The Little Boat of Friendship Sailed into the Sea of Love

On the morning of the second day after Pheobe left.

Chen Shi supervised Charmander and Metang's training at the training grounds behind his villa.

"Charmander, don't try to put maximum power into every attack."

"You need to commit seventy percent to attacking and keep thirty percent in reserve."

"That way, you'll not only unleash your moves faster, but also have something left to deal with surprises."

"What you're doing now won't work."

Charmander readily took his advice. After thinking for a moment, Charmander opened its mouth and spat out a burst of flame as Chen Shi had instructed.

Charmander's eyes lit up. Sure enough, the move came out faster, and there was still strength left in reserve.

Chen Shi added, "Try using Ember several times in a row."

"Char~"

Charmander answered, then unleashed a series of Embers. The first two went fine, but the third came out noticeably slower.

The fourth and fifth took even longer to form.

Charmander lowered its head, feeling guilty for letting its Pokémon Trainer down.

Because of its past experiences, Charmander was terrified that its Pokémon Trainer would think it was useless.

Chen Shi, however, didn't mind. Charmander's reserves of Fire-type energy weren't particularly abundant yet, so getting this far was already good.

He encouraged it. "You did great, Charmander. Keep training like this."

"Once you can use Ember five times in a row without a pause, try linking them together."

"You might even learn a new move."

"Keep it up!"

"Char~"

Seeing that its Pokémon Trainer offered encouragement rather than blame warmed Charmander's heart.

Charmander also came to its senses, realizing that Chen Shi was different from the Pokémon Trainers it had met before.

After that, Chen Shi walked over to Metang.

Pokémon: Metang

Level: 22 (early intermediate)

Potential: Champion

Ability: Clear Body

Gender: None

Moves: Tackle, Take Down, Zen Headbutt, Confusion, Metal Claw, Bullet Punch, Iron Defense, Protect.

Metang had learned four moves immediately upon evolving, and Chen Shi had also prepared a Protect TM for it.

Metang now possessed considerable fighting strength.

After watching for a while, Chen Shi told it, "Metang, you've got a great handle on Bullet Punch."

"Try flying a little higher, then smashing your fist down on your opponent like a falling comet."

Then, following the methods in the training manual, Chen Shi explained in detail how Metang should gather energy for Meteor Mash.

Metang was no longer as dim-witted as it had been at first. It was quite clever now.

After Chen Shi's explanation, Metang gathered Steel-type energy around its claw and slammed it into the target with astonishing speed.

Chen Shi couldn't help applauding. This Metang was so clever that it was hard to imagine how intelligent it would become after evolving into Metagross.

"All right, focus on practicing Meteor Mash and get familiar with it as soon as you can."

"Metang~"

Metang happily narrowed its eyes. It felt that it was improving every day, growing stronger with each passing day.

That feeling was utterly intoxicating to Metang.

Afterward, Chen Shi checked on Florges. Her training was harder, since she could only replenish her Fairy-type energy through Pokéblocks for now.

Florges had to eat while training. After using Dazzling Gleam a few times, she had to find a way to quickly digest the Pokéblocks inside her, or she wouldn't be able to eat any more.

The process was difficult, but fortunately, Florges never complained and followed Chen Shi's instructions throughout her training.

Looking at Florges's stats, Chen Shi thought she would probably break through to Gym-level soon.

Then Chen Shi checked on Togetic, who had matured somewhat after evolving.

Togetic completed its daily training tasks meticulously, but otherwise seemed unchanged-still just as mischievous, though it no longer caused trouble.

Watching all his hardworking Pokémon filled Chen Shi with satisfaction.

Whatever the future held, at least he was utterly content right now.

Inside Cynthia's villa in Sinnoh.

Cynthia watched expectantly as cracks spread across only the top and bottom of the Pokémon Egg before her.

Around her, Garchomp and the other Pokémon watched nervously too.

They understood that this would be a companion they would live and battle alongside.

"Come on, little one."

Cynthia couldn't help saying it aloud.

Professor Carolina hadn't gone to the research institute yet that day either. She calmly watched the Pokémon Egg on the table.

She had witnessed this scene countless times before and was already used to it.

As though sensing everyone's anticipation, the Pokémon Egg on the table developed more and more cracks along its top.

Soon, the top of the shell was pushed open, and a little pale-yellow head crowned with spikes poked out.

She gazed at Cynthia with her tiny eyes and let out a soft, sweet cry.

"Toge~ Togepiii~"

Cynthia was delighted, but she still didn't pick the little one up. Instead, she encouraged her. "Your feet too, Togepi. Come on, stretch your feet out."

Togepi seemed to understand. Summoning all her strength, she kicked hard, breaking the shell beneath her and poking her little feet out.

The surrounding Pokémon cheered, and even Lucario let out a cry.

They were happy for this newborn little one.

Joy covered Cynthia's beautiful face too. She quickly took the warm towel beside her and carefully wiped Togepi clean.

Then she took out the Miltank milk she had prepared beforehand and placed it in front of Togepi.

"Togepiii?"

Togepi looked at the Miltank milk in confusion, then gathered her courage and stepped forward to sniff it.

She let out a delighted cry and immediately began drinking.

"Togepi~ iii~!"

Cynthia gently stroked her head, and Togepi didn't resist.

As the first person she had seen after hatching, Cynthia had already earned Togepi's affection.

Just then, Professor Carolina smiled. "That boy Chen Shi was certainly thoughtful, giving you such an adorable little one."

"It's a shame we still haven't figured out how Togepi evolves, though."

Remembering what Chen Shi had written in his letter, Cynthia asked, "Grandma, do you think it's possible that Togepi evolves through friendship?"

"I mean friendship with its Pokémon Trainer. Once that friendship reaches a certain level, it can evolve."

"Friendship?" Professor Carolina asked in surprise.

It was a very interesting hypothesis, but it sounded quite implausible.

So Professor Carolina asked in puzzlement, "Why would you say that?"

"And how did you arrive at that conclusion?"

After pondering for a moment, Cynthia answered, "Chen Shi proposed it."

"He said he'd started wondering about it when Lucario evolved."

" Luca?"

Behind her, Lucario froze. I evolved through this friendship thing?

Then why didn't I know about it myself?

Professor Carolina continued, "Then how do you explain the Lucario and Togetic in the wild?"

Cynthia was a little exasperated. "Grandma, I'm not a researcher. How would I know?"

"This is what Chen Shi told me."

"But he was very certain that Togepi and Lucario both evolve through friendship."

"Chen Shi also said that while it sounds unbelievable, it really does exist."

"It's just very difficult to prove, and he admitted that he doesn't have a good way to do that right now."

Professor Carolina fell silent for a long while. It wasn't that she was unwilling to believe it, but the whole thing really did sound implausible.

She could understand the earlier case of Onix evolving through trade evolution while holding a Metal Coat.

After all, that involved an item and a special magnetic field!

It was rare, but not difficult to understand.

Friendship was different, though. It was hard to even say whether something so intangible truly existed. How could a Pokémon possibly evolve through it?

After thinking for ages without reaching a conclusion, Professor Carolina simply put it out of her mind and teased her granddaughter instead.

"You trust whatever Chen Shi says that much?"

"A grown granddaughter really won't stay by her grandma's side forever."

Cynthia's lovely face reddened slightly. "Grandma!" she protested.

"Chen Shi and I are just ordinary friends. It's not the kind of relationship you're imagining."

Professor Carolina nodded gently and teased, "I understand."

"The little boat of friendship has sailed into the Sea of Love!"

"Grandma understands!"

Cynthia sighed softly and walked away with the sleeping Togepi in her arms.

"I'm not talking to you anymore."

Suicune