The outcome was delightful.
But the process was extraordinarily arduous.
After all, the mental barriers are high walls that many people cannot overcome.
When one starts going in circles within a dead end with oneself, normal logic becomes difficult to apply.
Things that seem completely unnecessary to dwell on to others can become like a curse dragging down the person involved.
Baimu understood this very well.
Until Chansey had the awareness itself, as a Trainer, no matter how many ideas he had, it was difficult to help the former overcome its mental weaknesses.
Therefore, when Chansey expressed a desire to try attacking, he was so happy he couldn't speak.
On the day the experiment began.
He had not yet instilled Strong Mental Will into Chansey and had no demands, whether it used moves or not.
It only needed to successfully launch one attack.
Although Chansey could already poison opponents when it came to the concept of direct or indirect harm, its subconscious had an extremely clear understanding.
It could deceive others, but not itself.
When it stood in front of Aggron and raised its hand, ready to strike, uncontrollable images of past scolding and beatings came to mind.
It seemed to be dragged into the past in an instant, with scolding voices, neither male nor female, urging it to strike, to attack.
The venomous words brought stinging pain all over its body.
They were like brands, always lurking deep in Chansey's memory, waiting for it to actively tear them open and manifest them painly in front of everyone.
At this moment.
What tormented Chansey was no longer the conscience that prevented it from harming other Pokémon but the artificially created memories, a purgatory-like past.
Its hand froze in mid-air.
No matter what, it couldn't come down smoothly.
Chansey knew that its attack wouldn't even itch Aggron, and it wasn't really harming the latter, just wanting to launch its first attack.
Yet even so, even such a small action felt as hard as crossing a chasm.
The scolding voices in its ears grew louder, and its long-healed wounds felt as though they were ripping open again, with Aggron's silvery armor constantly flickering against the cold bars of the dark environment.
Chansey's hand began to tremble slightly, and its breathing became rapid.
Despair welled up in its heart.
Unable to perform even the simplest striking movement, what use was there for such a self—
"Don't be nervous, don't rush."
A warm, big hand gently covered its head, and the soft voice, though very light, instantly drowned out the scolding that had been echoing in its mind a second before.
Warmth flowed downwards, filling its body, and the stinging pain vanished without a trace.
A new force was nurturing within.
"Relax, just like learning a new move, let's go slowly with the method of dismantling it."
"Roar~!"
"Lucky..."
Chansey slightly lifted its head, seeing the smiling faces of Baimu and Aggron, devoid of any reproachful emotions but full of unreserved trust.
And the emerging feeling inside was unquestionably a gift from the Trainer, a sensation it would never forget.
"Since contact-style moves don't work, consider remote and invisible forces. If you can accept Telekinesis, then indirect attacks with Strong Mental Will might be more suitable as a breakthrough... What do you think?"
Baimu squatted slightly to look at Chansey and said.
The latter froze.
Though it was a decision made seemingly on a whim and despite having resolved to break from the past and asked the Trainer for help with exaggerated words, in the end, it still hesitated right at the crucial moment, jittery and unable to advance.
No matter how it thought about it, it hadn't managed to meet the Trainer's expectations.
But even so, what awaited it was not blame or taunt but a warm smile and unreserved help.
"Lucky..."
Chansey's body trembled slightly.
The shadows of the past tormented it like a nightmare, still occasionally surfacing in dreams even now, bringing endless pain and hurt.
It had been... always escaping, trying to forget everything in the past in the Trainer's indulgent embrace, comforting itself that everything was over.
Indeed, those were all bygones now.
But they truly existed, clearly etched in its mind, like thorns blocking its path, preventing it from keeping up with the Trainer.
It could no longer be hypocritically ignored.
Chansey looked into Baimu's eyes, nodded seriously, "Lucky!"
Even if the thorns of memories wounded it all over, even if it suffered time and again, it would charge through, following closely in the steps of the person before it.
More unacceptable than being hurt by nightmares was not being able to stay by the Trainer's side.
Bring it on.
No matter what difficulties may come!
"It seems you're mentally prepared, so let's start the targeted training for the Strong Mental Will we've just mastered."
Baimu patted Chansey's head with satisfaction.
For the latter.
Without engaging in attack, there was little difference between Strong Mental Will and Telekinesis.
Only one could be disconnected from Spiritual Power anytime without effect, while the other could not continue controlled if disconnected.
Mastery and familiarization were straightforward.
When Chansey could easily knock down the largest among three cans with Strong Mental Will without affecting the other two, the delicate operations were also complete.