Pokémon Black and White
Chapter Thirty-Six
"And this is a Plume Fossil!"
Upon waking up, the exhaustion of tracking down the disappearing Audino but a memory, Ash and his friends soon find that excitement is never far behind. Finishing up the last of a delicious breakfast, provided by the Pokémon Center, that's when the Nurse Joy on duty alerted them to a message.
Thanking them once again for rescuing her dear friend, Nurse Joy told them that Professor Juniper requested their assistance. Nurse Joy hadn't said with what exactly, just that the sooner they arrived, the better.
And thus, that is what led to Ash, Misty, Cilan, and Iris standing across from Professor Juniper.
Professor Juniper holds a simple tray, a fossilized feather encased in rock the only thing on it. She allows each of them and their Pokémon a decent look at it.
The four of them and their Pokémon regard it with mystified expressions.
"Donated to us by Lenora from the Nacrene Museum." Professor Juniper adds.
"Wow!" Ash breathes. "This is from Lenora?"
"What a wondrous opportunity!" Cilan exclaims, clasping his hands together. He even gives a bow. "Thank you Professor Juniper! To see the fossilized remains of an ancient Pokémon," he pauses, takes a breath. "It's quite an honor!"
"It is pretty amazing." Misty remarks.
Despite her friends' enthusiasm, there's one who's not quite as impressed.
"Looks like a rock if you ask me." Iris asserts, giving the Plume Fossil a blank stare.
The crude sentiment almost causes Professor Juniper to drop the Plume Fossil in shock.
"I guess different people do see things in different ways."
"Hey, professor, what kind of Pokémon did the fossil come from?" Ash asks.
"Have a closer look." Professor Juniper says. Placing the Plume Fossil on the top of the nearby three-tiered cart, she removes the book sitting next to it. Flipping through it, she foists it into Ash's hands.
"Huh?" Iris murmurs.
"'Archen,'" Ash reads, the two pages showing a picture of a Pokémon with blue, red, and yellow plumage. It stands on a small tree branch, a volcano erupting behind it. "'The oldest Flying-type Pokémon.'"
"Correct." Professor Juniper says. "Archen predates all of our modern Flying-types, living a hundred million years ago."
"Awesome!" Ash says. "A hundred million!"
Ash closes the book, handing it back to Professor Juniper without a word.
"So it's kind of like Pidove's great, great, great grandparent." Iris says.
"You're right, and now we're going to restore this fossil back to its original form." Professor Juniper says, placing the book detailing Archen's origins back before picking up the Plume Fossil. She looks across the way, regarding the person assisting her in such an endeavor. "The culmination of dreams and hard work. Ready, Fennel?"
It takes a moment before Doctor Fennel responds. Her Munna floating nearby, Doctor Fennel inputs several keystrokes into the yellowish, lime-green machinery before her. The soft blue light of the screens reflecting in her glasses, she looks up, smiling at Professor Juniper. A large and opaque blue screen sits behind her, displaying nothing. Across from Doctor Fennel, a similar screen stands at attention. However, unlike the one behind Doctor Fennel, the one in front of her has a sprawling keyboard attached to it; all manner of buttons upon it.
"Anytime you are."
At Doctor Fennel's response, it doesn't take them long to prepare for the monumental task of restoring a Pokémon fossil. Eager and curious about the proceedings, the knowledge they're witnessing history in the making, Cilan, Ash, Misty, and Iris come to stand behind Doctor Fennel.
Across from her is a moderately-sized dark blue steel contraption.
"The machine is necessary to breathe new life into fossilized specimens!" Doctor Fennel had explained when Ash inquired about it.
Inside the steel contraption, an elevated platform extends from within the chamber. It rests a few inches outside of the device. Professor Juniper pulls on the cuffs of her simple white gloves. Ensuring their security, she gently, carefully, removes the Plume Fossil from the tray and places it on the elevated platform.
"Attention," Professor Juniper says, the elevated platform retracting back into the steel contraption. "the moment of restoring an ancient Pokémon from a Plume Fossil is here."
The opening of the steel contraption closes, the two bars at the top of the door glowing a light green.
"Mm-hmm," Doctor Fennel says with a nod of her head. "Fossil is firmly locked in place."
She begins inputting the necessary keystrokes into the translucent blue keyboard before her.
"Beginning genetic analysis."
After she finishes the keystrokes, the dark blue screen across from them blooms into life. Various diagrams and algorithms appear, displaying Archen's information. The sheer magnitude of it all elicits gasps from Doctor Fennel, Ash, and his friends.
"This Plume Fossil contains memories from long, long ago." Doctor Fennel says. Her eyes glistening, a light rosy hue covers her cheeks. "Memories far greater than we can imagine today!"
Turning around in her chair, Doctor Fennel gets up so suddenly, the action ends up sending Ash tumbling to the ground. While Ash winces as he gets to his feet, he and his friends are too absorbed in Doctor Fennel's exuberance to pay much attention to it. Instead, the four humans and their Pokémon watch as she walks over to the other side of the room. Standing before it, it isn't long before Munna floats over to her trainer.
"Our machine will breathe new life into fossils." Doctor Fennel asserts; hands clasped together at the base of her throat, Munna mimics her trainer's actions.
Doctor Fennel twirls around, spreading her arms wide as if to embrace the data presented before her.
"To take the spark of life buried deep within them and bring it forth is the dream of a lifetime!"
Doctor Fennel twirls around once, taking Munna's paws in hers before they both start spinning around.
"Can you see the ancient Pokémon's form?"
"All I see are a bunch of computer numbers." Iris remarks, a hand scratching at her head. She sighs; shaking her head, she crosses her arms over her chest.
"Seeing the form of a Pokémon in numbers shows what a brilliant scientist Doctor Fennel truly is!" Cilan asserts, sending Iris a knowing smile. "A recipe for genius!"
She ignores it.
"Genius, right." Misty says.
"Fennel's truly a woman with big dreams." Professor Juniper remarks, regarding her friend with great fondness.
A diagram, larger than the others, appears on the screen. Superimposed amongst the other information, it elicits yet another gasp from Doctor Fennel.
"Genetic analysis complete!" she breathes. Turning around to face the others, she has her attention entirely on the Poké Ball in her hand.
Musharna's Poké Ball.
"And now we begin." Doctor Fennel says, throwing the Poké Ball forward. "Come out! Time to shine!"
Doctor Fennel picks up Musharna's Poké Ball the same time Musharna gives a happy little trill of her name.
"Wow, Musharna!" Ash says.
"It's been a long time!" Iris says.
"Dear Musharna," Doctor Fennel is saying, pulling a long, gray cord out of the side of the steel contraption. At the end of the cord is a translucent green top. "your assistance will help bring our dreams to life."
Giving another happy trill of her name, Musharna nods once. She turns over, sleep claiming her quickly. From her forehead, the pink mist of dreams comes. Doctor Fennel puts the cord to Musharna's forehead, patting her gently on the head but once.
"Why Musharna?" Ash asks.
It's Professor Juniper who responds, walking over to stand across from Ash and his friends.
"Do you remember the dream energy everyone has?"
"I do," Cilan says, giving a brisk nod. "isn't dream energy the kind of energy Doctor Fennel has been conducting research on with Musharna?"
"That's right." Professor Juniper confirms with a brisk nod of her own. She turns back around to face her friend. "In order to activate our Pokémon-restoration machine, we need to harness the dream energy Musharna produces."
As if on cue, Musharna glows with a vibrant, light pink light. At the same time Musharna is enveloped in the warm glow, a diagram on the large blue screen shows signs of progress. A circle divided neatly down the middle, one side is a dark blue whilst the other is a familiar pink. The pink coloration steadily increases, meeting the blue color and completing the circle. The circle complete, it transforms into a lighter shade of pink.
An encouraging sight, to say the least.
"The energy charging is complete!" Professor Juniper says.
"Okay, here we go." Doctor Fennel says, a blissful sigh escaping her. Putting her hands together,
she cracks her knuckles before approaching the large blue monitor and the keyboard attached to it. She presses a glowing blue button in the center of a grid of nine. "Engaging!"
As soon as Doctor Fennel presses the button, the steel contraption nearby whirrs to life. It glows with a bright, colorless light.
"Pika!"
"Marill!"
"Axew?"
As for their humans, they're struck speechless by one of, if not the most critical moment. Ash and Cilan have wide-eyed, childlike mystification on their faces, Misty looks on with wonderment, and Iris looks equal parts curious and wary.
"Status, Fennel?"Professor Juniper asks, glancing between her friend and the steel contraption holding the Plume Fossil.
"Excellent!" Doctor Fennel exclaims, her arms spread wide on either side. She clasps her hands together, looking up at the monitor with fervent anticipation. "Four seconds left. Three, two, and one!"
The light from the steel contraption fades along with Doctor Fennel's voice.
Professor Juniper takes a step forward, subconscious or otherwise.
"Fennel?" she calls quietly.
"Systems stable," Doctor Fennel says, her body thrumming with life. "all values normal, vitals accounted for, and...and…" her breath catches.
"Fennel?" Professor Juniper calls, more insistently than before.
More concerned.
"And…" Doctor Fennel continues. She takes a deep breath, turns around. When she does, she shines an absolutely beatific smile unto her friend as well as Ash and his companions. "And we've detected signs of life!"
The other occupants in the room gasp in surprise and joy at the information.
"That means one thing!" Iris says.
"It's a success!" Cilan cheers.
"Let's hurry and have a look inside!" Ash says.
"Oh, I can hardly wait!" Misty says.
The four humans rush over to Professor Juniper. They stand behind Professor Juniper, anticipating what's to come.
"Just a minute." Professor Juniper says softly, sounding more to herself than Doctor Fennel or anyone else. She pulls forth a small video camera, training it on the opening to the steel contraption. Professor Juniper holds it, ready to begin recording.
"I'm waiting." Doctor Fennel says. Removing the cord from Musharna, she places it back in the machine. She goes over to stand next to the opening, a hand on the top of the machine. As for her Musharna and her Munna, both float over to hover next to Ash and his friends. "Now, professor?"
"All set." Professor Juniper answers with a nod. She presses record. "Any time you're ready."
Doctor Fennel simply nods, using the same hand that's on the machine to press an unseen button. The two indentations on the doors of the machine flicker a bright green before the light dims. When it does, the doors open, revealing nothing but a great, colorless fog. Spilling onto the floor, Doctor Fennel coming to stand next to Professor Juniper, the fog continues to persist.
As the fog begins to clear, that's when they hear it.
A high-pitched screech, characteristics of some Flying-type Pokémon.
"Uh!" Iris cries; taking a step back, recoiling.
"Check out that voice!" Ash says.
"Pika Pika!"
"It's the voice from Pokémon history." Professor Juniper asserts, continuing to film the occasion.
"The sound of nature, the abundance of which existed on our planet long ago!" Doctor Fennel adds.
As the fog continues to clear, another cry originates from beyond its veil. What clears the fog completely is Archen itself. With the fog gone, the occupants of the room are able to regard Archen in all its prehistoric glory. Archen doesn't appear to have noticed them just yet. Instead, it flaps its wings, both of them resplendent with colorful plumage.
"Archen!" Ash says.
"Pika!"
"You did it, Fennel!" Professor Juniper says, starting to look just as enthusiastic as her friend. Her face glows with a light pinkness.
"And it looks just like the illustration." Doctor Fennel says.
A soft trill escaping Archen, the prehistoric Flying-type proceeds to jump onto Doctor Fennel and Professor Juniper's heads, sending both of them to the ground. It follows this action up by leaping onto Cilan's face, running atop Ash's head, leaping onto Misty's face, and jumping onto Iris's head to peck at her, sending them crashing to the ground too.
Wincing from the sudden onslaught, it doesn't take terribly long for Ash and his friends to get back on their feet.
Fortunately, Archen's rampage comes to an end.
Jumping onto Musharna's head, Archen slips. Unable to find purchase, Archen ends up flying through the air. It flies through the air, crashing upon the ground. However, that doesn't put an end to its shenanigans.
Shenanigans that are so intense - Archen running around in circles, flapping its wings, a continuous plaintive cry falling from its beak - neither the humans nor their Pokémon notice the three brown seeds that fall behind the back of the steel contraption.
Eventually, Archen tires of running in circles. Archen then proceeds to rush blindly directly into the resilient glass of a nearby window. Despite the collison, Archen is unfazed. It continues to run around, showing no sign of slowing down any time soon.
"Archen, chill out!" Ash says.
"Archen, you've got to try to calm down!" Iris adds.
"Archen!" Ash cries, rushing forward to meet Archen. In his attempt to find some sort of way to soothe the prehistoric Flying-type Pokémon of its anxiety and rage, Ash ends up inadvertently heatbutting Archen. The collision sends them both to the ground. "Ah!"
Despite the accidental nature of the action however, it manages its intended effect. As Ash lies on his back, Pikachu regarding his trainer with concern from his place on his stomach, Archen is more peaceful than it had been a few moments prior.
Its chest rises and falls slowly, rhythmically.
"Headbutting a Pokémon to sleep." Misty remarks dryly, helping Ash to his feet with Iris's assistance. "Guess that's one way to calm it down."
"Well, that was a surprise!" Iris remarks.
"I didn't mean to headbutt it." Ash grumbles. Brushing his shoulders, a hand flies to his forehead, eyes falling close in a wince. "Archen really packed a punch."
"I think you're being ridiculous." Misty says. Despite her words, she smiles, removing Ash's hand from his forehead. The action has a gentleness that robs Ash of the ability to form a coherent thought, much less a sentence. With her vision unobstructed, she notices that Ash isn't as melodramatic as she made him out to be. There's a small, crimson bump on Ash's forehead, presumably where he took the brunt of the collision. "Actually, that does look bad."
"It doesn't look that bad." Iris remarks. "I don't think it's the worst thing you've dealt with."
At the sentiment, the implications, Ash and Misty freeze up. Maintaining eye contact, neither of them say anything as a tense silence ensues.
Doctor Fennel is the one to come to their rescue. Rising to her feet along with Professor Juniper, Doctor Fennel, with great tenderness, takes the sleeping Pokémon into her arms.
"It's truly wonderful!" Doctor Fennel remarks softly, her eyes shining.
Professor Juniper nods, focusing her camera on Archen's sleeping form. "Indeed."
"So," Ash says, swallowing harshly. "This is the first Bird Pokémon, Archen."
"It's quite an accomplishment." Cilan remarks.
"Guess science can be pretty awesome sometimes." Iris says.
"Incredible!" Doctor Fennel breathes, gently rocking Archen in her arms. "It's the past and present united like we've transcended the limiting boundaries of time."
"Welcome to our world, Archen." Professor Juniper says, her voice a respectful whisper. "No wonder you were startled after sleeping for so long. You'll have plenty of time to learn all about our modern era."
"Well, I'm officially impressed."
Though Professor Juniper and Doctor Fennel have cloistered themselves in a secure facility for the restoration of Archen's fossilized remains, they're not as alone as they think. For a short distance away, set up in a dark room within a high floor of a skyscraper are Jessie, James, and Meowth. They busy themselves with eavesdropping upon the progress made by the two influential scientists.
Jessie lowers her headphones as well as the satellite dish serving to transmit the sound waves for easy listening.
"What a brilliant idea to use Musharna's dream energy like that." she says, her lips curving into a smile.
"Since their experiment was a success, let's hack into their computer." Meowth says, looking over his shoulder at James. "Grab every bit of data you can find in that machine of theirs."
"I'm a step ahead of you." James says. Sitting at his makeshift desk, a computer in front of him, he inputs keystroke after keystroke. "I've already managed to break into their network, but their lab's security system is stronger than I expected."
"It doesn't matter how long it takes you." Doctor Zäger says, his voice floating up from amidst the data, firewalls, and decryption programs on the computer.
"Doctor Zäger!" James exclaims, a minimized window of a video feed showing the scientist face in the top leftmost corner of the computer.
"Hm?"
Looking up, speaking in unison, that captures both Jessie and Meowth's attentions.
"The Pokémon-restoration-machine data is priceless." Doctor Zäger asserts. "Do whatever you must to get it all along with any records of their experiments."
"Right." James says. "However, I must exercise great caution, least I alert them of the intrusion."
"This will be worth the wait!"
The sound of the double doors leading out of the room serves as a prelude to the loud declaration that follows. A simple colorless towel over one arm, the other holds a simple dish. Containing specially-made Pokémon food, the dish sits upon a small tray.
Cilan cannot so much as step into the room before he's greeting by the harsh condemnation of his friends. In a startling display of synchronization, Ash, Misty, and Iris hold a forefinger up to their lips, barking out a low, simple, "Shh!".
"Oh!" Cilan says just as quietly, taking into account the reason for the unforeseen harshness. Ash, Misty, and Iris sit on the heels of their feet in the middle of the room. In front of them are Pikachu, Marill, and Axew as well as a small Pokémon bed. And snuggled within the sharp yellow fibers of the blanket is Archen.
Doctor Fennel had procured the bed, recognizing Archen would need somewhere comfier to rest then within the confines of her arms.
"It's sleeping time." Cilan says with a small, fond smile. With the elegance and quietude of a Purrloin, Cilan walks over to place the dish containing Archen's food at the head of its bed. He moves on, walking over to Doctor Fennel and Professor Juniper. The former sits in a light brown leather-bound chair before the lime-green machinery, her Munna floating happily above her whilst the latter stands next to her.
"Thanks very much, Cilan." Professor Juniper says.
"I used my basic Flying-type Pokémon food recipe and added my own touch." Cilan explains. "I sure hope Archen finds it tasty. And besides, there's no need to thank me. If I made a Pokémon's day brighter, that's enough for me."
Doctor Fennel sighs contently, her hands interlocked below her chin, her arms rest on the lime-green machinery. She glances at her friend, smiles. "Juniper, this should give your research a real boost."
"I think you're right." Professor Juniper agrees.
"Huh?" Cilan murmurs, curiosity piqued and reasonably puzzled. "A boost?"
"Professor Juniper is conducting extensive research on the origins of Pokémon." Doctor Fennel explains, turning to look from Professor Juniper to Cilan. "It's truly quite fascinating."
"It's a study filled with many more questions than answers." Professor Juniper says. She glances over at the prehistoric Flying-type Pokémon. "Take Archen for example. Though Archen's the ancestor to all Flying-type Pokémon, it can't fly. By studying Archen, we can discover how flying abilities developed and, ultimately, how they influenced the many Flying-type Pokémon that came later."
Their conversation manages to capture the attention of the other humans in the room. Well, two of them, anyway. Whereas Misty and Iris look on curiously, Ash seems more...distracted. Lost in his own head than anything else.
"We've already discovered a lot." Doctor Fennel assets, her tone a touch satisfied.
"Really?" Cilan asks. "What?"
"Well, its cry." Professor Juniper answers. "We couldn't have learned that from a fossil, true? By analyzing Archen's voice patterns we should be much better equipped to understand how it communicates."
"Which obviously makes Archen very important." Cilan surmises.
As if detecting its the center of discussion, Archen is roused from its slumber. It looks around, slowly and with bleary eyes. Eyes that widen in surprised confusion, no doubt at the sudden, albeit cheerful, greetings of Pikachu, Marill, and Axew.
Archen's awakening proves to be the necessary catalyst for breaking Ash from his mental malaise. He grins, a wide, toothy affair, soon looking over at Professor Juniper, Doctor Fennel, and Cilan. "Professor, Archen just woke up!"
Archen is the one to respond first. Opening its beak, Archen unleashes a loud, ear-splitting screech. At the sudden auditory assault, the humans and Pokémon both put their hands to their ears in a vain attempt to block out the noise. Except Munna, who winces, grimacing. Thankfully, Archen doesn't continue screeching for long.
Unbeknownst to the occupants of the room, the seeds that had been restored along with Archen responded well to Archen's screech. The three little seeds became sprouts, digging into the steel floor and the ground below it.
Archen takes flight, aiming for the windows it had ran into earlier. And Cilan, who springs into action to try and calm the rampaging Pokémon. He stands, legs spread apart, hands outstretched.
"Archen, stop!"
Archen does not stop. Producing a clear orb of spiraling energy within its mouth, Archen releases a transparent beam of energy surrounded by white rings and sparkles.
"Hey, Cilan, look out!" Ash warns.
"Aah!" Cilan cries out. Not wishing to be hit by such a powerful-looking attack, he manages to duck to the ground just as the attack hits the glass behind him. The force of the attack as well as the ensuing vibrations shatters each and every one of the three windows. The splintered remnants fall harmlessly to the ground. "Ugh!"
"I can't believe Archen just used Dragon Breath!" Iris exclaims; she looks between Archen, still running amok and the shattered windows. "That must mean it can use Dragon-type moves!"
Ash's teeth clenched tightly, disgust in his eyes, seeing his friend narrowly avoid being wounded is what forces him to act.
"Ugh! Stop!" Ash demands.
Getting to his feet, he rushes over to Archen. Rushes over, trying to hold the prehistoric Pokémon steady, Ash's arms around its torso.
"Come on, Archen, calm down!" Ash continues, Archen thrashing against the young man's hold. "Chill out!"
His words only seem to further exacerbate the issue. Turning around in his arms so it can glare properly at Ash, Archen proceeds to peck Ash in the face. Over and over again.
"Pikapi!"
"Be careful!" Iris says.
Not for the first time, Misty regards Ash with strangeness in her gaze.
Groaning, forcing himself through the pain inflicted upon him, Ash tightens his hold on Archen. He wraps his arms more effectively around it, bringing it in close for a hug.
"Archen, you've got to try and take it easy!" Ash demands.
Archen's response is another deafening screech. Once again the humans and Pokémon have to shield their ears. Once again, the prehistoric seeds continue to grow, going from small saplings to sprouts of considerable size.
When Archen's screeching subsides, Ash is the first to notice a most encouraging sign. Giving his close proximity, Ash can see how all the yelling has exhausted Archen; the prehistoric Pokémon pants heavily. Moreover, it doesn't seem in any rush to leave the security of Ash's embrace.
"Everything's okay, Archen." Ash says softly. As a gesture of good faith, he places the tired-looking Pokémon on its claws in front of him. Continuing to crouch down low to the ground, Ash maintains eye contact with Archen, searching the other's half-lidded eyes. "We all just want to be your friends, understand?"
Such a sentiment causes a sort of stir within Archen; it opens its eyes fully, confusion swimming within them.
Ash nods his head, hoping for reassurance as he offers a simple, "Mhm-hm."
With the chaos abated for a moment, a sense of peace befalling the room, Pikachu is the next to act. Taking a small brown cylindrical piece of Pokémon food from the dish Cilan provided, Pikachu bounds over to his trainer. Climbing up to rest on Ash's shoulder, Pikachu allows Ash a glimpse of the proverbial peace offering.
"Pikachu!"
"Great idea!" Ash praises, taking the lone piece of Pokémon food. "Thanks, Pikachu!" he offers it to Archen, both for a better look and to indulge in. "Here! It's food!"
Archen approaches Ash cautiously. Standing right before the young man, the prehistoric Pokémon is none the wiser to Professor Juniper's continued video documentation. She resumed doing so once she recovered from Archen's screeching and promptly realized the importance of Ash's actions. Archen sniffs the piece of Pokémon food curiously. Archen sniffs and sniffs, until finally, it decides to take a chance and takes the piece of Pokémon food into his beak.
Archen chews it all for five seconds before, a look of pure disgust appearing on its face, spits it out.
"You don't like my food?" Cilan says, looking aghast. He sounds more puzzled than angry. He lifts a hand to rub at the back of his head, no doubt wondering what could've possibly gone wrong in his recipe, the culmination of carefully selected ingredients.
Archen responds not only by batting the chewed-up crumbs away with a talon, but by running off too. The direction of Archen's path lines up with that of the shattered windows.
"Oh, Archen, wait!" Ash says.
"Pika!"
Archen leaves Ash, a devastated-looking Cilan, and the other occupants of the room behind, rushing over to the center window before jumping off the ledge. All the while, observed with high-powered binoculars by Jessie and Meowth of Team Rocket.
In the wake of Archen's sudden departure, the humans and their Pokémon rush through the building to better investigate what's happening with the prehistoric Pokémon. The first to emerge from the cozy building are Professor Juniper, Doctor Fennel, and her Munna. They're followed by Ash and Iris with Cilan and Misty coming up behind them.
Looking around the open area, breathing in the fresh air, it doesn't take them long to find Archen. They find it ascending a nearby tree, its branches overladen with Aspear Berries. Archen stops on one of the higher branches.
Continuing to record Archen's behavior with her camera, Professor Juniper is the first to comment. She speaks, bringing attention to how Archen sniffs one of the Aspear Berries inquisitively.
"Archen appears to be in search of food." Professor Juniper says, smiling appreciatively as that isn't the other thing that captures her notice. "It's not able to fly, but it's great at climbing."
Archen gives a particularly low-hanging Aspear Berry a sniff before swallowing it whole.
"It's eating!" Ash says.
Archen promptly spits the remains of the Aspear Berry out.
"Huh." Ash says.
"Eating doesn't mean liking." Doctor Fennel says.
"This could be a problem." Professor Juniper says. "We don't know what it eats. So how can we know how to take care of it?"
"Isn't there something like that in the book?" Misty asks.
Doctor Fennel is the one to answer, shaking her head sadly. "Unfortunately not. The book only depicts the barest amount of information."
Archen jumps down from the tree. With naught a cry, the prehistoric Pokémon regards the humans and their Pokémon curiously. However, there's one amongst them that Archen's attention zeroes in on.
"Munna!" she cries happily, hovering in front of Archen, a few centimeters away.
Archen proceeds to jump into the air, flapping its wings. Archen does the same thing twice more before Pikachu, Axew, and - at Misty's permission - Marill run over to investigate Archen's actions.
"Pika?"
"Axew?"
"Wow!" Ash breathes. "Is Archen trying to fly?"
"Is sure looks that way." Iris says. "Do you know what that could mean?"
"I certainly do," Cilan says. "we could witness the moment when the ancestor of all Flying-types learns to fly!"
"Of course!" Professor Juniper exclaims. "Being able to witness the development of its flight would be a treasure beyond words!"
"Okay, Archen, you need help!" Ash asserts, bringing out Tranquill's Poké Ball. He releases Tranquill a moment later. "Tranquill, I choose you!"
Tranquill appears with a cry of its name, flapping its wings once. Tranquill descends through the air to land in front of Archen, the prehistoric Pokémon sitting on the ground, seemingly beaten for the moment.
"Tranquill!"
Tranquill turns around, flaps its wings once, and inclines its head in Archen's direction. Getting a running start, Tranquill takes flight. Tranquill soars through the air, much to Archen's amazement.
Staring in wonderment for a short while more, Archen gets into a running start of its own. As the prehistoric Pokémon continues running along the ground, Pikachu, Axew, and Marill come to run a short distance behind it. As for Tranquill, it comes down to glide next to Archen. They run around the garden area in front of the building.
"That's it, Archen!" Ash cheers. "Keep working on flying, just like that!"
"Utterly fascinating!" Professor Juniper remarks, regarding the action through her camera. "A modern Pokémon teaching an ancient Pokémon how to fly?"
"Archen's so cute, imitating Tranquill." Iris says.
"This is a meeting that transcends time." Cilan adds. "The surprisingly tasty blend of ancient and modern flavors has created a nouveau cuisine!."
"Just goes to show how Pokémon aren't that different from each other." Misty says.
"I wanna be a part of this!" Iris declares, reaching up a sleeve for a Poké Ball. "Emolga, come on out!"
Releasing Emolga into the world, she comes to stop in front of Archen right as Tranquill flew past. Her eyes sparkling, Emolga winks at Archen. Sending a flurry of pink hearts toward it, the Attract surrounds Archen before sinking into it, a large pink heart appearing before disappearing in a puff of pink smoke. Considering how Archen looks around with an ambivalent expression, it's clear to see that the move failed.
"There goes Emolga using Attract again," Iris says. "although it's not working."
"That means Archen's a girl!" Cilan says.
Archen walks over to Emolga and promptly pecks her right in the face. In response, Emolga raises an arm high, an orb of crackling electricity appearing. Throwing it at Archen, the Volt Switch colliding with her in a flash of blinding brilliance, Emolga flies between Iris and Cilan in a blur. When she does, she forces Stunfisk free of its Poké Ball.
"Stunfisk." it says, looking ambivalent about being forced from its Poké Ball.
"Oh, dear, my Stunfisk!"
"Emolga!" Iris cries. Whirling around, she glares up at Emolga relaxing on a tree branch. "I told you not to use Volt Switch!"
"Dear, your Emolga's Volt Switch is quite unusual." Professor Juniper remarks. "Wouldn't you say?"
"Oh, yeah." Iris agrees. Hanging her head low, she half-heartedly raises Emolga's Poké Ball to return her.
Directing their attention back to Archen, they find her staring neutrally at Stunfisk. A stare Stunfisk returns.
Several moments pass.
Without preamble, Archen lowers her head and bites Stunfisk's face, right below the nose.
In response, Stunfisk leaps away from Archen. With electricity arcing off its body and a look of indignation, Stunfisk fires off a Thunder Shock. Both of them become suffused with the blinding glow of electricity.
"Stunfisk, stop it right now!" Cilan cries.
Following Cilan's demand, the blinding glow persists for but a moment before it subsides. As it dims, the aftermath reveals a satisfied Stunfisk and an irritated Archen.
"Sorry, Archen." Cilan says, giving Stunfisk a surreptitious glare before casting kinder eyes upon the prehistoric Pokémon. "You okay?"
Archen shudders minutely for a few tense moments before releasing a piercing cry. An ear-splitting cry that is steadily - and unpleasantly - becoming more and more familiar.
Whilst the humans and their Pokémon spend the next couple minutes recovering from Archen's cry, they are unaware of the happenings within the nearby laboratory. Despite the increased distance, not only does Archen's cry cause the three prehistoric seeds to grow, an explosion of life occurs.
Further breaking up the floor, the branches reach up high, curling beneath the ceiling. Large leaves spread throughout the saplings as they begin to intertwine with one another. Aside from damaging the floor, the prehistoric flora damages the nearby technological equipment, blue light sparking off of them.
Once they recover, Ash and the others return to the task at hand: Teaching Archen how to fly.
Archen returns to running along the ground whilst Tranquill flies above her.
For the next few hours, Ash and his friends seek to help Archen get off the ground. They go about it in varying ways.
Ash and Misty and their Pokémon cheering Archen on, offering words of encouragement.
Archen and Tranquill running around the nearby grounds.
Iris and Axew taking archen to a nearby assortment of flowers set in an indentation in the ground. The raised platform serves as an adequate and safe method for Archen to jump off, achieving the wonders of flight.
In theory.
Instead, Archen runs up the side facing away from Iris only to fall on her face on the side facing toward Iris.
Professor Juniper says nothing, content to record the ensuring shenanigans for posterity. Not only would the sight of the ancestor of all Flying-types flying be extremely awesome - the words parahased from an excited, rambling Ash - the sight would be both a sentimental treasure as well as a scientific breakthrough.
As for Cilan, he leans back against a wall. Standing near the entrance of the research facility, a few short paces away from Doctor Fennel, her Munna, and her delightfully cute saffron laptop, Cilan conducts his own research in regards to Archen. In one hand, Cilan holds a small piece of Pokémon food. In his other hand, he holds a small black tablet. The device holding most of its attention, its screen displays diagrams and assorted relevant details of the Pokémon food he made.
He ponders what he could to ensure that Archen has the proper means of nutrition and nourishment.
The midday sun shining bright, Doctor Fennel presses the enter key of her laptop. The result is a diminutive, much less offensive reproduction of Archen's lingering cry. Despite the mechanical nature of the sound, it causes the nearby prehistoric flora to blossom even more. As it increases in ferocity and girth, it ends up intertwining itself with the steel contraption.
"Very interesting." Doctor Fennel murmurs, a hand going to cup her chin.
She lowers it soon after, inputting several keystrokes into her laptop, recording her thoughts.
"Ready?"
Observing the back-and-forth antics of the Twerp and his lackeys, Jessie feels an overwhelming sense of boredom. Gritting her teeth, she closes her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she lowers the binoculars at the same time she turns to James. With naught else to do, Meowth does the same.
"Very soon now." James replies, a small smirk beginning to pull at his lips. He continues inputting keystrokes in an attempt to bypass Professor Juniper's firewalls and unlock the information stored beyond. "Very, very soon."
"I'm counting on you." Jessie says; lifting a hand to her mouth to blow James a kiss, she gives him a wink.
"Me, too!" Meowth says, giving James a simple, steely-eyed stare.
Jessie scoffs, turning back to the Twerps. She resumes looking through her binoculars at the same time as Meowth. "How naïve can Twerps be?"
"No more than Twerps are." Meowth says. "We take their data while they're clueless!"
"Indeed."
Continuing to teach Archen how to fly, Ash, his friends, and their Pokémon stand in a loose semi-circle next to the prehistoric Pokémon. They watch with amused little smiles as Archen runs in front of them, trying to pick up speed. Tranquill flies in a circle above them, ready to lend aid when needed.
Professor Juniper and Doctor Fennel stand nearby, the doctor having called the professor away to discuss an important matter with her.
Doctor Fennel continues to play Archen's deafening cry at a manageable volume, having set it to loop shortly after Professor Juniper arrived.
"Ever since it's restoration," Professor Juniper says. "Archen's been making that same lingering cry."
"Now that you mention it, I think you're right." Doctor Fennel says.
"I have a theory that cry isn't any normal cry." Professor Juniper says. "It must have some kind of purpose."
Unbeknownst to the two women of science, and even Ash and his friends, she is entirely correct. When faced with the repetitions of Archen's cry, the prehistoric flora continues to grow and grow. It's gotten to the point where not only is the room that the humans previously occupied completely consumed by branches and vines, some of them spill over the walls, lending the building a cozy, earthen façade.
The theory leaving a lull in their conversation, Professor Juniper and Doctor Fennel watch as Ash and his friends get into position to further assist Archen. The young men and women choosing a long, wide pathway, Ash stands at one end with Pikachu, Misty, and Marill. At the other end, Archen stands with Iris, Axew, and Cilan. Tranquill spectates from above, wings flapping in the breeze.
"Okay, now fly, Archen!" Ash shouts, spreading his arms wide.
"Go for it!" Iris cheers.
"We believe in you!" Misty adds with a wink.
"Pika!"
"Ax!"
"Marill!"
Archen proceeds to run along the ground and, to the humans and Pokémon collective surprise and joy, begins to fly. Granted, she's only a few inches off the ground, but there's no denying Archen has taken flight.
"Flap your wings as hard as you can!" Iris advises.
"Awesome!" Ash cheers. "You're doing it!"
Archen, however, cannot maintain flight for long. A third of the way to Ash, Archen crashes to the ground to the sound of the young man's astonished gasp.
"It's okay, you were flying." Ash asserts. Running over to Archen, he takes to sitting cross-legged in front of her. "You've come a really long way. A little more practice and you'll be flying just like a pro."
Archen gives a happy cry at that.
An amused chuckle escapes Cilan, seeing Professor Juniper approach him out of his periphery.
"How's it going?"
Cilan offers Professor Juniper a smile, lowering the video camera she gave him when she was called by Doctor Fennel. "Archen's attempts to fly are getting better and better."
Professor Juniper says nothing to that, the two of them watching as Iris and her Axew approach Ash and Archen from his right and Misty, Marill, and Pikachu approach them from Ash's left.
"Archen's awfully close." Iris remarks.
"Yeah, but not there yet." Ash says.
"Ash is such an interesting trainer." Professor Juniper comments.
"Huh?"
"He's putting an amazing amount of effort in to help train a Pokémon that's just been restored." Professor Juniper elaborates. "It's obvious he's got a natural talent for putting himself in a Pokémon's place."
"Like a unique ingredient in a four-star recipe." Cilan says. "And that uniqueness and natural talent are among the principal reasons why I'm traveling with him."
Meanwhile, Doctor Fennel plays Archen's lingering cry one more time before getting to her feet. Her eyes firmly on her laptop, neither her nor her Munna notice the vines stretching from the overhead windows, nearly touching the ground.
"Give it all you've got, Archen!" Ash says. "This is great! Can't wait to see you fly!" he looks up to his Tranquill. "Hey, Tranquill, you can help out, too!"
A joyful cry escaping Tranquill's beak, she comes to perch on Ash's hat, the young man laughing.
The interaction elicits the prolonged cry from Archen.
Doctor Fennel stands on the threshold of the laboratory where they restored Archen in stunned silence. Her eyes wide, mouth slightly parted, she can hardly believe what she's seeing, much less comprehend it.
From the floor to the ceiling to the walls, every inch of the once pristine area is covered with large, winding branches. She can see moderate green leaves jutting out from the structure at random intervals. Blue electricity sparks off the machinery as the flora punctures through it, claiming it for its own. From the monitors to the keyboard consoles to even the steel contraption, nothing is safe from nature's reclamation.
And that's just what little she can see; most of the entryway is nearly covered with branches.
"What's all this?" Doctor Fennel wonders, her Munna offering a concerned cry as Doctor Fennel lifts a hand to gently hold one of the leaves. A startled little gasp leaves her, her hand coming away wet. "It's moist."
Wiping her hand on the cool fabric of her white laboratory coat, Doctor Fennel decides upon her next course of action. Racing away from the room overtaken by nature, the door slamming shut, it doesn't take Doctor Fennel terribly long to get outside.
"Something's happened!" Doctor Fennel asserts as soon as she exits the building, her words leaving her in a rush. A hand flying to her lips, a startled expression falls upon her face as she sees Ash, Misty, Cilan, Iris, Professor Juniper, and the Pokémon looking up. Their gaze seems locked somewhere above her head. "Ah! What are you looking at?"
No response.
Only when Ash clears his throat does Doctor Fennel receive an answer.
"Huh?"
Saying nothing, Misty points up and ahead, gesturing above Doctor Fennel.
"Ah!"
Coming out from the alcove afforded to her by the building's architecture, she steps into the sunlight. Turning around, she quickly finds what has struck even Professor Juniper speechless. The branches that had overtaken the laboratory were not limited to that one space. They spread out across the façade of the building through the laboratory's three double windows.
Spreading out, the branches coil around the chimney, the clockhouse, until the entire building is intrinsically linked with nature. It doesn't appear to stop that as a golden tendril materializes near the window. When it does, solidifying into a branch, not only does it have a modest leaf attached, but three identical light pink buds appear on the edges of the branch.
More than that, they blossom into three enormous dark orange oval-shaped fruit, flecked with black spots. That isn't the end as more and more buds appear all over the branches and amidst the leaves, blooming into a baffling amount of fruit.
"Pika!" he breathes.
"Marill!"
"What in the world is going on?" Professor Juniper wonders.
"That's what I'd like to know." Doctor Fennel says. "In all my years of research, I've never seen a fruit like that."
Judging by the ecstatic cry that fills the air alongside the animated flapping of wings, someone has.
"Archen?" Ash says.
"Huh?" Professor Juniper says.
Neither the humans nor their Pokémon say anything more as Archen scales one of the branches. Jumping from branch to branch, she lands in a spot where the fruit appears to be in greatest density. Without pausing to take a breath, Archen wrenches one of the orange, black-dotted fruits from the branch and swallows it whole.
A startled gasp escaping Professor Juniper, she turns to Cilan. "Cilan, my camera!"
Cilan looks at her for a long, befuddled moment before processing her request. "Right."
"Excellent idea, Juniper!" Doctor Fennel remarks, Cilan handing the camera off to Professor Juniper so she may document the unfolding events.
"Look at that!" Cilan exclaims, Archen continuing on her way by jumping up and down three times in excitement before chomping down on two more fruits.
"So that fruit's got to be what Archen eats." Ash surmises.
"It does look pretty good." Misty adds.
"Archen looks so happy!" Iris remarks as the Pokémon in question proceeds to gobble down three more of the strange fruit.
"Hungry, too!" Cilan adds.
Licking her beak, Archen twirls on a clawed foot as she unleashes her familiar, lingering cry. The effect is amazing: the branches react to Archen's cry, more buds and even more fruit materializing. Archen tears off another fruit, savoring every bite.
"It's growing more fruit!" Ash says in awed tones.
"Could it be because of Archen's voice?" Cilan muses.
"I think so." Professor Juniper says.
"It has to be!" Doctor Fennel declares. With twinkling eyes, she turns to Professor Juniper. "That tree has been growing in sync with Archen's cries."
"How can that be?" Iris says.
"I've heard of Pokémon being good with nature," Misty adds. "but never like this!"
"I'd say some ancient seeds must have been fossilized along with Archen's Plume Fossil and restored at the same time she was." Professor Juniper theorizes. "Perhaps the two are so intrinsically linked that this is how Archen ate millions of years ago! Or, given the ramifications of the restoration process, maybe it bonded Archen and the seeds in some miraculous way!" Professor Juniper takes a breath, beaming at nothing. "The possibilities are astounding!"
"Spoken like a true scientist!" Cilan remarks with a snap of his fingers.
As for Archen, she devours three more pieces of the mystifying fruit. She reaches up on her claws for a low-hanging fruit when suddenly, she stops. Her eyes wide, Archen relaxes on the tree branch. Wrapping her arms around herself, her wings obscuring her body from view, she closes her eyes and begins to glow, her entire body suffused with a light bluish-white.
"Look, Fennel!" Professor Juniper cries.
"I see it." Doctor Fennel says softly.
The humans and Pokémon watch as Archen's form changes, shifting and elongating, becoming something greater and different, yet the same. Her being increasing in size, light green lines circle around her as yellow sparks appear around her from, until finally, it stops.
All of it fades, the color and sparks, leaving behind something different in the wake of Archen's evolution.
A proud cry fills the air as Archen - no, Archeops - flaps her wings, the span of which has increased considerably.
"Archen evolved!" Ash cheers.
"Into Archeops!" Professor Juniper says, her hand shaking on the video camera. She takes a deep breath to steady herself.
Looking around her immediate surroundings, Archeops flaps her wings once. Appearing to gain a greater confidence with them, she flaps them with such force and in such quick succession that it manages to unleash a gale upon the humans and their Pokémon. They recoil at the powerful currents, ensuring that nothing is sent flying away.
"So powerful!" Iris remarks.
"Yeah, if Archeops keeps this up…" Misty says, trailing off on a smile.
"Alright, go for it, Archeops!" Ash says. "Fly!"
With but a determined nod in his direction, Archeops flaps her wings once, jumps off the tree branch, and takes to the skies. Archeops flies low at first, cruising past Ash and his companions before going higher and higher. Each of them humans and their Pokémon look on proudly, watching as Archeops soars through the air.
"Success!" Professor Juniper cheers, grinning behind her camera.
"Archen ultimately learned how to fly by first evolving into Archeops." Doctor Fennel says.
Archeops trills contently, Tranquill coming up to fly beside her. Exchanging a few words about the joys of flying, they take to flying throughout the sky together.
Ash and his friends aren't the only ones enthused by the sight of Archeops flying through the air.
"Hey, Archen evolved!" Meowth says.
"My interest's evolving as well." Jessie remarks.
"Finished!"
The loud declaration diverts Jessie and Meowth's attentions from Archeops to himself.
"Huh?" Jessie and Meowth say, lowering their binoculars to better see James. Meowth takes his interest a step further by approaching his cohort.
"Data for the Pokémon-restoration machine has been copied." James elaborates, the screen before him soon showing the diagrams and algorithms presumably used by Professor Juniper and Doctor Fennel to restore Archen to life. "Once I send the data to Doctor Zäger, our mission will be complete."
"Say," Jessie starts, taking but a step away from their vantage point at the window. "while we're at it, why don't we catch Archeops?"
"Hm…" James and Meowth say. Smirking, they share a glance with one another. However, the smirk soon falls from James' face, the young man giving a slow, deliberate shake of his head.
"James?" Jessie says.
"Perish the thought, dear." James says, waving a hand through the air. "Our mission is simple: infiltrate the programs of Professor Juniper and Doctor Fennel and acquire the information about the Pokémon-restoration machine for Doctor Zäger. No more. No less."
"He's got a point, Jess." Meowth says.
"Perhaps he does, perhaps he doesn't." Jessie counters. "But the mission of Team Rocket is equally simple: capture rare and powerful Pokémon for the purpose of strengthening our ranks."
"She's got a point, Jimmy." Meowth says.
James doesn't acknowledge Meowth, engaging in a staring contest with Jessie. Neither of them say anything.
"Archeops would be a powerful addition to Team Rocket," Meowth says. "but that would involve getting past the Twerps."
Jessie grimaces, but doesn't offer a rebuttal. She crosses her arms over her chest, brings herself to her full height. "Very well. We leave at dusk."
James and Meowth each give a curt nod.
"There will be other powerful Pokémon." James says. "Pokémon that find the idea of joining our ranks more...agreeable."
The Team Rocket trio of Jessie, James, and Meowth set themselves to the task of cleaning the room they're in, removing any evidence of their presence.
With a flap of her wings, Archeops unleashes another lingering cry. The sound revitalizes the branches surrounded her, causing more to appear, to reach higher and further over the building. At present, the research facility Professor Juniper and Doctor Fennel utilized for the study and restoration of Archen looks completely dominated by plant life.
Archeops gives the immediate area an appreciative nod, taking to examining the branches. Her mannerisms seem so terribly familiar, Cilan ends up humming thoughtfully.
"It looks like Archeops is going to make a nest." he explains, unprompted.
"It looks that way." Professor Juniper agrees, smiling at the sentiment, the sight before her. "Pokémon are so full of power and mystery. I've never witnessed a more perfect example than Archeops."
"Is it a good idea for Archeops to be…" Iris interjects, sweeping her arms in wide arcs to indicate the immediate area. As for Archeops, she's content investigating her future nest, eating the delicious fruit all around. "here of all places?"
"What do you mean?" Ash asks.
"I mean," Iris says. "this place isn't exactly populated, let alone Castelia City, but shouldn't Archeops be somewhere more—" she shrugs her shoulders helplessly. "—natural or something?"
"Or something?" Cilan asks, an eyebrow raised.
Doctor Fennel speaks up. "Maybe we should simply allow Archeops to make this place into its home."
"But do you think that's a good idea?" Iris persists.
"Well," Professor Juniper interjects, placing a comforting hand on Iris's shoulder before moving on to place the opposite one on her friend's shoulder. "we are the ones who awakened Archeops. Aren't we?"
"Mm-hmm." Doctor Fennel says, looking over from Archeops to her friend with a nod.
They turn their attention back to Archeops.
"In order to survive here in our modern world, Archeops will need the proper environment." Professor Juniper says.
"And this area is rather secluded." Doctor Fennel adds. "I firmly believe that this is the best place for Archeops to start a life."
"The best place for Archeops." Cilan murmurs, clasping his hands together. "You're absolutely right! What we see unfolding before us is a magnificent intertwining of the natural world with the civilized world!" he brings his hands apart. "It's truly romantic."
"Yeah." Misty says. "It is, isn't it?"
"I guess?" Ash says.
"If you say so." Iris mutters, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Fennel, we should conduct the rest of our research elsewhere." Professor Juniper asserts. "The best way for Archeops to acclimate to our modern era in her new home is to be free of human interference."
"I think you're right, Juniper." Doctor Fennel says agreeably. "With the data we've already collected along with the video documentation provided by you and Cilan, you may have enough to really aid your research."
"If I may," Cilan says. "I'd like to analyze the fruit that Archeops has been eating. It may provide invaluable hints not only to her physiology, but that of prehistoric Pokémon as a whole. Also, while it doesn't seem Archeops's supply is in any danger, I would like to deduce as to whether I can craft a meal suited to her tastes."
"That's a wonderful idea!" Doctor Fennel remarks.
"If Archeops will allow it." Professor Juniper says. "Considering Archeops prior behavior, it might not be terribly unlikely that she's territorial about her food."
"I understand." Cilan says, regarding the two with a curt nod before turning to Ash.
The young man starts at the intensity of his friend's gaze. "Cilan?"
"Ash," Cilan responds in kind. "I believe if anyone can persuade Archeops to relinquish possession of one of her many fruits, you can."
Infuriatingly, Cilan doesn't elaborate.
Despite his friend's ambiguous words, it doesn't take Ash long to figure out Cilan's meaning.
"Hey Tranquill," he says, looking up at her. "Think you can talk to Archeops?"
"Tranquill." she says.
Flying over to Archeops, Tranquill engages her fellow Flying-type in conversation. The two talk amongst themselves for several moments, an encouraging lack of hostility betwixt the two, before Tranquill returns to her trainer. Tranquill hovers in front of Ash, but he doesn't miss how Archeops seem to be peeking around her side, as if eavesdropping despite the distance.
"Tranquill quill." she says.
"Tranquill says it's okay for Cilan to check out the fruit." Ash says by way of translation.
"Excellent!" Cilan cheers. "Thank you Arch—"
"But," Ash stresses, looking a cross between pensive and smug. "Only I have to be the one to get it."
"Oh." Cilan says softly, his shoulders dropping.
Approaching the overgrowth of branches and leaves, Ash gingerly grabs hold of the nearest - and lowest-hanging - of the fruits. Wrenching the fruit free, Ash directs a grateful smile over at an inquisitive Archeops. Before the possibility of Archeops changing her mind can arise, Ash promptly turns on his heel, rushes over to rejoin his friends, and hands the prehistoric fruit over to Cilan.
"Truly astonishing!" Cilan remarks, holding the fruit with careful, reverential hands. He closes one eye, peers at fruit. "I can feel the millennia separating us, almost smell the era in which both Archeops and this fruit originates!"
"Gee, that's a surprise." Iris remarks.
"I must study this at once!"
With that bold announcement, Cilan takes the fruit and proceeds to entire the research facility.
Much to everyone's shock and consternation.
"Can he find the kitchen?" Misty wonders.
"It is possible the kitchen has escaped all of this." Professor Juniper says.
"But have the hallways leading to it remained unscathed?" Doctor Fennel retorts.
Professor Juniper and Doctor Fennel share but a glance before running into the facility after Cilan.
Those left behind have naught but their thoughts for company presently.
Ash wonders how a prehistoric fruit would taste. They're delicious to Archeops, considering the way she devoured them so voraciously. And they look amazing, glistening in the evening sun. Their texture wasn't that abhorrent either;
And the smell.
Meanwhile, Misty's thoughts are occupied by something else entirely. She's dimly aware of the fact Iris ran in after Cilan long before Professor Juniper or Doctor Fennel took a step. In fact, it might be the adrenaline of the day, seeing the restoration of an ancient Pokémon, but there was something...familiar about the action.
Eerily so.
"Maybe I'm just going crazy." Misty muses.
"Huh?!" Ash starts. Blinking furiously, he looks over at Misty. "Did you say something, Misty?"
"No, I didn't say—" Misty breaks off at the sight of Ash's face. At the trail of drool dripping from the left side of his mouth. "Ash, really?"
"Really what?" Ash says, looking to his left and to his right. He lifts his right hand to his face and comes away empty before lifting his left hand. He grimaces, pulling his hand away. "Oh."
Misty nods.
"The fruit looks really good." Ash reasons. Rubbing his face against his left shoulder, he looks up and over at Misty with a rueful grin. "Sorry."
"Pikapi."
"I'm guessing you probably want to go after Cilan too?" Misty says. "I'm guessing they found the kitchen by now."
"That does sound good." Ash admits, a dreamy look in his eyes. A dreamy look that soon changes to that of determination. "Let's go!"
Ash runs off for the interior of the building without so much as a second glance.
Misty observes the space Ash vacated with fond eyes. Shaking her head, she's about to follow after him when she takes note of Tranquill hovering nearby.
"He gets excited about food sometimes." Misty says. "Sorry, Tranquill."
"Tranquill quill."
Misty assumes Tranquill is unbothered. In spite of her assumptions, Misty glances over at Archeops. "Maybe you can help Archeops build her nest. She could at least use the company."
"Tranquill!" she trills. "Tranquill quill!"
Misty smiles, watching as Tranquill flies over to Archeops. Considering what she can witness from a distance, the two of them are both grateful for the companionship.
"Now," Misty says, already running toward the research facility with Marill in tow. "let's find the others!"
Remarkably, Misty finds the way to the kitchen relatively unobstructed.
Although there are branches and leaves marking the walls and breaking up the tiles of the ceiling, they're more of an eyesore than an obstacle to overcome.
Walking into the kitchen, taking in the quaint surroundings, Misty finds Ash, Cilan, and Iris on the opposite side of the kitchen from Professor Juniper and Doctor Fennel. The two scientists have their heads down, appearing to be discussing something of a great yet secretive nature. As for her fellow Pokémon trainers, Ash and Iris stand on either side of Cilan. The man himself stands before a counter covered with the remains of the prehistoric fruit - the pulp and the seeds - and a Pokémon food dish.
Of the two, the exciting nature of their actions, it doesn't take her terribly long to decide which one to gravitate to.
"Hey guys!" Misty greets the three of them, her face falling at how they seem mesmerized on the food dish. Sidling next to Ash, she asks, "What are we looking at?"
Iris shushes her the same time Ash says, "Cilan's trying to figure out how to use Archeops's food to make something she'll like."
"Huh." Misty says, both her and Ash getting another shush from Iris. "And how's that going?"
"Aha!" Cilan exclaims suddenly, triumphantly. "I've figured it out!"
"You have?" Ash asks.
"Figured what out?" Iris adds.
"Something to do with Archeops's food, I bet." Misty says.
Exploding in a flurry of activity, Cilan deposits the remains of the prehistoric fruit into the Pokémon food dish. He proceeds to take a nearby mortar and pestle - his possessions - and grinds the fruit until it becomes a fine paste. Using a variety of spices - again, his possessions - Cilan covers the paste beautifully and efficiently.
Lifting the Pokémon food dish to his face, he inhales deeply.
"Très magnifique!" Cilan cheers.
"It looks good." Ash says.
"Pika!"
"Marill!"
"Axew!"
"But is it good?" Iris says.
"There is simply only one way to find out!" Cilan declares.
Cilan rushes out of the kitchen, leaving the five other humans and their Pokémon behind. Sharing a glance, Ash, Misty, and Iris run after him whilst Professor Juniper and Doctor Fennel pay them no further attention. Instead, the two scientists observe the video camera footage documented by the former as well as Cilan.
"It's fascinating." Doctor Fennel remarks.
"Indeed." Professor Juniper says. "If anything, this proves how much more we have to learn from Pokémon and our relationships with them."
"Munna!" she cries happily.
Emerging back outside of the research laboratory, Cilan and the others discover Archeops and Tranquill soaring through the sky. Aside from the grace exemplified by their harmonic actions, the display is made all the more incredible by the enchanting sunset casting them in orange and yellow hues.
Tranquill is the first to notice them.
Pausing midflight to say something to Archeops, Tranquill flies down to greet her trainer and his friends.
"Looks like you two have been having some fun!" Ash remarks, grinning at Tranquill.
"Tranquill!" she trills affirmatively.
"Tranquill!" Cilan exclaims, placing a hand on Ash's shoulder whilst addressing his Pokémon. "If you may, could you tell Archeops I've crafted a dish for her to partake in?"
Tranquill responds by flying back up to meet Archeops.
There's a moment of conversation before both of them return. They land upon the ground, both of them regarding Cilan expectantly.
"It's an unfinished product," Cilan says, placing the food dish in front of Archeops. "However, I believe you'll find it a most scrumptious dish."
Uttering a soft cry, Archeops regards the food dish warily. She leans down, gives the contents a curious sniff. She must enjoy the aroma, for not a second later, she opens her beak and devours the contents of the food dish in one gulp. Cilan quite likes how Archeops cries happily, a stark contrast to her previous purveying of his culinary offerings.
"Wonderful!" Cilan declares. "Thank you Archeops! You have provided me most excellent information!"
"Well, I guess this is something to be happy about." Iris remarks with a shrug the same time they hear a voice behind them say, "What's all the commotion about?"
Turning around, Ash and his friends find themselves across from Professor Juniper and Doctor Fennel, both of them walking out of the facility with Munna.
"Cilan thinks he found a way to make Pokémon food for Archeops!" Ash says.
"Perhaps." Cilan concedes. "The tastes may end up extraordinarily different from each other."
"That's great news, regardless!" Doctor Fennel says.
"And I don't think Archeops is gonna end up hungry at time soon." Misty remarks wryly, indicating not-so-subtly the nearby prehistoric fruit.
"Indeed." Cilan says. "Say, Professor Juniper, what's going to happen to Archeops?"
"Well, I'd like to research Archeops and her behavior a bit more." she answers. "But that can wait for another day. For now, considering how much Archeops has made this building her home and how unlikely it is that humans will bother her, this is the best place for Archeops to live happily."
"Juniper is right." Doctor Fennel adds. "In fact, part of what made this building such an efficient research facility is the minimal, nearly non-existent interaction we have with other people."
"So, Archeops will be all alone?" Ash asks.
Professor Juniper opens her mouth to comment, only to have her words get overwhelmed by an avian cry. The humans and Pokémon look to Archeops.
"Archeops," Professor Juniper starts. "Is something wrong?"
Archeops replies with a questioning cry, tilting her head to the side.
"Pikachu?"
"But if Archeops didn't make that cry then…" Ash says, trailing off unsure.
Just then, another cry fills the air. And another. And another.
"Sounds like Archeops!" Iris says.
"Three, to be precise." Cilan says. "But that's impossible!"
"Pika Pikapi!"
Pikachu follows up his exclamation with a perk of his ears and an animated gesturing toward the horizon. Ash turns to look, followed by Misty, their Pokémon, and the other humans.
"Hey, look!" Ash exclaims, pointing near where the sun hangs low in the sky. To the three indistinct figures flying in their direction. "Up there!"
"But it can't be!" Doctor Fennel says.
"Munna."
The three shapes solidify, leaving no doubt as to their identity as well as leading Professor Juniper to cry out in shock.
"More Archeops?"
A surprised cry escaping her, the Archeops that had been restored just a few hours prior flies up to meet the three incoming Archeops.
"What do you know," Ash says, their Archeops getting into an animated discussion with the other three Archeops. "there are other Archeops!"
"It's true!" Professor Juniper says.
"But where did they come from?" Doctor Fennel wonders.
"Some hidden place in the Unova Region that has allowed them to survive for all these millions of years?" Professor Juniper theorizes.
"But, how is that possible?" Iris says, even as she gapes in amazement at the sight of not one, but four prehistoric Pokémon existing before her very eyes.
"And why are they here of all places?" Cilan adds.
"Archeops' cries must have been calls for others of its own kind." Professor Juniper says.
"How wonderful!" Doctor Fennel cries, her eyes glistening. "Archeops is such a beautiful Pokémon! Not only are their cries responsible for the cultivation of their food, but also for communication between them across hundreds, perhaps even thousands of miles!"
"And we get to see it all happen!" Ash cheers. "So awesome!"
"We are pretty lucky." Misty remarks.
"It feels as if we're watching history unfold before our very eyes!" Cilan says.
Archeops unleashes a powerful cry, echoed in perfect harmony by the other three Archeops. Not only do all of them appear incredibly joyful at the interaction, but the nearby branches and leaves grows even further, more fruit sprouting into being.
The four Archeops proceed to separate: the three newcomers collecting some of the fruit, managing to hold one in their talons whilst maintaining flight, their Archeops landing before them.
"So you see, Archeops," Professor Juniper says, smiling gently at the prehistoric Pokémon. "Beyond this area, there is an even better place for you to live after all!"
Archeops gives an affirmative cry.
"Take care of yourself, Archeops!" Ash says.
"Pika!"
"Take care of the other Archeops, too!" Iris says.
"Axew!"
"Don't forget about us, okay?" Misty says.
"Marill!"
"Best wishes!" Cilan adds. "And stay safe!"
"Tranquill."
Landing in front of Archeops, Tranquill stares at her fellow Flying-type evenly.
"Archeops!" she cries, smiling with closed eyes.
The two share in a kind of embrace, Tranquill wrapping one wing around Archeops's torso as Archeops does the same.
Archeops goes over to the branches and leaves and yanks free a single fruit before flying up and away with her fellow Archeops. The Archeops Professor Juniper and Doctor Fennel restored gives them a fleeting glance before flying off into the sunset. Saying nothing for a time, the humans and Pokémon wave at them in parting.
"I'd sure love to know where they're flying off to." Ash admits. Dropping his hand, his companions doing the same, he watches the four Archeops fly away, gradually disappearing. "I'll bet wherever it is, there'll be lots of ancient Pokémon!"
"Me, too." Doctor Fennel admits. Briefly removing her glasses, she raises a forefinger to dry her eyes. "But right now, my only wish is the Archeops find lasting peace."
"Yes, me, too." Professor Juniper concurs. "And it makes me happy just to know they'll all be living somewhere in this world together."
"And if they ever require more food or revisit old memories, they can return here." Cilan says.
"Do you think we'll ever see them again?" Iris wonders.
"I think we will." Misty asserts brightly the same time Ash walks forward a few steps and bellows, "Archeops, see you again!"
Ash and his friends and the two scientists exchanges words of gratitude, thanking each other for the aid and opportunity the other provided before going their separate ways. Ash and his friends on the road to the Nimbasa City Gym and Professor Juniper and Doctor Fennel to wherever they research may lead.
"Excellent! I've reviewed and confirmed the design data! It's all truly remarkable!"
After making themselves scarce from the skyscraper they were utilizing to spy on the Archeops, the Twerps, and their Twerpish associates, the Team Rocket Trio hid themselves away someplace safe and secure before contacting Doctor Zäger and presenting them with the good news. It didn't take long for his face to appear on the laptop in James' possession. It took even less time for the information to be conveyed.
"They were using Musharna's dream energy for the restoration." Jessie says. "Question. Will that be a problem?"
"No." Doctor Zäger answers curtly, going on to elaborate. "We're still in possession of the energy sample you obtained during your visit to the Dreamyard. And using that will be easy."
The doctor's words trail off into amused chuckling.
Originally Added: October 13th, 2019.