Sasuke woke to Miyuki's voice outside the Mobile Home, higher-pitched than usual. Not panic, surprise, maybe excitement. He checked his phone: 6:47 AM. Dawn had barely broken, the sky still more gray than blue.
He rolled off the murphy bed, pulled on a shirt, and stepped outside barefoot. Dew soaked the grass, cold against his soles. The campfire had died to ash overnight. Miyuki stood twenty meters away at the tree line, her silver hair catching the early light. She wore her sleeping clothes, loose pants and an oversized sweater, and knelt in the undergrowth.
Shaymin hovered beside her, the Grass-type's small body glowing faintly with morning energy. In Miyuki's hands, cradled carefully, sat an egg.
Sasuke crossed the clearing, feet squelching through wet grass. "What happened?"
Miyuki looked up, eyes bright. "Shaymin woke me. It found this near the campsite perimeter." She shifted the egg so he could see it properly. "Someone abandoned it. Or it was lost."
The egg was larger than Sasuke expected, maybe thirty centimeters tall, fifteen wide. Its shell showed patterns he'd never seen before: deep blue scales that seemed to shift in the light, silver veins running through them like metallic cracks. The surface felt warm when he reached out to touch it, temperature several degrees above ambient.
"Dragon-type," Miyuki said with certainty. "The scale pattern and warmth are distinctive. Most Dragon eggs maintain their own heat, evolutionary adaptation to high-altitude nesting sites."
Shaymin chirped, nuzzling against the egg. The Grass-type had clearly bonded with it already, possessive but gentle.
"Can you tell what species?" Sasuke asked.
"Not yet. Could be several possibilities, Dratini, Bagon, Axew, Deino. The scale color suggests Bagon lineage, but I'd need proper scanning equipment to confirm." Miyuki stood carefully, egg still cradled against her chest. "We need to get this inside. It's been out here for hours, maybe all night. The temperature fluctuation could cause developmental problems."
They returned to the Mobile Home. Kasumi and Kiyomi were awake now, drawn by the commotion. Sasuke held the door while Miyuki carried the egg up the steps, moving with the careful deliberation of someone handling something infinitely fragile.
"Is that a Pokemon egg?" Kasumi pressed close, eyes wide. "Where'd it come from?"
"Shaymin found it abandoned," Miyuki said. She moved to the dining table, cleared space, and set the egg down on a folded towel. Under the RV's interior lights, the patterns stood out more clearly, definitely scales, arranged in overlapping rows like armor plating. "I need to assess its condition. Kasumi, can you grab my medical kit? Top shelf in my room, red bag."
Kasumi disappeared upstairs. Kiyomi leaned over the table, examining the egg with a researcher's clinical interest. "Abandoned seems unlikely. Dragon-types are protective parents. This had to be deliberately separated from its nest."
"Or the parents died," Miyuki said quietly. "Predation, territorial fights, human interference. It happens."
Kasumi returned with the medical kit. Miyuki pulled out a digital thermometer, pressed it against the shell, and waited for the reading. "Internal temperature 38.2 degrees Celsius. Normal range for Dragon eggs is 37 to 40, so it's holding steady. Good sign."
She produced a small handheld scanner, League-issued equipment for breeders checking egg health. She ran it slowly over the shell's surface, watching the screen as data populated. Heartbeat detected. Neural activity present. Shell integrity at 94%. Estimated development: 67% complete.
"It's viable," Miyuki said, relief evident in her voice. "Healthy, actually. Whoever laid this egg cared for it properly before it was separated. The question is how long it's been alone."
"Can you hatch it?" Sasuke asked.
"I can try." Miyuki set down the scanner, placed both hands on the egg's surface. "Dragon eggs need consistent warmth, gentle rotation every few hours, and environmental humidity control. I can set up an incubation station, but it'll take most of the day to calibrate properly."
"What do you need?"
Miyuki's eyes met his, golden and focused, already running calculations. "Heat source that won't fluctuate. Humidity control. Soft padding to prevent shell damage during rotation. Monitoring equipment to track vital signs." She paused. "And help. I can't watch it constantly while we're traveling."
"I'll help," Sasuke said immediately.
Kasumi grinned. "Mom and dad's first project."
Miyuki's face flushed pink. "It's not, we're just-"
"Adorable," Kiyomi added, smirking. "Absolutely precious."
"Focus," Miyuki said firmly, though the blush remained. "Sasuke, do we have any heating elements in storage? Even a hot water bottle would work temporarily."
Sasuke checked the RV's storage compartments, underneath seats, in external bays. He found an electric heating pad, adjustable temperature settings, designed for camping comfort. "This?"
"Perfect." Miyuki took it, examined the controls. "I can set this to 38 degrees, wrap it in cloth to diffuse heat. That'll work until I can build something better."
They spent the next hour converting a corner of the living room into an incubation station. Sasuke moved the coffee table aside, creating floor space. Miyuki retrieved supplies from her room, soft blankets, her breeding textbooks, monitoring equipment. Kasumi contributed humidity sensors from her berry greenhouse. Kiyomi offered her desk lamp for additional warmth and light.
The egg sat in the center of it all, nested in blankets with the heating pad underneath. Temperature probe attached, feeding data to Miyuki's tablet. Humidity sensor nearby, displaying 62%, slightly low, but acceptable. The shell's blue scales seemed to glow faintly in the lamplight.
"Rotation schedule," Miyuki said, stylus moving across her tablet. "Every four hours, quarter turn clockwise. Prevents the developing Pokemon from settling into one position. I'll set alarms."
"I'll take night rotations," Sasuke offered. "I'm usually awake anyway."
"Split them," Miyuki countered. "Midnight, four AM, eight AM. We'll alternate."
Kasumi flopped onto the couch, watching them work. "You two are way too into this already."
"It's a living being that depends on us," Miyuki said without looking up. "Of course we're invested."
Shaymin had claimed a spot next to the egg, curled protectively around one side. The Grass-type refused to move, even when Miyuki tried to shoo it away for adjustments. Finally, she gave up and worked around it.
"Shaymin's attached," Kiyomi observed. "Considers itself the egg's guardian."
"Good." Miyuki stroked Shaymin's head. "Having a Pokemon nearby helps with development. They can sense emotional bonds forming even before hatching."
Sasuke watched Miyuki work, hands precise, movements efficient, every action purposeful. This was her element, the same way his kitchen or a battlefield was his. She'd transformed from elegant companion to focused professional in moments. The change fascinated him.
"What?" Miyuki asked, catching his stare.
"Nothing. Just... you're really good at this."
Her expression softened. "Thank you. I've been studying breeding theory since I was twelve, but this is my first field incubation. Most breeding happens in controlled facilities with perfect conditions. This is improvised."
"You'll do fine," Sasuke said.
The tablet chimed. Miyuki checked the reading, nodded. "Temperature stable at 38 degrees. Humidity climbing to 65%. Shell integrity unchanged. Everything looks good."
Kiyomi had her camera out, taking photos. "Documenting for your research journal?"
"And personal memories," Miyuki admitted. "This is significant. Not many breeders start field incubations during their journey year. Professor Oak will want a full report."
"What happens when it hatches?" Kasumi asked. "Do you keep it?"
Miyuki paused, considering. "Legally, found eggs become the responsibility of whoever assumes care. If I successfully hatch it, the Pokemon would register to me. But Dragon-types are strong-willed. It might not want to stay."
"It will," Sasuke said. "You're giving it life. That creates a bond."
"We'll see." Miyuki sat back, finally satisfied with the setup. "Estimated hatch time is two to three weeks, depending on development rate. We'll need to maintain this schedule the entire time."
"Which means no more random camping," Kiyomi pointed out. "We need Pokemon Center access for supplies and monitoring equipment."
Sasuke nodded. "Pewter City tonight, then. We'll find proper facilities there."
The morning sun had fully risen now, light streaming through the RV windows. The Stantler family grazed peacefully outside, indifferent to the drama inside the Mobile Home. Birds sang in the trees, Pidgey, Spearow, the occasional Hoothoot settling in for daytime rest.
"Breakfast," Sasuke announced, moving to the kitchen. "Everyone needs to eat, including the egg-sitters."
"Eggs don't eat," Kasumi said.
"The people watching the egg do." Sasuke pulled out ingredients, rice, vegetables, leftover meat from last night. "Miyuki especially. She's going to be running on stress and determination until this hatches."
"I heard that," Miyuki called from the living room.
"Good. Eat when I'm done cooking."
He worked efficiently, chopping vegetables with practiced precision. The familiar rhythm settled his mind, knife against board, oil heating in the pan, steam rising as ingredients hit hot metal. Cooking gave him control in situations where he had none. Couldn't help hatch the egg himself, but he could make sure Miyuki had the energy to do it.
Twenty minutes later, he served breakfast, fried rice with vegetables, protein-rich and filling. They ate at the dining table, the egg visible in its corner nest, Shaymin still standing guard.
"We should name it," Kasumi said between bites. "The egg, I mean. Calling it 'the egg' feels weird."
"It's not hatched yet," Miyuki protested.
"So? Plenty of cultures name eggs before hatching. Creates positive energy, welcomes the Pokemon into the world."
Kiyomi nodded. "Several ancient civilizations believed pre-hatch naming strengthened the bond between caretaker and Pokemon. Might be worth trying."
Miyuki looked at the egg, then at Sasuke. "What do you think?"
"Your call," he said. "You're the primary caretaker."
She considered for a long moment. "Ryu," she finally said. "It means dragon. Simple, but appropriate."
"Ryu," Kasumi repeated, testing the sound. "I like it. Strong name."
The egg didn't respond, couldn't, not yet. But Shaymin chirped approvingly, nuzzling against the shell. Some acknowledgment, perhaps. Or just the Grass-type being affectionate.
They finished breakfast, cleaned up, and prepared for departure. Sasuke checked the incubation station one more time, temperature stable, humidity good, padding secure. The egg sat snug in its nest, blue scales glinting.
"Ready?" he asked Miyuki.
She nodded, tablet in hand. "I'll monitor from the passenger seat. If anything changes, we stop immediately."
"Understood."
Sasuke started the engine, let it warm up. Kiyomi and Kasumi settled in the living room, both sitting where they could watch the egg. Shaymin refused to return to its Pokeball, planting itself firmly next to Ryu's nest.
"Protective already," Miyuki murmured. "That's good. Means it senses something worth protecting."
Sasuke guided the Mobile Home back onto the forest service road, gravel crunching under tires. He drove carefully, avoiding sudden movements or hard braking. Behind him, he heard Miyuki's quiet murmurs as she checked readings, adjusted settings, ensured everything remained stable.
They reached Route 2 and turned north. The mountain road continued its climb, but Sasuke maintained steady speed rather than pushing. Victini had woken now, hopping between its usual dashboard spot and the living room to investigate the egg. It circled Ryu's nest once, sniffed carefully, then chirped at Miyuki.
"It approves," Miyuki translated. "Victini can sense life energy. It's telling me the egg is healthy."
"Good Pokemon," Sasuke said.
The kilometers passed slowly. Sasuke found himself more aware of every bump, every curve, every slight shift in the RV's movement. Transporting a developing egg required care he hadn't anticipated. Behind him, Miyuki kept up constant monitoring, tablet screen reflecting in her focused eyes.
"Temperature dropped half a degree," she said suddenly. "Adjusting heat pad."
Sasuke heard her stand, move to the incubation station. Fabric rustling as she unwrapped the heating pad, adjusted the setting, rewrapped everything. A minute later: "Back to 38 degrees. Crisis averted."
"You're going to be exhausted by the time we reach Pewter," Kiyomi observed.
"I'll manage."
But Sasuke could hear the strain in her voice. He glanced at the dashboard clock: 9:23 AM. They'd been on the road less than an hour, with at least four more ahead. Miyuki would wear herself out before noon at this rate.
"Victini," he said quietly. "Can you help?"
The Victory Pokemon tilted its head, questioning.
"The egg needs consistent warmth. Your flames, can you control them enough to provide gentle heat? Not burning, just... warmth."
Victini chirped thoughtfully. It hopped down to the living room, approached Ryu's nest. Shaymin watched suspiciously but didn't interfere. Victini settled next to the egg, and its flames began to glow, soft orange, barely visible, radiating steady heat.
Miyuki's tablet chimed. She checked it, eyes widening. "The temperature's stabilizing perfectly. Whatever Victini's doing, it's working better than the heating pad."
"Victini's a Fire-type that never burns what it doesn't want to burn," Sasuke explained. "Victory flames, they can be destructive or nurturing, depending on intent."
"That's incredible." Miyuki moved closer to the egg, placed her hand near Victini's flames. "I can feel the heat, but it's not uncomfortable. Just... warm. Perfect for incubation."
Victini puffed up proudly, clearly pleased with itself.
"Looks like we have a co-parent," Kasumi said, grinning. "Victini just volunteered for egg duty."
"Team effort," Kiyomi added. "Shaymin for protection, Victini for warmth, Miyuki for medical care, Sasuke for... moral support?"
"Sasuke's helping with environment design," Miyuki said defensively. "That's important."
"And he cooks," Kasumi added. "Can't raise an egg on an empty stomach."
Miyuki's blush returned. "This isn't, we're not-"
"Too late," Kiyomi said. "You two are officially co-parenting a Dragon egg. Accept your fate."
Sasuke kept his eyes on the road, but he felt his own face heating. The teasing embarrassed him, but something else lurked underneath, something warmer. Working with Miyuki on this felt natural. Comfortable. Like they'd been partners for years instead of weeks.
"Next rotation is at noon," Miyuki said, changing the subject with obvious desperation. "I'll handle it."
"I'll set an alarm," Sasuke offered. "Make sure you don't miss it."
"Thank you."
She returned to the passenger seat, tablet still in hand. But now she seemed more relaxed, tension easing from her shoulders. Victini's contribution had removed the constant worry about temperature fluctuations. The egg would be fine.
The road climbed higher. Pine forests gave way to exposed rock face, then back to trees. Snow appeared on northern slopes, not much, but present. The air through the open windows tasted thin and cold. Pewter City couldn't be far now.
"There," Miyuki pointed ahead. "City limits."
Sasuke saw it, the massive sprawl of Pewter City carved into the mountainside, gray stone buildings blending with natural rock. Population twenty-eight million, famous for mining and Rock-type Pokemon. The Gym sat at the city's heart, a fortress of stone that had stood for centuries.
"Pokemon Center first," Miyuki said. "I need proper monitoring equipment for Ryu."
"Agreed." Sasuke guided the Mobile Home through the city gates, past League checkpoints that waved them through without stopping. The streets widened as they entered the urban core, broad avenues designed for mining vehicles, now carrying regular traffic.
The Pokemon Center appeared: a massive facility, ten stories tall, red roof distinctive against gray stone. Sasuke parked in the visitor lot, killed the engine, and turned to face the egg.
Ryu sat peaceful in its nest, Victini and Shaymin flanking it like guardian deities. The blue scales seemed to pulse faintly with inner light. Alive. Growing. Depending on them.
"Let's get you set up properly," Miyuki said softly, addressing the egg. "Welcome to Pewter City, Ryu."
Shaymin chirped agreement. Victini's flames flickered warmly.
And in that moment, watching Miyuki's gentle smile as she checked the egg one more time, Sasuke felt something shift in his chest. Something deeper than friendship, stronger than respect. Something he wasn't quite ready to name.
But it was there, undeniable and growing.
Like the life inside that blue-scaled egg.