Under Professor Oak's detailed explanation, everyone finally gained a clear and profound understanding of Zygarde!
Although Yveltal had only appeared briefly in the previous footage, the overwhelming sense of dread it inflicted left an indelible mark on the world.
And now, Professor Oak had explicitly stated that Zygarde's absolute capabilities vastly eclipsed even those of Yveltal!
Didn't that imply that Zygarde was an existence that completely transcended standard restricted Legendary Pokémon, reaching the apex tier of Mythical status?
...
Global Forum Chat Board
[Diantha]: Professor Oak is entirely correct. Zygarde is a terrifying entity that watches over the balance of the ecosystem, positioning it fundamentally above the other two legendary entities of Kalos!
[Diantha]: However, historical records state that Zygarde rarely manifests its true appearance. It typically disperses into nature, and its physical state is highly unpredictable. It possesses three primary active configurations!
[Diantha]: In its, lower-energy state, it resembles a sleek canine covered in black and green markings. In its standard mid-tier form, it shifts into a massive, cobra-like leviathan. And when it achieves its complete architecture, it transforms into a towering humanoid titan reminiscent of ancient Norse mythology!
Diantha had clearly done extensive research regarding the legendary protectors of her own home region. Not only was she fully aware of Zygarde's structural divisions, but she could accurately visualize the exact specifications of each form.
[Siebold]: Are these archives sourced directly from the ancient ruins of Kalos? Even I am learning about the exact visual parameters of Zygarde's three forms for the very first time!
Siebold felt a profound sense of newfound respect for Diantha. He had previously assumed that the Champion dedicated the absolute majority of her focus toward her cinematic career,
but it turned out she held an immense depth of knowledge regarding Kalosian lore. It appeared he had misjudged her priorities, and he silently offered her an apology.
Achoo!
Relaxing in the courtyard of the Oak Research Laboratory, Diantha suddenly let out a massive sneeze. Rubbing her nose, she muttered softly to herself, "Who could possibly be talking about me behind my back?"
[Flint]: Wait a second... Look at the implications here! Clemont's younger sister, that little girl named Bonnie, essentially formed a partnership with a planet-balancing entity that eclipses standard Legendaries right at the start of her journey?
[Volkner]: No wonder Miss Diantha broke character and let out a curse. This is insane! Embarking on a journey with a top-tier Legendary Pokémon right out of the gate? This is straight out of a power-fantasy novel! She's basically invincible from day one.
[Wallace]: Sigh, the sheer disparity between different trainers is truly staggering. Some people begin their journeys with a standard Rattata, while others start their adventure alongside a literal guardian of the ecosystem! How can anyone even compare? There is no comparison!
[Lorelei]: If she theoretically registered Zygarde for a regional League Conference, wouldn't that constitute an absolute dimensional demolition against standard trainers?
[Bruno]: It would be exactly like dropping a seasoned Regional Champion into a rookie tournament! How could anyone possibly counter that? It ruins the balance completely!
[Aaron]: The world really treats people differently!
[Ash]: I don't think it's fair to look at it that way.
[Ash]: Even though Bonnie gained the companionship of a powerful Legendary Pokémon right at the start, I think it's wrong to completely dismiss everything that led up to that point!
[Ash]: A genuine bond never forms out of thin air. For Zygarde to willingly choose to stay by Bonnie's side, they must have endured an incredibly profound journey together that solidified their trust!
[Cynthia]: Ash is entirely correct. A sacred bond of that magnitude never manifests without reason, and an entity like Zygarde would never attach itself to a human child without cause.
[Cynthia]: We shouldn't invalidate the emotional journey and sacrifices of the process simply because we are focusing exclusively on the final outcome!
Under the grounding words of Ash and Cynthia, the heated discussions on the message board finally began to cool down.
The public realized their mistake. They had only focused on the glamorous result of Bonnie walking alongside Zygarde, completely overlooking the emotional weight and challenges she had endured to earn that companionship.
Bonds required mutual investment. While they envied her fortune, they hadn't considered how much heart the young girl had poured into protecting her friend.
It was exactly like Ash's scenario. If the simulation footage simply highlighted Ash receiving the unyielding affection and respect of numerous Legendary Pokémon, the public would merely react with jealousy and bitterness.
However, once the harrowing process behind those friendships was laid bare, no one could look at Ash's bonds with envy.
Every single bit of that respect had been paid for with his life! Mewtwo, Latias, Hoopa—the records of those encounters spoke for themselves. And though the remaining legends on his resume hadn't been fully reviewed yet, the trials surrounding them were undoubtedly just as perilous.
In the heart of Lumiose City, Clemont looked down at the toddler-aged Bonnie playing curiously beside him, a warm smile gracing his face.
He had never imagined that before his little sister even set out on her official journey, she would secure a pact with a legendary guardian. As her older brother, he resolved that he couldn't afford to fall behind!
In the Footage—
Ash continued explaining the sheer, unprecedented scale of Zygarde's power to Chloe. When he noted that Zygarde's full capabilities were comfortably on par with Mewtwo's baseline, Chloe's jaw dropped in absolute astonishment.
An entity of that caliber acting as a starter Pokémon for a rookie trainer felt completely unfair to the rest of the world.
"Hehe, when she officially sets out, Bonnie is going to be completely unstoppable~ Oh, we're here!" Ash laughed cheerfully as the elevator chimed, signaling their arrival.
Stepping out into the main lobby of the Lumiose Gym, Ash instantly spotted two incredibly familiar figures.
"Clemont, Bonnie! Long time no see!"
"Pika-Pikachu!"
"Ash! Pikachu! It's so great to see you! Well, technically we saw you on a broadcast not too long ago, but you were putting yourself in extreme danger again!" Clemont exclaimed, welcoming his friend with a mixture of relief and playful exasperation.
Not long ago, the news networks had broadcast the terrifying live footage of Ash and his companions confronting Eternatus in Galar.
Even through a digital screen, the oppressive, chaotic energy of the entity had been utterly horrifying. Clemont had been incredibly anxious for Ash's safety, but true to form, Ash had pulled through the crisis unscathed.
"Haha, well, things just sort of ended up happening that way~" Ash laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck before quickly pivoting the conversation. "Setting that aside, Bonnie, how have you been doing lately?"
His subject-changing technique was undeniably clumsy, but it accomplished the goal perfectly. Bonnie's eyes lit up instantly as she bounced on her heels.
"I've been studying Pokémon traits and data with my brother every single day! I'm going to be an official trainer super soon! Hahaha!" Bonnie cheered happily, before her voice trailed off, her expression softening into a slight pout. "But Squishy hasn't sent any updates lately, and I don't know where he's resting right now..."
A wave of melancholy washed over her. It had been quite a while since she last saw her beloved companion. Now that she was on the verge of being eligible to register as a trainer, her green friend wasn't there to witness it.
"Don't worry about it, Bonnie! Squishy will absolutely return when the time is right. You two made a lifelong promise to each other, didn't you?" Ash comforted her gently, patting her head. "Squishy" was the affectionate nickname they had given to the core of Zygarde during their travels.
At that moment, Clemont finally noticed Chloe standing quietly behind Ash, observing their interaction with keen interest. "Ash, this is..."
"Oh! I completely forgot to introduce you guys! This is Chloe; she's currently traveling along with me! Right now, we're working together as official research fellows for the Cerise Laboratory back in the Kanto region!"
Ash introduced warmly. "Chloe's ultimate goal is to become a top-tier Pokémon Coordinator! She actually just participated in the Lumiose City Showcase today to gain some early-stage experience."
Following Ash's introduction, Chloe politely stepped forward and offered a formal greeting.
"Hello there! My name is Clemont, and this is my younger sister, Bonnie..." Clemont replied, quickly returning the introduction while taking a subtle note of Chloe's demeanor.
She was undeniably a very cute, elegant girl. Her mannerisms and speech patterns carried an air of refined politeness, displaying a gentle, cultured personality that felt remarkably reminiscent of Serena's behavior.
The vivid memory of Serena's dramatic departure at the airport terminal instantly flashed through Clemont's mind.
He couldn't help but wonder how Ash kept managing to find such incredible female companions to travel with. Was his dense friend secretly living the life of a romantic protagonist without even realizing it?
"Hey, Clemont! Earth to Clemont! What are you staring off for?" Ash asked, snapping his fingers in front of his friend's face.
"Ah! I was just thinking about a romantic poly... No! I mean, I was just reflecting on how much stronger you've become since we last parted ways, Ash! Even Pikachu looks incredibly robust now!" Clemont stammered, covering his slip of the tongue.
"Pika-chuuu!" Pikachu chirped proudly, flexing his right arm with a smug grin. He was no longer the baseline partner of the past; he had fully ascended to a level of power worthy of a deity!
If he were dropped right back into the Lumiose Conference with his current capabilities, he could comfortably sweep through an opponent's entire roster single-handedly. This was the raw result of his rigorous training throughout the Alola region!
"Of course! Let me tell you, after we wrapped up our journey here, I traveled over to the Alola region, and out there..."
The two old friends, reunited after a long absence, immediately dove into an endless stream of shared stories. Under normal circumstances, Bonnie would have listened to their adventurous tales with immense interest, but right now, she had a different mission.
Gently grabbing Chloe's hand, she pulled her away from the two boys, clearing the space so they could talk shop while creating an opportunity for a private, girls-only chat!
"Psst, Chloe! Tell me, how exactly did you first meet up with Ash?" Bonnie whispered eagerly.
Chloe hadn't anticipated being pulled into a corner for a flurry of gossip. Were the children of the Kalos region always this incredibly perceptive and forward? Still, seeing no reason to hide the truth, Chloe happily recounted the story of their initial encounter.
"When I first met Ash properly, he had just thrown himself into a frantic battle against the Legendary Lugia!" Chloe recalled with a smile. "Back then..."
While the two boys were fully engrossed in recounting thrilling, high-stakes battle strategies, the two girls quickly gravitated toward a far more personal topic: romance!
"...I see! So, Chloe, do you secretly have a crush on Ash?" Bonnie asked point-blank, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Chloe's brain short-circuited instantly. "I—What?! No! Not at all! Don't say such ridiculous things!"
Despite her frantic denials, Chloe's face had flushed into a brilliant crimson, resembling a perfectly ripe tomato. Any objective observer could instantly read the clear affection written all over her expressions. Of course, Ash was fundamentally incapable of reading those signs.
"Alright, alright, if you say so~" Bonnie giggled, patting Chloe's back with a surprisingly mature, old-fashioned aura. Then, leaning in close, she dropped her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "But Chloe, has Ash ever told you about the girls who traveled with him before?"
"...Do you mean Serena?" Chloe asked, her tone turning slightly complex.
She was well aware that Ash had traveled with several notable companions throughout his journey, having heard him mention them on various occasions.
And among them, she had always viewed the Kalosian representative, Serena, as her most formidable baseline comparison.
Serena wasn't just Ash's childhood playmate; she was someone who had actively chased her dreams alongside him. Compared to his other female friends, Serena held an undeniably heavy presence.
"Yes, yes! Exactly, Serena! Ash actually talked to you about her?"
"Yeah, when he summarized his travels through Kalos, he mentioned how much fun you all had together, and how much her encouragement helped him push through his slumps..." Chloe explained softly.
Bonnie glanced over at Ash, who was still gesturing wildly while talking to Clemont, and couldn't help but sigh internally. Although she had always known Ash possessed a remarkably dense social radar, the sheer thickness of his oblivious nature completely defied her imagination!
Back then, Serena had delivered an absolute definitive romantic gesture before boarding her flight, yet it had failed to create even a single ripple in Ash's oblivious heart.
At this rate, her dense friend wouldn't find a girlfriend even after he achieved his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master!
"To be completely honest... Ash is an absolute block of wood when it comes to romance," Bonnie remarked bluntly.
"Yeah... I completely agree," Chloe nodded in solidarity.
This response left Bonnie temporarily speechless. She had intended to provide a playful assist to spark a bit of jealousy, but looking at Chloe's deep familiarity with Ash's flaws, the level of intimacy between the two was already incredibly high!
"In that case... I bet Ash definitely skipped out on telling you this specific story!" Bonnie's competitive spirit flared up; she was determined to share a piece of gossip that Chloe had never heard before!
Racking her brain, she finally recalled a hilarious incident from Ash's journey. "During his travels, Ash met a spunky trainer girl who challenged him to a battle. She explicitly declared that if Ash lost the match, he had to go out on a formal date with her!"
"A DATE?!" Chloe gasped out loud.
Ash had truly never mentioned this specific incident to her! Because the revelation was so profoundly shocking, Chloe accidentally voiced her exclamation a bit too loudly, her voice echoing across the training hall.
"A date? Who's going on a date?" Ash asked, pausing his conversation with Clemont as he blinked in confusion.
"Don't worry about it, Ash! This is strictly private girls' business! Boys shouldn't poke their noses into everything!" Bonnie fired back smoothly, shielding Chloe from the embarrassment.
"...Uh, okay," Ash muttered, slightly bewildered. Turning back to Clemont, he whispered under his breath, "Hey Clemont, is it just me, or has Bonnie become way more mischievous than she used to be?"
Clemont adjusted his glasses, letting out a deeply relatable sigh. "Don't even get me started, Ash. Trying to figure out what goes through a girl's mind as they grow up is an absolute scientific impossibility!"
"Yeah, tell me about it..." Ash echoed, completely in agreement. The two young men let out a simultaneous, heavy sigh, completely out of the loop.