“Teacher Forrest, why do you need to take me there?” Terrance asked, surprised.
“If I could, I’d let you go on your own. But Pokémon Day Care is off-limits to students. Even though you’re a bit special… rules are still rules.” Forrest replied with a hint of annoyance; he didn’t want to waste time on this either.
There were quite a few Pokémon Eggs that fit the criteria for Terrance’s request, but the number was too much. Feeling helpless, the staff member contacted him, and Terrance submitted a request that he will choose one himself…
This kind of unprecedented request put the staff member in a tough spot, but given Terrance’s reputation at the academy, as an exception, he was granted permission to go to Pokémon Day Care to select the egg.
However, the environment where Pokémon Eggs are kept in Day Care is carefully chosen. To prevent inexperienced students from causing damage here, they are generally not allowed to enter. Only teachers with a Breeder license are responsible for management.
But Terrance wasn’t just any student… He had his own insights into Pokémon Egg studies, comparable to some of the Day Care staff. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have insisted on picking his own egg from among such a huge number with such confidence.
Still, since he was technically a student, Teacher Forrest had to accompany him for the selection.
Pokémon Day Care, as its name suggests, resembles a small manor where Pokémon eggs of different types are divided into rooms in different areas. The interior decoration and the surrounding environment are both carefully considered.
“The Bug-Type Pokémon Eggs are the most numerous here, with a large portion being Caterpie and Burmy eggs,” Forrest explained.
“Take Butterfree, for example. The academy has spots suitable for them to stay year-round. These Pokémon add to the scenery on campus, though some still choose to leave. The academy is tolerant with those Butterfree, allowing them freedom, but the ones that stay often have their offspring here. The academy takes care of hatching them, raising them until they’re independent, and then lets them decide whether to stay or go.”
Terrance understood now, though that was just for Caterpie. If it were Scyther, the academy likely wouldn’t be so tolerant, raising them and then releasing them? Terrance shook his head, dismissing the unrealistic thought.
“If you want to exchange for a Caterpie egg, honestly, it’s a headache. Since we introduced the egg exchange program, you’re the first to ask.” Forrest shot Terrance a look.
A Caterpie… a Pokémon that the academy doesn’t mind if it stays or leaves, yet assigning a specific credit value to its egg would be difficult. Too high or too low would be equally problematic.
Terrance chuckled. “Let’s just look at the eggs first.”
Standing outside any of the rooms, Terrance could see the neatly arranged eggs. As he stepped inside, rows of elegant wooden racks displayed eggs with varied patterns and colors, filling his view.
Together with Teacher Forrest, he entered the Bug-Type Pokémon Egg room. Ignoring the dazzling array of eggs before him, Terrance began to focus. Despite the large number of eggs, he could distinguish certain qualities by examining their color, size, and texture.
Before coming to pick an egg, Terrance had done a lot of extra study on top of what he already knew.
“So, are you shocked?” Forrest chuckled as he noticed Terrance’s slight change in expression; it wasn’t often he saw Terrance with such an expression.
“Somewhat, yes. Teacher Forrest, are there only Caterpie and Wurmple eggs in this room?” Terrance asked, taking a deep breath as he looked at the room full of Pokémon Eggs. The number of Bug-Type eggs was far greater than he had imagined, much more than the Grass-Type egg storage room…
As expected of Bug-Types, renowned for their high reproduction rate…
“Oh, I remember there’s also Weedle, but it’s a bit further inside.”
“Then I’ll start choosing,” Terrance said.
“Need my help?” Forrest offered.
Terrance suddenly paused. “Teacher Forrest, maybe we should look at these last. I remember the receipt mentioned there were other eggs that meet the requirements.”
Besides Caterpie, Weedle, and Wurmple, Terrance had also applied for some rarer Bug-Types that were hard to find in the wild. Although the academy didn’t have most of them, there were one or two exceptions, and he wanted to see those first.
“Hmm… all right, follow me,” Forrest said.
They soon entered an adjacent room, where there were fewer eggs, and the environment was entirely different.
“Some of these eggs belong to students and aren’t part of the academy, so they can’t be exchanged. Let me first show you the Pineco egg.”
Terrance nodded and followed him to a wooden rack, where a dark green-patterned Pokémon egg was placed. It had a rather profound feel.
“Pineco, huh? The egg’s color is quite nice, and the patterns look normal. The arrangements for its hatching and storage have been done appropriately.” Terrance nodded,” This Pineco shouldn’t be a Pokémon from the academy, right?”
Forrest replied, “It’s the egg of a Pokémon of Battle Class’ Teacher Seita. He’s agreed to let a suitable student raise it, and you meet the criteria.”
Terrance was tempted.
After evolving into Forretress, it could move freely even without using its limbs. Because it is a Steel type, academic theory suggests that it uses Thunder Wave to assist in its movement.
Unlike typical Bug-Types, Forretress had unique qualities.
“Spinning, bouncing, and rolling.” Thinking of Forretress’ battle style, Terrance was satisfied. This is one of the foundations of excellent coordination capabilities, and they can be combined with moves to show a variety of clever move combos.
Electric-Type and Steel-Type moves both appealed to Terrance as well.
If the Gym needed a strong Pokémon to watch over it, Forretress undoubtedly had the potential.
“This egg shows no flaws; it’s been well-cared for. Its parents must have also been quite excellent,” Terrance thought to himself.
“Teacher Forrest, I’ll exchange for this egg.”
“Oh? You’ve decided? Very well, Pineco it is.” Forrest nodded. “It’s a good choice.”
Terrance nodded. Although Pineco was a carnivorous Pokémon and a bit challenging to raise, small bugs weren’t that expensive, and with proper adjustments, they’d be nutritious enough, which was within Terrance’s means.
“Teacher Forrest, let’s go see the Spinarak egg next.”
…..
[Author’s Note: Ordinary animals exist in this book’s Pokémon world. For example, in Episode 3 at the 10 minute mark of the original series, a Pidgeotto eats a small worm resembling an earthworm. Cerulean Gym keeps regular ornamental fish, and a talking Gastly once transformed into an unknown animal.]
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