Disclaimer: This story, the OC -main, secondary or otherwise- don't belong to be but to a dear friend of mine who decided not to share it here. So I took it upon myself to do it for her.
However as to not be accused of plagiarism, I still made a few changes so it was more in my style than in hers (but that's about all that'll be changed). If anything, think of it as a remake.
Regarding the main cast from Pokemon, they belong to Game Freak or whoever own them.
A Rather Painful Hatching
"What if you came with us?" Sophocles asked. I had gone to the Pokemon School to tell them that I was leaving to Akala Island and so that I wasn't going to take my leave without saying good bye. I also wanted tot tell my encounter with Gladion tot Lillie before I left. Yet, I was surprised to learn that they had a trip planned to that very same island.
"Yeah, that's a good idea!" Ash exclaimed, his faithful Pikachu climbing on his shoulder just as Gaïa was on mine.
"Guys…That's nice of you, really. But you don't have to invite me to come along. I have already got my ticket for the ferry…" I countered feebly to the Pokemon School class in their open-air classroom. But Mallow, who was slipping a floral binder labeled "Recipe WIP" in golden letters into her suitcase, shook her head.
"Jade. Don't be so stubborn about this!" she finally said, shutting her brown suitcase tight with a leaf charm zipper. Lana nodded while she collapsed her fishing rod.
"Yeah, Jade! We love your company! Why else would we have invited you along?" she laughed, slipping her fishing rod on the left side of her suitcase. I rolled my eyes while I clutched Justice's egg incubator tighter. The device felt warmer in my arms than usual but the day was unusually warm, and the warmth soaked into my leather jacket sleeves.
"Well yeah, okay, I get that. But I think you're going too far for me. We can just meet up at the harbor and…" I began to protest until Kukui interrupted the conversation by entering into the classroom.
"Why, Jade. Hello! I believe you heard about our plan for the school trip to Akala!" He exclaimed.
"She did!" Ash answered in my place. "And you know she is going to Akala as well? But she doesn't want to come with us."
"That's not…" I started saying, but then gave up.
"Is that so?" he lightly said, not listening to me. "You've always seemed to be upbeat about adventures. And I can assure you that we have a lot of adventures in store for this trip."
I shook my head.
"Professor, don't get me wrong. I am honored to be offered to go with you to Akala." I started explaining on a troubled tone, my face showing a guilty frown. "The thing is… I have been wanting to do this Island Challenge on my own. Trust me, I am really happy I met you all," I admitted softly. "Thing is, I fear I'll get side tracked and that it'll take longer to complete all the trials."
"I see. I can't say I am stunned," he said, with his usual smile. "You are the sort of girl to take the short path to achieve whatever you have in mind. However it's a bit painful that you consider us a hindrance."
"You know it's not true." I said, placing Justice's incubator on a desk. "I am grateful to be your friend," A sincere smile spread on my face as I glanced at each of the students and professor, each one being my friend and I nodded. "You're the best one could hope for, you know this. And I wish I could spend more time with you. It's just that… Well.. I won't be able to stay here forever."
"Why that?" Sophocles asked, standing up onto his short legs. He had a white lightning bolt patterned backpack on his shoulder. "I was really looking forwards to hanging out with you."
"Likewise…" I said half-hearted.
"And I was looking forwards to training with you, Jade!" Ash exclaimed further, drowning my answer to Sophocles and taking the attention away from me and him.
"We have already trained together a lot Ash." I scoffed, shaking my head. "You really want to make me feel guilty about my decision, huh?"
"No! Of course not!" Kiawe answered, looking embarrassed, completely oblivious to my sarcastic and rhetorical question.
"Kiawe, I was kidding. I know you don't want to make me feel guilty and are only voicing your concern and thoughts in hope I'd change my mind." I added on with a toothy grin to which Kiawe replied with a silent and sincere smile.
"This said, Jade, and I am sorry to dive further into this Bunnelby hole, you didn't quite say if they managed to actually change your mind." Professor Kukuy remarked from my side. I faintly smiled and was about to answer when a creaking sound prevented me. Looking down to the desk where I had put Justice's Egg, I noticed it was radiating off a silver aura. And that the shell had started to break.
"Oh shit!" I shouted out the second my brain processed what was going on with the egg. All thought of my soon departure and leaving them – or not, - gone. "Guys! Guys! Look!"
Mallow gasped out, an elated smile on her face.
"Our gift is about to hatch." she announced. I squealed at this. I knew that they had already witnessed Pokemon hatching with Snowy and the headmaster's Kantonian Vulpix they had in charge. Yet it was the first time I got to see it happen for real and before me. All the other eggs I saw hatching were on video and shows.
And I couldn't wait to see it. Yet I had to confess I was really nervous about the entire process. Everyone in the room let go of what they were doing to gather around the desk where the egg stood. I wanted to tell them to move away, that it was a moment between me and my Pokemon – I also feared Justice would see anyone of them first and consider them as his trainer instead of me – but I couldn't.
"Professor, should I bring it to the Pokemon Center?" I asked as I removed the top of the incubator. The egg was pulsing rhythmically though faster was each passing second.
"No need to." Lillie answered in place of Professor Kukuy as she came closer to the egg. "The same had happened with Snowy and he is all right as you can see."
"So we don't do anything?" I asked again.
"No." The professor replied. "Don't worry Jade, I am sure you took a great care of that egg. There is no reason that anything bad would happen during the hatching process."
"Oh… Okay." I whispered, feeling a bit disappointed. I wished there was something I could do instead of just standing up aside, watching the egg that contained my Rufflet glowing at an increasing pace, almost brighter than the Alolan sun.
"Come on, Justice," I said between gritted teeth. "You'll soon be into this world."
I felt a brush on my shoulder and looked up to see Headmaster Oak standing next to me. The sight surprised me as I haven't heard him coming into the room.
"So the time as come, huh?" he said, placing what looked like a portable sensor disc on the table. "Do you know what that is, Jade?" he asked me.
"No." I answered, shaking my head. "I have never seen one of these before. Is it an Alola device or somethin'?" I asked, which made him laugh.
"No, not at all. Even though it's rather new technology. It's a state-of-the-art sensor that reads the intensity of the egg's glow. And the brightness means two things."
"Really? And what does it mean?"
"One is rather obvious and it's the fact it's about to hatch." It was all I could not to reply 'duh!'. "How close it is to hatch, should I add." he went on as if he had read my thoughts.
"And the second?"
"The second, according to Professor Elm of Johto, is the Pokemon's initial strength."
"The Pokemon's initial strength?" I repeated. "You mean health wise? Or like… physically?"
"Both." Headmaster Oak answered, checking the numbers on the device. "I must say that it looks a bit bolder than Snowy's." A tiny gasp exited my mouth through an elated smile. I was quite pleased to know that Justice would be a fighter.
"Look!" Ash yelled, pointing his finger towards the egg and moving forwards as if he was about to take it. Fortunately, Professor Kukuy extended his hand in front of Ash's body, stopping him in his track. Good thing too, I doubted I'd have been that nice had Ash tried to put one finger on the egg. I looked away from Ash and concentrated on the egg that began to crackle loudly and the light almost blinded me.
I put up my hand in front of my eyes to shield me from the bright light and through my fingers, I saw the egg began to morph into the silhouette of a Rufflet, almost a foot taller than the actual egg had been. A mighty white flash erupted from Justice's silhouette followed by a trill.
The light soon dissipated and I smiled as I uncovered my eyes to look at my new partner. Though that smile I had turned into a gape as Justice leaped to me and used Pluck on me, his hard beak trying to pierce my skin through my leather jacket.
"HEY!" I yelled in pain, putting my arms behind my back, away from Rufflet's attack. "JUSTICE! CUT IT OUT!" I added when the Pokemon fiercely hopped in my direction, beating its wings in an attempt to fly in my direction and I took one step back.
Kiawe was strangely quick to act and placed the egg incubator's cover over Justice. As it was made of glass, my newly hatched didn't notice it right away and had a surprised look when it bumped against a transparent wall he hadn't seen.
"Aw, man… That hurt." I moaned, rubbing my forearms. I pulled up the sleeves and saw some red marks on my arms. Fortunately, I wasn't bleeding.
"Why did that happen?" Ash asked Professor Kukuy.
"Justice must have thought of me as a parent figure of somethin'," I answered, pulling my sleeves down again.
"And?" Ash asked, more confused.
"Rufflets have a sort of… tradition," I said, for lack of a better words. "In order to show their worth to their parents, they don't hesitate to challenge them as soon as they hatch and whenever they feel like it." I told them, remembering the lesson I had had about these Unovan Flying Pokemon back there.
"I see." Ash whispered as I moved to reach the incubator's cover and remove it. Justice had started to Pluck it and I didn't want him to break the glass as he could get injured from it. He still had his eyes locked on me and didn't turn away when I giggled and slowly reached for his feathery head with immense caution.
But Justice only chirped out, signaling that I could pet him. Which I did with delight, ruffling his feathers and, before long, I could hold him into my arms. Justice curiously glanced at each individual around us before lifting his head to me, cawing out angrily.
"Can I pet him too?"
Before I could answer, Justice cawed again and flew out of my grasp. He fluttered right next to Lillie and Snowy, eyes glaring at the snow-white Vulpix. Snowy hissed as Lillie shrieked out and bumped against a chair, causing her to stumble back.
"Lillie, are you alright?" Mallow exclaimed, rushing at Lillie's side as I went to Justice.
"Don't DO that!" I snapped out, snatching the Rufflet back into my arms. "You can't just attack people like this." Justice didn't seem to even hear me as he growled at the white quadruped. "I guess you want to battle Snowy, right?" I said with a smirk.
"I… I don't battle." Lillie said with a shaky voice. I didn't answer that I had noticed it back when we 'trained' together. She had refused any invitation of fighting me and Gaïa, preferring sitting aside next to Justice's egg, her Vulpix sleeping at her side.
"But I do!" Ash intervened rushing to his desk where his backpack was. "And I know just the right one to fight you."
"Pika!" Pikachu said happily.
"No pal, not you." Ash said with a sorry giggle. "I meant him." he added proudly, showing me his open bag. Inside his Rowlet was sleeping soundly.
This got Justice's attention who chirped angrily, waking the other bird Pokemon from his slumber. The dozy owl stared into Justice's eyes then chirped out and flew out of Ash's bag, fluttering right up to Justice's face. Justice lifted his wings and cawed out in a happier and much more determined tone than before.
"Looks like we have a battle coming our way." Professor Kukuy laughed.
"Sure does! Are you ready for it Jade?"
"Always! Consider it my farewell battle," I said to Ash, taking an empty Pokeball from my belt. Justice blinked a couple of time as I pressed the trigger button of the Pokeball onto his head. Soon enough, the device sucked him in. My hand clenched on the shaking Pokeball until the heart-lifting click reverberated through the room.
I laughed and sent Justice back out with my arm extended. The Rufflet flew to the ceiling, flipped and fluttered down gently, wrapping his thick talons around my leather jacket sleeve.
"Okay Ash. Now I am ready! Let's head to the battlefield!"
