"Hello, Professor Sycamore. I'm Ash. I've heard for quite some time that you're an expert in Pokémon Mega Evolution. Before coming to the Kalos region, Professor Oak specifically told me to make sure I visited your laboratory."
"However, the day before yesterday was my girlfriend Serena's birthday, and yesterday I participated in Elite Four Wikstrom's Knight's Way promotional event. Technically, I should have come to visit you as soon as I arrived in Lumiose City, but I ended up waiting until today. I'm really sorry about that..."
Since this was their first meeting, Ash naturally exchanged a few polite pleasantries.
Far from making Professor Sycamore think that Ash was being insincere or putting on an act, however, his words instead gave the professor an even better impression of him.
Ash was mature, courteous, and clearly knew how to conduct himself around others.
"Hahaha... Ash, there's no need to be so polite."
"I've often heard Professor Oak talk about you. He has nothing but praise for his young fellow townsman. Now that I've finally met you in person, I can see that Professor Oak certainly wasn't exaggerating."
"Everyone, don't just stand there. Come on, sit down!"
Sycamore warmly invited everyone into the laboratory's sitting area.
"Professor, we passed by that incredibly popular pastry shop in Lumiose City earlier and bought some Lumiose Galettes. Everyone, let's have some together!"
Serena smiled as she lifted the large box of cookies she was carrying.
"Lumiose Galettes? I've wanted to try them for quite some time."
"But I've heard that there's always a very long line outside the shop every day. I've simply never been able to find the time to go."
"I never expected I'd get to taste them today. Looks like I'm in for a treat!"
"Sophie, could you prepare a pot of black tea for us?" Professor Sycamore turned toward his assistant.
"Of course, Professor~"
Sophie quickly prepared a pot of black tea.
Before long, everyone was seated in the lounge of the laboratory, sipping hot tea while sampling Lumiose City's incredibly popular local specialty, the Lumiose Galette.
There was a reason these cookies were so popular.
Much like Casteliacones from Castelia City in Unova, Lumiose Galettes had become one of Lumiose City's famous local specialties.
And the taste certainly lived up to their reputation.
They were considerably better than ordinary cookies sold on the market.
...
...
Everyone drank tea and sampled the cookies while casually chatting.
They talked about everyday life, amusing little incidents, and various trivial matters for a while.
Only after the atmosphere had become relaxed did Professor Sycamore finally steer the conversation toward the subject that had originally brought Ash to his laboratory.
Mega Evolution.
"Mega Evolution refers to a phenomenon in which certain Pokémon that have already reached their final evolutionary form can undergo another temporary evolution by using a Key Stone together with a compatible Mega Stone."
"Because this evolved form is extremely short-lived and cannot be maintained indefinitely, it is generally used as a trump card during battle. Once the battle ends, the Pokémon returns to its original form."
"For this reason, the academic community has named this phenomenon 'Mega Evolution.'"
As an expert in this field, Professor Sycamore gave everyone a simple and easy-to-understand explanation of Mega Evolution.
As people from Kalos—and especially as those pursuing careers as professional Trainers—Clemont, Tierno, and Trevor already had some understanding of Mega Evolution.
Shauna, Serena, Bonnie, Clarissa Joy, and Misty, however, knew very little about it.
They had heard Ash mention Mega Evolution before, but after listening to Professor Sycamore's straightforward explanation, they finally gained a much clearer understanding of what Mega Evolution actually was.
"However, research into Mega Evolution is still in its infancy."
"We still haven't figured out the underlying principles or nature of Mega Evolution."
"Why can certain Pokémon undergo Mega Evolution while others cannot?"
"And considering the enormous number of Pokémon species throughout the world, exactly which Pokémon are capable of Mega Evolution?"
"The academic community has yet to determine the answers to any of these questions."
"Before your Pidgeot's Mega Evolution appeared, Ash, the academic community had never even considered the possibility that Pokémon from the Kanto region could undergo Mega Evolution."
"So, your Pidgeot is extremely significant."
Professor Sycamore paused before repeating the point with even greater emphasis.
"Before your Pidgeot's Mega Evolution appeared, the academic community simply had no idea that Kanto Pokémon could also undergo Mega Evolution."
"In fact, Ash, your Pidgeot is the first documented case of a Kanto Pokémon undergoing Mega Evolution discovered by the academic community."
"Its significance is enormous."
Professor Sycamore looked toward Ash with an expression of intense curiosity.
"Ash, your Pidgeot can Mega Evolve. How much do you know about Mega Evolution?"
It was obvious what the professor was hoping for.
He wanted to obtain valuable first-hand information from a Trainer who actually possessed the power of Mega Evolution—information that he himself had never encountered during his research.
"Hmm..."
As a transmigrator who had watched the original Pokémon anime and knew many of the settings and details of the Pokémon world, Ash possessed a great deal of knowledge about Mega Evolution.
Although his overall depth of Pokémon-related knowledge could not compare with that of a professional researcher like Professor Sycamore, when it came to Mega Evolution specifically, Ash was confident that he knew quite a few things that Sycamore did not.
"Although Mega Evolution requires both a Key Stone and a Mega Stone compatible with the Pokémon, simply possessing a Key Stone and the appropriate Mega Stone does not necessarily mean that a Pokémon will be able to Mega Evolve."
Ash carefully organized his thoughts before explaining.
"Oh?"
The moment they heard Ash say this, Professor Sycamore, the researchers sitting around the laboratory lounge drinking tea and eating cookies, as well as Clemont and the others, all straightened slightly.
Every pair of eyes turned toward Ash with intense curiosity.
"I received my Key Stone and Pidgeotite as gifts from my mentor, Giovanni, the Gym Leader of Viridian Gym in Kanto. They were the gifts he gave me when I became his student."
"In fact, I had possessed both the Key Stone and Pidgeotite for quite some time."
"But obtaining those items did not mean that Pidgeot and I immediately gained the ability to Mega Evolve."
Ash sank into his memories as he began carefully recounting his own first-hand experience with Mega Evolution.
Professor Sycamore and all the researchers in the lounge listened with rapt attention.
At some point, Professor Sycamore had taken out a handheld video recorder and aimed it directly at Ash.
Judging from his actions, he clearly intended to record Ash's exclusive account and preserve it as an important piece of research data.
"I went through a total of three stages with Pidgeot before we successfully mastered Mega Evolution, even after obtaining the Key Stone and Mega Stone."
"The first stage was when Pidgeot and I were completely unable to activate the power contained within the Key Stone and Mega Stone. We simply had no way of triggering Mega Evolution."
"At the time, Pidgeot had already reached its final evolutionary form, but it still couldn't Mega Evolve like the other Pokémon whose Mega Evolutions had already been discovered and officially documented."
"And this situation continued for quite a long time."
"Later, I began wondering whether the power of Mega Evolution was simply too great."
"Perhaps the reason Pidgeot and I couldn't Mega Evolve was because we weren't strong enough to control that power."
"After I came up with that hypothesis, Pidgeot and I continued trying to activate Mega Evolution without giving up."
"But at the same time, we shifted our focus toward training and increasing our strength."
"Then, when Pidgeot's strength finally reached the Elite level..."
"We successfully achieved our first Mega Evolution."