Pokémon: Reborn as Lucario

Chapter 139: Unmarried Rio Suddenly Becomes a Father

Ruby. In the English of his previous life, it meant ruby.

In the Pokémon world, coincidentally, it was also the translation for ruby.

Rubies possess a passionate, fiery red color, and Ruby, true to his name, in his Pokémon Contest performances, invariably displayed his own charm, as scorching as a ruby.

Yes, unlike the world's mainstream Pokémon trainers, Ruby was a Pokémon Coordinator.

Here, one must introduce some knowledge about Pokémon Contests.

Pokémon Contests, as the second largest competition event in the Pokémon world after Pokémon Battle Competitions, were also loved by many people. Therefore, a specialized type of trainer emerged for participating in Contests—the Pokémon Coordinator. Unlike Pokémon Battle Competitions, trainers participating in Contests did not seek victory by defeating their opponents in battle, but rather by competing on the "gorgeousness" of their respective Pokémon's performances to determine the winner.

The so-called "gorgeousness" of a performance refers to a standard formed by a combination of a series of conditions on stage: the Pokémon's overall appearance, grooming, demeanor, coordination with its Coordinator, combination of moves, the gracefulness of move execution, the stage's performance effects, and the audience's attention, among others. To obtain a high degree of gorgeousness to win the competition was no less easy than going through a battle. And although Contests didn't have the thrilling feeling of victory and defeat being on a knife's edge like Pokémon battles, they still had a large number of fans due to their beautiful visual effects.

In this highly popular competition, many outstanding performers have emerged, and Ruby was one of the best among them.

Let's first look at Ruby's past achievements:

Ribbons from the five categories (Cool, Beauty, Cute, Smart, Tough) of the Normal Rank Pokémon Contests, Super Rank Pokémon Contests, Hyper Rank Pokémon Contests, and Master Rank Pokémon Contests; champion of the regional comprehensive Pokémon Grand Festival; runner-up in the Pokémon Contest World Cup, and so on. Besides these important major competitions, the honors he obtained from various other small-scale performances and competitions were almost innumerable.

If it weren't for losing by a narrow margin in the quadrennial Pokémon Contest World Cup to the one known as the "Noble Prince of Water," who was also Ruby's master, Wallace, Ruby would have basically achieved a Grand Slam in Pokémon Contests.

It was no wonder that Wallace, after his narrow victory in the World Cup, issued a declaration full of emotion that Ruby was the most qualified Pokémon Coordinator he had ever seen, and that the future would belong to this young man.

Besides his outstanding achievements in Pokémon Contests, Ruby was also known to the world for several major events. The first was ten years ago, when the two top-tier legendary Pokémon of the Middel Region—Groudon and Kyogre—were awakened by the then-villainous organizations, Team Magma and Team Aqua. The subsequent conflict between the continent and the ocean brewed a natural disaster that brought great harm to the world. And the then only 11-year-old Ruby and Sapphire, holding the Red Orb and Blue Orb, together with Norman who had awakened Rayquaza, quelled the conflict between Groudon and Kyogre, restoring peace to the world.

As for the second, it is said... ahem, anyway, it is said that between Ruby and the current Middel Region Champion, Sapphire Odamaki, there seems to be... ahem, you know.

Third, Ruby is also the son of the former Elite Four member and current Verdant Leaf City Normal-type Gym Leader, Norman.

"So, Mr. Ruby, you came back this time to visit home?"

"After all, such a big thing happened in Verdant Leaf City. It's better to come home and have a look." Ruby looked at Míng Rìzhào's somewhat reserved appearance and waved his hand with a smile. "No need to be so formal, and no need for honorifics. Just treat me like a normal person."

However, facing Ruby, who was adorned with so many halos, Míng Rìzhào was still a little unable to let loose.

But Rio and Ruru on the side didn't have so many scruples. They were chatting happily with Ruby's Gardevoir.

"Iya, iya. (Pokémon Language) Sister Gardevoir, you're so beautiful."

Ruru looked at the white-robed, gracefully fluttering Gardevoir with some envy.

Gardevoir reached out and stroked Ruru's little head, saying with a smile, "(Pokémon Language) As long as you train hard, you'll soon be able to evolve into someone like me."

The Gardevoir named Ruru and the Ralts named Ruru chatted intimately for a while. Gardevoir Ruru turned her head and asked with a puzzled expression, "(Pokémon Language) But it's strange. I can't even recognize what species of Pokémon you are."

Naturally, she was asking Rio.

Rio, who was already self-aware of being the last Riolu in the world, was not surprised that Gardevoir, who had traveled far and wide with Ruby and was well-informed, would ask this question.

"Yeah, I also find it strange why my Pokémon species no longer exists in this world."

Rio sighed.

"By the way, Sister Ruru, can you tell us how you and Brother Ruby stopped the one who can't fly and the fat-headed fish from fighting back then?"

Rio had shamelessly cozied up to them, calling them "sister" and "brother."

"The one who can't fly and the fat-headed fish?"

Gardevoir Ruru's face was full of question marks.

"Ah, my bad! I mean Groudon and Kyogre. It's said that you were the main characters in stopping their conflict back then. Can you tell us the story of that time? We're all very curious."

Looking at the interested eyes of Ralts and Riolu, Gardevoir scratched her head and said with some shyness, "Actually, back then, Ruby and I were separated by an earthquake. We didn't participate in the battle to stop Groudon and Kyogre."

"However..." as if afraid of disappointing Ralts and Riolu, Gardevoir quickly added, "I can tell you the story of how we passed the trial of the Sky Pillar and then awakened Rayquaza... Do you want to hear it?"

The two Pokémon quickly sat up straight.

"That day..."

Seeing her own Pokémon and Ruby's Pokémon getting along so well, Míng Rìzhào also unknowingly relaxed and began to chat and laugh with Ruby.

"Mr. Norman also helped us a lot. For example, the hotel we're staying at on this trip to Yuanqi City, it's only because of Mr. Norman's membership card that we got a discount."

"Haha, don't worry about it. After all, you helped my stubborn old dad out a lot. This little thing is naturally nothing," Ruby said nonchalantly, but then his tone changed.

"I saw you wandering around the exchange center for a long time, Xiao Zhao. Are you looking for a new Pokémon partner?"

"Yes, I am. Unfortunately, after looking around, there don't seem to be any Pokémon I feel a particular connection with... By the way, Mr. Ruby, you mentioned earlier that you have a particularly suitable Pokémon. Who exactly is..."

Míng Rìzhào's gaze drifted towards the elegant and slender Gardevoir.

Ruby smiled and shook his head.

"Naturally, it won't be Ruru. After all, this is my Pokémon. Even if I traded her to you, it's highly probable that she wouldn't be able to coordinate particularly well with you."

"Besides, you're still a rookie Pokémon trainer, right? Have you ever had the experience of hatching a Pokémon?"

"I just got my first badge, Mr. Wattson's badge. As for hatching a Pokémon, no, I haven't."

"Uncle Wattson, huh? It's been a long time since I went to Zidian City. I'll go back for a visit when I have the chance," Ruby said to himself.

"For a rookie trainer, besides obtaining badges, you must also remember to raise your own Pokémon well."

As he spoke, he reached into the backpack on his back and fumbled for something.

"So, you can also try hatching a Pokémon yourself. Nurturing 'it' and your bond from a young age—such a Pokémon will bring you immense help."

Ruby took out a Pokémon egg that was entirely red and covered with flame-like patterns. Although he didn't know what Pokémon was inside, the scorching aura it gave off seemed to burn like a flame.

"This Pokémon egg was gifted to me by a powerful friend when I was traveling in the Weston Archipelago not long ago. He instructed me to find someone with the courage to not fear difficulties and who genuinely loves Pokémon to give it to. And I think you are that suitable person."

Míng Rìzhào hurriedly said, "No, I can't accept something so precious."

Ruby, however, pushed the Pokémon egg towards Míng Rìzhào.

"Firstly, it's to thank you for stepping forward during the disaster in Verdant Leaf City. This is enough to show your courage. Secondly," Ruby pointed at Ralts and Rio, "your two Pokémon genuinely like you. This is also enough to show that you are a person who truly loves Pokémon. Since you meet both these conditions, why can't this Pokémon egg be given to you?"

"But..."

Míng Rìzhào was still a little hesitant.

"Remember, although humility is a virtue, if you want to become a top-tier Pokémon trainer, to contend for that champion's throne, you must learn to fight for yourself. An opportunity that doesn't involve stealing, robbing, or breaking the law—why not accept it?"

Listening to Ruby's words, Míng Rìzhào made up her mind.

"Th-thank you, Mr. Ruby. And please help me thank that friend of yours. I will definitely hatch and raise this Pokémon well."

The young girl thanked him very solemnly, and only then did she carefully take the Pokémon egg into her arms.

This was the first time she had personally held a Pokémon egg. Her first Pokémon, Ruru the Ralts, she had met at the town's Pokémon nursery, and it was already in a state shortly after birth. And her second Pokémon, Rio the Riolu, needless to say, was already a mature Pokémon when she met him in Verdant Leaf City.

Feeling the pulse of the Pokémon egg and the faint warmth coming from it, Míng Rìzhào's heart was for a moment filled with an anticipation and emotion for the birth of life.

"Ruru, Rio, you two hold it too."

Ralts carefully wrapped her small hands around the Pokémon egg, a gentle smile also appearing on her face.

And when it was Rio's turn to hold it, he was quite curious.

In the games of his previous life, the appearance of a Pokémon egg was usually described as a uniform egg shape with a pale yellow shell and light green spots. But seeing it in reality, whether it was his own—the Riolu egg—or this unknown Pokémon's egg in his hands, it felt more similar to the ones in the anime, having patterns and colors of the Pokémon's own characteristics.

Speaking of which, how exactly do Pokémon produce Pokémon eggs?

Thinking about it, it's quite exciting, huh.

Rio was absent-mindedly holding the Pokémon egg, his thoughts already having drifted far away.

But in the eyes of the other two people and Pokémon, the moment the fiery red Pokémon egg was held in Rio's arms, the red of its exterior became even more translucent and bright. And the flame-like patterns on it also seemed to move vividly, looking extremely agile.

"What's going on?"

Míng Rìzhào rubbed her eyes and reached out to take the Pokémon egg back.

But when the Pokémon egg returned to Míng Rìzhào's hands, that strange phenomenon vanished, and it returned to its original state.

Placed in Rio's arms, the egg's flame patterns began to float again.

Taken back, placed in the arms of Ralts, Gardevoir, or Ruby, it returned to normal again.

"Strange?"

Míng Rìzhào was a little puzzled.

"It seems this Pokémon of yours and this Pokémon egg have a great affinity," Ruby said, not too surprised. Having traveled far and wide these years, the more strange things he experienced, the more he saw.

Compared to the egg's strange state, he was more interested in Rio, this mysterious Pokémon.

"It's decided."

Míng Rìzhào finally placed the Pokémon egg in Rio's arms.

"This arduous task of hatching the Pokémon egg is now entrusted to you, Rio!"

The young girl had a faint feeling that entrusting the egg to Rio to hatch was the best choice.

Although she really wanted to hatch the Pokémon egg herself.

Rio, who had just come back to his senses, looked at the big egg in his arms, his face full of question marks.

"???"

How did I, an unmarried and childless Pokémon, suddenly become a father??

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