Naoki activated his ability, and text began to pop into his vision, superimposed over each stone.
[Stone Fragment: Edible mineral fragment. Some Pokémon like to gnaw on this.]
[Rare Earth Ore: Dense underground ore. A favorite snack of Tyranitar.]
[Sandstone: A regular item. Infused with desert energy. When held by a Pokémon, extends the duration of Sandstorm.]
"Nothing good…" Naoki sighed. Most of the items were minerals or nutrient stones commonly found in wild habitats—useful for training Rock-types, but not worth the price.
He kept searching.
Then something caught his eye.
[Mysterious Crystal: A valuable relic. A crystal orb excavated from ancient strata. Though covered in dust and stone, its core glows with mesmerizing beauty.]
Naoki paused.
This… was familiar.
He remembered that in some regions—like in the games—this kind of crystal could be traded with elite Trainers like Steven Stone for rare items, like Heart Scales or other collectibles.
"I'll take this one," Naoki said, pointing to the Mysterious Crystal.
"Great choice!" the mountain man beamed. Another 40,000 Poké Dollars earned in an instant. "Want to go for another?"
Naoki nodded.
Seeing that, the mountain man practically sparkled with joy. A big spender! This guy might make him rich by the end of the day.
Naoki resumed browsing the rest of the display.
Mixed among the unknown stones were some recognizable Evolution Stones—Sun Stones, Water Stones, Leaf Stones…
But Naoki passed them by.
"Not worth the gamble," he muttered. "Teddiursa's already found a bunch of these around the ranch."
Indeed, his Baby Bear had a talent for sniffing out Evolution Stones, often bringing them back after its morning strolls.
So why spend a fortune on something he already had in a drawer?
There were even a few fossils among the stones, but Naoki wasn't too interested in fossils at the moment, so he passed on them.
He pressed on, examining each row of display cabinets with unrelenting focus. And finally, his efforts paid off.
[Altarianite: A mysterious Mega Stone. When held by Altaria, it allows the Pokémon to Mega Evolve during battle.]
Found it!
Even though it was Altaria's Mega Stone, it was still a fantastic first find for Naoki.
He bought it without hesitation and quickened his search pace.
"Fire Stone—skip. Hard Stone—skip. Common stone—pass... Houndoomite? Wait, again?!"
Naoki picked up another stone that caught his attention.
[Houndoomite: A mystical stone that allows Houndoom to Mega Evolve during battle.]
"Thinking of buying that one too?" Yama asked with a knowing grin, practically seeing 40,000 Poké Dollars dancing in the air.
He had always picked up interesting stones on his climbs, but today, they were turning into a small fortune! Yama was thrilled. He wasn't a Trainer himself, so Mega Evolution didn't mean much to him—but money? Money could do everything.
Naoki gave a small nod and tucked the Houndoomite into his growing stash.
At that moment, Yama realized just how valuable this customer was. He fetched a sturdy box and began following Naoki around like a shop assistant, helping him store the stones as he picked them.
In under an hour, Naoki had swept through every one of Yama's collection rooms and ended up with a magnificent haul:
Mysterious Crystal ×1
Houndoomite ×1
Altarianite ×1
Beedrillite ×1
Sceptilite ×1
Metagrossite ×1
Venusaurite ×1
Tyranitarite ×1
Audinite ×1
Nine stones in total. Total cost: 360,000 Poké Dollars.
Yama looked as though he'd hit the jackpot. He never imagined that a bunch of dusty rocks he'd collected while hiking would one day bring in this kind of money!
Naoki, for his part, also felt he'd scored big. Even if neither he nor Iono ever used these Mega Stones, they could always pass them on to Elara when she was older. A future Trainer should always be well-equipped!
"Come again anytime!" Yama said, grinning ear to ear.
"If you come across any new stones, be sure to contact me," Naoki replied, handing over his contact info.
"Absolutely! You've got it!" Yama agreed eagerly.
"Then I'll be heading out." Naoki gave a friendly smile, slung the heavy stone-filled backpack over his shoulders, and made his way to the door.
Just as he reached for the doorknob and pulled it open, he suddenly froze.
A familiar face stood on the other side.
The man had silver hair, sharp features, and a calm but striking presence. His raised hand, poised to knock, hung in midair.
Naoki blinked in surprise. 'Steven Stone?'
Both men stared at each other in stunned silence for a moment.
Finally, Steven broke into a slight smile. "Mr. Naoki?"
Naoki quickly snapped out of it and returned the smile. "Long time no see, Steven."
Five minutes later, in the cozy Friendship Café on Autumn Avenue, Naoki and Steven Stone sat by a sunny window with two cups of coffee and a plate of treats between them.
Next to the table, Koraidon squatted contentedly, happily munching on the snacks with its tail flicking now and then.
"So what brings you to Lumiose City, Mr. Naoki?" Steven asked, sipping from his cup.
Naoki smiled. "Mega Evolution was just officially released. I figured some of my Pokémon might be compatible, so I came to see if I could pick up any Mega Stones." He paused, then added, "What about you, Steven?"
"Funny enough, same reason," Steven replied with a chuckle. "I saw a post online about a guy selling stones. I thought I might find a few rare ones—or maybe a Mega Stone or two. Never expected to run into you here."
Naoki leaned back slightly. "So, did you find a Mega Stone for your Metagross?"
Steven nodded.
As soon as Mega Evolution was announced, he checked his collection and found both a Metagrossite and a Key Stone. Metagross has already successfully Mega Evolved.
Naoki smiled, then asked, "You mentioned identification earlier. Where would I go to figure out which of my stones are Mega Stones?"
"You can visit Professor Sycamore's lab," Steven explained. "They can analyze the energy wavelengths in the stone to determine which Pokémon it corresponds to."
"Thanks. I'll definitely check that out," Naoki said gratefully, even though he already knew. He appreciated Steven's thoughtfulness.
Steven continued, "Besides the Mega Stone itself, you also need a Key Stone to trigger Mega Evolution. Do you have one?"
Naoki shook his head. "No, I couldn't find one during the sale. The seller didn't have any."
Hearing that, Steven smiled knowingly.
He reached down to his belt pouch and took out a beautiful bracelet, inlaid with a luminous, rainbow-hued gem at its center.
"I originally planned to give this to some of my friends," Steven said. "But since fate brought us together here, I'd like you to have it."
Naoki blinked, surprised.
[Mega Bracelet: A specialized bracelet set with a Key Stone. When worn by a Trainer, it resonates with the corresponding Mega Stone held by a Pokémon, allowing Mega Evolution during battle.]
"This is a Mega Bracelet," Steven explained with his usual grace. "It contains a Key Stone. If you pair it with a compatible Mega Stone, you'll be able to Mega Evolve your Pokémon."
"Please accept it—as a token of my gratitude for what you did back then."
Steven was, of course, referring to the incident three years ago when Naoki helped stop the crisis caused by Groudon and Kyogre, restoring peace to the Hoenn region. Without Naoki, the damage would've been far greater.
Naoki appreciated the gesture, but he didn't feel right accepting such a gift for nothing.
He thought for a moment, then asked, "Does your Metagross already have its Mega Stone?"
Steven nodded.
"Then how about a trade?"
Naoki reached into his bag and pulled out the Mysterious Crystal he had bought earlier. The moment Steven laid eyes on it, his expression shifted—his gaze lit up with childlike wonder.
That look… the look of a true collector seeing a long-lost treasure.
Naoki chuckled. "Let's trade. I'll take the bracelet, and you take this."
Steven hesitated only for a second. "Deal."
The two exchanged items. Naoki slid the Mega Bracelet onto his wrist, while Steven cradled the crystal with the care of a museum curator discovering a masterpiece.
Naoki glanced at the time. "It's getting late. I need to head back to the ranch."
He stood up and gave Steven a nod. "If you ever find yourself near Paldea, stop by the ranch. My wife and I would be happy to have you over."
"Koraidon, let's go!"
"Ah, gah!" Koraidon sprang up energetically, stretching its limbs like a big happy dog waking from a nap.
Steven smiled and stood as well. "I'll definitely visit. Take care, Naoki."
The two shook hands warmly, then Naoki turned and stepped out into the bright streets of Lumiose City, Koraidon trotting close behind.
...
Bonus
Stones PLzzz