It took a full two days of travel, the landscape shifting from the salty coast to the rugged, rocky terrain that gave Stone Town its name. The town itself was carved directly from the foot of Evolution Mountain, a labyrinth of stone buildings and winding paths that glowed with a warm, earthy light in the setting sun. It felt ancient, solid, and very, very rich.
Eliana found the Pokémon Center and checked in for the night, the routine a comforting blanket. The next morning, she asked the receptionist for directions to the Eevee family estate.
"The big mansion on the west cliff? Can't miss it," the receptionist said, her tone a mix of awe and envy. "They're expecting a big crowd for young Master Rory's party. Everyone's hoping to get a stone for their Pokémon."
Perfect, Eliana thought, more people meant she would be less likely to be a stand out. As she walked towards the mansion, she released Staryu from its PokéBall. "You're going to be my good luck charm today," she said aloud, patting its cool, smooth body.
Staryu bounced up, its core sparkling happily, as it followed Eliana towards the party.
The Eevee estate was even more impressive up close. It wasn't just a building; it was a fortress of luxury, with manicured gardens, fountains that spouted crystal-clear water, and a view of the entire valley.
Eliana blended into the crowd of trainers and townspeople, all eagerly gathered at the gates. She saw Pokémon of all kinds—Growlithe, Vulpix, and even a few other Eevee—all looking expectantly at the main house.
A butler, a stern-looking man with a perfectly tailored suit, stepped out onto a grand balcony. Behind him stood a portly, smiling man and a woman dripping with jewelry— the mister and misses of the manor. Behind them stood their three older sons, Sparky, Rainer, and Pyro with their respective Eevee evolution, Jolteon, Vaporeon, and Flareon beside them. And between the mister and misses was a small boy with a shock of brown hair, Mikey, clutching a frightened-looking Eevee in his arms.
"Welcome, welcome!" The Mister boomed, his voice echoing across the gardens. "Thank you all for coming to celebrate my son's tenth birthday! As promised, to honor this wonderful day, we will be giving away one hundred Evolution Stones to deserving trainers!"
A wave of excited murmurs went through the crowd.
"All you have to do," The Misses continued, "is show us a Pokémon that is ready to evolve, and one shall be gifted to you! Let the celebration begin!"
The crowd surged forward, trainers eager to show off their partners. Eliana waited patiently, observing. She saw a Fire Stone given to a proud Growlithe trainer, a Thunder Stone to a cheerful girl with a Pikachu, and a Leaf Stone to a quiet boy with a Gloom.
Finally, it was her turn, she stepped forward, Staryu bobbing beside her. Mikey, the birthday boy, saw her and his eyes widened. He pointed, his voice ringing with excitement. "Look! Mom, Dad! It's a Staryu, I haven't seen one in person before! That's a water type!"
The Mister and Misses looked down at her, their expressions polite but dismissive.
"A Staryu, how… unusual," The Misses said, a flicker of disdain in her eyes. She was clearly more impressed by the flashier, more popular Pokémon.
"It needs a Water Stone to evolve, doesn't it?" The Mister asked, looking down at Eliana with a complicated expression.
"Yes, sir," Eliana said, her smile sweet and harmless.
"Well, we only have a limited number of Water Stones, and there are many Vaporeon trainers here today," The Mister said, "Our son Rainer has been attracting a lot of attention lately."
The Misses said, her tone final. "Perhaps you'll have better luck next year, dear."
Before Eliana could even form a reply, a wave of intense, childish fury washed over her mind.
"NO!" Mikey shrieked, stamping his foot. "She should get one! Her Staryu is special! I can feel it!"
He looked at Eliana, and for a second, she felt a flicker of psychic potential from him, weak and untrained, but there. An empath.
The parents exchanged a weary, exasperated look. "Mikey, darling, don't cause a scene," The Misses chided.
But Mikey wasn't backing down. He looked at his three older brothers, a desperate plea in his eyes. "Sparky, Rainer, Pyro, tell them! Tell them she should get a stone!"
Sparky, the eldest, rolled his eyes. "It's just a Staryu, Mikey. Who cares?"
Rainer, the proud Vaporeon owner, shrugged. "The Vaporeon trainers have been waiting longer."
Pyro, the youngest of the three, just smirked and played with the tip on his Flareon's tail.
The rejection was a spark in the dry tinder of Eliana's patience. She didn't need this. She didn't need their charity or their judgment. She could just go to the mines and take what she wanted. But Mikey's defense, his genuine belief in her Staryu, had touched a strange chord.
Mikey gave an angry scowl, "I don't care about the Vaporeon, it's my party so I should get to decide!"
"Ah Ha, I told you'd he wouldn't pick Vaporeon to evolve his Eevee into!" Pyro gave a loud cackle as pointed his hand the Eevee in Mikey's arms.
"Yeah Rainer, how's it feel", Sparky snickered to himself.
"Shut up you two, Mikey's just in his feelings, aren't you Mikey?" Rainer snapped at his brother before turning to the youngest of the group.
"No, I don't want to evolve Eevee at all!" Mikey cried out
"Oh Mikey, let's not start this now," The Misses began to scold her youngest son.
As the parents began to argue with the small child, Eliana reached out with her mind, a delicate, invisible touch. She didn't need to be destructive, not yet. She simply found the thread of Mikey's conviction, the pure, unshakeable belief that she deserved a stone, and gave it a gentle, loving push. She amplified his desire, broadcasting it not as a sound, but as a feeling, a wave of pure, unadulterated want that washed over everyone in the argument.
The Mister froze mid-lecture, a strange feeling of profound satisfaction settling over him. He looked at Eliana again, and this time, he saw not a strange girl with a common Pokémon, but an opportunity. A chance to make his son happy, to prove he was a good father.
"You know what," he said, his voice booming with sudden, inexplicable certainty. "Mikey's right! This Staryu has a certain… quality. A spark!" He turned to the butler. "Bring me a Water Stone. The finest one we have."
The butler nodded and disappeared inside.
The crowd murmured in confusion. Sparky, Rainer, and Pyro looked baffled. The Misses simply looked faint, but she fanned herself and said nothing. While Mikey had the brightest smile on his face as he turned towards Eliana, "See! I kneed I'd get your Staryu that Water Stone!
Eliana gave a rare, genuine smile, "Thank you Mikey."
The little boy ran up and gave her a hug, "You're welcome!"
A few moments later, the butler returned with a velvet-lined box. Inside nestled a perfectly smooth, deep blue stone that seemed to pulse with an inner light. The Mister took it and presented it to Eliana with a grand flourish.
"For your Staryu, young lady," he declared. "May it serve you well."
Eliana took the box, her expression one of practiced, demure gratitude. "Thank you, Mister. Thank you, Mikey. This is more than generous." She bowed her head slightly, a perfect picture of humility.
"Now that that's settled," The Misses said with an annoyed huff, "Back to the party you all!"
The Mister beamed, clapping his hands together. "Indeed, the celebration continues! Let the music play!"
Servants appeared with trays of food and drink, and the crowd's attention drifted away from Eliana, drawn back to the promise of free food and spectacle. She was just another piece of the landscape now.
She moved to the edge of the garden, finding a quiet spot behind a large, ornamental statue of a Lapras. Ralts, who had been observing from her shoulder, hopped down next to Staryu.
(๑•̀ㅂ•́)ว, he projected, the final symbol a clear question.
Ralts and Staryu followed their trainer as she walked around trying the various foods, only rich people could serve. And watching people excitedly evolve their Pokémon. As the party came to an end it was time for Mikey to choose what he wanted to evolve his Eevee into.
"Alright son, who's evolution are you going to pick?" The Mister said, putting a heavy arm on Mikey's shoulder.
Sparky was looking smug, "There's no way you can pick anything other than the best evolution out there, my Jolteon!"
"Don't listen to him, Mikey, my Vaporeon is the strongest! And I have the best stone!" Rainer cut in.
"No way! My Flareon is way better than those two!" Pyro argued back.
"I'm not evolving Eevee." Mikey said with a determined look on his face, "I like him how he is."
"Nonsense son, you'll have to evolve him sooner or later." The Misses chided.
Mikey held his Eevee tighter in his arms, "But I don't want to! If I evolve him he won't be my Eevee anymore, and Eevee is the best evolution."
The older brothers all looked at Mikey with disbelief before bursting into laughter, while the parents looked annoyed at their son's decision.
"You'll change your mind later on," The Mister said with a sigh, before turning to the leaving guests, "Thank you all for coming to my son's party and celebrating with us!"
Eliana took her leave back to the PokéCenter, content with how the day had gone. She hadn't even killed anyone today.
Once back in the rented room, Eliana locked the door and let the mask fall. She placed the velvet box on the desk, opening it to reveal the Water Stone. It was beautiful, a deep, cerulean blue that seemed to hold the ocean's depth within it. She picked it up, feeling its cool, smooth surface. It thrummed with latent energy. Smiling she placed it into her bag next to the Dawn Stone, both of these would be used in the future.
Settling into bed Eliana thought about the next part of her journey, she would be making her way to Fuschia City, a two day journey while walking, but now that she had her bike it would only take a little under one day. Turning over to look at the window, she looked at the moon not noticing the little pink shadow watching from nearby. When Eliana finally closed her eyes, the shadow vanished from view.