The familiar scent of soil and sunlight washed over him the moment Chen Shi stepped onto the Chen Family Ranch in Petalburg Town.
Home.
Inside the villa, his grandfather sipped tea while his grandmother read quietly by his side.
The door opened—
Both elders lifted their heads.
"Shi'er, you're back?"
Chen Shi hurried forward before his grandmother could stand.
"Grandma, stay seated. I'll come to you."
Her smile softened into the warmth he had missed.
She patted his hand gently.
"How was your trip? You didn't run into danger, did you?"
Whenever her grandson left home, her heart never rested.
Only when he was before her eyes could she breathe freely.
Chen Shi shook his head.
"No danger."
Then his expression turned serious.
"Grandpa, Grandma… I'm planning to cooperate with Devon Corporation to gather Mega Stones."
"Everyone knows the Stone family loves rare minerals. If we collect together, no one will suspect anything. And once Mega Evolution becomes public, our cooperation won't attract unnecessary greed."
"Do you approve?"
The elders exchanged a single glance.
Grandfather nodded.
"This is your decision. Whatever you choose, we will support you."
Grandmother added softly:
"Do what you believe is right, Shi'er. Don't overthink."
Warmth spread in his chest.
Chen Shi reached into his backpack and carefully took out a shimmering, sky-blue scale.
"Grandpa… this is the Molting Scale left behind by the Peak-Champion Salamence after its final battle."
"If we give it to our Salamence… could she break through to Champion-rank?"
His grandfather sighed and shook his head.
"Difficult. Her talent isn't enough. Even with this, becoming a Champion is unlikely."
Silence.
Chen Shi lowered his voice.
"Grandpa… I know you're hiding something stronger."
"Don't save it for me. Use it on Salamence."
The living room fell still.
Yes—they had something hidden.
A treasure meant not for Salamence…
…but for Dragapult.
Their Salamence had stagnated too long; her drive had waned.
But Dragapult? Dragapult was young—he could reach unimaginable heights.
To give that treasure away now…
Grandfather inhaled slowly.
"Shi'er… I don't know how you learned about it. But that treasure is priceless. It was meant for Dragapult."
"Someday, it could save your life."
But Chen Shi shook his head.
"Trust me—and trust Dragapult."
"Whatever fate has in store, we'll earn it ourselves."
"Your treasure… belongs to Salamence."
Grandmother frowned gently.
"Shi'er, the treasure is too valuable. A Salamence scale cannot compare."
"Grandpa and Grandma would never harm you."
He smiled.
How could he not know how much they cared?
But he couldn't always take.
Some things had to be shared.
Chen Shi exhaled, then pulled out a pitch-black box from his bag.
The moment it opened—
Dragapult's Poké Ball shook violently.
A flash—
"Chyaa!"
Dragapult burst free, eyes locked intensely onto the scale inside the box.
The longing was so strong he nearly lunged for it.
Chen Shi held it firm.
"When it's time for you to evolve, this will be yours. Don't rush."
Dragapult forced himself still, trembling, but obedient.
The elders were speechless—the scale glowed with terrifying power.
Grandmother finally whispered:
"Shi'er… this is…?"
Chen Shi answered calmly:
"The Naturally Molted Scale of Giratina."
"You both know what that means."
Grandmother jolted upright—truly frightened.
Born in Sinnoh, she understood better than anyone:
Giratina
— the ruler of the Reverse World,
— a Legendary dragon feared by gods and mortals alike.
A naturally shed scale from THAT Pokémon?
Unthinkable.
Chen Shi continued:
"Giratina is Dragon/Ghost-type. This scale is perfect for Dragapult."
"No treasure you have can surpass it."
Then he bowed his head slightly.
"So please… give yours to Salamence."
Grandfather was silent for a very long time.
Finally—
"…I still think it should go to Dragapult. But if this is what you insist on—Grandpa will agree."
He stood.
"Wait here."
After a long while, he returned with a small, ancient-looking wooden box—its edges worn from decades of careful handling.
His voice was quiet.
"This is the most precious treasure your grandmother and I obtained in our entire lives."
"We saved it for Dragapult."
"But now… it's yours to use."
"If you combine this with the Salamence scale… both Salamence and Garchomp may reach Champion-rank."
Chen Shi's breath caught.
A treasure that could elevate two pseudo-legends to Champion…?
What level was this resource?!
He slowly opened the box.
Inside lay a blood-red crystal pulsating with faint draconic energy.
[Dragonblood Crystal]
A system panel flashed in his mind:
[Dragonblood Crystal — once a top-tier Dragon Gem, bathed in the blood of Rayquaza during an ancient battle.
Over a thousand years, it metamorphosed into its current legendary form.]
Chen Shi's heart skipped.
Rayquaza's… blood?
A Dragon Gem enriched for a millennium by the blood of the Sky High Pokémon itself.
No wonder the elders protected it like life itself.
He closed the box, staring at his grandfather.
"Grandpa… be honest with me."
"Do you have anything else hidden?"
Grandfather blinked—then scowled.
"You're dreaming too much, brat."
"Now get going and stop bothering an old man."
Chen Shi: "…"
Some things never changed.
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