p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px; text-align: center;"span style="max-height: 999999px; text-decoration-line: underline;"span style="font-weight: bold;"Part CXLVI: Foreseeing What Is To Come/span/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""So, this is the Anistar Sundial." Ash said as they looked up at the large, pink, rock thing that was sticking out of the lake that Anistar City was on before getting a bit confused by it. "Um, why do they call it a Sundial?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"It was the day after the Anistar Showcase and Dawn's second Princess Key win in a thrilling victory over Jessilee where their votes were almost even in the end making it the closest vote of the year. However, Dawn's waltz with Machamp and Furfrou had just edged out the flashy performance that Jessilee had put on with her Gourgeist, Frillish, and Wobbuffet in the end./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Serena was sure that the reason for that win was that Dawn's performance was closer to the preferred style of performer and Pokémon that was liked in Kalos while Jessilee's put her more in the center of attention then in a symbiotic partnership with her Pokémon. When you add in that Dawn's was all about grace and beauty while honoring a traditional dance, as well as being a stark contrast to her last performance, and it was just enough to pip Jessilee in the vote and win the Showcase./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Of course, that now meant that Dawn was up there with Jessilee, and a girl called Kayleigh who'd won the Coumarine Showcase when Dawn was in it and had recently won her 3rd Princess Key to qualify for the Master Class, as the top contenders this year. All three had set themselves apart this year and while there would be many Master Class participants from years past, Dawn was now part of the new trio leading the pack of rookies for this season. Jessilee was still seen as the favorite of the three, but Dawn wasn't far behind after beating her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Naturally Dawn didn't really focus on that. She was of course now aiming for the Master Class as she was just one key shy of it but at the same time she was doing this for fun, the thrill of competing and to see how it might help her coordinating should she get the chance to do that again at a high level now that she was a Top Coordinator. The actual buzz and fan scene wasn't something Dawn tended to focus on, she hadn't as a coordinator and she wasn't going to as a performer, so she just ignored it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"On the coordinator front though, the Anistar Contest was slated for 2 days' time. Given how the stage had been for the Showcase it would take a bit of time to clear it and set it up to fit what was needed for the Contest, which both Dawn and May would judge with Nurse Joy while Pierre MCed it like the last time, and thus they had some time before the girls were needed for that./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Like the last one that the pair had judged in Dendemille Town, the Anistar Contest was considered wide open as many of the favorites or notable dark horses had ties to mainly May but also Dawn in some cases and as such couldn't compete in it. Dawn and May were looking forward to the Contest, as was Serena to watch it and continue improving her repertoire for the upcoming Wallace Cup, but that was not for a few days, they had other things to sort out first./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"The most important of them was Ash's pending gym battle with Olympia. They'd waited for it because of the set day for the Showcase but now that it was over they'd soon be going to the gym for the battle. Alas that was not until tomorrow as the gym was closed today for some intensive classes that Olympia was holding for her acolytes./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"That hadn't actually been an issue for the quartet though. The day they got into Anistar they'd received a message from Professor Sycamore that informed them that he was on his way to Anistar to observe the Sundial a bit so that he could get some more data from it and would like to have a chat with them at it. He said that he had something important he needed to speak to them about regarding his research and that this was the day he was set to arrive./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"As such, they had gone out after breakfast to meet Sycamore at the Sundial when the time came as he was expected to arrive any minute now. That was why they were now standing on the pier that led to the Sundial which jutted out into the lake so that all could come up to it and observe the landmark that Anistar was famous for./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""The name is a misnomer." A familiar voice said from behind them causing the four teens to turn to see Professor Sycamore approaching them carrying some equipment while his assistants unloaded the van they'd come here in and began setting it up for whatever tests they were going to run on the Sundial. "It's not an actual sundial in the sense that it tells the time based on the shadow cast by the sun, in fact it can't tell time at all. It's called a sundial because it flashes and lights up at set times of the day with what we now know to be Mega Energy."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Wow cool." Ash said instantly interested in the Sundial and what Professor Sycamore was doing with it. "So, this thing is tied to Mega Evolution then?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""In a way yes." Professor Sycamore said with a nod as he reached them. "We still aren't sure what creates Mega Stones, where the energy comes from, or why only certain fully evolved or Pokémon that don't evolve at all can Mega Evolve but the Anistar Sundial clearly has something to do with it."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""What is your theory professor?" Serena asked. "I don't think you explained it last year."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""He couldn't because that acolyte of Olympia's attacked us due to a misunderstanding from her vision regarding the impending incident." May said recalling the altercation well. "And then Olympia herself showed up and saw me and Blaziken and realized that we'd play a key role in what was to come and calmed her acolyte down."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Oh, right I remember." Serena said. "It was shortly after I caught Eevee before the Showcase, so we were still bonding back then as she was preparing for her own debut in Couriway."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Yes it was unfortunate, but we cleared it all up in the end." Professor Sycamore said. "As for my theory, it is that this rock comes from space as there is nothing else like it that we know on the planet. That would mean that Mega Energy is not natural to this planet, which is a good explanation for the phenomenon, but we still haven't confirmed any of that."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Though it clearly has something to do with Mega Evolution energy." May said. "Otherwise, the incident last year wouldn't have involved it as Lysander was messing with that stuff."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""It does?" Dawn asked. "We don't know much of the incident, or at least I can't remember much from what May told us back on our flight to Kalos."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Well, the simplified version was that Lysander, the leader of Team Flare and a skilled scientist here in Kalos, was using Mega Energy for nefarious purposes." Professor Sycamore said. "It involved the using the cores of one of the legendary Pokémon that protect Kalos, Zygarde, to trigger a change in the world. When he launched his plan, the monstrosity that he'd created, and which was being run from a core that had Mairin's Chespin in it, ended up making its way to the Sundial here in Anistar. If it made contact the resulting explosion would have wiped Kalos off the map."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Really, why?" Ash asked./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""We don't really know what his motives were beyond the fact that Lysander used to help people before something caused him to hate humanity it seems, and Lysander himself fell into oblivion and is presumed dead, so we don't know what his end game was." Professor Sycamore said. "Some world changing thing though, these megalomaniacs always seem to want to do that."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""It is what Teams Magma and Aqua wanted." May reminded Ash. "One wanted more land the other more water and were going to use those orb things along with Groudon and Kyogre to accomplish it."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""And Team Galactic wanted something similar, some new world that ended up with Cyrus going into that portal he created using Dialga and Palkia in the Spear Pillar." Dawn added. "So, this is normal for these people. They all make Team Rocket look normal with as at least those morons only want to steal Pokémon and rule the world, not fundamentally change it or in Cyrus's case escape from it."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""True I guess it's just a good thing that it was stopped." Ash said. "Strange to not be part of it but as I was involved in the ones in Hoenn and Sinnoh but at least it was sorted out."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""It took all 8 gym leaders, 2 regional champions, May, Alain, Serena, Clemont and Bonnie's dad, a member of the Kalos Elite Four who had actually been a subordinate of Lysander's but defected when she realize his plan, and myself to achieve it." Sycamore said. "But we managed it and saved the region. Plus, there was a lot of good that came from it in terms of my research that will be used to further help humanity and Pokémon kind for years to come."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""There was?" Dawn asked a little surprised though she had a feeling that she might have been told this before but after the exciting year she'd had with Ash and her friends she couldn't recall if she'd been told or not. "What good came from it?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Oh yes despite the incident good still came from it." Professor Sycamore said. "Most notably was when Zygarde fully formed and defeated the monstrosity that Lysander had created, along with the freeing of Chespie, it resulted in the release of a lot of Mega Energy. Since then, it has been significantly easier to find Mega and Key Stones all over Kalos. Alain has returned as my research assistant to help retrieve as many of them as possible so that we can properly study them, and the Sundial has been a big help in that regard."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""It has?" May asked. "How so?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Every time it lights up it releases Mega Energy." Professor Sycamore said. "And that energy is always different, never the same kind twice in a row. Sometimes it is the wavelength of a Key Stone and sometimes it is a Mega Stone's wavelength. We can record it and then use it to match with scans of the region to both identify the Pokémon it is for if it is for a Mega Stone and pinpoint locations of hidden Mega Stones in Kalos by looking for the same wavelength being emitted."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Wow that's pretty cool." Serena said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""It is but there is one drawback." Professor Sycamore said. "We can only tell what the Mega Energy is for an identified Mega Stone, and we can only confirm what Pokémon one is for with the actual stone as the technology requires the physical stone to match it to a Pokémon. On the flip side, it has helped us identify that there are at least 10 Pokémon capable of Mega Evolution that we don't know about."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""That is useful." Ash said. "And you're here to get some energy readings I take it."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Correct, Alain recorded a good batch last time he was here, but I want to get more." Professor Sycamore said. "As a scientist I always want more data but that is just a bonus reason as I actually wanted to see you four in particular. The fact that you are in Anistar allows me to get more data and see if any of the new found stones match the energy from the Sundial."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""You are here to see us specifically?" Dawn asked confused. "Why?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Because I need to ask a favor of you Dawn." Professor Sycamore said surprising her. "And you're the only one in Kalos who I believe can do what is needed."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Me?" Dawn asked getting even more confused as the others looked at her sharing her confusion. "What can I do to help?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""A few weeks ago, Alain and Mairin were southwest of here along Route 21 which is to the west of Snowbelle when they picked up a Mega Energy signal." Professor Sycamore explained. "It was to their east and matched a recording from the Sundial but not one that I had in my databank meaning that it was for a stone I have yet to encounter, though I do know of a few Pokémon who can Mega Evolve but whose stones I haven't encountered yet, and as Lysander's data is still being dealt with we couldn't use that either. As such Alain instantly went there to check it out and that's where he encountered the problem that only you can assist us with."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""What problem did he encounter?" Dawn asked. "Surely retrieving one of those stones isn't too hard. Ash did it with the Pidgeotite after all."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""While most Mega Stones are easy to get, all are different and this one seems to be especially tough to remove." Professor Sycamore said. "Alain said that he found it in a cave system known as the Chamber of Emptiness that is located off Route 22 a few days east of Santalune."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""That doesn't sound like a pleasant name." Serena said with a shudder. "It's in the area near Vaniville but I've never heard of it."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""The Chamber of Emptiness isn't a place many go to in Kalos and those who do don't seem to be too eager to talk about it." Professor Sycamore said. "It's said to be a place no one enters twice as strange occurrences happen within. Alain refused to say what he experienced there only that he can't retrieve the Mega Stone and that he doesn't want to enter that place ever again."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Is it haunted then?" Ash asked. "That usually causes such hesitation in my experience."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""No, in fact there are no known Pokémon that call it home." Professor Sycamore said with a shake of his head. "It is, as the name implies, empty. However, there is a Mega Stone in the center of the main chamber there. It's just sitting there on a stone pedestal according to Alain but when he went to pick it up it, after dealing with what he had to deal with, it wouldn't move and none of his Pokémon could do lift it either."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""How is that possible?" May asked. "I've never heard of that happening before."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Mega Stones have some odd quirks to them and in the past we've encountered one or two that could only be removed by the Pokémon of the same type as the Pokémon that it was for or even requiring the Pokémon it corresponds with to be the one to retrieve it." Professor Sycamore said. "In this case we believe that it is the latter. Only the Pokémon who it is for can pick it up, or maybe the human who its heart is one with can do so as well that is also a possibility, but regardless I'd like Dawn to retrieve it with her Pokémon."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""You're saying that you know what Pokémon it corresponds with." May said as she began to understand what the Pokémon Professor was asking of them. "One that clearly Dawn has."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Which of mine can Mega Evolve though?" Dawn asked. "I, um, kinda forgot which can and which can't. I know that I have a few but that's all I can remember."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Two of yours can Mega Evolve that we know of thanks to Alain's observations when he was working for Lysander." Professor Sycamore said to her. "And while we didn't have the data in our systems from the Mega Stone itself as this was the first of its kind that I've come across, Alain did have a portable scanner that he could use on the stone even if he couldn't remove it. According to the scanner, the stone in the Cave of Emptiness is Banettite."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Oh." Dawn said realizing it now and why she was the one who'd been asked to get it as the two Pokémon that she had who could Mega Evolve came back to her. "And as I have a Banette you think that I can retrieve it with him."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Yes but there is a bit more to why I'm asking you in particular." Professor Sycamore said. "If it was the other one that you can use, Pinsirite by the way, I may not have come to you as Pinsirs are known to be in Kalos, they can be found in the northwest between Shalour and Coumarine, but Banettes are not common to Kalos. In fact, the only known area of Kalos where they have been known to be in a small village far to the southeast of Kalos. That is where the only known Banette to Mega Evolve is from and how we know it can Mega Evolve as Alain faced one back when he was gathering data for Lysander under false pretenses."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""And no one else has one I take it." Dawn said. "Not that I mind by the way, I have been wanting a Mega and Key Stone for a while so of course I'll do this I'm just curious that's all."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""If you can retrieve the Banettite for me then it is of course yours to keep, but I do want to study that Mega Evolution so I do ask that you Mega Evolve your Banette where I can observe it." Professor Sycamore said to which Dawn nodded in agreement as that was a fair request. "Though you aren't the only one, there are currently 4 Banettes or Shuppets that are registered to trainers in Kalos but there are a few reasons why yours is best."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Well, you already know Dawn for starters." May pointed out. "And she's part of this group so she is best for this."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""That is why I've come to her first before the others who could be of use but that's not the main reason actually." Professor Sycamore said surprising Dawn yet again. "But rather because of the story you told me of how you caught your Banette back when it was still a Shuppet."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Oh that." Dawn said with a smile. "That was an unexpected situation for sure. I've never met a Pokémon that then followed me across a whole region as well as to another one and back after meeting it just once under rather specific, and strange, conditions. I'm not complaining though as he saved me when I needed him the most and allowed me to catch Spiritomb as well."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Precisely." Professor Sycamore said. "That kind of dedication from a wild Pokémon shows that it bonded deeply with you when you met it in Lavender Town's Pokémon Tower so by this point your hearts have to be one making it possible for you to Mega Evolve your Banette. I've never heard of a Pokémon doing that."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""I have." Ash said helpfully. "My Krookodile followed me and Pikachu starting as a Sandile and evolving into a Krokorok during it when I was in Unova. Seriously, he followed me from just outside of Nuvema Town until I caught him after beating him somewhere near Mistralton City. He was all over Unova with us, but we only saw him a few times during which we had a few adventures together."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""That doesn't surprise me." May said. "Honestly it's rather typical for Ash to deal with that."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""It didn't for me either when Ash explained it after I caught Shuppet." Dawn said. "And it explained that it could happen. He also mentioned a Jigglypuff…"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""No don't mention that monster." Ash said loudly./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Pika pi." Pikachu added his cheeks sparking as he glared at his human's mate for daring to mention that accursed Pokémon, he still had nightmares about that Jigglypuff./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Afraid of a Jigglypuff?" Serena asked confused. "But they are so cute and adorable."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""You don't know this one." Ash said shaking his head, Pikachu agreeing with him whole heartedly. "If we ever see a Jigglypuff again, regardless of whether or not it's that one, we are running as far away as fast as possible."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Pika pi." Pikachu said with a nod./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""I'll ask Samuel about it then." Professor Sycamore said intrigued by this. "But back to Dawn's Banette. I believe that it is the best on for it because its actions in following and then saving Dawn show that its heart is one with hers. Of her two Mega Evolution capable Pokémon it's the better of the two based on what I know of them, so this is a great chance for us to study Mega Banette."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""I don't have a Key Stone though." Dawn said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""You can borrow mine or Ash's when the time comes." May said simply. "If we haven't gotten you one before then as the Key Stone isn't tied to a human so don't worry about that."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Oh, that's good." Dawn said a little surprised that any Key Stone would do though in hindsight it did make sense. "Of course, I will get it though, um, we won't be there for a while."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Yeah we have the Anistar Gym battle, Couriway Showcase, Wallace Cup, Snowbelle Gym and likely other Contests and maybe Showcases depending on how Dawn does in Couriway." May said. "As well as no doubt one or two adventures that cross our path along the way which we have factored into our calculations."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""That's fine." Professor Sycamore said. "It's not a rush just a notification of where it is. In fact, it might be for the best as Alain won't be back in that area for a few months anyway and with how the Chamber of Emptiness is I think that it would be best for him to meet you before you go in so that he can give Dawn some advice."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""He won't?" May asked. "It would be good to see him again though, but two months is about the time we will take to get there, give or take an adventure or two holding us up."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""That works out really well then." Professor Sycamore said. "And no Alain has to head to Ambrette Town in the far southwest. There's a research institute there that recently came across a Mega Stone by accident that they of course can't identify and is neither in our records or with a recorded wavelength. They have it in a vault and Alain is taking some things I have that they'd like to study to give them for the Mega Stone that he will then bring back to Lumiose City so that I can study it. It's the best find all year I think."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Sounds it." May said. "Well, we can meet up with him and Mairin after Snowbelle then and it will be around the time of the Master Class as that is that area and around then as well. It will be a good adventure before the Lumiose Conference and Grand Festival."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""And if Dawn can Mega Evolve her Banette then I'd like to practice against it." Ash said. "There's no way I'm not facing Mega Evolved Pokémon in the Lumiose Conference so the more I can practice against the better."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Then I think we can work a good few things out once you return to Lumiose City." Professor Sycamore said thinking on how this could benefit all of them. "Course you first have to get the remaining badges, you have two left right?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Yup and tomorrow, I intend to go for the 7th here in Anistar." Ash said with a nod. "Then all I will have left is the gym in Snowbelle."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Ah so you will be my challenger tomorrow, I did foresee that it would be a good one." A new voice that Ash didn't recognize but was clearly female said from behind Professor Sycamore. "So, you are…well I never you are him. I've been waiting for this battle for a long time, ever since I foresaw that the fairy type revealer would be in Kalos this year and be the one to match the generational Froakie that Sycamore had. So, our battle is finally almost upon us. I hope that it is as good as my visions have shown me though they can't show me who will win it."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Ash, Dawn, May, and Serena looked behind Professor Sycamore who turned around himself to look however they didn't see the speaker. All they saw was two girls around their own age in matching uniforms standing in what would look like a flanking positions though there was nothing between them for some reason./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"The girls themselves wore purple, mystic-like robes, that had lilac sleeves and lower parts, with a purple center that looked like it was over it and covered in gold edgings with a marking around the crotch. The only other colors were silver bands at their elbows and around the base in what looked like 3 stripes around the shoulders in a shallow u shape held with a circular blue gem thing in the center of the robe./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"The differences between the girls was their hair and earrings. The one on the right had wine red hair done in a set of twin tails tied with green bands and an M shaped set of bangs that framed her face and oddly hard looking golden eyes while a set of gold earrings dangled from her ears. The other girl had long, thick, blue hair that fell down her back and expanded as it went with a large set of bangs that flared out to the sides, distinctively matching eyebrows and warm green eyes to match her smile, with silver crescent moon earrings dangling from her earlobes./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Right, this is Olympia." May muttered realizing at once who the speaker was. "Guys, look up."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Ash and Dawn did to see a tall, imposing, woman glowing blue as she floated in mid air flanked by a male and female Meowstic. She was clearly in her late 30s or maybe early 40s with tanned skin, light purple eyes and red lips. However, the most distinctive feature of her was her hair which was royal purple and flared our to the sides before curling up to meet at the top with more loops there and a crescent over her forehead that made no sense. It was an impressive style and also showed off the 5-point star silver earrings that she wore./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"As for her outfit, Ash couldn't really make it out as she wore a silver cloak done at her neck and fell down to her ankles showing her silver slip on shoes and folded over to only show a diamond patter that teased a black outfight underneath with gray markings on it. To complete it she had what looked like a ring around her shoulders of the same color as the cloak that didn't seem to be connected to it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Underneath her robe, and what Ash and his friends couldn't see, she wore a skin tight, long sleeved black dress that came to the backs of her hands with markings on the undersides of her breasts and side and large silver bracelets floating around her wrists. The inside of the cloak was as black as the night and when she opened it up, usually while having a vision, it seemed to look like the night's sky complete with stars./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Ah Olympia, a pleasure to see you again." Professor Sycamore said with a smile up at the woman and a small bow of his head. "I wasn't expecting to see you our here today as I'd heard you were holding a special meditation session for your acolytes today."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""I had a vision while my apprentices were meditating in the gym with their psychic Pokémon that told me that the battle I'd foreseen many months ago was almost at hand and that the person I was to face was at the Sundial." Olympia said as she floated down but didn't touch the ground as she hovered just off it. "So, I came here to check out after telling my students of the vision. In her haste Carrie rushed out again like last year when you were here with May and Serena, as well as the other two who aren't here now. Thankfully Charlene followed her to stop her, and I caught up with them before we reached the end of the pier."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""No battles this time then." May said recognizing the girls./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""I am sorry for my rashness last year." Carrie, the redhead, said. "I am still learning. I was just worried at the intensity of Lady Olympia's vision when it happened."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""You have gotten better my child and in time you will overcome your rash nature." Olympia said. "And as you can see, Professor Sycamore, May and Serena are here so we know we can trust these three after last year. You are looking well May, Serena, that is nice to see."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Thank you." May said as Serena too bowed her head respectfully towards the older woman. "It is good to see that you too are doing well. It has been a while since we last met."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""I knew that we'd see each other again this year." Olympia said with a small smile. "My vision months ago showed that you had returned and would come here with Ash Ketchum."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""You know my name?" Ash asked confused./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""I know a great deal about you Mr. Ketchum, both from my visions and from others who have experienced what you are." Olympia said. "Well, that and you are famous for that fairy type reveal of yours which has made you a household name in some circles that keep abreast of developments like that such as gym leaders. When I saw you do so in the Indigo Conference replay I watched after hearing about what had happened in Kanto last year I knew that I'd see you in the next year."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""You did?" Ash asked getting even more confused. "How?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Ash, Sabrin…I mean Sabi told us about Olympia when we had tea with her, remember." Dawn said catching herself as she wasn't sure what others knew of Sabrina's time in Anistar though she knew that Olympia knew the full truth of who Sabrina was. "She has telekinesis and foresight as her powers, it's part of why she's seen as the second-best psychic in the world, so it shouldn't be a surprise that she foresaw your arrival and battle with her. This is you we're talking about; this should be expected."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Second best!" Carrie suddenly exclaimed pulling out a Poke Ball and tossing it out before anyone could stop her as she glared at Dawn. "How dare you degrade Lady Olympia like that, she is the best in the world. I will defend her honor against any who would sully it."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"The Poke Ball burst open and a Sableye appeared before the redhead. Dawn raised an eyebrow at the small purple, bipedal, Pokémon with a red gem thing in its chest and crystal looking eyes. It wasn't the Pokémon she was expecting to see from an acolyte to a psychic type specialist seeing as it was a dark and ghost type./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Not the typing I was expecting." Dawn said calmly not rising to the bait but grinning at the irate girl. "And alas I don't have my fairy type on me, or a Pokémon that knows one of that type's moves, so I won't be battling your Sableye. I know how tough it can be to best a Pokémon like that."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Huh, you know the typing?" Carrie asked sounding shocked. "Few do and less know of how only the new type is super effective against them. Usually, it takes a lot of force to defeat my Sableye."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""You wouldn't happen to be called Dawn, would you young lady?" Olympia asked not phased by any of this. "You fit what I've been told, and I have heard of your unique Pokémon that I would love to see if you have it on you."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""I would ma'am." Dawn said looking at her. "And I do have him on me so I can bring him out whenever."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Sabi told me a lot about you, she speaks highly of you and your relationship with Ash." Olympia said causing Dawn to blush at that. "She was rather taken with your kindness when you had tea and Sabi told you of her struggles."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""I was unaware that she'd named me to you, or even Ash for that matter." Dawn said as the two apprentices looked confused and the Sableye even more so at why it was out of its Poke Ball but not battling. "She said she never really named Ash when she spoke of what he'd done for her."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""She didn't even when she showed up all those years ago, a lost child in need of my help." Olympia said with a fond smile at the memory. "Though she often spoke of the trainer who'd sobered her up, once she understood how her abuse of her own power was an addiction, and how much he meant to her for giving her the chance that I helped improve upon. It wasn't until she said that she was coming to Kalos around the time of the Wallace Cup and wished to see me again that she mentioned who Ash was and it all fit with my visions that I've seen of him. She also explained you in detail and even spoke of May though I'd actually met May by then."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Sabi?" May asked confused. "Um I'm not sure…"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""She's the woman who spoke with you one on one the day after Ash's party." Dawn said quickly. "Sabi is her nickname that she uses when she doesn't want people to know who she actually is. She went by it in Kalos so best to refer to her as that."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Oh her." May said her eyes wide knowing exactly who Dawn was talking about now. "I think she did mention something about that, and she did talk about her time in Kalos as it was where I was returning so it was a good thing to bond over. It was a needed talk, and I am looking forward to talking to her again when she's here, if she's around for long enough."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Sabi told me that she is planning on spending at least 3 months here." Olympia said. "She's been doing that schedule of hers for 4 years now and needs a proper holiday which her new friend Misty provided the opportunity for with the Wallace Cup though she won't attend it for obvious reasons that I know that most of you are aware of. She's got some errands to run before she sees me though and I think you and Serena are some of those errands, am I right."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""I certainly am." May said with a nod. "And I actually do really need to talk to her, she was a great help about something I was worried about this year and maybe she can help again with something else. I, um, could use it and she may have some insight."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""She has a lot of that." Olympia said. "And I too am looking forward to seeing her progress and showing her to my current crop of apprentices as she was around before most arrived. They will learn a lot from facing someone of her caliber in battle. I do hope she brings some of her top Pokémon with her."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Ah that explains it." Charlene said. "I didn't know who this Sabi was though I think you've mentioned her before."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Well, she did show up on the gym's doorstep in a heavy rainstorm and destroyed the entrance with her raw power, which was still being restrained by her as she was fighting to not relapse to how she was before she came to Kalos." Olympia said. "It was so strong it blasted me and my Meowstics back despite a shield I'd erected to stop it. She needed my help, and I gave it to her as best I could. I am so happy that she is doing well and still sober all these years later and giving so much back so that others don't end up like her. I've already asked her to give a talk here to tell her story in fact and she's more than willing to do so."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""I'm still confused." Carrie said her irritation making her miss the clear point of the power differences between Olympia and Sabrina that the former had just made. "And what does any of this have to do with this blue haired girl who isn't from Kalos insulting you or knowing how to best counter my Sableye."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Well Dawn didn't actually insult me." Olympia said simply. "She merely spoke the truth; I am the second strongest psychic in the world and it's not even close. You will meet the best and learn who she is soon as Sabi is the strongest psychic in the world. It is that very strength that caused her so many problems that she has, with Ash, mine, and a girl out in Kanto called Anabel's, help, overcome spectacularly. For a measure of her strength, she has 3 psychic powers and is the only one ever recorded with the third of those though she hasn't used it since she got sober."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Oh." Carrie said as Charlene's eyes went wide. "Most only have one if they have any. You are a rare exception with two."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""And Sabi is the only known person with 3." Olympia said. "But it was a curse, not a blessing for her. You will learn more when you meet her, while I have permission to tell her story without revealing exactly who she is beyond the name that she used in Kalos, it is a lot better to hear it from her as you will hear her pain and remorse first hand. She is a former apprentice, though she was never an acolyte as her skills are equal to mine, who needed me many years ago, and she knows Ash and Dawn well."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Ok but how does this Dawn know how to counter a Sableye?" Carrie asked clearly satisfied with one of the issues but not the other that was bugging her. "Few know as the type combo is unique to them and only the new fairy type attacks can affect them badly."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""That's not exactly true." Dawn said pulling a Poke Ball off her belt and opening it. "I brought him back to the rotation after the Showcase for Ash to practice against a levitating Pokémon. His species also has that type combination."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"The ball burst open and Dawn's Spiritomb appeared before her with a cackle. He floated there and looked down at the Sableye who looked back in surprise at the other Pokémon while the two girls gaped at it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""It is a true honor to see such a terrifying and rare Pokémon, thank you Dawn for allowing me to meet one in person." Olympia said as her Meowstics eyed the very anti-psychic Pokémon warily. "Carrie, Charlene, this is a Spiritomb, a ghost and dark type Pokémon that is originally from the Sinnoh region, Dawn's home region in fact, and the other Pokémon with that type combo. It is one of the rarest non legendary or mythical Pokémon out there and a true bane to fight as a psychic specialist. Sableyes are good sure, but when it comes to natural strength and stats Spiritombs are stronger. Dawn here is one of only 2 trainers in the world with one."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""I actually caught him in Kanto but all true and he is how I know how to fight a Sableye." Dawn said returning him. "But I think we are rather drastically off topic."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Er yes I am still lost as to what is going on." Ash said causing the usual laughing. "Last I recall was that Olympia knew of me for some reasons before things began to go over my head."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Fear not, this is just a good chat and learning experience for my acolytes here for which I thank you." Olympia said before focusing on Ash. "Ash, I am here because when you revealed fairy types to the world I had a vision, a vision that you would be the trainer who bonded with the generational Froakie that Augustine had and who he couldn't find a trainer for."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Oh, I remember that he said that Frogadier had some issues finding the right trainer back when he was a Froakie." Ash said. "I didn't realize that he was special though, only very particular in who his trainer would be."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Once every generation or so, and not in over 100 years as far as I know, there is a special Froakie that is born in Kalos." Olympia explained. "One with an ability only a male Greninja can have that the Froakie born with the potential for it knows he will get should he evolve to that stage. However, to activate it, there are certain requirements and as such that Froakie trains for it and is extremely particular with his trainer to the point that he will chose the trainer not the other way around for the trainer is the key to it. I foresaw that your Frogadier was that generational Froakie when I was in Lumiose City after the incident last year."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""I asked Olympia to take a look at him." Professor Sycamore said helpfully. "I had had problems with your Frogadier all year again and wanted to see if she could help tell me what was going on with him. When Olympia saw him she had a vision."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Yes a rarity to have one triggered by simple sight, usually it is other events in the world that cause it, but I had it when I saw that Froakie." Olympia said. "I saw that it was the one with the ability needed, that he was looking for the trainer but not finding the right one and that the trainer in question was on his way to Kalos. I didn't see it was you until you set foot in Kalos which triggered the next vision that showed me that you were the trainer who would have the chance to unlock that ability, that in a battle still to come, it will happen to give you victory when you need it the most. That time is near but not tomorrow when we battle."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Er…" Ash said confused, as was everyone really at what Olympia was saying./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;""Fear not, I do not know who will win tomorrow or what Pokémon you plan to use against my Meowstics, and yes it is a double battle against them as it always is for my gym battles." Olympia said. "Just that our battle will be epic, that has been foretold to me and was retold today when you arrived at the Sundial hence why I am here to see you in person and ascertain what kind of man you are Ash. I also wished to give you the prediction for your Frogadier because that will be important going forward and a true challenge for you. That is all I have though, I will take my leave and look forward to our battle tomorrow."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"With that and no more fanfare, Olympia turned in the air and floated away with her Meowstics right behind her. Her acolytes looked confused before they bowed, turned and joined their teacher. Everyone else was just as confused by Olympia's actions but Ash knew one thing, she was ready for their battle and so was he./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Grinning, Ash started to head back to the Pokémon Center without another word himself. He had some final preparations to make and his meeting with Olympia had only fueled him to make them so that when he battled her the tomorrow he would win. Of course, a lot would be dependent on the battle itself, but he knew that the needed to be ready for it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"The girls all just look at each other and shrugged before giving Professor Sycamore an apologetic look at Ash being Ash before they hurried after him to help as best they could. Sycamore himself just smiled and decided to watch the battle tomorrow to see how it went but first he wanted to start getting some reading and the next glow was coming in less than half an hour, so he needed to be ready for it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.08px;"Heading over to his assistants he was happy to see that they had everything ready to go, they were really very good, and he joined them to get the readings. It had certainly been an interesting day and he was sure that tomorrow was going to be just as interesting as he watched Ash battle for his 7th gym badge on his path to the Lumiose Conference./p