As soon as Leavanny gently nestled the egg in her leafy arms, Neil leaned over to peek at it.
"Whoa… yours has these weird pink spots. That's gotta be a Cleffa or something, right?"
"Or maybe a grass type," Elicia added, eyeing it with interest. "The forest green pattern's unique. What do you think it'll hatch into, Ayan?"
"Doesn't matter what it is. I'll raise it properly." Ayan shrugged.
Neil held his own egg forward proudly. It was bright orange with electric yellow streaks like someone had splashed lightning across it.
"Mine's gotta be an electric-type. Maybe even an Elekid!"
"Maybe a Pichu." Ayan suggested. Neil too nodded with that train of thought of Neil. Elicia's was a calming shade of pale blue, with a shell that had tiny, icy flecks embedded into its surface.
"Mine feels cold to the touch," she noted. "Probably an Ice-type. I wouldn't mind a Snorunt."
"So, your daughter is Elicia?" Ayan's mother asked with a smile, shifting Oddish into a more comfortable position on her hip. "She seems bright."
"Yes! I'm Annika," Elicia's mother said warmly. "She's been obsessed with Pokémon since she was little. I think this egg might make her entire year."
"I'm Neil's dad," said a tall man with round glasses and an easy grin. "He's been talking about this day nonstop. I think he's still hoping for a Dragonite one day."
"Oh?" Ayan's mother laughed. "Well, I suppose hope is free."
"He wanted to come," Ayan's mother said, her smile softening. "But work called him away last minute. He's a free lancer/construction contractor, stationed near the Meghalaya border for now. I'm sure he'll be very happy once he hears what egg Ayan got."
"That's impressive. And Ayan's quite mature for his age. A bit quiet, but focused." Neil's father said.
"You have no idea," Ayan's mother replied with a slight chuckle. "He's always been like that. Even now, he just... does things his way."
"Is he as serious about training as he seems?" Annika asked.
"No.. He spends a lot of time just sleeping and lazing in his bed." She said. She had complains about it but she never spoke about this to her son. It was because their son had already over achieved by getting two Pokémon quite early.
Though they were regular Pokémon, it still showed that Ayan had affinity with Pokémon and people like them tend to have a bright future. For example, the current King of their Alliance, apparently was very much blessed when it came to Pokémon. It is said that when he was 5 years old, a Vulpix showed up one day and decided to follow the then young kid.
Ayan's parents didn't hope for grand things from their child. As long as he was happy and capable, it would be fine. But it would be false to say that they didn't have high hopes. His mother dreamt of their son being a Gym leader. That would be incredible, but his mother never spoke of this to Ayan as that would be giving their son unnecessary pressure.
But every parents dream. Meanwhile.
"I still think we should give them names," Neil said suddenly, patting the sling carrying his egg. "You know, to bond with them early."
"That's not a bad idea," Elicia replied. "What about you, Ayan?"
"I'll wait till it hatches," Ayan said without looking back. "Might be bad luck to name something before you even know what it is."
"You and your mysterious nonsense again."
"I'm not mysterious," Ayan replied, cracking the faintest smile. "You just talk too much."
As they laughed, Leavanny walked over and handed the egg back to Ayan, trusting him again now that they were just strolling through the open campus paths. Oddish waddled beside them, occasionally tripping over his own leaves. Elicia had arrived by car so she left by that, while Neil and Ayan walked side by side till their paths diverged. Ayan's mother had already taken the phone number of Neil's mother so that they would keep in touch.
After reaching home, Ayan put the egg in the incubator. And the incubator which had an LED sign showed 2 days before the egg hatches. Pidgey had grown quite a lot in the last few days due to her level rising. At first Ayan was able to take her on his shoulder but now, he couldn't for a ling period of time.
Pidgey didn't like this at all. She even refused to level up at the beginning when she realized she was getting heavier and bigger. But then Ayan spoke of him riding her and thus it again ignited her zeal to evolve faster. She, Charmander and Cyndaquil were the ones who loved to level up.
Bulbasaur and Shinx never much cared. Bulbasaur was like a dog who loved to be petted and laze around, while Gyarados loved being aloof. That was what Ayan had come to know and understand over the past few days.
Their friendship level with Ayan had also increased over the past days and now all of them were incredibly close. Even Shinx, would now nudge at the feet of Ayan when she would be around.
Pidgey flew around the apartment and down at the table where the incubator was kept. She looked at the egg with more scrutinizing eyes. She knew that this Pokémon would be their new partner so she was curious to know what kind of sister/brother she was going to have.
"Pidgey, what do you think this Pokemon is?" Ayan asked, more to himself then her.
"Pi--Pi" (I am sure that she is a flying type)
"Ah.. I wish I could understand you. Sigh!" Ayan said. He needed to find himself a Slowking fast, or else it was getting very boring talking to himself most of the times and not understanding a word of theirs.
It was just eyeballing. But for getting a Slowking, he needed to catch a Slowpoke first.
"I think it's time I go for fishing once again." Ayan thought.