Extra 12: I choose you! (28)

"[Mega Shinka(Mega Evolution]!" - exclaimed the two boys at the same time as their bracelets glowed with enormous intensity.

Quickly the bodies of the two Pokémon were surrounded by a powerful multicolored light.

The people could do nothing but cover their eyes to block the intensity of the light that covered the battlefield, only for it to disappear after a few seconds, revealing the new appearance of the two Pokémon.

Charizard had not changed much except for a few small details, such as the fact that it now had a sort of bump on its head where its two horns were, as well as the shape of its wings, which were now much more aerodynamic.

On the other hand, Blastoise now looked much more resistant thanks to the increased size of its shell. A cannon had appeared on each of its arms, and the two former cannons that were on its shoulders had now merged into a much larger one that was positioned on its back and head, taking the shape of a kind of tank.

The two young men from Pallet Town could only look seriously at their opponent as the rain clouds disappeared, revealing strong sunshine once again.

[Drought], M-Charizard Y's ability, was being activated as Ash nodded in his partner's direction.

"I didn't think you'd manage to [Mega Evolve] your Pokémon too, Ash" - Gary said as he frowned - "But I guess it has to make sense, after all, Kurama-san is your father."

"Believe me, I hadn't been able to until recently" - Ash replied as he shook his head - "Charizard hadn't listened to me since Charmander evolved into Charmeleon, it wasn't until Dad helped me mend my relationship with Charizard, that we were able to take the final step to achieve this new form"

"I see" - Gary nodded as Blastoise roared fiercely.

Charizard was not far behind, he too roared fiercely as the two towering Pokémon looked at each other.

* * * * *

"[Mega Evolution]" - Gladio muttered as he looked at the two boys in surprise, only for a small smile to appear on his lips.

"What's that, Onii-chan?" - Daisy asked, who was watching her older brother's battle, next to Gladio, her other older brother.

"It's a process in which the Pokémon, evolves once again thanks to the powerful bond that unites it with its trainer" - answered Gladio as he put his hand on Daisy's head, an action he did with his other younger sisters - "Only a trainer who has mutual trust with his Pokémon, can reach this level."

"Can you do it too, Gladio Onii-chan?" - Daisy asked curiously.

"I don't have the key that activates that bond" - answered Gladio while shaking his head - "To reach that new evolution, both the trainer and the Pokémon, need some rare stones that connect their feelings."

"You mean those weird stones on the wrists of Ash Onii-chan and Gary Onii-chan?" - Daisy asked in surprise as she looked at the two boys who had accompanied her through her childhood.

"Exactly, those stones are called [Activator Stone] or [Key Stone], and [Mega Stone] respectively" - nodded Gladio while looking at the two rivals who were fighting - "The [Key Stone] is carried by the trainer and is the one that transmits its link, while the [Mega Stone], receives that link and increases it to increase the innate power of the Pokémon, leading it to a new transformation"

"I didn't understand" - Daisy muttered as she shook her head with a confused look.

Gladio just smiled when he saw this as he stroked his sister's hair, but his expression quickly turned serious - "Don't worry, that just means that those two are strong, very strong!"

"Onii-chan is strong!" - Daisy exclaimed excitedly as she watched the two Pokémon prepare to fight.

* * * * *

"Charizard, use [Flamethrower]!" - Ash exclaimed fiercely.

"Counterattack with [Dark Pulse]" - ordered Gary as he saw how the sun would only weaken the [Hydro Pump] if he ordered Blastoise to use it.

Charizard launched a powerful fire breath powered by [Sunny Day] while Blastoise countered with a shockwave of darkness that was powered by his [Mega Launcher] ability.

The two attacks collided, but neither Pokémon was stopped.

Charizard quickly launched a dive attack while using the smokescreen produced by the collision of the attacks.

"Blastoise, use [Rapid Spin] to make the smoke disappear, and then use [Skull Bash]!" exclaimed Gary earnestly.

Blastoise quickly followed his trainer's instructions, showing how Charizard was just a few meters away with its claws glowing an intense emerald green color.

"[Doragon Cro (Dragon Claw)](*)!" - Ash roared as the length of Charizard's energy claws, grew considerably.

Blastoise quickly pulled his head into his shell and waited a few seconds, only to concentrate energy in the center of his skull, and launch a powerful headbutt that impacted squarely against his opponent's claws.

A fresh curtain of smoke billowed from the impact as the two Pokémon went flying at full speed against the walls of the arena.

"Charizard/Blastoise!" - The two boys exclaimed as they saw how their teammates had ended up in similar situations.

Charizard quickly spread his wings and stopped in mid-air while Blastoise used the power of his cannon to regain his balance, only to look at each other again with serious expressions.

The two Pokémon knew that this battle wouldn't last for much longer, after all, the [Mega Evolution] was causing a great strain on the bodies of its users, not to mention the enormous energy consumption they were suffering.

"Are you okay, Charizard?" - Ash asked as he looked at his partner, only to notice how he nodded weakly.

"Are you okay, Blastoise?" - Gary asked at the same time, though, unlike his opponent, he didn't answer right away, showing that he was much more tired than Charizard, which was easily understandable if they remembered that he had fought Kingler. The battle hadn't been very long, but being so close to receiving the fulminating attack had caused him to use more energy than necessary to dodge it.

"Charizard, it's time we showed you what we've been training" - Ash said seriously as a huge toothy grin appeared on his Pokémon's face.

Gary tensed when he heard this as Blastoise prepared for the worst.

"Charizard, use [Solar Beam]!" - Ash exclaimed as Gary's eyes widened in surprise and terror, after all, that attack was lethal under the sun because it took no time at all to charge.

"Use [Hydro Pump] to dodge it, Blastoise!" - Gary exclaimed upon hearing his opponent's response.

"Toise!" - Blastoise exclaimed as he prepared to dodge.

Charizard didn't hesitate, he launched a powerful solar energy attack from his snout in the direction of his opponent, who quickly tried to propel himself with the power of the water coming out of his cannon, only there was one detail they didn't take into account.

"You forgot there's sun, that weakens the power of your water-type attacks!" - Ash exclaimed as he saw how his friend and rival had made a serious mistake.

"No!" - Gary exclaimed upon hearing his friend's words - "Blastoise!"

Blastoise had managed to retreat a few meters thanks to the power of his cannons, but it wasn't enough to be able to dodge his opponent's powerful solar breath.

"Blastoise!" - Gary shouted as he watched the light beam completely consume his friend's body, only to have the Turtle Pokémon's body fall to the ground unconscious in its base form after a few seconds - "Blastoise!"

"Battle over, the winner and finalist, is Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town!" - exclaimed the referee as the crowd rose from their seats and started cheering the two contestants for such an exciting battle.

Gary sighed with regret when he saw that he had been defeated, but far from being upset about his defeat, he was happy. He had not only made it far during his first [Pokémon League], but he had managed to demonstrate the powerful bond he had with his Pokémon.

"That was a good battle, Gary," Ash said as he walked over to his opponent with a smile.

"Come to give me words of comfort after my defeat?" - Gary asked sarcastically, only to let out a laugh.

Ash shook his head when he heard his friend's words, and extended his hand.

"Good battle, Ash" - replied Gary as he returned the handshake with a smile - "I hope you win this competition, or it's going to reflect badly on me."

"Gladio is strong, much stronger than you think" - Ash replied seriously.

"I know, I've seen his fights, and he won them all with a single, strange Pokémon" - said Gary with a frown as he remembered said quadrupedal Pokémon that had a sort of mask over its head that slightly reminded him of the Pokémon that defeated him in the [Viridian City] gym.

"What kind of Pokémon?" - Ash asked curiously.

"I don't know, my Pokedex didn't recognize it" - Gary replied while frowning - "But it could assure you that it's strong, it could even compare to our [Mega Evolved] Pokémon."

"Is it a Legendary Pokémon, by any chance?" - Ash asked in surprise as Gary shook his head because he honestly had no idea.