C112 - Council of Eevee

The grand council of Eevee was called upon at night that same day Terreon evolved as the first observed ground-type Eeveelution. It had to happen during the night because the pokemon professors currently living at his farm wouldn't let the opportunity go and spent hours with the newly discovered pokemon to find out as much about it as they could.

The oldest among the Eevee, Pete's Espeon together with his two mates Sylveon and... the other Sylveon sat together with Jolteon, who was not their offspring and observed the 'new generation' despite not being too far apart in age.

Leafeon and Glaceon, who hatched almost at the same day, shared their father, Espeon, but were eggs from other Sylveons. The new Terreon, technically, was Leafeon's brother, but they weren't as close because Terreon spent most of its time with Pete before.

Then, there were two Vaporeon and a Glaceon, who all bonded to Courtney and evolved without the use of a Water or Ice Stone thanks to Courtney's overwhelming water and ice affinities with her status as Suicune's avatar - as well as five Eevee, who did not yet bond to anyone or evolve.

Two of them were the offspring of Pete's Jolteon and one of Courtney's Vaporeon. The other three were freshly hatched kids fathered by Pete's Espeon. There was one more egg there, and the group was currently discussing what to do with it.

Pete watched on with his Mega Reuniclus translating their conversation for him. He had asked them if they would be willing to share this egg or any other in the future to give Jasmine a chance to hatch and evolve a Terreon herself.

It was only right for her to train one as a ground type gym leader.

"Jolteon's advances were rebuffed. He asked if the other two Vaporeon were willing to birth more eggs with him," Reuniclus explained in an almost gloating voice over their bond.

Her having the ability to articulate her thoughts by breaking open a sort of psychic barrier during her mega evolution, just like Mega Milotic, was a huge boon. Pete even learned some gossip through it, which gave him tremendous insight into 'societal' norms, behavior, and relationships between pokemon.

Like now, where he learned that his Jolteon wasn't strong enough to have more than one mate attracted to him. Or how Reuniclus' partner, Gallade, spent all of its day training so it wouldn't remain weaker than his partner. Despite taking a lot of pride in her strength in the first place, Gallade never stopped training. So much so that the two barely spent any time at the moment.

"Jolteon is paramount to our quaint life here in the meadow. He and Zebstrika are the two pokemon who help us with eletricity the most by powering the conversion devices," Pete muttered softly in the pokemon's defense despite not speaking up for the group to hear. It wouldn't do to meddle in their relationships via manipulation. It would only bring unnecessary drama in the future.

What he thought was a 'generator' when he found it at the very start of his life in the world was more of a battery plus transformation equipment. It stores energy after converting electric type energy into usable electrical power. He had long since upgraded to a less portable model that also had a small solar panel attached to it, but he still relied on his many pokemon to top off the 'generators' for his house and the guest houses.

And, as mentioned, Jolteon especially helped out with it.

"He looks quite sullen. You should help him out," Reuniclus suggested when it looked at Jolteon's defeated expression.

"I don't have an electric affinity, sadly - so my options are limited... remind me to contact Wattson in Hoenn. Lt Surge is not an option, I'm afraid. He went into hiding after his ties to Team Rocket were exposed and the league still didn't find a replacement for the Vermillion City gym," Pete pondered out loud before he inwardly mused, 'I still wonder how Sabrina got out of the whole thing unscathed... did Oak and Lance confront her, and she played double agent? Too bad I can't ask without revealing that the information all those months ago came from me...'

"There's other ways for you to train him. Put him on a Shuca Berry diet and force him to train his speed," Reuniclus suggested with some mirth in her voice.

"Having him work on his ground weakness with Shuca Berries is not the same as making him stronger," Pete countered with a wry smile. "Maybe I should look into creating food that boosts certain types..."

'Like those seeds that worked with Terrain abilities that were added in Gen 7 or 8. I know for a fact that Electric Seeds and Grassy Seeds were a thing... Misty Seeds and Psychic Seeds were the others, right? That covers four typings at the very least. Maybe I'll finally play around a little and find the concept behind the Electirizer and eventually Magmarizer to find reliable tools for evolving Electabuzz into Electivire and Magmar into Magmortar respectively...'

Pete looked into the far distance that he could barely make out thanks to his improved eyesight after eating those Mystery Dungeon seeds and his fairy affinity. Close to the 'berry monument' housing the Ground Gem at the orchard, pokemon of another pokemon species with an evolution item introduced at the same time as the Electirizer and Magmarizer were resting.

Rhydon evolved into Rhyperior with an item called 'Protector', something Pete had long ago manufactured for his wife. To do that, Pete had extremely hard stone plates delivered to his farm that were rich in rock-type energy and fashioned them into a form-fitting armor for the two Rhydon that Jasmine trained. Them evolving after battling in that armor had caused a small commotion in the scientific community at the time - and especially with everyone training ground and rock type pokemon.

At the time of their evolution, Jasmine had been the first and only trainer to have a Rhyperior on her team. The few Rhyperior that existed in the wild were century old tribe leaders that would never agree to run with a trainer. Pete still wondered how Giovanni managed to subdue that giant Magmortar the group saw during the Heatran induced volcanic eruption.

"We have the Thunder Stones to spare, especially with the small Dedenne battalion doing mischief on the farm. You don't need to worry about electricity in your home anytime soon," Mega Reuniclus proposed after quick thought.

"Thunder Stones... yeah, we do," Pete thoughtfully agreed and looked at a tree at the very edge of his farm that he had planted near the beach.

Galarica, a tree native to Galar. It would be entirely useless until he found a Galarian Slowpoke. It wasn't particularly pretty to look at it either. But making a wreath or a cuff out of that tree's twigs and flowers would help a Galarian Slowpoke evolve into one of two forms. Pete had ordered that tree to not forget about its existence, but he had no desire to raise Galarian Slowpokes. He still had the tree in case he ever needed to help someone - a future student for example.

'A cuff for Slowbro and the wreath for Slowking, right?' Pete idly thought before his mind snapped back to the Eevee Council.

"If he desires to be strong enough to get more than one mate, we'll find something to help Jolteon," Pete reassured Reuniclus with an amused expression.

In the meantime, the Eevee had moved onto another topic, and Pete learned that both Sylveon were ready to gift one more egg to their trainer. The one that birthed the Glaceon and wasn't the mother to the first Terreon agreed to give her egg to Jasmine. Pete inwardly promised to cook something nice for them since they were so considerate.

"One of the Eevee desires to become an Umbreon," Reuniclus revealed as the discussion went on.

"Oh? We'd only be missing a Flareon for the full 'known' set of Eevee if that is the case. Can you ask if the Umbreon needs help with the evolution? It should be able to get it on its own with Espeon to help since it's night outside," Pete asked as he found the Eevee among the group that asked for the evolution. He thought it weird that it asked in such a formal setting - or even asked at all. The pokemon should be able to decide how to evolve on its own... or maybe the future Umbreon just wanted its parents' approval.

"Espeon asked for your help," Reuniclus revealed after a quick psychic conversation with the father of the Eevee.

With a smile, Pete walked forward to the Eevee Council and asked the pokemon in question to come over, "Come with me, I can whisper you some secret tips to evolve into a strong Umbreon, Eevee."

Opening his arms in a gesture for a hug, Eevee jumped into Pete's lap. With a last look to the moon high up in the air, Pete leaned forward and whispered into Eevee's ear, "I'm afraid there's no secret, little guy. But I can still give you a few hints since I can't help you out with a strong dark type affinity, and neither can the girls." At this point, Pete started to gently comb Eevee's fluffy fur with his fingers to help it relax. It started to purr in contentment. "Since you planned to become an Umbreon, I'm sure you practiced a few moves like Bite or Crunch? Maybe even Nasty Plot and Feint Attack? Did Absol teach you Pursuit? I think I've seen you two run around together at night."

"Eeev~" the pokemon answered in a low purr with its eye squinting in delight. Pete knew just where to scratch for a super effective effect.

"Why don't you try using Snatch to steal this rock from me?" Pete whispered tauntingly despite having a warm smile on his face as he held up a rock with an outstretched hand not far away from the Eevee lying in his lap.

Almost reluctant to get up, Eevee complied and disappeared in the long shadows of the full moon night. And just as it grasped the rock in Pete's fist with the dark move 'Snatch', Eevee was suddenly enveloped in a bright light. Characteristic for evolutions, the sound of bones shifting and fur rippling with unhealthy squelches rang through the air for a few moments.

Not long after, the light stopped, and a majestic looking red-eyed, black-furred, and golden-ringed Umbreon looked at Pete in astonishment before it jumped into Pete's arms to celebrate its evolution.

"Hehe, call me the Eevee whisperer," Pete mumbled under his breath as Umbreon licked his face. He held the pokemon's face in his hands for a moment to take a good look at the golden ring on its forehead and praised in a low voice, "You turned out to be a very handsome Umbreon. I'm sure you'll have no problem finding more than one mate should you want it."

As the pokemon gave him a shy stare, Reuniclus whispered in his mind, "He is smitten with Absol. It's why he wanted to become an Umbreon so that they share their typing."

"Oho, your heart is already set?" Pete asked in a conspiratorial whisper. "Then I wish you good luck. I don't think I've seen Absol with anyone else yet. Except, of course, Golurk, but he's in the wrong egg group... uh, nevermind."

Technically, Zoroark could be Umbreon's rival in love, but Zoroark had his eyes on Purrloin already. The two were doing their rounds together away from Golurk when they were on night watch - and just the day before, Courtney informed him that they were now sleeping in the same cavern during the day instead of two adjacent ones like they used to.