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The "winner" of the Pokémon scuffle had finally emerged. Marill, with a well-timed maneuver, had knocked Chinchou out, though it was hard to tell whether it had been a "physical" attack or sheer luck, but the result was the same: victory in this chaotic battle.
It had been an impromptu contest, with no official rules or prizes, yet a champion had still emerged, rewarded only with applause from the Pokémon Trainers.
Still, every person and Pokémon was ecstatic.
After a long journey, both humans and Pokémon had accumulated fatigue and discomfort. The wild, carefree antics of the water fight had blown away every trace of weariness.
Luther and his Pokémon now lounged lazily on the steps at the edge of the hot spring, half-reclining and gazing up at the sky.
That was the beauty of an open-air hot spring, soaking in the warm water while gazing at a night sky sprinkled with glittering stars.
Luther was lost in the serene view when Chansey's excited calls startled him. The pink Pokémon rushed over from the shore, clutching the Pokémon egg, her expression a mix of nervousness and exhilaration.
Still processing what Chansey was trying to convey, Luther took the egg from her. The moment his hands closed around it, he straightened carefully, sitting upright on the steps and cradling it with utmost care.
He held his breath and pressed his ear to the shell, listening intently.
Red-faced from holding his breath too long, Luther was just about to inhale when the egg shivered faintly.
The soft, muffled thumps from inside sent a surge of excitement through him.
Springing from the hot spring, Luther quickly dried off, sent a message to Mai about the egg's activity, and dashed straight to his room, still holding the precious Pokémon egg.
Inside, his Pokémon took turns pressing their ears to the shell, feeling the gentle vibrations. Their eyes sparkled with curiosity and delight.
Over the past few months, each Pokémon had taken shifts caring for the egg.
Chansey, in particular, had spent most of the time cradling it, never leaving its side.
Luther and Mai's care couldn't match the refined attention given in a place like Hearthome City Day Care, but they diligently recorded the egg's daily condition.
The wait had been long, so long that Luther had begun to suspect it might be a dead egg. Even Mai, initially optimistic, had started to grow pessimistic.
When Luther had asked Cynthia whether hot springs could accelerate hatching, he had felt a pang of despair, because the egg had shown no reaction to the outside world.
He had been terrified that this tiny life might die inside the shell before ever seeing the world.
That fear was now lifted. The egg was alive. For reasons unknown, it had remained still all this time, but it was alive.
Now it was tapping its shell with faint, deliberate movements, as if sending a message: 'I'm here. Don't abandon me'.
Mai entered, hair damp from the hot spring, barely having dried it before rushing over. She pressed her ear to the egg and waited patiently.
Minutes passed. Mai's neck ached, and it almost felt as if the previous movements had been imagined. The egg fell silent once again, leaving her puzzled.
"It's responding… not dead… but the hatching signals are strange," She muttered, pacing the room as she reasoned aloud, trying to rule out possibilities for Luther.
"Just remain calm. Keep observing the egg. Any sign of life proves it still has a chance to hatch. That's already much better than assuming it's dead. Usually, when an egg starts doing this, it means hatching is imminent, probably within the next two weeks."
This was Mai's final assessment. Reluctantly, she pressed her ear to the shell again, listening for a long while, but the egg remained silent. Her hope dimmed slightly.
After Mai left, Luther leaned over the bed, gazing at the egg in quiet contemplation.
"Cynthia is so mysterious… she clearly knows the specifics but keeps me guessing. I'm really curious, what will hatch from you?"
"Who do you think it'll be?" He asked his Pokémon.
Marill pointed to herself, suggesting a Water-type.
Espurr and Kirlia speculated that another high-Ability Pokémon joining the team would be exciting.
Jumpluff wanted an Oddish. She dreamed of watching Luther raise it into a Vileplume, imagining the thrill of commanding such a powerful Pokémon, it was a small, vengeful joy.
Chansey, on the other hand, wanted an Audino. Another nurturing Pokémon in the team seemed like a comforting addition.
Luther yawned, interrupting the near-argument over their imagined new teammates. "Alright, that's the situation. According to Mai, our new companion should hatch within the next two weeks. Until then, everyone, be careful and make sure the Pokémon egg stays safe."
Chansey raised her arms and waved vigorously, signaling, 'Leave it to me'.
The other Pokémon echoed their Trainer's command with a unified cheer.
Before going to bed, Luther carefully wrapped the Pokémon egg in soft cushions and blankets, checking that it wouldn't roll around. Satisfied, he turned off the lights, imagining the legendary Pokémon that might emerge, and drifted into sleep.
All was silent. The egg, snugly cocooned in blankets, began to tremble.
The vibrations started small, almost imperceptible, then gradually grew stronger. Cracks began to form along the shell.
Perhaps it was the day's chaotic hot spring water fight that had worn them all out; the Pokémon slept soundly, none able to hear the soft, fracturing sounds of the egg.
Chansey, who woke briefly in the night to check on the surroundings, glanced at the small mound in the blankets and drifted back to sleep, reassured.
A faint crack echoed, and a tiny gap appeared in the shell.
Heavy breathing came from inside. The Pokémon within was exhausted, struggling to push the shell open with its soft, fragile body. A jagged edge cut into it, causing a sharp, painful retreat and a small, plaintive cry.
The Pokémon egg was hatching earlier than Mai had expected!
Enveloped in darkness and silence, the newborn felt fear creeping in. She sensed the flow of air, finding the gap in the shell again. Pressing against it, she peeked out.
The stillness of the room intensified her unease. Her tiny, weak cries went unnoticed. Gathering all her remaining strength, she tried to break the shell from within.
Even after sucking in some of the egg's internal fluids and launching a Move, her newborn body was too weak, the attack barely made a dent. Even her physical attempts to push the shell were more effective than the Move.
Minutes ticked by. One failed effort after another, and finally, curled up inside the shell, she couldn't hold back her tears.
She pressed her body against the opening, stretching a part of herself out, calling to the outside world in desperate hope that someone would notice her.
Just as despair threatened to overwhelm her, footsteps echoed in the silent room.
A round, plump Pokémon appeared, sniffing the rich scents in the air. It approached the egg, nudging the half-covered blanket aside, eyes wide with curiosity.
The newborn froze mid-cry. Then, joy surged as her gaze met the gentle eyes in the darkness, and she flailed the exposed part of her body toward the newcomer.
The round Pokémon tilted its head in puzzlement, then extended its tongue, giving her a gentle lick.
(End of Chapter)