Beyond the gateway, the first thing Serena notices is the smell of the city. It isn't something she thought she'd miss. In Vaniville Town, the air is clean. There is no exhaust from cars, no smoke from cigarettes, no smell of freshly baked bread. Vaniville smells like trees and leaves. It doesn't smell like home. The second thing Serena notices is the white pillar in the distance. The sun gleams off the structure. It's pretty.
"I'll go ahead and wait in front of the lab for you!" Sina says. "Stop by when you're free." Dexio nods in agreement, following after her.
The professor can wait a minute longer, Serena thinks. Instead of going immediately to the Pokémon Lab, she goes to the Pokémon Center across the street. Inside, Nurse Joy heals Sweetheart, cleaning thorns from the flowers out of his fur in the process. Serena looks around for Tierno, Trevor, Shauna, and Calem, but they aren't there.
When Serena leaves, she spots Sina across the street sitting on the lab's stone steps. She stands when Serena nears. "This building is the Sycamore Pokémon Lab!" she explains. "Let's go inside!"
The building is three stories tall and made entirely of stone except for a glass, domed roof. Green accents the windows and the doorway. Inside, the white floor is accented with blue, matching the wallpaper. On the walls are framed, hand-drawn blueprints and with notes and pictures of Pokémon. A glass elevator sits against the far wall.
"You've traveled a long way from Vaniville Town, but you're finally here!" Sina says, drawing Serena from her surroundings. "The professor can't wait to meet you. You can find him on the third floor, so hop in the elevator!"
Serena holds Sweetheart closer, apprehensive. She doesn't know what her mother told him, what he thinks of her. Why does he need five children? The elevator reaches the third floor, but Serena doesn't get out. Why does he need me?
When the doors open, she leaves on shaking legs. Waiting for her is a tall man with black hair and a long, white lab coat. "So we finally meet!" he says. He moves his arms while he speaks. "Fantastic! You're here!" He turns on his heel, past a desk and around a divider. "Come this way, won't you?"
Did Mom send him a picture too? Has he been by Mom's house and I ignored him? He probably did. What did he say in that letter he sent her? What does he want from me? Will he take Sweetheart? Sweetheart barks at Serena when she squeezes him too tightly instead of moving, startling her out of her stupor. Right. He doesn't know me. He doesn't know me. I am me and Sweetheart is my friend and he wasn't mad.
Serena kisses Sweetheart's head and follows the man. He leans against a desk. "Many thanks for coming all the way from Vaniville Town!" His accent is strange, like English isn't his first language. It isn't for most of Kalos. "I'm Professor Sycamore! It's a pleasure to finally meet you! How is your Pokémon journey going so far? Have you met many different Pokémon?"
"Umm...Maybe?" Serena has no idea how many Pokémon are in this region.
"Fantastic! Let me have a quick look at your Pokédex and see!" Serena pulls her Pokédex out of her bag. "Hmm…" He scrolls through the list of Pokémon she's seen. "So you've seen 36 kinds of Pokémon in Central Kalos, then. Oh ho! The pages are getting filled in. It's starting to look good!"
But it's only 36 Pokémon. I haven't even caught one.
"Well now, you DO have a certain je ne sais quoi! I have a good feeling about you!"
"Thank you." Serena's hold on Sweetheart loosens as she calms.
"At first, I was thinking of choosing only one child from a town when I was deciding who to give a Pokémon to," he explains, smiling. "In Vaniville Town, it was going to be the child of a Veteran Trainer I know. About then, I learned that the Rhyhorn racer Grace's daughter was moving here. She told me about the Kanto region and what your father said.
"Here in the Kalos region, you're far away from everything you used to know…" He puts a hand on his chest. "That really hit me right here… Then it hit me-I should give you a Pokémon and have you travel around Kalos!"
"Hi, Professor!" a sing-songy voice interrupts. "It's Shauna."
Serena turns, watching Shauna and Calem enter.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting," Calem says.
"Fantastic!" Professor Sycamore exclaims. "Now, let's all have a Pokémon battle!" He turns to Serena. "Your opponent shall be me!"
"What?" Serena exclaims.
"What?" Shauna and Calem echoed.
"I'm ready whenever you are," confirms Professor Sycamore. Sweetheart jumps out of Serena's arms, making the decision for her. "Just so you know," he clarifies, "I'm not that tough!"
He begins the battle by sending out Bulbasaur. Sweetheart growls and Bulbasaur digs his feet into the ground. Sweetheart breathes in, sending out a flame charge. The Bulbasaur faints, unable to dodge.
Professor Sycamore sends out Squirtle next. Sweetheart breathes in again and sends out another breath of fire, but the fire is lower and spins around the Squirtle. It ducks in its shell, protecting itself. The papers on Professor Sycamore's desk, however, catch on fire, the embers falling in the shell's holes. Sweetheart closes his eyes and uses psybeam, knocking the Pokémon back into the professor's desk. It tries to stand, but it falls forward. Professor Sycamore pauses the battle to save his research papers.
He sends out Charmander. Sweetheart howls again and the Charmander spits out an ember. Sweetheart closes his eyes and focuses on another psybeam, knocking the Charmander back. Before his tail can burn any more papers, Professor Sycamore recalls him.
Professor Sycamore claps his hands in praise and lifts his arms in defeat. "Ha ha! You're too much for me! You're really something, aren't you?"
Serena blinks, realizing she beat the professor. The blur of the battle kept her from her previous thoughts. Sweetheart barks happily, dancing around her feet.
"I think I've about figured it out!" the professor says.
Shauna and Calem turn, their battle finished. Shauna asks, "Figured out what?"
"Serena! You are an interesting Pokémon Trainer indeed!" he continues. "It'd be fantastic if you took another Pokémon with you!"
"Really?" Serena is confused. He didn't want to take her Pokémon?
"Here!" he says. "Pick one!" He brings out the Pokémon he used earlier, all three a little beat up, but happy nonetheless.
Serena's knees knock together and she falls to the ground, sitting on her feet. She cries. Everyone else in the room stares at her. "Squirtle," she mumbles. "I pick Squirtle."
The Pokémon toddles over to her, tapping her cheeks.
"I meant to pick you," she murmurs, picking him up. "I was supposed to pick you. I always meant to pick you." She sets him down and wipes her eyes.
"So you pick Squirtle? That's fantastic!" says Professor Sycamore, helping Serena to her feet. "Since you chose Squirtle, I'll give you this Mega Stone."
"A Mega Stone?"
"A Blastoisinite specifically." Professor Sycamore turns to Shauna and Calem. "Come now, you two. Pick your Pokémon."
"I don't know which one to pick!" Shauna says. "It's so difficult!"
"It's okay," cedes Calem. "Take your time."
Shauna eventually picks Charmander and Calem picks Bulbasaur.
"Well, I've got a feeling everyone else will show up soon." Professor Sycamore leans against his desk, waiting. Shauna dances around the room with her Charmander, just barely keeping his tail from burning Professor Sycamore's books. Calem watches her while sitting on the floor and introducing his Bulbasaur and Froakie. Squirtle and Sweetheart chase after each other while running around Serena's feet.
"I always meant to pick Squirtle. Professor Oak was supposed to come to my school and I was supposed to pick Squirtle and go on an adventure." Serena wipes the corners of her eyes. "Thank you, Professor."
"It's my pleasure," he says, watching the Pokémon interact with their Trainers. Tierno and Trevor walk in.
"Hi, Professor Sycamore," Tierno says.
"What's this?" Trevor looks around. "Everyone is already here."
"See," says the professor. I think he means look. "Wonderful! Everyone's all here! So now that we're all here, I'd like to say a few words." He points to all of them. "Be the best Trainer you can be! At the same time, remember to have fun traveling with your Pokémon! Also, I want to ask for your help in solving the Kalos region's biggest Pokémon mystery: the secret and potential of Mega Evolution, a new kind of Evolution that occurs in battle! That's why I gave you that Mega Stone just now. It's an important clue!"
"Mega Evolution?" Serena can hear the frown in Trevor's voice. "What should we do about the Pokédex?"
"Trevor, my lad," the professor answers, "If that's what 'best Trainer' means to you, then I want you to go out there and complete that Pokédex!"
"Mega Evolution sounds really interesting!" Shauna sings.
"If you're investigating Mega Evolution, why don't you check out Camphrier Town? That town has a lot of history-you might find a hint there!" Professor Sycamore addresses the group. "Now listen. If you visit many different places to complete the Pokédex, you will probably see Pokémon with many ways of living and meet people with many ways of thinking. First, accept the ways of living and thinking that sometimes conflict with your own. And think about what's really important-this will truly broaden your horizons."
"I think being different from others is a part of what makes me special," Calem says. "Mastering Mega Evolution will definitely set me apart from other Trainers!"
Serena nods in agreement and turns to leave. Tierno, Trevor, Shauna, and Calem stay behind to talk to the professor. I want to spend time with my Squirtle. With two Pokéballs on her hip, Serena rides down the elevator to the first floor.
"-so I will be able to meet them soon, then." A man with voluminous red hair speaks with Sina.
"Yes," she confirms.
"The children chosen by the professor… I wonder what potential they have."
Serena's mood instantly darkens. How many people has the professor told about us? Serena walks backwards to the elevator, but the elevator is no longer on her floor. She rests her hand on Sweetheart's Pokéball and presses the up button.
Sina, however, notices her. "And here's one of them now… That's Serena."
Serena feels her face flush.
"Serena, come here a sec!"
Her feet move without her command. The man stares down at her.
"Oh!" he mutters. "You received a Pokédex from the professor then… How wonderful! That is a wonderful thing, indeed. You are one of the chosen ones. I am Lysandre. I've tried to learn as much about Pokémon as I can to help build a brighter future. Professor Sycamore has taught me so much." Serena cringes when he keeps watching her. "Oh, I see you have a Holo Caster! Knowledge is power, after all. Put it to good use.
"Now listen! It is vital that this world become a better the people and Pokémon chosen to make the world better must work tirelessly to achieve this goal." Lysandre turns to Sina. "Well, I'll be off. Please give Professor Sycamore my best." He starts to leave, murmuring, "My desire...it is for a more beautiful world!"
"Still…" Sina starts when the doors close. "I wonder what kind of beautiful world Lysandre desires… In this great big Kalos region, there are many different Pokémon. I hope getting a Pokédex gives you a chance to learn about them." Sina waves her off, going upstairs to complete her work. Before Serena can leave, Shauna, Calem, Tierno, and Trevor exit the elevator and catch up to her.
"Serena, there's a place I want to go check out!" Shauna sings. "So, I'll see you around!"
Calem follows her, but he calls back to Serena, "There's something I want to talk to you about. I'll wait for you in Café Soleil, neighbor!"
"I wonder what Calem wants to talk about." Trevor turns to Tierno. "Why couldn't he just use the Holo Caster?"
"No clue, but it seems hush-hush," Tierno replies. "I AM curious about what's going on, but we should probably stay out of it." They walk over to Serena. "Hey, Serena! To get to Camphrier Town, leave the lab, turn left, and go straight. That Café Soleil Calem was talking about is over that way, too."
"Lumiose City may be very large," Trevor cedes, "but if you stay on the main streets, you shouldn't get lost."
"I'm gonna go on a little walk… The streets sure wind and wander here." Tierno heads off back to Route 4. Trevor hurries along to Camphrier Town. Before she follows Trevor to find Calem, she goes to the Pokémon Center.
"What will I name you, Squirtle?" she asks him after Nurse Joy heals him. Squirtle smiles.
Outside, Serena goes down South Boulevard, searching for Calem. Already, she passed three cafés. The town map doesn't even help. She tries asking the locals, but they turn her around, preferring she go to their favorite cafés. Shauna finds her and directs her to Café Soleil with the promise that Serena join her for a PR Video. Calem sits under an awning, waiting for her.
"Come with me for a second," he says, standing. He heads inside, Serena proceeding after him. He halts just beyond the doorway. "Oh, it's Lysandre and… Is that Diantha? So get this, Rena, Lysandre is the head of Lysandre Labs, which created the Holo Caster, a video-messaging device. You already know about Diantha, right? She is one of the most famous movie stars in the world, after all. I wonder what the two of them are doing here together."
"You played a young girl so wonderfully in your debut on the silver screen," they overhear Lysandre say. "Wouldn't you rather remain young and beautiful forever and always play such roles?"
"What a strange question…" Diantha responds. "Why would I want to play the same old roles forever? Youth may be beautiful, but it's not all there is to life. Everything changes. I want to live and change like that, too. So I look forward to playing different roles as I get older."
"You were chosen to be a movie star, correct?" retorts Lysandre. "Isn't it your duty to be ever beautiful? Everything beautiful should stay that way forever. I would make this world unchanging and eternal so all beauty will last forever. I can't stand the thought of the world becoming uglier." He pauses, turning towards the entrance.
"Oh. Hello, Serena." Lysandre walks over to Serena and Calem. "This is Diantha, one of the most accomplished movie stars in Kalos. She moves the multitudes with her excellent acting, which is to say, she dedicates her life to making other people happy. Oh! If only everyone were like her-what a beautiful world this would be! If you'll excuse me." Lysandre leaves, ignoring Calem entirely.
"And who are you two?" Diantha asks.
"I'm Calem. It's a pleasure. This is…"
"Serena, right?" interrupts Diantha. "I heard Lysandre call you that. You both have such lovely names. Oh, and you're both Trainers! Don't your Pokémon look happy? I'm a Trainer myself, in my off time. I look forward to us battling someday!" Diantha waves and brushes past them, off to her own devices.
"Hmm...I guess Pokémon Trainers all battle each other, no matter who they are," Calem mumbles. "Oh, yeah. I wanted to ask you something, Rena. How about you and I compete and see who ends up stronger? I know we set off on our journey just yesterday, but we are neighbors and having a competition with you sounds like fun."
Serena hums to herself, thinking.
"Shauna told me you didn't really have any plans for this journey, and you seem to think that friends compete against each other, so I thought it was a good idea. Two Pidgeys with one stone, right? You have the potential."
One of the Pokéballs on Serena's hip shakes. Okay, Sweetheart. She nods, holding out her hand. Calem clasps hers with his. "I don't plan on losing though. Just so you know."
They break apart. Calem heads west to Camphrier Town. Serena backtracks to the Trainer PR Studio and records a video with Shauna, the day growing late. They stay at Pokémon Center for the evening.
Serena's current team:
Sweetheart (Fennekin)
Squirtle
Thank you for being patient with me. Uploading every other week is better for my schedule. If I go on hiatus for a month after this, it's due to finals. This story will be updated by the second week of May and then continue normally.
~Bridgett