Ash immediately rushed over after hearing Pikachu’s startled cry.
The moment he saw the glowing Pokémon Egg, his eyes lit up with excitement.
May hurried over as well, then gasped in shock.
“Oh my gosh… the Egg is glowing!”
Cracks had already begun spreading across the emerald-green shell.
Soft white light seeped through the fractures, illuminating the entire campsite beneath the night sky.
“Don’t worry, Pikachu,” Ash said while trying to stay calm.
“The Pokémon inside is about to hatch.”
Even so, his voice carried obvious excitement.
After all, this was the first time he had personally witnessed a Pokémon hatching from an Egg.
Even with all his experience, Ash could not suppress his anticipation.
Pikachu stood beside him nervously, tiny paws clenched together as its tail swayed anxiously.
“Pika…”
Crack!
Another fracture spread across the Egg.
The dazzling light suddenly intensified, breaking completely through the incubator’s transparent cover.
A warm wave of energy spread through the campsite.
Then
The Egg burst open in a shower of white light.
A tiny Pokémon appeared in Ash’s arms.
Its body was snow-white, and its green bowl-shaped hair covered part of its face.
Two crimson horn-like protrusions extended from the front and back of its head.
Slowly, the little Pokémon opened its large red eyes and looked around timidly.
“Ralts…”
Ash’s breathing nearly stopped for a moment.
“It’s a Ralts!”
His voice carried unconcealed joy.
Carefully, almost reverently, he lifted the tiny Pokémon into his arms.
Ralts blinked blankly for a few seconds before instinctively snuggling against Ash’s chest.
Its tiny hands grabbed his clothes tightly as it let out a soft, trusting cry.
The adorable scene instantly melted everyone’s hearts.
“So cute…!”
May clasped her hands together with sparkling eyes.
Unable to resist, she quickly pulled out her Pokédex.
The electronic voice immediately sounded.
“Ralts, the Feeling Pokémon.
A Psychic-type Pokémon.
Ralts uses the horns on its head to sense the emotions of people and Pokémon nearby.
It rarely appears before humans and will hide if it senses hostility.”
“A rare Psychic-type Pokémon…”
May looked at Ralts with admiration.
A trace of envy quietly appeared in her eyes.
She wondered if she would ever meet such an adorable Pokémon herself.
Meanwhile, Pikachu curiously climbed onto Ash’s shoulder and lowered its head to inspect the newborn Pokémon.
“Pika pika~”
Ralts stared at Pikachu for a moment before smiling brightly.
“Ralts~”
The little Pokémon happily reached out both hands toward Pikachu.
Seeing that, Pikachu immediately lowered its lightning-bolt tail and let Ralts grab it.
The newborn Pokémon giggled happily while swinging Pikachu’s tail around like a toy.
Ash smiled warmly at the sight.
Then he quietly checked Ralts’ information.
Ralts
Gender: Female
Type: Psychic
Ability: Synchronize
Potential: Light Blue
Known Moves:
Teleport
Confusion
Charm
Ice Beam
Ash’s eyes flickered slightly in surprise.
Ice Beam was clearly an inherited move.
That meant Ralts likely came from an exceptionally talented bloodline.
Although her current potential was only Light Blue, Pokémon possessed tremendous growth possibilities.
With proper nurturing and enough battle experience before evolution, there was every chance Ralts could break through her limits later.
Most importantly
Ash was genuinely happy to have her.
“Looks like our family just got a little bigger,” he said softly while gently stroking Ralts’ head.
“Ral~”
Ralts rubbed affectionately against his hand.
Seeing how attached the newborn Pokémon already was to Ash made May unbelievably jealous.
“Ash, Ralts likes you so much…”
“Well, I was the first person she saw after hatching.”
Ash smiled before placing Ralts carefully onto his lap.
“Pikachu, help me watch over her for a bit.”
“Pika!”
Pikachu proudly puffed out its chest like a dependable older brother.
Seeing the two Pokémon interact so warmly put Ash in an even better mood.
As a result, his cooking speed increased noticeably.
Soon, delicious aromas spread throughout the riverside campsite.
Three dishes and a hot soup were quickly prepared.
The steam rising from the food mixed with the cool night breeze, creating a warm atmosphere.
Ash then prepared Pokémon food for Pikachu, Pidgeot, Torchic, and the others.
As for the newborn Ralts
Ash redeemed a bottle of fresh Moomoo Milk from the system store.
He carefully fed the little Pokémon while supporting her tiny body.
“May, go ahead and eat first,” Ash said.
“Ralts still needs a little care.”
“Okay!
Then I’m digging in!”
May had already been tempted by the aroma for a long time.
The moment she tasted the soup, her eyes widened dramatically.
“It’s delicious!”
She looked at Ash in disbelief.
“Ash, your cooking is amazing!”
“Pikachu?”
Even Pikachu looked surprised.
This was the first time it had heard someone praise Ash’s cooking so seriously.
Ash scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“Actually… Brock usually handled the cooking during my previous journeys.”
“Ohhh…”
May immediately understood.
“So Ash got lazy because Brock was around?”
“Pika pika~”
Pikachu nodded vigorously in agreement.
Ash immediately protested.
“Hey!
That’s not true!”
Unfortunately, neither May nor Pikachu believed him.
Ash could only sigh helplessly.
There was no way he could explain that most of his cooking skills came from memories of another world.
After dinner, May helped clean the dishes.
Then, under Ash’s insistence, she used the portable shower equipment inside the large tent to wash up first.
Meanwhile
“Alright, Pikachu,” Ash said seriously, “let’s continue Iron Tail training.”
“Pika!”
Pikachu instantly became focused.
Ash picked up a marker and drew a circle on a large rock nearby.
“Your tail muscles should already be adapting to the strain,” he explained.
“Now try gathering Electric-type energy into your tail while attacking.”
Pikachu nodded firmly.
Then it jumped into the air and slammed its tail toward the rock.
Bang!
A faint metallic glow briefly flashed across Pikachu’s tail before disappearing instantly.
Only a shallow scratch remained on the stone.
Ash was not disappointed.
“It’s okay.
Try again.”
He crouched beside Pikachu and patiently analyzed:
“You’ve already mastered Volt Tackle, which proves your control over electrical energy is excellent.
Iron Tail is different because it combines energy control with physical strengthening.”
“Use the impact to compress the energy further before releasing it at the moment of contact.”
“Pika!”
Encouraged by Ash’s words, Pikachu immediately charged forward again.
Watching Pikachu train tirelessly, Ash’s eyes gradually became serious.
In truth, Pikachu’s greatest weakness had always been physical endurance.
Its speed and electrical power were extraordinary, but its body had not received enough specialized melee training in the past.
That was why Ash wanted to develop Pikachu into a true all-rounder.
Speed.
Long-range attacks.
Close combat.
Defense.
He wanted Pikachu to master all of it.
A true ace should never rely on only one battle style.
“New region reset?”
Ash smirked slightly.
“Not this time.”
Just then
“Ash, I’m done!”
May walked out of the tent wearing light pink pajamas.
Her damp hair rested against her shoulders as she dried it with a towel.
Under the firelight, she looked youthful and energetic.
Seeing Pikachu repeatedly smashing its tail against the rock, May blinked in surprise.
“Pikachu’s still training this late?”
“Training works best with consistency,” Ash replied casually.
“If Pikachu stops practicing for too long, its body will lose the rhythm it just developed.”
May sat beside him quietly.
Watching Pikachu continue training despite exhaustion, admiration slowly filled her eyes.
“Ash and Pikachu really work hard…”
“No wonder you’re both so strong.”
“Hehe.”
Ash laughed lightly.
“May, I feel like you’ve been praising us all day.”
“Ah?!”
May’s cheeks immediately turned red.
“I-I’m just telling the truth!”
She lowered her head shyly before speaking more softly.
“But I really do think you’re amazing, Ash.”
“You already know so much about Pokémon, and you’re strong, calm, and dependable…”
Ash looked up toward the star-filled night sky.
“Pikachu’s been with me since the beginning,” he said quietly.
“During my journeys through Kanto and Johto, we experienced countless battles, hardships, and unforgettable memories together.”
“My goal is to become a Pokémon Master.”
“And in Hoenn, I plan to challenge the Hoenn League and compete in the Ever Grande Conference.”
May listened silently.
A trace of envy appeared in her eyes.
Ash already had a clear dream.
Meanwhile, she still didn’t truly know what she wanted.
Noticing her expression, Ash suddenly asked gently:
“What about you, May?
What’s your dream?”
May froze.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she lowered her gaze awkwardly.
“I… don’t really know yet.”
Ash wasn’t surprised.
The current May was still different from the future Coordinator she would eventually become.
At this stage, she was still searching for her own path.
After thinking briefly, Ash smiled warmly.
“Then travel together with us for now.”
“Huh?”
“After I challenge the Petalburg Gym, we can keep exploring Hoenn together.”
“Petalburg Gym?!”
May looked shocked.
“You’re planning to challenge the Petalburg Gym first?”
“Of course,” Ash replied naturally.
“To enter the Hoenn League, I need all eight Gym Badges.”
Then he noticed May’s suddenly complicated expression.
“May?”
“…Actually…”
For the first time, May hesitated nervously.
Then she quietly confessed:
“My dad is the Petalburg Gym Leader.”
Ash blinked.
Then he simply smiled.
“That’s all?”
May stared blankly.
“Aren’t you surprised?”
“A little,” Ash admitted honestly.
Then he looked directly at her.
“But your father being a Gym Leader has nothing to do with who you are.”
“The first thing I learned about you wasn’t that you were Norman’s daughter.”
“It was that you’re the clumsy girl who throws Poké Balls directly at healthy wild Pokémon.”
“Ah?!”
May’s face instantly turned red.
“Ash!”
“Hahaha!”
Ash burst out laughing.
Even Pikachu rolled around on the ground laughing.
“Pika pika pika!”
May puffed up her cheeks angrily.
But slowly, her tense expression relaxed as well.
For the first time, someone wasn’t treating her differently because of her father’s reputation.
She quietly looked at Ash.
Under the firelight, his expression remained relaxed and sincere.
“Ash…”
Her voice unconsciously softened.
“You really are a strange person.”
“Hm?”
“I mean it in a good way!”
Ash chuckled.
Then suddenly, he pulled a coin from his pocket and placed it in May’s hand.
May blinked in confusion.
“What’s this for?”
Ash grinned mischievously.
“You’ve been praising me all day.”
“So here’s your reward.”
“ASH!”
“Hahahaha!”