Chapter Text
Your beloved Charmander waved a piece of freshly baked sponge cake in your face.
“I don’t want it,” you said, trying to brush his adorable claws aside.
“Chaaaar!” he insisted, shoving it against your mouth, gently wedging the cake against your lips as crumbs fell into your lap.
You couldn’t keep a straight face anymore. “All right, fine!” you said, laughing. “I’ll eat it, but I’ll have you know that you’re making me fat!”
Charmander appeared to be quite satisfied as he watched you take a bite.
“Talvian, it’s delicious!” You were honestly impressed. “I’m surprised you’re such a good cook. You can add baking to your many talents.”
Talvian was the nickname you gave to your best friend when he was newly hatched. You had been together for a number of years now and you wouldn’t have it any other way.
Living at home was pleasant. It was only a few weeks ago that you had returned from your second Pokémon journey, both of which were successful — you learned so much during your time away from home. You weren’t the best of trainers, but you couldn’t say that you were the most competitive either. It was the experience you were after, not the fame or the badges. Four years ago, you were the awkward fifteen year old who had started on her Pokémon journey for the wrong reasons. There was nothing about the journey that you would change — you had grown immensely during your time away from home, learning more about friendship and perseverance than you thought possible.
You were a woman now, though you hardly thought of yourself as one. You still felt like a young girl sometimes, subject to the whims of your childhood. At the budding age of nineteen, you were in your prime. You were old enough to do the things you had always wanted to do, and you could easily have your independence. But, you were not so old that you had forgotten your naivete, your childhood ambitions of becoming the very best.
You loved Viridian City. The community was great and you were never too far from Professor Oak’s laboratory, where you spent a lot of your free time. It was the Professor who had given you Talvian when you embarked on your first Pokémon journey, and you felt as though you owed him for that, even after all these years.
You grabbed your backpack, opening the door for Talvian as he scampered onto the porch. “I’ll be at Professor Oak’s lab!” you shouted to your mother.
“Just be back in time for dinner, darling!”
You shut the door behind you. Pallet town was only an hour away by bike, which was your favorite mode of transportation in your hometown. Many of your neighbors would agree. You lived in a more rural suburb of Viridian City, and felt closer to the natural world without the bustle of constant vehicles and light pollution. Besides, if you needed to get anywhere quickly, you could catch a flight with your Pidgeot, Yilgati. But not today — you needed the exercise.
You tossed two Pokéballs into the air. “Come on out, you two!”
In brief flashes of light, Yilgati, along with Despe, your loyal Scyther, flew into the sky. They were eager to stretch their wings. As you mounted your bicycle, Tavian hopped onto your shoulder, clinging to you tightly with his blunt claws. “Chaaarman!”
The wind ripped through your hair as you raced down the route towards Pallet town. The morning sun was warm, and you knew the laboratory would be the perfect place to volunteer today. You would enjoy the scenery along the way, the stretch of green forest along the beaten dirt path.
In less than an hour, you arrived at the laboratory. You could hear the chattering of Pokémon as you arrived — the thundering hooves of Tauros as they ran through the field, the chirping of the Butterfree as they performed courtship dances, even the splashing of Psyduck as they gleefully bathed in the brook. Despite the noise, it was comforting being surrounded by so many well-natured Pokémon.
“Good morning, _____!” one of Professor Oak’s assistants greeted as you entered the lab. “I was hoping you’d come by today.”
“Hey, Tracey,” you said. “What’s going on?”
“We just received a Pokémon egg via PC, and Professor Oak was hoping that you would be willing to look after it until it hatches.”
This was certainly news. You had raised eggs before, but it wasn’t something you did regularly, nor was it a task that usually fell on you. “I’d be happy to do it. What kind of an egg is it?”
Tracey walked over to the incubator and pressed a few buttons. The top of the incubator slowly drew back, revealing the egg. “What’s interesting is that we don’t know. The egg is from Lance — yes, Lance of the Elite Four — so we’re assuming it’s a dragon-type.”
Lance of the Elite Four? You were shocked. Lance was not just a hot-shot trainer — he was the hot-shot trainer, often considered the very best from Kanto! In fact, he was the best of the best. He won countless battles and earned his place as the leader of the famous Elite Four.
“I didn’t even know that he kept his Pokémon here with Professor Oak,” you said.
“He doesn’t have very many here. I think he probably keeps most of his Pokémon at his clan’s estate,” Tracey said. “He’s not much of a Pokémon catcher, but the Pokémon he keeps as company are strong. Dragon tamers typically favor quality over quantity.”
“I see.”
“Either way, Lance sent this egg with a very specific message. He wants Professor Oak to keep a close eye on this one — he didn’t explain why. Professor Oak has been busy with new trainers and developing his new Pokédex, however, and I’m buried with the everyday tasks of managing the lab, so it makes sense that the responsibility of looking after the egg goes to you. Besides, it’s best that the egg is exposed to a more active lifestyle, and Professor Oak and I don’t get out much.”
“Logical enough.” You glanced at the egg. It was mostly white, but it had sprinkles of color through it, mostly deeper tones of blue and purple. It was a lovely thing, really, and you knew that it would do well in your care.
Talvian seemed to be in awe, as well, his expressive eyes trained on the egg. He hopped off your shoulder, climbing onto the nearest lab bench to get a better look.
“Well, if you need someone to take care of it, I’m happy to,” you said.
“Great!” Tracey handed the egg to you. “I’m sure there’s something special about this one, if Lance made this request. Watch over it carefully, _____, and give it plenty of exposure to your Pokémon. There’s pretty well-researched evidence that suggests Pokémon begin learning even before they hatch.”
“Will do.” You accepted the egg, feeling how warm it was from the incubator. “So what else can I help with today?”
Tracey gave you a grin. “I’m so glad you asked.”