"Agh!" Dawn, traveling with her backpack, suddenly gasped, looking at the IOU clutched in Ash's hand. "James is actually a young master?" Ash had just finished explaining James's family background on their way to Hearthome City, which stunned the girl.
"That's absolutely true. Ash and I saw his huge mansion with our own eyes!" Brock nodded in agreement, confirming Ash's story. That mansion was truly unforgettable. Especially James's Growlithe—it lived in a luxury far exceeding that of a normal person. If it weren't for appearances, many people would probably want to move in.
"That's really hard to imagine, isn't it?" Dawn couldn't help but click her tongue. "So, that IOU you're holding is just a ransom you extorted from James, right?" The memory of James reluctantly paying the price, which turned out to be a mere IOU, made Dawn laugh out loud again.
"Yup!" Ash waved the IOU. "James might be poor, but his family is rich! Exchanging Focus Punch for 500,000 League Dollars is barely a loss." After all, the cost of the TM he used was only around 100 Pokedollars. Over the past few days, the money he'd passively gained from the Team Rocket trio was at least 500 Pokedollars. Teaching Focus Punch felt like a small favor. As long as Cacnea stayed on the team, his monthly earnings from the trio wouldn't decrease. It was a no-loss transaction, and he was happy to use a TM to let Cacnea stay with James, considering their long-time "old friend" relationship.
After that, the trio stopped focusing on James.
Dawn's attention successfully shifted to the Key Stone wristband on Ash's right arm, and she said enviously, "I really envy you, Ash, for having Pokémon that can Mega Evolve. I don't have a single one! Waaah!" The girl covered her face, feigning tears.
"What? Your Buneary refuses to evolve?" Brock asked without thinking. As soon as he spoke, he was met with a confused look from Pikachu. "I'm such an idiot! Why did I ask an obvious question?" Brock's mouth twitched, and he suddenly wanted to slap himself.
"Pika???" Pikachu was even more confused, seeing its good friend suddenly start crying in the middle of a pleasant conversation.
"Ahem!" Ash quickly turned the culprit, Pikachu's head, away, telling it not to provoke the pitiful Brock. In his memory, Brock's romantic attempts never seemed to succeed.
"Pfft!" Brock's miserable state made Dawn burst out laughing, but she was wise enough not to mention the reason why Buneary wouldn't evolve, avoiding the risk of sending Brock into a full mental breakdown.
However, a look of longing still showed in Dawn's light blue eyes. She immediately hugged Ash's right arm and pleaded, "Please, Ash, let me feel what it's like to wear the Key Stone!" Ash's back-to-back Mega Evolutions had clearly excited her, making her intensely crave the wristband.
"Okay, okay, okay! Stop shaking, I'll give it to you!" Unable to stand Dawn's persistent shaking, Ash naturally agreed, taking off the black wristband and personally fastening it onto the girl's arm. This unavoidable close contact made Dawn blush deeply, but her intense desire for the Key Stone helped her hold steady.
"Wow!"
Once it was on, Dawn meticulously examined the jewel. It was transparent, bright, pure, and flawlessly clear.
"How is it?" Ash couldn't resist teasing her, seeing her mesmerized expression. This Key Stone could potentially link to six Pokémon for Mega Evolution simultaneously, meaning its material was truly exceptional. Moreover, it could be continuously upgraded. If he had enough Pokedollars, it could theoretically support an entire Mega Evolution squadron, similar to the energy wave in a certain movie. The cost, however, was astronomical and impossible to reach anytime soon.
"It's beautiful. Now I really want a Pokémon that can Mega Evolve and test out this incredible power!" Dawn's jealousy and admiration for Ash were practically written on her face. The sight of Mega Scizor and Mega Sceptile had deeply imprinted itself on her mind; it was impossible not to be envious.
"It's a shame Buneary won't evolve. Otherwise, I'd also love to experience Mega Evolution!" Dawn said reluctantly, taking off the wristband and handing it back to Ash, muttering to herself.
"It's not as simple as you think," Ash reminded the girl. "The bond between a trainer and their Pokémon is the absolute condition for achieving Mega Evolution." He explained that without the required bond, it was impossible, citing the example of a certain gym leader and Lucario in Kalos.
Mega Evolution brought more than just increased power; it also brought a return to a primal, ancient wildness. Ash theorized that Mega Evolution was likely a reversion to ancient Pokémon forms. Ancient Pokémon were generally stronger to survive harsh environments. Once the environment stabilized and food became plentiful, Pokémon reverted to their modern, lower-energy forms. The ancient form didn't vanish entirely but was preserved in Mega Stones, which, combined with the accompanying Key Stones, led to contemporary Mega Evolution.
Ash admitted this was just his reasonable speculation, based on evolutionary background and observing Mega Lucario's intense form. As for the actual truth, he'd have to wait until he was strong enough to politely ask the Legendary Pokémon of Hoenn. After all, Groudon and Kyogre's Primal Reversion forms looked so much like Mega Evolution. Only those ancient entities could truly provide the answers.