“Okay… today’s the day, big guy!  You ready for this?” Theodore asked as he looked down at Match.  

The now Charizard looked up at his trainer with a raised brow.  First he had fitted that weird green collar on his neck, then he told him to start flying anywhere!   In response, he just let out a wary, but confirming growl, turning his attention forward once more.  Viridian Forest wouldn't be too far away, at least.  

“Hehe, good.  I trust you to keep us up high, okay Match?”  Theodore pat the Charizard’s neck softly, then sat up to look at his mega bracelet.  The key stone on it almost seemed to glow on its own the more he stared at it.  

‘This is it…’ he thought, looking up at the morning sky above.   He was hardly able to sleep the night Match evolved.  Sure, they were only recently told about mega evolution, but he could feel the tingles of excitement down in his gut.  It just felt right, and he hadn't even started the process!

He traded glances with his pokemon once more, then gave an affirming nod.  

Theodore took in a deep breath, crossed his arm over his chest.   “Matchstick… let's go mega!”

At that, he put his other hand over the stone and pressed it down.   Immediately, a surge ran its way through his whole body, centering all around the bracelet until the stone was glowing brighter and brighter.  It got to the point where Theo nearly had to look away.

Then, it all was pouring out.  Streaks of green and orange energy burst from the bracelet, swirling around and around both trainer and pokemon.   Match looked around with worry, letting out a short roar before the energy spiraled about him, seeping through the collar and directly into his body.  

Match doubled over with a groan, eyes closed tight as all the colors and light spun around him, forming a sort of cocoon around him.   His body was changing, and he couldn't keep them airborne.   He tried beating his wings, but it still felt like he was falling.  And yet… even with his body shifting about, the only thing that had him worried was his little trainer.  

“Are you okay?!  Match, you gotta focus!”

Theodore called out.  When that cocoon had formed, he practically lost his grip on the Charizard.  There was a change going on, no doubt, but he couldn't quite feel him anymore.  And the two of them were falling straight down for the trees. 

“C-C’mon!  You can do it!” He shouted out, pushing his paws against the mass of energy beneath him.   No dice.  Match, or whatever he was now, writhed from within, pushing against the cocoon’s sides.  Theodore winced, closed his eyes, and braced himself.  

However, right before he could feel the impact of countless branches, the “shell” of energy cracked, then broke apart completely before he was suddenly being taken straight back up in the air again, much faster than earlier, as well.  

He had to squint for a few seconds, but soon after,  the quick ride had come to a stop.  Theo’s head was in a spin, but he managed to get himself back in focus.  “Whooooa…”

Match let out a proud huff, looking all over his new form.  His body kept its color, but it was much sleeker.   Less belly, more neck, longer tail, new wings on his wrists, the Charizard Y roared, swinging around in a circle as he spread out his new, bigger, somewhat ragged wings.  

“You… look… awesome!” Theodore cheered, wrapping his arms around Match’s neck and nuzzling it.  “Where'd your collar go…? Ohh, I hope this isn't a one time thing!” He sighed.  

“Rrrrii…” Match glanced back at his trainer, pouting.   No need for his little master to be gloomy.   Whipping his tail around, he managed to shake off enough of the flames to make a ring, turning around so Theodore could watch.   

The fiery ring was compressing down on itself more and more, the flames crackling away until it had formed into a brightly glowing sphere that floated midair.  It was warm like a Sunny Day, and Match could feel his own inner flame growing from it. 

“Hehe, you know what?  We should definitely show the guys!  I know we were gonna go through the forest again, but I bet you wanna show off some more instead~” Theodore cooed, planting a little kiss on the Charizard’s neck. “Let's go back home!”



“Guys!  Guys, c’mon out!”  Theodore called.  Match had come in for a landing right in front of their house, the bright “sun” still burning away nearby.  Alvin and Simon came out first, followed soon by Dave, all of which stared at the mega with awe.  

“Whoooa man what did you DO?!” Alvin blurted out, being the first to rush over and gawk at Match’s new form, going all around the Charizard as he took it all
in.  “Ohohooo man, we are definitely battling again!  I can’t wait to do this with Splash~!” Alvin cooed as he tried climbing up onto Match, just for the Charizard to lightly shake him off.  “Say… both the times Match evolved were during a battle… right?”

“Well, uh, I mean-” Theodore started.

“Alvin, please… it’s far too early.” Simon grumbled out, rubbing his glasses on his sleeve before putting them back on. “Then again, I must say… it’s fascinating to see a mega evolution in the flesh.”  Now he was getting closer, looking all over Match’s form himself.  “And outside of battle, too… I wonder how long it’ll last.”

“Aaaand that’s why we gotta battle!  If Splash beats him, then he’s definitely gonna evolve!  He’s right at the edge, and needs that last push!” Alvin insisted, grabbing Theodore’s hand with a wide smile. “C’mon lil’ bro!  If we’re gonna continue our journey, who knows when we’ll run into each other again?!  May as well have a good fight here and now!”

Theodore pursed his lips in thought, then looked over at Dave.   “Well… I wouldn't mind helping out. So… can we battle here?”

Dave chuckled, then smiled and crossed his arms.  “Alright.  But I hope you know that you’re not getting free Potions out of this.  Just try to not hit the house, okay?”  Looking between Alvin and Theodore, Dave just nodded a bit. 

“Awwww yeah!  Let’s do it, right here right now!” Alvin cheered.  “Splash, let's go!  You’re evolving twice today!” Alvin called as he tossed out the Wartortle’s pokeball.  

Splash emerged with a confused groan, looking back at Alvin, then at Match.   “T-Tort?!” His attention was back at Alvin, who just offered a thumbs up.  “If we win you’d be strong enough to evolve!  Or, heck, it'll happen before that!”

“Warr…” Splash’s tail visibly drooped, but turned his gaze back to Match, getting down on all fours.   

Simon cleared his throat.  “Alright, you know the rules!  One on one, first to be knocked out loses!  Battle… Start!”

“Alright!  Brick Break, let's go!”  Water shot out from the base of Splash’s shell, launching the Water type forward as his arms took on that familiar white glow.  Even with that fiery “sun” burning brightly, he didn't back down from the attack.  Launching himself again, his fists connected right with the Charizard’s chest, taking him by surprise enough to stumble backwards.   “Hehe, we’ve got a way to keep up with speedy guys now!”  Alvin jeered.  

“Match, Air Slash!”  Theodore ordered.  With a growl, Match shook off the hit, then crossed his wings over his chest, both taking on a blue glow before releasing the attack, launching several blasts from them.  

Splash grunted, managing to dodge around the first few until one crashed right into his chest, the next several strikes knocking him right back into his shell, leaving him to squirm around.  

“C’mon Splash, you got this!  Get yourself up with Water Pulse!” Alvin called out.  Splash tucked himself into his shell then, spinning a bit before the attack was launched out from behind, getting back to his feet before firing off another.  

This time, though, the three rings noticeably shrunk the closer they got to Match.  Regardless, they hit him enough to make him stagger.  Sweat had already started going down Splash’s face, but he stood his ground, ready for more.  

Match spread his wings out wide, flapping hard until he was airborne once more, staring down at the Wartortle.  Theodore's order of an Overheat was heard loud and clear, and he had taken in a deep breath, the mini sun now sinking into his skin as his flame built up.   

Alvin winced, but continued to grin.  “We aren't gonna be scared off by that, Theo!  We’re way too close!” Alvin insisted.  His words got Splash to smirk as well, flicking his tail around. 

“If you say so… Overheat!”  Matchstick roared loudly, wings beating at the air before swinging his head forward, releasing a heavy stream of bright white flames.  

“Theodore!  I said don't hit the house!” Dave called out from the sidelines.   Simon quickly grabbed his hand, shaking his head.   The attack was headed straight for Splash, but even still…

“Protect!”

Splash remained sternly in place, looking up at the approaching flames.  Then, right as the attack was about to collide, he shoved out both hands, forming a large, bright blue barrier at the last second.  

The Overheat slammed right into it, burning with a harsh intensity as it tried to push past the guard.  Splash, however, stomped the ground hard, stubbornly staying in place and keeping up the Protect.  “W… War!” He shouted.  

Soon enough, as much as he tried to get through, Match’s flames gave in, growing weaker and weaker before he had to land on the ground once more, smoke pouring from his mouth as he stared down that barrier.  “Chariiii….”

“Heh… hehe, see?  We don't back down just cuz someone's stronger!” Alvin said with a wider grin on his face.  Splash groaned, wiping sweat from his brow and flinging it aside, huffing through his nose.  

“I’m glad, Alvin.  Your team’s always been strong~. But we’re not giving in either!”  Theodore responded, trading glances with his Charizard.  “We still have some fight, too!”

The two brothers were staring each other down.  Neither were ready to give up.  From the side, Simon sighed.  Maybe he should have hopped in to battle instead… “Dave?  Do you suppose that we-”

“Match!  Fire Fang now!”

“Splash, use Aqua Tail!”

Though already exhausted, both pokemon were rushing towards one another.   Match’s flaming jaws snapping, and Splash’s water coated tail swinging, both just narrowly avoiding one another.  All up until Match took an Aqua Tail straight to the gut.  

Mouth hanging open, the mega nearly fell over.  But he slammed his tail down, letting out a defiant growl before he bit Splash’s tail instead, the fiery explosion already starting before he flung the water type back towards Alvin.   

Grunting, the water type spun out on his shell, eyes spiraling as he ended up right at Alvin’s side.  “Tooort…”. Alvin winced, then just let out a light sigh, crouching down to cradle Splash.  “Heh.   Ya gave it a good shot.  Guess we’re not ready to fight something like that, huh?”

Match let out his own grunt, the same energy from earlier now seeping out of him, forming the cocoon once more before it all went right back into Theodore’s bracelet, leaving the Charizard back to its normal form, dropping down to his knees, then flat on his belly.  “That was crazy… but you guys did great, Alvin!” Theodore praised before going over to Match’s side, gently resting the Charizard’s head in his lap.  “You two, you big boy~”




“Of all the items I’ve amassed so far… There’s no kind of evolution item that can be used on Impar, and yet he’s yet to evolve despite being at the level...What do you think?  I know I have some rare candies that should be able to do it, but…” Simon groaned, slumping back down in his chair.  “Effie, come on out.  Your upgrade should be done.” 

The nerd munk was sitting in front of his computer once more, with his Ivysaur fast asleep on the bed.  While his screen began to glow, he couldn’t help but sigh.  Earlier, he had wanted to join in for sure.  Seeing that so far, only Theodore could make mega evolution happen, well… he was a bit jealous, to say the least.  After all.. Nothing wrong with taking the easy way around, right?  He was broken from his thoughts by several knocks at the door.  

“Come in!” Simon called as soon as Effie had fully emerged from the screen.  At the door was Alvin, soon followed by both Nivis and Splash.  

“Si, you’ve got a bunch of stuff for evolving, right?  Cuz I need so- whooooa… your Porygon’s all different!” Alvin commented as soon as he was in the room.  

To that, Simon just shrugged.  “Well, Porygon are artificial pokemon made for computers.  So it was easy to get it to evolve without needing a trading machine’s energy.  Not sure if I’d be able to replicate it for other pokemon though…” Simon shook his head.  “Regardless, you were asking for something?”

Alvin plopped himself down on Simon’s bed, holding Nivis in his lap while Splash climbed up.  “You saw me and Theo’s battle.  I wanna be able to do that kinda stuff with Splash!  And Nivis, well… she’s been off duty since I got banned from the ship.  But lately I’ve been thinking evolving could probably help with her arm!  So… if you have anything that could help…?”

“Well… I should, yes.” Simon’s gaze went all over his brother, then his pokemon.  “And you’re sure this is the way you’d want to do this?  It can’t be undone.”

“Absolutely!” Alvin’s answer was almost instant.  “I definitely plan on leaving soon, so I wanna be sure everyone is ready for it!  Besides… at this rate, Theo’s gonna leave us both in the dust.  So why not go ahead and make sure we both can keep up the pace?” Alvin smirked.  “I’ll make it worth your while if I gotta~”

That was all it took for Simon to start blushing.  “A-Alvin!  Dave could hear you…” Simon growled, but he quickly composed himself.  “Look, I’ll get you what you need.  But first… you have to promise me you’re going to be careful.  Sooner or later I know you’re going to end up in Celadon.  And that’s where that man was waiting.”

Alvin was quiet for a moment.  “I dunno what he’s after neither… but he’s not gonna do anything I can’t handle.  Besides, if I’ve got my pokemon, what’s the worst that could happen?”  

Simon opted to not respond to that.  Trust…  “Okay, Alvin.  You have me convinced.  I’ll get what you need before you leave.” He stated.  Then, a slight grin came to his face.  “Now… about making it worth my while…”
