"Hm?"
Lin Feng froze for a moment when Gardevoir suddenly hugged him tightly. When he realized what was happening, excitement spread across his face.
She had completely mastered the Nightmare energy. That meant she no longer had to leave the sanctuary every night.
For the development of the sanctuary, this was a massive step forward.
And on top of that, the system's reward this time was incredibly generous.
[Congratulations! Gardevoir's Joy increased from 40 to 90. Rewards: 3 Advanced Rare Candies, 10 bags of Premium Miracle Fertilizer, and a Psychic Gem (when held, Psychic-type Pokémon can draw upon its power to unleash skills beyond their normal limits. Number of uses depends on the Pokémon's strength).]
An item perfect for critical moments.
But as Lin Feng tried gently to push Gardevoir away, he realized she hadn't let go. When she finally released him, he noticed her eyes were glistening faintly with tears.
"Gar…"
The tears quickly faded with the breeze. Embarrassed, Gardevoir touched her hair and murmured, "Gardevoir…" (Sorry, Lin Feng. I just got a little emotional.)
"It's fine. This is something worth celebrating. Congratulations, Gardevoir." Lin Feng's heart was still shaken, but he quickly composed himself and smiled warmly.
He knew how long this had been troubling her.
After all, her Joy value had rarely gone beyond sixty, though it never dropped too low either. Most of the time, it lingered between thirty and sixty.
Even now, after spiking up to ninety, it quickly slipped back down to seventy.
"Gar…"
Gardevoir gazed at Lin Feng, her smile even brighter. After a moment, she floated into the air with a playful twirl. "Gardevoir~" (Looks like I don't need to leave anymore. Shouldn't you prepare a room for me?)
Like most Pokémon that had grown up in the wild, she didn't enjoy staying inside a Poké Ball for long.
"Oh, right…"
Lin Feng nodded, thinking for a moment. "Come with me. You can use my old room."
He currently lived in his parents' bedroom. After their disappearance, he had moved all his things in there since his own childhood room was too small.
Now that Gardevoir no longer had to leave at night, she definitely needed her own space.
He led her to the room next door and opened the door.
It was small, with a floor-to-ceiling window. Since he had cleaned it previously for Mewtwo, the place was neat and free of dust. Though, when he checked later, he realized Mewtwo had never stayed there at all everything was untouched exactly as he had left it.
"Gar~?" (This will be my room?)
Gardevoir looked around curiously, her expression softening with a youthful glow.
A small desk, a bed, and a wardrobe. On the bed sat a neat row of Pokémon plushies.
There were quite a few of them: Eevee, Charizard, Sprigatito… and then she saw it.
Her own first-stage form.
It was a Ralts plush, head lowered, hands clasped behind its back, with its face half-hidden by its hair and two bright red dimples on its cheeks.
Lin Feng spotted it at the same time.
His face flushed crimson. Quickly, he gathered the plushies, stuffed them into a bag, and shoved the bag into the wardrobe. He scolded himself silently. Why hadn't he put them away before?
Gardevoir only chuckled softly, shaking her head. She didn't say a word, simply continuing to examine the room.
On the wall above the desk hung an Eevee poster. The desk itself was stacked with books on Pokémon theory.
A simple, modest little room.
But Gardevoir found herself liking it. She could still sense the traces of Lin Feng's childhood here.
After laying out the bedding, Lin Feng smiled. "This will be your room. It's a bit plain right now, but if there's anything you'd like, just tell me."
"Gar~" (I like it here.)
Lin Feng let out a breath of relief. "Good. I'll let you rest then."
Before leaving, he couldn't resist sneaking one last look at her Joy value.
[Pokémon: Gardevoir]
[Gender: Female]
[Ability: Telepathy]
[Potential: Gold]
[Level: 86–89]
[Moves: Growl, Confusion, Mystical Fire, Double Team, Misty Terrain, Disarming Voice, Psychic, Draining Kiss, Moonblast, Future Sight…]
[Notes: A rare shiny Gardevoir who has fully mastered the curse bestowed by Darkrai, turning it into her own weapon to plunge enemies into nightmares.]
[Affection: 94 (She cares deeply about your feelings.)]
[Joy: 75 (She likes her new home.)]
"So her affection has already reached ninety-four?"
Lin Feng marveled to himself, then headed off to his own room.
After he left, Gardevoir lingered in place for a moment before drifting to the wardrobe. One by one, she pulled out the plushies Lin Feng had hastily hidden.
Eevee, Charizard, Milotic, Snivy, Rayquaza…
As she studied them, the corners of her lips curved into a quiet smile.
Last of all, she picked up the Ralts doll.
"Gar…" (So these are the ones he cherished the most?)
…
Meanwhile, on his way back to his room, Lin Feng muttered to himself.
"Now that Gardevoir has completely mastered Darkrai's nightmare power… will Darkrai sense it?"
He shook his head.
He had no idea whether Darkrai could detect such a thing.
But when he opened the door to his bedroom, he froze.
Alolan Vulpix, Serperior, and Alcremie were sprawled across the room, half-asleep.
But most glaring of all
Serperior had coiled itself across the bed, with Alolan Vulpix resting against its side.
"…Really? You're kicking me out of my own bed?"
Lin Feng could only groan helplessly.
And elsewhere, in the shadow of a quiet town…
A figure slowly emerged from the darkness.
Its voice was low, rasping, almost broken.
"…Strange. This power… it won't return to me?"
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