Whether it's a regular Evolution Stone, a MEGA Evolution Stone, or a Key Stone, they are essentially types of minerals, which is why the mining-savvy Ash has a sensitivity to MEGA Stones and Key Stones.
As for the Hoenn Champion Steven, regardless of his sensitivity to Evolution Stones, his status alone ensures that he has collected quite a few minerals.
So it's very possible that Steven has gathered some MEGA Evolution Stones.
Although it might seem unfair to Steven, Ash still thought about trying to buy some stones from Steven before MEGA Evolution was discovered.
This matter was entrusted by Ash to Professor Oak.
After the exchange between Aerodactyl and Pidgeot, Ash hung up the phone, went back to the room at the Pokemon Center, and woke Misty and Brock. After breakfast, they continued their journey.
...
Seven days later—
Ash and his friends were not far from the pier leading to Cinnabar Island, and during this time, they had been searching for information about the Incredible Garden.
But unfortunately, neither Professor Oak nor any of the battling passersby had any information about the Incredible Garden.
Just as Ash was about to give up, they arrived at a Pokemon Center by the roadside. Upon seeing Ash, Miss Joy at the Pokemon Center brought up an event happening on Route 118.
"Every year around this time, a garden blooms quietly. Due to its sporadic blooming and the difficulty in locating it, we've only known about it through Bulbasaur. We call it the Incredible Garden."
"However, where the Incredible Garden is and what happens inside it remains unknown to this day."
"It's commonly known that the Incredible Garden blooms specifically for the Bulbasaur species."
"Any Bulbasaur that visits will evolve into Ivysaur! Even their talents might be enhanced!"
"So, around this time each year, many Trainers bring their Bulbasaur here and wait for the Incredible Garden to bloom!"
Upon hearing Miss Joy's words, Ash displayed an incredulous expression on his face.
He wasn't amazed by the mystique of the Incredible Garden, but rather by how it suddenly appeared before him!
Bear in mind, it had taken him nearly a month to get here from Fuchsia City.
In a month, not only had he not found anyone who had seen the Incredible Garden, he hadn't even met anyone who had heard of it.
Yet, by sheer coincidence, today the information about the Incredible Garden had presented itself.
This is why Ash found it hard to believe. Just as the saying goes, "A hidden village beyond the dark willows," a place he couldn't find just appeared so dramatically.
Although they still couldn't pinpoint the location of the Incredible Garden, as long as they released Bulbasaur and waited here for a while, the Incredible Garden would eventually reveal itself.
"No wonder this place has so many Trainers. They're all waiting for this garden," Misty said, glancing around. The Pokemon Center was almost fully occupied.
Moreover, many people were eyeing them curiously, as they were wearing masks, making it difficult for those not particularly familiar with them to recognize them easily.
However, considering their distinctive features, some Trainers here were wondering if this was the recently famous Newbie Trainer from Pallet Town, Ash.
Because they were unsure, they just observed from a distance without approaching. It would be awkward to mistake someone else.
Even if they were right, at most they would challenge Ash to a battle, or ask for a photo or autograph.
The reason Ash had been so fervently admired before was largely people wanting to learn his Pokemon training methods.
Though he did defeat an Elite, it was clear to any discerning person that it wasn't purely Ash's Pokemon's power, rather some method had been used to enhance their abilities.
So, rather than Ash's prowess, those who fawned over him were more interested in his temporary power enhancement techniques and Pokemon training methods.
After all, even without using such exaggerated enhancement methods, Ash's Pokemon were at the Elite Professional Level. Training them to such a level in just two months is unprecedented in nearly a century, even if not entirely unheard of.
This enhancement can only be described as monstrous, which is why Ash's training methods have been sought after by many.
But since Ash explicitly stated he wouldn't disclose any training methods, and that the method for temporarily boosting Pokemon's strength was non-replicable, the fervor surrounding him had diminished somewhat.
Recently, even those who recognized the masked Ash simply wished to battle him for experience, or just to get a signature or photo.
It's likely that in some time, Ash and his companions could remove their masks and live freely.
"It seems the Incredible Garden is quite renowned here. Even though we asked so many people before, none knew about it. It must be because the garden is about to open, so those people had already gathered here," Brock said, rubbing his chin with a serious look of analysis.