Ash's Story (Part 5: Modern Sinnoh)

Chapter 28: Shieldon Line

Route 207 opened before us with the kind of mountain air that made every breath feel sharper.

After Wayward Cave, the sunlight felt almost too honest. Mira had gone her own way with Sandshrew and Abra, and the Time Badge rested safely with our other special badges. Mismagius floated near Lillie, humming quietly whenever shadows moved across the rocks.

We had barely reached the route when Lucas ran toward us with one hand behind his back and the other waving far too excitedly.

"How's your Pokédex coming along?" Lucas asked. "Me? I am always doing great! I wish."

Tox looked at him flatly. "That was a concerning answer."

Lucas coughed and lifted both hands. "Not important! Lately, I have been experimenting with a couple of useful tools. Choose a hand."

Dawn stared at him. "Are you serious?"

Lucas gave Tox a solemn nod. "Very serious, actually."

Everyone picked the left hand because Dawn said that was clearly where he was hiding the better item. Lucas laughed and opened it, revealing several devices.

"Oh yeah. You want the Vs. Seeker," Lucas said proudly. "You know what is important."

He gave each of us one and explained that it could help find Trainers who wanted rematches. Dawn immediately liked it because more battles meant more practice, and Piplup liked it because more battles meant more chances to look impressive.

Lucas noticed our Pokétches next. "You have those too? Then you deserve this for all your effort."

He unlocked the Dowsing Machine app for us and showed us how the screen reacted when hidden items were nearby. The little pulse on the screen pointed toward a hidden shard near the rock, and Dawn cheered like Lucas had just revealed a magic trick.

"It is especially handy in dark caves," Lucas said. "Keep working on your Pokédex. Professor Rowan is counting on us."

Daniel looked at the route ahead. "After Wayward Cave, I am willing to appreciate anything that tells us where hidden things are before they surprise us."

Lucas laughed, but his eyes flicked toward Mt. Coronet with a little more seriousness. "That is not a bad instinct around here."

Lillie thanked him, and Lucas left toward the next path with the same rushing energy he had arrived with.

I looked at the Dowsing Machine, then at the fossils in our bag. "Before we go farther, we should return to Oreburgh."

Lillie understood at once. "The Skull Fossil and Armor Fossil."

Dawn's eyes lit up. "Fossil revival before the mountain? I am absolutely not arguing."

Oreburgh City felt warmer than the last time we had visited.

The museum had been repaired since Team Rocket's attempt to steal the machine, and the scientists recognized us almost as soon as we entered. Roark was not there, but the researchers greeted the fossils like old friends coming home.

One scientist ran several checks before accepting the fossils. "These are in excellent condition. The Grand Underground preserved them beautifully."

Tox watched every step like he was deciding whether fossil revival counted as medicine, archaeology, or both. "You are restoring ancient tissue from mineralized remains. That is medically fascinating and ethically complicated."

The scientist smiled nervously. "We try to be careful."

The Skull Fossil went into the machine first.