Sycamore's Suspicion

Hey there! Thanks for showing up!

The reason why I called you here is because I need your help searching for something!

Take a look at this strange specimen that was delivered to the Pokémon Center.

Doesn't it look a bit like a cell? I'm thinking it might be part of a Pokémon.

Oh, it's green and sparkly. And also a bit squishy!

Fascinating, right? I think we should do more investigating to figure out what it is!

This may have something to do with the rumor that Hoopa has brought Pokémon to Pasio.

We're on it! Let's split up and look for more of them!

Let's have a look around the area!

I found a green, sparkly thing on the ground a moment ago... It looked like the sort of thing that would make my Altaria even more gorgeous.

But I guess I'll never know, a Growlithe ran past me and carried it off!

A Growlithe? I think I did hear some growling noises nearby...

Hey! Is there a Growlithe hiding over there?

Oh, are you looking for Growlithe, too?

N-no! Hoping I don't run into it, actually...

Hey! You haven't seen a Growlithe around here, have you?

I can't find him anywhere! If you see him, let me know, OK?

Sure! We can keep an eye out for you. I'll let you know if we find him!

Come on, let's help search for Growlithe!

Certainly! We can look for the lost Pokémon while we search for the sparkly green things.

Where'd my Growlithe run off to?

Hey! Is there a Growlithe hiding over there?

Nope, doesn't look like it.

Phew... That's good. This crazy Growlithe's been chasing me all over the place!

Oh! You're part of Team Break? Maybe he was chasing you because of your mask.

If you're smart, you'll learn from this lesson and leave Team Break for good.

Sh-shut up!

Like I'd actually leave Team Break just because one little Growlithe scared me...

Eeeeek! It saw me! You said it wasn't here, you big liaaaars!

Look! My Growlithe came back!

Glad you found each other again!

Me too! He was carrying this in his mouth... Do any of you know what it is?

*gasp* Look, Professor!

It seems Growlithe found what we've been searching for.

Yeah!

It's got some drool on it now, but that's OK!

We found another one of these sparkly green things...

No doubt about it. This must be...

Whoa... Is that what I think it is?

Zygarde?!

Doesn't look like it wants to attack us.

What should we do, Professor?

It's not aggressive... And the fact that it's not leaving your side must mean it wants to follow you.

Why don't we head back into town for now?

Zygarde...

First, Xerneas and Yveltal showed up on Pasio, and now Zygarde's here.

That makes the third Legendary Pokémon from Kalos...

A few days later, Professor Sycamore called Serena, Calem, and Scottie together to meet up with him again.

Did I keep you two waiting?

Sorry I'm late. I was walking here with Zygarde, but it kept getting distracted.

I don't think I've seen you wear that outfit before, Serena. Is it new?

Yeah! I thought I'd change things up since I'm hanging out with Zygarde!

I even did my hair a little different, to look more grown-up!

It looks really cool on you. And I think it all comes together really well!

*chuckle* Thanks!

All right! Shall we go meet up with the professor?

Hi! Thanks for coming.

There are a few new things I've learned about Zygarde that I'd like to share with you.

Those sparkly green things we were looking for are actually cells. They come together to form Zygarde's body.

Really?!

Depending on the number of cells it has collected within its body, it can transform into different forms.

So if we're able to collect more of its cells than it has now, that should theoretically give Zygarde an immense amount of power!

I'm talking even more power than Xerneas and Yveltal!

Seriously? Even more power than those two?

According to legend, Zygarde monitors the ecosystem, neutralizing those who harm it.

I suspect that's why it needs so much power, so it can ward off those threats.

Oh. But if its cells are scattered right now, that means its power is incomplete, right?

Not exactly. In a pinch, it's able to gather its cells together if it needs to.

There must be a reason why it scattered its cells all over Pasio, then.

If that's the case, I can help find all of Zygarde's cells, Professor!

Maybe it's sick and can't call its cells together or something...

If that's why Zygarde's sticking with me, then I can't just ignore it!

Hm... Like I said earlier, Zygarde is a Pokémon that has great power hidden within itself.

I'm not sure what would happen if it did collect all of its cells together in one place...

Please, Professor? If anything happens, I promise I'll calm it down!

We'll help her out, too, Professor. It'll be safer with three of us around, right?

Thanks, Calem! Scottie!

All right. I can see how determined you are.

I'll leave figuring out what Zygarde wants to do to you three.

As for me, I'll stay here and try to find as much info as I can!

Thanks, Professor!

I'll ask some Champion-class Trainers for their help, too, just in case something does happen.

But I believe in you three! Just be sure to stay safe, all right?

Yes, sir!

OK! Let's head out and find the rest of Zygarde's cells!

Sparkly and green? Yeah, I saw something like that over there.

Really? Thanks!

There's a surprisingly large number of people saying they've seen those cells!

If we keep this up, we'll have this wrapped up in no time!

We didn't find a single one!

This might be harder than we originally thought...

Yo! What're you lot up to?

We're looking for something. Y'see, there's these things all over Pasio that...

Wait! What's that you're holding?

Oh, this? I picked it up over there.

Don't see something like this every day, right? I was gonna take it home and research it!

That's actually part of a Pokémon called Zygarde.

Zygarde? Oh! You mean that one right there?

Yup! Professor Sycamore asked us to help him conduct some research on it.

Zygarde's a Pokémon that's made up of a bunch of cells, right?

I'd heard rumors that it's been spotted in the Crown Tundra before, but this the first time I've actually seen one of its cells in person!

Oh, so you already knew all about it! No wonder you're Professor Sonia's assistant!

Do you happen to know anything else?

Well...not really.

But if Zygarde is a Legendary Pokémon that's shown up in Kalos, Alola, and even Galar...

maybe a Pokémon Professor from Galar or Alola would know something about it!

Er...Sonia's busy doing talks and presentations on her research, though.

Why don't we find a professor from Alola and ask them about it?

Yeah! Let me come with you!

I'm happy to help Professor Sycamore with his investigation!

Zygarde, huh?

Sorry! I'd love to help you out, but I don't know much more than you do.

Aw, really?

Do you know anyone else who might know more about Zygarde?

Oh! Now that you mention it, I do!

Hm...but I dunno about that guy...

So you do know someone?

Well, just a rumor. I hear there's a guy who's researching Zygarde on Pasio.

But...

I also heard he's a bit overzealous with his research methods.

I'm not sure if I wanna introduce you to him.

Could you do it anyway? Please?

Please introduce us, Professor!

Well...OK. I'll get in contact and let him know you're researching Zygarde.

Yay! Thank you!

... ... ...

Ah, hello there. I heard about you from Professor Kukui.

I hear you've been struggling with something related to Zygarde?

It's a Pokémon chock-full of mysteries to solve, after all. That's what makes it such an interesting specimen!

If you're struggling to collect the cells, I can teach you a shortcut.

Follow me.

Thank you!

Look at all the cells around here!

Let's gather them up, everyone!

Let's collect Zygarde's cells!

Ready to finish up here? Did we find enough Zygarde cells?

OK! Let's go search for some more!

OK! Let's catch up with the rest of the group.

Hehe! Look what I found!

My search has been going pretty well!

Hm? You're looking for something? I haven't seen anything around here.

Hm? You're looking for something? I haven't seen anything around here.

... ... ...

... ... ...

... ... ...

Huh? You think there's something behind me?

You just don't give up, do you...

Could you leave me alone? Do your searching somewhere else!

Ugh! Fine! I'll move out of your way, all right?!

All I wanted to do was take a cute selfie with this sparkly stuff in the background! Jeez...

Umm, are you looking for something? Is it green and, um, sparkly?

I found it! Do you want it? Um, I can give it to you.

I'm so thirsty. Do you have any drinks?

Oooh! I love sweet drinks! I can drink them now because I'm four!

Water? I guess that's OK... You don't have anything else?

If only you had Soda Pop... I need some sugar in my life.

Look, I got some!

We just gathered them up like usual, though... What was that shortcut you were talking about?

Oh, of course. I can show you a much faster way to find these cells than going around collecting them...

Watch and learn!

What?

What do you think you're doing?!

Hehehe! When Zygarde's strength is compromised, it has the ability to call its cells to come together!

So there's really no reason for you to waste time walking around searching for them!

Hehehehe!

Why are you disrupting my research?!

If Zygarde feels that its life is in danger...

it might just bring all of its cells together in one place on its own!

That doesn't make it OK! Hurting Pokémon is wrong!

Wrong? Preposterous! If the ends justify the means, then nothing is off the table.

Now I get what Professor Kukui meant by overzealous...

We can't let him get away with this!

I'm sorry, Zygarde...

We never should've rushed the investigation... We should have stuck by you, step by step.

Can you forgive us? And maybe give us another chance?

I assure you, there won't be another chance!

Ack! Wh-what's that light?!

Zygarde! You'll lend us your power?

I won't let you have Zygarde! It's MY research subject! I've claimed it!

Pokémon aren't tools or research subjects to be claimed! They're our precious partners!

The way you view Pokémon is just wrong! It's absolutely unacceptable!

Drat! I was so close!

Hey! You all OK over there?

I got worried, so I came to check on how things were going.

Professor!

I saw that scientist running away.

I never realized he was part of Team Break...

I'm sorry for putting you through that, kids.

No, Professor! It wasn't your fault!

Yeah! We're the ones who pushed you to introduce us to him, even though you didn't want to.

Well, I'm glad you're all OK.

That said, now we're back to square one.

It's OK!

We'll collect all of the cells ourselves, one by one!

And we'll do it together with Zygarde!

Well, that's quite the endeavor. But I'm sure you can do it!

I'm rooting for you!

Is that...Hoopa?

What's it doing with that ring? Whoa!

I think it warped space to create a path that connects to somewhere else!

What do you think Hoopa is trying to do?

I wonder if it's trying to help Zygarde get back home.

Zygarde...

Huh?! Hoopa's gone now!

Are you sure about this, Zygarde?

Zygarde decided to stay on Pasio, then! Guess we should respect that, yeah?

It could be that Zygarde has some unfinished business on Pasio.

For example...maybe it wants to do even more exploring with you!

Maybe!

I'm not sure what you wanna do here, Zygarde...

But I'll stay with you till you finish it!

Here you go, Zygarde! These are all the cells I've found!

Whoa. That was bright! What just happened?

Looks like you were able to collect quite a number of cells!

We never did figure out why you're here, Zygarde. But it seems like this is the last...

Oh my. It went and scattered its cells again.

What in the world?!

What are you doing? We worked so hard to collect those for you, you know.

Whoa, what now?

You want us to go with you somewhere?

I'm not entirely sure, but why don't we follow it?

*sob* It hurts...

Oh no! Man down!

Let's take him to the Pokémon Center!

Wait, you want to go somewhere else now?

You can go with Zygarde. I'll take care of things here.

OK! Thank you, Professor!

Wh-who are you?!

How did you even find us?!

Team Break? Oh, and look over there!

That Pokémon looks hurt!

Gah! Well, if our cover's busted, we've got no choice!

What're those green sparkly things?! They're all going to that Pokémon...

Oh, I get it! Count me in, Zygarde! I'm ready!

Drat!

C'mon! We have to get this Pokémon to the Pokémon Center!

Both the Pokémon and its Trainer are in good hands now.

I'm so glad to hear that!

Oh! Were you the ones who helped him, Professor?

Looker!

I've been searching for a Trainer reported as missing for a while now. I'm glad you found him!

From what I hear, he did everything he could to protect his Pokémon from Team Break...

But he got injured and couldn't walk!

Oh! So that means...

Yeah. That Pokémon you saved from Team Break was his partner.

Thanks, Zygarde. You're the one that found them, aren't you.

Huh. That must be why Zygarde sent its cells all over Pasio again! It was looking for that Trainer and his Pokémon!

A human tried to protect his partner Pokémon, and a Pokémon worried more about its partner than its own well-being...

As the guardian of the ecosystem, Zygarde must have realized how much they cared for each other.

I feel like I've learned yet another new thing about Zygarde!

True. You've learned from Zygarde what it means to be strong enough to protect others...

And I'm sure Zygarde learned from your compassion and willingness to help others, Serena!

In collecting all of Zygarde's cells, you earned more than just a glimpse at its complete form...

It brought your hearts together.

It really did!

Zygarde, I hope you'll continue to lend me your power!

Together, we can protect everyone around us!