Shiny Stone

Grandpa Chen and Grandma Chen stopped teasing Dreepy and simply smiled as they headed home.

Both Grandpa Chen and Grandma Chen were, after all, League-certified Top-level Breeders.

Naturally, they could tell that Dreepy had already reached elite peak and was about to evolve.

A year ago, when their grandson suddenly said he had found an egg, neither of them had thought much of it.

After all, Pokémon hatched from eggs of unknown origin generally had little potential. They had assumed it was just a passing fancy of their grandson's.

Yet after Dreepy hatched, even Grandpa Chen hadn't recognized what Pokémon it was.

Grandma Chen had been the one to identify it: Dreepy, the pseudo-legendary Pokémon of the Galar region, which had only recently become part of the League's territory.

After examining it, the two elders discovered that this little Dreepy had extraordinary potential.

Only then had they taken it seriously. After looking into it, they found that it was also a pseudo-legendary that bloomed about as late as a late bloomer possibly could.

Its evolution level was similar to Hydreigon's, so they weren't surprised that it still hadn't evolved.

It was a pseudo-legendary, after all. That was understandable.

Just then, Grandma Chen suddenly remembered something and said worriedly, "I heard that after Dreepy evolves into Drakloak, it needs to carry another Dreepy on its head."

"And once it evolves into Dragapult, it needs two Dreepy."

"Why don't we talk to the League and see if we can trade for two Dreepy from the Galar region?"

Grandpa Chen smiled and replied, "When Shi hatched it, I already asked someone about that.

"Dreepy's evolution is actually somewhat similar to Metagross's."

"One evolves by merging, while the other evolves by splitting. The latter requires exceptional talent, but our Dreepy will certainly have no problem."

"When it evolves into Drakloak, it can split off a Dreepy to carry on its head. When it evolves into Dragapult, it'll split off another."

"The Dreepy it splits off can't evolve and depend on the larger one to survive, so you don't need to worry about that."

"Really? That sounds good, then." Grandma Chen nodded, then sighed in wonder. "Pokémon truly are amazing creatures!"

Grandpa Chen agreed. "Aren't they just? Those researchers and professors are still uncovering Pokémon's hidden secrets even now."

Just then, a three-meter-tall Swampert came sprinting toward them on two legs. Someone sat on its shoulder, waving vigorously.

"Grandpa, Grandma, I'm back!"

At his voice, Grandma Chen immediately grew excited, dropped her cane, and hurried toward her grandson.

Once Swampert drew close, Chen Shi quickly motioned for it to put him down, then ran over to support Grandma Chen.

"Grandma, don't rush! If you trip or hurt yourself, how am I supposed to live with that?"

Grandma Chen looked at the young man, who had shed his childish air, her eyes full of concern. "How did you get so tanned? You must have had a hard year."

"I'll make you something delicious tonight."

"Sure. Thanks, Grandma," Chen Shi replied with a cheerful smile.

Grandpa Chen also stepped forward. Looking at his grandson, he nodded, the worry in his eyes finally fading.

"How long are you planning to stay this time?"

Chen Shi paused, then replied cheerfully, "Grandpa, I'm not planning to travel anymore. I'll stay on the farm and look after you in your old age."

Both elders' eyes lit up. It was good that he wasn't going to travel anymore. A year away was enough; staying on the farm was perfectly fine.

Having him right beside them would put their minds at ease.

After all, he was the Chen family's only remaining descendant. Their son and daughter-in-law had died during a Pokémon riot suppression operation when their grandson was just over a year old. They had already buried their own children once and had no desire to go through it again.

"You haven't neglected your Pokémon Breeder studies, have you?"

Chen Shi smiled confidently. "Grandpa, don't you know me?"

"If you let me take the exam, I'll bring back a Senior Breeder certificate tomorrow for you to see."

"Good, wonderful!" Grandpa Chen burst into laughter.

He knew his grandson wasn't one to boast. His talent was nothing short of monstrous; he could have taken the Intermediate Breeder exam at eleven.

Afraid that such outstanding talent would draw unwanted attention, the old man had insisted on delaying it for three years before letting his grandson take the exam.

But even a fourteen-year-old Intermediate Breeder was astonishing. Before that, the youngest Intermediate Breeder in the League had been twenty-five.

When his grandson passed the Intermediate Breeder exam, it had shocked the entire League. Chen Shi had also been hailed as a genius destined to become a Master-level Breeder.

After all these years, Grandpa Chen wasn't surprised in the slightest to hear his grandson say he was already at the Senior Breeder level.

"Swamp~"

Just then, Swampert grew impatient. Wasn't there supposed to be delicious food? Why were they still chatting?

"Swamp~"

Swampert walked up to Grandpa Chen with an aggrieved look and patted its belly. Its meaning was obvious.

After carefully looking Swampert over, Grandpa Chen nodded in satisfaction. It was full of energy, its muscle definition was practically perfect, and its strength had reached elite peak. Excellent.

Seeing Swampert's goofy expression, Grandpa Chen chided it with a laugh. "You're just like your mother."

"There's Threefold Honey inside. Go get it."

"But don't even think about sneaking a bite. Bring it home for me, and you'll get your share tonight."

"Swamp~"

Delighted, Swampert immediately ran back.

Threefold Honey! Who would have thought I'd get something that good as soon as I came home?

At the thought of its delicious flavor, Swampert ran even faster.

Watching this, Chen Shi was mortified. What an idiot. How embarrassing.

Grandma Chen, however, chuckled. "Exactly like its mother. A complete glutton."

"Since Shi came home today, let's call everyone over and have a reunion dinner."

Neither grandfather nor grandson had any objection, and both agreed.

Just then, Grandma Chen rubbed her eyes at the Pokémon running toward them from nearby.

"Dear, look at that. What Pokémon is it? I don't even recognize it."

Grandfather and grandson turned to look. Chen Shi understood at once and gave a mysterious smile. Once Florges approached with Leafeon, Grandpa Chen studied it carefully and said hesitantly:

"That looks like the Leafeon that was discovered recently..."

"I remember someone called Severe Indecisiveness posting a paper on Leafeon and Glaceon on the Researcher Forum a while ago."

"I see. To think Shi already has one of these newly discovered Eevee evolutions."

Grandma Chen smiled and thought nothing more of it.

"Vee~"

Leafeon politely greeted the two elders.

"Florges~"

Florges gave an elegant bow.

"Wonderful. You're all such good children."

Grandma Chen smiled. "This must be Florges from the Kalos Region. No wonder Shi asked us to help find a top-quality Shiny Stone two months ago. It must have been for you."

"Florges~" (Thank you.)

Upon hearing that this elder had found the Shiny Stone used for its evolution, Florges politely thanked her.

Chen Shi suddenly remembered something and quickly said, "Grandma, sorry for the trouble, but I'll need your help finding another Shiny Stone. This little one will need it."

Chen Shi lifted Togepi, who had been resting silently in his arms all this time.

"Toge~ Togepi~"

Togepi offered a timid greeting.

Grandma Chen said hesitantly, "A Shiny Stone is no problem. If necessary, we can trade with the Stone family for one."

"But I thought Togepi's evolved form still hadn't been figured out?"

"Does it evolve using a Shiny Stone?"

Chen Shi paused, but didn't explain. "You'll find out when the time comes."

Grandma Chen asked no further questions and nodded in agreement.

"All right, let's head home first. It's getting late, and weren't we going to have dinner together tonight?"

Chen Shi smiled and walked home with his grandparents.

As for a certain greedy, goofy fish, it had naturally been forgotten.

Florges