While Terrance was resting outside Anistar City, Ash and his group had just completed their Gym challenge.
At the sundial, watching the setting sun, Professor Augustine Sycamore and Olympia, the Anistar Gym's Gym Leader, stood together, discussing something.
"Miss Olympia, the great crisis in Kalos you mentioned, what exactly is it?"
When Ash had first arrived in Anistar City, Olympia, guided by the stars, foresaw a great disaster about to strike Kalos. This prophecy had long left Professor Sycamore puzzled.
"It's flickering green flames. They cover the entire Kalos region, and both humans and Pokémon are caught in a swirling fire…"
Olympia looked toward Professor Sycamore and said, "Including those thieves who tried to steal the sundial, all of you will carry out an important mission amidst the chaos."
"So… that's why you didn't hold them accountable?" Professor Sycamore suddenly understood. The fact that Olympia let them go even after they tried to steal the sundial suggested she foresaw an irreplaceable role for Team Rocket in the future.
"What exactly will happen… I don't know either." Olympia's gaze drifted into the distance. This prophecy was more mysterious and terrifying than any of the disasters she had seen before.
The next day.
By a small stream, while washing Berries, Terrance suddenly heard a commotion.
"Help me, Roto~~"
"Uh…" Gently putting down the Berries, Terrance turned around and looked toward Rotom Pokédex fleeing hurriedly in his direction. His brows furrowed as he quickly formed a circle with his thumb and index finger and blew a whistle.
"D…Don't run, I mean no harm!" Behind the Rotom Pokédex, a blond-haired boy with a huge backpack on his back was chasing after it while gasping for breath.
"It's… really true!"
The boy was chasing after the Rotom Pokédex, his vision nearly blurry. If he kept going, he'd definitely collapse from exhaustion. But suddenly, Clemont noticed that Rotom seemed to have stopped.
Gradually slowing his running pace, Clemont looked ahead. At that moment, the Rotom Pokédex was staying behind a young man with brown hair.
Beside the young man floated a sinister-looking Mismagius, a haughty Castform, and a silent Gallade standing still, along with a curious-looking Arcanine lying on the ground, and an Altaria and Beautifly gently gliding down from the sky. The aura emanating from the six Pokémon made Clemont shiver involuntarily and instinctively stop in his tracks.
"A misunderstanding…"
"Seems like a misunderstanding," Terrance also said.
This person….isn't he one of Ash's companions?
At the same time, three more figures ran out from the forest, shouting, "Clemont, what happened?"
"Um, Ash, Serena, Bonnie, I think I saw a Pokédex that can move on its own…"
"But…"
The three people who came running were indeed Ash and his group, who had just finished their challenge at the Anistar Gym. Upon seeing them, especially the yellow electric mouse on Ash's shoulder, Terrance smiled and made a gesture, signaling the approaching Pokémon to relax.
"So that's what it was," Terrance silently thought to himself. He stepped forward and said, "Sorry, I thought something dangerous had happened."
"Hello, my name is Terrance. I'm a Trainer."
Ash, Clemont, and the others looked at each other. Although they hadn't quite figured out what was going on, they all began introducing themselves.
"This is the one…the Pokédex that can move."
Everyone looked at the Rotom Pokédex in surprise.
"Ahaha, don't look at me like that, Roto…" the Rotom Pokédex was embarrassed.
"See? It can even talk!!" Clemont's eyes sparkled. As an invention enthusiast, he could hardly suppress his thirst for knowledge upon seeing such a novel Pokédex.
Terrance smiled and said, "This is a Rotom Pokédex. It's what happens when a Rotom enters a Pokédex. Since it has a language system installed, it can communicate using human language."
Rotom...
After hearing Terrance's explanation, Ash took out his own Pokédex and looked it up. Then, an electronic voice provided an explanation.
"Rotom's body is composed of plasma. It's known for sneaking into electrical appliances and playing pranks."
It can even sneak into a Pokédex… that's amazing.
Thanks to the Rotom Pokédex, Terrance quickly became familiar with the four of them.
"Altaria, Beautifly, Castform, Arcanine, Gallade, and Mismagius; they all look like they've been trained really well."
Shifting his gaze from the Rotom Pokédex, Clemont began observing Terrance himself.
When he saw the Pokémon by his side, Clemont's pupils contracted. Perfect! These Pokémon had been trained to perfection. Even as the Gym Leader of Lumiose Gym, he found it hard to pick out any flaws in their training.
"Terrance, are you planning to compete in the Lumiose Contest too? How many Badges do you have now?" Ash asked excitedly.
"Me? I probably won't be entering. As for Badges, I haven't collected a single one yet," Terrance replied.
"Eh? Not entering?" Ash looked at Terrance's Pokémon. His previously excited mood was instantly dampened.
At this moment, Ash hadn't yet realized Terrance's strength like Clemont had. He was just purely curious about Terrance's Pokémon. Clemont, however, had already judged Terrance's power from the condition of his Pokémon.
Especially recalling the aura he felt when chasing earlier, Clemont found Terrance to be an incredibly mysterious Trainer.
"Although I'm not planning to challenge the Lumiose Contest, if there's an opportunity, I'd still like to battle strong Trainers," Terrance said.
There were quite a few Trainers in the Kalos region who had mastered Mega Evolution. Battling them would greatly benefit Beautifly and the others in improving their strength.
Upon hearing Terrance's words, Ash immediately got excited and said, "Wanna have a battle with me? I've already collected 7 Badges, and I'm getting ready to challenge the eighth Gym!"
"Pika!!" Pikachu on Ash's shoulder looked eager.
"A battle, huh…" Terrance looked at Ash and his Pikachu. Terrance had always been interested in Ash. Even before starting his journey, he had looked forward to battling Ash, and when he first met him, he had felt the same. Now that he had met a more grown-up Ash, it would be a lie to say he wasn't interested in battling him.
"Sure, but can I make a request?" Terrance smiled. "Your Pikachu looks really well-trained. Why don't I have one of my Pokémon battle it?"
"Pika?" Pikachu blinked, then showed fighting spirit. Terrance's proposal was exactly what it wanted.
"No problem, I accept!!" Ash responded confidently.
****Please support on pat*eon for extra chapters; there is date to date subscription enabled on patreon. [There is a 7-day trial version availabe on patreon.]
https://www.pat*eon.com/dmtranslations
You can read ahead upto 65 chapters on my pa*reon.