For Cain's Pokémon, demonstrating Mega Evolution there was not easy. Both Tyranitar and Aggron, due to their size, would probably cause the entire cave to collapse.
Steven's Mawile was much more suitable for the demonstration.
Cain assumed that, since the battle against Irene, Steven had not used Mega Evolution again. This was a good opportunity both for him to practice and for the others to see it.
Before Steven could react, Lance and the others were already looking at him in astonishment.
They had always believed that Steven simply knew a bit more than them. They had never imagined that he could also use Mega Evolution.
A complex smile appeared on Steven's face, a mix of helplessness, satisfaction, and embarrassment... though satisfaction seemed to be the dominant one. That slight sense of superiority almost managed to irritate everyone present, except Cain.
Damn show-off.
Although surely, after seeing what he was about to show, they would stop thinking that way.
Steven threw the Poké Ball and released the Mawile he had captured recently.
He had two Mawile, but the one he had raised since it was little was not as strong as this one.
Moreover, this was the first time Steven encountered such a situation: a Mawile captured not long ago, with its strength already practically formed, had reached a level of affinity and synchronization with him that grew day by day. In a little over a week, it already met the conditions for Mega Evolution.
As soon as she appeared, Mawile wanted to throw herself into Steven's arms with an expression of "I missed you so much."
But upon realizing that she was surrounded by so many people, especially when she saw Cain, Lance, and Wallace, she immediately blushed.
So many handsome guys!
Cain and Steven knew that Mawile's personality very well, so they observed the scene with amused expressions. Steven, on the other hand, brought a hand to his face.
That Mawile was excellent in almost everything: power, synchronization with her trainer, ability to obey orders, and adaptability in battle. After such a short time, she did not differ much from a Pokémon raised since childhood.
Lance and Wallace also noticed her personality and immediately felt in a better mood, completely forgetting the sense of superiority Steven had shown earlier.
"Ahem... Mawile!" Steven coughed awkwardly.
Upon hearing his voice, Mawile was startled and returned to normal, although her little eyes kept moving from side to side, alternating her gaze between Lance and Wallace.
Steven had no way to deal with her. That was simply her character.
Carefully, he took out of his pocket the Key Stone that Cain had given him.
When Mawile saw the stone, her eyes lit up instantly. She understood that they had not called her to look at handsome guys, but to mega-evolve.
Mawile loved that special state. The feeling of naturally fusing her will with Steven's fascinated her deeply.
Immediately, Lance and Wallace were relegated to oblivion.
Wildflowers never surpass those at home.
Cynthia and Diantha watched the scene with their mouths covered, until they saw the Key Stone and understood that what was important was about to begin.
Under everyone's gaze, Steven clenched his fist tightly, holding the stone. "Mawile! Mega Evolution!"
In an instant, a dazzling multicolored light burst forth from the stone in his hand. The light seeped between his fingers like glowing ribbons that floated toward Mawile, connecting with her Mega Stone.
After that, a great amount of energy enveloped Mawile, and her aura rose rapidly before the eyes of Cain and the others.
Cynthia's and Diantha's eyes filled with amazement. The scene was almost identical to Cain's Salamence's Mega Evolution, except that this time the process was a bit slower, since Steven and Mawile had not yet fully mastered this ability.
As the energy enveloped her, Steven slowly closed his eyes. He could feel Mawile's deepest thoughts: her acknowledgment, her attachment... and her fondness for handsome guys.
Mawile could also feel part of Steven's thoughts. However, as the trainer, he was the dominant side, and she only perceived the strongest desire in his heart at that moment.
When the energy of the Mega Evolution dissipated, Mega Mawile appeared, with a drastically changed appearance. The large characteristic mouth on her back had now become two.
Lance and the others watched the scene in amazement. Even having seen it once and being mentally prepared, it still seemed incredible to them.
Lance carefully touched Mega Mawile's body, confirming that she was completely real, without any trick.
After him, the others also gathered the courage to do so.
At the touch of Cain, Lance, and Wallace, Mawile showed a bit of shyness. However, when Cynthia and Diantha approached, Mega Mawile reacted with obvious rejection. If not for Steven's presence, those two enormous mouths would have gone straight at them.
Cynthia and Diantha did not know whether to laugh or get angry.
A small jealous monster, who allowed herself to admire handsome guys, but did not tolerate them getting too close to Steven.
Everyone laughed at that childish behavior, except Steven, who felt a little uncomfortable.
After witnessing a Pokémon's Mega Evolution once again, the surprise and curiosity on the faces of Lance and the others did not diminish, but instead increased.
Taking advantage of the fact that everyone was focused on Mega Mawile, Cain scanned her current data.
Pokémon: Mawile (Purple) — Mega Form
Gender: Female
Level: 82 (84)
Types: Steel + Fairy
Ability: Huge Power
Held Item: Mawilite
Egg Moves: Ice Fang, Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Misty Terrain
Basic Moves: Play Rough, Iron Head, Taunt, Growl, Fairy Wind, Astonish, Fake Tears, Bite, Sweet Scent, Vise Grip, Feint Attack, Baton Pass, Crunch, Iron Defense, Sucker Punch, Stockpile, Swallow, Spit Up
Learned Moves: Icy Wind, Stealth Rock, Snatch, Snore, Knock Off, Super Fang, Magnet Rise, Laser Focus, Thunder Punch, Last Resort, Pain Split, Foul Play
TM Moves: None
Aside from the change in appearance, the virtual level increase, and the modification of the ability, there were not too many differences.
At this moment, Mawile's virtual level, converted through the system, was 84. Not having surpassed the first threshold was completely reasonable. Even Cain's Gengar only managed to cross that first barrier after reaching level 84 in its normal form.
Although both were level 84 Pokémon, the differences were enormous. At that instant, Mega Mawile's strength was practically at the maximum peak below the first threshold.
(End of chapter)