Chapter 207: Confirmation, Mega Evolution from Ancient Times
Will didn't waste much time explaining the gravity of the situation to Mew. Although Mew usually seemed playful and unreliable, it could become serious when it mattered. Most importantly, Mew was not surprised by the existence of Shadow Lugia.
It turned out that Mew had heard Ho-Oh mention it before. It just didn't know that Shadow Lugia would target the Tree of Beginning. Or rather, Ho-Oh hadn't known either. Neither of them knew that it craved a huge amount of life energy.
The moment Mew relayed this information to the Tree of Beginning, the Tree immediately ordered the three Regis to obey Mew and Will's commands and cooperate with their special training. Not only them, but even the ancient Pokémon living inside the Tree began to help, gathering food and building nests so Will's group wouldn't have to worry about daily chores.
Life gradually settled into a routine. Platane, for the sake of her research, had also temporarily moved in. However, her body was not strong. She would often get sick from staying in the Tree for too long and would have to go to the nearby Rota City to see a doctor. But even so, she insisted on returning.
For her "Primal Reversion" project, Mew was nothing short of a nuclear bomb. Mew could transform into any Pokémon! Whether it was their current form, or their ancient form, it could do it all!
But Mew's transformation had a limitation that no one else had realized. Just like Ditto, it had to have seen a Pokémon to be able to transform into it. The difference was that Ditto's memory was limited and it might forget, while Mew, once it saw something, could transform into it at will, forever.
...
One day.
"Mew, can you transform into an ancient Sceptile?" Platane asked, her eyes full of expectation. If Mew could, and that form was different from a modern Sceptile, then her research hypothesis would be proven.
"Mew," Mew shook its head decisively. Because of the powerful enemy, it was also training with Will and the Regis. But it had never seen an ancient Sceptile. It wasn't that it hadn't lived long enough; it was just that its entire existence was bound to the area around the Tree of Beginning. It couldn't even leave Rota City, let alone the Kanto region. It wasn't the "wanderer" Mew that traveled the world.
"That's a real pity. It looks like I'll have to rely on the ancient gene sequences I already have," Platane sighed, disappointed. But just as she did, she went pale and fainted.
"Mew," Mew, completely unfazed by this, flew over, and its body glowed with a pink light. [Heal Pulse].
Five minutes later, Platane stood up again. "Damn it, I collapsed again. This weak body... If only I wasn't human." She had been at the Tree for two years, and had fainted at least a dozen times.
"What, you fainted again?" Will and Meowscarada, just returning from training, walked in. Behind them, the three Regis followed.
"Yeah. I'm used to it."
"You've collected enough research materials. I think you should leave this place. If you keep this up, your body will collapse sooner or later," Will said, shaking his head.
Platane's constitution was too weak. She had already contracted an ancient virus from the Tree's environment, and it had permanently damaged her health. If she stayed any longer, her lifespan would probably be shortened.
"Sigh... It looks like I really can't hold on any longer. This research can't be completed in a day," she sighed again. "Oh, right, Mew, have you ever seen an ancient Charizard? I'm thinking of visiting Charicific Valley on my way back to collect some Charizard genes."
"Mew?... Mew!"
Mew tilted its head, then, as if remembering something, its body shimmered. The next moment, it had transformed into a new, black-and-blue Pokémon.
"...Mega Charizard X," Will whispered, his eyes wide in shock.
Platane and Meowscarada were stunned by the difference in appearance and color. But Will's shock was because Platane's theory had just been confirmed.
A Pokémon's ancient form... is its Mega Evolution.
"What an unheard-of form and power," Platane said, her face flushed with excitement.
"Mew," Mew transformed back, covering its mouth and giggling.
"I've decided! I will follow this path to the end! Sceptile, Meowscarada, Mew, I'm leaving!" Platane said, her resolve firm.
"Yes, you should go. Take care of yourself. It's okay to give up on the research. Your body is more important," Will advised. He was genuinely afraid she would work herself to death.
"Don't worry, Sceptile, Meowscarada! One day, I will be the one to make you evolve to your next stage!" Platane said, patting both of them on the arm. She then turned and left, as decisive as ever.
"Meow-meow~"
"Mew~"
Meowscarada and Mew waved goodbye. They were a little sad, but they both felt they would see her again someday.
Will watched her go, then, after a short rest, "Let's continue... training."
He stood up and led the three Regis away.
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