Chapter 266:
November 9th
Overcast.
The weather was turning colder. A cold front seemed to be sweeping through today, and the temperature had dropped sharply—now falling below 5°C.
On a day like this, coupled with it not being a challenge day, very few people came to the breeding house.
Instead, the number of people ordering takeout had greatly increased.
Kaede also took the opportunity to officially launch the provincial delivery service.
This excited many customers who had previously seen or purchased Energy Cubes from the breeding house.
They had wanted to buy them again for a long time but couldn't, either because of distance or other travel constraints.
Now, hearing that Kaede had started provincial deliveries, the number of orders instantly multiplied several times over.
As a result, Pidgeot was flying back and forth all day without a moment's rest.
"Finally managed to clear out the Moomoo Milk that wouldn't sell during winter," Kaede muttered to himself as he watched the busy scene. "And there's still one Pidgetto that hasn't evolved yet…"
He glanced toward the tall pine tree near the plantation and called down the last unevolved Pidgetto.
"Pidgetto?"
The bird fluttered down, looking slightly confused.
Since it wasn't a challenge day, it had been idly resting.
Kaede checked its energy levels and confirmed that it was already on the verge of evolution. "Good girl. I'll give everyone a special reward today!"
"Pidgetto…?"
Pidgetto's eyes lit up immediately. It didn't quite understand what Kaede meant, but the word reward alone was enough to make it excited.
After letting Pidgetto return to the tree, Kaede turned toward the kitchen, ready to make Silver Feather Series Energy Cubes for the Pidgeot and Dragonite.
But before he could move, he sensed a familiar psychic fluctuation behind him. Turning around, he saw Gardevoir standing there silently.
Kaede was slightly startled. Before he could speak, Gardevoir said softly, "Gardevoir~" (Brionne evolved. It wants you to come over.)
Kaede blinked in surprise. "Brionne evolved?"
"Gardevoir." (Yes.)
After receiving confirmation, Kaede's eyes lit up with joy. His heart leapt, and he almost used Psychic to fly over immediately.
Before he could move, however, Gardevoir placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Gardevoir~" (I'll take you there.)
In the next instant, Kaede's vision blurred and when it cleared, he was already standing in the plantation.
He had no time to marvel at the convenience of teleportation. His gaze immediately turned toward the Reservoir and the new Pokémon within it.
It had long, sea-blue, curly hair, soft and lustrous, tied neatly into three sections with pearl hairbands.
On both sides of its temples rested pink starfish-shaped ornaments.
Its eyes were a deep ocean blue.
Its elegant white body was long and slender, smooth in outline, with a delicate frill circling its hips, and a tail that split into a heart-shaped tip.
Without a doubt—this was Primarina.
At that moment, Primarina swam gracefully across the water's surface, like the darling of the sea itself—radiant and elegant.
"Primarina!"
Around the reservoir, several Pokémon had gathered, having heard the news of its evolution.
"Primarina~"
A clear, bell-like voice came from Primarina as it spotted Kaede. Its tone instantly brightened, overflowing with joy. It eagerly swam to shore, tears glimmering in its eyes.
Kaede quickly stepped forward to meet it before it could climb out and soil its pristine body with the ground's dirt.
He gently wiped away the tears at the corners of its eyes. "Gosh, evolution is a happy thing! Why are you crying?"
"Primarina..."
Her voice trembled slightly—she said she was simply too happy.
And it was true.
After being abandoned, she had once believed she would never evolve in this lifetime—forever weak and timid, with no confidence in the future.
It had been in despair.
She could still recall her former Trainer's regretful sigh when abandoning her on the roadside:
"There's no other way, Popplio. If you can't evolve, I can't keep you."
Those words had pierced her heart like a needle ever since.
Fortunately, back then, Gardevoir had found her, comforted her, and helped her regain hope little by little.
And later, she'd been entrusted to such a wonderful new Trainer.
Now—she had finally evolved into her final form.
"Primarina~!" (So pretty!)
Alolan Vulpix, who had followed the sounds to the plantation, saw Serperior, Gardevoir, Blaziken, and Butterfree all gathered around the reservoir and couldn't help but join in.
When it saw Primarina in the center, its eyes sparkled with admiration.
"Primarina..."
Primarina was momentarily stunned, then shyly averted her gaze, still overwhelmed by emotion.
"Dragonite?" (I think her voice is really beautiful too...) Dragonite added nearby.
"Primarina…"
Primarina's cheeks flushed an even deeper pink. She wasn't used to receiving so much praise at once.
That only encouraged the Eevee trio that had followed Alolan Vulpix.
Little Nine blinked mischievously. "Eevee, Eevee~" (So pretty after evolving—and her voice is so lovely too!)
"Eevee!"
"Eevee~!"
With one leading the way, the others chimed in, showering Primarina with compliments.
Overwhelmed, her head spinning, Primarina dove back into the water with a splash.
But as she glanced back, she caught Milotic's gentle, approving gaze from behind.
"Primarina…"
Mortified, Primarina wished she could dig a hole in the reservoir and hide forever.
Kaede, watching from the shore, couldn't help but laugh.
He then opened her data panel:
[Pokémon: Primarina]
[Gender: Female]
[Ability: Torrent]
[Potential: Purple]
[IVs: HP (20) | Attack (15) | Sp. Atk (22) | Defense (20) | Sp. Def (19) | Speed (14)]
[Strength: Lv. 41–43]
[Moves: Pound, Growl, Water Gun, Icy Wind, Aqua Jet, Disarming Voice, Sing, Alluring Voice, Bubble Beam, Misty Terrain, Hyper Voice…]
[Friendship: 99 (Likes you very much!)]
[Pleasure Value: 85 (Stop praising me, stop praising me...)]
After watching for a while longer, Kaede chuckled to himself and finally turned back toward the kitchen.