Bean-sized raindrops fell without warning, instantly soaking Ash and Misty’s clothes.
A fierce wind swept in with the rain, pressing the wild grass by the roadside this way and that.
Misty cried out in surprise and instinctively raised her hands to protect her head.
In her panic, the bicycle almost lost its balance.
“Come here, quick!” Ash shouted, though most of his voice was swallowed by the wind and rain.
He quickly took a small capsule from his pocket.
It was a magical device that combined the convenience of Dragon Ball’s Hoi-Poi Capsules with the principles behind Poké Balls.
With Professor Oak’s help, it had already been preliminarily released to the market.
Ash lightly shook the capsule in his hand, pressed the button, and tossed it in an arc through the air.
The next moment, with a pop and a flash of white light, a spacious tent appeared before them out of nowhere.
The tent looked sturdy and waterproof, standing firm even in the fierce wind.
“Wow, what is this?” Misty’s eyes widened.
Rainwater slid down her cheeks, and her gaze was full of surprise and curiosity.
“Let’s get inside and hide from the rain first.” Ash had no time to explain.
He grabbed Misty’s hand and ran into the tent.
Pikachu and Eevee darted in after them.
As soon as they entered, warm, dry air rushed toward them, forming a sharp contrast with the raging storm outside.
Misty shook the water droplets from her body and looked around the inside of the tent.
The interior was spacious, with a simple and practical layout.
There were several soft sleeping bags and some basic daily necessities.
“This is amazing, Ash.
How does this even work?” she could not help asking.
Ash smiled and wiped the rainwater from his face.
“This is something Professor Oak and I researched together.
Just like how a Poké Ball can store Pokémon, this capsule can store all kinds of items.
Once opened, it unfolds into a tent.”
Misty’s eyes practically sparkled.
“You’re really impressive, Ash.”
The moment she finished speaking, the rain outside grew even heavier.
Bean-sized drops struck the roof of the tent with loud thumps, but the inside remained as steady and comfortable as before.
Ash pointed to a curtain nearby and said, “There’s a bathroom behind that.
You got caught in the rain just now.
Why don’t you take a shower?
You might catch a cold otherwise.”
Misty looked in the direction Ash pointed, her eyes carrying a hint of doubt and expectation.
She walked to the curtain and pulled open the zipper.
As it slid down, a small but delicate bathroom appeared before her.
Though the bathroom was small, it had everything it needed.
Its pale blue color gave off a fresh, clean feeling.
There was a showerhead in the corner, several towels hanging nearby, and a few bottles of bathing products that gave off a faint, pleasant fragrance.
“I didn’t expect there to be a place like this inside the tent too,” Misty said in admiration.
She turned back to look at Ash, a faint smile appearing on her face.
“No problem.
Go ahead before you catch a chill.” Ash scratched his head and smiled.
Misty nodded lightly, stepped into the bathroom, and pulled the curtain shut.
Then she poked her head back out, looking suspicious.
“Ash, you won’t peek, will you?”
“Cough, cough.
Misty, how could you think that of me?
Do I look like that kind of person?” Ash put on a serious face.
“Hmph.
Who knows?” Misty said.
“Fine.
I’ll trust you this once.”
Before long, the sound of running water came from inside.
Outside, the rain continued without stopping.
The wind battered against the tent, making a loud whistling sound.
Ash listened to the rain and the sound of water coming from the bathroom, then looked at Pikachu and Eevee eating Energy Cubes nearby.
A mischievous smile appeared on his face.
He thought to himself, “Hehe.
Of course I won’t peek.”
His psychic power activated, and soon, his vision passed through the curtain…
…
After an unknown amount of time, the bathroom curtain was pulled open, and Misty walked out.
Her hair was damp and still dripping with water.
She had changed into loose sleepwear, making her look especially fresh and charming.
“That feels much better.” Misty lightly shook her hair and smiled.
“The bathroom is small, but it’s really convenient.”
“That’s good.” Ash looked at Misty and froze for a moment before quickly coming back to himself.
“Let’s rest here for the night.
Once the rain stops, we’ll head out again.”
“Mm, okay.” Misty nodded in agreement.
She felt that Ash really was a gentle, considerate, and upright boy.
Little did she know that the “beautiful view” from when she was showering had already been fully appreciated by Ash.
Misty tucked her wet hair behind her ear, then suddenly looked serious.
“Ash, you said earlier that Feebas can evolve into Milotic.
How does it evolve?”
She subconsciously tightened her grip on the Poké Ball at her waist.
Remembering Milotic’s elegant figure from the Pokédex, a longing light appeared in her eyes.
Ash stood up and brought Misty to the bathroom, then unfolded the collapsible bathtub beside it.
Clear water poured out from a hidden pipe.
“Feebas’s evolution conditions are special.” Ash half-knelt beside the bathtub, which was covered with a non-slip mat, and lightly tapped the surface of the water with his finger, creating ripples.
“Feebas can either evolve through a trade while holding a Prism Scale, or by raising its Beauty.” New chapters come out on g.com first.
He turned to look at Misty, his eyes filled with encouragement.
Misty took out the Poké Ball.
After the light faded, the dull-looking Feebas landed in the water with a splash, swaying its tattered fins and drawing clumsy arcs beneath the clear surface.
Its bulging eyes moved uneasily.
“My suggestion is to evolve it by raising its Beauty,” Ash continued.
“There’s still a difference between evolving through your own effort and evolving by relying on an external item.
A Pokémon’s true strength is often awakened during the process of overcoming challenges.”
Misty slowly crouched down, her loose strands of hair nearly touching the water.
She reached out and drew small ripples across the surface, her voice carrying a trace of uncertainty.
“So I should help it build confidence first, then raise its Beauty?”
“That’s right.
What, does Misty, the future Water-type Pokémon Master, not even have that much confidence?” Ash smiled and took a special Energy Cube from his backpack.
The pinkish-purple cube shimmered with tiny flecks of light.
He gently dropped the cube into the water.
Feebas cautiously swam over and swallowed it in one bite.
A faint shine actually appeared on its scales.
“Milotic’s evolution is a test of a Trainer’s patience.
But I believe you can definitely do it.”
Misty looked at the Feebas slowly becoming more energetic in the bathtub, and warmth rose in her heart.
She clenched her fist, her gaze turning firm.
“You’re right!
Starting today, Feebas and I will work hard together.
One day, I’ll show everyone that my Feebas can become the most beautiful Milotic!”
Warm yellow light scattered across the water in tiny fragments.
Misty knelt beside the bathtub, her fingertips lightly touching the surface and sending out ripples.
Feebas stopped swimming uneasily.
Its bulging eyes reflected the serious expression on the young woman’s face.
“Feebas, let’s work hard together.” Misty’s voice was gentle but firm.
She reached out, wanting to touch its fin, but afraid of startling it.
Her hand trembled slightly as it hovered in the air.
Feebas suddenly swung its tail and swam beneath her palm.
Its scales gently brushed across her fingertips, splashing tiny droplets of water onto her wrist.
Ash leaned nearby, watching the scene with a knowing smile.
Suddenly, Feebas leapt out of the water, splashing Misty’s hair.
But she did not dodge.
Instead, she smiled and wiped the water from her face.
“Then it’s a promise!”
The light shining in her eyes was even brighter than Milotic’s scales in the Pokédex.
One day in the future, this unimpressive Feebas would surely bloom with a brilliance that stunned everyone under Misty’s care.
Outside the tent, the rain continued to fall.
But inside the bathroom, beneath the warm light, two young people with dreams in their hearts and one tiny Feebas had taken a firm step toward the future.