Aoki looked at the Pokémon egg inside the box, and an inexplicable excitement surged through him.
After all, the last time he found a Pokémon egg, it turned out to be Jirachi—a Mythical Pokémon, a true second-tier god. That alone was a stroke of unfathomable luck.
He couldn't help but fantasize again. What if this time, he had stumbled upon another Mythical Pokémon egg? Perhaps Manaphy?
But almost immediately, Aoki shook his head. How could there be such a convenient miracle? Finding a second Legendary Pokémon in such a manner was highly unlikely. It was already fortunate enough if this egg contained a species with a high base stat total, like a pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
If this really were the egg of a pseudo-legendary, there was no way it would have been left behind in an abandoned ship's cabin. Someone would have taken it long ago.
Suppressing his thoughts, Aoki activated his system and used the data analysis function to check the egg's information.
• Name: Happiny
• Strength: ?
• Qualification: Elite
Aoki sighed, already expecting this outcome. It wasn't Manaphy.
However, upon confirming it was Happiny, he couldn't help but feel a sense of joy.
Happiny was extremely rare, generally only seen with Nurse Joys across various Pokémon Centers. They were seldom found in the wild.
Happiny evolved into Chansey, and ultimately into Blissey—Pokémon with one of the highest HP stats in existence, surpassing even some Legendary Pokémon.
While its defensive capabilities were poor, its Special Defense was exceptional, and with its vast movepool, it was an excellent support Pokémon.
For Aoki, who possessed the Viridian Forest's blessing, Blissey could complement his team well, offering a sturdy defense and powerful healing abilities.
Moreover, with Aoki's extensive knowledge of custom Pokéblock recipes, he could further enhance Blissey's defensive capabilities, ensuring it became a tank capable of withstanding even Elite-level battles.
This was a Pokémon worth investing in.
Aoki carefully picked up the Pokémon egg and wrapped it securely in his usual carrying bag.
Once he reached Slateport City, he planned to purchase high-quality Pokémon egg incubation fluids, as well as a few Evolutionary Stones.
Using the Evolutionary Stones, he could convert them into elemental gems through his energy conversion device—an approach he theorized could increase Happiny's potential.
Although it was uncertain whether Happiny could reach Champion-level strength, Aoki believed in giving it the best possible start.
After leaving the room, Aoki caught sight of Swampert lingering nearby. The Pokémon remained silent, watching as he walked away.
Aoki didn't know what Swampert was thinking, but he didn't stop.
Returning to Slateport City
After leaving the ghost ship, Aoki realized that the luxury cruise ship he had boarded earlier was nowhere to be seen.
With no visible landmarks, he was unable to determine his precise location.
"Jirachi, I'll leave it to you. Use Teleport and take me back to the luxury cruise ship."
"Okay!"
Jirachi's body glowed with a radiant white light. In an instant, Aoki disappeared.
When he reappeared, he was floating above the ocean, just a short distance from the luxury cruise ship.
Many passengers aboard noticed him, but no one dared to approach or question him.
Aoki didn't mind. He simply found a quiet place to rest, waiting for the rescue ship to arrive.
After about thirty minutes, a rescue vessel finally came to retrieve him.
Upon safely returning to port, Aoki wasted no time. He boarded another ship bound for Mauville City.
Mauville City – Preparing for Happiny's Hatch
Upon arriving in Mauville City, Aoki decided to delay his Gym challenge. His first priority was to visit the Pokémon Center.
He wanted to ensure Happiny's egg was in optimal conditions for hatching.
"Nurse Joy, I'll be in your care."
"Of course. Leave it to me."
While waiting for his Pokémon to be treated, Aoki went to the department store and purchased Evolutionary Stones for energy conversion.
Unfortunately, his funds were limited, preventing him from buying more.
Returning to his rented room at the Pokémon Center, Aoki carefully mixed the incubation fluid, following the research notes he had compiled over time.
Once the hatching liquid was ready, he gently poured it over Happiny's egg.
Almost immediately, a soft white glow radiated from the eggshell.
Aoki placed a purified elemental gem next to the egg, watching closely as Happiny absorbed its energy.
The light grew even brighter, enveloping the entire room.
Moments later, the glow faded, and a small Happiny appeared before him.
With a cheerful cry, the newborn Pokémon leaped into Aoki's arms.
Jirachi, who had been watching from nearby, puffed up its cheeks in irritation. It was clear that the Mythical Pokémon was jealous of the attention Happiny was receiving.
A faint red glow flickered around Jirachi's body, as if it was contemplating mischief.
Aoki chuckled and reached out, patting Jirachi's head gently.
"Alright, Jirachi, this is a new friend. No bullying, okay?"
After a few more pats, Jirachi's mood improved, and it nodded with a small smile.
"I'm not mad. I like Happiny!"
Happiny was still somewhat wary of Jirachi but remained nestled in Aoki's arms.
"Okay, Happiny. You'll be traveling with us from now on, so don't be afraid."
Aoki withdrew a Luxury Ball and lightly tapped it against Happiny.
However, instead of staying inside, Happiny immediately popped back out, clinging tightly to Aoki.
"Well, looks like you're not a fan of Poké Balls," Aoki said with a wry smile.
Since he wasn't planning to send Happiny to Professor Birch's Lab for research, he decided it would be fine to carry the Pokémon in his arms for now.
Team Review and Future Plans
With Happiny's addition, Aoki's current team now consisted of eight Pokémon.
However, only five were actively trained for battles:
• Boss Lairon
• Greninja
• Blaziken (previously known as Flame Pot)
• Grovyle
• Bagon
There were still more than eight months before the Hoenn Pokémon League tournament.
With time to refine his strategy, Aoki considered his long-term team composition.
Currently, Boss Lairon was his strongest contender for the League, and once Happiny fully evolved into Blissey, it could serve as a vital support Pokémon.
As for Jirachi, it remained a hidden trump card—a Mythical Pokémon that Aoki was cautious about revealing prematurely.
Still, he needed to diversify his team.
What Pokémon should he aim for next?
Perhaps a Beldum to evolve into Metagross?
Or maybe a Gible, to eventually train into a Garchomp?
The idea of a Garchomp was tempting, but Cynthia—the Sinnoh Champion—was currently raising one, and he didn't want to interfere with her plans.
Her previously reserved Gible eggs had already been distributed, and she had no intention of taking another trainer's Pokémon.
Aoki respected that and had no intention of forcing the issue.
Instead, he considered an alternative—Ralts.
Would adding a Gardevoir to the team be the best choice?
As Aoki pondered his next move, he realized his journey was far from over.
There were still many strong Pokémon to capture, and the road to the Pokémon League had only just begun.
JOIN MY PATREON TO READ ADVANCE 50+ CHAPTERS
Patreon.com/Kora_1