Good or Evil Bonds

Argh...

It's my win.

Who's the weakling now?

Hmph! Don't get full of yourself!

You're just relying on other people's Pokémon, too!

Yeah... I know that.

(But building deeper bonds with your Pokémon doesn't always mean you'll get the strength you need.)

(How am I supposed to know what's right, anyway?)

Paulo!

Oh...Tina.

I haven't seen you use those Pokémon before. Are they new friends of yours?

They're from Lear. He started loaning out Pokémon recently.

He says it's an experiment he's doing to explore the potential of sync pairs, but the Pokémon he's loaning out are actually pretty strong.

Oh... So where's Rockruff?

I won't be battling with Rockruff anymore.

He can't win.

Wait...seriously?

You heard me.

Paulo, are you still hung up on what happened? That was ages ago!

I thought Rockruff was important to you! He's your partner!

Don't tell me you're starting to think like all those bad guys!

I can't protect anything if we keep losing! I have to get stronger!

You know what happened last time! I don't have the luxury to care about how I do it!

Of course I want to battle with Rockruff... But I can't!

Also, it's not like I'm the first one to make a new sync pair by teaming up with stronger Pokémon.

Precisely! We must make Pokémon stronger, no matter what it takes.

Um... Who are you?

Oh, excuse me!

My name is Colress, and I am a scientist. The theme of my research is, "Bringing out the potential of Pokémon."

If there is a plateau that interacting with Pokémon cannot reach...

then that ability must be brought out with only a scientific approach, even one without a conscience.

Uh... OK...

There you are, Colress!

I asked you so many times not to stray too far!

Looker!

Um... Do you know this person?

Sure do! This is Colress.

He's a former Team Plasma scientist.

Team Plasma?!

Wait! He's not an enemy!

He's helping us research sync stones here on Pasio.

I am fascinated by this mysterious power that relies on the strength of a connection between hearts.

Er... Mr. Colress, could you maybe explain what you meant just now?

Why, certainly!

You said "even one without a conscience."

Why are bad people also able to use sync stones?

I believe there is no distinction between good and evil when dealing with connections of the heart.

What do you mean, no distinction?

Pokémon thoughts don't have the same complexity as human thoughts.

However, Pokémon will trust their Trainers and do their very best for them.

Thus, if a Pokémon obeys the orders of a Trainer who has evil ambitions, that Pokémon will commit evil deeds!

Even if that Pokémon is being used as a tool, its power can still be drawn out!

That's what I mean when I say there's no distinction between good and evil when it comes to connections of the heart.

Furthermore! Humans, just like Pokémon, also have many different types of connections with each other!

Friends...rivals...mentors...students...

A boss and their subordinates... Even family.

Some of those relationships can become twisted.

Those whom we call "evil" have connections of their own, fueled by purpose and their own brand of justice.

So there's no such thing as good or evil when it comes to strength.

How could you say that?!

Both of your perspectives are valid!

There are far more questions in this world that don't have any answers!

... ... ...

I battled a certain Trainer...

And when I did, they showed me the splendid power that can be brought out by humans and Pokémon understanding each other!

However, that doesn't mean any of the questions from my research have been answered.

For in order to understand the good and evil of bonds and to further deepen my understanding of sync stones...

I require aid! Please consider lending me a hand.

How about it? Would you be willing to help Colress with his research while also acting as his bodyguard?

His bodyguard?

Yup. Team Rocket has been targeting folks like Pokémon Professors who have specialized knowledge in certain fields.

There's only one of me, so I can't spend all my time guarding just one person!

I guess I could help with that.

Thank you!

No time to waste. Show me your Pokémon in battle!

Wha, ?! O-OK, let's go over there, where there's more space...

Hey, Paulo.

I may not understand complicated stuff like Colress, but hear me out on this one thing.

Be sure to treasure your friends...including your Pokémon.