Disclaimer: I do not own nor am I affiliated with Pokémon or any of its parent companies. I am merely a humble storyteller. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy this journey with me.
Note: I am English, so some of the wording, spellings, and expressions will be those commonly used in England.
Chapter Nine: Day at the Museum
Leaf stretched and moaned, blinking in the sunlight as she exited the Pokémon Centre. Eevee padded alongside her, having expressed extreme reluctance to go back into its Poké Ball.
Her smile was wide, and it could afford to be; being praised by Professor Oak when she called him to get her Pokédex evaluated lifted her to new heights (and she would be reluctant to admit feeling a bit of schadenfreude at the Professor's harsh words regarding Red and Blue).
She looked back through the Centre's glass doors and gave the random Jigglypuff she met there a wave. Eevee, on the other hand, viewed it balefully; it was like some sort of never-ending nightmare to be constantly put to sleep by that fluffy, pink balloon with ears every time it opened its mouth.
Now, what was first on their agenda? Ah yes, the Pewter Museum of Science. They say save the best for last, but she already wanted to whet her appetite with all the Fossils and artefacts she knew they had on display. She would give the rest of Pewter a gander later.
Leaf and Eevee ran down the streets of Pewter, giving people and Pokémon alike a courteous 'hello' and 'goodbye' as they avoided barging into them. In the distance, she spied the peak of Mt. Moon and slowed down its powerful aura washed over her.
"We're going there next, Eevee," she said. "Fossils and stones and rare Pokémon, oh my!"
Sooner than she expected, Leaf found herself in front of a rather sophisticated-looking building, created of white marble and held up with grooved pillars. Along the top of the building were engravings and silhouettes of mankind's greatest scientific achievements and the ancient Pokémon discovered after eons of being hidden away from prying eyes by time. Etched in calligraphic font were the words 'Pewter Museum of Science'.
"Wow," she breathed. She picked Eevee up and clutched it to her chest.
The entry fee was cheap, which made sense; if it was expensive then how would people benefit? If it was made unaffordable to the masses then how would knowledge be shared, how would people be enlightened, how would communities and societies experience growth? Leaf appreciated that to no end.
The first thing that greeted Leaf was a winged, skeletal structure painstakingly put together with bolts and hooks and hanging from the ceiling with multiple wires.
"Aerodactyl," Leaf whispered.
Another skeleton of a long-deceased creature was erected on its own stand, a skinny thing with a flat head and bladed arms. Its eyeless sockets stared out at nothingness.
"That's a Kabutops, Eevee," Leaf said, holding out Eevee for it to get a better look. "Or should I say was."
Leaf went from the remains of one Pokémon to the next, reading their information on the plaques attached to their stands, absorbing as much knowledge as she possibly could.
"Oh, so Omanyte used to feed on plankton," Leaf said to herself. "But it was hunted by a whole lot of the other ancient Water-types. Intriguing."
"Hello there."
Leaf jumped and backed away for, standing there, was a young man with spiky hair.
"Er, hi," she said, eyeing him warily. "Can I help you?"
"No, just wanting to have a conversation with a like-minded person." He held out his hand to Eevee, who sniffed and then gave him a small lick.
"Like-minded?"
"Yes, like-minded. You see, I'm into Fossils as well and can spend hours here just ogling them." He gave Leaf his hand this time and she shook it, at once pacified by its warmth and strength. "My name's Brock, and I'm the Pewter Gym Leader."
Leaf almost dropped Eevee. "Oh, nice to meet you, Brock. I'm Leaf, and I'm from Pallet Town." She frowned. "Do Gym Leaders always introduce themselves as Gym Leaders?"
"Usually, we do," Brock said. "Funnily enough, I never had the chance to tell my most recent challenger until we made it to the Gym – there was a whole lot of nonsense to work through, so there was no suitable time for it."
He smiled. "Oh well, we were talking about Fossils, weren't we? Do you have a favourite Fossil Pokémon?"
Leaf pondered the question a few seconds before answering. "I'm not sure," she admitted. "They're all great in their own ways. But if you were twisting my arm, I would have to say Aerodactyl."
"Why's that?" Brock asked.
"From the books I read growing up, it was said that Aerodactyl were the greatest predators of ancient times. Sharp claws and teeth, the ability to disrupt their prey with sound waves, the fact that they can fly." Leaf breathed deeply. "I would love to capture one. It would really help my Pokédex, and Professor Oak would be pleased."
Brock did a double-take, recognising the word he had heard twice before. "Are you another one?" he said softly.
"Sorry?"
"No, it's nothing. So, you're working for Professor Oak?"
"Yeah. Well, my two friends and me. They're called Red and Blue. We've each got a device called the Pokédex that we've got to fill with all the Pokémon we've seen and caught." Leaf's smile had a bit of smugness to it. "Not to brag, but I'm on a roll. I've already captured a dozen Pokémon."
"That's quite the achievement," Brock said, nodding approvingly. "And are you planning on taking on the Gyms?"
Leaf shrugged. "It's not really for me, but I might do a couple just for the experience, you know. But exploring Kanto, completing the Pokédex, searching for Legendaries, and hunting Fossils is more than enough for me."
"It seems like you want to go down the route of being a scientist," Brock said.
"Er…" Truth be told, Leaf had not thought about what she wanted to do as a career. Being an archaeologist or a Pokémon Professor seemed like something that would be right up her alley. But she was only eleven! She still had plenty of time to think about that sort of stuff. For now, it suited her perfectly well as an intense hobby.
"Hey, Leaf," Brock said.
Leaf pulled herself out of her stupor and regarded his now serious face.
"Listen, I'm friends with the scientists here; I actually donate some of the Fossils I find in Mt. Moon, and they help finance the running of my Gym. I want you to meet them."
"Why?" Leaf asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Because there's something you might be able to help them with. I tend to do it, but someone working for Professor Oak and already having more free time than a Gym Leader would function a lot better."
Brock's words built the curiosity within Leaf. The least she could do was meet the scientists and have nice conversation with them. So, she followed him past the exhibits, saying a mental goodbye to her new skeletal and rockified friends, and through a back door.
Past the door was a brightly lit corridor, sterile and white, almost hurting Leaf's poor eyes. And at the end of the corridor was another door, a keypad next to it. Brock punched in a code so quickly that Leaf barely had time to look away, unable to discern a single button he pressed regardless. The door slid open, smoothly and silently, and Leaf was greeted by the sounds of whizzing and whirring, buttons clicking and clacking, people in white lab coats chittering and chattering, among other sounds that formed a scientific cacophony.
The scientists looked up, greeted Brock warmly, and went back to work. Only one of them ceased what she was doing entirely and walked up to them.
"How's it going, Brock?" she asked him, shaking his hand.
"It's going well, Tomo," Brock said. "Had two Gym Battles recently. One win, one loss."
"Been speaking to Roxanne?" Tomo asked, giving him a sly grin.
Brock blushed. "We've been talking, you know, about… about how to improve our Gyms, and… uh… you know… other Gym stuff…"
Tomo burst out laughing and slapped him on the back. "I'm just messing with you. And who are they?" she asked, indicating Leaf and Eevee.
"I'm Leaf and this is Eevee," Leaf said. "I'm a Pokémon Trainer from Pallet."
"Not to mention she's working on a very important task for a certain Pokémon Professor," Brock added.
Tomo's eyes widened. "Professor Rowan? But I've heard he's been busy at Celadon University."
"Oh, ha-ha," Brock said sardonically. "No, she's undertaking a task for Professor Oak. And – you'll enjoy this – she's into archaeology too."
Before she knew it, Eevee dropped from Leaf's hands as they were enclosed within Tomo's. "Really!" the scientist exclaimed. "I must say this is amazing to hear! The next generation showing such an interest in the wonders of science and history!"
"Er…"
"And you're working for Professor Oak. And so young too." Tomo seemed lost in her own little world, a distant expression on her face, before she fell back to earth. "I know. Leaf. Brock. Follow me, please."
Leaf, Eevee, and Brock followed the scientist through the room and through another door. They found themselves outside in an enclosed garden, at the foot of one of the many mountains that enclosed Pewter City.
"So, Leaf," Tomo said, which such authority she might have been a different person compared to whom Leaf just encountered inside the museum. "You have an interest in ancient Pokémon, yes?"
"And Legendaries too," Leaf said.
"But you know ancient Pokémon are extinct, right?"
"Right."
"Wrong!" Tomo shouted. She spread out her arms and faced the sky. "No Pokémon can ever truly be extinct! There is always hope of bringing them back thanks to science!"
"Bringing them back?" Leaf said. "What do you mean? That's not possible."
"Ah, but it is, my girl," Tomo said, wagging her finger at her in a rather patronising way. "On Cinnabar Island, a major hub for scientific research, is a facility that is specialising in the restoration of Pokémon Fossils."
"What?" Leaf started to scream before catching herself instead managing a more subdued 'What?' instead. "I don't get it. Something that huge would have made the news already."
"It's all hush-hush at the moment," Tomo explained. "And it's not just us: the Devon Corporation in Hoenn is working towards the same thing. Truth be told, Cinnabar and Devon have been sharing and comparing notes. I hear the Devon Corporation's manager's son is involved too."
Leaf looked to Brock, wishing for him to verify this story. A short nod of his head gave her that confirmation. And what followed next was evidence that put it into the realm of believability beyond any reasonable doubt.
"Brock," Tomo said sweetly. "Would you mind terribly?"
"Not at all," he said, taking a Poké Ball out from his pocket. He pressed the button, and out came a Pokémon in a flash of light, one that had Leaf's jaw hit the ground.
She could not speak. She could not blink. She could barely organise her own thoughts. Then one word tumbled from her tongue: "K-Kabuto."
It was a small creature consisting mainly of a flat, brown shell that had two small black eyes on top. Under the shell was just blackness, hiding what it truly was, except for a second pair of eyes that glowed crimson and its four curved, yellow legs. From its unseen mouth came the sound of hissing.
Instinctively, Leaf pulled out her Pokédex.
Kabuto, a dual Rock and Water-type. Three hundred million years ago, it hid on the sea floor. It also has eyes on its back that glows.
"Wow," Leaf said, for it was all she could say at that moment.
Eevee edged closer and sniffed it; Kabuto hissed back.
"Brock found its Fossil – that's been dubbed the Dome Fossil – on Mt. Moon. Then he took some time off and personally went to Cinnabar to restore it, didn't you, Brock?"
"That's right," Brock said. "I've only had it a couple of months, and I only started to use it in battles last week."
"Is it powerful?" Leaf asked.
"Want to find out?"
"Huh?"
"Yes, that's it! Amazing! Brilliant!" Tomo exclaimed. "A Fossil Pokémon taking part in a battle. Do you mind, Leaf?"
"N-No," she said, hoping her lie sounded convincing.
"Good! Now, I've got a camera somewhere in these darn pockets…"
Considering what her Pokédex told her, Leaf opted for her Bulbasaur, even though she wanted to give Eevee a chance to battle a Trainer's Pokémon as opposed to wild ones for once.
And it was the right choice.
Kabuto was felled with a single Vine Whip, unable to get off a single attack, its dual weakness to Grass-type moves a death knell to it. Tomo barely had time to properly record it.
"That was… anticlimactic," she said, her voice writhe with disappointment.
Leaf gave Bulbasaur a pat on the head, and Eevee nuzzled it. But Brock was locked in ponderous silence, gazing at Leaf. Then, he reached into the insides of his jacket pocket and marched over to her and held it out. It was a grey, octagonal badge.
"Here," he said, grinning. "You've earned it."
"Is that… is that the Boulder Badge?" Leaf asked, her eyes wide like dinner plates. "But that wasn't a Gym Battle. And you used a Pokémon you've hardly battled with. We didn't earn that. Besides, I'm not planning on trying for the Pokémon League."
"That doesn't matter," he said. "Even if I would've used my other Pokémon of comparable levels to yours in an official Gym Battle, I still would've lost. Besides, consider it a bit of a souvenir too and remember the day you encountered a restored Pokémon for the first time."
Reluctantly, Leaf took the Boulder Badge. Her first ever Gym Badge, and she was not even planning on taking part in the Pokémon League! Still, she would treat it as Brock said, using to remember this day, because how often was it that one got to encounter a battle a Fossil Pokémon?
The trio re-entered the museum, followed by Bulbasaur and Eevee, where Tomo led them to a table. On the table was a glass cylinder. In the glass cylinder was an amber-coloured lump.
"I know, I know," Tomo said, reading Leaf's face. "It doesn't look too impressive. I mean, its not a Fossil per se, is it? However, just because it's not stone, doesn't mean it hasn't got secrets, doesn't mean we can't have another Pokémon being revived, does it?"
"Wait," Leaf said. "Do you mean that –"
"This little lump can be revived as a long gone Pokémon? I absolutely do. This item – this Old Amber – came into our possession recently, and studies have shown that it contains strands of DNA from millions of years ago. We barely got it before the DNA died out."
Tomo opened the top of the cylinder and, as though holding fine china worth thousands, plucked it out. The Old Amber shone brilliantly.
"Leaf," Tomo said, suddenly deadly serious again. "Would you take this Old Amber to Cinnabar Island? We want to confirm what Pokémon this is without any room for doubts. It doesn't matter how long it takes, just provided that it's done."
"Why me?" Leaf asked, struggling to swallow. She jabbed a thumb towards Brock. "Why not Brock? He's done it before."
"I took a break last time, remember we said that," Brock said. "I can't do it all the time when I'm the Gym Leader here, especially with it being the Pokémon League season. I'm expecting to be overrun with battles any day now, so my time's not my own now."
"What about your colleagues?" Leaf asked Tomo.
"We've each got our own duties to perform," Tomo replied. "Please, Leaf."
Could she do it? Could she safely guide the Old Amber to Cinnabar Island? And what would she do when the Pokémon was revived? Was it hers? Did she have to capture it? Would it attempt to kill her in a frenzy caused by the madness of resurrection? What if it managed to flee? There were so many variables to consider.
Something touched her leg. She looked down, into the eyes of her trusted Pokémon, and warmth rose in her chest. It would be fine. As long as she had her friends, then there was nothing they could not do.
"I'll do it," she said. "I'll head there when I can, but hopefully I won't take too much time."
Brock gave her a thumbs-up. Tomo, on the other hand, wrapped her arms around Leaf and gave her a big squeeze. On the plus side, if Leaf ever found herself being suffocated by an Arbok or Ekans, she would already be prepared for it.
Thus, Leaf was bestowed with the Old Amber.
She said her farewells to Brock and Tomo and made her way back to the Pewter Pokémon Centre, the Old Amber safely stowed away in her rucksack.
But first, Mt. Moon beckoned her, and she would answer its call.
