Fossil Gambit

Oreburgh City was a lot busier than I imagined. People hustled about, miners coated in grime moved in and out of buildings, and there was a constant noise of machinery and life. It was almost overwhelming, but the energy of the place made me feel more alive. After the days spent struggling with Rhyhorn, just seeing other people—people who actually seemed to know what they were doing—made me feel like I was finally moving forward.

The only problem was, moving forward meant finding a way to turn this fossil into something real. I gripped the bag tighter as I navigated the crowded streets, asking for directions until I finally found myself in front of a large, imposing building: the Oreburgh Mining Museum. It looked old, sturdy, and a bit intimidating—like it had seen more people like me walk through its doors than it cared to remember.

I stepped inside, the cool air instantly a relief from the hot, dusty streets. The place was filled with displays of fossils, each one set behind glass with a small plaque explaining what they were. There were models of ancient Pokémon, rough sketches, and detailed information about each type. It felt like stepping back in time—like every stone in here had a story, and each one was waiting to be told.

I made my way to the front desk, where a receptionist sat, her eyes barely flicking up at me as I approached.

"Uh, hey," I said, trying to muster as much confidence as possible. "I've got a fossil I'd like to get revived."

The receptionist finally looked up, her brow arching slightly. She glanced at me, then at my worn-out bag. "A fossil, huh? You sure about that, kid?"

I nodded, pulling the fossil from my bag and setting it on the counter. She looked at it, her eyes widening just a bit, then let out a sigh. "Alright, but just so you know, revival isn't cheap. We don't guarantee results, either—sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't."

I swallowed, my heart pounding. "How much are we talking?"

"Ten thousand Poké Dollars," she said, barely blinking. "And even then, there's a good chance it won't work. Fossil revivals aren't an exact science—especially if the fossil's in bad shape. And, even if it does work, reviving an ancient Pokémon is... tricky. They don't just come out ready to follow you around. They're confused, scared, and often very aggressive."

I frowned, leaning in a little. "What do you mean?"

She sighed, giving me a long, hard look before nodding at a framed picture behind her—a blurry image of a fierce-looking Pokémon, its stance aggressive, jaws open wide. "See that one? We revived it about six months ago. It went berserk as soon as it woke up, attacking everything in sight. It took three Gym Leaders to get it under control, and two of their Pokémon were taken down in the chaos. Even after it calmed down, it was far from tame. They had to transfer it to a remote reserve just to keep everyone safe."

I stared at the picture, the intensity in the Pokémon's eyes making my stomach twist. The receptionist's words hammered the reality home: this wasn't like catching a Caterpie. Reviving a fossil was waking up something from a completely different time, something that would have no reason to trust or listen to me.

The receptionist cleared her throat, giving me a sympathetic look. "Look, kid. It's not impossible, but it's tough. You've got to really know what you're doing, and you've got to have resources. Trainers who revive fossils usually have a full team backing them up. It's not the kind of thing you do alone."

I looked down at the fossil on the counter, the excitement that had carried me into the museum deflating, but just a little. I wasn't giving up. Not now. Not after coming this far. The risks were real, and I understood that, but the rewards? A chance to have something strong, something unique? That was worth fighting for.

"I get it," I said, my voice firm. "But I still want to do it. I'll find a way to make it happen."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback. "You're serious? Even after all that?"

I nodded, swallowing down the fear. "Dead serious. I know it's a risk, but... I think this is my best shot. I'm not walking away."

The receptionist sighed, shaking her head slightly. "You've got guts, kid, I'll give you that. Alright, let's see what we can do. You mentioned not having the money?"

I hesitated, then took a deep breath, pulling out Rhyhorn's Poké Ball and setting it on the counter beside the fossil. "What if I traded this? It's a Rhyhorn. It's strong—really strong."

She looked at the Poké Ball, her eyebrows lifting. "You want to trade a Rhyhorn to pay for a fossil revival? You do know Rhyhorn are considered pretty valuable, right? You're willing to give it up?"

I nodded, feeling a pang of doubt, but I forced it down. "We're... not exactly working well together. I need something different. Something that might actually work with me, not against me."

She studied me for a moment, her gaze softening slightly. "Alright. I can't make any promises. We'll have to appraise the Rhyhorn and see if it's enough to cover the cost. And even if it is, you know the risk—you might end up with nothing."

I nodded again, my jaw set. "I understand. I'm willing to take that risk."

She let out another sigh, then stood up. "Alright, follow me. Let's get this sorted out."

She led me down a hallway, past display cases filled with old bones and models of ancient Pokémon. We stopped at a door marked "Fossil Lab," and she pushed it open, revealing a room filled with machines—some humming quietly, others beeping softly, their screens filled with data I didn't understand. A few scientists were moving about, carefully inspecting fossils under bright lights.

The receptionist spoke to one of the scientists, gesturing towards me and my fossil. The scientist—a tall, thin man with glasses that seemed a little too big for his face—nodded, then came over, taking the fossil from my hands and inspecting it closely.

"Hm," he muttered, turning it over, his brow furrowing. "It's... not in terrible shape, but it's definitely not pristine. Reviving this will be a gamble."

I took a deep breath, nodding. "I understand. I'm willing to try."

He glanced at the receptionist, who gave him a small nod. He turned back to me. "Alright, kid. We'll run the appraisal on your Rhyhorn. If it checks out, we'll give this a shot. But remember—if it doesn't work, you're not getting your Rhyhorn back."

I hesitated, the weight of that statement sinking in. I looked at the Poké Ball in my hand, imagining Rhyhorn lying stubbornly in the dirt, refusing to budge. We weren't getting along—it felt like we were fighting each other more than anything else. But still, giving up a Pokémon wasn't something I took lightly.

But I had to take the risk. I needed something that felt like it could work—something that might be a better fit for me, even if it was a long shot.

"I understand," I said, my voice steadier now. "Let's do it."

The scientist nodded, then took the Poké Ball and the fossil, handing them off to someone else who disappeared into the back of the lab. I was left standing there, my heart pounding, my hands suddenly feeling very empty.

The receptionist patted me on the shoulder, her voice softer now. "You've got guts, kid, I'll give you that. Just remember—no matter what happens, this is all part of being a trainer. Sometimes things work out, sometimes they don't."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. All I could do was wait, my eyes fixed on the door where the scientist had taken my fossil. It felt like hours, each second stretching into eternity. I didn't know if I'd made the right choice, but it was too late to back out now. I'd put everything on the line for a chance—one that might just turn out to be a total bust.

Finally, the door opened, and the scientist returned. He had the fossil in his hands, a small smile on his face.

"Well, kid, looks like you're in luck. The Rhyhorn was enough to cover the cost, and the fossil… well, we're gonna give it a shot. But don't get too excited. There's still a chance this won't work."

I nodded, feeling a strange mix of fear and hope swirling inside me. "Thank you," I managed to say.

He led me to a window that looked into another room—a large chamber filled with machines, the fossil placed carefully in the center. I watched as the scientists moved around it, adjusting settings, their voices muffled by the thick glass.

This was it. Everything I'd done up to this point had led to this moment. I had nothing left—no Rhyhorn, no money, just this one chance. I pressed my forehead against the cool glass, my breath fogging it slightly.

"Come on," I whispered. "Please work."

The machines whirred to life, lights flashing, a beam of energy focusing on the fossil. The hum grew louder, filling the room, and I felt my heart pounding in time with the noise. I held my breath, watching as the fossil glowed, the energy pulsing around it.

The seconds ticked by, and then, finally, there was a flash—a bright, blinding light that made me squint, my eyes watering. When the light faded, I saw it—a small, trembling shape lying in the center of the chamber.

My heart leapt. It had worked.

The receptionist leaned over, her voice barely a whisper. "You did it, kid. But remember, this is just the beginning. Now comes the hard part."

I nodded, my eyes locked on the creature before me. It was small, its body covered in rough scales, its eyes wide and disoriented. It looked around, clearly confused, a low growl escaping its throat.

I knew this wasn't going to be easy. This Pokémon didn't know me, didn't trust me. But it was here, and it was real. And maybe, just maybe, this was my chance to finally get things right.