PTS :: Bulletin Board - The Hopping Hatchling

Despite the initial lightness of the egg, Julian was finding it uncomfortable now to be carrying the pokemon egg. It was an odd shape and didn’t quite fit in his backpack, so he had to carry it mostly in his arms. There was also a sort of warmth coming from the egg as if he could feel the life within it. His natural sense of curiosity wondered what could be inside, but a greater sense of exhaustion did not care. He just wanted this egg to be gone and out of his responsibility. After all, he was only carrying this to the nearest nursery for the sake of his Ampharos, Ameilia, otherwise she would worry for weeks about the egg’s well-being.

As if knowing what he was thinking, the egg jerked a bit in his arms, startling the young idol and causing him to stop on the path. “What the…?” Jules blinked down at the egg. “Stay still, ami, otherwise you’ll just crack yourself open on the path…” He shook his head and continued back towards town.

Even though the foliage above the team were casting shadows and shade, it was still obvious that time was passing. It was no longer morning, and if Julian had to guess, he would say that it was just past noon now. They had been traveling for a while, and it was beginning to take its toll on the whole team as they walked. Julian had offered to put them in their pokeballs, but they refused. His team was just as stubborn as he was. Go figure.

“Bark! Bark!” Mars, the Poochyena, alerted the team as he was the first to spot the entrance. His tail wagged, and he circled the team a few times in his excitement.

Squall, the Shinx, raised his head as he had been curled up on the back of Gabi, the Girafarig, resting. Whenever Mars showed excitement, this usually roused the cat like it had done just now. Squall leapt off of Gabi’s back and landed gracefully on the path, racing to join the Poochyena. The two were practically inseparable as they went back and forth of chasing each other. It was as if the exhaustion of traveling didn't even affect them any longer.

Julian sighed as he watched the duo engage in yet another round of chase. “You guys better not fall behind…” He mumbled, keeping his original pace as they headed into town.

Coming from a big city like Lumiose, the town seemed small. The buildings weren't as tall and the people weren't crowding the streets. However, he also remembered his summers that he would spend with his mother in Eterna city, and then this town seemed big. The buildings were wider and held more up-to-date inventory - keeping a nice mix of handmade items and commercial products. There were plenty of cafes and open eateries, which capitalized on the nice weather. Upon first impressions, this town appeared to be a pleasant mix of the big and small cities he'd grown accustomed to living.

As if it knew where it was, the egg began to wiggle and jump in Julian’s arms. Luckily he had been aware of the egg’s previous attempts and was ready for further movement. Even so, the sudden activity still startled him. He grumbled a few profanities under his breath as he readjusted his hold on the egg. There had to be a nursery around here somewhere, right? Looking around, he found a sign that pointed him in the direction he needed to go.

“Finally, we can get rid of this thing…” Julian breathed, heading towards the nursery.

“Am…” Ameilia, the Ampharos, frowned at hearing that. She had been the one to find the egg and didn't like how Julian was eager to get rid of it.

Julian rolled his eyes. “We're not keeping it. It's not ours, amie…”

“Za.” Ziggy, the Zangoose, glared at Julian, crossing his arms over his fuzzy chest and biting down on the straw in his mouth. He had a habit of picking up random objects and putting them in his mouth.

Jules looked to the Zangoose and glared back. It was a wonder how the trainer and the mon even got along at times. They were always butting heads. “What? I said we're not keeping it and that's final. I don't care what is inside. I'm dropping this off and being done with it.”

Ziggy tended to act like the leader, despite that role belonging to Julian’s Froakie. “Za zan za.” The mon huffed in retaliation.

The trainer rolled his eyes. “I'm not listening to you.”

Julian turned his back to the Zangoose, knowing Ameilia would comfort the mon for him. Was this taking advantage of the motherly Ampharos? Perhaps, but Jules didn't exactly care at this point. He just wanted this long journey to end and keeping an egg around was only going to cause more problems. He knew his team would get over it….eventually.

Almost as if hearing the argument, the egg in his arms wiggled and jumped again. Jules blinked as he tried to wrestle the egg into submission, but it wasn't yielding this time. He grumbled a few more profanities in a better attempt of controlling it, but again, it was no use. Despite his efforts, the egg managed to get free and rolled out onto the street.

“Oi!” Julian called out to the egg, getting the attention of his team.

“Bark!” Mars alerted the others around him as he chased after the egg. With the help of Squall, the duo was able to stop it. They took a few steps back, though, as the egg continued to wiggle around.

A crack formed on the outside and before anyone could react, it was already split open.

Julian took in a deep breath as he watched the pokemon make its appearance.

“Bu…?” The newly hatched mon squeaked as it tilted its head and looked directly at Jules. The hatchling was small, covered in brown brown fur with puffs of cream colored cotton balls around its belly, paws, and on its two long, floppy ears. It wrinkled its nose up at Julian too as if putting a face to the voice it had been hearing for the past few hours now.

“A...buneary…?” Julian blinked again, not expecting the egg to hatch nor knowing it would be a small, bunny-like pokemon. He scratched the back of his head, not looking to his team still as he looked at the mon. He would never admit it aloud, but Jules had a weakness for small, fluffy pokemon. If it was cute, it was his. “Well...since it hatched...there’s no point in taking it to a nursery…” He mumbled, feeling glares coming from some of his team at his sudden change of heart. “Guess we could keep it since no one’s claimed it…”

“Bu!” The bunny stuck out its tongue at Julian before making a quick dash in the opposite direction.

Julian didn’t have a second to catch the bunny as he was shocked by the sudden outburst. “W-Wait! Get back here!” He called as he went to chase after the hatchling.