Chapter 24: Vow of Secrecy
The rocky outskirts of Lithiore transitioned into fields of dry grass and yellow trees, then into a pocket of healthier, green woodland and muted green fields.
A cobbled path led from a dirt road to a cherrywood cabin nestled along the tree line. Wind chimes rang carefree in the salty breeze, suspended along with potted plants from an overhang shading a spacious side porch.
Two tables on the porch had been pushed together to make room for Pneuma and Brightscale, who occupied five of six seats of various styles and wood types.
Ivan cleared his throat as he nervously eyed Pneuma. The Lucario sat across from him, rapping their claws on the table. Their deep red eyes met his, causing him to avert their gaze.
He instead peered through a window next to the cabin's cherrywood side door. He could see a cozy rustic kitchen and a living room with a green sofa, a coffee table, and hanging paintings. After that was the corner of a training room with a weight rack, punching bags, and a pull-up bar welded to the wall.
'I'm getting a real mixed vibe from Pneuma. The house is peaceful, but they battle rigorously for a living. And they've gone from jovial to staring at me like I've committed a crime,' the Grovyle thought.
Galena sat next to him, her arms crossed as she looked down at the Lucario. "So, thanks for the invitation and all. You've got a nice place. But are you gonna tell us why we're meeting in secret?"
"I will," Pneuma said flatly before raising their finger. "First, we wait for my girlfriend." They gestured to a wooden bench beside them, the only seat unoccupied. "We don't have guests often, so she's insisting on showing some hospitality before we get to more serious matters."
"Not to rush her, she's been quite lovely… but you do understand how all this talk of 'serious matters' might put us on edge?" Inti grumbled.
Lady had a conflicted look. "You've been great hosts. I just hope you aren't upset with Ivy…"
The Lucario stared back at the Grovyle. "Upset isn't the word. I assure you this isn't personal. I'll explain when it's time."
The group went quiet, an awkward and tense silence setting in.
After a moment, the cabin door swung open. Hyacinth trudged out, holding a tray with a pitcher of lemonade and five glasses.
"I've brought some refreshments for our guests!" the Garbodor said with a smile before placing the tray on the tables. She began to pour the lemonade into glasses positioned before each Pokémon.
Lady's eyes grew at the sight of the drink. "Ooh, thank you, Hyacinth! It looks tasty!"
"You're welcome! I hope you all enjoy!" she remarked happily. She then began to turn back toward the door.
Pneuma's ears shot up. "Cynthie, don't you want to sit down? You worked hard on the lemonade, you should drink with us."
"I don't want to interrupt your business," Hyacinth said before her cheeks turned teal. "Besides, I ate all the leftover lemon rinds, so I'm okay."
Ivan smiled back at her before lifting up his drink. "Thanks Hyacith, it looks great! Sorry again for intruding on your evening."
"No worries! Now that the tournament is over, my Pneuma and I will be home for a few days. We have plenty of time to celebrate their win. You all have fun!" she explained before walking back into the house, reaching back with her long arm, and pulling the door shut.
Brightscale each studied their glasses. Only Lady prepared to take a sip immediately, the Beautifly fluttering onto the table. The others had hesitant looks.
"I don't mean to offend, but there wouldn't be any health concerns involved, would there? That's not to say I don't trust the young lady," Inti remarked.
Pneuma gave him a tired glance. "I live with her, and I'm still kicking. She's very mindful about this kind of thing, so trust me when I say it's fine. Now please, drink the lemonade."
"Good enough for me," Galena said with a shrug. She lifted the glass to her lips.
The rest of the group began to drink as well, a few exhales of satisfaction quickly filling the quiet.
Ivan wiped his mouth with a napkin before looking at Pneuma. "That's pretty good! Nice and cool for a summer day."
"Uh huh," the Lucario muttered before taking a swig of theirs. They placed it down, the glass meeting the table with a dull clink. "So Ivan, tell me… what do you know about your amulet? I want all the details."
The Grovyle blinked and tugged at his scarf. "O-Oh, right. Where to start? I suppose the beginning, the natural starting point." He chuckled nervously and cleared his throat again. "I got it from my old boss. We're a rescue team, and I recently became the leader. G-Galena and the others were r-recent additions, they weren't originally—"
Ivan winced as he felt the familiar sensation of a thick fist lightly strike his arm.
"Get on with it, butterhead. This isn't a trial," Galena said flatly as she withdrew her hand.
'Certainly feels like one,' the Grovyle's thoughts groaned. "Right. Sorry."
"I received the amulet when I stood up to my boss—real nasty guy—and won. After that he quit the team. I started wearing this, and for a while nothing seemed unusual. I thought it was just a symbol of leadership. Then recently, it began to react to me. Whenever I'd get spooked or really stressed, it glowed," he explained.
Pneuma bit at their claws. "Glowed. And you mentioned how it changed you before. What do you mean by that?"
Ivan rubbed his chin as he thought back. "We were tackling a stressful mission, chasing outlaws with blast seeds. You know, fun stuff. We fought and one of the outlaws took the amulet and tried to destroy it in a bottomless pit. Then… something took over me. I jumped in to save it, totally fixated on my instincts—that's when I transformed into another version of me. It had wings and sharper claws. I became really strong and fast. But it was really painful, like it was tearing me apart. I let out that pain and stress out on those outlaws. I didn't hurt them too badly, but it was bad enough that my team had to calm me down. I've tried looking into it, but couldn't find any clues. And… now I'm here. I was told you might be able to help me understand it all."
Pneuma looked down at their half-empty glass. Their mouth fell partly open before they looked back up at the Grovyle. "I am almost at a loss for words. I expected to have to turn you away… this is something you really, really, shouldn't know about. But the more I think, the less I can justify telling you to leave this alone. I need to know your intentions."
"I want to understand how to control it," Ivan said. "It scared my team to see me change into something that wasn't me. I just want to make sure it's not a danger to me or anyone else."
The Lucario tapped their chin. Then they leaned over and reached down next to their chair. A black bag sat there, which they began to rummage through. Finally, Pneuma retrieved something and concealed it in their fist. They presented their closed paw to the team before their expression turned even more serious.
"I have answers for you all. But what I am about to say, you cannot, under ANY circumstances disclose to anyone else. Can I trust you with this burden of secrecy?"
Brightscale exchanged anxious glances. Ivan gritted his teeth, his eyes darting left and right.
'So they can help me… this sounds serious. But I think I want to know. Even if it means keeping a secret, I owe it to my team to understand.'
He took in a deep breath before matching Pneuma's solemn gaze. "It's important for me to know about this amulet's power. I promise not to tell anyone."
The rest of the team nodded, silently taking the same vow.
The Lucario scanned the Grovyle up and down, though they looked more around him than directly at him. "What I'm about to say I never thought I'd have to share in a million years. But your circumstances are special. So listen closely."
They opened their paw, revealing the item held within it.
Brightscale looked on with anticipation. Their eyes all widened.
It was a stone almost identical to Ivan's, except it had an amber hue. It too had a swirl of color in the middle, a mix of blues and reds.
Pneuma sighed and looked Ivan dead in the eye. "What happened to you on that mission, that transformation… is called mega evolution."
Ivan donned a look of surprise. Inti sported one of cautious interest. Galena looked skeptical, her brow flattening. Lady's eyes locked on Pneuma as her antennae shot up with intrigue.
"Mega evolution? Wow! Can you tell us more about it?" she asked.
The Lucario glanced around, as though expecting a Pokémon to have walked up and eavesdropped. They closed their eyes, retreating into their thoughts. "Mega evolution is an extreme transformation of one's body. Their strongest traits are amplified—brute strength, speed, durability, cunning, you get the idea. But it also pushes their body to its absolute limit. It's called mega evolution because it is effectively a form OF evolution."
"So, you're saying that any Pokémon with a gemstone like this can evolve?" Ivan asked, attentively leaning forward.
Pneuma shook their head. "No. Not every Pokémon can harness that power. Very few species are known to be able to. It's theorized that certain Pokémon have evolved an additional form, an extra blueprint for evolution. Even then, they'd need a stone specific to their kind. I want you to bring out your amulet so I can see it more closely."
"O-oh, sure," Ivan stuttered before pulling his jewel out of his bag and laying it on the table. A stream of sunlight piercing the porch's shade caught it, its reds and blues glimmering. "Like you asked, I kept it in my bag for the trip here."
Pneuma inspected the gem, turning it around to view its every inch. Suddenly they had a look of awe on their face, their brow furrowed intensely. "Perhaps I was wrong. This doesn't make sense. This is a Salemencite."
"Sala-what-now?" Galena murmured, tilting her head. Her horns dangled, mimicking the motion.
"Salamencite," they sighed. "Every Pokémon known to mega evolve has a stone that can resonate with them—a mega evolution stone. I figured you had brought me a Sceptilite, which would explain the transformation. But this has me stumped."
Ivan studied the stone as well, observing the swirling reds and blues.
'Those colors do look like a Salamence's. Exact same hue, too. Just like Dad's…'
"This gem resonates with Salamence?" he asked before sitting up straight and pointing to his fangs and eyes. "If it matters, I happen to be half Salamence."
Galena blinked. "Whoa. Does this mean your family tree gave you some kind of superpower?"
"Half Sceptile, half Salamence? Fascinating." Pneuma remarked. "Sceptile can also mega evolve. Though that's through their own stone. Only problem with that theory is that you're not a Sceptile. I've never heard of a Grovyle, or any middle-evolution, resonating with a stone."
"Maybe Ivy's just special!" Lady offered.
"Special? If my theories are correct, you'd be more right than you know," the Lucario added. "He might be the first instance of a Pokémon mega evolving early, thanks to that heritage."
Ivan couldn't help but smile. "Well, I'm proud of my ancestry. I didn't know it would allow for something like this to happen, though."
"Now we'll never hear the end of that pride," Galena said flatly, rolling her eyes.
Inti frowned. "This is a lot to process. A dear friend of mine, able to harness such a great power? Subverting rules we hadn't even known about? This only adds to my concern, having seen him in such a state of frenzy and agony the first time."
"Agony. Right," Pneuma muttered before their ears went flat. They gestured to Ivan. "You said you evolved without warning…? What did you feel?"
Ivan shivered. "There was an intense burning throughout my body. I couldn't think straight. All I could think about was letting the pain out. Is there a way to stop it? Or at least to control it?"
"One can learn to control it. However, Ivan, it isn't just these circumstances that astound me. It's how damn lucky you are to be alive and unharmed," they said, clenching their teeth.
"What on earth do you mean by that!?" Inti blurted, his mouth hanging open.
Ivan gave Pneuma a stare like a Sawsbuck's toward danger. "A-Alive? Why would I be anything else but alive?"
"Mega evolution creates immense strain on your body. And that strain takes months of physical and mental training to properly endure… normally. The fact that you transformed without any knowledge is baffling. You could have easily been torn apart inside. Especially since as far as I can tell, you're not supposed to have a mega form in the first place," they explained.
Galena eyed the Grovyle in surprise. "Maybe it's that Salamence blood coming in handy again? Never fought one, but I hear they're pretty tough."
"I have no choice but to accept that explanation," Pneuma said, holding their paws out in concession. "Imagine that. Months of intensive training skipped, due to a predisposition for mega evolution. And people call me a showoff."
Ivan tapped his claws together. "Well, at least that means I'm more likely to control it, right?"
"For all our sakes, I hope so," Inti muttered.
The Lucario's ears returned to their upright position. "I can't know unless I see your potential. And given the risks, I'd advise against trying to show me now. I hope you all see why I was hesitant to disclose all this. There are other reasons, but first and foremost, the power one has with mega evolution is unparalleled. And Ivan seems to be even an exception to the rules of an already exceptional power."
Ivan looked down and ground his teeth. "I don't even know what to say. Me, an exception? Incredible power? It's a lot to think about."
"It's almost too bizarre to be true," the Druddigon added.
"Hold up a minute," Galena interjected. "This is all insane. If this power is so bonkers, why hasn't everyone heard of it? Why don't the kids get taught say no to mega evolution? "
Pneuma went quiet, retreating inward again. They let out a long sigh, then peered into each of the teammates' eyes. "If I answer that, it will require a good deal of digestion . I've already said more than I should have. I need to trust you can handle keeping this next secret. You'll never read about it in any textbook."
"You can trust us!" Lady enthused, flicking her wings. "My hubby and friends are the most loyal, goodhearted Pokémon I know!"
The Lucario stared at her, peering into her very essence. "I see. Auras don't lie. And yours is… perhaps the purest I've ever seen. Except for that little, fiery red spot in the middle. That'sconcerning." They did the same for the rest of Brightscale, finally locking eyes with Ivan.
"Y-Yeah. If it's important for us to know, you have our word we'll keep it between us," the Grovyle seconded.
Pneuma hummed, then nodded. "Very well. I will trust you with closely guarded knowledge, omitted from history. Let's start from the beginning. A couple thousand years ago, the predecessors of our current societies—like Regalia, Lovor, and De Pala—were thriving. Centuries of advancement due to magical discoveries from mystery dungeons, like medicine, agriculture, and transportation, allowed the early empires to flourish. But there was one discovery that created an unexpected change."
"And that would be mega evolution?" Ivan asked.
"Yes, and what a discovery it was," they affirmed, shaking their head. "It became well known, but was still quite rare. The evolution stones were found in random, secluded pockets around Arcamare. But there were enough for certain Pokémon to realize they could harness their power. And from there, the potent art of mega evolution was created."
"I'm gonna go out on a limb here and assume something went wrong," Galena remarked with a slight frown. "When I think of art, I think of a perfectly puffy souffle. Or an empowering rock anthem. Not whatever it was Ivan turned into. No offense."
"No offense taken—but the old Arcamarans would disagree. Mega evolution was very much pursued," Pneuma explained. "Monks and martial artists honed it. Respected figures, like kingsmen, nobles, and soldiers, learned from it. But there were more opportunistic Pokémon after it too. The art was new enough that the world's governments couldn't figure out how to regulate it. Crystal deposits seemed to just crop up out of nowhere. Soon underground trade networks dealing in the stones did too. And that's where the trouble began."
Inti looked over to Lady. "Er, dear, would you want to tune out this next part? I have a feeling there's a less than happy ending to this story."
"I'm okay, Inti!" she assured, her eyes twinkling with fascination. "If I don't know what happened, I might explode!"
Her husband sighed. "That's what I was afraid of."
"I want to know too. Please, Pneuma, continue," Ivan insisted with bated breath.
The Lucario twiddled their paws. "Right. Anyone who wanted the crystals bad enough could acquire them, with the right connections. That would prove catastrophic."
Suddenly, Pneuma stood up, their chair groaning as they pushed it back with their leg. They put their paws on the table and looked at the ground, their expression dark and humorless. Brightscale perked up in surprise, awaiting the Lucario's next words.
"Because of mega crystals' selective nature, groups of power-hungry Pokémon banding together would have been nearly impossible to combat. And that is exactly. What. Happened."
Ivan felt his heart sink, as though the tension had molded it into a cannonball. 'This doesn't sound good.'
"The old empires were blindsided. Wielders of mega evolution plundered and burned cities, maimed and killed innocents. They toppled the established orders. And once one coup succeeded, more quickly followed. Armies were dispatched to deal with them, but mega evolution proved far too powerful. Thousands died. Societies collapsed. Wicked Pokémon took all the power for themselves. For months, the world plunged deeper and deeper into chaos," they explained.
"I've never heard anything like it," Inti said with a frown. "How barbaric. What type of Pokémon would be compelled to do such horrible things?"
"You strike me as a Wildborn fellow, no? Dark-hearted Pokémon raised in a hierarchy can do terrible things to rise above it," Pneuma answered grimly.
Ivan's face went pale. He raised a claw to interject. "But this can't be true, can it? Arcamarans have seen conflict—trade squabbles, territory disputes, the very occasional battle… but chaos like what you're describing? It should be impossible. Arceus himself instilled a desire for harmony in us. We're not supposed to fight on that scale."
"Arceus did that?" Lady squeaked in awe, turning her enraptured gaze toward the Grovyle.
He raised a brow. "You haven't heard about it, Lady? We call that the Divine Order. Pokémon were directed to live together in harmony. The Lake Guardians—Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf, granted Pokémon the ability to think, feel, and act for themselves. It's also why we eat berries and fish now, not people… for the most part."
"I remember hearing about that in school, though I was too busy being bullied to remember everything," Galena said with a huff. "There was the divine intervention stuff, but what did they call the time before that? When Pokémon would fight and eat each other? It's on the tip of my tongue. The Savage Age? The Blood Era? No. The—"
"The Savage Era," Pneuma interrupted. "And your Grovyle friend is absolutely right. Arceus DOESN'T like conflict. So when society began to crumble under their watch—they stepped in."
"Doesn't sound like good news for these mega evolution guys," the Goodra remarked, leaning back. "Hope those jerks got what was coming to them."
"And I hope this story has a happy ending," Lady said softly, shrinking.
Ivan leaned forward, captivated. "Arceus himself appeared? He only rarely makes himself known to Pokémon kind. What did he do?"
"What any all-powerful creator would do when their creation is threatened. Punish the destroyers," Pneuma said somberly. "With the aid of many of the other Legendary Pokémon—the Sacred Swords, Latios and Latias, Ho-Oh and Lugia, Yveltal, Xerneas—they traveled the world, smiting each tyrant disrupting their order. Overthrown armies and benevolent mega evolution users joined them. And after days of battle, each villain had fallen. The fires of chaos were extinguished."
Lady held her head a little higher. "That's a relief. What an exciting story! It's sad people died though…"
"Goes to show what happens to those who think they can stomp on whoever they want," Galena said, crossing her arms. "Glad there was justice for those who got the short end of it."
"What happened after that? I imagine Arceus didn't take all that destruction lightly," Ivan remarked.
"Of course not," Pneuma said flatly before dramatically raising a paw to the sky. "Arceus was outraged. Mega evolution was the first true threat to Arcamare as they knew it. It needed to be purged. They called upon Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf again. You can probably guess where this is going."
"A second Divine Order?" the Grovyle asked, his jaw dropping.
They nodded. "Correct. Paying attention, I see. With help from the Lake Guardians transmitting their voice into the minds of mortals, Arceus decreed that all mega crystals and recorded knowledge of them were to be destroyed. Fearing such a catastrophe could happen again, the world's governments scrambled to carry out the task, even executing some offenders just in case. And THAT'S why history books don't mention mega evolution."
Yet another silence emerged between the group. Each member of Brightscale looked at each other, unsure of what to say.
'You could hear a Joltik sneeze,' Ivan thought. 'What do you even say after that? If this is all true, recorded history had a huge chunk wiped out!'
He took a deep breath. "It's going to take me some time to really believe it. It's like everything we've been taught is a lie."
Pneuma wrung their paw. "This was all for the greater good. There hasn't been anything like it in your lifetime, has there? That's the point of the Order. To maintain peace."
"If it's to keep us all safe, I suppose a little fib can be okay," Lady conceded. "It'd be scary to have something like that happen to my home, to my friends."
"Pardon me for saying, but this all sounds like too much," Inti grumbled in disbelief. "Why should we believe you? You have a crystal, sure. But how do you know all this catastrophe nonsense if it's a secret to us ordinary Pokémon?"
Galena also shot Pneuma a skeptical look. "Yeah. And how do you know how to mega evolve, if all those crystals were thrown out? And how does Ivan have one?"
"I was afraid you'd ask that," Pneuma said before sitting down. "For one thing, some stones slipped through the cracks. Knowing the world's deities were after them, some Pokémon sealed their crystals away in remote locations. But on the other hand…"
They suddenly clutched their temples. "..Oh, I could get in so much trouble for this. But while I'm revealing centuries of secrets anyway, there's one more thing I should establish."
The Lucario reached down into their bag again. They scooped out a green cloth, stood back up, then unfurled it.
Brightscale watched intently as the garb cascaded into a cloak decorated with gold linear and triangular patterns. A golden chain held the collar together, but otherwise it flowed freely, offering little cover in the front.
Pneuma tucked in their ears as they slowly pulled it over their head and onto their shoulders. The cloak swayed and flapped as it settled, reaching just behind the Lucario's heels. Their eyes gleamed with conviction.
"There is a select group of Pokémon—to which I belong— entrusted eons ago by Arceus to preserve the knowledge of mega evolution. For their service by the Legendary Pokémon's side, they were permitted to master mega evolution and excavate the world's secrets," they explained before throwing an arm out dramatically. "And so began the legacy of the Relic Seekers ."
Lady's eyes glimmered. "Ooooh… that's a cool cape! You're like a superhero from those movies Ivy and Galy have shown us!"
"I was hoping you would be more curious about this grand reveal," Pneuma sighed, deflating slightly. "I'm no superhero. I'm about to tell you about a secret society here."
Inti gave them a weary look. "I'm certain we're all very curious. My wife sees wonder in many things, that's all."
"We're listening. You just should've led with the whole secret society thing. What's up with that?" Galena remarked with a tilt of her head.
The Lucario stood tall again. "Very well. For centuries, the Relic Seekers protected the art of Mega Evolution and enigmatic secrets better left unknown to the masses. And to answer your questions, Arceus had another dictate—once the Relic Seekers were formed and their second Order complete, they recruited the Lake Guardians again. This time they tapped into the minds of all other Arcamarans and erased knowledge, the knowledge of Mega Evolution. That was the THIRD Divine Order, and the last one to date."
"A name so nice they used it thrice," the Goodra said with a nod and a hint of sarcasm.
"He really is powerful!" Lady remarked. "I'd expect nothing less from the Pokémon who made, well, everything!"
Inti exhaled. "I still have my doubts about these claims. I've seen plenty of strange clothes since moving to Florei Valley. More evidence would be nice."
"Want me to walk the walk, eh?" the Lucario murmured before pointing at Ivan. "I've made a decision. I'll train your friend in the art of Mega Evolution, help him get it under control. How's THAT for evidence? All I ask in return is a vow of secrecy."
"T-Train me? You'd do that?" Ivan said, a twinkle appearing in his eye and an open smile on his face.
Pneuma grinned. "Do I look like a Lucario who goes back on their word?"
Galena grinned too, though mischievously. "Couldn't we just join this 'Relic Seekers' club instead? We have insider knowledge now."
They let out an emphatic but feigned laugh, which lasted mere seconds before they gave her a stony glare. "No. Quite the opposite would happen, in fact. Firstly, Ivan would have his stone confiscated and you'd be questioned mercilessly. And questioning is the least of what they could do. Secondly, I'd be disgraced. I've revealed centuries of secrets without permission. But that would be my problem. I'll figure out how to dance around that later. Anyway, it's my help or no one's. I'm being quite trusting with you all."
"U-Understood. Thank you again for what you've told us," Ivan said before gulping. He then rose and pumped a fist. "And as for your offer… I'd love to train with you!"
Pneuma walked up to him and looked him up and down. "Then it's settled. But just because you aren't an official Seeker, however, doesn't mean you have any less responsibility. That goes for your friends, as well. I will have you recite the vow all Seekers take."
"I'm not sure about this," Inti grumbled, looking left and right.
Lady floated up and onto his head. "It's okay honey! I think we can trust Pneuma!"
"I promise to keep my word!" Ivan enthused. "I'm ready to take the oath!"
They put one paw on their chest and the other out to the side, then looked expectantly at the others. All seated members got up and did the same, with Lady trying as best as she could to replicate the pose with her stubby arms.
"Repeat after me," Pneuma began with a tone of authority. "As a Seeker of truth, I swear by this sacred oath."
"As a Seeker of truth… I swear by this sacred oath," the four carefully parroted.
The Lucario nodded. "I accept the same responsibility that all before me have, humbled by the scope of our mission. Never will I forget what our vigilance prevents."
"I accept the same responsibility that all before me have, humbled by the scope of our mission... Never will I forget what our vigilance prevents."
Pneuma breathed in deeply, their eyes lighting up with anticipation. "My duty, to protect truth at any cost, begins now."
"My duty, to protect truth at any cost, begins now," the others said before collectively exhaling.
The Lucario took their arm off their chest. Brightscale did the same.
An air of tension lingered over the group. The team members had expectant but also uncertain looks, unsure of the gravity of what they had sworn to.
Pneuma looked at each of the oath-takers. They chuckled, their ears rising as their laughter broke the silence. "Well, don't stand around looking all anxious. Not like your lives are gonna change. Though you will still abide by those words."
"Of Course, Pneuma," Ivan said, bobbing his head. "I won't let you down."
Galena shrugged. "If we're on duty now, do we get capes too?"
"Oooooh, I want a cape!" Lady squeaked.
Pneuma shook their head and grinned. "No, but you're free to bring your own from home." They then pulled their cloak off their shoulders before folding it up.
"I'll consider it," Ivan said with a laugh. He had a glow of excitement ."So now that I've taken that oath, you can train me?"
Their expression hardened again. "Yes… but I have some quick additions for you, Ivan. You will use your power and knowledge wisely and only with good in your heart. I can sense auras, I'll know the deepest depths of your character at every step. If at any point I feel the amulet is unsafe with you, it is my duty to confiscate it. Do you understand?"
"I understand. But I will work so that doesn't become necessary," the Grovyle assured.
The Lucario smiled again. "That's what I like to hear. You know, there's something about you that makes me kind of excited to train you. Maybe it's how eager you are about this. You remind me of myself many years ago."
His cheeks reddened. "I try my best. I guess I'm just naturally inclined to learn."
"When will this training take place? It won't be too disruptive of our lives, will it? My wife and I are stil getting used to our current arrangement," Inti asked, raising a claw.
Galena gestured to the Druddigon. "Guy's got a point. Rescue work can mean long hours as it is. I need some time for my beauty sleep."
"Let's see," Pneuma murmured before tapping their foot. "I've gotta stay home and prep for a one-on-one match in a few days. So why don't we start next weekend? Go home and carry on as normal until then. As for the pace, we can take it slow. Not like the world's truths are going anywhere. I know I won't—I'm not gonna disappear on you like the mentors in the movies. I'm thirty-two, it isn't my time yet."
Ivan laughed again. "That'd be perfect! I can't wait to get started! I'll probably be up every night thinking about it until then."
"Hope that doesn't interrupt my aforementioned beauty rest," the Goodra muttered.
They had a look of pride in their eye. "Now you're really sounding like me, Ivan. Maybe this is good for me too. Don't have many people to talk Mega Evolution with nowadays."
"This is going to be fun!" Lady squealed. "Ivy will be the best student ever. He works so hard! His effort has made Brightscale special and so much better than his old team could ever be!"
Pneuma's smile shrunk before they gestured to the Grovyle. "Oh. Speaking of which, you said your boss had that amulet, Ivan? Do you know anything about that?
He scratched the back of his head. "Not really. The stone was passed down between the leaders of Nightscale—what the team used to be called—and eventually a Hydreigon ended up with it. Never saw him use any sort of special power. Though I think I once heard the original leader of Nightscale was a Salamence."
"I'm disheartened to know there was a Salamencite out in the wild, especially belonging to one who might have known its power," they said with a grimace. "Those are cracks we can't let these crystals fall through. But I guess it's handled now, and no societies have fallen recently. One more thing—you mega evolved fighting outlaws? If they spread the word, it could mean really big trouble."
"Don't worry about those lunatics," Galena interjected. "They nearly blew up a whole mystery dungeon for a quick buck. They could tell the whole prison block, nobody's gonna believe them. If I got my ass handed to me like they did, I'd probably tell everyone my opponent was a super-evolved monster too. Would help the blow to the ego."
The Lucario hummed. "Not as strong a defense as I'd want, but it'll have to do. You all will have to be extra careful from now on." They glanced at Ivan. "And again, don't wear that amulet around here. Attention from other Relic Seekers is the last thing we want."
"Don't worry Pneuma! We'll protect alllll the secrets you tell us!" Lady chimed in.
Ivan grinned, then saluted. "Yeah, I took that oath after all. I'll keep this under wraps!"
"I'd prefer to avoid unwanted attention anyway," Inti added. "All I want is to ensure Ivan can safely handle this power."
The Lucario relaxed their stance. "Sounds like you're the ideal type of Pokémon to have stumbled into this Mega Evolution business. Good. We'll adjourn this meeting, and start training Saturday at noon." They then picked up their glass of lemonade before chugging it and wiping their mouth. "Now that that's settled, anyone for more lemonade?"
Each team member raised their arm. They then looked at each other and smiled. Pneuma began to walk around the table, topping off each glass.
'Today's yielded some crazy insights,' Ivan thought before raising his glass. 'Mega Evolution? Relic Seekers? Divine Orders? It's a lot to process.'
Th eGrovyle looked into their dark red eyes, with both exchanging a pleasant look and a nod. Pneuma proceeded to pour him a new glass.
As the last drop of lemonade entered his glass, Pneuma shook the pitcher. It had been completely emptied. "Looks like we're out. What would you all say to a second pitcher?"
"That would be lovely!" Lady said with a flap.
Galena smirked. "Keep it coming, o wise teacher. Can't expect us to keep the world's craziest secrets parched, can you?"
"Fair point," they conceded before walking to the door and opening it. "Cynthie! Some more lemonade for our guests, if it's not any trouble!"
"Oh? I'll start on it!" the Garbodor called from inside the cabin.
They then turned the knob and stepped inside, disappearing from sight.
"Well this has been quite a day," Inti sighed, shifting slightly in his seat.
Galena leaned back. "It's been pretty nuts, yeah. Now we're sworn to secrecy about ancient secrets and stuff. Not how I expected my week to go. How about you guys?"
"I am so super curious!" Lady answered, her eyes big and gleaming. "I want to know all about Mega evolution, and to see Ivy learn to use it!"
Ivan nodded and glanced at his amulet. "Sounds like I'm going to learn from a professional. I'm feeling confident! Can't wait to soak up all that I can, especially for you guys."
"Appreciated, green bean. But remember, even if you're training to become a Mega Evolution master, you still gotta help around the base. Can't let the women do all the work," Galena said with a grin.
He wrung his claw and smiled. "I'll be sure to find a balance! Another important aspect of leading a rescue team, as my dad taught me. I won't let it distract me from my team!"
All four Pokémon relaxed, the prior tension in the air dissipating completely. All that was left for the team to worry about was their next round of refreshments.
As he waited for Pneuma and Hyacinth to return, Ivan took his necklace off the table and into his claws. A determined and euphoric expression appeared on his face.
'It's a lot to process. But with Pneuma as my mentor, I know this will be great. Gaining control of this amulet, my friends by my side… I'll learn as best as I can!'
Thanks as always to youngmanymca on PMDFF, FFN and Ao3 for beta reading!
So, lot of lore just casually dropped about my world and story, lmao. Hope you enjoyed it! The lore was never really emphasized to this point, a little bit here and there, the occasional reference to a Legendary. And I hope Mega Evolution and the Relic Seekers are things you'll be eager to hear more of in the future! Got plenty of good stuff cooking up.