Chapter Eighty-Five: The Trial of the Hippopotamus King

"Slowpoke, you must do your best!" Cheng Cheng cheered on Slowpoke. On one hand, he hoped Slowpoke would pass the trial and earn the right to succeed as heir; on the other, he wished it would fail, so it could continue traveling with him.

Yet after King Hippopotamus spoke, Cheng Cheng could only root for Slowpoke. The king declared that once the trial began, only success was permitted—failure was not an option. Slowpoke would remain here, undergoing the trial, until it inherited the throne. During that time, Cheng Cheng would stay with it.

Once Cheng Cheng understood the king’s words, he could only wish Slowpoke the best. If Slowpoke never succeeded, would he be trapped here forever? Though perhaps he could escape, the thought of fleeing left him uneasy.

Slowpoke moved before the four stones and tried to lift them all with psychic power. But the very thing Cheng Cheng feared happened: the stones did not budge.

Cheng Cheng knew Slowpoke’s psychic abilities weren’t strong enough to raise all four stones at once, so he comforted it.

“Slowpoke, don’t worry. Keep trying. Even though you can’t lift all four stones at once now, you’ll manage it someday. Focus your energy on one stone, and increase your effort one by one.”

Slowpoke nodded, seeming to understand, then attempted to lift the stone closest to itself. Yet after a long moment, the stone remained unmoved.

Cheng Cheng felt as if a flock of dark crows were circling above his head.

“Let me show you how,” King Hippopotamus said, and demonstrated: the four stones floated effortlessly under his psychic power.

“It seems your psychic abilities are indeed lacking. Train hard,” he said before turning away.

Cheng Cheng looked at the disappointed Slowpoke, believing it must feel miserable. He knew Slowpoke’s powers were weaker than the king’s, but had not expected them to be so feeble. He walked over and patted Slowpoke’s head.

“It’s alright. Let’s work hard together. I believe you can do it.”

Encouraged by Cheng Cheng’s words, Slowpoke rallied and tried again to lift the stone with its psychic power. Cheng Cheng stayed by its side.

At the same time, Cheng Cheng tried attaching his own psychic power to the stone. He discovered that as soon as his energy touched the stone, it was absorbed completely. He couldn’t even keep his power attached, much less lift it.

Though his psychic ability seemed like a grain of sand before these stones, Cheng Cheng kept trying to lift them.

Gradually, he noticed that though he still failed, his psychic strength was growing bit by bit.

Cheng Cheng and Slowpoke practiced lifting the stones, and time passed until noon. King Hippopotamus had a subordinate bring some food, then departed. After eating, Cheng Cheng continued training with Slowpoke.

The sun set, darkness fell, and Cheng Cheng lay on the ground. He was exhausted—not physically, but mentally. He didn’t want to think about anything, choosing simply to lie there.

Energy flowed from the psychic gemstone necklace around his neck, soothing his mind.

At that moment, King Hippopotamus approached and sat before Cheng Cheng.

“Now is a good time for meditation. Don’t waste the opportunity!” Hearing this, Cheng Cheng sat up, entered a meditative state, and discovered that the psychic sapling in his mind had grown into a small tree, branching in two, each with seven or eight leaves.

The next morning, Cheng Cheng awoke, ate breakfast, and began training with Slowpoke. King Hippopotamus returned.

“You two, don’t use your powers recklessly. I’ll teach you how to use psychic abilities properly.”

“Psychic power—mental strength—originates from our brains. As it grows, so does intelligence.”

It can improve intelligence? No wonder his wits surpassed Ash and the others, Cheng Cheng thought.

“Proper use of psychic power develops the mind, but overuse leads to fatigue, injury, or even idiocy. Our Slowpoke tribe appeared dull at first because we’re born with a protective layer in our brain. This shield greatly protects the mind, so we seem slow at first. But after evolving into King Hippopotamus, Shellder helps share the burden, so the shield is no longer needed, and our intelligence improves greatly.”

“This time, I’ll not only teach Slowpoke to enhance its psychic power, but I’ll train you as well, Cheng Cheng. I’ll add a protective layer to your brain, which will rapidly boost your psychic abilities. But during this period, you’ll become a bit dull, and your intelligence will drop significantly. Are you willing?”

Lowered intelligence sounded frightening, but Cheng Cheng agreed for the sake of power.

“Alright, close your eyes and open your mind.”

Hesitating briefly, Cheng Cheng closed his eyes. He felt something touch his forehead—likely the king’s hand.

Suddenly, a force entered through the touch, flooding his mind and quickly occupying it.

He felt his mind blur and a barrier form, separating his thoughts. Then a surge of power struck, and Cheng Cheng lost consciousness.

The next morning, Cheng Cheng awoke feeling lighter than ever. He could recall little—his mind was nearly empty except for basic information. He couldn’t remember what he’d done before, yet sensed his past existence. It was incredibly comfortable.

King Hippopotamus came and helped him begin psychic training.

Cheng Cheng approached the stone, attaching his psychic power to its surface. His control felt more natural, but the moment his energy touched the stone, it was immediately absorbed.

He disconnected, then tried again, attaching his power to the stone.

He kept practicing, resting when tired, then resuming training.

Thus, each day was spent solely on psychic training, meditation, and sleep, aside from basic hygiene and meals.

Days passed, though Cheng Cheng couldn’t tell how many. He found he could reliably attach his energy to the stone’s surface without it being absorbed, yet lifting the stone still seemed impossible.

Slowpoke, after days of effort, finally managed to lift the stone a tiny bit—though not fully.

Seeing its failure, Slowpoke felt disappointed. Cheng Cheng comforted it, though he himself felt nothing—no sadness at all.

Cheng Cheng seemed to have lost track of time; nothing outside could affect him now.

“It’s alright. Let’s keep going. If we spend enough time, we’ll succeed.”

Thus, Cheng Cheng and Slowpoke persisted, forgetting the passage of time, training day and night on the island.

One day, after exhausting his mental strength, Cheng Cheng lay down. As he did, a Poké Ball at his waist rolled away. Seeing it, he felt as if he’d forgotten something.

What have I forgotten? His mind was blank, yet something vague lingered—he just couldn’t grasp it. He knew the Poké Ball contained Pokémon, so he released its inhabitant.

A bell-shaped Pokémon appeared before him. He recognized it as Chimecho, but as he gazed at it, his head throbbed and flashes of memory surfaced. The pain made him want to forget these images, but he knew he had to recall what he’d lost.

“Ah! Ah... ah!” Cheng Cheng’s head ached fiercely—the harder he tried to remember, the more it hurt.

Chimecho, seeing his distress, used its healing chime to ease his pain.

With Chimecho’s help, Cheng Cheng felt relief, and the memories began to surface.

He released all his Pokémon: Gardevoir, Alakazam, Natu, Mr. Mime. They stood before him, each placing a hand on him, sharing their memories. Gradually, Cheng Cheng recalled everything.

He felt a surge of power fill his mind, breaking the barrier in his brain, restoring him to his former self.

“Thank you, thank you, everyone.”

Cheng Cheng was restored, and he realized the sapling in his mind had grown into a true little tree, nearly a meter tall—his psychic power had finally reached mastery.

At that moment, he saw King Hippopotamus approaching, accompanied by two Slowkings. Cheng Cheng stood, facing the king.