Absolite Arc: Mega Evolution

Mari consulted the allknowing Internet about the Mega Stones and actually found an article that listed every Pokémon capable of performing mega evolution. Thank Arceus they had service up here, even if it was weak. That surprised her a little. She scrolled through the list. "Okay... There seems to be a total of 42 species of Pokémon that are known to be able to connect with a Mega Stone.",
"Does the list include Pokémon that we have?" Jacky asked.
"Hmm... Yes, actually. I see that Gardevoir and Absol can mega evolve. As well as Medicham, Garchomp and Blaziken.",
"Hm... Are there any published images of the stones they react to?",
"Uhm... Not here, but I'll keep looking. Because that at least narrows down what Pokémon we need to look for. If none of them are compatible with this Mega Stone, then we've walked all this way for nothing. Furthermore, we can narrow down that the Mega Stone most likely doesn't belong to Gardevoir, Medicham, or Blaziken because of the colors.",
"So that leaves Absol and Garchomp", Jacky said. "But if it is a Garchompite, then we also have a problem because your Gabite hasn't evolved yet.",
"Yup. That's right." Mari kept searching and finally found a schematic illustration of the mega stone that belonged to Absol. She compared the picture with the real one Jacky was holding. "Bingo," she said, "So I'm pretty sure it's an Absolite. The colors match, at least."

Jacky exhaled. "Okay... So that means it's most likely that Absol can resonate with this stone. That... is good, for a start. What... Should I do with it now...?",
"Give the accessory to Absol. And then, you have to touch the keystone on your bracelet. That should establish the connection", Mari said. "At least that's what Corrina said. She would know.",
"Okay..." Jacky sent out Absol and looked at it. "Hey, listen. I think we've found a way to power you up. This is a mega stone, I am going to put it on you now. Are you ready?" Her Pokémon nodded slowly. "Alright, let's try it. But..." She turned to Mari. "...I'd like to battle you for this. Just Absol against one of your Pokémon.",
"Alright." Mari nodded. "Gardevoir, be Absol's sparring partner!" Her Gardevoir appeared in front of her. Jayden stepped back. "..." He knew what was about to happen. Two Pokémon, fighting each other. He just hoped they wouldn't wreck the place. "Please... be careful", he pleaded. "I don't want Nate to behead all of us when something gets damaged, especially when it's the shrine...",
"Oh, don't worry." Jacky smiled. "We'll be careful.",
"Don't go all out immediately", Mari asked of her. "If mega evolution is really as broken as they made it sound, then... you could really hurt Gardevoir badly here.",
"We'll try our best to hold back", Jacky promised and put the amulet with the mega stone around Absol's neck. "Well then... We've waited so long for this day to come, fought and trained hard for it..." Then, she touched the keystone with two fingers. "This is what we've been waiting for! Absol, mega evolution activate!" Light burst out from the keystone. The same thing happened with the Absolite. The light bands connected with each other as if they were two parts of a whole, as if they resonated with each other. Absol was shrouded in a bright golden glow and its body began to change. Shortly thereafter, a massive shockwave of pure, unleashed power tore across the ground as the light erupted in all directions, revealing Absol's new form.

Immaculate white, majestic wings had grown from its neck fur. A white curl of fur fell over its left eye and the blade that grew at the side of its head was now bigger and sharper, like a dangerous weapon. It's eyes glowed and its whole being radiated out immense power unable to be captured within simple words. "Woah..." Mari gasped. "Amazing..."
Jacky also looked at Absol. "It's beautiful...",
"It indeed is. The air is literally vibrating from the power it's emanating... If you don't mind, let's get started with this test. Okay?"
Jacky nodded. "Go ahead. Don't hold back.",
"Alright!" Mari extended her arm. "Moon Blast, Gardevoir!" Gardevoir clenched light in front of it and shot it at Absol. "Evade!" Absol jumped to the side in a flash and the attack missed. It was much faster than it used to before, its movements radiated out almost unmatched elegance. "Shadow Ball!" Gardevoir fired again.
"Psycho Cut!" Absol's blade glowed and it effortlessly ripped the ball apart before lunging for Gardevoir and hitting it with such force that it was thrown back. Although it was a psychic-type move, it seemed to have hit Guardevoir hard. "That power is enormous!" Mari remarked. "The attack wasn't effective, but it still hit like a truck! Gardevoir, teleport yourself! Attack with Focus Blast!" Gardevoir disappeared and reappeared behind Absol. It hurled a ball of energy at Absol, but even its reflexes seemed to be faster than before. Absol dodged it withing the blink of an eye, effortlessly. "Razor Wind!" Absol jumped off the ground and rose into the sky like a powerful deity, it's horn started to glow, announcing the impending doom. It unleashed a vicious rain of white blades at Gardevoir. They moved with such high speed that it seemed like they tore the air itself apart. "Psychic, try to stop them!" Gardevoir raised its arm and stopped them in mid-motion- but it had visible trouble with it, like the might it was facing was about to overpower it at any moment. With a little battle cry, it forced them to shoot back at Absol. The mega Pokémon dodged them just as effortlessly, it was utterly breathtaking. "Double Edge!" It attacked and Gardevoir couldn't react fast enough. The attack hit its target with the force of a descending comet and the fairy Pokémon went down after merely two strikes. Absol landed on the ground on soft paws. "Holy shit... Only two attacks were enough to strike it down..." Mari's breath was stuck in her throat in astonishment. Gardevoir had never gone down so quickly.
"Unbelievable..." Jacky was equally speechless. Absol turned back to normal and turned to Jacky. "You were awesome, Absol! Now, we're pretty much unbeatable!"

Mari knelt down to Gardevoir. "Are you okay?"
Her partner sat up with a groan. It was visibly hurt, and its whole body was shaking like moving took up all the strength it had left.
"Let me try." Jayden stepped up to her. Mari looked at him. "Huh? Try what?",
"I brought a little something to treat your Gardevoir with.",
"You mean... like... healing stuff?",
"Yes."
Mari nodded at him gratefully. "Okay... Thank you, Jayden.",
"No problem." He rummaged around in his bag and pulled out bandages and ointments. "I'll handle this." He knelt down next to Gardevoir. "Take it easy, this is going to hurt a little bit, but it will be over soon." Then, he began to tend to it. Jacky sat down next to Mari. "Hey, um... We should have taken it back a little more, that wasn't fair of us.",
"It's okay... Gardevoir can take it." Mari shook her head. "This is a real game changer... Absol is super powerful now, almost unstoppable. We've heard mega evolution makes Pokémon insanely strong, but seeing it with my own two eyes is quite something different."
Her Pokémon winced as Jayden treated it with a salve that left a burning sensation. "Easy, easy. Just relax... It will be over in a bit. It's all right, you're almost there." He unrolled a bandage and covered it with ointment before putting it on Gardevoir in an almost expert manner. "There, done." Jayden fixed the bandage with a clamp and nodded with satisfaction. "Thanks", Mari said again, helping Guardevoir up. "I think you're about to tell us to take it easy for the time being?",
"Well... a bit, yeah. The salves are gonna act fast though, so you can take that bandage off again soon. It should be fine again in a couple of hours.",
"That's a relief. What do you need a Pokémon Center for when you can do it just as well?",
"Uh... I wouldn't say 'as well', but... it flatters me anyway that you think of it that way.",
"...flatters you, huh." She crossed her arms. "Hmph...",
"No reward?" he asked.
"I'm all out of candy", Mari replied with disapproval in her voice.
"Doesn't have to be candy, necessarily." He grinned again in his mischievous manner which already gave away he had switched to teasing mode once more.
"I see, and what are you thinking of?"
His grin only widened and he laughed as he got up. "I better keep that a secret.",
"I don't mind." She turned to her friend. "I have no idea what's going on in Sinnoh right now... We should probably hurry to our next destination.",
"That's right." Jacky nodded. "Cyrus has all the time in the world, he could be on his destruction spree by now. We need to find out where the Fairy Garden is... Elesa said it's located in a forest. But there are so many forests here in... Oh!" She lifted her finger. "We'd have to ask someone who knows their way around forests!",
"And... who would that be?",
"I was thinking of Yuna. You surely remember her from the tournament. She lives in the forest, right?",
"Riiight..." Mari nodded thoughtfully. "She said in a forest near here.",
"Then we'd better not waste any more time!",
"Can someone fill me in?" Jayden asked. Mari turned around to him. "We need to find the Fairy Garden next. Jacky suspects that there may be a Mega Stone that is compatible with Gardevoir. We know someone who lives in the woods around here. We don't know what's happening in Sinnoh right now, so we'd better hurry.",
"Oh... okay.",
"It would be useful if we could fly.",
"After ascending, you're allowed to fly back." He nodded and chewed on a piece of candy, but he seemed to be lost in thought for a moment. "Huh...",
"Okay. Skarmory, come out!" Screeching, Skarmory landed next to Mari.
"Noivern!" Noivern spread its wings and roared so loudly all of Lacunosa was certain to hear it. "SHHT! Not so loud!" Noivern ducked its head in shame.

Jayden reached into his bag and pulled out a Poké Ball. "How fortunate that I haven't given Sister Lissa her Pidgeot back yet..." Mari swung on Skarmory and Jacky climbed on Noivern before the two ascended into the air and zoomed off. Jayden sent out out the borrowed Pidgeot and talked to it briefly before climbing on it and following them.

"Who does this Pidgeot belong to?" Mari asked when he was able to catch up to them.
"One of the monastery's nuns. Nate's right-hand woman, to be exact. Lissa lent it to me while we were in Sinnoh. Just in case, I don't have any Pokémon of my own.",
"Uh-huh... Okay.",
"There would be room for a second person. Interested? Just hop over", he said. Mari looked at him.
"No thanks, I'd rather stay on Skarmory.",
"Hm..." He contorted his face a bit disappointed. "I would have considered that an apology of sorts...",
"Are you making fun of me?",
"Never, cutiepie~", he purred. "I'm serious, though. You don't have to."
Mari eyed him suspiciously before shaking her head. "You're really stepping out of line again... Agility, Skarmory." Her partner lit up and it accelerated, overtaking Noivern in the process.
"Hm..." Jayden watched her go and sighed before lightly patting Pidgeot's the neck. "Seems like I still have a lot to learn..."

"Everything okay?" Jacky asked as Noivern caught up to Skarmory.
"Yeah, everything's fine." Mari scoffed. "Jayden's just back to being all... Jayden. And weird.",
"How surprising." Jacky just shook her head with a laugh. "I think he wanted to ask you for a kiss earlier.",
"WhAt?! How do you get that idea?!",
"I dunno. Just a feeling." She chuckled and Mari growled. "The AUDACITY...!"
Jacky smiled and looked back at him. "We're turning off here! Thanks for your help!" Pidgeot caught up to them. "I won't slow you down, I know you're in a hurry." He waved at them. "Maybe we'll see each other again!",
'I hope not', Mari thought to herself. "Take care," Jacky said and waved back before Jayden flew off in another direction and the girls were alone again.