Beyond the Adventure - A Pokémon Story

Chapter 13: Atonement pt3

        Jaws stares in fascination as the egg jitters.  The crack grows longer and spreads across the shell.  I hear what sounds like the creature pounding against the shell.  As we watch, the cracks spread further over the surface of the egg, until finally, a small hole pops open.  We all peer inside eagerly.  I can vaguely make out an eye peering back at us.  Then a long cone pokes through the hole, seemingly trying to push through.  I reach over to help break it free, but Darius grabs my hand.

        “No wait,” he says.  “Don’t.  If this is what I think it is, you need to allow it to come out on its own.”

        “Huh?”  I look at Darius, confused.  “Why?  What is it?”

        “Just trust me,” he says.

        I nod and let the egg be.  We watch the egg for quite some time.  Time crawls by and eventually, Jess grows bored.  Jaws loses interest next and curls up for a nap.  As the egg hatches, we decide to set up camp for the time being and wait it out.  Jaws snores away, while Darius and Jess fish together.  I go to a nearby tree, carefully moving the egg with me, and build a small fire pit with some stones as I continue to watch.  I gather some wood, place them within the fire pit, and start a fire.  I then sit against the tree and continue monitoring the egg.  As the sun creeps across the sky, I find myself struggling to keep my eyes open in the bright sunlight.  The humidity, the warm sun, the still air, all tugs at my eyelids.  I keep myself awake, though, not wanting to miss a moment of this.  This gift from Cole, a friend lost, was entrusted to me and I refuse to let anything happen to it.  I will tend and care for this Pokémon with all my being.

        Darius brings over a few fish he and Jess pulled from the water.  “Not much in these waters,” he says, disappointed.  “Just a few Magikarp and whatever the hell this thing is.”  He holds up a really ugly brown fish Pokémon with blue fins.  It is quite shabby and pathetic.

        Jess furrows her brow.  “There was something about that Pokémon,” Jess says.  “I just can’t remember what it is…  Oh well!”  Jess rams a spit through it and places it over the fire.

        The Pokémon inside the egg continues to push its way out as we eat.   After our meal, Darius takes a nap, and Jess works out, doing push-ups and sit-ups, while I sit against the tree wondering how Jess can do so many push-ups with those scrawny arms of hers.  The sun begins to sink over the water, when at last, a head pokes out through the eggshell!

        “Hey guys!” I shout.  “It’s almost out!”

        Jess jumps to her feet and Darius sits up slowly, rubbing his eyes.  “It’s about time!” Jess says.

        Jaws jumps down from the tree I am leaning against, covered in weird pink Weedle-like Pokémon.  He shakes them off and they squirm away.  We gather around the egg and observe the small head poking out.  It is silver with a sharp beak and a horn on its head.  It looks bird-like, which excites me.  Hopefully, this means I can fly on my own soon!

        “Skaaa!” it squawks.

        “Awww, it’s cute!” I say.

        “It sure is!” Darius agrees.

        “If you say so…” Jess says with a raised eyebrow.

        The small Pokémon looks around, then at me.  It then closes its eyes, like it is straining, and finally, the egg shatters apart.  The little baby spreads its red wings breaking apart the shell, then steps out with its sharp talons.  It looks back up at me and squawks.  “Skaa!”

        I reach down to pick up the baby, but Darius stops me.  “Not yet,” he says.  “Let it be for now.”

        I furrow my brow at him, but then I realize why.  The baby’s wings look injured!  Scratches and gashes cover the little baby’s wings.  The baby seems unfazed, though, and it picks at its wings.  I look up at Darius.  "What's wrong with it?” I ask.