In the footage—
Charizard happily turned the Mega Stone over in his hands, his entire body humming as he felt the intense, dormant energy resonating deep within his core.
Yet, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't quite figure out how to tap into it. The power was locked tight, missing a vital spark to bridge the gap.
"Don't worry about it too much, Charizard. You can't actually use it just yet," Ash explained, leaning closer. "This is a special stone meant for Mega Evolution! It's an item that unlocks a completely new level of power.
But we still need a Key Stone. Once we get one of those, it'll link our bonds together and trigger your evolution!"
Ash paused, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Then again, Greninja managed to pull off its special evolution without needing any Mega Stones or Key Stones at all, didn't it?"
"Roar~" Charizard huffed, nodding in understanding. Bottom line: he couldn't fire this thing up just yet.
"Let me set it up for you. Where would you like to wear it?"
Watching the cheerful interaction between Ash and his partner, Mewtwo felt a surge of satisfaction knowing his gift was deeply appreciated.
He offered to personally fashion a custom mount to embed the Mega Stone directly onto Charizard's body, ensuring it would be perfectly positioned for the day they finally achieved evolution.
"Roar~" Charizard proudly extended his left claw, gesturing that the wrist would be the absolute perfect spot.
Mewtwo materialized a solid block of raw metal out of nowhere. With a few swift, precise applications of telekinetic pressure, he effortlessly hammered and reshaped the metal into a sleek, durable gauntlet that fit snugly over Charizard's massive claw.
He then embedded the Mega Stone firmly into the center of the brace, reinforcing the casing with iron. With that, the stone was locked in tight, completely secure against the friction of battle.
...
[Lillie: Mewtwo is honestly so incredibly sweet! Not only did he help Ash peacefully handle Eternatus, but he even custom-crafted a piece of battle gear for Charizard! Charizard is fully kitted out now!]
[Blaine: To be completely fair, this is entirely the harvest of Ash's past actions! He completely reshaped Mewtwo's outlook on life and literally saved his life once! It's no surprise Mewtwo's affection and loyalty toward him are essentially maxed out.]
[Cynthia: The bond between Ash and Mewtwo transcends the typical boundaries of a trainer and Pokémon. Even without a formal capture, Mewtwo operates as a core extension of Ash's team.]
[Koga: Exactly. Even if Ash hasn't officially locked him inside a Poké Ball, it fundamentally amounts to the same thing. Mewtwo is effectively on-call whenever Ash needs him; it's basically a supreme wild-card partnership.]
[Lance: I am so incredibly jealous! Not only does he have a direct line to a high-tier deity, but the deity is actively gifting top-tier battle equipment to his roster! I want a Mega Stone too!]
[Blaine: What exactly are Charizard's attributes once it undergoes Mega Evolution? Does it retain its Fire and Flying typing? That jet-black form looks immensely more dominant than the standard appearance!]
[Red: Fire and Dragon.]
[Lance: WHAT!!!]
Lance whirled toward Red in absolute shock, his jaw practically hitting the floor. Despite spending so much time observing the screen alongside Red, he had never explicitly asked about the specific type mechanics of that black Charizard form. He had simply assumed out of pure habit that it remained a Fire- and Flying-type.
To hear that a Mega-Evolved Charizard could finally claim the legendary Dragon typing sent shockwaves through him! A Dragon! A genuine Dragon-type! Charizard finally had the right to call itself a true dragon!
Red simply tilted his head, giving Lance a deadpan look that clearly said: You never asked.
Now, Lance's desire to unlock the secrets of Mega Evolution burned brighter than ever! If a standard Charizard could gain the Dragon typing through Mega Evolution, then perhaps his Gyarados and Aerodactyl could finally awaken their true draconic heritages as well! If they did, he would finally be able to shed the mocking internet titles of a "Flying-type Master" once and for all!
Of course... reality had a funny way of contradicting expectations, but he could dream.
...
In the footage—
Charizard couldn't take his eyes off the gleaming Mega Stone fastened to his wrist. Even if he couldn't actively tap into the power yet, wearing the gauntlet made him feel incredibly powerful.
To give them a head start on their journey back, Mewtwo offered a parting gift, utilizing a massive Teleportation burst to deposit Ash and Chloe directly onto the outskirts of Lumiose City. For the final stretch of the trip, they soared above the tree lines on Charizard's back.
"...Hey Ash, let's stop by a clothing boutique first," Chloe suggested, checking her notes as the city skyline appeared on the horizon. "I read that the first round of the Pokémon Showcase involves a thematic styling challenge where the venue provides the outfits.
But for the second talent round, we have to prepare our own custom costumes, so..."
Ash replied instantly, "No problem at all! Let's go, I know the perfect boutique in Lumiose! I used to go there all the time with Serena!"
Chloe: ...
Why does this feel exactly like a guy casually telling his current girlfriend about a spot he used to frequent with his ex-girlfriend...
Granted, she wasn't Ash's girlfriend, and Serena certainly wasn't his ex-girlfriend, but the intense wave of déjà vu hitting her right now was almost suffocating!
Naturally, Chloe kept these thoughts locked entirely to herself—voicing them out loud would make the atmosphere incredibly awkward. Still, she couldn't help but puff her cheeks out slightly.
...
[Caitlin: Haha! Is Chloe secretly projecting herself as the current girlfriend? If we're going strictly by her logic... then outside of the Galar region, practically every corner of the Pokémon world is covered in the footprints of Ash's 'ex-girlfriends'!]
[Grace: Watch your mouth! Our Serena is definitely not an 'ex-girlfriend'! She and Ash are deeply connected partners. Have you never heard the term 'soulmate' before?]
If the title of a cherished lifelong confidante was worth anything, it certainly held more weight than a casual ex-girlfriend. More importantly, if Serena's special bond with Ash was already cemented by history, did that mean Chloe's current position was practically written in stone too? No way! The competition wasn't over yet!
[Norman: Exactly! What's with all this talk about ex-girlfriend footprints? Our May is a deeply treasured confidante of Ash as well, thank you very much!]
[Johanna: Don't forget our Dawn!]
[Professor Cerise: My Chloe is completely different. She isn't just a close friend; she is his active, day-to-day traveling companion in that timeline! Compared to the others, Chloe and Ash have undeniably shared a much broader journey.]
[Professor Cerise: The rest of them only traveled with Ash through one or two regions, whereas Chloe... has actively crossed almost the entire map with him by this point! They've practically gone everywhere together!]
[Johanna: Except Sinnoh was a region Ash already explored inside and out with my Dawn long before Chloe came along.]
[Norman: And Hoenn was a journey he shared completely with May first.]
[Grace: And he explored the depths of Kalos with our Serena long before showing Chloe around.]
[Misty: I... I literally walked with Ash through Kanto, Johto, and the entire Orange Archipelago before anyone else even met him!]
While the other girls had their parents loudly defending their corners on the global chat, Misty looked around in sheer exasperation.
Her three older sisters, who usually loved to tease and nitpick her every move, were nowhere to be found! It made absolutely no sense!
They were never helpful when it actually mattered. Why did they completely disappear whenever a parental chat war broke out?
Left with no other choice, Misty had to swallow her pride and jump into the fray herself! After all, she was technically the only companion actively traveling with him in the real, present timeline.
While the deep bonds and romantic tensions of the other girls were being uncovered through future footage, Misty's connection was actively built on the solid ground of the present. Steeling her resolve, she aggressively hammered out her message onto the global board!
[Professor Cerise: ...]
The Professor fell into a defeated silence. Only a few people had actively noticed Misty's text amidst the chaotic influx, but the coordinated retaliation from the other mothers was a total psychological crit to his argument.
We've been everywhere you're going, and we did it first.jpg
It was deeply frustrating! Just wait... the moment Ash took Chloe to explore the uncharted depths of Galar, he was going to gloat so hard to all of them!
...
In the footage—
Charizard soon glided gracefully over the Lumiose City airspace. Generally speaking, flying large Pokémon directly over the city center was strictly regulated to prevent chaotic traffic, so Ash guided Charizard down to a designated landing pad on the outskirts.
Reaching the bustling streets on foot, Ash took the lead, confidently navigating through the familiar avenues until they arrived at a high-end fashion boutique.
The shop was filled with elegant, youth-focused dresses, along with highly creative matching outfits designed for Pokémon—including stylized Hawlucha cloaks and regional Kalosian coordinate pieces.
"...Oh, look, Chloe! Serena wore an outfit just like this one during her performance!" Ash pointed toward a display mannequin, his eyes lighting up with nostalgia. "It was during her second Showcase, right when she secured her second Princess Key!"
Chloe: ...
Okay, I get it, so please stop bringing up Serena every five minutes!! We are technically on a shopping trip together!! Ash truly possessed absolutely zero understanding of a girl's inner thoughts.
Still, looking at Ash's completely innocent expression, Chloe's puffed-up cheeks slowly relaxed. She let out a soft sigh, her frustration melting away.
Well... I suppose that's just who Ash is. In his heart, Serena was a precious companion, and so was she. He was simply sharing a past partner's competitive success to help his current partner prepare for her own big day.
Thinking about it that way made her heart feel a whole lot lighter.
"Hello there~"
Suddenly, a soft, pale hand gently tapped Ash on the shoulder.
Ash spun around, his eyes widening as a deeply familiar, beautiful face came into view. Long, sun-kissed blonde hair cascaded loosely over her shoulders, and her bright, sapphire-blue eyes danced with a playful smile.
She was dressed in a chic, vibrant red-and-white casual sundress that perfectly accentuated her athletic, elegant frame, paired with sleek, slender legs that caught the afternoon light beautifully.
"Korrina?!" Ash gasped, initially failing to recognize his close Kalosian friend.
It was entirely fair—Korrina spent practically 365 days a year in her standard training attire, complete with her Taekwondo-style short skirt, athletic leggings, and a heavy roller-skating helmet that forced her hair into high, stiff ponytails.
Seeing her now in a soft, flowing dress with her long hair falling freely made her look like an entirely different person.
"Hehe~ Ash, Chloe, Pikachu! It's been so long... wait, actually, it's only been about two weeks, hasn't it? What brings you guys back to Lumiose so soon? Did you come to check out the Super Ball Tournament?" Korrina offered a bright greeting before tilting her head curiously.
In her mind, a battle enthusiast like Ash would only return to Kalos for a major competitive event, especially with a fresh tournament right around the corner!
"Oh... a Super Ball Tournament? What's that?" Ash blinked, completely caught off guard. "No, I actually came to support Chloe for her very first Pokémon Showcase! Since it's her debut, I brought her here to help her pick out some outfits and get everything ready for the stage!"
"Pika, pikapi~."
"Eh~ you brought Chloe all the way out here to pick out dresses?" Korrina smirked, nudging Ash playfully with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Don't tell me you two are out on a date?"
"No way!" Chloe blurted out, her face instantly turning bright red.
"Yeah, we are!" Ash stated matter-of-factly at the exact same time.
Chloe: !!!
Korrina: !!!
Hearing Ash's incredibly confident, casual confirmation, Korrina practically choked on her own breath, wondering if she had somehow misheard him. But seeing Chloe's utterly flabbergasted, deer-in-the-headlights expression, she realized her ears hadn't deceived her!
But... how on earth was that possible? This was Ash! The hyper-focused, battle-obsessed guy who lived and breathed Pokémon training!
How could he casually announce he was on a date with a girl?! Was it really that easy to catch his attention? If she had known, she would have tried a completely different approach long ago!
"Huh? Aren't we on a date right now?" Ash turned to Chloe, looking completely baffled by her explosive reaction.
"W-Well... an actual... an actual date..." Chloe stammered, her voice cracking as her brain struggled to process the sheer shock. "It's not... we aren't... we aren't a... a couple yet..." She couldn't even bring herself to say the words out loud.
Ash's casual bombshell had completely shattered her composure! How did a simple shopping trip suddenly morph into a romantic date? Weren't dates strictly reserved for boyfriends and girlfriends?
"What do you mean?" Ash blinked innocently. "Isn't a date just when a guy and a girl go out to hang out and shop together alone? That's exactly what my mom told me! Why are you guys looking at me like that?"
"...Let me ask you a quick question," Korrina ventured, her eye twitching slightly. She knew Serena well, and she was well aware of the girl's romantic feelings for Ash. "Did you go on a 'date' like this with Serena back then too?"
"Oh, yeah! Right before her big Showcase!" Ash recalled happily. "Though she ended up losing that specific round... it was a real bummer."
Chloe: ...
Korrina: ...
Pikachu: [Facepaws]
Alright, they completely misunderstood.
Of course! How could a total blockhead like Ash suddenly achieve romantic enlightenment out of nowhere? It was just a classic linguistic misunderstanding!
...
[Professor Cerise: AAAAAHHH!!! Ash! You absolute utter blockhead!]
[Ash: Why is Professor Cerise yelling at me?! That's literally how my mom explained it to me! Right, Mom?]
[Delia: Um... well... dear... yes, I suppose I did put it that way.]
Delia rubbed her temples, desperately trying to recall when she had given her son such a simplified definition. Had she completely omitted the romantic context of the word when he was a kid?
[Caitlin: My goodness, that gave me a genuine fright. For a second there, I thought Ash had actually matured, but it was just his usual dense self.]
[Steven: Well, that's classic Ash for you. But strictly speaking, his definition isn't entirely wrong. When a young man and a young woman go out shopping together alone, it certainly mirrors the structure of a date.]
[Flint: Did anyone else catch Korrina's reaction just now? Her emotional spike was arguably even bigger than Chloe's! There was definitely a flash of genuine jealousy hidden behind her shock... could it be that Korrina...]
[Gurkinn: Bingo! I'm throwing all my cards on the table! My granddaughter Korrina is officially entering the ring! I mean... wasn't it entirely obvious from her reaction? Why is everyone acting so surprised?]
[Korrina: Grandpa, stop it! Don't start spreading ridiculous rumors! I've said it a thousand times—Ash and I are training partners! PARTNERS!!!]
[Diantha: Hehe, 'partners.' I wonder who was just silently wishing in her own heart that she had taken the initiative to make a move first]
[Korrina: Ahhhhhh! Stop it! Diantha! Please don't read my mind out loud on the global chat!!]
With Diantha brutally laying her inner thoughts bare for the entire world to see, Korrina's face burned a furious scarlet. She aggressively typed out a storm of protests against the Kalosian Champion.
Originally, the global conversation hadn't even been directed toward her corner, but Flint from the Sinnoh Elite Four just had to stir the pot!
Curse him! The moment she grew stronger in the future timeline, she was going to pack her bags, march straight to the Sinnoh League, and kick his Gym doors down first thing!
The global audience watched the young Gym Leader's explosive embarrassment with collective amusement. Meanwhile, the real-world Ash stared at the floating text, completely lost. Every single time the screen focused on a girl standing beside his future self, the global chat turned into an absolute riddle. He decided it was best to just keep watching.
...
In the footage—
With the dating misunderstanding cleared up, Korrina gladly joined their party. When it came to selecting elegant dresses, a girl's perspective was infinitely more useful anyway!
As they browsed the racks, Ash asked about the Super Ball Tournament she had mentioned. It turned out to be a brand-new, mid-season competitive event officially established by the Kalos League, riding on the immense global popularity of the annual Kalos Battle Festival.
Because the primary Battle Festival occurred only once a year and lasted a single day, the local training community had voiced significant dissatisfaction.
Many felt a single day was far too brief to truly enjoy high-level matches, and unless a trainer pulled off a flawless streak of victories, climbing the global World Coronation rankings within twenty-four hours was practically impossible.
Trainers like Ash, who managed to tear through the entire Poké Ball tier in a single run, were an absolute anomaly.
Thus, the Super Ball Tournament was born—a dedicated bracket exclusively reserved for active competitors within the Super Ball tier.
While there were no immediate plans to expand the format to the standard Poké Ball ranks, the tournament had already drawn a massive crowd of ambitious regional trainers, including Korrina, who had easily secured her entry ticket.
"...Wow, I see!" Ash's eyes practically ignited with competitive fire. He never anticipated that supporting Chloe for her Showcase debut would yield such an incredible, unexpected battling opportunity! Truly, good deeds brought the best rewards!
"The opening matches kick off tomorrow morning, and the entire tournament wraps up by five o'clock in the afternoon," Korrina explained.
"Five o'clock..."
Ash's simple brain began working at maximum capacity, frantically calculating timelines. He wasn't entirely sure if the scheduling for Chloe's Showcase would permit him to squeeze in his own matches. If the times clashed, he would simply have to forfeit his entry.
After all, when it came down to a question of priority, Chloe's debut performance was infinitely more important! As a complete newcomer to the stage, she was bound to be incredibly nervous.
If her only close friend and anchor wasn't there in the stands to cheer her on, the psychological burden on her shoulders would be far too immense to bear!