The pier was still buzzing after the contest ended; townsfolk and tourists crowded around Lionel, every gaze locked on the Feebas cradled in his arms.
Most were seeing the Pokémon for the first time, quietly discussing its looks while angling cameras for careful shots, anxious not to startle the well-behaved Feebas.
The Feebas, unused to such attention, squirmed restlessly in Lionel's arms, its tiny tail tapping his wrist as if seeking comfort.
"Thank you all for the support."
Lionel smiled and nodded to the crowd, shifting so the cameras could catch both him and the Feebas in his arms.
"Taking second place today is all thanks to Feebas's hard work—and to everyone watching."
He looked down at the Feebas, fingers brushing its slightly rough scales: "See? Everyone's happy for you."
Feebas seemed to understand; it tilted its head, bulging eyes blinking, then suddenly flicked its tail, splashing leftover droplets onto Lionel's face.
The familiar move made everyone laugh; the stream's chat instantly flooded with "hahaha" and emojis.
"Feebas is still such a rascal!"
"That was definitely payback for hugging too tight (dog-head emoji)"
"Suddenly Feebas looks beautiful—am I broken?"
"+1, the more I look at Feebas's face the cuter it gets…"
Lionel wiped the water with his sleeve, giving the little one a doting, helpless look: "Okay, you win—cut it out."
He turned to the camera, excitement in his voice:
"I just checked—our peak viewers broke twenty thousand! Time for a giveaway. Thanks for all the support lately!"
The chat exploded.
"Twenty k! Our streamer's made it!"
"Congrats! These popularity points are skyrocketing!"
"It's been almost a year—why hasn't Feebas evolved yet? I wanna see what it becomes! Anyone know?"
Evolution talk heated the chat further.
"Can Feebas even evolve? What does it turn into?"
"Any trainer raised Feebas? Spill the details!"
…
Lionel glanced at the screen full of "evolution" questions but said nothing, simply stroking Feebas gently—
it was nibbling Pokémon food, peeking up at him now and then, looking adorably obedient.
Lionel already had a new plan.
Feebas could now use Water Pulse and Icy Wind well; its strength was enough. Next stop: exploring Dewford Town's Granite Cave together.
Lionel cleared his throat, holding the giveaway wheel up to the camera:
"Alright, enough evolution talk—let's draw some prizes—
I've prepared twenty bottles of universal Pokémon nutrition and five limited-edition Pokédex sticker sets. Type 'Feebas is beautiful' in chat for a chance to win!"
"Shameless—can you even say that with a straight face?"
"Exactly! I refuse to betray my conscience for those prizes!"
…
Viewers joked, yet in seconds the screen scrolled "Feebas is beautiful" so fast IDs blurred.
Feebas, drawn by the lively chat, wriggled in Lionel's arms, poking its head toward the camera, tail tapping his arm as if urging him to start the draw.
"Easy, easy—here we go."
Once twenty winners appeared, cheers and groans filled the stream—winners spammed "Thanks, streamer!" while losers cried "Unlucky me" and "Next time for sure."
"Prizes sent—now for something serious."
Lionel's tone turned earnest as the camera focused on him again.
"Next I plan to explore Granite Cave with Feebas."
"Granite Cave in Dewford? I read it's super deep, pitch-black, full of aggressive Zubat swarms—be careful!"
"Training opponent for Feebas? The terrain's rough—don't let it get hurt!"
"I went once—tons of forks, super easy to get lost. Bring a guide or download a map!"
Lionel read the caring comments:
"Thanks for the tips—I've got a simple cave map, lighting gear, and plenty of supplies; I won't push into dangerous depths.
First, I want Feebas to sharpen its combat skills in a tougher environment; second… maybe we'll meet a suitable partner."
He paused, stroking Feebas's head:
"Having Feebas train and compete alone feels lonely; if we find a compatible Pokémon inside, daily teamwork—and future Gym challenges—will be much smoother."
At the mention of Gym, chat surged again.
"Gym? You're finally challenging one?!"
"At last! Been waiting forever!"
"Start with Dewford Gym? Might be easier to face Roxanne in Rustboro first—Feebas is Water-type!"
"Poster above, you just want Roxanne, admit it!"
"Catch an Aron! Aggron looks awesome!"
"Haha, that'd bankrupt him—this year's savings probably can't cover an Aron's food bill!"
…
Lionel laughed and replied:
"Not sure yet—let's see what we meet in Granite Cave! Which Gym to challenge first will be decided by poll later."
He checked the sky. "Stream ends here today. We set off in two days; I'll go live so we can all see Granite Cave together."
After saying goodbye, Lionel ended the stream; the townsfolk gradually dispersed, leaving only a few kids still chatting about the contest.
Once Feebas swallowed the Water Gem, Lionel played with it a bit more before returning it to its Poké Ball, then headed home.
When they reached the little seaside cottage, the sunset had painted the sea crimson-gold.