Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
Pokémon: Sinnoh no Isekai
Chapter One-hundred and sixty-three: Korrina and the mystery of Lucario
The heroes were making their way in the direction of Geosenge Town. The heroes were still a bit excited, having recently seen an example of Mega Evolution for the first time in person. Dawn, Kenny, and Trip were especially excited, as they remembered that they each were going to be provided with what they needed so that they could use Mega Evolution themselves. Granted, it was with the intent for them to use said power against Team Scorn, but the reborn trainers would have naturally used Mega Evolution in that manner anyway.
It was as the heroes continued to walk on the road they were on that their group was held up when they ran into a girl on roller skates who the reborn trainers knew, thanks to knowledge from their previous lives, was Korrina the Shalour City gym leader. But they had to wait for Korrina to make the introductions. "Can we help you with something?" Ash asked, arching a wry eyebrow out of curiosity over this girl who stopped him and the others, "Also, can we get your name?"
Nodding once, Korrina replied, "That's fair enough. My name's Korrina, and I'm looking to challenge one of you to a battle so that I can score my ninety-ninth victory in a row." Pointing directly at Ash, Korrina said, "You'll do."
Shrugging, Ash replied, "Fair enough. Let's move to an area more sutible for battling than just here on the road."
...
A short while later, the heroes and Korrina had moved to an open area. "This'll be one Pokémon each," Korrina said, "The trainer who owns the last Pokémon standing wins." Tossing up a pokéball, Korrina called out, "Go, Lucario!"
The heroes aside from the reborn trainers were surprised to see Korrina send out a Lucario for her one Pokémon in the battle against Ash. "Wow, a Lucario," Bonnie said off to the side where she and the others watched, "That's a tough one."
Serena nodded in agreement, showing a bit of worry for Ash. "Ash is in for a rough ride if he uses his Pikachu, given he's out and right there on Ash's-"
"Charizard, I choose you!" Ash called out, sending out his Charizard to battle Korrina's Lucario. Charizard, as it flew in place above the battlefield, gave a confidant roar showing that it was ready to do battle. Korrina, upon seeing Ash's choice of Pokémon, instantly became worried, but had to push through anyway because, with all due respect, she did initiate the battle.
Gesturing forward, Korrina called out, "Lucario, use Power-Up Punch!"
"Charizard, counter with Flamethrower!" Ash commanded.
Korrina's Lucario, as it jumped up to fly at Charizard with a glowing fist pulled back, was blasted back away by a Flamethrower attack from Charizard. To make matters worse, Flamethrower in addition to being super effective against Lucario had inflicted a burn as well. Seeing that its physical attack was going to be cut due to that burn, Korrina tried to buff Lucario's attack to compensate for the burn drop. "Lucario, use Swords Dance!"
"Charizard, use Wing Attack!" Ash called out. Charizard, its wings glowing, flew in and tried to slam Lucario with said glowing wings. Lucario was able to conjure spectral swords that flew around it as they raised its attack, but the attack soon gave way and Lucario was thrown back by a clipping strike from Charizard's Wing Attack. Seeing that he had Korrina's Lucario on the ropes, Ash called out, "Charizard, use Flamethrower!"
"Lucario, use Power-Up Punch!" Korrina called out. Lucario tired to rush in at Charizard with another glowing fist. 'Tried' being the operative word here, as another Flamethrower attack from Ash's Charizard not only blasted Korrina's Lucario back again, but this time it was enough to result in knocking out Korrina's Lucario out right, resulting in a victory for Ash.
After Ash recalled Charizard, he turned to look at Korrina, who just stood there with a shocked look on her face. "...Umm, are you okay?" Ash said, a bit concerned due to how Korrina seemed to have a thousand-yard stare going, "I'm not sure if-"
"So close." Ash was cut off when Korrina started speaking at last. "...I was at ninety-eight wins in a row..." Korrina began, her eyes starting to tear up, "...I was two away from the one-hundred wins in a row I was hoping for..." Before she could be stopped, Korrina started crying her eyes out, bawling as if something epicly tragic had just gone down. The heroes, panicking, quickly went about trying to get Korrina to calm down.
Later, after lunch had gotten set up, Korrina was somewhat calmed back down. As the heroes ate lunch with Korrina, Bonnie noticed a stone in Korrina's glove. "Hey, that's like the Key Stone that Diantha wears in her necklace," Bonnie said.
Korrina, as if on instinct, covered the stone in her glove with her other hand and turned it away from Bonnie, as if shying away. "...Yes. It's a Key Stone."
"Then you can Mega Evolve a Pokémon," Kenny reasoned.
Surprisingly, Korrina shook her head in the negative. "Actually, no. I lack the proper Mega Stone to have one of my Pokémon hold. Ideally, I want to get a Lucarionite for my Lucario to hold so I can Mega Evolve it."
"Lucario is a species of Pokémon capable of Mega Evolution?" Serena asked, sounding surprised.
Korrina gave a sad, somewhat timid nod. "...Yes. Here's the thing. I'm actually the current gym leader of the gym over in Shalour City. The position has been in my family for generations, ever since my ancestors were the first to Mega Evolve a Lucario. Hence, it has been a custom for each member of my family who held the title of gym leader in Shalour City to have a Pokémon who can Mega Evolve." Looking at the Key Stone in her glove, Korrina said, "My grandfather gave me this Key Stone and told me that, in addition to a Key Stone and a Mega Stone, Mega Evolution also requires that the trainer and Pokémon involved have a strong bond."
"Mega Evolution also requires a strong bond, huh?" Trip asked.
"You're the Shalour City gym leader?" Kenny asked.
Getting the boys to settle down, Dawn said to Korrina, "So why were you, from the looks of it, looking to head to Geosenge Town?"
Sighing, Korrina explained, "I was hoping to find a Lucarionite there. I was also hoping to prove myself worthy of it by scoring one-hundred victories in a row before getting there, but I got up to ninety-eight before Ash and his Charizard ended my winning streak." Gently shaking her head, Korrina said with a hint of ironic chuckling in her tone, "Man. What is with it with tough trainers seemingly always having Charizards?"
Pointing at Dawn, Kenny said, "Dawn owns a Charizard, and Dawn is the Champion of Sinnoh. Does she count?"
Korrina suddenly snapped to attention, turned right to lookat Dawn. "I thought that you looked familiar! You're Sinnoh Champion Dawn Berlitz!"
"I am, yes," Dawn replied.
"And you saying you were hoping to prove yourself worthy of using Mega Evolution would explain why you broke down and cried when Ash ended your winning streak when you were so close to the one-hundred wins in a row you were gunning for," Kenny said to Korrina, "You're worried that you weren't worthy of continuing a sacred family tradition."
Smacking the side of Ash's shoulder with the back of her hand, Bonnie said, "Good going, Ash! You made Korrina unworthy to continue a family tradition!"
"Hey Bonnie, you're going too far," Serena scolded.
"And my goal of scoring one-hundred wins in a row is more a self-imposed challenge," Korrina clarified, "I was hoping to prove to myself that I was worthy of continuing my family's tradition." After Bonnie was made to apologize for smacking Ash in the shoulder (there was some understanding given that Bonnie's a young kid and she was honestly sticking up for someone), Korrina said, "Anyway, I don't suppose you all would be willing to come to Geosenge Town with me to help me find a Lucarionite?"
"We were going to pass through Geosenge Town anyway," Trip pointed out, "So yeah, we can get there as a group."
Getting up from his seat, Kenny declared, "Onward! To adventure!"
Yanking Kenny back down into his seat, Dawn said, "Your butt will go onward back into your seat until we at least finish lunch."
After finishing lunch and doing some traveling, the heroes and Korrina made it to Gensenge Town. "Let us find the Lucarionite!" Kenny declared.
Turning to look at Korrina, Bonnie asked, "Do you know where it's located?"
"Umm... not really, no," Korrina said, "I only assumed that I would because my grandfather told me I would know once I arrived here."
Dawn, with the driest of looks on her face, said in a likewise tone, "Lovely." Without much to go on, the heroes decided to just search all over the town for whatever clues they could get a hold of to help them find the Lucarionite for Korrina. However, after a while, their searching ended up proving to be fruitless, and they all met back up at an agreed upon meetup spot.
"Hey, I have an idea," Kenny said, "The Lucarionite is a Mega Stone connected to Lucario, right? Then Korrina can get her Lucario out to help search for it. It may have some sort of sixth sense that can be used to sniff the Lucarionite out."
Looking at Kenny with a surprised look on her face, Korrina said, "...That's actually a pretty good idea, Kenny." Acting on Kenny's suggestion, Korrina called out her Lucario. Dawn decided to help back Korrina and Lucario by calling out Leni, Dawn's own Lucario. Right as the two Lucario were about to be set on sniffing out the Mega Stone for their species, the heroes and Korrina were called out to by photographer who came up to them.
"Howdy there," the photographer said, "The name's McGinty. Would you travelers like me to take a souvenir photo of you all?"
"Sounds legit," Kenny replied as he got everyone to group up together for the photo, in which Serena inched closer to Ash.
After taking the photo, McGinty said, "So what brings you travelers here to Geosenge Town?"
"We're looking for a Lucarionite," Dawn said, "So that Korrina here can Mega Evolve her Lucario."
McGinty held a hand to his chin, wore a contemplative lok on his face. "The caves around here are more or less bursting at the seems with evolution stones, but I got no clue as to what a Lucarionite is. However..." Trailing off in a manner that prompted the heroes and Korrina to lean in, McGinty said, "...I do know of a remote cave where a special stone can be found in. But be warned, for it's said those who are unqualified who enter the cave will see something terrifying happen."
Scoffing the warning away, Kenny said, "Given what the lads here and I have seen, it'll take a lot to make us say that something is terrifying."
"Umm, maybe we should take precautions," Clemont said, "Just to be safe."
"You'll never get a wife with that attitude," Bonnie said, "And speaking of, hey Korrina-"
"I'm," Korrina interrupted, "More focused on getting a Lucarionite right now."
As the group proceeded to take off following getting directions from McGinty, Bonnie said to her older brother, "What did I tell you? That cowardly attitude is a real turn off for prospective brides."
Later, the heroes made it into the cave where they can find the Lucarionite. Korrina's Lucario, as well as Leni, both sensed where to go, and led the rest of the group deeper and deeper in. Eventually, they made it to a door that, after opening it, led into an underground cavern with a lake inside. There was also a single path that led right to a Lucarionite. Upon seeing the treasure that she sought, Korrina lit up with excitement. "It's the Lucarionite!" Korrina said and proceeded to make a dash for the treasure. But she was stopped from proceeding by Dawn.
"A single, somewhat narrow path," Dawn began, "That leads right to what you came to find. Don't you find it suspicious in the least?"
Korrina understood what Dawn was getting at. "...You think there might be some manner of trap. Alright, caution it is." Korrina and her Lucario still proceeded on ahead, but rather than rush it, they took their time, kept eyes and ears out, with Lucario even sensing things out with its ability to use aura. As the two of them moved onward, Korrina and Lucario suddenly stopped short when Lucario threw out a Metal Sound attack at something it sensed coming towards them. As a result, a Blaziken that had suddenly appeared got hit with Metal Sound just as it appeared on the path to block Korrina's way.
As Blaziken was reeling a bit from the Metal Sound, Korrina said, "Lucario, trip it up with Bone Rush!" Conjuring a bone shaped staff of energy, Lucario rushed at Blaziken and struck it twice with Bone Rush, hurting Blaziken a fair deal and forcing it to jump back. After recovering itself, Blaziken leapt forward with its foot aimed at Lucario in a Blaze Kick attack. Seeing that attack coming, Korrina called out, "Lucario, dodge and strike back with Power-Up Punch!"
As the Blaziken flew at Lucario, it swerved to the side and slugged Blaziken in the back with a powerful Power-Up Punch, throwing it to the side where it almost hit where the heroes were standing, startling Dawn and making her stumble backwards, causing her to knock some rocks over onto a boulder that cracked a bit. Blaziken got back up and, due to confusion, thought that Leni who was still out was Korrina's Lucario, so it tried swinging at the named Lucario with a Blaze Kick attack, only for Leni to blast it with Psychic and send it flying into a cave wall, clearly out of it.
"Hey Blaziken, my Lucario is over here!" Korrina scowled, pointing to her own Lucario.
"Yeah, that mistake was on my Blaziken," an older male voice called out, "Sorry about that." Everyone stopped short when they heard that male voice call out, and then stepping out from the shadows was an old man who had tufts of hair sort of reminiscent of how Korrina has her hair styled.
Seeing the old man there, Korrina called out, "Grandpa? Grandpa Gurkinn, is that you?"
"Yes Korrina, it's me," the now identified Gurkinn replied, "And I was hoping the test with my Blaziken battling your Lucario to see how far your bond goes would have gone off as I had hoped, but Blaziken's confusing that other girl's Lucario for yours kind of scuttled things. Again, I apologize. However!" With an amused smirk, Gurkinn went on, "You're showing more signs of maturity than I had hoped by listening to the words of caution of someone else despite how your goal was right there. You really had proven yourself." Gesturing to where the Lucarionite was placed, Gurkinn said, "Go on, it's waiting."
Korrina, excited, immediately ran up with her Lucario to go claim the Lucarionite. While Korrina did that, Gurkinn recalled his fainted Blaziken and made his way over to the heroes. "Terribly sorry again about my Blaziken attacking your Lucario out of confusion," Gurkinn said to Dawn, 'Are you going to be fine?"
"Yeah, but when Blaziken was thrown our way," Dawn began, "It startled me and made me stumble backwards. I think that I knocked some rocks over and made one crack."
Looking around, Gurkinn found the cracked rock. He however noticed a glint coming from within the crack. "Can you have your Lucario use Psychic to pry the rock apart along the crack?" Gurkinn asked Dawn, who proceeded to do so and have Leni split the rock with Psychic. The two large halves were yanked away, showing the crack reached all the way to the cave floor when the two large halves of rock were levitated away. To the surprise of the heroes, there were a few Mega Stones of varying kinds hidden under the rock that was broken on incident.
"My word!" Gurkinn exclaimed, "There's quite a few Mega Stones here! And they all look perfectly in tact!" Gurkinn identified the Mega Stones that were found as Korrina and Lucario came over after Korrina had claimed the Lucarionite she had worked hard for, meaning she herself was just seeing the discovery of the Mega Stones. Among what was found were an Abomasite, a Tyranitarite, and another Lucarionite. Collecting all of the found Mega Stones, Gurkinn said, "We're going to have to get these all back to Shalour City. Can't leave them around where villains such as those horrid Team Scorn criminals can get a hold of them."
The heroes all nodded in understanding, then proceeded to follow Gurkinn out of the cave.
Outside of the cave, Korrina let out something of a giddy squeal. "I can't wait!" Korrina said, "Now that I got the Lucarionite, I can finally Mega Evolve Lucario!"
Smiling in a knowing manner, Gurkinn remarked, "Yes, it will actually be your first time ever in Mega Evolving a Pokémon. And I'm thinking that the best way to test how well the bond between you and your Lucario works for Mega Evolution is to have you two battle someone else also using Mega Evolution for the first time, so as to give you as even a chance as possible."
Korrina then suddenly looked confused. "...But the only ones here who can use Mega Evolution now are you and me, Grandpa."
Chuckling a bit, Gurkinn said, "About that." The old man took the bag he had over his back off, opened it, and pulled out a locked box. "I was testing these to make sure they worked properly and they're perfect," Gurkinn began, "They're were gotten ready for when Dawn Berlitz, Kenny Harris, and Trip Barley made their way to Shalour City and would have been given to them there. But since they're here right now, I may as well give them what's prepared for them." To the surprised amazement of the heroes, Gurkinn took out three shiny new Mega Rings, each set with a Key Stone.
"You're giving them Mega Rings set with Key Stones, Grandpa?" Korrina asked, surprised.
"I had received word that Team Scorn had captured a powerful legendary Pokémon and now have it under their sway," Gurkinn explained, "That being said, Dawn, Kenny, and Trip are the best bet that Kalos and the other regions have at fighting back against Team Scorn, as they're the only ones with Pokémon that can go toe to toe with a legendary dragon such as Unova's Reshiram. It was agreed that they would be supplied with Mega Rings set with Key Stones to help give them more of an edge against Team Scorn."
Korrina nodded in understanding as Dawn, Kenny, and Trip each recieved a Mega Ring set with a Key Stone. Gurkinn then took out the extra Lucarionite that was found and gave it to Dawn. "Have your Lucario hold this, Champion Dawn," Gurkinn said, "It is fortuitous that both you and Korrina have Lucarios, and both of you can now use Mega Evolution, and there are enough Lucarionites for the both of you to Mega Evolve your respective Lucarios."
Dawn, a bit apprehensive as she remembered from the anime in her previous life how Korrina's Lucario had gone crazy when it Mega Evolved the first few times or so, still accepted the Lucarionite from Gurkinn. The worse case scenario if Leni went crazy would be for Dawn to just call out Tsukune and have it restrain Leni until she calmed back down. Dawn had Leni take and hold the Lucarionite and then, with Korrina's Lucario holding the Lucarionite they got, both girls looked at one another as they tapped their respective Key Stones, although it was clear Dawn was looking at Korrina for visual clues on what to do.
To everyone's amazement, two Mega Evolutions took place at once; tendrils of energy flew from Korrina's glove and Dawn's Mega Ring to the girls' respective Lucarios, then those Lucarios were encased in spheres of energy that soon broke away like glass, revealing that both Lucarios had Mega Evolved. After the two Lucarios had both Mega Evolved, Korrina let out an excited squeal. "Eee! This is so exciting!" Korrina cheered as her Lucario checked itself out.
"I... actually kind of have to agree," Dawn said; she had used Mega Evolution before, but only in the video games in her previous life. Now things were real life for her, and using Mega Evolution in real life was an entirely different ball park. As for Leni, she dashed over to a lake and checked out her reflection in the lake's surface, like a girl checking herself out in a mirror to see how an outfit she wore looked on her. Dawn, smirking in knowing amusement, called out, "Leni, you look great." That got a cute smile out of the named Mega Evolved Lucario.
"Now then, let's see how Mega Evolution works for us!" Korrina said.
Nodding once, Dawn replied to Korrina while gesturing for Leni to come back over, "Yeah, I need to get used to using Mega Evolution as well, especially if it's a power that I'm going to be using against Team Scorn."
Pointing forward, Korrina said, "Lucario, use Bone Rush!" Korrina's Mega Evolved Lucario then conjured a bone shaped energy staff and proceeded to rush at Leni.
"Leni, counter with Dark Pulse!" Dawn ordered. Leni conjured and cast a pulsing beam of darkness that struck the Bone Rush energy staff out of Lucario's hands, sending it flying into a mountain side where it hit with such force it made an explosion. "Leni, push it back with Flash Cannon!" Dawn ordered.
"Lucario, get in there with Power-Up Punch!" Korrina called out. Lucario tried rushing in with its right fist pulled back and glowing with power, but Leni blasted it back with a Flash Cannon attack. As Korrina's Lucario recovered from that blow, Dawn began to notice how it had a red look in its eyes, as well as how it was snarling out of pure aggression. Seeing Leni turn to face her, Dawn saw it that her named Lucario showed no such signs of going crazy.
Gesturing forward, Korrina called out, "Lucario, use-"
"RAAOOOHH!"
Korrina was cut off when her Lucario gave an enraged, skyward howl before turning its attention back down at Leni, immediately rushing the other Mega Evolved Lucario. "Leni, stop it in its tracks with Psychic!" Dawn called out. Leni aimed her right paw-hand at the other Mega Evolved Lucario as said paw-hand glowed with the psychic energy that her eyes glowed with. Suddenly, the raging Mega Lucario was surrounded by that same energy and lifted up, unable to get out of the hold right away. Seeing that Korrina's Lucario was fighting fiercely to get out, Dawn said, "...Leni, get ready to use Aura Sphere when I give the cue."
Nodding once, Leni used her free paw-hand to conjure an Aura Sphere attack. When Korrina's Lucario finally got out of the psychic hold on it, Dawn called out, "Now, Leni!" The named Mega Lucario cast her Aura Sphere attack the moment the enraged Mega Lucario looked up and over at her, getting blasted with Leni's Aura Sphere and getting knocked out, reverting back to its normal form. Likewise, Leni reverted back out of her Mega form as well, but that was due to how the battle was over. With the crisis passed, the heroes rushed to Korrina's downed Lucario.
"What the heck was that all about?" Kenny exclaimed, "Why did Korrina's Lucario go berserk-o freak-o like that just now?!"
Gurkinn wore a look of consideration on his face. "...There are times when a Pokémon who Mega Evolves for the first time may not be able to properly handle the new power it has at its disposal. It leads to being overwhelmed. There are also other factors, like the trainer commanding the Pokémon in question not being entirely sure of themselves when they first use the power." Turning to look at his granddaughter, Gurkinn asked, "Korrina, has anything happened to you recently that may have shaken you up a little bit?"
As Korrina thought about it, Bonnie said, "Oh, Korrina was trying to score a hundred wins in a row in battles because she wanted to prove to herself that she was worthy of using Mega Evolution, but she only got to ninety-eight wins in a row before she lost to Ash. She cried her eyes out when Ash broke her winning streak, especially as she was so close to reaching her goal."
Gurkinn considered what Bonnie had said just now. "Crying over losing a battle being unprofessional of a gym leader aside, the fact that Korrina had failed to prove to herself that she's worthy of using Mega Evolution may be a key factor here. We can discuss this more in detail at the closest Pokémon Center, though. After all, we've got an injured Lucario here that needs treatment."
The heroes, as well as Korrina and Gurkinn, made their way to the closest Pokémon Center, with Celmont gently scolding Bonnie for what was essentially tattling on Korrina for poor behavior. "You could have phrased it differently, Bonnie," Clemont chastised.
END, CHAPTER ONE-HUNDRED AND SIXTY-THREE
Author's notes;
This chapter sees the heroes meet Korrina, where her unofficial battle with Ash ends with her losing because Ash used Charizard. After Korrina had a good cry, the heroes go with her to Geosenge Town so she could get a Lucarionite to Mega Evolve her Lucario with. The trial was passed, and in addition to Korrina getting what she had sought, Dawn accidentally uncovers a hidden trove of Mega Stones, among which was another Lucarionite. The reborn trainers are then supplied with Mega Rings, and Gurkinn tests both Korrina and Dawn in using Mega Evolution, as both have Lucarios and Lucarionites and it's their respective first times.
However, as Dawn feared due to what she remembered from the anime in her previous life, Korrina's Lucario soon goes nuts and tries rampaging. Thankfully, Dawn's named Lucario Leni retains her sanity wholly while Mega Evolved and is able to defeat the rampaging Lucario. The heroes, Korrina, and Gurkinn then have to go to the nearest Pokémon Center so that they can have Korrina's Lucario treated. The next chapter will see Korrina work more to try mastering the use of Mega Evolution, as well as see Kenny and Trip try it out.
Dawn's Pokémon: (on hand) Chi-Chi (female Infernape), Levy (female Braixen), Germany (male Garchomp), Ieyasu (male Aerodactyl), Leni (female Lucario), Tsukune (Palkia)
Kenny's Pokémon: (on hand) Roshi (male Torterra), Rex (male Tyrunt), Hovernyan (male Espurr), Nogla (male Qulladin), Godzilla (male Tyranitar), Black (Giratina; Origin Form)
Trip's Pokémon: (on hand) Mr. Popo (male Magmortar), Veda (female Abomasnow), Myde (male Empoleon), Kululu (male Frogadier), Deelia (Dialga), Mitsu (male Helioptile)
Ash's Pokémon: (on hand) Pikachu (male), Charizard (male), Steelix (male; shiny), Froakie (male), Fletchling (male), Braviary (male; alpha; Hisuian)