Mew knew Chen Shi wasn't asking without reason. After a brief hesitation, it finally spoke.
"Mew mew~"
(For most people, the only way is to let Little V slowly absorb Victory energy and hatch naturally. But you're different. You can take a shortcut.)
"A shortcut?" Chen Shi's eyes lit up with anticipation.
Mew didn't drag it out. It simply pointed a tiny paw toward another object on the table.
Chen Shi followed its gesture and froze for a second before understanding.
"You mean… use Jirachi's power to speed up Victini's hatching?"
Mew rolled its eyes.
"Mew~"
(Jirachi can't accelerate Little V's hatching.)
Chen Shi's face darkened. "Then what are you even pointing at it for?"
"Mew mew~"
(Jirachi can't speed up the process, but it can provide enough Victory energy. If Little V gets sufficient Victory energy, it'll hatch naturally.)
Chen Shi blinked—then suddenly understood.
That actually made sense.
Accelerating hatching and providing the required energy to complete hatching were two completely different concepts.
If Jirachi could supply enough Victory energy, Victini wouldn't need to wait around absorbing it bit by bit.
All he had to do was wait a few more days for Jirachi to awaken—and convince it to help.
With Jirachi's power, that shouldn't be impossible.
The only issue was whether Jirachi would agree.
Mew seemed to sense his concern and floated over, patting him on the head.
"Mew~"
(Don't worry. Jirachi and I are good friends. It'll definitely help with something this small.)
Chen Shi's face turned dark as he brushed Mew's paw away.
This little thing was getting bolder by the day.
First it stole Rayquaza's scale.
Now it dared pat his head.
At this rate, would it start riding him next?
Ignoring it, Chen Shi scanned the meteorite again with the system.
Three days until Jirachi's awakening.
Plenty of time.
If Jirachi agreed, the problem would be solved.
...
Time flew by.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
During this time, Chen Shi stayed home peacefully.
He teased Togekiss, spent time with Cynthia, occasionally checked on the research facility's construction in the hills.
Honestly, these were the most comfortable three days he'd had in a long time.
He almost wished life could always remain this simple.
Unfortunately, fate clearly had other plans.
That evening, they finished dinner early.
Chen Shi carried the meteorite, pulled Cynthia along, and gathered all their Pokémon before heading to the back mountain.
"What's this about?" Cynthia asked with an amused smile. "You're being so mysterious."
He hadn't changed at all.
Still childish in a strangely endearing way.
When they reached Salamence and Garchomp's cave entrance, Chen Shi grinned.
"Did you forget what day it is?"
"What day?" Cynthia frowned slightly.
Both their birthdays had already passed.
What special occasion was left?
Seeing her confusion, Chen Shi chuckled helplessly and took out the meteorite that housed Jirachi, placing it on a large stone.
"Today's the day Jirachi awakens. And there's a once-in-a-thousand-years comet passing by."
Cynthia's eyes widened as realization dawned.
She'd been so immersed in training lately that she'd completely forgotten.
"Well then," she smiled, "today really is lucky. We get to see the legendary Jirachi."
"Exactly."
They exchanged smiles.
The Pokémon, meanwhile, looked confused, so Chen Shi explained Jirachi's story again.
When they learned Jirachi only awakened for seven days every thousand years, sympathy filled their expressions.
Togekiss even waddled forward and gently brushed the meteorite with her wings, eyes full of pity.
In her view, sleeping for a thousand years just to be awake for seven days was worse than death.
What was the point of being a Mythical Pokémon?
Even if you had endless lifespan, could summon comet power, grant wishes—
If you couldn't eat delicious ice cream…
Couldn't play with friends…
Couldn't stay by your Trainer's side…
And after seven days, fall into another thousand-year slumber.
It sounded terrifying.
Compared to Jirachi, Togekiss suddenly felt incredibly fortunate.
Inside the cave, Salamence and Garchomp—his grandparents' partners—had already sensed the gathering outside and came out to see what was happening.
The waiting party now included two additional Dragons.
Time passed quietly.
Under the silent night sky, they all gazed upward.
Then—
A brilliant streak of light tore across the heavens.
A comet.
Its radiant tail illuminated the sky like a celestial firework.
Soon, more streaks followed, one after another, cascading down like falling jewels.
Chen Shi, Cynthia, and their Pokémon stood mesmerized by the breathtaking spectacle.
No one noticed at first—
The meteorite resting on the stone began to glow faintly.
A crack formed on its surface.
Then another.
And another.
The subtle cracking sound finally drew Chen Shi's attention.
"Jirachi's waking up!"
At his voice, everyone snapped back to focus.
They hadn't forgotten.
The true star tonight wasn't the meteor shower—
It was Jirachi.
The meteorite's glow intensified, white light growing brighter and brighter until they had to shield their eyes.
With a crisp crack—
The shell shattered.
A small yellow-and-white Pokémon appeared before them.
Jirachi's body resembled a star. Two ribbon-like appendages draped from its back, each tipped with a blue-green square. Blue-green triangular markings sat beneath its eyes.
Adorable beyond words.
Jirachi rubbed its eyes groggily, still half-asleep after a thousand-year slumber.
No one disturbed it.
They waited patiently.
After a few moments, realization dawned in its expression.
It had awakened.
Then it sensed the many presences around it.
Jirachi froze slightly, uncertain and timid.
Why were so many Pokémon surrounding it?
Slowly, it lifted its head.
And saw Chen Shi smiling warmly at it.
Its eyes instantly curved into crescent moons.
With a delighted cry, it flew straight into his arms.
"Xiao Shi! We meet again!"
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