Aspiring to become a Pokémon trainer

Looking out at the still-romantic starry night, and then at the cub curled up in her arms, Nan Yin couldn't help but feel a little regretful.

"So fast, we've only known each other for a short time." With a look of grievance, Korni gently stroked the little hand of the Wishing Star, as if reluctant to part with this once-in-a-millennium encounter.

"Separation is inevitable in life; what matters is the memories we create together."

Adding firewood to make the campfire burn brighter, the white-haired girl covered her lips and nose, exhaling warm, moist breath that turned into a wisp of white mist in the winter.

"At least we remember that this otherwise ordinary day was the day we met Jirachi, didn't we?"

As the saying goes, Nan Yin originally regarded this day as a leisurely journey, but the arrival of the Wishing Star gave it a deeper meaning and made it necessary to remember it.

[I've remembered everyone.]

With puffed-out cheeks, almost as if in a huff, the little guy also joined in the conversation, not to be outdone.

The sky was low, and it was almost dawn the next day. Perhaps tired from playing, Jirachi turned his head and caught a glimpse of clear black eyes.

[Nanyin, and everyone else, what are your wishes?]

My wish—

Recalling the words she uttered to herself when she set off, and looking back at the many spirits accompanying her, Nan Yin smiled gently.

"It has been achieved."

[Then let's make another wish! Jirachi is amazing!]

It was a relentless pursuit of answers.

It awakens from feeling warmth and is willing to give back to this warmth that nourishes body and mind.

"A wish is a goal, an aspiration, and it is something that must be realized through one's own efforts."

Nan Yin gently touched the little guy's forehead, causing him to blink frequently, and then shared her insights.

"If you lose the process, even if you succeed, you will feel much less of a sense of accomplishment."

Surrounded by a group of elves, she spoke again, "Of course, I still hope that you and everyone else can feel fulfilled, and that even if it's only for a few days, you can be genuinely happy."

[Hmm, I don't understand, but I'm really happy to be with Nan Yin. I wish I could stay by everyone's side forever.]

Jirachi has the special ability to 'grant wishes', but this ability is similar to Hoopa's, and it is 'equivalent exchange' rather than 'getting something for nothing'.

Therefore, when the wish is fulfilled, the child will fall into a deep sleep again, until the cycle of reincarnation a thousand years later.

As a symbol of prayer, Jirachi will eventually return to the comet, no matter what. But if no wish is made, Jirachi can stay active and have more fun during these seven days.

"So, is this your wish, little Jirachi?"

My wish...

"Ah."

Affirming the little beast's murmur, Nan Yin lowered her voice, then raised her eyelashes, as if looking at the endless shooting stars, or perhaps at the meaning in the metaphor.

This was not an act of excessive kindness. Qi Ye's Wishing Star had only met her once, yet it placed its trust in her and was willing to give up its already short seven days to fulfill her wish alone. How could such a sacrifice not evoke pity and guilt in the young girl?

Jirachi does not have the ability to grant wishes out of thin air. It consumes its own energy to make wishes for others, simply wanting to make friends, partners, or even family members during these short seven days.

This goodwill is sometimes betrayed by humans, which is why there are terrifying records of sea monsters, land monsters, and so on.

Those days and nights that are so ordinary for Nanyin are incredibly precious to Jirachi, who can only awaken for seven days every thousand years.

and so--

"Seven days may still be too short, but in this limited time, everyone and I will stay by your side to help you realize your wish."

[I.]

Raising his dark eyes and gazing at the delicate-faced girl, Jirachi was slightly dazed.

For thousands of years, people have always made wishes upon the Wishing Star.

But Kirachi feels joy and happiness whenever he can help others fulfill their wishes.

However, no one has ever listened to its extravagant requests, nor has anyone used their desires on it, simply to satisfy their own whims.

It is precisely because of this that the long and lonely period of a thousand years of slumber makes it forever unforgettable.

The silence lasted for a while, and then the little beast revealed an incredibly sweet smile.

[Thank you, Nanyin~]

The moonlight slants down, and brilliant shooting stars fall with melodious whispers. The belated meteor shower finally arrives, and the distance between humans and spirits seems to shrink infinitely under this clear sky, as if one could hear the other's heartbeat with a single breath.

The wishing slip-like pendant swayed gently, accompanied by a faint breeze, and a few drops of moisture fell on the girl's forehead.

It was a kiss, but more than that, it was a pure and straightforward expression of love belonging to Jirachi.

Feeling the warmth on her forehead and taken aback by the sudden attack, the girl quickly smiled.

"You're welcome. I've already gained a treasure I can't repay. So, have you thought it through, little Jirachi?"

Perhaps, I am not yet able to stop the laws of nature and sever the compensation of the millennium and the seven days, but I will still do my best to ensure that Jirachi is no longer trapped in loneliness, and that even when surrounded by endless stars, he can still reminisce about the time we spent together.

[I think......]

For the first time in many years, Kirachi was asked about his "wish," and he hadn't thought of anything yet. Fortunately, Nanon opened his mouth and spoke at the right time.

"Since you don't have a clear idea, why not spend these seven days with us and travel at your own pace? Time will always make your feelings clearer."

"Nanyin and everyone else will help you realize this wish."

Holding Jirachi's small hand, Diancie also understood and echoed the girl's words.

As the saying goes, the child's thoughts were just lacking an opportunity to be expressed, but the resonance of the waveguide had already conveyed this longing and desire long ago.

—Friends and companionship, a fairly common, yet difficult-to-fulfill wish.

Once a thousand years have passed, when familiar things fade away and the wheels of time have rolled over them, what will remain to preserve those memories of the past?

With a sidelong glance, Nan Yin calmly looked at her own child.

Diancie of the Mining Kingdom, Magiana created by machinery, the unpredictable Evil Phantom... they all bear their own burdens, have long lives, and also have unspeakable loneliness.

Their circumstances are not the same, but they gather together because of their own special nature. They may not be able to stay with these children until the end, but they are enough to accompany Jirachi forever and spend countless millennia with them.

And this was the plan the girl had made.

Of course, before that, she would create unforgettable memories for each other through actual travel.

"Let's start with the scenic spots of Carlos, and continue until we build our little home together."

They tied the corners of the tent tightly, and then fell silent. The warmth of the campfire lingered, and the winter snow seemed to be getting heavier, but the girl simply used her mental power to lower the curtain, and they created a small world that belonged only to each other.

In this warm and tranquil moment, a beam of white light enveloped Kirby's figure, as if reflecting the shooting stars in the sky, as if mirroring the warmth of the night.

Ordinary and unremarkable, yet seemingly natural, it completed its evolution and also burst the tent.

Chapter 139 The Opening of the Tournament and the Target for the Championship

"Ah sneeze."

She covered her nose, shivered, and tightened her scarf around herself; her complexion was not good.

This wasn't due to any negative emotions, but rather because the tent had unexpectedly burst open last night due to unforeseen circumstances, allowing cold air to rush in and bringing a refreshing chill.

"Hmm, although I was very surprised to see Jirachi, could this be the law of conservation of luck? Otherwise, why would the tent break down for no reason?"

Muttering to herself, she personally hammered in the nails for the base and, having experienced many picnics, naturally trusted the durability of such items.

"puff."

With a slight upturn of her lips, unlike her friend who was fast asleep at the time, Nan Yin was quite clear about the reason for what had happened.

Looking back at the child whose appearance had changed drastically and who had become increasingly simple-minded, even though he was still sleepy, a hint of a smile still lingered on his long, dark eyelashes.

She had considered that Kirby would evolve soon, after all, under her care, the child had grown rapidly and matured both physically and mentally, but last night's coincidence was truly unexpected.

There are no complicated conditions or level-ups required. Literally, all a trainer needs to do is have a close relationship with Munchlax to overcome the obstacles of evolution.

Perhaps it was the bond between Jirachi and himself that touched the child, or perhaps it was the warmth of sitting around the fire day and night that gradually made him yearn for it, until now, after years of accumulation, he has finally broken free from his cocoon.

"Kirby~"

Squinting its eyes and fiddling with the branches behind its neck, the dark blue behemoth was no longer as small as it once was, but rather exuded a greater sense of weight.

As if it had heard Korrina's murmur and understood the metaphor in the girl's laughter, even though its expression did not change, Snorlax still reached out its big hand and gently embraced the two of them, snuggling them into its warm fur.

It certainly hadn't forgotten accidentally smashing the tent last night, and felt guilty for disturbing its companion's rest.

It was clumsy and lazy, unable to express its feelings verbally, and had no decent apology gift. But since that was the case, it would use its evolved form to shield them from the cold wind and provide them with the warmth that had accompanied them day and night. These were the only two things it could do.

Carefully restraining its strength, Snorlax knew the immense power hidden beneath this body. Even though its own girl frequently took care of herself in daily life, she was still a petite, slender, and quite fragile girl.

Therefore, it must be protected; therefore, it must be protected by them.

"Hmm, Nan Yin, when did this child evolve?"

No longer needing to wrap herself tightly in a scarf, the thick fur and warm body heat had already dispelled the winter chill, allowing Kornie to regain her composure and even have the leisure to inquire about matters of evolution.

"Who knows? Maybe, one of the days when you're fast asleep."

With a light exhale, she exhaled a misty white fog, as Nan Yin teased, her tone slightly sarcastic.

My friend said she would share the housework when she petitioned, but in reality, she mostly takes care of this careless and energetic child.

Without a thought of breaking free from its embrace, it followed the winding mountain path, bathed in the falling snow, and the enormous beast made its way step by step, leaving deep and shallow footprints, towards the valley where it had first set out.

His massive size and spacious belly made the embrace of the girls neither stuffy nor uncomfortable; in the cold winter, it could even be described as a pleasure.

"Thank you for your hard work, Snorlax."

With the foot of the mountain just a stone's throw away, warmth still flowed through her body and mind. Nanyin gently patted the giant beast's palm, conveying the thought that everything was alright, and also expressing her gratitude.

Although the change in appearance has made Kirby no longer the silly and clumsy boy he once was, and has also left the girl with a sense of loss, no matter what the outcome of evolution may be, their feelings of caring for each other will not change.

Whether it's Sylveon, Snorlax, or Gliscor, just think of them as your own daughters with different personalities who will eventually grow up.

"Snorlax is not common, and examples of Snorlax evolving from a small Snorlax are even rarer. This possibility can only truly be realized when it has a deep emotional bond with its trainer and is difficult to part with."

Seeing these heartwarming scenes unfold before his eyes, Daigo, who was also descending the mountain with his companion, smiled brightly, showing no reservation in appreciating the former.

"It seems it trusts you quite a bit, Nan Yin."

"This is my good fortune."

Enjoying the experience without showing it outwardly, Nan Yin looked at Snorlax as before, along with the many children.

"Pa-hey?"

Perched on the giant beast's shoulder, the Scorpion King gazed at his old companion with considerable curiosity.

There was no rejection; they simply adapted to the extreme changes and then welcomed the former back to their respective homes.

[That felt so good, thank you everyone~]

Walking through the thicket of fur, the Seven Nights Wishing Star also beamed with joy, delighted by this novel experience.

"That was wonderful. Do you have any other plans after this trip?"

With his palms outstretched and a hint of curiosity in his eyes, the silver-haired youth asked this question.

He had a very good impression of the girl and felt honored by this chance encounter. He also had some selfish motives and wanted to find out where she was.

"Nanyin and I will probably attend this year's Miare Conference."

Raising her hand in greeting, Korni also remembered the promise and challenge she made when they first met.

Just as Munchlax grew into Snorlax, the egg that Nan Yin chose for her that day has hatched, and now it has become Gallade, capable of standing on its own.

"Ah."

Nodding slightly, without denying her friend's words, Nan Yin glanced at the Fengyuan champion out of the corner of her eye.

He seemed to need something from me, but I was too embarrassed to ask.

“Mr. Daigo, if you have anything else to say, please say it here.”

Ignoring the generational difference in their status, she simply raised her eyelashes and quietly gazed at the former.

"You figured it out after all. Actually, I wanted to ask you to develop a detailed breeding plan for Metagross, including the appropriate energy cubes and specific feeding times."

With a soft sigh, Nan Yin's words were so resolute that Daigo hesitated, only now managing to squeeze out the thoughts that had been accumulating since last night.

Since becoming champion, he and his Pokémon have rarely improved. So, when Metagross showed unprecedented interest, the young man intended to invite the girl to act as a breeder and give him advice.