"The original idea behind Pokémon: Gem was to give children who aren't yet old enough to go on their own journey a way to learn about adventure and Pokémon training," Steven had said at the press conference. "For kids that age, a game might be the best way to pass that knowledge along."
"At the same time, the Pokémon in this game aren't just cold numbers on a screen. That's why we included a friendship system. A Pokémon's strength is tied to the bond it builds with the player."
In other words, the traditional effort value system had been replaced by a measure of how deep the bond between Trainer and Pokémon had grown. Chasing raw power for its own sake would go against everything the game stood for. Pokémon: Gem put the relationship between Trainer and Pokémon at the center of everything.
If the game had been built purely on hard stats, it would only encourage Trainers — even young ones — to treat their Pokémon as tools. Steven had wanted something different. Even if it came down to numbers in the end, he wanted those numbers to mean something. A Pokémon grew stronger through training and through time spent with its Trainer. That was the point.
And there was a bigger picture, too. When children eventually reached the age to set out on their own journeys, Steven hoped they would already understand what it meant to nurture a Pokémon rather than just use one. Growing stronger together — that was what he wanted to see.
The Pokémon: Gem press conference went smoothly, and all that remained was the official release.
A game conceived by the Hoenn Champion and developed by Devon Corporation needed no further introduction. But the support it had gathered made its weight even clearer. All eight Hoenn Gym Leaders had lent their endorsement. The Elite Four had done the same. Professor Oak and several other leading Pokémon researchers had contributed data. The Hoenn Pokémon League itself had helped promote the launch.
There was no question about how seriously the Pokémon world was taking Pokémon: Gem.
After the press conference ended, Steven stayed backstage, waiting quietly for the crowd of reporters to clear out. Nearby, Diancie had already gotten its hands on a copy of the game and was absorbed in playing it — ahead of most of the world already.
Steven leaned back in his chair and glanced at the television mounted on the wall. It was broadcasting the inauguration ceremony and interview for Sinnoh's new Champion, Cynthia.
"It looks like you've been keeping quite busy lately, Hoenn Champion."
A smooth, pleasant voice came from behind him. Steven didn't turn away from the screen.
"It's been a while, Wallace."
He watched Cynthia's interview through to the end before finally turning his chair around and standing up. Wallace stood in front of him, dressed as elegantly as always, arms loosely folded.
"You're almost impossible to track down these days," Wallace said, a note of mild exasperation in his voice. After their last training session, he had gone to find Steven at the League headquarters — only to learn that Steven had already left for Sinnoh.
"You could have just called," Steven said, bringing his hand up and giving a casual little wave of his fingers.
"I didn't want to interrupt you."
Wallace chuckled softly and stepped around Steven, pausing behind Diancie to watch it play. Diancie set down the controller and gave him a small, polite bow.
"Hello."
Wallace blinked. "Telepathy?"
"Yes," Diancie replied, a slight smile on its face. Every small movement it made carried a quiet grace.
As long as it wasn't saying something to unsettle Steven, Diancie really was a remarkable Pokémon — poised, polite, and stronger than it looked.
Wallace crouched down and extended a hand. "Hello. My name is Wallace."
"My name is Diancie. It's nice to meet you, Wallace." Diancie clasped his hand gently, then picked up the controller again as Wallace rose to his feet.
He turned to Steven with a look of quiet amusement.
Steven shrugged. "Diancie is a friend of mine. A Mythical Pokémon, if you want the technical term."
Which explained the telepathy well enough.
"Must be nice," Wallace said lightly, "being the Hoenn Champion and still having time to travel around."
There was a hint of something dry in his tone.
"Says the Gym Leader who tours the entire region judging Pokémon Contests and enters the occasional Junior Cup on the side," Steven replied without missing a beat.
They shared a look, and both smiled.
"I heard you drove off a Raticate swarm on Melemele Island in Alola," Wallace said, "and helped keep Snowpoint City safe up in Sinnoh." He tilted his head. "Strange how I've never seen you do anything like that for Hoenn."
"If Groudon and Kyogre ever wake up, you'll know exactly where to find me," Steven replied with a tired smile.
The incident near Orses Forest wasn't widely known — there had been few witnesses, and the people involved had good reasons to keep quiet. As for Yveltal and Regigigas... Steven had a feeling the legendary Pokémon of Hoenn wouldn't stay quiet forever. But for now, Maxie and Archie were locked away with no reports of escape, and the mysterious girl with the Mega Salamence had disappeared without a trace. Groudon and Kyogre were still sleeping peacefully, as far as anyone could tell.
"So you only show up for the really big events," Wallace said, arms crossed, his expression somewhere between teasing and fond.
"Don't come to me asking for help, then."
"Oh, I absolutely will," Steven laughed.
And I'll definitely take you up on it.
"Actually," Steven said, "there's something I've been meaning to give you. I tried to find you during your training, but you'd already moved on."
He reached into his coat and produced a small box, holding it out. Wallace took it.
"May I open it?"
"Go ahead."
Wallace lifted the lid. Inside, resting against a cushioned interior, was a smooth light blue stone. Running through its center was an internal pattern in orange and gray — unmistakably gene-chain-like in structure.
"A Swampertite?" Wallace looked up, genuinely surprised.
Since Professor Sycamore had published his paper on Mega Evolution, Wallace had done his reading. He knew what a Swampertite looked like. He simply hadn't gone out of his way to find one — his days had been full enough with training, rest, and Contests.
"I've heard Devon Corporation has been collecting Mega Stones," Wallace said, a small smile returning to his face. "Thank you for thinking of me."
Steven raised a finger and gave a small, dismissive wave.
"I picked this one up in the Kalos region specifically. You tend to favor rain-based strategies when we battle — a Swampertite fits that style well."
Wallace raised an eyebrow slightly. "You found it for me on purpose?"
"I did," Steven said simply.
"Then I'm genuinely grateful." Wallace closed the box quietly, tucking it away. Then, with a slight tilt of his head, he asked, "Or is there something you'd like in return?"
"I did just want to give it to you," Steven said, spreading his hands. "But... now that you mention it, there is something I'd like to ask."
Wallace pulled over a nearby chair, sat down, and propped his chin in one hand with a relaxed smile.
"Go on. Tell me, and I'll think about it."
After all, Steven was the one asking. And between old friends, a little teasing was perfectly fair.
Steven didn't mind. He looked down at Wallace calmly, his tone easy and unhurried.
"When I'm no longer around, I'd like you to take over as Hoenn Champion."
The smile on Wallace's face stilled.
Behind Steven, Diancie's hands paused on the controller. It turned slowly, looking back at Steven with wide eyes.
Wallace stood up from the chair.
"What do you mean by that?"