It was a brisk fall day as the sun was high in the sky over Lumiose. There was a gentle clacking on concrete that neared the magenta plaza on the west side of the city. Slowly, Professor Sycamore came into view, crossing the plaza's grassy plain in the direction of a deep crimson store front. There were a couple people in dark red suits with an "F" emblazoned on their belt buckles as he strode past and pushed on the door to enter the cafe.
He had been invited by Lysandre for lunch today, drawn away from the monotony of his laboratory. As he walked in, the Professor sought Lysandre's copper visage in the sea of red chairs and tables and found him sitting in the far corner. He walked over and pulled a chair and sat down as Lysandre looked up from the notebook he was writing in.
"Good afternoon, mon fleur," Augustine smiled at Lysandre, an old friend. "How are you today?"
Lysandre raised his head, almost looking down his nose at Augustine, returned with his own gentle grin. "I am fine, and how you are doing, mon cher ami? How is your research?"
Augustine slid a leather bag off his shoulder to hang on the chair where he sat, "I am great, currently still researching how to mega evolve Pokémon. I was able to inspect a fully-evolved specimen yesterday, it was impressive."
Lysandre's interest piqued as he listened to Augustine explain this. "That must be quite a sight. I wonder what triggers it." Lysandre raised one of his gloved hands, delicately holding a tea cup lined with red and black stripes up to his lips. "May I get you a drink?"
Augustine nodded, his manicured hair bouncing in place, "I would love a café. Something with vanilla, s'il vous plait." Lysandre motioned for one of the waiters to give them the order.
Involved in his train of thought, Augustine continued about his research. "So far we have seen that someone must have the the appropriate stone for a Pokémon as well as a stone that initiates mega evolution. As far as I can deduct, it appears that there is some sort of magnetic or chemical reaction that happens when the two are close together."
Brows furrowed in contemplation, Lysander asked, "So if the two are in close proximity, a Pokémon will just become mega evolved?"
Shaking his head, Augustine added, "Unfortunately no, that's something I am still trying to figure out. One of my trainers has a mega evolution ring as well as several Pokémon with evolution stones attached, however it will not just happen when they're close, only when she initiates it."
A waiter came over with a small ceramic mug and saucer with black and red lacework around the edges, setting the drink down in front of Augustine. He thanked the waiter as he picked it up and took a drink. "What Pokémon even have a mega form?" Lysandre asked curiously.
"I have only heard of a couple. Venusaur, Lucario and Blaziken." Augustine explained.
Lysandre's eyebrows raised, "Blaziken, a beast that has come a long way."
Augustine nodded, "I will research more of the specimen when granted the opportunity, but I only had the chance since my trainer is here for a short time."
Tilting his head, Lysandre questioned, "Which trainer acquired the ring?"
"Serena. All the trainers had to go to the Tower of Mastery in order to get it. I believe she's still here if you'd like to see one of the evolutions in action." Sycamore offered.
Lysandre thought back to a time he was visiting the Professor. Standing in the lobby of the laboratory, Lysandre had gone to size up the trainers that had come to apprentice under Professor Sycamore. She seemed like a timid girl, but judging by the achievement she'd made he contemplated how she must be a powerhouse of a trainer disguised by that young, sweet exterior. This intrigued him as he entertained strategies against her.
"I would love to see an evolution, if you and your trainer have the time," Lysandre said, talking between sips of tea and looking over the Professor's features. He looked sharp today, which Lysandre had come to find out of the ordinary since the Professor usually spent less time grooming himself when he was involved in research like this.
Professor Sycamore nodded and reached into his coat pocket for the holocaster to call her, "Let me see if she is still around," he said, dialing Serena's number. After several moments, her image popped up.
"Serena! Come and meet me at Lysandre Café, I want to talk to you about something," Professor Sycamore waved excitedly at her through the holocaster.
Serena's image nodded at him somewhat messy looking and confused. "I'll be right there, um, sir," she said, just before clicking off. Professor Sycamore closed the holocaster, an idle content grin on his face.
Lysandre watched his actions as he did this, wondering what might going through mind of the Pokémon Professor. He seemed a little more upbeat than his usual drowsy self.
"So what have you been working on lately, Lys?" Professor Sycamore asked as he sipped at his coffee.
Thoughts about what he could possibly say to his friend without giving away his intentions whirred through Lysandre's head, his brows furrowed. "I have been busy with several pet projects lately, but thankfully I have my scientists to control them for the most part. We've been trying to source some… materials throughout the country for a machine to improve the, ah, environment."
Professor Sycamore smiled at Lysandre, "Keeping busy as usual then. Are they going well?"
Lysandre nodded, "Other than some red tape here and there, things have gone very well. I expect to see results from them soon."
The both of them continued to talk at length about things happening around each of their laboratories, the research advancements both of them had made among Pokemon and inventions created. Eventually, a little bell situated on the door of the café rang as a small, blonde-haired girl clad in a fluffy gray coat pressed her way in through the door, her red felt hat obstructing the view of her eyes as she looked around in the dim café for her Professor.
Professor Sycamore looked up at her and waved her over to the small table in the corner. "Over here!" he shouted at her.
Serena's curious blue eyes looked up and she wandered over to their table and sat next to it. She smiled at both of them politely and took off her hat, greeting both of them in as demure manner as she could manage and bowing slightly to both. "Hello, Professor, Lysandre."
Lysandre returned her polite smile and observed as a smile stretched across Professor Sycamore's face as he greeted her with a pat on the head. "Hey, Serena. I was just having a conversation with Lysandre about mega evolution. Actually, Lysandre himself is of royal ancestry… He is truly a chosen one."
Serena's eyes widened as she looked at Lysandre, a little surprised by that idea, "Are you really?" she asked, looking thoughtfully over his resplendent suit and crown of copper hair.
Lysandre beamed at the question, sitting up a little straighter, "True, I'm a descendant of the king's younger brother. That being said, that story is 3,000 years old, so it might not be entirely reliable."
The Professor popped a question to Serena, "So Lysandre here wanted to see a mega evolution while it's happening and I wondered if you were up to the task."
Serena looked over to Professor Sycamore, "Yeah, sure. We can do that. Outside, though?"
Both the Professor and Lysandre nodded and went to stand, ushering Serena up and out the door. They walked into the nearby magenta plaza as she pulled out one of her Pokeballs to release her Pokemon in the open space.
A growl set forth from the ball as Blaziken was released. Standing tall above her, she patted Blaziken's head for a moment, giving him some affection for his display before raising her wrist to initiate the evolution.
Lysandre looked on with interest at Serena and her Pokemon, gazing over her and the bracelet on her left wrist, as well as over the Pokemon's stone. "Mega evolution is something I, too, would like to be able to use," he said.
Blaziken roared forth as he grew and evolved into Mega Blaziken, the huge muscular creature standing over the three of them. Professor Sycamore was awed by the Pokemon while Lysandre analyzed it.
They both took their time to walk around and inspect the Pokemon while Serena stood near her creature, cooing to it. Without each of them knowing, both Lysandre and Professor Sycamore took their time to appreciate Serena and her care for the Pokemon.
"They really must love you, you know," Professor Sycamore said, smiling at Serena.
Serena only looked solemn, "I try to take care of them well. They really appreciate the love, and I wonder why people don't care for their Pokemon the same."
Lysandre also glanced at her, "Truly a remarkable trainer, you are. I see so much potential in you and I would love to borrow that ring to figure out how it works and reproduce it."
Serena smiled, "I still have a ways to go until I become champion, but maybe after that!" She turned to the Professor. "I should probably start off to Laverre City. I think I've rested enough." She bowed deeply to him, "Thank you for everything, um, Professor."
For different reasons, both the Professor's and Lysandre's hearts skipped a beat as she spoke, both holding on to secrets that they did not want to divulge. For the Professor, he had hoped that Lysandre would not figure out that something was going on between them. For Lysandre, he knew of operations that were going on in Laverre City that he had hoped Serena would not meddle in until they finished. However, neither of them thought past their own nervous desire.
"Before you leave, I would like to give you this as a thank you for showing me this mega evolution," Lysandre handed her a stone in the shape of a crown, setting it in her hands as she looked up at him.
Serena smiled and thanked him for the item, playfully setting the Kingsrock on her head as she looked up at him then proceeded to return Blaziken to his Pokeball.
"And I will take my leave. Good luck on your journey, Serena, and it was nice seeing you Augustine," Lysandre addressed both of them as he walked back to the café.
After Lysandre left their view, Professor Sycamore brushed Serena's hair out of her face before pressing his somewhat dry lips gently to hers. Serena pulled him closer, arms around his neck as she hugged him. There was a slightly pained look on his face as he pulled away. "So I will see you soon, ma chére. Good luck and call me if you need anything."
There was a tight feeling in Serena's chest, but she refused to let it take over her. She looked up a forlornly at him. "Yeah, I'll see you around," she said as he gave her another quick peck and began walking back toward his laboratory.
Serena turned to make her way to the northerly route 14 gate, but found it difficult to walk forward. She could only feel a clenching as her heart pulled at her. She didn't want to leave and she didn't know how to deal with having said good bye to Augustine. Trying to avoid the main roadways of the city, she walked along the smaller canals as she began to sniff back an oncoming wave of sorrow, overwhelming her with tears. Her vision blurred as she reluctantly left the city, trying not to think about the Professor.
"I'll be fine," she told herself, and persevered on her way out into the wilderness again to continue on her journey.
