Hatching

In the early morning, the first ray of sunlight quietly slipped through the gap in the curtains and gently fell across the table in Xinhai's room, gilding the Pokémon Egg lying there with a golden edge.

Before long, the Pokémon Egg began to glow with a faint milky-white light.

The glow gradually brightened, slowly filling the entire room. Xinhai was awakened by the sudden light and groggily opened his eyes, only to see the room filled with its gentle radiance.

He immediately spotted the Pokémon Egg on the table shining brilliantly and instantly woke up. Without even bothering to put on his shoes, he rushed barefoot toward the table.

Torchic had been sleeping soundly in its little nest, but it was also startled awake by the commotion of Xinhai getting up.

Seeing the state of the Pokémon Egg, Torchic was equally stunned by the sight. It quickly hurried over to the desk and watched the miraculous scene alongside Xinhai.

The Pokémon Egg's glow grew stronger and stronger. Accompanied by faint cracking sounds, tiny fissures appeared across the shell.

Every new crack made Xinhai's heart tighten further. He clasped his hands tightly together, staring without blinking at the Pokémon Egg that carried his hopes.

As the seconds ticked by, more and more cracks spread across the eggshell.

Finally, with a crisp crack, the upper half of the Pokémon Egg shattered into fragments and scattered across the table. A baby Pokémon appeared before Xinhai's eyes.

The first thing he saw was a bowl-shaped mop of green hair, with two red semicircular horns on its head. Beneath its hair were a pair of lively red eyes. It lay in the eggshell, looking at Xinhai with curiosity and confusion.

"Ralts?"

That childish cry snapped Xinhai out of his shock. A delighted smile immediately blossomed across his face. He held out his hands and said gently, "Ralts, welcome to this world!"

Sensing Xinhai's familiar presence, Ralts also reached out with both hands and looked at him with watery eyes. Xinhai stepped forward, intending to pick her up.

However, because Ralts was still inside the eggshell, the moment she leaned forward, the shell tipped toward Xinhai.

Xinhai's heart leaped into his throat at the sight, but fortunately, he reacted quickly and caught Ralts securely in his palms.

Xinhai looked at the tiny Ralts in his hands and gently removed the bits of eggshell stuck in her hair.

Seeing how adorable Ralts was, Xinhai could not help laughing. He gently stroked her beautiful green hair.

Ralts looked into Xinhai's joy-filled eyes with her pure red gaze, and she became happy as well. She stretched out her tiny hands and tightly hugged the finger that was stroking her.

"Telepathy Ability!"

Xinhai could sense Ralts's joyful emotions, and it felt incredibly novel to him.

Torchic, watching from the side, curiously came closer. Tilting his head, he examined this new companion and chirped, "Torchic~ Torchic~," as if enthusiastically greeting her.

Ralts also curiously looked at the orange-red chick before her. After sensing his familiar presence, she timidly replied, "Ralts~"

"From now on, you'll be good partners who adventure together," Xinhai said to the two Pokémon with a smile.

Torchic flapped his little wings, seemingly expressing his welcome for the new companion.

Xinhai carefully held Ralts and brought her to the window, letting the morning sunlight gently fall over her. Feeling the warm sunlight, Ralts let out a cheerful cry.

Afterward, Xinhai brought the two little ones downstairs, preparing to clean Ralts up.

Xinhai placed Ralts in a small basin and said with a smile, "Don't move, Ralts. I'll rinse you off."

"Ralts~" Ralts obediently nodded.

Seeing Ralts standing inside a basin taller than she was, Xinhai could not help smiling. He adjusted the water temperature, and once it felt about right, he reminded her, "Ralts, if it feels too hot or too cold, make sure you tell me."

Ralts nodded again and replied in a soft, childish voice, "Ralts~"

Xinhai slowly poured warm water over Ralts. It flowed through her green hair, forming glistening droplets.

Ralts comfortably narrowed her eyes and softly hummed, "Ralts, Ralts~," enjoying the novel and pleasant experience.

Torchic, meanwhile, squatted far away in the corner, watching Ralts enjoy herself with some confusion.

Xinhai smiled at the sight without saying anything and continued washing Ralts, his movements becoming even gentler.

Once he was done, Xinhai gently dried Ralts with a soft towel. After the egg fluid was washed from her body, Ralts was noticeably livelier and happier.

Next, Xinhai washed Torchic as well. This time, under Ralts's watchful gaze, Torchic was clearly much more obedient and no longer resisted as he had the previous times.

After washing up, Xinhai checked the time and realized it was nearly time for his parents to wake up.

After washing up, Xinhai checked the time and realized it was nearly time for his parents to wake up. So, he first placed the two little ones on a chair, wrapped them in his father's Mareep wool scarf to keep them warm, and softly told them, "Play here for a while. I'll go make breakfast for you."

Xinhai went to the kitchen, skillfully took out a frying pan to fry some eggs, found slices of bread in the cupboard and put them into the toaster, and warmed up some Moomoo Milk at the same time. Before long, the kitchen was filled with the tempting aroma of food.

While Xinhai was making breakfast, his parents walked out of their room. When they saw Torchic and Ralts on the chair, they first froze, then broke into delighted smiles.

Hearing the sounds from the kitchen, his mother, Nami, excitedly said, "Xiao Hai, is this Ralts? She's so cute!" As she spoke, she crouched down and looked lovingly at the adorable Ralts.

Xinhai finished preparing breakfast in the kitchen and walked out carrying the plates, his face full of joy. "Mom, that's right. Ralts just hatched!"

Ralts looked at Xinhai's parents and sensed their familiar presence. Rather than being afraid, she curiously looked toward Nami.

Seeing Ralts's soft and adorable appearance, Nami's heart melted. She could not help picking Ralts up in her palms and gently stroking her.

Xinhai's father, Yantai, also walked over with a smile, wanting to tease Ralts a little, but Nami lightly slapped his hand away.

Yantai gave an embarrassed smile after being chased off and followed Xinhai into the kitchen to carry breakfast. As he picked up a plate, he asked Xinhai, "So? Have you confirmed her aptitude?"

Xinhai smiled as he carried breakfast over. "Yeah, Dad, you were right. She really has three Egg Moves."

Yantai became a little excited when he heard that and hurriedly asked, "Which three moves did she inherit?"

Xinhai replied, "Calm Mind, Teleport, and Skill Swap."

Hearing that, Yantai repeated them to himself, then froze on the spot with a foolish grin. "She has Calm Mind! Hehehe..."

Xinhai stared blankly at him and wondered, What's going on? Is that really worth such a huge reaction?

Nami, who was cuddling with Ralts nearby, also heard Yantai laughing and looked over. When she saw him standing there holding breakfast and grinning foolishly, she immediately frowned and shouted, "What are you standing there grinning like an idiot for?"

Yantai, who had still been immersed in his joy, was so startled by the shout that his hand jerked. The breakfast fell to the floor with a smack.

Ralts was startled too and instantly used Teleport, appearing on Xinhai's shoulder. She looked at Nami fearfully, while Torchic jumped down from the chair and hid behind Xinhai's leg.

Seeing this, Xinhai quickly soothed the two little ones, while Yantai stood there with cold sweat all over his face, forcing out an apologetic smile.

Seeing how frightened the two little ones were, Nami calmed down and said to Yantai, "Why aren't you cleaning that up already?"

Yantai felt a chill run down his spine and hurriedly began cleaning up.

Seeing his father's miserable state, Xinhai silently prayed for him. I hope Dad still gets to see tomorrow's sun.

Xinhai made another serving of breakfast, and afterward, the family sat around the dining table to eat.

Torchic and Ralts drank the still-warm Moomoo Milk, their faces wearing blissful expressions as they occasionally let out satisfied cries of "Torchic, Torchic" and "Ralts, Ralts."

Seeing how adorable they were, Xinhai and his parents felt completely healed. Thanks to that, Yantai escaped disaster.

After breakfast, Xinhai and Yantai headed to the department store once again to buy nutritional supplements and training equipment for Psychic-type Pokémon for Ralts.

[Pokémon: Ralts]

[Ability: Telepathy (forms a psychic link, allowing the Pokémon and Trainer to understand each other's thoughts and sense the inner thoughts of living beings within a certain range)]

[Type: Psychic, Normal]

[Gender: ♀]

[Level: 1 (Novice)]

[Moves: Growl, Disarming Voice, Calm Mind (Egg Move), Teleport (Egg Move), Skill Swap (Egg Move)]