The Sycamore Pokémon Lab stood tall and gleaming in the morning sun, its polished glass panels reflecting the city's golden light as Satoshi approached the entrance that looked like a large mansion even though it served as a place for research.
He stepped through the automated glass doors, the cool interior immediately greeting him with a quiet hum of technology and distant voices echoing up from the main hall, the air carrying a faint scent of fresh grass and water from somewhere deeper inside.
In the entryway, a lab assistant spoke to another in a hushed voice near a console, saying.
"Looks like the new trainers are all here now—should be an interesting group," and the other responded softly, "Yeah, Professor's always got a way of picking the promising ones."
As he climbed the short staircase, his footsteps softened against the white-tiled floor. The familiar architecture made it clear: this was exactly where it all happened—in both game and anime. A convergence point.
When he reached the upper level, he paused at the edge of the main lounge, his eyes scanning the space before stepping fully in.
A small group of young trainers was already gathered around Professor Sycamore, chatting and laughing as they stood in a loose circle near the doors leading to the lab's large indoor backyard.
He recognized them at once.
Trevor, flipping through his Pokédex with quick taps on the screen, spoke with animated energy as he gestured toward Tierno, who was mimicking dance steps even while holding a Poké Ball in one hand. Shauna stood beside Serena, animatedly recounting something with her hands waving expressively, while Serena quietly smiled in response, her arms crossed loosely.
Satoshi's eyes briefly lingered on Serena, noting her dark pink hat with a black band and her focused but reserved demeanor.
Everything matched.
'So they're all here… just like in the game storyline.'
He shifted his gaze to the Kanto starters resting nearby on a low platform in the lounge area: Bulbasaur lounging on a cushioned mat, Charmander flicking its tail flame idly, and Squirtle splashing lightly in a shallow water basin. One for each trainer.
It all aligned now, the mystery of how the anime trio had Kanto starters. The protagonist of the game doesn't seem to existed here. He had taken that spot instead, but Serena, Tierno, Trevor, and Shauna were still been called by Sycamore.
Professor Sycamore turned toward him, "Ah, there you are, Satoshi. Just in time." with a smile, noticing his arrival and waving him casually to join in.
The other trainers glanced over as Sycamore gestured for him to join the group, his lab coat shifting slightly with the motion.
"Everyone." the professor continued, his voice carrying a warm, engaging tone as he placed a hand on Satoshi's shoulder briefly.
"This is the new challenger I mentioned yesterday. He'll be joining the regional circuit as well."
Shauna tilted her head slightly, eyes curious and sparkling with interest as she bounced on her toes a bit. "Wait, are you the guy who registered for both leagues?"
"Yup, It must be him!" Tierno added, grinning wide as he struck a quick pose with one hand on his hip. "That was wild! Whole place went quiet when everyone heard it!"
Trevor looked up from his Pokédex, "Do you already have a full team?" He asked, wearing a curious expression.
Satoshi gave a modest shake of the head, his hands still in his pockets. "Just one, for now. As you can see."
Serena, more reserved, simply observed him with quiet interest, her arms remaining crossed as she tilted her head just a fraction.
Sycamore stepped toward the table with the three Poké Balls on hand, each have a symbol that represent fire grass and water. Meaning it represent which pokeball belong to.
"Now then, as part of the Kalos League registration, you're all entitled to choose a Kanto-region partner. One of these will be your first or second official Pokémon."
He turned to Satoshi, his eyes meeting his with a curious glint. "That includes you."
"Me?" Satoshi glanced at the three starters again, noting how Bulbasaur perked up slightly at the attention, Charmander let out a small puff of flame, and Squirtle ducked its head into its shell for a moment before peeking out.
In truth, he already knew their strengths, their potential evolutions—even how each one could Mega Evolve. But choosing one now… meant altering the shape of their journey.
He stepped forward, the weight of the decision just beginning to settle as he stood near the platform.
Professor Sycamore presented the Poké Balls with an elegant flourish, placing them on the table beside where the starters were resting.
"Here we are—the classic trio from the Kanto region! You may each select one."
Satoshi gave a polite nod, but his eyes didn't linger on the Poké Balls or the starters for long. After a moment of silence, he stepped back with a calm but firm voice.
"I'll pass on the Kanto starters."
The room briefly paused, the chatter among the trainers cutting off as they exchanged glances.
"Eh?" Tierno blinked, his dance-like stance freezing mid-step. "You're not gonna choose any of 'em?"
Sycamore looked puzzled, though not offended, his brow arching slightly as he runs his fingers through his unkempt, curly hair in curiosity. "May I ask why?"
Satoshi gave a faint shrug, his posture relaxed as he met the professor's gaze. "Let's just say... They're great Pokémon. But I think they're not the right fit for me."
Shauna tilted her head, her ponytail swaying with the motion as she placed a hand on her hip.
"That's kinda weird… but also kinda cool!" She smiled brightly, her eyes lighting up. "You must really know what kind of team you want."
"Huh… that's intriguing. Most trainers jump at a chance for one of the Kanto three." Trevor pause with whatever nerdy stuff he is doing and closed his Pokédex.
Serena folded her arms, watching Satoshi quietly without a word, her expression show thoughtfulness.
Sycamore nodded, respectful as he stop rubbing his head. "Very well! Let's move on, then. Trevor?"
Trevor stepped forward and chose Charmander, his hand trembling slightly with excitement as he reached out to the fire lizard. "I think this one will help me research fire-type behavior patterns…"
Shauna leaned over to Tierno and whispered with a grin, her voice light and teasing, "Ooh, Trevor's going for the fiery one—bet it'll match his enthusiasm for all that data crunching!"
Tierno chuckled back, shifting his weight from one foot to the other as he replied in a playful tone, "Yeah, but can it keep up with his note-taking speed? That thing's tail flame might fizzle out trying!"
Serena glanced at them both, her lips curving into a small, amused smile as she added quietly, "As long as it doesn't set his Pokédex on fire during one of his experiments."
Trevor turned his head toward the group, his cheeks flushing a bit as he held Charmander closer and said with a mock defensive huff.
"Hey, it'll be perfect for controlled tests—unlike some people's dance routines that might trip over their own feet!"
Tierno immediately grabbed the Poké Ball containing Squirtle with a wide grin, scooping up the turtle Pokémon gently after.
"This dude's gotta have rhythm. I bet he's got moves—literally!"
Trevor adjusted his hold on Charmander and shot Tierno a grin, his voice carrying a friendly jab as he said, "Squirtle, huh? Hope it can keep up with your spinning—might end up dizzy before the first gym!"
"But think about it, Tierno—water moves with flow, just like your dances! It's a match made in rhythm heaven!" Shauna giggled, covering her mouth with one hand as she replied enthusiastically.
Serena tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing in thought before she commented softly, "It could add some splash to your performances. Just don't flood the battlefield trying to show off."
Tierno struck another quick pose with Squirtle in his arms, laughing as he responded, "You guys are just jealous— this little guy's gonna groove right through the leagues with me!"
Shauna ignore his comment, stepped forward and picked Bulbasaur, lifting the seed pokémon with both hands as it let out a content "Bulba!"
Tierno spun around once with Squirtle still in hand and teased Shauna lightly, his voice upbeat, "Bulbasaur? That's the plant powerhouse—gonna turn every battle into a garden party?"
Trevor nodded approvingly, setting Charmander down gently as he added with a thoughtful tone, "Actually, its vine techniques could be great for field research—lots of potential for growth patterns."
Serena uncrossed her arms briefly to adjust her hat, then said in a calm voice with a hint of a smile, "It suits you, Shauna—steady and full of life. Just watch out for those seeds turning into unexpected tangles."
"Aww, thanks! We're gonna bloom together—no one's gonna leaf us behind!" Shauna beamed at them all, hugging Bulbasaur a bit tighter as she replied cheerfully.
"Alright alright, settle down everyone."
Professor Sycamore turned to Serena, presenting three more pokéballs on the tray as he held the capsule. "Now, follow me." while leading the group through the doors into the indoor backyard.
The large indoor backyard opened up before them, a spacious research habitat designed to mimic natural environments for the Pokémon under study.
Tall trees stretched toward the high glass ceiling that let in filtered sunlight, their branches providing shade over patches of lush grass and small ponds with gently flowing water. Rocks and logs dotted the landscape, creating hiding spots and perches, while vines climbed the walls to blend the space into a seamless blend of lab and wilderness.
A few lab Pokémon in the distance chattered among themselves, one Pidgey perched on a branch calling out to another in a series of short chirps, while a nearby Rattata scampered across the grass, pausing to sniff at a fallen leaf.
Here, Sycamore's partner Garchomp lounged near a rocky outcrop, its sharp eyes scanning the area calmly, and various starter Pokémon roamed freely, including Froakie sitting on the fountain edge peacefully chilling, Chespin munching on berries by the water, and Fennekin playfully chasing its own tail in the grass.
Serena stepped forward with quiet confidence, barely glancing at the other and called out softly.
"Fennekin."
The fire fox Pokémon trotted over at the sound of its name, nuzzling her hand before she picked it up. "I'll go with this one."
Shauna bounced on her toes again, her voice excited as she said to Serena, "Fennekin? That's so you—it gonna light up the gyms for sure!"
Tierno nodded vigorously, adding with a grin, "Yeah, its flames could totally sync with some hot dance battles!"
Trevor looked down at his Pokédex and commented analytically, "Fire-types like that have versatile move sets, perfect for strategic plays."
Serena held Fennekin close, her expression softening just a touch as she replied evenly, "It feels right. We'll train hard and make it count, no shortcuts."
Sycamore turned to Satoshi, gesturing to the remaining Kalos starters scattered in the habitat. "That leaves Chespin and Froakie."
Satoshi hesitated—not at the decision itself, but at how to ask—as he scanned the backyard, his eyes landing on the regular Froakie perched high in the tree, then he got an idea.
So he looked at Sycamore. "Actually… could I ask for a specific Froakie? Not the one here."
Sycamore blinked, his expression shifting to one of mild surprise as he uncrossed his arms. "I beg your pardon?"
Satoshi clarified, his voice steady. "I've heard about a Froakie that's been passed over by a lot of trainers. Stubborn. Hard to handle."
"Eh?" Tierno tilted his head, scratching his cheek. "There's a Froakie like that?"
Shauna leaned in, curious as she bounced on her toes. "Wait, I thought these were the only ones we could pick from…"
Serena narrowed her eyes a little, her arms still folded. "You're saying you heard about that Froakie? How?"
Satoshi replied smoothly, his posture relaxed. "I used to care for a lot of difficult pokémon back home, and I would like to give it a try."
Trevor held his Pokédex closer as he glanced at Sycamore. "That's a very specific request…"
Sycamore's expression slowly changed to intrigue, his eyes lighting up with curiosity as he nodded. "There is such a Froakie... But it refused multiple trainers. No one has been able to connect with it."
"Then that's the one I want." Satoshi said plainly.
Tierno raised both eyebrows, his grin widening. "Yo, is this like... Unlocking the secret boss route?!"
Shauna's eyes sparkled as she clasped her hands together. "That's so awesome! Like something out of a movie!"
Serena folded her arms tighter, watching Satoshi quietly.
Sycamore chuckled lightly, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Alright, I'll retrieve its pokeball from the reserve."
Moments later, the professor returned with a distinct Poké Ball and handed it to Satoshi, his gaze steady. "This one has always been… independent. Are you sure about that?"
"Yes, I'm sure." Satoshi toss the pokeball and it released Froakie from the capsule.
It emerged in a poised crouch, yellow eyes sharp and distant. But instead of showing its usual disdain or avoidance, it simply stared at Satoshi as if it's already catch on to something.
No sign of distrust or looking away with its usual stubbornness.
Satoshi knelt on one knees and extended a hand, already knowing what to say. "If you want to become strong, come with me."
Surprising it faintly as Froakie didn't reply but it didn't reject him.
"Is it usually this calm?" Serena stared, her eyes widening slightly intriguingly.
"Froakie never behave like that with anyone else… I must take note of this immediately...!" Sycamore murmured, half to himself, pulling out a small notebook from his coat pocket.
Even Trevor was scribbling furiously in his own notes on the pokédex and readying a camera at the same time."Incredible behavior deviation… I need to capture the moment if professor sycamore react that way!"
*
To be continued...
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