Bianca picked up Snivy. The two of them had been wandering around the cave for at least an hour now.
She sat down against the wall, looking at her xtransceiver. Unfortunately, she had no signal in the cave. She ended up dozing off. She jerked up, dropping her hat.
"Oh, I'm more tired than I thought," she said through a chuckle.
Snivy stared at her and yawned.
"I guess we're both pretty tired, huh."
She noticed a flash of light further down the corridor. She got up and followed it.
The corridor ended in a large cavern. There were four vases on stands, and between them was an egg.
Bianca snapped a picture and approached it. Snivy trembled. Behind the egg was a wall carving depicting some pokemon. Bianca got a picture of it and inspected the egg. She set down Snivy and picked it up.
"I-it sure is heavy!" Bianca stumbled around, squealing. Snivy ran in circles around her, freaking out.
"Be careful!" Someone yelled. She froze. The guy was standing at the entrance. He had short green hair.
Bianca recognized him. She carefully set the egg down.
"Aren't you Andrew's brother?"
"Bianca?"
"Hey! It's been a while."
Nathan stepped into the cavern, eyeing the egg.
Bianca didn't know much about him, but she remembered him pretty well. She picked up the egg again.
"Where'd you get that?" Nathan asked.
"I just found it," Bianca said between grunts. She thought for a moment and set the egg down. She let out her Audino. Audino picked up the egg without a thought. Snivy hopped into Bianca's arms.
"You've got yourself a motley crew," Nathan said with a chuckle.
"What?" Bianca huffed. "That's a mean thing to say."
"Anyway, are you sure you want that egg?"
Bianca cocked her head.
"Why do you ask."
"I mean, it's clearly a Larvesta egg." He gestured to the carving. "Itll evolve into a Volcarona."
Bianca turned, inspecting the carving again.
"Alder had a Volcarona." He started further into the cavern. "He stated on record several times that even he had difficulty keeping it under control."
Bianca stepped back. Snivy tensed up. Audino was unconcerned.
"I can handle it." Bianca forced a chuckle.
"How many gym badges do you have?" Nathan crossed his arms. Bianca's face flushed.
"Um. That's not important!" Nathan snorted.
"None?" He shook his head. "You've gotta be kidding." His eyes met Bianca's. "Give it to me."
Bianca was running. Audino a few steps ahead. Nathan at her heels.
"You can't train that thing!" Nathan shouted.
"Leave me alone!" Bianca yelled back.
Audino made a sudden turn, and Bianca struggled to keep up.
The entrance was just ahead. But people were there.
"Bianca?" Andrew looked past the champion, raising an eyebrow. Kenya waved. Alder turned.
"Oh, Andrew is out here too," Nathan said. "Is that Alder?" Audino charged toward the group.
"Hey!" Alder yelled. "Put that egg back where you found it. It doesn't belong to you!"
Alder started marching over to Audino.
Zinzolin let out a Cryogonal. Kenya let out Druddigon. Andrew sent out Pignite.
"Sheer cold!" Druddigon was frozen solid.
Kenya screamed, trying to heal Druddigon. Pignite attacked the Cryogonal. Alder was paying the fight no mind.
He approached Audino. Nathan grabbed Bianca and yanked her back. Bianca elbowed him hard in the collarbone.
Nathan stumbled away, coughing. Bianca clung to the wall. Audino moved away from Alder, hiding behind Bianca.
Alder's eyes met hers.
"Give me the egg," Alder warned. "It doesn't belong to you."
"I found it, finders keepers!" Bianca insisted. Snivy growled at Alder. Nathan recovered and started for Bianca.
"Back off!" Bianca shoved him away. Audino shuffled away as they started scuffling.
Alder stepped back and wiped his brow. He watched Audino shift nervously.
Pignite knocked out Cryogonal. Zinzolin returned it and fled. Kenya healed her Druddigon and ran off after him.
Andrew noticed Bianca and Nathan fighting.
"Hey! What are you two doing?" He headed over, Pignite at his heels.
Alder cautiously approached Audino as Andrew broke up the fight.
"How are you doing?" Alder knelt beside Audino. "You've got something of mine there."
Audino held the egg away from Alder. He smiled softly.
"I don't suppose you'd give it back?" Audino shook its head. "Guess there's nothing to be done."
"It's not yours!" Bianca shouted, running to Alder. Andrew groaned. Nathan was on his back, catching his breath.
Bianca got between Alder and Audino. Andrew hurried over.
"I'm so sorry, mister champion. I'll talk some sense into her." Andrew insisted. Alder wiped his eyes.
"It's been so long," he said quietly. "Volcarona." Bianca frowned.
He started to laugh. Andrew backed up. Bianca turned around, ushering Audino away.
Alder's laugh grew louder and louder until it suddenly stopped.
"I really am losing it." He smirked at Andrew and walked over to Bianca. "That egg was very precious to me. It belonged to my late friend, Volcarona."
"I can keep it?" Bianca's face lit up. Alder frowned. The egg trembled.
"I suppose so."
"Sir!" Andrew cut in. "Please don't encourage her bad habits,"
"It's fine." Alder patted Andrew on the shoulder. He nodded at Bianca and disappeared deeper into the corridor. Andrew and Bianca shared a look.
Nathan grumbled something on the ground.
"You're a monster," Andrew said.
"Hey, that's mean." Bianca's smile grew.
Kenya appeared at the stairs.
"That guy got away!" She yelled. Druddigon roared behind her. "I can't believe he froze Druddigon solid like that. In a desert! How does that even work?" She returned Druddigon and started down the stairs.
Bianca was beaming. Both her and Nathan were covered with bruises and scrapes.
Andrew helped Nathan up.
"Why were you two fighting?"
"Oh yeah," Bianca perked up. "That jerk tried to steal this egg from me?" Kenya walked over to Bianca, examining the egg.
"Wow." Kenya glanced over at Nathan. "What a loser."
"You can't train that thing," Nathan said. "You're just not capable."
"Whatever." Bianca headed up the stairs, Kenya and Audino at her heels.
Andrew moved away from Nathan.
"I see you haven't changed much."