Ishi stepped out of the catacombs, clutching the Froakie egg close to his chest, a profound sense of accomplishment washed over him. The cool evening air hit his face, a stark contrast to the damp, subterranean atmosphere he had just emerged from. Before he could fully take in his surroundings, a cacophony of voices erupted.
"Thank Arceus you are alright!" ‘Jesus christ that nearly gave me a heart attack, can’t a guy reflect on the meaning of his life in peace?’ But looking around at all the worried faces he refrained from expressing this as a ball had formed in his throat.
He was quickly surrounded by concerned faces, his parents at the forefront, their expressions a mix of relief and worry. He looked around and noticed that it was already getting dark. ‘Strange I feel like I wasn’t down there all that long though?’ he wondered internally. He had in fact, been down in the catacombs for nearly an entire day, much to the chagrin of everyone in the ceremony. Especially with the rest of his class having already completed their ceremonies and received their Pokémon eggs from the various guardians.
Senpei and Ivy were among those gathered. Senpei held a Froakie egg, similar to Ishi’s but with a more sky blue colour when compared to his which was far paler. ‘Hmm interesting, I know he gets a Froakie. I wonder what the different colouring of the eggs signifies… No way!’ A surge of hope crosses his mind but he quells it as he knows the odds of such a thing are incredibly rare. To distract himself he tries to discern what egg Ivy could possibly have, its shell adorned with elegant leafy patterns. ‘Definitely a grass type, it doesn’t look like a pansage or bulbasaur egg, I wonder.. If I had to guess it’d either be a Chespin or maybe a Snivy egg, either way I will humbly accept the free Exp you will surely bring me.’ Thinking about Exp he also then decided to accept the rewards for completing his quest and received his two level ups with a smirk.
Noticing a new presence in the circle of people that had surrounded him he looked at the Chief who was flanked by several subordinates, as he moved a few people out of the way to get closer to Ishi. His authoritative presence quieted the crowd. "Ishi, what happened down there?" the Chief asked, his tone firm but kind. “As soon as you entered No one could get a lock on your location, mind enlightening the rest of us?”
‘Well shit so if I hadn’t used my Ninja Water Spout I could've been seriously hurt!’ He remembered Mrs. Tanoshi implying to them that if anything harmful were to happen to any of the class then someone would step in, he’d just figured the pitfall was one of the traps set up to challenge them. ‘Apparently not I guess,’ he thought with a small chuckle at himself.
Taking a deep breath, Ishi began to recount his experience. "The floor collapsed beneath me shortly after I entered. I guess I must have ended up in a different part of the catacombs, I of course didn’t know that till now.” He made a show of having a shiver run down his spine 'That's right imma milk all I can out of this,’ though no one in the group could tell he was thinking this. “While I was down there, I met a Scatterbug who was hurt by some of the rocks that had fallen down with me. I helped her, and in return, she guided me through the catacombs. Met some pretty interesting Pokemon I have to say, they seemed nice at least.” He reached into the satchel at his hip and felt the piece of old amber and nodded “Definitely nice!” He recounted most of what went down in detail only modifying what he figured the others probably didn’t need to know.
Finally he got to the part about his trial to receive his egg, "To earn this Froakie egg, I had to prove myself. Frogadier was very protective of the egg, but Greninja, who I believe is the parent patriarch.. Maybe matriarch.. I really need to get better at telling the difference or asking.” This earned him a few eye rolls from his audience as he went off on a tangent yet again, he may have had a couple of those during his retelling, ‘Hey they’re important to me, everyone is so judgy!’ “Anyways.. they allowed me a chance to earn its respect. After a series of different play times with the group of Froakie and this one Frogadier, they granted me the egg." ‘Definitely gonna keep the whole sparring with a pokemon thing to myself, no need to worry the parents further.’ He mused, thinking back to what had transpired not ten minutes ago.
The Chief listened intently, nodding occasionally and wincing at a few of the details Ishi provided. Once he finished, the Chief spoke, his voice carrying a note of pride. "You have had quite the journey, Ishi. We were all very worried, but it seems your perseverance and bravery have paid off. Since you have completed the requirements and received your egg partner, it is time for you to be recognized as a Kid Genin."
Confirmed. Quest Completed:
You Have Been Granted The Right To Enter The Ancient Ninja Catacombs! Explore The Tunnels And Locate Your Future Partner(s)!
Congratulations! You Have Earned Your First Class: Kid Genin
This Class Grants you + 4% Increase In All Stats!
This Class Grants You Enhanced Learning Towards Ninja Tricks!
Congratulations! All Rewards For This Quest Have Been Received!
Dismissing the notifications with a blissful grin, and immediately feeling the increase in stats, he watched as one of the Chiefs subordinates stepped forward, holding a small box. The Chief opened it to reveal a forehead protector, a headband composed of an iron metal plate engraved with the symbol of their village, which was designed as a hexagon with four distinct sections mirroring the symbol of the Kalos region, and a dark blue band of cloth. He handed it to Ishi with a solemn expression. "This is your forehead protector. Wear it with pride, for it symbolises your place among our ranks as a ninja." ‘At last,’ Ishi thought as he took the protector with a certain degree of reverence.
Ishi felt a swell of emotion, but his training in aura helped him keep his composure. He accepted the forehead protector with grace, bowing deeply to the Chief. "Thank you, Chief. I will wear it with honour and strive to live up to the expectations of our village." ‘I’m gonna wear this everywhere, everyone will one day know this symbol around the world and link it back to me and this village!’ He declared in his head, reaffirming his drive towards his goal.
As the formalities concluded, Ishi turned and saw his parents waiting for him, their faces beaming with pride and relief. He rushed over, and they enveloped him in another warm embrace., being careful about the egg that Ishi still clutched to his chest "We’re so proud of you, Ishi," his mother whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
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His father ruffled his hair affectionately. "You’ve grown so much, son. Today, you’ve proven yourself in ways we couldn’t have imagined." And after saying that he took the forehead protector from his hand gently, then with a face full brushed his now ruffled hair out of the way and placed it on his head and tied it firmly behind his head.
Holding the Froakie egg close and feeling the solid weight of the forehead protector, Ishi knew this was just the beginning of his journey. Surrounded by his friends and family, he yet again felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. As he looked up at the night sky and into the faces of his parents, he silently vowed to uphold the honour of his village and become the best ninja he could be.
***
The morning sun filtered through the thin curtains, casting a warm glow across Ishi’s room. He slowly stirred awake, feeling a comforting sensation of the Froakie egg nestled securely beside him. For a moment, he just lay there, savouring the surreal feeling that soon he would have his very own Pokémon. It was a dream come true, yet it felt almost too incredible to believe. ‘Come on, hatch as quickly as possible for me.’
Over the following days, Ishi devoted himself to caring for the egg with a dedication that rivalled a mother hen tending her nest. He carefully monitored the temperature, ensuring it was always just right. Every morning, he would gently wipe the egg with a soft cloth, speaking softly to it, telling stories of their possible future adventures together.
Day five came around and he decided to take the egg with him during the training session, setting it nearby while he practised his ninja techniques. Occasionally, he would pause to check on it, making sure it was still warm and safe. He would also check his progress with his Ninja Water Spout, figuring it would be best to fully master that first and then move onto the others as it was so close to mastery already.
Day seven had Ishi begin taking the egg on short walks around the village, showing it the places he loved most. He and the egg were talked about all over the village as a mother hen and his egg, though Ishi didn’t mind that much as he got to spend a lot more time with some of the older pokemon that had normally turned their noses up at him. He’d found that a lot of those pokemon were more interested in the egg but that didn’t matter to him in the slightest, ‘I spose it's true that it didn't matter what pokemon egg it was all pokemon respect the egg and won’t do anything to offend or harm them, neet!’ But what he’d most enjoyed was introducing the egg to his parents' pokemon, who marvelled at his dedication. Even though Senpei and Ivy teased him relentlessly about his obsession with the egg, there was still a degree of admiration in their eyes, and they two spent more time with their eggs that day.
***
One bright morning, just over a week after the ceremony, Senpei and Ivy's eggs began to hatch. Ishi and his friends gathered around, eyes wide with anticipation. Senpei’s Froakie was the first to break free, blinking up at him with large, curious eyes. Senpei grinned from ear to ear, scooping up his new partner with a promise, "We’re going to be the best team ever, Froakie."
Ivy’s Snivy followed shortly after, ‘Hah I knew it!!’ he thought as he watched the future green grass snake emerging with an elegant stretch of its leafy tail. Ivy’s eyes sparkled with joy as she gently cradled Snivy in her arms. "You and me, Snivy," she whispered, "partners for life."
The bond between Senpei, Ivy, and their new Pokémon was instant and strong. They spent hours playing together, learning each other’s quirks, and forging a friendship that would last a lifetime.
The sun dipped low in the sky, casting a warm, golden hue over the village as Ishi, Ivy, and Senpei sat together under the old oak tree. Their newly hatched Pokémon - Snivy and Froakie - played nearby, exploring their surroundings with curious eyes.
Ishi reached into his bag and pulled out the two Pokéballs, carefully crafted with love and dedication, that he’d kept safe over the past few years at his friend's request. One was blue and white similar to his own but without the black base mixed in, at Senpei’s request. The other green and yellow, designed for Ivy. He reminisced about the countless hours he’d spent perfecting these Pokéballs, and now, the moment had come for his friends to use them.
“Ivy, Senpei,” Ishi called out, a proud smile on his face as he held out the Pokéballs. “It’s time to officially capture your new partners.”
Ivy and Senpei’s eyes lit up with excitement as they took their respective Pokéballs from Ishi’s hands. The custom designs gleamed in the fading light, a symbol of their bond and the adventures yet to come.
Ivy crouched down in front of Snivy, her heart racing with excitement. “Ready, Snivy?” she asked, her voice full of warmth. Snivy looked up at her with bright eyes, nodding slightly. She had been told about what a pokeballs function was and readily accepted the idea when Ivy had asked if she wanted to be captured.
With a gentle yet determined throw, Ivy tossed the green and yellow Pokéball. It opened with a flash of red light, and Snivy was enveloped in the warm, glowing energy. The ball clicked shut, wiggled once, twice, and then stilled. A soft chime signalled the successful capture.
Ivy picked up the Pokéball, her eyes shining with pride and joy. “Welcome to the team, Snivy,” she whispered, holding the ball close to her heart. She then quickly released her and just held her happily in her arms and turned to watch Senpei and Froakie.
Senpei, his heart pounding with anticipation after seeing Snivy and Ivy’s capture and their obvious joy, stepped forward with his blue and white Pokéball. “Froakie, are you ready?” he asked, his voice steady but filled with excitement. Froakie croaked in response, its eyes full of trust.
Senpei took a deep breath and threw the Pokéball with a smooth motion. It opened with the same bright red light, enveloping Froakie. The ball wiggled in his hand once, twice, and then clicked stilled with a satisfying chime.
Senpei grinned widely as he picked up the Pokéball, his heart swelling with pride. “Welcome to the team, Froakie,” he said, holding the ball up to the sky. “We’re going to do great things together.” He then released the Froakie and they both jumped around each other in pure bliss.
Ishi watched his friends with a mix of pride and happiness. Seeing Ivy and Senpei officially capture their new partners with the Pokéballs he had made filled him with a deep sense of accomplishment. They had all come so far, and this was just the beginning.
As the three friends stood together, their Pokéballs in hand, the bond between them felt stronger than ever. They knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, with their Pokémon partners by their sides.
The sun finally dipped below the horizon, casting the village in a soft twilight. The future was bright, and the adventures awaiting Ishi, Ivy, Senpei, and their Pokémon were endless.
***
Day ten rolled around and Ishi’s bond with his egg grew stronger each day. He could feel a connection forming, even though the Pokémon inside had yet to hatch. He spoke to it often, sharing his hopes and dreams. He was now teased even more as both his friends were playing and training with their pokemon partners, but Ishi knew that when the time was right his partner would emerge. He was also really really close to mastering his Ninja Water Spout fully with it reaching 96% mastery.
Day twelve went by much like the others and that evening, Ishi sat by a fire with his parents, the egg resting comfortably in his lap. They talked and laughed, he could feel the warmth of their love and support, knowing they were as excited for his journey as he was. He had also taken to pulsing his emotions into the egg with his aura any chance he could, just to see if that would in any way speed up the process but so far he couldn’t tell if there were any real signs of it hatching.
Then finally the morning of Day fourteen, the second week since the ceremony, Ishi woke to an unfamiliar sensation. The egg, resting beside him, was moving. At first, it was a slight tremor, then a more pronounced shake. His heart skipped a beat as he realised what was happening “The egg… it’s hatching!” Ishi exclaimed, his voice a mixture of excitement and awe. He could hardly contain his emotions as he watched the cracks spread across the shell, the promise of a new life emerging right before his eyes.