"Heh..."
"Haha..."
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-!"
I started laughing with more than a little hysteria in my voice from everything that just happened, my legs going weak as I dropped onto my ass on the rocky ground.
"Did that really just happen?" I asked no one in particular as I tried to wrap my mind around what we just did.
"I hope so. Otherwise I got my ass kicked by phantoms." Lucario replied, as he visibly struggled to remain standing on his feet.
"You can drop the tough guy act." I told him, even as I sent out Chansey. "I highly doubt anyone would think any less of you after going 1v1 against a literal god, and WINNING."
Lucario seemed to consider my words for a moment, before he too allowed himself to drop beside me as Chansey looked him over.
"Guess what."
"What?"
"We just won against our first Legendary."
Lucario glance at me from where he was laying on the rocky ground, before he held up a paw that I bumped with my fist.
"The first of many." He stated resolutely.
"The first of many." I said in agreement, right as Janine appeared beside me.
"Are you two ok?!" She demanded, her voice full of concern and urgency.
"I'm fine, just tired. Lucario took all of the damage." I said while gesturing to him, while Lucario and Chansey both just waved at Janine cheerily.
"And...Regirock?" She asked hesitantly.
"Right there." I said, pointing to the ultra ball that was still laying on the ground. Now that I thought about it, my Pokedex was also blaring at me for being over my carry limit ever since Regirock was caught.
That wasn't important though.
"Rotom, start a conference video call with professor Oak, Red and Giana." I ordered my phone while I used my psychic powers to pull the ultra ball to my hand.
"Affirmative! Calling professor Oak, Red and Giana!" Rotom replied as it hovered right in front of my face.
"Hello? Ace? What's going on my boy?" Professor Oak asked as soon as he picked up.
"Hey Ace!"
"Hi Ace!"
Both Daisy and Lillie greeted me as well from behind the professor, though I barely saw them on account of the screen on my phone being split three ways.
"Hey everyone. Just a minute, I'm also calling Red and Giana." I told them, right as Giana also picked up.
"Hello Sir. How may we help you?" Giana immediately asked the second she picked up, while also calling me by the nickname that she and the others had picked up recently.
Fighting the urge to roll my eyes at being called 'Sir' by her, I was about to tell her to hold on until Red picked up as well, when he actually did.
"Ace? What's wrong? Did something happen?" Red rapidly asked, presumably going off of my dusty and disheveled state to assume something had happened. Well, he wasn't entirely off.
"I just wanted to call to tell the three of you that I just caught a new pokemon!" I told them cheerily, making Janine roll her eyes so hard that I thought they would end up stuck in the back of her head.
"A new pokemon? I though you weren't planning to catch any other new pokemon for right now?" Red pointed out curiously.
"About that... This situation is a bit special." I told them, before sending out Blastoise and Sceptile.
"Blast!"
"Tile..."
Both pokemon greeted me seriously as they appeared, so much so that Blastoise didn't even start dancing like usual.
"Hey guys. I might need your help if this guy is less than cooperative." I told them with full seriousness, while Janine grew alarmed.
"Wait a second! You're not REALLY going to let that thing out NOW?!" She demanded worriedly.
"Yep. No better time than the present." I replied, before activating the ultra ball. "Come on out!"
"Beep boop bop beep."
"""!?!"""
Professor Oak, Daisy, Lillie, Red, and Giana all looked as if their eyes were going to bug out of their heads as I suddenly had an eight foot tall Regirock standing right beside me.
"Say hello, to Regirock!" I declared with a dramatic flourish of my arm.
"""ACE!"""
All of them then began to bombard me with a rapid fire of questions, giving me no time to even answer before moving on to the next one, all while flat out ignoring the others as they did the same.
As they all asked me dozens of questions though, my full attention was on Regirock, who was seemingly studying me while awaiting my command. Thank Arceus that it wasn't still hostile.
When they finally calmed down enough to realize that I hadn't answered ANY of their questions, each person took a deep breath before the professor began.
"Ace, tell us what happened from the beginning."
And so I did, starting with how Janine told me of the history surrounding Grampa Canyon, and our own experiences since we arrived last night with the Rockslide. Then I told them about this morning, when Regirock tried to attack Brock when he officially opened the dig.
"But why would Regirock try to attack people?" Red asked curiously when I had finished detailing Lucario and I battling it.
"That's right, why DID you try to kill us since we arrived?" I asked Regirock, curious to see if it would continue it's seemingly docile attitude once I spoke to it.
"Beep boop bop boop beep. Bop beep boop bop, beep bepp bop. Boop bop beep."
"I see..." I said as I absorbed everything Regirock just told me, before translating for the others.
"Apparently Regirock had made this region it's territory millions of years ago, long before humans ever walked this earth. But when humans came to settle this land, they did so using destructive means such as blasting the ravines and using their pokemon to try and change it to suit themselves. So, Regirock started attacking ALL humans who dared to invade it's territory. And it has been successful in driving them away, until now."
"Amazing..." Professor Oak uttered in awe.
"But why is it seeming so obedient now?" Giana asked curiously.
I repeated her question to Regirock, who answered with the usual series of beeps and bops.
"Apparently the fact that Lucario and I defeated and caught means that it acknowledges me as it's master. It states that henceforth, it will follow any command I make of it." I explained, my own mind flowing with questions as I translated. After all, Legendary pokemon were known for being impossible to capture, and tame.
But maybe, the Regis were different since they were more akin to robots than other pokemon, and as such were programed specifically to follow orders. With Regigigas asleep beneath Snowpoint Temple, maybe they were all off doing their own things or looking for new masters...
"How interesting..." Giana muttered with a gleam in her eye.
"No Giana." I said firmly.
"No what?" She asked while blinking in suurprise.
"No, do NOT start hunting the Regis and capturing them just to add to our ranks. That will just make us like Team Rocket."
"YOU just caught one." She stated pointedly.
"Correction. I captured a rampaging wild pokemon that attacked us, and would have readily killed several people if I didn't. I'm not going out of my way to hunt for them." I stated firmly, even as the desire to 'complete the set' overcame me briefly. I forced it down though, and continued,
"Its not just because of Regirock that I called you all. In fact, Giana, once this call is over, I need you to pack up everything in Celadon city and fly out here. I'll show you all why right now."
Even as I said that, I first called out Tauros to have him carry Lucario back up the ravine so Joy could properly take a look at him, while also asking Janine to go back up to let her and Chloe know that everything was alright. With that done, I recalled Blastoise and Sceptile into their respective pokeballs and started making my way to Charizard and HIS opponent.
At first to going was a bit tough thanks to all of the loose dirt and stone that made it difficult to get my footing, but then I suddenly found myself being lifted into the air as Regirock placed me on it's back. It then moved through the loose dirt and stone towards my destination with as much ease as I would have going through tall grass.
"Uh, thanks?" I said to it in confusion, since it had literally just picked me up by my 'scruff' like a kitten.
"Beep boop." It replied, and continued carrying me until we reached our quarry.
"Char!" Charizard roared from above, before he spread his wings and flew down to meet us.
"Very well done." I told him while looking down at his unconscious opponent, and Rotom moved to do the same.
"Ace.... Is that...?" Red hesitantly asked me.
"Yep. That, is an alpha Aerodactyl. A WILD alpha Aerodactyl." I confirmed for them, even as I pulled out a pokeball and tapped it on the wing.
The massive prehistoric pokemon was promptly sucked inside, and the pokeball gave a quick jerk in my hand before it fell still with a soft 'ding'.
"What do you mean a WILD Aerodactyl?!" Daisy demanded over the professor as they all naturally became interested.
"After Regirock burst out of the ground to attack us, this Aerodactyl flew out behind it along with several others following it. If I had to venture a guess, there is a colony of them living deep below us. So far down, that I can't even feel their auras. But if so, that begs the question..."
"What else is down there?" The professor finished for me, his eyes gleaming like stars.
"Wait right there Ace! I'll be there within the hour!" The professor declared excitedly, before promptly ending the call on his end as he seemingly left to prepare.
"I'll be there soon as well, but only after I finish my business here. Unfortunately... BUT, if it is what we think it might be, then the League will need to take steps to protect them. How many people know?" Red stated, before asking seriously.
"All of them." I said while directiong Rotom to look at the crowd of people at the top of the ravine.
"Great... It'll be front page news by the morning, at the latest..." Red groaned, before he too ended the call to finish up his business there and head out here.
"I'll go now as well. We have a few final adjustments to make before the airship is mobile. But I'll have them prioritize finishing them so we can be there as soon as possible." Giana stated as well.
"Good. If our hunch is correct, your main goal will be in protecting any pokemon we may find from potential poachers and opportunists." I told her, and Giana nodded before she also ended the call.
"Alright..." I sighed tiredly while recalling Regirock into it's pokeball, and then turning to Charizard. "Mind giving me a lift?"
"Char." He stated while turning so I could get onto his back.
A moment later we were landing in the middle of the campsite before I dismounted Charizard and returned him to his pokeball as well.
"Get some well-earned rest." I told him, before putting his pokeball away while holding up both Aerodactyl and Regirocks.
~~~
Aerodactyl- the Fossil pokemon.
Type- rock/flying
Aerodactyl is considered to have been the king of the ancient skies. It's high-pitched cries inspired terror in those who may become it's prey, and it's mouth is filled with numerous saw blade-like teeth. This pokemon has the Rock Head and Pressure Abilities.
Moves:
Bite, Ancient Power, Supersonic, Wing Attack, Dragon Breath, Scary Face, Crunch, Iron Head, Take Down.
~~~
Regirock- the Rock Peak pokemon.
Type- rock
This pokemon's body is made entirely of rocks from different locations, leading scientists to believe that it attaches rocks to itself that have been broken off or damaged in battle. Historic texts state that ancient people would seal them away due to the numerous natural disasters they are prone to causing. This pokemon has the Sturdy ability.
Moves:
Rock Throw, Charge Beam, Rockslide, Hammer Arm, Stone Edge, Earthquake, Superpower, Bulldoze, Ancient Power, Stomp, Iron Defense.
~~~
"Nice~! Though I wonder how much stronger I can make an actual Legendary?" I mused to myself as I checked out what Regirock and Aerodactyl were capable of.
I mean, I know I helped Mewtwo get some ideas on how he could become stronger, but he was still practically a newborn compared to other Legendary pokemon. If the Aerodactyl were anything to go by, Regirock was down there for AT LEAST several million years, and there was no telling how long it had been around even before THAT. But that also doesn't mean it was actually training for all that time.
"HEY ACE!"
I looked up to see Brock, Chloe, Janine and Joy all rushing to me.
"Are you alright?" Joy immediately started fussing as she looked over me for any possible injuries.
"Just a bit tired. How's Lucario?"
"He'll be alright. I treated him for his injuries, but he's mostly suffering from exhaustion. Here."
As she was speaking, Joy pulled a bottle out of her bag that she passed to me, one filled with what looked like a smoothie.
"I made this with some of the berries from the greenhouse. Not only will it cool you down, but it'll also help restore your energy."
"Thank you." I said with genuine gratitude before I started downing the drink.
"Did you really capture both Regirock and the Aerodactyl?" Brock asked me as I drank.
"Yep. Were we just supposed to let them keep rampaging?"
"..."
"I suppose not... But now I'll have numerous trainers trying to capture the other Aerodactyl that appeared as well. Lucy is keeping an eye on them now, but I think we should try to return them to where they came from as soon as possible."
"Agreed. But we should also wait at least until professor Oak shows up. I already called him and Red, and they'll both be here as soon as possible. Red will be a while though since he has business to finish first. But if these Aerodactyl here mean what we think it does, then he plans to use the power of the League to officially protect them. I also called Giana and told her to mobilize Arceus Aegis to help protect them as well."
The majority of the tension in Brock's body visibly dissipated when I told him that, probably since it meant that he wouldn't be responsible for EVERYTHING moving forward from here. But I'll make sure to point out that all of this was HIS discovery when this inevitably goes public.
I followed the group back to where Lucy was keeping an eye on the pacified Aerodactyl, with her Milotic, Gyarados and Serperior. When they saw me though, the group of prehistoric pokemon appeared nervous and somewhat agitated as I approached them.
"I just want to talk to you." I told them while channeling calming aura towards them now that I had recovered some of my energy. But apparently it wasn't enough.
"Here..." I said while reaching into my bag, and pulling out my pokeblock case.
"Try it." I said softly while offering a pokeblock to the Aerodactyl closest to me.
At first it didn't do anything, but as the scent of the pokeblock tempted it, it finally stretched out and tentatively took it from my hand.
"!!!"
"AERO! Dact dact! Aerodactyl!" It cried out happily, and all of the others also started crowding me for pokeblocks, most of their fear forgotten.
"Go ahead, I have plenty." I said to them while setting out enough pokeblocks for them all.
I try to keep a decent store on hand for my pokemon if the need arises, though I also made sure not to give any of them the pokeblocks specifically made for Snorlax. Tempted as I may be to see an obese Aerodactyl.
Once they were all fed and relaxed enough around us, I then began trying to familiarize myself with them by talking to them, and asking them questions about their lives.
"I swear, he better not get to catch them all like he did that alpha."
"I know. I still say its Tauros-shit that he got to catch it and we can't catch them."
"AND he caught that Regirock! I guess being the Champion's son gets you special privileges..."
The whole time I was talking to the Aerodactyl I pointedly ignored the jealous mutterings of the gallery as they didn't even TRY to use their heads about the current situation. I mean, what else was I supposed to do aside from catching Regirock to stop it from killing us all?
As for Aerodactyl.... Well that one WAS a little excessive since we don't know yet what Red will decide when he gets here. But since my Charizard defeated it, I was the only one with a real claim towards catching it. I do hope that I'm not told to release it due to it being an 'endangered' species or something though...
So rather than listen to the jealous mutterings of some scrubs, I focused on the Aerodactyl to both learn from them, and keep them occupied until professor Oak got here.
And sure enough, at one hour on the dot...
"Hello everyone!"
"""!!!"""
I'll admit, we ALL jumped a little when professor Oak literally appeared out of thin air as he Teleported into camp with Gardevoir.
"I hope you don't mind Ace. We were in a bit of a rush." The professor said to me apologetically.
"Not at all professor." I replied.
"Greetings master." Gardevoir said as she bowed her head respectfully.
"Hey Gardevoir. Lucario is resting up in the Pokemon Center after battling against Regirock. You can go see him if you want." I told her.
"Then I shall do that." She said before promptly Teleporting straight to the Pokemon Center.
"Astounding..." The professor said as she disappeared, his attention entirely focused on the Aerodactyl even as they gave him the side-eye.
"If you think that's awesome, then just wait." I told him, excited to show him and the others what the Aerodactyl had told me about.
...
*Grrrrrrrrrrrr.*
A low rumble filled the air as our group walked down a dark tunnel. One still in the process of being made as Brock's Steelix used Dig to carve it out for us as we descended further into the earth.
After all, the hole Regirock made went straight up and down, meaning we would have had to use rope or something to repel down the entire way. And needless to say that doing so when none of us knew EXACTLY what we were going to find was foolish.
Making up our group was myself, Brock, the professor, Chloe, Janine, and a few trusted assistants that Brock hand selected.
"So what do you plan to do with your new Regirock, Ace?" The professor asked as we walked ever downwards.
"Hmmm..." I hummed in response, giving his question some genuine thought.
Obviously everyone fantasized about capturing a Legendary pokemon, and would make grandiose claims about what they would do once they actually did, like beating the Elite Four and becoming Champion, and so on.
Obviously that was NOT my plan with Regirock.
The biggest reason for me challenging the League, aside from bragging rights, was to strengthen my pokemon for the challenges we would be facing in the future. Obviously that wouldn't be the case though if I just kept using Regirock in every battle from here on out.
However....
"I think I'll keep it at your place for the most part, professor." I answered eventually.
"Oh? And why is that?" The professor asked, while pretending not to be too excited.
"Well, my team and I are primarily training to challenge other Legendaries and Legendary class opponents in the future, right? So I think that by keeping it at your place, then my other pokemon that aren't with me can train by battling an actual Legendary when they're not with me. Of course that doesn't mean that I'll just leave it there in purgatory forever."
Even as I said all that, I also planned to have Regirock help us whenever we face another Legendary in the future. Plus I would also have it join me occasionally to teach it new moves and try to train it to become even stronger. Though I wasn't too sure how effective training would be for a Legendary.
"Whichever course you think is best." The professor stated, though I knew he was excited to have the chance to truly study a Legendary pokemon at his leisure.
"I can't wait to see what kind of reaction the guys will have though." I added, my mouth already curling into a shit-eating grin at the thought.
"..."
"Haaa..."
The professor just sighed wryly at my comment, but I didn't care. I caught a fucking Legendary pokemon! Who else would be able to claim such bragging rights?
"Hm?"
I looked up suddenly as I felt something, right as Brock's Steelix broke through the final layer of rock to flood the tunnel with light. And when we stepped through the opening it made, we all stopped and gaped at what was laying in wait for us. Even I, despite already having an idea what to expect from the Aerodactyl.
But still, that hadn't truly prepared me for when we found this lost world.