[A/N: Sorry for another delay! It's been crazy over on my end! So, I promise I'll try and make this a decently lengthy chapter in exchange for your patience!]

So, it turned out that this "City of Lights" was out for the night. Literally. There was a massive blackout through the city that had supposedly wiped out nearly the entire city. Men in bright yellow construction vests posted all around the city consistently made me aware of this. Yet, I'm almost positive that the buildings beyond their barricades had lights on!

Suspiciously, only the sector of the city where Professor Sycamore's lab was located was actually up and running. Odd.

So, for now, no Gym battle.

Fortunately, it appeared I had another engagement. Tierno sent me a Holo Clip shortly before I went off on the tenth construction vest I came across. Tierno urged me to come and join him on Route 5 so that I could catch some wild Pokémon. Seeing as I had nowhere else to go, I obliged.

In the tunnel between the city and Route 5, a strange man in a pink suit intercepted me.

"Nice to meet you, friend!" he said happily.

I immediately took a step back. Stranger danger, and all that. Not that anyone else in this region paid this any heed.

"They call me Mr. Bonding. Have you heard about O-Powers?" he asked, undeterred by my obvious unwillingness to talk to him. "That expression of yours tells me you haven't! Don't worry—I'll tell you all about it. O-Powers are…"

I stopped listening as he rambled on. Finally he was finished with his spiel, and suddenly gave me a bonding power. It was the weirdest thing; it easily beat the mysterious way Shauna just heals Pokémon at will.

"Well then, I do believe I shall take my leave right about now. Hope to see you around!" he said, and then he turned tail and ran off.

If this had happened to me back in Vaniville Town, I would have been so disturbed I would have sworn off going outside for at least a week. Now, I just shook my head and moved on.

No sooner had I emerged onto the Route, I was once again bombarded. However, this time it was in the form of a Pokémon. I heard my Pokédex go off, letting me know it was a fighting-type Pokémon called Lucario.

Lucario circled me and then emitted a cry as soon as it stopped in front of me. It was as if it was confronting me, challenging me.

I'd had enough of challenges today. I was about to reach for my Fennekin when all of a sudden I heard a girl's voice call out:

"Wait! Lucario!"

A blonde girl on skates rolled up to us. A second Lucario trailed her, but it hung back a bit. The girl grimaced and said, "sorry about that! Are you OK? I was just doing some special training with me Lucario when all of a sudden it dashed off…"

She turned her head to her Lucario. "Hey, Lucario! What's going on with you? Did you get drawn in by this girl's aura or something?"

My what?

Lucario turned to her and nodded, crying "Carrrr!"

I raised an eyebrow at the Pokémon, but said nothing. It seemed his Trainer was equally at a loss.

"Huh," she said finally. "Well, it seems Lucario likes you!"

"You think so?" I replied sarcastically.

She gave me a very interested look. "Ooh. I love your accent. Er, well, see, Lucario can read people's auras. I guess something in your aura has made this one take a liking to a stranger! This Lucario is always getting worked up in battle with my other one. Maybe it's just been waiting for a Trainer to appear who's strong enough to challenge it…" she seemed a little lost in thought about this dilemma I didn't care about, but quickly caught herself. "Oops, sorry! I was on such a roll I forgot to introduce myself! I'm Korrina, the Shalour City Gym Leader!"

I gasped. A Gym Leader! Maybe she can tell me more about Kalos-

I was interrupted mid-thought. Korinna grinned at me. "If you're collecting Gym Badges," she said. "I'm sure we'll be battling sooner or later! Hopefully sooner, because I can't wait to challenge that cute little accent of yours."

When I had challenged Viola and she called me cute, it was amiable and almost flirtatious. This Gym Leader's use of the word, however, seemed to drip with challenge and condescension.

I had to hold my ground in this stupid region. "Oh, I think it won't be long now," I shot back. My tone was light, but I could feel the fire in my stomach blazing. "My name is Serena. Please don't dare forget it."

"Alright, I'll be looking forward to it. I hope you know how to roll with the punches, Serena!"

Korinna and her secondary Lucario turned and zoomed off. The Lucario that had challenged me looked me up and down once more, then reluctantly turned and left me, too.

Up ahead, I saw Trevor talking with Tierno. They didn't seem to notice my presence at first.

"What?!" Trevor yelled, sounding embarrassed by something Tierno had said. "I am not! I never liked that pigtailed bimbo! I mean, everyone knows she throws herself around at every guy!"

I frowned. I recalled the conversation Shauna and I had had in Santalune Forest. Shauna may have been a bit of an airhead, but she was nowhere near what Trevor was describing.

"Come again?" I called out. "Just who don't you like?"

Trevor looked at me with a truly frightened expression. "Uh…my goodness! Pokémon hordes are certainly intense…" he mumbled nervously, changing the subject.

Tierno helped cover for Trevor, but wore a sheepish expression. "Yeah! They're just like a dance team made up of Pokémon, aren't they?"

"Oh, Tierno, do you ever think about anything besides dancing?" Trevor sighed.

"Nope! Even during Pokémon battles, I'm always checkin' out their moves! And then my feet just start moving, too! I can't help it, y'know? Like with Swords Dance! I love it! I guess that's why I can never win…Oh, Lady S! Do your Pokémon know any sweet moves?"

The two of them finally turned their full attention to me. I was still ticked off at Trevor and his comment, but shrugged.

"Uh…does Thundershock count?" I asked.

Tierno reached to his side and held out a Pokéball. "Why don't you show me in a battle?!"

He sent out his only Pokémon, a Corphish. I almost felt bad about how my Pikachu overtook it in one hit.

Tierno sighed at the abysmal match. "That was nice footwork, at least…"

Trevor turned to me. "Heh, um, it's good to see you, Ser-…excuse me, I meant Lady S." I couldn't help but like the way his voice trembled. Good, at least you recognize who is in charge here.

Trevor continued, "It really does seem as though Tierno can only think about dancing and moves. When a horde of Pokémon popped out, he just stood there watching them…"

"Well, yeah, Trevs!" Tierno interjected. "Coming up with the world's best Pokémon dance IS my dream, after all! I was born to dance! I won't ever stop! No matter what my dad says! Not with moves like this!"

I smiled at Tierno's declaration. His goal was so concrete and even attainable. His determination renewed mine, and reminded me why I was even out on this road in the dead of night.

Trevor nodded, "That's indeed a perfect dream for you, Tierno. I guess I should show just as much dedication to my dream of completing the Pokédex, then! It's good to be serious about some things!" Then he turned and walked to me. "Oh, uh, Lady S? Do take this Honey, won't you?"

He pressed the item into my hands. "You see," he said, "using Honey will encourage Pokémon hordes to appear. Though if you are going to challenge a whole horde, you may want to use moves that can hit multiple targets."

"Um, thanks," I said, putting it away in my bag so that it wouldn't spill. "Hey, have you noticed anything weird since you've been out on your journey?"

Trevor and Tierno looked confused then looked at each other.

"No," Tierno said. "Can't say I have. Calem's been acting a fool lately, but he's always been pretty uptight."

Trevor replied in a similar manner. "You know, I don't think anything has been out of the ordinary, although this journey is just as new and unexpected to us as it is to you. I think it's just new journey jitters, Lady S."

I sighed. So much for any leads from them. "Oh, well, thanks. Uh, yeah, new journey jitters…" I said half-heartedly. "Well, time's a-wasting! I'd better get moving! See y'all later!"

I quickly skated past them on the path, before they could ask any questions.

The Trainers on Route 5 were just as nocturnal I felt. One even admitted to having insomnia! I was mentally exhausted, but thanks to my whacked out sleeping-schedule, I was still wide-awake. Still, it was good to let my Pokémon out of their Pokéballs for some exercise. I owed them that.

To my astonishment and wonder that night, Fennekin evolved into a Braixen! It was the first time I ever witnessed one of my own Pokémon evolve. When it was over, I hugged Braixen tightly. Whether or not I had wanted the responsibility of taking care of him at first, he had become my closest companion, and I was proud of him.

When Pidgey followed suit and became a Pidgeotto, I was ecstatic. Somehow, I was really becoming a Trainer! Who knew I had it in me?!

All of my Pokémon seemed to rejoice. My new Squirtle even seemed to be taking a liking to me!

When I reached the end of the Route, I felt more accomplished than I had all year.

[A/N: Okay! This chapter had to be done, but it was mainly dialogue, too! So much dialogue in the game! Anyways, to reward for your patience, I'm working on the next chapter, which hopefully gets our next Gym Badge Battle! Yay! Please Review if you liked or didn't like it! I want to know!]