Chapter 208: Isn't This Aerodactyl Moldy?
By: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
Soon, due to the strange, inexplicable explosion, Ash, Gary, and the crowd of Hikers all left the Deep Pit Cave, discussing animatedly under the sun.
"It really might be the Underworld down there."
"But the smell of Fossils is really strong too. There should be a lot of them there."
"I suspect someone went in ahead of us and sabotaged us in secret. They probably caught all the big fish!"
"I think so too."
Ash and Gary, who were just about to sneak away from the crowd, jolted violently. The Poké Balls on their waists now held over twenty genuine prehistoric fossil Pokémon.
Given the situation, were they going to be searched?
"Shing!"
A brilliant golden light shot into the sky, making a sound like a sharp blade being unsheathed. The clamor of arguments came to a sudden halt.
This golden light made all the Hikers' breathing quicken and even dazzled Ash's eyes.
Under the sunlight, a golden pickaxe was particularly eye-catching. The man wielding it, though his skin was dark, had the temperament and gaze of an untethered, ferocious tiger, carrying an air of high nobility.
It was none other than Ash's good friend, Brock.
Don't mind that he was half a head shorter than the other Hikers; his technique was extremely deft and experienced. Previously, relying on his powerful build, he had pushed through the crowd and, grasping the golden pickaxe, became the final Hiker King.
"King of the Mountain Men, give us an idea."
"We'll all listen to you."
The Hikers had found their backbone and handed the decision-making power to him.
Brock, however, just snorted coldly. He opened his eyes slightly to look at the world, his gaze becoming incredibly profound.
He first swept his gaze over the many enthusiastic Hikers, then his eyes intentionally or unintentionally drifted to the side and rear, right to where Ash and Gary were.
These two had disappeared during the scramble for the golden pickaxe, and after one trip down into the Deep Pit, they had mysteriously reappeared.
Furthermore, the two were usually rivals who couldn't stand each other, yet now they wore the exact same expression, and their waists were bulging...
Got your fill, have you?
As wise as he was, he naturally guessed what unspeakable things the two might have done and couldn't help but smile secretly to himself.
Ash was his good friend; naturally, he would side with him.
As for his many brothers in the Hiker association?
They were just here for fun, fair-weather brothers.
They weren't actually close.
Thinking of this, Brock made his decision. He slammed the golden pickaxe into the ground and shouted loudly:
"These are all Artifacts! I, the new Hiker King, propose that we hand everything over to The Officials!"
The Hikers: "?"
Their purpose in coming today was to pick up some scraps before The Officials sealed the site, and now you're telling us to hand it all over to The Officials.
Be their laborers?
"So this dark-skinned guy is an idiot."
"I forgot, the golden pickaxe is just for cutting in line. Since when did it make you a leader?"
"Get lost."
Brock: "?"
The Hikers instantly scattered like birds and beasts, dispersing into the Grand Canyon to continue digging for Fossils.
Ash quickly pulled the still-dazed Brock and Gary to sneak out of the Grand Canyon, running towards a Pokémon Center.
Did they forget someone?
At the Pokémon Center, in front of the Pokémon Exchange Device, Ash and Gary transferred all 21 of the Fossil Pokémon they had caught.
On the other end of the line, a gray-haired old man's face was flushed with excitement. He looked as if he wanted to leap through the screen and give each of them a big, grandfatherly smooch.
Fossil Pokémon with a genuine Prehistoric Bloodline... even Professor Oak, who had lived for over half a century, had only seen a few. Not to mention that most special one among them, the Aerodactyl.
While giving this group of Fossil Pokémon a physical check-up, Professor Oak's prehistoric Pokémon adoption license was also approved. This meant his Backyard was now qualified to raise them.
"Mega Evolution?"
On the screen, a sentence from Professor Oak made Ash pause for a moment.
Ash knew about this Evolution; he even had one of the required Mega Evolution items, a Key Stone Bracelet, on his wrist.
But what did this have to do with the Fossil Pokémon they had caught?
"Ahem, first, take a look at these two pictures. The one on the left is an image of a normal Aerodactyl, and the one on the right is what the Aerodactyl you caught looks like."
Professor Oak displayed two images on the screen.
The left one was the image from the Pokedex, but it was different from the one they had actually seen.
The Aerodactyl they saw had dark green rocky spikes growing in many places on its grayish-brown body, like moss. It had several on its head, some rocky armor on its abdomen, and similar rocky material clinging to its pair of broad wings.
Even its body structure was somewhat different from the one in the image.
"Ah, this... doesn't this just mean it got moldy?"
Ash, not getting the profound implications, had noticed these differences but hadn't paid them much mind, just figuring it had gotten moldy from being Underground for so long.
Perfectly reasonable.
"I've run tests. These spiky rocks attached to its surface are part of the Aerodactyl's body, not foreign attachments."
Professor Oak displayed another image on the screen, his expression growing profound.
"This picture is data I obtained through my own channels from the Kalos Region. The image has not been publicly released anywhere..."
In the picture was another Aerodactyl, but it was completely different from the previous images.
Not only had its Physique changed, but its head spikes, cheeks, abdomen, and tail were all covered in a layer of differently colored, hard stone spikes and armor.
Even the sharp claws at the joints of its wings had turned into three sharp, terrifying rock spikes!
"This is...?"
Ash and Gary's eyes widened. Even Brock, who had been peeking silently from behind, couldn't help but lean in closer.
"That's right. This is what an Aerodactyl looks like after Mega Evolution. Isn't it a bit similar to the one you have?" Professor Oak's expression became deeply meaningful.
Their Aerodactyl was in an Intermediate Form between normal and Mega Evolution.
You could call it a Half-Step Mega Aerodactyl!
"So this is why Elder Brother Green told me to make a move?"
Gary and Ash exchanged a look, understanding why the two Top Players had made them, two brothers, scheme against each other.
Could the bond between them as brothers really not compare to a single Half-Step Mega Aerodactyl?
Thinking about it carefully, it really couldn't.
"When Mega Evolution was first discovered, many scholars proposed that it was actually a form of a Pokémon's Ancestral Regression, a return to its true, original form..."
As he spoke, Professor Oak's expression grew heavy, and his voice even began to tremble slightly.
"This Intermediate Form Aerodactyl of yours might become the most important piece of evidence in the history of Pokémon biological evolution!"
Even in front of the screen, Gary's shoulders began to tremble. His breathing grew rapid; he understood the significance of this.
Ash: "?"
He didn't understand all this fancy talk. There was only one point he cared about.
"This Half-Step Mega Aerodactyl... is it strong?" he asked curiously.
Professor Oak: "?"
He frowned and subconsciously replied, "You don't understand. It's not a question of whether it's strong or not. It's truly that kind of... that kind of very rare..."
"So, is it strong?"
"Yes, it's strong!"
Professor Oak replied helplessly. If it could maintain a Half-Step Mega Evolved form at all times, how could it not be strong?
Prehistoric Bloodline, high intelligence, and now a Half-Step Mega Evolution form... this is no longer a question of whether it's strong or not...
Even Champion Lance's Aerodactyl would have to kneel before this one.
Of course, this wasn't referring to its current Strength, but its Potential.
"Nice!"
Hearing this, Ash's eyes lit up. You have to remember, that Luxury Ball was his!
Right now, the Aerodactyl's Affection was highest with him. He wished he could immediately take an Airplane back to Pallet Town and greet it.
"Grandpa, it's time to take out our Oak family's ancestral Luxury Ball. Hurry up and switch it into that. I remember that ball is under my name now, right?"
Gary suddenly spoke up, his gaze also turning fiery.
(end of chapter)