Pokémon: Above the Top

"Boss, I got a new Pokémon~"

Sato looked at the battered but ecstatic Mark, and for a moment, his emotions were complicated.

'What was this cliche called? A blessing in disguise…? Or maybe: out with the old, in with the new?'

His gaze shifted downward. Sato focused on the Pokémon Egg in Mark's arms. He hadn't even taken a close look yet, but he already had the feeling this wouldn't be something ordinary.

The Pokémon Egg was entirely blue, but its outer layer had a fully transparent, jelly-like "shell." At the very center, there was a glowing orange core.

At a glance, it looked more like a glowing blue eye…

"Where did you get this Pokémon Egg?" Sato raised an eyebrow and asked curiously.

"You won't believe it, boss! When I found this Egg, a Floatzel was desperately protecting it, and a group of Tentacruel were surrounding them and attacking.

The Tentacruel were pretty high-level and really good at coordinating. Floatzel was fighting and retreating at the same time.

I saw they were ganging up unfairly, so I charged in on Togekiss to help. But I ended up falling into the water and nearly got stung by the Tentacruel…

At the critical moment, Arbok broke out of its Poké Ball on its own and dragged me back from death's door!

After Floatzel and I drove off the Tentacruel, it gave me this Pokémon Egg. Hahahahaha! So I still have five partners, didn't lose anyone! Hahahahaha..."

Sato listened to the explanation and silently ran through it in his head. He still didn't know why Tentacruel were attacking Floatzel, but the odd-looking Pokémon Egg Mark was holding didn't seem like something a Floatzel could lay.

'Could it be a genetic mutation? A Shiny Pokémon?'

But it didn't really seem like that either…

"You're all back, why are you standing around the door?" Joseph walked over, drying his hands with a towel.

"Joseph, my bro! I got a new Pokémon! You won't believe this..." And then Mark repeated the exact same story to Joseph.

While happy for Mark, Joseph, like Sato, quickly noticed how special the Pokémon Egg was.

"Boss, Joseph, why are you both staring at my egg like that? Don't tell me you're jealous… hahaHAHAHA!"

Sato: …

Joseph: …

---

About ten minutes later, with Joseph's help, Mark carefully placed the strange egg into the Egg Incubator and filled it with plenty of nutrient solution.

"We still don't know when it'll hatch, but judging from the steady and powerful glow of its core, it seems healthy."

"Alright! Thanks, Joseph~" Mark gingerly picked up the incubator again and checked the Pokémon Egg with great care, bursting into another grin.

As for that scumbag Lapras… whatever, let it go!

"I can't run a full check here. I suggest heading to Pastoria City as soon as possible. The Pokémon Center there is properly equipped," Joseph added.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go now!" Mark spun around to pack his things without a second thought.

"…Get back here."

"Yes, boss! What do you need?"

Sato expressionlessly pointed out the window. Mark followed his gaze and saw that it was already pitch black outside.

"We leave first thing tomorrow. Your job now is to go take a shower, change into clean clothes, and get some rest."

With the order given, Mark didn't dare disobey. He happily ran off with the Pokémon Egg back to his room.

As for whether Mark would be able to sleep that night… that wasn't Sato's problem.

---

That night, Sato wore his pajamas, sitting cross-legged on the bed, meditating and continuing his Dark Energy training.

Zoroark was lying beside Sato, its ears occasionally twitching slightly as it scouted every sound in the surroundings.

Suddenly, Zoroark jerked its head upward, its green eyes staring toward the window.

Sato's fingers twitched slightly, and he slowly opened his eyes. "What is it, Zoroark?"

"Zoro!"

Zoroark gave up on sleep entirely. It stood up alertly and walked step by step toward the window.

Seeing this, Sato shifted from a cross-legged position into a crouch, his right hand slowly resting on a Poké Ball. Zoroark's instincts were never wrong.

The sound of cicadas and birds seemed to vanish in that instant. Sato could hear his own heartbeat… and an unmistakable whooshing noise from outside.

Thump-thump~ Thump-thump~ Thump-thump~

Craaaack!

Three adjacent glass windows shattered all at once. A steel-gray Bronzong floated silently just outside.

Its massive bell-shaped mouth shifted horizontally, aiming directly at them. With a flash of silver light, it fired a shot.

"Gen!"

"Zoro!"

In the nick of time, Zoroark tossed a Substitute in front of Sato, while Gengar had already raised a Protect barrier to block the incoming Flash Cannon.

When the silver light faded, Sato and the others had already vanished from the room. Bronzong hovered around, scanning for a bit, but after confirming no one remained, it slowly floated away.

---

At the same time, both Joseph and Mark were also under attack. After brief scuffles, they each chose to retreat temporarily.

They didn't know who the attackers were, but one thing was certain: this ambush had been planned in advance!

"Ralts, locate Joseph and Mark first. Everything else comes after," Sato said as he slung on his backpack, still in his pajamas. Ralts quietly perched on his shoulder.

"Follow me!"

Blue light flashed in Ralts's eyes, and a map appeared in Sato's mind. The signal lights of Joseph and Mark were both moving rapidly.

"Good… they're both still alive…"

Ignoring the hotel alarms, Sato sprinted directly toward Mark, who was closer.

The three of them had rooms next to each other, but Joseph hadn't come back that night. Judging by the map, he was still busy in the kitchen.

Mark, however, wasn't far and was also on the move. Clearly, he too had been attacked.

"Arbok, Glare! Lucario, Aura Sphere!"

Sato hadn't even run far when he heard Mark's voice, followed by the intense sounds of Pokémon battling.

"Gengar support him."

"Gen~"

Moving faster than anyone, Gengar shot ahead. Sato followed closely behind and soon saw Mark's opponents.

Probopass and Magnezone!

And standing behind the two Pokémon was a tall, muscular man with blue hair, wearing a gray combat suit and a covered face.

Gengar's appearance quickly caught the blue-haired man's attention. Seeing Sato arriving as well, the man immediately chose to retreat.

Mark gave chase without hesitation, but Sato stopped him. The priority now was to confirm that Joseph was safe too.

"BOSS! That guy stole the Pokémon Egg!" Mark shouted, full of anger and urgency, then continued chasing after the blue-haired man.