Six A.M. in Castelia City. Everything was still gray outside, the sun unable to penetrate the thick blanket of smog lying overhead. Unlike peaceful Lacunosa Town, or White's personal favorite, which was Striaton City, Castelia's mornings weren't soft and quiet. Harsh drives of neon lights, voices, and footsteps attacked the morning-goers' eyes and ears, enough to give anyone a migraine. White flinched automatically as she looked out the Pokémon Center's glass sliding doors, through which the city lights were magnified and splintered. Unnatural bright shades of pink and green danced off the choppy harbor waves.
With a heavy sigh, the Unova Champion rolled off the Pokemon Center couch, promptly got caught in the sheets, flailed around for a bit, and finally disentangled herself by falling on the ground. Blowing hair out of her face and blushing, she looked around to see if anyone had noticed. Only about the entire Pokemon Center was staring and snorting.
"You are the Champion; you don't have to put up with that," pointed out Serperior from its Pokéball at her belt. White smiled at him. She tossed her long, brown hair, which was sticking out everywhere from morning bed head.
"Yeah, but why flaunt it? That's just bad sportsmanship," she told him, grabbing her Bag from her mess of blankets and heading towards the bathroom.
Fifteen minutes later, a woman exited the Pokemon Center, wearing a jacket with the hood up. She glanced around secretively, but made sure to keep her head low. She headed off to the Passerby Analytics HQ and was seen coming out a side door not moments later. She looped around down Mode Street and returned to the main road by Gym Street.
"There's somebody tailing us," suddenly warned an Unfezant from White's belt. She grit her teeth and grasped its Pokéball.
"Try to throw him off," she answered, and with a silent click the bird was released into the sky. She heard sputters and squawks behind her as she broke into a trot, but ignored them. She was about to turn into Castelia's alley- and crime center- when she heard a pained cry.
"Fezaaaant!"
Unfezant returned to her arm, smelling like grilled chicken and wings smoking slightly. "No good, master, he has an Emolga. Electric type."
While White spat and thought frantically to figure out a way out of this, the man caught up to her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't do it, White," he said. "I would never have implored you to catch the Seven Sages if I knew it would turn to… this."
She pushed his hand away. "I'm sorry, Agent Looker." He shook his head hopelessly and watched her turn and race into the alley.
Almost immediately, a burly man stepped out from behind a dumpster.
"Hey, honey, what you doing around h-"
He never had the time to finish as he suddenly toppled with a groan. Behind him stood a Zoroark… and a man.
White flew into his arms, and he accepted her, pulling her in tight as she buried her face into his chest.
"I've missed you, N," she murmured into his shirt.