In the heart of an unfamiliar forest in Kalos, sunlight pierced through the canopy, casting sharp beams across a battlefield scarred by claw marks and flames. On one side stood a tall young man with dark, spiky hair, his sharp eyes shadowed by a long blue coat. At his side loomed a fierce Charizard, wings spread wide and embers smoldering from its jaws.
Across from him stood a composed young woman, her pale blonde hair tied into a neat ponytail. Clad in a white coat that contrasted with the dark forest backdrop, she rested her hand calmly on the sleek, midnight-furred Absol at her side. The two Trainers locked eyes, their auras as tense as the stillness before a storm.
The man broke the silence first. "My name's Alain. My goal is simple! To become the strongest user of Mega Evolution."
The woman tilted her head with a faint smile, her Absol padding forward at her command.
"Such intensity," she teased, her voice smooth and confident. "But if you're so eager to test that claim..." She raised her hand, revealing the glint of her Keystone. "Then I suppose I'll humor you."
Crystals flared. Absol's form shifted, its body adorned with flowing wings of fur as Mega Evolution took hold. Not to be outdone, Alain's own Keystone pulsed, and his Charizard roared as its form darkened, wings sharper, its flames now a dragon's azure blaze. Mega Charizard X and Mega Absol faced one another with primal energy rippling through the air.
The clash began in an instant. "Charizard use Flamethrower!" Alain commanded. Charizard unleashed a torrent of blue fire which made a beeline towards Absol.
"Absol, cut through it with Psycho Cut!" the woman countered. Blades of psychic energy cleaved through the firestorm, sending sparks flying.
"Now, Megahorn!" she followed up. Absol surged forward, its glowing horn thrusting straight for Charizard.
"Block it!" Alain shouted. Charizard caught the horn in its claws, sparks shrieking at the contact. "Strike back with Steel Wing!"
Charizard's wing gleamed silver as it swung down.
"Hold it back using Megahorn!" Absol countered again, its horn clashing against the steel-coated wing. The collision sent shockwaves rippling through the forest.
From a distance, a girl with messy auburn hair and her Chespin froze in awe. "Whoa..." she whispered as she watched the fight unfold.
"Charizard! Dragon Claw!" Alain roared. Charizard's claws burned with blue fire, slashing across Absol's side.
"Absol, Dark Pulse go!"
Waves of dark energy pulsed forward, colliding with another of Charizard's Flamethrowers.
Alain raised his hand high. "End this with Blast Burn!"
Charizard unleashed a blazing inferno, swallowing the Dark Pulse and detonating in an earth-shaking explosion. Absol collapsed, the battle over.
As the smoke cleared, both Pokémon reverted to their normal forms. The woman returned her Absol with a nod.
"You're strong," she admitted.
Alain crossed his arms, gaze unflinching. "I'll need to face Trainers like you if I want to reach the top."
[Line Break]
Later, Alain rested with Charizard beside a quiet river. The stillness was broken when he felt eyes on him. "Show yourself," he ordered.
From behind the trees stumbled the same girl from before, nervously clutching her Chespin. "Um, sorry! I couldn't help but watch," she admitted sheepishly.
Alain arched a brow. "You want to battle?"
"Wha—no way!" she blurted, waving her hands furiously. "I'm just starting out!"
Her nerves gave way to excitement as she launched into chatter. "Hey, was that Black Charizard really the same as this one? How did it transform? I want to do it too!"
"That is Charizard's Mega Evolution." Alain responded in a bland tone.
The girl was fascinated, and so was her partner pokemon. "Really? That's so cool, I want to mega evolve too!" "Che pin che!"
"Humans don't mega evolve, pokemon do!" Alain interrupted her with an teasing grin, it reminded him of the time he used to do the same with the younger girl back at the professor's lab.
"By the way, did you hear the news in Lumiose City? A Garchomp went crazy and started rampaging on Prism Tower! Everyone was panicking! But then, get this. Two Trainers, Ash and Serena, they freed her from enemy control. And after that, Ash? He actually saved another Pokémon that was falling from the top of the tower! Can you believe that?"
Her words trailed into an enthusiastic blur, but Alain had stopped listening halfway, Serena's name striking a chord. Memories stirred, memories of a simpler time, when his obsession with Mega Evolution was just beginning.
[Flashback Starts]
The backyard was warm and bright, sunlight dancing across the grass where Professor Sycamore stood with two young Trainers: Alain, younger and less hardened, and a cheerful Serena, her honey-blonde hair catching the light. Beside Alain was a small, eager Charmander, wagging its tail flame as he gently petted its head.
"The process of Mega Evolution requires two key items," Sycamore explained, holding up a smooth stone. "A Mega Stone for the Pokémon, and a Keystone for the Trainer."
Alain frowned in thought. "Professor... does that mean the energy needed for Mega Evolution comes from the Trainer? After all, Pokémon can't evolve this way on their own."
Sycamore shook his head gently. "My research suggests otherwise. The energy originates from the Pokémon themselves. The Trainer's role is to channel and connect to that energy with the Keystone."
Alain looked down at Charmander, his expression softening as he rubbed its head. "So... one day, you could Mega Evolve too, right?" Charmander chirped happily, tail flame flickering brighter.
Serena folded her arms thoughtfully. "Maybe the reason Pokémon return to their normal forms after Mega Evolution is because it's too exhausting for them to maintain it."
Sycamore smiled. "That's a sound theory, Serena. It would explain why the phenomenon is temporary."
Alain clenched his fist with determination. "Professor... please allow me to go on a journey. I want to uncover the secrets of Mega Evolution with Charmander."
Sycamore placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Marvellous! A journey across the Kalos region will surely help you learn more about your Pokemon. Remember, a bond between trainer and pokemon is essential for it to mega evolve."
With the Professor's blessing, Alain departed the lab. Time passed. He exchanged letters and calls with Sycamore and Serena, keeping in touch as his Charmander grew, first into a Charmeleon, then into a proud Charizard. And yet, the mystery of Mega Evolution continued to elude him.
[Flashback Ends]
"...And then they say Serena was right there when it happened! Can you imagine?! She must've been so brave! And Professor Sycamore too—he was trying to calm everyone down! Oh, oh—and I hear the Garchomp has a Mega Stone, just like your Charizard! Isn't that amazing?"
Alain's expression tightened. The image of the gentle Garchomp from Sycamore's lab—twisted into a rampaging force—gnawed at him. "...What could've caused it to lose control like that?" he muttered under his breath.
Before he went on that tangent, his Holo Caster buzzed with new orders. Alain stood, already preparing to move. Mairin scrambled to follow, tripping over a stone in her clumsy determination.
"Wait! I'm coming too!" she called, with Chespin squeaking behind her.
Their path wound toward ancient ruins. Alain's mission awaited, but Mairin's innocent energy lingered close behind. What began as a battle in the forest was slowly drawing him deeper into mysteries that reached far beyond his original quest.
[Line Break]
Their path wound deeper into the wilderness until jagged stone pillars emerged from the undergrowth. Moss and vines covered the cracked structures, whispers of an ancient civilization long gone. Alain slowed his pace as they reached the ruins.
"Whoa..." Mairin breathed, her wide eyes darting across the carved walls. "These look so old! Like, older than old! Do you think there's treasure? Or... ghosts?!"
"Stay close," Alain said flatly, scanning the area. "And stay quiet."
But the moment Mairin looked back up, Alain was gone. She spun around, confused.
"Alain? ...Chespie, did you see where he went?"
Her Chespin only shrugged, equally baffled.
Inside the ruins, Alain followed a narrow passage until it opened into a shadowed chamber. The stale air smelled of dust and time. Standing at the far end was a tall woman, her back turned, long blonde hair cascading down to her waist. A powerful Garchomp loomed beside her, its eyes narrowing as Alain stepped forward. The dragon let out a low, warning growl.
The woman's shoulders shifted slightly at the sound, and she turned slowly, her expression calm but sly. In her hand, she held a weathered wooden tablet, ancient text etched into its surface.
Alain's gaze flickered briefly, not to the tablet, but to the Mega Stone strung around Garchomp's neck. He straightened. "I'm Alain. I'm here for that tablet. My boss has asked me to retrieve it."
The woman's smile deepened, almost playful. "Your boss, hm? And who might that be?"
"That's none of your business," Alain shot back.
Unbothered, she traced her fingers delicately over the carved symbols. "This tablet was discovered in an ancient ruin. It speaks of the origins of Mega Evolution. Artifacts like this belong in the hands of researchers who can preserve and study them... not some child working for a faceless organization."
Her words struck a nerve, but Alain's voice was steady. "Then battle me for it."
The woman's eyes glimmered as if she had been waiting for that very response. "As you wish."
They stepped outside. The crumbling ruins opened into a courtyard of broken stone walls and pillars. Mairin was already there, having trailed Alain despite his warning.
"Mairin," Alain barked, "take cover behind that wall. Don't come out until I say so."
She gulped, nodding quickly, and ducked behind the nearest boulder, hugging Chespin tightly.
Alain raised his arm. "Keystone respond to my heart! Beyond Evolution, Mega Evolve!"
Flames surged around the dragon, wings glowing as it transformed once more into Mega Charizard X.
The woman, however, did not raise a Keystone. Instead, she extended her arm with calm authority. "Garchomp, use Sandstorm!"
The ground shook as a howling storm whipped across the ruins, choking the field in dust and grit. Visibility plummeted.
Alain squinted, teeth gritted. "Charizard, stay sharp!"
"Garchomp, Scale Shot!" the woman commanded. Garchomp's scales shot like bullets, pelting Charizard and forcing it backward.
"Follow it with Dragon Claw!" The dragon surged through the storm, claws glowing green, and slashed Charizard across the chest.
"Charizard, counter with Flamethrower!" Alain shouted. The dragon exhaled a torrent of blue fire, but the storm twisted the flames off-course.
"Close the gap and use Steel Wing!" Charizard's glowing wing cleaved forward, but again Garchomp slipped from sight in the sand, darting past to strike once more.
Charizard roared in pain as the Sandstorm wore it down with each passing second. Alain clenched his fists. "Blast it... we can't hit what we can't see."
The woman's voice was steady, almost taunting. "You rely too heavily on brute force. Precision wins battles, boy."
Alain's frustration boiled over. "Charizard—Blast Burn! Across the ruins! Now!"
Charizard's body ignited, heat waves distorting the air before a colossal explosion erupted outward, fire searing across the battlefield. The Sandstorm was obliterated in an instant, stone walls reduced to rubble.
For the first time, the woman's sly smile sharpened into something hungrier. "Oh... now you've gotten my attention."
From her pocket, she withdrew a lipstick tube, casually applying it. With a twist of the base, the hidden Keystone glimmered in the light. She lifted her arm high, voice ringing with authority.
"Garchomp. Mega Evolve!"
A surge of energy engulfed the dragon, its form shifting, scythes elongating, and power radiating like a furnace. Mega Garchomp roared, the shockwave rattling the ruins.
Alain's eyes hardened. "Charizard—we won't back down. Let's show them our resolve!"
"Garchomp, Dragon Rush!" the woman cried.
The dragon's body cloaked in blue energy as it charged forward like a meteor.
"Charizard, meet it with Dragon Claw!" Alain countered.
Charizard's claws ignited, slashing with draconic fury as the two titans collided.
The impact cracked stone and sent shockwaves screaming through the ruins. Dust and flame roared skyward, the battlefield trembling as if caught between gods.
Hidden behind her wall, Mairin clutched Chespin tighter, her eyes wide.
"This is... incredible..." she whispered.
The real battle had begun.
The clash of Dragon Claw against Dragon Rush exploded in the center of the courtyard, both titans grinding against each other with teeth-baring fury. The shockwave split the cracked stones beneath their feet, sending chunks of rubble flying.
For a moment, they seemed evenly matched. Alain's teeth clenched, his eyes burning with determination.
"Charizard hold your ground! Don't you dare back down!"
Charizard roared, forcing against the blow, flames leaking from its jaws. But Mega Garchomp's power pressed harder, its wings cutting like blades.
The woman's calm voice cut through the chaos."Now, Garchomp, Earthquake."
The dragon slammed its claws into the ground. The ruins convulsed violently, fissures ripping open as Charizard stumbled, its balance shattered.
"Charizard, fly up! Quick!" Alain ordered. The dragon shot upward, wings straining, rubble raining down from the shock.
But the woman was unfazed. She raised her arm smoothly. "Stone Edge."
Jagged pillars of stone erupted skyward. One slammed into Charizard's side, another clipped its wing. Charizard roared in agony, spiraling before managing to beat its wings and steady itself midair, chest heaving.
Alain's fists shook. He wasn't ready to give in. "Alright, Charizard, push past the pain! Flamethrower, full force!"
Charizard inhaled, unleashing a torrent of searing blue fire, the heat so intense the air shimmered.
"Garchomp, use Dragon Pulse!" the woman countered. A sphere of green energy blasted from Garchomp's mouth, colliding with the stream of flames. For a heartbeat, the two forces locked. Then the explosion consumed the courtyard, a blinding flash swallowing everything.
When the dust cleared, both Pokémon were panting, scarred from the exchange. Alain grit his teeth, sweat running down his temple. "We're not done yet... Charizard, Blast Burn!"
Charizard ignited in a furious inferno, unleashing its strongest attack in a wave of destruction that swallowed half the courtyard. The flames consumed everything in their path, and Mairin yelped from her hiding spot, covering her eyes against the blaze.
But when the fire died down, a massive shadow burst forth from the smoke. Mega Garchomp charged through the inferno, its scythes glowing with violent crimson.
The woman's eyes gleamed. "End this Garchomp! Draco Meteor!"
Garchomp launched into the sky, summoning a storm of burning meteors that rained down mercilessly. Each impact shattered stone, fire and shockwaves engulfing the ruins. Charizard roared as blasts pelted it one after another, until one final meteor struck it square in the chest.
The dragon was hurled across the battlefield, smashing into a crumbled pillar. Dust rose as its body slumped to the ground, reverting back to its normal form. Charizard was finished.
"Charizard!" Alain cried, rushing forward, dropping to his knees beside his fallen partner. The dragon's eyes fluttered open weakly, then closed again, unconscious.
"Charizard... you did everything you could." His voice was tight with frustration.
Across from him, the woman's Mega Garchomp gave a rumbling growl before reverting as well. She rested a hand on its scales, steadying the fierce dragon before turning her gaze toward Alain.
"You and your Charizard are powerful," she said evenly, though her tone carried warmth. "But you're too hyper-focused on strength alone. You don't see the bigger picture."
Alain's head lifted slightly, his fists tightening.
She stepped closer, her expression softening. "Power without perspective will always hold you back. Mega Evolution isn't just about forcing results—it's about balance. Understanding. Growth. You have the potential... but unless you learn to look beyond raw strength, you'll never reach it."
Alain wanted to argue, but the words caught in his throat. He knew she was right, and that burned even more than the loss itself.
The woman adjusted the wooden tablet in her arms, then gave him a faint, almost encouraging smile. "Don't mistake defeat for failure. Every battle teaches something. You and Charizard are already strong. What you lack... will come with time, if you let it."
Her eyes lingered on him a moment longer before she turned away. "This relic belongs to history, not to shadows. I'll see it protected." With Garchomp striding at her side, she disappeared into the ruins, leaving silence in her wake.
[Line Break]
Far from that battlefield, the scene shifted to the calm streets of Camphrier Town. The town was alive with soft lantern light, its cobbled paths winding toward the old, regal structure looming in the distance, the ancient palace, a relic tied to the long-forgotten reign of King AZ.
Ash, Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie had just arrived, their Pokémon walking happily at their sides.
"Wow..." Ash's eyes widened as he looked up at the towering walls of the palace. "So this is where AZ lived?"
Clemont adjusted his glasses, studying the architecture. "It's said this palace is one of the few structures that survived from his era. There may still be secrets about the past hidden here."
"Secrets... or treasure?" Bonnie added with a grin, holding Dedenne up like a little knight on patrol.
As they rounded the square, a familiar figure stood before the palace gates, long blonde hair catching the light. By her side was a mighty Garchomp, their presence as commanding as ever.
"Cynthia!" Ash called out, waving.
The Champion of Sinnoh turned, smiling warmly. "Ash, Serena, Clemont, Bonnie. What a pleasant surprise to meet you here."
Serena's eyes lit up. "Cynthia, it's so good to see you again! Are you here for the palace ruins?"
Cynthia held up the ancient wooden tablet she carried. "In a sense. I recovered this from another ruin, and it may contain fragments about the origins of Mega Evolution."
Serena's heart skipped. "Mega Evolution? That's exactly what I've been working on since I started helping Professor Sycamore!"
Ash leaned forward, fists balled with excitement. "Mega Evolution again, huh? That's awesome!"
Cynthia's gaze softened. "Though, I should warn you. I recently encountered a strong trainer who tried to take this tablet. His Charizard was powerful, like you, I believe he too will rise to challenge our reign as Champions some day."
Ash's eyes lit up. "A strong trainer with a Charizard? I have to battle him someday!"
Serena sighed, but smiled at his enthusiasm. "Always chasing a new challenge."
Cynthia laughed gently. "That passion is part of what makes you who you are, Ash." She then glanced at her Garchomp. "Perhaps Garchomp here could help you train for the battles ahead."
Ash's eyes gleamed brighter than ever. "Really? You'd lend me your Garchomp? That's amazing!"
Soon, Ash was off, sparring under Garchomp's watchful eye, his Pokémon working tirelessly against the dragon's disciplined guidance. Meanwhile, Cynthia and Serena carried the tablet to the Pokémon Center, settling in with notebooks and lamps to study its faded inscriptions.
By nightfall, they pieced together fragments of a story. The accounts were murky, but one detail was clear: around three thousand years ago, King AZ had constructed a machine of unimaginable scale, unleashing energy that shook the world. That energy crystallized, seeping into the land, the Pokémon, and even humans of that age, giving rise to the mysterious Mega Stones and Key Stones.
That evening, the whole group gathered for dinner in the Pokémon Center. Cynthia and Serena presented their findings, the air thick with curiosity.
"So the stones came from that machine?" Clemont asked, fascinated.
"Yes," Serena confirmed, though her brow was furrowed. "But if that's the case, maybe the stones are only conduits. What if every Pokémon in the world could Mega Evolve, given the right conditions?"
The room went quiet at her theory. Cynthia regarded Serena with thoughtful admiration. "That's a fascinating idea. You're looking past what's already known. That's the mark of a true researcher."
Serena blushed faintly under the praise but smiled proudly.
Ash grinned. "Leave it to Serena to think of something that big!"
Cynthia chuckled softly. "Perhaps one day, discoveries like that will be made. For now, though, this tablet is only the beginning. I'll continue my search across Kalos." She lifted her tea in a gentle toast. "To the mysteries yet to be uncovered."
The group raised their glasses in turn, warmth filling the room.
By the end of the evening, Cynthia rose to leave, Garchomp standing tall beside her. She placed a hand on Serena's shoulder. "You have sharp instincts. I look forward to hearing about your research in the future."
Serena nodded eagerly. "Thank you, Cynthia. I'll do my best."
Ash waved enthusiastically. "Thanks for everything, Cynthia! I'll keep training hard!"
Cynthia gave a serene smile. "I'm sure you will, Ash." With that, she departed into the night, her silhouette blending with Garchomp's against the moonlit path.
Ash was thrilled. His Gible had grown stronger after training with Garchomp. Serena felt a spark of kinship with the Champion, their shared passion for Pokémon history deepening her resolve.
And Bonnie, never missing a beat, folded her arms with a mischievous grin. "She's a keeper! Next time we meet, I'll ask Cynthia to take care of my brother!"
"B-Bonnie!" Clemont stammered, face turning red as the table erupted with laughter.
The night wound down, and the group retired to the Pokémon Center, their hearts full of inspiration, and their journey toward new mysteries just beginning.
AS THE JOURNEY CONTINUES!