Chapter Text
Heading back to Castelia City after the confrontation with Beca’s father was a tough thing. The farther away from Nacrene that they got, the sadder Beca seemed to feel. It wasn’t regret. She meant everything that she’d said, but it still just sucked to lose a dad even if it was his own damn fault. It would take time to even be okay with the thought of not having that kind of support from her father, though she knew she’d be fine with Chloe and her family, and Kenny of course. She had her Pokémon too, but right now she could feel a little down, and damn anyone who thought otherwise.
Chloe seemed to get it. She had been quieter recently, but Beca could tell it wasn’t for fear or awkwardness. Chloe just knew Beca well enough to know that she thought and processed better in silence. She had been there physically with calming touches and soft kisses. It had been a balm on the few nights where Beca either wanted to rage or collapse. Surrounded by the overwhelming presence of Chloe and the support of their Pokémon, Beca was okay in the end and she would be okay.
Speaking of new Pokémon, Beca’s new Woobat had taken to the team rather well. Beca’s Pokémon were rather chill with the main exception being Electabuzz, as his high energy had not abated at all. Beca spent a lot of time with Woobat helping it get used to the sounds that might soothe and avoiding those that Woobat didn’t seem to like. She had been able to when Professor Elm had contacted her and Chloe remarking about Beca’s most recent capture, and remotely installing a Pokémon Box Storage and Transfer System on her phone, letting her change out her team at will. To make sure Woobat got accustomed to her, she and Chloe had decided to let their Nidoking and Nidoqueen had some more time alone at Professor Elm’s lab and refilled their teams of six.
They were in the middle of Pinwheel Forest, almost back to the bridge that would bring them back to the big city and to Chloe’s next big gym battle against Burgh. They had stopped several times the last few days for Chloe to train. It had been pretty relaxing, while Chloe was working with her entire team, she especially focused on Lillipup and trying to catch it up with the rest of her experience team members, so it led to a lot of mock battles with Beca’s Woobat who had a great aptitude for battling, seemingly so focused on it that it was able to tune out the overstimulation that was surrounding it.
Lillipup’s attitude towards Beca hadn’t improved at all. It seemed that Lillipup would try to cuddle Chloe during single training, but as soon as Beca stepped up for a mock battle, Lillipup was all focus and anger? It was weird to have such a small cute Pokemon look like it wanted to murder you constantly. It was worse whenever Beca would engage with Chloe at all. If they showed even a hint of PDA then Lillipup would bark angrily and try to insert itself between them and Beca was starting to resent it for that because as much of a loser as it made her sound like, she needed her Chloe kisses dammit.
It was the final day that they’d be in the forest when they heard distant noises in the bushes nearby. They both perked to attention, as did their Pokemon. Beca calmed her Scyther who started to adopt his fighting stance. They waited as the rustling got closer and Chloe, without really seeming to think about it, put herself protectively in front of Beca. Before Beca could really process that, a Pokemon emerged from the bushes, staring at them curiously.
It had just poked its head out for a quick second before returning to the other side of bushes. Chloe seemed to pause and turn to Beca confused. “You saw that too, right?”
Beca nodded, a little dumbfounded. Then the rustling began again and out stepped a bipedal Pokemon with a soft tan underbelly and large ears. It had kind blue eyes and it was staring at them with a smile. Chloe took a step closer. “You’re an Audino, aren’t you?”
“Audino!” It replied happily, waddling forward towards Chloe. It seemed to circle her, examining every inch of her. Then it turned to Beca and did the same. It cried happily as it finished its examination. Then, it rushed back into the bushes, this time sticking its face through to the other side but leaving its body on their side of the foliage. When it finally stood up it had something in its hands and waddled forward again, so that it was in front of Chloe. It offered her the object, which became clear as a Pokemon Egg.
Chloe seemed to blink at a loss. “For me?”
The Audino smiled happily and nodded. The curls at the end of its ears uncoiling and reaching out to touch Chloe’s hand. It nodded after the brief contact and offered the Egg once more.
Chloe reached down carefully and took the Egg, holding it preciously against her side. “Thank you, Audino. I don’t know what to say.”
“The Pokedex App says that Audino can tell a lot about people, their moods and stuff, by touching them with their ears. Also says here that they’re experts when knowing when an Egg will hatch and are often caretakes of them.”
Chloe looked back to Audino. “Will the Egg hatch soon?”
It nodded.
“And you want me to care for the Pokemon that hatches from it?”
Again, a nod.
Chloe seemed to think for a minute. “Okay. I will do that, but I’m not an expert, Audino. It would be helpful if you came along to teach me. Plus, a Pokemon like you would be a great traveling partner.”
Audino looked shocked if the wide eyes and surprised yelp were anything to go by. Beca watched closely and saw that Audino’s cheeks reddened the slightest bit and she rolled her eyes. Oh no. Beca’s guess was that Audino was always taking care of others and its intrinsic value in itself came from what she could give away, and not what she could take for herself. It sounded a lot like how Chloe was sometimes, and that meant that Beca would definitely be in for a show as they would try to outdo each other in a competition of giving and niceness. If Audino agreed that is.
Audino watched Chloe closely, then the Egg, where its eyes softened. It nodded at Chloe, a resolute look on its face. Chloe squealed happily and offered a Pokeball for Audino to tap. It did so without giving itself time to overthink its decision, being sucked into the ball. It only rocked once before showing a successful capture. Chloe grinned back at Beca. “Two for the price of one!” She winked.
Beca rolled her eyes, though the smile kind of ruined the affect. “Don’t be such a loser, Beale. Now, we gotta get out of this forest so that we can get Nurse Joy to check on the Egg and give us human directions on how to care for a Pokemon Egg.”
Chloe nodded, tucking Audino’s Pokeball away, and gently hoisting the Egg in between her arms. As Beca took time to study the object, it was a lot of grey with white stripes running up and down it. Beca had no idea what type of Pokemon it belonged to, but she was excited to find out. Chloe would be a great trainer to whatever Pokemon it was. Beca thought so, and obviously Audino did too.