Chen Shi headed home and found his grandparents working in the underground lab.
"Grandpa, Grandma — there's an Ace match in Domino Town in two days. I'm planning to go watch."
"And while we're out, I want to explore Meteor Falls for fieldwork. Not sure how long we'll stay."
Grandpa Chen hummed in acknowledgment while mixing potions.
Grandma Chen looked up, worried.
"Shi, maybe take Garchomp with you? The Pokémon deeper inside Meteor Falls can be strong. Be careful."
Chen Shi waved casually.
"I won't go deep. No need for Garchomp. Don't worry — I know my limits."
Grandma hesitated but went back to perfecting the refined Fairy Energy Cubes.
Departure Preparations
Chen Shi packed up.
His backyard squad was excited — Charmander and Metang were itching for live experience, Togekiss was happy to travel anywhere with him, and Florges fretted about her garden.
To calm her, Chen Shi asked Gardevoir to watch over the flowers.
Only then did Florges relax.
When they reached the gate, Chen Shi faced an awkward truth:
He had no reliable flying mount.
Dratini couldn't carry him yet.
Bronzong could barely keep altitude.
Salamence was away on other duties.
Thankfully, Steven Stone had arrived with his Skarmory, and there was just enough room for two riders.
"Chen Shi — Domino Town first, or straight to Meteor Falls?"
"Straight to Meteor Falls. We can hit Domino later."
Steven Stone grinned, turned Skarmory toward the sky, and off they went.
Arrival — Meteor Falls
A little over an hour later, they stood before the entrance.
The outer area was a tourist spot: a vast curtain of water shimmering like falling stars.
Chen Shi found himself murmuring an old verse —
A torrent plunges three thousand feet… it might be the Milky Way falling from heaven.
It suited the scenery perfectly.
Steven Stone, however, was all business.
He unpacked:
protective suits
hardened helmets
a top-grade mineral scanner
and released a massive Aggron
Only Steven Stone Stone could treat rock-hunting like a military operation.
Chen Shi snorted.
"Steven Stone, your machine isn't helping. Let me try something better."
Steven Stone puffed up.
"Hey, this device detects mineral deposits with pinpoint accuracy."
Chen Shi just smiled and released Togekiss.
"Alright, Professor Tako. Point us somewhere special."
Togekiss blinked in confusion — she had no geology talent whatsoever — but obediently closed her eyes and waved one tiny hand.
Steven Stone's scanner instantly shrieked.
BEEEP—BEEEEP—TARGET DETECTED.
Aggron dug furiously and soon yoinked out a glittering stone.
Steven Stone stared.
Chen Shi leaned over, unimpressed.
"Just a Moon Stone? Nice, but not rare. Let's move."
Steven Stone quietly packed it away, muttering about "recalibration" and pretending the scanner deserved the credit.
Deeper Inside the Falls
They continued farther inward.
The caverns expanded into pools reflecting starlight, meteor fragments embedded everywhere like cosmic freckles on the stone. The quiet hum of energy filled the air.
They collected:
Meteor shards
Rare mineral veins
A few gorgeous meteor slates
Steven Stone's eyes sparkled with every find.
Togekiss kept insisting she was "just guessing," but the scanner kept going wild whenever she pointed.
Chen Shi found himself enjoying the peacefulness.
Fieldwork wasn't loud or flashy, but it made room for thought.
Steven Stone, meanwhile, was already hauling a pack overflowing with samples.
"Let's check the eastern crevice," Steven Stone said. "I have a feeling."
They moved on.
Soon the path opened into a gigantic stone cathedral where meteor dust drifted like snow.
Chen Shi slowed, breath catching.
Stone, water, sky, ancient meteor energy — all woven together.
It felt like standing inside a fallen star.
Return
They found a few more valuable pieces before sunset, then rode Skarmory home.
Steven Stone wouldn't stop rambling about stratification curves and extraterrestrial ore density.
Chen Shi let him talk.
The enthusiasm was contagious.
Back at the farmhouse, they laid the stones out on the table.
Grandpa Chen examined each sample and nodded.
"Not bad for a day's work."
"Keep them. The lab will study their microstructure."
Chen Shi smiled.
The day had been perfect:
Experience for his team
A bundle of high-quality samples
And time with a friend who truly loved stones
Tomorrow, they would head to Domino Town for the Ace exhibition match.
Beyond that?
The world was wide.
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