Under Carver's watch, Oddish's Friendship value rose from 30 to 40.
Seeing this, Carver smiled and gently patted Oddish's small head, saying:
"From now on, we're family. Let's live happily together here!"
Coming to this world alone, inheriting the breeding house and Bewear from the original owner—it was impossible to say he didn't feel lonely.
But fortunately, he wasn't alone anymore. He had Pokémon by his side.
Bewear, Oddish, and the soon-to-hatch Growlithe…
These Pokémon were his family in this world.
Seemingly sensing Carver's emotions, Oddish looked up at him, blinking its tiny eyes. After a moment, it nodded vigorously.
"Oddish!"
Carver left Oddish in the courtyard because, compared to indoors, Oddish much preferred the natural air of the outdoors.
Even more importantly, Oddish was a nocturnal Pokémon. They wandered around at night, absorbing moonlight as they walked, gradually growing stronger.
The courtyard was spacious enough for Oddish to move around freely.
Carver said goodbye to Oddish and turned back to the breeding house.
In the living room, Bewear had already finished washing the dishes and had picked up a broom to start its daily cleaning routine.
"So reliable!" Carver felt deeply grateful to Bewear. "Thanks for your hard work, Bewear!"
"Guu~" Bewear shook its head, not minding the labor at all. If it didn't do it, then the little master would have to, and it definitely didn't want Carver to get tired.
So, the best solution was for it to handle all the chores!
That way, Carver could take it easy!
"I'm going to check on the Growlithe's egg," Carver said.
Bewear nodded. "Guu~"
Carver climbed the stairs to the second floor, where Growlithe's egg was currently kept in his bedroom.
A few days ago, when he went shopping in Fallarbor Town, he had bought various household supplies.
That included a dog bed for Growlithe and food suitable for newly hatched Pokémon, like Moomoo Milk.
Pokémon were different from ordinary animals. Their bodies were both incredibly strong and fragile.
Strong enough to breathe fire, shoot water, and cause earthquakes, but fragile enough that a simple fever or cold could take their life.
This was especially true for newborn Pokémon. Only with meticulous care could they grow up healthy and strong.
Inside the bedroom, the egg with fiery red patterns sat quietly in its incubation nest.
[Growlithe's Egg: A Fire-type Pokémon Egg that will hatch into a Growlithe.]
[Health Status: Healthy]
[Father: Arcanine (Champion-level strength)]
[Mother: Arcanine (Champion-level strength)]
[Incubation Progress: 29/30]
Carver walked up and held the egg in his arms, speaking softly to it:
"Growlithe, can you hear me? I'm Carver, and I'm really looking forward to your birth."
He wasn't just talking to himself.
Since Growlithe was less than a day away from hatching, it was fully developed inside the egg and could hear and even sense the outside world.
Sure enough, as soon as Carver finished speaking, the egg's temperature began to rise rapidly.
This was Growlithe's response!
Perfect! It seemed that Growlithe was very healthy.
Carver grinned, his heart brimming with anticipation.
But then, he suddenly noticed a line of text appear on Growlithe's eggshell, catching him off guard:
[Prenatal Training is currently available. You can teach moves to a Pokémon still inside its egg, allowing it to learn techniques that it normally wouldn't upon hatching.]
[Current number of available Prenatal Training slots: 5. The number of available moves depends on the Pokémon's talent, energy affinity, and comprehension. The higher these attributes, the more moves can be taught; the lower, the fewer.]
[Currently available moves: Baby-Doll Eyes, Tackle, Sleep Powder.]
[Would you like to begin Prenatal Training?]
Carver: "?"
A huge question mark popped up in his mind.
Wait a second! Is this even legal?!
The text suggested that the moves he had received as gifts from Bewear and Oddish could be taught to Pokémon still inside their eggs?
And not only that, but it would break the limitations, allowing the Pokémon to learn moves it normally wouldn't be able to?
A Baby-Doll Eyes Growlithe.
A Sleep Powder Growlithe.
This… this… this… this can't be legal!
Even as he thought that, Carver had already started the Prenatal Training for Growlithe, without a hint of hesitation, immediately teaching it Baby-Doll Eyes, Sleep Powder, and Tackle.
He acted as if a single second's delay would be a missed opportunity.
Who was he kidding? What if Growlithe decided to hatch the very next moment? If he didn't do this now, it would be too late!
After all, once Growlithe hatched, there would be no more chance for Prenatal Training.
In the Living Room
Bewear finished cleaning the house and checked all the doors and windows of the breeding house to make sure everything was locked.
After making sure everything was secure, it finally set the broom aside and looked around at the newly renovated breeding house.
Out in the courtyard, Oddish was happily strolling back and forth, basking in the moonlight.
Upstairs, Carver was eagerly watching over the egg that would soon hatch into a Pokémon.
So nice! The breeding house is getting livelier and livelier!
Standing at the entrance, Bewear looked at the scene before it, and its heart was filled with both happiness and a touch of sadness.
Bewear felt a sourness welling up inside.
It quietly turned around, went downstairs, and stepped into the backyard, where it sat on a large stone, gazing up at the moonlit sky.
A long, long time ago, its Trainer, Carver's father, had also run the breeding house just like this.
Back then, he would often sit on that very stone, admiring the beautiful night sky while pointing out constellations to the Pokémon.
Later, the Trainer met his wife, and they had a child—Carver.
From that moment on, Bewear had always seen Carver as its own child.
When Carver was happy, Bewear would be happy.
When Carver was sad, Bewear would also be sad.
Until that accident happened three years ago—everything changed.
Its Trainer was gone.
They would never again sit under that starry sky, listening to the stories of the Pokémon that came down from the stars.
Bewear's eyes became misty, and tears slid down its face, dampening its fur.
From a distance, Carver quietly watched this scene unfold.
Above Bewear's head, a small dark cloud had appeared, pouring heavy rain.
It was sad. It was heartbroken.
Was it remembering the past?
Carver's memories merged with those of the original owner, recalling events from long ago.
A Trainer's death would certainly bring sadness to their Pokémon.
When the news of the shipwreck came, the original Carver was so devastated he nearly fainted.
At that time, even though Bewear was also mourning the loss of its Trainer, it had forced itself to stay strong and used the move Pain Split to try to share Carver's grief.
Carver's heart was heavy. Maybe this time, he should be the one to use Pain Split with Bewear.
He walked forward and sat down beside Bewear.
Bewear quickly wiped its tears away.
Carver held Bewear's paw, silently promising he would always be there.
"I heard from the orphanage that people who pass away become stars in the sky. So if you see a new star up there, it might be them."
Bewear froze.
"So, Mom and Dad must be watching us right now. Let's show them that we can live well, Bewear!"
Bewear raised its head, searching the night sky for two stars it didn't recognize.
And then, two stars twinkled in the sky.
They were two stars it had never seen before.
Right next to them, there was a tiny, unassuming third star.
Bewear's eyes lit up, and it pointed excitedly. "Guu!"
"I see them, Bewear," Carver said. "Mom and Dad wouldn't want us to be stuck in sadness."
"Guu..."
"So, Bewear," Carver looked at it, smiling. "Let's live well together tomorrow too!"
Bewear wasn't as sad anymore.
It glanced back at the stars, then at Carver, and responded firmly. "Guu!"