| Pokemon are born from eggs laid by female Pokemon after mating with a male Pokemon. Although female Pokemon will sometimes lay eggs regardless, such eggs will not hatch into Pokemon. An egg that will hatch into a Pokemon is distinguishable by colour and design: an empty egg will be a solid white or dull yellow, while an egg that will hatch will have colourful markings, sometimes an indicator of the species that will hatch from the egg.
Occasionally, a Pokemon will be born that is not capable of talking, living in society, or functioning in a way that is natural for other Pokemon: these feral Pokemon are often capable of learning to fight or fighting on instinct, and can sometimes be taught basic instructions such as leaving other Pokemon alone or going to a particular location, but this is difficult. Such Pokemon often live in the wild and attack other Pokemon for food; it is rare that a feral Pokemon will be discriminate in who it attacks or what it does. A sentient Pokemon may be born to a feral Pokemon, and a feral Pokemon may be born to a sentient Pokemon: this basic form of intellectual capacity is not a genetic trait.
As a Pokemon ages, it may eventually evolve, if its species is capable of doing so and the conditions are right. Different species lines have different conditions, and for Pokemon that can evolve twice, the conditions may not be the same for each evolution. It is possible to bypass the typical requirements of a species’ evolution, but very rare: it is sometimes difficult to meet the requirements or to evolve in any case.
Most Pokemon require progress to evolve. Progress takes a different form depending on the individual: an important realization, a renewed oath, or a gradual change in character culminating in evolution are just some such ways to evolve. Not every evolution is happy: Pokemon may evolve out of intense jealousy or rage, or as a last-ditch attempt to save themselves from a danger.
Some Pokemon require fulfillment to evolve. This is a more specific form of the typical method of evolution by where a Pokemon has to reach contentment in order to evolve. A Pokemon that requires this method cannot be disturbed by anger or sadness, nor can a single event bring about their evolution, although it may be the last step in the road to fulfillment. A Pokemon that evolves as a result of fulfillment may not remain fulfilled, but it is important that they reach fulfillment for at least a time. Fulfillment is similar to but very distinct from “enlightenment”, and varies somewhat depending on the individual.
A few species require artifacts to evolve, generally a specific magical stone. There are several varieties of these stone, most associated with types (Fire Stones, Thunder Stones) and some with vague concepts (Sun Stones, Shiny Stones). A Pokemon that evolves via an artifact may need some degree of progress or fulfillment, and must want to use the artifact to evolve.
Members of an evolved species are typically stronger than when they were unevolved. However, changes in capability or in body may weaken them during a period of adjustment to their new body: this is very rare if their new body is similar to their old body, or in the case of Pokemon that become cocoons prior to their second evolution, but quite common in Pokemon that change drastically upon evolving.
Although an evolved species is stronger, an evolved individual may not be. An evolved Pokemon that has not fought before in its life can rely on its talent more readily than an unevolved Pokemon could, but may encounter difficulty in fighting even unevolved Pokemon with combat experience. If an evolved Pokemon and an unevolved Pokemon are evenly matched otherwise, the evolved Pokemon will usually win.
As a Pokemon nears the end of its lifespan, some changes occur: difficulty in changing mindset, general weakness, or specific maladies such as partial blindness. It is possible for particularly healthy Pokemon to notice few or no symptoms of aging, but weaker Pokemon will notice the effects of aging sooner.
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