Alex looked at the TV for a moment before speaking in a slightly satirical tone.

"Oh wow… it's honestly impressive how friendly someone can appear on television. The program must have carefully selected only the very best moments."

Maria knew very well what Brock's real personality could be like, so she understood what Alex meant immediately. But when she heard this comment from a person like Alex, she slowly turned her head toward him and gave him a very specific look.

It was the kind of look that clearly said: "Aren't you exactly the same? Acting all friendly and charming on TV while being ridiculously arrogant the rest of the time?"

Alex needed a few seconds before the meaning behind her expression fully registered in his mind.

When it finally did, he paused.

Then he laughed. "Okay, okay," he admitted shamelessly. "Maybe that's a little hypocritical of me. But let's be honest—what human isn't at least a little bit of a hypocrite?"

Maria didn't bother answering. She simply ignored him and turned her attention back to the television, continuing to watch the program as if his excuse hadn't been worth acknowledging.

Alex looked at Maria and said, "Forget the TV for a moment. I actually wanted to show you something today. Go call all your Pokémon and meet me in the large training room."

Maria blinked and looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Why?" she asked. "What could possibly be so important that it requires all of our Pokémon?"

Alex only gave her a mysterious smile. "Something, that would shock the entire world."

...

About thirty minutes later, every one of Alex's and Maria's Pokémon had gathered inside the mansion's enormous training room.

Even though several of the specialized training rooms were still under construction, this room alone was massive enough for all Pokémon here. It had been designed for high-level training battles, with reinforced walls, a durable battle floor, and enough space for even very large Pokémon to move freely.

Maria's Pokémon stood together on one side of the room while Alex's team waited calmly nearby. Most of them were curious, watching Alex closely.

Maria crossed her arms and looked at him. "Alright," she said. "Everyone's here. What exactly did you want to show me?"

Alex met her gaze and spoke without hesitation. "I've discovered a way for Pokémon to evolve again temporarily."

Maria's eyes narrowed slightly. For a moment, she couldn't believe her ears.

Alex continued calmly. "This evolution dramatically increases a Pokémon's physical abilities for a short time. Their base stats rise significantly, and their level temporarily increases by about five levels."

He paused briefly.

"I call it Mega Evolution."

Maria stared at him. For a moment she said nothing. But she knew Alex well enough to immediately understand one thing. He was completely serious. He wasn't joking and he wasn't exaggerating. And if what he was saying was true, then this discovery really could shake the entire Pokémon world.

More importantly, the fact that Alex was telling her meant something else. He trusted her completely. The thought warmed her heart, even though she didn't show it on her face.

Alex then began explaining the conditions required for Mega Evolution.

"For this to work, three things are necessary," he said.

"First, the Pokémon must hold a special item called a Mega Stone, which resonates with that specific species. it's important that you have the matching Mega Stones for the matching Pokémon species, or it won't work."

"Second, the trainer must possess a Key Stone, which acts as the catalyst that triggers the evolution."

"And third…" Alex looked briefly toward Maria.

"There must be a strong bond between the trainer and the Pokémon. Without that connection, the resonance simply won't happen."

He finished the explanation and then turned toward his team.

"Scizor," he said calmly.

The steel Pokémon stepped forward immediately, standing proudly in the center of the training room.

Alex held up his Key Stone. "Let me show you what a successful Mega Evolution looks like."

"Scizor—show your power. Mega Evolve."

Scizor stepped forward as Alex activated the Keystone. For a brief moment, nothing seemed to happen. Then the air in the training room began to shimmer.

The Keystone in Alex's hand and the Mega Stone held by Scizor started glowing intensely, their light resonating with each other. Thin streams of energy connected trainer and Pokémon, forming a bright spiral around Scizor's body.

The light grew stronger. Then it exploded outward. When the glow finally faded, Scizor had changed.

Its body was now bulkier and far more imposing. The once sleek red armor had become sharper and more aggressive in shape, while its claws had grown larger and more powerful, resembling massive steel pincers capable of crushing almost anything. Its wings were smaller now, but its entire body radiated a far more dangerous aura.

Mega Scizor stood proudly in the center of the room.

Maria stared at it, her expression slightly stunned. Even though she had prepared herself mentally for something impressive, seeing it with her own eyes was completely different.

Alex's words had been one hundred percent true.

Maria slowly looked back at him, still trying to process what she had just witnessed. "Alex… this is unbelievable."

Alex smiled slightly. "Yes," he replied calmly. "It really is something extraordinary."

He then reached into his pocket and pulled out several stones that shimmered faintly with strange energy.

"Now that I've shown you," he continued, "it's your turn."

He handed her a small bracelet containing a Keystone, along with a small case that held several different glowing stones.

"Take this Keystone and these eight Mega Stones. Try them with each of your Pokémon and see if any of them resonate."

The three new Mega Stones Alex had recently found in Meteor Falls had already been tested by him. Unfortunately, none of his Pokémon had been compatible with them.

Out of the nine Mega Stones he currently possessed, only one—Scizor's—had worked for his own team.

Alex, however, had already decided what to do with the others.

He wanted Maria to have one. If something dangerous ever happened, having access to Mega Evolution could dramatically increase her strength and survivability.

He even planned to give one to Steven the next time they met. In this world, aside from his Pokémon, there were only two people Alex trusted enough with something as dangerous and world-changing as Mega Evolution.

Only these two people did Alex trust enough.

Maria picked up one of the glowing Mega Stones and walked over to her Arbok. The large purple serpent lifted her head curiously as Maria carefully attached the stone.

After doing so, she turned back to Alex with a slightly suspicious look.

"Alex… are those strange words you used when you Mega Evolved Scizor actually necessary?"

Alex immediately broke into a wide grin. "Absolutely," he said without hesitation. "One hundred percent necessary."

Maria stared at him for a moment, trying to decide whether he was serious or just teasing her. However, after remembering that Alex himself had spoken dramatic words while Mega Evolving Scizor earlier, she began to suspect that the ritual might actually be part of the process.

Even if it felt… incredibly embarrassing.

Taking a small breath, Maria raised the Keystone. Her cheeks reddened slightly as she forced herself to speak.

"Arbok… show your power…Mega Evolve."

Silence filled the enormous training room.

Nothing happened.

Maria stood there with the Keystone still raised, her face turning noticeably red.

A few seconds passed.

Still nothing.

Alex, who had been watching the whole scene, finally broke into a wide smile.

Trying—and failing—to hide his amusement, he said lightly, "Maybe try again with a different Mega Stone, Maria."

-----

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