Eevee and Feebas Stab Each Other in the Back

"Eat. Why aren't you eating?" Xia Chen asked, looking at the suddenly dazed Eevee.

Xia Chen's voice finally pulled Eevee out of her memories. The wounds etched into her soul, wounds that might take a lifetime to heal, began to ache faintly once more.

Eevee smiled awkwardly and waved a paw. "Eevee... (I'm not very hungry today. I don't want to eat.)"

Then she suddenly remembered something and pointed at the Feebas in the aquarium behind her. "Eevee! (Feebas should eat first!)"

Seeing Eevee yield, Xia Chen suddenly understood. "Ah, I made plenty. There's enough for both of you, so you don't need to be polite."

Xia Chen pushed the plate closer and smiled. "Still, I should praise you for caring about your new companion."

Eevee tugged at the corner of her mouth. If that's what you think, there's nothing I can do about it.

But no matter what, this lady was not eating it!

Watching Eevee stubbornly turn her head away, Xia Chen revealed a gratified smile.

"All right, I really can't do anything about you. Then let the new companion have the first taste!"

As he spoke, Xia Chen picked up the Pokéblocks and walked toward the aquarium.

Feebas, who had witnessed everything from inside the aquarium, was utterly baffled.

Eating Pokéblocks was such a wonderful thing, wasn't it?

And Xia Chen's cooking was delicious too. Put the two together, and it was Bulbasaur going home—wonderful beyond words!

With that thought in mind, Feebas Swallowed the first Pokéblock Xia Chen tossed in and shed tears.

Why... was it so awful?

It was bitter and astringent. Was this really something meant for fish to eat?

Eevee, what a vicious heart you had. Feebas would remember this grudge!

"Feebas, how was it? Was the taste okay?" Xia Chen asked nervously.

He admitted that although his cooking had already reached Elite Four level, his Pokéblock-making skills were about on par with his current level as a Trainer.

Feebas slowly nodded, expressing her approval of Xia Chen-brand Pokéblocks.

Yes! Xia Chen cheered inwardly.

Looks like I really do have talent for making Pokéblocks!

He excitedly ran back to Eevee's side. "Quick, quick, quick, Eevee! Even Feebas says they're delicious!"

Eevee looked skeptically at Feebas in the aquarium, whose expression was impossible to read. She hadn't spat it out, so maybe it really was okay?

Actually, not every Pokéblock Xia Chen made was inedible. With all those combinations, it was perfectly normal for one of them to taste decent.

Maybe Feebas had just gotten lucky and eaten that one?

The more Eevee thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. So, she cautiously chose the same blue Pokéblock Xia Chen had thrown into the aquarium.

The instant it entered her mouth, the mingled bitter and astringent flavor invaded her taste buds like a venomous snake.

Eevee, who had endured countless battles and taken countless Iron Heads without shedding a tear, cried.

She instantly understood why Feebas had spoken against her conscience, but it was too late.

When a fish cried, the water knew.

When I, Eevee, cried, who would know?

Xia Chen was dumbfounded. What was with Feebas and Eevee giving completely opposite reactions?

Did the two Pokémon have entirely different taste systems?

Knowing the story of the little horse crossing the river, Xia Chen decided to try these divisive Pokéblocks himself.

He deliberately chose a blue one too. As he recalled, it had been made from Belue Berries, Cornn Berries, and Pear Berries he had picked, in a ratio of 3:3:2. The goal had been to make Pokéblocks that increased Beauty.

But in the very first second after it entered his mouth, he understood that whether these Pokéblocks could increase Beauty or not, they could never make Feebas evolve.

Because before she had the chance to evolve, Feebas might die from the poison.

The Pokéblocks made from those ingredients were practically toxic!

Xia Chen rushed into the bathroom and frantically poured Water into his mouth to rinse it out. Only after a full three minutes, when there was no strange taste left, did he come back out.

"I'm sorry. From now on, I'll be the first one to taste-test every Pokéblock I make!"

Xia Chen's sincere apology earned Eevee's reluctant forgiveness, but she thought there was an even better idea.

"Eevee—(I don't think you're cut out for making Pokéblocks. We should just buy them outside.)"

Xia Chen nodded solemnly. "Thank you for the encouragement. I'll definitely keep working hard and make Pokéblocks you'll be satisfied with!"

Eevee: "..."

It was not as though Xia Chen did not understand what Eevee meant, but he could not stop experimenting with Pokéblock production. He was still planning to get rich through it.

Not to mention that this was the only way to make Feebas evolve into Milotic.

Why was it the only way? A Prism Scale, an item worth tens of millions, would require him to extort Ethereal Mountain ten more times before he could afford one.

People with clear plans for their lives usually had Guts, and Xia Chen was one of them.

Although the Pokéblocks from his first attempt had left Feebas silent and brought Eevee to tears, how could Xia Chen possibly give up so easily?

Over the next few days, he ran experiments during the day and studied techniques at night. The Pokéblocks he made nearly filled several large boxes, and his skills finally barely crossed the threshold.

At the very least, he would no longer make Pokéblocks that Pokémon simply could not swallow like those from that day.

But for Xia Chen, this was only the beginning. He was still far from making Pokéblocks that could give Feebas enough Beauty to evolve.

While Xia Chen's Pokéblock-making skills improved, Feebas and Eevee's training did not slack off either.

The five Fairy Gems promised by the rich lady Jiang Qian had been delivered over the past few days, giving Eevee the best Fairy type training resources available at her current stage.

Then, on one unremarkable morning, Xia Chen spotted Eevee's pinkish-purple eyes "inadvertently" revealed during training.

Xia Chen immediately scooped Eevee up and smothered her with frantic cuddles. "Eevee, you're amazing!"

The significance of Eevee learning the Pokémon move Baby-Doll Eyes was far more than simply learning a skill.

It was a small step for Eevee, but a giant leap for Pokémon academia!

If the evolution method was exactly the same as in the games, then the only thing left should be friendship.

However, Eevee, who knew all the evolution conditions, was far less optimistic, but she could not tell Xia Chen directly.

She could only do her best to guide him in the future.

Meanwhile, Feebas ate the carefully formulated Pokéblocks Xia Chen made while absorbing the high-purity Water/Dragon type Infinity Energy within the Mysterious Water and White Jade Orb. She was growing at an astonishing rate.

Especially with the title ability [Dragon in the Deep] activated a few days ago—double the speed, double the happiness.

If her initial absorption rate had been like scooping up Cloud Marsh Lake's water with a bowl, then now it was at least like using a basin.

What Feebas did not know was that whether she used a bowl or a basin, the Infinity Energy she absorbed was something that Trainers and Pokémon elsewhere could not buy even with tens of millions.

The current Feebas was like a seedling that had yet to break through the soil, yet was crazily absorbing nutrients underground and spreading its roots.

When that seedling finally broke through the earth, it would surely reveal to the world a brilliance uniquely its own.