Two full weeks passed quietly, and during that time Alex slowly adjusted to his aunt's training, even though every single day still felt like a battle between his will and his body. He could now complete the training sessions without collapsing midway or being carried home like an unconscious sack, though the pace he managed was painfully slow, something Cynthia never failed to tease him about with a calm smile that somehow hurt more than harsh words.
Still, progress was progress, and even Alex had to admit that his body felt stronger, sturdier, and more responsive than before.
Today, however, was different.
Today was special.
Alex woke up before dawn, standing near the window while the world outside was still quiet, watching the distant cliffs glow faintly under the early sunlight. They were heading to Cyllage City, a city built directly into the cliffside, famous for its Rock-type Gym and its proximity to fossil-rich caves that ran deep beneath the surrounding mountains. Every year, during this season, collectors, researchers, and trainers gathered there to showcase fossils they had discovered throughout the year.
A fossil exhibition.
His father had barely slept the night before, excitement radiating from him as he muttered about geological layers and ancient Pokémon, while Cynthia had agreed to come along with suspicious ease, as if the trip itself held little importance to her.
They traveled by mountain car along narrow cliff roads, the ocean stretching endlessly below them. Alex pressed his face against the window, watching seabirds glide effortlessly through the air, while his father talked nonstop about fossils and excavation theories. Cynthia listened in silence, her gaze calm and observant, hands resting casually as if nothing in the world could disturb her.
They arrived right on time, and the exhibition was already bustling with life. Stalls stretched across the open area like a chaotic marketplace, except instead of food, they sold ancient bones, polished fossils, strange minerals, and stones whose origins were still hotly debated.
To Alex, it felt like a rural fish market—only this one traded in history.
His father vanished almost instantly, fully immersed in bargaining and examining fossils, eyes shining with obsession. Alex didn't even have time to say anything before he was gone.
"Let him go," Cynthia said calmly, noticing Alex hesitate. "He won't hear us even if we scream."
Alex nodded, and the two began wandering together.
Unlike her brother-in-law, Cynthia showed absolutely no interest in fossils. Instead, she gravitated toward stalls selling shiny stones and jewelry, lifting polished minerals into the light, examining them briefly, and buying whatever caught her attention without hesitation.
"These are nice," she said casually, already paying.
Alex followed along quietly, scanning stall after stall, until his steps slowed, then stopped entirely.
His eyes had locked onto something simple, almost unremarkable—a string of stone beads resting quietly on a small display. To anyone else, it was nothing special. But the moment Alex saw it, his heart skipped violently.
From the memories buried deep within his mind, he recognized it instantly.
Three large stones.
One smaller stone.
Mega Stones.
And a Key Stone.
This knowledge should not exist yet. Mega Evolution had not been publicly discovered. Professor Sycamore had not published anything. And yet, here they were, sold like ordinary jewelry.
Alex forced himself to remain calm, not allowing even a flicker of emotion to cross his face. He picked up the beads along with a few other pieces, asked the price in a casual tone, and paid without hesitation.
Cynthia glanced at him with mild amusement."You like rocks now?" she asked.
"They're shiny," Alex replied simply.
She smirked, clearly unconvinced, but said nothing more.
After that, Alex carefully checked other stalls, but found nothing similar. The beads were unique.
They stopped for ice cream shortly afterward, Cynthia leaning casually against a railing as she ate. Alex took a single bite—
—and froze.
A sharp ringing exploded inside his head, violent and overwhelming, as if something were drilling directly into his thoughts. His vision blurred, his body lifted off the ground, and an uncontrolled surge of psychic energy burst outward, distorting the air around him.
Cynthia reacted instantly, catching him as his body convulsed in her arms, his eyes unfocused and glowing faintly.
She called Garchomp without hesitation.
Within moments, they were racing through the sky toward the nearest Pokémon Center.
Chaos followed.
His father arrived breathless, fear etched deeply into his face. Miss Joy and her Wigglytuff tried every possible method—scans, calming techniques, psychic stabilization—but nothing worked. Alex struggled violently, eyes dazed, as if something unseen were pulling at his very consciousness.
Finally, Miss Joy stepped back, her expression grave.
"He's under strong hypnosis."
Cynthia's calm shattered instantly, anger flaring in her eyes. This had happened under her protection.
Then, just as suddenly, Alex went still.
His breathing slowed. His body relaxed.
He opened his eyes and saw his aunt's face, tight with worry.
Questions bombarded him from every direction—what did he see, what did he feel, did anyone touch him—and Alex answered honestly. He spoke of a glowing star that screamed inside his head, that pointed toward a massive rock, and finally added that it looked like a small Pokémon with a large V-shaped hairstyle.
No one believed him.
So Alex sighed and said quietly,"I'll show you."
Officer Jenny quickly cleared the area when Champion Cynthia returned to the exhibition grounds. They stopped at a rock vendor's stall, the shopkeeper nearly fainting at the sight of her—only to be ushered away moments later when Cynthia bought the entire shop without hesitation.
She ordered Garchomp to slice the stone.
The rock split cleanly, revealing a hollow interior.
Empty.
Alex shouted immediately, pointing desperately, insisting that the Pokémon was right there. But no matter how closely they looked, there was nothing. Cynthia knelt and gently placed a hand on his forehead.
"Alex… are you feeling alright?"
He shook her hand away, stepped forward, and reached into the hollow space, scooping something up with instinctive gentleness. He cradled it carefully in his arms, like a sleeping child.
Everyone else saw him holding nothing.
Seeing their fear, Alex sighed, took Cynthia's hand, and placed it where his arms were wrapped.
"Touch it."
At first, there was nothing.
Then—
Her fingers brushed against something soft and warm.
Cynthia's eyes widened in shock.
Alex placed the unseen presence on a table, and everyone felt it then—the faint warmth, the subtle pressure of a living being. Alex murmured that it had woken up.
The invisible Pokémon floated upward and settled naturally on his head.
Alex frowned slightly."They can't see you," he whispered. "They won't believe me."
The air shimmered.
Light bent.
And suddenly, a small cream-and-orange Pokémon appeared, yawning lazily, V-shaped ears unmistakable.
"Vii—"
"Victini?!"
The name echoed in stunned disbelief.
Victini waved once… and promptly fell asleep again.
Silence followed.
Only Alex feeling weight on his forehead.