Chapter 85: Comforting Colt and the Squirtle Squad’s Graduation

A light breeze rustled the leaves of a tall tree in Pokémon Paradise. As soon as they spotted Colt, James nudged Ethan. "Mr. Grave, look at Colt. I think he's upset about not evolving."

They had just witnessed an incredible morning. The Evolution Fluid Ethan created had caused several Pokémon to evolve: two Squirtle had become Wartortle, and a Charmander had become Charmeleon. Even a Pichu had become a Pikachu. But Colt showed no signs of transformation, and his drooping ears spoke volumes.

"I'll go talk to him," Ethan replied quietly. "It can't be feeling too good right now." He moved under the tree where Colt lay slumped with his back to the trunk. At his approach, the little Pichu gave him a tired look, but didn't move.

"Don't be discouraged," Ethan said gently, patting Colt on the head. "You may not have evolved today, but that doesn't mean you'll never evolve. Besides, evolution alone doesn't guarantee strength. I bet you could hold your own against a newly evolved Pikachu any day."

Colt wriggled his short arms, still looking unhappy. Ethan considered giving it an advanced pill, an item that would guarantee evolution. But something in his gut told him not to rush into it. Pokémon were, after all, living creatures with rich emotions and personal growth arcs. Forcing an immediate evolution could rob Colt of important stages of development.

He offered a reassuring smile. "Hang in there. Perhaps you will evolve at your own pace and find your own form of strength." James knelt beside them and pulled Colt into a comforting embrace.

"This morning proves there's some luck involved," James said. "I bet your day will come soon." A few minutes later, Colt's spirits were high enough to join a group of playful Pichu in the field. Ethan watched with relief. Turning to James, he muttered, "It's better this way. Rushing the evolution could backfire. Look at Timmy, that crazy Pikachu, always getting into mischief with the other Pokémon."

James laughed. "You sound like a parent complaining about your bratty children."

Ethan chuckled, but didn't deny it. "I guess so. Let's pack up here. We have to go to the fire station this afternoon. They're expecting their Squirtle Squad."

---

At noon, Ethan jumped into his truck and headed to the local fire station. Today marked an important milestone: the official handover of the Squirtle Squad. In the back of Ethan's vehicle, the specially trained turtles waited, some dozing, others watching the passing scenery. A second van followed behind, loaded with water supplies and extra equipment for the Pokémon. James drove that one, checking the rear view mirror frequently to make sure everything was secure.

The head of the station was Zidaine Coleman, or more commonly known as "Captain Zidaine," an energetic officer who had worked closely with Ethan's team to develop firefighting drills for Squirtle. They had practiced controlling water jets, forming ranks, and responding to commands. 

Over the weeks, the results had been promising. Now, after final checks, Ethan handed over the entire group. He remembered that just that morning, one of the Squirtle had evolved into a Wartortle, a surprise upgrade for the station.

Upon arrival, Captain Zidaine was already outside, eagerly waiting with several firefighters. "Mr. Grave," he called, stepping forward to greet Ethan. "Is this the Squirtle team behind you?"

Ethan offered a handshake. "Exactly. They're all here and fully trained. Get ready for an extra surprise in the mix." He led the men to the vans and opened the rear doors. The moment the hatch opened, a chorus of "Jenny!" rang out as a dozen or so Squirtle jumped down in neat formation, wearing miniature sunglasses that Ethan had provided for them. The sight caused the firefighters to burst out laughing.

Captain Zidaine counted them. "Wait, one short in the front row. Did one stay in the van?" Ethan said nothing, just winked and opened the door of the other truck. Out stepped a proud Wartortle, taller than the rest, with wing-like ears and a swirl on its tail.

"Meet your new advanced recruit," Ethan announced. "This is Wartortle, a Squirtle that evolved this morning thanks to the evolution fluid we've been testing."

The firefighters gasped in awe. One reached out to gently pat Wartortle's shell, remarking on its tougher plating. Captain Zidaine's eyes sparkled with excitement. "So this is... well, let's call it the captain of the squad, I guess. Does it have a name?"

Ethan shrugged. "That's up to you. If you want to call it Commander or something, go for it. It's definitely got a little more bite than the regular Squirtle. I'm giving it to you at no extra charge, consider it a windfall."

The firefighters wasted no time in forming up. They marched the new squad out to their outdoor training area, where eight controlled fires were waiting in separate, man-made piles. Typically, the station used dummies and safe, flammable materials for simulations. Captain Zidaine led everyone into position.

"All right, let's light them up," he declared. Soon flames were roaring from each pile, thick black smoke billowing into the sky. It was a real test of the Squirtle Squad's ability to quickly extinguish them.

The captain turned to Ethan. "Mr. Grave, do you want to give the order to put out the fires?"

Ethan smiled and shook his head. "They're your team now, Captain. The honor is yours."

Zidaine nodded and stepped forward. "Squirtle squad, begin!" he called, the group snapping to attention at the sound of his voice. Each turtle took position, spraying powerful bursts of water from their mouths. Wartortle was anchored to one side, his water jets more powerful than the others. They moved in unison, saturating each pile until the flames began to sputter, then vanish.

One of the firefighters grinned and patted a colleague on the arm. "This is the real thing. We have never had such a specialized method of firefighting. Look how fast they get the flames under control."

Nearby, Ethan and James watched the spectacle with pride. The synergy between the Squirtle Squad and Wartortle was wonderful. In less than ten minutes, the eight piles were reduced to smoldering embers. The firefighters cheered and patted the exhausted Squirtle on the back.

Captain Zidaine beamed and turned to Ethan. "You performed even better than the training videos. Thank you, Mr. Grave, for trusting us with them."

Ethan replied, "As long as you take good care of them and use them responsibly in your operations. Their water attacks are powerful, but they still rely on your guidance and discipline."

Captain Zidaine nodded. "Understood. We'll be careful. I'm sure the city will appreciate having them for extra security. Fires can break out in all sorts of tricky places, and these turtles can handle smaller fires quickly."

When the demonstration was over, the station staff offered the Pokémon water to drink and a place to rest. The new Squirtle quickly settled into their designated area, looking pleased with themselves. Some even high-fived the firefighters, who found their charming personalities irresistible.

Ethan read the joy on everyone's faces. Moments like this showed why the Pokémon series had so much potential beyond simple companionship. Here, their specialized skills served a real, life-saving purpose.

He shook Captain Zidaine's hand once more. "Congratulations on forming this advanced firefighting unit. If you need any more specialized Pokémon, just let me know."

"You bet," the Captain said. "And I look forward to hearing more about your evolution fluid. Maybe one day we'll have a whole squad of Wartortle, or even something beyond that."

Ethan chuckled. "Anything is possible, if our luck holds out." In the back of his mind, he knew full well that the fluid had allowed not only Squirtle to become Wartortle, but also Charmander to evolve. The possibilities excited him, but he preferred to keep the hype in check until the product was fully launched.

With that in mind, he and James headed back to their vehicle, waving goodbye as the newly formed firefighting unit cheered again. They left the station behind, satisfied with another milestone achieved. 

On the drive back, Ethan thought about how many more successes the Evolution Fluid could achieve, and how quickly people would rush to try it once sales began. There was no doubt that the Squirtle Squad's heroic demonstration would become a shining example of the practical use of Pokémon in public service.