Hey There. It really has been a while. I really do want to continue this story, I really do. But what I want for it just keeps changing and changing. I want Daniel to get off this damn island already, but he still has to suffer some key events. I might break out a time skip if I'm really desperate. Anyways, thanks for reading so far and if you followed my story all those months ago, sorry for the wait!

Day 31

Daniel wakes up as usual, with Wilson planted at his feet and the egg on his chest.

No dreams about mysterious children this time.

The terse reminder of mortality Daniel experienced yesterday remains on his left foot in the form of a scar and a broken flip flop. The white scar tissue appears unnaturally immaculate compared to the dirty, tan-lined flesh of his right foot.

Those krabby are occupying the lagoon I usually fish in. His scarred foot tingles at the thought.

Daniel collects himself and sighs. Wilson shakes the dirt off himself and makes eye contact with his trainer.

"Well, we're gonna have a different routine for a while."

Wilson nods.

"I'll take it easy until those krabby disappear. Just wild tubers and coconuts."

Wilson nods vigorously.

Daniel smiles and starts his day off with a roasted tuber for breakfast. His fire starting skills have come a long way. The fire sticks he uses are well worn with many blackened divots. His camp is well stocked with kindling and firewood. All gathered in the afternoon, when the sun is harshest. Once the fire has burnt down, he takes a seat and surrounds the sweet potato with white hot coals to cook it. Sometimes it burns, sometimes it doesn't, but it always tastes better than a coconut.

"You know, Wilson, I really can't believe how much this fills me up now." Wilson nods dismissively. He's hungry too.

Daniel places a hand on the egg, "you're one mysterious orphan, you know?"

The egg is warm, but otherwise inert.

Day 34

It is midday. Daniel walks along the forest brush in his gray cargo shorts with bare feet and a bare chest. He appears thin, perhaps a little too thin. His face sports a beard for the first time in his life. It is neither full nor well cared for, and it is starting to get under Daniel's skin.

God, what I would give for a metal razor.

He scratches his beard with his free hand as the other is carrying the egg. Wilson walks beside him scanning the ground for potential meals. The past few days have been cautious ones. Instead of going to the lagoon to fish, Daniel has been doing double duty foraging in the forest. It's been a while since he's had proper protein. The beaches don't compare to bountiful fish that once graced the lagoon.

If only those krabby weren't there.

Each time Daniel had headed for the lagoon, Wilson did his best to dissuade him. When that failed, the two would walk cautiously until it was clear that the clicking krabby still occupied the lagoon.

Maybe I should just forget about the lagoon for now.

Eventually the two return to camp after filling their pockets with tubers, normal berries, and dirt. Daniel's bloody shirt hangs on a branch. All efforts to clean the dried blood have failed so far. Wearing a bloody shirt might invite infection after all. The cot has been upgraded to a covered cot. A lean-to made of sticks and palm fronds now protect the bed from uncomfortable night breezes. The pile of old coconut husks remains high while the pile of coconut shells are stacked nicely like bowls in a cupboard. Next to those and the pond are coconut fibers awaiting processing so Daniel gets to work. First he removes the fibers from a drying stand he made. It looks like a triangle tent without the tarp. Then he places a stone on the fibers so they don't blow away in the wind. After that he moves to the pond where some fibers have been soaking. He transfers them to the rungs of the drying stand while squeezing water out of the fibers. Once the rack is full, he grabs some husks out of the husk pile, and begins tearing out fibers. He ties them up and throws them into the pond. Once that is done, he takes a seat and begins twisting the processed fiber into rope. He twists a cord and loops it around his big toe. Then he twists it the other way, twist, spin, turn, add some more fiber, twist, spin turn. Soon he doesn't need the tension provided by his big toe, so he releases it. The rope holds its shape so he continues.

Meanwhile, Wilson lazes around like the pineapple he is.

Day 38

No, he didn't Imagine it. The egg definitely moved. A little nudge came from the inside while in the harness.

"Wilson! I think this little one's close to hatching!" Daniel's excitement builds.

Wilson hops and smiles. He's happy to be happy for Daniel.

"I think we're well prepared to receive this little miracle. At least physically"

Daniel was indeed stocked with three baskets of tubers and one basket of berries all hanging under an open shed. It's more of a roof of leaves held up by four posts. The rattata convinced him to build that. But what about the mental needs of a baby pokemon? Will it be some degree of battle ready right out of the shell, like in the games? Or will it be as helpless as any human infant? How long will it stay helpless if that is the case? Does it need to learn human speech? How long would that take? And how is Wilson taking all of this? He never seemed as enthusiastic about the egg as Daniel, but then Daniel needed as many things to be enthusiastic about as he could get. Daniel pushed that thought out of his mind.

Everything is going fine. I have food, water, shelter, and good company. Strangely, I've never felt less stress before! No deadlines, no monotonous desk work, no expectations.

Expectations from people who cared. From family. Daniel needed to push that out of his mind too.

I'm starting a family here. I just hope that my wife isn't a pokemon.

Day 39

The egg started to crack. The bumps and nudges came more frequently as the day progressed. It was now deep into the night at camp. A fire smolders under the light of a full moon where Daniel lies on his cot, unable to sleep. But the egg just cracked! He felt it on as the egg rested on his chest. Daniel places the egg on the ground lit by the fire and moonlight.

Best to let it break out on its own.

The egg tips to one side as the first eggshell shard breaks off. Then more shards break off and reveal a blue serpentine creature within. Its scales are white on it's belly and deep blue elsewhere. Its head bears a pair of pronged fins, a pearlescent white bump on its forehead, a white snout, and two oval eyes closed shut. But most striking of all, it's body glows with an iridescent sheen under the light.

"Congratulations Daniel, your egg hatched into a beautiful dratini."