The result was pure joy.
But the process? That was an uphill battle of grueling proportions.
After all, the hurdles of the mind are often walls higher than any physical obstacle.
When you start running in circles within your own head, logic usually takes a backseat.
Things that seem trivial to an outsider can become a heavy curse, dragging at the heels of the person involved.
Kashiwagi understood this all too well.
If Chansey didn't have the resolve herself, no amount of planning from him as a Trainer could help her overcome her psychological scars.
That was why, when she finally expressed her desire to try attacking, he was so happy he was momentarily speechless.
The day of the experiment arrived.
Before Kashiwagi taught her Psychic, he did not set any specific requirements. Whether she used a move or not didn't matter.
Success meant landing just one attack.
...
While Chansey was already capable of "poisoning" opponents, but when it came to the concept of direct or indirect harm, her subconscious was razor-sharp.
She could fool others, but she couldn't fool herself.
The moment she stood before Aggron, raising her hand and preparing to strike, her mind betrayed her. Uncontrolled images of being beaten and scolded flashed before her eyes.
It was as if she had been yanked back in time. Her ears were filled with the shrill, overlapping roars of former owners—men and women alike—screaming at her to hit, to strike, to attack.
Those vicious words brought a stinging pain that radiated through her entire body.
They were like brands, seared into the deepest reaches of her memory, waiting for her to peel back the scabs so they could manifest as fresh agony.
At this moment, what tormented Chansey was no longer the conscience for being unable to harm other Pokémon, but the artificially created, hellish memories of her inability to harm other Pokémon.
Her hand froze in mid-air.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't let it fall.
Chansey knew a attack from her wouldn't even tickle Aggron. She knew she wasn't actually hurting him; she just wanted to trigger that first offensive action.
But even so—even that tiny movement felt like trying to leap across a bottomless chasm.
The screaming in her ears grew louder. Healed wounds felt like they were splitting open. The silver armor of Aggron in front of her began to blur and flicker, transforming into the cold iron bars of a pitch-black cage.
Chansey's hand began to tremble violently. Her breathing grew shallow and ragged.
A wave of despair crashed over her.
If I can't even manage a simple patting motion... what use am I?
"Don't be nervous. There's no rush."
A large, warm hand came to rest gently on her head. The voice was soft, yet it instantly drowned out the insults echoing in her mind.
Warmth flowed downward, filling her body and making the stinging pain vanish.
A new kind of strength was beginning to take root.
"Relax. Just like learning a new move, let's take it apart and solve it step by step."
"Groon!" Aggron let out a supportive low rumble.
"Lucky..."
Chansey tilted her head up. She met the smiling faces of Kashiwagi and Aggron. There wasn't a hint of reproach in their eyes—only unconditional trust.
What was surging through her heart was a gift from her Trainer; a sensation she could never forget.
"Since contact moves are a no-go for now, let's try a distant, invisible force," Kashiwagi said, crouching down to meet her gaze.
"You're already comfortable with Telekinesis, so the indirect damage of Psychic might be a better breakthrough point. What do you think?"
Chansey was stunned.
She was the one who had made the decision. She was the one who wanted to break from her past. She was the one who had made a big promise to her Trainer—yet here she was, paralyzed at the finish line, trembling and unable to move.
By any metric, she had failed to live up to his expectations.
And yet, what she received wasn't a lecture or a look of disappointment. It was a warm smile and a helping hand.
"Lucky..."
Chansey's body shook.
The shadows of the past were like a nightmare that refused to end. Even now, they would occasionally haunt her dreams, bringing back the old hurt.
She realized she had been running away. Under Kashiwagi's pampering, she had tried to pretend the past didn't exist. She had curled up in the warmth of his care, telling herself everything was over.
It was int the past. But the memories were real. They were carved into her brain like thorns, blocking her path and preventing her from keeping up with her Trainer's stride.
She couldn't—she wouldn't—ignore them anymore.
Chansey looked into Kashiwagi's eyes and gave a firm, resolute nod. "Lucky!"
Even if the thorns of memory tore her apart, even if she had to suffer again and again, she would push through. She would follow him.
Compared to the pain of a nightmare, the idea of not being able to stand by her Trainer's side was far more terrifying.
Bring it on. Whatever it takes.
...
"Looks like you're ready," Kashiwagi said, patting her head with satisfaction.
"Then let's start the specialized training for your newly mastered Psychic."
To Chansey, there wasn't a massive mechanical difference between Psychic and Telekinesis, provided she wasn't using it to "attack."
One allowed her to snap the mental connection at will, while the other required constant control to maintain.
Mastery came surprisingly easy to her.
By the time Chansey could use Psychic to knock over the largest of three cans without disturbing the other two, her precision was already top-tier.
Her fine motor control over psychic energy was, frankly, terrifying. She didn't act like a Normal-type Pokémon at all.
Kashiwagi briefly wondered if Professor Oak had misclassified the species; if every Chansey was this gifted, they definitely should have been Psychic-types.
"Excellent. Now, for the next stage,"
Kashiwagi nodded. He looked at Chansey and said, "Use Psychic to restrain Aggron."
"Lucky!"
She responded solemnly, unleashing a wave of mental energy that locked onto Aggron's massive frame like an invisible vice.
"Lift him up!"
Aggron's heavy body slowly drifted off the ground.
Normally, there are two ways to use Psychic. The first is using mental force to bind the opponent, then causing psychic explosions by slamming or tossing them around.
The second is a direct assault on the opponent's mind, shattering their willpower.
Since the second method might be harder for Chansey to swallow, Kashiwagi focused on the first, which felt closer to the "object manipulation" she was already doing.
"Now... cut the connection!"
...
...
In mid-air, Aggron dropped like a stone. His massive frame slammed into the ground, and because he had deliberately chosen not to brace himself, he hit with a heavy thud that kicked up a massive cloud of dust.
"Grhoon..." He groaned softly from the center of the crater.
"See? It's that simple,"
Kashiwagi said, smiling at Chansey. "You've already taken the first step. The pain Aggron felt just now was a direct result of your actions. It's fundamentally different from the indirect damage caused by Toxic."
In reality, the distinction was a bit of a stretch, but Kashiwagi was more than happy to "fudge" the logic if it helped her realize she was capable of direct offense.
"Lu... Lucky..."
Chansey instinctively sent a Heal Pulse toward Aggron. She stared at her hands, almost unable to believe she had crossed that threshold so easily.
Just moments ago, she couldn't even bring herself to land a simple slap.
"Beautifully done! That's step two in the bag. Come on, let's try step three," Kashiwagi said, ruffling the soft fur on her head.
"Lucky!"
Her confidence was finally starting to spark.
One Step at a time,
Once again, she used Psychic to lift Aggron into the air.
"This time," Kashiwagi instructed, "the goal is to throw Aggron far away and cut the connection mid-flight. Think of it like using Telekinesis to push an object away from you. Got it?"
"Lucky..."
Chansey focused. She furrowed her brow, and with a sudden surge of mental power, she flung the heavy Aggron across the field.
"Grhooo—!"
The Steel-type traced a high arc through the sky before crashing heavily onto the dirt.
THOOM!
It worked! Chansey's heart skipped a beat as the sound of the impact echoed through the training ground.
"Fantastic! Look at that! You've cleared step three! We're down to the final hurdle!"
Kashiwagi's laughter was infectious. In the distance, Aggron slowly pushed himself up. He was a bit wobbly and covered in dust, but he had a fierce, toothy grin on his face.
"ROAR!"
Again! The big guy lowered his center of gravity, practically begging for more.
Now, The Final Breakthrough
Chansey's breathing started to quicken again. Sensing the tension, Kashiwagi knelt down once more. He gently took her right hand in his and looked her straight in the eye.
"Nervous about the last step? Haha, honestly? Me too. But it's okay. I'm right here with you."
Kashiwagi spoke in a low, soothing tone. "Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Follow me... inhale... and exhale..."
"Luuu..... ckkyyy....."
Guided by his voice, Chansey closed her eyes. Her ragged breathing smoothed out. When she opened her eyes again, she gave Kashiwagi a resolute nod.
I'm ready.
"Good. Let's do it. The final step of today—and the first step toward your brighter tomorrow!" Kashiwagi said with absolute conviction.
"Lucky!"
She gave a soft cry, eyes locking onto the approaching Aggron. Her mental energy flared out, hoisting him into the sky for the third time.
"The final step: keep your psychic grip until the very end. Guide Aggron into the ground and trigger the Psychic energy explosion," Kashiwagi's voice guided her.
Chansey manipulated the invisible force, staring at Aggron high above. She swallowed hard.
Slam him down... trigger the blast...
Slam him down... trigger the blast...
Strangely, as she visualized what she was about to do, the traumatic memories didn't return.
Why?
Oh. She realized it was because her Trainer was still holding her hand. And that hand... was trembling ever so slightly.
Feeling that faint tremor and the warmth of his palm, Chansey realized that Kashiwagi was just as stressed as she was. He wasn't as calm as he looked; he was just putting on a brave face to give her courage.
The realization hit her like a lightning bolt.
Her breath hitched, and a genuine smile finally bloomed on her face.
She wanted to repay this man who loved her so deeply. She wanted to live up to his expectations and the unwavering support of her teammates.
Today was the day she moved forward.
I'm not afraid of you anymore!
"LUCKY—!!"
Chansey threw her head back and screamed. Her psychic power surged, driving Aggron straight down with terrifying force, committing to the Psychic move with everything she had!
As the power peaked, the darkness tried to swallow her again. The cold iron bars, the piercing screams, the phantom pains of a thousand cuts—they all rushed back.
But the warmth in her right hand and that subtle, human trembling were ten thousand times more real than those ghosts.
I WILL succeed!
Chansey grit her teeth, her eyes shining with a brilliance they had never held before. She swept away the shadows and lunged toward the light.
BOOM!!
A massive explosion rocked the field.
The black veil over her mind was torn away by a sudden gale. Her vision cleared instantly. The cursing voices were replaced by her Trainer's joyous cheering. The cold stings of the past were replaced by the warm glow of the afternoon sun.
Chansey looked toward the settling dust.
Aggron stood up, twitching slightly from the residual psychic shock, but he held up a claw in a triumphant thumbs-up.
"Grhoon!"
That one actually hurt! Nice hit!
"You did it! Chansey! You really did it!"
Kashiwagi laughed loudly, scooping her up into a massive hug. "Did you see that? You completed an attack with Psychic! you finally broke through!"
"Lucky..."
Chansey hugged him back with all her might. She looked over at Aggron, who was cheering for her, and she started to laugh. But as she laughed, tears began to stream down her face.
All the bitterness and hardship of her past crumbled into ash. She had finally reached the "now" she cherished so much.
Even though it was just one move—one Psychic—it didn't mean all her problems were gone. But this one step meant the road ahead was finally open and bright.
She had successfully turned the page to a new chapter of her life.
"Lucky..."
Chansey closed her eyes, soaking in the peace settling in her heart. But then, she heard Kashiwagi and Aggron gasp in unison.
Suddenly, Kashiwagi set her back down on the ground.
When she opened her eyes, she saw her entire body being enveloped in a brilliant, shimmering blue light. Countless dazzling fireflies of energy began to swirl around her in a violent, beautiful dance.
Evolution...
Chansey was absolutely stunned. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine she would evolve at this exact moment.
The most immediate change she felt was her height. Before, she barely reached Kashiwagi's waist; now, she stood almost level with his chest! Correspondingly, her proportions had filled out, maintaining that signature rounded, huggable figure.
She reached up to touch the sides of her head. The hair that used to be just a few simple tufts was now elegantly curled, looking like a celebrity who had just stepped out of a high-end salon.
She also noticed wing-like frills on her shoulders and around her waist, giving her an fairy, almost angelic appearance.
"Ha... Happy~"
Even her voice had changed!
"Happy~ Happy~"
Blissey touched her mouth and chirped a few more times, confirming that this sweet, melodic sound was indeed her own.
A moment later, the brilliant blue light faded completely. Blissey noticed one more detail: her lower body had shifted from a solid pink to a crisp, distinct white.
There was no doubt about it—she had evolved. She looked exactly like the senior Blissey she had admired in the past.
But was this a good thing?
Blissey remembered her Trainer telling her that with that special stone (Eviolite), her defense was actually higher than if she evolved. If she had evolved now, wouldn't she be...
She looked at Kashiwagi tentatively, only to find him wearing an expression of pure, unadulterated shock and joy.
"You evolved... Ha! You actually evolved!"
Kashiwagi's face was a bit stiff; his smile looked almost painful because so many layers of joy were overlapping at once, pushing his facial muscles to their limit.
My Trainer looks like he's about to break, Blissey thought.
Acting quickly, she leaned in and rang a soothing Heal Bell right in his ear. The clear, chime-like sound instantly stabilized his skyrocketing emotions.
"Whew... deep breaths..."
Kashiwagi took several long breaths, but looking at Blissey and Aggron, he still couldn't stop a chuckle from escaping.
Nothing in the world could compare to the joy of watching your Pokémon grow.
As for the "Little Egg" becoming a "Big Egg" and losing the Eviolite boost? He tossed that thought right out the window.
"Congratulations! Blissey!" Kashiwagi said happily.
Blissey nodded with equal delight. "Happy!" Seeing her Trainer this happy made every struggle worth it.
...
Kashiwagi pulled out his Pokédex. Evolution had granted Blissey three new moves: Sweet Kiss, Copycat, and Healing Wish.
While she hadn't learned any new "offensive" moves naturally, Kashiwagi wasn't disappointed. Even though she had made a breakthrough in her ability to attack, her core strength would always lie in her masterful use of status moves.
"It wasn't easy. It really wasn't easy."
Kashiwagi hugged Blissey again, his eyes welling up. They had been together for half a year, weathering storms and overcoming trauma together.
Today, they finally saw the flowers bloom.
"Kashiwagi-san?"
Wally's voice drifted over from nearby. Kashiwagi turned his head, eyes still a bit red, and waved him over.
"Quick, come look! My Chansey evolved!"
"Eh!? She evolved? Congratulations! That's amazing!"
Wally looked at the slightly shy Blissey and beamed, catching the infectious joy of his friend. Then he sighed,
"Aw, I can't believe I missed such an important moment."
"I didn't even know she was going to do it! Hahaha! If I'd known, I would've had the camera rolling!" Kashiwagi rubbed his nose, feeling a bit of that regret himself.
...
The Rise of the "Pink Demon"
Post-evolution, Blissey's mindset underwent a massive transformation.
Not only had she adapted to using Psychic to attack, but she had also finally mastered the prompt for a physical Pound.
By leaping over those mental hurdles and clearing the fog in her mind, she had stepped into a brand-new world. The scenery here was more beautiful, and she felt more at home than ever.
According to her Trainer, her raw defense had dropped slightly compared to when she held the Eviolite, but in exchange, her "attacking" power had surged.
In other words: she was no longer the girl who could only stand there and take hits. If she encountered that Swellow again, she wouldn't let the opportunity slip through her fingers.
At the thought of this, her old worries and timidity vanished, replaced by a fierce, radiant self-confidence. She had become strong—and no one knew that better than her.
Meanwhile, the rest of the team—Aggron and the others—started noticing a "subtle" shift.
She was still the same gentle, considerate Blissey who looked after everyone's needs, but she had become... assertive.
She was no longer a pushover.
The most direct example?
Citing "nutritional balance for optimal health," she flatly refused Zweilous's demand for a third serving of food.
In the past, Chansey would have been bullied by Zweilous until Kashiwagi stepped in to help her wiggle out of it. To see her just say no?
Zweilous was so shocked the two food bowls literally fell out of his mouths.
Aggron and the others were stunned.
Mawile even gave Aggron a little nip just to make sure they weren't in a dream.
The Chansey... wait, the Blissey... actually refused someone?
Is the sun rising in the west today?
Does evolution really change you that much?
Kashiwagi was surprised, too, but he wasn't complaining. In fact, he was thrilled.
A Blissey needs to be a bit firm—after all, this was a species known in some circles as the "Pink Demon." A pushover personality wasn't going to help her handle uncooperative "patients" in the heat of battle.
Bottom line: Great refusal!
It was high time someone dampened the "terrorist" vibes Zweilous brought to the team's mealtimes.
Kashiwagi ignored Zweilous's pathetic attempts to beg for mercy and gave Blissey a big thumbs-up.
Blissey paused, then fluttered her tiny shoulder-wings with excitement.
She was well aware of the change in her personality, but seeing the reactions of her Trainer and her friends, she knew one thing for sure:
This change was a very good thing.
"Happy!"
She would keep growing—until the day she became a pillar her Trainer could truly lean on.