Pokémon: Zubat
Gender: Female
Type: Poison, Flying
Ability: Infiltrator (can bypass barriers and substitutes when attacking)
Quality: Orange
Basic Moves: Absorb, Supersonic
Egg Moves: Cross Poison, Air Slash, Pursuit
"Wow, this is amazing. Truly top tier," Auron murmured.
"Come on, is it really that good? You're practically drooling," Jace said, looking at Auron with a puzzled face as he watched him examine the egg from every angle.
"I'll hold onto this one for now and keep looking," Auron said, handing the Torkoal egg to Jace and picking up the Zubat egg from the crate.
"If nothing better shows up, this is probably going to be my starter. Let's check out the rest."
"Wait, you're just going with that one? Looks like it's Poison type—it won't pair well with my team."
"What, you want me to pick Torkoal as my starter just so I can set up Sunny Day for you, and then you take the spotlight in every battle?"
Jace scratched his head with an embarrassed laugh. "Well, I wouldn't say no to that…"
"Yeah, right. Come on, let's finish checking," Auron said, rolling his eyes and looking through the rest of the crate.
Sandshrew: Green
Oddish: Blue
Nidoran♀: Green
Shellder: Blue
"Hey, this Shellder looks pretty decent too."
Krabby: Green
Weedle: Green
Auron gently touched the Weedle egg, feeling a bit of regret. He'd originally thought about choosing Weedle as his starter, since Bug types evolve fast and get strong quickly—perfect for scoring high in the final exams.
Well, to be honest, it was mostly because he'd always been a fan of Giovanni's Beedrill in his past life. That imposing, boss-like presence was just too cool. Every time he played the games, he'd try to raise one. Nothing beats the thrill of a Beedrill sweeping through an entire team with Fell Stinger, right?
"Man, what a shame…"
"What's a shame?" Jace leaned in curiously.
"Nothing. Almost done here. Let's keep going."
"You're acting weird. You're hiding something from me, aren't you?"
"Get lost!" Auron shot him a look, speeding up to shake him off.
"Hey, what about this one?"
Pokémon: Sawsbuck
Gender: Female
Type: Normal, Grass
Ability: Chlorophyll (speed increases in sunny weather)
Quality: Purple
Basic Moves: Tackle, Camouflage
Egg Moves: Charm, Solar Beam
"This Sawsbuck has great potential too. Too bad it doesn't have Serene Grace… Well, whatever. I'll raise one eventually. Someday, I'll run the biggest breeding center in the city and be the best breeder around. Gotta satisfy my collector's itch," Auron grinned to himself.
"What are you smirking about? Done yet? My aunt just texted—the Growlithe egg is at the police station. I need to pick it up before her shift starts," Jace said, checking his phone excitedly.
"Alright, I'm almost done. I'll let my mom know, then we can go together."
"Sounds good."
With that, the two of them, each holding a Pokémon egg, left the room. Hearing the commotion, Auron's mom turned around and teased them.
"Well, look at you two—each picked one, huh? Future champions in the making!"
Both boys grinned sheepishly.
"Wait, why are you carrying the Torkoal egg too?" Auron asked Jace, puzzled.
"Isn't that the one you picked?"
"No, I decided on this one," Auron replied, lifting the Zubat egg.
"Oh. Should I put it back then?"
"Do you trust me?" Auron suddenly asked seriously.
Jace shrugged. "Last time you asked me that, we were playing that 2v5 game. You charged in and left me behind—we lost because of that!"
"Come on, I'm being serious."
"Alright, I trust you. What is it?"
"You needed a weather setter, right? I've got a feeling this Torkoal won't let you down."
Jace glanced at the egg, skeptical. "Alright, I'll trust you one more time."
"That's more like it!"
"What are you two whispering about? If you're done picking, come out so I can give you the incubators," Auron's mom called.
"Coming!" they both answered.
"Here you go, one each. Keep them safe, and don't forget to register them at the Pokémon Center once they hatch. Things are busy here lately, so I won't go with you," she said, handing them each an incubator with a warm smile.
Before the Dragon Kingdom's final exams, there were strict rules: Pokémon hatched from eggs had to be registered within five days, and newly born Pokémon had to be taken for registration within five days too. This was to stop people from using old companions or someone else's Pokémon in the exam.
No one would risk cheating during the exams—the punishment was life-ruining. But there were always some who wanted to try their luck.
"Alright," both boys replied.
"Um, Auntie, can I buy another one?" Jace asked hopefully.
Auron's mom's face changed instantly. "No way!"
"You don't need to buy from me—just ask and I'll get you another!" she said, rolling her eyes as she handed him another incubator.
"Here you go. What, planning to start with two Pokémon?"
"Yep! I picked one here, and my aunt has another one for me. I couldn't decide, so I want them both."
"Your aunt? Oh, Arcanine had puppies, right?"
"Exactly!"
"Alright, work hard and do your best."
"Thanks, Auntie!"
"You're welcome."
"Mom, we're heading out. I'll go with him to get the Growlithe egg."
"Okay, go ahead."
"Auntie, we're here."
"Wait at the entrance—I'll be right out," came the reply.
Auron and Jace arrived at the police station, but the officers inside all looked busy, so the two boys waited at the door and called ahead.
A moment later, a woman in police uniform came out—it was Jace's aunt, a squad leader at the Vantora Police Department.
"Oh, Auron's here too! Let me see what you both picked," she said with a bright smile. She'd known the boys would go pick out their own Pokémon, but hadn't expected Jace to choose an egg even after reserving a Growlithe.
"Auntie, I picked Torkoal."
"I went with Zubat," Auron said.
"Nice choices. Jace, have you thought this through? You only have three months until the exams. Focusing on one Pokémon will get you better results. If you split your attention between two, you'll only get mediocre results with both—you can only use one in the exam, after all."
"Don't worry, Auntie. I've got a plan. I'll focus on Growlithe for now and wait until university to raise Torkoal," Jace answered confidently.
"Alright. But once Torkoal hatches, don't neglect it. Or I'll come after you," she teased.
"Auntie, come on! I'd never do that."
"Okay then. Here's your Growlithe egg. Things are crazy at work, so I have to get back."
She handed the egg to Jace, who was lucky his backpack was big enough to hold the incubator for Torkoal and still have room to carry the Growlithe egg in his arms.
Auron glanced at the Growlithe egg, and the information appeared before him.
Pokémon: Growlithe
Gender: Female
Type: Fire
Ability: Flash Fire (absorbs Fire-type moves and boosts its own)
Quality: Purple
Basic Moves: Bite, Leer
Egg Moves: Flame Wheel, Flare Blitz, Morning Sun
"Auntie, what's everyone so busy with lately?" Auron asked.
"You don't know?" she replied, surprised. "Right, you two don't read the newspaper. There's a new Pokémon mystery zone about to appear in the outskirts of Vantora. We've already detected some spatial fluctuations in a small village out there."
"Only a handful of elderly folks live there now, and they refuse to move—what a headache," she sighed.
"A new mystery zone? Here in Vantora?" the boys exclaimed in surprise.
"Yep. But don't get your hopes up—your Pokémon won't hatch for a while yet."
"True. Alright, Auntie, we'll head back now."
"Go on, then."
On the way home, Jace turned to Auron, excitement in his eyes.
"Well? Interested?"
"A brand new mystery zone? Of course I'm interested," Auron replied, his own eyes shining with anticipation.
"Let's head home for now and make a plan. The mystery zone isn't even open yet—no need to rush!"
(End of chapter)
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