The scene before the girl completely shattered her understanding.
Making a Pokémon learn a move it shouldn't be able to learn? That was something she had never heard of.
Sure, the very existence of Pokémon was already unscientific, but… Sleep Powder Growlithe? That was absolutely impossible, right?
The girl's eyes were filled with utter disbelief.
Carver smiled slightly, continuing to persuade her:
"The existence of Pokémon itself defies scientific explanation. They are incredibly mysterious creatures—so mysterious that even different species can breed with one another. And when they do, it often results in some unimaginable surprises."
Uncovering even greater potential, even breaking the limits of species itself…
The girl stood there, stunned, listening blankly.
Carver leaned forward and asked in a tempting voice:
"Well? Want to give it a try?"
Only then did the girl snap out of the shock brought on by Sleep Powder Growlithe.
She looked at the Poké Balls in her hand and recalled the moves she saw listed on the chalkboard outside:
Baby-Doll Eyes, Swords Dance, Sleep Powder…
Baby-Doll Eyes was whatever.
But if her Swampert could learn Swords Dance…
The girl couldn't help but imagine the scene of a Swords Dance-boosted Swampert dominating the competition. Her heart started beating faster.
She couldn't help but ask: "Can Swampert learn Swords Dance?"
"Unfortunately, we can't teach Swampert the move directly, but we can achieve it through breeding," Carver replied.
He paused for a moment and added: "However, the breeding house just opened, and we don't have a Ditto yet. You'll have to provide a compatible Pokémon for breeding."
"I understand!" The girl immediately took out another Poké Ball: "Come out, Quagsire! And you too, Swampert!"
Two flashes of white light later, a majestic Swampert and a cheerful Quagsire appeared in the breeding house's lobby.
Carver's eyes scanned over the two Pokémon.
[Pokémon: Swampert]
[Gender: Female]
...
[Pokémon: Quagsire]
[Gender: Male]
...
Both Pokémon belonged to the Water 1 Egg Group, making them compatible for breeding. Not only that, they were of opposite genders, which was perfect for the process.
"Quagsire and Swampert are already in love!" the girl said cheerfully. "So, you don't need to work on their relationship!"
Carver nodded. That would indeed make things easier.
Although forcing two Pokémon to breed might sound a bit odd, the reality was far from human understanding.
Pokémon breeding is very different from typical biological reproduction. When two Pokémon love each other and spend time together, their energies intertwine and leave their bodies, merging outside to form a Pokémon Egg.
Of course, even if the two Pokémon weren't deeply in love, as long as they spent enough time together, their energies would still naturally fuse, resulting in an egg.
This process was not controlled by the Pokémon themselves—it was the attraction of their energies.
This was how Pokémon reproduced.
"Alright, leave Swampert and Quagsire here. Come back in a few days, and we'll see how things are going," Carver said.
Building up their connection would take time, and producing an egg wouldn't happen overnight. During this period, most trainers would also choose a boarding service for their Pokémon.
At most other breeding houses, the cost of boarding a Pokémon for a day was about 3,000 Pokédollars, and breeding cost even more.
The girl paid the fee, said a few heartfelt words to Swampert and Quagsire, and then left, filled with anticipation.
As soon as the trainer left, Swampert and Quagsire turned their gaze to Carver.
"Alright then, let me and Bewear take you to your new home for the next few days!" Carver said cheerfully.
Swampert and Quagsire had no objections. After all, their trainer had already given her approval.
They followed Carver and Bewear, who opened the small wooden door behind the counter.
The moment it swung open, an expansive, lush back garden was revealed.
It was full of vibrant greenery and thriving plants—a truly lively and flourishing place.
Carver led Swampert and Quagsire to the lake and instructed Bewear to provide them with food daily.
Right now, the entire lake—no, the entire backyard—was occupied solely by these two Pokémon.
A male and female—alone, in a serene environment… It was only a matter of time before Carver would find an egg in the bushes during his morning strolls.
But before that, he needed to boost their happiness and friendliness.
He brought over food and berries, placing them by the lakeside.
Swampert and Quagsire had waded into the water, with just the tops of their heads peeking out.
When they heard the sounds, they turned around.
Carver began showering them with compliments and spoke words of affirmation: "Your trainer must have raised you both with a lot of love. You look so strong and healthy!"
Pokémon were simple creatures. Even the towering Swampert loved being praised.
Paired with the berries and snacks, small sun icons of happiness began to appear above their heads.
Their friendship and happiness levels visibly increased.
Soon after, a few lines of text appeared before Carver's eyes:
[Swampert's mood increased, Happiness +30, received Swampert's gift: "Protect" TM.]
[TM (Protect): A Normal-type move that allows the user to block any attack. If used consecutively or if there's a large power gap, it may fail. Usable: 9999/9999 times.]
[Quagsire's mood increased, Happiness +35, received Quagsire's gift: "Toxic" TM.]
[TM (Toxic): A Poison-type move that badly poisons the target, dealing increasing damage over time. Usable: 9999/9999 times.]
Two very practical moves for beginner and intermediate trainers.
Carver was satisfied and smiled at the two Pokémon:
"I won't disturb you two anymore. For the next few days, just get along and enjoy yourselves! If you need anything, just come find me or Bewear."
From the look of things, that girl seemed to be a fairly skilled trainer.
Since it was his first time providing egg-hatching services, Carver didn't mind adding a little bonus.
Not only would the Swords Dance Swampert be a surprise, but if the egg's potential was good enough, he wouldn't mind teaching it Sleep Powder too.
When that trainer took her new Swampert into high-level competitions, the sight of a Sleep Powder-using Swampert would certainly shock the audience.
And when people inevitably asked how she did it…
The name of Carver's Breeding House would spread across the competition circuits.