Disclaimer: Pokémon is still owned by The Pokémon Company, which in turn is owned by Nintendo, Game Freak, and probably others I forgot. The following fanfiction is me playing around in their sandbox, using characters they envisioned and created, except for the odd character that wasn't. I own nothing of this.
Chapter 35: Formal Exchanges
Max adjusted his tie, feeling slightly nervous as he saw the sheer amount of people in the large and opulent hall he had been ushered into along with Danny and Serena. He noticed golden chandeliers; paintings of ages long past; annals of history he had no idea about. People mingled around tall tables as soft classical music struggled to make itself heard over the chatter. Every last one of the people that Max could see was dressed much like they were: either in suits or in evening gowns. The far side of the room was elevated slightly; the natural stage currently empty of people except for someone wearing what looked like waiter's clothing.
The last time he'd been at something like this, he'd spent most of the event at the food tables. Nearly eleven year old boys weren't expected to dance at a ball after all. He doubted he'd be that lucky this time, though there wasn't any dancing on the schedule.
"Verily, I welcome you to this event," a male voice, deep and formal, came from Max's right, and he resisted the urge to spin on his fancy shoes. He'd done that before, and he'd ended with his face on the floor because of it. "Masters Maple and Birch, Mademoiselle Galbena," the steel-clad man greeted each of them in turn, a hand on his heart. "It gladdens my heart to be able to converse with you in person. Follow, if you please?"
Max glanced over at Danny and Serena, giving a minute shrug and receiving two in return before following Wikstrom to a comparatively empty part of the hall. A waiter intercepted them as they found a table, handing all four of them glasses of water. Max immediately took a large sip to quench his throat, finding the water pure and cold. "Er… Master Wikstrom?" he started afterwards, receiving an approving nod from the member of Kalos's Elite Four. "Why did you bring us here?"
The older man smiled, restrained but happy. "In part because it would not do to leave you to flounder and gawk, as much as it is warranted in these resplendent halls. Equally so, I wished to formally meet those who served Kalos bravely, without any expectation laid upon them." He, too, took a sip from his drink. "That tailor's cut appears familiar. Amind, if I am not mistaken."
"He came recommended," Max said when Danny refused to speak up.
"And verily, his reputation for quality at reasonable prices helped in your decision," Wikstrom observed, the corner of his lips tilting up when Max blushed faintly. "Worry not. Though some here do judge upon one's wear, a far greater number are understanding of your plight as Trainers and teenagers not yet fully grown. To you, this probably feels frivolous, does it not, Master Birch?"
Danny stopped surreptitiously tweaking his bow tie, surprised at being called out. "A… A bit. I've never been to something this formal." Max and Serena quickly nodded in agreement. "And I'm a little bit scared, too. What if I say something wrong?"
"Be polite, and you can say most anything," Wikstrom replied. "Though the majority of those here are politicians of all walks, they understand that you are young yet." He noticed Max's soundless groan. "Indeed, Master Maple. Politics is hardly something you can be expected to indulge in, but when in Kalos, do as Kalosians do." The soft smile was compassionate, though Max still got the feeling Wikstrom was enjoying this somewhere. "It might be prudent for you to always be with someone you know, though I would advise against staying in a single large group all night."
Max thought he understood that, and after exchanging a temporary farewell with the Master Steel-type Trainer, he immediately spotted another familiar face, looking about as at-ease as he felt. Clemont spotted him as well, and the Gym Leader, wearing a dark blue suit of a similar colour to Serena's dress, excused himself from his chat. "I'm glad to see you," he said without hesitation. "I hate suits, and I had to get one fitted last week because of this. I'd been hoping to put it off until the Gym Leader meeting in December."
"You wear suits to the meetings?" Max said. He couldn't remember his father ever wearing a suit, except for weddings or wedding-related things, like their anniversary.
Clemont nodded, a sad look on his face. "All of us do, except Olympia. There's a tradition to petition against it, but that goes nowhere." He sighed deeply. "At least I like my tie."
Max took a look at the burgundy tie, noticing small matt yellow lightning bolts patterned all over it. "That's cool. Wish I'd been allowed something patterned." He adjusted his tie again, mainly to make sure it was still straight. "Instead of this one-colour one."
"The dark green does look nice on your white shirt," Serena opined. "And all the patterned ones were terrible."
"I told you you should've just bought something and just presented it as a fact," Danny teased. "Bow ties are better than regular ties, too. Way cooler."
"Can't help it my letter ordered me to wear a regular one." That caused Clemont to raise both eyebrows in surprise. "Do you know something about that?"
"Suspicions, nothing more," the Gym Leader stated, though Max wasn't so sure. Something about Clemont's tone made him suspicious, and the older teenager turning around to watch the entrance didn't help. "Isn't that Keith and Jane?"
"It is," Danny confirmed, giving a wave when he saw Jane look in their direction. The girl led the newly fourteen-year-old over to them. "That is one fancy dress, Jane. Are you sure Keith's going to survive the evening with you in that?"
Jane laughed, while Keith's glare was half-hearted at best. "He'll manage," she said as she showed all of her dress off for Serena. It was some kind of blue-violet that Max didn't know the name of, but that fit her perfectly. "You're all looking great, too. Love the bow tie, Danny."
The group talked for a bit more until Serena reminded them about what Wikstrom had said, and they split up into two groups, Max going with Keith because he wanted to know something. "Isn't Jane normally… Y'know. Shy?"
Keith nodded his head a bit as they passed by a group of elderly men discussing something about fishing. "Kind of, but she took something for her nerves. Don't know what, but… She's been in a teasing mood since it kicked in."
Max noticed Keith's slight blush. "Doesn't look like you mind too much."
"Can we talk about something else?" Keith whined as he looked anywhere but Max or where the others were.
Just then, Max saw a familiar face nearby, and he tapped his nervous friend on the shoulder. They swiftly made their way over to the group of three, which had another familiar face in it. "Maël, Mister… Mayor?" Max finished uncertainly, realising he had never actually found out the name of Geosenge's mayor.
"It's Stone. Unrelated to your Champion," the greying man said in return, bowing slightly. "It is good to see you again… Max and Keith? If I'm not mistaken?"
"You aren't, sir," Maël said as he opted to shake hands with both of the younger teenagers. "We were just explaining the plans for rebuilding to Madam Philippe."
At that, the elderly woman – grey, more than a few wrinkles, wearing a loose grey circle-patterned dress – stepped forward, inclining her head slightly. "If I hadn't seen the pictures of you myself, I wouldn't have believed it," she said in a surprisingly strong voice. "You are both younger than my grandchildren, but made of far sterner material. They would have run."
Max resisted the urge to shrug. Time and place, and this was not it. "There's no shame in that, I think. I would've done the same if I'd known what exactly Team Flare was going to do."
"You mean to say that you didn't know of Team Flare's plan?"
"We knew there was something," Max answered. "That's what the computers under Lysandre Café told us. That they were trying to awaken yveltal… That only came when we had infiltrated the base."
"And we only found out later," Keith added, looking at Maël. "When yveltal was already free."
"I remember that moment," the museum employee said, half-lost in memory if his voice was any indication. "I was half-convinced we would die. Thankfully, we didn't."
"If you hadn't sent the warning when you did," Madam Philippe resumed speaking, gripping a glass of white wine lightly in her hand as she addressed Keith, "and if the two Champions and you hadn't slowed the God of Death down, hundreds would have died. Perhaps even thousands." Max and Keith looked at each other, his friend looking surprised at something. "Heroes, all of you, yet sickening that Lysandre was able to get this far in the first place." She finished her drink. "If you'll excuse me, I have business to attend to."
They watched her move over to a nearby group of men and women, instantly asserting herself in the conversation. "I never cease to be amused by her," the mayor stated, and Max turned to face him and Maël. "She always says she is not an influential member of her party, but every time we meet at events, she shows that her words have clout. You made a good ally there with your forthrightness."
"I only told the truth."
The mayor's sudden laugh made Max blush. "Oh my. Telling the unvarnished truth. You are young and unknowing, aren't you," he said, before coughing once. "For your own sake, Mister Maple, I'd suggest to be more careful in the future. Tonight, you are capable of saying most anything, but it might not be like that all the time."
"Why is he?" Keith asked.
"You did save Kalos from disaster. That does afford leeway," mayor Stone replied with just a hint of sarcasm seeping through. "That's all of you, by the way."
The next hour or so passed without much note. Max tried to stick with talking to groups he already knew people in. He found Clemont in one group, a Battle Chateau Duke in another, and there was a polite debate on the merits of certain tournament forms between Wikstrom and another Elite Four member – Drasna, the Dragon Master – that he felt fine listening to.
Eventually, he found himself alone at the edge of the hall, Danny having just left to visit the toilets. His glass was nearly empty, but as he looked around to find one of the waiting staff, a balding man in a charcoal suit saw him looking and started walking towards him with purpose.
Max hid a sigh. He'd been ambushed like that before, and that had been uncomfortable, to say the least. Something about how Lysandre's actions were understandable from a certain point of view. It had taken most of his willpower to not reply to that in a way that'd make him look like a petulant toddler. "Good evening, sir," he said as the man moved closer. A dark-green band crossed the man's torso, left shoulder to right hip.
"Ah, yes, I suppose it is evening by now," came the reply in a voice that was higher pitched than Max was expecting. Male, but more like Maël or even Danny than like Wulfric. "A good evening to you then, Mister Max Maple. I hope you're enjoying yourself? As much as you can, of course."
"I suppose," Max said non-committally.
"Of course," the man said, gesturing to tell Max to walk with him, leading the teenager to a relatively abandoned corner of the hall. "My sons wouldn't be caught dead at events like these. Too boring, not enough action, something like that. Youth these days..." The shake of the head was exaggerated, even Max could see that. "May I ask you a personal question?"
The sudden change of tact threw Max for a small loop. "I guess?"
"You are from Hoenn, as are three of your friends. The same city, in fact. What made you decide to come here to fair Kalos?"
It was a personal question, but one Max didn't really mind answering anyway. "I wanted to learn more about Mega Evolutions. Danny came with me," he said, finally finding a waiter, who nodded before he could even ask for a refill. "Don't know why Keith and Jane came here."
"Ah, yes, Mega Evolutions. I would hope you've learned more about them, now that they're starting to become more common." The man, too, had a refill – of water, and not of wine like Max had seen most adults drink. "I heard there was something to do about Pokémon in Hoenn, recently."
Max nodded, mood souring slightly. He'd read about the restrictions, and he hadn't really liked them. Luckily, he wouldn't be in trouble, but hethought his cousin, Evan, had wanted to get a Poochyena for a starter Pokémon. "The government wants to protect people from some Pokémon types."
"You don't agree," came the observation.
Max thought he'd been able to hide his opinion, but it apparently wasn't the case. "It's not beginners who lose control of their Pokémon. It's everyone. One of Phoebe's Pokémon did."
"Phoebe is one of your Elite Four, I remember." Without waiting for Max to confirm or say anything, the man continued. "If you had to guess… What is the cause of it?"
There wasn't that much guessing involved, but Max couldn't tell this Kalos politician – he thought – that. "I think..." he started hesitantly, trying to sound more doubtful than he actually was. "I think it… It has to be something else influencing them, right?" He looked up, but only got a gesture to explain. "It hasn't happened before, and the Pokémon are fine before and after, I think. That means it's probably not something in the Types, or some kind of disease."
"These Types are overrepresented in incidents," the man observed neutrally, echoing an argument Roxanne had made a year ago.
Max dug deep to remember what he'd found out about that. "But for Psychic and Ghost-types, they're all injuries that average Trainers can't deal with, so they need medical help." He paused to formulate an example. "I can take care of light burns or cuts or bruises or even small electrical shocks. But a Pokémon doing something with your head," he said, tapping his temple for good measure, "that's something Nurse Joy needs to look at, just to be safe."
"Speaking from experience?"
The smile set Max at ease a bit. "Back when I caught natu, he tried to use Confusion on me. Danny thought it was better for me to be checked out just in case. Or maybe that was because there was a pair of ursaring..." He'd never really asked, or thought about that. "But Nurse Joy put natu down as the reason me needing to be checked out."
"That would be the xatu that brought you to Geosenge. A fine specimen if he was able to do that from Lumiose, even with Helping Hand."
Max took a step back, tilting his head. That wasn't commonly known. Hell, somehow, their names had only leaked the night before. "You know a lot, sir."
"It is my job." The man held out a hand to shake. "Marcel Lumière, President of Kalos."
Max shook it numbly as he realised he had just talked to the most powerful man in Kalos without so much as an introduction or proper respect. "I… I'm sorry if..."
A simple gesture and smile shut Max up. "Any inadvertent disrespect is more than balanced out by your deeds for Kalos, and your thoughtful answering. Sometimes, we find answers where we're least looking for them." A bell chimed. "I will see you later this evening. For now, please enjoy our greatest hospitality during this dinner."
Greatest hospitality was an understatement, if anything. The food was nothing short of exquisite, while the table he'd been allotted to included Keith, Jane, and Clemont, so he had stuff to talk about as well. The four adults sitting at the other side indulged them, though one of them – a pale woman with jet-black hair – often interrupted when it came to discussing Pokémon. Then again, that was Valerie, the Laverre Gym Leader, and Max wished Keith or Jane had told him that before he nearly made a fool of himself.
Danny, Serena, and Maël were two tables over, as were Professor Sycamore – Max hadn't even seen him before – Wikstrom, and Jean-Luc, in addition to two politicians Max didn't recognise. From what he saw, they were having a good time as well, and Max was slightly surprised to see Danny and Serena both sipping from the glass of wine they'd been offered.
Well, Serena wasn't a surprise. She was Kalosian. Danny, and both Keith and Jane too, went for it as well, leaving Max as the only one to not drink it from the five of them. Luckily, he wasn't the only one at the table who didn't want it – Clemont also preferred water.
Eventually, at a sign Max missed, the entire room fell silent. He looked up from the ruins of his dessert, immediately spotting about two dozen people standing in the middle of the hall. Cameras told Max exactly who they were, though he wondered when they'd been let in. He hadn't noticed any flashes.
President Lumière got up from his own table, which had been at the other side of the gap in the middle of the stage, walking forward to the edge of the elevated area. "Tonight is a special night," he started, speaking in a clear voice, without the help of a microphone. "Tonight, we honour those who defended Kalos and her people. But," he added sharply. "We cannot honour the victorious without remembering those who did not make it. Please, all rise in a moment of silence for those who perished at the hands of Team Flare over the past year."
A projector flared into life as well over a hundred chairs were moved; everyone facing the President. From his position, Max was able to glance at the projection, spotting about twenty names. Some of them had died in Coumarine, others in Geosenge when Team Flare had set buildings on fire, and one had died in Anistar.
He knew it was a low number; far lower than it had any right to be, but at the same time, they were twenty names too many. Twenty lives cut short because some megalomaniac psychopath decided to remake the world in his image. The youngest had been five; the oldest seventy-six. All of them reasons why Lysandre and those who followed him should be thrown in a prison cell without a key.
The minute of silence ended abruptly as an instrumental version of Kalos's national anthem blasted through the room. Most people sang along, Serena included, and when it ended, President Lumière took a few steps forward once again. "There are those who have placed themselves in the service of Kalos; at all times. Please join me in honouring the Kalos Police."
Applause followed, mirrored thrice more as they hailed the International Police, the hospitals and doctors who took care of those wounded after Team Flare attacked, and the Gym Leaders of Cyllage, Shalour, Pyrocorde, Laverre, and Anistar, with Wikstrom thrown in as well. Curiously, Clemont was not included, something that seemed to surprise the Gym Leader himself as well.
"Yes, their service was great," President Lumière resumed, "but there were those whose service we honour most of all. The actions of these nine single-handedly saved more lives than any of us can count. First, let us honour the one who was unable to make it on account of his duties to his own country: Grand Champion Lance, of Kanto and Johto."
The projector sprang into life once again as everyone clapped. "Thank you, President Lumière," Lance greeted from a comfortable-looking room. The natural light coming from behind him told Max it was a recorded message. "It was seemingly pure coincidence that brought me to Kalos that week; an impromptu meeting regarding Kalos and Prudan copying the elite League challenge we have started here in the Home Regions. Yet coincidence does not exist when it comes to matters like these, I feel. Fate decreed that Kalos needed protection from those who would harm it; and I am glad to have been a part of it."
The shot ended with Lance rising from his seat, revealing a ribbon and medal sat on his chest. Max thought the ribbon and half of the medal were green, but the clip cut out too soon. "In recognition for his service to Kalos, he has been granted the Honour of Kalos; with the rank of Chevalier. The same goes for the next person I would like to honour. Perhaps it was coincidence, or perhaps it was fate, as Champion Lance mentioned, that made him look out a window, only to see members of Team Flare erupt from an innocuous café here in Lumiose. The actions that he took were utterly crucial in saving lives, by first leading several others down into the depths of Team Flare's secret base, and then by sending them on while he seemingly sacrificed himself to give them time. I say seemingly, because Team Flare picked the wrong person to go up against. Please join me, Gym Leader Clemont of Lumiose."
Max was one of the last to stop clapping as Clemont walked up, looking a bit shocked. It made Max suspect he hadn't been told, but when the President had put it like that, it made a lot of sense. Clemont's actions allowed for them to go to Geosenge, and that led to the evacuation and basically everything. He, like Lance before him, received the Honour of Kalos, Chevalier rank.
The quip that President Lumière made after Clemont walked back, about how he would have the title of youngest ever recipient of that title for about five minutes, caused the entire room to laugh heartily, Clemont included despite the blush.
It continued like that. Lumière had been well-informed, with each following mini-ceremony including personal details or a funny quip. Maël was commended for his quick thinking and tireless service in explaining the dangers of yveltal – something Max hadn't known the teenager had been doing – to foreign reporters in the days following. Keith, blushing furiously, was praised for his defence of the city hall, and his care for Serena and Max when they had been injured. Serena, in turn, received applause when it was revealed that she had been one of the three in Durocor along with her actions in Geosenge, and Max could see her fight off a blush as she walked back; the President remarking that you didn't need to be challenging the Kalos League to be a strong and courageous Trainer and that she would keep the title that had been Clemont's for five minutes, and Keith's for two.
Jane was called out as the daughter of doctors; one who understood sacrifice and service intimately, and as someone who stepped up without hesitation. Danny was next, Max clapping his hands raw as his best friend walked up to accept the award amidst remarks about him being a staunch defender of others, calling out Coumarine, Durocor, Geosenge, and even New Mauville all at once.
As Danny walked back, Max took a deep breath, knowing that he would be next.
"Those who can count to nine know that there are two left," the balding man started. "And as you might expect, we have left those most important to last. The first of these two has been mentioned before. He was injured in Coumarine by a cowardly sneak attack; cared for and protected by his friends. But make no mistake. It was he who stepped forth in Durocor, following the Scientist Xerosic and causing him to only make off with a paltry three Mega Stones as opposed to the entire collection. It was he who had the Pokémon to bring them from Lumiose to Geosenge, and who took the lead in exploring the Geosenge base. It was he who went on when his friends held off Team Flare, finding Lysandre at the end and holding his own long enough for Champion Diantha to intervene."
A breathless pause fell, the entire room hanging on to the President's words, and Max knew what was coming before it did. "And it was he who went with Lance to fight yveltal, guiding one Pokémon of his own and one of Lance's to stop the Legendary. Many would have fled several times over, but he did not. For tireless service to Kalos; for tireless service to humanity, I would like a grand applause for the youngest ever recipient of the Honour of Kalos, Officer rank: Monsieur Max Maple."
It took a gentle push in Max's back for him to start walking amidst a room that was both giving a deafening applause and slightly shocked. He noticed Professor Sycamore, Diantha, Drasna, all standing side-by-side, smiling at him, as he crossed the empty space.
The President was waiting for him, a different medal than the others had been given in his left hand. After the formality of shaking hands, the older man tied the medal around Max's tie, instead of pinning it over his heart.
He barely noticed the now traditional quip – this one about being someone to look out for in the Lumiose Conference coming up – as he walked back numbly. There were tonnes of questions running through his mind, and he itched to ask them of Clemont, or Professor Sycamore, or anyone who would answer, but he couldn't ask them now.
And as Diantha accepted her Officer rank – a promotion from Chevalier, because Elite Four members were that automatically, apparently – one last thing shot into his mind; the realisation almost making him laugh hysterically.
He now knew why his invitation had been adamant he wore a tie.
~~§~~§~~
Forty hours after the ceremony, and about twenty-nine hours after Nurse Joy had forcibly evicted journalists from the Pokémon Center, Max, Danny, and Serena were standing on an abandoned hill to the north of Lumiose; in the badlands of Route 13. The dry air, so different from the city, was also colder, which suited them just fine. "Nobody as far as the eye can see, and nothing except rocks for miles around. Perfect training location," Max declared.
Danny and Serena agreed, the latter already sending out three of her Pokémon. Cherrim had come down with something, and had been left in Nurse Joy's care. "And most importantly, no journalists," Danny said as he placed a small backpack on the ground, already taking several of their items – juggling balls, rings, a blanket – out. "Can't you ask them to shove off?"
"Maybe we should make a deal or something," Max turned to see Serena look at them. "Like, give them an hour to make all the pictures they want, but then don't pester us as much. Though you're probably going to see them follow you anyway," she added.
Max shrugged as he sent two Pokémon out; swinub and espurr appearing. "Could work. Let's ask Professor Sycamore if they'd go for it. He probably has more experience with this."
The others agreed, and they set off to start practising. Sceptile and swampert immediately separated themselves from the group, settling for close combat training. Shelgon waggled over to dusclops for practice on suppressing his dodge reflex – something Danny had suggested after a few times that the Dragon-type had plum fallen over during sparring.
A quarter of an hour later, as all Pokémon had been paired off, Max suddenly realised it was only the second or third time he had actually done a full-on training session while swinub was with him. The small Ice-type hadn't been on his team too much either; first Olympia's warning had made Max just keep a strong selection of Pokémon on his team, and afterwards, he'd only brought the Ground-type out for some training just before challenging Wulfric.
And he had so looked forward to being able to use ice in his battles, too. Coating the field in ice was just so annoying for many Pokémon, as Danny had shown time and time again with froslass. It had been the inspiration for poliwhirl's sliding in wet… Hang on. "Poliwhirl, xatu, that's enough," Max called as he looked around, trying to locate where swinub and helioptile were practising dodging – swinub's immunity allowing Danny's Pokémon to attack with impunity.
He yelled for Danny to think of something for xatu and helioptile to do, and sat down next to swinub; the shaggy-haired Pokémon immediately settling his snout in the palm of his hand. "No food yet, swinub," Max said, amused at the way his Pokémon deflated ever so slightly. Glutton, and completely unrepentant about it, that was swinub. "You can have some after you practice. What I want you to do is to use Icy Wind to freeze small patches of ground, okay? Poliwhirl, you spray the ground with water to help."
Both Pokémon showed their own form of agreement – a bit of nuzzling from swinub, and a quick bump of fists with poliwhirl – and went on to do their thing as Max watched, calling out small corrections from time to time and making mental notes about swinub. The Pig Pokémon wasn't fast when the ground wasn't frozen, but his short-ranged blasts of ice were pretty powerful. They definitely decreased in power hard, though, which probably made him better in close. Max would have to find a way to enable swinub to get in close.
Danny suddenly tapped him on the shoulder. "Everything okay here?" he wondered as poliwhirl tested the strength of a patch of ice by shoulder-checking it. "Doesn't that hurt? It's solid ground underneath, right?"
"She knows her limits far better than I do," Max said as poliwhirl got back up. "You need me for something?"
"Well, you said you had an idea for ferroseed..." Danny replied, the smirk audible. "Gyro Ball's working well, by the way. That's going to be a pretty big help in getting Pokémon off, even if ferroseed aren't as heavy as avalugg are."
"Avalugg outweigh snorlax on average," Max replied drily. "Their Gyro Ball is appropriately more powerful." They started moving, passing by spritzee and klefki taking a bit of a break in between what Max thought was a Fairy Wind-off. "So here's the idea. Ferroseed uses Bullet Seed on espurr, who then tries to deflect it back."
"And ferroseed has to roll out of the way of his own attack. And he can make it as big or small as he wants to," Danny enthusiastically finished for Max. "You're a genius, and I know that's the third time this week." The two called espurr and braixen over, leading them to ferroseed and gulpin, only to see the ground covered in sludge and acid. "Maaaaybe elsewhere?"
Elsewhere was soon found – braixen and gulpin having been sent to Serena for her to figure something out – and the deflection and dodge training soon started.
Espurr was used to deflecting, but usually, she sent attacks sideways, not back, and the nature of the seeds – many, small, high-paced – made it harder for her to do it right. At first, she took more than a few seeds to her belly, but the small Psychic-type was nothing if not a fast learner, and soon, Max – Danny had gone to help Serena – saw her start to get the hang of the precise timing.
Of course, that was when ferroseed started switching things up by sending attacks in varying bursts and sizes, but that was part of the fun. You didn't know what your opponent was going to do, and so training should be unpredictable as well.
He took a few steps back, looking over the training area. Everyone was busy doing something, even if it was just watching someone do something, like shelgon was watching braixen create a Fire Spin. It was good to see everyone at work, and with the Lumiose Conference coming up… It was time to show Kalos what they could do.
How far would they be able to go? Max couldn't speak for Danny, but he himself would be disappointed if it wasn't decently far. They'd learned so much here in Kalos, forced by circumstances to fight in situations that most people never even considered. They had also added and evolved Pokémon on their teams, and unlike last year, both of them had Pokémon that could just slug it out in battle. Then there were the Mega Evolutions – Max felt it was only a matter of time for Danny to get the Aggronite to work – as aces up their sleeve, and… There was no doubt there were more experienced Trainers attending, but if he could surprise them…
Then again... There was little chance of underestimation this time. This was their second League; and they were already known in Kalos for different reasons. Something like the battle that got him to the round of 32 would not happen here. It would have to be hard fighting all the way, desperately vying for the top spot.
And he was ready for it.
~~§~~§~~
Professor Sycamore's greenhouse was starting to become very familiar to Danny. Every evening – except one – since they had arrived in Lumiose after coming back from Gloire City, he'd gone there; a wristband on his arm and a Mega Stone tied to a piece of twine in his pocket. Sometimes, Max and Serena had come along, and sometimes they hadn't. Today, all of them had come down to the laboratory – thankful that walking was an option again after Max had enlisted the Professor to help with the journalists that had been pestering them.
Danny understood why they were so interesting, but that didn't mean he liked it one bit.
The Professor waited for them in his usual spot. "Punctual as usual. Let's see if today is the day."
"Danny did spend a lot of time thinking today," Serena shared as they passed through a familiar carpeted hallway. "Maybe it helped?"
"It looked close yesterday, but there was a last push missing," Professor Sycamore replied, taking keys from his pocket. "Like when you're climbing a wall but you just can't hang on at the top."
"I never had that," Max said, looking curious, eager to learn something new. "Not even the week after Geosenge."
The adult in the greenhouse chuckled. "Well, you break all the rules anyway, Monsieur Max. You skipped steps because you already knew you were capable of Mega Evolving your manectric."
"I don't get it," Serena said. "What's that have to do with it?"
"Think of it this way," Professor Sycamore started as he turned to her. "You knew how to walk before you tore your knee ligaments, but you had to work to be able to walk afterwards. It's similar here: Max knew he could do it, but he needed the right approach first."
"So what does that make Danny in this analogy? The baby learning to walk without its parents help?"
Danny rolled his eyes, making sure Serena could see it, though Max could not. He'd probably figure it out anyway. "I'm going to send aggron out now," he informed the others.
A minute or two later, the twine had been tied around aggron's wrist, and the rest had taken their distance. It wasn't needed – Max had once Mega Evolved manectric as she sat in his lap, and as he sat back to back with Danny himself – but all of them agreed that it felt right to do so, at least for these attempts.
Banishing the memories of failure of the days before from his mind, Danny sat down lotus-style, closing his eyes and concentrating on the aggron standing mere feet away.
Aggron. Some people said they were aggressive, violent, dangerous, but Danny knew better. All aggron did, all aron had done, that first time that they met, was to protect. Protect himself from an unknown human tripping over him; trespassing on his territory. Since then, and especially in Kalos, aggron had taken up that same role. As aron and lairon, he had been tireless in protecting their campsites, and as lairon and aggron, he had been fearless and peerless in protecting them from those who sought to hurt or endanger them. If anyone dared anger him by attacking those he wanted to protect, he showed no mercy or hesitation.
And that was what Danny did. He protected and defended. It came to him naturally, easily, a style of battle that he had slid into, but it went beyond that. The times that Max had been attacked: in the Route 123 Ranger territory; in the Glittering Caves; in Coumarine… Danny had felt the fear and anger that aggron felt whenever that which he loved was threatened, and it had made him realise that protecting wasn't something you just did on and off. It was a path in life; a conviction that must be held.
But it wasn't blanket. It never had been. His desire to protect extended to his friends, his family, his Pokémon, his loved ones. If they would fight, he would. If they would look to attack; he would defend. If they would run; he would hold the rear. He was the shield to their swords, the one who would sacrifice himself if needed. And wherever they struck, he would be to protect them.
A plate of hardened steel settled within him, and he opened his eyes.
Mega aggron was slightly larger than regular aggron, and the spikes on his shoulders had grown larger. He was more heavily armoured; obviously so, with most of the softer plates on his belly and tail now covered by swathes of shiny steel. It was undoubtedly aggron, just… More armoured; more defensive, more him.
Elation filled Danny, coating the steel, covering it, but not suppressing it. He'd done it. He had actually done it. He walked up to aggron, the Steel-type crouching without needing to be asked, and Danny quickly found one of the spots aggron always liked to be touched – the plates on his arms. One hand went there, while the other ran across the steel, feeling its strength. Even the plates felt different. More solid; like they could withstand even more, and somehow lacking something as well.
Then their eyes met, and Danny felt it. The acceptance, the calm, the absolute certainty that he would protect those he loved with all he had.
Apparently, that protection didn't extend to a torpedo in his back, Danny realised as Max did his utmost best to hug all the breath out of Danny's body. "I knew you could do it!" he said as Danny turned around, the younger boy almost dancing with excitement. "You aren't blind about yourself, I know that, and now you did it!"
Any attempt at trying to be stern at Max having eavesdropped on him was utterly ruined by the happiness he was feeling. "I thought I was alone?"
"I had to pop back for something Keith wanted to see about my medal," Max replied easily. "I can't help it you decided to use the bath to think out loud." He tilted his head. "So, what does it feel like? The bond, I mean."
Danny hadn't seen Max this enthusiastic about, well, anything, in ages. He'd ask himself when it had stopped, but he probably knew the reason for it anyway. "It's… solid. Hard as anything. Unyielding."
"As befits the Steel-type," Professor Sycamore said as he walked up, suddenly holding a box in his hand. "And since you've managed to get this to work the normal way – and I have never heard of someone backsliding, before you say anything – allow me to give this to you."
Even before the lid of the wooden box was removed, Danny knew exactly what it held. It made too much sense not to be. "Can you just give me one? I thought these were rare and expensive."
"Stop looking a gift ponyta in the mouth, Danny, and accept it," Serena said impatiently. "You know you can't share Key Stones with Max forever. What if you both want to use your Mega Evolution, but you're fighting elsewhere? Like having simultaneous matches in the League or something?"
"Or maybe you'll be in different regions entirely," Professor Sycamore added, before something made him chuckle. "Or not. Still, Serena is right. The amount of strings I had to pull is not important. It is yours, and I know you'll use it well."
Danny accepted the box, the Key Stone inside matching Max's nearly perfectly. Except for the part where this one wasn't glowing softly. "One more thing to do now," he said, focusing. There was no need to protect now, no fight to be had.
Steel lifted as aggron shifted back, and Danny saw Max avert his eyes. "Way to show me up. You did it in one try."
As much as Max tried to sound hurt, the moment Danny suddenly grabbed his chin, wresting it up, the truth became known. There was no hurt behind Max's glasses, only the glittering of someone desperately trying with all he could not to grin and laugh, which happened moments after anyway. The laughter set off Danny as well, and it took a minute or two for them to recover. "Was that all, Professor?"
"For you, yes. For Max, no." Danny felt as confused as Max suddenly looked. "A quote from Professor Birch…" The Professor cleared his throat. "Max seems to have forgotten that he has a ninjask. Could you remind him of that when you see him?"
The impression was bad, but the speed at which Max's face went red in shame was impressive. Danny fought off a small blush himself – he had forgotten about ninjask as well – and he reaffirmed his decision to rotate his Pokémon around so that all of them spent at least a week per month with him.
~~§~~§~~
The registration for the Lumiose Conference was easy to find, and even easier to do. Keith had to admit he'd been expecting worse when he'd heard there was only one spot to do it. Then he'd heard it was in the main stadium, and his fears had become worse. Back in May, the roads to there had been terrible, with road works everywhere and a gogoat handler strike making things worse. Now, it literally had been as easy as going there by foot from their Pokémon Center.
Getting the North Boulevard Center had been a good choice. He knew the others preferred the one near Prism Tower for its proximity to the Tower, but they had a xatu to just use anyway.
"All done," the receptionist said, all smiles as she handed the Pokédexes back. "Please be here at nine o'clock in the morning on the second of November for the opening ceremony."
Keith handed Jane her Pokédex back. "That's fun. Getting up early on your birthday," he said as they walked away. "And maybe having to battle too."
"We knew that. That's why you made a reservation for the night before," Jane replied softly, causing Keith to stop and gawk. "You left the note with the time on the desk. It's sweet of you." She took his hand. "Knew there was a reason I took you as my boyfriend."
"I asked you," Keith protested half-heartedly as he started looking for a gogoat handler. There weren't any nearby.
Jane giggled. "So? Doesn't mean I didn't take you." She gave him a quick peck. "Best decision of my life, I think." She, too, scouted for a handler and didn't find one either. "Walk to the Center?"
Keith shrugged, even as he looked left and right to safely cross the street. "Sure. Gogoat's faster, but not like we have anything to do right now."
Neither of them let go of the other's hand as they walked slowly and in silence. Occasionally, they turned to each other, sharing a smile. A few others on the streets gave them weird looks, but they didn't care. The funniest happened close to the Center, when a boy with a chespin by his side crossed the street. He nearly bumped into Keith, and would have if it hadn't been for the small Grass-type. He stopped just in time, and his eyes went wide when they fell on the entwined hands between the two teenagers.
Then Jane gave Keith another quick peck, and he had to bite his tongue to not laugh at the boy's face: wide eyes, red as a tomato. The chespin tugging on his Trainer's trouser leg and wondering what was happening made it even better, too. "You are an evil young lady," Keith said as snobbishly as he could, once the boy was out of hearing. "Corrupting children with public displays like that."
"So? Nothing he hasn't seen his parents do. Or friends. Nearly half our class had boyfriends or girlfriends, remember?" Jane said, and Keith knew what was coming. "In fact, didn't you..."
"Yes. Fiona," Keith finished. He didn't really want to talk about that. "Never did more than hold hands and play."
"Relax, silly. I'm not going to bite you for an old girlfriend." The Pokémon Center came into view, and Jane suddenly laughed, causing Keith to give her a weird look. "I was just thinking. The five year reunion. Everyone says they did normal stuff. A League here, a Grand Festival there," she said, making the etcetera motion with her free hand. "Then we get in."
Oh, Keith liked where that was going. A bit of showing off was fun. "We should totally wear our medals for that. I bet we'd have done more than everyone except two others."
Jane nodded. "Well, one of them's going to show up with a League trophy, so… That's not really a contest. But as Mum always says… Everyone has a place in the world, a role in its order." She pulled on his hand, causing him to look at her. "And I'm perfectly fine with them being ahead of us."
Knowing what he did about Danny and Max, even the stuff that he wasn't certain about, like that Max's ralts was probably dead… And the amount of work they put in? Keith couldn't agree more. They deserved it.
~~§~~§~~
May had told him in her last letter that she'd been considering changing her hair away from the style she'd had before the Slateport Festival had cost her most of her hair, but Max hadn't expected her to do it this fast. "Evening, sis. Didn't think you'd go for the new look now. It's different."
The fifteen year old girl – closing in on sixteen, not that Max thought she was anywhere near that mature mentally – scoffed, adjusting her high ponytail. "Coming from someone who's had the same hairstyle for literal years. Why do I listen to you again?"
"Because I'm your smarter brother."
"Because you're my younger brother," May replied, before shaking her head. Max thought he saw her hide a smile. "You made the news here, you know. Dad has had to deal with journalists all week."
Max did know that. "Everyone has, even Keith's mother. Dad's only got it worse because of me."
"Turns out saving the world has a few small downsides," May drawled sarcastically, to Max's surprise. It was the kind of thing he would say, and he hadn't thought his sister would. "You'll have to tell me the full story. Including how you used manectric to attack yveltal. She's not that good yet."
"Or you could watch me use her. All the matches are going to be viewable online, they said," Max replied. "And no, May, I'm not planning on getting knocked out in the first round. That'd be embarrassing."
May smirked. "Defender of Kalos knocked out in first round by no-name Trainer. Yeah, that's a nice headline." She giggled, and Max knew his attempt at a glare was ruined entirely by the amusement he felt. "Honestly Max, after all the practice you've probably put in… You can teach me a few things about battling and training Pokémon up, and I know I managed to beat a few round of 64 Trainers in the last month."
"Where'd you find those?"
"Tournaments," was May's smug reply. "You're not the only Maple who likes them, and I was sort of bored after getting my fifth Ribbon. Just went from tournament to tournament on my way to Slateport."
Max couldn't shake the feeling there was a bit more to it – maybe something to do with the Slateport Festival still – but he wasn't going to bug her about it. It was her time anyway. "Did you win something?"
"Some money, a coupon for a week in a luxury resort that I'll be using the second week of December." May shrugged lazily. "It was a fun distraction from all the Contests. Maybe it'll help with finally winning."
"What time you up tomorrow? Early? Late?"
A crash on May's side caused her to look to the left, before spreading her hands in confusion. "Pretty early, I think. Some time you wouldn't even watch me even if it was available online or on TV. Eight hour difference, right?" Max nodded quickly. "Yeah, I'm up around lunch. Exactly," she added when Max made a face.
Max liked watching his sister do Contests, but he wasn't getting up at four-whatever in the morning for it. "I'll watch the recap, so be good and get in it, okay?"
"Oh, right. A League that doesn't start the first of the month." May sounded a tiny bit exasperated, for some reason. "I keep forgetting that. All the Home Regions have it from the first. Why doesn't Kalos?"
Max had wondered about the same, but unlike his sister, he had access to Kalosians who could answer it. "They want to end on the second Sunday of the month. Have the last four matches be at times everyone can watch. Then they fill in the rest of the schedule." He put a hand on his chin. "Wonder how they'd do that if the month starts on Sunday… They really need the first Saturday…"
May chuckled heartily, causing Max to look back up. "Anyway, little brother, it's nearly ten here, and I need my sleep. Good luck in the Kalos League!"
"Good luck at the Grand Festival!" Max returned, and then the screen went to black.
Time to find Danny and train some more.
~~§~~§~~§~~§~~
The November edition of the Lumiose Conference is upon us. Just over 130 Trainers signed up before the deadline closed at noon on October 31st, roughly matching the May edition. The format remains unchanged from the previous seven editions: three-on-three until the semi finals, which are Full Battles along with the final and the match for third place. Roughly half of the matches in the first two rounds will take place at the old Stade Olympique in Lumiose, but all matches from the round of 32 onwards are in Lumiose Stadium. All matches from the Stade Olympique will be broadcast on our secondary channel.
The full list of participants will not be released until two hours before the tournament starts on November 2nd, but several Trainers who could be participants have been spotted around Lumiose. These include a former finalist in the Prudan League a year back; two Trainers – one from Sinnoh, one from Kalos – with a two-tournament streak of quarter final results; four of the five teenagers involved in stopping Team Flare in September, and the Kalos League reported a staggering fifty-three first-time League challengers. All of these things are ingredients for a wonderful tournament, and we at Lumiose TV cannot wait to show you every moment of it.
Author's Note: The Honour of Kalos is loosely based on the French Ordre national du Mérite, with a few changes here and there. It's one of the things I like about XY: there's actual mention of you doing the saving-the-region thing beyond throw-away lines.
Teenagers drinking wine at dinner isn't too uncommon in France, though Max missed that memo.
Next up, several chapters of the Lumiose Conference. Strap yourself in, it's going to be a ride.