Chapter 74: The Abandoned Egg
Ryū lay in the soft grass nest, a blue egg coiled in the center of his body.
"This isn't my egg!" he huffed angrily at the six Scyther surrounding him. Because the egg's color was similar to his own, they all seemed to think it was his.
But Ryū was a male! And his partner was not a Pokémon. He had certainly never considered laying an egg with anyone. Besides, where would you even find Pokémon from other regions like Hoenn or Paldea in the mountains of Johto during this era?
"Scyther, Scyther," the old warrior swung his arms. He had been with Ryū long enough to know he didn't have a mate. This egg had simply appeared while they were away.
The other Scyther nodded in understanding. But the question remained: what should they do with it?
"You guys go pick some berries. Maybe the parents will come back. I'll stay here and guard it," Ryū decided.
The six Scyther were all veterans, at least Lv. 40. From the perspective of wild Pokémon in this era, that was not weak. In the peaceful Alliance Era of the future, Pokémon wouldn't need to fight for survival, and their average levels would be much lower. The ancient, unevolved Treecko Ash met in the Hoenn region was a prime example of how slow natural growth could be.
With such a formidable group guarding the cave, Ryū doubted the egg's parents would dare to approach even if they did return. So he had to send the Scyther away. The old warrior, understanding his true intentions, nodded and led the others to patrol the vicinity, staying close enough to return quickly if needed.
Now, only Ryū was left, waiting with the egg. He could feel its warmth against his tender belly, and he could even sense a small creature wriggling inside.
"Could it be about to hatch...?" he thought with a sense of dread. He didn't want to be dragging a baby around the dangers of Mt. Silver.
But he couldn't bring himself to abandon it. His human soul made him patient and tolerant towards the young and weak. He could ignore an injured adult Pokémon, but he couldn't abandon a helpless egg, just as he couldn't ignore the lost child that was Liz all those years ago.
The sky gradually darkened, and the egg's parents still hadn't appeared. Ryū estimated they were probably gone for good. Perhaps they had been observing him for days, saw that he was a capable Pokémon who fought but didn't kill, and decided to entrust their child to him. Finding foster parents was a common practice among Pokémon, especially kind and strong ones like Kangaskhan, Miltank, and Chansey.
"It seems I really have to take you with me," Ryū sighed, looking at the entrance of the cave. The Scyther were already returning with berries. The day was almost over.
"Scyther?" the old warrior asked, looking at the egg.
"Yes. From now on, we will probably have to raise this child."
"Scyther~" the old warrior smiled and patted his chest. He was quite happy about a new life joining their team. The other Pokémon were simple; they didn't overthink things like Ryū. To them, the birth of a new baby was a joyous occasion.