Owen and Eevee spent the entire afternoon engrossed in watching battles. Even after returning home, Eevee couldn't stop thinking about it. However, asking her to battle now was simply too much.
Growl, Tackle, and Tail Whip... those were the only moves Eevee currently knew.
Eevee truly wasn't naturally built for combat. Take the Nidoran (Male) they had seen earlier; its body was covered in poison.
An Eevee that only knew Tackle would be no match and would instead find itself in a very dangerous position.
While Eevee's gentle nature made her easy to raise, achieving outstanding strength without evolving would be a significant challenge. This was Owen's true test.
That evening, when Owen's parents returned, Eevee had finished her last bowl of milk and was quite energetic after an afternoon nap.
The moment his mother walked through the door, she scooped Eevee up, cooing "sweet baby" and "precious darling," leaving Owen with a forehead full of black lines.
Faced with his parents "stealing" his partner's affection, Owen found he... had no way to stop them. Still, seeing them love Eevee was a good thing, and once Eevee realized they were Owen's family, she behaved perfectly.
Seeing how well-behaved she was, Owen finally hit upon his next move.
As the saying goes, interest is the best teacher. Eevee didn't have the naturally aggressive or irritable temperament of a Spearow or Beedrill, but if he trained the right hobbies for her, he might achieve the same results!
From their afternoon experience, it was clear that little Eevee didn't dislike battling—in fact, she was intensely curious. This was his entry point.
Binge-Watching for Greatness
The next day, Owen chose to stay home. He and Eevee spent the day inside... drinking milk and binge-watching movies!
This is the life.
But this wasn't just idle time. Owen was being strategic with his selections. Their first watch was a film titled "Eevee's Great Adventure."
Since the arrival of Pokémon, the world's film industry has changed drastically. This movie was a classic example: a famous adventure film about a stray Eevee that meets a hot-blooded Trainer. The duo accidentally wanders into a Secret Realm. Throughout the story, they face numerous dangers, but thanks to Eevee's wit and bravery against fierce Pokémon, they escape and forge a deep bond.
Being a cinematic work, this Eevee displayed incredible combat instincts, outsmarting powerful foes with sheer coolness.
As they watched, Owen noticed his Eevee was completely hooked, her face filled with longing.
She looked exactly like this: ㄟ(≧◇≦)ㄏ
Owen knew he had made the right call. Starting training immediately would have worked—Eevee wouldn't refuse him—but the efficiency would have been low. It was better to cultivate her interest first, making her want to get stronger.
From "Eevee's Great Adventure" and "Mystery Dungeon: Pikachu's Rescue Team" (aimed at children) to replays of the World Pokémon League Conference, the two explored various genres.
Compared to the movies, the League battles were more intense, high-stakes, and real. Even Owen felt his blood boiling during the classic matches, let alone Eevee, who was fresh off the cinematic "brainwashing."
"Vee Vee"
Owen leaned back on the sofa while Eevee occasionally curled up in his lap or lay wrapped in her Silk Scarf. Just like that, another day passed.
On the third day, after a light morning jog, they returned to their marathon. There were too many films in the world to ever finish, but Owen actively filtered for the most suitable ones.
Ding...
While watching, Owen's phone chimed. It was Tiffany.
Tiffany: "Still watching movies with Eevee?"
Owen: "Yeah... Eevee seems to have fallen in love with it."
Tiffany: "Pfft, alright. But remember to take her out for some fresh air too. By the way, are you free on the 1st? Our Psychology Club is planning a trip. Once school starts, we won't have many chances to hang out."
Owen: "I'm free. Where to?"
Tiffany: "The West Coast Resort in Shanghai."
Owen agreed immediately. They set the date for four days from now. Taking Eevee to the beach sounded like a great idea. Tiffany was right; they couldn't stay cooped up forever.
"Vee?" Eevee chirped.
"Oh... movie's over? Next one, next one."
"Actually, let me teach you how to use the remote." Owen looked at her. "You're a mature Eevee now; you should learn to use the remote yourself."
Eevee: "..."
Looking Ahead
It had been three days since little Eevee was born. In four days, she would likely finish her Newborn Phase and enter the Growth Phase.
The Newborn Phase for Pokémon is exceptionally short, followed by a very long Growth Phase, and a quick decline toward death once they reach old age.
Once she entered the Growth Phase, Eevee could start training. Owen had a plan ready, which he decided to implement after their trip.
While Tiffany suggested waiting until school started to follow the curriculum, Owen felt that would put them behind.
Following the crowd and training hard might make him one of the best at Fairview High, but Fairview wasn't even top-tier compared to the key high schools in the province, let alone the country. Owen wanted to try his own path.
The rookies at Fairview were elites from the city and surrounding towns, but resources there couldn't compare to metropolises like Shanghai or Beijing.
You could see it in the number of Professional Trainers they produced. Around Shanghai, there were countless Trainer clubs, ancient dojos, battle tournaments, and private Breeding Houses.
If Owen limited his horizons to Fairview, he'd be doing a disservice to the knowledge in his head.
After making his decision, he told his dad about the trip. His father agreed quickly and transferred funds for travel, food, and fun.
To be honest, Owen's parents wouldn't have let him travel so far alone, but knowing he was with classmates made the difference. Otherwise, Owen and Eevee would have been stuck wandering around Fairview.
◆ Bonus & Support ◆
◆Read 60+ Chapters ahead on my P@treon --> patreon.com/Master_Studios677
◆1 Bonus chapter for every 10 reviews
◆1 Bonus chapter for every 60 Powerstones