1.Ash's Story (Part 2: Johto)

Chapter 8: Silver Name

Mr. Pokémon's house looked too peaceful for the amount of importance waiting inside it.

The small building stood near Route 30's northern end, tucked between trees. After the orchard and Team Rocket, a quiet house felt suspicious.

Pikachu stayed tense on my shoulder with his ears angled toward the door. "Professor Oak is inside. I smell the Egg too, but there is somebody else I do not know."

"The somebody else better not have another machine," I muttered.

Lillie adjusted Togepi in her arms. "Do not challenge Johto like that."

Aipom copied Pikachu's watchful pose from a branch, although hers looked more like a stage bow. Sentret stood on its tail beside Ledyba. Spinarak watched from a low branch, Heracross checked a tree for sap, and Aibo nearly reached toward one strand before Ethan caught the tail-hand. Exbo stayed beside Ethan, Megaree walked near Kris, and Reisa's Marill and Totodile kept pace together.

East checked the road behind us while his Hoothoot watched the trees and shiny Hoothoot watched from above. "No one followed us from the orchard."

Kris held her notebook closed, but barely. "This is Professor Elm's errand. We should record what Mr. Pokémon actually found before we start guessing."

Ethan looked toward the door. "And Professor Oak might be inside."

I smiled at the nerves in his voice. "He probably is."

Before I could knock, the door opened and Professor Oak appeared.

"Ash!" he said warmly. "Lillie, too. I thought you might arrive soon."

"Professor Oak!" I stepped forward. "What are you doing here?"

A man with bright, curious eyes appeared behind him. "So this is Ash Ketchum. Professor Oak has told me quite a lot about you."

I looked past Oak into the crowded little house. "Then you must be Mr. Pokémon."

"That is what everyone calls me," he said proudly. "Come inside before all of Route 30 decides to visit with you."

Mr. Pokémon insisted everyone sit before he brought out the Egg. According to him, unusual discoveries survived perfectly well for another cup of tea.

Professor Oak accepted a cup but kept looking toward the back room. Shelves held Apricorn samples, feathers, cracked stones, old maps, and boxes with uneven handwritten labels. Kris stared at everything while trying not to stare at anything.

Mr. Pokémon noticed immediately. "You may ask questions after we deal with the Egg."

Kris turned pink. "I was trying to be polite."

"Keep trying," East said, though he was examining an old route map himself.

Aibo opened one shallow drawer before Pikachu slapped it shut with his tail.

Aibo leaned back in surprise. "I was checking whether the drawer contained anything interesting."

Pikachu stared at him. "That is what Ash's Aipom says before something disappears."

Our Aipom crossed her arms from the windowsill. "I do not appreciate being used as evidence."

Togepi perked up in Lillie's arms and stared toward the back room. "There is another Egg nearby. The baby inside feels warm."

Lillie's expression softened. "Togepi can sense it."

Professor Oak set down his tea. "That is worth noting."

Mr. Pokémon disappeared into the back room and returned carrying an Egg wrapped in soft cloth. It reminded me of the Egg Togepi had hatched from only because both were Eggs. The shell pattern was different, and Togepi watched it with curiosity instead of recognition.