Meteor Falls

Chen Shi soon returned home and found his grandparents in the laboratory.

"Grandpa, Grandma, there's an Elite King exhibition match in Lavaridge Town in a couple of days. I'm planning to go watch."

"I'll also stop by Meteor Falls for some training. I'm not sure how long I'll be gone."

"I just came to let you know."

Grandpa Chen acknowledged him and continued making his potions.

Grandma Chen looked a little worried. "Shi, why don't you take Garchomp along?"

"The Pokémon deep inside Meteor Falls are pretty strong. You'll need to be careful."

Chen Shi waved a hand. "No need, Grandma. I'm not going that deep, so I won't take Garchomp."

"Don't worry. I know my limits."

"All right, then." Seeing that her grandson had declined, Grandma Chen said no more and continued researching Fairy-type Pokéblocks.

After packing his things, Chen Shi gathered the Pokémon training in the backyard.

Charmander and Metang were excited about going out to train. Togetic was fine with it too; wherever Chen Shi went, she would follow.

Florges, however, was a little worried. She feared something might happen to her garden if no one tended it.

Chen Shi had to find the family's Gardevoir and ask her to look after the garden. Only then did Florges relax.

Then, once Chen Shi and Steven stepped outside, things got awkward.

I don't seem to have a flying Pokémon.

He couldn't ride Dreepy yet. Metang could carry him, but wasn't strong enough to fly fast.

Fortunately, Steven noticed Chen Shi's predicament and invited him to ride Skarmory together.

Luckily, Skarmory's back was spacious enough that two riders didn't feel cramped.

"Chen Shi, are we going to Lavaridge Town or straight to Meteor Falls?"

Chen Shi answered immediately, "There's not much point in going to Lavaridge Town now. Let's head straight to Meteor Falls and dig for stones."

Steven had no objections and directed Skarmory to fly toward Meteor Falls.

Chen Shi was puzzled. "Aren't you going to prepare some supplies or anything?"

"When I left home, I already planned not to return for a while. Everything's in my backpack. Don't worry."

The corner of Chen Shi's mouth twitched. Steven had come prepared. Had he been planning to visit Meteor Falls even if Chen Shi hadn't brought it up?

A little over an hour later, the two stood at the entrance to Meteor Falls.

Steven was already getting excited. "Come on, let's go in."

The two headed straight inside Meteor Falls.

There were quite a few tourists in the outermost area.

Not far from the entrance, a huge waterfall came into view. It was one of Meteor Falls' great sights and drew plenty of visitors.

Looking at the waterfall before him, Chen Shi sighed in admiration. "I heard this waterfall formed because of a meteorite impact. I have no idea how that actually happened, but it really is spectacular."

The sight of the waterfall involuntarily brought a line of ancient poetry from his previous life to Chen Shi's mind.

Three thousand feet the torrent plunges sheer, as though the Milky Way fell from the highest heavens.

It fit the scene perfectly.

Steven had no interest in any of that. His head was full of stones, and after a cursory glance, he began urging Chen Shi onward.

"Let's get moving. Forget the waterfall."

Chen Shi shook his head helplessly and followed Steven deeper into Meteor Falls.

The farther they went, the fewer people they saw. They occasionally encountered a few wild Pokémon, but neither Steven nor Chen Shi provoked them, instead giving them a wide berth.

Only after they reached the depths of Meteor Falls did Chen Shi understand what it meant to be a professional.

Steven pulled out a pile of equipment, including a protective suit, a helmet, and a detector.

Then he scanned their surroundings as they went, occasionally releasing a three-meter-tall Aggron to dig.

Unfortunately, despite all Steven's efforts, the detector barely reacted. Chen Shi couldn't bear watching anymore.

"Steven, does that thing even work? If not, let me try."

"Don't be so impatient."

"My equipment is very accurate. It can precisely detect all kinds of minerals."

Steven spoke without turning around.

Chen Shi curled his lip. "I just don't think that thing works."

"Here, let me show you mine."

Steven felt unconvinced. This was the Devon Corporation's latest mineral detector. How could it not work?

But when Steven turned around to see what device Chen Shi would produce, he was dumbfounded.

Chen Shi took out a Luxury Ball and released Togetic.

"Come on, Professor Toge. We're looking for those special stones. Just point somewhere for us."

"Toge?"

Never mind Steven-even Togetic herself was a little dumbfounded.

If you want to find stones, go find stones. Asking me won't help. I don't know how to find them either.

Chen Shi, however, said confidently, "Just point anywhere."

"Toge?"

Seeing how certain her trainer looked, Togetic stopped caring, closed her eyes, and pointed at random.

"Quick, Steven! Bring your detector over here and scan this spot."

Steven's face darkened. Are you serious?

If Togetic's trick worked, what would I even need this detector for?

Still, Steven carried the device over to that spot to scan it.

He might as well humor his friend. It wasn't a big deal, anyway.

But the moment he aimed the detector at the spot Togetic had indicated, it began blaring an urgent alarm.

This time, Steven was truly stunned. That actually worked?

Chen Shi was a little surprised too. Professor Toge sometimes had incredible luck, but this sort of thing was hit-or-miss.

He had only let her out to lighten the mood. Who would have thought it would actually work?

He immediately praised her. "Professor Toge, great job."

"Toge~"

Togetic casually waved her little hand, indicating that she hadn't done anything.

At least, that was how she saw it.

All she had done was close her eyes and point somewhere!

What was the big deal?

Steven released Aggron. "Sorry for the trouble, but could you try digging here?"

"Aggron~"

Aggron wasted no time and started digging.

Before long, Aggron seemed to find something and handed Steven a stone held in a large claw.

Steven quickly put on his gloves and examined it carefully.

Chen Shi glanced at it as well and said, "It's just a top-grade Moon Stone!"

"Stop staring. Let's look somewhere else."

Steven had confirmed it too. This was indeed an extremely concentrated Moon Stone of the highest grade.

Steven glanced at Togetic, then at the detector in his hand.

Yeah, this thing really doesn't work.

Super Shiny Metagross