#of course Ao was actually the first pokemon I could mega evolve in game but I decided to save that honor for my starter

[rhnuzlocke]

Episode 15

Scene 3:

[Ren and Tāraki are by a small clear pond on Route 120. Kai, Jay, Wally and Kihei watch as Ren and Tāraki try and sync up their breathing. Ren places her left hand over the keystone on her right glove. She breathes deep and exhales forcefully, trying to focus her energy. The keystone begins to glow and a moment later the sceptilite on Tāraki's anklet glows in response. Both partners breath slowly in time with one another, muscles tense and straining as the light from their stones grows brighter and connects. Tāraki begins to glow himself and a restless breeze whips around them. The light pouring out of Tāraki becomes blinding as he begins to change. He grows and the light fades a little. They can see part of his mega form before it snaps back. Light pours out unevenly as he flashes between the two forms. Finally it gutters out completely leaving both of them slumped and panting. Tāraki is back to normal and Ren's hair is mussed from the wind.]

Ren: We almost had it that time. I could feel it.

Tāraki: I was a mega for a moment there. We'll get it next time.

Ren: I feel like this is more of a strain than it should be. I've seen Steven mega evolve his aggron up close. Maybe it just takes time to get good at.

Wally: I think you should try battling.

Ren: I should. I just wanted to get a halfway stable mega form before we tried actually fighting with it.

Wally: But it's a battle form, right? It's temporary. Maybe trying to hold it outside of battle is the problem.

Kai: I wish there was more research on this stuff. It’s still so new. But I think Wally is right. It might be a lot easier if you two were in an actual fight.

Wally: Yeah! Battle me and Kihei! We can always stop if two aren't feeling so well.

Ren: What do you say, Tāraki? Want to give it a shot?

Tāraki: Yeah! Battle!

Ren: [laughing] I don't know why I bother asking.

[Kai and Jay move to the side while Wally and Kihei move to face Ren and Tāraki.]

Wally: Ready?

Ren: Let's go.

Wally: Psycho cut, Kihei!

Ren: Leaf blade!

[Kihei lunges forward but Tāraki is plenty fast enough to get his guard up in time. They trade blows for a while, both unable to land a hit.]

Ren: Slam!

[Tāraki shoves Kihei back and whirls to slam him with his tail. Kihei leaps back just in time and Tāraki's tail tip misses him by a hair. Ren puts her hand over her keystone again and Tāraki's mega stone responds almost immediately. Light arcs between them and around them. Kihei is forced to keep backs as a fierce wind whips around Tāraki and he transforms. The light and wind break simultaneously and Tāraki roars, flexing his new form.]

Wally: [awed] Whoa. [snapping back to the battle] Brick break, Kihei!

Ren: Dragon claw!

[Ren moves with her pokemon as he swipes a glowing paw at his opponent. Kihei is knocked flat on his back by the boosted power of the attack. Tāraki advances but both he and Ren shiver. Kihei swings his legs around and kicks up from a handstand. He strikes Tāraki square in the jaw and he and Ren stagger. They slump forward and Tāraki drops his mega form. They pant and grip their knees to stay upright.]

Wally: Are you okay?

Ren: Yeah, we're good. That went better than last time.

Tāraki: [standing up] I was a mega! It felt so powerful!

Kihei: I'll say. That dragon claw hurt like hell.

Tāraki: Sorry!

Kihei: [stretching] I'm fine.

Tāraki: Jay! You should battle me!

Jay: Okay, but give yourselves a breather. You're sapping Ren dry.

Tāraki: [looking back at his trainer] Oh no! Are you okay?

Ren: [waving him off] Absolutely, tiger. I've got at least one more in me. Let's do it!

Kai: [trading places with Wally] Are you sure?

Ren: [flexing with Tāraki] Bring it, nerds!

[Jay readies herself and Ren touches her keystone.]

Kai: Flame charge!

[Jay bursts into flames as Tāraki begins to mega evolve.]

Ren: Dragon claw!

[Jay charges at Tāraki and he crosses his glowing claws in front of him in a block. He slides back as she plows into him but his mega form clearly drastically reduces his vulnerability to fire. He throws her off and and leaps after her, slashing with his elongated claws. He strikes her once before she blocks with mach punch.]

Ren: Leaf blade!

Kai: Blaze kick!

[Tāraki slashes at Jay, face lit up with confidence and she counters with a flaming kick. The sheer force behind Tāraki's blow is enough to unbalance her and she stumbles back. He slashes again and she drops to the ground to dodge.]

Kai: Low sweep!

[Tāraki wobbles a little from the over extension and she does her dragon’s tail kick and connects powerfully with his ankles. He falls and transforms back.]

Ren: [winded] We left ourselves wide open for that.

Wally: I don't know. Usually Tāraki is a little faster. I think you were about to loose the mega form anyway.

Kai: This is working a lot better though.

Ren: Yeah! This is way better. If we could just hold it through a battle we'd be golden.

Tāraki: We'd be unstoppable! I'm so much stronger as my mega. Neither of you stood a chance!

Kihei: I can't argue that.

Jay: You just can't faint before the fight is over.

Tāraki: I should fight both of you!

Jay: What?

Kihei: Hmm.

Tāraki: Think about it: the pressure from battling one of you really helps the energy flow. Imagine what battling both of you could do!

Jay: [considering] That's actually… not completely stupid.

Tāraki: Thanks!

[Kihei laughs.]

Tāraki: Can I, Ren?

Ren: Yeah. I like your thinking.

Kai: What's he saying?

Ren: We want to try battling both of you at once.

Kai: Shouldn't you two rest first?

Ren: Naw, we're good.

Wally: Yeah! They're making such good progress. Let's do it.

Kai: [hesitant] Okay.

[Everyone takes their places. Tāraki rolls his shoulders in preparation.]

Wally: Psycho cut!

Kai: Fire punch!

Ren: X-scissor!

[Tāraki parties both of them, one right after the other, and thrusts them back. He mega evolves in a flurry and light and wind that keeps them at bay for a moment. He readies dragon claw with a roar and Kihei rushes back in with Jay just behind him. He parries Kihei's jabs but Jay darts in and punches him in the gut. He absorbs the blow without much effect and grins as he slashes at both of them. They mostly manage to parry his blows and alternate attacks to try and land a hit. Tāraki’s boosted speed gives him an edge and he cackles as he blocks their blows. Ren moves in sync behind him but they soon get a little overconfident and swing wide. Jay and Kihei both land a hit and Tāraki staggers.]

Ren: Sweep them! Slam!

[Tāraki spins and slams them both as they close with his huge tail. They go flying back but land on their feet. They glance at each other just as their trainers glance at each other.]

Kai & Wally: Brick break!

[Jay and Kihei run forward together this time. Tāraki tries to block them but tumbles over and lands flat on his back. He groans and returns to his normal form. Ren staggers and fall to her knees before collapsing face down on the ground.]

Kai & Wally: [alarmed] Ren!

[They run up to check on her. She turns her head and exhales with a groan.]

Wally: Are you two okay?

[She pushes herself up just enough so that her face is no longer smushed against the dirt.]

Ren: Better than okay. We’re great! Right Tāraki?

[He nods vigorously.]

Kai: You both just collapsed!

Ren: Yeah, but did you see how long we held that mega form? And we only dropped it because you beat us. It lasted the whole battle! We did it, tiger!

Tāraki: Yeah we did!

[She crawls forward a bit and kisses him on the head. He wiggles and burbles and she giggles. The rest try to look stern but can’t help smiling.]