Chapter 293: Identifying the Mega Stones

The journey from Meteor Falls to Littleroot Town went smoothly, without any unexpected incidents. Rex and Mai quickly arrived near Professor Birch's research lab.

During the trip, Mai's Altaria had been studying the flying techniques of Rex's Swellow. After a few hours of observation and learning, Altaria had started to grasp the basics of controlling air currents in the sky.

If Altaria could take it a step further, it might even learn Tailwind. Once it mastered this move, Altaria's speed would see a significant boost.

"Ah, Rex and Mai, you're back!"

When Milo opened the door, he was surprised to see the two standing there.

"Yep, we're back, Milo. Is Professor Birch in the lab right now?"

After following Milo into the research facility, Rex immediately asked.

"Professor Birch is working on some research in his lab. He might take a while to come out. Do you two want to freshen up first?"

Noticing how filthy they looked, Milo thoughtfully suggested.

"Of course, that would be great! Milo, could you help us arrange that? We'll meet with Professor Birch after we've cleaned up."

Mai responded eagerly, clearly relieved.

Due to the unsuitable conditions at their last camp, the two of them hadn't been able to bathe for several days, only managing to rinse off with a bit of water. For someone as fond of cleanliness as Mai, this had been torturous.

Once they'd finished showering and changed into clean clothes, it felt like they had finally shaken off all the bad luck from the past month.

"Welcome back!"

When they came to the main hall, Professor Birch was already there waiting for them. Judging from his expression, it was clear he was excited about their return.

"By the way, where are Beach and John? Why didn't they come back with you?"

After guiding Rex and Mai to the lounge, Professor Birch voiced his curiosity.

"Mai, why don't you fill Professor Birch in on everything we've encountered and achieved during this trip?"

When the professor asked, Rex handed over the responsibility of explaining to Mai, while he casually reached for a pastry from the table and began eating.

Mai didn't mind and quickly began recounting their experiences and discoveries to Professor Birch, summarizing the key points of their journey.

"I didn't expect both of you to acquire a Mega Stone each. That's quite a surprise!"

After listening to Mai's account, Professor Birch couldn't help but marvel.

Even in the Kalos region, finding a single Mega Stone in a given area was already considered fortunate. Places that could consistently yield Mega Stones were rare even in Kalos. Yet, Meteor Falls had already produced three Mega Stones, with the possibility of more being discovered later.

This was entirely beyond Professor Birch and Professor Sycamore's initial expectations. They'd initially assumed the chances of the group finding another Mega Stone were slim. Now, it seemed their previous conclusions would need to be reevaluated.

"By the way, Professor, when we left Meteor Falls, we noticed a lot of trainers had gathered there. Has the discovery of Mega Stones at Meteor Falls become widely known?"

Finishing his pastry in one bite, Rex voiced his concern.

"That's exactly what happened. Although Steven tried to suppress the information, the news was just too explosive to keep under wraps. Many people within the League who learned about it wanted to send trainers to investigate. Eventually, someone leaked it online, and now everyone knows."

Professor Birch explained with a sigh of resignation.

Fortunately, he had received the news early and dispatched Rex and Mai in time, giving them a significant advantage. Their success in acquiring Mega Stones was undeniable proof of that.

Although their good fortune played a role, without the head start, Rex and Mai might have faced a much more complex situation if they had entered Meteor Falls later.

"I see... Well, never mind that. Professor, could you take a look at our Mega Stones? I can't wait to find out which Pokémon they belong to!"

For Rex and Mai, learning the origins of their Mega Stones was far more exciting than dwelling on how the news had spread.

The two took out their respective Mega Stones from their backpacks and placed them on the coffee table.

"Such beautiful creations of nature!"

Professor Birch first picked up the Mega Stone Rex had obtained. After examining it for a while, he couldn't help but marvel at its beauty.

At that moment, Professor Birch seemed to take on a completely different persona. Taking a magnifying glass out of his pocket, he focused entirely on the Mega Stone, so much so that it seemed like Rex and Mai didn't even exist.

"I don't specialize in Mega Stone research. To determine which Pokémon these Mega Stones belong to, I'll need to contact Professor Sycamore. He's the expert on Mega Evolution."

After thoroughly observing the stones with his magnifying glass, Professor Birch turned to Rex and Mai and explained.

Both Rex and Mai had already anticipated this. After all, Kalos was the birthplace of Mega Evolution, and only Professor Sycamore had the expertise to identify their stones.

Without delay, Professor Birch led them to a research room and called Professor Sycamore through a video link. Shortly after, Sycamore's holographic projection appeared before them.

"Ah, Professor Birch, what can I do for you?"

Professor Sycamore greeted him warmly.

From Sycamore's dark eye circles, Rex could tell the man hadn't been resting well—likely pulling all-nighters for his research.

Professor Birch also noticed Sycamore's fatigue, so he got straight to the point. He briefly explained Rex and Mai's experiences in Meteor Falls, as well as their discovery of the Mega Stones that needed identification.

"This is fantastic! It proves that Mega Stones aren't exclusive to Kalos. Other regions with the right conditions can also produce them."

Hearing Birch's explanation, Sycamore's once-dull eyes suddenly lit up with excitement. His entire demeanor shifted, and he seemed like a completely different person, bursting with energy.

What followed was the moment Rex and Mai had been eagerly waiting for. Professor Birch held up the two Mega Stones to the camera, and the group patiently awaited Sycamore's analysis.

"Hmm, based on my observation, the Mega Stone on the left belongs to Aerodactyl, while the one on the right is for Salamence."

After carefully studying the stones for a while, Sycamore confidently declared his findings.

Hearing Sycamore's assessment, Rex's heart skipped a beat. The Mega Stone for Salamence was his! Coupled with the fact that he had recently captured a Bagon at Meteor Falls, this meant that once his Bagon evolved into Salamence, he could attempt Mega Evolution.

(End of Chapter)