"Roar!! (Really?! Ash, is this Mega Stone really meant for me?!"
Hearing Ash's words, the Shiny Gyarados, Valor, exclaimed excitedly.
"That's right, Valor. You've really been lucky this time."
"Team Flare has conducted extensive research into Pokémon Mega Evolution. However, they hadn't previously examined Pokémon from the Kanto region, and Pidgeot was the first Pokémon they'd discovered that could undergo Mega Evolution."
"If they had known that this Mega Stone belonged to Gyarados, I'm sure they never would have given it to me, no matter what."
As Ash said this, a hint of relief appeared on his face.
"Roar... (So that's how it happened.)"
Valor nodded in sudden realization.
Seeing that Valor was completely immersed in the excitement and joy of obtaining its Mega Stone, Ash turned toward Venusaur.
When Venusaur realized that the Mega Stone wasn't meant for it, a trace of disappointment and dejection appeared on its face.
"Venusaur, don't worry. Whether it's you or Beedrill, who hasn't even hatched yet, as long as you possess the talent and ability to undergo Mega Evolution, I'll find a way to obtain Mega Stones for both of you."
"So you can put your mind at ease."
Ash gently stroked Venusaur's head, reassuring it in a warm voice.
"Venusaur! (^_^)"
Hearing Ash's promise, Venusaur immediately brightened up. The disappointment it had felt moments earlier vanished in an instant.
As Valor's companion, Venusaur was genuinely happy for it. There was no denying that Valor's acquisition of a Mega Stone was a wonderful opportunity.
The same was true for Pikachu, Greninja, and the others. Not a single one of them felt even the slightest jealousy over Valor's good fortune.
After all, this was Valor's own opportunity.
And speaking of opportunities, every Pokémon Ash had carefully raised possessed its own unique advantages and opportunities.
Pikachu
As Ash's first partner Pokémon and a special existence blessed by the protagonist's extraordinary fortune, Pikachu possessed an incredible miracle within its body.
After evolving from Pichu into Pikachu, it had already reached the final stage of its normal evolutionary line. Unlike an ordinary Pikachu, it couldn't simply use a Thunder Stone to evolve into Raichu.
However, as the protagonist's partner, Pikachu possessed an extraordinary base stat total of 600, the same as many Mythical Pokémon, giving it astonishing Gold-tier potential.
Furthermore, when Ash first began competing in battles at the Viridian City Arena, he took advantage of a special beginner's promotion that offered the first purchase at half price.
One of the very first items he purchased for Pikachu was the Light Ball, an exclusive item associated with the Pichu, Pikachu, and Raichu evolutionary family. It doubled Pikachu's Attack and Special Attack, dramatically increasing its offensive power.
As the senior member of Ash's team, Pikachu had always received special attention and substantial resources from its Trainer.
It had absolutely no reason to envy its companions.
Greninja
The same was true of Greninja.
Blessed with the fortune of the Kalos region, Greninja was a favored child of destiny. If Pikachu could be considered one of the Pokémon world's chosen Pokémon, then Greninja was a similarly fortunate child of destiny.
Back when Ash attended Professor Oak's Pokémon Summer Camp, he encountered Mew near the end of the camp.
Because Ash possessed Aura that originated from the same source as that of Sir Aaron, the Aura Guardian from a thousand years ago, Mew recognized their connection and established a divine pact with Ash.
At the time, Greninja was still a Froakie, but it also benefited from this extraordinary encounter.
Mew used the power of the Dream Law to awaken Greninja's Protean Ability ahead of schedule, and it even strengthened the Ability beyond its normal capabilities.
It possessed something even more powerful: Bond Phenomenon, also known as Bond Evolution.
At its current stage, Greninja had already trained its Bond Evolution to Version 3.0.
When it activated this power, its body was still enveloped in a rapidly swirling tornado-like cloak. However, beneath that turbulent outer shell, Greninja had already transformed into Ash-Greninja.
It still had further stages to master.
Version 4.0 would involve perfecting its control over Bond Evolution and transforming the tornado-like cloak into an enormous, solid Water Shuriken resembling a great sword.
Finally, Version 5.0 would allow Greninja to unleash the Giant Water Shuriken and, when releasing its full power, the ultimate technique known as the Raging Torrent Golden Spiral Water Shuriken.
Clearly, Greninja had its own extraordinary opportunities and didn't need to feel jealous of Gyarados.
Pidgeot
As for Pidgeot, there was even less reason for it to feel envious.
It was the first Pokémon on Ash's team to master Mega Evolution.
And Mega Evolution wasn't the only advantage Pidgeot possessed.
Previously, when Ash had commissioned a legendary artisan to create an ornament for Pidgeot that incorporated its Mega Stone, he had encountered a master craftsman named Caldor, a legendary artisan who lived quietly among ordinary people.
While crafting the ornament that would hold Pidgeot's Mega Stone, Master Caldor had also transformed the Divine Catalyst Ring into a powerful piece of equipment.
Its extraordinary attribute bonuses were so impressive that its value even surpassed that of a Mega Stone.
Divine Catalyst Ring
+200 HP
+60 Ability Power
+60 Magic Resistance
+20% Cooldown Reduction
+20% Mana Regeneration
With a Mega Stone, mastery of Mega Evolution, and such an extraordinarily powerful piece of equipment, Pidgeot certainly had no reason to envy Valor.
Fearow
The same applied to Fearow.
Its collection of rare items included:
Quick Claw
Sharp Beak
Scope Lens
Razor Claw
Razor Fang
Wide Lens
When it came to possessing precious and rare items, who among Ash's Pokémon could compare with Fearow?
The other Pokémon merely wore their equipment, but Fearow's items had been permanently fused with its body.
Who could be more extravagant than that? And who could claim to have received more special treatment from Ash since childhood?
Fearow certainly had no reason to envy Valor, either.
The four Pokémon in Ash's first echelon each possessed their own unique opportunities and advantages.
As for the Pokémon in the second and third echelons, they also had their own fortunes.
Valor and Lumina
Valor and Lumina, had originally been given to Ash by the Tsuchihara family as compensation and an apology from the family that raised Magikarp.
For these two Pokémon, the greatest opportunity of all was being able to follow a Trainer like Ash.
Both were Shiny Pokémon with natural talent comparable to that of pseudo-legendary Pokémon. Yet, before joining Ash, they had been timid, introverted, and lacking in self-confidence.
Through Ash's careful training and patient encouragement, they had gradually become confident, courageous, and resilient.
Their strength had now reached the Elite level. Their combat abilities had matured to the point where they could stand on their own and handle battles independently.
Now that Valor had obtained a Mega Stone, its strength would undoubtedly rise to another level once it mastered Mega Evolution.
As for Lumina, although it hadn't yet received a similarly extraordinary opportunity, it shared a bond with Valor that was as close as that between siblings.
Seeing Valor obtain a Mega Stone filled Lumina with happiness. It felt no jealousy or resentment whatsoever.
Ash had also just promised Lumina that, whenever the opportunity arose in the future, he would do everything he could to obtain a Mega Stone for it as well.
With that assurance, Lumina had even less reason to envy anyone.
And the same was true of Venusaur.
Ash had already promised to help it obtain its own Mega Stone, so there was no need for it to feel jealous or disappointed.
Every Pokémon on Ash's team had its own strengths, opportunities, and destiny.
Valor's Mega Stone was simply the latest step in its journey—and one more reason for the entire team to look forward to what lay ahead.