A Worthy Rival

Bwahaha! This is what happens when you try to stand against us!

Now! Surrender your...

Stop right there!

That's enough of you all running wild.

Heh, another chump shows up.

You'd better get ready to hand over your Pokémon!

Th-these kids are strong!

Grr... Interrupting us at the worst time!

Nice moves!

You too, Serena.

Aw, man... They bested us…

We're not strong enough to beat them...

But there's no point being sad, right?

As long as you train so you don't lose next time...

It'll all be OK!

You're not alone! You have a lot of friends here on Pasio who are by your side!

Let's all get stronger together, along with our precious partner Pokémon!

Stronger together...

Instead of fighting alone, I can get stronger by battling alongside my partner and the people around me...

Yeah! We're all in this together!

O-OK!

We can do it!

Well done!

You encouraged those heart-stricken Trainers and got them back on their feet. Color me impressed.

I'm preparing an event that's perfect for sync pairs like you two, so be prepared!

Young master, let's take these Team Break members away before they act out again.

Yes, let's.

An event that's perfect for us?

I wonder what it could be!

(Serena was the one who gave those discouraged Trainers hope...)

(She's not just strong in battle. She has that spark in her heart.)

(But what do I have?)

(Am I a Trainer worthy of being her rival?)

Do you want to beat Serena?

I feel the same.

Because to me, Serena is...

There you are, Calem!

Lear said he has something he wants to tell us!

OK, let's go together.

Let me tell you why I summoned you both here!

I would like to invite you to participate in the Neo Champion Stadium!

Neo...Champion Stadium?

Is it different from the Champion Stadium we've had up to now?

The truly mighty are not only strong, they also serve as an example for everyone else to measure up against.

To spread this idea, I'm looking for sync pairs that instill hope in others...

Thus, I'm hosting a tournament to decide who to crown the Neo Champion of Pasio!

The Champions here will give you the finer details.

Sure.

Let me start by explaining our position.

In this tournament, we, the Champions from each region, will be participating as judges, not competitors.

For each tournament, one of us will be chosen as the head judge who decides the judging criteria of that tournament.

Each tournament... That means there'll be more than one tournament to decide a champion?

Precisely.

The tournament will be held again and again with different judging criteria.

We, the judges, will discuss amongst ourselves who has met our criteria for each tournament...

and award the title Neo Champion of Pasio to those who've shown they qualify.

Just because you're good at Pokémon battling doesn't mean you'll become the champion!

You'll have to show us that your actions are befitting of the champion title by meeting the judging criteria!

Unlike the Champions of the Pokémon League or PML...

"Neo Champion" is a title for a Trainer who acts as an example of what everyone should measure up to.

Which means more than one person could qualify.

Basically, anyone has a chance to be a champion!

Now listen...

For this monumental first tournament, the head judge will be Diantha, the Champion of the Kalos region.

I wanted to see the two of you shine, so I made sure you both were invited.

So how about it? Will you take part in this tournament?

Of course I will!

Me too.

It's also a good chance to settle things with Serena...

Serena... I'm going to beat you and become the Neo Champion of Pasio.

I'll see you in the finals!

Of course! I'll be looking forward to it!

Now then...

I know I talked the talk, but with my usual training, I won't be able to beat Serena...

Hello there, young boy from Kalos.

You seem like you're very fired up.

Would you like to train with me?

Are you sure? Is it OK for a judge to help out a participant?

Oh, it's not a problem at all.

I was only there as the advisor for the current Unova Champion, Iris.

I'm slightly different from the other judges.

But why would you help me?

Why, I just saw some youngsters with fighting spirit burning in their hearts, and I got a bit fired up myself!

Looks like your partner Pokémon's up for it!

It's rare to get an opportunity like this.

Please train me!

Impressive skills.

You'll have no trouble advancing through the main tournament if you keep this up.

Thank you!

It's an honor to be trained by you, Cynthia!

The judges said that just winning battles doesn't mean you can be champion...

Knowing Diantha, I wonder if they'll be judging us on how well we can act.

Maybe. I'm not sure.

Would you like to beat Calem?

Of course!

I've battled Calem many times since we left Vaniville Town together.

I'm always pushing myself so I don't lose to Calem, who's always serious.

Calem is the best rival. He's the reason I was able to get this strong!

It's wonderful that you have a rival to compete against.

You can battle him seriously without holding back because he's strong and you respect him.

Let's move on to the next training!

Your next opponent is...

Clang!

My Steel-type Pokémon and I are here to help!

Now! Try to break through her Pokémon's defense!

Cynthia sure doesn't pull any punches...

But I have to work this hard if I want to beat Calem!

OK, let's do this, Jasmine!

Yes! Good job, Greninja!

Indeed! That's the spirit!

By the way, what is it that drives you so much?

The title of champion?

Of course I'd like to be champion...

But it's not just the title I care about.

I just...don't want to lose to Serena.

I've battled Serena so many times in Kalos, and each time, I've felt disappointed in myself.

Through battling her, I've realized that she's not just my neighbor...

I've started to see her as my true rival.

I wanted to remember my journey in Kalos with Greninja...

So I partnered up with him as a way to start a new journey.

A rival you can't lose to, huh...

Say, Calem, what do you think about the Neo Champion Stadium?

Holding the tournament again and again, changing the head judge each time...

And in each tournament, those who prove themselves worthy will get the title of Neo Champion.

What do you think is the meaning of that?

I guess it means...that it's better to have more Trainers who can be an example to others?

That's one reason. But there's more to it than that.

Once, I lost to a Trainer with true convictions...

And that Trainer clashed head-on with another Trainer with different convictions...

Then both of them became true heroes.

My convictions and their convictions...

They were all true beliefs. There's no way to say one is better than the others.

... ... ...

Seeing those convictions come together and compete with each other can give courage to those who are watching.

That's what I believe.

Those words really mean something to me.

I used to compare myself to others to see who was better...

That's all I used to care about.

But that doesn't matter to me now.

I want to face Serena with my true feelings... And I want to win!

It seems you both were lucky to meet each other.

What's the next training, Alder?

I've got it!

I've asked someone special to come here to battle you.

Hiya! Your big sister Acerola is here!

You're doing some serious training! I can help you out with that!

Acerola...

I might take you up on that offer, Big Sis!

I've become stronger by meeting all sorts of people and Pokémon throughout my journey.

I'm gonna hit Serena with all I've got!

A few days later...

We will now hold the tournament to decide the Neo Champion of Pasio...

The Neo Champion Stadium!

I, Diantha, Champion of the Kalos region, will be the head judge for this tournament!

Everyone should know that this tournament's purpose isn't just to decide the strongest sync pair.

There's something I care about more than wins or losses.

What I want to see is how you shine as a sync pair!

I will bestow the title of Neo Champion upon the sync pairs who show me they shine brilliantly!

Every participant should battle in a way that leaves no regrets at the end.

And now...let the Neo Champion Stadium begin!

Now, it's time for the Neo Champion Stadium finals!

The battle of the century, between Serena and Calem, is about to begin!

In order to win this tournament, I can't lose here.

But more importantly...I don't want to lose to you.

I can't lose either.

You're my friend, my comrade, my neighbor...

And my best rival.

Ready for this?

En garde!

Let's win, Greninja!

No, we're gonna win!

Greninja...

Did we win?

I beat...Serena?

You're definitely my best rival.

Congratulations, Calem.

That was a truly excellent battle, you two.

Each sync pair showed me a brilliant shine!

As I mentioned at the start, my focus for this tournament was how brightly you shine.

And more than one sync pair showed me a shining bond!

Sync pairs who share that light and compete with each other create an infinite shine.

This time, two Trainers who displayed this wonderful shine...

will be receiving the title of Neo Champion!

What?!

But Calem won the battle...

Serena... I'd like you to receive the title of Neo Champion as well.

Without you, I wouldn't have gotten as strong as I am now.

That's why I'd like to share this pleasure with you.

In fact, I think it's the right thing to do.

OK, understood.

The Trainers who have won the honor to be crowned Neo Champion of this tournament are... these two!

Congratulations, Serena, Calem.

I'll continue to count on you, neighbor.

Right back at you!