"Wait a second, there's one more."
Auron grinned, then slipped back inside to fetch another Egg—the Galarian Darumaka's.
"Guess who this one's for?"
He set the Egg, patterned with sapphire-blue markings, onto the coffee table.
Jace snorted. "Blue? Ice-type. Obviously Serena's."
Tim nodded. "Agreed."
Serena's eyes lit up, her voice trembling with excitement.
"Is it really mine?"
Auron chuckled mischievously.
"Yep. Galarian Darumaka—it's yours."
Jace blinked. "???"
"Hold on—shouldn't that be mine?"
Serena hugged the Egg close with a triumphant smile, shooting him a glare.
"Oh, please. Asking that when you already know the answer?"
Jace scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin.
"Yeah, yeah. I know it's the Ice Island form. I'm not clueless. Besides, I've still got my Charmander."
Auron clapped him on the shoulder.
"Don't pout. You've got something too—just not an Egg. Nothing that fits you yet."
From his pocket, he produced a stone veined with glowing crimson crystal.
"Here—Heat Rock."
Tears welled in Jace's eyes.
"Auron~! I knew you were the best!"
"Ugh." ×3
"Gross!" ×3
"Hey, hey, just kidding! Don't get worked up." Jace rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, realizing his joke had gone too far.
"Cut the clowning. Let's move."
Auron kicked him lightly toward the door and strode out.
"Come on."
Jace was quick to follow—better that than letting Serena and Tim walk past and each land a kick on him.
Auron's little cabin wasn't far from the pond. In no time, the group arrived.
"Old Man Milotic! Long time no see!"
His voice rang out before they even reached the water.
The elder Milotic wasn't one to hold back. The moment he saw Auron, he fired a jet of water straight at him.
Auron dodged nimbly aside.
"Ha! Missed me!"
The elder Milotic rolled his eyes, then sank back into the water, feigning indifference.
Unbothered, Auron plopped down on a rock at the water's edge.
"Where's your wife? I brought you a youngster. Let her learn from your experience evolving."
The elder ignored him, but gave a soft hum that summoned his mate. Ripples spread across the pond until, moments later, a graceful figure burst from the water.
"So beautiful…"
The sight of the lady Milotic emerging left everyone—human, Pokémon, even her own husband—dazed with heart-shaped eyes.
Snapping back to himself, Auron turned to Serena.
"Release your Feebas."
"Right!"
Serena, already brimming with excitement, immediately sent Beauty into the pond.
The Feebas drifted in, staring blankly at the two radiant figures on the shore.
"They're… so beautiful…"
As she sank into awe, her trainer's voice rang from the bank.
"Beauty, you can be just like them one day. Believe in yourself!"
The Feebas lifted her gaze toward the Milotic pair, then lowered it again, staring at her own mottled scales.
How could I ever look like them? I'm hideous…
Auron saw the doubt forming and quickly cut in. If she sank deeper into self-pity, evolution would become impossible.
"Beauty! Remember them? They're the same Feebas you met here last time. Back then, they weren't even half as pretty as you. If you evolve, you'll outshine them still."
The words earned him two murderous glares from both Milotic.
No woman could stand being told another was prettier. And no man could stand hearing his wife was outdone.
"…Uh oh."
The killing intent radiating from the pair made Auron shiver.
Beauty, still underwater, hadn't noticed. Instead, she drifted deep into her own memories—of the awed looks from strangers the last time she entered this pond… and the doubtful, mocking stares when her trainer had first released her.
Her trainer was so beautiful. Why did she end up with such an ugly Pokémon?
But then…
She remembered the day she first hatched—those shining eyes, and the voice that had said:
"Wow, you're adorable! You'll be my first Pokémon!"
At that memory, Beauty looked up through the water at Serena.
She saw her trainer's worried face. Their gazes met through the shimmering surface, girl and Pokémon bound as one.
That's it… My trainer is everything.
A faint smile curved Feebas's dull eyes.
And then her whole body was engulfed in the pearly glow of evolution.
The transformation had begun.
Everyone gasped at the bright light blooming beneath the water. Serena trembled with excitement, nearly bouncing in place.
Auron, calm and prepared, pulled out a camera he had brought just for this moment, focusing it on the pond.
The glowing orb around Feebas rose slowly, drifting toward the surface.
Suspended above the water, the light stretched and reshaped the silhouette within, lengthening the body, refining the form.
At last, the cocoon of light shattered—revealing a figure of elegance and grace.
A Milotic, radiant and divine.
Once again, everyone was stunned by the sheer beauty before them.
Serena burst into tears, laughing and crying all at once as she leapt with joy.
Milotic floated toward her trainer with a gentle smile, wrapping her long tail lovingly around Serena's waist as she was pulled into an embrace.
"You're amazing, Beauty," Serena whispered through her tears.
The Milotic gazed back at her with tender eyes.
Then—wham!
A thunderous crash shattered the moment. Everyone whipped their heads toward the source.
The elder Milotic had been flung onto the bank, rolling across the grass.
His wife, fuming, spun and vanished beneath the surface.
Moments earlier, when Beauty had completed her evolution, her breathtaking form had stolen every gaze. Even the elder Milotic had been entranced—drooling as he stared.
His wife, however, recovered faster. And when she turned her head, catching her husband in the act…
That was the end of his peace.
With a furious Water Tail, she had sent him flying onto the shore.
Dazed, the elder Milotic scrambled up, ready to dive back in and soothe his wife's temper.
Auron and the others, realizing what had happened, burst out laughing.
The humiliated Milotic snarled. Bursting back up from the water, he blasted a stream of water right at Auron.
This time, Auron wasn't fast enough. The jet splashed across his face.
He wiped the water away, unbothered, and pulled out a box of Poké Puffs. Setting it on the bank, he grinned.
"Here—thanks for helping Beauty evolve. Take these, and don't beat up your husband too badly. Men will be men, after all."
The elder Milotic's temper flared again—he wanted nothing more than to leap out and thrash Auron himself.
But before he could, his wife yanked him back under.
"Ha! Time to go!"
Auron laughed, dragging the group away from the danger.
Back at the cabin door, the four of them exchanged a look—then broke into helpless laughter all over again.
Suddenly, Serena stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Auron gently.
"Thank you, Auron."
(End of Chapter)