The training session was long, connecting Magikarp with the rest of the team and working to strengthen the notoriously weak Pokémon with Corsola shooting Water guns to create something for Magikarp to swim against.
Tyrunt was following her previous training session on improving her jaw strength and mastery of her attacks. Stlix wanted to improve her current power before he introduced other Dragon type attacks and moves to cover up her weaknesses. Due to her Dragon typing she had greater power when using certain types of attack. For example, she would have less power with a fire type move compared to another Fire type but would have more power than a pure Rock type, this is why Dragon types were seen as one of the strongest types, they had naturally more power than most.
Tyrunt needed Fire, Steel, Psychic and Poison type moves to deal effective damage to Pokémon that naturally countered her. Unfortunately, she couldn't learn Poison type moves but Stlix did intend for Tyrunt to learn the several elemental moves involved with biting: Fire, Thunder, and Ice fang.
Stlix had Graveler clambering up and down the rough cliff face to improve the control over his new form, the extra limbs hard to understand for someone who pulled themselves around using only one pair. Stlix did not intend for Graveler to do any extra training until he was accustomed to his new form and its power.
It did feel odd without Beda and Merry, Beda with her stoic determination to get stronger and Merry's cheerfulness and constant reminders to not get badly injured. It felt even stranger of not being close to Floaty for several days, Stlix was very glad for the examination so he could rotate his Pokémon once more.
Stlix really wanted to increase his carry limit, the only ways around it currently was league registered training facilities solely dedicated to it where he could temporarily bring over his full team. Stlix did plan on using Devon Corporation's one, fully stocked and supplied by them. The way to increase his personal carry limit was to gain all eight badges in a region and have the Gym leaders review him as not a public hazard or risk.
It wouldn't do for a trainer to have twelve massively powerful Pokémon they could legally take anywhere if they were going to use them for criminal or terrorist-based activities. The major Teams, like the Rockets, Aquas and Magmas had ways around the rule, but it was put in place to limit their cross region influence.
After the training session Stlix recalled his team excepting Buddy and simply sat for a while, he hadn't spent time with only the steelix for a while and he had missed it. Sitting in the enclosed beach lead against his best friend and brother's armoured form was comforting. Especially after he had gone mad with anger at Damien before, Stlix wanted to relax slightly.
As the sun started setting and the tide came gushing in Stlix left the small beach with Buddy and went back to the Pokémon centre to pick up Merry and wait to see Steven tomorrow.
Upon reaching the Pokémon centre and calling for the Nurse Joy he was met by the lady striding out to him, a smile on her face and two chansey waddling after her. One of the chansey bounded forward and wrapped Stlix in a hug. Or tried to, the chansey's stubby arms only barely reaching around the side of his thighs. Stlix looked at her for a moment before realisation dawned.
"Merry. You evolved." The chansey let out a familiar happy chirrup and hugged a bit tighter.
"Indeed Stlix." The nurse said. "I apologize that you could not bear witness but the evolutionary requirements of the chansey line is secret to the Joy clan." Stlix waved off the apology as he rubbed Merry's head and received her pokeball. He thanked Nurse Joy before walking back to his room for the night, Merry following in his footsteps.
Within his own room, he called Joseph again and reached the man. He asked about the care for Charmander and was reassured that it would be taken care of. The Fire type would have a place built in Stlix's own reserve upon the estate and the best care possible. Stlix's Uncle also said any backlash from Damien's family would be taken care of and whilst he could understand Stlix's anger to try and not take it overboard again.
The next day Stlix woke up and ate a small breakfast before departing for the Devon Corporation in Vermillion. He knew where it was from having walked around the port city in the past few days, it was a street away from the docks for easy access to the ships and easier to distribute Devon's sold goods.
The receptionist recognised him when he entered and directed him off to another room in the facility, one of the Reception's guards accompanying him. When a twelve-year-old could have the power to wreak a city hanging off their belt Devon Corp had seriously invested in security for their works, every single guard being at least Elite trainer level in strength with excellent employee benefits.
With all their security forces Devon Corp had effectively several private armies, part of the reason they were so close to the League, and Silph was the same. Silph was also very well connected to the league and had several security forces rivalling the League's various groups of powerful trainers.
Entering the room Stlix encountered a large open plan lab with several scientists, the security guard left upon reaching the room, and a familiar steel-haired man. Steven Stone. Seeing his cousin Stlix walked over to him and the older scientist he was talking to.
"Stlix." Steven exclaimed as he drew closer. "It is really good to see you. How is your journey going?"
"It is going good. Met new teammates and have willingly caught one Pokémon. I checked Magikarp with the pokedex along with Graveler and it says they have diverse genetics."
"The pokedex. Huh. Dad said about discussing integrating the machine in with a Pokénav and finding ways to make the machine cheaper with Professor Oak. Professor Oak really wants to improve trainer's ability and survivability with the machine, it is unfortunate that the prototype is too expensive to mass produce." Steven rambled out before the older scientist interrupted.
"You say both your graveler and magikarp have diverse genetics according to the pokedex. And your geodude evolved then as well. Strange Pokémon to examine, what a good day." The man started talking to himself at the end with a giddy demeanour.
The next several hours were filled with Graveler and Magikarp being run through several tests after several samples were taken for study. Steven watching with building excitement as results formed. Whilst the results were being compiled, they had a discussion in what Stlix found out something else that had excited his cousin.
"Your tyrunt is a wonder. Due to the fossil, you found we have closely determined several genetic links between Tyrunt and the Axew, Jangmo-o, Gible, Dratini and Larvitar lines. It is likely all of them have a common Tyrantrum as an ancestor which is a possible reason for their own might. Most of the links seem to have kept the Dragon typing with the Tyranitar as an exception. However, the natural ferocity of a Tyrantrum may contribute to Tyranitar's Dark typing, your singular find spearheading several new branches of research." Steven calmed down slightly before he got more animated again. "And the rarest part of it all is the fact that with the complete fossil Tyrunt has been revived with working reproduction organs. Dad is trying to revive another one as soon as possible because of the possibility to reintroduce Tyrunt as a naturally occurring species."
Stlix was shocked and stated the fact, finding the dinosaur fossil all those years ago having contributed to this.
"That's not all." Steven said with a smirk. "One is that Dad wants you to join an event that happens in several weeks. A fossil hunting event happening in Grampa canyon, with your unique abilities any find you may encounter may cause scientific research to advance massively. Two is that Lance wants to meet you and Tyrunt, the possibility of a revived Dragon species rising to prominence attracting all of his attention. The fact that they can now be traced to his own prominent Pokémon is only icing on the cake."
The information overload overwhelmed Stlix momentarily, the fact that another Champion wanted to meet him, and his Pokémon was mind blowing, the fact his own Tyrunt could bring back an extinct species also huge. He sat for several moments absorbing the information when the older scientist wandered over.
"We have discovered something." He announced, raising a pad of paper high above his head like a trophy. "We have discovered why both Magikarp and Graveler are so different."
"Continue Doctor Rasen. I am deeply excited to know what you have found." Steven said animatedly. Doctor Rasen coughed once before stating.
"Well with Graveler we have discovered the reasons for his colouration and size. The reasoning for his colouration is due to a chain of genetic ancestors with recessive genetics. This Pokémon has several Pokémon of the Bonsly, Roggenrola and Carbink line within its ancestry. The confluence has produced this Graveler with curious genetics. Graveler's body is reminiscent of a Gigalith in the fact of how dense and compact it is, causing Graveler to be far denser and tougher than his fellows."
Stlix congratulated and spoke to Graveler as Steven and the Doctor went over the more scientific points and if the difference would breed true. He focused in again when Doctor Rasen came to Magikarp.
"Now Magikarp is far simpler, a magnificent specimen of the Alphate type Magikarp is not a water type. Magikarp is actually showing an active Dragon type with recessive Water, Flying and Steel types, we currently don't know how this magikarp has come to be and how he will change upon evolution. It is unfortunately a wait and see."
Stlix shock was complete as Steven started muttering to himself.
"I have got to tell Lance he is going to be SO jealous."
