"Dad? What are you doing here?!" Brendan asked excitedly.
"I spent some time in Sinnoh, very relaxing, and I thought I'd come see how you boys were doing in Kanto." Professor Birch said. "I thought Ash and Flannery would be with you, or are they off on a romantic date."
"Yeah, best not to bring up Flannery, okay Professor." Wally said.
"So is mom here as well?" Brendan asked.
"Yes, she is checking into our hotel, but I saw you two heading towards the gym so I thought I'd catch you here. I brought gifts!" Professor Birch said excitedly.
Back at the hotel
"Okay enough with the suspense, what did you bring me?" Brendan asked excitedly.
"I didn't just bring you a gift." Professor Birch said. "I brought each of you something."
"All of us?" Wally asked.
"Yes, I wish Ash was here, I was asked to bring this specifically to him, but I'm sure we can meet back up with him." Professor Birch said. "Now as you know I went to Sinnoh to spend time with a colleague and recover from the events involving Team Aqua."
"He spent a bit too much time on the former in comparison to the latter than I would have liked, but that's your father for you." Brendan's mom sighed.
"Anywho, the Professor there, Professor Rowan delves into research on evolution, and when I brought up some of the Pokemon you two had been raising he asked me to give you these and if you were willing to evolve, to record any results for him." Professor Birch explained.
"Evolving our Pokemon, just like that?" Brendan asked. "I didn't think we had any Pokemon that could evolve like that."
"Well, the two items are hard to find outside of Sinnoh, so most regions don't have knowledge readily available on them." Professor Birch explained, pulling out two boxes from his bag.
"So which Pokemon can evolve?" Wally asked.
"Well Wally, your Pokemon Kirlia can evolve." Professor Birch said, opening the first box to show a blue stone.
"Yeah, we know that." Brendan said in confusion. "Ralts evolve into Kirlia, and then into Gardevoir. No items involved."
"Unless they are males." Professor Birch said. "If I may see Kirlia's Pokeball."
"Sure, but can't it only see moves?" Wally asked.
"Not this one." Professor Birch said, putting the Pokeball beneath a scanner. "Just as I thought, it's male."
"So what can it become?" Wally asked.
"Take a look for yourself." Professor Birch said, holding out the Pokedex.
'Gallade, the Blade Pokemon, a Psychic and Fighting type, and the evolved form of Kirlia. A master of courtesy and swordsmanship, it fights using extending swords on its elbows.' The Pokedex said.
"That actually looks really cool." Brendan said, poking the hologram that was floating above the Pokedex.
"Wally, you're Kirlia's trainer, the choice is yours. Continue training it and evolve it into a Gardevoir, or experience a new evolution and get a Gallade." Professor Birch said.
"No shame in either choice?" Wally asked.
"None at all." Professor Birch assured.
"Can I have some time to think it over?" Wally asked.
"Not a problem." Professor Birch said.
"I'm going to go find Ash and ask what he thinks I should do." Wally said, hurrying off.
"So dad, what about me? What'd I get?" Brendan asked.
"This is an item that your Rhydon would hold, and when traded, it would evolve into a Rhyperior." Professor Birch said. "I wish Wally hadn't run off with the Pokedex just yet, yours wouldn't show it's data unless it had scanned it."
"Wait Rhydon can evolve again!" Brendan said. "That's incredible! How quickly can we find someone willing to trade with me for this?" Brendan asked.
"Well, I believe most Pokemon Centers come equipped with a trading station, and in my experience there are usually trainers ready and willing to do a quick trade and trade back to benefit both sides." Professor Birch said.
At the Pokemon Center
"Sure I'm willing to do a quick trade." A girl said, holding up a Pokeball. "As long as you agree to the no runoff rule."
"No runoff rule?" Brendan said. "What's that?"
"It's not actually a rule, but more of an unwritten agreement that regardless of what happens neither of us run off with the other's Pokemon." The girl said.
"Okay, sounds good to me. I'm Brendan by the way." Brendan said, holding out his hand.
"Kendra, and this is my Pokemon Onix." Kendra said.
"Okay, this is my partner Rhydon." Brendan said.
"Rhydon can't evolve." Kendra said.
"Apparently he can." Brendan said. "Do you still want to trade?"
"It's your time, do what you want." Kendra said, walking over to the trade machine.
"Well Rhydon, time to get a whole lot stronger." Brendan said.
Meanwhile outside the city
"Hey Ash, I thought you'd be out here." Wally said.
"Hey Wally, duck." Ash said.
"What do you whoa!" Wally exclaimed, ducking out of the way of a giant flaming bird. "What was that?"
"New combination, what's up?" Ash asked, as Swablu landed on his shoulder.
"I need advice." Wally admitted.
"Sure what do you need advice on?" Ash asked.
"Professor Birch gave me an item to evolve Kirlia, and I'm not sure what I want to do about that." Wally asked.
"Well what would you like me to say?" Ash asked.
"Well, Pikachu evolves with a Thunderstone, like how Kirlia apparently evolves with this new stone." Wally said. "Why have you never evolved Pikachu, I'm sure it's not hard to come across a Thunderstone."
"Hard, no. I got one here in Vermillion years ago when I first fought the gym." Ash said, digging in his bag. "Pikachu and I were up against a really strong Raichu, and we were told the only way we had a chance to beat them was by evolving." Ash reminisced.
"So what happened, I mean I know you didn't evolve Pikachu." Wally said.
"We decided not to, and instead worked hard on our training until we could take them out." Ash said, opening a small box. "I still have the Thunderstone, just in case one day we feel we're ready. I don't know if that day will ever come, but if it does the option is there."
"So you're saying I should wait?" Wally asked.
"I'm saying that it's an important decision for both you and Kirlia, and one that can't be taken back." Ash said.
"This is something I'll need to think about I guess." Wally said.
"Wally, just breathe. I'm sure Professor Birch will let you hold onto the stone until you make the decision." Ash said. "Just like the Pokedex you've been holding the entire time."
"Oh, I should not have taken this." Wally said, realizing he was holding it still.
"No you probably shouldn't have." Ash chuckled. "Come on let's see if we can't find the Birchs."
Back at the Pokemon Center
"Holy giant Pokemon." Ash said, seeing the large rocky creature.
"Hey Ash, welcome back. Meet Rhyperior." Brendan said.
'Rhyperior, the Drill Pokemon, a Ground and Rock type. It puts rocks in holes in its palms and uses its muscles to shoot them. Geodude are shot at rare times.' The new Pokedex said.
"Fancy." Ash said, poking the hologram.
"I know right." Brendan commented.
"Well luckily, it's one of the gifts I was given from Professor Rowan." Professor Birch said. "I would like to assign it to either of you."
"My vote's for Wally." Brendan said.
"Seconded." Ash said. "It's long overdue for him to have his own Pokedex."
"Between this and that stone?" Wally asked. "Are you guys sure."
"I've got Rhyperior, plus with the two of you backing me up, I don't need to have the Pokedex with me to know what I'm up against." Brendan said.
"Meh, there'll be others." Ash commented.
"Right, the final gift!" Professor Birch remembered, handing Wally the box containing the item to evolve Kirlia. "Here Ash, it's not from Professor Rowan, but when I said I would be meeting up with you kids, I was asked to hand deliver it." Professor Birch said, handing Ash an envelope.
"What is it?" Ash asked.
"I don't know, I was told not to read it." Professor Birch said.
Brendan's Current Team and their moves
Marshtomp: Ice Beam - Rollout - Muddy Water - Mud Shot
Shiftry: Razor Wind - Faint Attack - Leaf Storm - Extrasensory
Aggron: Double Edge - Earthquake - Rock Tomb - Metal Claw
Rhyperior: Mega Horn - Crush Claw - Aqua Tail - Rock Blast
Hitmonlee: Blaze Kick - Rolling Kick - High Jump Kick - Mega Kick