Chapter 11: Eve of Blackthorn
The morning rose on the Pokémon Center. Twilight's room only had her and the Egg from the Shelby couple back in Eggseter. Guess Applejack and Fluttershy left for breakfast. The sun's rays struck Twilight and stirred her awake. They were close to Blackthorn City and Gym Leader Clair. Seeing that she's alone, she chose to join her friends in the kitchen. "So close to Clair," she muttered. As she reached the door, her egg started flashing. A quick glance at the egg didn't click to Twilight right away. "Looks like the eggs about to hatch. Lucky me..." She exited the room and took a few steps before realizing what she just said and what it meant. "Egg... hatch..." She stormed back to the room and viewed the egg flashing brighter and brighter. Twilight's eyes lit up. "The egg's hatching!" Removing the egg from the container, Twilight rushed out and toward the kitchen to tell her ponies the good news. Nurse Joy saw the egg as Twilight sped through the lobby.
"Her egg..." Joy noticed before looking toward a pink egg-shaped creature. "Chansey, stand by. We may need a cart for the newborn." Chansey chimed in agreement and rushed... waddled to bring out a cart as Twilight reached the kitchen.
"Applejack! Fluttershy!" The ponies turned to their friend from Canterlot with the egg glowing. Their Pokémon also saw the glowing egg.
"Is that what I reckon?" questioned Applejack before she put her cowgirl hat on the table for Twilight placed it on top.
"We're about to see a new life be born," Fluttershy hushed as Joy entered. Then a flash. The light from the egg lasted a few seconds before dimming. What replaced sight was a sound of crying. Wails had all turning to what it was, finding a baby brown fox pawing the air frantically. The girls got excited about who or what it was.
"It's here!" cheered Twilight as she scooped the fox pup to her chest. "It's okay, little one. I got ya..." The pup stopped struggling and looked up, opening its eyes to who was holding the newborn.
"That's an Eevee," Joy identified. The information prompted Fluttershy to get her Dex with a similar fox pup but with brown fur. The Eevee in Twilight's arms reached for her face.
"Eevee, the Evolution Pokémon," it computed. "As of now, Eevee can evolve to five different forms pending on environment and condition. These are called 'Eeveelutions.'" A meaning to Eevee's interesting characteristic left the ponies befuddled.
"Eevee-what?" questioned Applejack.
"It's adorable," Fluttershy awed. "Even as a newborn." The Eevee continued to reach for Twilight, wanting attention. Joy wanted some of her own.
"I want to give your new Eevee its first checkup. Just making sure its birth came out okay." Twilight blinked at breaking up with her new Pokémon so soon. Both pony and Pokémon looked at each other, just a few minutes after Eevee hatched.
"I'm sure Joy will take care of her." A shocking development, one leaving the other ponies in dismay.
"How did you know Twilight's Eevee was a girl?" gawked Applejack. Fluttershy showed the her Dex and while Eevee's image was small, she pointed to the face.
"It's actually easy to see. Eevee's nose is a little smaller than a boy Eevee." The conclusion to her case... Twilight's Eevee was a girl.
"Eve, it'll be quick," she promised. Joy and the other ponies looked confused with what Twilight said.
"Twi, I believe it's Eevee, not 'Eve,'" Applejack corrected.
"What, I'm not allowed to give it a name?" The issue eased the others in realizing the name. Eevee barked happily at the name given to her. Chansey came in with a cart and a pillow. Twilight placed Eve on the pillow before Chansey wheeled it off. In the lobby, Fluttershy was calling Professor Oak about Eve's hatching.
"Say, that's fascinating for Twilight, not to have an Eevee but a female on top of it all," he complimented.
"It is, Professor," she agreed. "She's pretty tiny but it looks healthy. By the way, the Dex brought up 'Eeveelutions.' Could you clarify what it is?" Oak chuckled at the question offered.
"Of course. As you already know, Eevee has five forms that it can evolve to: three by evolution stones and two by training at certain times." Fluttershy's jaw dropped a little from the summary. Oak stepped to the side of the screen where a diagram was laid out. One side had three colored rocks, a sun and a moon. The other side had five different colored foxes. Oak then brought out a stick and pointed to the top, a red rock with a flame imbedded and an arrow pointed to a red fox with a fur collar. "A Fire Stone will turn Eevee to Flareon." Going down the diagram was a lime green stone with a lightning bolt inside while the arrow pointed from the rock to a yellow spiky fox. "A Thunder Stone will create Jolteon." Down more was a blue rock that contained bubbles and pointed to a hybrid of blue fox and fish. "Last of the Evolution Stone group is Vaporeon, which is possible with a Water Stone." Now came the last two. From the moon had a black fox with gold rings tattooed over its body. The sun had a lavender cat creature with a fork-like tail. "The last two are Espeon and Umbreon. From the diagram, they evolve from training during either the day or the night." It was a lot for Fluttershy to take in. Just imagine telling Twilight about it.
"Are those five the only Pokémon Eevee can evolve into?"
"As of now. If there are more Eeveelutions, we'll find out more about them." It seemed the mysteries of Eevee have more holes to fill. "By the way, are you calling from Blackthorn City?"
"Not quite. It's the next city over."
"You're that close, are you? Well, I'll let Ash know of your current news." With farewells, both hung up as a chime echoed over the Center.
"Twilight Sparkle, your Pokémon are ready to be picked up," Joy called. Twilight and Applejack heard the announcement and reached the desk where Joy placed Eve who was excited to be back with the unicorn girl.
"Did you behave, Eve?" asked Twilight. Eve barked happily like she said yes. "That's good." Eve soon turned to Applejack, curious to her. "This is Applejack, a friend of mine." Applejack reached to pet Eve but a whimper stopped the blond. "Let her sniff you." The rancher questioned the idea but with her palm face-down, she presented a hand to Eve who whiffed her nose. She tongued the fingers, a sign for Applejack to pet her and gently she did under the snout. Eve felt tickled as Fluttershy stepped up.
"How's the little Eve?" she asked. Twilight forgot about Joy's evaluation of Eve and turned to her.
"Aside from its small birth weight, I found nothing wrong with Eve," the nurse concluded. "Eve came out perfectly healthy." The ponies grew excited at the news. That's when Fluttershy had an idea.
"I think we should let our Pokémon see Eve to get acquainted." Twilight liked the idea but Eve looked confused and barked up to her owner.
"Oh yeah," she huffed. "This is Fluttershy, another friend of mine." Fluttershy offered her hand for Eve to sniff. A happy bark. Did Fluttershy wear something besides the clothes Delia provided?
"Anyway, I like Fluttershy's idea," Applejack recalled. "Let's step outside and show Eve our group." While Twilight liked the thought, she wanted to make sure Eve did as well.
"You want to see who we have?" More barks from Eve sounded like she's ready. Exiting the Pokémon Center, Applejack and Fluttershy released their Pokémon once more.
"Everyone, we have a new addition to the family," Fluttershy started as Twilight knelt to let Eve try walking. Totodile and Chikorita first approached the newborn as Twilight released her Pokémon. Sentret and Sandshrew joined in greeting the baby Eevee. All of the ponies' Pokémon accepted Eve as the new Pokémon... except for Spearow. Applejack's flier sped in to peck the newborn. However, Quilava blocked Spearow's attack. Applejack grabbed Spearow by the wings with appall written on her face.
"Now what was that for?" she scolded. "Twilight's introducing us to her new baby!" Spearow cawed angrily, mainly in pain about its wings being restricted for trying to hurt Eve. "I'll let your wings go as long as you behave." The Tiny Bird Pokémon stopped struggling, surrendering to the threat of punishment. Altaria stood by Eve's side which the pup wanted to feel the fluff that covered the Humming Pokémon. Altaria gladly knelt down and allowed Eve to climb on top of it. Eve enjoyed the cloudy fluff almost immediately.
"Look at that," Twilight awed. "Eve likes Altaria's feathers." Fluttershy laughed at the sight of the two getting along.
"I think Eve and Altaria will be just fine," she trusted. Without warning, three familiar faces emerged in green nurse outfits.
"Excuse me," the redhead called out. "Is that an Eevee, I see?" The ponies turned to the three "people" in question.
"Yeah, it hatched like a couple of hours ago," Twilight briefed. The three looked to be in heaven with the detail.
"We do run a Pokémon Nursery on the road and we thought you might need help with your newborn Eevee." Already, Twilight sensed an uneasy feeling about the trio they faced. She knelt down and shielded Eve and Altaria. "Oh, come on! We run an honest business. No need to get defensive. We work on every Pokémon." Seeing her friend's reaction to the two, Applejack looked to the misbehaving Spearow and had a plan.
"Remember what I said about behaving around Twilight?" she asked. Spearow nodded. "Follow my lead. I reckon it's them from before." A wink from Spearow acknowledged the plan before Applejack faced the three. "You said every Pokémon, right?" The blue-haired realized the ploy breaking down quickly.
"O-of course we do!" he snapped back. "When we say every Pokémon, we mean every Pokémon!" A statement Applejack wanted to prove.
"Ya see, my Spearow has been misbehaving, especially around all of our Pokémon." Spearow had a glum look on its face, trying to play innocent. The other three fidgeted at taking in a Spearow instead of the baby Eevee. "Yeah, its been pecking everyone and everything in sight and I've tried about every method to curb its attitude..." If this was Team Rocket trying to disguise themselves, they're getting exposed. Upset that the ponies weren't getting the message, Meowth blew the cover by revealing himself.
"Listen, missy!" he yelled. "We want de Eevee so hand it over!" Now discovered, Jessie and James freaked out.
"Meowth!" they scolded. On James' shoulder was a tiny pink clown and it yelled down at the talking Alley Cat Pokémon. Meowth jumped from the scold. Fluttershy was quick on the draw with the new creature by whipping out her Dex.
"Never seen something like that," she pointed out as she aimed the Dex to the clown.
"Mime, Jr., the Mime Pokémon," it computed. "Mime, Jr. is the pre-evolved form of Mr. Mime. No further information available." To think that Delia has a Mr. Mime and now there's a Mime, Jr.
"A new Pokémon?" peered Twilight. With no choice, Team Rocket broke out of their disguises and geared for the fight against the ponies.
"So much for getting that Eevee by trickery," Jessie growled. "Seviper, use Poison Tail!" Jessie threw her ball and brought out her snake Pokémon. With all of the ponies' Pokémon out, Jessie didn't really have a chance.
"Catch that tail, Sandshrew!" ordered Applejack. Seviper swung the glowing tail but Sandshrew blocked the strike. "Now, Rollout!" Holding the tail, Sandshrew spun around, making Seviper dizzy. Sandshrew finished it by chucking the zigzag snake back to sender which floored both. Now it was James' turn.
"Cacnea, Pin Missile!" he shouted as he opened his Pokéball, revealing Cacnea. The cactus ball Pokémon shot the pins at the group but Applejack's Chikorita spun its leaf to deflect the pins from nailing the group.
"Secret Power, Chicky!" Chikorita stomped on the ground and created the snowy effect like back in New Bark Town. The attack froze Cacnea... and Team Rocket literally in their tracks.
"Dat wasn't ice!" punned Meowth. Ignoring the pun, the ponies nodded to send Team Rocket packing and leave an impression on Eve.
"Taillow!" Twilight called.
"Spearow!" Applejack commanded.
"Pidgey!" Fluttershy finished.
"Whirlwind Trifecta!" they ordered. The three birds flapped their wings as hard as possible before the ice block and blockheads got airborne.
"This isn't how I wanted to travel!" cried Jessie. Finally, the winds blew them away from the center and all they could do was... nothing.
"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!" they yelled in unison on the way out. Eve watched in awe as the ponies defended her. Chikorita came to Eve, making sure it wasn't hurt. It offered its leaf which Eve pawed playfully like a toy. The Pokémon giggled to the scene with glee. Back inside after Eve's introduction to the team, Fluttershy relayed the information from Professor Oak to Twilight, Eve on her lap sleeping, and Applejack.
"Flareon, Jolteon, Vaporeon, Umbreon and Espeon?" repeated Twilight about the names of Eevee's evolved forms. Just as amazed was Applejack who shuttered at how someone like Eevee would have all of this potential.
"Professor Oak said that his grandson, Gary, has an Umbreon so he knows what an Eevee is capable of," Fluttershy added. On the table were cards of the aforementioned Pokémon. Applejack picked up Umbreon's and Espeon's cards and looked towards them.
"I'd say Princess Celestia would undoubtedly go after Espeon," the blond suggested. "Princess Luna? Umbreon." Twilight nodded to say that the princesses and Pokémon would match up.
"It's pretty obvious, Applejack," she scoffed. "Espeon, the Sun Pokémon and Umbreon, the Moon Pokémon." She glared down at the hours-old puppy snoozing comfortably in her lap. "Never the same with any creature born. Spike... Eve... Pumpkin Cake and Pound Cake..." New lives born had always been a fun experience for some pony from Canterlot. Applejack put the two cards back on the table before hoisting Jolteon's card.
"If I had an Eevee, I'd definitely have a Jolteon. Speed with Sweet Apple Acres would help business." She had to have seen the information on Jolteon's card. "Fluttershy, what about you?" Fluttershy hiccuped from the question asked.
"Well... um..." she hesitated. "I-I guess Espeon as well. The creatures could use some sunshine when they stop by my cottage." The thought of which Eeveelution was a forced answer. Perhaps Fluttershy wouldn't mind what form her Eevee took if she had on.
"I bet Twilight would have Umbreon. It would fit her name, right?" More looking to Eve made her want to trust the pup instead of her choice.
"Applejack, I actually like Eve as she is now," she denied. "If she wants to choose what she wants to be, I won't debate it." She didn't care if Eve evolved, as long as Twilight's happy for her.
"Well, Rarity would probably have a Flareon," Fluttershy thought. The query dumbfounded Twilight and Applejack.
"Why would Rarity want a Flareon?" questioned Applejack. Fluttershy lifted Flareon's card to show the two.
"Flareon's fur makes it look gorgeous to have. Sure it's red but the beauty would overlook the color."A fascinating theory.
"I'd see Rainbow with a Jolteon as well as Applejack," Twilight pondered. "You know, how fast Jolteon is..." This left one pony to guess upon. "What about Pinkie?" A couple of seconds gave the earth pony a response.
"Umbreon!" she snapped. "Those two would play in the Everfree Forest day and night and with Umbreon camouflaging itself in darkness, she'd enjoy hide-and-seek much more." Hearing the idea, Twilight and Fluttershy a picture of the pink pony and Umbreon frolicking in the forests.
"I so see that happening!" Laughs from the ponies didn't stir Eve awake. That's when they realized on Eeveelution form wasn't taken. "So what about Vaporeon?" A long thought process.
"There's always the Crusaders," Fluttershy opted. "Or Zecora, or perhaps Shining Armor and Princess Cadence." Plenty of options...
"Then again," Twilight murmured. "There's a possibility of more of these Eeveelutions." It felt too soon to combine Eevees' evolved forms to each pony in Equestria.
"Any who, I reckon we get some sleep," suggested the cowgirl. "Blackthorn City is so close, Fluttershy can feel Dragon Pokémon scales." The note shook Fluttershy to the core.
"Must you be that insensitive?" she groaned. Perhaps some sleep should help Fluttershy in her approach. Blackthorn City... so close...
TO BE CONTINUED...