"Pop! Pop!"
Meowth, who had just been rescued by Purugly, was now trembling like a frightened bird. Without hesitation, it dove to the bottom of the water and refused to show its head again, as if the surface of the pool had become a dangerous battlefield.
Renjiro stood at the edge of the pool, his eyes gleaming with determination. The sunlight reflected off the water's surface, casting ripples of light that danced across his face. He clenched his fists, his voice ringing out clear and confident.
"Now is the time for you to witness a miracle!" Renjiro declared, his gaze fixed on the water. He cupped his hands around his mouth and called out, "Feebas! Do you want to defeat Purugly? Do you want to strike back?"
For a moment, there was only silence. Then, small bubbles floated up from beneath the water's surface, popping softly like tiny bursts of laughter. Slowly, the head of Feebas emerged from the water, its scales glistening in the morning light.
"Boji Boji!" Feebas blew out more bubbles, its eyes filled with a spark of determination. (I do! I want to fight back!)
Renjiro nodded, a proud smile forming on his lips. "Then tell me—are you the most beautiful Pokémon in the world?"
Feebas froze. The fierce spark that had just appeared in its eyes seemed to flicker out like a candle caught in the wind. Its fins drooped, and its gaze fell to the water below.
"I'm not… I'm just a Feebas," it answered, blowing out a few sad bubbles before sinking back beneath the surface.
Renjiro took a deep breath. He wouldn't let Feebas give up so easily—not after how far they had come. His voice grew louder, more passionate. The sincerity in his tone filled the air around them.
"No! You are the most beautiful Pokémon in the world!" Renjiro shouted, his voice echoing around the pool. "Looks? They're just the surface. They don't mean anything. True beauty—it comes from within. From courage. From kindness. From the strength to keep going when no one believes in you."
He took a step closer to the pool, his eyes unwavering. "A pretty face means nothing without a beautiful soul. And you, Feebas—you have the most beautiful soul I've ever seen."
Liu Shuyun watched this scene unfold, puzzled but intrigued. Could simple words, sincere praise, really be the secret to evolving a Feebas? She had always believed evolution was about stones, levels, or other tangible triggers. But this… this was something different.
"Gurgle… gurgle…" The water rippled again, and Feebas' head broke the surface once more. Its dull eyes now shimmered with hope. The words Renjiro spoke had reached a place deep inside the little Pokémon, a place that no one had ever touched before.
"Pop! Pop!" Feebas asked hesitantly, blowing out bubbles. (Am I really… the most beautiful Pokémon in the world?)
Renjiro knelt down beside the pool, his expression gentle but firm. "Yes. Yes, you are. Never let anyone tell you otherwise."
Feebas trembled with emotion. For so long, it had been called ugly, useless—a disappointment. But now, for the first time, someone saw it differently. Someone believed in it. And that belief filled Feebas with a strength it never knew it had.
"Boji! Boji!" (I am the most beautiful Pokémon in the world!) Feebas exclaimed. It leapt joyfully out of the water, twirling in the air before splashing back down, sending a shower of sparkling droplets into the sunlight.
Renjiro's eyes softened. The moment had come. He reached into his bag and retrieved a small, shimmering item—the Prism Scale. It gleamed with all the colors of the rainbow, as if it held the hopes and dreams of countless Pokémon within.
"Feebas!" Renjiro called, tossing the Prism Scale towards the water.
Without hesitation, Feebas launched itself from the pool and caught the scale between its jaws.
In an instant, a brilliant white light enveloped Feebas. The pool glowed as if the sun itself had fallen into its depths. Liu Shuyun gasped, her eyes wide with astonishment.
"It's evolving!" she exclaimed, unable to believe what she was seeing. Feebas—the Pokémon everyone called ugly, the Pokémon no one believed in—was transforming before their eyes.
The light slowly faded, revealing a breathtaking figure. The dull, patchy scales were gone, replaced by a sleek, off-white body that shimmered like polished pearl. Long, pink, ribbon-like fins flowed gracefully from its head, and its large, gentle eyes sparkled with intelligence and warmth. Its tail fanned out behind it in brilliant rainbow hues, stirring the water with each elegant movement.
Milotic. The most beautiful Pokémon in the world.
It glided across the pool, the very image of serenity and grace. Then, with a soft purr-like hum, it swam towards Renjiro and gently rubbed its head against his hand.
"Thank you… Renjiro…" came a soft, clear voice in Renjiro's mind.
Renjiro froze. "What… was that?" he whispered. His heart raced as he realized what had just happened. "Telepathy…!"
He quickly pulled out his Pokédex and scanned his new partner.
Pokémon: Milotic
Type: Water
Ability:
Telepathy (Can communicate with the trainer's mind and sense the attacks of allied Pokémon to avoid them.)
Competitive (Raises Special Attack sharply when a stat is lowered.)
Level: 15
Gender: Female
Moves: Water Pulse, Water Gun, Constrict, Refresh, Disarming Voice, Twister, Dragon Breath (inherited)
Renjiro was stunned. "Telepathy? That's… rare. Milotic normally has abilities like Marvel Scale or Competitive. But telepathy? And… Dragon Breath? You have the bloodline of a dragon hidden within you…"
Liu Shuyun finally found her voice again. "It really evolved… How did you do it? Was it really just flattery?"
Renjiro shook his head, a gentle smile on his lips. "No. It wasn't flattery. It was belief. Feebas didn't need empty words—it needed to see its own worth. The first step was helping Feebas recognize its inner beauty, to build confidence. The Prism Scale was just the key. Without that confidence, the scale alone wouldn't have been enough."
"I see…" Liu Shuyun said softly. Her heart swelled with admiration. Pokémon weren't just tools or partners—they had hearts and dreams, just like people. And Renjiro had unlocked that truth.
She looked at Renjiro, respect and affection in her gaze. "You're incredible. To think, I almost doubted you…"
Renjiro chuckled. "Come on. You're starting to sound like me now."
Milotic gave a soft trill, circling the pool one last time before returning to Renjiro's side. With a smile, he held out its Poké Ball.
"Rest now, Milotic. We have a long journey ahead."
The ball clicked shut, and Renjiro tucked it safely away. Now, at last, his team had grown. No longer was he just a boy with a single Beedrill—he now had a partner whose grace and strength would help him face the challenges ahead.
As they walked away from the pool, Liu Shuyun glanced at Renjiro. "So… what's next?"
Renjiro's eyes sparkled with determination. "Next? We build the future. One step at a time."
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