Brian took out two Pokéballs and, before everyone's eyes, released Pidgeot and Eevee. He decided against releasing Tangrowth, worried it might cause too much of a commotion.
At first, no one thought much of it—Pidgeot and Eevee seemed ordinary enough. But the moment their data appeared, the crowd froze in shock. Even Brown found it hard to believe what he was seeing.
EeveeType: NormalGender: FemaleAbility: AdaptabilityQualification: BlueLevel: 20Skills: Growl, Wish, Tackle, Tail Whip, Sand Attack, Quick Attack, Swift, Baby-Doll Eyes.
PidgeotType: Normal/FlyingGender: FemaleAbility: Keen EyeQualification: GreenLevel: 65Skills: Tackle, Sand Attack, Gust, Quick Attack, Twister, Feather Dance, Wing Attack, Roost, Aerial Ace, Hurricane.
When they saw Pidgeot's data—already at the peak of Gym level—they were stunned. A Pokémon of this caliber was more than enough to earn someone the mayor's seat.
"B-Brian, is this really your Pokémon?" James asked, his voice trembling."Of course, Uncle. And Grandpa—are you surprised? Hahaha," Brian replied with a grin. Fortunately, it wasn't Tangrowth that appeared, or they might have fainted on the spot.
"Hahaha! My grandson truly is gifted—already a Gym-level trainer at your age," Brown said proudly. Deep down, he was certain Brian must have had a fortuitous encounter to have such a powerful Pokémon in his care.
"Even your Eevee is Blue-grade. You'll become a King-level trainer in no time," Brian's grandmother, Lishi, added.
At her words, everyone turned their attention back to Eevee. They had been so focused on Pidgeot—especially since Brian's Pidgeot was larger than average—that they'd barely taken in the details.
"You're incredible, Brian. Where did you get this Pokémon? Did Uncle find it for you?" Rowan asked. There was a trace of envy in his voice, but also genuine happiness for Brian's fortune.
"No, I was just lucky enough to get one at graduation," Brian said casually.
That answer left them all stunned once again. Brian's luck was truly something beyond belief.
"What are you planning to evolve this Eevee into, Brian?" James asked again.
"Just make it a Flareon, Brian. They're so beautiful," Rowan suggested."Hmm, Grandpa thinks it should be an Umbreon or an Espeon.""No, no—Uncle says Jolteon's the best."
"Well, which one will it be, Brian? Or did you choose Vaporeon?" Brown asked curiously.
"None of those. I've got a secret. Look—this is the newest form ever discovered," Brian said, showing Ann a photo of Leafeon.
"This—this—it's gorgeous! I want one! Where did you get this photo, Brian? I'll track down the person who owns it and find out how to evolve it," Brown said, his eyes sparkling. As a breeder and farmer, Grass-type Pokémon had a special place in his heart.
"Yes, Brian, it's beautiful. Tell us, quickly," James urged.
Everyone's interest spiked instantly. With this newly discovered evolution, they were certain Eevee's value would soar—maybe even rival a starter Pokémon. Brian then explained that the Leafeon in the photo belonged to his adopted Sister.
"So, do you know how to evolve it?" Brown asked eagerly."Yes, Grandpa.""That's wonderful. You made the right choice going for Leafeon," Brown said with satisfaction.
"Grandpa, I think you've misunderstood," Brian replied."How so? You just showed me a photo of Leafeon—surely that's the one you want?""No, Grandpa. What I mean is, if Eevee can evolve into a Grass-type, then it's likely it can evolve into other types too—like Ice, Ghost, Fairy, or even Dragon. So I don't plan on evolving it into any of the current forms." In truth, Brian's real goal was to evolve his Eevee into a Fairy-type.
"Yeah, what you said makes sense. If there really are Ghost-, Fairy-, and Dragon-type forms, that would be incredible. After all, those three are considered among the most powerful Pokémon," Brown said.
"Yeah, Uncle Brian agrees with you," James added.
"Well, Grandpa, Dad—should we start looking for a high-quality Eevee now? Once Brian reveals Leafeon, its price will shoot up," Rowan said. Unlike James and Brown, his mind was already focused on getting one before the market caught on.
"Ah, you're right. James, bring me the phone—I'll call my friend and see if he still has a high-quality Eevee," Brown said quickly, already making plans.
Seeing how rushed they were, Brian—who hadn't seriously thought about it before—suddenly became interested in selling Eevee eggs and Pokémon. He imagined the three other forms—Grass, Ice, and Fairy—displayed in his shop. Surely, they would sell like hotcakes.
After chatting for a while longer, Brian headed to the guest room to rest. Tomorrow morning, he would be visiting his other grandfather.
While Brian rested, the three Arden men—from grandfather to grandson—spent the evening browsing the web and calling contacts, trying to buy Eevee. Ever since Brian mentioned the possibility of a new evolution, they were determined to get as many as possible.
The next day, Brian said goodbye to his grandparents, his uncle James, and James's wife. Rowan was still asleep. They were reluctant to see him go, but knowing he had to visit his other grandfather, they could only escort him to the front of the farm.
"Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle, Aunt—I'm going now. Take care of yourselves," Brian said from atop Pidgeot.
"Yeah, you too, Brian. Be careful. And give my regards to Old Man Alpien," Brown replied.
"Alright, Grandpa—let's go, Pidgeot," Brian said, and the large bird took off.
The Arden family stood watching as Brian and Pidgeot grew smaller in the distance, before turning back toward the house.
Up in the branches of a tree at the edge of the farm, a girl was watching him intently. It was Clara. Her eyes burned with a mix of hostility and curiosity. She had already seen Brian's Pokémon data and knew about Eevee's newly discovered evolutionary form—and she was eager to have one for herself. Still, she couldn't understand how that bastard had become so strong.
Hmm… just watch. I'll catch up to you, and then I'll beat you. Dad will see that you don't deserve more love than me.