In the years after Ash turned eight, Professor Cerise began visiting less often.
His daughter, Chloe, almost never came at all, rumor had it she'd enrolled in a Pokémon Research School.
A Pokémon Research School focused on the theory behind Pokémon biology and behavior. Graduates often went on to work in research, and the program gave them a solid foundation for the future.
Ash hadn't really known where Professor Cerise lived. Only today, after talking with Professor Oak, did he learn that Cerise's home and laboratory were in Vermilion City, and that today happened to be the lab's grand opening.
"Professor Cerise... I've heard that name before," Brock mused, rubbing his chin as he thought back. "He's one of Professor Oak's students, right? I've read a few of his research papers. He's made quite a name for himself in the academic world. Didn't expect his lab to be opening today, though."
As a former Gym Leader, Brock made a habit of reading the news every day and keeping up with the latest developments around the Pokémon world. Though he had never met Cerise, he was familiar with the man's work.
"Yeah," Oak said between bites of instant noodles, "that guy used to fly all over the place. This year, he finally decided to settle down and open a lab near home. As they say, timing is everything. Ash, you haven't seen Chloe in a while, have you?"
Ash nodded. "Yeah, it's been, what, a year or two? The last time we met was during her summer break. After that, she spent all her time studying."
"Who's Chloe?" Misty asked, frowning slightly, her tone neutral but curious. "She sounds like a girl."
"She is," Ash said with a grin. "Professor Cerise's daughter. He used to bring her to Pallet Town all the time, but ever since she started at the Pokémon Research School, she's hardly come by."
After getting the lab's address from Professor Oak, Ash ended the call and looked at the map on the wall of the Pokémon Center. "Let's see... it's not far from here. Maybe ten minutes' walk," he said.
"Then let's go! I've never been to a lab opening before," Misty said, tightening the straps of her small backpack and heading for the door.
"Hey, wait up! Why are you walking so fast?" Ash called, grabbing his own bag and hurrying after her.
Brock followed at a calmer pace, his expression thoughtful.
Before long, the trio reached the spot Professor Oak had mentioned. A few pieces of colored ribbon still littered the steps out front, leftovers from recently fired confetti cannons.
They climbed the stairs and stepped into the open doorway. Inside, a middle-aged man stood on a raised platform, a large screen glowing behind him.
He was giving a lecture about Pokémon research.
The image on the screen made Ash's eyes widen. It looked both familiar and distant, familiar because he had seen that Pokémon once before, distant because it had only been that one, unforgettable time.
Projected on the screen was Ho-Oh.
"Ho-Oh hasn't appeared before humans in hundreds of years," Professor Cerise was saying, his voice tinged with wistfulness.
"Legend says that those who witness Ho-Oh will gain eternal happiness, and may even be chosen as the hero blessed by its rainbow light. The so-called Rainbow Hero. But so far, that's all it's ever been: legend. Research on Ho-Oh has been stagnant for ages."
Professor Cerise continued speaking about Ho-Oh, his tone laced with quiet regret.
Misty and Brock, listening from the crowd, couldn't help but glance toward Ash. After all, the "Rainbow Hero" Cerise spoke of, the one who had once met Ho-Oh and earned its recognition, was standing right there among them.
Hearing the professor's words, Ash couldn't help but smile with pride. He'd seen the legendary Ho-Oh with his own eyes and even been chosen by it. That was something few Trainers could ever boast about.
Still, he couldn't exactly shout that out in front of everyone.
"Professor Cerise! Long time no see!" Ash called as he strode into the laboratory, instantly drawing every guest's attention.
Cerise paused mid-sentence, blinking in surprise before breaking into a delighted grin. "Ash? Well, look at that! What brings you to Vermilion City? You didn't even tell me you were coming!"
"I came to challenge the Gym here," Ash replied with a grin. "After I won, I called Professor Oak, and that's when I heard today was your lab's opening ceremony. I had to come see it for myself."
As Ash looked around, his curiosity took over. Compared to Oak's sprawling lab in Pallet Town, Cerise's facility was smaller, but given the sky-high property prices in Vermilion City, the place was still impressive.
"Professor Cerise, who's this?" one of the guests asked curiously.
"Oh, this is Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town," Cerise explained. "Ash, head inside and rest for a while, I'll join you soon." He gestured toward the garden behind the lab, indicating that his lecture wasn't over yet.
Ash nodded and led Misty and Brock through the corridor into the inner garden.
The moment they stepped outside, Ash automatically compared it to Professor Oak's garden back home. Oak's backyard was enormous, practically a nature preserve in itself, so naturally, Cerise's smaller city garden couldn't compete. Still, for a space within Vermilion, it was peaceful and lush, with a small waterfall and clusters of flowering plants.
As the three wandered along the stone path, admiring the greenery, a sudden pulse ran through Ash's mind.
"Buzz…"
A strange wave of aura energy, familiar yet unsettling, flashed across his senses. His head throbbed sharply.
"Ugh…" Ash staggered and dropped to one knee, clutching his temple.
"Ash!" Misty gasped, rushing to his side. She knelt beside him, one hand steadying his shoulder. "What's wrong?"
"My head… it hurts… it feels like, something's calling me," Ash murmured through gritted teeth.
"Calling you?" Misty looked around, scanning the quiet garden. There was nothing out of the ordinary, just the rustle of leaves and the trickle of the waterfall. No Pokémon. No people.
"What's going on with you…?" she whispered.
Ash slowly opened his eyes, the pain fading just enough for him to speak. "Over… there…" he said, pointing shakily toward a patch of tall grass by the water.
Misty helped him to his feet, and together with Brock, they pushed through the dense growth. Behind it, a small waterfall spilled into a clear pond, sunlight dancing across the surface.
It really was a beautiful place, perfect for Pokémon to live in.
Professor Cerise had even designated this garden as a storage area for partner Pokémon belonging to Trainers affiliated with his lab, much like Professor Oak did back in Pallet Town.
But none of that mattered right now.
Ash frowned, scanning the tranquil scene. The pain was gone, but the pull in his chest remained faintly, like a whisper fading into silence.
"There's nothing here…" Misty said hesitantly, glancing around the quiet pond. "Ash, are you sure you didn't imagine it?"
"No mistake, it's right there."
The sharp pain in Ash's head had already faded. Now that he'd recovered, he finally understood what had caused it.
It was Aura.
His mind had been struck by an Aura transmission, someone, or something, had reached out to him through that energy. The "attack" hadn't been meant to harm him, but to send a message.
If he'd been alert, his own Aura would've repelled it easily. But who goes around keeping their Aura defenses up when they're just sightseeing?
Even with his strong Aura, that sudden burst had left him with a lingering headache. Fortunately, the intent behind it was harmless, and his body recovered quickly.
He pointed toward the source of the call, straight at the small pond. Misty and Brock followed his gaze but saw nothing unusual: just the pool of clear water shimmering beneath the light.
Without hesitation, Ash started walking. The others exchanged a glance and hurried after him.
A few steps later, they arrived at the edge of a smaller basin beside the main pond, separated by a line of rocks and moss. It wasn't large, barely seventy centimeters across, but the water inside glowed faintly under the sunlight streaming through the glass ceiling.
Misty gasped, covering her mouth. "A Pokémon Egg…!"
Brock leaned forward, eyes widening. "Is this what called you, Ash?"
Pikachu and Ralts padded closer, their reflections rippling in the pool. Floating in the center was a single Pokémon Egg, its shell a milky white streaked with delicate blue patterns. Near the top was a thin, jagged crack.
"There's a crack," Misty whispered, lowering her hand. "Does that mean it's about to hatch?"
Normally, when an Egg's shell begins to crack, it means hatching is imminent, usually within minutes or hours.
Brock crouched beside the pool, peering at it closely. "It should be almost ready… but why is it in the water?" He frowned, feeling a strange calm wash over him the closer he got. "Weird… this place feels so peaceful all of a sudden."
Ash didn't answer immediately. He stared intently at the Egg, his Aura pulsing softly around him. Finally, he spoke.
"No… it's not about to hatch." His voice was low. "That crack isn't from hatching, it's damage."
The words froze everyone in place.
"Damaged?" Misty echoed, eyes wide. Pikachu's ears twitched, and Ralts let out a startled squeak.
A damaged Pokémon Egg was something you almost never saw. In the wild, parents guarded their Eggs fiercely, anyone who tried to touch one would face the parents' wrath. And in breeding facilities, Eggs were kept under strict incubation conditions with nutrient infusions and temperature controls.
For one to be damaged here, inside a professional lab's garden… what could've possibly happened?
And why would a damaged Egg reach out to Ash through Aura?
Ash knelt beside the pool, extending his hand toward the water. His Aura pulsed in response to the faint signal coming from within the shell, like a fragile heartbeat calling out for help.
Just as his fingertips brushed the surface;
"What are you doing?!"
The sharp voice made Ash jerk back, water droplets scattering.
Professor Cerise stood in the doorway, his usually calm expression flashing with rare anger.
"Ash, I told you to rest," he said, his tone uncharacteristically sharp. "You can't touch that Egg! If you move it from the water, it won't survive!"
Ash blinked, startled by the sudden reprimand. Behind him, Misty quickly stepped forward. "Professor Cerise! I'm sorry, we didn't mean to intrude! Ash just, something strange happened, and we followed him here."
Her tone was earnest, and the professor's frown slowly eased.
"No, I'm sorry." Cerise sighed, rubbing his temples. "I shouldn't have raised my voice. I told you to explore freely, it's just that this Egg… it brings back some unpleasant memories." He exhaled softly, forcing a small smile. "I lost my composure for a moment."
"It's fine," Ash said quickly, shaking his head. "But, Professor… there's something wrong with this Egg, isn't there? Those cracks, they're not from hatching, are they?"
Ash could still feel it, the faint, fragile pulse of Aura radiating from the Pokémon Egg.
It was so weak that no one else could possibly notice it. Only someone attuned to Aura could sense the life flickering within.
Even then, if he hadn't wandered close, within ten meters at most, he never would have felt it. The signal was that faint, like a whisper carried by the wind.
If the Egg hadn't reached out to him so suddenly, he would've walked right past this garden, completely unaware that a dying life was struggling to hold on.
Yes, dying.
In Ash's Aura-sight, the Egg's energy glimmered faintly, trembling like a candle about to be snuffed out. Its life force was flickering, barely holding on to that last breath of existence. Once it went out, the Pokémon inside would be gone forever.
When Ash voiced his concern, Professor Cerise fell silent for a moment. Then he exhaled softly, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"This is a long story," he said quietly. "That Pokémon Egg… has been here, in this pond, for five years now."
Ash, Misty, and Brock froze.
"Five years?!" Brock blurted out.
"The pond kept it alive?"
Misty and Brock both exclaimed, greatly shocked by what Professor Cerise said. Because a damaged Pokémon egg surviving for five years... is absolutely unprecedented and unheard of!
...
Stones PLzzz