The days passed quickly in Aven's territory. Weeks had gone by since Happiny hatched, and in that time, the little Pokémon had already become a beloved member of the group.
Though it was still clumsy, Happiny never lacked enthusiasm. Whether carrying pebbles that it mistook for precious eggs, or toddling after Ralts and Petilil with a determined look, it poured all its energy into every task.
Aven had not been idle either. From the very beginning, he treated Happiny's training as something special. Unlike the others, Happiny's path was not centered around battle power but around nurturing, healing, and endurance.
"Alright, Happiny, today we'll continue with balance training," Aven said one bright morning.
"Haa~ piiiin~!"
The small Pokémon clutched its treasured round stone close to its belly and waddled onto a low wooden beam that Aven had set up in the courtyard. The goal was simple: to move slowly across while holding the stone steady.
To others, it might have looked like a child's game, but Aven knew better. This exercise was crucial. A healer Pokémon needed steady hands, calm focus, and the ability to work under pressure. If Happiny could maintain balance while moving carefully, it would later translate into better precision when using restorative moves.
Beside them, Ralts watched silently, using light psychic pulses to subtly disturb the air. Each ripple was a small distraction—a controlled difficulty that Happiny had to overcome.
"Haa… piiiiiin…"
Happiny wobbled dangerously halfway through the beam but tightened its stubby arms around the stone, refusing to drop it. With a squeaky cry, it steadied itself and made it across.
"Well done!" Aven praised warmly. "You're getting better each day."
Petilil twirled happily, sprinkling a bit of soothing aroma around, as though cheering for Happiny's determination.
Training continued like this for days. Sometimes Happiny practiced carrying water without spilling it. Other times, Aven had it focus on calming its breath while meditating beside Ralts, preparing for the day when it would learn psychic-based techniques like Heal Pulse.
Through it all, Happiny never gave up. Its small body was filled with tireless energy, and even when exhausted, it would hug its stone tightly and beam at Aven, eager to continue.
…
One evening, Aven sat at his desk, quill scratching against parchment as he updated his notes.
"Happiny has grown remarkably. Its balance is stable, its temperament calm, and its attachment to its stone shows great care. I believe it is ready for the next step—evolution. With evolution, it will gain the ability to produce healing eggs, and we can begin training moves such as Soft-Boiled and Heal Pulse. The time has come."
Closing the journal, he reached into a small box and took out a polished Oval Stone. The gemstone shimmered faintly in the lamplight, smooth and warm to the touch.
It wasn't just any stone. Aven had received it as a congratulatory gift when he was promoted to Earl. The nobles who presented it had no idea what it truly was; they only thought it a pretty gemstone, and since they believed Aven had a fondness for rare stones, they offered it to him as a token of esteem.
But Aven had recognized its significance immediately. To him, it was far more than a mere ornament—it was the key to Happiny's growth. And now, at last, that day had come.
"Happiny," he called softly.
The little Pokémon came bouncing over, hugging its usual stone tightly. Its big eyes blinked curiously at the new item in Aven's hand.
"This is for you," Aven said, kneeling down. He gently replaced the ordinary pebble with the Oval Stone, guiding Happiny to hold it close. "You've worked so hard these past weeks. I think you're ready."
For a moment, Happiny just hugged the stone tightly, tilting its head. Then, the Oval Stone began to glow.
A brilliant light enveloped Happiny, its small body radiating with warmth and energy. The glow spread outward, filling the room like a soft sunrise.
"Haa… piiiiiin—!"
The cry stretched and changed as the body within the light grew taller, rounder, and more defined. Stubs lengthened into arms capable of gentler precision, and the curl atop its head reshaped into the familiar side tufts.
As the light faded, standing where Happiny had been was a new Pokémon—a Chansey, pink and plump, with a pouch upon its belly that now held a real, freshly-formed healing egg.
"Chaan~ sey~!"
The joyful cry echoed through the hall. Chansey held its new egg proudly, cradling it with the care of a nurse.
Ralts and Petilil immediately ran forward, eyes wide with admiration. "Ralts!" "Lil~ lil!"
Aven's lips curved into a proud smile. "Congratulations, Chansey. You've truly grown."
"Chaan~ sey~"
Chansey waddled up to him, eyes narrowing happily as it offered him the freshly made egg—a sign of both gratitude and trust.
Aven accepted it reverently. He could already feel its faint warmth, brimming with restorative energy. This was proof that Chansey was now ready to walk the healer's path.
"From now on," Aven said, his tone resolute yet gentle, "we'll begin your advanced training. Soft-Boiled, Heal Pulse, and later Calm Mind. With these, you'll become the heart of our Pokémon Center."
Chansey nodded enthusiastically, patting its pouch with pride.
In that moment, Aven felt a deep sense of fulfillment. The little Happiny he had raised so carefully—who had hatched only a few weeks ago—had already evolved into a Chansey, ready to take its first steps toward becoming a healer of extraordinary ability.
Though its life had only just begun, it had grown with remarkable speed and purpose, nurtured by trust, care, and shared experiences.
And with this, the foundation of his dream grew ever stronger..
….
The reclamation of the Black Coast Forest was still proceeding in an orderly fashion.
After Buck had successfully become a patrol member, he too was assigned to the patrol squad responsible for the Black Coast Forest.
His squad captain was a trainer who commanded a Bibarel. He was originally a patrol knight and possessed very rich and extensive patrolling experience.
Apart from him, the other four patrol members all owned Bidoof as well.
This squad was precisely the coastal patrol team that Peter had mentioned before. With their Bidoof and Bibarel, they were especially suited for carrying out aquatic patrol missions along rivers and streams.
"Everyone, stay sharp. We're about to enter the Black Coast Forest," Jean shouted to the members following behind him.
Although they had already carried out many forest patrol missions before, this particular area was one they were stepping into for the very first time.
Fair River was a waterway that extended down from the Aspiration Mountains. It cut through the entire Black Forest and entered into the territory of Pokémon. Because of its origin, it was also referred to as the Aspiration Mountain River.
But now, through the excavations and channeling work of the Bibarel and Bidoof, numerous branches and tributaries had already spread within the Pokémon Domain.
In order to better distinguish between these waterways, every river had been renamed. The main river flowing right beside Fairhaven Town was given the name Fair River.
Besides this, there was another river that extended down from Mount Coronet. The main river segment passing through the Pokémon Domain was called the White River.
At the location of Fairhaven Town, the Fair River and White River intersected, then split apart again—one heading east into the Black Forest, the other south into the Black Coast Forest—before both eventually merged into the sea.
With the continuous reclamation of the Black Coast Forest, the Fair River would serve as a dividing boundary between Fairhaven Town and the Safari Zone. The forest to the east of Fair River would be preserved, while the southern forests would all be cleared away.
Their present mission was to follow along the Fair River, exploring all the way down to the Black Coast. This was to prepare for the upcoming project of expanding the tributary channels of the Fair River.
"Don't worry, Captain, we'll definitely stick close and follow you properly," the patrol members all responded in unison.
Jean nodded, then turned his gaze toward Buck, who had just joined the patrol team not long ago.
"Buck, make sure you stay close to us."
"Yes, Captain!"
Buck quickly nodded. He glanced at the Oddish and Bidoof beside him, and his heart felt a little steadier.
Soon, the patrol members entered the Black Forest. Their Pokémon constantly scanned their surroundings, alert and vigilant, keeping watch over all directions.
Because the forest rangers had been reclaiming this land for quite some time, most of the Pokémon groups on the outer edges had already been relocated into the Safari Zone. The danger level here was relatively low.
"The water of this river is so clear… I wonder what the fish inside taste like?" Buck thought to himself, looking at the flowing river.
But after carefully observing for a while, he realized that the number of fish in the river was actually very few, which caused a slight look of confusion to appear on his face.
"Buck, be careful of this river water," Captain Jean warned.
"This stretch of the Black Coast Forest harbors a large number of Poison-type Pokémon."
"That's why—even though the river looks so clear—it cannot be consumed directly. No one knows whether Poison-types upstream might have been contaminating it."
Seeing Buck leaning slightly closer to the riverbank, Jean immediately reminded him. Compared to the threat of Pokémon, the more pressing danger in this area was the poison that could appear at any time.
He had heard that the last time the rangers explored this region, they stumbled across a poison swamp. Just inhaling a wisp of the poisonous miasma that lingered there had caused instant poisoning.
If Lord Aven had not happened to be in the Black Forest at the time, the ranger captain who was poisoned would very likely have lost his life.
Of course, that was on the eastern side of the Fair River. The further east one went, the more numerous the Poison-type colonies became. In the region they were in now, the number of Poison-types was still not that high.
"…I understand." Buck's heart gave a shiver.
Casting a wary glance at the river, his eyes suddenly froze. On the opposite bank, two Skuntank were standing with a couple of Stunky by the water.
As they reached the riverside, they immediately spat out streams of purple liquid from their mouths, which merged into the water. In an instant, the entire stretch of river turned a murky violet.
Only after a short while, when they had confirmed that no danger lurked in the river, did the Skuntank cautiously lower their heads and begin to drink.
Witnessing this scene, Buck immediately felt the captain's warning strike far deeper in his mind. The toxins would flow downstream with the river current, spreading everywhere.
If they happened to be downstream, then drinking such water could truly mean being poisoned on the spot.
And the fact that there were no fish living in this seemingly clear river was probably exactly because of this. Under such heavy toxins, no aquatic life could possibly survive.
"That's how it is," Jean said calmly.
"But we have Oddish. Since it's also part Poison-type, it can accurately distinguish whether water is poisoned or not."
Jean patted the stunned Buck on the shoulder. Hearing this, his Gloom also raised its hand, as if to say: Leave the toxin detection to me!
"Mm, I understand." Buck's gaze once again shifted toward the Skuntank across the river.
Even though there was a river separating them, the patrol members still remained highly vigilant. If the Skuntank were to develop hostility, a mere river would not be enough to stop them.
The water kept rushing on—
shaa, shaa, shaa…
The Skuntank, even as they drank, remained on edge, frequently lifting their heads to stare at the humans on the opposite side.
Suddenly—
splash, splash!
The river, which had been calm, abruptly surged with turbulence. In the next instant, countless tentacles burst from the water and lashed directly around one of the Stunky!
The ambush was so sudden that the little Stunky had no time to react before being dragged under the icy river, thrashing in desperation.
But the strength of the tentacles beneath the surface was immense. Before their very eyes, the struggling figure of the Stunky disappeared completely from the river's surface.
"What just happened?" The entire patrol squad was utterly stunned by the scene.
Their eyes all turned toward the now-murky waters, but nothing could be seen below the surface. The Stunky that had been pulled under was most likely beyond saving.
"TaaaNNKK!!"
The two Skuntank by the river suddenly realized what had happened. They let out chilling, grief-stricken roars.
In an instant, their heads snapped upward, blood-red eyes glaring across the river—locking onto the patrol members.
"TANKKK!!"
(End of Chapter)
TN: Ok, I know I said a few chapters but the next chapter already has Chansey working at the Pokemon Center so I have no choice but to put Happiny's evolution pretty early.