THE NARRATOR:
" The kalos region like the other regions a beautiful place where people and Pokemon live in harmony... A certain young man (ash Ketchum) is about to arrive a young man seeking new dreams and new adventures."
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BUT WHAT THE NARRATOR DIDN'T KNOW WAS THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER TRAINER ONE WHOSE JOURNEY DESTINY HADN'T BOTHERED TO HAND TO ANYONE ELSE. A TRAINER WHO DIDN'T NEED THE WORLD'S PERMISSION TO BECOME REMARKABLE, AND WHO WASN'T ABOUT TO LET FATE WRITE HIM OUT IN FAVOR OF SOME BOY FROM PALLET TOWN.
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By the time the metro began slowing down, the faint hum of the tracks had settled into a steady rhythm beneath his feet.
A soft mechanical voice announced the next stop.
"Lumiose City."
He straightened slightly in his seat, adjusting the strap of his messenger bag across his shoulder. Around him, a few passengers stood up in advance, some checking their phones, others stretching after the ride.
The doors slid open with a quiet hiss, cool air rushed in first, followed by the low murmur of the station beyond as he stepped out with the others.
His boots tapped lightly against the tiled floor as he moved away from the train, letting the small crowd carry him forward for a few seconds before drifting to the side. No need to rush.
Before heading up, he paused near one of the reflective panels lining the station wall.
It wasn't exactly a mirror, but it was clear enough.
He glanced at his reflection out of habit, doing a quick once-over.
The dark red outdoors cap sat low on his head, shadowing his eyes slightly. The black wide-frame sunglasses rested on the brim of the hat, pushed up for now. The blue track jacket was zipped neatly to the collar, white stripes running down the sleeves. Slim navy jeans, short black boots with bright blue laces, and the black two tone messenger bag hanging comfortably at his side.
He adjusted the cap slightly and looked at himself for another second.
After that he turned away from the reflection and followed the signs toward the exit.
The soundscape shifted as he climbed the stairs.
The enclosed echoes of the station gradually gave way to something louder. Busier.
Voices. Footsteps. Traffic somewhere above.
When he finally stepped out of the metro station, the scale of the city hit him immediately.
Buildings rose high on every side, clean glass windows catching the sunlight. Wide streets stretched outward in multiple directions, lined with shops, cafés, and banners hanging from lampposts. People moved constantly, some alone, some in groups, trainers with Poké Balls clipped to their belts, others walking beside their Pokémon like it was the most natural thing in the world.
He stood still for a moment near the entrance, hands resting loosely in his jacket pockets.
His eyes moved slowly from one end of the street to the other, quietly taking everything in and mapping the area in his head.
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After standing there for a while, he finally started moving.
The streets of Lumiose were busy but organized. Sidewalks wide enough for foot traffic, cafés setting out chairs for the morning crowd, storefront windows reflecting the sunlight. A few trainers passed by with their Pokémon walking beside them nothing unusual to anyone else, but still something his eyes tracked automatically.
A Bunnelby hopped near the edge of the pavement before scurrying off. A Fletchling perched on a streetlamp, chirping loudly before taking flight.
The kind of things you only noticed when you paid attention.
He kept a steady pace, occasionally glancing at street signs and intersections. He had checked the route earlier, so he didn't need directions now. It was mostly habit building a mental map as he went.
Left turn. Two blocks straight. Large building near the corner.
A few minutes later, the surroundings grew quieter. Fewer shops. More open space.
Then he spotted it.
A modern-looking building set slightly apart from the others, clean white walls with wide windows. The design was simple but professional, more like a research facility than a house.
Professor Sycamore's Lab.
He slowed as he approached the entrance, adjusting the strap of his messenger bag again.
He stepped up and knocked twice.
A brief pause.
Then he called out, "Professor Sycamore?"
Footsteps echoed faintly from inside.
The door opened a moment later, revealing a tall man with messy light hair and a lab coat thrown casually over his clothes. His expression was relaxed, friendly, like someone used to meeting new trainers every day.
"Yes?" he said.
Calem straightened slightly. "My name's Calem xavier from vanville town"
Sycamore's smile widened with immediate understanding. "Ah, right on time. So you're here to start your journey, huh?"
Calem gave a small nod. "Yeah."
The professor stepped aside. "Come in, come in."
The entrance opened into a wide, well-lit foyer. It felt more like a large home than a laboratory, with only a few shelves and equipment cases placed neatly along the walls. Still, the faint hum of machines deeper inside made it clear that research was being done here.
"Let's get you started," Sycamore said, turning his head slightly. "Could you bring them out?"
"Let's get you started," Sycamore said, turning his head slightly. "Could you bring them out?"
A lab assistant responded from somewhere deeper inside.
A moment later, she arrived with three Pokemon beside her.
Fennekin. Froakie. Chespin.
They looked exactly like they should.
But seeing them this close breathing, blinking, shifting their weight felt different from any screen.
Sycamore folded his arms casually. "Go ahead. Take your time choosing—"
"I'll take Chespin," Calem said.
The professor paused mid-sentence.
Calem had already made his choice long before coming here. Chespin suited him, so there was nothing to think about.
Sycamore chuckled lightly. "Straight to the point, huh? I like that."
Chespin looked up at him, blinking once before letting out a small, cheerful sound.
He crouched slightly and held out his hand. The Pokémon stepped forward without resistance.
"Alright then," Sycamore said, walking over to a nearby desk. "Every trainer needs one of these."
He handed over a small red device.
A Pokédex.
Before the professor could start explaining, Calem spoke first. "I know how Pokédexes work."
Sycamore raised an eyebrow, then smiled. "Well, that makes my job easier."
After that, he received a few Poké Balls, the weight of them light but solid in his palm.
Just basic equipment.
Still, it felt like a clear line had been crossed.
Before Sycamore could say anything else, the lab door suddenly opened.
A small girl with blonde hair tied back into a ponytail stepped inside quickly, looking worried.
A boy followed close behind her, carefully holding an injured Froakie in his arms.
"Professor Sycamore!"
He wore a red cap similar to the one Trainer Red had in FireRed and LeafGreen, a shirt almost identical to his with short sleeves being the only difference, and dark blue slim fit jeans.
This was ash someone he could easily tell at a glance.
The moment the boy stepped inside carrying Froakie, Professor Sycamore's attention shifted immediately.
He moved closer, eyes narrowing slightly as he got a better look at the Pokémon's condition.
"Froakie no!".
The boy looked up. "You know froakie professor"
"I sure do, sophie take this froakie to the infirmary"
From near one of the side tables, the lab assistant responded at once. She hurried over, carefully taking Froakie from the boy's arms before heading deeper into the lab toward the back rooms.
The boy let out a breath he had probably been holding. "Thanks professor we been so worried about him too, so did froakie ran away from the lab?"
Sycamore shook his head.
"No, this froakie belonged to someone else who left it here and told us that he wanted to give up froakie."
His tone was calm, but there was a hint of disappointment behind it.
Calem stayed where he was, listening quietly.
A moment later, the boy finally noticed him standing nearby.
"Hey are you a new trainer?"
Calem glanced over and answered simply. "Yes I am, name's calem xavier"
"Me too, btw my name's ash from pallet town"
Before the conversation could go any further, the entrance door opened again.
Another boy stumbled inside, breathing hard like he had run the whole way. Blond hair, black-rimmed glasses, and a huge backpack that looked far too heavy for him.
He barely made it a few steps before dropping to his knees near them, still trying to catch his breath.
Seeing this the small girl says "You're so slow" and he says "So, how's froakie?"
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They stood outside the infirmary room, separated by a clear glass barrier.
Inside, Froakie lay on a raised medical platform beneath a small dome-like glass enclosure. Soft lights flickered across the surface while quiet machines hummed around it. Thin lines of light scanned slowly over its body, monitoring and treating it at the same time.
The space felt more clinical than the rest of the lab.
"Poor froakie" ash said.
Calem stayed a short distance back with his arms crossed, watching without saying anything.
There wasn't much he could do anyway. Standing closer wouldn't change the result.
"There's nothing to worry about" Professor Sycamore's voice came from behind them.
Ash and the others turned immediately.
Calem didn't. He had already noticed the professor's footsteps.
Sycamore adjusted his glasses slightly.
"Sophie is the absolute best at what she does"
"Great" Ash's shoulders relaxed a little at that.
The tension in the air eased.
Sycamore then gestured toward the nearby sofa set and walked over, taking a seat casually like this wasn't anything unusual. The others followed after a second.
"I'm professor sycamore, I'm a Pokemon researcher working here in kalos"
"Nice to meet you, my name's ash and this my partner Pikachu" Pikachu gave a small wave from Ash's shoulder.
"My name's bonnie" She pointed beside her.
"And this is my brother clemont"
Clemont adjusted his glasses quickly, posture straightening out of habit. "It's truly an honor to meet you professor sycamore"
After that, their attention shifted toward Calem.
He didn't move much. "Name's calem"
Ash started talking again, mentioning that he had just arrived today from Kanto. He spoke easily, like he was used to introducing himself to new people.
Calem only half listened, his arms remained crossed as he kept his eyes on the infirmary window instead. He caught bits and pieces of the conversation, but nothing important enough to focus on.
Then a heavier set of footsteps echoed down the hallway.
A large figure approached, a Garchomp.
It moved past them calmly and stopped near the glass, lowering its head slightly toward Froakie inside the chamber. A low rumble left its throat, almost like it was checking on it.
Sycamore smiled faintly.
He mentioned that Garchomp lives at lab.
He stepped forward and gently patted Garchomp's arm, reassuring it that Froakie would be fine.
Ash and the others followed after him, each taking turns approaching the glass and speaking softly, offering their own words of encouragement.
Calem just stood there watching.
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After a while, there wasn't much else to do.
Froakie was still being treated, and the others had settled into light conversation with the professor. The mood had calmed down enough that staying longer didn't really serve any purpose.
Calem uncrossed his arms and quietly stepped away.
He moved through the hallway and toward the entrance, the soft sounds of voices fading behind him.
He started down the steps, already thinking about what to do next. Maybe walk around Lumiose a bit more.
As he reached the gate, something above caught his eye.
A faint shift of movement.
On the rooftop of the very building he was leaving, three figures stood near the edge.
A woman with deep red hair styled into a large pointed shape. A man with short blue-purple hair sweeping across his forehead. And a small Meowth standing between them.
They weren't exactly trying to hide, but they weren't being obvious either.
Team rocket members Jessie James and meowth.