However, that was impractical.
Gastly only had a smoke-like body with no hands.
Growlithe only had paw pads.
And Bagon's claws also couldn't make rock-paper-scissors gestures.
In that case, they could only decide through drawing lots!
Carver had Latias and Latios wait nearby while he went to the kitchen to get a large box and three different berries.
He then placed the berries in the box and turned to the three Pokémon:
"For fairness, the Pokémon that draws the Pecha Berry will get this opportunity. The Pokémon that draw the other two berries will have to wait for the next chance!"
Upon hearing this, the three Pokémon looked at each other.
"How about it?" Carver asked.
"Bagon!"
"Growl!"
"Gastly!"
All three Pokémon had no objections—they also thought this was fair.
"In that case, who wants to draw first?" Carver asked them.
Little Gastly hesitated somewhat.
Growlithe looked left and right.
Only Bagon stepped forward decisively: "Bagon!"
It would go first!
Carver pushed the box in front of Bagon, indicating it could draw.
Bagon reached its claw inside and without hesitation pulled out the first berry it touched.
Looking down, it was a blue, round berry.
That was an Oran Berry.
"Bagon..."
Bagon immediately became dejected.
Despite being very disappointed, it still honored the agreement and stepped aside.
Seeing this, Carver patted its head comfortingly:
"Don't be sad, Bagon. There will definitely be another chance."
"Bagon!"
Bagon didn't stay sad for long and quickly perked up again.
That's right—hadn't it trained step by step through hard work even without the Exp. Share before?
Although it didn't have the Exp. Share, as long as it watched carefully and learned earnestly, it would definitely learn something from the upcoming battle between these powerful Pokémon!
Fighting spirit reignited in Bagon's heart.
Carver cast an appreciative glance at it.
Not bad! This was the attitude an excellent Pokémon should have.
The Exp. Share was just a shortcut—you couldn't rely on it completely. Taking shortcuts while not forgetting your original intentions was the correct approach.
Next came the second Pokémon's turn.
This time, Growlithe stepped forward first.
It reached its paw into the box and felt around. Before long, it pulled out its chosen berry.
Carver looked down to see a pink, round berry.
Although its shape and color were very similar to a Pecha Berry, it was actually a different berry called a Chesto Berry.
"Growl..."
Growlithe was also somewhat disappointed.
Seeing this, little Gastly at the end immediately widened its eyes.
"Gastly?!"
After Carver comforted Growlithe, he smiled and gestured for it to come forward.
Since it had no hands, Carver helped by taking out the last berry from the box.
It was indeed the Pecha Berry.
"Gastly!!!"
Gastly was overjoyed.
Carver smiled and said: "Congratulations, Gastly."
He placed the Exp. Share on Gastly's head, then turned to look at Latias and Latios:
"You two, we can begin now."
Latias and Latios nodded. Under Carver's guidance, the group came to the breeding house's backyard and selected an open area to serve as the battle field.
Latias and Latios flew to opposite ends of the clearing.
With Carver's command, this battle officially began.
Latias let out a playful "Latias" call, then actively charged toward her brother.
Carver glanced over and said to the Pokémon beside him: "Watch carefully and learn well."
Legendary-level Pokémon battles were very rare anywhere.
Of course, ordinary people weren't without opportunities.
In five or six years, when the Hoenn region's plot erupted, people living on this land would be able to witness the epic battle between the Land God Groudon and Sea God Kyogre.
Faced with his sister's active attack, Latios was quite helpless. Rich light appeared around his body, his form flickered slightly, and he easily dodged Latias's attack.
But Latias seemed to have anticipated this. She turned and condensed an energy sphere wrapped in mist-like feathers, firing it at her brother.
That was the Psychic-type move Mist Ball!
Facing this move, Latios simply breathed out a Dragon Breath.
The two completely different energies collided in midair, exploding and canceling each other out.
"Latias~!"
Latias looked playfully at her brother.
Latios remained silent, his face full of helplessness.
Rather than battling, the siblings seemed more like they were playing.
However, they quickly adjusted.
To fulfill their agreement with Carver, after several rounds of mutual testing, the two Pokémon finally began taking this battle seriously.
Latias went all out, with Psychic, Dragon Pulse, Zen Headbutt, and other powerful moves blasting toward Latios in midair.
But a brother was still a brother.
Facing his sister's attacks, Latios didn't retreat but used the same moves to counterattack.
The two Pokémon's moves continuously collided in midair.
In an instant, powerful energy waves rapidly spread in all directions.
This invisible energy shockwave was like a fierce wind, stirring the forest and startling a flock of bird Pokémon to fly up from the woods.
Seeing this scene, Carver and the Pokémon's eyes all became somewhat heated.
Such powerful strength!
Just Latias and Latios alone possessed this kind of power. If it were Groudon and Kyogre instead, Carver couldn't imagine what level their power reached.
The battle between Latias and Latios quickly reached its conclusion.
Under the collision of move after move, Latias gradually became out of breath.
Seeing this, Latios tried to end the battle with a Psychic attack.
But just as the invisible psychic wave was about to take shape, Latios suddenly saw his sister's somewhat pitiful, somewhat frightened expression.
Latios's movements paused slightly.
But the next second, he saw a cunning smile appear on his sister's face.
Then she condensed another Mist Ball and, taking advantage of her brother's momentary distraction, forcefully fired it out.
Latios was caught completely off guard and couldn't dodge in time.
The moment Mist Ball hit, a violent explosion occurred.
Latios's form fell from midair and crashed onto the grass.
The battle was over!
And the next second, little Gastly nearby was suddenly enveloped in rich light.
Massive amounts of energy and experience poured from the Exp. Share, continuously flowing into Gastly's body.
This energy triggered a qualitative change in life. Within that rich light, little Gastly's appearance rapidly changed.
That was the light of evolution!