Day four dawned with a sense of anticipation that had nothing to do with reaching Mauville,though that was certainly part of it,and everything to do with the egg.

  Micah had woken three times during the night, each time drawn by a sensation he couldn't quite name. The egg was different. Warmer, somehow. Not dangerously hot, but pulsing with an energy that hadn't been there before. And when he pressed his hand to the surface, he could swear he felt movement from within. Deliberate movement. Purposeful.

  "It's close," Maxie observed over breakfast, noting Micah's constant checking. "Probably hatching within the next day or two. Rhyhorn gestation is usually around seventy to eighty days, and based on what your father said about the breeding, you're right at the end of that window."

  "What do I do? When it hatches?"

  "Stay calm. Have food ready,I've packed appropriate Ground or Rock-type nutrition supplements. Let it imprint naturally,don't force interaction, but be present and available. The first few hours are critical for bonding." Maxie packed away his breakfast supplies with practiced efficiency. "Rhyhorn are instinctively loyal once they imprint, but you still need to establish yourself as a trustworthy partner, not just a convenient food source."

  They set out with renewed energy,or at least, Micah felt renewed. The knowledge that Mauville was just hours away, combined with the anticipation of his Rhyhorn's imminent hatching, made the physical discomfort of walking seem less important.

  The Donnyin had definitely changed. More open grassland, fewer dense forests. In the distance, Micah could see the distinctive outline of Mauville City,tall buildings, the massive power plant that supplied electricity to half the region, the sprawling urban development that marked Hoenn's industrial heart.

  "Mauville City," Maxie said, following his gaze. "Population approximately fifty thousand, depending on how you count the transient trainer population. Major economic center, home to the region's power grid, and unfortunately, one of the most bureaucratic cities in Hoenn."

  "Bureaucratic?"

  "Permits, regulations, oversight committees. The price of being an industrial center." Maxie's tone suggested this wasa personal annoyance. "I have business there that will take several hours. I'll send you the hotel information,check in, rest, explore if you want. But stay out of trouble. Mauville's police force is efficient, and I'd rather not bail my apprentice out of jail on our first stop."

  "I'll behave."

  "I'm sure you will." Maxie smiled slightly. "Just remember,you're no longer in a hamlet of a dozen families. Mauville is a real city with real dangers. Stay in populated areas, keep your valuables secure, and if anyone tries to sell you a 'genuine Evolution Stone' for suspiciously cheap prices, it's fake."

  Hearing this Micah couldn't help but giggle and think ‘Is that from experience?’

  They walked on, the city growing larger with each step, until finally,late afternoon, just as Maxie had predicted,they passed through the northern gate and officially entered Mauville City proper.

  It was overwhelming.

  Micah had visited Fortree City a few times, and he'd thought that was large. But Mauville was on another level entirely. Buildings stretched in every direction, roads packed with people and Pokémon, the constant hum of electricity underlying everything like a living heartbeat. Neon signs advertised everything from Poké Marts to Pokémon Centers to restaurants specializing in cuisine from every region. The air smelled like ozone, cooking food, and the distinctive musk of hundreds of Pokémon in close proximity.

  "Welcome to urban living," Maxie said dryly. "Try not to gawk too obviously."

  They navigated through the crowds,Maxie moving with the confident purpose of someone who knew exactly where he was going, Micah following close behind and trying not to lose sight of his mentor in the chaos. Eventually they reached a relatively quiet district, and Maxie stopped outside a modest but clean-looking hotel.

  "This is where we part ways for the evening." Maxie pulled out a device and tapped a few commands. Micah's own device buzzed,incoming information transferred. "Room reservation, local map, emergency contact numbers. Check in, get settled. I should be back by late evening, possibly later if the bureaucracy is particularly stubborn."

  "What should I do?"

  "Whatever you want. Rest if you're tired. Explore if you're not. The Pokémon Center is three blocks east,marked on your map. They offer free trainer services if you're interested." Maxie adjusted his glasses. "Just stay safe. And Micah?"

  "Yeah?"

  "When your Rhyhorn hatches,and it will hatch soon,take it directly to the Pokémon Center. They'll do a health assessment, register it in the system, and issue your official trainer card. Standard protocol for new trainers."

  "I thought I wasn't really a trainer. Just a researcher."

  "You're a researcher who will have a Pokémon. That makes you a trainer by legal definition.". "Besides, you'll need the trainer card for various services. Consider it a formality that happens to be useful."

  They stood there for a moment, and Micah suddenly realized this was the first time they'd been apart since leaving his family's farm. Four days of constant companionship, and now suddenly he'd be on his own in an unfamiliar city.

  "I'll be fine," he said, mostly to convince himself.

  Maxie nodded, turned to leave, then paused. "Micah? The past four days... you've done well. Better than I expected. You didn't complain, you paid attention, you asked good questions. That matters."

  Before Micah could respond, Maxie was walking away, Claydol gliding along beside him, disappearing into the urban crowd.

  Micah stood alone,truly alone for the first time in days,and took a deep breath.

  Okay. He could do this. Check into the hotel, maybe explore a little, and wait for...

  The egg pulsed.

  Not the gentle warmth he'd grown accustomed to. A sharp, distinct pulse that seemed to radiate through the carrier and directly into his chest.

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘Oh shit.’

  The egg pulsed again, stronger this time. Through the carrier's padding, Micah could see the shell shifting, bulging, a crack beginning to spread across the surface.

  It was happening. Right now. His Rhyhorn was hatching.

  And he had absolutely no idea what to do.

  Panic hit first,immediate, overwhelming, the kind that made thought nearly impossible. Then training kicked in. Not research training, not anything Maxie had taught him, but the fundamental farm-kid instinct: when an animal is being born, you don't panic. You help.

  Micah looked around frantically, spotting a small park area off the main street. Less crowded, more open space, somewhere he could actually focus. He moved quickly, cradling the egg carrier carefully, and found a bench near a decorative fountain that provided some privacy.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  The egg was definitely hatching now. The crack had spread, branching across the shell's surface in a spiderweb pattern. With each pulse, each movement from within, new fractures appeared. And sounds,small, muffled sounds that might have been effort or might have been excitement.

  "Okay," Micah said aloud, forcing his voice to stay calm. "Okay. You can do this. It's just... it's just a birth. You've helped the neighbors with their Pokemon before. This is the same thing."

  It was absolutely not the same thing, but the lie helped.

  He carefully extracted the egg from the carrier, holding it in both hands, feeling the warmth intensify. The shell was moving now, sections pushing outward from within. Whatever was inside was strong. Really strong.

  A chunk of shell broke away, falling to the ground, and through the opening Micah caught a glimpse of gray hide,rocky texture, unmistakable. His Rhyhorn. Actually real. Actually here.

  More shell fragments fell away as the Pokémon inside pushed harder, apparently done with the gradual approach and ready to enter the world through sheer force. Micah helped where he could, carefully removing loose pieces, making sure no sharp edges remained to cut the emerging Pokémon.

  And then, with one final heave, the Rhyhorn broke free completely.

  It was... small.

  Micah knew intellectually that newborn Pokémon were smaller than their adult forms, but seeing it in person was different. The Rhyhorn unfurled was maybe a foot tall. Its rocky hide was damp from the egg fluids, its horn just a small nub that would grow over time. But its eyes,deep brown, intelligent, curious,were already alert, already assessing this strange new world it had been born into.

  Those eyes found Micah. Locked onto him with an intensity that seemed impossible for something that had existed for less than five minutes.

  And Micah felt it. The imprinting. Not a dramatic moment, not a flash of light or surge of energy. Just... connection. Recognition. The sense that this Pokémon, this partner, had chosen him and would continue choosing him for the rest of their lives together.

  "Hey there," Micah whispered, his voice rough with emotion he hadn't expected. "Welcome to the world. I'm Micah. I'm... I'm going to be your trainer. Your partner. If that's okay with you."

  The Rhyhorn made a sound,low, rumbling, surprisingly deep for such a small creature. Then it pushed itself up onto unsteady legs, wobbled dangerously, and took three stumbling steps forward to press its rocky head against Micah's chest.

  Micah wrapped his arms around the small Pokémon, feeling the warmth, the solidity, the realness of it. This was his partner. His responsibility. His family.

  "I need to get you checked out," he said, though he was reluctant to move, to break this moment. "Make sure you're healthy. Get you registered. And probably feed you,you're probably starving."

  The Rhyhorn rumbled again, this time more insistently. Yeah, definitely hungry.

  Then it turned towards its now shattered egg and began biting into it. Micah couldn't help but stare in wonder as the newborn Pokemon made its way, vigorously eating the shell of its egg. Then once it had finished it slowly turned back towards Its trainer and clumsily trotted over.

  Micah carefully stood, the newborn Rhyhorn staying pressed against his legs like it was afraid he might disappear if it let go.

  He consulted his PokeNav, pulling up the map Maxie had sent. The Pokémon Center was three blocks east. He could do three blocks. Even with a newborn Pokémon that could barely walk and seemed determined to trip him with every other step.

  "Come on," he said gently, coaxing the Rhyhorn forward. "Just a little walk. Then we'll get you all checked out, and you can eat, and we'll figure out the rest as we go."

  The Rhyhorn took a tentative step, then another, building confidence with each movement. By the time they'd crossed the park, it was moving with more purpose, still unsteady but determined. Stubborn, even.

  Micah felt a surge of affection. Yeah. Definitely his Rhyhorn. Stubborn ran in the family.

  The Mauville Pokémon Center was exactly what Micah expected,clean, efficient, bustling with trainers and their partners. A large reception area featured multiple service counters, each attended by staff in the distinctive Pokémon Center uniform. Healing machines lined one wall, their soft blue glow casting an almost ethereal light. And everywhere, Pokémon,perched on trainers' shoulders, resting in carriers, playing in a designated area while their trainers conducted business.

  Micah approached the nearest available counter, his newborn Rhyhorn pressed against his legs, and the staff member,a young woman with kind eyes and the patient expression of someone who'd seen everything,smiled warmly.

  "Welcome to the Mauville Pokémon Center. How can I help you today?"

  "Um. My Rhyhorn just hatched. Like, twenty minutes ago. I need to get it checked out and registered and... I don't actually know what else."

  Her smile widened. "Congratulations on your new partner! Don't worry, we handle new hatchings all the time. Let's get your Rhyhorn examined first, make sure everything's developing properly, then we'll take care of the registration paperwork." She gestured toward a door marked "Examination Rooms." "If you'll follow me?"

  The examination was thorough but gentle. The staff member,her nametag reading "Nurse Joy, Elise ",handled the Rhyhorn with practiced care, checking its eyes, ears, horn development, limb strength, and general responsiveness. The Rhyhorn tolerated this with surprising patience, though it kept glancing back at Micah as if seeking reassurance.

  "Everything looks excellent," Nurse Elise announced after fifteen minutes of examination. "Good weight, strong bone structure, healthy hide. The horn will develop fully over the next few months. Eyesight and hearing are both normal. Reflex responses are appropriate for a newborn." She made notes on a digital form. "Have you fed it yet?"

  "Outside of it eating its eggshell, No. It literally hatched in a park not too long ago."

  "Then let's take care of that next. Rock-type starter supplement, standard formulation." She produced a small bowl and filled it with a mixture that looked like fine gravel mixed with some kind of paste. The Rhyhorn's attention immediately fixated on the food, and when Elise set the bowl down, it attacked the meal with enthusiastic single-mindedness.

  "Feed it three times a day for the first week," Elise instructed. "Small meals, high mineral content. I'll give you a supply to take with you, and you can purchase more at any Poké Mart. After the first week, you can transition to standard Rock-type nutrition,there are multiple brands, all fine. The important thing is consistency."

  Micah nodded, committing this to memory. Three meals a day. Mineral-rich. Consistency mattered.

  "Now, registration." Elise pulled up a new form on her tablet. "I'll need some basic information from you. Full name, date of birth, hometown, current residence if different..."

  Micah provided the information, watching his Rhyhorn demolish its first meal with impressive efficiency. The questions were straightforward,name, age, where he was from, his intentions as a trainer (he hesitated before answering "research," which Elise noted without comment).

  "And do you have a name for your Rhyhorn? You can register it now or leave it unnamed for later."

  Micah looked at his partner, who had finished eating and was now attempting to climb onto his lap,a complicated process given the bench height and the Rhyhorn's current lack of coordination. Names. He hadn't even thought about names.

  His father's Rhyhorn didn't have a name, just... Rhyhorn. But somehow that felt wrong. This was his partner, not just a species designation.

  "Can I think about it?" he asked. "I just... I want to get it right."

  "Of course. You can register a name anytime through your trainer account." Elise finished her data entry. "Alright, that's everything on my end. Your trainer card should be ready in about ten minutes. You can wait in the main lobby,I'll call your name when it's processed."

  "Thank you. Really. I was kind of panicking."

  "That's what we're here for." Her smile was genuine. "Congratulations again. Rhyhorn make excellent partners,loyal, strong, reliable. Take good care of it."

  "I will. I promise."

  Micah returned to the lobby, his Rhyhorn finally succeeding in its mission to occupy his lap,which meant forty pounds of rocky Pokémon distributed awkwardly across his legs, its horn-nub pressing into his stomach. Uncomfortable, but somehow perfect.

  He sat there, absently petting his partner's rocky hide, and let the reality sink in.

  He was a trainer. Actually, officially, a trainer with a registered Pokémon. Not just a farmer's kid, not just an apprentice researcher. A trainer.

  His PokeNav buzzed. Message from Maxie: How's the hotel?

  Micah typed back: at the Pokémon Center. The egg hatched.

  The response came almost immediately: Congratulations. I'll meet you there.

  Fifteen minutes later, Maxie arrived, looking slightly harried from whatever bureaucratic nightmare he'd been dealing with. He took one look at Micah,sitting with a Rhyhorn in his lap, holding a brand new trainer card that still smelled like fresh plastic,and something in his expression softened.

  "Well," he said, settling onto the bench beside them. "I suppose this journey officially begins now."

  Micah looked down at his partner, who was already dozing, exhausted from the monumental effort of being born. Then at his trainer card, with his name and information and the official designation that he was registered with the Hoenn Pokémon League.

  Then at Maxie, who had taken a chance on an inexperienced kid from nowhere.

  "Yeah," Micah said quietly. "I guess it does."

  The road ahead stretched out, unknown and full of possibility. But for now, in this moment, with his partner warm and solid in his lap and his mentor beside him, Micah felt something he hadn't felt in months.

  Hope. Real, tangible, unshakeable hope.

  Whatever came next, they'd face it together.

  Him and his Rhyhorn. His partner. His friend. His family.