Professor Sycamore's cartoonishly fast change of expression nearly made Ash crack up.
Hmph. Useless. You're free now.
What was this, the Pokémon version of Paul?
Thinking back to that boy he had met in Sinnoh, the kind of guy who felt like a hard-core min-maxing gamer dropped straight into reality, someone who only cared about a Pokémon's individual values, Ash's lips curled upward.
In this life, Paul had definitely taken plenty of beatings from him.
Come to think of it, that Snivy he had caught in Unova had been the same way.
If his old Charizard had had even half the competitive drive those two had, instead of all that blind loyalty, Ash never would have ended up caught in the rain until his life was in danger.
Of course, Ash understood that all too well.
And because of that, he could never afford to let Charizard down.
Next, Ash explained everything that had happened between him and Froakie to Professor Sycamore.
The Professor was overjoyed when he heard it.
"Thank goodness. This child has already abandoned four rookie Trainers. If you hadn't shown up, Ash, it probably would've spent the rest of its life retired here with me."
Because Professor Sycamore respected Ash's Mega Evolution paper so much, he had been paying a great deal of attention to him.
Naturally, he knew that Ash was not only a rising star in the research world, but also an exceptional Trainer.
A Trainer who had won five straight League titles, in Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Unova.
He knew Ash was exactly the kind of Trainer Froakie had been waiting for.
Giving this unusually picky Froakie to Ash would not cause any problems, it was practically perfect.
"In that case, just give him this Poké Ball, Sophie!"
The Professor turned toward his assistant and held out a hand for the Poké Ball.
But the female assistant named Sophie walked right past the Professor and handed the Poké Ball directly to Ash. At the same time, she asked for his permission and snapped a photo with him.
That left the Professor looking thoroughly aggrieved.
"No fair! I'm famous too! Why won't you take a picture with me?!"
"Tch."
Putting her phone away, Sophie shot Sycamore a flat look and turned around to leave.
Serena's mouth twitched. "What a... strong-willed assistant."
Ash and Clemont both nodded in deep agreement.
For a subordinate to treat her superior like that, and for the Professor to act like it was completely normal, it was obvious their relationship was not nearly as simple as it looked on the surface.
...
After watching Sophie leave, the smile on the Professor's face gradually faded.
He led Ash and the other three into his office and picked up two thin, square devices that were completely red.
"These are Kalos Pokédexes. Point one at a Pokémon, and it will identify information on Pokémon from the Kalos region."
As he spoke, the Professor took three Poké Balls out of a silver case lined with red cloth on the table and opened them.
Red light burst out.
The three Kalos first partner Pokémon appeared on the floor.
The Professor demonstrated by pointing one of the Pokédexes at Froakie.
A ring of light like a loading circle immediately appeared in the transparent crystal at the center. Less than a second later, the ring disappeared, Froakie's image was projected into the air, and a synthetic voice sounded out.
[Froakie, Water type, Bubble Frog Pokémon. It has smooth skin and a pair of large eyes. It creates Frubbles from its chest and back. Those Frubbles can absorb attacks and reduce damage.]
After the demonstration, the Professor handed the Pokédexes to Ash and Serena.
Serena immediately copied what he had done and pointed the device at the other two.
[Chespin, Grass type, Spiny Nut Pokémon. Its dark body looks like it is wearing a green hood. The spikes on its head are normally very soft, but when it gets excited, they sharpen, hard enough to pierce even rock.]
[Fennekin, Fire type, Fox Pokémon. Lively and adorable, with a pair of large ears and a fluffy tail. It perks up whenever it nibbles on twigs, and it can spit flames hotter than 390 degrees Fahrenheit.]
When it had been released, this Fennekin had happened to be bracing itself with its front paws while scratching under its chin with one hind leg.
Its little stubby leg kept kicking back and forth, and it was unbelievably cute.
Ash approved of it instantly.
Setting its evolved forms aside, Fennekin's looks were honestly top-tier.
Serena's gaze stayed fixed on Froakie and Fennekin, clearly unable to decide.
In the end, she looked to Ash for help.
"Ash, which one do you think I should choose?"
Instead of answering directly, Ash asked a question that caught everyone off guard.
"What's your goal, Serena?"
"My... goal?"
Seeing the uncertainty on her face, Ash spoke in a gentle, guiding voice.
"Do you want to become a strong Trainer? Or someone like May or Dawn, a Coordinator, or maybe follow the Pokémon Performer path that's so popular in Kalos? Or maybe a Breeder?
If you want to be a Trainer, then strength matters, and Froakie, with its Hidden Ability Protean, naturally has the highest ceiling.
If you want to be a Coordinator or a Performer, then beauty matters more, and an unevolved Fennekin might be the best choice.
If you want to be a Breeder, then the Grass type Chespin would be a better fit."
Seeing that his words had already moved Serena, Ash smiled and continued.
"Of course, if you want to reach an even higher peak, then you also need to ask what the Pokémon wants, and make sure it shares the same goal you do."
"Well said!"
Professor Sycamore was so struck by that answer it was almost like being hit by thunder.
His approval and admiration for Ash instantly rose to an even higher level, and he started clapping excitedly on the spot.
Neither Clemont nor Serena said anything, but both of them looked deeply affected.
Especially when they thought of Ash's Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Chikorita, the questions that had lingered in their hearts for years suddenly found their answer at this very moment.
The three little starters, along with Ash's Froakie, all looked proud of themselves after hearing that praise.
Only Bonnie looked half-lost, like she understood some of it but not nearly enough.
Standing on Ash's shoulder, Froakie felt a surge of heroic ambition rise in its chest.
So I've got the highest ceiling?
At that moment, Froakie felt like it was already wearing a championship belt and everyone else was just another easy challenger.
Under everyone's gaze, a bright smile bloomed across Serena's beautiful face.
"I've decided. I want to become an outstanding Pokémon Performer!"
There was something else she did not say out loud.
If she could not reach the top as a Trainer, then the only way to stand beside Ash, a five-time champion, would be to become something like Elesa, a world-class model and celebrity.
And besides, being a Performer was exactly the kind of career Serena liked.
Suppressing the shyness in her heart, Serena bent down with both hands on her black-stocking-clad knees and looked at Fennekin, who was currently basking in everyone's attention, standing tall and looking adorable, like it had just won a little victory.
"Fennekin, do you like performing? How about stepping onto the stage with me?"
"Fen!"
Fennekin nodded seriously.
The Kalos trio, Froakie, Fennekin, and Chespin.
Watching Serena smoothly earn Fennekin's approval, Ash's eyes shifted to Fennekin's status panel.
[Level]: Lv. 5
[Moves]: Tail Whip, Ember
[IVs]: 5 perfect IVs, 0 Attack
[Base Stats]: Total 307, HP 40, Attack 45, Defense 40, Special Attack 62, Special Defense 60, Speed 60
...
5 perfect IVs and 0 Attack IV, perfect for playing around Foul Play!
Fennekin's Hidden Ability was not all that impressive, so Ash looked directly at the enhancement effect for Blaze.