Chapter 312: Everybody Gets Eggified!

Pink beams of light descended from the sky, precisely enveloping every viewer who had lost their wager.

Three seconds later—

Huge numbers of "Pokémon Eggs" appeared simultaneously across different regions.

...

Northern outskirts of Nimbasa City, Unova.

Ash, Iris, and Cilan were leisurely making their way down the road.

Suddenly, a pillar of pink light descended from the sky and landed squarely on Ash’s shoulder.

When the pink glow faded—

Pikachu, who had been sitting on Ash’s shoulder, had transformed into a perfectly round Egg.

"Whoa..."

"Pikachu, you really turned into an Egg!"

Ash turned his head and found himself staring directly at the Egg perched on his shoulder.

"Pika."

The Pikachu Egg slipped slightly and nearly rolled off.

Ash hurriedly caught it.

"Wait, wait, wait! Don’t move around!"

"You’re an Egg now! What if you crack?!"

"Pika, pika!"

Ash held the Pikachu Egg in both hands and examined it carefully.

Then he grinned.

"Huh."

"Pikachu actually looks pretty cute like this."

"PIKA——CHU!!!"

A familiar burst of golden electricity erupted from the surface of the Egg and struck Ash squarely in the forehead.

"AAAAAH!"

"Why are you shocking me again...?"

"So numb... so numb..."

Ash’s hair exploded into its usual electrified mess before he toppled backward.

"Whoa..."

Iris crouched beside him.

"I didn’t expect Pikachu to still be able to use Electric-type moves after turning into an Egg."

"Mm."

Cilan stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"The power of the livestream truly is extraordinary."

"What an unusual flavor~"

...

Rustboro City, Hoenn.

Outside the entrance to Devon Corporation headquarters.

Ruri was carrying a small black suitcase as she walked toward a car parked by the roadside.

She had only made it halfway there when she suddenly felt a large shadow looming over her.

Ruri looked up.

Steven’s Metagross was hovering above her.

Floating beside it was a glossy silver-gray Pokémon Egg.

Ruri looked at the enormous silver-gray Egg.

Then at Metagross.

The corner of her mouth twitched.

"Don’t tell me this is..."

"Daughter! It’s me! It’s me!"

"Your dad!"

Sure enough, the Egg spoke in an extremely familiar voice.

Ruri took a deep breath.

Then she reached out, hugged the Steven Egg against her chest, and gave it a small bounce in her arms.

"Pretty heavy."

"Of course!"

"My inner substance is every bit as weighty as my outward appearance!"

"Say one more stupid thing and I’ll put you back in the collection room to keep the stones company."

"Wait, wait, wait!"

The Steven Egg began shaking violently.

"My precious daughter, have mercy on this Egg!"

"I still need to go to Brother Asher’s house and meet Diancie!"

"You can’t crush your father’s dream!"

"What exactly are you planning to do in front of Diancie in that form?"

"Roll around?"

"I can still shine!"

"Look!"

The moment Steven finished speaking, a layer of silver-white metallic luster spread across the shell.

Under the sunlight, it gleamed almost painfully bright.

Ruri stuffed the Egg into her bag, leaving only a small opening at the top.

"Save your energy."

"Don’t drain yourself before we even get there."

[Regular-Seat Chat Group]

"Help! Some hard-of-hearing old lady picked me up! No matter how loudly I talk, she can’t hear me!"

"How are you even sending messages? You don’t have fingers anymore."

"I’m using my face! I’m rolling my face across the screen!"

"I’ve got it worse than you. My Meowth pounced on me the second it saw me. Right now it’s batting me around like a toy."

[VIP Chat Group]

[Bianca]: Oh my gosh! I can see so many people outside suddenly turning into Pokémon Eggs! Is everyone okay?!

[Roxie]: Of course we’re not okay! At this height, it’s almost impossible to get anyone’s attention! Someone could step on us if we’re not careful!

[Lance]: As a League investigator, I must continue working even in this state.

[Bruno]: You can’t even reach the desk. How exactly are you planning to work? Here, I’ll get you a stool.

[Lance]: Bruno, what are you doing?

[Bruno]:[Image: Lance Egg rolling back and forth through a mountain of paperwork.]

[Flint]: Hahahaha! Sorry, I seriously can’t hold it in anymore!

[Lucian]: Flint, I doubt you and Volkner are doing much better.

[Flint]: It’s fine. Luckily, I didn’t return Infernape to its Poké Ball. It’s carrying me around, so I’m not in any danger.

[Volkner]: Stop talking and come pick me up already! I’m lost inside the building! Why does this place feel so huge now...?

[Aaron]: Did turning into an Egg destroy your sense of direction too?

[Volkner]: That’s not the problem! It’s the automatic doors! I made it all the way to the entrance, but the infrared sensor can’t detect me because I’m too short!

Meanwhile,Tiana was holding Elaria’s hand as the two of them strutted openly down the street.

"Big Sis Tiana..."

"We snuck out like this. Won’t Dad and the moms get angry?"

"Relax!"

Tiana proudly patted her chest.

"Your big sister used spatial power to leave. They won’t notice a thing!"

"Besides, we almost missed something this spectacular!"

"Look!"

"The whole street is full of Pokémon Eggs rolling around!"

"But we really should go back."

"Ruri is already on her way, and Dad and the others have probably noticed we’re gone by now."

Elaria turned around to call Tiana back—only to discover that, at some point, Tiana had acquired an Egg.

"Little Elaria, look at this Egg."

Tiana lifted it in front of her, her mismatched eyes shining with excitement.

"Isn’t it super pretty?"

"And I can feel something..."

"Hmm..."

"How should I put it?"

"Like it’s calling to me through fate itself!"

Elaria leaned closer and examined it carefully.

Then she nodded seriously.

"It really does feel strangely familiar."

"Like I’ve seen it somewhere before."

"Right? Right?!"

"This Egg was floating around in midair just now."

"It took me forever to catch it!"

As Tiana spoke, she stuffed the Egg into her small shoulder bag.

Elaria blinked.

"Are we taking it home?"

"Of course!"

"Something this fated obviously has to come home with us."

Tiana spoke as though it were the most reasonable thing in the world.

"Once it hatches, we’ll find out who’s inside." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

"Then we can give the whole family a surprise!"

"Wouldn’t that be awesome?"

Elaria hesitated.

But in the end, she said nothing more.

Because she knew that once Big Sis Tiana made up her mind...

Not even Rayquaza could drag her back.

"Come on, come on!"

"Let’s go home!"

"Ruri should be arriving soon too!"

Tiana grabbed Elaria’s hand.

With her other hand, she drew a circle through the air.

A golden rift tore open in empty space.

Tiana pulled Elaria through it and the two girls reappeared in the estate’s living room.

Seeing them suddenly materialize, Diantha set down the fruit platter in her hands.

"Where did you two run off to?"

"The food’s almost cold."

Tiana covered her shoulder bag with one hand and adopted an extremely serious expression.

"We were just outside nearby, breathing in some fresh air and experiencing the vast differences of the world."

Cynthia’s gaze locked onto Tiana’s bag with terrifying precision.

"What’s inside your bag?"

"Why is it so round?"

"Uh..."

"Just some snacks."

Tiana put down the bag.

Then she quickly ran over to Cynthia.

"Mom, are you making dessert?"

"Want me to help?"

Seeing Tiana actually volunteering to help for once, Cynthia stopped questioning the bag.

Instead she and Tiana began making dessert together.