Prologue
Ash Ketchum. ...There's only a handful of people still around that still remember that name as a friend and not a historical figure. Myself, Max, Todd, a few older trainers from back then and of course... his grandson ...Zack. the world hasn't changed too much, but some things are definitely different. Battles for one have become more and more complex.
Trainers and Pokemon are able to tap into each other senses for a greater awareness of the battlefield. A trainers intelligence, wisdom, strategy and even their very thoughts can be communicated in this way. Attacks are called out mearly as a formality and for the benefit of the crowd. Variations and combinations are usually unspoken and add surprise and flair to the game.
The stronger the bond the faster the relay of information. That bond is the epitome of a successful trainer... unfortunately for Zach... he has been unable to form such a bond. Every trainer, regardless of skill or age has been able to form at least a rudimentary bond with their Pokemon. This restricts him to the older format of battle and it puts him at a serious disadvantage.
To date he has only won about 20 or so battles and lost nearly three times that many. The local Joy diagnostic bot at the Pokemon center can't give a definitive answer as to why but suspects it may be genetic. A part of me feels responsible... I've never told him... or his parents for that matter... that I too had trouble forging bonds with my Pokemon.
Pokemon simply wouldn't listen to me or actively defied commands. My parents, our towns Pokemon researcher and even a counselor couldn't offer an explanation. I eventually learned how to overcome it and in the process gained an extremely empathetic understanding of my Pokemon, but it took time... time that I know Zack won't want to waste. That's why I've been working on a special project... one that if successful... won't require a bond for a trainer and Pokemon to work as one. It sounds a little out there... and it might not even work.
If it does however... it will change the nature of battles again... beyond anything seen before. I call it...R-Sync... short for Revolution Synchronization. In short... it merges Pokemon and trainer together... to form something new... something stronger... something better... and with any luck... it'll help Zack follow in his grandfather's footsteps.