Professor Oak stood beside the incubator, observing the newborn Alolan Vulpix resting peacefully in its nest of frost and shell fragments. The soft hum of machines filled the room, and for a moment, the lab seemed to hold its breath, as though honoring the fragile new life before them.
"Well now," Oak said, lowering his clipboard with a smile. "Since you two were here for the hatching, how would you feel about helping us monitor its early behavior?"
Leaf's eyes widened. "R-Really? You mean we can help take care of it?"
Oak chuckled. "Indeed. Just small tasks—recording its feeding times, noting temperature responses, and observing how it reacts to touch or sound." He turned to Rhea. "Would you mind keeping an eye on them while they assist? I'll be in the conference wing for a meeting."
"Of course, Professor," Rhea replied warmly. "I'll make sure they don't get too close or overfeed it."
"Good, good." Oak gave a final approving nod before heading out of the incubation room. "And you two," he added over his shoulder, "remember—gentle hands and patient hearts."
Leaf saluted playfully. "Yes, Professor!"
Leyn smiled faintly. "We'll be careful."
As Oak left, Pikachu hopped from the floor to a nearby counter, peering curiously through the glass. The newborn Vulpix, still unsteady, lifted its tiny head and blinked at the electric mouse. For a moment, the two simply stared at each other—the warm spark of curiosity meeting the chill mist of newborn wonder.
Pikachu tilted its head, chirping softly. "Pika?"
The Vulpix gave a small, uncertain "Vul…" before sneezing a puff of frost against the glass. Pikachu blinked, then nodded sagely, as if approving of the little one's greeting.
Rhea couldn't help but chuckle. "Seems like Pikachu's already accepted her."
Leaf smiled. "She's so cute… I could watch her all day."
Leyn crouched slightly, watching the gentle rise and fall of the tiny creature's breathing. "Mom," he asked softly, "what do newborn Pokémon eat? I mean… when they hatch in the wild, what happens to them? How do they survive?"
Rhea paused, pleased by the question. "That's a good one. Here in the lab, we give them carefully prepared nutrient blends, adjusted for their species. But in the wild—it's different."
She glanced at the small Vulpix, then continued, "In their natural environment, Pokémon hatch near their parents or within the safety of a den. The parents usually provide the first food—berries, milk, or energy transfers, depending on the species. But some eggs hatch alone. Those Pokémon are instinctively drawn to sources of energy or warmth, like sunlight, fire, or ice, depending on their type."
Leyn nodded slowly, absorbing every word. "So… it's nature's way of making sure they survive."
"Exactly," Rhea said. "It's one of the marvels of adaptation. Each Pokémon learns from the moment it's born."
As she spoke, Leaf watched from the side, her chin resting on her hands. Leyn's expression was serious, almost gentle, the reflection of the incubator's blue light shining in his eyes. For a moment, she simply smiled—quietly, fondly—at how focused he looked.
Noticing her gaze, Leyn blinked and turned to her. "What is it?"
Leaf quickly shook her head, smiling again. "It's nothing… you just look really focused, that's all."
Leyn gave her a puzzled glance, but before he could say more, Rhea's gentle voice called their attention back to the incubator. "Come now, you two. Let's prepare its first meal."
They nodded, both leaning closer to observe as Rhea carefully demonstrated how to mix and measure the powdered nutrient into a small dish of slightly chilled water. Pikachu watched the process with a tilted head, occasionally glancing at the baby Vulpix with curious pride, as if thinking: She's my junior now.
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In the conference wing, the atmosphere had changed. The air that once carried excitement now held a faint tension.
Professor Oak stood before a projection screen displaying aerial photos of Pallet Town and its surrounding routes. Red markers dotted the outskirts—more than usual. Around the table sat several of his senior aides and researchers, including Gerald, and a few field specialists.
"These sightings," Oak began, tapping one of the red markers, "were all reported within the last week. Spearow flocks are moving closer to residential areas. Fearows have been seen as near as Route 1's southern path. Normally, they keep to the plains, far from human settlements."
Gerald frowned, adjusting his glasses. "That's strange. While Fearows are territorial, they don't usually wander this close. Has something disturbed their nesting grounds?"
Oak nodded grimly. "That's our concern. Either a predator or an environmental shift is forcing them out."
Another aide leaned forward. "Professor, the reports mention increased noise and aggression among the flocks. Could they be migrating early due to climate changes or regional anomalies?"
Oak sighed. "Possible. But we need evidence before drawing conclusions. For now, our priority is safety—especially for the children. I want all outdoor research assignments reviewed. Limit any field excursions beyond Route 2 until we've confirmed what's causing this."
Gerald nodded firmly. "Understood. I'll inform the caretakers and route scouts."
One of the aides raised a hand. "Should we set up observation drones near their territory?"
"Yes," Oak replied. "Quiet ones. I don't want to provoke them further."
As the discussion continued, Oak's gaze briefly drifted toward the window, where the setting sun painted the clouds in red and gold. His brow furrowed slightly. "Aggression this early in the season… something's off."
---
The day finally began to wind down. Leyn and Leaf helped tidy up the lab, returning equipment to storage and logging the data Rhea had collected. The newborn Vulpix was now asleep, its tiny form nestled in a warm blanket under the soft hum of the incubator.
As they packed their things, Professor Oak returned, his face calm but thoughtful after the meeting. "Good work today, you two," he said warmly. "Rhea told me you both handled the monitoring quite well."
Leaf smiled proudly. "It was so fun, Professor!"
Oak chuckled. "I'm glad to hear that. Now, it's getting late—Leyn, would you mind escorting Leaf home? Take Pikachu with you. He'll keep you company."
Leyn nodded. "Sure thing, Professor."
"Good lad," Oak said with a smile, before turning to Rhea. "And thank you again for today. I'll brief you on the meeting tomorrow."
As the children stepped out into the cool evening air, Pikachu trotted beside them, tail swaying happily. The road back to Leaf's house glowed faintly under the setting sun.
Leaf clasped her hands behind her back, grinning. "That Vulpix was the cutest thing I've ever seen."
Leyn nodded, smiling softly. "Yeah. Seeing it hatch felt… different. Like watching something pure take its first breath."
Pikachu looked up at them, puffing out his chest proudly. "Pika pika! (She's my junior now!)"
Leaf giggled. "Your junior, huh?"
Leyn smirked, looking down at Pikachu. "You better be a good senior, then."
The electric mouse chirped confidently in reply, earning another laugh from the two of them as the day ended in soft laughter.