Challenge Pasio's Trainers: Part 1

We're almost ready to open the museum!

We have fine art, historic artifacts, geological specimens... I can't wait for the grand opening!

Of course! This is MY collection, after all.

This exhibition will also feature valuable items just excavated from a certain archeological site!

Both of you are experts in fossils and history. I don't think you'll have any problem managing the exhibits, will you?

Of course not! I'm the director of a museum, after all. Leave management to me!

Unfortunately, there's a different kind of problem we need to resolve.

A problem?

After the exhibits were brought into the museum, a rumor started circulating that you can hear the sound of sobbing there at night.

Really? That's kind of spooky.

A security guard actually heard the crying, so perhaps there's an object among the exhibits that's haunted...

If we can't guarantee the safety of our visitors, we may have to cancel the exhibition.

Oh no! But that'd be such a waste of these wonderful exhibits!

So, I want the two of you to help me identify what's causing this strange phenomenon.

Understood! We'll figure out what's going on!

Sure, I'll help as well. I'd feel sorry for the exhibits if they were just put away without anyone enjoying them.

I'll leave it to the two of you, then!

Roxanne and Lenora waited until nightfall and met just before the strange phenomenon was rumored to occur. And then...

Good evening, Roxanne!

Phoebe? What brings you here?

Oh, she showed up when I was waiting for you.

Recently, I've been getting this feeling that someone's calling out to me.

It was coming from the museum, so I thought I could come inside and figure out who it was.

You're friends with Ghost-type Pokémon, aren't you, Phoebe?

Maybe that feeling you had is connected to our strange phenomenon somehow.

"Strange phenomenon"?

Yes, you see...

The sound of sobbing, huh...

Ahaha! Then we better get going and check inside!

It's great to have a Ghost-type expert helping us!

I'm getting excited, too!

Y-you both have nerves of steel...

Anyway, if Phoebe is with us, I'll feel safe no matter what we encounter!

That's strange... There shouldn't be anyone here right now, but the lights are on.

It feels a little chilly around my feet...

What?! Your feet?

Wait, is that an Icy Rock?!

It's a stone you give to Pokémon, right?

Exactly. You'd usually give it to Pokémon that can make it snow.

You'd give a Heat Rock to Pokémon that control sunlight, and a Damp Rock to Pokémon that control rain.

Ahahaha! You know a lot, Roxanne!

But I wonder why there's one on the floor.

Maybe someone touched the display?

Do you think there's...a thief?

Then again, none of our exhibits have been stolen, so probably not.

*sniffle* *sob*

Hmm? Did you hear that?

Huh?! Wh-what is that?!

Just as I thought! It's coming from over there!

Whoa! R-really?

I don't think we're imagining things.

*sniffle* *sob*

Erm... Ah, look! There she is!

*sniffle* *sob*

What is she doing here?

What's the matter, little one? Come now, you can tell us.

I was playing hide-and-seek, but this place is big and I got lost...

Oh dear...

You're safe now. Well done for being so brave.

So there was nothing scary happening here after all.

... ... ...

Now then, let's take her outside.

Wait... My friends are still inside.

Please help them too!

OK, let's go find them!

Do you have any idea where they might be?

No, I don't...

I see... Well, come with us for now so you don't get lost again!

OK!

... ... ...

This exhibition area has geological formations and rock excavations from various regions!

Your eyes are sparkling, Roxanne.

Well, I don't need to be afraid of the strange phenomenon anymore!

Oh, and this is a geological sample collected from Mt. Moon in Kanto!

There are many old strata in that area, you can even find Pokémon fossils!

Wow! You know a lot about stones!

I do! I have an acquaintance who is a rock maniac, but I'm no different!

Wow...

Then what about these? They look like a coffin and a slab. I guess they don't have any association with geology...

Hmm?

Maybe they're from an ancient excavation?

Eeeek!

Th-they moved?! Maybe there really was a haunted...

Hang on a minute!

Aren't they Pokémon?

That's Cofagrigus?! And the other one is...

Runerigus! I've heard about them from Galar Trainers.

Maybe these wild Pokémon got mixed up with the objects we're putting on display and brought here by accident.

Yikes... If we battle here, our exhibits might get damaged. We probably should escape for now...

But...

Everyone, calm down. We don't need to panic.

What do you mean?

Hey! There you are!

What?

Cofagrigus and Runerigus are her friends.

Wh-whaaat?!

See? Both of them look happy! They're excited to see her again!

These two are really nice Pokémon! They play games with me!

So, are they your Pokémon?

No, but...

They wanna to become "sync pairs" and have lots of battles!

They felt that way after coming to this island!

But I can't be their partner...

Can you be "sync pairs" with them?

Yup, I'd be happy to!

Eeeek!

Ahaha! It seems like she likes you!

Don't be scared, Roxanne. Look closely at her.

Erm...

Her body looks like clay, or even stone. That's a very unusual composition!

Sure! I think we'll get along!

Ahahaha! Of course you'd notice that, Roxanne!

Anyway, case closed! Let's all go home now!

We were able to find out the truth behind the strange phenomenon!

Now we should be able to open the museum as planned!

Yeah! All these great things happened, and we even made new friends!

Let's learn more about Runerigus and Cofagrigus!

I know! Could you tell us what kind of games you played with Runerigus...

Oh? Where did that girl go?

Hmm? She was there a minute ago...

Yeah, I know...

She was worried about the two of you because you were brought here from somewhere far away, right?

Good night. Your friends are OK now.

Hmm, a nighttime mystery at the museum...

Great job solving such a peculiar case!

It's all thanks to Phoebe and her mysterious power...or, I should say, her "special sense."

We solved a past case with Mimi's mysterious power, too!

Wow, is that so? Then Mimi...

can you guess what I'm hiding?

Hmm... Mimi says there's something in your pocket!

Impressive!

You found the Pewter Crunchies I was hiding!

*giggle* I brought them so we could eat them together!

Ahahaha! Well done, Mimi! I had no clue!

Hahaha! Mimi must've read Roxanne's mind!

(Roxanne, Phoebe... You don't need to have special powers to solve a case.)

(Whether it's big or small, what you need is a kind heart, just like the two of you have.)

Come on, Looker! Let's eat!

I must say...the more we look at Runerigus, the more captivating she becomes.

Even though Runerigus began as an ancient painting, the pattern on her body is unique.

The slab looks like stone, but it's actually made of clay, right?

Apparently so.

Minerals are the main components of clay, so you could say it's technically stone. How fascinating...

There's even a possibility Runerigus was once part of an ancient structure, that she, herself, is an archaeological remnant.

"Part of an ancient structure"?! That's extraordinary!

Have you come across any ruins in your documents that have a similar composition to Runerigus, Lenora?

I don't think we have any documents like that in my museum.

So, do we need to look at this from an archeological perspective?

Cynthia?! When did you get here?

It's said that Runerigus shows horrifying memories to those who touch it.

We might be able to find out how old the clay tablets are if we touch her.

How very adventurous! You're certainly not afraid to take risks!

That's definitely a method to consider when researching Runerigus.

And so, their discussion continued until late at night...

Shauntal, Cofagrigus is one of your Pokémon too, isn't it?

Can you teach me about Cofagrigus?

Of course!

Cofagrigus is the Coffin Pokémon.

Coffins or tombs from ancient times symbolized a king's wealth.

Oh, does that mean I look rich?

Hehehe, maybe!

But there's actually another reason why Cofagrigus are said to be symbols of wealth.

Cofagrigus love to eat gold, especially if it's pure!

Wow! That must be expensive!

Well, it'd be nice if we could give Cofagrigus what they want to eat every day...

But unfortunately, only a king could do that.

A king...

By the way, what's your Cofagrigus been looking at this whole time?

Ahahaha! I know!

Hmm?

She's looking at that gold statue and thinking it looks yummy!

That's...Lear's statue.

I guess it's made of pure gold. It must be so different, being actual royalty...

Do you want me to ask Lear if he'll give us this statue, Cofagrigus?

Hehe, you two are already close friends.

I'd love to hear stories about the two of you some day.