"Then you can consider capturing a Pokémon in this desert. There should be several species that meet your requirements," Aoki said.
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Steven's eyes lit up.
Steven became interested. "Aoki, tell me, what kind of Pokémon should I add? You know my preferences—steel-types are my favorite. Of course, if it's a rock-type or ground-type, I can accept that too."
"In this desert, the one I recommend most is Excadrill, a steel- and ground-type Pokémon. It fits your criteria, and you know better than I do how resilient this Pokémon is."
"My second recommendation would be Claydol, a ground- and psychic-type Pokémon. While psychic-types aren't always essential, not having one leaves you vulnerable against them. You already have a Metagross, and pairing it with a Claydol would be highly effective."
"You've battled me enough to understand why Slowking is so difficult to handle," Aoki suggested.
Steven fell into deep thought, considering the feasibility of these Pokémon.
Truthfully, his family had plenty of ways of getting powerful Pokémon—if he asked, he could obtain them easily. Many had exceptional potential and talent. But like any capable heir, Steven wanted to prove he could train strong Pokémon on his own, without relying on his family's resources.
If Aoki knew Steven's thoughts, he'd tell him outright—
"Then don't use your family's wealth! Don't rely on their Pokémon. If you're so determined, hand that Shiny Metagross over to me—I'd treat it well!"
Of course, that was just talk. If Steven truly couldn't find a suitable Pokémon, he'd inevitably turn to his family's reserves.
"These are my recommendations for this desert. The choice depends on your needs," Aoki said.
"What about outside the desert?" Steven pressed, sensing there was more.
Aoki hesitated.
He wasn't sure if he should interfere with Steven's team composition. The two Pokémon he'd suggested earlier—Excadrill and Claydol—were ones Steven would likely obtain eventually, but they weren't the ones with the highest potential.
As someone with foresight, Aoki knew what truly powerful Pokémon looked like. In the long run, those incapable of Mega Evolution would always lag behind.
"Onix, Scyther, Mawile, and… Aegislash!" Aoki listed four Pokémon, all of which he believed were perfect for Steven and held immense future potential.
"Onix evolves into Steelix, Scyther evolves into Scizor, and Mawile is a solid steel-type. But Aegislash—that's a Kalos Pokémon, isn't it?" Steven recognized the first three, as his family used them, but the last one was unfamiliar.
If someone else with Aoki's knowledge were present, they'd realize just how valuable these recommendations were. Aoki wasn't misleading Steven at all.
If Steven captured these Pokémon—alongside his Metagross and Lairon—he wouldn't just be a champion; he'd dominate the steel-type category.
Onix had many weaknesses, but upon evolving into Steelix, most vanished, leaving only four minor type disadvantages. Meanwhile, its resistances and immunities skyrocketed to ten. Most importantly, Steelix could Mega Evolve.
Scizor, the evolution of Scyther, was even better. Aside from a quadruple weakness to fire, it had no glaring flaws. Though its speed dropped slightly after evolution, its physical attack and defense surged—and it, too, could Mega Evolve.
Then there was Mawile. Currently classified as pure steel-type, Aoki knew it would soon gain the fairy-type once officially recognized. This would give Steven a powerful counter against dragon-types. Mawile was also capable of Mega Evolution, and its ability would change to Huge Power—doubling its attack stat. A terrifying trait.
These three Pokémon were all capable of Mega Evolution. Steven might not realize it now, but once Mega Evolution was unveiled, he'd thank Aoki.
As for the last one—Aegislash!
A steel- and ghost-type from Kalos, it could shift forms mid-battle, altering its defensive and offensive stats. With resistances or immunities to twelve types, it was an incredibly powerful Pokémon—one Aoki personally favored.
Recommending these four Pokémon had been a difficult decision. Though Steven and Aoki were close friends now, Aoki didn't know how Steven would react if his Team Rocket affiliation were exposed.
Strengthening Steven now might mean creating a future enemy—one who could become Aoki's greatest obstacle.
But in the end, Aoki shared the information anyway. That was what a true friend would do. Besides, he doubted his Team Rocket ties would ever come to light.
Even if they did, Aoki had contingencies. With his growing influence in the League and his own strength, only Sakaki himself would dare expose him—and Sakaki had no reason to. The higher Aoki climbed, the more valuable he became.
Most importantly, Aoki believed that even if Steven discovered his secret, there was a fifty-fifty chance he wouldn't turn against him.
And when Steven realized just how beneficial Aoki's advice had been, his support would be invaluable.
Weighing the risks—a potential future enemy versus the immediate benefits—Aoki chose the latter.
He was confident that his own strength would eventually rival, if not surpass, Steven's.
If someone like Wallace could become a champion with Steven's backing, why couldn't Aoki aim for the same?
At this moment, Aoki had absolute faith in himself.
He carefully explained Aegislash's capabilities and the reasoning behind his recommendations—though he omitted details about Mega Evolution and fairy-types.
The final decision was Steven's. Even if he ignored the advice, he'd still become a champion someday. But with it, he could be unstoppable.