Chapter Fourteen

Ancient Matters

Roark had froze in utter disbelief. Kelly was squealing like a school girl and jumping up and down. I was about to pee myself. After all this time, with all these crazy people, we had gotten a Gym badge. Although the TM Stealth Rock he gave us was completely unhelpful for the time being.

"Claire! You did it! I'm so proud of you!" yelled Kelly as the exhausted Charmander hugged her pant leg.

"Let's go now. Please. I want to eat." Claire's stomach growled; adding emphasis to her statement.

I laughed weakly; relief washing over me. Roark and Kelly shook hands once again, before we left the Gym; high in spirits. Raina and Greg trailed behind us. Shelley had been in another bad mood upon leaving the Gym; yet she walked by Claire and I. She was always with us; and despite cussing us out on a regular basis; she was basically family. We hurried along to a Pokemon Center and healed Kenya. She came back out good as new, and we were about to leave Oreburgh, when it happened.

Kenya was trotting circles around us when we passed a boy playing with his baby Happiny. Suddenly; the ball they were playing with rolled out into the street. The Happiny began crying. Kenya froze for a split second.

"Ball!"

Before we could stop her, she darted at the ball and snatched it up.

"Hey! Get back here with my ball!" yelled the boy.

"Don't yell at my Shinx!" yelled Kelly in return.

Kenya wagged her little tail and crouched low; ready to play.

"Nido, Pucca, after it!"

A male Nidoran and a Snubbull appeared and chased Kenya; who turned and ran as fast as she could in the opposite direction. They hadn't got the slightest chance of catching her.

"C'mon. We gotta go find her," mumbled Kelly.

Greg grumbled and Raina sighed.

"Look, Kelly. I'm getting sick of these crazy Pokemon! The Turtwig is hateful, the Charmander is happy one moment, sad the next, the Poochyena is constantly yapping and barking about something, and the Shinx seems to have her own caffeine supply! Why can't they be normal? You know, like Charlie!"

(So I take it she wanted us to be large hunks of blubber with zip for personality?)

Kelly stood back; in shock Raina of all people had blown up at her.

"Hey! I do not constantly yap!" I barked.

"See what I mean!?" yelled Raina exasperatedly; pointing her finger at me angrily.

Kelly looked genuinely hurt. I wasn't concerned though.

"Um, hello? The Shinx? Has everyone forgotten our hyper little friend who's namesake is an African country?"

When no one decided to answer me, I decided to sulk. This accursed language will be the death of me.

Raina sighed; looking terribly worn out.

"Kelly. Greg and I are going back to the hotel, okay? Get Kenya, and get back. We're ready to leave this stupid town."

She patted Kelly's shoulder, and then turned and walked back to our room. Greg followed; but stopped when he noticed there wasn't the pitter patter of Turtwig feet behind him. "Shelley, c'mon!" he said.

Her response?

"Go to hell you obnoxious, greasy little human."

"Someone's pleasant today," Claire said; suppressing laughter.

"Fine, stay with them. See if I care," he mumbled.

Kelly didn't wait to watch them leave.

"C'mon, you guys. They ran over that way."

That way; ending up leading us to the Oreburgh Mine.

"Are you sure they went this way?" I asked no one in particular.

Suddenly; a loud yell echoed through the tunnels.

"Gah! What is wrong with you! How are you going so fast!?"

Claire glanced at me. "That answer your question?"

We ran down the dimly lighted tunnel to our left and followed it a while until we rounded a bend; and the scene unrolled before us. The Nidoran and the Snubbull were lying unconscious up against the wall. The boy and his Happiny had they're jaw dropped. Kenya was giggling, and electricity crackled around her.

"You- she, b-but!" the boy stuttered.

Poor kid. After dealing with us; he will probably be scarred for life.

"Erm… sorry about that," muttered Kelly. "Kenya! Bring it here, sweetie."

The Shinx walked over to Kelly and reluctantly dropped the slobbery ball into her hand. Kelly grimaced before handing it over to the steaming boy.

"Um… it's all yours," chirped Kelly encouragingly.

The boy recalled his Pokemon, snatched the ball out of her hands, and promptly left; incredibly peeved off.

"Kenya, you can't just go running off like that!"

Kenya ducked her head; disheartened she had been reprimanded. "But good job for KO'ing those two Pokemon." Kenya instantly perked up.

Shi, Shinx!

Kelly picked her up and we were about to leave when something caught my eye. There was a rock; a different color than the tunnel walls, protruding about four inches. I ran over to it and stood up against the wall; forepaws on either side of the rock.

"What is it, Shadow?"

I barked once and she came over and examined the odd rock.

"Hey, it's loose!" she exclaimed; wiggling the rock back and forth. She turned to us.

"Shelley, do you think you could use Vine Whip to yank it out?"

"Sure; no problem Kelly," she replied; wrapping her vines around the rock.

She gave one hard yank, then another, then another, until finally it dislodged itself and clattered to the rocky floor.

"It's… a fossil?" said Kelly; obviously surprised.

"That would be correct; O one of great wisdom," I sneered.

"Erm, okay. Cool, huh?" Kelly showed us the fossil.

It was basically a flat piece of rock with a oval shaped dent in it. The oblong oval had a single line running horizontally through it. And… that was it.

I yawned.

"Remember how I asked for that food at the Gym? Well, that was a really long time ago. Let's leave this death-trap!" yelled Claire.

I think I heard her stomach growl from across the room. Once outside of the mine; we leisurely walked into the little restaurant located beside the mine. Kelly ordered a cheeseburger and had them warm up a bottle for me. Claire, Shelley, and Kenya all contentedly munched on the Pokemon food served at the restaurant. After my bottle, I entertained myself by watching the other customers in the diner. One young man caught my eye.

He couldn't be a day over twenty; but his eyes were darting back and forth; but always seemed to end up resting on Kelly. My fur bristled as he rose and scrambled over to our table.

"Um, excuse me, little girl? Are you… uh, aware of what you have there?"

Kelly furrowed her brow and stared at the dweeb who stood over her; eyes glued to her bag. I swear he was foaming at the mouth slightly.

"Uh… a trainer's bag?"

He showed intense irritation at her sarcasm. "No, you stupid kid!"

I toyed with the idea of neutering him. But; I guess not liking a guy isn't technically a good enough reason to amputate that guy's favorite appendage.

"… It's a fossil. Why?" she asked; understandably suspicious.

He sighed dramatically. "Not just any fossil! That's an Armor fossil. I've been looking for one for three months! Did you just find it?" he asked; trembling with excitement.

"Man… what a nerd," snorted Claire.

Kelly stifled a snicker. "And what's so special about an Armor Fossil?" she asked; humoring the poor guy.

"I have a fossil collection! I have four Skull Fossils; but not a single Armor Fossil. I need that Shieldon!"

(So that's what the fossil contained)

He pulled a fossil from his knapsack; revealing one with a circular indention with spike-shaped dents pointing towards the outer edges.

"See? It's so dull; I just have to have that Armor Fossil! Oh please, miss; have pity on me," he whined.

Kelly took advantage of his supreme idiocy. "What's in it for me?"

He handed her the Skull Fossil from before to her, and then grabbed at the Shieldon fossil. He pulled on it; but she didn't let go.

"And, what else?"

He frowned at her.

Kelly simply said, "Look; it sounds like these Armor Fossils are pretty rare. I just want to get my money's worth. I was going to sell it for a little cash, after all."

He frantically searched through his belongings and rummaged up a few things.

"Um, I have this TM, three berries, and this… well, this weird looking stone."

He handed them over to Kelly, and she handed over his precious fossil.

"If you change your mind and want to revive that fossil; go the museum a few blocks down. There's a wacko scientist there. He'll be really excited to help you."

Our odd little guest then grabbed his bag and left the restaurant; Armor Fossil clutched to his chest.

"Well that was certainly interesting," mumbled Kelly.

"Cool, cool! A fossil! Can I touch it, Kelly! Please?" Kenya leaped up into Kelly's lap and happily poked the fossil with her snout.

"Well guys; I have a decision to make. Sell it for a little cash; or get whatever Pokemon it contains."

She looked at it, then her depleted cash supply, and then back at it once more.

"Let's go revive an ancient Pokemon."

Once Claire; the slowest at nearly everything, had finished her meal, we were once again out on the street and on our way to the Oreburgh Miner's Museum. Kelly showed the receptionist her fossil.

"Right this way." We walked through a series of halls; lined with rare fossils and other underground stuff.

"Here is Dr. Wesson's lab. He will have that fossil back to life in approximately fifteen minutes."

"You guys stay in the hall," whispered Kelly.

"Why would we do that?" I barked.

"Shh! Quiet, Shadow! This is a civilized, public place."

I shot her a look.

"Please. Just stay here."

She entered the door; fossil in hand. Not five seconds later; she was shoved back out.

"Now don't you worry; I'll have that Cranidos ready in a jiffy! Just look around for, oh, I don't know, about fifteen minutes? Thanks."

The exuberant older man shook her hand and disappeared. We strolled up and down the halls; not because we were looking; we were only walking so we wouldn't fall asleep. Finally; we heard a door burst open.

"Ms. Walsch; your Cranidos is very much alive, now."

She bolted to the door. I sidled up next to her and stared at our new teammate.

"Where am I? What type of two-legged Pokemon are you?" demanded the dino. I was the first to speak to him.

"Welcome to the traveling insane asylum!"