[ episode five ]
Sina practically skipped to the gate's exit, with Dexio following behind. He watched her with clear eyes, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. Clair moved after them, her own Pokémon matching Sina's energy. Together the five of them stepped into Lumiose City proper.
Clair had visited Celadon City and Saffron City a few times, and Goldenrod City often enough. Neither of those cities lit a candle next to the grandeur of Lumiose. Sina described the city as a spoked wheel that was separated into both North and South Boulevards, with many roads and plazas dividing the city. In the center of it all stood the glittering Prism Tower, Lumiose City's crown gem. She explained that Clemont, the Gym Leader, had been tinkering with the power, and as such the tower had not been lit in days.
"It's really quite a shame," Sina said, eyes downcast. "It's so beautiful at night. You really must see it one day, Clair."
"I'm sure I'll be fine."
Dexio appeared by Clair's side. "Sina's right. There is no other beauty in Kalos that matches Prism Tower. You'll see."
Clair shot them each a quizzical look. Surely they'd seen true beauty. A shining tower was one thing, but had they seen the sparkling stars of a moonlit night? Had they experienced the majesty of the galaxies swirling above in an endless space? Trees that sang when the wind blew. Magikarp that struggled up waterfalls in the hopes of becoming a dragon. For Clair, that was beautiful. Being so far removed from nature, even for just this brief time, was torture.
It appeared as if here, in the outer portion of the city, office buildings towered over all. As they made their way further down the paved roads and into avenues lined with cobblestone, Clair saw a wide variety of shops, cafes, and restaurants. A large, green Pokémon Dexio identified as Gogoat rushed past, its hooves clopping on stone. He explained that, despite the city's continued growth, the roadways would always remain wide and open to accommodate both vehicles and Ride Pokémon such as Gogoat.
Sina happily talked about the various things to do in the city. Clair wasn't listening; she couldn't hear. The roar of the town burst through her ears, even in this early morning. She shook her head to knock her thoughts straight. It didn't work. Jude reached up, grabbed her hand. Clair squeezed it. Windie walked beside Sina, chittering and showing off her stick, oblivious.
Across the wide street stood a Pokémon Center nestled between large buildings. Its red roof and outside façade was rustic and out-of-place compared to its surroundings. It reminded Clair of home. The Center, however, was not where they were going.
Directly facing a spoke of a city—Vernal Avenue—stood Professor Sycamore's laboratory. It, too, was unlike its neighbors. A brick building with green accents, the lab was covered with beautiful windows. Three stories high, it was impressive compared to Professor Elm's in New Bark. I wonder what he studies, she thought, as Sina bounded up the wide brick steps.
Sina turned, curtsied, and held her arms wide. "Welcome, Clair, to Professor Sycamore's lab!"
"It doesn't seem like much, but it has a state-of-the-art facility," Dexio said, laughing, and headed up the stairs after her. He held an arm out to Clair. "Coming?"
Clair took the steps two at a time, her Pokémon quick on her heels. She followed them through a set of oak double doors that were embossed with bronze filigree. Once inside, she expected to be greeted by sharp halogen lighting, but was instead met with a warm, comfortable recessed lighting. Blue walls spanned the building, with marble-and-lapis tiles underneath. The reception counter currently stood empty. So this was the lobby of a city laboratory. It reminded Clair of a three-star hotel.
Beside the reception counter was a large wooden staircase covered with svelte carpet. On its left was an elevator large enough to fit a Dragonite. "The Professor added that in recently," Sina said with a wink. "He's often so caught up in his work, he trips up the stairs!"
This Professor must be a ditz. Clair couldn't imagine working for a knucklehead like Sycamore. Frowning, she looked toward the two young people. "And what is it you do?"
"We currently work in the R&D lab upstairs," Dexio explained. "We've actually just come back from a field assignment. As much as I'd love to stay, I must get to work on this paper. Next time you're in the area, let's grab lunch."
Sina's cheerful face looked crestfallen. "Aw, you're right, Dex!" She turned to Clair and clasped their hands together. "I'd love to get to know you better, Clair. I love working for the Professor, but sometimes all this paperwork makes having friends so difficult!"
Her eagerness for friendship was sincere, earnest. Clair blushed. "Um, yeah. Sure. Lunch," she stammered. Sina gushed, pulling her into a huge hug.
"I'll make it up to you! Promise!"
Dexio looked at his watch. "Sina…"
"O-kay! Bye!"
The two entered the elevator and were gone. Sina waved to Clair until the doors closed. Clair imagined Sina would probably still be waving if she could see her. Windie bounded over and whined at the elevator, pawing at it. If only she could make friends that easily.
Yeah, right. Rolling her eyes, Clair shook her head clear. She turned to her Pokémon and said, "Well, I suppose we should see Sycamore. Then we can get moving."
Navigating her way through the lab proved more of a hassle than anything. The old building was a maze, with various doors and passageways leading to who-knows-where. Several people in lab coats looked curiously on, then decidedly ignored her when she snapped at them. She could find her own way, thanks, she said, not believing a word of it. She passed overflowing bookshelves and windows and potted plants, but found no Sycamore. Not even a trace of an office.
Perhaps upstairs? That sounded like where a pretentious Kalosian professor would keep his office. So Clair marched up the stairs, Pokémon in tow, and began yet another search. This time the hunt was shorter, as there were only five rooms on this floor. Upstairs, it appeared, was off-limits and currently under construction, though that never stopped Clair before. The final door was as ornate as the others, but this held the title of the Professor himself. Clair rolled her eyes—maybe if she'd looked instead of barging in, she would have noticed before.
The office was large, with a comfortable burgundy rug and calming cream walls. An enormous computer dominated one end of the room, with various computer-y bits and bobs attending it. In the center was a mahogany desk littered with miscellaneous papers and folders. Its matching chair was pushed out, as if its owner left in a hurry. Several cups of abandoned coffee were scattered throughout the room: on the desk, on the computer, on the bookshelves… Clair nearly stepped on a discarded cup on the floor.
The room had everything but the Professor. Clair poked and prodded several of the important-looking things in the room, including one marble bust of some professor in Sinnoh, but overall found nothing that interested her. The papers Sycamore was working on were all jumbled nonsense. He could keep his research—they held no significance to her.
She felt silly for being in this room, waiting for someone who might not show. So, she did what anyone else would do: she kept poking around through someone else's stuff until they did.
A few minutes later, Clair was in the middle of inspecting the large computer and its various color-coded buttons when she heard voices from outside the room. "Stay here," she told her Pokémon. Jude sat in the Professor's wooden chair, sniffing through the papers, while Windie was practicing footwork with her new stick. This time, the tip wasn't in flames. Clever girl.
Clair opened the door with a burst of energy. Well, she would have, if the door hadn't collided with someone halfway through. A man's voice shouted in surprise as a cup shattered on the floor. Shit.
A tall man with a blazing head of red hair stood before her, the front of his shirt sopping wet with coffee. Beside him another man laughed. Clair's cheeks flushed. Sputtering curses in Johtonese, she ripped off her pack, doffed her jacket, and started dabbing the man's chest with it, only to be met with him trying to grab her wrists. He spoke earnestly in Kalosian.
Clair slapped his hands away. "Let me help," she grumbled, still in her native tongue. She tried to dry him with her jacket again, but he stonewalled her. Clair glared at him—why was he stopping her?!
A man, impossibly tall, with broad shoulders and a noticeably smaller waist stood in front of her. A close-trimmed red beard accentuated sharp features. His red-orange shirt, once crisp and pristine, was deeply stained by dark coffee. It clung to his stomach, revealing—Clair dropped her hands and tore her eyes away, flushing crimson. She felt his emerald green eyes burn into her. Don't make this weird, don't make this weird…!
Still laughing, the shorter, dark-haired man wrapped an arm around his red-haired friend, speaking uproariously in Kalosian. Clair mumbled apologies in Common—or tried to—but the words caught in her throat. Spirits! She tried to do a good thing, and she ended up… Clair didn't want to think about what she ended up doing. Her ancestors would be ashamed!
"Aha, you must be Clair," said the dark-haired man in Common. His voice was airy and full of laughter. She shot a glance at him—he wore a white lab coat over a royal purple shirt and dark grey pants. His curly hair was full of energy. With his scraggly facial hair and tired eyes, she assumed this must be Sycamore. "Don't worry, I'll clean this up. Lysandre, I'll find you a new shirt—"
The tall man, attempting to wring out some of the coffee, raised his head with a start. "Nonsense, Augustine, I'll simply—"
Sycamore cut him off. "I don't want to hear it, my friend!" He placed his hands on his friend's back and ushered him past Clair and into his office. The red-haired man shot Clair a quizzical glance and allowed himself to be pushed inside. The professor turned to Clair. "I'll be back in a moment. Keep him company, won't you, Clair?" He winked and motioned for Clair to wait in the office.
This just keeps getting worse.
Unable to do anything but oblige, Clair entered the office and shut the door behind her. The tall man—lozenge? Lyssa something—stood at the desk with his back to her, peering at Jude. Jude bared his teeth as the man neared, but he relaxed when Lysandre respected his need for space. Clair, increasingly aware that she'd done something wholly unthinkable, stared intently at the man's back. Broad shoulders led to arms like tree trunks, and suddenly she was very interested in the contents of a nearby bookshelf. Pokémon Pal, Pokémon Journal…
He must have heard her enter, for Lysandre turned to face her. "So you're here," he said with a chuckle. "Back for seconds? I'm afraid I've nothing else for you to ruin."
Face flushing, Clair startled, sputtering nonsense, arms flailing. For a moment her thoughts turned to hands on a taut stomach and a yearning to explore. She shoved those thoughts deep into an abyss.
Unable to meet his eye, unable to make coherent words, she decidedly stared at his black leather shoes, now splattered with coffee. His pants, like his shirt, were impeccably tailored. Clair couldn't hold it back anymore—she all but shouted a choked "Sorry!" in the man's general direction.
Lysandre laughed, a loud, charming guffaw that tickled Clair's core. "My dear, if that's the worst thing that happens today, I'll take it," he said, staring at her with twinkling green eyes. Clair's blush deepened.
She felt like a teenager all over again. Spirits, wasn't it enough that she couldn't look at him? And his voice—!
It wasn't as if she hadn't seen attractive men before—Clair certainly had—but something about this Lysandre was different. She became increasingly aware that without her jacket, she looked something of a mess: her sleeveless t-shirt was crumpled, her jeans were smeared with blood, and her hair was a disaster. Spirits, if only Karen could help her now. She'd felt the man up and then fought him about it—in front of his friend! In front of someone Lance knew! Karen would be so proud! Ugh!
She watched as he moved from her line of sight and into a plush leather couch near Sycamore's desk. Windie bounded over to the man as if she'd known him her whole life. She chattered at him and showed him her stick and begged to be petted. Jude, however, remained wary, his red eyes sharp and watching. He slowly made his way to Clair's side. She felt her confidence returning with him nearby.
"Are these your Pokémon?" Lysandre asked, lifting Windie into the air. His eyes softened when he looked at the Braixen. "I'm glad to see you again, little one."
"I—yes," she managed. Clair moved closer to where he sat on the couch; Jude matched her movements. "Windie and Jude are my partners." It felt odd, introducing Pokémon that weren't dragons as her partners. And yet they were. Windie and Jude somehow held a profound bond with her, and she them. How could only a few days change the course of her life?
"Windie," Lysandre repeated. Windie barked, delighted. He laughed and brought her into a hug. Then his gaze moved to the Riolu before catching hers. He smiled, revealing perfect teeth. Clair's face burned. "I've known Fennekin since she was a pup," he explained. "She's grown under your care. I'm happy to see it." Lysandre searched her face, studying it for… something. Under his gaze she felt exposed. "And to think, you've a Riolu as well…"
"His name's Jude," she stammered. Her hands tightened around her damp jacket. Would this tightness in her throat never cease?
Lysandre laughed. "Jude," he agreed. He stared at her for a moment longer before dropping his gaze back to Windie. The Braixen seemed to adore him: Windie pleaded for him to play with her, to pet her again, and again, and again. "Forgive me," he said, giving her one last pet before standing. He turned to face Clair, a smile still on his lips. "I've neglected to introduce myself. My name is Lysandre." He extended a hand for her to take. "And yours, I hear, is Clair…?"
He was over a head taller than she was. Spirits, she was being awkward. Just take his damn hand! She forced her hand out and he grabbed it, bringing it up to kiss her knuckles. Clair snatched her hand back, cheeks burning, and turned away. The drapes covering the windows sure were interesting. "I'm, um, from Johto," she managed, her voice thick. "Blackthorn. Village in the mountains."
He chuckled. "And now you're here?"
If only she were a Vaporeon, then she'd be able to melt away.
"And now I'm here," she finished lamely. She shuffled her feet, hesitation in every feature. "My cousin knows the Professor." Not a lie, but not the whole story. Lysandre didn't need to know her cousin was Champion.
"What a coincidence," Lysandre said with a laugh, "I do, too. I've known Augustine a long time."
She felt his gaze linger on her, and she had to turn to face him. She steeled herself to meet his eyes. Lysandre smiled. Clair tried not to notice the small dimples in his cheeks when he did. She glanced to the door—how long did it take to clean up coffee?
Lysandre must have thought the same thing, for he said, "He must have gotten lost. Augustine's sense of direction is pitiful, I'm afraid. When we were children, I had to lead him out of a corn maze. He wouldn't stop crying."
Despite her increasing anxiety, Clair stifled a chuckle. "Is that so?"
"Of course," he said, his smile widening. "He stepped out of bounds and got lost. Fortunately, he was just on the other side of the row I was in, and I was able to find him."
Lysandre's voice was deep, and as smooth as honey. The tension in Clair's throat lessened; she found she could breathe again. She pictured a small, curly-haired Sycamore crying rivers of tears as his friend burst through the corn. It reminded Clair of her and Lance.
"My cousin rescued me, once," she admitted. Spirits, what was she doing? "I was stuck in a tree. Dratini was unable to help, so she went to find him. I was so angry that I couldn't get down on my own. I struggled. Fell, broke my arm."
It was a memory seared into her mind. Her grandfather had been furious with her for running off without a chaperone. He was even more angry with Lance for allowing her out of his sight. They'd both gotten lashings, but Lance never held it against her. He was just thankful she was safe. It was one of the many things she cherished him for.
Suddenly Lysandre was standing inches from her. "I can't imagine you being anything less than capable," he murmured.
"Wh-what?" Too close, too close! Flushing furiously, she took a large step back. "Explain yourself," she demanded. What was even happening right now?
"You've done wonderfully by Windie," he began. He stroked a curious hand through his beard. "She's grown into a fabulous Braixen. I'm not sure I would have recognized her out in public." He smiled, revealing those cute dimples. "You've succeeded in ways others have not."
Clair frowned. Planted her hands on her hips. This conversation was not what she was expecting. "Windie only came to me because my cousin knows the Professor," she asserted. "He picked what was undoubtedly hilarious at the time." Clair knew the real reason why Windie came to her: she was silly, and Clair was an uptight bitch. Let's put the two together and see what happens!
"And did he not choose correctly? Are you not partners?" Lysandre asked, puzzled.
Clair laughed, a cruel and humorless sound. "Yeah, we're partners. But I'm not deluding myself into thinking I'm special." Lance was the only one who was special.
Lysandre's brows knit together. "It's… surprising. You seem to have a knack for Pokémon, and yet you deny your role." He grabbed her hand and clasped it within his. "I believe people like you are chosen to make the world a better place. People, Pokémon… we must work tireless together to create a beautiful world." Green eyes bore into blue. "And I believe you were chosen for this role, Miss Clair. I wish to see more of it."
Clair looked away. "The only role I play is fool," she muttered. She dropped her hands from his and moved toward the window. It was mid-morning, and already the streets teemed with people. Soon she'd have to face their incorrigible noise.
Lysandre, thankfully, remained quiet. Whatever he thought was wrong. Sure, okay, people and Pokémon could work together. But her? All she did was make things worse. She'd stay out of it, thank you very much. Everyone would be happy if she just stayed in her mountains and shut the hell up.
The door burst open. Professor Sycamore arrived with a flourish. "Hello, my friends!" he said jovially. Brandishing a new cup of coffee in one hand and a crisp black polo in the other, the professor was blissfully unaware of the atmosphere in the room. Clair turned from her place by the window. Pretended not to notice Lysandre giving affection to Windie. Jude rose from his spot on the floor, ears pricked and nose working.
Sycamore waved the shirt in front of Lysandre before dropping it into his lap. "There you go, my good fellow! It's the closest to your size I can find," he said, laughing. He clapped his friend on the shoulder, took a swig of his drink, and turned to Clair. His smile broadened. "Clair. Thanks for keeping my Lysandre company. Heavens know he needs it."
Behind him, Lysandre shook his head. He caught Clair's eye and made a 'sorry about that' gesture. He scrutinized the polo he'd been given. "I believe this will work," he declared, standing abruptly. "Pardon me while I change." Lysandre strode out of the room, closing the door behind him with a soft click.
Professor Sycamore opened his arms wide. "That Lysandre! Always the gentleman. I'm sure he was good to you while I was away, yes?"
"Ah—y-yeah," she managed. "Lys—Lysan—Lyssa said he knew Windie." An understatement, but a phrase she could easily speak. Spirits, if only she hadn't met the man, then she wouldn't be acting like some schoolgirl. But that wasn't why she was here. Clair shook her head. Steeled herself. "Why did you decide on Fennekin?" Her gaze grew cold. "If you wanted to insult me, you succeeded."
All the humor dropped out of the professor's face. "Insult you? Why would I do that?"
Movements sluggish, Sycamore moved to his desk. All but fell into his seat. He ran a tired hand through his curly hair and looked at her with gaunt eyes. "You came all this way—And you thought I—? No, Clair, that was the furthest thing from my mind." Sycamore's dark eyes bore into hers. His voice was earnest when he said, "From what Lance told me, I simply figured that Fennekin would be the best choice for you. An esteemed dragon tamer, alone in a region she knows nothing about? Oh, how my heart broke!"
As he spoke, Clair felt more and more like an asshole. So he hadn't meant to insult her. And now she'd just insulted him. Great. Just great. "You have my apologies," she said slowly, the words like poison on her heart. Did she have to mess up everything?
"Oh, my dear Clair, don't be," Sycamore said with a small smile. Rummaging through some complicated papers on his desk, and moving aside several thick journals, Sycamore finally found what he was looking for. He brought out a small book with a fire emblem on the front. "I made this when Fennekin was born," he explained. "You said her name was Windie?"
Clair nodded. Windie, who'd been waiting by the door for Lysandre to return, bounded over to the professor. She squealed and yipped and leaped into his lap. Sycamore smiled and bundled her in his arms. Opening the book to the first page, he showed Windie a photograph of her as a pup. Clair got a brief, upside-down view as she peered down at them.
"So you made it when Windie was born…?"
"Ah! Yes, I make scrapbooks of all the Pokémon that hatch here," the professor explained. Smiling down at Windie, he turned to the next page. "Thanks to my studies in Sinnoh, I've become slightly obsessed with Pokémon evolution. Studying how Pokémon grow and change, particularly in the car of Trainers, is a phenomenon I'm thrilled to study." He let out a satisfied chuckle. "I'm no Trainer myself, so I have to ask my assistants to gather the data for me. Dexio in particular—"
There was a single knock on the door. It opened quickly, revealing Lysandre freshly out of his soaked shirt and in the donated polo. It was too small for him. Clair hurriedly turned to face Sycamore before either man caught her staring.
"Augustine, give my apologies to whoever you borrowed this from. I may have… Oh, Miss Clair. Am I interrupting?"
Upon seeing Lysandre, Windie barked with delight, tearing herself from the professor's arms and leaping into his. He laughed. Clair tried to stuff out the sound.
Setting the scrapbook aside, Sycamore rose from his seat and motioned for Lysandre to enter. "Not at all! I was just telling Clair my specialty. I believe you wanted to know more about Mega Evolution as well, yes? Come, come, I'll tell you both!"
Clair had no time to process this further as she was ushered into the couch in front of Sycamore's desk. It was comfortable, and in any other circumstance she would have sunk deeper into it. Her worst fears were realized, however, when Lysandre seated himself next to her.
Leaning over on the armrest as far as she could manage, Clair held her breath, hoping the professor wouldn't notice her awkwardness. Lysandre glanced at her from the corner of her eye, saying nothing.
Sycamore clapped his hands. "Clair, I'm glad you could join me today. Lysandre, always a pleasure." The two men shared a laugh before the professor got down to business. "As I previously said, I study evolution. But that's not all I study! There's an event that happens here in Kalos—and only Kalos—that is truly special: Mega Evolution."
Mega Evolution? She'd never heard of such a thing. Sycamore looked at her expectantly, as if hoping she'd ask more about it. Clair didn't.
"Now, you might be asking, what even is Mega Evolution?" he went on. Sycamore walked to the window, hands behind his back. He turned suddenly. "Mega Evolution is what happens when normal, fully-evolved Pokémon transcend previously known limits. It is a phenomenon in which energy from both humans and Pokémon combine to create something amazing." The professor's voice was becoming faster as he spoke. "Now, this is where it gets interesting. Not every Pokémon can achieve these limits. And not every person is capable of Mega Evolving their Pokémon. From what my source in Shalour says, only a handful of people have ever reached those heights."
Clair stumbled over the sheer amount of information thrown at her. She hadn't asked for a lecture, hadn't come for one. And while Mega Evolution certainly sounded interesting, she wasn't fooling herself. If only a handful of people had ever made Mega Evolution happen, there was no chance in the underworld that she'd accomplish it.
It would always be Lance.
Lysandre was fascinated. He leaned forward in his seat, gaze fixated on Sycamore. "How does one know they have what it takes? Who is chosen for such a feat?"
The professor threw his hands in the air. "No clue!" he said with a laugh. "It seems as if this intricate ability requires special stones—one for the Pokémon and one for the Trainer—but I do not know how it works. My source in Shalour has not been forthcoming about this, I'm afraid, and that is all I know."
Nodding, Lysandre rubbed a thoughtful hand through his beard. "Evolution, but only for the chosen few," he murmured to himself. "An evolution to surpass all evolutions?" He stood, an unreadable expression on his face. Shaking his head, he continued, "If there is something to be coveted, it is Mega Evolution. If only the chosen can achieve it, an imbalance will occur. Arguments will arise between the haves and have-nots."
Lysandre turned his green eyes to Clair. "This is not the beautiful world I imagine." He closed his eyes. Sighed deeply. "Miss Clair, if you'd excuse me. Augustine, we'll speak again."
He strode out of the room with a face like stone, shutting the door behind with him a quick snap. Sycamore opened his mouth to speak, but thought better of it. Instead he looked to Clair, a confused look dominating his face. "Lysandre sure is a passionate one, is he not? He is filled with all this love… sometimes it is difficult for him to see beyond what's in front of him."
Clair stood as soon as Lysandre had left. Gazing upon the professor, she saw worry lines across Sycamore's previously-unmarred face. She frowned. "Is Mega Evolution really that powerful?"
"I'm afraid it is," Sycamore said. He brushed a lock of hair behind his ear. "Lysandre's worries are not unfounded, but… I believe we can solve conflicts with clear communication. Many people have different ways of thinking and living. I'm sure Blackthorn is much different from Lumiose! But just because things are different does not mean they are bad." He sighed. "If only Lysandre would see things that way."
Under Clair's eye, a muscle twitched. She pursed her lips. "He has a point," she spat. Team Rocket would love nothing more than to get their hands on this information. "Did you even think about what this information could do to people? The damage it could cause? No, you didn't." She let out a bitter laugh. "People are cruel, and people are greedy. Talking? People don't talk. The only thing people know is fighting. Mega Evolution is just the catalyst."
If Giovanni achieved Mega Evolution, he'd do the unthinkable. Neither she nor Lance would be able to stop him if something like that got into his hands. All of Tohjo would be under his vile command. And there'd be nothing they could do.
Lysandre was right. A beautiful world is created by people who work together. But that was only a pipe dream; the reality was much darker. People like Giovanni would tear that world asunder. Happily, too.
Clair puffed out her chest, standing as tall as she could. Mouth set, she gave Sycamore a black look. "You may have your words, Sycamore," she said slowly, "but sometimes that isn't enough."
Before she exited, she turned to face the professor once again. This time her voice was softer. "Thanks for Fennekin, by the way. Windie has been wonderful."