Hong Meiling Sleepwalks Through the Heavens - Chapter 37 - Hatching the Egg

Hong Meiling didn’t choose to walk back to Celestic Town, like she did when she came to Veilstone. Instead, she decided to take a bus. When she arrived back in Celestic Town Historical Research Center, it was almost noon.

“Meiling, you’re back!” Cynthia greeted as soon as Meiling stepped off the bus. As Cynthia walked up to her, however, her face seemed somewhat perplexed as if she remembered something.

“Meiling… rumor has it that a girl-in-green was challenging other Trainers in Veilstone City using a Heatran,” Cynthia tip-toed around her words. “Was it you, by chance?”

Turns out, the rumor spread to Celestic Town in no time. Who else would carry around a Heatran? However, Cynthia didn’t think that Meiling was the type to start fights for no reason.

To be honest, Cynthia wanted to go there because of the rumors, but since the Celestic Town Tournament was about to begin, she decided against it.

“Well, let’s start from the beginning…” Meiling recounted.

…

“Oh my god, so that’s what happened,” Cynthia nodded, looking up to Meiling in silent admiration. “A Pokémon Hunter with a Salamence… I wonder if my Gabite could match it.”

Absolutely not, Meiling thought to herself frankly. Maybe if it evolves to a Garchomp, but not your Gabite.

At this time, Meiling saw a Pokémon bouncing right by Cynthia’s legs, and asked, “That Rufflet – is that yours?”

She remembered seeing Cynthia training with her Pokémon when she stepped off the bus, and the Pokémon she was training with are her Rufflet and Eevee.

Rufflet looks just like a baby eagle, with feathers in a deep-grey-purple, and a ring of white, poofy feathers on its head and neck and a singular red-and-white feather protruding out of its forehead.

“Isn’t it cute? I caught it just a few days ago,” Cynthia smiled. “It’s young, but it has potential. I’m confident in it.”

“No matter what Pokémon you raise, they will become strong,” Meiling foreshadowed with a compliment.

“You’re too kind, Meiling,” Cynthia laughed. “What about you? I’m sure you caught some Pokémon yourself during your trip.”

“Of course, let me show you,” Meiling smiled, summoning Plus, Mine, and Cotton from her Poké Balls.

“Ooh, a Plusle, a Minun, and a Swablu! How cute!”

As expected, she couldn’t resist how cute the Pokémon were.

Cynthia eagerly pet through all of Meiling’s Pokémon, as Eevee and Rufflet bounced over too. Eevee pressed its fluffy body against Plus and Mine, while Rufflet used its beak to comb through Cotton’s feathers.

As the Pokémon were busy playing with one another, Meiling took out her Pokémon Egg and showed it to Cynthia. Cynthia eyed it for a moment, but shook her head, stating that she couldn’t tell what Pokémon Meiling would get.

Cynthia ran into the center and called for her grandmother, Professor Carolina, to see if she could do so.

In addition to being a historian, Professor Carolina dives deep into the biology of Pokémon. Though she is behind in research as some more profound professors, she is still knowledgeable.

“Meiling, you’re back,” Professor Carolina greeted, eyeing the egg on her hand.

“Ah, that will probably hatch into a Lapras,” Professor Carolina made an educated guess. Immediately, both Cynthia and Meiling displayed a shocked face, before morphing into joy.

Lapras is a Water and Ice-type Pokémon, succeeding in both of Meiling’s criterias of wanting an aesthetically pleasing and strong Pokémon.

Professor Carolina emphasized that she was just making an educated guess, however. She pointed out that the egg was relatively large – Lapras has an average length of 2.5 meters, larger than most Pokémon. Secondly, she affirmed that the egg’s color is usually the same as the color of the Pokémon, and Meiling’s egg comes in a beautiful aqua blue.

Hence, with an educated guess, she deduced that it will be a Lapras.

Meiling was of course very happy, but she remembered that she is a but a visitor to this world.

Checking her Dream Energy reserves, she can still stay in this world for about five or six days. If the egg doesn’t hatch, she planned on giving it to Cynthia, but then again, she didn’t know when she’ll return to the world of Pokémon.

Anxiety began washing through her system.

Suddenly, she remembered that Heatran is naturally warm, and eggs tend to hatch faster in the presence of heat.

If she really wanted to, perhaps she would get her Lapras within five or six days.

…

Cynthia and Professor Carolina invited Meiling to have lunch with them. However, she did not immediately follow, instead asking Professor Carolina for an empty guest room. After leading her to a guest room, she stuffed her egg into her bag, and gingerly placed the bag on the floor.

Then, she summoned Heatran, and ordered it to stay next to the egg to hatch it faster.

Of course, she ensured that Heatran wouldn’t be too close to the egg. Too close, the egg will be cooked, and she will have nothing but tears left.

Meiling also warned Heatran that if it tried to do anything to the egg, it will face its demise.

Heatran moaned in disbelief – after a long day of fighting, it couldn’t sleep in the same bed as its Trainer. Now, it has to babysit an egg! A Legendary Pokémon babysitting an egg!

It thought of the other Legendary Pokémon running wild and free out in the wilderness, and thought of the tamed Legendary Pokémon who were spoiled by their Trainers. Suddenly, it thought that it was not being treated very well.

“…there, there,” Meiling comforted, seeing the grief in Heatran’s eyes. “Listen, I rewarded you with your own bucket of food last night! If you look after this egg, I’ll reward you, just like last night!”

Meiling left Heatran with some food, then caught up with Cynthia and Professor Carolina.

After lunch, Cynthia wanted to continue training.

Meiling also wanted to train Plus, Mine, and Cotton, so she asked if Cynthia was up for a battle.

Cynthia proposed a 3vs2 battle – Meiling would send out Plus, Mine, and Cotton, while Cynthia would send out Eevee and Rufflet.

Rufflet was naturally the weakest Pokémon in her arsenal, while Eevee is the second weakest.

Cynthia knew Meiling’s Pokémon were weak too, but their battle should be equal nonetheless – Plusle and Minun are synergistic Pokémon, and Cotton could support them.

Meiling didn’t think it was fair, however. Rufflet is strong for a newly-tamed Pokémon, likely stronger than both Plus and Mine. Moreover, she had her Eevee. Cotton, too, is next to useless.

However, Meiling didn’t refuse the battle, since she could take this chance to train them.

There is a tiny, grassy arena for Pokémon battles behind the center, and Meiling and Cynthia walked to opposite ends to prepare for the battle, while Professor Carolina acted as the referee.

“You may begin!” Professor Carolina shouted, and both sides tossed out their Pokémon.

“Plus! Mine! Use Charge! Plus, use Discharge on Eevee; Mine, use Shockwave on Rufflet!”

Charge doubles the power of the next Electric-type attack, and buffs the Pokémon’s special defense.

Electricity surged through Plus and Mine, indicating that they were using Charge. After doing so, the two followed Meiling’s instructions, sending their attacks out towards the two opposing Pokémon.

The two electric currents intertwined with one another, rushing towards Rufflet and Eevee.

With their synergistic effect, combined with Charge’s buff, it makes both Discharge and Shockwave incredibly deadly, especially if the Pokémon is weak to electricity, like Rufflet is.

“Eevee! Protect!”

Meiling was shocked when she heard this, An Eevee with Protect?!