Chapter Text
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TRAINER TIPS
While Standard is the universal language taught in schools and spoken throughout
the world, you may encounter people who only speak the regional language.
Be sure to download a translator app or brush up on your languages when you travel to new regions!
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When it rained in Lumiose, it poured. And that night, it was pouring in many ways.
Corbeau wiped blood off his hands on a handkerchief under the refuge of an umbrella, watching Rust Syndicate grunts prop three unconscious men against the alley wall. The late winter sleet stained red when it hit the cobblestone.
Philippe leaned over. “This is the fourteenth intrusion from the northeast in the last six months, Boss.”
“First one of the year. Congratulations to the Hibernal Boys for pissing me off so quickly.” Corbeau handed the handkerchief off to a grunt. “Did the other one run off?”
“We’ll catch him.”
One of the unconscious young men, dressed in jeans and a red varsity jacket matching his companions, groaned, head rolling across his chest.
Corbeau stepped forward from under the umbrella, polished leather shoes crunching the snow underfoot, and squatted down in front of the waking gang member.
“Bet you’ve got a hell of a headache right now,” he said.
The other man looked up, blinking through the sleet and the dimness. “Who the fuck r’you?”
Corbeau’s hand shot out, grabbing the gang member’s chin roughly and forcing his head up. The man winced.
“You’re deep on the wrong side of the city, kid. And while I’m still feeling nice, you’re going to tell me why.” His voice was steady but laced with venom.
“I don’t gotta tell you shit.”
“Sure. But I know exactly where to drop you and your buddies in the Saison so that no one will ever find you.” Corbeau squeezed the man’s jaw where he had clocked him earlier. The man gritted his teeth. “Not like any of your Hibernal Boys bosses care enough to come looking, anyways.”
The man’s eyes flicked to the shadows of the grunts standing behind Corbeau, all standing at attention. “The Rust Syndicate’s over, man. You know you’re going down soon.”
Corbeau raised an eyebrow and glanced back at Philippe. “That’s new information to me. Did you know that?”
“No, Boss.”
The gang member laughed a pained laugh around Corbeau’s hand. “There’s people moving, bro. You’re not the big dog in Lumiose anymore. You just don’t know it.”
“Enlighten me.”
“You’re losing your turf piece by piece from the bottom up. Not long before you’re just a little crybaby bitch in the south, just like you used to-”
Corbeau slammed the gang member’s head back into the wall. He yelped.
“Time’s up,” Corbeau said calmly.
In a swift motion, Corbeau dropped one hand from the gang member’s jaw to yank him forward by his shirt and punched him in the temple with the other, knocking the man’s head to the side. His head fell forward, mouth slack.
Corbeau stood up and brushed off his pants. “Philippe, I think you’ve got more patience than I do trying to get information out of people.”
“I doubt he had any useful information to give, Boss.”
A Rust Syndicate grunt’s voice crackled over the team’s earpieces. “Boss, we’ve got the runaway. We’re behind the South Pokémon Center.”
“Looks like I’ve got another chance to practice. Let’s move.”
The Syndicate grunts filed quickly out of the alley, tailed by Philippe. As he passed Corbeau, Corbeau patted him on the shoulder.
“I’ll catch up. You get started,” he said quietly.
“Yes, Boss.”
Now alone with the unconscious gang members, Corbeau looked up to his right, through the snowfall and steam from his breath, at the ivied silhouette of Hotel Z.
The Hibernal Boy was right. Someone was indeed moving, many someones. And that hotel seemed to be at the center of it.
Corbeau pulled his eyes away from one particular window, still glowing with lamplight at this hour, and followed his team.
***
Hyperspace was taking its toll on Harmony. She’d seen the doctors, tried the meds, read all the blogs, even begged Lida to let Starmie use Hypnosis on her - but what could she do? Researching Hyperspace Lumiose had been her job the last six months, and the insomnia and nightmares were occupational hazards.
The ten o’clock alarm on Harmony’s phone shook her awake. A heavy book slid off Harmony’s lap - Fundamentals of Pokémon Pathology. An old textbook from college. That plus the bedside lamp she must have left on all night gave her a clue as to how she finally fell asleep.
She turned off the lamp and gave the textbook a thump. Time to start the day.
Ansha and Korrina were in the lobby, sharing a breakfast sandwich with Hoopa. Hoopa did a flip when Harmony stepped out of the elevator.
“Good morning, Ms. Harmony!” Ansha waved from her stool behind the front desk.
“Hi, Ansha. What’ve we got here?”
Korrina held out a small paper bag. “Sausage and egg on a croissant! I got one for you too!”
“Thanks, Korrina. I could use a good sandwich.”
“Bad night again?”
Harmony sighed as she opened the bag. “It’s getting worse, I think. I went to bed at eleven and didn’t even get tired until three.”
Korrina crossed her arms. “You really need to take a break from Hyperspace surveys, hon. Quasartico and the Rust Syndicate don’t need you running 24/7 for them.”
“Someone needs to figure out why the Hyperspace pockets are getting weirder.”
“But you’re not the only one working on it. More importantly, it would be real bad if you burned yourself out and couldn’t do it anymore.”
Ansha nodded emphatically.
“I appreciate you worrying. I just need-“
Harmony’s phone popped out of her pocket, ringing. Urbain’s contact photo - him looking awkward in a suit, taken during an impromptu photoshoot the morning he officially started work at Quasartico - filled the screen.
“Hey, Urbain.”
“Hey Harmony! You free today?”
“I should be. What’s up?”
“We got a report just now from some kids who said the alpha Lopunny in Wild Zone 18 is putting off crazy Mega Power. I’m tied up in meetings for the rest of the day, so any chance you can go check it out?”
“Is it in a Hyperspace pocket?”
“No, just out and about. Like the old days.”
“Yeah, I’ll head over now. I’ll keep you posted.”
“Good luck!”
The Rotom Phone ducked back into Harmony’s pocket. Korrina stroked her chin, contemplative. “A Rogue Mega Evolution, huh? You don’t see a lot of those nowadays.”
Harmony shrugged while she threw on her jacket. “Could be a false alarm. But no harm in checking it out.” She gave Hoopa a pat on the head as she walked by.
From behind the front desk, Ansha waved again. “Be careful!”
Harmony waved back with her half-eaten sandwich.
It was a brilliantly sunny day, and the piles of snow from the past few days seemed to shine. Harmony stood at the southern entrance to Wild Zone 18 for a few moments, breathing in the crisp air, when she noticed something.
The alpha Salamence that normally hung out on the main street, the one that roared and complained anytime anyone so much as looked in its direction, wasn’t there.
Maybe it was just sleeping in the courtyard, or was scavenging for food for its Bagon. It wouldn’t be the first time that Salamence found a way to sneak up on her. But Harmony had a weird feeling about it.
She released her Feraligatr and gave it a chin scratch before stepping through the Holo barrier.
The construction area where the alpha Lopunny normally prowled was shaded by scaffolding and buildings, dropping the temperature. It was unusually quiet, and Harmony felt even more of a chill when she realized that the Lopunny was also missing.
She peered around one of the shipping containers. Feraligatr looked up and growled.
Suddenly, there was a flurry of movement around her. Figures dressed in dark clothing and ski masks dropped down from the scaffolding onto the ground and tops of the containers. Harmony spun around - there were six in total, trapping her in the space between two shipping containers. Two of the people had pieces of bright blue fabric sticking out of their pockets. One pulled out a knife.
She was surrounded. Harmony turned so that she was back to back with Feraligatr, facing the knife wielder.
“Who are you guys?” she said, willing her voice to be steady.
“None of your business, lady,” one of them - a young woman by the sound of the voice - replied.
Feraligatr snarled at the thug on top of the storage container as he tried to jump down.
“What do you want?”
“What the fuck did we just say?” snapped the knife holder. “Stop asking questions.” He took a step forward, blade glinting. Harmony heard another switchblade flick open behind her.
Harmony put one hand on Feraligatr’s back and the other on her Poké ball holder. “Liquidation, straight forward, on three.”
Someone laughed nervously. “No fucking way. You tryin’ to kill us?”
That’s rich, she thought. “One.”
The thugs in front of Harmony took another step forward. Harmony ripped the first Poké ball she could grab out of its holder.
“Two.”
Suddenly, from above, a deep voice with a heavy Kalosian accent rang out. “What the hell is going on here?”
The thugs looked up. Harmony took that moment to kick the knife holder in the stomach. He doubled over with a groan, dropping the knife. She kicked it backwards, away from him.
The owner of the voice, a tall man in a white button-down and beige slacks, leaped down from the scaffolding and landed hard on top of one of the storage containers, behind the masked thug already there. His skin seemed to glow like copper in the sliver of sunlight streaming through the construction.
“Oh, fuck this,” the person on the container said. He scrambled off the container and out of sight. The other thugs followed, backing away slowly then making a mad dash for the southeast exit. The former knife holder limped off behind them pathetically.
The man scowled at the retreating backs of the thugs. “Absolutely insane.” He slipped off the storage container in front of Harmony. “Are you okay?”
Harmony realized her hands were shaking. She leaned back against Feraligatr. Feraligatr nosed at her gently. “Yeah. I’m fine, just spooked.”
“Of course, who wouldn’t?” The man looked her up and down, brow furrowed. “It doesn’t look like you’re hurt, but maybe we should take you to a clinic?”
“Oh, no, I’m alright, really.”
“Then at least let me walk you out to Autumnal Avenue.”
“That’s very kind. Thank you.”
The man beamed. “Off we go, then!”
Harmony put the Poké ball in her hand back into her holder.
The two of them walked carefully, eyes scanning above and around them. Feraligatr followed closely. Once they passed through the Holo barrier, Harmony could sense the man relax beside her.
“And to think it’s not even lunchtime yet,” he joked, looking down at the watch on his wrist.
Harmony smiled. “Some days are more exciting than others, I guess.”
“Pardon my asking, but you’re not from around here, are you?” The man’s eyes were filled with a disarming curiosity. “You sound Sinnohan. I was just there on vacation.”
“Yea, actually! I moved here from Sinnoh about two years ago.”
The man snapped his fingers triumphantly, then sighed. “I hope those thugs didn’t change how you feel about our beautiful Lumiose.”
“No, not at all. That’s never happened before.”
“I feel like there have been more troublemakers lately. Arceus only knows why.” The man raised his eyebrows. “Oh, I haven’t even gotten your name yet! I’m Bertrand.”
“Nice to meet you, Bertrand. I’m Harmony.”
There was a pause before Betrand stopped walking and grabbed Harmony’s hands. “You…are you that Harmony? The Savior of Lumiose?”
Harmony blushed at Bertrand’s eagerness. “I mean, I don’t call myself that, but…”
He beamed. “You saved our lovely city and everyone in it. It’s an honor to meet you, Harmony.”
In that moment, Harmony realized - a little helplessly - that Bertrand was very handsome. “You’re the one who saved me just now. I should be thanking you.”
“Oh please, I just happened to be there for a break. I’m sure you could’ve handled it even if I wasn’t there.”
Harmony glanced over at Feraligatr, who rumbled. “Somehow, I guess. Maybe not legally.”
“You do what you must.” Bertrand held his hand out to the tall blue Pokémon. Feraligatr sniffed it and shook his head. “Oh, he must not like me.”
“He’s probably a little shaken up, too.”
“Any chance I can see the rest of your team? I’d love to meet the Pokémon that helped you save Lumiose.”
Harmony felt her face heat up again at Bertrand’s words. “Sure, I can call them out.”
Out from their Poké balls came Lucario, Eelektross, Tryantrum, Delphox, and Crobat. Bertrand looked like an excited child as each of them appeared.
“What an incredible team,” he said. “And a Crobat! I’m guessing you brought it from Sinnoh?”
Harmony gave Crobat a pat on the head. “Yup. He’s my first Pokémon. I’ve had him since I was a kid.”
Crobat was glaring at Bertrand in a way Harmony didn’t recognize. She gave him another pet, trying to break the stare. “So, Bertrand, do you have any Pokémon?”
“Just a Blastoise! But I left my Pokémon back at the office.” He glanced back down at his watch. “Speaking of which, I have to run back to work. I told my boss I was stepping out for a smoke break and I wandered off.”
“Please do. Thank you so much, again. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t shown up.”
Bertrand just smiled. “It’s an honor to return the favor, Miss Savior. I hope we meet again soon.”
***
Harmony went straight to Quasartico after Bertrand left and demanded that Urbain come downstairs to meet her. He had been working on a report, but the second the front desk mentioned Harmony’s name, he came running. And now, he was seated across from her at one of the tables in the lobby - or, more accurately, standing with his hands slammed down on the table.
“They had knives? They were going to kill you, Harmony!”
“Yeah, well, yes.” Harmony sunk down in her chair. “You’ve been in Lumiose awhile. Is this common?”
“You’ve been here awhile now too, you know it’s not.” Urbain sat down, abruptly aware of his employees’ eyes on him. “You’re sure you’re okay? No one…stabbed you or anything?”
“Would I be here if I got stabbed, Urbain?”
“With you, I don’t know.” Urbain sighed. “I’m sorry. I should’ve gone out there myself.”
“You couldn’t have known. It’s okay. I’m fine.”
Urbain was quiet for a moment. “Y’know, actually…we’ve been getting some false reports of Rogue Mega Evolution the last few weeks. And whenever I’ve gone out to check, there’s no one. I wonder if…”
Harmony raised an eyebrow. “If there are people camping out for me?”
“Call it a conspiracy theory.” Urbain shook his head. “Either way, maybe you should just go home. I’ll see if we can learn more about these false reports and filter them out going forward.”
“I’ll see you tonight, then?”
Urbain stood up. “Yeah. I’ll bring some takeout for dinner, if you could let the folks know.”
“Alright.”
“And Harmony…” Urbain said softly. “Be careful.”