There was still about half an hour left before the egg was due to hatch. Everyone, Marie included, was feeling a mix of curiosity and excitement, but breakfast came first.

After returning from the inn's restaurant with Barro and bringing back their meals, they sat down and ate together. As if perfectly timed, the incubator emitted a soft chime just as they finished.

The shell surrounding the Pokémon egg began to crackle softly, the gentle sound signaling the start of the hatching process.

"It's hatching?!"

Yuri instantly perked up, her energy surging like it was her own Pokémon being born.

Marie shifted in her seat, resting her elbow on the table as she watched quietly. The egg was beginning to tremble.

Crack

A faint noise broke through the stillness, buried under the sound of shallow breaths. The cracks spread rapidly across the eggshell, drawing everyone's attention.

Suddenly, smooth light began to pour out from the fractures, quickly spreading until it enveloped the entire egg.

Pop

A burst of bright light briefly obscured their vision. With a crisp sound, the shell shattered and dissolved into the air, revealing the Pokémon inside.

Standing just over twenty centimeters tall, its body was split into three distinct colors: dark brown on one side, black on the other, with a jagged stripe of yellow running down the middle and covering its lower body. The dual-colored ears on its head bore a surprising resemblance to Marie's signature twin braids.

It was a Morpeko a rather adorable electric rodent Pokémon.

Not exactly rare. In fact, back in Marie's hometown, Morpeko were relatively common. Still, she felt a wave of relief. Though this egg was a gift from her older brother, she was never fond of receiving expensive or extravagant things. It was the thought behind the gift that truly made her happy.

She recalled a moment from her childhood when her brother had taken her out to play and casually suggested she raise a Morpeko. But back then, feeling unprepared and lacking in knowledge, young Marie had turned him down, worried she wouldn't be able to take proper care of a living creature.

She hadn't expected him to remember such a minor detail after all these years or to surprise her with it now.

A soft smile crept onto her face. She reached out and gently touched Morpeko's fur. The faint tingling of static electricity mixed with its plush softness felt unfamiliar yet strangely comforting. The little creature didn't seem bothered by the touch, only staring blankly ahead at Marie.

"Cheh-"

It wasn't quite speaking yet, but from the tone, Marie could more or less guess what it meant.

She picked up a nearby Oran Berry and held it out.

"Here. Eat this."

"Cheh-! (Th-thank… you…)"

Though still new to the world and not fully understanding words, Morpeko instinctively reached out, sniffed the fruit, then nibbled at it.

Its fluffy ears twitched as it ate, its round little body making the whole scene unbearably cute.

Marie placed a few more berries beside it and then boldly rested her whole hand on its back. The low current that passed through her fingers made her jolt slightly a sensation Yuri had experienced herself when she first received her Toxel.

Morpeko's fur wasn't long, but it was soft and springy. At the seam where its color shifted, Marie noticed two pouch-like structures places where Morpeko usually stored food.

Yuri quietly observed from the side without interrupting.

Morpeko didn't eat much. After finishing a few berries, it contentedly patted its belly, then nuzzled against Marie's palm. Even though its cheek pouches gave off little sparks, Marie managed to hold back from flinching too hard.

"Full now?"

"Cheh~ (Mhm~)"

Pokémon were truly fascinating creatures. It had only been a few minutes since its birth, and yet Morpeko had already begun to understand simple words.

Marie picked up a soothing bell from the table, giving it a gentle shake. A crisp, melodious chime echoed through the room, immediately catching Morpeko's attention.

"Cheh (What's that?)"

She placed the bell in its tiny hands with a smile.

"Do you like it?"

"Cheh (It sounds pretty~)"

Marie looped the ribbon that had been pre-tied and hung the bell gently around Morpeko's neck.

"I'm glad. It's a gift just for you."

"Cheh… (What's… that mean?)"

The sentence was still a bit too complex, but Morpeko seemed to grasp that the pretty, tinkling bell was now its own.

Marie didn't force it into a Poké Ball right away. She wanted to give it some time to adjust, to settle in before letting it choose a ball it liked.

She left the remaining berries and Pokéblocks nearby. Though Morpeko didn't have a large appetite at once, its digestion was incredibly fast. It needed to eat several times a day miss a meal or two, and its form might suddenly shift, startling any unaware trainer.

Even the way Morpeko's stored energy could trigger a switch between its Electric and Dark forms was a subject of ongoing research. Many scholars hoped to unlock the mystery behind this rare duality.

After finishing her Rotom Phone search, Yuri came closer, curious. She reached out to feel the unique texture of Morpeko's fur.

"So cute~ Marie-chan, your brother really knows you! This Morpeko is just too adorable!"

Morpeko didn't seem to mind the extra attention. It stuffed the soothing bell into its little food pouch, then took Marie's finger and began tugging her toward the others with growing curiosity.

Barro lowered his head to examine the new arrival, while the twin Dreepy hovered in excited loops before gliding over to greet their new companion.

Pokémon tended to understand each other better than people could. It didn't take long before Morpeko had joined the rest, the anxiety from earlier already fading. At some point, it let go of Marie's hand without even realizing.

Watching the Toxel and Morpeko playfully exchange static sparks and stare each other down, Yuri leaned in and whispered:

"So… what are you going to name this little one?"

"I haven't thought about it. Got any ideas?"

"How about... Custard Puff? I mean, look at those colors it's just like a little cream-filled snack!"

"...I'll think about it."

The moment Yuri said it, Marie couldn't unsee it either.

And she definitely didn't want to follow that train of thought any further.

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