Pokemon: Lord of Fear

"Q, you know, you can't Mega Evolve," Edward said as he sat on a bench in the park, gently patting Q's little head, then quietly watching the people walking by in the park.

Q made a sound and contentedly enjoyed Edward's head-petting service.

His father had already led a team to Johto, and Steven had also left. He needed to handle some League matters—there were many things a Champion had to do.

But Edward noticed something odd.

Although Steven mentioned their father was planning to go mining, Edward still felt something was strange. If he was just going to mine, why would he ask him to master Mega Evolution? That's not something just anyone can do.

Mega Evolution wasn't something new to the League. Years ago, the League officially introduced the concept of Mega Evolution, and there were even Elite Four members and Champions demonstrating it. For example, Diantha, who had appeared in Death Silence, had her Gardevoir Mega Evolve into Mega Gardevoir.

However, Mega Evolution remained an obstacle for many trainers. This powerful evolution method required not only the Pokémon's potential, but also the trainer's skill and their bond with the Pokémon.

But now, their father had suddenly said he wanted Edward to master Mega Evolution. Though he phrased it as a hope, Edward could tell his father was serious this time, which meant he really wanted Edward to learn how to Mega Evolve.

"Super Evolution." Edward's eyes drifted as he began to mentally search through the plot. He wanted to see what might relate to Mega Evolution.

Then, an image of a Pokémon appeared in his mind.

Rayquaza.

Mega Rayquaza.

Edward straightened his posture. In that moment, it felt like the world around him had been stripped away, eerily quiet. And yet, Edward thought of more details.

He remembered that years after Ruby and Sapphire was released, the official Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire games came out, introducing the concept of Mega Evolution along with the primal reversion abilities of the legendary Pokémon, Groudon and Kyogre. He had really liked that generation of games.

However, the plot had mentioned that after Hoenn resolved the conflict between Kyogre and Groudon, a new problem arose: a meteorite was threatening to strike Hoenn. Edward didn't remember all the details, but he recalled that the protagonist, wearing a space suit, rode Mega Rayquaza into space to destroy the meteor and save Hoenn.

"A meteorite?" Edward squinted. This was the only major event in Hoenn that could be linked to Mega Evolution. According to the setting, only Mega Rayquaza could resolve the meteorite crisis. The League would need someone to step up and Mega Evolve Rayquaza to stop it. The story even included a small emotional arc, which was quite fresh.

In the original story, the protagonist, controlled by the player, dealt with this issue, but what about in reality?

Edward glanced at Q in his arms. Maybe he could find another solution as well.

"Hey, aren't we heading back yet?" A female voice sounded from behind. Edward turned his head slightly. He was sitting in a corner of the park, with dense shrubbery behind him that hid the figures of people on the other side. However, he could clearly hear the voices.

Edward stood up. He had no interest in eavesdropping.

"Keep it down!" A male voice sounded tense.

"If you don't leave now, the employer won't be able to deliver the stolen Pokémon, and I'm not taking responsibility," the female voice lowered, but her words made Edward pause.

He looked at the shrubbery behind him with an odd expression. Was it really such a coincidence? Sitting in the park, and then encountering the Pokémon thief and the Pokémon hunter? What a cliché plot.

Edward quietly took out his phone, sending a message to Officer Jenny, and then sent one to the old butler. Then, he stood still, listening.

"The organization didn't send you with me to stand here talking, you little brat. Know your place," the male voice seemed irritated, speaking in a dissatisfied tone.

"Ha, so you just joined the organization earlier than I did, right?" The voice softened, as if they were about to leave.

Edward furrowed his brows and walked around the shrubbery. He immediately saw two people in regular clothes walking, scanning the area as they went. Their direction just happened to be toward Edward's position.

The man at the front saw Edward and his eyes flashed with a sharp look, while the woman behind him remained calm.

"Young Master Edward." The old butler hurried over. Upon seeing the old butler, the man immediately grabbed the woman's hand and turned to walk in the opposite direction, appearing completely normal, like an ordinary couple.

"Q." Edward patted Q's head and signaled. Q immediately understood his meaning.

Q's shadow instantly spread, and the old butler, seeing this, stood beside Edward, his Poké Ball clenched in his hand.

"What are you doing?!" The man dodged in panic, looking terrified at Edward, while the woman beside him laughed coldly.

"Stealing Pokémon and still daring to stay in Rustboro?" Edward chuckled. With the old butler here, he wasn't worried about these two escaping.

Upon hearing Edward's words, the man's expression darkened further. He shot an angry glare at the woman beside him, gritting his teeth, before suddenly releasing a Koffing. Immediately, a purple-black fog spread out.

"Roar!" A deafening roar sounded as a Charizard was released by the old butler. It flapped its wings, dispersing the toxic fog, and the two figures trying to escape appeared in the old butler's sight.

Charizard quickly charged, its wings glowing with Flying-type energy, leaving deep cracks in the ground.

"Damn!" The man cursed, releasing a Nidoking. The Nidoking's body crackled with electricity, and a Thunderbolt struck from the air. However, Charizard made a strange dive, dodging the attack, before slamming its claws onto Nidoking's head, sending it flying. Charizard positioned itself in front of the two.

"Aren't you going to make a move? If the organization blames you, don't even think about doing that thing anymore!" The man glared at the girl beside him in fury. She smiled before tossing out a Poké Ball.

And then, a Altaria appeared in the park.