Although Cynthia and Steven's conversation sounded rather abstract, they were, in fact, talking business.
The "goods" they mentioned referred to the local minerals of Galar.
From Galar's soil, one could dig up the region's peculiar "Fossil Pokémon."
Take, for instance, the most stylish ones—Dracovish and Arctovish.
By using certain special methods, these creatures—who by all rights should have remained fossils—could be "revived." Compared to that damn Phoenix Man from One-Punch Man, they were way more durable.
After all, once Fūchū in Yu-Gi-Oh misses his revival turn, he can't come back. But Fossil Pokémon? They can drop dead for thousands of years and still get "brought back to life."
Pokémon really are full of wonders, aren't they?
And besides fossils, Steven had also recently unearthed Mega Evolution stones—another major attraction.
Just because Galar didn't embrace Mega Evolution ≠ Galar didn't produce Mega Stones.
In fact, since Galar natives weren't all that keen on Mega Evolution, one could even buy Mega Stones here for cheaper than in other regions—if you could actually find a source.
After a few polite exchanges, Cynthia and Steven both turned their gaze toward the one who'd been silent this whole time—Haru.
"If I'm not mistaken, this must be the 'Haru' you've been mentioning, Cynthia?"
Steven, clad in his Metagross-themed outfit, circled around Haru with great interest.
Honestly speaking, from Steven's perspective, Cynthia had been dropping Haru's name at a ridiculous frequency lately.
Even though Steven spent most of his life obsessing over rocks, every now and then, Cynthia's chatter about Haru would slip into his ears.
Things like: the master of Blue, a scholar of myths, some kind of legendary beast magnet.
All the kinds of clickbait headlines tabloids would love to run with.
"I heard not long ago he even defeated Blue?"
"Not really 'defeated.' He only lost because he was using newly trained Pokémon," Haru corrected immediately, then added in Blue's defense:
"And honestly, for me to win I had to give it my all. I even had to pull out Terastallization."
He waved it off with a casual hand.
"If he'd been using his main team, the result would've been hard to say. Sure, Blue's reign as Champion was the shortest in history, sure, ever since Red beat him he hasn't had any shining achievements, sure, he's basically Red's perennial prisoner—but he still has strength.
A Champion title is a Champion title, right? The only reason I won is because I had more Legendaries on my side. Without them, I wouldn't stand a chance against him."
Haru was strong, no doubt. But to say he could definitely topple Champions? That was overestimating himself.
Having Legendary or Mythical Pokémon ≠ being invincible. Otherwise, why would so many of them fall under human control for one reason or another?
Now, if Haru had Arceus itself under his belt—that'd be another story.
But without Legendaries or Mythicals? What a joke. At that time, aside from those, the only Pokémon on him was Flutter Mane. With what, was he supposed to fight? His fists?
"Oh? So modest?" Steven chuckled. "Though, if you praised his strength without stacking so many 'ifs' in the way, I think he'd appreciate it more..."
Steven's curiosity only deepened. Carefully placing one of his stones into his collector's case, he added:
"I didn't get to see that battle myself—I was busy mining—but from what I heard, you fought with impressive composure.
You only used three Pokémon from start to finish, and your only power-up was Terastallization. Meanwhile, Blue threw everything at you—Alola's Z-Move, Kalos's Mega Evolution—and still couldn't even knock out a single one of yours. That doesn't sound like a 'hard-fought victory' to me."
"Hah, if I could use Mega Evolution and Z-Moves, I'd have used them too! But can I? No. Not within my means," Haru shook his head.
Mega Evolution was powerful, yes. But of all the Legendaries and Mythicals with him, only Mewtwo had that potential—and she wasn't even officially his yet.
As for Z-Moves? Please. He had zero interest in doing an awkward little dance just to unleash a flashy attack.
He wasn't some magical girl. Doing that would just land him the same fate as Blue—secretly filmed and endlessly ridiculed online.
Besides, if he did want to unleash a Z-Move, he'd have Sabrina capture a Pyroar, then borrow its power through Sucker's Toy™ to "fuse and transcend," and only then would he let loose.
If you're gonna set off fireworks, you might as well go big.
The only Z-Crystal he even owned was Necrozma's, after all.
And if he really did borrow Pyroar's power to become the Radiant One... honestly, how many opponents would even be worthy of facing Necrozma's Z-Move?
Just as Steven looked ready to ask more, Haru suddenly pointed to the "Toyoko Sachiko" beside him:
"Forget that. Take a look at my Pokémon here. Tell me—does she look like she can Mega Evolve?"
"...Huh?"
Steven frowned, carefully inspecting the blue-haired girl at Haru's side.
He'd noticed her before, but figured she was just a friend of Cynthia's or Haru's.
But if Haru was implying what it sounded like—what, humans could Mega Evolve now? Or was she Mew, or maybe that rumored Necrozma in disguise?
That didn't fit either. Mew and Necrozma's humanoid forms didn't look anything like this girl.
Surely she wasn't the new Pokémon Cynthia had told him about—the one that could Mega Evolve?
That would be absurd. Haru already had two Pokémon capable of taking human form. There couldn't just randomly be a third.
And honestly, the only unusual thing about her... was that she was gorgeous.
So, he concluded Haru was joking.
Steven shook his head.
"Tsk tsk... Doesn't look like a 'warrior's face' to me. I doubt it."
"Really? Look again," Haru grinned, patting Mewtwo on the shoulder.
"Come on, sweetheart. Show him your power."
Mewtwo clearly didn't appreciate being touched. She instantly brushed off his hand and retreated several steps, like Mew recoiling from stress.
But eventually, with a look of disdain, she unleashed her psychic power.
Not because she obeyed Haru's orders—but because power was the only thing she desired.
And at once, the surrounding thickets warped violently.
Her psychic force was like a storm breaking free, waking the caged thunderclouds above.
Had it continued unchecked, it would have unleashed a disaster.
Even without targeting anyone directly, the sheer force radiating from her left no doubt: this was indeed a powerful Pokémon.
"Oh? So I misjudged?"
Steven's eyes widened in disbelief.
What the hell—every single Pokémon Haru had could turn human? Where the hell was he even finding them?!
"Let me introduce her: this is Mewtwo. In battle, no one can match her. And—she's my daughter."
Steven's face froze. Haru, unconcerned, waved it off:
"Don't give me that look. It's a long story, but trust me—it's not what you're thinking."
Cynthia quickly chimed in:
"If you earn Haru's permission, I'll explain it all to you later. Just remember—he's a noble, refined Trainer, not some pervert. Don't overthink it."
(Though, the same can't be said for his Pokémon...) Cynthia muttered silently to herself.
Steven inhaled and exhaled several times, trying to calm down before continuing:
"Fine. So this is the new Pokémon you claim can Mega Evolve?"
He produced a large white bag, dumping out a glittering heap of stones—probably 100 to 150 in total. Most were labeled, but some were in their raw state.
Even if they weren't Mega Stones, their sheer beauty and size could fetch astronomical sums on the market.
Say what you would about Steven's mining obsession—he'd clearly struck it rich.
Picking up a few samples, he explained:
"These are all the stones I've collected that might be Mega Stones. The labeled ones are confirmed. The others are... 'unidentified.' They register immense energy, but don't correspond to any of the 40-some known Mega-compatible Pokémon. My guess? Many aren't related to Mega Evolution at all."
As he spoke of his passion, Steven grew more animated.
The "Mineral Lord" of the Pokémon world knew his stuff.
So much so that Haru trusted his judgment, deciding not to bother testing the stones Steven had already dismissed.
"Hmm... fascinating."
Haru rubbed his chin, eyeing the stones.
"Mewtwo, test your resonance. See if any respond."
Pokémon had a subtle sense for their own Mega Stones. At close range, most could instinctively recognize which belonged to them.
Though annoyed with Haru's attitude, Mewtwo's thirst for power outweighed her disdain. She approached the pile and focused on the "unidentified" stones.
There were only about fifteen. The chances of finding the right one were slim.
None of them expected much—Cynthia, Steven, Haru, not even Mewtwo herself.
Still, it was worth a shot.
But then—whether by destiny's favor, or Mewtwo's burning will moving the heavens—
Her expression shifted after about three minutes.
Not just her eyes—her entire face flushed with unnatural color, a rare crack in her usual icy façade.
Cynthia, Steven, and Haru had all been watching closely. They immediately noticed the change.
"Don't tell me..."
Haru's heartbeat quickened.
Had she really found her Mega Stone?
Would it be X or Y?
God forbid it was X. Haru wasn't into Mewtwo sprouting hyper-masculine aesthetics...
Still, either way, the fact that one existed at all—that was monumental. It proved her stone could actually be unearthed through mining.
"A brand-new Mega Pokémon?!"
Steven and Cynthia were even more shocked than Haru.
Cynthia, by now, trusted most of what Haru said, so she wasn't floored. But Steven?
In his mind, the roster of Mega-capable Pokémon had long been fixed.
Now, out of nowhere, a so-called "artificial Pokémon"—and Haru's daughter, no less—had potential for Mega Evolution?
For crying out loud, humans and Pokémon could have children who Mega Evolve now? Was this even legal Mega Evolution?
He'd only gone along with this test out of respect for Cynthia.
And now—he was utterly proven wrong.
"Well? Do you feel it?" Haru finally asked when Mewtwo stayed silent, clutching one of the stones.
At last, she exhaled, her voice calm but resolute:
"This is the one."
"I can feel it—there's some kind of power in this stone pulling me in."
"I think this must be the Mega Stone Dad mentioned. With it, I can definitely grow stronger!"
She lifted the stone high, voice trembling with excitement, even blurting out a form of address she would never normally use.
Though Mewtwo hadn't battled much lately, that didn't mean she'd lost her hunger for strength.
Born as nothing more than a weapon of war, her very bones and soul were etched with a craving for victory.
First she lost to Necrozma, and then again to Mew.
If she kept losing like this, next would be Ogerpon, then Flutter Mane... losses she could never accept.
She had to win—had to stand far, far ahead of the rest!
At last, her chance to strike back had come.
This was it—Mewtwo's lightning-fast awakening.
"What a... discovery," Steven muttered.
Both he and Cynthia widened their eyes.
Then, as if suddenly recalling something, Cynthia turned sharply to Haru:
"Haru, didn't you once say Mewtwo, like Charizard, has two different Mega Evolution paths?"
"So which path does this Mega Stone lead to?"
Haru glanced at the stone, then shook his head.
"Hard to say. But why not test it out and see?"
Mega Evolution, despite the name, wasn't a true, permanent evolution. It was more like a Digimon's temporary "evolution" through some divine program—another form, but not a lasting change.
Once the Trainer broke the link, or the Pokémon reached its limits, Mega Evolution would end immediately.
In other words, Mega Evolution was reversible.
If Mewtwo wanted to switch between her X and Y forms, all she needed was the matching stone.
No need to worry that one Mega Evolution would lock her into only one form.
Before leaving the "Mega Evolution Sage" Korrina's grandfather, Haru had already secured a Keystone.
So all he needed now was for Mewtwo to hold the Mega Stone, and they could attempt the transformation.
"Mewtwo, shall we give it a try?"
Clutching the Keystone pendant on his chest, Haru turned his questioning gaze to Mew No. 2.
At first, she froze, but slowly she nodded.
After spending so many days with Haru, she'd picked up some of the basics of Mega Evolution.
She knew perfectly well—if she wanted to undergo it, she would need a Trainer's cooperation.
Unless she were like Rayquaza, capable of Mega Evolution without any stone at all.
So the real question was—other than Haru, who else could that "Trainer" possibly be?
Haru was insufferable, yes, but if it meant letting some other human into her life? Absolutely not.
The very thought disgusted her.
Yet her hunger to grow stronger was unbearable.
Her normal form wasn't bad... but Mega Evolution opened skies without limit.
As for resonating with Haru—well, that was just the price she had to pay.
Unaware of her turmoil, Haru pulled out his Keystone.
"Come on, Mewtwo. Lend me your will, and I'll lend you my strength to rise above it all."
For convenience, some Trainers embedded their Keystones into everyday items, so they could always keep them close.
Cynthia's, for example, was hidden in her lipstick case.
Haru, meanwhile, wore his as a simple pendant.
Sure, a bracelet would have been easier—but with Dynamax and Z-Moves already demanding their own bands, what was he supposed to do, wear four rings on one arm?
No thanks. Plain and simple worked best.
And indeed, Mewtwo's instincts had been right.
The stone she had chosen was her own.
The moment Haru and Mewtwo resolved to evolve, Keystone and Mega Stone resonated together, power surging between them.
The stone's energy poured forth, and Mewtwo's aura spiked—ferocious, unrestrained, overflowing!
In just moments, Super Mewtwo would be born.
And then—
The blinding white light that wrapped around her flickered, sputtered—then died.
The glow faded as if snuffed out by some unseen force.
Mega Evolution had failed.
Everyone present realized it instantly.
"What... just happened?"
Mewtwo's state was unstable, her failure leaving her more agitated than before.
"I think I can guess the reason."
Cynthia studied the now-dimmed Mega Stone.
"There are three conditions required for Mega Evolution."
"First, the Trainer must hold a Keystone."
"Second, the Pokémon must hold its corresponding Mega Stone."
"And third, there must be a deep bond between Trainer and Pokémon."
"You've already met the first two. That leaves only one possibility."
"You mean—this guy doesn't love me enough?!"
Mew No. 2 immediately hissed at Haru.
So it was true—Haru had given all his affection to Mew, leaving her as nothing more than a stand-in?
Damn him!
"No. You misunderstand me."
Haru shook his head calmly under her glare.
"You may not be my real daughter, but I care for you no less than I do for Mew."
"On this, I swear before the Widow Goddess."
"The... Widow Goddess?" blinked in confusion.
"Don't mind that," Haru waved it off. "What matters is—"
"I might not go as far as staging a coup like some tyrant just to protect my rubber man..."
"But if you ever strayed, I'd do everything in my power to shield you from the consequences."
"And I would wait—for however long it took—for you to find your redemption."
"..."
Mewtwo pressed her lips together, unable to reply.
Cynthia started to speak, but seeing Mewtwo's tightened expression, she let the words die in her throat.
She had already sensed, in these past days, the strange bond between Haru and Mewtwo.
Their relationship was far too complicated—one an outsider like her had no right to step into.
Steven, however, had no such reservations.
His lips curled into a smirk.
"So what you're saying... is that this Mewtwo doesn't actually love her father enough?"
"..."
Mewtwo's face darkened further.
Of course she knew it was true.
But admit it? Never! Her pride would never allow it.
Yet if she truly wanted to grow stronger...
That meant flattering Haru. Brainwashing herself into loving him more.
The thought alone made her want to smash her head against a rock.
What a joke! Was she so cheap?
And yet—if she wanted power, she had no choice.
Mega Evolution's surge of strength, even in those brief seconds, had been intoxicating—an evolution that was more than just change.
For Mewtwo, that temptation was deadly.
Damn it all. Why did she always end up in such humiliating situations?
She shot a glare at Haru, who was still cheerfully chatting with Cynthia, and grew even angrier.
Taking several long breaths, she forced herself calm and finally said:
"T-then... I have a little notebook. Inside, there's something—"
But her words were cut short by the trill of Haru's Rotom Phone.
It popped from his pocket, screen lighting up with a familiar name.
Professor Oak.
Haru gave Mewtwo an apologetic look—she had just barely worked up the courage to speak. Then he answered.
"Hello, Professor Oak?"
"It's me."
Oak's voice came clearly through the device.
The call was brief. Just another urgent reminder about Alto Mare—he seemed unusually anxious.
Though, in the background, Haru thought he heard a boy's voice that sounded faintly familiar.
He didn't dwell on it. Not like it was a female Trainer, anyway.
"Alto Mare, huh? I've heard it's beautiful. Too bad I've spent these years buried in rocks and never had the chance to see it."
Since Haru hadn't bothered to shield his words, both Cynthia and Steven overheard the conversation.
"If you're needed there, then go," Steven said, already picking through labeled stones. "Take these as a gift."
He handed Haru Charizardite, Salamencite, and Gardevoirite—likely chosen because Cynthia had mentioned Haru's new captures.
A true stone fanatic, Steven had saved Haru immense trouble.
Still, Haru hesitated.
"These are too valuable. I can't just take them for free."
"I'm not hurting for money. Let me buy them instead. Oh—and I should get a Lucarionite for Korrina while I'm at it. Last I checked, she still didn't have one."
"No need."
Steven brushed him off.
"Knowledge of a newly awakened Mega Pokémon—and its data—is payment enough."
"Information itself is priceless. Especially rare knowledge like this."
"And besides, I've heard you've been publishing records of Legendary Pokémon through Professor Oak's account. Those reports are beyond priceless."
"So if you can share even that freely, what's a few stones between us?"
With that, he dug out a Lucarionite and tossed it to Haru.
Cynthia nodded in agreement.
"Haru is generous to a fault. In just these few days, I've learned things I never could have in a lifetime."
"Not only about Legendary Pokémon, but ancient myths as well. He's shared so much, and asked almost nothing in return."
"Among Trainers I've met, Haru is one of the most... noble."
Noble... huh?
Haru twitched a smile as he accepted the stones. Well, since refusal was pointless, he'd accept for now—and figure out repayment later.
As he pocketed the rest, Steven leaned in and whispered:
"If you ever learn anything about Rock- or Steel-type Legendaries, tell me first."
"I don't need to catch them—I just want to study the stones."
"The more ore-like they are, the better."
"...Got it."
Haru's face twitched. The only one that came to mind was Diancie—pure crystal, able to Mega Evolve, and definitely ore-like.
He sighed. Another "stone story" for another day.
---
The first rays of morning sunlight filtered through a veil of mist, gently caressing the ancient stone bridges of the sea-bound city. Golden light mingled with the weathered marks on the stones, weaving together a sense of deep history.
Narrow alleyways twisted like a maze, flanked on either side by rows of old houses, each window adorned with intricate carvings.
Every so often, a flat-bottomed gondola would glide silently past, its oarsman tapping the long pole lightly against the stones, as if unwilling to disturb the morning's tranquility.
Yes—this was Alto Mare, the city known far and wide as the most beautiful of all.
Alto Mare was a city of the sea, also called the Water Capital.
Though technically under the jurisdiction of Johto, its actual location was closer to the outer seas, leaving its connection to the outside world relatively weak. The city mostly relied on self-sufficiency.
Its foundation was an intricate network of canals, crisscrossing and dividing the clusters of buildings into small islands.
Here, unlike other cities where cars or flying Pokémon were the norm, the main form of transport was the long, narrow gondola.
The canal system and the layout of buildings made the whole of Alto Mare look like a giant labyrinth.
In Haru's original world, the city's prototype was none other than the world-famous Venice.
But in this world, Alto Mare carried an even stronger air of myth.
According to legend, the Eon Pokémon—Latias and Latios—often visited Altomare, and were revered as the city's guardian deities.
They had also left behind a sacred treasure known as the Soul Dew.
With the Soul Dew and the core mechanism within Altomare, the city could easily repel outside invasions—transforming itself into a living fortress of war.
As for Latias and Latios, they were classified among Legendary Pokémon as second-tier deities.
But unlike most Legendary Pokémon, who appeared only as lone individuals, Latias and Latios were social creatures. Every member of their species could be called an Eon Pokémon and held the same divine standing.
The males were Latios, and the females, Latias.
"So... I wonder if I'll get the chance to meet one myself?"
Straightening up from the gondola, Haru stretched in the briny sea breeze, his briefcase in hand.
Professor Oak had been pressing him urgently, so after obtaining the Mega Stone in Galar, Haru had come straight to Alto Mare.
As before, they had traveled via Lorma's warped space transfer.
But this time, perhaps still traumatized from the last incident, Mew had kept quiet the whole way and hadn't dared interrupt during the transfers.
Perhaps overhearing his words, Cynthia—seated at the bow—suddenly asked, "What are you muttering about?"
"Ah, nothing."
"I was just thinking about Latias and Latios here in Alto Mare. I've always been curious about those two."
Haru shook his head slowly as he said it.
"Oh? So the young master came here for the guardians of the city?"
The gondolier chuckled, steering his pole through the water.
"If that's what you're hoping for, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."
"Though they're called the city's guardians in legend, for decades now, no one in Alto Mare has actually seen them. Not once."
"Most likely, those tales of them visiting are just fanciful stories people made up. Otherwise, how could there be no sightings at all?"
"Fair point."
Haru shook his head again, dropping the subject.
No sightings?
He knew all too well why.
Latias and Latios had the ability to turn invisible.
Not only that—they could even take on human form.
So long as they remained hidden or disguised, no matter if decades or centuries passed, there would never be a sighting of the Eon Pokémon.
One needed very special methods to detect their presence.
"I get the feeling you're hiding something again."
Noticing his indifference, Cynthia's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
On the other side of the boat, Liko snapped her book shut and laughed.
"When it comes to Legendary Pokémon, of course Professor Haru knows everything. Miss Cynthia, surely you understand that much by now?"
"There's no one in the world who understands Legendary Pokémon better than our teacher."
Cynthia's gaze returned to Haru, as though willing him to spill a little more.
But Haru clearly had no intention of speaking further, and so she had to let it go.
Their destination was Alto Mare's grand cathedral, one of the city's most renowned landmarks, where Haru was to meet Professor Oak.
From their current location, it wouldn't take long to arrive.
Alto Mare's cathedral did not enshrine any deity. Rather than a church, it was more like a museum, housing ancient relics and artifacts tied to the Eon Pokémon.
But hidden within was a secret few knew.
Yes—this was also the location of the Soul Dew's control mechanism. The Soul Dew itself, however, was safeguarded within a secret garden where the Eon Pokémon dwelled.
Ordinarily, neither the Soul Dew nor the mechanism could be approached by outsiders.
About ten minutes later, Haru's group reached the cathedral district without incident.
Professor Oak was already waiting, looking as if he had been there quite some time.
So anxious was he that he stood rooted at the docking platform like a stone statue, peering constantly toward the canals.
The moment he spotted Haru and the others, he rushed over at once.
His urgency was obvious.
Which made Haru uneasy.
Could it be that something had already happened to Latias and Latios?
After all, in the anime, there had indeed been two infamous thief sisters who targeted the Eon duo and the Soul Dew.
They had wreaked havoc on Alto Mare for selfish gain, nearly causing the city to sink beneath the sea.
If not for Latios sacrificing himself to become the new Soul Dew, the city would have been lost forever.
If such a crisis had already come to pass here, then Haru needed to start considering how to deal with those two thieves—particularly what fate they ought to meet.
But Oak's first words had nothing to do with Alto Mare or the Eon Pokémon.
"How are things between you and your daughter Mewtwo? Any breakthroughs in your relationship? I heard you've been trying Mega Evolution—did you succeed?"
Even as he spoke, he whipped out a notebook from who-knew-where, eyes gleaming with fervent curiosity.
"..."
"Professor Oak, surely this isn't the reason you dragged me here in such a rush?"
"Ah... true. Not for something that small."
Flustered at being cut off, Oak rubbed his hands together sheepishly.
"Let's head inside the cathedral. This matter concerns the Eon Pokémon."
"Tell me, how much do you know about Latias and Latios?"
"Only a little."
Haru pinched his fingers together in a just a bit gesture.
"That's enough. Since you're familiar with them, it'll make things much easier. What I need to say involves them..."
Oak paused mid-step, turning suddenly back toward Haru.
"But just to confirm—are you really making no progress with your daughter? In any sense of the word? Any kind of progress counts."
"Don't worry, it's purely for research. I won't tell a soul."
He even glanced left and right conspiratorially, as though ensuring no one was eavesdropping.
"..."
Haru's expression stiffened. At this point, he strongly suspected that Oak's frantic summons had little to do with Alto Mare's crisis—and everything to do with studying his relationship with Mewtwo.
As for the supposed danger to the Water Capital? It might not be that serious at all.
"How about you just shadow me for a few days and do your research directly?"
"Really? You'd allow that?"
Oak's eyes lit up instantly, his whole face aglow.
"Of course not!"
Haru shut him down without hesitation.
***************************
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