Next chapter in the rescue series...


The page opened to a young eevee kit and next to her was a two year old child. Ah yes! Kukui's son! There was so much celebration when professor Burnet finally conceived. At first, they weren't ready but when they tried to conceive, they had trouble. They started trying for a family two years after I became champion and they were finally successful six years later. Young Manuka was born. He had white hair like his mother but the rest of him was all Kukui. This boy is still just as sweet as the honey from the tree he's named after.

This eevee had been forcefully hatched prematurely. We actually had quite a few prematurely hatched pokemon at the time because bunch of stupid kids broke into the nursery and they decided to crack the eggs open. They didn't realize that there was actual pokemon inside of them and two of the pokemon had died at the scene. The boys were sent home crying. None of us thought she would survive but she was a fighter! She made leaps and bounds that no one knew she would make. I had been babysitting Manuka a lot but he often had to come to work with me sometimes. Lillie would watch him when I couldn't. That was a case and babysitting Manuka got Lillie thinking hard. She made a huge decision that time.


I was at the shelter on a night shift when we got the call. That night was a little cloudy, a storm was on the horizon and I was enjoying the calm before the storm. It's funny how that storm seemed to foreshadow the hell and heartache that was coming that night. Lillie rushed outside to me when I was sitting on my boulder. She looked alarmed as I watched her approach. She took a moment to catch her breath and I sat up from the boulder.

"What's going on?" I asked her.

"It's an emergency case! I need you in the emergency room! Sixteen cases are coming!" Lillie said, all but hyperventilating.

I got up and quickly followed her to the emergency room and waited anxiously for the new arrivals. I had minor medical knowledge, only knowing how to do CPR, inject medication, check for a pulse, and put an IV in a pokemon. Even though we had a decent staff of doctors, we did not have enough for sixteen cases. Even Gladion came to help. Luckily, he knows a bit more about medicine than I did. Still, he was no doctor. Lillie told us that they were prematurely hatched pokemon that children had cracked open. These cases are actually more common than you'd think but usually, the babies are dead before we can even get to them. We all had a feeling of dread, knowing that we'd be lucky if even one of them survives.

Soon, they came in five minutes later. Two of them had died on the way here and so we had to leave those two in order to focus on the ones struggling to live. The one I had was a little growlithe. He was so tiny! Small enough to fit in the palm of my hand! I placed a small ventilator into him and an IV drip when I was sure he was stable enough to take it. He really did fight! He struggled so hard to breathe, even with a ventilator on but it wasn't enough. He died in my hands ten minutes after he got there. He was the first case that had actually died in my care. I was on the verge of tears but I didn't have time to cry over him just yet. I unhooked his ventilator and removed the IV and left him on the table, a small sheet covering his body. I then ran to Gladion whom was trying to resuscitate a poochyena. He wasn't even breathing when I got to Gladion. He tried so hard to revive the pup but it was useless. I had to put my hand on Gladion to stop him.

"Stop. It's over. You did what you could." I said to him.

He bit his lip and pounded his fist on the table hard. I helped unhook the pup from the IV and oxygen. Gladion and I did our best to try and help the others but one by one, they flat lined. Three of them made it through the first night. Lillie had an eevee kit that was just barely clinging to life. She was the smallest of them all. Lillie was tired but managed to keep the kit stable enough to be kept in an incubator. The other two were a machop and a cleffa. The hardest part of that night was gathering the dead to be buried. The moment it was over and the three babies were stable in their incubators, I collapsed and cried in Gladion's arms. The first deaths on my job just had to be babies... multiple babies. It was a sad night. Lillie was doing better than I was, focusing her energy on the living babies.

Gladion and I were both shook from that whole experience. I knew he was likely going to do something to take action about that. The kids already got the shock of their lives when they saw that those eggs had babies in them so they already got their punishment. Not to mention the Nursery was going to have them work around the ranch for the month as punishment. But still, even with those kids already properly punished, it won't be our last case of dealing with premature hatched pokemon. Most of the time, we get these cases because people get curious. Part of the educational seminars were going to be about pokemon eggs. He made sure to implement that within the week. However, in the mean time, we stayed close to each other that night. Gladion's silvally didn't leave the room at all that night, he had gotten so worried. Silvally loved baby pokemon and premature hatchlings obviously broke his heart. He wasn't allowed to cuddle them because they were inside incubators but he kept watch. Lillie sent us home, assuring us that she'd keep an eye on everything. Silvally didn't want to leave so Gladion allowed him to stay with Lillie and I let my Silvally stay in the yard out back in case Gladion's silvally needed some comfort from a friend. Most of my pokemon didn't mind spending nights at the shelter in the yard. My primarina, Saspra, practically lived in the grotto in the pool. She was there right now to keep an eye on a few of the water pokemon.

The next morning wasn't much better. One of the hatchlings, cleffa, had died two hours after we left. Silvally was obviously depressed but he kept hovering over the other two. Did you know that premature machop hatchlings look a lot like human babies? It was hard to look at him and not think he was a human baby. Silvally pretty much stayed with them for the duration of their time there. Machop fought hard to stay alive, he even flat lined twice but Lillie usually managed to bring him back. But a week later, machop lost his fight to stay alive. This especially hit Lillie really hard. Because, for awhile, it looked like he would make it. It was hard to get Lillie and Silvally to eat after that. But, all the while, the eevee kit hung on. She was the smallest out of all of them and had more growing to do. She shouldn't have even survived her egg getting smashed on the floor and yet, here she was, just barely clinging to life. If she didn't survive, it would have destroyed silvally and Lillie. Every day was a battle but then, one day, she opened her eyes for the first time.

None of us could believe it! She had opened her eyes and started to move, even start to cry. She was still so tiny but by Arceus! She was the strongest pokemon I had ever encountered! She wanted out of the incubator, too! She was only the size of my hand but she was ready to face the world despite how worried of her we were. But, we took her out of the incubator to examine her. Silvally put his head on the table and though only able to scoot on her belly, she went right up to Silvally and nuzzled his beak. He cooed gently as she snuggled against him. We put her back in the incubator but she did not want to stay in there and wouldn't stop crying until we let her out. So we carried her with us. Lillie often kept her in a little pouch strapped to her front or if I was off duty, I'd keep an eye on her. Gladion has even kept her with him for a day, letting her lay on his desk on a small cushion. Silvally, however, often babysat her. Gladion was right when he said his silvally can get overbearing. He would not leave her side for very long. It was cute to see them together, a runt of a little eevee and a silvally almost the size of a rapidash snuggled together. She loved his neck fur and would bury herself in it. We panicked and thought she was lost once but no, she was just curled up in Silvally's fur.

Anyway, Manuka needed to be babysat because Kukui and his wife were working on an extensive research project. Manuka is a sweet little boy and he loved to come to the shelter to play with the pokemon. Silvally especially was his favorite to play with but, Silvally wasn't there like he expected. I took Manuka's hand and brought him to the back where Lillie was watching eevee and silvally to make sure nothing happens to eevee. Manuka happily ran over to silvally to clamber onto his back. He suddenly noticed the tiny eevee kit in silvally's front paws. He was transfixed.

"Be gentle with her, Manuka. She's very special." I told him, a stern edge to my voice.

"I will." He said, gently putting a hand on her.

"Hey, could you keep an eye on Manuka? Usually I convince Hau to look after him but he's got a challenger today." I said to her.

Lillie loved kids but she gets insecure around them sometimes. She blushed a bit but then nodded. I left to go attend other rescues. A Lillipup got lost and the trainer later came in to get him, profusely thanking us and donating a decent amount of money to the shelter. An alomomola got stuck in a net which was an easy fix. A salandit got stranded on some rocks and its leg got broken so I had to take her in to get that fixed. Gladion and I took a break to get a bite to eat and catch up with each other. We do try to spend time together when we have the time. I got another call to go help a wild gumshoos out of a trap. He only needed some bandages and a potion and then I let him go back out to the wild. Then I had to help a rattata that was injured. It got into a fight with a yungoos and nearly got eaten. Normally, we don't interrupt the natural order between pokemon but that didn't mean we ignored a pokemon when they needed help. He only needed some simple field medicine, too. By the time I got back to the shelter, Manuka was cuddled up against silvally, asleep. On Manuka's chest, sleeping peacefully, was the little eevee. Lillie was sitting next to him, also leaning back against Silvally. Manuka was leaning against her as well.

"Well it looks like you two got along just fine." I said with a smile.

"Yeah. He's a sweet kid." She said with a fond smile.

"He definitely is." I agreed.

Lillie looked lost in thought.

"Something on your mind?" I asked her.

"It's just that... I was thinking that maybe... I dunno, maybe it's too early." She said, unsure.

"Well I can't give you advice if you don't tell me what it is." I said to her.

"I've been thinking that maybe... Hau and I should try for a kid." She said.

I was surprised. Already she is thinking about that?! It's not that it's unexpected but I'm surprised Lillie would be the first one to decide. But, it's been a little over a year and they've settled into the married life really well. Not to mention they're both twenty-one, nearly twenty-two. But then, this is her decision. I may want kids one day but I'm not ready for that yet. Anyway, I should probably focus on her. She's in need of my opinion.

"I don't think it's early for you at all, I'm just surprised that you'd be the first one to think about it. Or bring it up to me anyway." I said.

"Yeah, crazy, right? But it's just that this whole case with eevee and then watching Manuka and having him around has got me thinking about it a lot. Do you think Hau will be okay with this?" She asked.

"Of course he will! Have you forgotten about the times he'd talk about having kids?! Get him going and he won't shut up." I said, laughing at those memories.

He and Lillie were dating since we were sixteen and it was hilarious! He wanted a house full of them! His number range was between five to eight and I'd tease Lillie about it all the time. Lillie would blush profusely while Gladion would be annoyed whenever the topic came up. Gladion was still protective of Lillie at the time and he took awhile to get used to Hau dating his sister. Lillie blushed at the memory and I giggled. She was too cute! Then she turned to me.

"What about you when you finally decide to have kids one day?" Lillie asked and I blushed.

"Well... I just know I want kids. I haven't really thought about how many. Maybe not as many as Hau would want though." I said.

"No, maybe not." She agreed with a chuckle.

"So, are you fine with potentially having six?" I asked with a smirk.

"Of course I am! It's not like he and I haven't talked about it." She said.

I busted out laughing. I always thought that six kids was a joke! I didn't think they would be serious!

"What?" She asked.

"So, that wasn't a joke?" I asked, laughing.

"Nope. He was serious and so am I." She said.

"Well you better go get busy then." I teased.

She blushed and stood up. Manuka stirred but didn't wake.

"I guess I should go talk with him then." She said.

"Good luck!" I said, giving her a wink as she walked out of the door.

I then picked up the eevee kit gently and set her into Silvally's neck fur. I picked up Manuka and he woke up enough to but his arms around my neck, leaned his head on my shoulder and then fall back asleep.


I never did hear how that conversation went. Anyway, within the next month, eevee had gotten bigger and soon, she was available for adoption. But she never wanted anything to do with her potential adopters. She loved Manuka and Silvally like family and she didn't want to leave them. But, one day, Kukui came in to pick up little Manuka. However, he was met with more difficulty than anticipated.


Manuka and eevee were playing out in the yard. My silvally and Gladion's silvally were both cuddled under a nearby tree. Occasionally, the eevee would happily nuzzle both silvally's before running after Manuka again. I felt bad that Manuka wasn't old enough to own a pokemon yet. She loved him so much and was one of the main reasons why she wouldn't leave the rescue center. Then Kukui called from the doorway. Manuka protested, holding onto eevee. Kukui chuckled and walked out to them to try and pry his son and the eevee off of each other. It didn't work.

"You know, it's going to be a sad day when she finally finds someone she's willing to go home with." I said, helping Kukui.

"Nah, this eevee won't be going anywhere at this rate. She loves him too much." Kukui said, grabbing her by the scruff and she pouted cutely.

He let out a sigh and set her back into his son's arms. He knelt down to talk to his son as he clung onto the eevee.

"If I adopt her for you, will you promise she'll be the only one you'll bring back from this shelter? I can't just adopt all pokemon you get attached to." He said.

This surprised all of us but Manuka hugged his dad. Kukui grinned and I knew now that this eevee would likely always hang around the shelter along with Manuka. I got the papers and eevee's ball. Kukui signed them and everyone sent off the eevee accordingly with much love. But for her, it wasn't good bye. She'd visit almost everyday with Manuka at her side. Silvally also approved, happily knowing that his baby wasn't going to be far from him. However, that wasn't the only eventful thing that happened last night. Lillie had an announcement to make and she called the staff into a meeting room. Gladion and I were confused but she was in there, Hau with his usual big goofy grin on his face. I suddenly had a feeling I knew what they were going to say and I grinned. Could it be?

"Well Hau and I called you guys in here tonight to make a huge announcement." She said grabbing his hand.

"Yup!" He said, absolutely beaming.

"Well what is it?" Gladion asked.

"I'm pregnant." Lillie said.

Everyone was absolutely surprised except for me. I knew that was coming. Didn't stop me from hugging them both. Hau was absolutely proud that he was going to be a father. Gladion seemed to have the shock of his life but nevertheless, was happy for his sister. There were hugs all around and happy chatter. I later left out the back that night and sat down on my usual spot in the yard. Gladion joined me later. I smirked at him.

"You still look like you got the shock of your life." I giggled.

"I just can't believe that my little sister is going to be a mom." He said.

"What? Jealous?" I joked.

"No, I'm about as ready to have kids as you are. Anyway, I'd have to marry you before that." He said.

"Exactly." I said.

We looked out at the yard as the night time pokemon played. It didn't need to be said but honestly, we were both thinking hard about our future that night. But, nevertheless, we were happy for Hau and Lillie.


That's it for this chapter! Something tells me I can't get burnt out on you quite yet with Lillie being pregnant.