Pokemon: I'll Exchange Everything

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The next morning, Professor Oak woke early and headed to the lab. The repair crew had arrived and was waiting for the owner to unlock the doors.

Liam, however, was left behind. According to Professor Oak, it was his duty to look after the Pokémon from the lab. 

Prolonged confinement in their PokéBalls could affect both the physical and mental health of Pokémon, so someone needed to care for them.

With a backpack full of PokéBalls and his Pokémon egg in his arms, Liam released his Nidorino. After greeting Aunt Fumiko, he set out to find a place where the Pokémon could play.

"Nidorino! Charge forward with me!"

Striking a dramatic pose and pointing in a random direction, Liam dashed off after Nidorino, who happily bolted ahead. Behind them, Aunt Fumiko stood at the door, chuckling at Liam's antics.

"Haha.. Kids these days are so adorable..."

Liam aimed to find a spot with water, as some of the Pokémon from the lab were aquatic and couldn't thrive on land. 

Aunt Fumiko had mentioned a dense forest behind the town with a clear, calm river running alongside it, perfect for Pokémon like Goldeen, Seaking, and Magikarp.

Following her directions, Liam jogged toward the river with Nidorino. After a few minutes, he spotted a lush forest ahead. As they got closer, the soothing sound of flowing water grew louder.

Pushing aside some branches, Liam stepped into a clearing. Soft grass stretched out like a carpet, dotted with colorful wildflowers swaying in the breeze. 

At the edge of the clearing, a sparkling river quietly flowed.

"Wow, this place is amazing! Alright, everyone, time to come out and stretch!"

Satisfied with his choice, Liam set the egg down carefully and took out all the PokéBalls from his backpack. One by one, he released the Pokémon inside.

"Shrew!"

"Cha!"

"Psyduck?"

"Butterfree~"

"...!"

In an instant, dozens of Pokémon of all kinds appeared on the grassy field. Though initially unfamiliar with the environment, they quickly adapted and started playing together.

Liam approached the river and released the Water-type Pokémon, letting them swim freely. Clapping his hands to get everyone's attention, he announced:

"Listen up! You can all play here for a while, but don't wander too far. If you do, there'll be no lunch for you! Nidorino, keep an eye on everyone, okay?"

"Nido!"

Nidorino nodded earnestly, puffing out its chest and walking around like a proud patrol captain. Liam couldn't help but chuckle at its seriousness.

The other Pokémon went off to do their own thing. Ekans slithered up a tree and dozed off. Sandshrew and Sandslash found a sandy patch to dig in. Butterfree danced among the flowers, while Pidgey and Pidgeotto chirped melodiously from the treetops. Magikarp poked its head out of the water, spitting a Water Gun that hit Psyduck's face. Psyduck tilted its head in confusion, unsure of what had happened.

The peaceful scene was a stark contrast to the usual bustling life at the lab. Liam, savoring the tranquility, lay on the grass with the Pokémon egg in his arms. 

Listening to Pidgeotto's songs, he soon drifted off to sleep.

He wasn't asleep for long. The warm sunlight on his face abruptly disappeared, replaced by a faint scent of straw. Startled, Liam woke up to find a straw hat resting on his face.

"Huh?"

Confused, he removed the hat and noticed someone standing nearby. The figure, tiptoeing away, seemed familiar.

"Ah, sorry! Did I wake you? I just wanted to block the sunlight for you."

The lively voice belonged to none other than Delia, the braided girl he'd met before.

"Oh? It's you, Delia. Is this your straw hat?"

Delia turned around, sticking her tongue out sheepishly.

"Yes, it's mine. I was passing by and saw you lying here in the sun, so I thought I'd cover you up. I didn't mean to disturb your nap."

Seeing her embarrassment, Liam laughed heartily.

Watching him laugh so freely, Delia couldn't help but giggle as well, scratching her head shyly.

"Thanks for the hat—and for your thoughtfulness." Liam propped himself up, smiling warmly.

"Hehe, it's no big deal. Oh, by the way, are all these Pokémon yours? When I got closer earlier, they were all staring at me so intensely—it was kind of scary!"

Recalling the Pokémon's wary gazes, Delia shivered slightly.

"Ah, did they scare you? They didn't mean any harm, though. These Pokémon belong to the lab's professor—the man you saw with me yesterday. Since the lab had a small accident, I'm looking after them for now. They're all very well-behaved."

Liam couldn't hide his pride when talking about the Pokémon. Although they hadn't known each other long, their bond had grown deep.

"Wow, that's amazing, Liam! Taking care of so many Pokémon at once—you're so dependable!"

Delia's admiration turned to curiosity as her eyes fell on the Pokémon egg beside him. She crouched down and gently tapped the eggshell with a finger.

"Is this a Pokémon too? It looks like an egg... Wait, it's glowing! Oh no, it's getting brighter!"

Startled by the increasing glow, Delia jumped up and backed away, eyeing the egg nervously.

Liam was initially surprised but quickly recognized the signs. Overwhelmed with joy, he carefully set the egg upright and watched intently, his heart racing.

"Liam! The egg's glowing! Is something wrong with it?"

Panicked, Delia looked to Liam for answers.

Taking her hand in his, Liam gently pulled her down to sit beside him.

"This is a Pokémon egg, and that glow means it's about to hatch. We're witnessing something incredible, Delia. The birth of a new life. All we can do now is wait and watch quietly."

Delia's cheeks turned red as she felt Liam's firm grip. She tried to pull away but soon realized how tightly he was holding on, likely due to his excitement. 

Exhaling softly, she lowered her head, letting him hold her hand.