Chapter 343: My Happiness (Mega Combined Chapter!)

The result was a joyful one.

But the process was extraordinarily arduous.

After all, the threshold of the heart is a high wall many people cannot climb over.

Once one begins running oneself into a dead end, the logic of normal circumstances becomes very hard to carry through.

Things that bystanders see as completely unnecessary to agonize over will become like a curse, dragging at the feet of the one involved.

All Baimu understood this point very well.

So long as Chansey itself had no awakening, no matter how many ideas he had as its Trainer, it would be very hard to help it overcome its mental weakness.

Therefore, when it said it wanted to try attacking, he was so happy he could not speak.

On the day the trial began.

He had not yet given Chansey Psychic, and so he made no demands—whether it used a move or not was fine.

It only needed to successfully launch one attack.

And although Chansey could already poison its opponents, when it came to the concept of direct or indirect harm, its subconscious held an extremely clear awareness.

It could fool others, but it could not fool itself.

When it stood before Aggron and raised its hand, mentally prepared to bring it down, the moment it was about to strike, images of being beaten and scolded surfaced uncontrollably in its mind.

As if pulled back to the past in an instant, its ears filled with scolding voices—neither quite male nor quite female—urging it to strike, to attack.

The vicious words brought stabbing pain that spread across every part of its body.

They were like brands, forever hidden deep within Chansey's memory, waiting for it to tear them open of its own accord and turn them into suffering laid bare before everyone.

At this moment.

What tormented Chansey was no longer the conscience-stricken inability to harm other Pokémon, but the memories—manufactured by others because it could not harm other Pokémon—that resembled purgatory.

Its hand froze in midair.

No matter what, it could not bring itself to let it fall.

Chansey understood that its attack wouldn't even be enough to tickle Aggron, and that it wasn't truly trying to hurt the latter—it only wanted to launch its first attack.

But even so, even such a tiny action was as difficult as crossing a heavenly chasm.

The scolding beside its ears grew louder and louder, wounds long since healed seemed to tear open anew, and the silver armor of Aggron before its eyes flickered back and forth with the cold iron bars of a pitch-black environment.

Chansey's hand began to tremble slightly, and its breathing grew rapid.

Pessimistic emotions welled up in its heart.

It couldn't even perform the simplest of strikes—what use was a self like this—

"Don't be nervous, don't be anxious."

A warm large hand gently covered the top of its head; the soft voice, though very quiet, instantly drowned out the curses that had been echoing in its mind the second before.

Warmth flowed downward and filled its body; the stabbing pain vanished without a trace.

A new strength was being nurtured.

"Relax, just like learning a new move. Let's take it slowly, in the form of solving a puzzle."

"Gu-gou!"

"Lucky…"

Chansey slightly raised its head, and what came into view was the smiling faces of All Baimu and Aggron, carrying no trace of harshness—only unreserved trust.

And what was gradually welling up within its body was unmistakably a gift from its Trainer; this feeling, no matter what, it would never forget.

"Since contact moves won't work, then let's consider ranged and invisible power. If you can accept Telekinesis, then an indirect attack like Psychic might be more suitable as a breakthrough… what do you think?"

All Baimu said to Chansey, who was at eye level as he half-squatted.

The latter was stunned.

It had clearly made the decision on its own initiative, clearly resolved to settle things with the past, and had boldly asked its Trainer for help—yet in the end it still stood frozen at the threshold, trembling and unable to advance a single step.

No matter how it thought about it, it had failed to properly respond to its Trainer's expectations.

But the self that had done so was met with neither reproach nor mockery—only a warm smile and unstinting help.

"Lucky…"

Chansey's body trembled slightly.

The shadows of the past tormented it like a nightmare, and even now they would occasionally surface in its sleep, bringing it endless suffering and pain.

It… had been running away all along, trying under its Trainer's indulgence to forget everything that had happened, retreating into the Trainer's warm embrace and constantly comforting itself that it was all over.

Indeed, those things were already in the past.

But they had truly existed, clearly etched into its mind, blocking its path like thorns, blocking its steps as it tried to catch up with its Trainer.

It could not keep hypocritically turning a blind eye any longer.

Chansey looked into All Baimu's eyes and nodded seriously. "Lucky!"

Even if the thorns of memory stabbed it until it was covered in wounds, even if it was tormented again and again, it would break through, and closely follow the footsteps of the person before it.

More than being hurt by nightmares, what it could not accept was being unable to stay by its Trainer's side.

Bring it on.

No matter what the difficulty!

"It looks like you're ready. Then let's begin targeted training for the Psychic you've just mastered."

All Baimu patted Chansey's head in satisfaction.

For the latter.

Without taking the offensive, there was actually not much difference between Psychic and Telekinesis.

One could sever the bond of spiritual power at any time and leave it be; the other, if the spiritual power was severed, could no longer be controlled.

Mastering it and becoming proficient was very easy.

When Chansey could use Psychic to easily knock down the largest of the three cans without affecting the other two, the precision operation was likewise complete.

This guy's micro-control over psychic power is downright terrifying — nothing like an ordinary-type Pokémon at all.

If other Chansey are about the same, All Baimu would really have to suspect Professor Oak of mislabeling Chansey's type — this one ought to be a Psychic-type Pokémon.

"Good. Then let's move on to the next stage."

All Baimu nodded in satisfaction and said to Chansey: "Use Psychic to hold Bosskowdonla in place."

"Lucky!"

The latter replied solemnly, releasing psychic power onto Bosskowdonla and firmly locking its body in place.

"Lift it up!"

Bosskowdonla's body slowly left the ground.

Normally, Psychic has two ways of being used. One relies on psychic power to restrain the opponent, then through flinging or smashing causes Psychic-type energy to explode, dealing damage to the opponent.

The other attacks the opponent's mind directly, damaging its willpower.

Each method has its merits; for Chansey, the latter may be a little harder to accept than the former, so for now we'll use the latter, which is closer to telekinesis.

"Cut the hold."

Bosskowdonla in midair dropped on cue, its massive body crashing to the ground. Under its deliberate lack of balance control, it slammed down in a dazed heap while kicking up clouds of dust.

"Gurr…"

"See? It's very simple."

All Baimu smiled at Chansey and said: "You've already completed the first step. The pain Bosskowdonla is feeling now is damage you created directly — it's somewhat different from triggering a negative status condition with Toxic."

In principle there really isn't much difference, but to help the latter realize it had sort of inflicted direct damage, he quietly swapped the concept.

"Lu… lucky…"

Chansey instinctively released a healing wave toward Bosskowdonla, then looked at its own hands, hardly able to believe it had so easily taken the first step.

It had only just been unable to strike normally…

"Nicely done! You've already taken the second step. Come on, let's do the third." All Baimu patted its head.

"Lucky!"

Chansey suddenly found its confidence swelling.

Once again, Psychic was used to hold Bosskowdonla in place and lift it into the air.

All Baimu said: "The key this time is to throw Bosskowdonla far away and cut the hold mid-flight. Simply put, it's the feeling of using telekinesis to push the opponent away. Understand?"

"Lucky…"

Chansey responded, furrowed its brow, and hurled Bosskowdonla violently toward the field.

"Gurr—"

The latter traced an arc through the air and crashed heavily to the ground.

Boom!

Success!

Chansey's heart trembled faintly as Bosskowdonla hit the ground.

"Excellent! See that? You've broken through the third step! Victory is just one final kick away!"

All Baimu's laughter reached its ears.

In the distance, Bosskowdonla slowly got to its feet, its movements slightly unsteady, its body covered in dust.

"Roar!"

Again!

The big beast lowered its body, revealing a slightly savage grin.

Chansey's breathing grew a little rapid.

Sensing something was off, All Baimu squatted down again, gently took hold of its right hand, and met its gaze as it turned to look at him.

"The last step is coming — nervous? Haha, I'm actually a little nervous too, but it's fine. I'm here."

All Baimu said softly: "Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Come on, do it with me — inhale — exhale —"

"Hiss… haa…"

Guided by his words, Chansey closed its eyes and breathed slowly and deeply, its breathing gradually steadying.

When it opened its eyes again, it nodded to All Baimu.

I'm ready!

"Good. Then let's begin — today's final step, and the first step you take toward a better tomorrow!" All Baimu said with absolute seriousness.

"Lucky!"

Chansey replied softly, looked at Bosskowdonla as it slowly approached, spread its psychic power outward, and for the third time lifted it high into the air.

"The final step: hold your psychic power in reserve until the last moment, guide Bosskowdonla to slam into the ground, and trigger an explosion of Psychic-type energy." All Baimu's voice reached its ears.

Chansey manipulated its psychic power, gazed up at Bosskowdonla in the sky, and kept swallowing.

Slam into the ground… detonate the energy…

Slam into the ground… detonate the energy…

Strangely.

As it imagined what it was about to do, no unpleasant images came to mind.

Why?

Ah, its trainer was still holding its hand — and that hand was trembling slightly.

Chansey felt the faint tremor and warmth in its right hand, and realized the pressure in its trainer's heart was no less than its own, and far from the calm he appeared on the surface.

The reason he could still smile was to give it courage.

So that's how it is.

Its breath caught for an instant, and then a sudden smile bloomed across its face.

It wanted to answer the trainer who loved it so deeply, to answer the expectations he had held for so long, to answer the companions' wholehearted care for it.

Today.

Would surely be the day it stepped toward a new future!

Come on! I'm no longer afraid of you!

"Lucky——!

"

Chansey suddenly threw back its head and cried out, its psychic power guiding Aggron to crash straight down, carrying Psybeam through to the very end!

Releasing.

Darkness once again shrouded its vision, cold iron bars replaced everything, noisy and grating curses rang in its ears, and its body ached as if it were being sliced by a thousand blades.

But.

Its right hand felt warmth, felt a faint trembling, a thousand times more real than these false things!

It absolutely had to succeed!

Chansey gritted its teeth, and a brilliance brighter than ever before lit its eyes.

Sweeping away the gloom, striding boldly forward!

The next instant.

Boom!

The sound of an explosion rang out.

The black cloth before its eyes was suddenly torn open by a wild wind, its view clearing in an instant, the curses transformed into joyful cheers from its trainer, and the cold stabbing pain became the warmth of sunlight on its body.

Chansey looked toward the swirling dust.

Aggron stood up, its face still twitching with a lingering ache, but it raised a claw toward Chansey.

"Gugou!"

It's super effective!

"You did it! Chansey! You did it!"

All Baimu laughed heartily as he scooped Chansey up from the ground, "Did you see that? You completed an attack using Psybeam! You've already broken through yourself!"

"Lucky…"

Chansey hugged its trainer tightly, looked toward Aggron cheering for it in the distance, and couldn't help but laugh, and as it laughed, tears unconsciously spilled from its eyes.

All the past suffering and hardship turned to flying ash, and it welcomed a present it would cherish dearly.

Although it was only a single Psybeam and could not yet mean it had completely broken through itself, with this step taken, the future would surely be a bright road!

It.

Had successfully turned the page of its own story.

"Lucky…"

Chansey gently closed its eyes, intending to savor the peace its heart had gained at this very moment.

It had not expected its trainer and Aggron to suddenly cry out in surprise.

Immediately after.

It was set down by its trainer.

After opening its eyes, it immediately saw its body covered by a brilliant, glowing blue light, with countless dazzling fireflies spinning around it.

Evolution…

Chansey was utterly astonished, never having expected to evolve at this moment.

And the most direct thing it could feel was that it was growing taller — before it might have only reached its trainer's waist, but now it was about level with his chest!

Correspondingly, its girth was also increasing, forever maintaining its rounded figure.

Chansey reached up to feel both sides of its head and found that the hair that had only curled up slightly before was now fully curled, like the permed-haired human celebrities on television.

And there were wing-like things on both its shoulders, and what seemed to be some on its waist too.

As if it could fly.

"Ha, happy~"

Its cry had changed too!

"Happy~happy~"

Blissey felt its own mouth, then tried calling out twice more, confirming that this was indeed the sound it was making.

Before long.

The glowing blue light faded.

Blissey noticed yet another difference — its lower body had changed from the original all-pink to a white that was clearly distinct from its upper half.

Without a doubt.

It had indeed evolved; its changes were no different from those of the Blissey seniors it had known before.

Was this a good thing?

Blissey remembered its trainer once telling it that, before evolving, holding that stone would grant it even stronger defensive power than after evolving — now that it had evolved, wouldn't that mean…

It anxiously looked toward All Baimu, and then saw the other's expression of pure delight.

"It evolved, ha, it evolved!"

The latter's expression was a bit stiff, looking like a smile yet also very strange — clearly, multiple layers of joy had intertwined and exceeded the limits of what his facial muscles could bear.

The trainer looked like he was about to break.

Seeing this, Blissey hurriedly used a healing chime in Baimu's ear.

The latter's emotions were quickly calmed.

"Hoo… hoo…"

He took several deep breaths in a row, but when he met eyes with Chansey and Aggron, he still couldn't help but laugh out loud — nothing could make a person happier than seeing their own Pokémon's growth.

As for the matter of the little egg becoming a big egg and being unable to trigger the Eviolite, he temporarily tossed it out of his mind.

"Congratulations! Blissey!"

Baimu said happily.

Blissey likewise nodded happily, "happy!"

Seeing its trainer so delighted, how could its own mood not lift.

He opened the Pokédex.

Evolving into Blissey had brought three new moves — 【Sweet Kiss】, 【Mirror Move】, and 【Heal Pulse】.

Although no offensive moves had been mastered, Baimu did not feel disappointed. Although Blissey had indeed achieved a new breakthrough in attacking, in reality it was still a Pokémon that fought with status moves.

"Not easy, really not easy."

Baimu hugged Blissey again, on the verge of tears.

Half a year since meeting Blissey, the two had gone through hardships and storms together, and finally the day of blossoming had arrived.

"Baimu-san?"

Manchu's voice came from not far away.

Baimu, his eyes rimmed red, turned his head and waved at Manchu. "Come look, my Chansey evolved!"

"Eh!? It evolved? Congratulations, congratulations!"

Manchu saw the slightly shy Blissey, shared in his friend's joy, and yet also lamented: "I actually missed such an important moment."

"I didn't know it was going to evolve either, hahahaha! If I'd known, I would have set up a camera and filmed it!"

Baimu rubbed his nose, equally regretful.

——

After evolving, Blissey's mindset had grown tremendously.

Not only had it adapted to using Psychic to attack opponents, it had also successfully completed the important task of using Slam.

Having crossed the threshold of the heart and swept away the shadows in its mind, it arrived in a brand-new world.

The scenery was more beautiful than before, and better suited to it.

Although according to its trainer, its Defense had dropped compared to when it previously held the Eviolite, in exchange it gained stronger offensive power.

In other words, it was no longer the self that could only take attacks.

If it met that Swellow again, surely it wouldn't waste the chance for nothing.

At the thought of this.

Blissey's old worries and timidity vanished, replaced by an incomparably intense self-confidence.

It had gotten stronger!

No one knew its own changes better than itself.

And on the other hand.

Aggron and the other Pokémon also gradually noticed something was off.

Still gentle, still considerate, still thoughtfully caring for every companion on the team — but Blissey as an individual had become somewhat assertive, no longer meekly accepting everything as in the past.

The most obvious example.

On the grounds that a balanced diet was good for health, it on its own refused Dodrio's request for a second helping.

One must know that Blissey used to be forced by the latter, waiting for Baimu's help to slowly muddle through — who would have thought it would one day refuse!

Dodrio was so shocked that both food bowls fell out of its mouths.

Aggron and the other Pokémon were also dumbfounded.

Mawile even bit the former to confirm whether it was truly in a dream.

That Chansey… no, that Blissey actually refused someone! Really?! Is the sun rising in the west? Can evolution really bring such a big change to a Pokémon?

Baimu was also very surprised, but he didn't feel it was off-putting — on the contrary, he felt very happy.

Blissey did need to be a bit more assertive; after all, this was a Pokémon known as the pink demon, and a perpetually mild temperament wasn't good for dealing with uncooperative "patients."

In short.

Refusing was good!

It was time to curb the crooked winds of this team terrorist, Dodrio!

Baimu ignored Dodrio acting cute at him and gave Blissey a thumbs-up.

The latter paused, then joyfully flapped the two little wings on its shoulders. It was of course aware of the change in its own personality, but judging from the reactions of its trainer and companions—

This change was not bad in the slightest.

"happy!"

It would keep on growing, until it became a presence its trainer could rely on.