>>31611813I think this hits the nail on the head. Canonically, standard mega evolution requires a strong bond forged over years of growth (even Korrina had trouble mastering it and her Lucario was with her from early childhodd). Ash's only pokemon that fits that criteria and was in his XY party was Pikachu and they sure as fuck weren't going to mega him.
Personally I feel they ought to have dropped all pretentions and brought back Zard, given him a Y stone and made the final fight between the two zards. At least then the inevitable loss would have been believable.
