Pokémon: My Parallel World Daughters Revealed

Chapter 143: Can a Pokémon Mega Evolve Without a Trainer? (Power Stone Milestone Extra Chapter 2/2)

The video continued playing.

Miori sat behind the reception desk at Nimbasa Gym. An appointment ledger lay open in front of her as she twirled a pen in her left hand and supported her chin with her right.

Emolga lay sprawled across the top of her head, its dangling tail swaying back and forth. Luxio rested at her feet, occasionally turning its ears.

It was two in the afternoon. There were no challengers with appointments, making this the quietest part of the Gym’s day.

Miori yawned.

The pen spun twice around her fingers before falling onto the desk.

”Maybe I should close the Gym early today.”

Emolga poked her ear with its tail in protest.

”I was only saying it.”

Miori picked up the pen again.

”Being a Gym Leader really isn’t easy. No wonder Mommy dumped the Gym on me so early.”

Emolga released a sympathetic murmur.

At that moment, the Gym’s doors were suddenly thrown open.

A Trainer stumbled inside.

”Gym Leader Miori! Something terrible has happened! A Pokémon has gone berserk near Route 4! It’s discharging electricity everywhere and knocking down the trees beside the road!”

Miori immediately rose.

”What kind of Pokémon is it? Has anyone been injured?”

”I-it’s an Ampharos!”

The Trainer struggled to catch his breath.

”There’s something completely wrong with it, and its eyes are red! Several passing Trainers were electrocuted. Officer Jenny is evacuating everyone and told me to come notify you first!”

”Let’s go.”

Miori zipped up her jacket.

”Luxio, Emolga—we’re heading out!”

Luxio released a low growl and followed Miori as she rushed through the doors.

Route 4.

By the time Miori arrived, Officer Jenny and several police officers had already established a security perimeter.

The Pokémon standing beyond it wasn’t an ordinary Ampharos.

Thick white wool covered more of its head and tail. Instead of merely having two electrical organs atop its head, they now extended outward on both sides like a crown.

It was Mega Ampharos.

An unnatural red light shone in its eyes. Its steps were unsteady, yet it continued releasing electrical attacks.

”Mega Ampharos... Where is its Trainer?”

Miori surveyed the surroundings.

Aside from the fallen trees, there was no sign of anyone.

”Gym Leader Miori!”

Officer Jenny hurried over from beside the security line.

”The electricity inside this Ampharos is completely out of control, and the range of its discharges continues to expand. We’ve already moved all nearby Trainers to a safe distance.”

”Something is wrong with it.”

Miori stared at the red light in Ampharos’s eyes.

”It doesn’t look like conventional methods will calm it down, so we’ll have to use force. Officer Jenny, leave the evacuation to me. I’ll handle Ampharos.”

Officer Jenny nodded and turned to direct the other officers in expanding the evacuation zone.

Miori raised one hand.

”Luxio, Emolga—prepare for battle!”

Luxio released a low growl and leaped across the security line.

Emolga flew in after it, electricity crackling through its cheek pouches.

Sensing the two Pokémon approaching, Mega Ampharos abruptly turned its head and released a hoarse roar.

A massive Thunderbolt tore through the air toward Luxio.

”Dodge!”

Miori raised her hand.

Luxio sprang sideways.

Thunderbolt struck the ground behind it and blasted open a scorched crater.

”Emolga, keep it distracted!”

Emolga circled Mega Ampharos while repeatedly attacking it with Thunder Shock, restricting its movements.

”Now, use Crunch!”

Miori seized the instant Mega Ampharos lost its balance.

Luxio opened its jaws and bit down on Mega Ampharos’s shoulder.

Mega Ampharos released a pained cry. The red light in its eyes began flickering violently as it staggered backward two steps.

It finally crashed to the ground and reverted from its Mega-Evolved state.

Miori turned and nodded to Officer Jenny.

”We’ve calmed it down, but it needs to be taken to a Pokémon Center for further examination.”

Officer Jenny put away her notebook and signaled for the officers to bring over a stretcher.

”Thank you for your assistance, Gym Leader Miori. We’ll take care of everything from here.”

At that moment, Ampharos slowly opened its eyes.

Its gaze was still unfocused, but it remained firmly fixed on Miori.

Ampharos struggled to stand. Its forelegs trembled twice beneath it before it fell back into a sitting position.

Miori remained silent for a moment before turning to Officer Jenny.

”Officer Jenny, allow me to take this Ampharos back to the Gym for treatment. I’ll have someone send you its rehabilitation records afterward.”

Officer Jenny nodded.

”Very well. I’ll leave it in your care, Gym Leader Miori.”

[VIP Chat Group]

[Professor Sycamore]: An out-of-control Mega Evolution! Theoretically, something like this should only occur when the bond between a Trainer and Pokémon is insufficient and Mega Evolution is forcibly induced. The crucial problem, however, is that there was no Trainer anywhere near that Ampharos. How did it Mega Evolve?

[Leon]: Surely it didn’t pick up a Mega Stone, put it in its mouth, and Mega Evolve by itself?

[Valerie]: It Mega Evolved without a Trainer present? Wouldn’t that disprove Professor Sycamore’s theory?

[Professor Sycamore]: Impossible. There have been no known exceptions to my theory so far. Perhaps its Trainer was merely hiding somewhere nearby.

The video continued playing.

It was already late at night by the time Ampharos had been settled in, and Miori finally returned to her bedroom.

She collapsed onto the bed and was about to rest when her communicator rang again.

Miori took a deep breath and answered the call.

Elesa’s face appeared on the screen.

She wore a pale-blue swimsuit top and sunglasses, while a golden beach and brilliant blue ocean stretched out behind her. Several Wingull flew over her head.

”Mio, sweetheart! Did you miss Mommy?”

Elesa pushed her sunglasses upward and enthusiastically waved at the camera.

”...Mom, why are you dressed like that?”

”Mommy is currently vacationing at the beach in Slateport City! The waves here are wonderful, and the sand is incredibly soft~”

Elesa turned the camera to show her the scenery.

”Mom, did you call just to show me that you’re both on vacation?”

”Of course not! Your father has something to tell you!”

Elesa’s expression abruptly became serious as she turned the camera around.

The screen now showed Asher.

He was wearing sunglasses and beach shorts that matched Elesa’s swimsuit. He also held a glass of fruit juice decorated with a tiny umbrella.

”Mio, how is that Ampharos doing?”

”The electricity inside its body is still unstable, but its life is no longer in danger.”

After giving him a detailed report, Miori suddenly frowned.

”Wait. Daddy, how did you learn about this? I only finished settling Ampharos in less than two hours ago.”

Asher took a sip of his juice and answered casually:

”An adult’s secret.”

”You say that every time, Daddy.”

”Because it works every time.”

Asher’s expression remained completely unchanged.

Miori sighed helplessly and decided not to pursue the matter.

”Daddy, there’s something very strange about that Ampharos. I couldn’t find its Trainer anywhere nearby, and this case is different from every other out-of-control Mega Evolution incident I’ve studied.”

”Mm. I know.”

Asher put down his drink.

”That Ampharos’s circumstances are indeed unusual, but you don’t need to worry about it. It doesn’t have a Trainer, so you can catch it yourself.”

”Daddy, do you know something you aren’t telling me again?”

”I know plenty of things, but information from me isn’t what you need most right now.”

”Then what do I need?”

”A good night’s sleep.”

Asher lowered his sunglasses, revealing his golden eyes.

”Being a Gym Leader is already exhausting. Don’t place too many additional burdens on yourself.”

”But—”

”No buts. All right, that’s everything I wanted to say. Talk to your mother for a little longer.”

The camera returned to Elesa’s face.

”Mio, sweetheart, how does it feel to be a Gym Leader? Are you having fun?”

Miori stared at her expressionlessly.

”Mom, I’m hanging up.”

”Wait, wait!”

Elesa hurriedly waved her hands. Her smile faded slightly, although her voice remained cheerful.

”Don’t push yourself too hard at the Gym. Give yourself a day off occasionally. Mommy may have handed the Gym over to you, but I never told you to work overtime every day.”

Miori fell silent for a moment before her voice softened.

”...I understand. What about the two of you? Are you having fun?”

”Of course we are!”

Elesa put her sunglasses back on.

”All right, I have to go! Your father and I are going surfing! Keep up the good work! Mommy loves you! Kisses!”

The screen went black.

Miori stared at the communicator for three seconds before saying expressionlessly:

”Have fun.”

She placed the communicator on the table, lay back down, and stared blankly at the ceiling.