POKEMON : THE WAY OF PERCEPTION

The interior of Bill's house was spacious yet surprisingly simple. The decor was minimal, devoid of any extravagant touches, reflecting Bill's practical and focused personality.

A long corridor stretched inward, flanked by murals of various Pokémon. It was clear that Bill deeply admired and respected these creatures.

"Hello!"

As Ash, Misty, and Brock stood at the entrance debating whether to step inside, a young man appeared.

Dressed in casual home attire, he had a gentle demeanor. His short, slightly curly brown hair complemented his intellectual aura.

This was none other than Bill, the brilliant inventor and researcher of the Pokémon world!

"Hello, Bill Professor. Here is the information that Professor Oak asked me to deliver," Ash said, pulling out the documents and handing them over.

"Ah, no rush! Let's chat first," Bill replied with a smile. Despite his words, he eagerly took the materials and began skimming through them while gesturing for Ash and his friends to follow him inside.

"Uh... sure. Thank you," Ash said, exchanging glances with Brock and Misty before they stepped in.

Although engrossed in the documents, Bill navigated the house with ease, leading them to the living room without even looking up.

"Please, have a seat. I'll get you some water. The options are simple—just boiled water, I'm afraid," Bill said as he glanced at the files, his interest evident.

"Thank you. That's more than enough," Misty replied politely, while Ash and Brock nodded.

"Relax! Make yourselves at home," Bill said warmly. He smiled at Pikachu, who was perched in Ash's arms, and handed over a small cup of water for the Pokémon as well. "You've come all this way with important materials. If I don't even offer you water, people might think poorly of me!"

"Well, thank you then," Ash said, chuckling.

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As they sipped their water, the three friends took in their surroundings. The living room was modest, yet functional, with shelves stacked neatly with books and scientific equipment. Meanwhile, Bill dived into the documents with intense focus.

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The Topic of Fossil Pokémon

Bill was currently researching fossil Pokémon, particularly their remnants and evolutionary history. Fossil Pokémon weren't limited to extinct ancient creatures but included any Pokémon with fossilized remains. However, most people referred to fossil Pokémon as species like Aerodactyl, Kabuto, and Omanyte—nearly extinct creatures from ancient times.

These Pokémon were exceptionally rare in the wild, comparable in scarcity to legendary Pokémon. In the Kanto Region, these three families were especially notable.

Bill's fascination with fossils was reignited after reading a groundbreaking paper co-authored by Professor Rowan from the Sinnoh Region and Professor Bratano from the Kalos Region.

Professor Rowan, a renowned authority on Pokémon evolution, theorized that evolution allowed Pokémon to become more mature and complete. However, legendary Pokémon did not evolve, suggesting they were already in a near-perfect state.

Professor Bratano, known for his research on Mega Evolution, expanded on this idea. He proposed that Mega Evolution might restore Pokémon to their ancient, original forms. For instance, he argued that Mega Aerodactyl likely represented the true appearance of Aerodactyl in prehistoric times.

Their theory gained further support from a collaborative study by Professor Oak and Professor Aurea Juniper, which focused on Magikarp. According to their findings, Magikarp was once a powerful and revered creature in ancient times, similar to today's fossil Pokémon. However, a mysterious event caused its species to weaken, resulting in the modern Magikarp, often deemed the weakest Pokémon.

Its evolved form, Gyarados, demonstrated the potential power of ancient Magikarp. Given Magikarp's ubiquity in the world's waters, this transformation underscored the staggering influence of evolution on Pokémon.

Bill's interest in these theories spurred his desire to learn more about fossil Pokémon, especially Aerodactyl. However, the limited resources at his lighthouse made research difficult, prompting him to request assistance from Professor Oak.

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After reading through the materials, Bill closed the files with a satisfied expression. "Dastardly Valley... it seems I'll have to make a trip there soon," he mused aloud.

Ash, Misty, and Brock looked at each other, curious about his thoughts.

"You've arrived at just the right time," Bill said, snapping out of his reverie.

"What do you mean?" Misty asked, tilting her head in confusion.

Brock shared her curiosity, but Ash remained silent, lost in thought.

"Could it be..." Ash muttered to himself, his mind flashing to the image of a massive Dragonite.

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To be continued...