"Hmm... now this is truly a curious case. One might even call it a geological marvel in a shell."
Inside a private consulting room within the Solaceon Nursery's high-tech hatching wing, Julian sat across from a man who looked like he had been studying Pokémon since the invention of the Poké Ball. Master Theodore was an elderly man with thick, round glasses that magnified his eyes to twice their normal size, giving him the appearance of a very studious Noctowl. He was currently hovering over Julian's Mystery Egg with a magnifying glass in one hand and a high-frequency scanner in the other.
"Excuse me, Master Theodore," Julian said, leaning forward as the old man let out another rhythmic 'hmmm'. "Do you have a diagnosis? Is the little guy okay?"
Theodore straightened his back, his spine letting out a series of cracks that sounded like dry twigs snapping. He adjusted his glasses and looked at Julian with a mixture of amusement and professional intrigue.
"Generally speaking? I know exactly what's going on. And it's a very good thing you brought this child to us. Most Breeders—even the ones who claim to be specialists—would have looked at the scans from a Pokémon Center and told you to just keep walking. They would have called it a 'slow hatcher.'"
Theodore tapped the shell gently with a gloved finger. "But this isn't a slow hatcher. This is a stubborn hatcher. Young man, if my eyes haven't failed me, this egg didn't come from anywhere in the Sinnoh region, did it?"
Julian shook his head, impressed by the old man's intuition. "That's correct. A very close friend gave it to me. She found it during her travels through the Kalos region and felt it would be better off in my care... though I think she just wanted to see if I could handle the mystery."
Cynthia's face flashed in Julian's mind—the Champion's signature "I know something you don't" smile. It was starting to make a lot more sense now.
"Kalos, eh? That explains the shell density," Theodore muttered, scribbling something onto a digital notepad. "The reason this Pokémon hasn't hatched isn't because it's unhealthy. Quite the opposite—it's thriving. But it hasn't met its Hatching Requirements."
"Requirements?" Julian blinked. "But I've followed the manual to the letter. I've kept it in a standard Grade-A incubator since day one. The temperature is regulated to the decimal point."
"No, no, no," Theodore waved a hand dismissively. "Standard incubators are designed for the 95%. They simulate a cozy nest, a warm pouch, or a sun-drenched patch of grass. They are, essentially, a heated blanket for most species."
He leaned in closer, his magnified eyes staring into Julian's soul. "But this egg is different. Based on the mineral composition of the shell and the internal resonance we just recorded, this is a Rock-type or Steel-type Pokémon. And unlike its cousins who are content to hatch in a mountain cave, this species requires a High-Temperature, High-Pressure environment."
"High pressure?" Julian repeated, his brain already clicking through geological data.
"Exactly. Deep underground. Think tectonic plates. Think volcanic vents where the earth itself is trying to crush you," Theodore explained. "This egg is designed to wait until it feels the crushing weight of the world around it. Without that pressure, the shell won't soften, and the Pokémon inside doesn't realize it's time to wake up. Your standard incubator is basically a five-star spa—and this baby is waiting for a mosh pit."
Julian rubbed his forehead, a laugh of pure disbelief escaping his lips. "You've got to be kidding me. High pressure and high heat? How did Diana—I mean, my friend—even find this thing? Did she go cave-diving in a volcano?"
Knowing Cynthia and her penchant for ancient ruins and dangerous expeditions, the answer was almost certainly "yes." The woman probably considered a volcanic vent a "scenic detour."
"So, what's the move?" Julian asked, feeling a bit helpless. "Do I need to go find a deep-earth cave and sit on this thing like a Magmar for a month? I've got a Gym Match in Veilstone to get to!"
Master Theodore let out a hearty, wheezing laugh. "Haha! Heavens, no. That's why you're at a Top-Tier Nursery, young man. We don't just provide kibble and scratches; we provide the impossible."
He gestured toward a schematic on the wall behind him. "Our facility is equipped with specialized evolution chambers. You see, certain Pokémon, like Onix, require immense pressure and specific metallic coatings to evolve into Steelix. We have a chamber that simulates the conditions found three miles beneath the Earth's crust. It just so happens that those conditions are a perfect match for your egg's needs."
Julian's eyes lit up. "You can hatch it here? Right now?"
"Well, not right now," Theodore cautioned. "Based on how long it's been dormant, it's going to need a period of gradual acclimation. We can't just toss it into the 'Steelix Squeezer' and hope for the best. It'll need about fifteen days of constant, monitored pressure-cooking to prepare the shell and signal the life force inside."
"Fifteen days?!" Julian's heart sank slightly. That was over half a month. He had been planning to leave for Veilstone within forty-eight hours.
"Yes," Theodore nodded solemnly. "It hasn't had the proper environment for a long time. It needs to 're-learn' that it's time to grow. If you leave it with us, I will personally oversee the calibration. We are the largest Nursery in Sinnoh for a reason, boy. I've hatched everything from common Geodudes to... well, things I'm not legally allowed to discuss."
The old man gave a wink that was both comforting and slightly terrifying.
Julian took a deep breath, looking at the egg on the pedestal. He thought about his schedule. Veilstone City was a few days' trek away. Then there was the training for the Gym, the actual battle against Maylene—who was known for her brutal intensity—and perhaps some exploring.
"Half a month... actually, that works out," Julian realized. "I can head to Veilstone, secure my fourth badge, and by the time I'm done with the post-match paperwork and training, I can circle back here to pick up my new teammate."
"A wise plan," Theodore agreed. "Though, I must warn you—Top-Tier specialized hatching isn't exactly a budget service. Simulating the core of the earth isn't cheap on the electricity bill, you know?"
He handed Julian a digital invoice. Julian glanced at the total. It was a number that would make a rookie trainer faint on the spot, but for Julian—who had built up a very comfortable "research fund" and prize money reserves—it was a small price to pay for the safety of his Pokémon.
"No problem. I'll pay the full deposit now," Julian said, pulling out his League-issued credit card. "Just... take care of them. This egg means a lot to me."
"Rest assured, young man. At the Solaceon Nursery, every egg is treated like a legendary treasure."
A few minutes later, Julian walked out of the hatching wing, his pockets lighter and his hands feeling strangely empty without the egg's weight.
As he crossed the main courtyard of the Nursery, he saw the various "zones" the facility offered. There was the Evolution Zone, where a group of apprentices were helping a Scyther through a metallic coating ritual. There was the Skill Training Zone, where a very disciplined-looking Machoke was punching a waterfall.
Julian's eyes drifted toward the Boarding Wing. He saw dozens of Pokémon playing in a beautifully maintained meadow, being pampered by world-class Breeders.
[You know...] a treacherous thought whispered in Julian's mind. [Togetic isn't exactly the 'star' of the upcoming Veilstone match. The Gym is all about Fighting-types. Maybe I could leave him here for 'Specialized Aerial Maneuver Training.' I could just... lounge around Solaceon for a week, eat some ranch-style steaks, and pick everyone up later.]
He pictured himself taking a nap under a tree while professional Breeders did the hard work of teaching Togetic how to dodge Close Combat.
"Wait, no! Bad Julian!" he hissed, slapping his own cheeks.
A couple of passing tourists gave him a weird look, but he ignored them.
"I raise my own Pokémon," he muttered to himself. "The bond is built in the dirt, not in a luxury boarding house. Floette would never forgive me if she found out I tried to outsource her training, and Sylveon would probably use Attract on me just to make me walk into a wall as punishment."
Besides, he had tailored his training methods specifically to his team's quirks. A Nursery Breeder would teach a Togetic how to fly "by the book." Julian taught Togetic how to fly like a chaotic, wind-bending prankster. That was their edge.
"No slacking off," Julian resolved, his eyes focusing. "I've got promises to keep."