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After taking a three-hour boat ride across the calm waters, Ash and Green finally arrived at the weathered dock near Grampa Canyon. The wooden planks creaked beneath their feet as they disembarked, breathing in the fresh mountain air. From this location, it would take them more than ten minutes to walk through the winding path that led directly to Grampa Canyon.
Grampa Canyon held the distinction of being the largest valley in the entire Kanto Region. Ash had never quite understood the origin of its peculiar name, though he suspected it might have something to do with the imposing high mountain wastelands that surrounded the area like ancient guardians. The region was known for its rugged terrain and sparse population. Although occasional travelers and hiking enthusiasts would pass through during certain seasons, the area typically remained relatively quiet and undisturbed.
However, something was distinctly different about today's atmosphere. As soon as Ash stepped off the boat alongside Green, he immediately noticed an unusual sight that made him pause in curiosity. The normally quiet road leading to the valley was now bustling with activity, filled with numerous people who were all dressed in practical climbing gear. Every person they encountered carried professional excavation tools in their hands - sturdy pickaxes, heavy-duty shovels, and various other mining implements that gleamed in the afternoon sunlight.
"This is really strange," Green commented, her voice tinged with genuine confusion as she surveyed the unexpected crowd before them. "There definitely weren't this many people around when I traveled through this area before!" She had walked through Grampa Canyon on multiple previous occasions during her own Pokemon journey, and she distinctly remembered the peaceful, almost solitary nature of the location.
"Hmm! Maybe they're all here to hunt for some kind of treasure!" Ash responded with his characteristic optimistic smile, his eyes sparkling with curiosity as he observed the determined expressions on the faces of the passing travelers.
"But what kind of treasure could possibly be found in a place like this?" Green looked at the bustling crowd with growing bewilderment. While the people certainly appeared to be seriously equipped and genuinely committed to whatever they were seeking, she couldn't recall ever hearing any legends or stories about valuable treasures hidden within Grampa Canyon's rocky terrain.
"Well, there's only one way to find out what's going on," Ash declared with enthusiasm. "We'll have to go and see for ourselves what all the excitement is about."
As he spoke these words, Ash quickened his pace considerably, his natural curiosity driving him forward. Green followed closely behind, and together they soon arrived at the entrance to the valley proper. The scene that greeted them was even more crowded and chaotic than what they had witnessed on the road. The valley, which had once been a peaceful natural formation, now resembled a bustling hub of activity.
Even from their position at the valley's edge, they could clearly hear the constant, rhythmic sounds of rocks being broken and split echoing throughout the entire area. The persistent noise suggested that some kind of large-scale excavation operation was taking place deeper within the valley's confines.
When they walked closer and managed to get a better view of the situation, their suspicions were immediately confirmed. The valley, which had traditionally been known for its natural beauty and geological formations, had been transformed into what could only be described as an active mining area. Multiple sections of the valley floor had been carefully dug up and excavated, creating numerous holes and trenches of varying depths. Everywhere they looked, they could see piles of broken rocks and stone fragments scattered across the landscape, evidence of extensive operations.
The crowd was remarkably diverse, consisting of people from many different backgrounds and professions. There were Pokemon Trainers of all ages and experience levels, their Pokemon assisting with the excavation work. Alongside them were serious-looking archaeologists wearing professional field gear, their movements precise and methodical as they carefully examined each discovery. The mixture of enthusiastic amateurs and seasoned professionals created an atmosphere of excitement and scientific inquiry.
"It really looks like something significant has been discovered here!" Green observed, her analytical mind already working to piece together the implications of what they were witnessing. The scale and intensity of the operation clearly indicated that this was no ordinary treasure hunt.
"Ash! Over there!"
At that moment, a familiar voice called out with obvious surprise and joy. Ash immediately recognized the sound and turned his head to locate its source. In the distance, he spotted three familiar figures running toward them with obvious excitement, waving their arms enthusiastically to get his attention.
"Everyone!" Ash responded with equal enthusiasm, waving back at his approaching friends. The three companions reached Ash and Green almost simultaneously, but one particular figure didn't stop running and instead rushed forward with unexpected momentum.
"You idiot! You scared us all to death!"
Ash found himself slightly stunned by the sudden impact, and everyone in the immediate vicinity turned to stare at the unexpected scene unfolding before them. Green displayed a knowing smile that suggested she understood exactly what was happening. Brock, while clearly relieved to see Ash safe, quickly averted his gaze and pretended not to notice the emotional reunion taking place.
Gary stood nearby with a somewhat frustrated expression, gritting his teeth slightly. He had always prided himself on having numerous female admirers and supporters, but witnessing this display made him realize that even in this area, Ash seemed to have advantages that were increasingly difficult to match.
"Okay, okay! I'm perfectly fine, aren't I?" Ash said gently, trying to calm the situation while also being mindful of their public surroundings. "And I even managed to earn the Cinnabar Badge during my adventure. But everyone is watching us right now," he whispered quietly into Misty's ear.
Upon hearing this gentle reminder, Misty quickly pushed herself away from Ash and covered her reddened cheeks with both hands. In her relief and anxiety about his safety, she had completely forgotten about their current surroundings and the numerous strangers who were now observing their reunion with great interest.
Looking through her fingers, she could see the playful and amused smiles on the faces of Green and the others, which only served to increase her embarrassment. She desperately tried to think of some way to change the subject and redirect everyone's attention away from her emotional outburst.
"Oh, that's right! I have this!"
Misty quickly reached into her backpack and retrieved a familiar hat - the very same one that Ash had dropped at the scene of his previous adventure. Ash had been feeling somewhat incomplete during the past few days without his trademark accessory. Seeing the carefully cleaned and maintained hat, Ash felt genuinely moved by Misty's thoughtfulness and care.
"Thank you so much!" he said sincerely, taking the beloved hat from Misty's hands and placing it back on his head where it belonged. For reasons he couldn't entirely explain, although the hat was just a simple piece of clothing, wearing it again made him feel more like himself and ready for whatever adventures lay ahead.
"Hmph! Really, you need to be much more careful sometimes and stop causing so much trouble for other people, okay?"
Gary, who had been standing nearby with his arms crossed over his chest, spoke in his characteristically arrogant tone. Despite his harsh words, the truth was that he had been genuinely worried about Ash's safety, but his pride prevented him from expressing these feelings directly.
"Yes, yes, yes," Ash responded with a casual wave of his hand, adjusting his hat as he spoke.
"Damn it, don't just brush me off like that!" Gary felt increasingly frustrated when he heard Ash's seemingly dismissive tone. After all the genuine concern he had felt during Ash's absence, this casual response felt particularly irritating.
"Hahaha! You two are still exactly the same as always!" Green couldn't help but laugh affectionately when she observed that her two childhood friends were still displaying the same competitive dynamic that had characterized their relationship for years. However, her curiosity about their current situation remained strong. "But seriously, what's going on here? There definitely weren't anywhere near this many people when I passed through this area during my last visit!"
"Well, from what I've heard, fossils of ancient Pokemon have been discovered somewhere in this valley," Gary explained, his earlier irritation giving way to excitement as he shared the information he had gathered. "As soon as news of the discovery spread throughout the region, it immediately attracted huge numbers of Pokemon Trainers and professional archaeologists who are all hoping to dig up their own fossil specimens!"
"Ancient Pokemon fossils?" Ash repeated with growing interest.
"That's exactly right! And now that we're here in person, I'm absolutely confident that I'll be able to find some fossils of ancient Pokemon for myself!" Gary declared with characteristic confidence. Now that he had confirmed Ash's safety, he began to look around the excavation site with obvious excitement and determination.
The fossils of ancient Pokemon held special significance in their world that went far beyond mere archaeological curiosity. These discoveries attracted so many Pokemon Trainers because modern science had successfully developed and mastered the revolutionary technology needed to revive fossilized Pokemon and bring them back to life. This remarkable scientific achievement meant that discovering a fossil was essentially equivalent to finding a rare and ancient Pokemon that could become a valuable addition to any trainer's team.
This extraordinary possibility explained why so many trainers had flocked to the excavation site with such enthusiasm. Finding fossils represented the opportunity to obtain rare ancient Pokemon species that had been extinct for countless millennia, and Gary was clearly excited by this prospect.
"So are you planning to try digging for fossils yourself?" Green asked with genuine curiosity.
"You bet I am! And this time, Ash, any ancient Pokemon we find here will belong to me!" Gary responded with determination, then turned to face Ash directly with a serious and competitive expression.
"Well then, good luck to you!" Ash replied with his typical friendly smile, showing no signs of the rivalry that Gary seemed to be expecting.
In truth, while ancient Pokemon were certainly rare and fascinating from a historical perspective, they weren't necessarily stronger or more capable than modern Pokemon species. The fact that these ancient species had become extinct in the first place actually demonstrated that they had failed to adapt successfully to the natural evolutionary processes that had shaped the Pokemon world. Therefore, while Ash appreciated the scientific and historical value of ancient Pokemon, he didn't feel the need to compete desperately for the opportunity to obtain one.
"Hmph!" Gary noticed that Ash didn't seem to react with much enthusiasm or competitive spirit to his challenge. Ash appeared almost disinterested in the prospect of finding ancient Pokemon, which was somewhat disappointing to Gary. However, the allure and captivating power of potentially discovering ancient Pokemon remained too strong for Gary to ignore, and he quickly departed with his group of female admirers to begin his own fossil-hunting expedition.
With Gary's departure, Ash found himself reunited with his three closest traveling companions. As they looked around at the busy excavation site, they realized that it was nearly noon and they were all beginning to feel hungry after their morning of travel and excitement. Brock, ever the thoughtful caretaker of the group, had already prepared a delicious packed lunch for everyone. He decided that this would be the perfect time to take a break from the excitement and enjoy their meal together. He also graciously invited Green to join them for lunch, extending the same warm hospitality that characterized all of their group's interactions.
"Mmm! The food that Brock prepares is absolutely delicious!" Green exclaimed with genuine appreciation as she enjoyed the carefully prepared bento that Brock had made. Although she possessed decent cooking skills herself and could prepare basic meals when necessary, she had to admit that the quality and flavor of Brock's culinary creations were truly superior to her own efforts.
"I'm really glad that you enjoy it!" Brock responded with obvious pleasure, his face lighting up with satisfaction. As someone who took great pride in his cooking abilities and considered food preparation to be one of his greatest talents, it was naturally a source of happiness for him whenever someone praised the dishes he had lovingly prepared.
"Poli!"
At that precise moment, a distinctive Pokemon cry from somewhere nearby suddenly captured the attention of all four travelers, interrupting their peaceful lunch and drawing their collective focus toward the source of the sound.