Chapter 284: Celebi Hatching

"Gym Leader Natsume, what would you like?"

"Feel free to pick any gift here."

The stall owner enthusiastically urged Natsume to choose a prize.

Yuna shyly brushed her long hair.

She thought Natsume might give her the plushie she had her eye on.

After all, that’s how it usually went.

However, Natsume didn’t even glance at her.

Natsume bent down and smiled at Tinkatink. "Tinkatink, what do you want?"

"This is the prize you earned, after all."

Tinkatink glanced at the plushies and shook its head.

"Tinkatink~"

Tinkatink pointed at the bouncy Poké Balls in the barrel.

"You want this?"

"Tinkatink~"

Tinkatink nodded.

"Owner, is that okay?"

"Of course, no problem."

The owner chuckled. "Let me get you a new one."

Natsume took the ball and handed it to Tinkatink.

"Tinkatink~"

Tinkatink bounced the ball on the ground.

Natsume looked at Tinkatink. "Just play with this yourself, okay? Don’t—"

Bang~

"Pidgeotto!"

Before Natsume could finish, Tinkatink swung its little hammer and launched the Poké Ball at a passing Pidgeotto.

"Pidgeotto!"

With a cry, the Pidgeotto plummeted from the sky.

"Tinkatink."

Tinkatink scratched its head, then picked up the fallen ball and ran off.

The Pidgeotto, now furious, flapped its wings and chased after Tinkatink.

Natsume sighed. "What a troublemaker."

"Hehe."

Sakura suddenly giggled and mimicked Yuna’s hair-flipping gesture.

"You’re so annoying."

Yuna playfully punched Sakura twice.

"Tinkatuff."

Tinkatuff tugged at Natsume’s pants.

"You want to know the trick too?"

"Tinkatuff."

Tinkatuff nodded.

Natsume smiled. "Sure, I’ll teach you."

Natsume leaned in and whispered the ball-throwing technique to Tinkatuff.

"Tinkatuff~"

After teaching Tinkatuff, Natsume turned to Sakura and Yuna. "You two have fun here."

"I’ll go check out the other stalls."

Sakura nodded. "Sure~"

She then nudged Yuna and teased, "Gym Leader Natsume is quite popular, you know. If you like him, you’ll have to make the first move."

"Ugh, stop teasing me! What about you? Admit it, you’re into him too, aren’t you?"

Natsume paid no attention to the girls’ banter.

Right now, all he wanted was to eat and enjoy himself~

As the moon rose higher, Peach Blossom Avenue grew even brighter.

Especially when the Morelull from the farm joined the festivities.

Their mesmerizing glow made the scene even more magical.

You could see Sandslash happily playing a Whack-a-Diglett game.

At a fried food stall, a Dragonite was waiting in line.

Larvitar and Zorua darted through the crowd, laughing.

Indeedee sampled unfamiliar snacks, planning to steal a few recipes.

Teddiursa bit its finger, eyeing the candied hawthorn skewers.

A tourist offered one to Teddiursa in exchange for a photo.

Cutiefly, a Pokémon that loved emotions, flitted joyfully through the crowd.

People and Pokémon sat at small tables by the roadside, enjoying their favorite foods and watching Pokémon performances.

Before anyone realized, it was already 8 p.m.

"Gym Leader Natsume~"

Haruharu approached Natsume, who was sitting with the Weavile, enjoying some meat.

"What’s up?"

Haruharu stood beside Natsume. "The fireworks are about to start. Grandpa asked me to come and see if you’d like to light them."

"Light the fireworks? Sure."

Natsume stood up. "Let’s go."

The fireworks launch site was at the farm’s battle arena.

Infernape and others had gathered, curiously eyeing the stacks of fireworks.

Kiko was there too.

She stood beside a middle-aged woman and a Wigglytuff, giving Natsume a helpless look.

Kiko had come today, but with her parents.

Natsume waved at her with a smile, then followed Gardevoir and Haruharu to the ignition point.

Yamada Kaichou smiled at Natsume. "Gym Leader Natsume, let’s begin."

"Alright."

Natsume nodded slightly, then glanced at Gardevoir.

Gardevoir waved its hand, and a lit wooden stick appeared in Natsume’s hand.

Natsume stepped forward and touched the flame to the fuse.

Sizzle~

The fuse ignited quickly, and everyone stepped back.

Whoosh~ Bam~

With a series of crisp sounds, beams of light shot into the sky, breaking the silence. They burst like a field of hearty grains blooming in the air.

Soon, the sky was filled with glowing Pokémon patterns.

Fireworks lit up the night, making it dazzling.

"Awooo~"

Arcanine looked up at the spectacle and let out a howl.

Arcanine’s call was quickly joined by other Pokémon.

Houndoom, Lycanroc, and tourists’ canine Pokémon all howled excitedly.

"Dragonite."

Dragonite took off, flying straight into the fireworks.

Not just one Dragonite—the Dragonite from Dragon Island all took to the sky.

They streaked through the air like meteors, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Stars were in the sky.

Fireworks were on earth.

Meanwhile, in Natsume’s room.

The Pokémon egg suddenly began to glow brilliantly.

The egg floated in the empty room.

Gardevoir, holding Natsume’s hand, twitched slightly and looked at him.

Natsume, who had been gazing at the sky, paused, then smiled.

"It’s finally hatching."

Natsume and Gardevoir vanished instantly.

In Natsume’s farm cabin, the room was filled with light.

Celebi’s egg floated gently.

Whoosh~

Natsume and Gardevoir reappeared.

The light from Celebi’s egg burst forth, illuminating the entire room.

Misaki, who was coming up the stairs, instinctively closed her eyes.

She felt as if she had stepped into a world of light.

Soon, the light faded.

"Celebi~"

A soft, sweet voice echoed in the air.

Natsume looked at the small green Pokémon that had just hatched on the farm.

Name: Celebi
Type: Psychic/Grass
Level: 1
Ability: Natural Cure
Individual Values: HP 31, Attack 31, Defense 31, Special Attack 31, Special Defense 31, Speed 31
Moves: Confusion, Heal Bell, Leech Seed, Recover
Potential: Godly Level.