Dusk had already pass when Leyn and Pikachu reached the top of the hill. The familiar windmill of **Professor Oak's Laboratory** slowly turned in the cooling breeze, and the sounds of rustling grass mixed with the faint calls of Pokémon being guided back to their resting areas.
Leyn slowed his pace, still laughing softly as Pikachu trotted proudly beside him—tail wagging like it had just won the grandest tournament in the world.
"Alright, alright, you win," Leyn said between breaths, running a hand through his hair—only to realize it was still puffed up from the earlier shock. "Guess that's what I get for racing an electric type…"
Pikachu giggled mischievously, clearly satisfied with itself. "Pika~!"
Up ahead, Professor Oak was helping a few aides gently guide several Pokémon back into their enclosures—a pair of Nidoran, a sleepy Growlithe, and a playful Poliwag that kept slipping through the aides' hands. The professor was laughing good-naturedly through it all.
"Easy there, Poliwag! It's bath time, not play time!" he said, trying to coax it with a gentle splash of water.
Leyn slowed to a stop nearby, smiling at the sight. He always admired how patient the professor was with the Pokémon, no matter how chaotic things got. But then, a nearby conversation caught his ear.
"Professor!" one of the aides called, excitement in her tone. "The temperature in Incubator Three is stable—the egg we've been monitoring looks like it's about to hatch soon!"
Oak's eyes brightened. "Ah, excellent! Keep monitoring the vitals carefully. We may have a new little friend joining us tonight."
Leyn's curiosity sparked instantly. His eyes widened, and he turned to Pikachu. "Did you hear that? An egg's about to hatch!"
"Pika?" Pikachu tilted its head curiously, then bounced toward the lab doors.
Without hesitation, Leyn followed. "Professor Oak! Is it true? One of the eggs is going to hatch soon?"
Oak looked up from his notes as Leyn approached, smiling—then paused, blinking at the boy's appearance. His hair stood up in every direction, crackling faintly with static. Pikachu stood beside him, looking far too pleased with itself.
"Oh dear," Oak said, chuckling. "I see you've been… conducting some field experiments with Pikachu?"
Leyn blinked, confused for a moment—then realized what the professor meant when one of the aides snorted into their sleeve. "Ah—uh—it's not what it looks like!" he said quickly, trying to flatten his hair to no avail.
Before Oak could respond, a familiar voice called from behind.
"Professor, good evening! Gerald told me Leyn was coming back here to drop Pikachu off—"
Rhea's voice trailed off the moment she saw her son's static-tousled hair. Gerald followed just behind her, and both parents stopped mid-step before breaking into laughter.
Rhea covered her mouth, trying not to laugh too loudly. "Oh, Leyn… what happened to you?"
Gerald crossed his arms with a grin. "Don't tell me you challenge Pikachu and lost?"
"Pika-chu!" Pikachu puffed its chest proudly.
Leyn sighed dramatically. "It wasn't a fair race. He used Thundershock."
That made both parents and the professor laugh out loud. Even the aides couldn't help but smile.
Oak wiped a tear from his eye. "Well, you've certainly brought some energy to the lab, Leyn—quite literally!"
After the laughter died down, Gerald crouched slightly to Leyn's level. "Alright, champ. I still have a few things to finish here, so why don't you and your mom head home first? I'll be back before dinner."
Leyn nodded, still rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Okay, Dad. We'll see you later."
Rhea smiled softly. "Come on, sweetheart. Let's give your father time to finish up."
Before leaving, Leyn looked back toward the incubator area. "Professor, um… about the egg—can we watch it hatch sometime?"
Oak smiled warmly at him. "Of course, my boy. You'll be the first I call when it's ready. It's a beautiful thing, watching new life come into the world."
Leyn's eyes lit up with wonder. "Really? Thank you, Professor!"
Oak nodded, hands in his coat pockets. "You've got a good heart for Pokémon, Leyn. Keep that curiosity alive."
With that, Rhea gently took Leyn's hand, and the two began the short walk home as the first stars started to appear above Pallet's sky.
---
At home, the lights in their cozy kitchen glowed softly. As Rhea prepared dinner, Leyn leaned on the table, eyes thoughtful. "Mom… how does incubating Pokémon eggs actually work?"
Rhea looked over her shoulder with a small smile, used to his endless stream of questions. "Well, it's not too different from how wild Pokémon care for their own eggs," she began, keeping her tone simple. "We just help keep the temperature, humidity, and safety consistent. Each species has its own needs — some like warmth, others need gentle light exposure or energy from nearby Pokémon."
She stirred the pot before continuing. "The incubators monitor all of that carefully so the egg can develop just right. Once the signs of movement or cracking begin, we lower the temperature slightly to help the baby adjust."
Leyn nodded slowly, absorbing every word. "That's… really amazing."
She smiled and turned to face him. "Why the sudden curiosity, hm?"
He shrugged, a little shy. "Just… I thought it was cool. The idea that a whole new Pokémon is about to come into the world."
Rhea's eyes softened, pride and affection glimmering behind them. "That's a good kind of curiosity, Leyn. Never lose it."
The smell of dinner filled the air, the warmth of the house wrapping around them like a soft blanket.
That night, after dinner, Leyn sat at the table with his parents, still curious about what he'd learned that day. His mind kept circling back to the egg in the incubator and all the talk about Pokémon research.
"Mom, Dad," he began, resting his chin on his hands, "what's your main research about? You both work with Professor Oak, but… you don't study the same things, right?"
Rhea smiled at the question, wiping her hands as she sat across from him. "That's right. Your father and I focus on different aspects of Pokémon biology. I specialize in Pokémon reproduction and egg incubation — making sure eggs are safe, healthy, and properly studied without interfering with their natural growth."
"So… like what you explained earlier?" Leyn asked, his eyes lighting up.
"Exactly," Rhea said, chuckling softly. "It's delicate work. Every species has its own temperature range and incubation pattern. Some Pokémon eggs respond to sound or movement, while others rely purely on warmth. Understanding that helps us ensure they hatch safely in the lab environment."
Leyn nodded eagerly, soaking in every word before turning to his father. "Then what about you, Dad?"
Gerald adjusted his glasses, a faint smile on his face. "I focus on Pokémon adaptation — how Pokémon adjust to environments outside their native regions. For example, how a Sandshrew from Kanto might adapt if moved to a Hoenn desert, or how water Pokémon behave in colder climates like Sinnoh. I study how they evolve behaviorally and physically to survive."
"Whoa…" Leyn's eyes widened. "So you're kinda like… Pokémon explorers?"
Gerald chuckled. "Something like that. But it's more about observation and long-term research. Understanding how Pokémon live helps trainers care for them better."
Leyn nodded slowly, glancing between them. "Then what about Professor Oak? What's he researching now?"
At that, both Rhea and Gerald exchanged a look — the kind that said they've had this talk before. Rhea leaned back slightly. "Professor Oak's research is much broader. He studies Pokémon relationships with humans — how bonds form, how training affects them, and how Pokémon and people grow stronger together. It's the reason why his work inspired the development of the Pokémon Trainer registration system or what you would call as the Pokedex ."
Gerald added, "He believes that understanding the emotional connection between Pokémon and humans will one day help bridge regional differences and improve Pokémon welfare across the world."
"Whoa…" Leyn said softly, sitting back in awe. "That's… huge."
"It is," Rhea said warmly. "And that's why he needs help from all of us. Every bit of data we gather — from eggs, to habitats, to emotional responses — helps his greater vision."
Leyn smiled, his curiosity burning brighter than ever. "Then… someday, I wanna help with something big like that too."
Gerald chuckled, reaching over to ruffle his son's hair. "I'm sure you will, son. Just keep that curiosity alive — it's what every good researcher and trainer needs."
Rhea added softly, "You've already got the heart for it. Maybe that's why Pokémon like Pikachu are drawn to you."
Leyn grinned, rubbing his hair sheepishly. "Heh… yeah, maybe."
As the night grew quieter and the stars shimmered outside, Leyn leaned back in his chair, thinking about everything he'd learned and reviewing it.
And somewhere in Professor Oak's lab, under the gentle hum of the incubators, the faintest *crack* echoed — a promise of new life soon to come.