Ding!
[Congratulations, Host! Frogadier and Hawlucha successfully defeated two Meowstic! Battle experience sharing activated! The Tenfold Experience Multiplier Card triggered a critical bonus! Each received 13,4500 points of battle experience!]
Level up! Level up! Level up!
Hawlucha's level broke through to 47!
Frogadier's level rose to 46!
"Frogadier, Hawlucha, thank you both. You worked hard."
"lucha!"
"Froga!"
The two Pokémon returned to their Poké Balls as Olympia walked toward Ash.
"Ash, the bond between you and your Pokémon truly astonishes me. It has been a long time since I've been defeated so thoroughly. I accept my loss wholeheartedly. Please, remember what I have foreseen regarding the calamity in Kalos. Here—this is proof of your victory at the Anistar Gym: the Psychic Badge."
Olympia looked at Ash with admiration.
"Ash, I was so nervous just watching! I never imagined Future Sight could be countered like that. Offense really is the best defense. That's just like your battling style!"
Serena was the first to speak up excitedly.
And with that, Ash obtained his seventh Gym Badge—the Psychic Badge!
The Kalos League drew ever closer…
Only one badge remained!
Leaving the Anistar Gym, Ash and his friends, together with Professor Sycamore, stood before the great sundial of Anistar City.
"Ash, I had hoped to discuss the mysteries of the sundial further with you. But since you still have a journey ahead, we'll leave that for another time. Next time, let's talk about Mega Evolution in detail. So—where will you be heading next?"
Sycamore's gaze lingered on the massive sundial as he asked.
The instruments he had brought earlier to study the sundial had been destroyed, and his two assistants had already gone back to fetch replacements.
Professor Sycamore decided to remain in Anistar City for now, taking the chance to both continue his research and relax.
"As for the next destination, I'll let Serena decide. Serena, where do you think we should go?"
Ash looked toward her. Serena felt her heart melt as sweetly as if it had been dipped in honey.
She realized that Ash was caring more and more about her feelings.
No… he had always cared. But now, it was so much more natural.
She pulled out the electronic map and studied it carefully.
"Let's see… how about we head to Snowbelle City! There's a Gym there too. And nearby, there's a mysterious cave called the Terminus Cave—we could go exploring!"
Snowbelle City… Terminus Cave…
Ash nodded in agreement.
"Exploring, exploring! Bonnie loves exploring! Big brother, you better not fall behind when the time comes!"
Bonnie grinned mischievously at Clemont.
"Snowbelle City really is a fine choice. Oh, Ash—during your travels, you might just run into one of my former assistants."
Professor Sycamore suddenly remembered Alain, who had long been helping him investigate Mega Evolution.
He only mentioned it casually and didn't dwell on it. Instead, he handed Ash and Serena the latest Pokédex he carried with him.
And so, they parted ways there.
------
Leaving Anistar City and heading toward Snowbelle City, the group walked along a mountain path winding through the forest.
They stopped for a short rest. Leaves from the tall trees drifted down, piling into a small hollow in the ground.
Pikachu, Dedenne, and Bonnie climbed right into the leafy pit, giggling and playing together.
"Pika!"
Suddenly, Pikachu's ears perked up.
"Dene!"
Not just Pikachu—even Dedenne sensed something unusual.
"Huh? What's wrong?"
Bonnie felt something wriggling inside her shoulder bag.
She opened it—and gasped in surprise. Nestled inside was a soft, green, jelly-like little creature.
The tiny Pokémon had only one eye, and its body was shaped strangely.
"Big brother! Ash! Serena! Quick, look! There's a super cute Pokémon in my bag! I've never seen it before!"
Hearing her cry, Ash couldn't help but smile knowingly.
Finally… it appeared.
The Zygarde of Kalos.
Or rather, one of them. This wasn't Zygarde's complete form.
Ash scanned it with the latest Pokédex Sycamore had given him—
Only to find no data available.
"Incredible… a Pokémon completely unknown! It's soft and squishy—so cute! I'm calling it… Squishy!"
Bonnie giggled as she poked the little creature's head with her finger.
"Uuu…"
The tiny Pokémon sighed helplessly at Bonnie.
Then, it suddenly leapt out of her bag!
A squad of people in red uniforms appeared before them—
Team Flare!
At last, you've shown yourselves.
Ash had been expecting them. Forget the original timeline—he had his Aura powers, capable of sensing up to five kilometers away.
"Servine!"
Ash had already called out Servine, ready for battle.
"Now, now… handsome young man and lovely ladies. We're on an important mission. Please, hand over… that green little creature. Yes, that one. It's our Pokémon."
The Team Flare commander had originally intended to just snatch it away.
But then his eyes fell on Ash.
And he froze.
Team Flare kept close tabs on powerful Trainers across every region.
And Ash—they recognized him instantly!
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T/N:
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