To a Zweilous that had just gained sight, everything in its surroundings felt impossibly new.
The sun dipping below the horizon at the edge of the sea.
The lively laughter of the other Pokémon.
The rough, dark textures of the sandy beach, the deep blue tide surging and receding, the bright neon lights in the distance, and the lush, vibrant greenery.
It had never seen so many colors before. It had never known what the world truly looked like.
Back then, everything sensed through smell and touch was abstract; with its meager imagination, it couldn't sketch such a vivid and beautiful world. It couldn't grasp reality.
But now.
Everything was reflected in its eyes—including the person standing not far away.
The appearance was unfamiliar, and there were more than a few differences from the image the dragon had conjured in its mind, but overall... it was close enough!
Yeah, close enough!
Zweilous convinced itself, and then, like a young bird returning to its nest, it charged toward its trainer!
Even though it was seeing his face for the first time, Zweilous identified him instantly through that familiar scent.
"Zwai-lous!" "Zwai-lous!"
Wait... why are there two voices?
Zweilous startled slightly. Its heads instinctively turned toward the source of the sound, only to realize there was a "strange guy" right next to its own head!
"Zwa-ii!" "Zwa-ii!"
It slammed on the brakes, but momentum took over. It tripped over its own feet and tumbled, landing belly-up in a clumsy, undignified heap.
But honestly, it cared far less about the fall than it did about who was sticking so close to it!
Scrambling back up, it let out a menacing low growl at the "intruder" beside it, trying to force it into submission with noise—only to find the "other guy" was growling back!
This was the last straw. With a snarl, Zweilous moved to snap and bite at its "rival!"
"Stop! Stop!"
Just as the teeth were about to sink in, the familiar voice of its trainer halted the dragon in its tracks.
Zweilous had always prioritized its trainer's commands over its own will. So, even though a stranger was practically glued to its neck, it stopped.
"Zwe-ii!" "Zwe-ii!"
Zweilous looked at the approaching trainer, its voice sounding a bit aggrieved. It wanted him to offer his hand for a relaxing nibble.
To its irritation, the "other guy" seemed to have the exact same idea, letting out the same cry.
The trainer's hand is mine—!
"Heh—" "Heh—"
Before the two sets of jaws could snap shut, two hands were thrust with surgical precision into the two mouths.
The agitated Zweilous fell silent instantly. It began to suckle gently on the fingers like a pacifier, its expression turning tranquil and peaceful.
Though it didn't know why the trainer's hands felt a bit smaller than before, the scent was unmistakable. It was relaxing.
"Woo..." "Woo..."
Kashiwagi looked at the two dragon heads, now as quiet as well-behaved babies. He let out a sigh of relief, though a slight headache was forming.
"So it really happened."
"What's wrong?"
Dawn walked over carrying a tray. Seeing Zweilous clamped onto his hands with its mouths working rhythmically,
she asked, "Did something happen?"
"Seeing the world for the first time and meeting a 'brother' for the first time... this little guy is over-reacting a bit," he said with a helpless smile. "After all, there's suddenly another 'himself' attached."
Dawn nodded in understanding. "Need help? I can help soothe them."
"No thanks, I've got this."
Kashiwagi declined. The "Zweilous issue" was something they had to settle between themselves.
...
...
Sensing the commotion, Aggron and the rest of the team immediately abandoned their dinner and crowded around.
Galarian Corsola glanced at their half-eaten food, then at her own empty bowl, and after a moment of thought, drifted over as well.
She understood the difference between one full meal and a lifetime of full meals. Besides, stealing others' food would lead to a lecture from the trainer, and she wasn't about to deal with that hassle.
Piplup, seeing Mawile move, and noticing Dawn was also hovering over Zweilous, looked at his dinner and then at Mamoswine. He decided to drop his fork and investigate.
With so many Pokémon leaving, Dawn's other Pokémon looked at each other and couldn't stay put either, following Piplup to join the crowd.
Now, only Mamoswine remained at the table, lonely but determined to finish his meal.
Only after the last bite did he move to join the group, looking at Galarian Corsola with confusion as he passed.
Why are you flying so slowly?
Corsola felt the "disdainful" gaze but said nothing, continuing her slow drift.
However, before the group could even get close, Kashiwagi's voice rang out.
"What are you all crowding around for? You're just making it worse! Go back and finish your food! Are you trying to suffocate me and Zweilous? Alright, back! Everyone back!"
He shooed Aggron and the others away before pulling his hands out of Zweilous's mouths.
"Zwai-lous!" "Zwai-lous!"
Hearing the two heads cry out in perfect unison, Kashiwagi reached out and gave both heads a thorough, affectionate rubbing.
"Eat first. We'll talk about everything else once your bellies are full."
Zweilous looked at the head beside it. Ultimately, it was still a good, obedient child.
No matter how awkward it felt, it shuffled over to the table and lowered its heads to eat from the two bowls the trainer had prepared.
Kashiwagi let out a long breath.
After evolution, the creature's size and weight had increased significantly, and its appetite had grown to match.
He didn't have to worry about the two heads fighting over a single portion; by providing enough for both, the "competition" was nipped in the bud.
"Zweilous really is incredible..." Dawn watched from the side, her eyes full of wonder.
"Incredible, sure, but this little one still needs room to grow." Kashiwagi smiled at her, then sighed.
The evolution of a Zweilous brought changes far greater than a mere stat boost.
First, it could see.
Second, it had two heads. Perhaps it had become "them," or perhaps it was still "him" but with two perspectives and two thought processes.
Either change on its own would be manageable. But occurring simultaneously? It was a massive shock to the pokemon—spiritually, sensory-wise, and cognitively.
"But evolution is a good thing in the end."
Kashiwagi hugged both of Zweilous's heads, feeling lucky the dragon didn't have a specific preference for his left or right hand. If both heads started fighting for the same hand, he didn't even want to imagine the mess.
"Zwai-lous~" "Zwai-lous~"
Zweilous still loved nuzzling its trainer. Closing its eyes and leaning in, the familiar feeling came rushing back. In this moment, the curiosity, excitement, tension, panic, and restlessness brought by evolution were all healed by the familiar.
Just as for other Pokémon, the scent of their homeland brings total relaxation...
Kashiwagi was its soul's homeland.
That warm embrace was like the "native land" it never wanted to forget.