Nobody knew where Greninja went after the incident at the cafe. Nale and Aegislash had attempted to run outside and intercept him, but the Ninja pokemon had already vanished in broad daylight. Y excused himself from the others. He headed back to the motel while Gardevoir followed close by his side, tending to his wound. His hand had recovered by the time they arrived at the door, but neither spoke as they entered.

Y collapsed into his bed with his face in the pillow. Gardevoir read feelings of confusion, sadness and...happiness? She sat beside him.

"...I'm fine...I lost my best Pokemon and it's not even after morning."

That wording.

"...but...I think I made-or rather Nale made me his friend? He didn't ask me first, not that I mind but...do I really deserve it?"

Gardevoir suspected that she had misinterpreted her master's earlier happiness.

"...Gardevoir. Can I ask you something?"

The pokedex rang just in time. In the moments before asking his question, Gardevoir caught a glimpse of its intent and was eager to distract from it.

Y opened his dex and checked the caller. Professor Acacia, he opened it.

"HEY-O, Y! I heard you collected Valory's badge already, so what's taking you so long?"

Acacia's voice was deafening.

"What? I know you said today but right now?" asked Y.

"I SAID as soon as possible. So if it's possible for you to be here, then I WANT YOU TO BE HERE!"

"Her wording was quite specific Y." said another voice from off screen.

"Primrose and I have been patiently sitting here since you woke up today. It must be soo nice to have free time while people are waiting on you!"

"Wait, how do you know when I wake up?" asked Y.

"I'd advise against asking questions for the answers you don't want." said Primrose.

"Bye-bye now, and get over here!" Acacia ended the call.

"...I guess she doesn't care about that 2nd badge after all."

After cleaning their room and leaving a tip at the front desk, Y and Gardevoir left the Pokemotel and mounted a Flying pokemon to take them to the Pokemon Science Labs. The Labs were a set of buildings once belonging to a university, before being destroyed and reconstructed a little over a decade ago, after a terrible accident involving a rare pokemon. Y didn't know what Pokemon might've been responsible. None of the stories were ever consistent with each other. After that incident, even though the university was rebuilt there were many who became paranoid, and so it was largely abandoned until a young woman purchased it and, over time, filled each room with computers and lab equipment. She would call her new foundation The Pokemon Science Labs and work as it's Professor, Acacia.

The ten minute flight had delivered them back into the denser parts of their region, where Y used to live before leaving to train in the mountains. Although it wasn't quite big enough to be called a city, it was still a sizable town with a slightly below average population. They touched down just across the street from the Labs. Y returned his mount and walked in with Gardevoir.

The scene within the Lab was bustling with energy. Men and women in lab coats, many accompanied by Pokemon, were moving and talking with each other at the same time, reminding Y of a school during in between class time. A Lab Pupil approached them.

"Champion Y, the professor said all essential personnel should be in the North Labs by 7:00 for an important demonstration. I think you qualify as essential."

"Thank you, I'm on my way there now."

The pupil nodded and returned to the mass of strangers behind him, leaving the two to squeeze their way through halls and people before arriving at the entrance of the North Lab. The North Lab was a large auditorium integrated into the original building design, sealed by a hermetic revolving door. There were no windows showing inside.

"This is it Gardevoir. This is the project the professor was always 'researching' for, are we ready?"

Gardevoir stepped into the revolving door and rotated out of sight.

"I guess that's a yes for her," said Y to himself. He peered at the door for only a moment more before entering and rotating into the space within.

The air and temperature inside the North Lab was different from the rest of the facility, cooler and dryer, climate controlled. The building's single room resembled what a college classroom might look like, but much larger. There were many more seats and the speaker's platform displayed a giant computer tower, hooked up to an oversized screen that hung on the wall beside it, making its contents visible to all who would be watching, and a booth sizable enough for just one human or Pokemon. Y scanned the seated audience for Gardevoir, maybe she already found a seat, but he couldn't find her. The ceiling lights dimmed and the audience hushed, the presentation was about to commence. Amongst the crowd Y could only find one familiar face, Ms. Primrose, who was seated in the empty front row. In the multiple years Y knew her for, Primrose always appeared youthful, the only differences over time being the subtle bags under her eyes and whether she decided to wear her hair in a bun or ponytail. Since she was the only familiar face, he quickly made his way down to her. Y sat next to Primrose.

"Do you remember my advice from this morning?" asked Primrose.

"What?"

"Nevermind. Acacia will be presenting very soon. I am aware she described it as a 'first look' for the public, but we are further than that."

"Have you seen Gardevoir? She came in before me but I don't see her."

Primrose didn't say anything.

"Did you hear me-"

"Shh. The presentation is starting."

Primrose pointed to the stage, the lights over it brightened as Professor Acacia walked on. She took a breath before starting.

"Fifteen years ago, the Pokemon Research Lab was an esteemed university, responsible for roughly sixty percent of our current population of higher education workers." The giant screen behind her lights up with a picture of the building.

"It was the students of this university that invented the very first Pokemon Trading System, and soon expanded it into the Global Trading System that all trainers know and love today. Sadly, after this foundation of a new empire, an unidentified Pokemon was released into the university, destroying it and all of the research contained within." The screen changed to the building's rubble.

"The economical setback was devastating, and for a short period we entered an era of stagnation, where no ideas were being discussed and preconceptions weren't being challenged...until 11 years ago, when a young woman started reconstruction in the hopes of creating a catalyst for scientific ideas. Again sadly, the biases of the public kept progress slow, so we started a Trainer Youth program to bring back that desire for exploration...and it worked!" The screen changed to a compilation of pictures involving students and researchers in labs.

"This spark in our youth was caught by the rest of our public, and so thanks to your help, this building will once again be the foundation of a world changing advancement. Thank all of you for making this presentation possible." The lights to the stage dimmed again and the screen went blank with an illuminated black screen and blinking cursor.

"Today, I will be demonstrating the Universal Trading System!"

Whispers spread through the crowd, what did the professor mean by universal? Acacia walked over to the booth.

"This enclosure might be familiar to some of you, it's how we used to transported Pokemon as data over long distances. Today it finds relevance within this contraption, a trading system that can transfer Pokemon from other worlds! Never before seen Pokemon, just out there waiting for us to document them, and ladies and gentlemen, we at the Research Labs have already established solid communication with another universe!"

Now everyone was talking. Absurd, other universes with other Pokemon? How could such a thing be done?

"Primrose is that true? How long have you known about these 'other' Pokemon?" asked Y.

"We have a nearly complete pokedex of the new universes Pokemon. Also, I see you've found Gardevoir."

"Huh?" Y turned his head and found Gardevoir seated next to him, quietly watching the presentation.

"Where did you-"

"Shh."

Words typed themselves across the giant screen;

Requesting trade for Pokemon #214

"The person speaking right now is the lead scientist of the other universe's device, and they are requesting a Heracross for this demonstration as instructed." A Lab Pupil walks on stage and delivers a pokeball to the professor before exiting. Acacia released the Bug pokemon Heracross into the booth and the booth sealed itself with a glass screen.

"In return we'll also ask for a Bug pokemon, trades should be fair and equal after all. Now watch closely everyone!"