Chapter 634: The Mystery of the Missing Fossil (2)
~Third POV~
[Unova Region, Meanwhile, Nacrene City – Museum]
Inside the echoing, cavernous halls of the Nacrene City Museum, the ambient lighting cast long, ghostly shadows across ancient exhibits and towering stone arches. Hawes, the museum's assistant director, was currently pacing a path into the polished hardwood floor. His loafers slapped the ground—in a frantic rhythm.
*Tap-tap-tap-squeak*
Hawes muttered, running trembling hands through his thinning hair, "Oh, the director is going to have my head…"
His face was pale, slick with nervous sweat as he muttered worriedly, "A priceless Dragon Fossil! Stolen! Right out from under my nose! If we don't get it back immediately, my career—no, my life—is officially over!"
Gengar was hovering lazily in mid-air just a few feet away, entirely unbothered by the impending doom of human employment. The ghostly Pokémon picked her nose with a long, shadowy finger, flicking an invisible booger into the void.
*Snerk*
Gengar drawled vocally, her crimson eyes half-closed in supreme boredom, "Will you stop your blubbering, you absolute worrywart?"
*Munch-crunch-gulp*
She popped a half-eaten chocolate chip cookie into her mouth, chewing with exaggerated crunching sounds. She then said casually, "My boss gave strict orders to stay here in case those thieves had the bright idea to come back for seconds. Frankly, watching you sweat is the most entertaining part of my shift."
Hawes ignored the ghost's taunts, his desperation peaking. He lunged at White, who was standing nearby with her arms crossed, clutching her clipboard like a shield. He badgered in a worried tone, "White! You must call him! Use that futuristic glowing rectangle thing! Call Black right now!"
Frowning at the frantic curator, White sighed, pulling out her Xtransceiver. She said calmly, "Alright, alright, stop shaking, Hawes. I'm calling him."
*Beep*
She tapped the screen, watching the static ripple before Black's face popped in and out. Except the image on the small screen was nothing short of absolute, unadulterated chaos from Black's side.
*CLANG—ZZZT—BAM*
White screamed, dropping her clipboard as she stared in sheer horror. On the tiny screen, Black was locked in a frantic struggle, dodging wildly as the massive, skeletal remains of the Dragon Fossil whipped its terrifying tail through the air.
*CLANG-CLANG*
Azure's Oshawott and Zorua were desperately slicing at the bone with glowing white blades of Cut, trying to deflect the unholy leviathan. To compound the madness, Burgh—the esteemed Gym Leader of Castelia City—was currently trapped, flailing in the skeleton's bony grasp, shouting incoherently.
White shrieked, her voice cracking, "Black?! What on earth is happening?! Are you being eaten by a museum exhibit?!"
Black's voice crackled through the speaker, breathless and strained over the sound of snapping bone and roaring wind, shouting, "White! You called me at the absolute worst possible time! I found the skeleton, but let me tell you something—this thing does not want to be found!"
Hawes gasped, clutching his chest as he peered over White's shoulder. He exclaimed, "Goodness gracious! It's holding Burgh! Wait, Burgh?! That's the famous artist and Gym Leader Burgh?!"
*BEEP*
Hawes opened his mouth to demand answers, but the Xtransceiver feed suddenly wobbled violently as Black ducked a crushing blow from the dragon's skull. The screen flickered, showing a worried angle of the floor before stabilizing slightly. Back at the museum, Gengar swallowed her cookie and peered lazily at the screen.
She muttered around her next bite, grabbing another treat from a spectral dimensional pocket, "Eh, they'll be fine… My boss is down there. Nothing bad ever happens when he's around. Usually."
/////
[Unova Region, Route Path to Pinwheel Forest]
The chaotic scene shifted rapidly to the outskirts of Nacrene City, where the dense, sun-dappled canopy of Pinwheel Forest began. Dust flew into the air as the Dragon Fossil lashed out again. Black gritted his teeth, his mind racing at a million miles an hour.
He thought worriedly, 'Think, think, think! What could be making a pile of dead bones move around like a possessed puppet?'
Beside him, Burgh was still dangling in the air, his stylish scarf whipping wildly in the wind. Burgh yelled, though his face was turning a fascinating shade of purple, "I mean, as an artist, the kinetic energy of a moving prehistoric skeleton is utterly breathtaking! It speaks to the raw, untamed passion of the earth! But seriously! Would someone kindly ask it to let go of my ribs?!"
Black barked, dodging a stray jawbone snap, "Calm down, Burgh!"
He narrowed his eyes, scanning the treeline and the shadows.
Black explained in a heated tone, "Someone is making this thing move. It must be an outside force—a Ghost or a Psychic-type Pokémon!"
*SNAP*
Black snapped his fingers. He commanded in a firm tone, "Brav! Hit that thicket to the left! Air Slash!"
*BOOM*
With a sharp, majestic cry, Black's Braviary whipped its massive wings, sending a razor-sharp crescent of compressed air crashing into the brush. The foliage exploded outward, clearing the mist to reveal three flustered Team Plasma Grunts standing shoulder-to-shoulder next to a tall man draped in heavy, ornate robes.
The robed man blinked in genuine shock. He asked in a curious tone, "How... how did you find us?"
Black pointed a finger accusingly, a triumphant grin spreading across his face. He explained proudly, "Elementary! The footprints at the museum gave you away! At first, I thought the skeleton had walked out on its own two feet—er, tail bones. But the prints didn't come from the pedestal. They came straight from the back exit, and they matched the heavy boots of your grunts!"
Black took a step forward, his voice rising with theatrical confidence, exclaiming aloud, "Furthermore, a skeleton that massive is way too big to fit through the eastern museum gate! It went in a direction where there wasn't even a path! You made it walk using a hidden Pokémon's telekinetic or spiritual energy!"
*Clap-clap-clap*
The robed man—Gorm of the Seven Sages—slowly began to clap, a dark, unimpressed smirk touching his lips. He commented, genuinely impressed but said in a cold tone with a smug expression, "Impressive. Truly impressive observational skills, boy. It is an honor to meet the famous Black. The grunts were right about you. Which means... it would be far better for our cause if you simply ceased to exist."
Wary yet entirely unfazed, Gorm pointed a commanding hand forward. He shouted, "Dragon Fossil! Crush them!"
Before the skeletal dragon could lunge, a high-pitched, incredibly sarcastic voice cut through the clearing like a knife: "Oh, look! It's the local garbage man!"
Gorm froze. The grunts froze.
Black blinked in bewilderment. Leaning casually against a boulder, Azure yawned, picking a speck of lint off his jacket. Sitting comfortably on his right shoulder, Pikachu crossed his furry arms together with a smug expression, while Eevee, perched like a golden crown on Azure's head, let out a tiny, high-pitched snicker. Deep inside Azure's jacket, a disguised Pichu (Mew) wiggled happily.
Azure continued, his tone dripping with mock reverence, "If it isn't Gorm? The famous Sage who got absolutely humiliated live on PokeTube! What was it called again? 'Sage Gets Pelted with Rotten Tomatoes and Gassed by a Wild Skuntank'? Absolute cinema. Five stars. Truly a masterclass in public speaking."
Gorm's face instantly flushed a violent, apoplectic shade of crimson. Veins bulged on his forehead uttering, "You—!"
One of the Team Plasma Grunts interrupted, raising a hand and squinting their eyes at Azure, and asked in a suspicious tone, "Wait a minute. Aren't you the guy who sent the three of us flying into a police wagon back at the Dreamyard after knocking us out cold with... with some kind of sleep trick?"
Azure grinned, flashing a peace sign. He replied, confessing in a proud tone, "Bingo! And for the record, that was my Gengar's Hypnosis. Glad to see your memory isn't as fossilized as that dragon over there!"
The three grunts dropped their jaws in unison, pointing accusing fingers at Azure. They shrieked in absolute outrage, "IT WAS YOU?!"
Gorm's expression darkened to a terrifying pitch. The humiliation of the PokeTube viral video rushed back into his brain, overriding his tactical judgment. Gorm roared, spinning around to point at Azure, "Forget the boy! DESTROY HIM FIRST!"
The Dragon Fossil whipped its massive tail around, hurtling toward Azure with terrifying, bone-crushing speed!
Azure didn't even flinch. He didn't even stop leaning against his boulder. He just let out a bored yawn. Then he ordered, "Pikachu. Deal with the oversized toothpick."
The mouse Pokémon muttered, "Pika (On it)."
*CRACK-BOOM*
With a flash of blinding metallic light, Pikachu's tail hardened into solid steel. A single, lightning-fast swipe of Iron Tail met the oncoming dragon skull dead-on. The sheer force of the counter-attack sent a shockwave rippling through the forest, cracking the fossil's jaw and sending the massive structure spinning backward into the dirt with a deafening CRASH!
*CRASH*
Azure tilted his head toward Black. He asked casually, "Hey, Black. Did you figure out which Pokémon is pulling the strings yet?"
Black's eyes darted around the clearing, analyzing the angle of the fallen skeleton and the positioning of the stolen artifacts.
He thought quickly, 'Ghost or Psychic... pulling the strings...'
While Black was figuring things out, Azure's eyes hummed with a very faint blue psychic light. He gave instructions to Zorua as the little fox nodded, dodging another attack from the fossil dragon.
At that exact moment, a telekinetic whisper echoed directly into Black's mind—though it originated from Zorua, who was currently standing near Black's ankles: 'Psst. Hey, boss-man's associate. It's the coffin over there by the crates. I felt some heavy ghost energy leaking out of it with my aura earlier…'
*CLANG*
Black blinked, mentally acknowledging Zorua's telepathic message, while simultaneously parrying a stray bone shard with Oshawott and a swift Cut.
Black realized, 'The coffin!'
There was no coffin listed on the museum's official inventory of stolen artifacts! It wasn't a relic at all—it was a living Pokémon! Only a Ghost- or Psychic-type could manipulate an entire fossil skeleton from a distance while hiding inside a prop container.
It was a Cofagrigus!
Black shouted over the din, a plan already formed in his mind, "Burgh! Launch your Whirlipede at me! Full speed!"
Burgh, still dangling awkwardly from the dragon's grip, blinked. He shouted, "My Whirlipede?! Are you mad?!"
Black yelled, "Trust me!"
*WHEEEEE*
Trusting the young trainer's eccentric instincts, Burgh whistled sharply. With a buzzing, whirring roar, Whirlipede shot forward like a high-speed bowling ball, hurtling straight toward Black. Black commanded, "Brav! Intercept!"
*WHOOSH*
Braviary swooped down in a blur of feathers, using its massive talons to redirect Whirlipede mid-charge, banking the Bug-type Pokémon sharply into one of the ornate, golden coffins sitting near the stolen loot.
*SMASH*
The coffin lid flew off its hinges with a startled screech as a golden, sarcophagus-like Pokémon was violently knocked into the open air.
Burgh gasped, his eyes widening in artistic appreciation, and exclaimed in a shocked tone, "A Cofagrigus! I thought that was just another ancient artifact!"
Gorm cursed under his breath, panic finally creeping into his voice as he exclaimed, "Cofagrigus, return!"
He whipped out a Poké Ball, trying to recall the ghost Pokémon, but it was too late. Burgh called out, his artistic composure instantly returning as he pointed a dramatic finger, "Whirlipede, finish it! Pursuit!"
*ZOOM—BASH*
Whirlipede spun like a buzzsaw, slamming into the exposed Cofagrigus with blinding speed. With a dismal groan, the coffin Pokémon's eyes went spiraling, and it fainted on the spot, dropping heavily to the forest floor.
The moment Cofagrigus lost consciousness, the psychic tether snapped, and the giant Dragon Fossil went completely limp. The skeletal jaws unlatched, and Burgh tumbled out of the air, landing somewhat ungracefully in a heap of dry leaves.
Burgh groaned, brushing dirt off his tailored pants. He said, annoyed but also happy as he got his inspiration, "Ah… My spine will certainly require a chiropractor, but what a rush! What a composition!"
Black let out a long breath, wiping sweat from his forehead. He turned to Gorm, marching forward with his hands on his hips. He declared, "Game over, Team Plasma. We're taking the stolen artifacts and the fossil right back to the museum."
The three grunts slumped their shoulders, groaning in sheer defeat.
One whined in a defeated tone, "Aw, man... It took us three whole hours to lug all that heavy junk out here for the King..."
Gorm stepped back, his robes rustling. He adjusted his collar, trying to regain a shred of his dignity. He said dismissively, "Hmph. Take them, if you must. That fossil was never the true object of our search anyway."
Gorm raised his chin, adopting a theatrical, fanatic gaze. He then recited in a resolute tone, "When a true hero rises to lead a divided world, the legendary Dragon-type Pokémon will appear to fight by their side. That is the dragon Team Plasma seeks. And it lies far, far away from here."
The grunts exchanged amused, confused glances. Azure asked with a raised eyebrow, "Uh? Did you just quote a comic book?"
Gorm glared at them before shouting, "Retreat!"
*POOOF*
In a sudden, blinding flash of light and smoke bombs, Gorm and the three grunts vanished into thin air. Almost immediately after the smoke cleared, Azure's voice rang out into the empty forest, dripping with sarcasm: "Run away, little cowards! Keep fleeing like the pathetic losers you are!"
"ARGH!!!"
Far off in the distance, a muffled shriek of pure, unadulterated rage echoed back through the trees, proving that Gorm had heard every single word. Black walked over, offering a hand to help Burgh back to his feet.
As the Gym Leader dusted himself off, Black couldn't help a lingering thought. He asked what was on his mind aloud, "Say... Azure, if you wanted to, could you and your Pokémon have easily captured Gorm and those grunts?"
Azure sighed, scratching the back of his head while Pikachu patted his cheek consolingly. He replied, explaining his reasoning, "Oh, easily. But think about it, Black. If that trio of incompetent grunts escaped from police custody later—which they totally would—someone else would just break them out. Besides, what if they had a backup crew hiding in the bushes ready to blow up the fossil and the artifacts just to spite us?"
Azure shivered dramatically as he added, causing Black to freeze, "And I ain't willing to risk paying for the damages if that happens. Do you have any idea how much historical artifacts cost? Priceless! And you're still trying to pay off the debt for destroying that TV camera crew's equipment when you captured Tula!"
*SHIVER*
Black instantly recoiled, breaking out into a cold sweat. He shivered violently at the mere mention or reminder of debt. He shivered as he muttered, "Ugh... don't remind me. I still owe for the collateral damage from my last few battles. The Nacrene library fines alone almost made me pass out."
/////
[Unova Region, Later, Nacrene City – Museum]
Back inside the grand halls of the Nacrene City Museum, Hawes was practically in tears of joy as he stood before the safely restored Dragon Fossil and the recovered golden artifacts. Hawes praised, bowing repeatedly to Black and Azure, "Magnificent! Miraculous! You've saved the museum! You've saved my job! I am forever in your debt!"
Burgh stood nearby, clapping slowly with a wide, inspired grin.
He said in a thankful tone to Black, "And you have my deepest thanks, Black. Watching you utilize your Pokémon in the heat of battle... my creative juices are simply overflowing! I have three new sculpture ideas already!"
Black rubbed the back of his head, offering a modest grin, replying proudly, "Heh, it was nothing. Honestly, I'm just fascinated by your Whirlipede, Burgh. It's an incredible Pokémon for such an experienced trainer."
Burgh chuckled, his eyes twinkling knowingly. He asked cheekily, "Ah, I see what you did there. You flattered me just so I wouldn't bring out my full team against you right here and now, didn't you?"
Black blinked, caught red-handed, and muttered, "Uh... well..."
Burgh laughed heartily, liking Black's actions, and said, "You caught me! Smart thinking, Black. You know you'll have to face me in the Castelia Gym sooner or later, and you didn't want to reveal your strategies to a Gym Leader ahead of time."
Azure chimed in, stepping forward with Eevee bouncing off his head to land on his palm, "I can't wait for that match either. Consider this a formal warning: we're coming for that Insect Badge, Burgh."
Burgh raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. He asked in a surprised tone, "Wait... you know I'm a Gym Leader? How?"
Black puffed out his chest proudly. He jabbed a finger to his head, proclaiming, "Simple! I researched every single Gym Leader in the Unova region. I've been studying for the Pokémon League since I was a kid! It's my dream to become the Champion, and nothing—absolutely nothing—is going to stop me!"
Nearby, White stepped forward, offering a polite, professional bow in their honor. She added, "On behalf of the BW Agency, I thank you both for your hard work today. And Azure, don't forget our acting rehearsal tomorrow!"
Azure saluted playfully, "Got it, boss!"
As Hawes enthusiastically bid them farewell, Black, White, and Azure turned and began walking out of the museum's grand double doors into the bright Unova sunlight.
Behind them, Burgh watched them go, a confident, eager smirk playing on his lips as he thought excitedly, 'Heh. They think they can outsmart me? I won't hold back a single ounce of power during our Gym battle.'
Yet, despite his competitive spirit, Burgh's expression slowly shifted into one of quiet, nagging introspection. He reached up, touching his chin as Gorm's parting words echoed back in his mind with concern, 'When a hero rises to lead the world, the Pokémon would appear to fight by their side...'
Burgh stared out toward the ancient stone pillars of the museum, a sudden, chilling sense of foreboding washing over him. He couldn't help but think in concern about the meaning of those words: 'Was fate truly starting to turn its gears? Were the ancient legends of Unova waking from their long slumbers?'
*Whooosh*
As the wind howled gently through Nacrene City, Burgh couldn't help but wonder about the two great, slumbering Legendary Dragons of Unova... and what kind of world would be left standing when they finally woke up.
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter!