Chapter 27: Wager and Transformation

The Pokémon that Summer caught while fishing was a Feebas, its whole body was earthy yellow, pockmarked, with tattered blue fins, and even its eyes were dull and lifeless. If one word could describe it, it would be "ugly."

"What's this, a Feebas? Well, it's not bad to catch a fish for the first time." Nate patted Summer's shoulder comfortingly. Feebas was considered a symbol of bad luck for fishermen because, besides being ugly, it had no other value.

It seemed inedible, there were many of them, and they ate anything, so they liked biting hooks, which fishermen found annoying.

But Summer was quite happy because Feebas had a higher difficulty level to obtain in the game than ordinary Pokémon. 

"No, I think it's great to catch a Feebas," Summer took the Feebas off the hook and put it in the bucket. It looked at him dully, its eyes unreadable.

"Huh? But how can anyone think a Feebas is good?" Nate looked puzzled.

Seeing Nate's expression, Summer felt it necessary to educate him on Pokémon evolution. Even seemingly worthless Pokémon had the chance to change their destiny.

"Nate, do you know what Pokémon evolves into the King of the Lake we just saw?"

"Um, Dragonair?"

"No, actually it's the common Magikarp."

It seemed that they were in a wilderness area in an earlier era, where people didn't have a deep understanding of Pokémon evolution.

"What! That common and weak Magikarp can evolve into such a powerful existence?"

Nate couldn't imagine. If all the common Magikarp in the roadside streams turned into the King of the Lake, it would be a terrifying sight. He still shuddered at the memory of that pure white light.

"Yes, Pokémon evolution is such a miraculous phenomenon."

"Could Feebas also become like the King of the Lake?" Nate quickly associated it with Summer's earlier expression.

"Their evolutions are indeed similar. The weak Magikarp can evolve into the mighty Gyarados. What about the ugly Feebas?"

"Ugly," Nate looked at the Feebas in the bucket, reluctantly quipping, "Beautiful?"

"That's right, beautiful. After evolving, Feebas becomes a Pokémon called Milotic, you know about it, right?"

"Um, I know." Nate felt like his worldview was shattered.

You see, Milotic, like Dratini and Dragonite, is the legendary Pokémon in the hearts of fishermen. Now, being told that the common Feebas found everywhere could evolve into Milotic, he couldn't accept it for a moment.

"No, this can't be true. Hey, Summer, are you joking? It's embarrassing to catch a Feebas for the first time."

Seeing that Nate didn't want to accept this fact, Summer felt a strange sense of competitiveness. He had to make Nate admit it.

"No, I'm not joking. In that case, let's make a bet."

"A bet?" Nate said.

"I bet that Feebas can evolve into Milotic. No, wait a moment, I need to make sure of something."

Summer walked to the bucket, gazing at the Feebas inside, still unable to discern its thoughts.

"I said earlier that you have the potential for beauty, but why are there so few Feebas that evolve into Milotic? That's because besides opportunity, there's also determination."

"If you want to become beautiful, to no longer be a Pokémon despised by others, only with such determination will your body respond to you."

"No, Summer, no matter how much you say, Feebas is not only ugly but also lacks intelligence," Nate dismissed Summer's words as futile.

Actually, Pokémon like Feebas weren't stupid; they were just trapped by their own insecurities. So Summer ignored Nate and continued:

"I caught you, which means we have a bond, so I'll give you the opportunity to evolve."

Summer's hand reached into his backpack, and the Evolution Box transformed into a beautiful, colorful scale, shimmering like a rainbow.

"It's this scale." The retrieved Prism scale reflected in the Feebas's eyes. "I believe you have the potential."

"Gurgle~"

"Yes, and Thwackey believes in you too. So, what's your decision?"

The Feebas's perpetually dull pupils suddenly trembled, violently shaking in the bucket, responding to Summer.

"I understand. My bet is on you!"

"Summer, are you some kind of magician?"

To make the slow-witted Feebas respond was nothing short of a miracle.

Summer handed the Prism scale to the Feebas, which gently took it in its mouth.

"You can respond to your own determination."

"To be honest, I still don't believe that Feebas can evolve into Milotic, but I'm betting on it anyway!" Nate was moved by Summer's words. He was also a Feebas in a way, and he didn't want to deny someone else who had the determination to change.

"Both sides are betting the same thing, so there's no difference," Summer thought. In the end, he achieved his goal; Nate admitted to the truth.

Suddenly, the Feebas in the bucket emitted a bright light, a light Summer had seen before, the light of evolution.

But when he wanted to witness the Feebas's evolution process, he found himself and Thwackey enveloped in the light too.

"Summer, are you evolving too?" Nate looked astonished.

"It's happening now? Nate, I wish you success in achieving your dreams! Feebas, I will come to witness your growth!" Summer quickly bid farewell.

"Gurgle~"

Then, they disappeared in a beam of light, leaving behind a shocked Nate and the Feebas that had just completed its evolution.

"They disappeared! Did it really evolve?!"

Back at the familiar wooden house, Summer felt somewhat regretful. He hadn't been able to witness the entire process of the Feebas's evolution, which must have been stunning.

[Completed the second time-space distortion, obtained the item Evolution Box (one-time use).]

[Completed the second time-space distortion, expanded the forest area.]

[Completed the second time-space distortion, obtained the item Mystic Water. Mystic Water: A pendant containing pure water that enhances the power of the carrier's Water-type moves.]

[Completed the second time-space distortion, obtained the item Hard Stone. Hard Stone: A very hard stone imbued with the power of rocks, it enhances the power of the carrier's Rock-type moves.]

Indeed, except for expanding the forest area, the other items were related to this experience.

"But, I made a promise before I left."

He had made a pact with the Feebas to witness its growth. Since the place they traveled to was a wilderness area, Summer planned to use a convenient tool to investigate the location at that time, which was the internet.

Entering the wooden house, Summer sat down and searched for information about the Lake of Milotic. The search results surprised him.

"Milotic Lake, formerly known as Whiscash Lake. The renowned Pokémon Professor Nate discovered the phenomenon of Feebas evolving into Milotic here. In commemoration of this great discovery, the name was changed."

(End of this chapter)