Episode 18: Hatch Me If You Can
"I still can't believe you didn't wake me up," Serena said. The trio were on the Route 5, the road south of Cerulean City. It was a bright and sunny day on the trail. Pidgeys were chirping, Rattatas raced around, and Butterfrees enjoyed the sun.
"I slept on the pool floor!" she continued. "The pool floor! It still grosses me out how wet and icky that was. And I didn't get to say goodbye to Brock."
"Serena, you were already wet from going into the pool to get Pikachu," Bonnie said. "So it's your fault in the end. Isn't that right, Dedenne?"
"Dedenne!"
"But Brock!" Serena said. "I didn't get to thank him for the cruise tickets. I can only imagine how much those cost."
"I suppose we're going to Vermillion City right after we go to Saffron?" Clemont said.
Serena nodded. "Of course! It'll be a nice break. I can't wait to lie out in the sun, a Pokévision on one side and a cup of berry juice on the other. And then we can go shopping in the outlets. Doesn't that sound great, Pikachu and Bonnie?"
"Yeah!" Bonnie said. Pikachu, on the other hand, scratched his head. It didn't look like he seemed too excited about the prospect of shopping, but Serena didn't notice.
"So Misty isn't Tuck, right?" Clemont said. "Even though she used water-type Pokémon."
"I doubt it," Serena said, sighing. "Tuck doesn't strike me as hot-headed."
"Hey, if it isn't the Kalos trio. What a delicious appetizer to start off the day." said a familiar male voice. Looking ahead, Serena saw Cilan and Iris who both waved at them. Cilan was dressed in his usual fancy outfit. Iris, meanwhile, was in an overly elaborate pink robe.
"How've you guys been?" Iris said, clasping Serena's hand. "Wow, Serena, you look so tired! Have you been getting enough sleep?"
"Not exactly," Serena said. "I get so nervous about Pokémon battles. It's really, really hard. There's so much I have to think about during battles."
"You'll get used to it. By the way, how has your own adventures through Kalos been?" Iris asked.
"Crazy," Clemont muttered. "We've had run-ins with Team Rocket, Pokémon Hunters, and old acquaintances. We've met shiny and mega Pokémon, and not to mention Bonnie was frozen as a gold statue for a few days."
"Whaat?" Iris said. Her mouth dropped lower than Clemont's. "That's so weird! Who did it? I want to kick their butts."
"Another time, Iris," Cilan said, chuckling. "So Serena, I've noticed you're a lot more confidant now. As bold as putting salt in seafood. Have you earned some badges?"
"Y-yeah!" Serena said. "I've gotten two. How did you know?"
"Why, I'm an S-class Pokémon Connoisseur," Cilan said, adjusting his bowtie.
"Bonnie wants to know what a Pokémon con…con-no-sue is," Bonnie said.
"Ah, right, I forgot I'm in Kanto, not Unova," Cilan said. "You see, in Unova my job is to evaluate the bond between Trainer and Pokémon. We give advice on how to strengthen this partnership."
"Ooh! Ooh!" Bonnie said. "Do me! Do me! And my partner, Dedenne!" She held up her bag, in which Dedenne squeaked.
"Okay!" Cilan said. "It's evaluating time!"
He zipped around Bonnie and Dedenne, scribbling on his notebook. While he poked and prodded them, Bonnie thought that maybe it wasn't a very good idea.
"So how long does an evaluation take?" Clemont asked as Cilan tugged on Dedenne's tail. The Pokémon glared at him before giving him a Thundershock, sending Cilan twitching on the ground.
"I'm done," the swirly-eyed Cilan said. "Dedenne isn't your Pokémon, is he?"
"Wow, that's amazing!" Bonnie said. She massaged her cheek. "Clemont caught him but he's letting me take care of him. What else did you find out?"
"Well, Dedenne used to like being inside his Pokéball," Cilan said. "But now he would much rather hang out with you. Also, there's a green Pokémon that he loves being with."
"That's Squishy!" Bonnie said. "Dedenne, I never knew that! I want to be with him too. I can't wait until I'm old enough to be a trainer so we can travel with him again."
"Serena, would you like me to evaluate the relationship between you and your Pikachu?" Cilan said. "I'm offering this for free."
"Uh, I think I'll hold off," Serena said, remembering how uncomfortable Bonnie and Dedenne looked.
"Chu chu," Pikachu agreed.
"Hey, how has the egg been?" Iris asked. "Has it hatched yet?"
"Ah!" Serena gasped, covering her mouth. She had completely forgotten about it and immediately felt guilty about the amount of abuse it suffered, everything from getting shocked by collateral damage to getting dunked in swimming pools.
"I don't think it moved yet," Clemont said, looking at Serena's bag.
"Aw, that's disappointing," Iris said. "That's a pretty stubborn egg."
"Well, maybe the daycare up ahead can help," Cilan said.
"Daycare?" Bonnie said.
Cilan nodded. "They're apparently really good at hatching eggs. Let's go there for some advice. It's really close to here."
Chatting along, the two groups brought each other up to speed on current events and their past histories. Serena was surprised to learn that Iris's first Pokémon was an Excadrill even though she wanted to become the strongest dragon-type trainer. While they talked, Cilan observed that Clemont was fidgeting and not chatting much. After a while he decided to comment.
"Clemont? Is something wrong?" Cilan said.
Clemont shifted his eyes back and forth. Taking a deep breath, he blurted out, "Iris, can I have your autograph?"
"Eh? Why?" she said.
"You're a Pokémon Champion!" Clemont said. "And that reminds me—what's a Champion like you doing in Kanto?"
"Oh, I almost forgot," Iris said. Serena took out a pen and paper for Iris to sign, and she scribbled her signature in a large, untidy font. "Since I want to become the strongest dragon-type trainer, I want to fight against Lance, Kanto's own Champion! Once I beat him, I could say I've reached my goal."
"Oh? Are you collecting badges too?" Serena said.
"Nah, I'll challenge him immediately," Iris said. "He won't deny me since I'm also a Champion. That's how I became Champion of Unova, actually. Usually the League Conference and the Elite Four prevent the swarms of weaklings from challenging the Champion, but Alder saw potential! I battled him, beat him, and so that's how I'm Champion."
"What are you wandering around in Kanto then?" Serena said. "Isn't Indigo Plateau near Viridian City?"
"Hey, there's the Pokémon Daycare!" Cilan said. It seemed like he wanted to switch the subject.
It was a small and homely building. It had everything—a white picket fence, a beautiful green lawn, and even a little chimney that poofed out smoke.
"Where are all the Pokémon?" Bonnie said. She was on her tiptoes as she peered above the fence.
"Oh, they're taking an afternoon nap!" The group turned around to see an old woman waving at them. She had red hair and her smile looked strained for some reason.
"Do you run this place?" Cilan asked. "We've heard that you were skilled at hatching eggs."
"Why of course!" said another person. An old man came out of the house, walking with a cane. He had purple hair and dark sunglasses. "I'm glad you younglings have heard of the world-famous Jess and Jake. From hatching eggs to training up your Pokémon, we can do it all."
"Oh? So can you hatch this egg?" Serena said, pulling the egg out of her bag. It was still as motionless as ever.
"That looks like a tough shell to crack," said a third person, a young kid who looked like he had a hair problem. "But sure. I, Meeko, will get this egg out in no time. We're in a good mood today so we can hatch all of your eggs and train your Pokémon for free! This is a special, limited, one-time offer."
"Er, how does this training and hatching work?" Clemont said.
"Just look at all of these pictures," Jess said, pulling out an album. Flipping through it, Serena saw photos of Weedles who became Beedrills, Rhydons who became Rhyperiors, and—
"Is that a Blastoise?" Bonnie said. "Brother, doesn't it look like Tuck's?"
"Where have you seen this Blastoise?" Serena said in a low tone. Pikachu growled, which surprised her—she never heard Pikachu growl before.
"Oh yes, isn't he a fine specimen?" Jake said. "His trainer left him one day and was gone the next. Never knew where he headed."
"How did you train it? Tell me. Now," Serena said.
"A Pokémon Daycare never reveals its secrets," said Meeko. "But we might give a few hints if you would let us take care of all your Pokémon."
Serena shoved her Pokéballs into their arms, which they seemed eager to grab. Serena nodded a Clemont, and he relinquished his Pokémon too.
"Ah! I forgot Dedenne!" Bonnie said, giving them her pouch.
"No thanks. I think I'll keep my Pokémon," Iris said. "My dragon Pokémon aren't very good with strangers."
"And my Pokémon only like eating my food," Cilan said, bowing to apologize.
"No no, it's fine," Jess said, but she cursed in her head. "And what about Pikachu?'
"I almost forgot," Serena said, plopping Pikachu off her shoulder. "Pikachu, be good okay? This is for Ash."
"Chu," Pikachu said reluctantly.
"Now-thanks-and-pick-up-your-Pokémon-at-the-end-of-the-day!" the trio said, zipping back into the house at an incredible speed and slamming the door shut.
"Wow! I wish I could move that fast when I grow old," Bonnie said.
"What do we want to do now?" Clemont asked.
"I think I'll go train while we're waiting," Serena said.
"Train? You don't have any Pokémon," Clemont said.
"That doesn't mean I can't study," Serena said, pulling out her Pokédex. "There's still so much I have to learn. Each Pokémon has so many strengths and weaknesses and it's tough remembering it all."
"Wow, you're dedicated to this," Cilan said. "As dedicated as a chef to his craft!"
"I have a better idea," Iris said. She pulled out two Pokéballs. "How about we battle while we wait? It'll be good practice fighting against a Champion!"
"Will I be using one of your Pokémon?" Serena asked.
"Yup! Come on out, Dragonite and Emolga!" she said, tossing the two Pokéballs into the air. The orange dragon had an annoyed look on his face and Emolga, the small electric squirrel, yawned.
"Emolga. The Sky Squirrel Pokémon," Serena's Pokédex chimed. "The energy made in its cheeks' electric pouches is stored inside its membrane and released while it is gliding."
"Wow! Emolga is so cute!" Bonnie said.
"Dragonite. The Dragon Pokémon," the Pokédex continued. "Very few people ever see this Pokémon. Its intelligence is said to match that of humans."
"I suppose I'll be using the Dragonite, then?" Serena said.
"Nope! You'll be using Emolga!" Iris said. "Listen to Serena for today, okay Emolga?"
Emolga, Serena, and surprisingly Dragonite had the same expression. "Are you sure about that? Emolga is so much smaller than Dragonite!"
"Emol!" Emolga protested.
The Dragonite roared. "Drag, drag!" he said, as if he didn't want to waste his strength fighting a cute and pathetic squirrel.
"Looks aren't everything," Iris said, wagging a finger. "I didn't know you were such a kid too, Serena! Now let's begin. Cilan, may you judge?"
"I'll be delighted," Cilan said. "Now the one verse one battle between Iris and Serena will now begin!"
"Okay Emolga, use…wait," Serena said. "You never told me what Emolga's moves were!"
"Dragonite, use Ice Beam!" Iris said.
The two Pokémon looked at their trainers as if they were saying "Really?" Dragonite curled up onto the floor and closed his eyes. Emolga flew over to Serena and started nipping her.
"Dragonite!" Iris said, straightening her arms and stomping the floor. "Listen to me!"
"You're such a kid," Bonnie said with a mischievous look, causing Iris to glare at her.
"So even a Champion's Pokémon doesn't listen to her," Clemont said, adjusting his glasses.
"He only likes battling strong Pokémon!" Iris said. "Dragonite, please listen to me! Emolga is strong! You've seen her fight against Alder!"
"Ouch! Stop it, Emolga," Serena said, flailing her arms. "Just use whatever attack you have!"
The electric Pokémon disappeared in a flash of light, returning into his Pokéball.
"I think that's Volt Switch," Clemont said. "Usually it damages the opponent and then returns to his Pokéball in one swift move, but it looks like Emolga is too lazy to attack."
"Did you really become a Champion with these Pokémon?" Bonnie said.
"Ugh, enough! Dragonite, return," she said, the Pokémon disappearing in a red flash of light. She sighed. "It looks like I have some training of my own that I have to do."
"Hmm, I suppose I'll cook some lunch now," Cilan said. "What do we want today?"
"Your soup! Your soup!" Bonnie said.
"I'll set up the table," Clemont said.
"Ah, I'll help," Serena said, but Clemont waved her away.
"It's okay," he said. "Go off and study. The next gym leader in Saffron City uses Psychic-type Pokémon, right? That'll be a tough battle."
"Thank you," Serena said as she walked off to a quiet area under a tree. At Cilan's request, Iris and Bonnie went off to gather berries and herbs.
About thirty minutes went by before Serena stumbled across Drowsee's entry.
"Drowsee. The Hypnosis Pokémon," she read. "It puts enemies to sleep, then eats their dreams. Occasionally gets sick from eating bad dreams."
"Lunch is ready!" Cilan said. "Serena, what's with that face? Is something troubling you?"
"Don't you think that it's weird the Pokémon Daycare is so quiet?" Serena said, sitting down on the table. "Do Pokémon really sleep that long? And it's still the middle of the day."
"Now that you think about it, that is weird," Clemont said. "Weren't our Pokémon awake? Shouldn't they be making some noise? I don't hear anything."
"I'm sure it's no big deal," Iris said, pouring herself a hearty portion of soup. "Maybe their training involves the Pokémon meditating or something."
Serena and Clemont looked at each other, nodded, and set off towards the daycare. Bonnie looked longingly at the bowl of soup before following them.
"Hello! Is anyone there?" Serena said, pounding the door. At first there was no sound, but then they heard a faint "Mmph!"
"There's someone inside!" Bonnie said. "Cilan, Iris, can you two help?"
"Of course there's someone inside! It's the daycare people!" Iris said. She gulped down a huge portion of soup. "You're such a kid!"
"Iris, this sounds urgent," Cilan said. "Crustle, come on out! Use X-Scissor on that door!"
The Pokémon shaped like a hermit crab with a huge rock on his back materialized, creating a loud boom when he fell onto the floor. His claws glowing, he scuttled up and slashed the door.
The house's interior, reflecting the outside, was very homely. Furniture and photos dotted the shelves and walls and there was a fire burning in the fireplace. However, it wasn't the warm environment that caught the group's eye.
"Oh no!" Bonnie said, running up to the bound couple. They looked nothing like Jess and Jake. Balding and crinkly, they looked relieved when they were freed from their binds.
"Thank Arceus you've arrived!" the old man said. He began coughing. "These thieves stole all of the Pokémon. They've escaped through the backdoor. We must hurry."
"You stay put, mister," Cilan said, supporting him. "You're in no condition to do any chasing."
"I-I'll call Officer Jenny," the old woman said, her eyes quivering.
"Awesome! Now it's up to me to show what a Champion can do," Iris said. Rushing through the open back door—it was the opposite side of the house from their lunch table—she said "Dragonite! Time to chase after these villains! Hey, Serena, you come along too."
"Me? Serena said, pointing to herself. Iris hopped onto the Dragonite who, while still looking annoyed, had a gleam of anticipation on his eyes. "Why me instead of Cilan? I don't have any Pokémon."
"Cilan's too busy helping out the daycare people," Iris said. "Come on! Only two people can ride Dragonite. Hurry! They're getting away!"
Serena jumped onto the Dragonite, wrapping her arms around Iris. "Do you have a plan for finding them?"
"Nope!" Iris said. Dragonite's powerful wings started flapping, creating gusts of wind across the lawn. "Just hold on tight! Dragonite can fly very fast!"
Serena had no chance to respond when Dragonite shot upwards. Her gums and lips and cheeks jiggling, it took all of her strength for her to hold onto her hat and Iris. The wild girl, meanwhile, whooped with joy as Dragonite flew in progressively larger and larger circles around the house.
"There! I see something straight ahead!" Iris said, pointing at a Meowth-shaped balloon. "Wait, don't tell me that's—"
"If you say ''Wait, don't tell me that's,'" a catlike Pokémon said.
"Prepare for trouble!" said the all-too-familiar female voice.
"And make it double!" said the also recognizable male voice.
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all peoples within our nation!"
"To stand by the evils of love and truth!"
"The lovely, charmy, villains!"
"Jessie!"
"James!"
"The pair from Team Rocket soars through the galaxy!"
"Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"
"Meowth! That's right!"
"Woooobbuffet!"
"Team Rocket!" Iris said. Serena didn't say anything—her head was lolling around, too dizzy from the flight.
"Argh! I'm mad we didn't get that Dragonite!" James said. There was a huge bag of Pokéballs behind her. "Look at how fast he caught up to us!"
"Pika! Pikachu!" Pikachu cried. Serena couldn't see him, but she could tell he was in the bag.
"We would've gotten away with it too if it wasn't for those meddling kids!" Meowth said.
"Dragonite, blast them away!" Iris said. "Ice Beam!"
"Oh no you don't," James said. He tossed out a Pokéball. "Inkay, use Psybeam!"
"Gourgeist, you too!" Jessie said, also throwing out one. "Dark Pulse!"
The squid and the pumpkin used their respective attacks, cancelling out the Ice Beam.
"Now try Flamethower!" Iris said.
"Shadow Ball, Gourgeist!" Jessie said.
"Psybeam again!" James said.
Yet again the attacks cancelled each other out.
"Hey, she's a Champion, right?" Meowth said. "Does that mean we're as good as the Champion?"
"Serena, help me out," Iris said, passing Serena a Pokéball. "It's Emolga."
"But she doesn't trust me," Serena said. "And I don't know any of her moves!"
"Oh, that might be tough," Iris said. "Don't worry. You can do it! I believe in you."
"But…but…"
"Geez, I thought you had more initiative than this," Iris said. "You can't have someone telling you everything if you want to become a Pokémon Master."
"B-but I don't want to be a Pokémon Master…"
"What are you talking about? You have two badges!" Iris said. Dragonite dove downwards as they avoided some more blasts from Team Rocket. "Just hurry up already! We have to save the Pokémon! And your Pikachu! I know someone who wouldn't hesitate at saving his Pikachu, you know."
That struck a nerve in Serena, and she nodded. "Come on out, Emolga!" she said. "Use Thunderbolt!"
"Emol?" the Pokémon said, gliding in the air.
"Thundershock? Thunder? Electro Ball?"
"Ga! Ga! Ga!" Emolga said, shaking her head.
Serena wracked her brains, trying to think of electric-type moves. Volt Switch was an option but obviously she didn't want Emolga to return to her Pokéball.
"What would Ash do?" she thought. "Pikachu knows Thunderbolt and Electro Ball, but those are out. Wait. Clemont is an electric-type gym leader. He used Luxray in his match against Ash, and he knows—"
"Discharge!" Serena said. And then she covered her mouth. "Oh no that was the wrong move! Discharge attacks everybody, including Dragonite!"
"Looks like you figured it out!" Iris said. "But don't worry about it! Dragonite, use Thunder Punch!"
Gourgeist and Inkay were shocked by the Discharge, sending them flying back into the hapless Team Rocket. And rather than hitting Dragonite, the Discharge arced right to his glowing hand. With a roar, Dragonite rushed forward and punched the Meowth-shaped balloon. The electricity surged throughout the entire body, and it didn't merely pop it—the balloon exploded with a bang.
As usual, Team Rocket zoomed off into the sky.
"What was with that combination attack?" Jessie said.
"That's impossible!" James said. "Thunder Punch can't absorb electricity like that!"
"I guess that's what we get for fighting a Champion," Meowth said, his arms crossed.
"And we're blasting off again!" they all said, disappearing in a white star.
"Woooobbbuuffet!"
"Pika pikaa!" Pikachu said, leaping onto Serena's shoulders. Serena laughed and petted the electric mouse. Meanwhile, Dragonite caught the bag of Pokéballs, and Iris grinned and said "Good job."
With the day saved, they flew back to the daycare house in, fortunately for Serena, a straight line.
"You're back!" Bonnie said, running forward and hugging Serena.
"Iris, we have an urgent lead!" Cilan said. His hair was disheveled as he ran up to them, a Pokégear in his hands. "We have to go! Now!"
"Again?" Iris said, kicking with her feet. "I hardly ate anything! Aw, I'm sorry Serena, Bonnie, and Clemont. It looks like we have to leave quickly again."
"Feel free to enjoy the soup," Cilan said, helping Serena off Dragonite and getting off himself. He looked at the daycare couple. "That goes for you two too!"
"It's fine! It must be important, whatever you're doing," Clemont said. "We'll see each other someday."
"Yup! Bye now!" Iris said, and the friends all waved at each other as Dragonite took off.
"Huh, Pikachu, wasn't that cool?" Serena said. "I kinda want to soar on my own flying Pokémon like that. In a straight line, of course."
"Chu!" Pikachu said.
"Oh dear children, thank you for saving the Pokémon," the old woman said. "Is there anything we can do for you?"
"In fact, there is," Clemont said. "We saw a photo of a scarred Blastoise in a photo album. One of the thieves showed it to us. Was it real? Or fake?"
"Dear me, a lot of people have been asking about that lately," the daycare lady said. "It's not an interesting story. The trainer dropped off and picked up his Pokémon in less than hour! I suppose he didn't like how we took care of the Blastoise."
"Do you know what he looks like?" Serena said, gripping the woman's hands. "Please. It's important."
"The trainer didn't talk or give her name," the old man replied instead. "Why does everybody assume it's a he? It's a girl, lads, I'm tellin' ya. She wore a big cloak, but it's her nature, ya know? I've been in the Pokémon daycare business for years. I've been breeding and hatching eggs before you younglings were born. You'll be arsed if I can't tell the gender of a Pokémon trainer."
Serena's throat constricted. This was it. A real clue. Not only has Tuck definitely been to Kanto, but he was a she. They were one step closer to finding Ash.
"Hey, isn't the Saffron City gym leader a girl?" Clemont said. "And I heard she's very shy."
Serena's heart skipped a beat. Clemont's question almost made her forget. "Sorry, I need something else," she said, pulling out the oval object from the bag of Pokéballs. "I have this egg. It hasn't been shaking or anything. Can you help me hatch it?"
"Sweetie, look," the old woman said. "It's hatching right now."