AN: At long last... A multitude of real life events made this one of the toughest chapters to pull together, going through several versions before landing on this one. Thank you everyone for your patience, and also thank you to all those who have read and reviewed (and fav'd/followed) so far. It's really your support that has gotten me through some of the toughest times.

The Long Road

Chapter 14

Pokemon Trainer's Handbook pg. 21: When pokemon grow with enough experience, they can become even stronger through the phenomenon of evolution. There are many different mechanisms of pokemon evolution: they can evolve in the heat of battle, through the use of an evolutionary stone or item (see page 33), or even by being traded between trainers…

Skarmory seemed thankful that it finally wasn't landing outside of some sort of cave or cavern as it dutifully waited outside the Stone family home. The flight from Sootopolis had taken nearly the entire day, and even though the steel bird's head was held high, Steven could see its wings drooping from exhaustion.

Finally he managed to pluck the house key from his pack, and as quietly as he could, he opened the front door. He hadn't bothered to call ahead, and at this time of night his father was probably sitting in the living room reading by the fire…

…Or working late at the office.

The chair near the hearth was empty, and the fireplace dark.

Steven sighed as Skarmory followed him into the foyer, "I should have guessed."

Skarmory's head cocked to the side at its trainer's dejected tone. Not that Steven was really surprised, but it still felt like a punch to the gut to see his father hadn't changed after all this time.

There was something else, too, that hadn't changed, and as he turned to head toward the kitchen, a familiar face poked around the corner.

"Oh my! Steven!"

The motherly old housekeeper blustered out of the kitchen.

"I had no idea you would be home tonight! You should have called ahead and I would have prepared something special for you -"

As she reached out to envelop him in a hug, Skarmory squawked and fanned out its wings, startled by her quick approach. The gesture wasn't meant to be aggressive, but it still was an imposing sight which caused the housekeeper to scream and jump back with a hand over her heart.

"My heavens!" Her eyes were wide as she looked over the agitated flyer who at this point had backpedaled a few steps, its talons scrabbling over the tile flooring.

Steven quickly put himself between his pokemon and the frightened woman, and he reached forward to give her a hug of apology.

"Mrs. Evans, I'm so sorry about Skarmory. He's my newest pokemon, so he might not be ready to meet many people at the moment."

By now Skarmory had tucked its wings back and was giving the housekeeper a guarded look.

Recovering from her initial shock, Mrs. Evans peeked over Steven's shoulder and her voice took on a matronly tone, "Well we'll just have to take it slow then, that's all."

Steven blinked at her quick change in attitude, and she easily slipped from his grasp and stepped around to meet Skarmory once more.

"Why hello there, dear. Steven has told me you're a bit of a shy one -"

Eyes widening at her assumption, Steven reached out to place a cautionary hand on her shoulder, "Ah, I'm not sure that's the issue, Mrs. Evans..."

"Nonsense! Anyone would be shy without a proper introduction. Here, allow me..."

She briskly stepped away from Steven's hold and he sputtered another warning, but she simply marched up to the flying type and gave a polite curtsey. Skarmory's head cocked to the side once again, eyes wary, but it remained still.

"Skarmory, was it? My name is Mrs. Evans, and I've watched over your trainer ever since he was a little boy crawling around in diapers."

Skarmory's gaze flicked behind Mrs. Evans and caught Steven's increasingly embarrassed expression with a gleam of amusement in its eye.

"It has always been my duty to take care of him and his family, and if you are his pokemon, then that makes you part of this family too."

She punctuated her statement with a decisive nod. Instantly, Skarmory's demeanor changed. Its gaze flicked from Mrs. Evans and then to Steven, who noticed and tensed up, fearing the housekeeper's forwardness might trigger something unpleasant. But his worry was for naught as Skamory looked back to the housekeeper and clacked its beak, eyes softening as it gave a small warble.

Mrs. Evans broke into a motherly smile and beckoned the bird to follow her.

"Now what don't you say we start things off on the right foot and have a snack?"

To Steven's amazement, Skarmory rattled its wings with a happy caw and bobbed its head in agreement. Slack jawed, he watched as his pokemon trotted off down the hall behind Mrs. Evans, totally obedient. It had taken him months to earn Skarmory's trust to the point where it wouldn't lash out with its wings every time he tried to go near it, and yet Mrs. Evans had tamed it in only a matter of minutes.

He would have remained staring down the hallway if his rumbling stomach didn't snap him from his stupor. Shaking his head, he too followed the housekeeper into the kitchen.

Once both Steven and Skarmory were contentedly munching on their dinner, Mrs. Evans drew a chair up to the table and plopped down with a tired smile.

"Now then, tell me what brings you back to Rustboro after all this time?"

Steven finished chewing before he answered. "Well, we were on our way to get our last badge at the Rustboro Gym, so I figured maybe I would stop by and surprise Dad, but that clearly didn't work out so well…"

"Well you certainly surprised me!" she offered with a laugh. Skarmory perked up from its meal and warbled a small apology. Steven gave his pokemon a curious look, but its sharp demeanor returned and it issued a screech as a rebuttal. Looks like Mrs. Evans was the only one on Skarmory's good side…

"Although," she continued, oblivious to the exchange, "Your father probably won't be back any time soon. He's away in Kanto for an important meeting for at least the rest of the week, if not longer. How long were you planning on staying in town?"

Steven frowned. "Not that long. If that's the case, perhaps we'll just stay the night and be on our way in the morning."

"Well you know you're always welcome to stay over as long as you want, it's still your home after all. But if you're in a hurry I don't want to hold you up."

Shoveling another forkful into his mouth, Steven nodded in appreciation. As nice as it was to see Mrs. Evans again, he had no desire to linger here. Not with the house being just as empty as he remembered it.

Except this time he wasn't really alone. Before he turned in for the night, he brought out the rest of his pokemon for Mrs. Evans to meet. Predictably, she fawned over how much Metang had grown, but Steven was happy to see that she was just as enamored with the rest of his team as well. Armaldo and Claydol gave her a bit of a fright, but Cradily made up for it with her cheerful crooning. Aggron got into the action too, and was content to curl up as best he could at the housekeeper's side for the remainder of the evening.

Lounging on the living room sofa with the light of a crackling fire dancing in Aggron's steel plates, Steven eyed the rest of his team. They were all happily gathered together, making the room much cozier than it normally was. Even Skarmory had joined without protest, quietly roosting on the floor near the hearth after Mrs. Evans had scolded it for scratching the backrest of a chair with its talons. Aggron's soft snoring continued long after the housekeeper went to bed, while Cradily and Armaldo had nestled together a wary distance away from the fire and fallen asleep as well. The only movement in the room besides Claydol's rhythmic bobbing was the slide of two red eyes to catch Steven's own.

Metang's satisfied hum washed over him, and Steven sunk deeper into the plush cushions. It was only after he saw that Metang hadn't relinquished its stare that a realization struck. Ever since Lilycove, they had been plunging forward full steam with their league challenge, leaving no room for the very thing they were doing at this moment. Relaxing. And not just resting between training sessions, but spending time as companions and friends. Sitting upright, Steven finally caught the meaning behind Metang's gaze. It wasn't accusing, and it wasn't smug. It was simply happy to share time together with the first person it had ever bonded with, and Steven's expression melted into a warm smile laced with the tiniest hint of guilt. But then he paused, brow furrowing in thought.

What would become of them after the final badge? There was of course the chance to challenge the League for the title of Champion, but the odds of succeeding were so slim… If he failed, what next? While it wasn't uncommon for trainers to go on the League's badge-seeking quest, not many actually succeeded in getting all eight, as he hoped to. That meant that by now, the pool of worthy opponents would have shrunk considerably. With no more trainers to battle and no more badges to obtain, their journey would in essence be over.

Except that Steven wasn't ready to relinquish what he considered the best years of his life spent traveling side by side with his closest friends. No, his family. He didn't want it to end.

"I've been going about this all wrong," he murmured to himself, although a questioning chirp from Metang told him his starter had heard him.

He shook his head dismissively, but Metang was not going to let it drop so easily. At the sound of his partner's soft chattering, Steven grabbed a pillow from the sofa and padded over to join his starter near the fire. Settling down against the crook of Metang's leg, he gave his friend a wistful smile.

"I've been thinking. But you knew that already."

Metang rolled its eyes.

"Truthfully, I should probably sleep on it. Do you mind if I wait to tell you until the morning?"

A quiet hum told him Metang was okay with waiting, and it shifted slightly, nestling the two of them into a comfortable pile. Steven chuckled.

"It's been a while, huh? Dad would never let us sleep by the fire. But he's not here, and I won't tell if you won't."

He felt the reverberation of Metang's agreement as his eyes slid closed. His mind was made up. Relaxing, he allowed the waning heat of the fire and the growing warmth of his pokemon to lull him into a blissful slumber.

After a hearty breakfast the next morning, it was time for Steven and his team to take their leave. It took a good amount of effort for Mrs. Evans to contain her tears when Steven made his way to the door.

"Steven," her voice caused him to pause with a hand on the knob, "I think your father would very much like it if you came home every now and again. He misses you, you know."

As much as he loved his father, Steven couldn't completely squash the pang of disappointment that rose up at the housekeeper's words. It wasn't often that his father was home to see him when he was younger, so naturally he hadn't thought twice about actually visiting home once he had left on his journey. He very nearly said as much, but instead he swallowed his admission as he turned and offered a small smile. Mrs. Evans wasn't the target of his ire.

"I'll try."

"Thank you, dear. Now get going and save this old woman the embarrassment of crying over seeing you walk out that door again," she sniffed and dabbed at the corner of her eye.

This time Steven's smile was genuine and he moved forward to give her one last hug before stepping through the door with a wave goodbye.

As the door clicked shut, Mrs. Evans cracked a tearful smile, "Your mother would have been so proud to see what a fine young man you've become."

Steven waited until he was well beyond the Rustboro City limits before he stopped. Once he had closed the door behind him, he beat a hasty retreat toward the Rusturf Hills, intent on getting out of the city before he changed his mind. Now that the fresh air of the Route hit his face, he finally felt confident enough to reveal his plan to everyone.

Six flashes of light appeared, and before his pokemon could react, Steven dipped into a bow.

"I'm sorry, everyone."

Several confused glances were shared at both his statement and their distinctly not Gym-like surroundings.

"There's been a change of plans since yesterday." He paused as he straightened, and Aggron's gaze narrowed as it rumbled in concern.

"We won't be going for our last badge just yet."

His pokemon's questioning cries mingled together, leaving a knot at the base of his throat.

"I… I have a selfish request." He took a deep breath. "At some point, every trainer's journey must come to an end. We're close, so close, and yet I don't think I'm ready for our time together to be over."

Cradily's quiet warble nearly cracked his composure, but he recovered.

"I want to travel with you for as long as I can, and the best way to do that is to win it all. But… But in the event that we don't, I want to make the most of the time we still have. Which is why I want to ask you to journey with me again."

Nervousness took over, and the words just tumbled out in a hurried follow up.

"We can go see things we haven't seen before. Revisit old places to see how much we've grown. Meet new people and face new challenges! And I want to do it all with you by my side. Because…"

Steven swallowed. The knot had doubled in size, and he found himself unable to meet his pokemon's patient stares.

"…Because, if we get all the way to the end and we aren't good enough… I don't think I could handle knowing we didn't do everything in our power to be the best. I made a promise a long time ago that I would become a good trainer, and I intend to make good on that promise."

The sound of the wind through the trees was deafening as he finally drew his gaze back toward his team. Six sets of eyes were locked unwaveringly onto his.

"So what do you say?"

The chorus of enthusiastic cries that poured forth almost left him weak in the knees. Even Skarmory joined in, sharing a sharp but confident glance, and Steven found himself grinning in return. It was a unanimous decision. They would reach the top; anything less was not an option.

The hike through the Rusturf Hills was as uneventful as Steven had hoped it would be. He was certain with a menagerie of six powerful pokemon at his side, he was sure to either attract unwanted attention, or scare everyone off. Thankfully, neither extreme happened, and with only a short detour to avoid disturbing the local Whismur colony, their group managed the trek with little difficulty. For the particularly steep sections, Aggron was happy to offer Cradily a ride on his back, with Metang doing the same for their trainer. Even Skarmory was content to behave, soaring peacefully overhead as they set foot in Verdanturf Town.

The sleepy town had little to offer in the way of excitement, with only a small contest hall as its main attraction, but the fresh air and lush scenery helped to put Steven's mind at ease. He was the first person to admit that maybe his decision to put their Gym challenge on hold could potentially backfire. All during the Rusturf hike, he had turned over every scenario in his mind until they jumbled together, making him frown until Metang gave him a worried chirp. Would they lose momentum by taking time off? What if they delayed too long and his father pulled him into the world of Devon before they got to challenge the League? The hike back to Rustboro was still a short one if he talked himself out of it before they got too far. But what if all this hurrying meant they weren't strong enough to take on the League? And yet, how strong of a trainer could he truly be if his starter hadn't even fully evolved by now?

But as another breath of clean, crisp air filled his lungs, his worries seemed to melt away. Spying a nearby bench, Steven slung his pack from his shoulder and sank down onto the seat with a contented sigh. His eyes slid over the small park, and it looked as if the rest of his pokemon shared the same sentiment. Cradily had fanned herself out in a sunny patch while Armaldo and Claydol were engaged in what appeared to be some sort of game that left both pokemon giggling. Aggron, too, seemed happy to just relax, as it already had curled up on a patch of grass and began snoozing. Steven couldn't hide a chuckle as the nearby daisies danced back and forth in front of its nostrils.

Metang had just settled itself by Steven's side when a small voice spoke up from nearby.

"Um, excuse me. Are these all your pokemon?"

Steven followed his partner's gaze to find a young girl staring at the park where his pokemon had gathered. She was not much older than a beginning trainer would be, and as she clutched the Skitty in her arms a bit tighter, the wonder written in her eyes belied her nervous fascination.

He gave her a reassuring smile. "They are. Would you like to meet them?"

Metang hovered up from where it was resting, but the girl simply shook her head. "It's okay. I don't want to bother them. It's just… I don't see many pokemon like yours come through here."

She pried her gaze away from Cradily's sunbathing form to meet Metang's own stare. It gave a quiet hum as it looked quizzically at its young admirer.

"Your pokemon. They look so happy. You must be really great friends."

"Hm?"

The girl's soft statement caught him by surprise, and Steven turned toward her with a curious expression. She watched Metang for only a moment longer before meeting Steven's gaze with a grin of her own.

"It really loves you, y'know."

Steven blinked at her directness, but before he could press further, a matronly voice cut through the air and she spun to face the call.

"Coming, Mama!" The little girl wheeled back around and gave Steven a short bow, causing her Skitty to complain as it was rocked forward in her arms. "Thanks for letting me say hi to your pokemon!" And with that, she scampered away in the direction of her mother's voice.

Steven sat in stunned silence as the little girl rounded the corner and disappeared. Shaking his head, he rose from the bench, but not before catching the way Metang's gaze seemed to linger on his. That same look from back in Rustboro. A look that made it impossible not to smile.

Because through all his shortcomings and miscalculations and poor judgement, Metang stuck by his side. All his pokemon had. And for the remainder of their evening in Verdanturf, the only thing that echoed inside his mind was the sincerity of that little girl he'd met in the park.

Mauville City happened to be the next destination on their trek, and Steven hadn't planned for their stop there to be anything more than brief. But once Wattson found out he was in town with a full team of pokemon, he hadn't been allowed to leave with out a friendly rematch. One short and decisive battle later, Steven was relaxing in the Mauville Gym with the jovial leader at his insistence.

"Wahahaha now that was a battle! Can't believe I actually thought I might have had a chance against you this time!"

Metang chattered something sarcastic, but Steven chose to ignore it in exchange for a reply that was a bit more polite. Of course, that only made Wattson laugh even harder.

"You're too modest, you know that? Why if I had pokemon that strong, I'd walk around like I owned the place. Oh wait, I already do! Whahaha!"

Between their first meeting, their official Gym battle, and this most recent meeting, Steven had finally gotten used to the Leader's interesting sense of humor. Thankfully, he held in his groan, and Wattson soon turned to him with a more candid expression.

"You've worked hard since our first battle, I can tell. I hardly recognize your pokemon, they've all grown so much. Although I do recognize you," Wattson's merry gaze turned to Metang, who clammed up immediately, startled at being addressed. "You're a real powerhouse, but you're not even done growing yet, are you? I'd bet you're nearly there though."

Both Metang and Steven regarded Wattson with thinly veiled surprise. Steven had always known Metang still had one more evolution, but even after spending nearly his whole life with his partner, he hadn't had the faintest idea when it would happen. And somehow Wattson had deduced the same thing after only having met Metang twice. Wattson just grinned at the pair's reaction with a sly wink.

"I've always had a nose for those sorts of things. Oh, speaking of evolving, I have someone who wants to see you."

Beaming, Wattson produced a pokeball from his pocket and tossed it down. As the light faded, Steven could make out a vaguely canine form with bristling fur of electric yellow and blue. The Manectric gave a loud bark and padded toward him. It took a moment for Metang's eyes to widen in recognition. That bundle of yellow and green they rescued from beneath the bike path.

There was no sign of a limp, and as Steven held out his palm for Manectric to sniff, it quickly warmed to his touch before rearing up to lick him in the face. After enduring a messy round of staticy electric-type kisses, Steven was happy to let Manectric sit by his side as he doled out some scratches behind its ears. Even Metang got a nuzzle of static as it came over to say hello.

"Think you're ready to take him back?"

"Oh no, Wattson, I couldn't. I mean, I caught him originally, but he's had the chance to grow with you. I can't take him away from his trainer. He belongs with you."

Wattson smiled as he whistled, and Manectric bounded back toward him where the older Leader kneeled down and gave it a big hearty hug. The electric hound happily panted at the embrace.

"Truthfully, I was hoping you'd say that, I really love this little fella. But it didn't feel right to just not ask."

At this, it was Steven's turn to laugh at the Leader's sheepish expression. Wattson may have been a practical joker first and a Gym Leader second, but when it came down to it, he had a lot of heart.

"I can only hope that I become the kind of trainer where my partners feel the same way."

Wattson stood up and looked Steven over head to toe before clapping a hand down on the young man's shoulder. Manectric watched the exchange and barked enthusiastically as it turned gaze back toward the trainer that had saved its life.

"I wouldn't worry too much about that, sonny," he said, earning a puzzled look from Steven. "I'd bet my Gym you already are. Wahahaha!"

Ever since leaving Mauville, Steven's mind was abuzz with Wattson's words as he and his team crossed over onto Route 123. Was Metang's evolution really imminent? And what did he mean about his goal as a respectable trainer? He hadn't even gotten all eight badges yet.

Lost in thought, it took him a minute to notice something was off. The familiar sound of Aggron's footfalls had stopped, and Steven turned to see what gave his partner pause. Lagging behind, the giant steel-type had meandered to the edge of the path, snout upturned and sniffing the air. Puzzled, Steven turned to Metang for an explanation, but his starter didn't have an answer, simply shrugging with a quiet hum.

But in the brief moment that Steven's attention wavered, Aggron disappeared.

"Huh?"

Thankfully the trail of trampled underbrush was easy to follow, and Steven was quick to catch up to his rogue pokemon.

Sitting back on his haunches, Aggron was contentedly munching on a mouthful of juicy berries, picked fresh from the laden tree hanging over the nearby fence. Steven immediately hurried to Aggon's side with a stern look for his partner.

"Aggron, you can't just eat any berries you find," he gestured to the fence. "These probably belong to someone."

Aggron paused in its snacking to regard its trainer with a sheepish look, but before Steven could usher his pokemon away from the berry orchard, Skarmory alighted in the branches of another berry tree with a loud caw.

"Hey, Skarmory. C'mon, we're heading back to the Route."

But the flying type had other ideas, and with a smirk that it was sure Steven wouldn't miss, it plucked a ripe fruit from a nearby branch and gulped it down.

"Ah, Skarmory please -"

Aggron snorted at its teammate's cheekiness, and when Steven left its side to chastise Skarmory, it reached up with its snout and casually snipped another berry from the tree.

"Guys!"

Skarmory just cackled with delight and licked its bill clean.

"What's gotten into you two?" Steven huffed as he helplessly watched his pokemon chow down.

"I'll tell you what's gotten into them."

Steven froze at the sound of a new voice. Slowly he turned and peered over the fence to find an elderly gentleman standing just beyond it, his hands tucked behind his back.

"They've gotten themselves into the finest berries in all of Hoenn. They have good taste." His eyes crinkled with his grin.

"I'm terribly sorry, we didn't mean to disturb your harvest –"

"Nonsense," the old man dismissed his apology with a wave of his hand. "I grow these berries for all to enjoy."

"You grow all of these?" Steven was dumfounded as he looked beyond the fence at the expansive orchard beyond, and even Aggron paused its munching to take in the impressive sight.

"Of course. They call me the Berry Master, and this is my life's work. But there's no sense in having a conversation across my fence. Please, follow me to the gate."

And with that he turned and shuffled off along the fence line, and seeing as it would be rude to refuse the invitation, Steven followed with Aggron and the rest of his team in tow.

It didn't take long for the underbrush to clear to open meadow, and just as an opening in the fence appeared, so too did a modest cottage, nestled just out of view from the main Route. On the porch sat an older woman in a rocking chair, and she rose when she spotted their guests. The elderly Master stepped through the gate and gestured with a smile.

"Welcome to our home."

Steven only just managed to tear his gaze away from the berry field that stretched out of view behind the house, and bowed in greeting.

"It's a lovely location," he said, "But we do apologize for intruding like that." Steven's gaze slid over to his largest pokemon, and Aggron rumbled its own apology, but the Berry Master's wife simply smiled.

"Don't fret, dear. We don't see many trainers nowadays. Most choose to skip our neck of the woods in favor of heading north to Route 119. Frankly, it makes things quite peaceful, but that can get boring sometimes," she laughed, and the Berry Master joined in, placing a loving hand around his wife. "Why don't you relax and take some time to explore our orchard? Berries are good for the body and the soul."

"Oh no, we couldn't," Steven nervously rubbed the back of his head, "We already had our share of berries back at the fence."

This time it was the Berry Master who laughed. "My berries are meant to be enjoyed. You and your pokemon are welcome to eat your fill."

Steven's expression of thanks for the Master's overwhelming gratitude was drowned out by his pokemon's enthusiastic cries. He only had enough time to catch the older man's grin with a grateful look before he hurried to follow his pokemon into the heart of the orchard.

Ever since its final evolution, Aggron had taken a shine to gardening. It was always on the lookout for berry trees during their travels, and after they had picked the wild crop, it was careful to always plant a berry before they went on their way to be sure there would be another harvest for the next traveler. Their track through the orchard was no different. Aggron took the lead through the rows, snout raised and sniffing the whole way, determined to find the best and juiciest berries of the bunch.

Even though his nose was not as sensitive as his pokemon's, Steven still found himself breathing deep amongst the many fragrant smells that filled the air. Just like that brief moment in Verdanturf, he felt an aura of relaxation pour over his whole being, and everything melted away. The League challenge, Metang's evolution, his father's company; they all became distant memories as he watched Cradily crane her head skyward and pluck a plump, pink berry from one of the trees. Cradling her prize in her tendrils, she gave the berry a cursory sniff before taking a bite. Trilling with glee, she hurriedly downed the rest of the berry before plucking another and offering it to Steven.

The flesh was soft and springy in his hands, and the first bite sent sweet juice dribbling down his chin. It was a delicious flavor, but the berry was far too large for him to finish on his own. He passed the berry off to Metang, who also took a bite, but seemed less impressed than Cradily had. Steven shrugged. He knew not every pokemon liked every flavor of berry. They'd just have to peruse the orchard until they found one Metang liked best.

Steven soon discovered his pokemon had a wide variety of tastes. While Aggron had yet to be disappointed by any berry they tried, its favorite ended up being a hard spiny berry that Steven couldn't even swallow, it was just too spicy. Armaldo also ended up liking sweet berries like Cradily, and proudly found and devoured the largest berry in the whole orchard, which turned out to be a Watmel according to the sign at the foot of the tree.

Claydol took a liking to the more bitter berries, especially ones with gourd-like skin and a hard, dry flesh. And Steven already knew Skarmory preferred its berries to be sour, so he was happy to learn it had uncovered a variety they'd never seen before. Taking a cue from Mrs. Evans' book, Steven slyly pocketed a few extra to take with them to stay on Skarmory's good side, just in case.

But after an afternoon of wandering the vast berry orchards, Metang had yet to find a berry that sent its tastebuds into overdrive.

With the rest of his pokemon happily munching away, Steven found himself seated next to his partner beneath the shade of one of the trees.

"I never took you for a picky eater," he said with small smile.

Metang rattled an annoyed sound in return, and Steven had to laugh.

"I'm only joking. But I can't help thinking there has to be a berry here that you'll love."

He brought a hand to his chin as he scanned the nearby rows for something they hadn't yet tried. As he skimmed over the veritable rainbow of berries, a small gap in the trees caught his eye. Rising from their resting place, he slowly made his way toward the opening and Metang followed with a curious hum.

When the duo poked their head through the leaves, a curious sight greeted them. In a row all by itself stood a singular tree with a trunk as thick as a Rhydon, and Steven immediately knew something about this tree was special. Where as most of the other berry trees had more slender, flexible trunks, the sheer size of this tree exuded a sense of ancient wisdom.

"Ah, the Enigma berry."

Steven nearly jumped as the Berry Master seemingly materialized from out of the trees at the far side of the clearing.

"This is the oldest tree of my orchard, and it bares one of the rarest berries in Hoenn."

The old Master swept a hand all the way to the top of the tree where a pair of berries hung from the highest branch. Rather than having a brilliant hue like the rest of their orchard-mates, these berries were a dull swirl of black and white; easily missed in the mottled treetops if one didn't know they were there.

"And you're in luck. These berries weren't ripe until just a few days ago."

Metang hung motionless in the clearing, staring transfixed at the mysterious berries.

Steven caught his partner's gaze and quickly backpedaled.

"No, we can't just help ourselves to the rarest berries in the orchard!"

But again, the Berry Master simply chuckled. "Well they're ripe now, and I'd hate to see such a special berry go to waste."

Steven gave the Berry Master his best "you can't be serious" look, which prompted the man to nod. "Just be sure to plant the one of the berries at the base of the tree. That will ensure it will fruit again in four years."

"Four years?!"

"I told you it was a rare berry. Now hurry up before a hungry Swellow beats you to it."

And with that, the Berry Master melted back into the orchard rows with a wave and a smile.

Steven and Metang blinked, stunned from the mysterious exchange, but they quickly regained their faculties as they both glanced up toward the canopy where the two berries jostled in the breeze. Face set in determination, Steven shared a silent nod with his partner, and Metang lowered itself down so Steven could climb up.

With a soft pat on the top of Metang's head, Steven looked skyward. "Let's go."

The ground quickly disappeared as Metang lifted them up. Nearing the top, their ascent slowed, and Steven stayed kneeling for balance as the wind picked up. The leaves quivered and the branches bounced in the breeze, but the berries clung tight. Steven reached a hand out, ready to grab the berries as soon as they got in range, but before he could claim their prize, Metang chattered in warning.

For a brief second, Steven's heart leapt to his throat when Metang wobbled beneath him, compensating for a sudden breeze. But his partner quickly steadied itself, and he breathed a sigh of relief as he gave it a thankful pat.

Metang's hum reverberated up through his feet as he stood upright, arms out for balance.

"I know not to look down," he grumbled.

But the scowl didn't leave his face as he reached toward the berries, leaning as far as he dare. His fingertips could just brush against the underside of the berry's smooth skin.

"Just... a little... closer..."

Metang chimed as it obeyed, pushing its magnetic levitation to the limit. Steven watched as his hand inched toward their prize.

"Almost... –Yes!"

Steven shouted in triumph as his hand closed around one of the berries. Except as soon as he grabbed it, he felt Metang suddenly shift beneath his feet, sending him falling backward. The berry's stem gave way as it bore the full weight of his body. His free fall was short though, and Steven landed straight on his backside atop Metang's head. Except that his partner was now glowing with a brilliant white light, and its usual hum had morphed into a deep rumble that sent shivers through his body.

But it seemed that his pokemon's sudden weight increase from the surprise evolution was too much to handle, and after hovering in mid air for a moment longer, the pair promptly plummeted earthward.

Metagross hit the ground with a commanding thud, sending a dust cloud scattering and Steven tumbling. Turning on its four piston-like legs, it leaned over where its trainer had fallen.

Steven's view of the cloudless sky was quickly blocked by a giant silver 'X' and two apologetic red eyes. His starter began to grate out a concerned sound, but Steven just laughed. All this time, all the hard work they'd put in, and at long last, his very first partner discovered its ultimate potential all for the promise of a tasty treat. Still laying flat on his back and giddy from the excitement of it all, Steven presented their precious cargo, safe and sound, for Metagross to see.

"We did it!"

Sitting up, he held it out proudly. "Here, you'll have to let me know if it was worth all that effort."

Metagross ignored his sarcastic grin as it reached out with one claw to pluck the berry from Steven's hand. Holding the berry up in front of its nose, it rumbled a curious note, eyes focusing on the way the flesh dimpled ever so slightly under its grasp. Steven watched his pokemon in wonder, and he nearly laughed again at the absurdity of the dainty behavior of his now monstrous partner.

Metagross's gaze flicked back to its trainer hesitantly, and Steven caught its meaning.

"It's all yours," he said with a smile.

That was all it needed to hear, and with a happy cry, Metagross opened its jaws wide and popped the berry in.

The look of satisfaction that washed over his pokemon's face was equally comical, and Steven couldn't hold in his laughter this time.

"That good, huh?"

Metagross grumbled in faux annoyance at its trainer's obvious amusement, but it didn't stop the behemoth from sidling up to Steven and nudging gratefully into his chest in thanks.

Steven happily rubbed his pokemon's brow in return, he was overjoyed to see that not only had they finally found a berry his starter loved, but it was able to achieve its final evolution to boot. But their job here wasn't done. Steven's gaze slid back up to the top of the tree.

"We still need to collect that second berry to plant, like the Berry Master said."

Metagross rumbled in acknowledgement before leaning down, a signal for Steven to climb aboard. It took a bit more effort to clamber atop his pokmon, now that it was larger, but he quickly settled himself in a kneel in the center of Metagross's head.

"Ready."

Grating an affirmative, Metagross rose off the ground several feet where it wobbled unsteadily.

"Uh, Metagross -?"

Steven never got to finish his question, as all of a sudden, Metagross dipped down and then shot skyward like a rocket, flattening its trainer to its back. It jolted to a stop with a proud rumble, and Steven was finally able to peel his cheek from his pokemon's steel hide and raise his head. Hovering right at eye level was the last Enigma berry.

Dragging himself upright, Steven reached out and plucked the berry with ease. With the second berry tucked safely in his hands, he gave the all-clear.

"Okay, got it -whoa!"

Metagross's descent was just as jarring as the first, but the landing was a lot smoother, using its legs like dampeners for the impact. Steven was able to stay atop his partner this time, but was no less rattled when he slid off Meagross's head to solid ground.

"I think we're going to have to work on getting used to this new form," he tucked the Enigma berry in the crook of his arm before placing a hand against the thick steel of his partner's leg. "I bet you've got more power than you know what to do with. We just have to harness it, that's all. And I think I know the perfect place to do it. But first..."

Steven walked around his pokemon and kneeled down at the base of the Enigma tree. Metagross followed, and drove one massive claw into the soft earth. Using its leg like an excavator, it lifted its claw revealing the perfect sized hole beneath. Gently, Steven laid the Enigma berry in the soil and Metagross dropped its clawful of dirt back on top. Patting it down, Steven rose and observed their handiwork.

"Aggron would probably tell us just how bad of a job that was, but between you and me, I think we did well."

Metagross nodded, jaw cracking in a wide smile.

"Let's head back and find the others. It's time we took another stab at the first cave that ever bested us. And I have another idea for redemption in mind along the way too."

They only took a slight detour on the way to Lilycove. Mount Pyre certainly looked a lot less intimidating in the daylight, and it showed in the way Steven and his team were able to cut through the native ghost pokemon population with ease. Some of it might have been due to the generous stock of Kasib berries the Berry Master gave them as a parting gift, but Metagross was quick to insist it was able to handle everything thanks to the way its final evolutionary form was practically brimming with power.

Either way, after a quick pit stop at the Lilycove department store for some supplies, it was only a short flight later that Steven stood outside the yawning entrance to Granite Cave, nearly bursting with confidence; not wholly different from the way he felt the first time he laid eyes on this particular landform, but definitely certain the end result would be vastly improved.

Sharing one final look with his partner, Steven nodded and stepped through with Metagross at his side and the knowledge that he wouldn't make the same mistake twice.

When Steven emerged from the depths of Granite Cave, he was in nearly the same condition as when he first arrived. Not a speck of dirt or dust marred his clothes, and his pack was filled to the point of bursting with a myriad of rock samples. Metagross, too, looked no worse for wear despite how far they had gone into the depths of the cave. Steven nearly laughed at the complete reversal of the first time he had ventured into Granite Cave, but instead he opted for marking the extent of his expedition in his PokeNav for next time.

The moment was interrupted, however, as his phone buzzed with a plethora of newly received notifications, now that it finally had service. Surely he couldn't have accumulated that many messages in a week. With a grimace, he withdrew the offending device from his pocket and scowled at the screen. Right at the top was a message from his father.

"Another perk of caving thwarted by coming back to the surface…" he mumbled as he opened the text.

Metagross shifted at his side as he skimmed the message and finished with a sigh.

"He wants me to come back to Rustboro for a Devon meeting."

His partner's rumbled reply was muffled as Steven felt the walls of his future close in around him. Perhaps they had extended their journey as long as they could. At least the trip back to Rustboro would be convenient… He turned to his pokemon, resting a hand across its cool steel brow.

"Are we ready?"

A confident red gaze slid up to find his own, and his hand curled against his partner's armored hide. A prickle of psychic energy coursed through him, and he steeled himself with his own determination. Time to take the final step.

He dialed the familiar number with ease, and brought the phone up to his ear.

"Hey, Dad. Yeah, I'll be there. See you soon."

…But even with such closely documented evolutionary study, some pokemon have been known to evolve in other unique situations. Perhaps the strong bond between trainer and pokemon is all that is necessary.