"Lucario, are you ready?"
Ethan handed him the Mega Stone.
"Luucaarr!"
Lucario nodded excitedly.
He took the Mega Stone and began examining it carefully, but at first glance he didn't notice anything special. To him, it looked like an ordinary stone.
In the next moment, he activated his aura power, and only then did he perceive the difference.
Within his perception, a mysterious energy was hidden inside the Mega Stone.
"You felt it?" Ethan asked with a smile.
Although the energy was deeply concealed, there was no reason for Lucario—who possessed extraordinary sensory abilities thanks to aura power—not to detect it.
Lucario nodded enthusiastically.
Without hesitation, he swallowed the Mega Stone and closed his eyes to feel it from within.
Ethan froze for a moment. He hadn't explained how to use it.
Apparently, Lucario had already consulted earlier with Charizard, the "veteran" who possessed a Mega Stone.
Swallowing the stone had been Charizard's idea.
And judging from previous results, it didn't affect its use. It even seemed that over time the Mega Stone helped with the Pokémon's growth.
For example, Charizard's "Sunny Day Dragon" technique was partly due to the influence of Charizardite Y.
Now Lucario would probably gain similar benefits.
And even if that wasn't the case, at least there were no disadvantages. It was more convenient than carrying it around, impossible to lose, and it also kept it secret.
"Then... let's begin."
Ethan took a deep breath and held the Key Stone in the palm of his hand.
Lucario also calmed down and began connecting with the energy of the Mega Stone inside his body.
The key to Mega Evolution was to perceive the energy of the Key Stone and the Mega Stone, and through the bond between trainer and Pokémon, trigger a resonance.
Recalling Ethan's instructions, Lucario began slowly releasing his aura.
Gradually, he projected it toward Ethan, and their mental energies began to merge.
At that instant, images appeared in their minds.
The day they first met.
Riolu's hard efforts.
Ethan's warm gaze.
Another scene: Ethan asking him if he wanted to grow stronger and accompany him. Riolu accepting without hesitation.
Then came the training sessions, the first battles, the awakening of aura power, and finally the evolution...
Guided by the power of aura, their hearts synchronized, finding the point of perfect harmony.
In the next moment, all those memories transformed into the power of their bond, becoming the energy that triggered Mega Evolution.
The Key Stone and the Mega Stone radiated infinite light!
Suddenly, Lucario opened his eyes. Light completely enveloped him.
His body began transforming just like during a normal evolution, raising his life level as if he were about to reach a new form.
"Mega Lucario... is it going to succeed?"
Ethan's eyes shone with anticipation. The first Mega Evolution in this world was about to be born!
But just when the transformation was about to complete, a sharp pain pierced Ethan's mind.
Crack!
Crack!
He felt as if something had shattered.
The light from the Key Stone and the Mega Stone began to fade.
Lucario exited the evolution state and dropped to his knees.
Ethan was breathing heavily, covered in sweat.
"Luucaarr!"
Lucario ran over in concern.
"I'm fine..." Ethan replied, wiping the sweat from his face.
Then he stared fixedly at the Key Stone in his hand and fell silent.
After a long moment, he let out a bitter smile.
"So that's how it is..."
He had suspected it from the very beginning.
Mega Evolution requires both the trainer and the Pokémon.
That was why the trainer had to carry the Key Stone.
In essence, evolution is a leap in life level. Mega Evolution is an advanced use of life energy.
During the process, the trainer–Pokémon bond helps control that energy and complete the transition.
His hypothesis was clear: it's not enough for the Pokémon to activate the Mega Stone's energy. The trainer must also activate the Key Stone with their own mental power.
And now he understood the problem.
Neither Charizard nor Lucario could complete Mega Evolution because he, as the trainer, couldn't control the Key Stone.
"That must be it... To control the Key Stone, the trainer needs a certain foundation of mental strength."
Earlier, he had managed to activate it slightly thanks to Lucario's aura power stimulating his own mind.
Mental strength exists in all living beings, but in different amounts.
And humans of the real world... possess only a tiny amount.
The pain he had felt was caused by mental exhaustion.
"Lucario, let's try again. This time, don't use your aura power."
Without Lucario's support, Ethan couldn't activate the Key Stone at all.
Confirmed.
In the Pokémon world, humans are extraordinary: they possess incredibly strong bodies and minds.
Some even master special abilities like telekinesis or psychic powers, such as Sabrina, Olympia, or Caitlin.
There are also powers like aura power or the power of the Viridian Forest.
That is why, there, they don't have problems with mental energy during Mega Evolution.
Even though trainers in that world still feel fatigue after using it, their physical and mental levels are high enough to withstand it. But in the real world, although the arrival of the Secret Kingdoms improved human conditions, they are still far from that level.
Therefore, in this world, besides the Key Stone, the Mega Stone, and the bond, the trainer must also possess the ability to communicate with the Key Stone.
"Could psychics exist in the real world?" he wondered.
Perhaps with the continuous merging of Secret Kingdoms, humanity would evolve further...
But becoming a psychic is not simple. Even in the Pokémon world they are extremely rare.
He shook his head.
First, he needed to find a way to increase his own mental strength.
And he had an idea: using Lucario's aura power to assist himself.
If Lucario could maintain mental fusion with him, then he could use Lucario's mental power as support to control the Key Stone.
With that idea, he called Charizard.
In the spacious laboratory, all the Pokémon that trained with him gathered, watching with anticipation.
"Charizard, are you ready?"
Charizard struck his chest confidently. He was already familiar with the process.
"Then we'll begin."
"Lucario, I'm counting on you this time."
Lucario nodded solemnly.
"Let's start!"
The three closed their eyes.
Lucario activated his aura power and once again merged his mind with Ethan's.
Even though it wasn't his own Mega Evolution, their bond allowed a perfect connection.
(End of Chapter)