“After the parasect was removed from the forest, things started going back to normal. We transferred her to the lab for observation, and she’s still there if you’d like to see her again!” Eleanor walked briskly, leading Jonas and Adelaide down the street and toward the observatory. Adelaide still carried Bisou, though he was wiped clean of makeup.

Jonas shuddered, thinking back to his battle with the massive parasect. “I think I’m okay.” His throat tingled at the memory of the parasect’s rage powder.

“Suit yourself,” Eleanor continued. “Anyway, I think you’ll like the lab - we’re getting close now. Professor Lind thinks he’s close to a breakthrough on our current experiment. We’ve been working with foreign eggs, trying to understand if… Am I boring you?”

Adelaide looked up from her fingernails and opened her mouth to speak, but Jonas hurriedly interjected.

“Not at all,” he said, earning a disapproving look from Adelaide, who nodded and then returned her focus to her nails.

“Professor Lind was given an egg during his last visit to Sinnoh. But try as he might, he can’t seem to get it to hatch. None of us can. I’m starting to wonder if it’s the environment. You may not know this, but Sinnoh is very different from Lintang. They’re much less industrialized, so pokémon there tend to be more in tune with nature. That natural environment leads to strange... adaptations, such as the growlithe I told you about before.”

They were heading toward the north end of the city, and buildings thinned, slowly giving way to trees and fields, making Jonas feel more at ease. Adelaide breathed an exaggerated yawn, giggling when Jonas turned to give her a stern look.

“What does that have to do with the egg?” Jonas asked, turning back to Eleanor.

“Well, the thing is, those strange adaptations don’t just occur in Sinnoh. There are all kinds of… regional variants,” Eleanor explained. “Paldean tauros, for example. Or even closer to home, in the Alola region.”

“There’s a different kind of mr. mime in the Galar region!” Adelaide said excitedly, joining the conversation for the first time.

“You’re right! In fact, that’s what drew me to you. I thought I’d discovered the first Galarian mime jr.” Eleanor chuckled at her mistake.

“Nah, Bisou is one of our very own. Cosmo City born and raised,” Adelaide responded proudly.

Eleanor continued, nodding, “So he is. Anyway, with regional variants being so widespread, Professor Lind thinks it odd that there are none in the Lintang Region. All of our discovered species exist elsewhere in the world. He wanted to bring pokémon from other regions and see if living here had any effect. He obtained this egg from a breeder of some reputation near Mount Coronet, but for some reason, it won’t hatch. We’ve been discussing…” A sudden crash interrupted Eleanor as they turned a corner.

The Nova Observatory for Pokémon Ecology sprawled away from the sidewalk as if the building itself were alive. A central brick structure split off into small sections of glass, steel, and even wood. Jonas marveled at the sight, taking it all in slowly, but Eleanor rushed ahead as more crashes echoed through the streets. It took a few moments for Jonas to place the sound as breaking glass.

A small flock of sleek-feathered black bird pokémon emerged through the fresh hole in the glass, the bright red feathers on their heads drawing Jonas’s attention. Two people followed the birds, exiting through the same hole.

They emerged onto the sidewalk, laughing. The man was tall and muscular, with a long beard that hung to the middle of his chest. His dark hair was neatly combed, a stark contrast to his long wild beard. The woman’s blonde hair was tied back, and her forehead was streaked with soot. They both wore copper-colored jumpsuits, a black letter F emblazoned on the breast.

“You again! What have you done?” demanded Eleanor, advancing toward the pair, her eyes fierce.

“Oh, my. Looks like trouble,” the woman replied. Reaching into her pocket, she produced a pokéball. “Ned, why don’t we teach the professor here a lesson?”

“That’s an excellent idea, Kelly,” the man reached into his own pocket, the pokéball looking especially small in his massive hand.

Eleanor moved before Jonas realized, and in a flash of white, her heracross was freed from his ball.

“Jonas,” she said calmly. “I could use your help.”

“Be careful, Jonas,” Adelaide warned as he strode forward, his hand already in his pack.

“I will,” he said, nodding in acknowledgment. I hope you’re ready, buddy. “Flint, let’s go!”

***

“Aron, use harden!” Ned commanded.

His pokémon chirped and braced for impact just a moment before Flint collided with it. The pokémon groaned with the impact, but stood firm. Flint growled low as the flames cloaking him died out.

The pokémon was smaller than Flint. Its rocky skin was dark gray, and covered in metal plates. Aron, huh? Jonas thought back to his study session that morning. He was certain had seen the pokémon, but couldn’t remember any details. It looks like a steel type.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“Now that it’s close, use metal claw!” the man bellowed. The aron shambled toward Flint, closing the distance before raising a stubby appendage and slamming it into his side. Flint leapt back from the blow, avoiding the worst of it.

“Good job, Flint! Let’s keep it up!” Jonas risked a glance to his right where Marius was engaged in a battle with another pokémon. Another steel type, I’m sure.

The pokémon floated through the air, sending arcs of electricity toward Marius from the small magnets that rotated on either side of its spherical body. Marius’s wings fluttered as he shot toward the pokémon, swiping wildly with his clawed hand. Frustration was evident on Eleanor’s face.

“Pay attention, little man! It’s me you’re battling,” Ned taunted. “Aron, use rock tomb.”

The pokémon groaned, its eyes growing intense, and the ground began to shake.

“Flint, keep moving!” Jonas warned, struggling to keep his balance.

Suddenly, the ground beneath Flint’s feet erupted violently, and stones surged up from the ground, blocking his path. One caught him in the side, sending him flying a short distance with a yelp.

Ned let out a loud laugh just as a loud bang rang out.

“Magnemite! Don’t let it hit you again!” Kelly shouted. Her magnemite drifted, slower now. Marius glared at the pokémon, landing on the ground and giving his wings another defiant flutter.

“Flint, are you okay?” Jonas asked.

Flint yipped, running back to the aron. He shook out his fur, seemingly excited by the challenge.

“Okay, then. Let’s use that new move again. Flame wheel!” Jonas grinned as Flint’s body was again surrounded by red-orange tongues of fire. Flint barked again, and charged toward the aron. It planted its feet firmly, waiting for the impact.

Flint crashed hard into the pokémon’s side, and the aron let out a screech, staggering backward. That looked like it hurt them both!

“Flint, he’s weak! Finish this with an ember!”

“Kelly! Now!” Ned roared, a worried look on his face.

“Right! Magnemite, explosion!”

Flint opened his jaws to launch the ember, but Kelly's magnemite began to glow with a blinding white light. Eleanor shouted a warning, but it was too late. The magnemite's body released a massive explosion, the shockwave slamming into Marius and Flint, sending them tumbling backwards.

Jonas shielded his face as debris pelted him from the blast. When the ringing in his ears subsided, he looked up to see Ned and Kelly sprinting away down the street, their pokémon returned to their balls.

"Stop! Team Forge!" Eleanor yelled after them, coughing on the smoke and dust kicked up by the explosion.

Marius’s chest heaved with breaths nearby, and Jonas rushed to check on him and Flint. They were battered but seemed okay, Flint already trying to shake off the attack.

"We have to go after them!" Adelaide urged, Bisou huddled in her arms.

Eleanor's face was grim as she recalled her heracross. "It's too dangerous. They'll have reinforcements waiting." She looked over at the gaping hole in the observatory's exterior, then down at the injured Pokémon.

"But they're getting away!" Jonas protested.

With a sigh, Eleanor nodded. "I know. But for now, we make sure everyone is alright and get Marius and Flint looked at. Then we can figure out what Team Forge is up to."

***

"I'm relieved you're all unharmed after that awful business."

An older man with gray hair and a neat beard stood from behind his desk as they entered, raising a hand toward Jonas in greeting. "I'm Solomon Lind, but please, call me Sol." He smiled, gesturing for them to take a seat around his cluttered desk. Filed papers, books, and strange artifacts were crammed on every available surface.

"I can't thank you enough for stepping in against those Team Forge ruffians,” Professor Lind continued. “They've been relentlessly harassing us for weeks now."

Jonas furrowed his brow. "What do they want? It seemed like they were just trying to cause chaos."

Sol sighed, removing his glasses to rub at his eyes wearily. "You know, that's just it - we're not entirely sure of their end goals. Their strategies and targets seem random." He waved a hand around the office. "One day they try to steal artifacts or samples. The next they're releasing disturbed Pokémon into the field or sabotaging our equipment."

"Those awful people..." Adelaide muttered, cuddling Bisou closer. The mime jr. cooed softly.

Jonas frowned. "But why? What do they hope to gain?"

"Your guess is as good as mine, my boy," Professor Lind sighed. "Perhaps they simply delight in sowing discord against the scientific establishment." He paused, giving them all a measured look.

"Truthfully, one of our current studies has proven...particularly vexing in light of Team Forge's interference."

Rising from his seat, he motioned for them to follow. "Come, it's better if I show you firsthand."

The professor led them down a curved corridor into a greenhouse-like chamber, humid air surrounding them. In the center was a cylindrical terrarium - and resting inside, an egg that looked as if it were carved from wood. The grain on the surface was occasionally disrupted by bright red splotches.

"The egg I told you about," Eleanor smiled, pressing closer to the glass.

"You see now why I'm so troubled," Lind stated gravely. "This specimen was provided by a colleague from the Sinnoh region. Its biological makeup has already yielded quite...unusual readings."

“Not unlike some of those regional variants we discussed earlier,” Eleanor continued.

“Yes, perhaps,” the professor nodded, “though this could be something altogether different. An undocumented pokémon or a radically different evolutionary offshoot.” His eyes shone gleefully as a smile played across his lips. “Truthfully, we’ve no idea what to expect. And with Team Forge’s constant interference, I’m afraid we may never get the chance to study it fully.”

A heavy silence fell over the room as they all admired the mysterious egg. Finally, Adelaide piped up.

"Then one of us should take it."

Jonas blinked. "What?"

"Well think about it!" She turned to the professor excitedly. "If Team Forge is messing with your research, maybe getting this egg out of here is the safest plan. Let it incubate naturally, away from those goons."

"An...intriguing proposal," Lind said slowly, contemplating. "Though I'd feel dreadfully responsible if any harm came to such a potentially irreplaceable specimen."

Eleanor placed a hand on his arm. "We can take all due precautions, Professor. With our pokémon for protection, I believe we could take care of it."

"Well, I'll do it then!" Jonas jumped in, keen not to be left out. “Flint and I have gotten a lot stronger lately!"

"Thanks, but I think I'll take this one," Adelaide smirked, cutting him off. She turned back to the professor with her best pleading expression. "Please sir? I promise I'll keep it safe."

The older man chuckled, shaking his head in bemusement. "Very well, very well. I can hardly argue with such youthful exuberance." His expression turned serious once more.

"Just remember - whatever is gestating within that shell could prove utterly unlike anything we've encountered before. The responsibility is great."

"We understand, Professor," Eleanor assured him. "And you can count on us."

Lind nodded, guiding them from the chamber with one last wistful look back at the mysterious egg.