"Ash, that was quite the performance—especially letting Infernape and Paul's Electivire battle it out on their own at the end. That was so you."

Back at the contestants' lounge, Delia and Misty had come over to see him.

Ash nodded. "Yeah. A Pokémon's emotions are just as important as their strength. It's something every trainer needs to understand. The fact that Paul was able to change… that wasn't easy."

"Pikapi!"

Pikachu nodded in full agreement.

"Mom, everyone, stay here for a moment. I need to step out."

Ash, with Pikachu on his shoulder, followed his Aura sense—heading toward Steven Stone.

In the corridor overlooking the stadium, Steven, the Sinnoh Elite Four, and Tyson were all gathered.

When Ash and Pikachu arrived, every eye turned toward them.

"Ash, you've got guts," Flint said, coming forward with a friendly punch to the shoulder. "Letting your Pokémon fight without instructions like that… their battle instincts are impressive."

"Yeah," Ash said. "A Pokémon's ability to act on its own in battle is critical. Too many Pokémon these days can only follow commands. Without their trainer's input, they panic, run… can't even defend themselves. Only the truly strong—or the truly smart—learn to act on their own. That's why developing independent battle instincts is essential."

He paused and turned his gaze to Steven, sharp and unwavering.

"But that's not why I came. Steven, you know why I'm here."

"I do," Steven replied, his expression growing serious. "But are you sure you're ready? If you showcase that in the finals… the regional Pokémon Leagues won't just stay silent. This is something that could shake the foundations of the entire competitive system."

Steven wasn't wrong.

Ash was about to cross a line that had never been crossed before—at least not on a public stage. And the Pokémon Leagues had their own way of dealing with that.

"I don't do anything I'm not ready for."

"Pika."

Ash and Pikachu exchanged a look—one of unshakable trust.

"…Alright then," Steven said with a slow nod. "This was always yours anyway. My father and I owe you. No matter what happens, we're on your side."

He handed Ash a small case.

Inside were a Key Stone, three Mega Stones… and a custom Mega Evolution wristband designed to hold the Key Stone.

Charizard, Gardevoir, and Sceptile—Ash now held the power to Mega Evolve all three.

"You and Metagross should be able to Mega Evolve soon, too," Steven added. "As long as the bond's there and the trust is mutual, you'll awaken a power that reshapes battle as we know it."

Elite Four member Bertha cleared her throat.

"Cough… Are you two talking about what the League's been quietly investigating lately—this so-called 'Mega Evolution'?"

"That's right, Miss Bertha," Ash replied, before tossing the rest of the explanation to Steven. He had other things to do.

Three Mega Stones, one Key Stone—he needed to test them.

He couldn't risk fumbling in the middle of a finals match.

The nearby forest on Lily of the Valley Island would do just fine—secluded, quiet, and empty at this hour.

Time to train.

Mega Evolution—or Mege Evolution, as some called it—wasn't something just anyone could use.

It required a Pokémon to wear its unique Mega Stone, while the trainer held a Key Stone.

But more than that… it required a powerful and strong bond between the Pokémon and its trainer.

That connection unlocked an ancient energy—temporarily reverting the Pokémon to its primal form. Their stats and abilities often changed drastically.

The level remained the same.

But their power skyrocketed.

Ash and Pikachu slipped into the forest to train.

Meanwhile…

Back in the stadium, the tournament continued.

On the battlefield stood Tobias, facing off against another semifinalist.

"Nidoking—Hyper Beam!"

"Darkrai, dodge and use Dark Void!"

Nidoking's Hyper Beam exploded across the field—Darkrai hovered gracefully above it, then unleashed a Dark Void, trapping Nidoking in a swirling black sphere.

"Nightmare."

Tobias didn't even break a sweat.

Using Darkrai in this tournament was like slicing through paper with a blade.

The challengers—one after another—fell before it. Helpless.

In fact, Tobias had swept the entire Lily of the Valley Conference with Darkrai alone.

Even his badge challenge—eight gyms, all crushed with Darkrai.

Nidoking's face twisted in pain.

"Dream Eater."

Dark Void. Nightmare. Dream Eater.

It was a flawless cycle.

Darkrai was unbeatable.

"Nidoking is unable to battle! With that, Tobias claims another clean sweep and advances to the Top 4—still using only one Pokémon! Absolutely unbelievable!"

The announcer's voice was raw from yelling, but the crowd?

They were getting restless.

"What kind of match is this?!"

"Boring! We came here to see battles, not a Darkrai show!"

"This isn't even fun! Give us some back-and-forth!"

Discontent rippled through the stands.

To some, it felt like a scripted show—predictable, unfair.

They wanted Ash-style battles.

Real strategy. Real struggle. Real drama.

Ash, who used a different Pokémon every round.

Who brought excitement, passion, fire.

But rules were rules.

As long as Tobias used one Pokémon within regulation, no one could stop him.

Back in the woods, Ash was returning—energy surging through him.

The tests had gone well.

Charizard, Gardevoir, and Sceptile were ready.

Ash's next battle? A success—he advanced to the Top 4.

Tobias? Another sweep—straight into the final 2.

Ash fought once more and secured his place as well.

And just like that…

The final two of the Sinnoh League Lily of the Valley Conference were decided.

Ash vs. Tobias.

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T/N:

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