Both fell.

Professor Rowan later asked, “Why refuse trades when they’re faster?”

Lucas held up Specter’s Premier Ball. “Because some bonds shouldn’t be outsourced.” Want me to turn this into a full multi-chapter fanfic or create a NTEVO evolution chart for Platinum?

Specter laughed — that iconic Gengar grin. No cord. No link cable. Just trust. Riley handed Lucas a Riolu egg. But Lucas was focused on Boulder , his Graveler. On Iron Island, wild Graveler self-destructed constantly. Boulder held on with Rock Polish and Rock Blast. Then, in the deepest cave, against a wild Steelix:

Lucas looked at his team. No trade evolutions. No link cables. No strangers. Just Route 201 to Spear Pillar, walked together.

The Distortion World shattered. Lucas woke up outside Turnback Cave, Specter’s Poké Ball in his hand — still warm. At the Pokémon League, Cynthia’s Garchomp was the last wall. It outsped everyone. But Kaze, the Alakazam who never needed a stranger’s touch, held a Focus Sash. Countered with Mirror Coat. Garchomp fell.

A Grunt’s Kadabra kept teleporting out of danger. Lucas’s own Kadabra — — watched from its Poké Ball. “Soon,” Lucas whispered. “At level 37, you’ll evolve. No machine. No stranger’s hand.” Chapter 2: The Ghost of Hearthome Fantina’s Mismagius was a nightmare. Lucas had no Dark types. But he had Specter , a Gastly caught in the Old Chateau. In normal runs, Haunter was a dead end without trade. But here? At level 37, Specter would become Gengar — alone .

Pokémon Platinum (NTEVO Rule Set – Trade evolutions become level 37/40 evolutions, plus held item + level for some)