Ordinary people rarely have the resources to become trainers.
For children from regular families dreaming of becoming trainers, it's nearly impossible. Even selling everything the family owns might not be enough to cover the cost of high-quality rations.
For a moment, the group of women was visibly stunned by the exorbitant price of top-tier energy cubes.
Noticing their reactions, Evan said with a confident smile:
"It would be better if the price were even higher."
He continued, "Stick with me, and I'll teach you everything I know. In time, you'll be ready to earn your senior breeder's certificate. Then, you can open your own breeding house and specialize in creating custom energy cubes and similar products. Wouldn't that be great for your future?"
Hearing this, the women nodded eagerly. They had already decided to spend the next few years learning from Evan, mastering the art of making energy cubes.
With a clear goal in mind—creating their own patents and opening their own breeding houses like Evan—they began to believe in a brighter future. Wealth, independence, and a new life no longer seemed out of reach.
Their confidence renewed, Evan smiled warmly at them before announcing, "That's enough serious talk for today."
"Aunt Jenn, let's celebrate. Come and join us for dinner!"
With that, Evan lifted a glass of juice from the table and offered a toast.
The others quickly followed suit, raising their glasses and clinking them together with enthusiasm.
"Cheers!"
After enjoying a hearty dinner, everyone left feeling satisfied.
Later, Evan returned to the breeding house to care for Pikachu and Ralts. He made it a point to bathe them regularly, as he wouldn't allow them to sleep on his bed otherwise. Thankfully, neither had any fear of water and cooperated fully.
To Evan's surprise, his newly hatched golden-eyed Charmander also seemed to enjoy water—a stark contrast to what he expected. Even when its tail flame was submerged, the fire continued to burn brightly.
Evan was amazed.
"Could this Charmander be immune to water attacks? Is this some kind of genetic mutation?"
He hadn't noticed this the previous day, but now that it was evident, Evan couldn't contain his excitement.
"If this Charmander truly isn't affected by water, it could be groundbreaking."
He was certain of one thing—this little one had incredible potential. With proper training, it might even become a champion.
Determined, Evan decided to devote serious effort to its development.
After bathing Ralts and the others, Evan brought them all back to his room. Ralts, cradled in his arms, suddenly began to sing.
"Ra Ra Ra~~"
"lts lts lts~~"
A sweet, melodious tune filled the room. The sound was enchanting, captivating everyone who heard it.
There was a peculiar power in the melody that Ralts sang, causing the sound to float effortlessly into the distance, far beyond the breeding house.
Listening to the song, Evan gently patted Ralts' head, careful not to interrupt. Ralts' singing was a clear indication of its joy, and Evan wanted it to bask in the moment.
Back in his room, Evan set down the Pokémon for the night. Yet, Ralts remained by his side, singing softly as if enchanted by its own melody. The hauntingly beautiful tune echoed through the quiet night.
Evan didn't mind; instead, he became a quiet listener, appreciating the soothing and mysterious music. Though he didn't understand the words, the melody had an undeniable charm.
As time passed, the song lulled Evan into sleep. Noticing this, Ralts stopped singing, curling up beside him to rest.
But Ralts' song had carried farther than Evan could have imagined. Floating on the still night air, it traveled beyond the town to the neighboring forest.
There, in the dense woods, the melody reached the ears of a striking Gardevoir. This Gardevoir stood out—its entire body was an elegant black, giving it the appearance of the Queen of the Night.
This wasn't just any Gardevoir; it was part of a family that included a Gallade, two Kirlia, and another Gardevoir.
Using telepathy, the black Gardevoir spoke to Gallade beside it.
[Brother, that song... It's my sister singing.]
Gallade's expression grew serious as he listened intently.
[I hear it.]
[She's calling for us.]
[Should we go to her? What do you think?]
Gallade turned to the black Gardevoir for guidance. Decisions like these were often hers to make, as she had always been the leader of their small family. Gallade's role was to protect and fight when necessary.
Their past was marked by hardship. As a shiny Pokémon, the black Gardevoir had been ostracized by her tribe since birth. She and her brother, Gallade, had wandered the world together, relying on one another to survive.
Along their journey, they had rescued numerous abandoned or endangered Ralts, raising them and protecting them as their own. Some of these Ralts had been entrusted to human trainers they deemed trustworthy, knowing that human companionship could offer them a better future.
One of the Ralts now with Evan had been among those they rescued and entrusted to humans.
However, finding such humans was rare. For those they couldn't place, they kept them close, forming their unusual and tight-knit family.
They had settled in this forest, waiting for the day when one of their charges might seek them out.
Now, it seemed that day had come.
The black Gardevoir gazed into the distance, her crimson eyes glowing faintly.
[Let's go,] she finally said, her tone resolute. [We will see her.]
Gallade nodded, understanding her determination. Their family stirred, preparing to answer the distant, enchanting call of their kin.
As it turned out, the black Gardevoir and Gallade didn't expect Ralts to summon them through song instead of coming to them directly.
Listening intently to the melody, Gardevoir spoke through telepathy:
[Let's go and see what this little one is up to.]
[Bring the others along as well. If everything is fine, it might be time for us to resume our journey.]
Gallade nodded in agreement, showing no objections.
With their decision made, the two siblings resolved to set out the next day. It was already late, and venturing out with the younger Pokémon in the dark wasn't ideal.
"Kirrr...!"
"Ralts!"
The younger Pokémon perked up at the news, their eyes lighting with excitement. Seeing their youngest sister again was thrilling for all of them, especially the smallest Ralts, who was brimming with anticipation.
Meanwhile, Evan remained completely unaware of the events unfolding in the forest. Deep in slumber, he had no idea that a shiny Gardevoir would soon appear at his doorstep.
Morning arrived peacefully. Evan was awakened by the Pokémon clamoring around him, urging him to start the day. With a yawn, he climbed out of bed and began his morning routine.
In the backyard, his assistants—Michael and the others—had already arrived. They were busy distributing energy cubes to the wild Pokémon that had gathered, ensuring everyone was well-fed.
After washing up, Evan joined them. Greeting the team with a nod, he turned to Michael and began giving instructions.
"Michael, I've arranged for someone to come over soon to help us build a storage warehouse."
He continued, "Once it's finished, we won't need to feed the wild Pokémon as often. We can just stock the cubes there and show them where to find it."
"Please remember to coordinate with the construction team when they arrive, alright?"
Evan had plans to head out later, so he wanted to ensure everything was in order before leaving. Luna nodded, fully understanding the task ahead.
The day had only just begun, but it promised to be as eventful as ever.