"Bayleef, are you alright?" Cole quickly ran over and helped it up.
"Bay~ Bay~" — I'm fine, I'm fine!
Bayleef shook its head, but though it claimed to be fine, its complexion didn't look good at all.
"I told you not to push yourself so hard. You need to know your limits, but you just wouldn't listen." Cole said helplessly, "Let me take you back to rest!"
"Bay~"
Bayleef nodded and was promptly returned to its Poké Ball.
✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲
While this was happening, Daisy was guiding Carbink in training by the pool at the center of Trevenant Forest.
In the past, Chikorita, Larvitar, and Carbink always played together, but now Larvitar had been left in Galar, and Chikorita was busy evolving, so Daisy took Carbink with her.
In fact, she had been quietly guiding Carbink on how to cultivate Fairy-type energy for quite some time.
If it wanted to transform into Diancie, it needed not only a hidden energy circuit transformation but also a qualitative change in its Fairy-type energy cultivation.
Under the guidance of the black stone, Daisy had roughly figured out a shortcut to cultivating Fairy-type energy and gradually decoded the unique Fairy-type energy fluctuations in the pool water that belonged to Xerneas.
She passed this method on to Carbink as well. Because of the similar energy fluctuations on Diancie's body, Daisy guessed that this special energy fluctuation might be the key to its transformation into this higher form!
In the center of Trevenant Forest, Daisy floated cross-legged above the pool, surrounded by pink and purple lights — the pink was the Fairy-type energy she was cultivating, and the purple was Psychic-type energy.
She was multitasking, cultivating both types of energy simultaneously.
Beside Daisy floated a small and cute Pokémon with a yellow star-shaped head and a white body.
If Cole were here, he would certainly recognize this Pokémon as the legendary Wish Maker — Jirachi.
However, this Jirachi had no physical form; what floated beside Daisy was only its spiritual body, while its actual body remained asleep inside that black stone.
Jirachi had come to the Pokémon world riding on a meteor and should only awaken when the millennium period approached.
But it had been awakened by Pidove through a coincidence, and Pidove became the destined one who could awaken it. That's why Jirachi protected that tiny pigeon when it was in danger and even helped it find a powerful backer.
The reason Pidove's Super Luck ability triggered with such a high success rate was also because of Jirachi's blessing.
Jirachi is called the Wish Star, and its abilities are closely related to "granting wishes".
It had become Daisy's mentor in cultivating Psychic Powers — a secret agreement between them that would continue until the arrival of the millennium period.
Additionally, Daisy and Jirachi had secretly agreed that when the millennium period came, Jirachi would use the power of the millennial comet to help her precious son Cole make the orchard flourish.
In return, Daisy promised to protect Jirachi's physical body until the millennium period arrived.
Currently, Jirachi couldn't fully awaken or exert its true power. If its physical body fell into the hands of evil people, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Cole remained completely unaware of the agreement between Daisy and Jirachi — at Jirachi's own request, as it didn't want anyone else to know of its existence.
Without knowing it, he would eventually receive a gift from a mythical Pokémon thanks to his mother's hard work.
Seeing that Daisy's training was progressing well, Jirachi nodded with satisfaction, then floated down to Carbink's side.
At this moment, Carbink's entire body was immersed in the pool water. It closed its eyes, striving to feel Xerneas's power in the water.
Noticing its eyelids trembling non-stop, Jirachi shouted, "Carbink, focus! How will you ever make progress if you're not concentrating?"
Hearing this, Carbink quickly focused its mind and continued trying to feel the power in the pool water.
It wasn't that Carbink wasn't concentrating — it had maintained this position without moving for more than ten hours. As time passed, its mind became increasingly difficult to focus, causing these distractions.
Jirachi had Carbink do this not only to cultivate Fairy-type energy but also to train its willpower. For a Shield-type Pokémon, strong willpower was essential.
Seeing Carbink regain its spirit, Jirachi nodded with satisfaction, then dove into its physical body immersed in the pool water.
The pool water rippled gently as the center of Trevenant Forest fell extremely quiet.
Carbink cast aside all distractions. If Cole were here now, he would certainly notice that the blue and white diamonds embedded on Carbink's body were faintly flickering with a light pink glow.
✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲
A month passed in the blink of an eye, and Larvitar, who had stayed in Galar, gradually adapted to living alone.
When Cole first left, Larvitar really had a hard time adjusting. Not to make readers laugh, but it would secretly cry at night.
After all, since birth, it had never been separated from "its father" for so long and was still very dependent on him.
The day Cole left, although Larvitar was reluctant to part, it was still a bit confused and didn't truly understand what separation meant.
At night, it lay alone in a pile of lapis lazuli, holding one piece in its left hand and another in its right, eating whichever piece it wanted. When tired of minerals, it could have a Pokéblock for a change.
In the past, it would have been overjoyed with such freedom, but now it just couldn't feel happy no matter what. Why was that? Its little brain couldn't figure it out.
Suddenly, it muttered "Cole", and then, as if remembering something, its eyes immediately filled with tears.
"Yow~ Yow~" — I miss Cole so much!
Larvitar secretly cried, but it didn't dare cry too loudly, only softly sobbing. If the Dudunsparce couple and little Dunsparce living in the cave nearby heard, how embarrassing would that be!
It felt it couldn't lose face. Cole had said that it would eventually evolve into Tyranitar, known as the "Desert Tyrant", so how could it let others see it crying!
No! Absolutely not.
But... wuwuwu... I miss Cole so much!
When the Dudunsparce couple came to check on Larvitar the next day, it resumed its cheerful daytime demeanor, even telling them not to worry about it, that it was adapting well and really liked it here.
Hearing this, the Dudunsparce couple naturally put their minds at ease.
But as soon as they left, Larvitar once again became like a frost-bitten eggplant.
To ease its longing for Cole and its friends, it went into "eat, eat, eat" mode, though when the night grew quiet, it still couldn't help secretly wiping away tears.
This state continued for more than ten days, with Larvitar spending its days holed up in the cave eating, and its nights secretly crying.
But one day, it suddenly realized that continuing like this wouldn't work. What was the point of enduring the pain of activating so many energy circuits at once? What was the point of bearing the pain of separation from Cole and its friends?
Isn't it all to become stronger?!
It had promised Cole that when they met again, it would show him a brand new self.
After realizing this, Larvitar left the cave for the first time. It wanted to venture around the mountain, as Cole had mentioned that many wild Pokémon lived there. It thought it could learn from Daisy and find wild Pokémon to train with.
Without the Dudunsparce couple knowing, it snuck into the mountain forest.
As it walked along, a Grubbin slowly crawled out from the grass in front of Larvitar, whose eyes immediately lit up.
"Yow~ Yow~" — Hey, do you want to fight me?
The Grubbin was completely bewildered by its question. Why would I fight you for no reason? You're crazy!
The Grubbin tilted its head and observed Larvitar for a few seconds. After confirming this was indeed an idiot, it slowly crawled toward another patch of grass.
Larvitar: ◝(๑꒪່౪̮꒪່๑)◜
Seeing that the Grubbin was ignoring it, Larvitar immediately got angry. It rushed over on its little feet, ran up to the Grubbin, and landed a punch right on its head.
The Grubbin was dazed from the hit, then burst into tears loud enough to rupture eardrums.
Immediately after, a group of Charjabug and Vikavolt flew out from the dense forest and surrounded Larvitar.
"Was it you who bullied our child?"
The Charjabug and Vikavolt glared angrily at Larvitar.
Larvitar: (⊙︿⊙ ")
It was stunned. They called for parents?
In an instant, the Charjabug and Vikavolt launched an attack on Larvitar. Two fists can't fight against many, and soon Larvitar was beaten black and blue.
Grubbin: (⇀‸↼‶) Hmph~
The Grubbin walked past Larvitar with its head held high.
Larvitar looked up at its retreating figure and thought viciously: Just you wait!
After the Grubbin, Charjabug, and Vikavolt had all left, Larvitar promptly got up from the ground, patted its little bottom, and optimistically thought:
I can't beat a group, so this time I'll find one without parents, that should work!
Just then, on a nearby branch, a plump Greedent stopped. It was holding a pinecone and looking at Larvitar with its round eyes, as if assessing whether there was anything worth stealing from it.
Unfortunately, all of Larvitar's belongings were stored in the cave, and it had nothing on it.
"Yow~ Yow~" — Hey, do you want to fight me?
Larvitar called out again.
The Greedent glanced at it as if looking at an idiot, then vanished into the tree canopy in a flash.
What's the deal! Larvitar pouted.
At that moment, a Corvisquire appeared in the sky, circling continuously above Larvitar's head, seemingly treating it as prey.
"Caw!!!"
With a shrill cry, the Corvisquire suddenly swooped down, gripping Larvitar's shoulders with its sharp talons, attempting to carry it into the sky.
But... huh? Why wasn't it working?
The Corvisquire flapped its wings desperately, but couldn't lift the small Larvitar even an inch off the ground.
Larvitar was simply too heavy!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Realizing it was being attacked — and by just one Pokémon — Larvitar was delighted. It waved its little hand, shooting countless sharp rocks that struck the Corvisquire at point-blank range.
"Caw! Caw!"
The intense pain forced the Corvisquire to release its grip on Larvitar.
The Corvisquire flapped its wings rapidly, trying to escape from its "prey", but Larvitar was now excited. It controlled its Rock Throw attack to form stone spears, chasing after the Corvisquire and firing non-stop.
"Caw! Caw! Caw!!!"
The Corvisquire fled in panic. Whenever it tried to fly higher to escape, Larvitar would use Rock Slide, bombarding it with a pile of stones to bring it crashing back down.
The Corvisquire was being bullied terribly! Its feathers were nearly all shot off.
Larvitar, however, was having a great time, chasing the Corvisquire all over the mountain until they unknowingly arrived at a cliff edge.
This area was home to many Corviknight, Corvisquire, and Rookidee.
The Corvisquire's pitiful cries attracted several Corviknight and more than a dozen other Corvisquire.
Larvitar was stunned again! More parents?
(▼皿▼#) "Was it you who bullied our child?"
The Corviknights glared at Larvitar.
So Larvitar was surrounded and attacked again.
After beating up Larvitar, the Corviknights even kicked it and turned to lecture the Corvisquire, "Don't try to catch these rock lumps in the future. They're hard all over and not good to eat. Next time, Dad will take you to catch those plump little Trapinch instead."
With that, the Corviknights flapped their wings and flew away with the Corvisquire, not even glancing back.
Larvitar got up, patted its little bottom, and glared hatefully at the departing Corviknights.
Hmph~ What do you know! Hard rock lumps taste the best!
On its first day out, Larvitar gained nothing and returned to the cave in a miserable state.
However, it wasn't discouraged. Every day after that, it would venture out on schedule to challenge various Pokémon. After all, everyone disliked it for being a rock lump, so even if it lost, no Pokémon would want to eat it — at worst, it would just get beaten up.
"It's just a beating, no big deal!" Larvitar thought optimistically.
After getting beaten up during the day, it would return to the cave at night to eat furiously, then fall asleep immediately.
Perhaps because it was so busy every day, Larvitar gradually had no time to miss Cole.
✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲
That day, in a small town not far from the mountain range where Larvitar lived, a traveling circus arrived.
This circus wasn't exactly a legitimate one, but it still brought joy to this small town with few entertainment options.
But no one expected that night, a violent explosion would suddenly occur in the circus. The deafening roar alarmed almost everyone in the small town.
✲✲✲
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