Sycamore Pokemon Lab
With everything having concluded in the atrium, Ash even returning and thanking Riolu, Sycamore invited the reaming three people to have tea with him as they talked. While Ash certainly wanted to traverse Kalos, he wasn't in a hurry and decided to agree.
"So professor, I've heard from Professor Oak you study evolution." Ash stated.
"My research in particular is on the phenomenon of mega evolution." Sycamore informed.
"I've seen members of the Kanto Elite 4 utilize mega evolution on tv." Ash chuckled. "Guess it makes sense that'd be what you research given they were first discovered in Kalos and Hoenn."
"Aside from what we gleam from similar research being done in Hoenn, a place known as the Tower of Mastery, over in Shalour City, has been huge in broadening our understanding." Sycamore stated. "Something which might interest you, is the fact Lucario can mega evolve."
"Well, he's just a Riolu right now." Ash smiled. "I don't think there's any rush to get there, but we'll certainly check it out on our journey."
Just then, a light-skinned man with yellow hair entered the room. He wore a white shirt with matching pants, and shoes.
"Sorry to interrupt sir, but Lysandre has phoned for you." The man informed.
"I see, thank you Dexio." Sycamore smiled, turning to his guest.
Before he could continue, there was a sudden explosion coming from the atrium which was followed by the cry of a pokemon. "GARCHOMP!"
"Garchomp!" Sycamore shot to his feet, immediately rushing off with Dexio.
Ash, Clemont, and Bonnie were quick to wordlessly follow.
Atrium: Evening….
The glass dome was destroyed while various pokemon were panicking. Everyone could just barely make out a pair of silhouettes leaving with the evening sun before their attention was drawn to Garchomp. A dark aura was surrounding him before he began to mega evolve.
"Garchomp!" Sycamore called out worriedly.
The dragon/ground type had mega evolved; however, he was cloaked in darkness with glowing red eyes.
"Is that mega evolution?" Ash asked.
"Garchomp has mega evolved, though it's unlike any time we've done so prior." Sycamore quickly explained. "It's like he's been corrupted. Not to mention he lacks his mega stone, and I'm the only one who's supposed to be able to even have him mega evolve."
Garchomp started rampaging, destroying everything. At this point, Riolu and Froakie let themselves out of their pokeballs to stand protectively before Ash. They proceeded to invertedly work together in managing to knock away any debris that threatened the group.
"Gar!" Garchomp roared before escaping into and ramping across the city.
Ash ran to the place where the dragon/ground type jumped out of, prompting his pokemon to follow. "Garchomp!" He sighed. "This corrupted mega evolution seems to have put Garchomp in a lot of pain."
Bonnie was tearing up, clinging to her brother in worry. "What's going to happen to Garchomp?"
Clemont rested a comforting hand where she held him.
Ash turned to his pokemon. "Let's go after him you two."
Both his pokemon nodded before all three took off together.
"Please, be careful!" Sycamore called out before turning to his assistant. "Dexio, tend to the pokemon."
Dexio nodded.
"Oh Clemont, I wish we could help Garchomp out." Bonnie voiced, worriedly.
"Then, let's go to." Clemont voiced resolutely.
Bonnie nodded before both followed Ash.
Lumiose City
Garchomp was just going through the city, throwing out dragon pulses and crashing into things. Streets were congested as the people worked to evacuate the area, and the police were doing their best to aid them. Reporters in helicopters were catching the scene.
"At present, Garchomp is flying towards Prism Tower!"
He landed on the tower before dragon pulsing at one of the helicopters, which just managed to evade it.
"Garchomp is letting loose dragon pulse after dragon pulse…"
Vaniville Town: Yvone Residence
Grace had sat down with a cup of tea when the news came on, displaying what was happening in Lumiose City.
"…Something has seemingly gone wrong with Garchomp's mega evolution which has agitated it."
"Have a look at this." Grace turned to her daughter, now wearing pajamas, standing at the fridge. "Something unbelievable is happening."
Serena pulled out the milk, agitated at what happened with Rhyhorn earlier. "Oh yeah, well something unbelievable has happened to my face." She stormed over to see it regardless, though the bandages she'd had to apply were a stark reminder. "Hm? What movie is this?"mH
"It's real, live from Lumiose City" Grace informed. "Something real awful is going on."
Lumiose City: Prism Tower
"Garchomp!" Ash called out as he and his pokemon arrived at the back of a gathered crowd.
"Rio!" Riolu voiced.
"There you are Ash." Bonnie called out as she and her brother joined them.
"I got to try and get close to him." Ash voiced firmly.
Clemont was shocked. "But that's dangerous."
"No, Garchomp is the one in danger and pain." Ash returned resolute. "I got to do something."
"Well, if getting close to Garchomp is something you got to do, I think I just came up with a way." Clemont returned.
"You did!?" Ash exclaimed.
Clemont and Bonnie led them around the tower to a side entrance.
"There's an emergency stairwell through this door." Clemont nodded as they reached it. "Good thing I brought my backpack." He pushed his glasses up. "The future is now thanks to science." He pressed a button. "Clemontic Gear on, Aipom Arm go."
A robotic Aipom arm came from his backpack to interact with the panel at the side of the door.
"Wow, check that out." Ash marveled.
Once the panel turned blue, Clemont had the arm return. "Now, we can get in."
"Man, science really is amazing!" Ash exclaimed.
"You got that right." Bonnie declared proudly. "It's my brother's invention."
"I must admit," Clemont rubbed his nose with a smile. "I'm kind of good at these things."
Ash walked through with his pokemon. "Thanks Clemont."
Clemont and his sister were about to follow. "Sure thing."
They suddenly stopped and looked up as a dragon pulse was fired down. He managed to grab Bonnie and hold her close before lunging back. Inside the stairwell, Ash, Riolu, and Froakie had lept forward. The entrance was now sealed off.
"Are you two okay!?" Ash called out.
"Yeah, we're fine." Clemont returned. "Right now, you just need to get going."
"I'm on it." Ash declared, running up the stairs with his pokemon.
Down below, Sycamore arrived and made his way through the crowd. "Officer Jenny!"
Said officer looked back at him. "Professor Sycamore!"
"I'm so sorry about the trouble." Sycamore voiced. "So, where's Garchomp?"
"Hey, up there!"
The call of a citizen got everyone to look up as Ash had reached Garchomp.
"It's Ash!" Sycamore exclaimed.
"Hey Garchomp." Ash called out.
The pseudo legendary looked his way, preparing to fire on them like he had many other things since rampaging. Suddenly, Ash and Froakie glowed a dull white at the same time. In that moment, Garchomp reverted to normal and collapsed unconscious.
Riolu could only look on at his trainer and the new pokemon to their team. He felt something like aura, thought it had vanished practically the moment Garchomp fell unconscious. As the emanation pokemon took a step back, he ended up falling off the tower.
"RIO!" Riolu called out.
"RIOLU!" Ash yelled, not even wasting a second as he was already jumping after his starter.
"FROA!" Froakie yelled, following them.
Everyone was stunned. As they fell, Ash quickly worked on snatching his two pokemon and bringing them close before preparing to take the brunt of the fall as best as he could. Suddenly, Mega Blaziken rushed in to snatch him up.
"It's you." Ash looked up with his two pokemon, Riolu recognizing who this was as well. "That pokemon." Mega Blaziken soon saw Ash to the ground before putting him down. "Thanks a lot."
Mega Blaziken nodded before leaping away. Sycamore, Clemont, and Bonnie rushed to the three of them.
"Ash, Riolu, Froakie!" Clemont called out.
"You're okay!" Bonnie called out, relieved.
"Thank goodness." Sycamore added.
"We're all doing great and Garchomp is back to normal." Ash voiced.
"Thank you, Ash." Sycamore nodded. "Officer Jenny is on her way to get him."
Vaniville Town: Yvone Residence
Serna had stood up when that boy fell, only to now sit and smile in relief upon him being fine. "What a relief." As the cameras took a closer look, Serena recognized him. "That boy…" she blinked. "Could it really be Ash?"
Lumiose City: Morning…
Ash, Clemont, and Bonnie had slept at the lab.
Now, they were standing outside it across from Professor Sycamore. "Hope you all got some sleep, even though it's a bit of a mess in there."
"Yeah, I slept like a log." Ash assured.
Bonnie smiled. "Best sleep I've had in a long time."
Clemont nodded. "Thank you for everything."
"I guess your real journey begins now, huh Ash?" Sycamore asked.
"Yeah." Ash smiled. "Anyways, good luck with your research professor."
Ash then departed with Clemont and Bonnie.
Vaniville Town
Serena was dressed and merely trying on various hats.
She was presently attempting to decide between a pink hat with a black band and a darker pink cap when there was a knock. "Yeah, come in."
Grace opened the door, letting in Fletchling who landed on her head. "Are you going out?"
"Hey mom." Serena showed the two hats. "Which one should I wear?"
"Hm." Grace smiled as she pointed at the cap. "I'd go with that."
Serena looked at it before deciding on the opposite one. "Alright, this one."
As she put it on with a smile, Grace looked at her daughter confused. "If you knew, why did you ask?"
"Whichever one you didn't pick would be the cuter one, that's why." Serena responded, putting the hat on as Fletching got off.
"I see." Grace sighed. "Anyways, where are you going?"
"Lumiose City." Serena answered, standing. "I'll see Professor Sycamore to get my very first pokemon!"
Lumiose City
Bonnie happily ran on ahead as Ash walked with Clemont. "Hurry it up your two!" She waved. "Ash, you can register for the Kalos League this way!"
"Yeah, I know Bonnie." Ash answered with a smile.
"There's no need to rush." Clemont added. "The pokemon center will still be there."
"By the way, thanks Clemont." Ash voiced. "It's nice of you to bring me here."
"Please, think nothing of it." Clemont nodded. "I confess, I'm a little in awe of you."
"In awe?" Ash asked.
"You were willing to do anything you could to help Garchomp, and immediately lept to catch your Riolu without a second thought." Clemont informed. "Just watching you gave me courage."
"Ah, come on." Ash stopped. "It wasn't that big of a deal."
"It was." Clemont looked back at Prism Tower. "You've shown me I just have to do better." Ash looked at him, prompting the guy to shake his head. "Sorry." They proceeded onward. "Just talking to myself there."
Pokemon Center
The center was rather large, to the amazement of the three of them as they approached the counter.
"Good morning." Nurse Joy gave them a bow.
"Good morning to you." Ash returned. "I was hoping you'd help me register for the Kalos League."
"I certainly can." Nurse Joy presented the panel. "If you please, just touch your pokedex to this panel."
"Right." Ash retrieved his pokedex and did just that.
"Ash from Pallet Town is now registered to enter the Kalos League. Number of badges currently in your possession, zero. We wish you the best of luck."
Ash retrieved it. "Alright, my first league."
"Of course, every registered trainer is eligible to receive a Kalos League badge case." Nurse Joy informed, as a Wigglytuff came out with it. "Here."
"Oh, A Wigglytuff!" Ash exclaimed.
"Why yes." Nurse Joy stated. "Here in the Kalos region, my assistant is Wigglytuff."
"That's great." Ash then accepted the badge case. "Thanks, Wigglytuff."
With that settled, Ash told his new friends he had to make some calls. Clemont understood and said they'd be waiting for him outside. He then approached the video phone to make the first call.
"Hello Professor Oak." Ash greeted his mentor happily.
"Ah, hello there Ash." Samuel smiled, glad to hear from him. "How are things so far?"
"Great!" Ash returned. "I arrived safely and will soon be departing Lumiose City to head for Santalune City."
"That's great to hear." Samuel smiled. "Have fun on the road."
"Thanks." Ash nodded. "I also got my first Kalos pokemon." He took the water starter's pokeball off his belt. "Here, check him out."
He let the water starter out on the table.
"Ah, a Froakie." Samuel voiced. "Kalos' own water type starter."
"Figures you'd know professor." Ash voiced.
Suddenly, the professor's doorbell rang. "Ah, there's the pizza I ordered."
"Don't let me keep you." Ash smiled.
"Right." Samuel nodded. "It was nice talking to you Ash, good luck."
The call ended, prompting Ash to return Froakie and call home.
"Hello, this is the…" Delia stopped, only to smile upon seeing her boy. "Hi honey, is everything okay? Where are you right now?"
"There's been a bit of trouble, but I came out okay." Ash grinned. "Right now, I'm at the Lumiose City's pokemon center; however, I'm just about to head out."
"Oh Ash, you're growing up right before my eyes." Delia voiced. "Just remember to be confident. You can do anything you set your mind to."
"Right, I will." Ash voiced.
"Also, are you changing your underwear every day?" Delia asked.
"Of course." Ash answered.
"Alright, then you should get going." Delia waved. "Goodbye son. I love you."
"I love you to mom, bye." Ash stated.
Lumiose City
"Guys!" Ash called out, getting the sibling's attention. "Thanks for waiting."
"Hey Ash, didn't you tell us you planned to head to Santalune City to challenge their gym first?" Clemont asked.
"Aside from Prism Tower, it's the closest gym I can get at." Ash voiced.
"I think the best way there is to traverse route 4." Clemont noted.
"Then, route 4 it is." Ash stated.
"Alright, we should hit the road." Clemont declared.
"Let's go!" Bonnie agreed.
"Huh?" Ash questioned.
"The sooner we leave, the sooner we're there." Clemont informed.
"Hey, you don't have to show me around anymore." Ash assured.
"Silly Ash, we're all really good friends now." Bonnie declared. "So, we're going with you."
"No joke!?" Ash exclaimed, surprised.
"We're serious." Clemont assured. "Everything you've done, I know I'll get stronger…we both can get stronger traveling with you."
"You're right Clemont!" Bonnie agreed.
"So, is that okay?" Clemont asked.
"Heh, you two have been great so far." Ash grinned. "Sure, I'd welcome you along." The siblings smiled before he stuck out a hand to the older one. "We'll have a great time together."
"Yeah!" Clemont accepted the hand. "We sure will."
They clasped hands, though Bonnie wasn't content.
"Hey, no fair!" She rushed to their side. "I can't reach!" The pair lowered for her to place her hand as well. "Let's meet lots and lots of pokemon!"
"Right." Ash nodded. "Good friends, together." They raised their hands up. "Kalos, here we come!"
They all cheered together. "Yeah!"
Vaniville Town: Yvonne Residence
Serena stepped out with her mother. "Rhyhorn!" The rock/ground type looked her way as she ran over. "Got to go." She pet him. "Wish me luck."
"So, do you know which pokemon you want?" Grace asked, receiving a nod in return. "Which one?"
"It's a secret." Serena smiled. "Anyways, I'm off." She started running. "Later!"
"Take care." Grace called out. "Don't forget to practice your Rhyhorn racing!"
"I won't!" Serena waved back. "Bye!"
Grace sighed as she could no longer see her daughter. "I guess we'll just have to see about that."
Hydreigon662: I'm not ruling out Ash x Serena, though I will say it probably won't be the focal point of this region. I already have the story where Ash and Serena travel their first region together, where they then become a couple. That said, I think I have a unique direction to take them that will have shippy moment and leave the door open to whether or not they become a couple in this universe.
Note: Still in the process of moving, but I did get this chapter done.