The capture of the Bulbasaur proceeded without incident. The Grass-type Pokémon appeared to surrender willingly once weakened in battle. This particular Bulbasaur displayed superior potential compared to all others currently residing on Aoki's private island reserve. However, its capture led Aoki to suspect more of its species might inhabit this forest.
His reasoning came from observing the local ecosystem - most wild Pokémon encountered during his travels moved in sizable groups protected by elder members. These social structures allowed younger specimens to develop safely. Solitary Pokémon rarely produced offspring, and those that did often struggled to survive without protection, though the rare survivors typically grew stronger through hardship.
Expanding his search radius through the dense woodland, Aoki's team encountered several additional Bulbasaur specimens. Each fell to Ralts' overwhelming psychic abilities before being captured. With every victory, Ralts' natural regal demeanor became more pronounced, particularly when facing opponents. The tiny Psychic-type developed an almost arrogant bearing during battles that seemed incongruous with its small stature - a demeanor that reminded Aoki fleetingly of a certain powerful Pokémon, though the comparison seemed premature for such a young Ralts. Only when interacting with trusted teammates did the Pokémon revert to its usual affectionate self.
The search eventually revealed other Pokémon species beyond Bulbasaur. One particularly feisty Ivysaur challenged the group, though it stood no chance against Ralts' rapidly developing powers. This victory marked the apex of Ralts' pre-evolutionary growth - moments after defeating the Ivysaur, the Pokémon's body began glowing with the unmistakable white light of evolution.
Aoki reacted instantly, retrieving a carefully prepared Potential Enhancer from his pack. The rare formula, developed through years of breeder research, could maximize a Pokémon's evolutionary potential. Ralts grimaced at the bitter taste but quickly focused as the serum took effect. As the luminous cocoon enveloped the small Pokémon, an unexpected phenomenon occurred - a burst of azure energy erupted from Ralts' forehead, coalescing into the spectral image of a feline Pokémon with twin tails.
"Uxie's blessing is reacting?" Aoki murmured, recognizing the legendary Pokémon from Sinnoh's myths. The manifestation confirmed his long-held suspicion about Ralts' latent abilities. Though Uxie's gift had remained dormant since their encounter at Lake Valor, its influence now became apparent during this critical evolutionary moment.
Simultaneously, across vast distances in the Sinnoh region, the real Uxie stirred from its slumber atop the Lake Valor island. The normally reclusive Psychic-type floated above the water's surface, its gaze piercing through dimensions to witness the evolution occurring so far away. Alakazam, Uxie's longtime attendant, appeared instantly at the lakeshore.
"Lord Uxie, you've awakened early. Has someone approached the lake?" the Psychic-type inquired respectfully.
Uxie shook its head slowly, eyes glowing with otherworldly light. "The blessed one evolves...in that man's territory. Curious...he hasn't been seen in many cycles." The legendary Pokémon's voice held notes of both satisfaction and puzzlement before it returned to its meditative state.
Back in the forest, Uxie's spectral energy merged completely with the evolving Pokémon. Ralts emitted a sharp cry as the transformation accelerated, though Aoki's scanner confirmed the process remained within safe parameters. The white evolutionary glow now shimmered with traces of cerulean energy as Ralts' form stretched and reshaped.
When the light faded, it revealed Kirlia - the elegant evolved form floating gracefully above the forest floor. The Psychic/Fairy-type's white gown-like body and slender green legs gave it a ballerina's poise, while its formerly obscured eyes now peered out from beneath neatly trimmed bangs. Most striking was the single lock of azure hair among the green strands - a permanent marker of Uxie's influence.
The newly evolved Kirlia inspected herself with evident delight before spotting Aoki. "Papa!" she cried psychically, darting into his arms with familiar affection, though her increased size made the embrace slightly awkward. Aoki smiled warmly while his scanner compiled the updated data:
Pokémon: Kirlia (Dark Blue)
Gender: Female
Level: 20
Type: Psychic/Fairy
Ability: Trace
Held Item: None
Egg Moves: Memento, Destiny Bond, Misty Terrain, Ally Switch
Basic Moves: Growl, Confusion, Double Team, Teleport, Disarming Voice, Charm, Magical Leaf, Heal Pulse
Learnt Moves: Icy Wind, Skill Swap, Ice Punch
TM Moves: Protect, Psyshock, Psychic, Dream Eater
The results stunned Aoki - evolution combined with the Potential Enhancer had pushed Kirlia's capabilities into the extraordinarily rare dark blue tier. He wondered what price Uxie had paid to bestow such a powerful blessing. In all his years as a trainer, he'd never encountered a Pokémon with such exceptional innate potential - even most legendary Pokémon only reached purple tier. While this dark blue rating might represent the lowest threshold of that classification, it still represented a monumental advantage that could shape Kirlia's entire evolutionary line.
Perhaps Uxie hadn't anticipated how its blessing would interact with cutting-edge breeder technology when it chose Ralts. The combination of ancient legendary power and modern Pokémon science had yielded results beyond anyone's expectations.