After finishing his thoughts about Tyrunt's evolution, Theo turned around and gently scooped up the little Feebas who was playing nearby.
The tiny fish clearly enjoyed the affection, nestling obediently into the crook of his arm.
Its smooth, slippery tail fin brushed lightly against his wrist every now and then, carrying a cool, moist sensation that was so pleasant one could hardly bear to pull their hand away.
Tyrunt saw this and waddled over on its short legs, round eyes gazing up at Theo as it let out soft, sticky growls, clearly also asking for a hug.
Theo couldn't help but laugh.
So he simply sat down on the floor and gathered both little ones into his lap.
He unlocked his phone and searched for a video. Moments later, the screen lit up with the image of Wallace's Milotic, performing its grand opening routine back at the Pokémon Contest.
In the circular water arena, Milotic's creamy-white body traced smooth, flowing arcs beneath the crystal-clear water.
The pink fin crest atop its head fluttered with elegant grace, like a silk ribbon drifting through the air.
Ripples of water spread outward, interwoven with the gleaming trail of an Ice Beam, forming a dazzling, crystalline curtain of shimmering light.
With a gentle sweep of its tail, countless droplets scattered into the air. Under the illumination of the stage lights, refracted through the icy veil, they bloomed into radiant halos.
Thunderous applause and cheers rose from the audience below, so enthusiastic and overflowing that even through a screen one could feel the electrifying atmosphere of the live venue.
Feebas was immediately entranced.
Its big round eyes widened to their limit, and it even softened its breathing—afraid that the slightest sound might disturb the breathtaking scene before it.
Tyrunt also squeezed its head closer, staring fixedly at Milotic's fluttering tail fin. But what filled its little mind was a completely different obsession—
'It didn't get to take a bite today… what a waste!
Something that pretty must taste special!'
As it imagined this, drool began trickling from the corner of its mouth, dripping onto Theo's sleeve. It even smacked its lips unconsciously.
The more Tyrunt watched, the more tempted it became.
Its short legs kicked restlessly in Theo's lap before it suddenly lunged forward, jaws wide open, aiming straight for the phone screen.
It let out a soft little growl—clearly, not getting a bite of Milotic's tail fin earlier had become an obsession.
Theo reacted instantly.
He pressed a hand on Tyrunt's head, stopping it mid-pounce. Tyrunt twisted unhappily, its big head still trying to push forward.
Helpless, Theo carried it aside, dug through his backpack, and fished out some Pokémon food to distract it.
Meanwhile, Feebas remained exactly where it was—quiet, unmoving, not even sparing the troublemaking Tyrunt a glance.
Its eyes were glued to the Milotic on the screen, unwilling to blink even once.
"Feebas," Theo approached softly, brushing his fingers across the purple-tinted scale on its back, "you really liked Milotic today when we saw it in the waiting room, didn't you?"
Feebas immediately nodded and rubbed its head against his palm, its eyes overflowing with longing and admiration.
Right then, the Milotic in the video unfurled its tail.
The radiant scales shimmered with dream-like colors.
Feebas stared, completely spellbound.
Its own tail fin unconsciously swayed as if attempting to imitate that same graceful motion, as though yearning to possess such beauty itself.
Seeing this, Theo pressed pause and moved the screen closer. Pointing at the Milotic in the video, he said gently:
"Do you know? That's your evolution form."
Feebas jerked its head up, staring at him with disbelief.
Its eyes grew even rounder, as if trying to confirm whether he was speaking the truth.
Could it really become something that elegant and beautiful?
"Of course it's true," Theo chuckled, lifting Feebas into his arms. "Why would I ever lie to you?"
He carried it to the mirror, letting it clearly see the scale on its back.
"Look at this scale right here. This came from Milotic's tail fin. If you couldn't evolve into it, how would this scale blend into your body?"
Feebas followed his fingertip and saw that the purple portion had already spread across the center, merging perfectly with its own scales.
The part that had not yet merged shimmered faintly with rainbow light—an unmistakable resemblance to the glow of Milotic's tail.
Feebas froze, staring at the mirror.
The confusion in its eyes slowly transformed into a bright, hopeful gleam.
Theo continued:
"Back in today's Contest, when you performed, the whole audience was cheering for you. You heard them, right?"
Feebas wagged its tail happily—of course it remembered.
The applause and cheers echoing through the hall had filled it with pride and joy like it had never experienced before.
"If next time, you stand on that Contest stage as a fully evolved Milotic…
If you open your beautiful tail fin in front of all those people—can you imagine what that would look like?"
His voice carried a hint of gentle temptation, guiding Feebas through the image.
Feebas's eyes instantly lit up.
It glanced at the frozen frame of Milotic, then at its own reflection in the mirror.
Inside its little head, the scene began to unfold—
The spotlight shining directly onto its body…
Soft white light wrapping around its elegant, flowing form…
A shimmering tail fin sweeping through the air, scattering brilliant glimmers with each movement…
The audience below staring in awe, their cheers erupting so loudly it threatened to shake the roof…
The more it imagined, the more excited it became.
Feebas wriggled in Theo's arms, its tiny tail fin patting against his arm in rapid rhythm, so animated that Theo could barely hold onto the little creature.
"You will be even more beautiful than that," Theo said softly. "Because you're unique. A rare shiny Pokémon. No one can compare to you."
Hearing words like "unique" and "even more beautiful," Feebas lit up like someone had filled it with pure energy—its bright eyes practically shining on their own.
As Theo painted the future of its evolution into Milotic—praising, encouraging, and inspiring it—
A gurgling sound suddenly rose from beside them.
Tyrunt had finished an entire bag of Pokémon food and was now sitting there with its ears perked up, listening to Theo's words with clueless curiosity.
Its little eyes stayed locked on Feebas's softly swaying tail fin.
Nobody knew what wild idea formed in its tiny head, but suddenly it lunged forward—
—and chomped down on Feebas's tail!
Feebas jolted violently from the shock.
Its tail flapped in a panicked frenzy—slap slap slap!—smacking Tyrunt right in the face over and over.
Theo watched the two little ones squabble helplessly, though plans were already forming in his mind.
Since he had already planted the image of Milotic's future inside Feebas's heart, the next step was to continuously nurture that longing—constantly fueling its desire to become beautiful.
And when the time came, on the Contest stage, Feebas would complete its most dazzling transformation.
Just as he was about to step in and separate the two rowdy Pokémon, his phone vibrated with a new message from Steven.
Steven: "The Contest has ended.
What city are you heading to next?
Before you leave, come by Devon Corporation again.
My father wants to see you one more time…"
(End of Chapter)