Chapter 36: Hatching and Evolution
After the lively Housewarming Banquet last night, tonight only Bai Feng, Bai Ye, Popplio, and Helioptile were left at Home.
Bai Feng waved his small hand and said to everyone, "Tonight, I'll show off my skills and make a delicious feast for all of you!"
"Sha~na!" Yay!
"Woo~woo!" Agreed!
"Ai~bip!" Looking forward to it!
The three Pokémon cheered simultaneously.
Because there were still quite a few ingredients left over from yesterday that hadn't been used, Bai Feng utilized them to make a meal of Chinese Cuisine from his previous life for everyone.
Due to the limitations of ingredients and seasonings, plus not having cooked for many years, the taste of the Food Bai Feng made was actually just average, but everyone still ate with great relish.
On one hand, it was because the Family was gathered together, and eating had a great atmosphere and sense of happiness. On the other hand, it was because this Food was very new to everyone; it was their first Try of this kind of Food.
Everyone ate and chatted, and the atmosphere was very lively. Just then, Helioptile suddenly let out a loud cry, giving everyone a real fright.
"Woo~" What are you yelling about!
Popplio had always been unilaterally at odds with Helioptile, so it was the first to speak up and accuse.
*Whoosh~*
Helioptile ignored Popplio, quickly climbed from the Chair onto the table, appearing beside the Incubator holding the Pokémon Egg.
"Ai~bip! Ai~bip!"
Helioptile kept crying out, pointing at the Pokémon Egg inside the Incubator.
"You said you just saw it glowing?" Bai Feng asked.
"Ai~bip! Ai~bip!" Helioptile nodded frantically.
"Woo~" Where was it glowing? Why didn't I see it?
Popplio interrupted from the side.
"Ai~bip! Ai~bip!" Really, I really saw it!
Normally, Helioptile would completely ignore Popplio's provocations, but today it was a little anxious and quickly defended itself.
Bai Feng quickly comforted it, saying, "I believe you. Maybe this Pokémon Egg is about to hatch. After all, we've had it for two months now."
"Ai~bip! Ai~bip!" Yes, it must be!
Just then, a white light flashed on the Pokémon Egg again and disappeared in an Instant. This time, not only Helioptile saw it, but Bai Feng, Bai Ye, and Popplio also saw it clearly and distinctly.
"Ai~bip! Ai~bip!" Helioptile was Excited and jumped up and down.
"Alright, alright, we all saw it," Bai Feng said with a smile. "It seems this Pokémon Egg is really going to hatch. How about we take it out of the Incubator first!"
"Ai~bip!"
Helioptile nodded heavily, then quickly pressed the Incubator's switch button and slowly took the Pokémon Egg out.
Looking at Helioptile's careful manner, Bai Feng said amusedly, "It seems you really like this unhatched New Member."
Helioptile gently patted the Pokémon Egg and nodded shyly.
At this moment, the Pokémon Egg lit up with light again, and it was even stronger than before.
"Helioptile, put the Pokémon Egg in the center of the table, and we can watch it while we eat," Bai Feng suggested.
"Ai~bip!"
Helioptile nodded and carried the Pokémon Egg to the middle of the table. Bai Ye also thoughtfully added a soft cushion for it.
So the Family ate, chatted, and waited for the birth of the New Member.
As Time passed, the frequency of the light on the Pokémon Egg increased, and the brightness of the light also became stronger.
But it didn't seem to be in a hurry to be born. Everyone finished Dinner, the table was cleaned, and the dishes were washed, but it still hadn't been born.
Popplio was getting a little impatient waiting. It lay on the table and complained, "How much longer until it comes out? Why is it taking so long!"
Bai Feng said helplessly, "How can you rush something like this? Babies definitely take their Time to be born. Maybe you were even slower when you were born!"
As soon as Bai Feng finished speaking, the dark green Pokémon Egg suddenly burst into brilliant light. Intense milky white light enveloped the entire Egg.
When the light dissipated, a little fellow about twenty centimeters tall appeared before everyone. It had grey-green rocky skin, a long blunt horn on its head, and a red diamond-shaped scale on its abdomen. It looked like a small dinosaur.
Larvitar!
Seeing this Pokémon, Bai Feng was ecstatic. He didn't expect a Pseudo-legendary Infant to actually hatch! Legendary Birds, YYDS!
The newborn Larvitar looked blankly at everyone surrounding it. Not only was it not afraid, but it even glared at Bai Feng and the others one by one. It had a fierce little temper, but it was also very cute.
Bai Feng stepped forward, opened his arms, and said smilingly to Larvitar, "Little darling, congratulations on being born. Come, let big brother give you a hug."
"Yo~"
The Instant Bai Feng reached out his hand, Larvitar slapped it away with a "pat", wearing an expression that said, "Don't touch me."
"This little guy is quite fierce," Bai Feng said awkwardly. He then took out a Berry and held it in front of Larvitar. "Are you hungry? Want to eat?"
Bai Feng's first plan failed, so he came up with another.
Larvitar stared at the Fruit for over ten seconds, then looked up at Bai Feng again. It silently took the Fruit and *crunch, crunch*, ate it completely in two bites, not even leaving a Fruit Pit.
After eating, it paused for a moment, looking at Bai Feng with a hesitant expression.
"What's wrong?" Bai Feng tried his best to make his expression look gentle.
Larvitar hesitated for a little while, then silently extended a pair of small short hands towards Bai Feng again.
"Not full yet?" Bai Feng asked tentatively.
"Yo~" Larvitar nodded gently.
Seeing this, Bai Feng quickly took out a few more Berries and placed them in front of Larvitar. Larvitar immediately picked one up impatiently and started gnawing on it.
Soon the Berries were eaten completely again. Larvitar looked at Bai Feng once more. This time, its eyes no longer held the previous wariness and fierceness, but rather a hint of expectation.
Baby hungry, baby wants food too~
"This little guy can really eat!" Bai Feng exclaimed, but his hand obediently kept taking out Fruit.
Larvitar could really eat. Despite being less than twenty centimeters tall, it had already eaten a pile of Berries in no Time. Its little belly was simply a bottomless pit; it ate so many Berries, yet showed no sign of Variation.
Bai Feng now seriously suspected whether the Legendary Birds were forced to impatiently send this little guy to someone else because they were afraid it would eat them out of house and home in the future?
The little guy had just been born. After eating its fill, it immediately closed its eyes and lay on the table, falling into a deep sleep.
"Sigh~ Let's carry it to the Room to sleep."
Saying this, Bai Feng reached out to carry Larvitar. However, with the first attempt, the little guy didn't budge; with the second attempt, the little guy lifted, but Bai Feng put it down again.
"Is this guy a bit heavy?" Bai Feng said with a bewildered expression.
"Ai~bip! Ai~bip!"
Helioptile also Tried to carry Larvitar. Sure enough, it couldn't lift it either. Its small physique wasn't much bigger than Larvitar's.
"I'll Try again!" Bai Feng said again.
This time he finally managed to lift it, but his face was flushed red, and he walked with heavy "footprints", finding it very difficult to get Larvitar to the Room.
"Phew~ I'm really exhausted!" Bai Feng wiped the Sweat Beads from his forehead and said.
After settling Larvitar, Bai Feng said to the other three, "Today it's Time to light up the Hidden Energy Circuits again. Let's all go to sleep after we're done! Who wants to go first today?"
"Ai~bip! Ai~bip!" Helioptile was the first to raise its hand!
"Alright, then Helioptile will start first today."
After speaking, he took the three Pokémon to the Room he had specially built for lighting up Hidden Energy Circuits. After Helioptile lay down on the bed in the middle of the Room, Bai Feng began to work.
The first step was to inject Helioptile with Anesthetic to make its Pain Sensation disappear.
Bai Feng had specifically learned injection techniques from Nurse Joy and spent a good amount of Time practicing, so Helioptile lost consciousness with almost no sensation.
Then he could start working on lighting up the Hidden Energy Circuits.
After several years of working together, Bai Feng was more familiar with the Energy Circuits inside Helioptile's Body than ever before, and he was skilled in the operation, so he quickly completed the work.
Helioptile was the last of the three Pokémon to have its Hidden Energy Circuits lit up. Except for Bai Ye, whose Hidden Energy Circuits were too complex, resulting in slow progress, Helioptile's progress still had some distance compared to Popplio.
After Helioptile finished, Bai Feng carried it to the side to rest, then looked at Bai Ye and Popplio and said, "Who's next?"
Bai Ye stepped forward without hesitation.
Now Bai Feng had gradually reduced using Helioptile's Electromagnetic Wave to assist in lighting up the Hidden Energy Circuits, and was gradually replacing Electromagnetic Wave with Anesthetic.
Although Electromagnetic Wave was effective, its shielding effect on Pain Sensation was not as good as Anesthetic. Sometimes Pain Sensation would still remain, so there was naturally a risk. Now that he wasn't poor anymore, there was no need to settle for less, so using Anesthetic was safer.
Soon Bai Ye also finished.
Finally, it was Popplio's turn. It obediently lay down on the bed, then closed its eyes and didn't move. It looked like it was saying, "Do whatever you want."
Bai Feng had a fixed plan for lighting up the Pokémon's Hidden Energy Circuits each Time. He would light up that much each Time, no more and no less, which wouldn't burden the Pokémon and would also ensure efficiency.
After completing Popplio's Task amount today, Bai Feng was surprised to Discover that only a little bit of its Hidden Energy Circuits was left. That little bit was even less than one-fifth of the next amount.
How about lighting it all up today? Occasionally adjusting the Task amount wouldn't have any Influence.
So Bai Feng persevered and lit up the remaining little bit completely.
He didn't know if it was his imagination, but the Instant Popplio's Hidden Energy Circuits were all lit up, Bai Feng seemed to see Popplio's entire Energy Circuit slightly light up. The surging Origin Energy inside seemed to be twinkling with points of light, like the Milky Way in the Starry Sky, very beautiful!
After the Hidden Energy Circuits were all lit up, they perfectly integrated into the entire Energy Circuit Cycle.
After Popplio finished, the Pokémon gradually recovered from the Anesthetic.
"How does everyone feel?" Bai Feng asked.
"Ai~bip~" Same as before, no special feeling.
Helioptile replied.
Bai Ye nodded along.
Hearing this, Bai Feng looked at Popplio and asked, "Popplio, what about you? Your Hidden Energy Circuits are all lit up!"
"Woo~"
Popplio was about to answer, but as soon as it opened its mouth, it gave everyone a big fright, because its voice had undergone a great Variation. The tone became clearer and more transparent, giving people the feeling of listening to their first love Sing.
Popplio itself was startled by its own voice. It quickly covered its mouth with its hands.
(°□°) Whose voice is this?
"This might be a Variation caused by all the Hidden Energy Circuits being lit up. It shouldn't be a bad thing," Bai Feng explained.
Hearing this, Popplio finally released its hands covering its mouth.
"Woo woo~ woo woo~"
It began to Try speaking tentatively. Its voice had indeed become very pleasant to listen to. Bai Feng's own feeling was that when he heard Popplio's voice, it was like on a hot summer day, after you've just exercised and are covered in sweat, someone hands you a bottle of ice-cold drink.
That feeling was refreshing!
This was a spiritual enjoyment.
"How about we go outside and Try to see if the Variation in your voice will affect your Skills!" Bai Feng suggested at this moment.
"Woo~"
Popplio nodded in agreement. It was very uncomfortable with the Variation in its voice, so it hoped to quickly figure out this Variation.
Everyone walked outside the House together, chose a Clearing, Popplio stepped forward, and began to Sing.
The first Skill it used was Charm Voice.
As the beautiful Singing Voice rang out, the Air began to vibrate violently, as if it could explode at any moment. But Bai Feng and the others were captivated by the Singing Voice.
*Boom~*
The violent vibration of the Air indeed caused a strong explosion. The huge explosion sound successfully brought Bai Feng and the others, who were immersed in the Singing Voice, back to their senses.
Looking at the large pit blasted out by Charm Voice in the distance, Bai Feng asked in disbelief, "Popplio, did you do this?"
Popplio itself was also startled. It had completely unexpected that its voice would have such a powerful amplification effect on Charm Voice. But getting stronger was a good thing, so it proudly puffed out its little chest.
"That's right, it was me!"
Bai Feng rubbed Popplio's little head and praised it, "Not bad, not bad. It seems lighting up all the Hidden Energy Circuits is really amazing! Do you want to Try other Skills?"
"Woo~" Okay!
Popplio nodded heavily. The next Skill it Experimented with was Sing. But as soon as it opened its mouth, Bai Feng and the others immediately started feeling their eyelids getting heavy, so Bai Feng quickly shouted:
"Stop, let's forget about this Skill for now. We can Try it again when there's an Opportunity." Don't let everyone be sung to sleep before we finish trying out Skills.
Just then, Bai Feng suddenly thought of something else, so he asked Popplio:
"Popplio, your Hidden Energy Circuits are all lit up now. Evolution shouldn't have any Influence anymore. Do you want to choose to Evolve?"
Hearing Bai Feng's words, Popplio's eyes instantly lit up. "Really? Can I really Evolve?"
Popplio had wanted to Evolve for a long Time. If Bai Feng hadn't told it that Evolving too early might affect its future growth and advised it not to be limited by the present, it would have Evolved into Brionne long ago.
All Popplio hoped to Evolve into the beautiful, elegant, and powerful Primarina as soon as possible! This was an instinctive pursuit etched into their genes.
"Of course you can. If you want to Evolve, just take off the Everstone you're wearing," Bai Feng replied.
As his words fell, Popplio quickly took off the Everstone hanging around its neck and threw it fiercely onto the Ground, as if it had a deep-seated hatred for that Stone.
Do you know how long I've waited for this day?
Bai Feng silently picked up the Everstone and put it in his pocket: Why throw it on the Ground? You can still use it for Larvitar in the future!
As the Everstone was removed, Popplio's Body began to emit colorful light. Within the light, its size slowly grew taller and larger, and its form also underwent some Variation.
Helioptile and Bai Ye also couldn't help but hold their breath, watching Popplio's Evolution process with full concentration, not blinking their eyes.
For all Pokémon, Evolution is a sacred and solemn ritual.
"Si~lai~"
As the colorful light dissipated, Popplio let out a joyful cry.
No, it should be said Brionne!
Compared to Popplio's voice, Brionne's voice had a hint of maturity, but not much.
"Si~lai~" I finally Evolved!
Brionne curiously examined its new form.
Compared to Popplio, Brionne's skin color had become much lighter, closer to the color of the Sea. Its eyes gained a hint of charm, its two ears turned into two small braids, and it was wearing a layered little skirt.
In short, it was cute!
"Brionne, congratulations!"
Everyone stepped forward one after another to express their blessings to Brionne.
After that, everyone returned to their respective Rooms to sleep. Tonight, Helioptile didn't go to Bai Feng's Room; it went to Larvitar's place to accompany Larvitar.
Early the next morning, shortly after dawn, Bai Feng felt someone pulling his Hair.
"Ai~bip! Ai~bip! Ai~bip!" Wake up, wake up, Bai Feng, hurry and wake up!
"What happened? Was there an earthquake?" Bai Feng opened his eyes with a splitting headache.
Last night, lighting up Popplio's Hidden Energy Circuits took a little more Time, and he also stayed up late Experimenting with Skills with it. Bai Feng had originally planned to sleep in a bit this morning, but he didn't expect to be woken up at this Time!
This was simply... too uncomfortable!
"Bai Feng, this is bad! Larvitar is eating dirt in the Garden! Hurry up and go manage it!" Helioptile kept urging Bai Feng.
Just like that, Bai Feng was groggily pulled to the Courtyard by Helioptile. Sure enough, he saw Larvitar digging dirt in the Flower Bed and stuffing it into its mouth, with its butt sticking up.
The little bit of Flowers and Plants Bai Ye had planted had long since been dug up into a mess by it.
"Ai~bip! Ai~bip! Ai~bip!"
Helioptile pointed at Larvitar and squawked loudly, truly not understanding why Larvitar would eat dirt. It had clearly given it a large pile of Berries to eat this morning!
"Alright, alright, quiet down a bit. I'll go ask," Bai Feng comforted Helioptile.
"Larvitar, what are you doing?"
Bai Feng was now fully awake. He walked to the Flower Bed and asked softly, while also comforting himself internally that this child had just been born and he should be a little more lenient with it.
Larvitar's movements were agile. After hearing Bai Feng's voice, it immediately stopped digging. With a light push from its two short legs, it instantly flipped over the edge of the Flower Bed, still holding a piece of dirt in its hand, as if asking Bai Feng:
Do you want to eat?
Bai Feng asked, "Does this taste good?" He suddenly remembered that Larvitar, as a Rock-type Pokémon, needed to supplement its diet with some rocks as Food during its growth process to meet the needs of its Body's Development.
Larvitar shook its head.
"Yo~yo~" Not very tasty.
Alright then, Bai Feng didn't blame Larvitar. He thought this might be because its Body had sent it a Signal of need, which is why it instinctively acted this way.
He planned to wait until he went to School to ask Senior Zhen Li how to arrange Larvitar's diet, and also customize some Energy Cubes for Larvitar.
Bai Feng threw away the piece of dirt in its hand and then said to it, "We won't eat this anymore. I'll get you something tastier later."
"Yo?" Really?
Larvitar stared steadily at Bai Feng.
"Of course it's true!" Bai Feng guaranteed.
Alright then! Larvitar readily jumped out of the Flower Bed, then walked away waddlingly with its little hands behind its Back.
Seeing this, Helioptile quickly chased after it.
Bai Feng was now completely awake, so he simply didn't go back to the Room to sleep. Instead, he chose to go out for a run, then went Home to wash up, eat breakfast, and finally went to School with his backpack.
(End of Chapter)