The air in the research institute felt heavy with the weight of ancient history—and the pressure of the two brilliant women staring at me. Under the intense gaze of a Regional Champion and a veteran historian, my mind was racing like a Rapidash.
I looked at the glowing sphere on the table, the Lustrous Orb. I knew exactly what it was: a divine catalyst capable of amplifying Palkia's spatial powers to a terrifying degree. But I couldn't exactly say, "Oh yeah, this is the battery for a space-god that a blue-haired guy named Cyrus is going to use to reset the universe in a few years." That would lead to a lot of awkward questions about my sanity.
"Dr. Juniper," I began, pitching my voice into that 'thoughtful researcher' tone I'd learned from Rowan. "I've done some digging into these specific artifacts. This orb... it's the Lustrous Orb. But from what my sources suggest, it might be more of a ceremonial tribute than a direct source of power."
I started weaving a half-truth, hoping to muddy the waters just enough to keep the truth safe. "In ancient times, people built shrines and crafted these orbs to mimic the ones on Palkia's shoulders. It was a way to focus their prayers. You found it on an altar, right? That suggests it was a focal point for worship. And those murals—I bet you'll find depictions of the Lake Guardians nearby. They were always meant to be the balancers of the two great pillars."
Cynthia leaned back, her grey eyes narrowing in thought. "Lustrous Orb... the name sounds familiar from a text I read in Eterna, but the descriptions were vague. But Julian, the Lake Guardians—Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf—their connection to the ruins here is well-documented. You're right about that."
"Wait a moment," Dr. Juniper interrupted, tapping a pen against her chin. "If it's just a ceremonial replica, why is it emitting such a high level of unidentified spatial energy? It's almost as if it's alive. A mere stone shouldn't stay this polished and vibrant after thousands of years."
I felt a cold sweat prickle my neck. Sharp. She's too sharp. "That's likely because it was blessed," I said, improvising wildly. "Think about it—if a whole civilization pours their faith and Aura into an object for centuries, and Palkia acknowledged that devotion, it could leave a lingering 'trace' of divinity. As for what's in the books... well, most myths are like a game of telephone played over thousands of years. Truth and fiction get tangled. I'm just telling you the version I heard from... an old traveler I met back in Sandgem."
Dr. Juniper looked at the orb, then back at me. I could see her skepticism warring with the logic I'd presented. Finally, she sighed. "Well, it's a lead. 'Lustrous Orb' gives us a specific term to search for in the cross-region archives. We'll also start looking into its counterpart, the Griseous Orb, just to be safe. Thank you for the 'Helping Hand,' Dr. Julian."
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Phew. If I could keep them busy chasing the Griseous Orb—which was hidden in the Distortion World anyway—it would buy everyone a lot of time before the real trouble started.
The Constant-Temperature Case
"Then, if that's all, I should probably find a hotel," I said, preparing to beat a hasty retreat before they asked about the origin of the universe.
"Wait a moment, Julian," Cynthia said, her voice softening. "I haven't forgotten the promise I made to you in Canalave. I said I had a gift for you."
She stepped into a side office and returned a moment later carrying a sleek, metallic case with a transparent window. Inside, nestled in soft white padding, was a Pokémon Egg. It was beautifully patterned—not like Togepi's speckled shell, but with a color palette that hinted at something very specific.
"An Egg?" I blinked, surprised.
"I found this little one while traveling with a friend from the Kalos region," Cynthia explained, handing the case to me. The warmth from the heater radiated through the glass. "We couldn't find its parents, and we didn't want to leave it to the elements. My friend and I both have full, established teams, and this child's future role would overlap with Pokémon we already have. We wanted to entrust it to a Trainer who treats their partners like family."
She smiled warmly at me. "After hearing about your battle with Gardenia and how you handled the mountain crisis, I knew there was no one better."
My heart did a little somersault. A gift from the Champion, found with a friend from Kalos? My mind immediately went to Diantha, the Kalos Champion. If this Egg came from that circle, the potential inside was astronomical.
"I can't take this, Cynthia. This is too much," I said, though my hands were already gripping the case.
"Don't be modest," Cynthia replied, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Professor Rowan told me how you nursed Togepi's Egg. You have a gift for this. Besides, my friend was very picky about who should get it. When I described you to her, she agreed immediately."
I looked down at the Egg. I could feel a faint, rhythmic thrumming coming from inside. "Thank you. I... I'll take the best care of it. I promise."
"It may take some time to hatch," she reminded me. "It's a species that requires a lot of emotional bonding before it's ready to face the world."
The Hotel Meeting
I politely declined Cynthia's offer to stay at the institute. I needed some space to process everything—and to introduce my team to the new arrival without a Champion watching my every move.
I checked into a cozy hotel room and immediately set the Egg case on the desk. "Alright, everyone! Room service is on the way, but first, meet our new project!"
Four flashes of light later, the room was full.
"Floe~ (Is it dinner yet? I feel like I'm fading away~)" Floette groaned, dramatically collapsing onto the bed.
"Fly fly! (Oh, stop it! Julian literally just put the key in the door!)" Sylveon scolded, her ribbons flicking Floette's petals. She then turned her attention to the desk. "Sylvee? (What's that?)"
"No-wing! No-wing!" Togepi chirped, wobbling toward the desk and trying to peer over the edge.
Growlithe stood in the center of the room, his black nose twitching. He looked at the Egg, then at me, then at the other three. He seemed to be trying to figure out the hierarchy of this strange little family.
"Everyone, listen up," I said, pointing to the case. "We have a new companion. They haven't hatched yet, so we need to be extra careful. Sylveon, since you're the most 'perceptive' one, I'm putting you in charge of monitoring the Egg's temperature while we're in the room."
Sylveon puffed out her chest, her ribbons glowing pink with pride. "Speech sound! (Consider it done!)"
"And Floette, no, we aren't eating yet," I said, catching her eyeing my backpack. "Growlithe is a Fire-type, and he has different nutritional needs than you guys. I need to run down to the market to get some spicy-flavored kibble and some high-energy fuel for him. You three stay here and get to know him. No fighting!"
Floette turned grayish-white at the mention of waiting longer for food, but Togepi had already marched up to Growlithe and was poking his fluffy leg.
"Woof?" Growlithe tilted his head, looking down at the tiny egg-Pokémon with a mix of confusion and protectiveness.
I grabbed my jacket, a smile tugging at my lips as I watched them. A new Egg, a new Growlithe, and a secret orb that could break the world. My "quiet research trip" was officially anything but quiet.
"I'll be back in twenty minutes!" I called out, heading for the door. "Behave!"