A Story from Not Long Ago

This is a story about Carmine and Kieran's early days on Pasio...

Hi, Scottie! Hey, everyone!

Let me introduce you to my friends Carmine and Kieran!

They're students from Blueberry Academy... and they're siblings, too! We became friends on a school trip.

I'm Kieran. Nice to meet you.

They just got to Pasio, so I was just showing them around!

If you two were already here, why didn't you come see me sooner?

When I heard you'd arrived, I looked all over for you!

Anyway...

This is Pasio Academy? It's nothing special compared to Blueberry Academy.

Huh?

Sorry my sis is so rude... She doesn't mean to offend anyone...

Stop that nonsense, Kiki! They won't take you seriously with that attitude!

You're the ex-Champion of the League Club, so have some pride, will you?

Ex-Champion?

Oh, uh... It's no big deal...

I'm nothing compared to Juliana...

You might have already heard from Lacey, but...

Blueberry Academy's League Club has the BB League, a system that ranks you by how strong you are!

They even have an Elite Four and a Champion!

As a matter of fact, Lacey is one of the BB League Elite Four!

Wow!

If Lacey's in the Elite Four, she must be really strong.

And the person at the BB League's top must have been...

That's right, Kieran! Cool, right?

But Juliana's the BB League Champion now.

When she was an exchange student at Blueberry Academy, I totally lost to her.

How about you, Carmine? Do you have any titles of your own?

No way.

I was too busy with extracurricular stuff! Didn't have time for League matches.

But if we're talking actual skill, I'm WAY above any of the Elite Four!

Really?

What's with that look?! You think I'm lying?

Well, since we're all here, why don't we have a three-on-three team battle?

A friendly match between schools, huh?

Yeah! I'm game, too!

Yeah, I'm sure we'll work together in the future anyway.

After all, Pokémon battles are a shortcut to becoming friends!

Heh... Friends, huh...

You wanna battle us on your home turf? OK, bring it on!

I'll show you how strong I am, and teach you a lesson!

...Fine, I guess you pass. Barely.

I would've crushed you if I could Terastallize on this island, too.

Well, that's a possibility!

You might be able to Terastallize here!

Professor Bellis! Lear!

You all know how we can Mega Evolve and Dynamax with the power of sync stones?

Well in the same way, you now might be able to Terastallize, too!

But you can only Terastallize under special circumstances!

Bingo!

You might be able to Terastallize if you use sync stones' energy instead.

Normally, you'd need special energy and an item called a Tera Orb.

So I borrowed a Tera Orb from a Trainer from Paldea to research how it would react with sync stones!

I heard you were researching this, but I didn't know you'd already put it to use!

In that case, why didn't you tell me sooner?!

Wowzers! The technology on Pasio is so cool!

On Pasio, the Terastal phenomenon is called "Sync Terastallization"!

Theoretically, we should be able to use it already.

Sheesh! Then I should've used it during our battle just now!

Hah! Go ahead and try, then!

Don't have to tell me twice!

Huh? It's not reacting at all!

You're right. Even if we do what we normally would, it's no use.

Do we have to use a different technique than the one we use with Tera Orbs?

Precisely! We still haven't heard of anyone who's successfully Sync Terastallized.

Which is why we're here in search of Pasio Academy students who can help!

In that case, I'll be the pioneer of Sync Terastallizing!

I won't let Juliana, Kiki, or anyone on Pasio surpass me!

Now that that's decided, the only thing left for me to do is just go for it! Time to storm Pasio Academy!

She's really competitive...

Oh, Sis...

It seems Carmine hasn't changed at all.

Well, if she can take the initiative and spread the word about Sync Terastallizing, that'd be perfect!

The rest of you better work hard to keep up!

Hmm, in that case...

I guess I'll run after Sis for now...

Right!

Hmm, did they not come this way?

I guess we lost everyone... This school's so big...

Yo!

Oh! Hey, Blue!

What's up, Paulo? Lookin' for something?

Huh? Who's this? Haven't seen him around.

U-um... H-hello...

This is Kieran. He came here from Blueberry Academy, and...

...So now we're here, looking for his sister who ran off.

S-sorry my sis has caused so much trouble...

Hahaha! That sister of yours sure seems feisty!

Terastallizing, huh...

If I remember correctly, that makes a Pokémon crystallize and change type, right?

If I could master that, Pokémon battles would be so much more interesting!

I wanna do it too, but the technique is a little different from what I'm used to with regular Terastallizing...

You said you only just got to Pasio, right, Kieran?

Which probably means you're still not used to using sync stones.

Yeah, I think you're right...

Then I might be able to help you with them.

Hop! Wally! Show 'em what you got!

Gallade! Mega Evolve!

Cinderace! Dynamax!

Whoa!

That's amazing! This is my first time seeing either of those phenomena!

The way to bring out sync stones' full strength...

is to have a strong bond with Pokémon! And for the Trainer to have a strong will!

A strong will?

Yep! For example...

that feeling of wanting to beat your rival... and not wanting to lose!

A rival, huh...

What about Juliana? Isn't she your rival?

Well... She's my friend, but...

She's way too strong, so I don't think she'd want someone like me as her rival...

... ... ...

Besides, Nemona's already her rival.

I gotta be as strong as Nemona if I wanna be Juliana's rival...

Whoa there. Why so meek?

Huh?

Who cares what others think?

If you've got a strong desire to beat someone and never want to lose to them, then that's your rival!

Even if you've never beaten them!

Really? Even if it's someone you look up to?

My rival is also a Trainer I look up to.

But if you can't help but worry...

why don't you just ask Juliana to be your rival?

Yeah! Besides, competing doesn't always have to be about strength in battle!

For example, there's also Pokémon knowledge...

and how well you can hype up the crowd in stadium battles and contests!

If there's anything you're better at than your rival, then you have every reason to be confident!

Something I'm better at than Juliana...

You could make it your goal to Sync Terastallize before Juliana. How about that?

And once you gain more confidence, you might feel OK calling her your rival, right?

Yeah...

Not everything should be about winning.

It's probably good to have a rival, someone you can compete against and grow stronger with.

Thanks, everyone. I...

I'm gonna be Juliana's rival! I got this!

Awesome! Then let's start training so you can Sync Terastallize!

Oh! There you are!

Huh? Did you follow me here?

Hah. Then it's too little, too late!

I can Sync Terastallize now!

What?! Really?

I kind of just figured it out while battling her!

The moment her Pokémon started to sparkle, I felt a difference in their attacks! So intriguing!

I'm SUCH a genius!

I can't believe you were able to Sync Terastallize for the first time against a Hoenn Elite Four member!

I guess you truly are amazing, Carmine! I kinda respect you now!

Hah! I like your honesty. Go on, respect me even more!

Uh-huh, got it.

Sorry. My friend is calling me. I need to go.

Huh? But no one else is here...

What? Can you see ghosts or something?

Hmm. Yeah, I guess so?

Haha! You're pretty interesting!

Well, see you!

OK. I should go show Juliana and Kiki what I just did right away.

I'm sure everyone will be super surprised!

What's wrong?

Um...

Earlier you said Pokémon battles are a shortcut to making friends, right?

Hm? Yeah, I did.

If you're willing to be friends with Kiki...

could you look after him awhile?

Sure, but...why?

I'm only gonna tell you 'cause you seem like a genuine person, but...

there was a time Kiki caused a lot of trouble 'cause he got so carried away trying to win.

So if he ever seems stressed about something, could you lend him an ear?

Oh, is that it? Of course I will!

Besides, Scottie, Paulo, and everyone else on Pasio are here for him, too!

OK. That's a relief.

I'm surprised you truly care about your brother!

Huh?! What do you mean?

Hmm... Something about this feels so familiar.

Oh, I know. You sort of remind me of my friend who's kind of an idiot!

Wha, ?! What are you trying to say, huh?

Heheh! How's that?

Now it's my turn.

Whoaaa! Amazing, you two!

My! What talent!

Well done, both of you!

Bummer. I couldn't grasp the technique after all.

Heh... I don't think I've ever seen Juliana make that face.

Hah! I like that look, keep being disappointed!

...OK!

U-um... Hey, Juliana...

Hm?

If you'd like, could you maybe be...my rival?

Your rival? After all this time?

That reminds me, you asked me something similar before, didn't you?

Could we start over from zero and be friends again?

I've always considered you my rival, not just my friend!

Wowzers... Really?

I never knew!

Hey! Could you teach me more about Sync Terastallizing?

Uh-huh! Of course!

This favor's gonna cost you!