Cole felt his consciousness drifting to a distant place, making him dizzy and disoriented.
To Lysandre and Caitlin, his body was surrounded by thick purple mist. The mist churned before entering his forehead strand by strand, and suddenly his eyes opened.
A blue-white light flashed in his eyes, creating an intense, soul-stirring moment. The light lasted only seconds before fading, and Cole regained consciousness.
"Garde~ Garde~" — Darling, are you alright?
Daisy asked anxiously.
Brionne, Helioptile, and Larvitar looked at him with concern.
"I'm fine, don't worry." Cole shook his head to reassure the Pokémon, though his current sensations were quite strange.
The world appeared different through his eyes — clearer, somehow. He could even vaguely sense various elemental energies permeating the air.
"Uncle Lysandre, see?" Caitlin exclaimed, "I told you I hadn't sensed wrong when I said he was a Psychic!"
Now Cole understood why she had called him a Psychic.
When Lugia bid farewell, it had given him a gift. Though he hadn't understood it then, Lugia said he would when the time came. Now it was clear — what was left behind was a seed of Psychic power.
The seed hadn't sprouted before, so he'd noticed nothing unusual. Now, under Caitlin's Psychic nurturing, that seed had broken through, transforming Cole into a true Psychic.
His newly emerged Psychic power was still weak, and he didn't know how to control it. The initial awakening left him dizzy, like he'd spun in circles dozens of times.
"Miss Caitlin, I apologize." Cole said sincerely, "But I wasn't lying. My Psychic powers hadn't awakened before. What you sensed was just the dormant Psychic seed. The specific reason involves secrets I can't explain further — please understand."
Caitlin was surprised. Having a Psychic seed meant his power wasn't innate but obtained through an extraordinary encounter.
Psychics generally emerge in two ways.
Some are born with mental power far beyond ordinary people, naturally transforming into Psychics over time. Others obtain a Psychic seed through extraordinary encounters. This seed, whether from a powerful Psychic or Pokémon, sprouts to make its owner a Psychic.
However, becoming a Psychic through the second method requires above-average mental fortitude — otherwise, one couldn't receive a Psychic seed.
If everyone could receive Psychic seeds unconditionally, the world would be overrun with Psychics.
Neither type of Psychic is inherently stronger or nobler. Natural Psychics vary in strength due to talent, while acquired Psychics vary based on their seed's source. Additionally, dedicated training is key to determining one's ultimate strength.
After learning of Cole's extraordinary encounter, Caitlin curbed her curiosity, simply nodding without further questions.
Lysandre, however, quickly guessed the origin of the Psychic seed. After all, Cole hadn't hidden what happened in the Sea Spirit's Den from him and Diantha.
But he just smiled, saying nothing more.
The three of them went to a high-end restaurant, where they enjoyed a meal and conversation.
Cole seized the opportunity to ask Caitlin many questions about Psychics. She answered generously — as long as the topics didn't involve family secrets, she explained everything in detail, even teaching him how to sense and control Psychic power. This guidance proved invaluable to him.
There was, however, one limitation: training Psychic power required special meditation techniques. Though her ancient Psychic family possessed their own methods, she wasn't permitted to share them with outsiders.
This revelation left Cole disheartened. It was a stark reminder that valuable knowledge often remained in the hands of a privileged few, beyond the reach of ordinary people.
After their lengthy discussion, the group parted ways. Lysandre provided Cole with his Lumiose address, offering his help should Cole ever need it.
Still dizzy from his Psychic awakening, Cole decided against further exploration after saying goodbye to Lysandre and Caitlin. He returned to the hotel with Daisy and the others.
Upon arrival, he found Professor Omura hadn't yet returned.
Cole assumed the professor had simply lost track of time while catching up with his old friend. Thinking nothing of it, he let his Pokémon play while he lay down on the bed, quickly falling into a deep sleep that lasted until nightfall.
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When Cole awoke, he found the Pokémon gathered around the sofa watching TV.
Feeling energetic after his nap, he walked to the sofa and asked, "Have you all had dinner?"
The Pokémon all nodded. They had eaten Poké blocks for dinner, while Larvitar had consumed a piece of silver ore under Daisy's watchful supervision (mainly to prevent it from sneaking extra).
"Oh right, did Professor Omura come looking for me?" Cole suddenly asked, slapping his forehead. He had slept so deeply he'd forgotten about the professor.
The Pokémon looked at each other and shook their heads simultaneously.
"He hasn't come by? That's strange!" Cole said, puzzled.
"Garde~ Garde~"
Daisy informed him that Omura hadn't returned since leaving earlier that day.
"You mean Professor Omura hasn't come back at all?"
Glancing at the time, he saw it was almost seven in the evening.
Concerned, he rushed to the professor's room and knocked, but received no response. He tried calling Omura's phone repeatedly — over ten times — but no one answered.
Left with no alternative, he went to the hotel front desk to inquire about the situation. The staff hadn't seen the professor return either. Even after checking the security footage at Cole's request, there was no sign of Omura since his departure.
Finally, Cole took Daisy and the others to the Lumiose police station.
There, after filing his report, he received shocking news — the police were already searching for Professor Omura because he had been kidnapped!
Cole: ( *′⊙▂⊙ )?
"Wait, what? Kidnapped?" He could hardly believe it, thinking at first the police must be joking.
But after a detailed explanation from an officer, the truth sank in — Professor Omura had indeed been kidnapped on their very first day in Lumiose City.
A drug trafficking gang had recently arrived in Lumiose targeting the professor's friend, a renowned botanist and pharmacologist. The gang planned to force him to help develop a new type of drug.
By cruel coincidence, Omura had chosen this exact time to visit his friend, leading to his capture as well.
The police had only identified him after their investigation. They were about to send someone to notify Cole at the hotel when he arrived on his own.
"Is my teacher safe? Is he injured? Is his life in danger?" He asked anxiously.
The police officer reassured him, "The hostages aren't in immediate danger. We're organizing rescue operations now. Trust us — we'll bring your teacher back safely."
Cole knew his anxiety wouldn't help the situation, but he couldn't help pleading, "Please, you must rescue my teacher."
Officer Jenny approached, placed a hand on his shoulder, and promised firmly, "Young man, I guarantee we'll do everything to rescue both hostages. We won't tolerate evil!"
After this reassurance, Cole left the police station with a heavy heart.
This was beyond unlucky — their first day in Lumiose City and they'd encountered a kidnapping. So much for this being Kalos's central city. Was this really the state of public security here?
As he trudged back to the hotel, desperately thinking of ways to help rescue his teacher, he heard faint meowing from a dark alley to his left.
Turning his head, he spotted a sneaky little cat head peeking out from the darkness, glancing around before noticing his stare.
A Purrloin!
Cole recognized it instantly — the same cat that had knocked over his juice earlier that day.
When the Purrloin realized it had been spotted, it whirled around and darted back into the dark alley.
Suddenly, a golden flash of electricity burst from Cole's side — Helioptile had given chase.
"Meow!!!"
A pitiful cry echoed from the alley — clearly the Purrloin had been caught by his swift little gecko. This particular Helioptile had always been faster than most Pokémon, which had made catching it quite an adventure back then.
He walked into the alley to find the Purrloin pinned down by Helioptile, its body wrapped in flickering electricity, completely paralyzed.
"Got you now, huh? Let's see if you dare cause more trouble on the streets!" Cole said as he picked up the purple cat by the scruff of its neck.
"Meow meow meow~"
The Purrloin thrashed wildly, trying to break free, but held by that fateful scruff of its neck, all its struggles were useless.
Just then, a fireball plummeted from above, nearly striking Cole, but Helioptile intercepted it with an electric current just in time.
Looking up, he saw a masked man in bizarre clothing standing on the rooftop, with an equally flamboyant Blaziken at his side.
It could only be the same person who had been chasing the Purrloin earlier that day.
"Haha... Finally caught you, contact person!" The masked man laughed, then added with confusion, "Why is the contact person just a kid? Oh well, we'll catch you first and sort it out later!"
With that, he leaped down from the roof with a theatrical "heave-ho", his Blaziken following close behind.
Upon landing, the man and his Pokémon struck such an embarrassingly dramatic pose that Cole's toes curled in secondhand embarrassment.
"Kid, tell me quickly — where's your headquarters? How many people are in your organization? Cooperate, and you might suffer less." The masked man said, advancing toward him.
Cole: (o_O) ?!
His face was a mask of confusion — what headquarters? What organization? What was this man talking about?!
His bewildered expression only made the masked man think he was feigning ignorance, "If that's how you want to play it, I won't be polite anymore!"
As he spoke, his Blaziken darted forward, swinging a fist wreathed in flames.
Cole dodged with a tilt of his head while Helioptile dashed in front, unleashing an electric current that forced Blaziken back.
"Oh ho, impressive!" The masked man chuckled.
"Sir, you've got it all wrong — I honestly don't know anything about any headquarters or organization!" Cole protested.
"Still playing dumb? I caught you meeting with the Purrloin, and you're still pretending?" The masked man retorted, signaling Blaziken to attack.
"That's because you knocked over my newly bought juice while chasing it earlier today!" Cole shot back angrily.
The masked man's attack paused briefly, and just when Cole thought the misunderstanding might clear up, a look of revelation crossed the man's face.
"Oh~ Now I understand — you were already seeking contact earlier today, weren't you? And I didn't even notice! Just surrender quietly, kid!"
Damn it!
Cole wanted to curse — what kind of twisted logic was this?!
Seeing that Helioptile clearly couldn't match the opposing Blaziken's strength, he had no choice but to send out Brionne.
The two Pokémon flanked Blaziken, and Helioptile vanished in a flash using Quick Attack. It reappeared instantly, its body crackling with intense blue electricity as it charged.
But Blaziken proved far swifter than the gecko. With a single kick, it dispersed the electricity and sent Helioptile crashing hard into a nearby wall.
Just then, Blaziken heard a beautiful melody, and the air around it began to vibrate violently. Before it could react, the air exploded — mixed with water vapor that left the Fire-type Pokémon reeling.
"Impressive skills, worthy of being a contact person." The masked man said admiringly, "Blaziken, Fire Punch!"
Though Brionne's attack had landed, it barely fazed Blaziken. The Fire-type vanished, reappearing beside its new opponent and sending it flying with a single devastating punch.
'The power gap is too wide!' Cole thought.
This masked man's skill surpassed even Lysandre and Diantha.
"What do you want? I truly don't understand what you're asking about!" He said, his brows furrowed.
"We'll discuss that after I catch you." The masked man replied stubbornly, refusing to consider any explanation but his own.
As he and Blaziken advanced step by step, the Purrloin trembled silently in Cole's grasp.
Seizing their chance, Helioptile and Brionne launched a simultaneous attack at Blaziken — an electric current and water beam converging on their target.
But Blaziken merely extended its claws, effortlessly crushing both attacks.
At this critical moment, Daisy burst from her Poké Ball, unleashing a Dazzling Gleam that sent Blaziken flying.
She was different from the younger Pokémon — far more powerful — and with that single strike had dealt serious damage to Blaziken.
Seeing the sudden appearance of Gardevoir, the masked man's expression finally grew serious.
"So you had an ace up your sleeve! No wonder you dared to act alone!" The new Pokémon's appearance only deepened his suspicions about this strange kid.
Blaziken flipped up from the ground like a carp and, following its trainer's command, charged at Daisy with Fire Punch.
Her eyes flashed as a Reflect barrier materialized before her, forcing Blaziken back. But it persisted, hammering the barrier repeatedly. Even Reflect had its limits — under the relentless assault, it shattered with a thunderous boom.
As Blaziken's fist was about to strike Daisy, Cole desperately grabbed her arm, trying to pull her away.
The moment his palm touched her, something extraordinary happened — a buzzing filled his mind as his vision blurred, his Psychic power connecting with his mom's.
Suddenly, Daisy's body erupted in purple light. Powerful Psychic energy burst forth, forming a purple energy sphere that sent Blaziken flying in an instant.
She had just learned a new Psychic-type move — Psyshock!
Being a Fighting-type, Blaziken was weak to Psychic moves, and this attack had dealt significant damage.
Yet seeing his injured Blaziken, the masked man wasn't worried at all. Instead, he became excited, rubbing his hands together.
"Looks like I'll have to bring out my trump card!"
Hearing this, Cole felt his scalp tingle — would this ever end?
The masked man quickly retrieved a shiny spherical stone from his person. It bore a spiraling pattern in its center that gleamed with dazzling light.
This is a Key Stone!
{T/N: It allows a Pokémon to Mega Evolve in battle.}
"Blaziken, respond to my heart, release your sealed power, Mega Evolve!" the masked man shouted, raising the Key Stone high.
At his command, intense rainbow light burst from the Mega Stone, while another Mega Stone concealed in Blaziken's chest fur emitted a matching glow. The two lights intertwined with each other.
No wonder no one had spotted the Mega Stone — it had been hidden in Blaziken's thick fur all along.
In the brilliant light, Blaziken's form began to change. Its build grew more robust and athletic, flame ribbons sprouted from each wrist, and the crest on its head stood straight up — eerily similar to its trainer's mask.
The surrounding temperature rose from the Mega Evolution's power.
Now even more formidable, the Mega Evolved Blaziken leaped high into the air. One foot became wreathed in scorching flames as it kicked toward Daisy with terrifying strength.
Purple light shone from her body again as she erected another Reflect barrier, this one even stronger than before.
Bang~ Bang~ Bang~
Blaziken's rapid kicks hammered the same spot on the Reflect until the barrier finally shattered with a thunderous crash.
Though Daisy had grown stronger after merging with Cole's psychic power, the Mega Evolved Blaziken still outmatched her.
Just as its foot was about to strike his mom, Cole hugged her protectively from behind and shouted, "Wait!"
Blaziken halted its kick just in time — after all, their goal was to capture the boy, not harm him.
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