"No way..." Rosaria stared in disbelief at the list of moves on Reden's Eevee.
Seven moves at level one?!
Don't tell me she actually managed to hatch a more talented Pokémon than me and Wentia?! Rosaria's competitive spark flared as she silently cursed her luck.
She turned and shot Arthur a playful glare. "You're not playing favorites, are you?"
Arthur raised both hands in exaggerated surrender. "Guilty as charged! I totally rigged the odds for that egg."
"I knew it!" Rosaria pouted, then launched a flurry of light punches at him, laughing all the while.
Rosaria knew that the egg distribution was decided by a game of rock-paper-scissors—Arthur had no control over it once the egg was summoned.
Reden had simply been lucky.
Arthur took the playful assault in stride, brushing off Rosaria's punches with ease. "Eevee usually only has five moves when it hatches. Those extra two are Egg Moves…"
He began explaining that Egg Moves are moves a Pokémon can inherit from its parents during breeding. While there are other ways to learn them, those methods are far more difficult than simply hatching them in.
Rosaria, Wentia, and Reden listened intently, asking questions here and there. Before long, Rosaria and Reden were digging into the movesets of their own Pokémon, while Wentia continued to focus her attention on Bulbasaur.
Rosaria let out a dramatic sigh, her voice tinged with envy. "Bulbasaur's Ingrain... Eevee's Covet, Helping Hand, and Detect… They're all amazing. Why does my Charmander have such awful luck…?"
Arthur gave her a reassuring smile. "Starting moves aren't everything. It really depends on how you train—and how strong your bond with your Pokémon becomes."
Rosaria looked skeptical. "I get the training part, but what does bonding have to do with making them stronger?"
Reden chimed in, pointing at Eevee's Pokédex screen. "Maybe Arthur means this." Her finger landed on the words Friendship Level.
Rosaria had been so focused on her Pokémon's abilities and move sets that she'd only skimmed through their descriptions, planning to come back to them later. That was why she hadn't noticed it before.
Now, as she read through Eevee's Pokédex entry more carefully, her eyes widened in surprise. "I haven't seen that many Pokémon yet, but Eevee seems really unique. Can it evolve into anything, as long as the right conditions are met?"
Arthur nodded with a knowing smile. "Yes."
When he first started developing Eevee's template, it had been one of the most frustrating and headache-inducing tasks he'd taken on. In many ways, Eevee was one of his masterpieces. Not only did he have to design templates for all of its known evolutions—each with their own distinct type, stats, and habits—he also had to ensure that their evolution conditions were precise and intuitive. Some of those conditions still needed more testing, especially the ones tied to friendship.
That was also why he had chosen the yellow egg for his own Pokémon: to closely observe the friendship-based evolution process firsthand.
He could have picked Eevee for himself—after all, friendship was part of several of its evolution paths—but unlike his current chosen Pokémon, which followed a straightforward linear first evolution, Eevee came with complications. Its evolutions also required it to reach a certain level of strength before the friendship condition would even matter.
And unlike the Eevee from the original world, Arthur couldn't bring himself to leave it "unfinished." Eight Eeveelutions weren't enough. So after completing templates for the canonical eight, he left the evolution conditions deliberately open-ended. That meant, if the right conditions were met, Eevee could potentially evolve into new typings not seen before—unique forms native to the Ocasia region.
Of course, since those typings weren't fully designed as preset templates like the original eight, evolving into one of them was significantly harder. More often than not, an Eevee would simply evolve into one of the standard forms before it had the chance to trigger a rarer evolution. It would take something extraordinary to push an Eevee past that default path and into unknown territory.
All of this, for now, remained unproven theory—just another experiment waiting for its first real result. Until one of them evolved into a completely new form, Arthur wouldn't know for sure if his system worked.
Meanwhile, Reden appeared completely smitten with her Eevee. As a researcher, a creature capable of evolving into multiple distinct forms was undeniably fascinating—but even so, she no longer had any intention of using it for experimentation.
For now, Reden found herself pondering which direction she wanted her Eevee's evolution to take.
With her outfit practically shouting "I'm a genius mage!", Arthur would honestly be surprised if her Eevee didn't evolve into an Espeon.
Despite their fundamental differences, Psychic-types bore a striking resemblance to the magic arts of this world. In fact, Arthur had a strong hunch that Psychic-types were going to become especially popular in this world.
Then again… maybe this Eevee would evolve into something completely outside the norm?
Arthur's thoughts drifted into speculation. He began to imagine an entirely new kind of Eeveelution—one infused with the essence of magic itself: its fur a deep violet, threaded with shimmering silver streaks. Glowing magical runes would orbit gently around its neck. Its eyes, a luminous lavender, would glow faintly even in the dark, and its ears would bear star-like patterns. It would hover just above the ground when idle, as though levitating purely through magical energy...
"Arthur. What is a Hidden Ability? How is it different from a normal one?"
He was snapped out of his Eevee dreamscape by the sound of Reden calling his name.
Arthur turned to her and began explaining. Hidden Abilities were rare traits a Pokémon could be born with. Unlike standard abilities, they were uncommon—sometimes powerful, sometimes situational—and not always useful at first glance.
After a bit more discussion, Rosaria surprised him by handing over six Royal Ash Incubators—the very same kind they'd been using.
Arthur smiled gratefully as he accepted them. With these, he'd be able to hatch Pokémon much faster.
Before long, Rosaria's group made their way out of Arthur's house and set up camp beneath the stars, resting in the same spatial tent they had brought with them before—its cozy, luxurious interior offering a familiar sense of comfort. Wentia and Reden took turns keeping watch, ensuring the group's safety through the night.
---
The next day, after completing their morning farm work, the group made their way inside Rosaria's tent to the 'outdoor' area—a wide, open field of soft grass, perfect for a Pokémon battle.
Arthur had originally planned to hold the battle in the village square, hoping to introduce the concept of Pokémon battles to the villagesfolk. But after thinking it through, he reluctantly scrapped the idea.
Rosaria's identity was sensitive, and having her out in the open, enjoying a casual battle in a remote village, wasn't exactly subtle. Even with a disguise, Ponyta was far too rare and eye-catching to go unnoticed—easily linked to the very same Princess Rosaria who had visited just a week ago.
So, with no better option, they decided to keep the battle private.
Arthur's mother, Anna, chose to sit back and observe, content to watch from the sidelines. His father, Hector, on the other hand, was more than ready to join in, eager to command his partner, Beedrill, in battle.
Arthur had intended to act as the referee himself, but when he saw the eager gleam in Lena's eyes, he smiled and stepped aside, letting her take the role.
Wentia stood beside him, looking after the group's newborn Pokémon, all of whom watched the preparations with wide-eyed curiosity. Meanwhile, Reden pushed up her round glasses and readied her notebook—this Pokémon Battle has valuable research potential, and she wasn't going to miss a second of it.
Anna cheered Hector on, her voice filled with encouragement, while Butterfree fluttered loyally beside her, wings shimmering in the sunlight.
Lena stepped forward with enthusiasm, raising her hand as she announced, "This will be a one-on-one battle! The side whose Pokémon faints or is unable to continue will be declared the loser.
"Battle—begin!"
Arthur quickly pulled out his Pokédex to check the stats of both Pokémon.
Beedrill was at level 15, while Ponyta had recently leveled up to 13. Beedrill's Swarm ability and high Speed IV gave it an edge, even against a Fire-type like Ponyta. If it could dodge well enough, it stood a solid chance.
However, since both of them were still Rookie Trainers, the battle was bound to be unpredictable—and possibly more entertaining because of it.
"Beedrill! Fly high and use Laser Focus!"
"Ponyta! Use Growl!"
Beedrill's eyes gleamed as its focus sharpened, locking onto its target with intense precision. Ponyta let out a sharp cry, the sound forming an intimidating Growl that rippled through the air. Beedrill flinched slightly at the noise, but quickly shook it off.
Why should a seasoned hunter be threatened by a mere fawn?
"Beedrill! Charge in and use Fury Cutter!"
It was a combo Hector had refined over the past week during their hunts—a powerful opening strike capable of instantly taking down weak monsters.
Beedrill obeyed, diving toward its target with deadly intent. One of its stinger arms gleamed in the light as it arced downward toward Ponyta.
"Ponyta! Endure the hit and counter with Ember!"
Rosaria, recalling what Arthur had taught her during their first battle, knew Bug-types were weak to Fire-types. She didn't shy away from the direct confrontation—instead, she embraced it, betting on Ponyta's counterattack.
Ponyta held her ground as Beedrill closed in, flames flickering in its throat before bursting forward in a small but fierce stream aimed directly at the oncoming Bug-type.
But the moment didn't play out as Rosaria expected.
Beedrill's stinger slashed across Ponyta's side, leaving a deep, stinging wound. A sharp cry of pain escaped Ponyta's lips. At the same time, Beedrill's body was engulfed in flame as the Ember struck, forcing it to veer off wildly, buzzing and shrieking as it tried to extinguish the fire by diving and rolling across the grass.
"Why was that so strong?!" Rosaria gasped, eyes wide with worry as she examining the deep cut along Ponyta's side.
She had assumed Growl would weaken Beedrill's strike—not realizing that Laser Focus guaranteed a critical hit, bypassing any temporary stat debuffs. And even with a type advantage, Ponyta's low Defense left her vulnerable to Beedrill's much higher Attack.
On the other side of the field, Hector frowned. He hadn't expected Rosaria to let her Pokémon take the powerful hit so directly. In fact, he thought Ponyta would be down in a single hit. He was still unfamiliar with Pokémon typings, so even though he'd seen Fury Cutter listed as a Bug-type move, he hadn't thought much of it—treating it more like a straightforward physical slash than something with elemental strengths or weaknesses.
As for Beedrill's fear of fire? That, he understood well enough. Most creatures instinctively feared flame, and an insect like Beedrill was no exception.
Still, taking a direct hit from Ember wasn't part of the plan.
Arthur observed quietly from the sideline, already seeing how this battle might play out. Beedrill was now suffering from a burn—a condition that steadily sapped its strength and lessened its Attack power. Unless Hector could pull off a miracle, Rosaria had a clear path to victory.
"Beedrill! Back off and put out the fire!" Hector shouted.
Rosaria seized the opening. "Ponyta! Chase it down!"
Though Beedrill was much faster, the burn hindered it. It kept pausing to smother the flames—rolling in the grass or using the wind from its transparent wings in a desperate attempt to cool itself.
"Ponyta! Tackle! Bring it down!"
Instead of launching another Ember, Rosaria aimed to physically knock Beedrill out of the air and gain control of the fight.
Ponyta galloped forward and leapt, slamming into Beedrill just as it managed to extinguish the fire. The impact sent the Beedrill reeling, crashing to the ground with a heavy thud. It struggled to regain its balance and took to the air again, but its flight was unsteady—its strength clearly waning.
"Damn it! Beedrill, use Harden!"
Beedrill crossed its stingers in front of its body, bracing for another impact.
But Hector had made a rookie mistake—just like Rosaria had in her first battle.
Harden only bolstered defenses against physical moves. It offered no protection against Special Attacks like Ember.
"Ponyta! Ember, now!"
A burst of fire shot from Ponyta's mouth and engulfed Beedrill again.
Hector gritted his teeth. He had no choice now.
"Beedrill, Fury Attack! Go all out!"
Beedrill pushed forward in a final effort, jabbing at Ponyta with a flurry of strikes—but its movements were sluggish, its energy sapped by the burn. Ponyta weaved through the attacks, and with one last burst of Ember, Beedrill let out a sharp buzz… and collapsed, fainted.
Lena excitedly raised her hand and declared, "Dad's Beedrill is unable to continue the battle—Rosaria's Ponyta wins!"
Arthur offered a small round of applause as he quickly approached Beedrill and feeded it a Potion.
He planned to turn it into a spray formula eventually, but for now, it remained a drinkable liquid.
"Great job, Dad. You too, Rosaria," he said with a warm smile.
"Hehe~ Ponyta is just too awesome!" Rosaria beamed, still buzzing with excitement from her first win in a Pokémon battle.
"Po~!" Ponyta neighed proudly, prancing a little in celebration.
Hector let out a long sigh, then smiled gently. He knelt beside Beedrill, who had regained consciousness but was too drained to move.
"You did great, Beedrill... I'm sorry."
"Bee..." Beedrill gave a faint, understanding buzz, nodding slowly.
Turning to Arthur, Hector wore a bittersweet smile. "Pokémon battle is... fun. But it hurts to see Beedrill suffer because of my own lack of skill..."
Arthur nodded, then moved to treat Ponyta with his last Potion. Thanks to the abundance of research materials he had now, crafting more Potions wouldn't be a problem—so there was no need to hold back.
"Pokémon love to battle—that's how they grow stronger. I'm sure Beedrill enjoyed it, right?" he asked, glancing toward the tired Beedrill.
Beedrill wobbled to its feet just in time to get tackled by a playful, affectionate Ponyta. An annoyed mark comically popped on its forehead as it buzzed in irritation and flew a short distance away—but then turned back toward Hector and gave him a small nod, as if to say: Yes. It was fun.
"Go rest for now." Hector gently patted Beedrill's head before recalling it into its Poké Ball.
Just then, Anna approached with a curious smile. "Dear, was it fun?"
Hector laughed. "Absolutely! How about we battle during our free time? Let's see whether your Butterfree or my Beedrill is stronger!"
Anna's expression softened into a smile, but her gaze suddenly turned sharp—almost predatory. Hector felt a chill run down his spine.
"Of course, dear," she said sweetly. "I'd love to beat you up."
Before he could respond, her expression returned to one of gentle warmth as she turned to Rosaria. "Your Highness, once Ponyta has rested, would you like to battle as well?"
"Sure!" Rosaria agreed without hesitation, clearly eager to take revenge on Butterfree for her last defeat.
However, Butterfree proved even more frustrating than expected.
Unlike Arthur's balanced style of mixing offense with status effects, Anna's strategy focused entirely on debilitating her opponent without throwing a single offensive move. Over and over, she ordered Butterfree to use String Shot, Poison Powder, Sleep Powder, and Stun Spore, layering status effects with relentless precision.
If Ponyta has Outrage in its moveset, it might have unlocked it right there during the battle.
Fortunately—or unfortunately—Butterfree wasn't dodging any attacks and eventually took multiple Ember hits. It collapsed, eyes spun just before Ponyta, overwhelmed by poison and drowsiness, followed suit moments later… with a furious glare burning in its eyes even as it fell.
Hector winced at the ruthless tactics. There was a reason he'd refrained from ordering Beedrill to use its signature move, Poison Sting. This wasn't meant to be a serious fight, and he hadn't wanted to poison a fawn like Ponyta.
But Anna? She had unleashed multiple Poison Powder without so much as blinking.
Now, Hector was beginning to rethink the whole idea of battling his wife.
Even Arthur was visibly sweating, watching Ponyta get completely steamrolled by what could only be described as a relentless status-effect spam strategy.
As he knelt beside the gloomy Ponyta, applying a freshly-made Potion and an Antidote, he couldn't help but think: Ponyta won… but at what cost?