"Dra-kloak!"
The newly evolved dragon did a victory lap around the porch, his long, sleek body cutting through the air like a fighter jet. Perched right in the hollow of his flat head was a tiny, wide-eyed Dreepy a perfect, miniature carbon copy of how he'd looked just an hour ago.
Leo watched them with a grin. The "fission" theory was real. Drakloak hadn't just evolved; he'd literally split off a piece of his own ghostly essence to create a permanent little co-pilot.
"Alright, ace, bring it in for a second," Leo called out, intercepting the proud dragon. He led him over to where Garchomp was still nursing his hidden bottle of wine. "Shark Bro, I've got a favor to ask. Think you can take this guy under your wing? He's a pure-blooded dragon now, and he needs a teacher who actually knows how to throw a punch."
Garchomp looked up, his eyes immediately narrowing. He looked at Drakloak, then at his mate, Salamence, then back at Leo. He let out a low, lazy grumble.
"Teach? Me? Kid, do I look like a tutor? I'm retired. I've got a wife, a full stomach, and a very busy schedule of napping. Find someone else."
Leo didn't even blink. He just leaned in and whispered, "There's a whole case of that vintage stuff in the cellar. If he makes it to his final form by next season, the whole thing is yours."
Garchomp froze. He slowly stood up to his full height, looking remarkably more professional. He patted his chest with a heavy claw and let out a roar that sounded suspiciously like a "yes."
"You should have led with that! Little brother, come with me. I'm gonna turn you into a weapon."
Leo's mouth twitched. He turned to Salamence. "Dragon Sister, please... keep an eye on them? Make sure Shark Bro doesn't just make him do his chores in exchange for snacks."
Salamence gave a regal nod. She sensed the raw, untapped potential in the shiny Drakloak's bloodline and spread her massive wings. With a powerful beat that sent a gust of wind through the porch, she soared toward the back mountain. Garchomp gave Leo a "we're good" thumbs-up and followed suit, with Drakloak trailing behind them like a shooting star.
"Geng-gar!"
The big purple ghost suddenly popped up in front of Leo, patting his round belly and looking offended.
"I know, I know," Leo laughed. "You're a powerhouse too. Once he's done with the dragon-physical stuff, I'll have him come to you for the ghost-type tricks. Happy?"
Gengar nodded, satisfied, and vanished back into the shadows.
Leo turned his attention to Swampert, who was currently sitting quietly next to his mother. The two massive blue giants looked like a pair of boulders.
Pokémon: Swampert Level: 49 (Elite-Peak) Aptitude: Champion-Rank Ability: Torrent Status: Looking for a challenge.
Leo patted the big guy's arm. "Don't get discouraged, buddy. That little dragon used to rely on you for everything, and now he's technically a higher level than you. You gonna let the kid show you up?"
"Lachi!" Swampert shook his head vigorously, his muscles rippling.
At that moment, Mother Swampert the Champion-rank guardian of the farm looked at her son, then at Leo. She reached into a small pouch she kept hidden near her nest and pulled out a strange, marble-like stone. It was a swirling mix of deep blue and bright orange, with a peculiar, double-helix pattern etched into the center.
Leo took the stone, and his brain practically short-circuited. "Holy... holy crap."
"What is it, Leo?" Arthur asked, walking over to see what the fuss was about.
"Where did she get this?" Leo's voice was shaking. His "System" panel was screaming at him in bright text: [Swampert Mega Stone: A relic of hidden potential.]
"That?" Arthur scratched his head. "Oh, I found that years ago when Martha and I were trekking through some ruins in the South. I thought it was just a pretty marble, but Swampert took a liking to it. She's been carrying it around like a lucky charm for a decade. Why? Is it important?"
"Important?" Leo nearly choked. "Grandpa, this thing is a strategic asset. It's like a nuclear key."
In this timeline, Mega Evolution was a myth. Professor Sycamore in Kalos hadn't even started his research yet. The only person who might know about this was some old man in the Tower of Mastery, and he wasn't talking.
"Do you have any more of these?" Leo asked urgently. "Any stones that look like this, or clear ones with that same symbol?"
Arthur nodded, looking surprised. "I think we have a box of 'weird junk' in the attic. Gardevoir? Mind doing a quick run?"
The psychic Pokémon vanished and reappeared seconds later, clutching a dusty wooden box. Martha joined them, her curiosity piqued. "Leo, you're acting like you just found a chest of gold."
"Better," Leo said. He opened the box, and the contents nearly blinded him. Evolution items were everywhere: a King's Rock, a Razor Claw, and then... the motherlode.
Three clear Key Stones and five specific Mega Stones. He recognized the patterns instantly: Blaziken, Alakazam, Gengar, Beedrill, and even a Tyranitar stone.
"Grandpa, Grandma... listen to me," Leo said, his voice deadly serious. "You need to lock these up. Don't tell anyone we have them. These stones allow a Pokémon to temporarily break the limits of evolution. It's called Mega Evolution."
The elders' expressions sharpened. They knew Leo wasn't a kid who exaggerated. If he said these were "strategic items," they believed him.
"Show us," Arthur said simply.
Leo took one of the clear Key Stones and turned to his Swampert. "You ready for this?"
Swampert looked at the Mega Stone in his hand, then at his trainer. Somehow, the world around them seemed to fade away, replaced by the memory of their first day together.
Leo had been nine years old, standing in front of a tiny, stubborn Mudkip who was training until his fins bled. Leo had walked up with a handful of custom energy cubes and a lopsided grin.
"Hey, little guy. You want to see the world? I'm gonna be the best, and I need someone who isn't afraid of a little hard work. We'll stand on the biggest stages. We'll never give up on each other. What do you say? Partnership?"
The Mudkip had looked at the boy's hand, then at the fire in his eyes. He'd bumped his tiny fist against Leo's.
"Contract established," Leo had laughed.
Back in the present, Swampert let out a low, resonant growl. He held the stone tight, his eyes locked on Leo's.
Leo gripped the Key Stone, and his own psychic energy flared to life, acting as the bridge. "This is it, buddy! Let's show them what a real bond looks like!"
A prismatic, rainbow light erupted from Leo's hand, connecting to the stone in Swampert's grip. The air grew heavy with pressure. Chains of pure energy seemed to link the human and the Pokémon, their heartbeats syncing into a single, thumping rhythm.
"Swampert! Mega Evolve!"
"LA-CHI!"
A cocoon of light engulfed the blue giant. His silhouette shifted, growing broader, more menacing. When the light finally shattered like glass, a behemoth stood in its place.
Mega Swampert had arrived. His upper body had ballooned with massive, hulking muscles. The black fins on his head had elongated into sharp, obsidian blades, and his eyes glowed with an unstoppable primal fury.
The ground beneath his feet cracked just from the weight of his presence.
Arthur and Martha stood frozen, their mouths hanging open. Even the other Pokémon on the farm stopped what they were doing, shivering at the sheer, overwhelming power radiating from the porch.
"My god," Arthur whispered. "He's... he's a monster."
Leo just grinned, his breath coming in short, excited gasps. "No, Grandpa. He's a Champion."