Chapter 659: Multi-Evolutions
~Azure S. POV~
[Unova Region, Nighttime, Nimbasa City – Hotel]
The neon pulse of Nimbasa City painted the floor of our hotel suite in streaks of electric violet and amber. Outside the reinforced double-paned glass, the amusement park's Ferris wheel spun like a slow-motion galaxy against the Unovan night sky, its mechanical hum muffled to a distant, soothing thrum.
*Click*
The door clicked open, and Black barged in first, his boots dragging the faint scent of ozone and popcorn from the avenue. I followed close behind, my hand absently coming up to adjust Pikachu's position on my right shoulder, where he was currently dozing off, his tail twitching in a rhythmic, sleepy pattern.
Hidden deep within the comforting folds of my jacket, Mew let out a tiny, contented yawn that tickled my ribs, while Zorua—maintaining an illusion of absolute invisibility—trotted soundlessly between my heels.
Meloetta's voice chimed crisply in the back of my mind, echoing with a faint, theatrical huff, 'About time!'
Floating somewhere near the chandelier, completely invisible to the naked eye, she crossed her arms in a quintessential tsundere gesture. She said mentally in a haughty tone, 'If you two took any longer, I would've assumed you got lost looking at Ferris wheels again. Honestly, Azure, your sense of direction is almost as pathetic as your excuse for missing the morning rehearsal.'
I thought back, offering her a mental smirk as I stepped into the suite, 'We didn't get lost, Meloetta. We stopped to grab roasted chestnuts. And I was helping White pick out stage props when she texted me what she needed. Don't take it out on me just because your vocal scales didn't impress the director today.'
She snapped mentally, though I could sense the sudden spike of embarrassed heat in her aura, 'Hmph! As if! My scales are flawless!'
Across the room, White stood by a sleek mahogany table covered in costume sketches, script drafts, and a half-empty mug of herbal tea. Her eyes lit up as she saw us enter, her business-first posture softening into a genuine, welcoming smile.
White greeted us, setting down her pen with a sharp clack. She smoothed out her pleated skirt, looking every bit the industrious President of the BW Agency she prided herself on being as she said, "You're finally back! I was beginning to think you two had decided to join the circus performers down on Route 5 permanently."
Black shook his head, already tossing his cap onto the nearest armchair with a familiar, high-energy flourish. He said loudly, "No way! We were checking out the lighting rigs for the next performance. Speaking of which, White, how's the Nimbasa Musical plan going? Are we still on schedule?"
White's expression brightened further, her hands resting proudly on her hips. She explained in a proud tone with a happy smile, "Everything is going swimmingly! The script revisions are practically locked in, and the stage crew has been phenomenal. We're still in the final production phase—polishing the choreography, adjusting the audio cues—but we should be completely done in a few days."
Black grinned, a feral, competitive spark flashing in his eyes. He said, "A few days, huh? Good. Because my team's been itching for some proper action."
White continued, her eyes twinkling with a mischievous satisfaction as she reached behind a stack of prop boxes and said, "Speaking of a few days… I managed to acquire something special during my supply run this afternoon. A little token of appreciation for your hard work with the agency."
With a swift, practiced motion, she tossed a pale, crystalline chunk through the air.
*Clink*
Black's hand shot out with predatory reflexes, his fingers closing around the Ice Stone just as it reached chest height. The pale blue mineral radiated a distinct, biting chill that frosted the edges of his knuckles, yet his grin only widened. He didn't even need to ask; he already knew what this meant.
From my shoulder, Pikachu blinked sleepily, while down on the carpet, the atmosphere shifted as two distinct, soft rustles of fur echoed through the room. White had already summoned her Eevee, Vivi, while Black's own Eevee, Vee, trotted out from behind his legs, tail wagging in eager anticipation.
Both Pokémon had spent the last week holding their respective evolutionary stones, waiting for this exact threshold of readiness. White produced a Leaf Stone from her pocket, kneeling beside Vivi with a gentle, encouraging coo.
She said firmly, "Ready, girl?"
Vivi let out a soft, high-pitched "Eev-vee!" of absolute confirmation.
*Tap—FLASH*
As White pressed the Leaf Stone against Vivi's ruff, a brilliant emerald light burst forth, washing the hotel suite in the vibrant, chlorophyll-scented aura of an ancient forest. The sharp crackle of growing vines and rustling leaves filled our ears as Vivi's form elongated, her tail transforming into a cascade of leafy fronds. Within seconds, the light faded to reveal a magnificent Leafeon, shaking out her newly minted, herb-scented coat with a proud, elegant prance.
White cheered happily, scooping the newly evolved Grass-type up into a tight hug, "That's my girl!"
Across the room, Black didn't waste a single beat. He dropped to one knee, holding the Ice Stone right in front of Vee's nose.
He asked strongly, "You up for this too, partner?"
Vee's eyes sparkled with blue fire as she bumped her head straight into the stone. She barked, "Vee-Vee-Eev!"
*Tap—FLASH*
A secondary flash—this one a blinding, crystalline sapphire—erupted with a low, sub-zero hum. The ambient temperature in the room plummeted, the hotel rug frosting over in delicate, geometric patterns of ice crystals. The light swirled around Vee, hardening her silhouette until the glow shattered like fine glass. Standing in her place was a sleek, regal Glaceon, her sapphire-blue fur tipped with diamond-dust markings, a pair of ice-dappled ear-guards framing her focused face.
Black laughed loudly, reaching out to scratch behind her newly pointed ears. He said proudly while giving Vee her new nickname for her new form, "Looking sharp, Glace! Welcome to the big leagues, girl."
She trilled, shaking her tail with a sharp, crisp rattle of frozen air particles and cried out, "Glace-glace!"
Watching the warm, chaotic scene unfold, a familiar warmth settled in my own chest. I reached my left hand down to my side, my fingers brushing against the smooth, synthetic fabric of my sub-space pouch hidden inside my belt lining.
Without drawing any unnecessary attention, my hand slipped into the dimensional void of my [Sub-Space], my fingers wrapping around a smooth, multifaceted gemstone that never seemed to lose its luminescence—a Shiny Stone, entirely immune to the degradation of standard evolutionary catalysts.
I knelt, patting my right thigh. Then I asked calmly of a certain Pokémon, "Minccino? Come on out for a second."
*Pop*
With a soft, melodic pop, Minccino materialized on the carpet, blinking her large, expressive brown eyes against the hotel lights. She let out a curious, inquiring chirp as she stretched her long, immaculate tail, giving it a characteristic, reflexive brush.
She cried out, "Minc-cino?"
I pulled my hand out from the subspace, the Shiny Stone concealed neatly in my palm before flipping it upward so she could see the radiant, star-like core glowing with silver and gold light. I asked calmly, "I picked this up a while back, saving it for the right moment. Want to take the next step?"
Minccino's ears shot straight up. She bobbed her head with frantic, high-speed excitement, letting out an enthusiastic squeak—"Min-min-ccino!"—before leaping forward. With a light, agile bound, she tapped her paw directly against the faceted surface of the Shiny Stone.
*Fwump*
A blinding, pearlescent radiance enveloped her small frame. Unlike the sharp crackle of the Ice Stone or the earthy rustle of the Leaf Stone, the Shiny Stone's evolution sounded like a cascade of wind chimes, pure and harmonic. The light expanded, smoothing out her silhouette, lengthening her plush, luxurious fur into a magnificent, flowing scarf-like tail that shimmered with pearlescent undertones.
[Using the Shiny Stone evolved Minccino into Cinccino!]
[Move Tail Slap has been changed into Inherited Move!]
When the illumination finally receded, a stunning Cinccino stood in her place, striking a proud, model-esque pose with her paws resting delicately on her hips. She turned her head side-to-side, clearly admiring the immaculate sheen of her new coat, letting out a delighted purr that sounded like a contented motor.
I murmured, reaching out to scratch her chin, "You look incredible, girl."
While Minccino was busy preening her tail, my hand smoothly dipped back toward my belt, sliding the Shiny Stone out of sight and back into the secure, untraceable depths of my sub-space pouch in one fluid motion. Not a single eye in the room had tracked the transfer—black was too busy wrestling affectionately with Glaceon, and White was admiring Vivi's new leaf-shaped crest.
Doing this, I checked Cinccino's new status info…
[Cinccino the Scarf Pokémon. Cinccino uses its long fur as a scarf. Cinccino's fur is coated in a special oil that repels enemy attacks. Cinccino also uses this oil to coat its nest, protecting it from dust. The oil can also be used as a skin treatment and is sold for a high price. Cinccino's fur feels amazing to touch, and it repels dust and prevents static electricity buildup.]
|Name: Cinccino (Scarf Pokémon)
|Type: Normal
|Tera: Normal
|Level: 35
|Gender: Female
|Held Item: [Loaded Dice]/[Silk Scarf]/[Muscle Band]
|Ability: Technician
|Nature: Jolly
|Moves: Protect, Growl, Helping Hand, Tickle, Encore, Baby-Doll Eyes, Sing, Charm, Attract, After You, Tail Whip, Slam [A][S], Double-Slap [A][S], Swift [A][S], Echoed Voice [A][S], Return [A][S], Triple Axel [A][S], Bullet Seed [A][S], Wake-Up Slap [A][S], Tail Slap [A][S] (IM), Tidy Up (EM) (1 move left to learn)
I smiled at the news. Looks like I'll add Rock Blast to her moves next.
Meloetta's voice drifted down from the ceiling, dripping with mock disdain: 'Show-off. Did you really have to pull out a Shiny Stone with that much unnecessary dramatic flair? You humans are always compensating for something.'
I retorted mentally, a grin tugging at the corner of my lips, eyeing the Tsundere, 'It's called style, Meloetta. You should try it sometime instead of hiding behind the chandelier like a nervous poltergeist.'
She squawked telepathically, a wave of indignant mental static hitting my brain hard enough to make me wince, 'I am NOT a poltergeist!'
Before I could fire back another mental jab, a low, ominous sound cut through the pleasant, relaxed atmosphere of the suite.
*Thump*
It was a deep, dull vibration that shook the mahogany table, making White's herbal tea ripple in its mug. White froze mid-sentence, her head snapping instantly toward the corner of the room where a temperature-controlled incubator sat resting on a cushioned pedestal, steadily increasing...
Black started in a surprised tone, his hand still resting on Glaceon's head as he rose slowly to his feet, "Is that..."
*Thump-crack*
A spiderweb of pale, chalky fractures suddenly spidered across the surface of the Larvesta egg resting inside the incubator. The shell was glowing with a faint, residual heat, radiating a comforting warmth that pushed back against the lingering chill of Glaceon's ice.
Across the room, a sudden, heavy wave of heat rolled outward. Black's massive Volcarona—Volca—who had been resting quietly near the balcony door, suddenly snapped her six iridescent, moth-like wings open.
A low, resonant hum vibrated from her body, a maternal call that resonated deep within the room's air pressure. She didn't charge forward; instead, she took a slow, deliberate step back, clearing the space around the incubator to give her newborn absolute room to breathe.
White whispered, her voice trembling slightly with a mixture of nervous excitement and sheer, unadulterated awe, "Everyone, back up just a little…"
Her hands flew up to clutch at her chest, her fingers twisting into the fabric of her vest. She said excitedly, "It's... It's hatching!"
I stood up slowly, keeping Minccino close to my side while my right hand drifted instinctively toward my jacket pocket, where Mew was peeking out with wide, innocent blue eyes. Beside me, Black took a half-step back, his expression locked in hyper-focused concentration, his eyes wide as saucers as he watched the shell tremble under its own internal pressure.
*Crack-shatter*
A sharp, crystalline fracture split the top of the egg wide open. From the glowing fissure, a tiny, segmented head poked out, covered in fuzzy, amber-orange down. Two massive, liquid-black eyes blinked sleepily against the bright lights of the hotel room. The little creature shook its head, sending tiny flecks of shell scattering across the cushion, before letting out a high-pitched, warbling cry that sounded like a musical chime.
"Lar-vesss…!"
The newborn Larvesta's gaze scanned the room, instantly locking onto Volca. The massive mother let out a soft, soothing hum—a deep, rumbling frequency that vibrated through the floorboards—and lowered one of her massive, warm antennae toward the edge of the incubator in a happy mood.
The baby Larvesta let out a happy squeak, scrambling clumsily over the broken remnants of her shell. Her tiny, hook-like legs caught the edge of the cushion before she tumbled forward—right into the safety of the open floor.
Before she could even hit the carpet, White was already there, dropping to her knees with tears shining brightly in the corners of her eyes. She gently cupped her hands beneath the newborn, lifting the tiny Bug-type up against her chest with infinite care.
White choked out, her voice cracking with pure emotion, seeing Larvesta, "Oh... hello there… You're finally here."
The Larvesta nuzzled aggressively against White's palm, her tiny mandibles clicking happily as she recognized the scent of the incubator she had rested in when Black gave her the egg. She turned her head toward Volca, letting out another soft chirp to acknowledge her biological mother, who responded with a gentle nod of her fiery head.
White murmured, a radiant smile breaking through her tear-streaked face as she stroked the fuzz on the newborn's head, "You need a name, missy… How about… Lavi. Right Lavi... I'm going to call you Lavi."
The little Bug-type agreed, bobbing her head up and down with fierce determination, accepting the name, "Lavi!"
I noted quietly, stepping forward while keeping my movements slow so as not to startle the newborn, "She's going to need fuel…"
I reached into my sub-space pouch and pulled out a standard-issue glass bottle filled with premium Moomoo Milk, slightly warmed via a subtle touch of psychic energy. I said quietly, "Here, White. Newborns burn through energy fast, especially Fire-types right out of the shell."
White looked up, blinking away her tears, and took the bottle with a grateful nod. She whispered, "Thanks, Azure. I didn't even think..."
She tilted the bottle gently toward Lavi. The baby Larvesta's eyes went wide as saucers. Sniffing the rich, sweet scent of the milk, she lunged forward with surprising speed, latching onto the rubber nipple with frantic, eager sucks.
*Slurp-suck-slurp*
Her tiny body shuddered with every swallow, her small, segmented tail twitching in pure, unadulterated bliss. To top it off, as soon as she finished the last drop of milk, her instincts kicked in.
*CRUNCH-CRACK*
With surprising vigor, Lavi turned her attention back to the shattered fragments of her eggshell scattered across the cushion and began happily crunching down on the calcium-rich remnants, devouring every piece to build up her first layer of armor.
Black laughed, slamming a fist into his open palm with a burst of energetic hype, "Look at her go! That's what I'm talking about! A proper Unovan welcome!"
White scolded half-heartedly at Black, though she couldn't hide the massive grin splitting her face as she watched Lavi chew on a final shard of shell, "Shh! Keep your voice down, you'll scare her!"
Within minutes, the sudden rush of adrenaline caught up to the newborn. Lavi's frantic chewing slowed down. Her heavy, black eyes drifted half-shut, her tiny head bobbing sleepily against White's wrist.
With one final, exhausted sigh, she curled her fuzzy body into a tight little ball right in the crook of White's arm and drifted off into a deep, peaceful sleep. The entire room fell into a quiet, reverent hush. Black raised his fist in a silent, slow-motion pump, while Glaceon pressed her cold nose gently against Black's boot in quiet celebration. Minccino let out a soft, approving purr, resting her chin on my shoe, and from the corner, Volca lowered her head in a graceful bow of thanks to us all.
Meloetta's voice drifted down, unusually soft and free of its usual snarky personality: 'Well... I suppose... the human girl didn't completely mess this up. The little bug has some spirit, at least…'
I thought back with a quiet smile, looking over at White, who was carefully cradling her sleeping Pokémon with a look of absolute, unshakeable devotion on her face, 'Takes after her trainer, I'd say.'
Outside the window, the neon lights of Nimbasa City continued their relentless, glittering dance, but inside, under the warm glow of the hotel suite, the future of the BW Agency had just taken its first, truly unstoppable step forward.
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A/n: Hope you like the chapter!