The Sinnoh sun was a relentless golden hammer, beating down on the rugged path that led toward the rolling hills of Solaceon Town. Julian wiped a bead of sweat from his chin, his hiking boots caked in dust. He looked toward the horizon where the lush greenery of the Solaceon Ranch was finally beginning to shimmer into view.
"Phew... I actually made it," Julian panted, shifting the heavy weight of his travel bag. "One day early. If my calculations are right, the little guy shouldn't be making an appearance until at least tomorrow afternoon. I haven't missed the show."
"Floette-flo! Flo-floette! (It's a miracle we made it at all!)" 🌸
A tiny, disgruntled voice floated from just above Julian's head. Floette was currently perched atop Julian's red traveling cap, using her flower as a makeshift parasol to block the sun. In her other hand, she held a miniature cup Julian had rigged up for her, sipping a chilled blend of Sitrus juice and nectar through a tiny straw.
"Floette-flo! (If you hadn't spent two hours every morning and three hours every night 'massaging' Growlithe and Sylveon, we would have been here two days ago!)"
Julian's face twitched. He couldn't see her, but he could feel the weight of her judgment pressing down on his skull. "Hmph. You talk too much for someone whose mouth is full of juice. And for the last time, it's not just massaging! It's... it's training! Lucario said I needed to work on my mental conditioning and Aura stability. Using them as 'conduits' for my energy is a perfectly valid exercise!"
Tsk, if this little flower wasn't holding a sticky drink, I'd pull her down and tickle her into silence, Julian thought, his eyes narrowing. I give her a premium snack, and she uses the energy to roast me.
"Floette-flo? (Training? Mental conditioning? Then why do you only 'condition' the furry ones? Why don't Togetic and I get the 'special treatment'?)"
Floette patted Julian's hat with her foot, her tone dripping with skepticism.
"I've explained this!" Julian argued, his voice rising in defensive desperation. "You and Togetic are tiny! My hands are bigger than your entire bodies. If I try to give you a 'deep tissue' Aura massage, I'll accidentally squish you like a Grape berry! Growlithe and Sylveon have the surface area to handle the power. It's science, Floette. Science!"
"Floette... (Science. Right. I still think you just like the fluff.)"
Floette decided that logic was too much work in this heat and went back to her juice. Slurp... slurp...
"Hey! Hey! We had a deal!" Julian shouted, feeling a sudden, ominous vibration on the top of his head. "You said if I gave you that juice, you'd fly up to drink it! Do not—I repeat—DO NOT spill that on my hat!"
"Floette?! (Ack!)"
Startled by Julian's sudden outburst, Floette's tiny hand jerked. The miniature cup tipped, and a waterfall of sticky, sweet nectar cascaded directly onto Julian's forehead and soaked into the fabric of his favorite cap.
Julian froze. He felt the cold, syrupy moisture trail down his temple.
"FLOETTE!!!"
"Floette~! (It was an accident! You barked at me!)"
Julian swiped at the air above his head with the speed of a Ninjask, but Floette was already airborne, fluttering just out of reach with a guilty expression.
"You did it again! How many times have I told you? Eat on the ground, fly to drink! I've washed this cap four times this week because of you! Get down here! You're going on a diet! Half-rations for a week!"
"Floette-flo! (Wait! No! I'll clean it! I'll wash it right now!)"
Panic flared in Floette's eyes at the mention of reduced meals. She dived toward Julian's backpack, expertly unzipping the side pocket with her Psychic powers. She pulled out a water bottle and a small travel kit of Pokémon-safe shampoo.
Julian stood there, arms crossed, fuming as Floette used a combination of Psychic and Water Sport to scrub his hair and the cap simultaneously.
Phew... Julian thought, watching the little fairy work with frantic energy. At least I changed the subject. Lucario was right—they're going to find out eventually. But how do I tell them? 'Hey, I'm a plushie addict who uses you for tactile hits of dopamine?' God, I'm pathetic.
"Floette-flo! (Clean! See? Spotless!)"
Julian took the towel Floette handed him, drying his face and checking his Pokédex. "Two minutes and forty-five seconds. Fine. You keep your dinner. But if one more drop of juice hits this hat, I'm trading your nectar for plain water."
"Floette... (Phew... saved.)"
"Now," Julian said, reaching for a different Poké Ball. "Growlithe, I need a hand!"
In a flash of light, the orange-and-black puppy appeared, his fur looking impossibly soft and groomed. He immediately barked and wagged his tail so hard his entire back half shook.
"Woof! (Ready for duty, Julian! Is it massage time?) " 🐶
"Not yet, buddy," Julian laughed, reaching down to instinctively rub the spot behind Growlithe's ears. "Floette had another 'juice incident.' I need you to help me dry off. We're almost at Solaceon. If we get there fast, I'll cook up that extra-thick roast you like."
"Woof! (Roast! Drying protocol engaged!)"
Growlithe concentrated, summoning several small, controlled Will-O-Wisps. He hovered them around Julian's head and the wet cap, carefully managing the heat. Over the last few days, Growlithe's fire control had improved drastically, mostly because Julian used him as a portable hair dryer every time Floette spilled something.
As the warm air circulated, Julian found his hand drifting toward Growlithe's tail. It's for the Aura flow, he told himself. Consistency is key. He began to knead the thick fur of the tail, "untangling" non-existent knots.
Growlithe leaned into the touch, his eyes half-closed. "Woof... (This is the best training ever...)"
I really want to just bury my face in his neck fur and take a deep breath, Julian thought, his inner "Hentai Trainer" (as Lucario called it) screaming for satisfaction. He smells like campfire and sunshine. Irresistible.
"Woof! (Done!)" Growlithe barked, snapping Julian out of his daze.
"Ah, right. Thanks, Growlithe. Good job." Julian recalled the puppy, staring at the Poké Ball for a moment. They don't hate it. They actually love it. If I just came clean... maybe I could openly sniff the fur? No, no, Julian. Stay strong. Don't be the guy who sniffs his Pokémon in public.
The Race Against the Clock
Two hours later, the sun was a dying ember on the horizon, casting long, purple shadows across the rustic wooden gates of Solaceon Town. Julian burst through the entrance, sprinting toward the Pokémon Center.
"Nurse Joy! Emergency check-up!" he gasped, slamming four Poké Balls onto the counter.
"Oh! Is something wrong?" Joy asked, startled.
"No, they're fine, just tired! I need to go check on an egg at the Nursery before they close! I'll be back in an hour!"
Julian didn't even wait for her reply. He bolted back out the door, his boots thudding against the dirt path. He reached the Solaceon Nursery with exactly three minutes to spare before the "Closed" sign was flipped.
"Hah... hah... wait!" Julian lunged through the door, nearly collapsing against the front desk.
The young woman behind the counter jumped. "Sir! Are you okay? Do you need a doctor or a Revive?"
"Egg..." Julian wheezed, pointing a shaky finger at his chest. "Registration... Julian... deposited... a month ago."
The clerk quickly poured a glass of water. "Drink this first. Breathe, Mr. Julian. Breathe."
Julian drained the glass in one gulp. "Okay. I'm okay. I'm here for the egg. Is it hatching? Did I miss it? Tell me I didn't miss it!"
The clerk tapped away at her computer, her expression turning into a reassuring smile. "Relax, sir. Your egg is perfectly healthy. Our incubation sensors show it's right on schedule. It hasn't hatched yet. The estimated window is between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM tomorrow afternoon."
Julian slumped against the counter, a massive wave of relief washing over him. "Thank God. I ran all the way from the valley for this."
"You can come by around noon tomorrow," she added. "Master Ye is overseeing your egg personally. He'll take you back to the incubation room so you can be there for the first breath."
"Thank you. Thank you so much."
Julian checked the wall clock. Twenty minutes had passed. Twenty minutes!
"CRAP! The Pokémon Center!" Julian shouted. "Joy is going to think I abandoned them!"
He turned and bolted out the door again, leaving the clerk staring at the gust of wind he left behind. "What a high-energy Trainer," she murmured. "I hope the Pokémon inside that egg likes running."