>>33058931Yajima wanted Ash to have a strong bond with Greninja that would show through battle, but it didn't have a Mega Evolution, so he and Masuda got together and made Ash-Greninja and the Battle Bond/Bond Phenomenon.
Charizard WAS supposed to come back for XY originally, but they decided against it because they felt it would take attention away from the Kalos mons.
Dumb reason, I know.
Also, pic related was from the final clash of a giant Water Shuriken vs Blast Burn.
