Inviting his three guests inside, Arthur led them into his newly-built Pokémon Breeding Room.
Most of the construction budget had gone toward Pokémon-related facilities, including his laboratory and this large, spherical dome designed with controlled temperature—his pride and joy, the Pokémon Breeding Room.
Though the room was currently empty, without a single Pokémon or egg in sight, Arthur was confident that in time, it would become the most populated space in the entire house.
Hector and Anna, having heard about the situation, followed close behind with Butterfree and Beedrill hovering at their sides.
As they approached the door together, Arthur tapped a sequence into a glowing magic circle he had etched into the frame. The moment the runes accepted the input, the heavy door swung open, revealing the interior bathed in soft golden light.
They were greeted by the warm scent of hay and herbs, mingling with the earthy aroma of soil and fresh wood. The dome ceiling, made from interwoven beams and translucent cloth, let in soft, golden sunlight. Arthur had designed the space to be both practical and peaceful—part nursery, part sanctuary.
At the center of the room were several shallow nests lined with moss and enchanted straw, tailored to replicate diverse environments and micro-biomes. A modest fire pit nearby provided a steady source of warmth, ideal for incubating Pokémon eggs.
Along the curved walls, stone-lined nests awaited their future Pokémon families, each marked with a hand-carved wooden symbol denoting its designated breeding pair. Nearby, shelves stood neatly organized with rows of glass jars, each filled with crushed berries, powdered herbs, and mineral-rich mixtures—vital ingredients for nourishment and care. A gentle stream meandered along one side of the room, its crystal-clear waters ideal for bathing Pokémon and potion mixing.
Near the rear stood the Evolution Altar—a set of rune-etched stone pedestals that emitted a soft, pulsing glow. Enchanted with powerful stabilizing magic, they were designed to safeguard Pokémon during the vulnerable process of evolution, ensuring their transformation proceeded safely and smoothly.
In the corner, a small desk sat cluttered with books, papers and pens—Arthur's makeshift research station where he recorded traits, egg cycles, and developmental observations.
Though quiet now, the Pokémon Breeding Room was alive with potential, waiting for the first Pokemon to begin its life within its walls.
As the group stepped inside, the door closed softly behind them. Instantly, the magic circles embedded in the walls lit up with a gentle, ambient glow. Their enchantments activated at once—adjusting the temperature, accelerating natural recovery, and purging the space of any hidden contaminants.
Both Reden and Wentia felt it almost immediately—a strange yet unmistakable sensation, like being cleansed without touch. Though they couldn't explain it, the air felt crisper, the room somehow safer, as if unseen threats had been swept away the moment they entered.
"Alright, place the cocoon on the Evolution Altar over there," Arthur said, pointing toward the glowing pedestal at the back.
Wentia nodded anxiously and stepped forward, cradling the cocoon close to her chest. She carefully placed it atop one of the altar, then stepped back, eyes locked on the fragile shell as if she didn't want to miss a single second.
This carefully engineered cocooned state represented the most optimal and secure method of evolution that Arthur had developed for Pokémon in this world
Originally, he had hoped their evolution would mirror that of the original Pokémon universe—a sudden glow, energy swirling, and the Pokémon's shape shifting in real time before bursting into its new form.
But that wasn't possible.
At least, not for him.
Perhaps it would be possible—if he could discover a way to form the Ring using the Body as the core. But so far, only two types had ever been successfully documented: the Heart Core and the Mind Core. There were no known cases of anyone forming a Ring through the Body Core—if such a thing even existed.
He could, in theory, encode mimic or shapeshifter traits into a Pokémon's genetic structure to recreate the evolution process from the original Pokémon world. But that would be nothing more than a facade. A fake evolution. A cosmetic illusion without true biological change. No growth in essence. Just a hollow transformation.
So Arthur chose a different, more grounded path. He based his system on the pupa stage of insects—specifically, the cocoon. It offered both the time and the biological stability needed for precise and meaningful transformation, especially for Pokémon whose structures were too distinct from that of an insect's larva. The cocoon also offered a better layer of protection during this vulnerable phase of evolution.
That was why he began by summoning Caterpie and Weedle. Both were insect Pokémon whose first evolutionary forms—Metapod and Kakuna—were alreadycocoon-based. They were the perfect candidates: simple, natural, requiring only low levels to evolve, and most importantly, already aligned with the evolution model he intended to implement. Ideal for gathering foundational data and ensuring nothing would go catastrophically wrong with the method.
Their evolution into Metapod and Kakuna posed no challenge. Being cocoon-based forms, they transitioned on their own, requiring no intervention or genetic adjustment from Arthur. The same held true for their final evolutions into Butterfree and Beedrill.
Still, they served their purpose. The data they provided was invaluable—it offered him a clear understanding of how metamorphosis functioned within the Pokémon biology he had crafted.
Of course, those were only early successes. There was no conclusive proof yet—no broader confirmation of the method's viability. Not until now, as he stood before the cocoon that housed a Bulbasaur. It marked the first time a non-Bug-type Pokémon had reached the evolution stage under this system.
This approach was also the reason every Pokémon was limited to just nine visible move slots instead of ten. Arthur had to forcibly embed String Shot into a hidden tenth slot, granting all Pokémon the ability to spin silk and encase themselves in protective cocoons when the time for evolution came.
This was also why Bug-type Pokémon had their String Shot move specially enchanted. In truth, they possessed two versions of it—one in the hidden tenth move slot and one in the visible nine if the Trainer chose to keep the move. This gave them a subtle advantage: even if String Shot wasn't included in their visible move set, they could still use it, effectively granting them ten moves—one more than any other type.
Of course, this wasn't immediately obvious. Since the tenth slot was invisible, Bug-type Trainers would need to discover this hidden trait on their own. Arthur believed it wouldn't take long once Pokémon became more widespread and mainstream.
Still, Bug-types were generally regarded as one of the weakest types. In Arthur's view, giving them an extra move—especially one as situational as String Shot—was a fair trade-off. It wasn't a powerful move by any means, but more of an innate ability woven into their very biology as insect-like creatures.
Non-Bug-type Pokémon also carried String Shot in their hidden tenth slot, though with a crucial limitation: they could only access it during evolution. Outside of that, the move remained locked and dormant, unusable. It was a brute-force workaround—an artificial adaptation that went against their natural typing and instincts—but it was the only way to make the cocoon-based evolution system function across all species.
As for Pokémon with no known evolutions, they were treated the same as the others—nine visible move slots and one hidden slot containing String Shot. Just like with Eevee, Arthur left it there as a precaution. On the rare chance that the Goddess of Fate—if she existed—might one day smile upon them and grant a new evolutionary path, they would be prepared. The odds were slim—practically nonexistent—but not entirely impossible.
The biggest drawback to this method was vulnerability. Pokémon became almost entirely defenseless during the metamorphosis phase, and evolution was not a quick process. The protective silk alone wasn't enough to ward off danger, making this a delicate transition that required careful monitoring and, ideally, the protection of a Trainer.
But if insects could survive metamorphosis in the wild, then surely Pokémon—creatures of far greater intelligence—could find their own methods.
A Ground-type might dig a secure burrow and cocoon itself underground. A Flying-type might seek refuge in the highest treetops or cliff ledges. Each Pokémon could adapt in its own way.
Even so, Pokémon with a Trainer would probably have the safest route to evolution. With someone to guard them during their most vulnerable moment, their chances of surviving the transformation were exponentially higher.
Anyways, back to Bulbasaur's cocoon.
Since Arthur had no idea how long Bulbasaur's evolution would take, he decided to settle in for the night inside the Pokémon Breeding Room, eating and sleeping there while they waited.
Others had chosen to stay as well. Lena, ever helpful, volunteered to cook in his place, while Rosalia's group had already prepared their own meal.
This gave Arthur the chance to reassure everyone, particularly Wentia, that there was no need to worry. Bulbasaur was merely undergoing an evolution, easing her anxiety considerably.
Reden, on the other hand, had long since abandoned any semblance of rationality. She moved around the breeding room with uncontained excitement, observing every magical detail with rapt attention. Her eyes sparkled as she meticulously took notes, completely absorbed in Arthur's work like a true researcher and seeker of truth.
This place, filled with unknown magic runes, was likely a treasure trove to her—a place where every detail held the promise of discovery.
As the time passed, Arthur realized something else: since Wentia's Bulbasaur was evolving, Rosalia's Charmander was definitely also nearing the point of evolution as well. He suggested she ask Charmander to hold off, as observing Bulbasaur's evolution would benefit her own Pokémon significantly.
"You can just tell them to not evolve?" Rosalia asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"Yep, they can. In fact, some moves could be learned at much lower levels before evolution. For example, Bulbasaur learns Seed Bomb at level 18, while its evolved form doesn't learn it until level 20." Normally, Arthur wouldn't remember such details and would need to drink a Memora Potion, but since this was directly related to the evolution process—something that still required significant research—he found himself recalling the move sets of the Generation 1 starters without difficulty.
Rosalia thought for a moment, then asked, "So, there's no need to let Pokémon evolve at all, right? Wouldn't it be better to hold off on evolution until they've learned all the moves available at lower levels?"
Arthur simply smiled at her. "It's a method with its pros and cons. But it's something you should figure out for yourself."
Besides, considering that Pokémon in this world were bound by the Ring system, it might be wiser for these three starters to learn their moves up until level 19 before choosing to evolve at level 20. That way, they'd be much stronger than their peers at level 20 without being stuck in their first form for too long, waiting until level 21 to evolve. By then, they would have learned all the moves available between levels 16 and 19—moves that, after evolving, might only be accessible at level 20 or higher.
"Hmph! Meanie! Stingy! Riddly! Know-it-all-y!" Rosalia pouted, her cheeks puffed up as she jabbed him with light, playful punches.
Arthur just shrugged, letting her harmless barrage bounce off him. But then a question that had nagged at him since they first arrived with Bulbasaur's cocoon resurfaced. He turned to the still 'angry' Rosalia and asked, "Shouldn't you have had more resources and time to train Charmander? So why did Wentia's Bulbasaur evolve before yours?"
His words were a subtle confirmation that her own Charmander would also evolve at level 16, but Rosalia didn't look pleased at all.
Her face flushed bright red in embarrassment, and she quickly ignored his question, continuing to shower him with mock insults. "Not-helpy! Wisdom-weirdy! Fancy-thinky!"
Arthur chuckled, feigning shock at her "devastating" remarks. "Wow… how am I ever going to emotionally recover from that?"
Rosalia's pout deepened, her playful frustration only growing.
Speaking of evolution... Arthur turned to look at his Pichu, who was currently paying close attention to Bulbasaur's cocoon while lounging in a cozy nest of boiled bird eggs. The little Electric-type was selecting its snacks with surprising discernment, judging each one like an eggspert.
So far, Bulbasaur had proven that his plan to induce evolution through metamorphosis for non-Bug-type held real promise. However, his Pichu—whose evolution depended on friendship—still showed no signs of change.
Arthur couldn't tell whether something had gone wrong with the template he'd created for Pichu, or if the time simply hadn't come yet. He felt like he was getting along quite well with it—better, even, than he had with any of his previous Pokémon.
Still, he couldn't help but worry: What if Pichu couldn't evolve at all?
If 'friendship' is too abstract a condition... I might need to rewrite the evolution trigger entirely, he thought with a sigh, eyes drifting back to Bulbasaur's cocoon as he resumed his notes.
Using a magic circle etched into the Evolution Altar, he projected an image of the cocoon's interior onto a second circle linked to a large mirror—allowing everyone present to observe the transformation unfolding within.
Inside the silken shell, the world had vanished.
The cocoon's glowing, magical silk held firm against the outside air, warmed by the ambient heat and reinforced by protective runes etched into the altar. Within, Bulbasaur lay curled in a fetal position, its body slowly softening, breaking down. The metamorphosis had begun the moment the cocoon sealed shut.
First came the dissolution. Beneath its pale green skin, cells began to deconstruct. Muscle fibers unraveled, blood vessels thinned, and solid tissues dissolved into a nutrient-rich internal slurry. It was a process not unlike death—a quiet unraveling. Even the bulb on its back, once teeming with dormant life, collapsed inward, releasing its stored energy to fuel the transformation.
In the darkness, guided by both 'ancestral' instincts and Arthur's modifications, Bulbasaur's form began to rebuild itself. Stem cells activated, driven by a delicate interplay of biological code and magical runes. Tiny buds emerged at the shoulders, folding and growing into what would soon become stronger limbs. The bulb regenerated, now webbed with glowing veins—preparing to bloom anew. Root-like tendrils anchored it to the spine, circulating energy and nutrients through the evolving body.
Chlorophyll began to re-synthesize within its forming skin, tinting the emerging body in deeper shades of green. Bones re-hardened, this time longer, denser, more suited to a creature that would one day walk upright. The eyes, once closed, twitched faintly beneath a new lid, sensing light filtered through silk. Nerve clusters sparked and reconnected. Elemental energies flowed not just around the form, but through it now—integrated, symbiotic.
From the outside, the cocoon remained still.
But inside, the old self was being dismantled—replaced, piece by piece.
By the third day, faint cracks began forming along the surface—subtle at first, then spreading like fine fractures in glass. The cocoon, once soft and supple, had hardened into something brittle, bark-like. A pulse of heat surged through the altar, signaling the final stage. The creature within stirred, flexing new limbs, testing lungs that had never drawn breath. A sharpened claw pressed against the cocoon wall.
And then, with a soft tearing sound, the shell broke open.
A damp figure slowly emerged—blinking, gasping. Its limbs were sturdier now, its stance more upright. On its back, the small bulb had transformed into a vibrant bud, glowing faintly with life.
The transformation was complete.
Bulbasaur was no more.
Ivysaur had awakened!