher than the boat’s roof forming on either side, rocking and bobbing as it slashed through the waves.

“Oh, this thing is awesome!” Volcan crowed as he regained his footing.

“Whoooooohoooooo!!!!!” Ignus howled as he was thrown back against his seat, smiling oh so gleefully as the boat bounced along the waves at full speed.

“Ooookay, regret!! Regret!!” Luke yelled, clinging to his seat and wincing every time the Trident bounced. “Slow it down a bit!!”

Volcan was still chortling even as he reached for the throttle, carefully easing it back and letting the Trident decelerate on its own. When it slowed to a more comfortable pace, Volcan looked back at Luke with the biggest grin the Blaziken had ever had.

“Come on, love,” he said. “You can still run faster than that.”

“Yea, on even, solid terrain,” Luke retorted, placing a paw on his chest to still his beating heart. “…Although I’ve yet to try running across water with my Extreme Speed.”

“I don’t think you want to do that,” Volcan suggested. “If you slowed down or lost your balance for even an instant you’d cannonball right into the waves…”

“Hehehe, that would be funny~” Ignus giggled at the thought of seeing his father face-planting into the water after tripping over a wave.

“To everyone else? Sure. To me?” He shuddered. “Yea, I’d probably have a broken snout afterward… Or I’d drown. Neither one is an appealing prospect.”

“I’d definitely want Serena or Katsu trailing you too, just to be safe,” added Volcan as he looked ahead again. “Well. We’ll be on this trip for a bit. So, Luke - Did you bring the chessboard or any other games you and Ignus could play to pass the time?”

“I think chess is a bit beyond him right now…” Luke responded as he stood up and began rummaging through his bag, pulling out a deck of playing cards. “I did bring a few books and some cards for his favourite card game. You up for a round?”

“Oh, heck yes!!” Ignus exclaimed, wanting to jump into the air, but he was halted by his seatbelt, letting out a gag when the straps went taut and threw him back into his seat.

Luke chuckled and went to undo the Rockruff’s safety harness. “Easy son. Don’t want you pulling a muscle like that.” He remarked, letting Ignus hop off the seat and follow him to the closest table. “Let me know if you wanna swap turns at the helm, honey.”

“Will do,” replied Volcan. “And I’ll resist the temptation to speed up again… At least without warning you,” he added mischievously.

“You wouldn’t…” Luke returned, almost horrified.

“He would~” Ignus answered plainly, though he was smiling at the thought. “Don’t worry about it, Papa. Let’s play!”

“Okay, okay, settle down.” Luke chuckled, moving over to the foldout table in the corner and beginning to prepare their game.

There was relative peace from that point on, at least for a few hours of the trip. Luke and Ignus played three rounds of their card game while Volcan kept the Trident on course. The first round, Ignus took by storm, with his quick thinking and aggressive strategy easily catching Luke off guard. But in the second round, Luke managed to outsmart the young pup, taking advantage of a small mistake Ignus made. The game was quickly turned around, and Luke secured the second round in the end.

It was the third round, though, when things started to change. At first, Ignus seemed eager, but there was a noticeable shift in his energy. His movements became quicker, sharper, almost frantic, as if something in him was no longer steady. He began making small mistakes—playing cards out of sequence, missing key moves—that Luke was quick to capitalize on. The tension in Ignus’ posture grew, his tail stiff and his eyes narrowed with frustration.

Luke, aware of his advantage, hesitated for a moment, watching Ignus more closely. “Hey, it’s okay, buddy. Just take it easy…” he said, though his words seemed to fall on deaf ears.

In a matter of moments, it was over. Luke had played his last card, securing another win.

“Oh, come on!!” Ignus snapped, his voice cracking with the force of his frustration. “What the heck was that?? You completely steamrolled all over me!!”

Luke froze, caught off guard by the sharpness in Ignus’ tone. His eyes widened, blinking as if he didn’t quite know how to respond. “…Well, uhm… you were making some errors that were easier to notice, so I just took advantage of that,” Luke said carefully, trying to sound reassuring. “But, uh… are you okay, son? You’re acting a little—”

“I’m fine, Papa!” Ignus barked back, a touch of anger still simmering in his voice. His words were rushed, defensive, and they made Luke recoil slightly, his brow furrowing in surprise.

The sharpness in Ignus’ reply seemed to hang in the air for a moment before he realized the weight of what he’d just said. His gaze softened, and he could feel Volcan’s eyes on him too, the Blaziken glancing over from the helm of the ship.

In an instant, Ignus’ composure broke. His ears drooped, and his eyes glistened with sudden shame.

“I-I’m sorry, I… I don’t… know why I said that,” he stammered, his voice small now. Without another word, he scampered off the table, retreating to the lower quarters, tail between his legs.

“Ignus, wait!” Luke called after him, but he was long gone before his words reached him.

Luke hadn’t realized at first that the boat had slowed, and it came as a surprise when Volcan raced over from his place at the helm, looking where Ignus had gone before turning to Luke, concerned. “What’s going on?” he asked. “He’s never raised his voice to either of us before…”

“I…I’m not sure. This is a first, even for him,” Luke answered, still stunned by the ordeal. “He normally just laughs it off when he loses, and we just keep playing…” He added, his expression growing more worried than disappointed.

Volcan was silent for a moment, looking out through the windshield to make sure they hadn’t drifted off course before looking back at Luke again. “What do you want to do? Should we drop anchor and go talk to him?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure,” Luke answered softly. “Something isn’t right here, First, he misbehaves at the table, and then this outburst over a simple game… I was able to overlook the first thing – this wasn’t so out of character for him when we first took him in. But this… Becoming so angry over a game.” He looked at Volcan, concerned. “Love, something is going on. I don’t believe anybody has such sudden personality shifts without a reason.

Volcan let out a breath, considering the proposed question for a moment. “I only know one person we can ask who might know,” he said. “But we’ll have to turn back… Another delay to our holiday, but…” He turned the wheel, slowing the boat to make a U-turn. “Ignus’ well-being comes first.”

“Yea… you’re right,” Luke concurred, slowly rubbing his face with his paws. “Do you think you could talk to him? Just to at least let him know I’m not angry at him. I’ll take over the helm for you.”

Volcan nodded and stepped aside to let Luke take the wheel, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before heading toward the ladder that led down to the hold below. He slid down easily, landing softly on the deck below, and glanced around. The bunk they’d set aside for Ignus was tucked behind the kitchen area, but the Rockruff wasn’t on it.

“Ignus?” Volcan called softly, his voice gentle. “Ignus, come out, son. Dad wants to talk to you.” He turned in a slow circle, searching for the pup. “Please, buddy… we’re not mad at you. We just want to understand what’s going on.”

A soft whimper answered him from beneath the bunk. Volcan crouched down and peered under it, his heart aching at the sight of Ignus curled up and trembling with sadness.

“I-I-I’m sorry, Daddy…” Ignus finally mumbled after a long, tense silence. “I didn’t mean to get mad at Papa. I don’t know what came over me… honest.”

Volcan’s heart softened at the words. He stood up again, stepping closer to the bunk, but he lowered himself once more, careful not to make Ignus feel cornered. “I know, son,” he said, his tone calm and reassuring. “We were caught off guard too, but we’re not mad at you, I promise.”

When Ignus didn’t flinch away, Volcan reached under the bunk and gently rested his hand on the pup’s back, petting him slowly. The trembling stopped almost immediately, and Ignus, feeling the warmth of his father’s touch, slowly crawled out from his hiding spot, pressing his little body into Volcan’s hand.

“Dad… what’s wrong with me?” Ignus asked, his voice small and fragile as he lifted his gaze to meet Volcan’s. “Why am I acting so weird?”

Volcan’s heart ached even more. He gently gathered Ignus into his arms, lifting him and resting the pup’s head on his shoulder as he stood. “That’s what we’re going to figure out, son,” he said softly, cradling the small Rockruff against his chest. “We’re heading to Azure to talk to someone. We’ll get to the bottom of it.”

Ignus’ ears drooped, and he whimpered again, a mix of guilt and uncertainty in his eyes. “You mean… we’re not going to Hadleigh? B-because of what’s wrong with me?” His voice trembled, tears threatening to spill.

Volcan quickly pulled him back to look into his eyes, cupping his son’s face gently. “No, no, son. We’re still going to Hadleigh. This is just a little delay, that’s all.” He smiled softly, offering reassurance. “Your well-being is the most important thing to us, but the vacation is still on. We’re just taking a small detour to make sure you’re okay.”

“P-Promise?” Ignus asked, his voice small, the question barely a whisper as he sniffled softly.

“I promise,” Volcan replied, his voice steady and reassuring. “We both do—me and Papa.” He pulled Ignus into another hug, his arms enveloping the Rockruff gently. “We love you, son. Now, and always,” he added softly.

Ignus, feeling the warmth and sincerity in his father’s words, pressed himself even more firmly into Volcan’s chest. His tail began to wag slowly, and he muttered quietly, “You’re the best dad ever…”

“For you, Ignus,” Volcan said, a soft chuckle in his voice as he nuzzled the top of the Rockruff’s head, “I’ll always keep trying to be.”

When the Trident docked back in Azure, night had already fallen. The family decided to wait until morning to seek out their advisor—searching the woods at night would be too dangerous for any of them, their vision compromised in the dark.

In his room that evening, Ignus lay in his bed, his mind restless. At first, it was an unfamiliar feeling—a deep, primal urge swelling from somewhere inside him. He didn’t recognize it at first, but the sensation quickly grew too strong to ignore. His teeth began to grind, the sound sharp in his ears as he shifted uneasily beneath the blankets. His feet twitched, pushing the covers off, and he tossed and turned, barely aware of what was happening, his half-lidded eyes flicking open in the dark.

He stood up suddenly, ears erect, eyes wide and alert. There was something in the air, something he couldn’t name but that felt impossible to ignore. He had to find it—had to track it down. Had to fight.

The thought struck him like a jolt of electricity. His body responded before his mind could fully catch up.

His gaze sharpened as he scanned the room. Everything seemed distant, hazy, but there—by the corner of the room—was something. His eyes locked on the Poke Doll his father had picked out for him at the market, the one designed for Pokémon with strong jaws. A toy meant to withstand powerful bites, sturdy and well-made, but now it had become something else in his mind—a target.

With a feral snarl, Ignus leaped from the bed, his limbs moving without hesitation, driven by a single, overwhelming need. He pounced on the doll, and everything blurred.

The next thing he knew, he was standing over it, breathing heavily. His gaze dropped to the torn doll in front of him, its side split wide open, a jagged tear from the shoulder down to the arm, which now hung loosely from a few ragged threads. He blinked, his chest rising and falling rapidly as confusion rushed back in.

What… what did I just do?

He stood frozen, unable to process what had happened, his mind still clouded by the storm of instincts. He reached out with his nose and nudged the doll, hoping, for some unfathomable reason, that it could be fixed. But it wouldn’t stay together. The fabric gaped open, exposing the stuffing inside. Ignus whimpered, his heart pounding, the realization sinking in like a cold weight.

The toy, once a comforting presence, was now ruined. A wave of horror washed over him, and he let out a low, mournful whine. The sound that escaped him wasn’t one of simple distress—it was a howl, raw and filled with sorrow he couldn’t fully understand. His instincts screamed at him, urging him to act, but he couldn’t understand what they were telling him to do… Once again, all he could do was throw back his head, howling… Crying…

Luke’s ear twitched when Ignus’ howling reached his and Volcan’s room, slowly rousing him and making him slowly sit up and out of Volcan’s arms.

“That’s… Ignus.” He muttered sleepily. “Ugh, at this hour? What’s got him so upset now?”

Volcan stirred as Luke did, his eyes fluttering open slowly as he groaned. "What is it?" He asked, groggy. Then, he shot up when another howl from Ignus caught his ear, more alert now. "What's that?"

“Honey, relax!” Luke hissed. “It’s just Ignus. He probably had a bad dream or something,” he suggested as he crawled out of bed. “Come on, let’s go find out what spooked him.”

"Okay, I’m coming," Volcan replied as he swung his legs over the other side, following Luke out of the room and next door to Ignus'.

They could hear the Rockruff’s howls had turned to sobs. Sharing a concerned look, they knocked on the door, and Volcan announced them. "Ignus? We're coming in, son."

There came no response from their son, and Volcan wasted no time; he opened the door, and there they found Ignus – not on his bed, but curled up on the floor. In front of him, there lay the doll that both fathers knew well, and they immediately saw the damage done to it.

“What the-?” Luke whispered as he quickly moved to the broken doll and scooped it up in his arms, looking over the damage done to it. “Ignus… did you do this?”

“I-I’m sorry, Papa!” He wailed desperately. “I woke up and… I-I just felt this urge! I had to obey it! I-I saw the doll and…and…” He couldn’t bring himself to finish his sentence, going back to wailing desperately and curling up tighter.

Volcan moved to Ignus' side in an instant, scooping the Rockruff up in his arms and holding him as he had on the boat. He said nothing though, sharing a concerned look with Luke who still held the destroyed doll in his paws. Whatever was happening to Ignus causing him this heightened sense of aggression, it was getting worse

“…Love, this is getting serious,” Luke whispered as he put the doll down and moved to gently stroke Ignus’ head to help calm him down. “We can’t delay this. We need to speak to her.”

Volcan nodded in agreement. "I'll find us a light source. You stay with him," Volcan replied, passing Ignus to Luke. "I'll be right back," he said, partially to Luke and partially to Ignus.

“Hurry,” Luke answered, holding Ignus against his chest and rocking him back and forth slowly, gently shushing him. “There, there, it’s ok son…”

“P-Papa, what’s wrong with me?? Why is this happening to me??” Ignus wailed, looking up at his father. “I’m scared…” he whimpered.

“It’s okay, son,” Luke assured him. “I don’t know what’s going on, but we’re going to find out,” he added, leaning down and kissing his son’s cheek. “We’re going to get to the bottom of this, I promise.”

Volcan had no choice but to rush next door to Minato's house, his mind spinning in search of some way to shed light on Ignus' condition. When he couldn't find a suitable light source among their own things, Minato had been kind enough to lend him a lantern, and with that, Volcan hastened back to his own home. Luke was waiting by the door, still holding Ignus in his arms. The Rockruff remained still, his face hidden against Luke’s fur, his body eerily limp as if unaware of his surroundings.

With lantern in hand, Volcan led the way into the darkened night, Luke following closely behind, keeping his focus on Ignus’ steadily weakening aura. Neither of them could see clearly, but Luke's aura sense guided them forward, toward the camp that lay deep within the trees on the outskirts of Azure. Flickering campfires marked the way, and though the glow of their lantern was faint in the night, it did not go unnoticed by the few who lingered near the firelight.

As they neared the camp, three Salandit emerged from the shadows, stopping in their tracks when they recognized Volcan and Luke. Their defensive postures softened almost immediately, but what followed took them by surprise—a fourth figure emerged. Koa the Zeraora, his expression a mix of curiosity and caution.

"Koa," Volcan began, his voice tinged with guilt. "I know it's late, and I’m sorry to impose at this hour, but we need to speak to Jora. It’s urgent." His gaze flicked down to Ignus, still cradled in Luke’s arms, the Rockruff's face buried deep in Luke's fur, as though trying to escape everything.

Koa studied them both for a long moment, his eyes lingering on Ignus with a concern that grew more evident with every passing second. Finally, he nodded. “Follow me.”

As they made their way deeper into the camp, the trio of Salandit parted to make room for them. Koa led them toward the largest of the tents, motioning for them to wait just outside as he disappeared within. They could hear low voices from inside and see a soft light coming through the flap. After a brief moment, Koa reappeared, holding the flap open for them.

Inside, the familiar figure of Jora sat upright amidst a pile of blankets and pillows that served as her bed. The Salazzle blinked sleepily, rubbing her eyes as she regarded her unexpected visitors.

Luke entered first, ducking beneath the flap, his face drawn with worry. He approached Jora with an urgency that immediately piqued her attention. “Jora,” he began, his voice shaking with a mixture of concern and desperation. “I’m sorry to wake you, but this is urgent.”

Jora stifled a yawn, but the desperation in Luke's tone didn’t go unnoticed. Her purple eyes narrowed slightly as she studied him, then shifted to the motionless Rockruff in his arms. “What has happened?” she asked, her voice calm yet sharp, the kind that demanded answers.

“It’s my son,” Luke continued, his grip loosening slightly on Ignus as he extended the pup toward Jora. “We heard him howling, and when we went to check on him, we found him crying, and one of his toys was... Torn apart.” His voice trailed off, clearly unsure of how to explain further, as if words alone could not convey the weight of what they had discovered.

Volcan stepped forward then, his frustration palpable as he added, “You’re the only one who knows about his kind in their natural state... Please, Jora. We need to understand what’s going on.” His voice faltered for a moment, a mixture of fear and confusion creeping into his words. He had no more answers than they did.

Jora’s gaze shifted back to Ignus as she carefully reached for him, lifting the Rockruff from Luke’s arms with practiced ease. Ignus remained unnervingly still, his blue eyes meeting hers without the usual spark of recognition. There was only an empty, distant look, as if he wasn’t entirely there.

Her clawed fingers gently caressed his jaw muscles, a soft probing touch that seemed more intuitive than deliberate. Ignus didn’t flinch at her touch, nor did he respond. His eyes flickered over to the figures of his fathers, but there was no sign of recognition in them—no warmth, no comfort. Just a vacant stare, like a part of him was still lost in whatever primal state had taken over him.

Jora’s expression remained unreadable as she studied him closely, but there was something in her gaze—an understanding that neither Volcan nor Luke fully grasped.

"Could it be...?" Jora murmured softly to herself, her eyes narrowing slightly as she examined Ignus. Then, as if coming to a realization, she looked up at Luke. "Has he shown any other unusual behaviour over the past few days? Heightened aggression, or maybe a compulsion to chase after something—or someone?"

Volcan responded almost immediately, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. "This morning, at breakfast, he tore into his plate like he hadn’t eaten in days. Made a bit of a mess, but we didn’t think much of it. Then on the boat..." he trailed off, turning to Luke.

Luke took a deep breath, stepping closer to Jora as he recounted the trip. "He and I were playing his favourite card game during our trip to Hadleigh. After the third round, he just... snapped. He became so agitated, so angry, out of nowhere. I’ve never seen him like that before." His voice softened, the worry clear in his eyes as he looked at Jora. "Please, Jora, if anyone can figure out what’s happening to him, it’s you. We’re just so worried... we don’t know what’s happening to our baby boy."

To Luke’s surprise, Jora smiled—soft, almost fond. Her expression carried no trace of alarm or judgment, but instead a gentle reassurance. "You have nothing to fear," she said, her voice calm and steady. "What’s happening to him is a natural part of his transition. A heightened hunting instinct... a battle instinct. It’s strange that he’s exhibiting both simultaneously, but it’s a clear sign."

"A sign of what?" Volcan asked, his voice tinged with confusion but laced with hope.

Jora’s smile widened, though it was a bittersweet one. "That he is soon going to evolve."

Luke’s expression froze, the realization hitting him hard as he pointed at Ignus. "Wait, wait… you’re telling me all of these… incidents are signs that he’s maturing and getting ready to evolve?"

Jora nodded, her gaze softening as she looked down at Ignus, whose ears perked at the change in the conversation’s tone. "That is correct," she replied, her voice steady. "This is a phenomenon I know well from my interactions with the packs on Kia He. When a young Rockruff begins to exhibit heightened aggression, their packs will take them on a hunt to test them. If a pup shows a natural flair for swift teamwork, running alongside the pack to catch prey, it is a sign they will become a Midday Lycanroc, a hunter, working in harmony with their peers."

She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly as she glanced at Ignus. "But if they choose to hunt on their own, seeking stronger prey to prove their strength, it indicates they will evolve into a Midnight Lycanroc, a warrior." She gently set Ignus on his feet as she continued, her tone a mix of certainty and uncertainty.

“…Based on that, does that mean he’s about to become a Midnight Lycanroc, like Asya?” Luke asked, unsure of how to feel about that possibility; Asya had been the only Midnight Lycanroc that they had known, and that had not been a pleasant experience.

“Based on what you’ve described, he’s showing signs of both behaviours. And that is unusual, given my limited experience. The hunting instinct—like the way he tore into his breakfast this morning… He pursued sustenance; it was laid out before him but his first instinct was to attack it, like he was catching prey that he had been chasing,” she seemed to be speaking mostly to herself as she went on. “But the sudden competitiveness in your game, is more like the warrior instinct, driving him to be stronger than his opponent. The attack on the doll that you described could also point to either instinct – the need to hunt, or the need to fight.”

“B-But my mom was a Midday Lycanroc,” Ignus piped up, his voice trembling slightly, as he spoke for the first time since they’d left the house. “I-if I’m gonna evolve, I should be like her… right?”

Jora’s gaze softened, her voice gentle as she reached down to rub the top of his head. “Not necessarily, little one,” she replied, her tone warm and reassuring. “Every Rockruff is different. It’s in your nature. Since you aren’t evolving now, it could mean that, come the sun’s zenith tomorrow, you will ascend to the day form of your species. You’ll be swift like the wind, dedicated to your pack—in this case, your fathers and your friends.”

Ignus looked back to his fathers, his expression uncertain, still grappling with the fear of his unpredictable behavior. His voice wavered as he spoke again, quieter this time. “But… what if… What if I hurt them with these outbursts I’ve been having?” His ears flattened, and his tail drooped slightly, a mixture of anxiety and self-doubt in his eyes. “I-I don’t wanna evolve if it means I’m gonna start being all aggressive and stuff…”

Jora’s smile softened as she knelt to meet Ignus at eye level. “You have nothing to fear, Ignus,” she said, her voice filled with calm assurance. “What you’re going through right now is just part of your natural growth. You’re ascending into adolescence, and the urges you feel now are normal. When your evolution is complete, you’ll find it easier to control them. Stay active, stay healthy, and no matter which form you take, you’ll become a handsome wolf of the isles —a hunter of speed and grace, or a warrior of might and fortitude.”

Luke watched Ignus closely, his heart aching at the look of worry still lingering in his son’s eyes. He knelt down in front of him, gently lifting his head to meet his gaze. “Ignus,” he said softly, running his fingers through his son’s fur, his voice steady and filled with love, “whatever happens, remember this: your father and I love you with all our hearts. And we always will. We promised you that after the war ended, and we’ll keep that promise—no matter what.” He gave Ignus a gentle kiss on the cheek, the warmth of his love evident in the gesture. “You’ll always be our baby boy, Ignus.”

“Papa…” Ignus whimpered, looking up at him, his eyes glistening with emotion. For a long moment, he simply gazed at Luke, as though searching for reassurance. Finally, he turned his gaze to Volcan.

Volcan’s smile was tender as he knelt beside Luke, his large hand reaching up to caress Ignus’ cheek, his touch gentle and comforting. “Papa speaks the truth, Ignus,” he said, his voice a steady reassurance. “It doesn’t matter to us what you become. You’re our son—our precious boy. And we’re with you every step of the way.”

“D-Daddy…” Ignus whimpered again, his voice barely above a sob as tears welled up in his eyes. He looked between his two fathers, feeling their unconditional love surrounding him, before he pressed his head firmly into Volcan’s chest, his body trembling with emotion. “Y-you two… are the best Dads in the whole world… I love you guys so much…”

Luke’s heart swelled with love and pride, his arms enveloping both Ignus and Volcan in a tight embrace. “We love you too, son,” he whispered, his voice full of emotion, as Volcan joined in, wrapping his arms around them both. The three of them held each other tightly, a moment of pure love and togetherness.

"Now and always," Volcan added, his voice a quiet promise.

The three thanked Jora for her advice, apologizing once again for waking her in the dead of night before they headed back home. Ignus was still restless after the events that night, so Volcan offered to stay up with him and read with him until they both could fall asleep. In the meantime, Luke went back to bed himself.

When the Lucario woke up the following morning, he could see out the window that the sun was fairly bright already. He had slept in, he soon realized. With that realization he got out of bed, remembering Volcan wasn't there now, and headed out to the living room to check on his family.

Volcan was stretched out on the couch, Ignus curled on top of his chest. They were sound asleep and looked completely at peace - especially Ignus, who looked like he was deep in his dreams.

Luke smiled happily at the two of them sleeping together, gently sneaking over to them and giving each of them a kiss on their heads as he passed by. “You really have become such a doting father, love…” He whispered as he headed to the kitchen and started putting together breakfast for them.

The smell of cooking wafted through the air, cutting through Ignus’ dreams and rousing him from his sleep. His stomach growled loudly in response to the tantalizing scent, and a surge of energy coursed through his limbs. The same primal excitement he’d felt the day before at breakfast flooded him again, but this time, it was even stronger. His instincts kicked in as his eyes narrowed with focus, the world around him narrowing until it was just him and the scent. He began to sniff the air, ears perked as he zeroed in on the source of the food.

Without thinking, he slid off the bed, moving like a shadow, low to the ground, his movements silent and calculated. There was no mistaking it now—he was stalking, drawn by the pull of the hunt. It was a strange sensation, something new, but not unpleasant. His mind was fixed on the meal, the source of his desire, his body guided by the instincts Jora had spoken of the night before.

Luke’s sharp ears caught the faint rustle as Ignus crept up behind him. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, but he kept his gaze on the stove, pretending not to notice the approaching Rockruff. Just as Ignus prepared to pounce, Luke’s eyes twinkled, and with a swift motion, he spun around, scooping his son up before he could get any closer to the food.

“Ah, ah, ah!” Luke chuckled, his grip firm yet playful as he held Ignus in his arms, despite the little Rockruff squirming and wriggling to escape. “You know the rules. No getting any first dibs.”

The flurry of movement was enough to wake Volcan, who sat up with a stretch and turned over to see what the commotion was about. His eyes softened as he saw Luke holding Ignus, the eager little hunter still trying to get free, his eyes locked on the food. A chuckle escaped Volcan’s lips as he leaned against the doorframe of the kitchen.

“I think your cooking’s spurring his hunting instincts,” Volcan called out with a grin, his voice warm and light-hearted.

“Well, he’ll just have to be a bit more patient, won’t you, son?” Luke teased as he walked back toward the living room, handing Ignus over to Volcan with a fond chuckle.

Volcan accepted Ignus into his arms, holding him carefully as he cradled him close. Ignus’ attention remained fixated on the food, his mind still caught in the pull of the hunt. But Volcan’s warm hand slid gently over his belly, the touch soothing and familiar. The soft scratch of his father’s fingers broke through the fog of instinct, and Ignus blinked a few times, his focus returning to the present.

He giggled, the playful touch bringing him back from the trance. “S-Stooop! That tickles!” he squealed, squirming in his father’s embrace, his tail wagging as he laughed.

"Well at least that heightened instinct doesn't take away your love of a belly rub," he said, turning Ignus around to face him. "How are you feeling, son?"

“Better I guess.” Ignus answered. “Uhm… I’m sorry for breaking that doll by the way…”

Volcan chuckled. "It's just a toy, kiddo. I can always get you another one if you want one."

Ignus smiled softly, leaning up and giving Volcan a few licks along his cheek. “Right now, I just want some food in my tummy. I’m huuuuungry.”

"Food will be ready in a bit," Volcan promised. "Once you're fed, I have an idea. Maybe we can help you with these instincts by burning off some energy. What do you think?"

“That could work,” Ignus agreed, nodding a few times before giggling and assailing the Blaziken with a relentless lick attack all over his face, tail wagging quickly as he showered his father with affection.

Volcan laughed as Ignus licked him. "Well glad to see you're still your loving self, drowning me with your kisses," he remarked in jest.

“Oh, that’s not the only thing you’ll be drowning in once we get to Hadleigh, honey,” Luke called back, looking over his shoulder and grinning suggestively at his husband. “For now, you two better get yourselves to the table. Breakfast is almost ready.”

"On our way love," Volcan said, picking up Ignus again as he stood up from the couch, bringing him over to the table. "What're we having?"

“Oatmeal to start, with a healthy blend of eggs, toast and assorted greens.” Luke answered as he poured the oatmeal into three bowls and brought them to the table, then brought the main dishes minutes later while they were munching on their grains.

Ignus' mouth watered as the main dish was set down in front of him. He licked his chops, eager to dig in the way he had the day before. But just as he was about to pounce on the food, Volcan shot him a look—a silent reminder. Ignus paused, taking a deep breath to steady himself. Slowly, he gathered his composure and began eating his meal in a more measured, polite manner, as he’d been taught. Volcan gave him an approving nod, his expression softening, before he, too, began to eat as he normally did.

After giving their breakfast some time to settle, Volcan led Ignus outside. The morning air was crisp, and Volcan was ready to put his plan into action. He guided Ignus over to the side of the house—the same spot where they had played chase the day before.

“Alright,” Volcan began, his voice steady but encouraging. “Now that you’re fed, the hunting instincts should be a bit quieter. But I think the best way to help you temper them is to let yourself experience them—live them for a bit.” He turned to Ignus with a determined look. “We’ll burn off some of that steam—and that battle instinct Jora talked about last night.”

“Okay, sure,” Ignus replied, but then his ears twitched and he glanced up at his father with a concerned look. “W-wait a minute… are we…?”

Volcan grinned, stepping into a wider stance. “It’s the best way to do it, son. Don’t worry—I can take whatever you throw at me.” He gave Ignus a reassuring smile. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Ignus hesitated, eyes flicking from his father’s stance to his face, searching for any hint of seriousness. “I... but…” He gulped, lowering his gaze for a moment. “I don’t want to fight you, Dad. I don’t want to hurt you. And even if I did… you’re like… the hero who saved the world. I can’t compete with that.”

Volcan’s expression softened, and he knelt down to Ignus' level. “You’re not going to hurt me, I promise. And remember, this isn’t a real fight—it’s just exercise. A way to let those instincts out safely. We’re doing this together.”

Ignus looked into his father’s eyes, reading the sincerity there. Slowly, he nodded, a little more at ease. He widened his stance, lowering himself to the ground, ready to give it a try.

After a few seconds, the Rockruff started charging forward in a zig-zag pattern, then darted under Volcan’s legs and bounded off the nearest wall, beginning his assault with a Bite attack. Volcan was quick though, bobbing out of the path of Ignus’ attack. Not wanting to do his son any serious harm, he didn’t retaliate using an actual attack, resorting only to one light touch to Ignus’ side as he passed before stepping back.

Ignus came to a screeching halt as he passed by Volcan, quickly turning around and stomping his forelegs into the ground. Small pebbles rose up around him, and with a stern bark, he launched the pebbles with Rock Throw before charging in after them to attack Volcan directly. This time, Volcan did strike back, igniting his hands with Dual Chop and striking the pebbles out of the air, save three that managed to push through, making him wince.

But the Blaziken only smiled. “Nice one, son,” he said, reverting to his defensive posture. “Keep it up!”

“I’m not done yet!” Ignus barked, still charging at Volcan. He then skidded to a halt directly in front of his father, kicking up dust and sand in order to blind him with a Sand Attack, then darted to his right flank and leapt at him with another Bite at the ready.

Volcan wasn’t prepared and didn’t see Ignus coming in time to avoid him. He put up his arm defensively, and Ignus managed to land his bite. “Ye-ouch!” He exclaimed, recoiling from the strike.

“Gotcha!” Ignus growled, his voice muffled as he kept a firm grip on Volcan’s arm with his teeth. His battle instincts began kicking in and he began to shake his head back and forth violently as if he were trying to tear apart his prey. Volcan, instinctively, swung his arm until Ignus finally let go and managed to toss him off. His arm, thankfully, hadn’t taken too much harm from the bite - being a Fighting-type gave him a natural resistance.

“Ignus! Remember, temper your fury!” Volcan called. “Let it fuel you but don’t let it control you!”

Ignus kept growling despite Volcan’s statement, looking right at Volcan as if he aimed to rip his throat out. However, his sense of reason started to return when he tasted blood on his tongue, and he immediately let go of Volcan and scooted away from him.

“D-Dad I’m sorry!” He whimpered, seeing the bite marks on his forearm. “I-I’m sorry, I didn’t!”

“It’s okay son,” Volcan hastily tried to reassure him, showing Ignus his arm; the bite marks were visible, but his skin had held against the pup’s teeth. “You didn’t do any real damage; see? I asked you to fight me, and I knew there was a possibility, but I’m not really hurt.”

The Rockruff gradually started to calm down, taking a deep breath before letting out a heavy sigh. "Dad… I don’t think I’m ever gonna really control these wild urges…”

Volcan shook his head, his voice gentle but firm. "Self-control isn’t something mastered in a day, son. It takes discipline—and patience. But first, you need to come to terms with it. Only then can you really learn to control it."

"But it scares me, Dad!" Ignus barked desperately, his voice wavering. "What if I go wild and end up really hurting someone…?" His eyes searched his father’s face for reassurance, but the fear still lingered.

“That’s exactly what we’re working to prevent,” Volcan replied softly, sitting down beside him. "You are our son—mine and Luke’s—but you were also born of the wild. It lives inside you, a part of you. But if you’re afraid of it, it’ll be that much harder to control."

Volcan paused for a moment, looking down at his hands. "It’s much like the grief I carry every day—my biggest failure. A failure that lives on in me..."

Ignus tilted his head, confusion clouding his face as he looked up at his father. "What do you mean by that, Dad?" he asked quietly, taking a cautious step closer.

Volcan let out a long breath, his eyes distant as memories surfaced. He sat cross-legged and motioned for Ignus to join him. "It’s a long story, son. But, for now... before I came to Azure, before we brought you into our family, I had another home. I failed to protect it."

He paused again, feeling the weight of the words, but continued. "It’s a memory I still carry with me, one that could’ve easily broken me. It’s a pain that could have made me give up fighting altogether."

His expression hardened with quiet resolve as he spoke again. "But I chose to use it—to make sure that what happened to me never happens to anyone else. It may not be the same as what you’re dealing with, but the principle is the same: to turn a weakness—turn my fear—into my strength."

Ignus listened intently, the weight of his father’s words sinking in. After a moment, he spoke softly, repeating the words to himself. “Turn weakness into strength…”

Volcan smiled faintly, reaching out to rub his son’s cheek affectionately. "You’ve got it, son. It’s not about pushing your fears away. It’s about embracing them, learning from them, and using them to become stronger."

Ignus blinked up at him, still processing. "What about Papa? Does he have something like that too? A failure he turned into a strength?"

Volcan chuckled softly, the sadness in his eyes softening as he thought of Luke. "That’s something you’d have to ask him about," he replied, a knowing smile on his face. "But just know this—whatever fears or doubts you have now, I know them well. The fear of whether or not you’ll be strong enough. But you will be. And I’ll be with you every step of the way."

Standing up again, Volcan’s expression shifted into one of calm focus. He assumed his fighting stance once more, his eyes locking onto Ignus’s. "Now… Let’s continue. But this time, don’t stop unless I tell you to."

Ignus took a deep breath, wiping away the remnants of his fear, and stood taller. His face set in determination, he took a step back and widened his stance, dipping his head low, his tail stiff. "I’m ready, Dad!" he declared, voice filled with resolve. "I’m giving it everything I’ve got!"

"Then come at me!" Volcan commanded, his voice firm and encouraging. And just like that, the two were back at it, father and son locked in an exercise that would help shape both their futures.

Luke watched from the front door of the house as Volcan sparred with their son. Even from his current distance he knew Volcan was holding back for Ignus’ sake, but he still encouraged the Rockruff to fight with all he had. Still, it was impressive, seeing how much Ignus was getting into it, accepting his fighting instincts but working hard to keep himself under control.

As he watched, a familiar form appeared around the corner from the house. Luke jumped, alarmed by the sudden appearance, until he recognized the sleek, reptilian form as they rose on their hind legs.

“Oh, Jora! Jeez, you startled me there.” Luke remarked, putting a paw over his chest to calm himself down. “Come to check on Ignus?” He asked.

“My apologies,” she said. “And, yes. It is nearly the noon hour,” She looked up at the sky, noting the position of the sun. “I’ve never actually witnessed a Rockruff’s evolution, and I am curious.”

“You think he’ll evolve that soon?” Luke asked, glancing up quickly to the sky as well, noting the position of the sun. “Maybe he’s meant to be a Midday form like his mother was.”

“We will know when the sun hits its zenith,” replied Jora. “Similarly last night when the moon was at its highest. He did not evolve then, so if not now, tonight, perhaps, or the zenith of the sun tomorrow. It is difficult to say for sure.”

“I guess we’ll find out,” Luke remarked, watching as his son launched another barrage of Rock Throws, followed by a feint into a Sand Attack, then went for the Bite while Volcan was distracted. “He’s really come far since we first took him in…”

“He has,” said Jora. “He’s taken to life here quicker than I or Koa did. Even learning your language so quickly… It almost seems as if he was always meant to be here.”

“Maybe it’s what fate had intended, sending him our way.” Luke added, looking up to the sky. “Just as it was when Volcan crashed into my arms when he first arrived in Azure…”

“Strange what sort of twists and turns fate places in our paths, is it not?” Jora asked, smiling at him. But before he could answer, she turned her gaze skyward again, standing upright on her hind legs and looking in Ignus’ direction. “It is time. The evolution should begin momentarily…”

Ignus and Volcan had paused in their battle, both of them sitting on the grass to catch their breaths. Other than a few scrapes and some dirty feathers, Volcan was more or less unscathed. Ignus likewise didn’t have a mark on him, as Volcan had been holding back - usually landing no more than a glancing blow just to keep Ignus on his toes.

But as they watched… Nothing happened. Repeatedly, Jora looked back and forth between Ignus and the position of the sun, but the Rockruff remained as he was. The light of evolution never appeared around him…

“…That’s… odd,” Luke commented, frowning slightly as he waited for the supposed evolution to take place. “It’s midday and he’s still a Rockruff…” He added before glancing at Jora for her input.

She was silent for a moment before answering. “Perhaps I was mistaken,” she said. “Perhaps the time of his evolution is still approaching.”

“So, he’s not ready then,” Luke confirmed, rubbing the back of his neck. “To be honest, part of me is… relieved to hear that. I’m frankly not sure that I’m ready to witness my boy become a man…”

“It’s an inevitability all parents face, my friend,” Jora said with a soft smile. “He may be young by your standards, but for his species, he is about to enter adolescence. Rockruff mature much quicker than some others—like yourself, for example, who remain young for much longer. Take Caulin, for instance. He’s fourteen years old, but despite being more than double Ignus’ age, in terms of their… What is the word? By-all… Bio…”

“Biology?” Luke offered, gently guiding her.

“Yes! Biology,” Jora said, her smile widening. “In terms of their biology, they are actually the same age.”

Luke blinked in surprise. “You mean, biologically speaking, Ignus would actually be as old as Caulin, even though when we first found him, you suggested he was only five?”

“Yes,” Jora nodded, “though that does reveal I was mistaken on his age. Rockruff usually evolve at their seventh or eighth summer. It’s uncommon for them to evolve before that.”

Luke hummed in thought as he began to think back to their previous conversations. “You said before that Midday Lycanroc are hunters… Midnights are warriors… Yet Ignus is showing signs of being both.” He muttered out loud. “You don’t suppose… there’s maaaaaybe a third branch we don’t know about?”

“If there is, I have not heard of it,” replied Jora. “Every Lycanroc I have ever seen was one of two forms - including Asya. She also never made any mention of others, nor did the pack Alpha whom I met on Kia He. But I confess, my own experience is far too limited to say anything definitive. All we can do is wait another night, and see if the change comes to him tonight, or at noon tomorrow.”

Volcan and Ignus returned to the house sometime later, neither realizing that noon had already come and gone during their training. Still, Ignus had not evolved. The lack of activity puzzled everyone, but they knew there was nothing else to do but wait.

Volcan went to get cleaned up in the bathroom while Luke and Jora settled into the living room, talking quietly. Volcan later joined them, but he spent most of his time playing with Ignus in the living room, picking up their card game where he and Luke had left off.

Hours passed, and they had a late lunch together. Afterward, Ignus retired to his room for a nap while his parents and Jora continued talking. The day carried on uneventfully, until, as the sun began to set, something shifted within Ignus…

It wasn’t the urge to hunt, nor the pull of battle. This sensation was different—it felt instinctual, almost primal, but in a way that couldn’t quite be understood. Ignus rose slowly, as though in a trance, his eyes distant, staring at the window as the sky began to deepen into twilight.

He hopped off his bed and walked toward the door without a sound, moving almost mechanically. As he passed through the hallway, neither Volcan, Luke, nor Jora noticed at first—until the Rockruff came into view, his gaze fixed solely on the door.

“Ignus?” Volcan called out, concern creeping into his voice.

The Rockruff’s ears twitched at the sound, but he made no other response, continuing his strange march toward the front door. Reaching it, he began pawing at the strips, his focus unbroken.

“…It looks like he wants to go outside,” Luke said softly, exchanging a look with Volcan and Jora. “But this… trance of his—Jora, is this normal?”

Jora’s gaze was fixed on Ignus, curiosity and concern battling on her features. “I… I do not know,” she answered quietly. “This is not something I’ve seen in a Rockruff before.”

“Should we… try to wake him?” Volcan asked hesitantly. “Maybe… he’s sleepwalking?”

The thought was a strange one. Ignus had never shown signs of somnambulism during the months they’d had him. The only unusual moments had been when they found him sleeping on the carpet instead of his bed, adjusting to his new home, but nothing like this.

Luke’s eyes narrowed slightly, his attention drifting to the setting sun over the horizon. He stood up slowly, a thought creeping into his mind. “I wonder,” he muttered, then walked over to the door. With a quiet click, he unlatched the lock and pushed the door open.

Without a sound, Ignus trotted outside, moving toward the center of the open field. He stopped, sitting facing the setting sun, his gaze never leaving the horizon. Volcan, Luke, and Jora stood by the door, their attention drawn to Ignus, and together, they followed his eyes to the sea, the sun dipping low over the endless waters, casting a golden glow over the expanse.

“...Midnight Lycanroc howl under the moon,” Jora whispered. “Midday Lycanroc howl united under the sun… I don’t understand.”

“What’s happening?” Volcan asked aloud.

But Luke remained silent, content to wait…

Then, as the sun dipped halfway below the waves of the great sea, Ignus rose to his feet. He inhaled deeply, his chest swelling as his lungs filled with air, then threw his head back, releasing a long, shrill cry toward the twilight sky. The sound carried on the evening breeze, echoing across the town, so clear and resonant that it could be heard not only by his family, but by their neighbors as well.

Minato’s door creaked open, and out stepped Lashanne, Minato, and Caulin, their eyes quickly finding Ignus in the distance. From the house next door, Tristan poked his head out, the Aggron’s confusion written across his face as he scanned the horizon for the source of the howl.

A few townsfolk, curious about the sound, had also begun to emerge from their homes. Among them were Degra and Claire, who immediately recognized the voice of their grandson. The elder Blaziken and Gardevoir turned their gaze upward, toward the low hill just outside, where Ignus continued his eerie cry.

The howl lasted several seconds, then abruptly ceased. Ignus took another deep breath, and in an instant, his body erupted in a cascade of white and blue lights, his form expanding as the evolution took hold.

"Luke… You were right," Jora whispered, lifting her head in awe. "Another form..."

"One that probably hasn’t been seen in generations!" Luke’s voice was full of excitement, his eyes fixed on the transformation of his son.

"Wait, Ignus is evolving?" Caulin’s voice trembled with shock. "Holy heck, he’s evolving!!"

"Looks like it," Minato murmured, a smile tugging at his lips, though his voice carried a note of intrigue. "But not into any of the forms we’ve seen before."

"So… there are other forms?" Lashanne asked, her tone just as intrigued as Minato’s.

Ignus continued to grow before their eyes, his body stretching and elongating. His tail, once curled upward, grew longer and bushier, and his ears stood straighter. His muzzle stretched out as his face took on a more wolf-like appearance. Around his neck, a spiked mane began to form, curling over his head like a mohawk, and thick, pronounced claws emerged from his paws, digging into the earth as his stance widened.

The brilliant lights that had surrounded him began to fade, and when they cleared, Ignus was no longer a Rockruff. In his place stood a large, formidable wolf Pokémon, one unlike any other seen in Azure. It was a Lycanroc, but not the familiar Midday or Midnight forms. This one bore the sleek, quadrupedal body of the Midday form, yet the spiked mane of the Midnight form—an intriguing fusion of both, with the sharp claws to match. His fur, a warm orange hue, mirrored the twilight sky above.

Then came the howl.

A long, mighty, and melancholic cry echoed across Azure. The power in it was undeniable, resonating through the town and beyond, and it seemed as though the very land itself had stopped to listen. Everyone stood frozen, their eyes wide in stunned silence, watching as Ignus greeted the setting sun with his voice. It was a call to the dusk, one that would surely be remembered by all who heard it. Only when the howl had faded did Ignus lower his head and relax, his new form standing proud against the backdrop of the night sky.

He was still for a few seconds, as if caught in a moment of quiet awe, before he seemed to become aware of himself again. Slowly, he opened his eyes, blinking a few times and noticing the arched mane above his head. He blinked again, then jolted as his gaze swept over his new form. His paws were the first to catch his attention, and then his flanks, where the orange fur now glistened in the twilight. His breath caught as he felt the difference in his growl—lower, more pronounced, and carrying an entirely new, more commanding presence.

“I… I did it,” he muttered softly, the realization of his evolution settling in. His lips curled into a broad smile, and his chest swelled with pride. “I did it...!” he repeated, his joy growing stronger by the second.

With a burst of energy, Ignus crouched low, then leapt high into the air, performing a midair flip as he reached the peak of his jump. “I did it!!! Whoohooo!!!”

He bounded around, yipping joyfully, reveling in the sheer thrill of his new body. But as his energy began to burn down, a familiar voice called out to him. “Ignus!” It was Volcan’s voice. Ignus turned to see his father standing in the doorway, a light smile mixed with curiosity on his face.

“I did it! I did it, Dad!!!” Ignus howled gleefully, running full tilt into Volcan, leaping at him with paws extended.

“HURF!” Volcan grunted as the full weight of Ignus slammed into him. Volcan crashed to the ground with a thud, the wind knocked out of him. Ignus nuzzled him, still unable to fully control his excitement, while Volcan struggled to catch his breath.

“Okay,” Volcan wheezed, still lying flat on the ground. “You are officially... too big to do that... Ow…”

Laughter filled the air, all of it directed at Volcan’s expense. All except Luke, who, when Jora turned to face him, saw his husband holding his paws over his snout, on the verge of tears. He couldn’t contain himself any longer. With a cry of joy, he quickly dashed from the front porch to join his husband and newly evolved son.

“Ignus!” Luke cried, embracing him tightly once he stepped off Volcan. Ignus returned the hug, pressing into his father with all the affection he could muster.

“I did it, Papa! I’m a Lycanroc now!” Ignus exclaimed, his voice filled with exuberance.

“Yes, you are…” Luke practically wailed, hugging his newly evolved son as if he would never let him go. “And I’m so proud of you!”

“All this time we called you our special boy,” Volcan added, finally sitting up and joining the hug. “And we had no idea just how special you really were!” He chuckled, hugging them both tighter. Then he pulled back slightly, his smile fading into a look of mild confusion as he tilted his head. “Hey… your eyes,” he said, studying Ignus carefully.

“What about them?” Ignus asked, tilting his head curiously. “Is something wrong, Dad?”

“Not at all.” Volcan placed a gentle hand on Ignus’ cheek, examining his eyes closely. “They’ve just changed colour. They’re green now. Kind of like a... shamrock green, or emerald. Like Serena’s.”

“Whoooa!” Caulin’s voice rang out as he trotted over, his eyes wide with awe. “Dang, Ignus!! You look so freaking cool with that orange coat!”

“You think so?” Ignus asked, beaming with pride.

“Hell yeah! Look at you! You’re like a walking sunset with fangs and claws!” Caulin grinned, giving him a wink. “I’d love to see anyone try to mess with you now! You’d steamroll 'em!”

“Let’s not get too carried away, Caulin,” Lashanne chimed in as she, Minato, and Tristan approached. The Delphox eyed Ignus curiously. “But I agree… That’s a great look.”

“I second that,” Minato said with a grin, crossing his arms. “Orange coat, green eyes, that mane... It’s like something out of a legend. So elegant, yet powerful.”

“So… Is this the Midday form?” Tristan asked, his claws scraping against the back of his neck. “’Cuz that mane looks more like the one Asya had… But, he’s on all fours. I thought the Midnight form stood on two?”

“This isn’t the Midday or Midnight form,” Jora said, stepping forward, her eyes full of admiration. “Ignus has become something truly unique.” She chuckled softly, a smile tugging at her lips. “And, if I may say so, rather handsome.”

Ignus blushed at Jora’s compliment, his tail swishing happily behind him. “Aww… You’re just saying that, Miss Jora,” he replied modestly.

“Pardon me,” Luke interjected with a grin and a raised eyebrow. “Are you trying to hit on my boy, Jora?”

Jora’s eyes twinkled with playful mischief. “Merely a compliment, Luke,” she replied with a smirk.

“Well, how do you feel, son?” Volcan asked.

“I feel like I can take on the whole world!” Ignus answered. “I feel stronger, faster, and tougher!” He then turned to Volcan and grinned. “C'mon Dad, let’s test this new form out! I wanna see what I can do with it!”

“Well, someone’s eager for a challenge.” Minato chuckled, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “It’s like I’m looking at another Caulin.”

“Let’s get used to your motor functions first,” Volcan cautioned with a laugh. “And see if Jora was right about those instincts dialing back so you’re more in control.” He then grinned. “Now that you’ve evolved, shall we finally be taking our holiday?” He looked up to Luke as well after voicing the question.

“Oh by all means, let’s.” Luke answered with a smile. “We’ll set out first thing tomorrow morning. That should give our boy enough time to get used to his new body.”

“Is that okay with you, Ignus?” Volcan asked, looking at their son.

“Mhmm!” The Lycanroc answered, nodding feverishly. “I’m alright with that!”

“Then I’d say this calls for a feast, in celebration of our boy’s ascendance to adulthood,” Luke added, winking at his husband. “Guess that means you’re getting two cheat days this week.”

“I’ll make up for it,” Volcan promised as he got to his feet, dusting himself off. “Jora, would you like to join us? It’s thanks to you we found out what was going on after all.”

“I’d be happy to,” she replied with a smile.

“Minato?” Volcan added, looking to his friend and his own family.

Minato arched an eyebrow and held out his paw to indicate Luke. “You think I’d pass up on a chance to get some of his food?” he asked rhetorically, then looked over his shoulder at Tristan. “You too, you big lunkhead. You want some and you know it.”

Tristan shrugged. “Sure, I could eat,” he replied with a smile.

“I guess I better go do a little shopping first then - we pretty much cleared all of our perishables for our holiday,” said Volcan. “Caulin, Ignus, you two want to come with?”

“Sure, I can help!” Ignus answered with a nod.

“Me too, but I wanna go grab Koa first! I want him to see Ignus’ new form!” Caulin added, immediately zipping to Volcan’s side.

“I think we can arrange that,” said Volcan. “Come on, let’s see how fast we can go to Jora’s place and pick up Koa, then race back to the market!”

With that, the Blaziken and the two youths broke into a gentle run, slowly at first before picking up speed, letting Ignus get a feel for his longer limbs as they headed into town. Luke, Jora, Lashanne, Minato and Tristan all watched fondly after the three until they vanished.

Then, Lashanne crossed her arms as she looked at Luke. “So… Since you discovered this new form for Ignus,” she said. “Technically means you get to name it, right?”

“I mean, I guess,” Luke answered with a shrug. “In the heat of the moment, I never really thought about what to call it, but… now that I have a moment.” He looked over to the setting sun in the distance, humming in thought. “...Midday evolves during the day. Midnight evolves at night. Ignus’ evolution triggered at sundown, so…” He tapped his paw to his chin, trying to think of the most appropriate word to use. “Let’s call it… Dusk.”

“A Dusk Lycanroc,” Lashanne repeated, testing the word on her tongue. “Yeah… Yeah, that works. I was going to suggest ‘Twilight’ Lycanroc but, Dusk flows off the tongue a little better.” She snickered. “When you get to Hadleigh, Aerendyl’s going to be all over it too.”

“Maybe the two of them should make a… book?” Jora put in.

“Yea, I think that would be a good idea. I’ll add it to our itinerary,” Luke nodded in agreement. “For now, though,” he turned and opened the door to his place. “Come and make yourselves comfortable, everyone. It’ll be a bit before Volcan and the boys return home, so I can at least get everyone some drinks while we wait.”

“Sounds good to me,” Lashanne agreed, taking Minato’s paw and walking into the house with him, Jora and Tristan following suite.

Luke held the door open for his friends, welcoming them in one after another. He turned to look out to the sea, squinting his eyes at the setting sun on the far horizon as he thought about the events over the past day… They had started the previous morning with the arrival of Serena’s newborn triplets – the dawn of a new generation. Then, at dusk of the following day, Ignus had reached his transcendent moment, unlocking a form that had not been seen before – not even by Jora, a native of the isles like Ignus before.

A new dawn… At dusk, he thought with a smile.