Dreepy Fossil

The next morning, Steven shook Chen Shi awake, his eyes brimming with excitement.

"Stop sleeping! Get up! We're going to dig for rocks."

Chen Shi had never imagined that even after getting the hell away from home, someone would still provide him with a wake-up service.

Still, this was much gentler than Gengar. At least Steven wasn't using Lick, and it didn't leave him numb.

With no other choice, Chen Shi got up and washed, then let his Pokémon out and prepared their Pokéblocks.

"Toge~"

But Togetic was unhappy. I'm not even that big. Why did you put me in a Poké Ball to rest?

Chen Shi promptly promised her three times in a row that he would definitely let her sleep outside tonight.

Only then was Togetic satisfied. She picked up a Fairy-type Pokéblock and began eating.

Suddenly, Chen Shi's gaze shifted to Drakloak.

He kept staring blankly in one direction, not even touching his Pokéblocks.

Puzzled, Chen Shi asked, "What's wrong, Drakloak?"

"Why aren't you eating?"

"Kiya~"

Drakloak snapped out of his daze and pointed toward the spot he had been staring at.

Chen Shi was a little surprised. "You're saying there's something over there that makes you feel really sad?"

"Kiya~"

Drakloak nodded, confirming that was exactly it.

He didn't know what was going on either. He had felt this way ever since coming out.

He felt as though something over there was drawing him in, and for some reason, he had suddenly become terribly sad and a little restless.

Chen Shi thought for a moment, then said, "Eat first. Once you're done, we'll go take a look together and find out."

"Kiya~"

At that, Drakloak nodded, picked up a Pokéblock, and began eating.

Shi is right. I'll know once we take a look.

Steven spoke up impatiently. "I'm going ahead! Come find me when you're done."

"I'll be at the same place as yesterday. That's where I'm planning to dig again today."

With that, Steven grabbed his equipment and ran out.

Chen Shi's mouth twitched. Do you really have to be in such a hurry?

Forget it. I don't understand what these rock fanatics are thinking anyway.

"Kiya~"

(It's right inside.)

Drakloak led Chen Shi to a rock wall. This was the place that gave him that strange feeling.

Chen Shi let Swampert out. "Swampert, sorry for the trouble, but could you dig here?"

"Be careful."

"Swamp~"

Swampert gave a dopey grin, ran up to the wall, and coated it in Ground-type energy.

The rock wall immediately softened, and Swampert dug out a hole with a sweep of his large hand.

They had no idea how far into the wall he had dug, and Chen Shi was beginning to grow impatient.

Suddenly, Drakloak grew excited and flew over to catch a falling rock in his arms.

"Kiya~ Kiya~"

Drakloak nuzzled the rock, profound sorrow filling his eyes.

Even the little Dreepy on his head reacted the same way.

Chen Shi stepped forward and looked at the head-sized rock in confusion, unable to understand why Drakloak wore that expression.

"Drakloak, is there something special about this rock?"

Drakloak nodded, carefully gathered the weakest possible Dragon Pulse in his mouth, and repeatedly struck the rock with it.

Chen Shi found Drakloak's cautious manner a little amusing, but he didn't interrupt him.

Before long, Drakloak had cleaned away the head-sized rock, leaving a palm-sized fossil bearing a triangular pattern.

Its shape was exactly like a Dreepy's head.

Startled, Chen Shi hurriedly scanned the fossil with his panel.

[Dreepy Fossil]

"Holy shit."

"There's actually a Dreepy fossil here?"

Chen Shi truly couldn't understand it. A Bagon fossil or a Dratini fossil here would have seemed perfectly normal to him.

But why would Meteor Falls have a Dreepy fossil?

Hearing Shi's words, Drakloak finally understood why he felt so sad.

It was because one of his own kind had died.

"Kiya~"

Drakloak called out, and the little Dreepy on his head flew down and settled on Chen Shi's head.

Then Drakloak balanced the fossil on his own head, as though this would let his long-dead kin once again enjoy the feeling of resting on a grown Drakloak's head.

The Dreepy line was very unusual. They had an almost unimaginable devotion to caring for the young of their own kind.

Without a little Dreepy on his head, a Drakloak would become agitated. Over time, he would grow increasingly irritable and might even lose control.

That showed just how devoted they were to their young.

Now that they had dug up a Dreepy fossil, even Chen Shi could feel Drakloak's sorrow.

Chen Shi stepped forward to comfort him. "Drakloak, you don't need to worry."

"Fossil revival technology has already been developed. We can take this fossil to be revived."

"Then Dreepy can return to the world."

"Kiya~?"

Drakloak looked at Chen Shi in delighted surprise. This news meant far too much to him.

He had been planning to bury the fossil so his kin could rest in peace, only for Chen Shi to tell him that Dreepy could be revived.

How could he not be thrilled?

Chen Shi smiled. "You know the person who came with me? His family works on fossil revival."

"In a little while, we'll go to his place and revive Dreepy."

"Kiya~"

Drakloak nodded vigorously, then handed the fossil to Chen Shi.

My trainer wouldn't lie to a dragon. If he says Dreepy can be revived, then Dreepy definitely can.

The little Dreepy cheered up too, darting back onto Drakloak's head and settling down.

Beside them, Swampert scratched his head, unsure what was going on.

Are we still digging or not?

Chen Shi looked at the fossil, then took out a box and put it inside.

If Dreepy could be revived, he would let Pheobe raise him.

He didn't need him anyway. Drakloak could split when he evolved, and Chen Shi wasn't interested in raising another Dreepy.

Giving him to Pheobe would be perfect. Hadn't that girl said she wanted to find a Dreepy too?

Brother Chen Shi will deliver one right into your hands.

Consider it compensation for getting Steven to mess with you.

Back at home, Chen Shi had already handed the photos and other things to Steven, who seemed to have set things in motion.

He wondered how Pheobe was doing now.

Is she having a wonderful time?

Great Needle Peak