The streets of Lumiose City were as easy to navigate as the back of Lexi's hand as she leaded the three of them through some streets which were bustling with people and their Pokémon. Lexi had made sure that she was taking them on a shortcut and had even gone through a few back alleys so that they would reach the laboratory sooner.
Sadly Lumiose City existed of some steep slopes so it wasn't exactly a walk in the park to make it across the pavements with haste. While Lexi was still running at the front because she was determined to get Froakie back to her lab, Bonnie was the one who encouraged the others to keep going.
"Clemont! Go faster!" Bonnie called out in annoyance as they came to a brief halt on a hill while Clemont began to get further behind. Lexi was well aware that Clemont was anything but good at running and he resented it. In truth she had hardly seen him run anywhere ever.
"I'm running as fast as I can," he said between heavy breaths. "Ash, Lexi, don't wait for me. Get going."
"Are you sure, Clemont?" Lexi asked hesitantly. She wasn't that fond of having to leave Clemont behind.
"Just go, Lexi. I'll be fine."
"You got it, Clemont," Ash agreed.
"I cannot believe how slow my brother is," Bonnie uttered as she turned around and began to run towards the lab. Lexi exchanged one final look with Clemont before she ran away with Ash.
The way from the park to the laboratory wasn't that far to begin with. By now Bonnie was the one who was running in the front because she knew the direction towards the lab from here. In fact, she had walked it herself all the way from Prism Tower.
"There is the Sycamore Lab!" Bonnie said out loud, pointing at the building that was nearing at the right side of the pavement. It was a huge building in the center of the block which had two Pokéball Pillars and a gated walkway.
Bonnie was the one to lead them closer and who pushed open the doors of the laboratory with Ash and Lexi right behind her. "Hello! Professor Sycamore!" Ash called out before Lexi had the chance to say anything. "Are you here?"
As on cue her father, Professor Augustine Sycamore, appeared on the other side of the large hallway in which they were standing. "Comin," he said and he was yawning as if the screams had woken him up from his recent nap. He was still wearing his white lab coat and his dark hair was rather unkempt. "Huh? Lexi? What is going on?"
"Are you the Professor?"
"Froakie! No," Professor Sycamore cried out as it saw the injured Froakie in Ash his arms, which he was all too familiar with.
"Do you know this Froakie, Professor?" Ash asked him.
"I sure do," her father answered. "Lexi and I have been looking after it for some time." He turned his head towards the other side of the hall. "Sophie, come quick." He then carefully took Froakie from Ash his arms. "We've been so worried about you. Your trainer has been in recent contact with us." It earned no reaction from Froakie and it tiresomely closed its eyes while Sophie entered the hallway. "Froakie needs help." He handed Froakie to Sophie who began to run away with it so that she could treat it.
"Thanks, Professor," Ash said. "We've been worried about Froakie too. So is Froakie's trainer on the way here now?"
"I'm afraid not," he responded. "He contacted us to let us know he wanted to give up Froakie."
At that moment the door swung open and Clemont had finally made it to the laboratory and was catching his breath. He nearly collapsed in front of his sister due to exhaustion.
"You're so slow!" Bonnie said with crossed arms.
"How is Froakie?" Clemont wondered.
"Froakie will be fine," Lexi assured him. "It's receiving treatment right now."
"Lexi," her father intervened, causing her to turn her head towards him. "What happened? You were supposed to leave during your lunch break because you said that Bonnie and Clemont needed your aid, but you didn't come back for two days! I have to say you'd got me rather worried. Next time you decide to wander off like that, please let me know where you're going. You know well enough how worried I can get."
"Two days?" Lexi repeated in confusion. It didn't feel like she had been out wandering through Lumiose City with Clemont and Bonnie for that long. She cleared her throat and scratched the back of her head. "I must've completely lost all track of time. I wasn't my intention to stay away for so long. There is no excuse for that. I'm truly sorry. I remember that we were supposed to continue with our research that afternoon."
"It's alright, Lexi. It pleases more than I can say to see that you're doing alright. That's all that matters. We can continue with that research another time. Can you promise me that you will keep me updated next time if there is a change in your plans?"
Lexi could only nod, smiling because her father was so forgiving when it came to her. "I promise."
Like that her dad's arms went around her. "That's good to hear. You know I love you, don't you?"
This earned a laugh from Lexi. "I love you too, Dad." She could feel him laughing against her head as he ran his hand through her pink hair for a second.
As they broke their embrace, they could see the puzzlement on Ash his face. "Dad?"
"You see, Professor Sycamore is Lexi's father," Clemont explained with a grin. "He has been training her in the way of Pokémon."
"That's right," Lexi confirmed gleefully. "I've been aiding my dad with his work here for many years now and it makes me happy to do so." Her words earned a playful tug from her dad against her shoulder.
"And she's doing a most marvelous job with it," he affirmed. "In truth Lexi isn't mine by blood and I adopted her when she was very young and had no one to care for her. I raised her as my own and taught her all that I knew. That bond that we share is strong. There is no doubt about that. She grew up to a trusty confidant to me, and someone who I can rely heavily on." His smile was uncanny. "Why don't we all go see how Froakie is doing?"
No one disagreed with that idea. Lexi was the one to pull Clemont onto his feet and pulled him into an embrace for a few short moments, mainly because she was glad that he was here, and ignored the increase in her heartbeat under his touch. They all followed the Professor as he led them through his laboratory. There was a small nursery room where Sophie had placed Froakie on a table and was treating it with some machine and bright light.
While the Professor reassured Ash, Bonnie and Clemont who observed Froakie from behind the glass Lexi let out a yelp when something familiar landed on the top of her head. "I was already wondering where you were, Hoothoot," she said joyfully as she petted the owl Pokémon. "I'm sure that you haven't been bothering the others while I was away." Hoothoot hooted in denial at that.
With that she went to follow the others into the sitting area where she and her father would often have their lunch breaks during their work breaks. While everyone else was already seated Lexi went to make tea for all of them so that they had something to drink while they talked and waited.
"While you know my name," her dad began while he looked at Ash. "I'm a Pokémon researcher here at Kalos, with the aid of my assistance's and my Lexi. I don't think I've gotten your name yet."
"Nice to meet you. My name is Ash and this my partner Pikachu," he replied, and Pikachu raised its hand in greeting.
"My name is Bonnie," Bonnie said.
At that the Professor smirked. "I know perfectly well who you are and your brother are, Bonnie. You've been running around here for years." And Bonnie merely laughed at that while Lexi sat down next to her dad.
"Pikachu and I got here today from Pallet Town in Kanto," Ash went on.
"From Kanto?" her dad repeated. It had been quite some time since he had last met a trainer from the furthest region.
"Right. I'm traveling on a journey so I can become a Pokémon master."
"Then welcome. Forgive me for not thanking you yet for saving Froakie. It's much appreciated."
"The truth is," Ash said. "Froakie saved us. So what's the deal with Froakie's trainer? What happened that would make him give Froakie up?"
Lexi exchanged a mixed look with her father. "Froakie's past is a troublesome one. We're still trying to figure out why it's doing what it's doing," she said.
"Well one of my numerous responsibilities is to give trainers their very first Pokémon. Froakie is a Pokémon meant for new trainers. But this particular Froakie is a bit different. Refusing to listen to its trainer during battle," the Professor explained.
"It has ran away on numerous occasions simply because it didn't like its trainer," Lexi added grimly.
"And several trainers have come back to my lab just to return it."
The others all looked stunned by that news. "You mean more than one?" Ash asked.
"I wish it was different, but we are convinced that Froakie acts this way for a reason," Lexi replied, taking a sip from her tea while Hoothoot let out a soft chirp.
"I've heard some stories about a trainer's first Pokémon like that through Lexi, but it seemed absurd, so I never believed them until she showed me," Clemont said with raised hands.
At that moment Garchomp appeared in the room and began to look through the glass so that it could see Froakie, with who the Pokémon was good friends. Lexi was the one who walked towards Garchomp so that she could pet it herself. Her dad was right behind her.
"Garchomp lives here in the lab," he explained. "It has a good heart. Garchomp, how are you feeling?" Garchomp once again lowered its head so that it could be properly pet it. "Froakie will be fine. Don't worry. You can thank these people."
Garchomp turned towards Ash, Bonnie and Clemont and allowed them to pet it. Only Bonnie was able to reach the top of Garchomp's head so the Professor was kind enough to lift her up, even though she had met the Pokémon before during her visits at the lab when Lexi showed her around.
"Professor," Clemont began, trying to contain a smile. "I've heard a lot about your research about Mega Evolution. Is it true?" While Lexi would often talk about what she and her dad were researching, Clemont wanted to ask the Professor for himself. Beside the fact that he and Lexi were best friends and he spend a lot of his time here at the labs or at Lexi's house, he was always interested in the Professor's research.
"Yes, is it." her father responded. "There are more Pokémon living right here at the lab after all. Lexi dear, can you please take them there?"
"It will be my pleasure, Dad," she assured him. While her father told his other assistant Cosette to keep an eye on Garchomp he and Bonnie and Clemont followed Lexi closely as she leaded them to another hallway.
At the end of the hallway was door which Lexi opened eagerly and behind it inside the building was a large, and vast grass area filled with all different kinds of Pokémon's. There was a creek near the glass wall where some of the Pokémon were drinking or chilling in the sand.
Almost as soon as Lexi put one of her feet into the grass, she was hit by a Pokémon which float against her shoulder, and she started to laugh. "Oh, Raichu. I've missed you too," she cried out as she tugged the Pokémon closer against her. "I'm so sorry to have left you for so long. It will not happen again."
"Rai!" she said happily because her trainer had finally returned to her. It cradled closer into her neck and almost knocked Hoothoot from her head, causing the owl let out a defensive hoot, but it refused to move away from her head.
"There is space enough for both of you. Okay?" she told them while Raichu continued to hold onto her from behind her.
Lexi watched while Bonnie began to run in circles across the grass with her arms spread, her laugh bouncing through the room while some of the Pokémon chased behind her. Clearly this was a sight that the young girl clearly couldn't tire from. Not even Clemont could turn his gaze away from all the Pokémon.
"How have they all been doing, Dad?" Lexi asked with interest as she got a closer look at a few of them.
"They've been doing fine, Lexi," he reassured her. "None of them has been causing any trouble. You know how they behave."
With Hoothoot and Raichu still attached on her shoulder and head Lexi leaned closer to one particular Pokémon which came bouncing towards her on its tail. "There you are, my little Azurill!" she said as she lifted the Pokémon in her arms.
"Azu! Rill!" she cried out cheerfully.
"It's good to be reunited with them again, isn't it?" Clemont asked her. "It must've been tough for you to have been away from them for so long."
"You have no idea how incredibly it feels to hold them again," she agreed wholeheartedly. "It feels like forever." With a smooth hop Hoothoot leaped onto the top of Clemont's head, who was one of the only people that it felt at ease around. Clemont didn't hesitate to pet it under its beak.
They could hear Ash gasp behind them as he took in the sight of the field and all of the Pokémon. When Raichu caught sight of Pikachu trailing behind Ash it leaped from Lexi's shoulder and floated towards Pikachu, who sniffed curiously at this new Pokémon.
"What kind of Pokémon is that? It's floating on its tail!" Ash cried out.
"That's Lexi's Raichu," Bonnie told him.
"That doesn't look like any Raichu I've ever seen before."
"Trust me that we weren't familiar with this kind of Raichu either. It was a normal Pichu and a Pikachu until I used a Thunderstone to evolve it," Lexi began to explain. "When it turned into this it shocked us beyond belief. We still have no explanation why this particular Raichu turned into a Thunder and Psychic type and why it can suddenly float by using its tail. We've been doing a lot of research on it, but we've had no luck so far. Either way I do not love my little friend any less just because it's different."
"Your Raichu is just amazing, Lexi," Ash replied, which made her laugh. "Just amazing."
They all watched how Pikachu and Raichu immediately became good friends, even though they had only just met. Raichu chased Pikachu across the grass and to the other side of the room. Lexi used that time to give some attention to all the other Pokémon who had turned their attention towards her, and who were happy to see her.
"Ash?" Clemont asked. "How is Froakie feeling?"
"Much better. Froakie is really strong," Ash replied optimistically. "So, Professor and Lexi, what kind of evolution are you researching?"
"Well, if I told you that Pokémon may have an additional evolutionary stage, what would you say?" the Professor asked with a gleeful smirk. It was obvious that her father enjoyed seeing the reaction in people's eyes when he mentioned this kind of evolution.
"You're basically implying that Garchomp can still evolve?" Clemont asked. Lexi had explained some of the basics about Mega Evolution to him, but she knew very little about it. The research was still in its early stages. And besides her father was much better at explaining these things than she was.
"Possibly, that's my research," her dad responded and the amazement was visible on Ash and Clemont's faces. "There have been several reports about different Pokémon evolving in a way that we researchers refer to as Mega Evolution."
"Mega Evolution?" Ash repeated.
"A lot of the mechanics are still a mystery," he went on. "But Lexi and I believe that a strong bond between Pokémon and trainer, as well as a special stone play a crucial role in evolving."
"A Pokémon is able to return to its previous form after it evolves this way," Lexi added as she gave Azurill a firm hug.
"Huh? It can turn back?" Ash asked them.
"As far as we know, yes," Lexi said. "Like we said there is still a lot we do know about it."
Their conversation came to an abrupt end when they heard loud commotion coming from the entrance of the laboratory. Without thinking the five of them made their way back through the hallways where they heard the cries of Garchomp becoming clearer.
As they reached the entrance, they found the building itself had been damaged to some attack. Garchomp was standing at the center towards three people in lab coats who Lexi had never seen before. Clearly Garchomp was enraged and refused to turn away from these three people.
"Professor! Lexi! Those three did this!" Sophie told them frantically.
Her dad turned his attention towards the strangers. "Alright! Who are you?"
"Prepare for trouble alright, we're us," the woman began and for some strange reason Lexi knew perfectly well who these people were.
"And make it double, no muss no fuss," the man added. As soon as they removed their lab coats, they exposed themselves as Team Rocket.
"It's those three losers again," Lexi uttered with clenched fists.
"You are such annoying bad people!" Bonnie complained with a pout.
"Team Rocket?" her dad asked unsure.
"They are bad guys who try to steal everybody's Pokémon!" Ash told him.
"Try?" Jessie asked with a laugh. "We succeed."
"And today," James butted in. "Garchomp will fill that need."
"There is nothing like doing an evil deed," Meowth added from the top of Wobbuffet's head.
"It can't be. A talking Meowth?" her dad asked in astonishment.
"Don't fall for it, Dad," Lexi warned him. "They're still bad guys."
Without any warning Garchomp began to release a Hyper Beam, hitting Team Rocket and sending them through the roof of the lab. For some reason Garchomp seemed to have no control over its actions, and that could be a very bad thing.
When it released another Hyper Beam, everyone ducked just in time to avoid getting hit.
"Hey, look at Garchomp's neck," Clemont pointed out, addressing the attention to the collar around Garchomp's neck. It was clear that this collar was causing Garchomp a lot of people.
"That collar is from those people," Sophie told them. "Garchomp jumped in to save Froakie."
They all yelled when Garchomp flew through the hole in the ceiling and landed on the streets outside.
"Garchomp must be in a lot of pain," Ash said.
"What's gonna happen to Garchomp?" Bonnie asked with tears in her eyes, as she clutched onto Clemont's leg.
"Let's go after it!" Ash determined and Pikachu followed its trainer shot.
"Please be very careful," the Professor called after him. "Sophie, please check to see if the other Pokémon are okay."
Bonnie was shivering slightly in Clemont's hold. "Oh, Clemont. I wish we could help poor Garchomp out."
"Then let's go too," Clemont responded.
"Ash doesn't have to do this alone," Lexi said as she called Azurill back into her Pokéball so that she at least could take a Pokémon with her this time.
As they neared the door Froakie suddenly leaped in front of Ash to block its way. "Froakie, what?" Ash asked.
"Froo!" it said.
"It wants to come with you, Ash," Lexi said from behind him.
"Great!"
And with that Bonnie, Lexi, Ash and Clemont began to make their way out of Sycamore's laboratory with Froakie at the front. As they got outside the damage that Garchomp had already done to all of the houses and buildings was already visible. It was no surprise since it was firing its Hyper Beam wherever it went as it soared through the sky. Lexi could only hope that the people of Lumiose City would be able to get away on time.
From the loud noises and the sound of debris flying everywhere it wasn't that difficult for them to see where Garchomp was going. There were cars all over the streets, trying to leave the city before the situation would get out of hand. Even an officer Jenny told the people to evacuate immediately.
"Oh no! It's heading for Prism Tower!" Lexi cried out when she figured out its route and saw how Garchomp landed on one of the top ledges of the tower and began to fire at a nearby news helicopter.
As they reached Prism Tower, they saw that a crowd had already gathered on the bottom of the tower, and gazed up at it.
"I got to try and get close to it," Ash said to them.
"Ah!" Clemont gasped in shock. "But that dangerous."
"Garchomp will not recognize you, Ash," Lexi warned him.
"No, Garchomp is the one who is in danger," Ash replied. "I got to find a way to get that collar off."
Clemont thought about it for a second. "Hmm. I know. If getting close to Garchomp is what you need to do, I think I just came up with a way." And Lexi grinned at that because this tower was Clemont's Gym after all. He knew his way around it better than anyone.
Clemont led them to a foot of the tower where another entrance was hidden behind a door by a lock.
There's an emergency stairwell behind that door," he said as he knelt next to the panel. "Good thing I brought my backpack." A glint appeared in his glasses which he pushed back. "The future is now thanks to science. Alright, Clemontic Gear on." He pressed on the button on the strap of his backpack. "Aipom arm go!" His Aipom Arm appeared from the back of his backpack and its two fingers went into the panel.
"Wow! Check that out!" Ash uttered in amazement.
With just a few turns of the hand the panel clicked open. "Now we can get in."
"Science is so amazing!"
"You got that right," Bonnie agreed proudly. "It's my brother's invention."
At the sudden praise Clemont turned rather embarrassed and brushed his finger underneath his nose with a grin on his face. "I must admit I'm rather good at these things."
"Not just good, Clemont. You're the best," Lexi told him ecstatically, pulling Clemont in for a brief embrace for his achievement and to lift him back onto his feet.
It was Ash who pushed open the door so that he could step inside. "Thanks, Clemont," he called back.
"Sure thing," the inventor said back. He was about to follow Ash inside Prism Tower, but at that moment one of Garchomp's Hyper Beams came their way and hit the ground just in front of Clemont, Lexi and Bonnie who could just jump away in time.
A large boulder blocked the entrance and separated them from Ash. "Clemont! Lexi! Bonnie! You okay?" they heard Ash call from the other side.
"Yeah, don't worry about us," Clemont shouted through a small crack. "You just get going."
"Okay, I'm on it." They all saw how Ash turned around and headed onto the stairs until he disappeared from their sight.
Lexi was someone who usually was very patient but as the three of them stood there just next to the entrance with their hands tied, she couldn't help but feel restless. Her gaze was focused on the upper ledge of the tower where Garchomp was still relentlessly firing its Hyper Beams.
"I wonder if Ash is alright," Bonnie said with a worried tone.
"I cannot even see him from here," Lexi muttered with squinted eyes as she tried to get a better look.
It wasn't until they saw Garchomp flying to the upper ledge of Prism Tower when they finally saw Ash climbing some ladder.
"I cannot believe how brave Ash is when it comes to saving Pokémon," Bonnie uttered in awe.
"It's like his bravery can't run out. It's admirable for sure," Lexi agreed with a gasp. "No one in their right mind would climb this tower without any reason. He's doing it to save Pokémon."
While Lexi and Bonnie talked, she saw a hundred different thoughts goings through Clemont's mind as he continued to gaze up at the tower. "I need to get up there," he said determined and rushed towards the boulders.
"Wait!" Bonnie called out for him. "We're going with you."
"Absolutely," Lexi stubbornly said as she followed him, holding onto her glasses. With the help of Clemont's Aipom Arm, and Lexi they were able to remove some boulder so that they could squeeze through the entrance.
"Take my hand, Bonnie," Clemont extended his hand to pull Bonnie along with him.
"Thank you!" was Bonnie's response.
The stairway that they took brought them to another steep ladder like the one that they had seen Ash climbing a few minutes ago. With determination in their veins they were eager to keep climbing, but the higher they got the more Clemont began to complain.
It wasn't that long until they reached the top of the ladder and Clemont pushed open the door so that they could get onto the floor of the ledge.
"Pull yourself together, Clemont!" Bonnie cried out from behind him.
"My legs," he complained, entirely out of breath from the short climb up the ladder.
"Cut Clemont some slack, will you Bonnie?" Lexi came between them.
"Where is Ash?"
Bonnie's gaze went all the way to the top of Prism Tower. "Up there!" she smiled. "At the top of the tower." And they all got to their feet.
From the ledge where they were standing, they couldn't hear what Ash was saying to Garchomp, but they saw how it got closer to the Pokémon who was still struggling with the force of its collar, trying to pull it off.
Somehow Ash managed to get close enough to Garchomp so that it could place it hand on the collar, but it didn't budge. With the help of Pikachu and Froakie they were able to break the collar into pieces, and Lexi let out an expressed sigh at the sight to see the pain being removed from Garchomp's expression.
But before anyone could react, they saw in horror how Pikachu tumbled over the ledge of Prism Tower and fell down. Ash didn't hesitate to throw himself throw himself from the tower himself to try and save his friend. While the two of them tumbled down Ash wrapped his arms around Pikachu to press it against his chest.
Out of nowhere a large blast like fire and took Ash and Pikachu with it. "What's that?" Lexi cried out. When the flame landed on the ground and put Ash and Pikachu safely on the ground, Lexi was able to recognize the Pokémon. "That's a Blaziken. But not just any ordinary Blaziken. It's a Mega Blaziken!"
"I've never seen anything like it before." Clemont adjusted his glasses to get a better look at the Pokémon before it leaped into the sky again and it landed on top of a building next to one man who was clothed in a strange cloak and a mask.
"What a relief!" Bonnie sighed and Clemont let out a deep sigh next to her.
That night Ash, Bonnie and Clemont all slept at Sycamore lab mainly because it was easier for all of them. During the night Lexi slept alone in her own room and mostly all that she did was thinking. It was mind puzzling to her that during that first day that Ash had arrived in Kalos he had showed her that there was still so much about Pokémon that Lexi was in the dark about, and was eager to explore.
With those thoughts in her mind she was still able to catch some sleep, but she woke up a bit earlier to pack a bag, basically because she had made a decision, one that she needed to share with her father soon. She was rather anxious for his response, and she couldn't blame him for it.
Almost as soon as she woke Lexi went to retrieve her Raichu and Hoothoot inside their Pokéball's. After she joined the others for a quick breakfast at the kitchen which had dad had made everyone made their way outside at the front entrance because it was time for them to move on.
The clothes she had chosen was a white collared top with frills resembling sleeves, high waisted ankle-length black pants, and black and white heeled shoes. Since her eyesight isn't optimal, she's wearing her regular black rectangular glasses. On the top of her head she wears a white hat with a pale orange ribbon. Her pink-colored hair, in a soft strawberry shade, is tied down into two twin ponytails with yellow rings. Her dad had once given her a black necklace with yellow, blue and pink triangles. Her usual purse that she carries is a pale orange color. It was one of her cutest outfits if you were to ask Lexi.
While her dad talked with others for a little bit Lexi anxiously shuffled with her feet because she was fearing his reaction. She bit her lip when she saw how they were all suddenly watching her, and clearly had missed something that had been asked at her by someone.
"Lexi," her dad began. "I have this feeling that there is something that you've been wanting to tell me. You have that expression on your face, my dear."
It was now or never. "Yes, I've spent the whole night thinking yesterday how there is still so much about Pokémon that I do not know yet. You expect me to become a successful assistant to you soon, but how can I do that when there is much that I need to learn still. Things that I cannot learn here, like Pokémon behavior and their habits. Even battle tactics. That is knowledge that I go out there and explore the wild for myself, and see all of the Pokémon that can be found in the Kalos region. I'm sure that this all may come as a shock to you, dad, but I've made up my mind. I'm not ready to be an assistant to a Professor yet. I have some growing to do first."
Lexi had expected that her dad would begin to shout in disdain at her for even coming up with this preposterous idea, but he remained quiet much too long to sooth Lexi's aching nerves.
When he began to laugh, she frowned at his reaction. "I was already waiting for this to happen, Lexi."
"You were?" She held her glasses.
"Well you are my daughter after all and I'd like to say that I've raised you well. I do not like the thought of you leaving me, even when you're already fifteen years old because you're still my little girl." He placed his hands on her shoulders. "This is a journey that you need to take because this is experience that I cannot give you, but which you must obtain yourself. This will be your best opportunity to study Pokémon in their natural habitats." He brought one of his hands into his pocket. "I would like to give you this to help you out on your journey and with your research." He pulled out a brand-new sketchbook with a green cover. On the centre was the symbol for Sycamore's laboratory. "I had this ready for your departure just in case."
Lexi was overwhelmed with emotions mainly because she hadn't anticipated this and threw her arms around her father's shoulders. "I cannot thank you enough for giving me this opportunity to do so. I was just under the impression that you would be against this idea."
He let out another laugh. "I would never be against something that would help you with fulfilling your dreams, Lexi. You'll be a Pokémon Professor someday and you need to explore Kalos to achieve that. Just make sure that you call me whenever you reach a new city so that I will not get worried about you and to keep me updated on your research. I'll always be here to help you out, Lexi. Keep that in mind."
Instead of pulling away Lexi let the embrace last on for a few more moments, because she wasn't sure when she would be seeing him again.
When they did break apart the Professor let his arm rest around Lexi's shoulder to keep her close. He turned his attention back towards Ash. "I take it that you do not have a Kalos Pokédex yet?"
Ash shook his head. "No."
"Take this with you on your journey and make good use of it."
"Thanks a lot Professor." Ash put the Pokédex into one of his pockets.
Her dad then looked at Clemont. "I take it that you will keep a close eye on Lexi for me?"
"You know I will," he promised.
Lexi kissed her dad's cheek. "Thanks again for everything. I will keep you updated on what happens so you won't have to miss me that much. Know that I love you very much, dad."
"And I you, Lexi," he reminded her. "Be safe." Lexi nodded with a smile as she stepped alongside Clemont and Bonnie, eager to get going.
"Are you all ready to go?" Ash asked them. As he turned around towards the fence, he got hit in the face by one of Froakie's frubbles. The little Pokémon was sitting at the end of the path with its Pokéball in front of it.
"Froo!" it said as it shoved the ball towards Ash with its nose.
"Well, what do you know," Lexi uttered. "It appears that it wants to come with you, Ash."
"I can't believe it," Clemont said. "Froakie chose you."
"It really likes Ash. That's so sweet," Bonnie replied with a grin.
Ash picked up the Pokéball. "You think so, huh? So Froakie, do you want to come with us?"
"Froakie!" it squealed as it hopped so it could press the button of the Pokéball and reach back inside it.
Ash looked back at Pikachu. "Pikachu, Froakie is our first friend in Kalos. Yes, I caught a Froakie!" He extended the Pokéball for a second for everyone to see. While Bonnie and Clemont were gushing over how neat it was for Ash to catch his first Pokémon here, Lexi turned one last time to her father and gave him that mental promise that this a goodbye. They would see each other again. But for now her journey was finally starting.