Chapter 155 ⇾ Lady Florges and Bayleef
The response to Brionne's livestream was enthusiastic. Their videos were shared by fans to other platforms, attracting the attention of many people who continued to share them. In just a few days, the Brionne Band suddenly went viral online.
Equally popular was their now exclusive composer, Piers!
Within days, the Brionne Band's followers on the streaming platform surged to nearly ten million. Watching the daily increase in fans, Brionne was so excited its heart almost leapt out of its chest.
It held its phone and ran to Cole, showing him their achievements, who praised them profusely.
Of course, Cole knew how popular Brionne had become these past few days, as he had secretly followed its account on the streaming platform, though Brionne didn't know.
"Although the response to the livestream is good, you mustn't become arrogant!" He said to Brionne, "Your journey has just begun, and there are many difficulties to overcome. You surely don't want to be just a flash in the pan, right? So it's fine to be happy, but you must keep a steady mindset."
Brionne had indeed been getting a bit carried away, but hearing Cole's words, it immediately calmed down.
Yes, they were just getting started, and the road ahead was still very long.
Then Cole said, "Currently, your band is still at an artistic level. Have you thought about developing it further? Integrating your voice with Chatot, Altaria, Kricketune, and Thwackey to form a tactical system that could be tremendously useful in battle."
His words weren't a sudden inspiration. In fact, when he first helped Brionne form the band, this was exactly what he had in mind.
The reason he hadn't brought up this idea from the beginning was that he wanted Brionne to first fall in love with its own band. Only with genuine love and passion would it have more motivation, autonomy, and creativity to develop the band.
These words successfully plunged Brionne into contemplation. It held its phone, quietly looking down, lost in thought.
Cole patted it and said, "Alright, go think about it yourself. The band is yours, and what it ultimately becomes depends on your ideas."
"Bri~"
Brionne nodded and left with a thoughtful expression.
After it left, Cole continued to channel energy for the Starf Tree's roots, while Chikorita kept using Grassy Terrain around the roots.
After several days of effort, he had successfully repaired a small part of the tree's energy structure. He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he felt the energy within the roots seemed more active.
When they finished, Cole and Chikorita walked home together and happened to see a group of Floette returning from the orchard. He quickly called out to them.
"Floette!!!"
The Floette all came to an abrupt halt in mid-air. After seeing him wave, they floated over one by one.
"Didn't I promise before to help you evolve into Florges? I just got a Shiny Stone in Galar. Who wants to go first?"
"Floette~ Floette~"
"Floette~ Floette~"
...
Hearing Cole's words, all twelve Floette cried out in delight, their eyes sparkling as they looked at him.
After a brief discussion, the others pushed one Floette forward to fly to his side — it was the leader of the Floette.
"Since it's decided, let's begin."
Cole led the Floette to the Fairy Flower field and instructed Chikorita to go home and retrieve the Shiny Stone he had placed in his room's drawer.
"Are you ready?" He asked the Floette leader, taking the Shiny Stone that Chikorita had brought.
"Floette~" — I'm ready.
The Floette leader nodded, excitement bubbling in its heart.
Cole handed the Shiny Stone to the Floette leader.
The Floette leader carefully held the Shiny Stone in its palms. The next moment, the stone emitted an intense white light that extended continuously, quickly climbing up the Floette's arms and spreading throughout its body, eventually enveloping it in a white cocoon of light.
"Floette~ Floette~"
Seeing this, the other eleven Floette exclaimed in surprise and began circling and dancing around their leader.
Inside the cocoon of light, the Floette's form began to grow taller. The fairy flower it held disappeared, its arms became slender, and it slowly descended from the air to the Fairy Flower field.
"Floette~ Floette~"
"Floette~ Floette~ Floette~"
"Floette~ Floette~ Flo-Floette~"
...
At this moment, the Floette surrounding their evolving leader began singing a mysterious song and twisting their tiny bodies in a mystical dance.
Gradually, colorful specks of light emerged from both their bodies and the Fairy Flower field, forming a ribbon that flew into the cocoon enveloping the Floette leader.
The evolution was reaching its end.
"Florges~"
With a cry, the cocoon burst open, and a brand new Pokémon appeared before Cole.
This Pokémon looked like a humanoid flower, with blue florets wrapping its head and a body resembling plant stems and leaves. Standing at about 1.1 meters tall, it appeared both intelligent and elegant.
This was the Garden Pokémon — Florges!
Florges comes in five colors — red, yellow, blue, orange, and white — determined by the color of the fairy flower they held before evolution.
The Floette leader had evolved into a blue Florges.
Slowly opening its eyes, Florges examined its new body, its eyes filled with excitement and joy.
It had finally evolved into a Florges!
"Florges~"
Florges spread its arms, and a wave of green energy rippled from its body. The next moment, Cole and the others found themselves in a Grassy Terrain.
"Florges~"
It moved its arms again, sprinkling colorful specks of light onto the Fairy Flower field. In an instant, all the fairy flowers bloomed, and a unique power from the flowers flowed back to Florges.
"Florges~"
Florges closed its eyes, letting out soft moans, almost identical to its reactions when Cole gave it a massage. It was drawing power from the flowers.
After evolving into Florges, its Garden Controller talent truly manifested.
When it opened its eyes again, the Grassy Terrain slowly disappeared. Cole smiled and congratulated it, "Florges, congratulations! Not only have you successfully evolved, but you've also become much more powerful."
"Florges~ Florges~ Florges~" — Cole, thank you. From now on, let's work hard together to make the orchard even more prosperous.
Florges extended its right hand to him in a handshake gesture.
"Yes, let's work hard together!" Cole firmly grasped its soft hand.
"Floette~ Floette~"
"Floette~ Floette~"
...
The Floette all flew over to congratulate Florges, looking at it with eyes full of admiration.
Seeing this, Cole told everyone, "Don't worry, you'll all have a chance to evolve later. I'll keep working hard!"
The Floette all made cheering gestures toward him.
After evolving from Floette to Florges, not only did its innate ability become stronger, but it also learned several new moves.
For example, the grass-type special move Solar Beam, HP recovery moves like Synthesis and Wish, attack moves like Petal Dance and Flower Shower, and the new field move Misty Terrain, among others.
It demonstrated each one for Cole.
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When Cole returned home, lunch time had already passed, and Lopunny glared at him angrily.
"Lopu~ Lopu~ Lopu~" — Your lunch is cold and you're just coming back now! You're a grown man, do I need to call you to eat?
"Hahaha..." Cole laughed awkwardly, "Floette evolved into Florges today, so I was delayed a bit."
Hearing this, Lopunny's anger subsided.
"Lopu~ Lopunny~" — Since that's the case, I'll let it slide today, but in the future, make sure to come back on time for meals!
"Of course, of course." Cole nodded repeatedly.
Only then did Lopunny take the food to reheat it.
After lunch, Cole took Chikorita to his room and placed it on the bed.
"Chikorita, are you ready?"
"Chiko~ Chiko~"
Chikorita nodded, both excited and nervous.
Today, Cole was going to help Chikorita illuminate the final section of its hidden energy circuit.
Originally, last night was supposed to be when he helped the Pokémon illuminate their hidden energy circuits, but Chikorita's situation was special. It only had this last section left, and after illuminating it, it could evolve.
Because it was too excited, Chikorita told Cole it needed mental preparation, so he left it alone, giving it a night to prepare.
"Shall we begin?"
After injecting Chikorita with anesthetic, Cole placed his hand on its tender back, carefully directing his Special Ability energy to penetrate its body bit by bit.
Since Chikorita didn't have much left to complete, he quickly finished his work.
Some time later, as the effects of the drug wore off, Cole removed the Everstone from Chikorita.
The moment the Everstone was removed, Chikorita's body emitted an intense light, completely enveloped in white radiance. Within this glow, its originally small form grew taller and larger, instantly reaching up to Cole's shoulder.
Chikorita had developed exceptionally well; normally, Bayleef are about 1.2 meters tall, but the precious "green bean" had just evolved and was already nearly 1.6 meters.
"Bay!!!"
With a loud cry, the white light surrounding Chikorita dissipated, revealing a brand new Pokémon before Cole.
This Pokémon resembled a dinosaur, with tender yellow skin, a collar of round, slightly curled leaves around its neck, and a notched, sickle-shaped leaf on top of its head.
This was Chikorita's evolved form — Bayleef!
As soon as it appeared, a fresh fragrance filled the entire room.
Chikorita had already been quite fragrant, but Bayleef's scent was even more potent and enduring.
"Bay!!!"
The moment it successfully evolved, Bayleef lunged toward Cole.
With its larger size came naturally increased weight. Caught off guard, Cole was knocked to the ground.
Up close, Bayleef's fragrance was even more intense, making Cole feel as if he were lying in a flower bed. However, this aroma was completely different from flower scents — it was purely a leaf fragrance, somewhat similar to herbs.
"Hahaha..." He patted its neck, "Bayleef, get off me, you're crushing me! Don't tell me you've learned Body Slam?"
Hearing this, Bayleef quickly got off Cole and, using its mouth to grab his collar, lifted him straight up.
Cole: "..."
After evolving, its strength had really increased a lot!
His words turned out to be prophetic — Bayleef not only gained strength but had indeed learned Body Slam. Besides that, it had also learned Aromatherapy.
"Bayleef, quickly show me your Aromatherapy." Cole said excitedly, setting aside the Body Slam for now.
"Bay! Bay!"
Bayleef nodded, and the leaves around its neck began to quiver slightly, releasing a pale pink mist.
The moment the mist appeared, Cole felt the room fill with a pleasant fragrance. Taking a deep breath, he felt his body become light and airy, as if all his ailments had been lifted.
"Good, good." He walked over and patted its neck approvingly, "Let's go outside and try your Grassy Terrain effect!"
Beyond Aromatherapy, Cole was more curious about how Chikorita's innate abilities had changed after evolving into Bayleef.
After all, Bayleef's (Meganium's) innate ability was to revive withered plants and trees!
"Bay! Bay!"
Bayleef nodded happily and followed him to the back of the house, right in front of the Starf tree root.
"Bayleef, try it on this!" Cole pointed at the tree root.
"Bay~ Bay~"
Bayleef stepped forward and lightly stomped its foot. A green ripple spread out, instantly surrounding the tree root.
As the green energy rippled back and forth over the tree root, Cole thought he heard something whispering.
No! It was the sound of plants sprouting — of life emerging.
Then he witnessed a miraculous sight.
On one side of the Starf tree root, a tiny green sprout slowly emerged from the brown bark. Under the steady flow of Bayleef's Grassy Terrain, the sprout grew larger and larger, transforming into a small sapling about a meter tall in the blink of an eye.
It's alive! It's really alive!
Cole was amazed. Although this wasn't quite resurrection (since the tree root wasn't completely dead), it was impressive enough!
However, before he could celebrate, Bayleef's Grassy Terrain abruptly stopped, and Bayleef collapsed to the ground with a thud.
It had exerted itself too much, completely exhausting its power.
Though the sapling had stopped growing, it stood there gracefully, vibrant green and bursting with vitality, clearly resilient enough to thrive on its own.
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