Gardevoir's gaze became extremely complex.
There were memories, reflections, nostalgia, regret, pain—and just a trace of happiness.
As she watched the evolving Kirlia, she thought of herself, and in comparison, remembered how miserable her own existence had been.
The same Pokémon, when meeting different trainers, could face drastically different destinies.
A faint sadness appeared on Gardevoir's face. There was no life, no resentment, no regret—only that desolation that could never dissolve.
No matter what that man had done to her, he had once been her trainer. She didn't know when her eyes had turned cold and devoid of all emotion.
But before that, Gardevoir still remembered that she had once experienced happy moments with her trainer. However, those fleeting bits of happiness had almost completely faded away under the weight of all the tragic experiences that followed.
Now, seeing Kirlia evolve, she could barely recall a sliver of that memory.
Gardevoir's aura began to surge uncontrollably. Very soon, it surpassed Aggron, Tyranitar, and the others, and then quickly overtook Slowking and Gengar, reaching the peak of the Intermediate Elite Four level.
And it didn't stop there!
Like a spear piercing through all defenses, she stepped directly into the Advanced Elite Four level.
This caused Slowking and the others' expressions to grow even more serious.
But Gardevoir seemed unaware of her own rise in power. She continued to gaze at the evolving Kirlia, nostalgia growing ever stronger in her eyes.
Gradually, a faint smile appeared on her face—but from her two red eyes, brilliant tears began to fall.
They dropped onto the petals beneath her feet, scattering in all directions.
Magearna, who happened to be nearby, suddenly began to shed tears as well. Though her body was mechanical, the Soul-Heart granted her infinite possibilities.
Magearna's tears flowed uncontrollably, for she could clearly sense Gardevoir's deep sorrow.
She rushed toward her, trying to wipe her tears, wanting to help—but they wouldn't stop falling.
Buzzing sounds echoed: Wong—Wong—
Anxious, Magearna perceived something far more serious than Cain could have ever imagined.
Gardevoir's life force was fading away!
She was walking irrevocably toward death.
Magearna tried to use her Soul-Heart to replenish Gardevoir's life energy, but she couldn't transfer anything—Gardevoir was rejecting her help. She had decided to depart of her own will.
There is no greater sorrow than a heart that has died while still alive...
"Gardevoir—she's ending her own life!" Diancie, having understood Magearna's words, translated them aloud.
Tears welled up in her eyes as well.
"Gardevoir... she's using the last of her life to increase her power..."
"Magearna can't help her recover her life force! Gardevoir is rejecting the treatment...!"
"Gardevoir won't hold on any longer! Her life has reached its end!"
As Diancie translated Magearna's words, her tears flowed without end. Like Magearna, she was a Fairy-type Pokémon—an existence close to the very essence of life itself—able to perceive that indescribable sorrow from a heart that no longer wished to go on.
Nearby, Slowking, Gengar, and the others slowly ceased their vigilance, gazing at Gardevoir with complex expressions.
Cain stood beside her as well, watching closely. He could see Gardevoir's skin and hair withering visibly.
And if anyone could feel it even more clearly than Magearna, it was Kirlia, still in the midst of evolution.
She could sense Gardevoir's sadness within her heart—and even as she evolved, tears streamed endlessly down her face.
Slowly, Gardevoir clasped her hands before her chest. Between them, a small crystal appeared, glowing softly as it floated.
The moment that crystal emerged, Gardevoir's aura plummeted. In an instant, she fell from the Elite Four level down to Elite, then to Quasi-Elite...
Finally, Gardevoir looked one last time at the crystal in her hands and gently tossed it toward the evolving Kirlia.
She closed her eyes peacefully, still wearing a faint smile. The tears on her cheeks hadn't yet dried when her body began to fall backward... She was caught gently by Slowking's psychic powers and laid upon the ground.
Magearna sensed that Gardevoir's life force had completely vanished. Not even the Soul-Heart could bring her back.
It was the absolute sacrifice of a Psychic-type Pokémon at the Advanced Elite Four level, willingly and completely giving everything she had to another being—a feat unprecedented in the Pokémon World.
Though Kirlia's heart was filled with pain, she had reached the crucial point of her evolution. She didn't understand why someone she had never even spoken to—like Gardevoir—would give everything for her.
Perhaps Kirlia had touched the most delicate chord within Gardevoir's heart.
The true recipient of her sacrifice was not Kirlia—but her own self of the past.
Kirlia had merely been the stand-in for that memory.
The light of evolution expanded, and Kirlia's body began to transform.
Three minutes later, the radiant glow faded, and a new figure emerged—Gardevoir.
Her body was pure white, as if she wore an elegant ball gown, with the inner lining of her skirt a deep green.
Her hair had changed style, now curled and flowing down the back of her head, with a streak of blue among the green—symbol of the god of willpower.
Her arms were also green, with no clear separation between arms and hands, and her slender fingers looked like gloves.
The fins on her head had shifted to her chest and back after evolution.
Sharp structures had grown on her cheeks, as if she wore a mask.
From her chest, a green band connected with her "gloves," giving the impression of a complete gown.
Kirlia had evolved successfully!
Before all of Cain's Pokémon now stood Gardevoir.
They had watched one Gardevoir fall—and another rise. The Pokémon wanted to congratulate her, but no joy came to their hearts.
The one who had once been their enemy had now sacrificed herself for them.
Even Slowking and Gengar could no longer feel hostility toward the Gardevoir lying peacefully on the ground.
The evolution was complete, and Cain immediately received her data:
Pokémon: Gardevoir (Light Black)
Gender: Female
Level: 35 (Fast Ascension)
Types: Psychic + Fairy
Ability: Trace
Held Item: None
Egg Moves: Memento, Destiny Bond, Misty Terrain, Ally Switch
Basic Moves: Growl, Confusion, Double Team, Teleport, Disarming Voice, Lucky Chant, Magical Leaf, Heal Pulse, Draining Kiss, Calm Mind, Imprison, Moonblast, Stored Power, Healing Wish
Learned Moves: Icy Wind, Skill Swap, Ice Punch, Telekinesis, Zen Headbutt, Pain Split, Magic Coat, Hyper Voice, Helping Hand
TM Moves: Protect, Psyshock, Psychic, Dream Eater
(End of Chapter)