The egg started to shine brighter as Nina and Dewott walk into the room. Lucy, Macy, Fanny, Joltik and Flabébé soon followed afterwards. All the Pokémon in the room were silent as the silver-haired girl checked the egg. "Everything seems good so far." She said. "The egg is healthy." ["That's good."] Burgundy felt oddly excited about seeing the egg hatching. Her tail started to flick side-to-side as her eyes filled with wonder.
Finally, the egg hatched...
"Raa?" The baby looked around the room. More like gazing actually, gazing in awe with his bright red eyes. He has brown fur with blue markings and a ruff of dark brown fur around its neck.
["It's a Zorua, but..."] ["It's colour, it's a Shiny Pokémon!"]
"Ruu?" The baby Zorua's ears twitched as it stared at Burgundy.
["H-huh?"] ["I think he likes you."]
["Really?"] The Zorua snuggled against Burgundy. "Raar~! Raar~!" ["U-uhh..."] "Raa?" The Zorua stared at the Espeon with innocent eyes.
["C-Cilan, what should I do...?"] ["Maybe he wants to play."] ["With me?!"] ["Apparently..."] "Raar! Raar! Raar~!"
["Ooh-ooh-ooh! I've heard of this!"] The Luxio cheered as she waved one paw in the air. ["It's baby Ducklett syndrome!"]
["Huh?"] ["In other words..."] The Mienfoo sighed. ["Imprinting..."] ["I-imprinting!?"] Burgundy looked at the Zorua. ["L-l-listen here, Zorua! I-I'm not-!"] "Raa~!" The baby Pokémon playfully pounced on the Espeon. ["N-non! Please! I am not-! Ow!"] The Zorua started tugging on Burgundy's ear with his teeth. "Ruu~!"
["Ow! Y-you're being too rough, Zorua! Ow! Dewott, help me! Make him stop biting my ear! Get him away from me, s'il vous plait!"] ["R-right!"]
Dewott pulled Zorua away from Burgundy. ["Oww... My ear..."] The Espeon whimpered as her paws touched the tip of her ear then turn to the Tricky Fox Pokémon. ["Why did you do that?!"] "Ruu..." The baby whispered as tears perked from his eyes. ["P-please, don't cry! I'm sorry... W-what do we do? What do we do? U-um... Oh, I've got an idea!"] The Espeon then wagged her ribbon-tied tail in front of Zorua's face. The baby batted his paws at ribbon playfully. "Ruu~! Ruu~! Raa~!"
["Great idea, Burgundy!"] ["He looked so happy..."] ["Yes, you're right."]
"Ruu~!" Zorua started cuddling with Burgundy's tail as a warm smile appeared on the Espeon's face. ["Ha-ha! Curly Locks might make a good mommy!"] Joltik said as he bounced on Burgundy's head. ["W-what...? I don't think of myself as a mother..."] "Raa~! Ruu~! Ruu~!" The Baby Pokémon cuddle against Burgundy.
["Zorua would say otherwise..."] Lucy said in a snarky tone. "Ruu~! Ruu~!"
'How come stuff like this always happens to me...?'
For the rest of the day, Zorua followed Burgundy everywhere she goes. Burgundy couldn't get any time to herself, to the point where Zorua hopped on her back for a piggyback ride while she was eating dinner.
["Zorua, can you at lease get off my back? I'm trying to eat and it's hard for me to bend over!"] "Raa~! Raar~!" Zorua climbed up a bit more to see things over the Espeon's head causing Burgundy to lose balance. She and the baby Pokémon fell in the bowl of pasta. ["Z-Zorua!"] "Ruu..." The two of them are all dirty with their fur covered in tomato sauce. ["Well, there goes my dinner..."]
Burgundy had no choice but to give Zorua a bath. ["Alright, Zorua, come with me."] She sighed as she lead him to the washroom. "Raa?" ["It's time for your first bath. Now, wait here while I fill the tub."] She hopped on the edge of the tub, plugged the drain and run the water. She then felt Zorua tugging on her tail. ["Zorua! Stop it!"] "Ruu~! Ruu~!" ["Arrêtez! Arrêter maintenant!"] She tried to pull her tail away from him, only to slip and fall into the tub. Burgundy peeked out of the bathtub and stared at Zorua. ["Ugh... Zorua..."] "Ruu~!" The baby then scurried out of the room. ["Hey! Zorua! Come back!"] The Espeon turned off the water and ran after him. Her velvet-like fur was soaking wet. ["Zorua! Zorua!"] Burgundy's wet paws slid across the floor as she dashed out of the bathroom. ["W-whoa!"] Zorua made a sharp turn before bumping into someone. It was Nina! "Uh-oh. How did you get all dirty, Zorua?" When Burgundy caught up with Zorua, Nina noticed that the little Espeon was soaked. "Were you trying to give him a bath?" She said with a giggle. ["Yeah..."] "Well, you look clean enough already. I'll take over from here." ["I don't know, Zorua is pretty attached to me."] "Don't worry. You need a brake anyways." ["Well, alright..."]
The silver-haired girl struggled a little bit with the baby, as he squirms in her arms. While Nina bathe Zorua, Burgundy sat near a heater to dry her fur. ["Mmm... So warm... Purr..."] She sighed.
'I wonder... Does Zorua really think of me as his mother? Non, if he does, then he wouldn't want to leave. Right? But then again, if he stays, he'll eventually realise I'm not his mother once he gets little older. Right? But if Cilan and I ever change back to our human forms, it would bring more confusion for the little guy... If we can't find his real mother, then what should I do with him? What if I have to make a choice? Do I raise Zorua as my own child? Or as my own Pokémon? What if I have to stay as an Espeon to raise him? Or become human again and have him on my team? ...Why do I feel so conflicted? He saw me as a Pokémon! Wouldn't he recognise me as a human! Would he...?'
["Ugh... What do I do..."] ["Burgundy?"]
["Ahh! Cilan?! You should really stop sneaking up on me like that!"] ["Apologies..."]
["Anyways, what are you doing here?"] ["I just wanted to see what you're doing. Zorua finally gave you some time alone, I see."]
["Yeah..."] ["What's wrong, Burgundy?"] ["All this 'mommy' stuff... I'm just trying to figure it out."] ["What do you mean?"]
["If we ever become human before we find Zorua's mother, then what should we do? Zorua sees me as his mother, so..."]
["Burgundy, if that ever happen, then I'll help you in any way I can. Even if it is looking after Zorua, I wouldn't mind one bit."] ["Cilan, I-!"]
["Don't worry. It's fine with me."] ["Merci, Cilan... But, I just can't be a mother..."]
["You're welcome! And... Don't worry, I'll be there for you."] ["You'll be there for me... No matter what happens?"] ["No matter what happens..."]
Nina came out of the bathroom with a clean Zorua, but her clothes was wet. "He's a bit... difficult..." ["Well, Zorua is a baby."] Cilan chuckled. ["Just give him some time, I'm sure things will work out..."] "Heh... Funny... My dad said the same thing about Mia when I was young." "Ruu~!" Zorua jumped out of Nina's arms and snuggled near Burgundy. ["H-hey!"] "Ruu?" ["Cilan... A little help..."] ["It's alright, Burgundy. I'm here."]
O) 0O) *0O) 0O)* 0O) 0O
Later, the two Espeon brought Zorua outside. ["What should we do now?"] ["I'm not sure, Burgundy."]
["Baa... goo..."]
["Huh? Cilan, did you hear something?"] ["Yes, but there's no one else out here. Unless..."]
The two of them looked at Zorua.
["Baa... goo... dii..."]
["Wha...? W-w-was he trying to say my name?"] ["I think so."] ["Baa-goo-dii... Baa-goo-dii~! Baagoodii~!"]
["Um... I guess that's close enough..."] Burgundy said as Zorua pounced on her, saying her name over and over again.
["Baagoodii~! Baagoodii~! Baagoodii~!"]
["...He can talk now..."] ["Yes, Zorua learned very quickly..."] ["Coo... ick...?"]
["Hey, let's teach him more words!"] ["Alright. Zorua, come here for a minute!"] ["Mii... nii..."]
["He can say my name, can he say your name?"] ["I don't know. Zorua, can you say "Cilan?""]
["Shy..?"] ["Almost there... Say "Cilan.""] ["Shy-wan...? Shywan~!"] ["Like I said, close enough..."] ["Shywan! Baagoodii!"]
["He's cute, isn't he?"] ["Oui, I guess..."]
O) 0O) *0O) 0O)* 0O) 0O
That night, everyone was sleeping soundly. Well, almost everyone. ["Baagoodii! Baagoodii!"] ["Zorua...! Go back to sleep...!"] Burgundy groaned as she rolled over. ["Baagoodii!"] ["Cilan, can't you do something about him!?"] ["What's wrong, Zorua?"] The male Espeon sighed. The baby whimpered as if he's about to cry. ["P-please, don't cry... Burgundy, I think he wants you."]
["And I want to sleep!"] ["Waah! Baagoodii!"]
["Ugh... Zorua...!"] ["Baagoodii..."] Burgundy sighed before looking down at the baby.
["Do you want to sleep with us?"] ["Sweep?"] ["Yes, sleep... You feel sleepy, right?"] ["Sweepy..."]
Zorua yawned as he curled up next to the two Espeon. ["I really do hope we find his mother."] Burgundy sighed. ["Don't worry."] Cilan said. ["We'll find her. Tomorrow we'll head out to look for her, but for now let's get some sleep."] ["Alright..."] The two curled up and fell fast asleep. ["Goodnight, Burgundy..."] ["Goodnight..."]