Pride of the Myth Seekers

As news spread of a grand tournament featuring sync stones ultimate...

Pasio buzzed with excitement, fueled greatly by the prospect of meeting the deified Pokémon.

Some Trainers were genuinely looking forward to the tournament, while others had reservations...

... ... ...

(Everyone else has gotten stronger since coming to Pasio...)

(Dawn, Lucas...even Cyrus...)

(I can't stay like this...)

You seem quite uneasy.

Oh, you...

You're Volo, right? Can I help you?

That's an impressive Garchomp.

Yet it seems you have been unable to unleash her full potential...

It was my understanding that Champions were supposed to be very skilled, but perhaps that assumption was wrong.

Well, that's rather blunt of you.

Have I wronged you somehow?

No, nothing like that.

I only mean to express my support. You see, I want the Pokémon wielders of this land to become stronger.

My aim is for as many individuals as possible to use the sync stones ultimate.

And in so doing, they can be deemed worthy by a deity.

I'm sure you would also like to meet Arceus, no?

...Who are you, really?

Researching Arceus is no small feat...

Like you, I have an interest in Pokémon mythology.

But more importantly...

As you are now, you and your Pokémon will be unable to draw a sync stone ultimate's true power.

And your reasoning for that is?

You lack desperation.

In this place, Pokémon battles are treated as friendly competition.

You could never hope to win against people and Pokémon who have battled through harsh environments with their lives at stake.

As a Pokémon wielder, I give my own Pokémon orders so that we can survive.

Pokémon honed through life-or-death situations can better serve as swords and shields for people!

You can only truly say you have a bond with your Pokémon when you have reached that level.

You make it sound like you view your Pokémon as tools.

Do you actually think Arceus will choose you, when you treat your Pokémon so coldly?

Heh.

Would you care to try me?

Let's determine whose way of forming a bond is better, then, shall we?

It's OK, Lucario. Rest up a bit.

All right, then. I accept your challenge.

The way you forge bonds with your Pokémon is wrong, and I'll prove it to you!

Well then...

Let's have a quick battle!

(What's this style of battling?!)

(I've never seen anything like it before!)

(This isn't good!)

Let's call it a day.

I may have the chance to battle against you at the tournament.

It wouldn't be very wise to show all my cards now, would it?

True. And I understand much better now...

You're more than just talk, and I'm still not skilled enough.

However...

I'll never agree with you that there's something wrong with the bonds between me and my Pokémon.

That's fine.

You still have my unwavering support.

(Champion Cynthia...)

(Surprisingly, she adapted quickly to my tactics and responded with countermeasures of her own.)

She battles alongside her Pokémon...

I know, Garchomp. It's frustrating, isn't it?

We'll beat him next time!