"Mew?"
Mew tilted its head at Lin Feng, who had suddenly begun rubbing his hands together and smiling in a strange, almost mischievous way. The tiny pink Pokémon didn't sense anything wrong, but curiosity filled its large blue eyes as it asked the same question again: "Mew?" (What's going on?)
"Uh… well…" Lin Feng hesitated, a rare moment of awkwardness crossing his face.
A few days ago, he had explained the treasures of the World Tree to Mew, and now, here he was again, thinking about them with a little too much longing.
"It's just… these leaves from the World Tree. Do you have any left? If they're expendable, maybe you could bring some along every now and then…"
For once, Lin Feng felt unsure of himself.
"Mew?"
Mew cocked its head and glanced at the teapot in Lin Feng's hand. Even without words, it could tell the water inside had been made using the leaves from the World Tree that it had given him earlier.
So it was true. Lin Feng really did want something from the World Tree.
Mew's mind started racing. If someone sneaked into the World Tree and tampered with it, could that really harm the tree itself? Maybe it needed to prepare some sort of defense, automatically warding off humans who came too close.
Thinking this, Mew's tail swished with excitement at the idea of protecting the World Tree.
Lin Feng, meanwhile, noticed Mew lingering in thought for a long moment. He worried the leaves were some rare treasure of the tree itself. He let out a small sigh, realizing that, compared to Aura, the wellbeing of the World Tree was far more important.
"Mew~"
"No worries, Lin Feng. There's plenty here. I'll bring some from the World Tree when I get back~" Mew shook its head, covering its mouth with a paw as it giggled softly. "Hehe… just wait for me."
With that, it rose into the sky and disappeared, leaving Lin Feng with a small, hopeful smile.
Plenty, huh? That meant that acquiring Aura was now just a matter of time.
Lin Feng poured himself a cup of tea. The first sip was still bitter, and he didn't awaken Aura, but the hope it gave him lifted his spirits.
It was always better to have hope than none at all.
He was just about to clear the dishes and cups from the table when a sudden surge of energy caught his attention. Turning his head, he realized it was Combusken the same one that had choked down the bitter tea earlier.
In an effort to counter the lingering bitterness, it had run to Alcremie for some cream. But the moment it ate, something extraordinary happened.
A brilliant white light flashed across its body. Its form stretched upward and expanded. Muscles grew firmer, its frame more balanced, its posture taller and more imposing.
The evolution was sudden, but somehow, no one was surprised. Combusken's body had been flickering with white light for some time; now, it was simply the perfect moment for its transformation.
When the glow finally dissipated, standing before them was a fully evolved Blaziken. Its forehead bore the distinctive V-shaped mark, long creamy plumes flowed from the back of its head, and its thighs were covered in fiery orange-red feathers. Towering nearly two meters tall, it radiated power.
Unlike many newly evolved Blaziken that appeared immediately composed and majestic, this one was still a little bewildered. It held the plate of cream it had been eating, unsure whether to finish it or set it down.
The powerful new energy surging through it, combined with its heightened vision, made it undeniable: it had evolved.
"Cha-mo?"
Blaziken looked at the plate in its hands, hesitating. Its stomach wanted to finish the cream, but all eyes were on it now, making it feel slightly embarrassed.
"Go ahead, eat first!" Lin Feng stepped forward with a laugh. "You can enjoy it don't worry about us watching."
Blaziken dove back in, resuming its feast with gusto. Lin Feng shook his head, half amused and half exasperated.
Rarely did his Pokémon evolve outside of battles. But to evolve while eating cream and then keep eyeing the cream afterward was… well, certainly entertaining.
He couldn't help but think back to his original dream: raising this Blaziken into the hero of the town, a figure of inspiration like the famous Blaziken of Kalos.
Now, watching its feathers glint in the breeze, its legs glowing bright red, its body streamlined, he realized that everything was still perfect if one ignored the way it was still eating cream with unrestrained focus.
Pokémon: Blaziken
Gender: Male
Ability: Speed Boost
Nature: Hardy (Red)
Individual Values: …
Level: 40–43
Moves: Ember, Peck, Quick Attack, Blaze Kick, Sand Attack, Aerial Ace, Sucker Punch, Brick Break, Dig, Agility, Detect, Flamethrower…
Friendship: 94
Happiness: 70 (Finally not bitter, evolved… will it eat even more?)
"Cha-mo~"
Once it finished the cream, Blaziken tested its newfound strength. Its arms and thighs looked slightly leaner but much more powerful. Gripping the muscles of its arms, it felt the hardness and energy within, and its internal fire surged with a liveliness it had never experienced before.
Glancing down, it realized the trainer it had once had to look up to now seemed slightly shorter than itself. Confidence surged within Blaziken.
"Cha-mo!"
"Running?" Lin Feng asked, surprised, then laughed. "Alright. Before lunch this afternoon, let's have a running race."
"Cha-mo!" (Winner gets barbecue!)
Blaziken's request was impossible to refuse. Lin Feng laughed and agreed. "Alright, alright. Winner gets barbecue, deal."
At that moment, Bounsweet approached with its little caretaker in tow, and Popplio swam over lazily. Both Pokémon cheered for Blaziken's evolution, congratulating it with smiles and soft noises.
Blaziken merely returned a goofy grin, then raised its fist, silently promising that it would live up to Lin Feng's dream of a heroic Blaziken, protecting them all.
This eased Lin Feng's mind. It seemed that despite its silliness, the Pokémon remembered his words.
Bounsweet had been nervous at first. After all, its friend had suddenly grown so tall and powerful. But hearing Blaziken's pledge, its pink cheeks relaxed, and a wide smile returned.
"Boon-boon~" (Yes, yes~)
Popplio looked on, a touch of envy in its gaze.
Gardevoir gently patted Popplio's head. "Garde…" (Don't worry, you'll evolve soon too~)
Popplio blinked, then nodded earnestly. It could sense that Lin Feng was expanding the plantation. The new facilities would need care, and Milotic would enjoy staying there. Once it evolved, it could assist Lin Feng in managing everything.
"Boon-boon…"
Bounsweet, still holding its little Evolutionary Stone, smiled faintly, now thoughtful. Watching Blaziken grow stronger and Popplio preparing for the future, it realized something: everyone around it was evolving and becoming more capable. Perhaps it was time for it to embrace its own potential as well.
Growth was happening, and the world was expanding before them. The question now was, could it keep up with the pace?
Lin Feng's heart swelled as he looked at his evolving team. Every Pokémon was growing, both in body and in spirit. The journey was just beginning, and the bonds he shared with them were stronger than ever.
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