Mr. Pokémon's House

Unlike the simplistic beauty that could be found in Cherrygrove City, Mr. Pokémon's house was unspeakably plain. A small, completely nondescript building with beige, paneled walls and a red tiled roof, it looks like a crash pad, a place to be lived in for a few days at a time before moving on. A good place for the weary traveler with need only for a night's rest sheltered from the elements. It did not look as if someone should live there full time. Perhaps such a small, simple, plain place was perfectly fit for a retired man to enjoy the solitude within the trees surrounding the domicile, observing Pokémon in their natural habitat, the unremarkable nature leaving the creatures at ease as the home blends into the woods. So unremarkable that it would never draw the wrong kind of attention. The trio enter the house with their Pokémon at their sides.

"Hello, hello! You must be Beck, Barry, and Ethan. Professor Elm said that you would visit. I have a few things I want the professor to examine."

Mr. Pokémon himself did not match the unremarkable building he resides in. The man is fully clothed in a brown, three-piece suit and a trilby- who wears a hat indoors?-, he looks dressed to impress. Beck wonders if he had dressed up for the three of them or for the man sitting at the computer nearby.

"We came all this way...for eggs?" Barry asks, scratching his head.

"For science!" Mr. Pokémon says, pointing up at the sky. Despite his age, he springs forward, arms flailing and legs carrying him all around the room as he excitedly explains the significance of the...eggs. "What we know about Pokémon evolution has much to be improved."

"And what better way than to start at the earliest stage," Beck says, mostly to herself.

"Exactly, my child!" Mr. Pokémon takes Beck by the shoulders. "You understand it! We need to know more!" He is now shaking her.

The boys begin to speak up on Beck's behalf, but the man at the computer beats them to it.

"Now, now. You're going to scare them off, y'know."

"Ah," Mr. Pokémon lets go of Beck's shoulders and takes a step back. "My apologies, child." He clasps his hands behind his back and clears his throat. "What I mean to say is that I was given this egg when visiting a Pokémon Day Car and simply could not pass up the opportunity to learn more. So I sent mail to Prof. Elm. He is the authority on Pokémon evolution. Wouldn't you agree, Oak?"

"Wait... the Professor Oak? From Kanto?!" Beck rushes over to the professor as he stands from his seat.

"That's right," the old man smiles.

"That explains the lab coat," Ethan says.

"You just wear that everywhere or something," Barry asks.

"Oh, uh, well...yes. I guess I do," Oak chuckles as he scratches the back of his neck.

"Scared someone's gonna think you're a plumber?" Barry folds his arm, clearly unimpressed with the professor's getup.

"Uh..."

"I read your book on regional diversity that you wrote with Professor Kukui last year," Beck interrupts. "I didn't really get all of it, but the parts I got were interesting."

"Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Professor Kukui was certainly an...interesting man to work with. I'm glad to see our work wasn't completely lost on the youth. Where did you find that book anyway? It's only being distributed in Alola right now."

"My...my sister sent it to me."

"She must be very well traveled!"

"Yeah... Anyway, it was a good read."

"I'm so glad you enjoyed it!"

"Suck up," Barry nudges Beck, a lopsided grin plastered on his face. Beck rolls her eyes.

"Perhaps we should let the children run along now back to Elm's laboratory," Mr. Pokémon says. "After all, there is much to learn about these mysterious eggs, and I can see their Pokémon are getting a bit restless." The trio and Oak look around to see that Cyndaquil is nibbling on a chair leg, Ember is throwing her fists against a wall, and Mudkip is rolling around on the floor.

"What rare Pokémon! I feel ashamed keeping them cooped up in here." Oak reaches into a satchel. "Beck, may I ask for one favor from you before you go?" He pulls out a gold-colored, rectangular device. He opens it up to reveal a small screen and a keyboard. "This is the latest version of Pokedex. It automatically records data on Pokémon you've seen or caught. It's a hi-tech encyclopedia! Go meet many kinds of Pokémon and complete that Pokedex!"

Beck begins to reach for the Pokedex, but then stops. "I don't know..."

"Oh? I can't say I was expecting that. Are you sure?"

"I want one!" Barry interrupts. "I bet I can complete faster than anyone ever has!"

"It would be fun to have a Pokedex competition," Ethan pipes up. "Do you have more?"

"I actually have three more with me! Here you both go." Oak reaches into the satchel and gives each of them a Pokedex. "And here, Beck. In case you decide to complete it. I see great potential in you." Oak places the Pokedex in her hand. "But I've stayed too long. I have to get to Goldenrod for my usual radio show. Beck, Barry, Ethan, I'm counting on you!" Oak waves to the Pokémon as he leaves. Mr. Pokémon heals the trio's new companions before they leave.

As the trio exit Mr. Pokémon's house, they receive a frantic phone call from Professor Elm urging them to return to the lab.