"Absolutely not," Sasuke said, looking up from his breakfast. "I need to register at the Gym this morning."
"Registration takes twenty minutes," Kiyomi countered. She stood in the suite's doorway, already dressed and clearly prepared to argue. "The museum opens at nine. You register at eight, you're done by eight-thirty, museum by nine. Math works."
"I wanted to scout the training facilities, "
"Which will still be there this afternoon." Kiyomi pulled out her phone, displayed the museum's website. "Dr. Takeshi specifically said he'd give all of us a private tour if we arrived early. He's the curator and chief paleontologist, studied under Professor Oak and worked with Professor Elm on fossil resurrection techniques. This is a once-in-a-journey opportunity."
Miyuki looked up from checking Ryu's egg data. "She's been talking about this museum for two weeks. We're going to hear about it whether we visit or not. Might as well see what the excitement is about."
"Traitor," Sasuke muttered.
"I'm in," Kasumi said cheerfully. "Space exhibit has moon-themed displays. Could inspire new Contest choreography."
Victini chirped from Sasuke's shoulder, clearly voting with the majority.
"Fine." Sasuke stood, carrying his empty plate to the kitchen. "Gym first, museum after. But if this takes all day, "
"It won't," Kiyomi promised. "Three hours maximum. You'll have plenty of time for training."
They left the Pokemon Center at seven-thirty, morning sun painting Pewter City in shades of gold and gray. The streets had already filled with miners heading to their shifts, trainers jogging with their Pokemon, merchants opening shops. The city moved with industrial efficiency, everyone had somewhere to be, tasks to complete.
The Gym loomed ahead, massive and imposing even in daylight. A line had formed outside the main entrance, challengers waiting for registration to open. Sasuke counted fifteen people, most looking nervous. One girl couldn't have been older than twenty, clutching a Pokeball like a lifeline.
At exactly eight AM, the doors opened. A Gym trainer in gray uniform, young man, maybe early twenties, stepped out and addressed the queue.
"Morning challengers. Registration is now open. Please form single file and have your Trainer Licenses ready. Gym Leader Gaara will review applications and schedule battles for the next three days. No guarantees you'll be accepted, Leader's discretion applies."
The line surged forward. Sasuke waited his turn, watching the Gym trainer process each person. Quick evaluation, checking licenses, asking about team composition, making notes on a tablet. Some challengers were accepted immediately. Others received polite rejections: "Come back when you've trained more," or "Your team lacks type coverage for this Gym."
Sasuke reached the front. The Gym trainer looked up, blinked, then straightened slightly.
"Sasuke Uchiha. I was told you might register today." He held out his hand. "I'm Kankuro, one of Gaara's senior trainers. Your brother Itachi challenged this Gym few years ago."
"Did he win?"
"Barely. Toughest match Gaara's had in five years." Kankuro took Sasuke's license, scanned it. "Your team composition is... impressive. Full type coverage, all at final evolution or capable of Mega Evolution. You're approved automatically."
He handed back the license along with a printed slip. "Battle scheduled for three days from now, morning slot, ten AM. Battlefield will be Standard Rocky Terrain. Rules are posted on the slip. Read them carefully."
Sasuke scanned the paper. Standard Gym Challenge format: Leader uses one Pokemon, challenger can use up to six. Dynamax permitted for both sides. Battle ends when Leader's Pokemon is unable to continue or when all challenger's Pokemon faint.
"Questions?" Kankuro asked.
"How long do battles typically last?"
"Against serious challengers? Fifteen to thirty minutes. Gaara doesn't play around, he'll push you to your limit immediately." Kankuro's expression turned almost sympathetic. "Fair warning: he's studied footage of your Crown Tundra training. He knows what you're capable of."
That surprised Sasuke. "Footage exists?"
"Your father posted sparring sessions to his research blog. Academic purposes, but publicly accessible. Gaara watches all potential challengers." Kankuro gestured at the Gym behind him. "He takes this seriously. You should too."
"I do."
"Good. See you in three days."
Sasuke returned to where his companions waited at the base of the Gym's steps. Miyuki raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Three days, morning slot," Sasuke reported. "He's watched videos of my training. Knows what to expect."
"Videos?" Kasumi asked. "Your dad posted those?"
"Apparently." Sasuke hadn't known, but it made sense. Fugaku treated everything as research opportunity, why not document his son's development? "Means I can't surprise him with unconventional strategies."
"Makes it fair," Miyuki said. "You've watched his battles too."
True enough. They started walking toward the museum, following GPS directions through increasingly academic districts. The architecture shifted from industrial to intellectual, university buildings, research laboratories, the distinctive peaked roof of the Mining Museum rising above everything.
The museum sat on a hill overlooking the city, three stories of carved stone and glass panels. The entrance featured massive double doors flanked by fossil displays, an Omanyte shell on one side, Kabuto carapace on the other. Above the doors: PEWTER MUSEUM OF SCIENCE - EST. 1305.
Kiyomi practically vibrated with excitement. "Seven hundred years of continuous operation. The fossil collection is one of three complete sets in the world. They have specimens from every prehistoric era, including pieces from the Mesozoic when Legendary Pokemon first appeared."
She pulled open the door, ushering them inside. The lobby took Sasuke's breath away.
A complete Aerodactyl skeleton hung suspended from the ceiling, wings spread in flight position. Not a reconstruction, actual fossilized bones, preserved perfectly over millions of years. Uplighting made the skeleton glow, casting dramatic shadows on stone walls. Beneath it, display cases held smaller fossils: Omanyte, Kabuto, Lileep, Anorith, Cranidos, Shieldon. Each specimen labeled with discovery date, location, geological era.
"Welcome to the Pewter Museum." The voice came from an elderly man approaching across polished floors. White hair, weathered face, eyes bright with intellectual curiosity. He wore a white lab coat over casual clothes. "You must be Kiyomi Kurama. Professor Elm spoke highly of your work."
Kiyomi bowed formally. "Dr. Takeshi. Thank you for agreeing to meet us."
"Nonsense. Any student of Elm's deserves attention." Dr. Takeshi extended his hand to each of them. "And you've brought companions, excellent. Museums are better experienced in groups. Allows for discussion and debate."
"This is Sasuke Uchiha, Miyuki Senju, and Kasumi Uzumaki," Kiyomi introduced. "We're traveling together on the Gym Challenge circuit."
"Uchiha and Senju?" Dr. Takeshi's eyebrows rose. "Two ancient clans represented. Fascinating. Your families have contributed significantly to Pokemon research over generations." He gestured toward the main gallery. "Come. I'll give you the private tour before public hours begin."
They followed him through archways into the main fossil gallery. Display cases lined the walls, each containing specimens arranged by geological period. Cambrian explosion fossils: early Water-type ancestors. Devonian fish-Pokemon: the first to develop limbs. Carboniferous giants: Grass-types that grew to sizes impossible in modern eras.
Dr. Takeshi narrated as they walked, providing context beyond the placards. "People think Pokemon are recent evolutionary development, last few million years. But fossil evidence suggests Pokemon-like creatures existed for hundreds of millions of years. They simply evolved alongside conventional animals, sometimes dominating, sometimes being dominated."
"What changed?" Miyuki asked. "Why did Pokemon become the dominant species?"
"The Great Impact." Dr. Takeshi stopped at a display showing a massive meteorite fragment. "Sixty-five million years ago, something struck the planet. Conventional wisdom says it caused the dinosaur extinction. But what if it didn't kill them, what if it transformed them? We have no fossil evidence of Pokemon before the Impact. After? Pokemon fossils everywhere."
Sasuke studied the meteorite. Dark stone, faintly luminescent even now. Something about it felt wrong, not dangerous, just other. Like it didn't belong to this world.
"Deoxys," he said quietly.
Dr. Takeshi turned sharply. "What did you say?"
"The meteorite. It's similar to the fragments found at the Hoenn Impact Site. Where Deoxys appears." Sasuke met the curator's eyes. "This came from space. It brought Pokemon to our world."
"You've seen Deoxys?" Dr. Takeshi's voice held barely controlled excitement.
Sasuke hesitated. Those memories belonged to Crown Tundra, private time with his father, training in isolation. But Dr. Takeshi's genuine scholarly interest won out.
"Yes. Two years ago. My father and I were training near the Tundra's northern edge when reports came of a meteorite landing. We investigated." Sasuke remembered that day clearly, the crater still smoking, his father's tension, the alien Pokemon that emerged. "Deoxys appeared from the debris. It didn't attack, just... observed us. Then disappeared."
"Incredible." Dr. Takeshi pulled out a tablet, already taking notes. "That's only the fourth confirmed Deoxys sighting in thirty years. Did it communicate? Show any unusual behavior?"
"It studied us. Specifically, it studied our Pokemon." Sasuke glanced at Victini on his shoulder. "Victini was with us. Deoxys seemed fascinated by Legendary Pokemon, like it recognized something familiar."
"Because Legendaries are also space-born," Dr. Takeshi said, voice intense. "The theory is controversial, but evidence suggests many Legendary Pokemon originated from beyond Earth. Rayquaza guards the atmosphere. Jirachi appears during comet cycles. Even Victini's Victory energy, some researchers believe it's cosmic in origin."
Kiyomi had her notebook out, writing frantically. "This connects to my ancient civilization research. Pre-modern humans worshipped Legendary Pokemon as gods. What if that's because they literally descended from the sky? The impact that brought Pokemon also brought Legendaries."
"Precisely my theory," Dr. Takeshi said. "Come. I'll show you something few people have seen."
He led them through a side door marked STAFF ONLY, down a corridor lined with preserved specimens in jars, into a secure laboratory. The space looked more like a medical facility than a museum, sterile surfaces, advanced equipment, containment chambers with glowing orange light.
In the center: a resurrection chamber.
"Active fossil revival," Dr. Takeshi explained. "We extract DNA from fossils, reconstruct the genetic code, and grow living Pokemon from ancient remains. Success rate is about forty percent, many specimens are too degraded."
Through the chamber's glass, Sasuke saw an Aerodactyl egg. Larger than Miyuki's Dragon egg, stone-gray with fossilized patterns. Monitoring equipment tracked its development, heartbeat, neural activity, cellular growth.
Miyuki pressed close to the glass. "This is incredible. How do you prevent genetic drift? Ancient DNA is notoriously unstable."
"Careful sequencing and cross-referencing with modern Rock/Flying types. Aerodactyl shares genetic markers with Skarmory and Archeops, we use those as templates to fill gaps." Dr. Takeshi pulled up data on a nearby terminal. "This specimen is seventy percent original DNA, thirty percent reconstructed. It will be viable but not perfectly authentic to ancient Aerodactyl."
"Still remarkable," Miyuki breathed. "You're resurrecting extinct species. Creating life from stone."
"We're giving ancient Pokemon a second chance," Dr. Takeshi corrected gently. "They didn't ask to go extinct. Human activity, climate change, habitat loss, all contributed to their disappearance. This is partial restitution."
Kasumi had moved to a different display, meteorite samples arranged by composition. "These are beautiful. Almost like gemstones."
"Space minerals," Dr. Takeshi said. "The Impact brought rare elements to Earth, compounds that don't form naturally in our planet's conditions. Some theorize these minerals enabled Pokemon evolution. Without them, Pokemon might never have developed elemental powers."
"Moon Stones," Kasumi said suddenly. "Evolution stones, are those space minerals?"
"Almost certainly. Moon Stones are particularly interesting, they're found near ancient meteorite impact sites and contain trace amounts of Clefairy DNA. As if the stones themselves are partially biological."
They spent another hour in the laboratory, Dr. Takeshi answering questions with boundless enthusiasm. Kiyomi took extensive notes, already planning research papers. Miyuki asked detailed questions about DNA reconstruction. Kasumi examined meteorite samples, mind clearly working on Contest applications.
Sasuke mostly listened, absorbing information. But his thoughts kept returning to that day in Crown Tundra, the alien Pokemon studying them, Deoxys's crystalline forms, the sense of encountering something truly other. His father had been tense, protective, ready to fight if necessary. But Deoxys had simply observed and left, as if satisfied with what it had learned.
"Sasuke?" Dr. Takeshi pulled him from memory. "Would you be willing to write a detailed account of your Deoxys encounter? For academic documentation?"
"Maybe. After the Gym Challenge."
"Fair enough. Your focus should be on Gaara right now." Dr. Takeshi smiled. "Though I suspect you'll do fine. Anyone who can face Deoxys without flinching can certainly handle a Tyranitar."
They returned to the public galleries as the museum opened to general admission. The space exhibit occupied the entire third floor, a circular room with a domed ceiling painted like the night sky. Displays showcased meteorites, space-type Pokemon documentation, lunar mythology.
Kasumi gravitated immediately to the Clefairy exhibit. "Look at this, ancient cultures believed Clefairy came from the moon. They supposedly dance under full moons, channeling lunar energy."
"Some Contest Coordinators use moon themes," Miyuki observed. "Midnight performances with Fairy-type Pokemon and moonlight effects. Very dramatic."
"I could do something with that." Kasumi snapped photos of the display, already choreographing in her mind. "Glaceon and Togekiss performing under moonlight simulation. Ice crystals reflecting lunar glow, creating starfield effect."
Kiyomi had found the ancient astronomy section. Star charts carved in stone, preserved for millennia. "Pre-modern humans tracked celestial movements and correlated them with Pokemon appearances. Jirachi's thousand-year cycle, Rayquaza's comet warnings, even weather patterns influenced by Legendary Pokemon."
"Everything connects," Miyuki said softly. "Space, ancient civilizations, modern Pokemon, it's all one continuous story."
Sasuke stood beneath the dome, looking up at painted stars. Somewhere out there, beyond atmosphere and gravity, more mysteries waited. More Pokemon that defied understanding. Deoxys was just one example. What else existed in the vast darkness of space?
"We should go," he said eventually. "It's almost noon."
They thanked Dr. Takeshi, who made Kiyomi promise to return for research access to the newly discovered temple ruins beneath the museum. "Tomorrow afternoon. I'll have the excavation site prepared for your documentation."
Outside, bright sunlight felt jarring after the museum's controlled lighting. They walked downhill toward the city center, passing university students and museum visitors heading the opposite direction.
"That was amazing," Kasumi said. "I got so many ideas for Contest routines."
"The genetic reconstruction techniques," Miyuki added. "I need to research those. Could apply to breeding programs."
"My research paper practically wrote itself," Kiyomi said. "Space-born origins of Legendary Pokemon as basis for ancient worship practices. Dr. Takeshi essentially confirmed my entire thesis."
They looked at Sasuke expectantly.
"It was educational," he admitted. "And the Deoxys memory was... good to share. Dad and I never talked much about that day afterward."
"Private moment between father and son," Miyuki said, understanding immediately. "Those are valuable."
They reached the restaurant district as lunch crowds filled the streets. Kiyomi checked her phone. "Dr. Takeshi recommended 'The Boulder', famous Rock-type themed restaurant. Apparently, their chef trained under the former Champion Minato Namikaze."
"Rock-type themed cuisine?" Kasumi sounded skeptical. "How do you make that appetizing?"
They found out thirty minutes later, seated in a restaurant carved directly into a cliff face. Natural stone walls, minimal decoration, focus on the food. The menu featured dishes inspired by Rock-type Pokemon.
Geodude Gravel Pasta (actually delicate stone-ground flour), Onix Steel Steak (premium steak with mineral rubs), Rhyhorn Roast (herb-crusted meat with root vegetables).
Sasuke ordered the Tyranitar Special, bone marrow osso buco with polenta and charred vegetables. When it arrived, perfectly plated and aromatic, he had to admit defeat.
"Wow... This is incredible," he said after the first bite.
"Told you," Kiyomi said smugly. "Pewter City's mining culture extends to food. They understand earth and mineral flavors."
The meal lasted two hours, multiple courses, each better than the last. The chef even came out to greet them, recognized Sasuke as an Uchiha, and shared cooking philosophy about honoring ingredients' natural qualities. Sasuke found himself in an animated discussion about mineral-rich water's effects on vegetables, completely forgetting about gym battle preparation.
"You're doing it again," Kasumi said. "The chef thing. You can't adopt every kitchen."
"I'm just interested in technique."
"You're mentally redesigning their menu."
She wasn't wrong.
They finished with berry-based desserts, the chef's specialty, using local varieties to create complex flavor profiles. Kasumi interrogated the chef about berry selection and preparation, getting detailed notes for her own cultivation research.
Outside, afternoon sun had shifted toward evening. 3 PM according to Sasuke's phone.
"Training time," he announced. "I need to work with Tyranitar before the gym battle."
"Pokemon Center has training facilities," Miyuki said. "Proper battlefields with Rock-type terrain simulation."
They returned to the Center, split up to pursue individual goals. Kiyomi headed back to the museum for additional research. Kasumi checked on her berry greenhouse. Miyuki went to the breeding suite to monitor Ryu's egg.
Sasuke took Tyranitar to the training grounds, a massive outdoor facility behind the Pokemon Center, with multiple battlefield types available. He reserved the Rock Terrain field, an arena covered in boulders and uneven ground identical to the Gym's setup.
For the next three hours, they trained. Tyranitar practicing Mega Evolution transitions, perfecting Primal Reversion, synchronizing Dynamax timing. The Rock/Dark type moved through forms with increasing smoothness, power building with each transformation.
Other trainers watched from the sidelines, recognizing both Sasuke and his Pokemon. Word spread: one of the Four Supernovas was preparing for Gaara. By the time Sasuke finished, a small crowd had gathered.
"Think you can beat him?" someone called out.
Sasuke recalled Tyranitar, exhausted but satisfied with their progress. He looked at the crowd, mostly young trainers, hopeful and nervous.
"Yes," he said simply.
Because anything less would be lying.
Three days until the Boulder Badge.
The countdown had begun.