Lysandre Labs
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Does Lysandre die at the end of Pokémon X&Y?
Such is a question I have been asked in the past, and a question I often see people wrestle with. Back in 2022, having just finished translating Lysandre's French lines into English, I decided to track down what I consider proof that he survives the event of the games. This page serves to archive it once and for all.
After you've beaten the Elite Four, your rival asks you for a battle when you meet up with them in Kiloude City. They then gift you the Absolite as reward for defeating them.
As they do so, depending on whether you're playing as Calem or Serena, they will give you a different line pertaining to Lysandre.
If you're playing as Serena, Calem will say:
After everything we said to Lysandre, it just wouldn't be right if I didn't share one with you.
Ça prouvera à M. Lysandre qu'il avait tort d'être pessimiste.
こういうときは わけないと
フラダリさんに 悪いからさ
If you're playing as Calem, Serena will say:
Maybe it will help show Lysandre there's something to be hopeful for.
J'espère que cela rendra la foi à M. Lysandre.
だからアナタとわけあって……
フラダリさんの悲しみを溶かすの
Interestingly, while Calem's English line appears to be a somewhat straightforward translation of the Japanese line, Serena's follows the spirit but not the phrasing. In Japanese, she specifically mentions wanting to "melt (or thaw) away" Lysandre's "sorrow".
While Calem's English and Japanese lines are arguably ambiguous, his French line, alongside with Serena's lines, seem to imply that Lysandre is alive, and at the very least in a state where he could be shown that the world can still be better. In my opinion, this is at least credible evidence that Lysandre is supposed to have survived the events of the games, perhaps in an attempt to soften the blow of what could be interpreted as him attempting to kill himself on-screen, although this is only speculation. These lines are present regardless of which version of the game you're playing, so his fate is unrelated to the legendary pokémon whose powers he's decided to make use of.
Additionally, one might be inclined to interpret the total lack of surprise of the main Kalosian cast in Pokémon Masters upon Lysandre's reappearance as proof that he was always meant to be alive in the end. The canonicity of spin-off games such as Pokémon Masters is dubious at best, however, so this can only be considered circumstantial evidence.