Pokemon: A New Path

In the Hoenn region, deep within the ruins of the Giant's Stone.

Lysandre examined the ancient wooden tablet in his hand and spoke to Steven and Alain.

"The path to the Giant's Stone begins with a sealed gate. The key to unlock it lies in the light of two stones. Once the two stones are united, a new path shall reveal itself. These 'stones' must refer to Key Stones, the very ones that channel the power of Mega Evolution."

Steven paused to consider. "It's plausible. Either way, there's only one way to find out."

Alain gave a small nod, calm as ever.

The two approached the large twin stone pillars on the high platform ahead. They each placed their personal Key Stones into the indentations on either side, one left, one right.

In an instant, brilliant rainbow-colored light burst from the stones.

The radiant energy flowed into the pillars like liquid, illuminating the entire altar. A surge of unseen power erupted, coalescing into a luminous rainbow staircase that stretched up toward the sky, disappearing into the clouds.

Even Steven, heir to the Devon Corporation and no stranger to wealth and wonder, was stunned by the spectacle.

Who had created this mechanism?

As far as he knew, records of the Giant's Stone had existed since ancient times, passed down via fragmented wooden tablets. He had come into possession of one half, while Lysandre held the other. That coincidence alone had brought them together.

But who were the ancients who crafted these relics and placed such a boulder here?

Could they really have had the technology to manipulate Mega Evolution?

"It's so beautiful…" Manon gasped, her eyes wide with wonder as she gazed at the rainbow stairs. She practically sparkled with excitement.

A flash of ambition flickered in Lysandre's eyes, but he quickly masked it with a calm smile. He stepped forward onto the glowing staircase.

"Come. The origin of Mega Evolution is likely waiting at the top."

"Yes, sir!" Alain responded quickly and followed behind him.

Manon trailed after them, and Steven took up the rear, watching the group ascend.

As they climbed higher, the ground below grew smaller and smaller. There were no railings on this glowing path, just clouds and open air on either side. The dizzying height made Manon clutch her arms nervously.

"Alain, this is really high…" she murmured.

"Don't look down," Alain said, glancing over his shoulder. "Just treat it like walking upstairs. One step at a time."

"O-okay!" Manon nodded and focused on the shimmering steps in front of her.

Together, the group continued upward. Eventually, they emerged from the clouds, arriving at the peak. A tall mountain loomed ahead, its summit crowned with the ruins of an ancient temple.

"This must be it," Lysandre said quietly.

They stepped into a large square plaza. At its center was a circular indentation, and on either side stood two stone altars.

Steven approached the altar and examined it closely. Ancient script was etched into the surface. He read it aloud:

"Place two different Key Stones on the altars… Could this be how we summon the Giant's Stone? Alain, take the other one."

"Got it," Alain said, walking to the opposite side.

Each man placed his Key Stone on the altar. As soon as they did, radiant light surged from the stones. The energy pulsed outward, flowing into carved grooves on the platform and illuminating the ground below.

With a deep rumble, the circular stone gate in the center of the plaza began to move. It parted open, revealing a colossal stone embedded with rainbow-colored light rising slowly from below.

Steven's eyes widened. "We finally found it… the legendary boulder!"

"The origin of Mega Evolution…" Alain murmured, gazing at the Keystone on his wrist. "Even my Mega Bracelet is reacting."

Satisfied with their discovery, Lysandre pulled out a communicator and spoke into it.

"It's me. We've located the object."

A voice crackled from the other side. "Target confirmed. We're on our way."

Just as the transmission ended, the sound of roaring engines filled the air.

Steven looked up and saw an airship descending from the clouds.

A cargo truck emerged from its open bay, carrying various high-tech instruments. It rumbled to a halt in front of the boulder and deployed several research terminals.

Scientists in white lab coats, bearing the insignia of Team Flare, rushed out and began scanning the boulder's energy signatures, typing rapidly on their keyboards.

Steven frowned. "What's going on here?"

Lysandre maintained a calm, calculating tone. "We need to analyze the boulder's composition. This is a groundbreaking discovery."

"Report! After analyzing the readings, the energy waveform of the boulder matches that of a Mega Stone. No, it far exceeds it! The heat signature is still rising!"

The researcher's alarmed voice echoed through the ancient ruins just as a blinding light burst forth from the massive boulder. Waves of invisible energy radiated outward, shaking both the sky and the ground.

Lysandre stood with his arms crossed, a faint smile curling at the corners of his mouth as he watched the boulder pulsing with power.

This was it.

With this boulder, his plan could finally become reality.

His mind wandered briefly to the past.

There was a time when he had led Team Flare with noble intentions, bringing aid to those in need, helping people from impoverished regions. But over time, those same people began to take that help for granted.

Worse, humanity as a whole had become selfish, violent, and wasteful. Arguments, wars, pollution, everywhere he looked, the world was being consumed by chaos. The once-beautiful Earth had been tainted beyond recognition.

To Lysandre, the answer was clear.

Humanity would not change willingly.

If he truly wished to create a flawless, peaceful new world, one free of crime, hatred, and greed, then sacrifice was the only path forward. He would lead a chosen few into a utopia born from the ashes of this flawed reality.

A world with no war. No suffering. No noise.

And this boulder, this impossibly powerful relic, would be the tool that made it possible.

If fused with the Anistar City, the ancient solar relic buried in Kalos, the resulting energy could unravel the very fabric of the existing world.

Staring into the radiant light of the boulder, Lysandre could already see it. The perfect world. Within reach.

But just then, the atmosphere shifted.

The clear blue sky darkened in an instant. Thick black clouds gathered overhead, swallowing the sunlight. A low rumble of thunder rolled across the ruins.

Everyone in the area turned skyward in alarm.

"What's going on?" Steven muttered, narrowing his eyes. This storm, it felt familiar.

Lysandre didn't speak. His brow furrowed as a growing sense of dread took root in his chest.

"Look up there!" Manon cried.

All eyes turned toward the swirling clouds above, where the storm had formed a vast, spiraling vortex, a whirling black cyclone in the heavens.

A moment later, a fearsome shape emerged from the eye of the storm.

A dragon. Sleek, serpentine, and unmistakably powerful.

Alain's eyes widened. "That's…!"

Steven's expression turned serious. "Rayquaza!"

The Legendary Pokémon of the skies. The same Rayquaza that had once descended into the Glazed Sea to stop the ancient battle between Groudon and Kyogre.

Rayquaza's very presence rippled with divine energy, and in that moment, the boulder pulsed violently, releasing a surge of energy that shot toward the heavens.

The energy was being drawn to Rayquaza, like a tidal wave pulled toward a moon.

As the energy reached its peak, a brilliant rainbow-colored light erupted around Rayquaza, enveloping its body.

And then… transformation.

Rayquaza's form began to shift and grow.

Its already massive body expanded further, its obsidian-black scales gleaming with a mysterious sheen.

Golden, ancient markings etched themselves across its body like veins of power. A crimson delta symbol blazed into its forehead. The horns on its lower jaw stretched forward, encircling its face in a protective crown. From those horns, golden energy ribbons extended and arced around its form, forming the unmistakable shape of infinity: ∞

A moment later, with a mighty roar that echoed across the sky, the brilliant light around Rayquaza exploded outward. The God of the Skies had revealed its true form.

A powerful, commanding aura surged forth, washing over the ruins like a tidal wave.

Everyone was left speechless at the sight.

Rayquaza had changed.

Its body was larger, darker, more majestic. Golden patterns shimmered across its elongated form, and the crimson delta symbol on its head glowed like a mark of divinity.

Steven Stone stared in awe. "Did… did Rayquaza just Mega Evolve?"

Suddenly, a surprised gasp rang out from nearby.

"Look! There's someone standing on Rayquaza's head!" Manon cried, pointing to the sky.

"What?" Alain's eyes widened in disbelief.

He looked up and, sure enough, a lone figure was standing atop Rayquaza's head, cloaked in the winds above the storm clouds.

Lysandre narrowed his eyes. A sinking feeling formed in his chest.

This wasn't good. Whoever that was, they weren't here to observe. They were here to interfere.

Possibly even to steal the boulder.

High above, Mewtwo floated beside Rayquaza, staring at its own hand with visible confusion.

That energy…

Just moments ago, it had felt something flow into its body, foreign yet strangely familiar. It was as if a new power had awakened within it.

Could the boulder's energy have affected me too?

On instinct, Mewtwo closed its eyes and focused.

The next second, a brilliant light enveloped its body, radiating outward like a starburst.

When the light faded, the transformation was complete.

Floating behind Naoki now was a slender, alien-like figure with a massive head, flowing tail, and piercing eyes.

Mega Mewtwo Y had taken form.

Naoki blinked. "Wait… Mewtwo, you Mega Evolved too?"

He wasn't expecting that. The boulder's influence… it extended beyond just Rayquaza?

Mewtwo looked at its own hands again, just as confused as Naoki.

But there was no time to dwell on it.

Rayquaza's eyes were locked onto the boulder below. It let out a determined roar that echoed like thunder. The sky trembled with the sound.

Originally, it had intended to destroy the boulder.

The reason was simple. That artifact was far too dangerous. Its power was a magnet for conflict. If left in the world, it would inevitably lure Groudon and Kyogre back into battle.

And the last time that happened, the world barely survived.

But now that both Groudon and Kyogre were resting peacefully at the World Tree, Rayquaza had changed its mind.

There was no need for destruction.

Instead, it would take the boulder away and absorb its energy gradually.

...

Bonus @500

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