Lumiose City

Welcome to Lumiose, Caldar. I’ve been expecting you. I am Professor Sycamore.

- Hello.

It was quite the experience meeting your mentor, Professor Oak. I’ve only seen pictures of him in decades old pokémon journals and he doesn’t seem to have aged a day! haha

Yeah, about that…

Oh! I almost forgot why I asked you here. Someone left you a gift. They didn’t leave a name and they kept saying something about a green fairy? But they did say you’d probably know who the sender is once you open it.

- Oh?

Sycamore hands me a small box, inside is a familiar looking pokéball with a small leaf motif just above the button. I press the button.

What the-?

- By Arceus!

Le gasp! Such a rare specimen!

Bulba!

Max?!

- But Max… in Kanto… Koga’s koffing…

Bulba saur?

I notice a string around it’s neck with an oddly coloured stone attached. I get an odd feeling just by looking at it but the bulbasaur seems to like it.

- Welcome to the team, Max Jr.!

Max Jr. ♂ Lv. 10

That stone… how interesting. It’s like an evolution stone only it’s pattern and colouration are more… specific. I’d hold on to that stone if I were you. I have a hunch it’ll come in handy.

- I think I agree…

Well, anyway. Sorry to keep you. Why not see the sights before moving on. Though it would seem some of the city is closed off because of the power shortage right now. I can only hope the gym leader fixes it soon!

I decide to have a look around, there seems to be quite a few cafés around but they don’t really interest me. Though I do catch a glimpse of my reflection in some shop windows and decide to get a haircut, not finding any barbers nearby I settled for a salon near some video studio.

It feels like a weight had been lifted after getting my hair cut, it was getting too long. I’m not sure about the style but I’m assured it’s the current trend for guys my age.

Having a little extra money around I decide some restaurant dining would make a nice change. It would seem the waiters were more interested in battling though and I kept getting elemental monkeys thrown at me between courses.

Route 5

I get bored of waiting around and decide to go ahead alone. A trainer outside the gate seems to be practising with her two lucario. One of them suddenly stops and gazes over to me, it looks like it recognises me.

Oh, hi there Cal- er I mean hello, trainer. It seems my Lucario has taken an interest in you, you must have a good aura or something.

Or something…

I’m Korinna, the Shalour City gym leader.

- I’m Caldar.

Nice to meet you, Caldar! I see you’re gathering gym badges so I’ll definitely see you again in the future. See you!

Korinna rolls off on her skates and the two lucario follow, one of them turns to glance at me again before continuing onwards.

A bit further ahead I find Trevor and Tierno waiting for me.

Oh, Caldar! I thought you were on a shopping spree with the other girls!

- Hey!

Haha!

Did you at least find any interesting pokémon on the way?

- Oh, give me a sec.

I step into a nearby patch of grass to find a pancham. Pokéball go!

Pancham: It’s some sort of kung fu panda?

- Welcome to the bench, Lautrec!

Lautrec ♂ Lv. 10

Hey, those panchams have some pretty nifty moves!

The three of us decide to continue onwards and let the girls catch up with us in the next town. Along the way I battled enough people for half the team to evolve!

Gwyn ♂ Lv. 16

Max Jr. ♂ Lv. 16

Solaire ♂ Lv. 17

Camphrier Town

After a visit to the pokémon center Trevor and Tierno decide to have a look around town. Looking at the map I see a route nearby that doesn’t seem to go anywhere.

Route 6

I take a little detour for some training and find another opportunity to recruit. An espurr, pokéball go!

Espurr: What’s it staring at?

- Welcome to the bench, Beatrice!

Beatrice ♀ Lv. 12

At the end of the route I find a grand manor named Parfum Palace, guarded by a not so nice man who charges extortionate amounts for entrance. Not wanting to part with most of my money I head back.

Route 7

Aw! We’re not going anywhere with this sleeping snorlax in the way!

- Hm…

A stream is in front of us and a bridge leads to the other side. Unfortunately a snorlax has made the bridge it’s bed and this time I don’t have a radio to tune into a dubstep station.

Didn’t that man at the Shabboneau Castle have a Poké Flute?

C’mon let’s go!

- But-

Serena and Shauna rush off back towards town. I look again at the bridge and decide to climb along the edge, the water doesn’t look too deep and the bridge isn’t very high so if I fall the worst that can happen is I get wet. I grab on the rails and shuffle my feet between the spacers. It doesn’t take long for me to reach the other side.

I take another opportunity to recruit. A spritzee, pokéball go!

Spritzee: It’s a puffy bird that likes to waft pleasant smells?

- Welcome to the bench, Priscilla.

Priscilla ♀ Lv. 14

As I hear the sounds of fireworks in the distance behind me, in front of me I find a rather intimidating building standing in the middle of the route. I read the sign near the door.

- “Battle Château”, sounds interesting…

I head inside.

Meanwhile in Parfum Palace…

That Furfrou didn’t seem too happy to be reunited with it’s owner…

Look! The fireworks are starting! Wow!

I hope he didn’t forget about the Poké Flute we asked to borrow…

You know what, Serena?

Hm?

It’s times like this that’re so special, and I’m so happy I could spend it with you.

That’s nice, Shauna…





Also back at Lumiose City’s Café Soleil…

Something’s not right…

You said we were supposed to meet someone here?

It would seem the commander was right to be concerned with disruptions here.

Events are not proceeding as before? Do you think it could be him?

Possibly, but we stick to the plan for now. We must be careful, we’ve taken the guise of people important to events here this time.

Very well, I’ll issue the prescribed orders to Team Flare as per the design.

Just don’t screw up like last time, Agent 13.

Trust me if he’s here I’ll be ready for him this time, Agent 12.