Asaka Town.
“Ah… slower, Rhyhorn, slower, I’m going to fall!”
Serena was practicing riding on the back of a Rhyhorn; today was her first day of training.
The feeling of almost being thrown off made Serena panic.
Her mother, Grace, reminded her from the side, “Serena, don’t talk, be careful not to bite your tongue!”
“Serena, you must become one with the Rhyhorn, feel its movements with your heart…”
“Mom, stop talking nonsense…”
Serena’s face was full of resistance.
“Serena, believe me, Mom went through the same thing, and you will definitely become an excellent Rhyhorn racer!”
As Grace finished speaking, Serena’s hand gripping the reins suddenly lost strength, and she was immediately thrown off the Rhyhorn, landing face-first in the dirt.
Serena felt the stinging pain on her face and shouted, “I hate it!”
…
On the other side.
Ash, led by Bonnie, arrived at Professor Sycamore’s laboratory.
Why was Bonnie leading the way?
Good question.
Clemont, who was not good at running, had already been left two streets behind.
The Team Rocket trio, who had been sent flying earlier, also happened to see Ash and Bonnie run into the research institute.
Ash looked at the empty hall and shouted, “Is Professor Sycamore here?”
“Ah~ May I help you?”
A laid-back voice came from the nearby passage.
“Professor Sycamore, this Froakie is seriously injured, please help!” Ash said.
“Froakie?”
Professor Sycamore had an ominous feeling.
He quickly ran over to Ash, and with just one glance, he recognized it as the starter Pokémon that had been returned multiple times.
“Sophie, come help quickly!”
Professor Sycamore took Froakie from Ash’s hands and said with a worried expression, “You really worry me.
I received a message from your Trainer that you secretly left again.”
A female researcher quickly ran over and took Froakie from Professor Sycamore’s hands.
Ash asked knowingly, “Um… Professor, do you mean that Froakie abandoned its Trainer?”
“Yes.
The other party just sent a message saying they want to give up on this Froakie, saying that it does not listen to commands and keeps running off.”
Professor Sycamore felt a headache coming on, as this was not the first time.
“I see.
Professor Sycamore, hello, my name is Ash, from Pallet Town in Kanto.
This is my partner, Pikachu.”
Bonnie and Clemont also introduced themselves.
“Pallet Town, Kanto?
Ash?”
Professor Sycamore felt a sense of familiarity.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he rummaged through a pile of magazines nearby.
“Found it!”
“You’re the new scholar who announced Mega Pidgeot with Professor Oak, aren’t you?
I read that paper, and I also read your report on Annihilape.
It’s remarkable!”
Professor Sycamore praised him openly.
Clemont and Bonnie asked with confusion, “Annihilape?
What kind of Pokémon is that?”
“Annihilape is the evolved form of Primeape, a rare dual-type Fighting and Ghost Pokémon.”
As Ash spoke, he released the Annihilape he carried with him.
Its flowing white fur, crimson eyes, and the chilling aura of a Ghost type made it look particularly formidable.
Professor Sycamore examined it carefully.
“Its life form has changed.
It is exactly as described in the paper!”
Click.
Suddenly, the arrival of a Garchomp attracted everyone’s attention.
[Pokémon: Garchomp (Professor Sycamore)]
[Type: Dragon, Ground]
[Gender: Female]
[Strength: Gym Leader Peak (49)]
[Ability: Sand Veil (Raises evasion during a sandstorm)]
[Held Item: None]
[Moves: Giga Impact, Hyper Beam, Dragon Rush, Dragon Rage…]
Garchomp looked at Froakie, who was receiving treatment, with a concerned expression.
“It’s Garchomp!” Bonnie exclaimed excitedly.
“That is our research institute’s Garchomp.
She has a very gentle temperament.”
The group approached Garchomp with some hesitation, but just as Professor Sycamore said, she was very docile and even enjoyed being petted on the head.
Clemont suddenly asked, “Professor, you specialize in Pokémon evolution research, right?”
Professor Sycamore nodded.
“Yes.
There are many other Pokémon in this research institute as well.”
Upon hearing this, Bonnie immediately clamored to play with the institute’s Pokémon.
Professor Sycamore did not refuse and happily led the siblings away.
Ash stayed behind to try to connect with Froakie.
Before doing so, he released Gible and let it go seek guidance from Garchomp.
“Froakie, thank you very much for what you did just now.
You were a great help, and we really like you.”
“Pikachu, Pikachu~”
“I can tell that you have the determination to become stronger.
You are not a Pokémon that was abandoned without reason…”
Froakie gave Ash a deep look.
Ash did not linger.
After a brief exchange, he left, as Froakie needed rest the most right now.
Because the Sycamore Research Institute is located within the city, its backyard is not as large as Professor Oak’s laboratory.
Most of the Pokémon in the institute are species with fast growth cycles, such as Caterpie, Weedle, and others.
This is likely for the purpose of breeding them as observation subjects for evolution research.
Ash found Professor Sycamore and asked, “Professor, I have read your research paper on Mega Evolution in the League’s academic journal.
May I learn more about Mega Evolution?”
“Of course.
However, I currently lack sufficient research materials on Mega Evolution.
Ash, I see that you are also pursuing scholarly research.
Would you be interested in being affiliated with my institute?”
Professor Sycamore’s research on Mega Evolution had made great progress after reviewing the Mega Pidgeot paper co-authored by Ash and Professor Oak, but without enough experimental data, further advancement was difficult.
“Ash, you… you are also a Pokémon researcher?!” Clemont looked at Ash in surprise.
“I am still just a beginner.
Professor Sycamore, as long as you do not mind, I am willing to cooperate.”
Ash was clearly putting effort into expanding the number of Pokémon he could carry.
Although Professor Oak had already helped him apply for an additional slot after his scholar certification, one extra slot was far from enough.
He still had many Pokémon waiting, hoping to travel with him again.
Clemont asked curiously, “Professor, does that mean Mega Pidgeot is another evolutionary branch of Pidgeotto?”
Professor Sycamore explained, “It is a higher level transformation of Pidgeot.
It is a phenomenon known as Mega Evolution.”
“Pidgeot can still evolve?”
“Not just Pidgeot.
Many Pokémon have Mega Evolution forms, and Garchomp is one of them.”
“Huh?”