"Haha, this is incredible! Grandpa wasn't lying after all—I really found Lucario's Mega Evolution Stone! Victory!"
Korrina threw her arms around her Lucario, too excited to contain herself.
"Luca! Luca!"
Lucario barked with equal joy, its aura radiating pure happiness.
"That's wonderful, Korrina! Now you'll finally be able to let Lucario Mega Evolve! Quick, go and take the Mega Stone!"
Serena and Clemont both cheered sincerely for her.
But Ash alone knew the truth: obtaining the stone wouldn't be so simple.
Because all of this—this entire trial—was set up by Korrina's grandfather, Gurkinn.
And the test wasn't over yet.
------
"Yes! Let's go, Lucario! We'll grab that stone and unlock your Mega Evolution!"
"Luca!"
Korrina and Lucario dashed toward the altar-like stone pedestal.
But before they could reach it, a blazing shadow suddenly leapt out from behind the pedestal—
A Blaziken!
Its fiery kick nearly connected with Lucario in a deadly strike!
"Blaziken?! So this is the final stage of Grandpa's trial, huh? Fine then—if I can defeat you, the stone will be ours! Lucario, Power-Up Punch!"
"Luca!"
Lucario surged forward, fists glowing with fighting energy—
But Blaziken was faster. Much faster.
Before Lucario could even connect, Blaziken's leg whipped around and sent it crashing into the cavern wall with a thunderous boom.
...
"Lucario!"
Korrina's eyes widened.
Blaziken's power was immense. But that only ignited Korrina's determination.
"All right! That only makes us want it more! Lucario, Aura Sphere!"
Lucario blasted a glowing sphere of aura.
Blaziken vanished in a blur, dodging with uncanny speed, then its fist ignited in flames.
"Flame Punch!"
"Counter it with Power-Up Punch!"
BOOM!
The two attacks clashed, but Lucario was overpowered. Its punch was shattered, and Blaziken's fiery fist smashed directly into its body.
Lucario staggered, only to be consumed by a blazing Flamethrower that bloomed in the air like a roaring inferno.
The steel jackal was hurled across the cavern, landing hard in a pool of water by the wall, smoke curling off its battered frame.
"CHAAHHHH!!!"
Blaziken roared triumphantly, flames licking off its body.
------
"Don't give up, Lucario!"
"Come on, Korrina! You can do it!" Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie cheered with all their might.
"That's right—we'll never give up! We're going to claim that Mega Stone! Lucario, get up!"
Korrina's voice rang with unyielding spirit.
Lucario's body trembled, but it forced itself upright, eyes burning with resolve.
"Yes! Just like that! One more time—Power-Up Punch!"
Korrina clenched her fist tight, staring down Blaziken.
This opponent was the last wall standing between her and Lucario's Mega Evolution. She had to win.
Lucario bellowed, channeling every ounce of willpower. Both fists glowed as it unleashed Power-Up Punch in a relentless flurry!
Blaziken dodged with lightning-fast steps, weaving through the barrage with ease.
"Cha! Cha!"
Suddenly, Lucario halted its punches mid-swing—then shifted!
"Bone Rush!"
A glowing energy staff materialized in Lucario's grip as it swept at Blaziken.
A Ground-type move—perfect against a Fire/Fighting Pokémon!
Blaziken had been dodging confidently all this time, but Ash, watching closely, could tell—Blaziken had been holding back. Testing. Restraining itself.
This time, Lucario's strike connected!
The glowing bone smacked Blaziken off its feet, sending it crashing to the ground.
Lucario didn't stop there. It pressed forward with another relentless combo of Bone Rush, striking again and again until Blaziken's movement was locked down.
...
"Excellent! That's it, Lucario! Finish this with Power-Up Punch!"
"Luca!"
Lucario charged, fists blazing with energy, ready to deliver the decisive blow.
But just before the attack could land—
A calm, commanding voice rang out:
"That's enough."
From behind the altar, a white-browed old man stepped forward, his presence alone enough to halt the battle.
Lucario froze mid-punch, staring in astonishment.
It was none other than Gurkinn—Korrina's grandfather.
The one who had placed the Mega Stone here, and the one who had devised this trial.
"Korrina," Gurkinn said firmly, "you and Lucario showed true perseverance. You never abandoned each other and fought with everything you had. That is the spirit of Mega Evolution. The stone is yours—you've passed the trial."
With a nod, Gurkinn recalled the Blaziken—it had been his Pokémon all along.
------
Korrina clutched the Lucarionite in trembling hands, eyes shining with victory.
Her first thought? To challenge Ash again.
This time, she would prove herself. She would prove how powerful she and her Lucario had become after achieving Mega Evolution.
Ash only gave her a knowing smile and nodded.
He understood.
Gurkinn, however, glanced at Pikachu on Ash's shoulder, his eyes narrowing. When did Kalos gain such a powerful trainer?
But Korrina's explanation soon cleared his doubts.
------
Later, Korrina rushed with the Mega Stone to the photographer uncle they had met earlier in Geosenge.
That man, as it turned out, was an old friend of Gurkinn's.
"Come on, Ash! I'll show you how strong Lucario and I have become after Mega Evolution!"
She pressed the Lucarionite into her Lucario's palm.
"Luca!"
Ash crossed his arms. He already knew. Even with the Mega Stone, Korrina and her Lucario weren't yet ready to handle the full force of that power.
But he also had a Lucario of his own.
"Perfect timing. I'll let you see the difference."
Ash released his own Lucario.
"Luca!"
Immediately, the aura surrounding Ash's Lucario surged—noble, commanding, a true successor of Aura's legacy.
Korrina's eyes widened.
"Ash, you have a Lucario too?! Perfect! Then you'll really see the difference between a normal Lucario and one that has Mega Evolved!"
She pressed her Key Stone, and her Lucario clutched the Lucarionite.
The stones resonated, light bursting forth—
And with a roar, Mega Lucario emerged!
Larger, sharper, and more intimidating than before.
"So cool!" Korrina gasped. "Lucario, Power-Up Punch!"
But she didn't notice—its eyes had changed.
The pupils glowed crimson.
Ash's expression hardened.
As he feared—Mega Evolution's power was overwhelming Korrina's Lucario.
In its current state, it couldn't control it.
The aura boiled over.
"LUCARIO!!!"
The Mega Lucario roared—its body trembling as it slipped into a berserk rage.
"Lucario, what's wrong?!" Korrina cried in shock.
--------------
T/N:
Access Advance Chapters on my
P@treon: [email protected]/PokePals