Pokémon: I have no choice but to do this old thing?

Tianguan Mountain, an ancient site.

As the end date of the special training drew closer, an unexpected problem quietly arose for Zhang Jianying.

As her energy accumulated and her understanding of the profound meaning of breaking through the mind deepened, Kirlia began to uncontrollably emanate the light of evolution from her body.

The white light, like the dawn breaking, heralds the joy of an impending leap in the level of life.

However, each time the light just appeared, it was as if it were being extinguished by an invisible hand, and Kirlia would forcefully suppress it with its almost instinctive superpowers, leaving only a few energy ripples in the air and its taut body.

Zhang Jianying initially thought that the time for evolution had not yet come, or that some special opportunity was needed.

He consulted Gustav, who simply gave Kirullian a meaningful look and said calmly, "Just let things take their course."

Several days later, late at night, Zhang Jianying was awakened by a suppressed mental fluctuation filled with sadness and fear.

The fluctuation originated from Kirlia, and it was so strong that it penetrated the mental barrier that Kirlia usually erected.

He approached quietly, and by the cold moonlight filtering through the cracks in the ruins' dome, he saw Kirlia, meditating alone at the edge of the camp, with two glistening tears sliding down her closed eyes.

Zhang Jianying held her breath and carefully extended her faint waveguide.

The moment the waveguide touched her, Kirlia, trapped in a nightmare, stiffened for a moment as she sensed the trainer's presence.

But this time, instead of building up its defenses as usual, it seemed to finally succumb to the weight of its inner burden, allowing the shattered images from its dreams and the surging torrent of emotions to assault Zhang Jianying's consciousness through the waveguide connection:

"No...don't change..."

The cold, glaring white light of the laboratory replaced all colors.

The monotonous hum of the metal instruments was oppressive and suffocating.

"This is fine...this is fine as it is..."

A Gardevoir resolutely stood in front of it, which was still a Pokémon egg, facing some unknown threat.

A warm yet weak shield of psychic energy opened up, like the last bastion.

"Mother..."

Then came the sound of the shield shattering, like a heart breaking.

Gardevoir's blurry image turned its head in the bright light, its gaze both lingering and resolute, before the energy completely dissipated, leaving only emptiness and coldness...

I don't want to lose... I don't want to disappear like my mother...

"The current distance... is just right... a distance where I can feel the warmth..."

"If I were a little taller... would he still pat my head so naturally?"

Does evolution... mean separation? Like a mother...?

Zhang Jianying's heart was gripped by these fragmented emotions. He quietly stepped back, his heart churning with an indescribable tenderness.

He finally understood Kirullian's subtle actions.

The precise height she maintains, her habit of sitting on his lap, and the way she cherishes herself when using telekinesis all stem from the deepest fears of this sensitive soul.

It refuses to evolve, not because it is unwilling to become stronger, but because it fears "change" itself.

Fear of its evolved, taller form would shatter the intimate distance it so carefully guards.

The growth and transformation of the power of fear, like the mother who disappears in a dream to protect it, can bring about unpredictable separation.

Having figured all this out, Zhang Jianying felt a mix of emotions.

There is tenderness for Kirlia's past pain, and also a touch of regret, like watching a budding flower unwilling to bloom.

But this regret was like a pebble thrown into a lake, only causing a brief ripple before it sank to the bottom of the lake called "understanding".

……

After their daily training, Zhang Jianying and Gustav stood on the edge of the cliff, overlooking the misty valley. He mentioned Kirulian's situation.

"Master, Kirlia seems to be resisting evolution."

Zhang Jianying's voice was calm, with a knowing tone, "I respect its choice."

Gustav did not turn around; his gaze remained fixed on the distance, as if he could pierce through the clouds and see something even more profound.

"Recognizing and respecting the inner constraints of your partner is the first step a trainer takes towards maturity."

His deep voice sounded somewhat distant in the mountain breeze: "Not forcing evolution is wisdom."

Gustav paused, then unusually mentioned the past, "When I was young, I also had a close friend whose partner was a sea dragon, whose temperament... was quite similar to your precious dragon."

"Even when they stood together at the pinnacle of power, that sea dragon never chose to evolve."

Gustav gazed into the distance and continued, "Power takes many forms. A strong mind, unwavering will, and an impeccable rapport with your trainer are the cornerstones that determine one's level. Respecting your partner's will, which stems from your own experiences, is the core and most burdensome part of a trainer's duty."

Zhang Jianying nodded.

He remembered the boy with the hat who never gave up, and his Pikachu, who also refused the Thunder Stone and defeated countless powerful enemies with its non-evolved form.

Although the examples are different, the core is the same.

Pokémon have their own thoughts and choices, and every wish deserves to be taken seriously.

While Zhang Jianying and Gustav were having this conversation about "respect" on the cliff edge, subtle changes were also taking place at the camp.

The usually carefree Pokémon, who is focused on battling its own internal energy and constantly at odds with Kirlia, was surprisingly the first to notice Kirlia's hidden emotions.

Baby Dragon itself had long been tormented by the pain of energy conflict and the anxiety of wanting to become stronger, so it was all too familiar with that struggling aura.

It could see the tension in Kirlia's body and the panic that flashed deep in its eyes when it suppressed the Light of Evolution—a feeling so similar to its own when the energy was about to spiral out of control…

On the other side of the camp, a tortoise was dozing in the sunset, while Gastly was enthusiastically showing off its shadow space to Shuttle.

Baby Dragon, carrying the Everstone, walked over to Kirlia, who was sitting alone on a rock, gazing blankly at the distant mountains.

Instead of its usual provocative growl, it tilted its head, its scarlet pupils staring directly at Kirlia, and made an inquiring gurgling sound in its throat.

"Whoa? Hey, you green tea b*tch, are you... scared?"

Kirlia paused slightly, her crimson eyes turning to the baby dragon with surprise.

It never expected that this little guy, who usually seemed to only run wild, could see through its thoughts.

Seeing that it didn't react, the baby dragon impatiently pawed at the ground with its short legs, but continued to express, "Woo-hoo, woo-hoo! What's there to be afraid of! Isn't it good to become stronger? Only by becoming stronger can you protect what you want to protect! Like me now, it's because I'm not strong enough that I can't control my power!"

Baby Dragon's logic is simple and direct, stemming from its deepest experiences. In its view, power is the foundation of protection.

Kirlia was silent for a moment, her telepathic connection becoming complex:

"...It's not that I'm afraid of becoming stronger. It's that I'm afraid of...change. Afraid of becoming a stranger, afraid of losing what's important to me now."

Upon hearing this, the baby dragon paused for a moment, its simple mind seemingly unable to fully comprehend this fear of "change" itself. But it did grasp the meaning of the word "loss."

It recalled that it had exerted all its strength just to avoid losing this hard-won "place of belonging".

Baby Dragon frowned, thought for a moment, then raised its head and stubbornly growled, "Woohoo! Idiot! That guy won't abandon you just because you change! Look at how he treats Brother Turtle, how he treats that purple idiot second brother, and how he treats me...aren't they all the same? Even though I always lose control, he's never given up on me!"

These words, though blunt and crude, struck a chord deep within Kirullian's heart.

Looking into the pure and stubborn eyes of the baby dragon, and feeling the unreserved trust in its trainer in its words, a certain part of its heart seemed to be gently touched.

Yes, even this little guy, initially covered in thorns and with disordered energy, gradually found his way under the trainer's unwavering patience and guidance. So what am I afraid of?

Meanwhile, the conversation on the cliff edge was drawing to a close. Gustav's words further solidified Zhang Jianying's decision.

After returning to the camp, he didn't specifically seek out Kirullian to say anything; his actions spoke louder than words.

At night, Kirullian, as usual, floated to his side, maintaining a height just high enough for him to wrap his arms around her.

Zhang Jianying simply reached out naturally, not with anticipation for evolution as she had a few days ago, but with a soothing gesture, gently stroking the antennae between its hairs.

When Kirlian used her telekinesis to hand him the water glass, he took it, smiled and thanked her, his eyes gentle, without any probing or urging.

It seems that no matter whether it is Kirlia or any other form, this tacit understanding and companionship will not change.

These silent actions gradually filled the chasm in Kirulian's heart.

It sensed the trainer's message: "No need to be confused, what I cherish is you as you are."

Kirlian's initial resistance, stemming from fear, began to soften quietly amidst this gentle, pervasive respect and acceptance.

It decided to approach the question of whether to choose evolution with a more peaceful mindset.

Baby Dragon lay a little distance away, watching Kirlia, and hummed softly. It buried its head in the Everstone, pretending to sleep, but its slightly twitching little ears revealed that it was also watching silently.

In this family, each member influences the others and grows together in their own unique way.