1. Ash's Story (Part 7: Kalos)

Chapter 98: Dragonmark Bloom

The morning after the Castle of Chivalry, Professor Sycamore asked us to meet him at Lumiose Station. The station was brighter than I remembered, with sunlight sliding through the tall windows and reflecting across the polished floor. After days of hidden laboratories, Elite Four chambers, and battles that felt like they carried the whole region's weight, the ordinary sound of trains and travelers almost felt strange.

Serena walked beside me with Pikachu on my shoulder, while Alice, Clemont, Bonnie, Elline, David, and Emma followed close behind. Mimi stayed near Emma's feet, and Dedenne rode in Bonnie's arms. Squishy watched from Serena's bag, quiet but calmer than he had been since Xerosic's name first returned.

Professor Sycamore stood near the orange machines by the gate, smiling as if he had planned something and was proud of not telling us too early.

"So the reason I asked you to come here is," Professor Sycamore said, "I wanted to give you passes to Kiloude City. Does that ring any bells?"

"Kiloude City," Clemont said, adjusting his glasses. "That is in the southern part of Kalos."

Sycamore pointed at him with a pleased smile. "Exactly. It is the perfect place for Trainers looking to sharpen their skills. So here are your passes for the TMV super high-speed rail to Kiloude City."

He handed each of us a TMV Pass. The card felt smooth and light, but the promise behind it was heavy. One Elite Four battle remained before Diantha, and I could not afford to walk into Drasna's Dragonmark Chamber without preparing.

"Use it to ride the TMV," Sycamore continued. "Take your pass to that orange scanner over there, have the machine scan it, and board the train. Have a fantastic time."

"Thank you, Professor," Serena said.

Sycamore looked at me more seriously. "Ash, you have already done a great deal for Kalos, but the last steps of a journey can be the easiest to underestimate. Train well, enjoy Kiloude, and face Drasna with your heart clear."

I held the pass tighter. "I will train seriously before the next battle."

Pikachu's steady look reached me clearly. "We keep getting stronger."

We scanned the passes at the orange machine, walked through the gate, and boarded the TMV. The train moved so smoothly that Lumiose disappeared behind us almost before I realized we had left.

Kiloude City felt different from Lumiose the moment we arrived. It was smaller, quieter, and built around Trainers who had come to test themselves. The Friend Safari was nearby, and a few people talked about it as Kalos's Safari Zone-like area, but we did not go there to catch Pokémon. This trip was for training, not expanding the team.

The Battle Maison stood like the true heart of the city. I remembered hearing about the Battle Maison during our Hoenn travels, and seeing Kalos's version made those memories return. Different region, different faces, same feeling. Trainers came here to test consistency, not only one dramatic victory.

Clemont studied the building. "If you must face Drasna, a facility with different battle formats is ideal preparation."

Alice crossed her arms. "Especially after the Elite Four kept changing the rules on you."

Emma looked up at the sign. "So people come here because they choose hard battles?"

"That is right," I said. "It helps Trainers learn what they are missing."

Emma hugged Mimi gently. "Then I want to watch. I want to understand choosing a battle better."

We entered the Battle Maison and began with Single Battles. Nineteen battles sounded simple when spoken aloud, but the streak tested patience more than power. Opponents changed styles quickly. Some relied on speed, others on endurance, and some used strange tricks that punished careless habits. By the time the nineteenth battle ended, even Pikachu looked ready for the boss.