Chapter 17 - Evolution to what?

📓 Evan's Journal 📓

Month 1, Day 25

It's evening, and today's exploration is complete. I've decided—I'm going to catch a Grubbin, maybe after Thorn or Trixie evolves. Funny enough, that moment came sooner than expected. But… before I get to that, there's something else.

After we returned, I felt it. A presence. Like something—or someone—was watching me. I can't explain it, but I've learned not to ignore instincts like that. I'll need to stay alert.

Anyway, about that Grubbin—I'll go after one tomorrow.

[Pokemon: Bug catcher]

(Evan's POV)

After today's exploration, Mr. Bramble gave me free time. So here I am, at Professor Kukui's house, with Thorn and Trixie by my side. With nothing else to do, I decided to give them a dose of bugforce. As soon as I started, both of them began to glow.

They were evolving.

I didn't waste a second—I channeled more bugforce into them and activated my aura sight. The energy in the Alolan atmosphere was also being drawn into them, swirling and dancing around their glowing forms.

Minutes passed, and then it happened—the light faded. What I saw stunned me.

Just a few feet away, a wasp-like figure hovered midair, radiating silent menace. A living weapon of shadows and fire.

He looked like Beedrill… but not.

Sleeker. Deadlier.

His matte-black body was wrapped in pulsing yellow rings, his violet-veined wings shimmered with every beat. And those eyes—crimson red and faceted—seemed to pierce straight through me. His stingers, now massive and dark crimson, twitched as if eager to be used.

This was Thorn.

And then, I turned to see Trixie… and I forgot to breathe.

She looked like a dream spun from tropical stardust. A majestic, Alolan Butterfree. Her wings were oversized and stunning—shades of soft pink blending into deep rose at the edges, covered with delicate floral and hibiscus patterns. Her body had turned a gentle purple, her compound eyes gleamed with curious kindness, and her tiny turquoise mouth—complete with cute little fangs—twitched as she smiled. Her mint-green legs and claws glinted in the sunlight.

"Trixie…"

They looked amazing. Thorn looked powerful. Trixie, radiant.

"You two look incredible!" I shouted, grinning.

Then I activated my aura sight again.

Thorn's aura… dark purple, mixed with black. Not Poison—no, it felt… colder. Like a shadow. Could he be Bug/Dark or even Bug/Ghost? His potential became Deep blue.

Trixie's aura sparkled with white, green, and soft pink. Was she Bug/Fairy now? His potential became Light blue.

"Did you guys… become Alolan forms?" I murmured.

They floated toward me.

"Bee~"

"Free~"

"Nothing," I said, smiling. "I was just thinking what kind of Pokémon you've become."

"Thorn, maybe you're Bug and Dark. Trixie… I think you're Bug and Fairy."

"Bee~!"

"Free~!"

"You're both strong now. But no slacking off—we start training again tomorrow. For now, I'm taking you to Mr. Bramble and Professor Kukui to get checked."

I returned them to their Pokéballs and headed to the lab. Mr. Bramble and Kukui were inside, analyzing today's data.

Knock knock!

"Come in," Mr. Bramble called.

"Mr. Bramble, Professor Kukui—my Pokémon evolved," I told them.

"Congratulations," Kukui said, smiling. "Weren't they about ready to evolve anyway?"

"Maybe, but… you should see this."

I released Thorn and Trixie.

The professors went still, expressions mirroring my earlier shock.

"How… did this happen?" Mr. Bramble asked.

"I don't know," I said honestly.

They circled my Pokémon, inspecting them from every angle.

"You're making them uncomfortable," I said after a moment.

"Sorry," Mr. Bramble replied.

"It's okay," I said. "I just wanted to check if they're healthy."

Later that evening

After a few hours of examination, I was told they're perfectly healthy. So I returned to my room and began preparing food for my team.

Meanwhile, outside the lab…

Professor Kukui glanced at Bramble. "There's something strange about this kid—and his Pokémon. They're larger, and their types feel… different."

"I noticed it too," Bramble replied. "They may be regional variants—Alolan forms of Beedrill and Butterfree. But I still can't figure out how he managed it."

And from deep within the shadows, someone else was watching it all unfold.

-------------------------A/N------------------------------

 @Unknownlion What do you think about this?