"Choose both?"
Mr. Fuji froze, staring at Ethan as if he had misheard.
Most trainers would agonize for days over such a decision—Charizardite X or Charizardite Y, power of body or power of flame. Yet Ethan simply crossed his arms and smirked. "Why not? Only kids choose one. Adults take both. Right now, the only one who can even use these stones is me. So why leave one gathering dust?"
Fuji blinked. Against all reason, the boy's words had their own strange logic. Still, he cleared his throat. "Even so, you must understand—you cannot trigger both at once. The burden would burn through Charizard's body. Its spirit would fracture."
Ethan shrugged. "Then we'll just use whichever fits the opponent. One for brute strength, one for firepower. Simple." In his mind, he was already plotting—X for close-quarters brawls, Y for unleashing the skies. The idea of tailoring Charizard to the battlefield made him grin.
Fuji sighed, half exasperated, half amused. "Do you even know what these stones are?"
"Nope," Ethan admitted cheerfully. "Don't think too much. Let's just see what happens."
Before Fuji could lecture further, Ethan snatched up both boxes.
Outside, the courtyard of the Pokémon House was packed. Volunteers, Gym students, and a dozen Pokémon gathered, staring at the towering black Charizard who basked in their awe. Its scales gleamed in the lantern light, wings stretching wide enough to blot out the stars.
Cameras clicked. Murmurs rippled.
"I still can't believe it… Just months ago it was a Charmander…""And now… it's magnificent."
Ethan strode to the center, raising one of the boxes high. "Everyone, step back. I'm about to unlock Charizard's deeper power."
A hush fell. Even Cynthia, standing at the back with her Garchomp, folded her arms and narrowed her eyes. She had seen plenty of strong trainers, but even she had never seen someone so reckless, so daring.
Ethan opened the fiery red stone's case. The Charizardite Y gleamed within, its molten-red core glowing as if fire itself had been sealed in crystal. He placed it into Charizard's claw.
The dragon tilted its head, puzzled. "Graah?"
"You'll understand soon," Ethan promised. He slipped the azure Charizardite X safely into his pocket and retrieved the Keystone that Mr. Fuji had provided.
"Charizard," he said softly, "look me in the eyes."
The dragon's gaze locked with his—and something stirred.
Memories rushed through Charizard's mind.
—The dark stench of the underground arena. The fists and coins of gamblers pounding the walls.—The cruel laughter of its first trainer, who sold it to pay debts.—The blows it took after every loss, pain and humiliation building until even eating felt pointless.—The coldness of the shelter, where other volunteers saw it as a burden, cursed with bad luck.
Lonely. Angry. Hopeless.
And then—
A boy appeared.
Not afraid. Not disgusted. A boy who sat down beside it, coaxing, pleading, urging it to eat again. A boy who dared to pit it against a greedy Munchlax, not to humiliate it but to spark its fighting spirit.
A boy who, even from a wheelchair, worried more about Charizard's wounds than his own.
He told it that it wasn't worthless. That it was a genius, one in a million, if only trained the right way.
It had believed him.
Sixty-eight days later, it stood here—wings unfurled, muscles surging, tail flame burning like a bonfire. A dragon reborn.
The Keystone in Ethan's hand flared. The Charizardite in Charizard's claw answered, glowing with a rainbow brilliance.
"Charizard!" Ethan shouted, his voice carrying across the yard. "Awaken your true strength!"
"GRAAAAH!"
The roar split the night as light engulfed Charizard. Its silhouette warped, horns crowning its head, wings elongating into vast sails. The tail flame exploded, blindingly bright, searing the air itself.
When the glow shattered, a new form stood revealed—Mega Charizard Y.
Still black-scaled, but more regal, more fearsome. Its horns curled like a crown. Small winglets sprouted from its wrists, while its great wings stretched broad and powerful. Heat waves shimmered off its body, and with one exhale it unleashed a firestream hotter than any it had ever breathed before.
And then the world shifted.
The sun—moments from dipping below the horizon—blazed back into the sky. Daylight returned, scorching and unnatural. The courtyard filled with gasps.
"The sun… it's brighter!""No—hotter! My skin's burning!""This isn't normal… this is power!"
Charizard's ability, Drought, had awakened.
At the edge of the yard, Cynthia's mouth fell open. For once, the proud Sinnoh prodigy was struck speechless. She clenched her fists, heart hammering. This guy… he's not normal at all. Who is he?
The Lavender Gym students cowered at first, then erupted into cheers. "Incredible! He really did it!" "Our leader's Charizard is invincible!"
Mr. Fuji, however, stood still, his gaze heavy with awe. His voice shook as he whispered, "Mega Evolution… it's real. I've dreamed of seeing this, and now…"
Ethan lowered the Keystone, smirking as if he had merely flicked a switch. "Not bad. Charizard, let's show them what you've got."
Charizard reared back, unleashing a Flamethrower skyward. The fire climbed into the blazing sun itself, melding with it, until the whole of Lavender Town glowed with heat. Windows rattled, and even the shadows seemed to shrink.
Fuji clasped his hands behind his back, eyes moist. "Ethan, you've done what few could even imagine. Your bond with Charizard has broken limits. Guard it well—Mega Evolution is not only power, but trust made manifest."
Charizard landed, wings folding neatly. It lowered its massive head to Ethan, eyes soft with loyalty. Ethan reached up, resting his hand against its snout.
"Good work, partner. This is just the beginning."
Munchlax, sulking at the edge of the yard, tugged Ethan's trousers with a huff, demanding food for his own contribution. Ethan laughed and handed him an energy cube. "Don't pout. You'll get your turn."
The courtyard roared with excitement, but Ethan's thoughts were already racing ahead. Mega Evolution had opened a new horizon. Battles against Sabrina, Team Rocket, even the rumored Red Gyarados—now they felt within reach.
He glanced up at the blazing sun summoned by Charizard, and his grin widened.
The era of Ethan and his dragons had just begun.