When the newly hatched Eevees had their fill of milk, they snuggled into Naoki's arms, their tiny bodies warm and soft. One by one, they began to drift off to sleep. Their soft paw pads pressed gently against Naoki's legs, and soon a few of them were in a deep slumber.
The remaining Eevees, though equally tired, leaned against their siblings, nodding off intermittently. They blinked sleepily, their little heads bobbing with drowsiness. Watching them, Naoki felt his heart swell with tenderness.
He gently scratched the chins of the drowsy Eevees and whispered softly, "Go to sleep."
In real life, Pokémon hatching was vastly different from the instantaneous readiness seen in games. Newly hatched Pokémon couldn't battle right away. These Eevees were tiny, delicate, and utterly dependent, resembling infants.
According to the Pokémon care books Naoki had read, newly hatched Pokémon required ample rest and nutrition. Thankfully, Pokémon developed quickly, with their larval phase lasting only about a week before they reached their normal size and strength.
Once the Eevees had fallen asleep, Naoki carefully lined them up on a soft blanket. He began examining their tails to determine their genders.
"Male, male, male, female, male, female, female..." Naoki murmured, counting. "Four males and three females! Female Eevees are so rare!"
Considering the typical male-to-female ratio of Eevees was 7:1, having three female Eevees in a single clutch was extraordinary. Naoki smiled, marveling at his good fortune.
He turned to Glaceon and Umbreon, who had been watching over the eggs. "You two will be the leaders of this group of Eevees from now on!" he declared.
"Bui?!" Glaceon blinked in surprise, while Umbreon tilted its head in confusion. The two older Pokémon exchanged unsure glances, their expressions showing their apprehension.
"You'll get the hang of it," Naoki reassured them. He was about to add something when he suddenly froze. A realization struck him like lightning.
'Oh no! I asked Indeedee to help with the eggs! Who's watching the chicken soup downstairs?'
Naoki bolted down the stairs and into the kitchen. There, he found Flutter Mane flapping its wing-like appendages frantically, trying to manage the stove.
Naoki facepalmed.
"My goodness, sister Indeedee left the soup in the care of someone who clearly has no idea what they're doing!"
Thankfully, the soup was not ruined. Naoki quickly took over, reducing the heat and simmering the soup properly. Flutter Mane sighed in relief, happy to relinquish the task.
By evening, the Eevees stirred awake. Naoki and the Indeedee siblings fed them another round of milk, ensuring they were well-nourished.
The curious little Eevees, their bellies full, began exploring their surroundings. They sat in a neat row on the wooden floor, their large, bright eyes fixed on Naoki, the Indeedee siblings, and Pawmot.
Naoki crouched to their level, pointing to himself. "I'm Naoki," he introduced warmly.
"Bui?" the Eevees chorused, tilting their heads in unison.
Naoki gestured to the Indeedee siblings. "This is the younger Indeedee, and this is the elder Indeedee."
The younger Indeedee waved enthusiastically. "Aiyee-eee!"
The elder Indeedee gave a calm, polite nod. "Aiee."
The Eevees blinked in wonder, their tails wagging as they chirped, "Eevee!"
Before Naoki could continue, Pawmot, Alcremie, and Glaceon enthusiastically introduced themselves. The room became a flurry of cheerful voices and names as each Pokémon eagerly tried to befriend the Eevees.
However, the overwhelming number of introductions left the baby Eevees thoroughly confused. They tilted their heads, their expressions bewildered. Before long, one or two of them began to whimper softly, calling out, "Buee! Buee!" as they scurried away from the group.
The chaos quickly spread as the other Eevees followed suit. One darted under the bed, two squeezed themselves under a cabinet, and the rest scattered through the room and into the hallway.
Naoki's heart jumped in alarm. The corridor connected to the staircase, and he feared an Eevee might accidentally fall. "Quick!" he called to the Indeedee siblings. "Catch them!"
The psychic-type siblings exchanged a knowing glance. A faint blue light glowed in their eyes as they used telekinesis to gently retrieve the fleeing Eevees, floating them back onto the soft blanket.
The baby Eevees blinked in confusion, unsure how they had been caught so effortlessly.
Naoki placed them back in their makeshift nest, but he realized they had too much energy to settle down. "They've been asleep all afternoon," he muttered. "No wonder they're so lively now."
Deciding it was better to let them burn off some energy, Naoki carried the Eevees downstairs and placed them on the sofa. "Go ahead and play here," he said with a smile.
"Bu-yi!" The Eevees chirped happily. The next moment, they clambered up onto Naoki's shoulders and even onto his head, their tiny paws playfully batting at his hair.
Naoki observed the tiny Eevees as they nestled close to him, seemingly comforted by his presence.
Taking advantage of the calm moment, Naoki brought out some toys to play with them. For a while, the room was filled with happy squeaks and playful energy. But as the clock neared eight or nine in the evening, the little Eevees began to tire. Their play slowed, their eyelids drooped, and soft yawns punctuated the quiet air.
Feeling a bit drowsy himself, Naoki decided it was time to rest. "Let's sleep here tonight," he said, leading the Eevees to his bed.
However, as the Eevees climbed onto the bed, their attention was drawn to Koraidon resting nearby. Their tiny bodies stiffened, and they trembled with visible fear.
Koraidon was speechless. "Raaao?"
Naoki chuckled softly. "It's Koraidon, your companion. There's no need to be scared."
Pawmot chimed in enthusiastically, "Pawmot, Pawmot!"
Despite the reassurances, the Eevees remained wary, slowly backing into the safety of Naoki's quilt.
Naoki watched them with amusement. "Ah, the universal belief—beds can keep out all evil. It looks like Pokémon know this too," he teased gently. Turning to the nervous Eevees, he added softly, "It's okay, you're safe. Let's sleep."
Cuddling into the warmth of the blanket and Naoki's comforting presence, the Eevees soon drifted off to sleep. Naoki smiled as he watched their tiny forms rise and fall with each breath.
"They're so small, so soft," Naoki thought fondly. "Pokémon are truly at their cutest when they're little."
...
The days passed quickly, and the Eevees began to grow. Their fur thickened, their movements became more coordinated, and they developed a lively curiosity about their surroundings.
During this time, the ranch celebrated Cyclizar's birthday. Naoki organized a party, allowing all the Pokémon to join in the festivities. Cyclizar even got to enjoy a special cake to increase its stats—a rare treat.
The day after Cyclizar's birthday, the Eevees fully transitioned from their newborn stage, becoming standard-sized Eevee. While trainers might typically begin training at this stage, Naoki believed it was still too early. They were only seven days old, after all.
The young Eevees, now more energetic and curious, began exploring every nook and cranny of the house. Naoki often found them in the most unexpected places—under the sofa, inside cupboards, behind the television, or even in the heating vent used by Slugma. On one memorable occasion, a startled Naoki encountered an Eevee popping out of the bathtub.
Naoki groaned, running a hand through his hair. "If this keeps up, it'll be chaos," he muttered. He resolved to let the Eevees explore the pasture soon, where they could roam freely and safely under supervision.
However, until the outdoor space was ready, the Eevees continued their indoor adventures.
One bright morning, Naoki noticed that the food supplies at the ranch were running low. He decided to head into town to restock.
In the living room, two of the calmer female Eevees were napping contentedly on the sofa.
Around the sofa, two Eevees darted back and forth, playing an energetic game of chase.
Glaceon and Umbreon, sitting calmly nearby, watched the lively little ones with expressions of quiet resignation. They exchanged a knowing glance, as if sharing an unspoken sentiment about the exuberance of youth.
"Bu-yi..." Umbreon sighed, its tone carrying a maturity that belied its small frame.
It couldn't help but think back to its own childhood, convinced that it had never been this mischievous or prone to diving into dusty corners just for the thrill of exploration.
Elsewhere in the house, three of the most adventurous male Eevees had formed a makeshift "exploration team" and were rummaging through Naoki's "treasure room." This was the room where Naoki stored items like rare stones, trinkets sent by friends, and other miscellaneous treasures.
The trio eagerly buried their heads into boxes and piles of items, searching for anything that caught their interest.
Before long, one of the Eevees let out an excited squeak, "Bu-yi!" Its cry immediately drew the attention of the other two, who scrambled over to see what it had found. The curious trio peered into a box, their wide eyes fixed on a small collection of brightly colored stones.
One particularly curious Eevee reached down with its paw to grab something shiny but lost its footing and tumbled headfirst into the box.
"Bu-yi!" it yelped, startled by its fall.
In its scramble, its paw brushed against an orange-yellow stone. Suddenly, a dazzling light engulfed the Eevee, and the energy within the stone flowed into its body.
The other two Eevees froze in surprise, their mouths open in silent awe as they watched their companion transform. When the light faded, the Eevee was gone. In its place stood a Pokémon with fiery red fur and a large, bushy tail—Flareon.
"Bu-yi!"
The two remaining Eevees squeaked in alarm at the sudden change. Flareon, now standing confidently outside the box, turned to look at them, its expression mirroring their confusion.
Flareon stared down at itself in disbelief, examining its new form. It moved its paws, shook its fluffy tail, and finally opened its mouth to let out an incredulous cry: "Bu… Bu-yi?!"
One of the Eevees cautiously approached, reaching out with a small paw to poke at the tuft of creamy yellow fur on Flareon's forehead. Flareon blinked, feeling a strange sense of understanding settle within it. The energy from the stone had not only transformed its body but also unlocked new genetic knowledge.
'Oh! That's it!' Flareon thought. 'I've evolved—and now I can use fire moves!'
Excited by the realization, Flareon let out an elated cry. "Buee!"
The other two Eevees tilted their heads in confusion. They looked from Flareon to the box and back again.
"Buey?" one of them asked hesitantly, as if seeking confirmation.
"Buee!" Flareon nodded enthusiastically. It gestured at the stones in the box, indicating that the mysterious transformation had been caused by the orange-yellow stone.
Intrigued and eager to experience the same change, the two remaining Eevees scrambled into the box. Each selected a stone that seemed to resonate with them—one blue and shimmering, the other yellow and crackling faintly with energy.
As soon as their paws touched the stones, the room lit up again. Brilliant beams of light enveloped both Eevees, their small forms absorbing the stones' energies. Their bodies began to change, growing sleek and streamlined.
When the light faded, Flareon stood face-to-face with its two transformed companions. One had become a Jolteon, its yellow fur spiky and bristling with electricity. The other had evolved into a Vaporeon, its smooth blue skin adorned with fins and a crest.
"Bu-yi!" Flareon exclaimed, staring in awe at its brothers.
Jolteon and Vaporeon exchanged curious glances before looking at Flareon. They seemed just as surprised by their transformations.
"Boo-ee-boo!"
The newly evolved Flareon, Jolteon, and Vaporeon were thrilled with their transformations. Brimming with excitement, they bolted out of the room, eager to show Naoki their new forms.
When Naoki returned to the ranch, his arms full of grocery bags, he immediately noticed something unusual. The living room, which should have been full of playful Eevees, now had three unfamiliar Pokémon: Flareon, Jolteon, and Vaporeon.
Naoki's eyes widened in confusion. "What... happened here?"
The trio of evolved Pokémon rushed over, tails wagging and eyes sparkling as they excitedly recounted their adventure.
"Buee Buee!" (We went on an incredible adventure and found magical stones! Those stones made us stronger and turned us into these forms!)
Naoki tilted his head, perplexed. Thankfully, Calyrex was nearby, watching TV, and promptly translated their words via telepathy.
Upon understanding their story, Naoki groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "An adventure? You mean rummaging through the storage room?"
He looked at the three mischievous Pokémon with exasperation and gently flicked their foreheads with his fingers. "You little troublemakers!"
The three brothers, however, immediately put on sad, guilty faces.
"Bu-yi..." (It's because you never let us go outside to play. We didn't mean any harm...)
Naoki froze, their words hitting him like a bolt of lightning. He bit back the scolding he'd been about to give. They weren't wrong. He'd kept them indoors out of fear they might wander off and get lost outside the ranch.
After a moment of silent reflection, Naoki let out a long sigh. "Okay, fine. From now on, you can go outside to play—but only within the fenced area of the ranch."
"Buyi?!" The Eevees' eyes lit up with joy.
Naoki nodded firmly. "But listen carefully! You must never leave the fenced area. If you wander off, you might encounter danger and won't be able to return home. Promise me you'll stay safe."
The Eevees exchanged nervous glances but quickly nodded. "Bu Yi!" (We promise!)
With a smile, Naoki opened the door, and the group of Eevees poured out into the open fields, Glaceon and Umbreon leading the way to keep an eye on them.
Flareon and Jolteon immediately began racing each other across the grass, their new forms filling them with boundless energy. Vaporeon, driven by instinct, sprinted toward the ranch's central lake and dove into the water, creating playful ripples on the surface.
The remaining Eevees scattered throughout the ranch, exploring their surroundings with wide-eyed wonder. Two found themselves drawn to the flower fields, where Combee buzzed busily among the blooms. Another pair wandered into the vegetable patch, their noses twitching curiously as they ran along the rows of crops.
Two others made their way to a shady fruit tree, where they flopped onto the soft grass and basked in the cool autumn breeze.
Naoki stood at the door, watching the scene unfold with a sense of relief. "Hah," he sighed contentedly. "They'll be happier this way."
He mentally took stock of the Eevee evolutions he now had. Water, Fire, Electric, Ice, and Moon were already accounted for. That left Grass, Psychic, and Fairy forms to complete the lineup.
"Leafeon should be simple," he mused aloud. "Just a Leaf Stone or a spot with strong grass energy, like near a Mossy Rock, will do the trick."
But when it came to Espeon and Sylveon, things weren't as straightforward.
"Espeon will need a high bond with me and must evolve during the day under the sun," Naoki noted. "Sylveon... it'll need to learn a Fairy-type move and also develop a strong bond."
...
Bonus Chapter @1500 PS