Unfortunately for Damon's worries over whether or not Froakie was ill, they were unable to reach Lumiose City before nightfall. Savannah busied herself with pitching their tent and building the campfire while Damon paced back and forth, remembering Pokémon health class back at the academy.
"Paleness… paleness… what did paleness mean?" he asked himself.
"Babe, it could just be nothing," Savannah tried to reassure him.
"But it could be something," Damon argued, "To make it worse is that I can't see Froakie's condition for myself."
His shoulders slumped in defeat, but Froakie quickly hopped onto them in an attempt to reassure his Trainer. Froakie felt fine, but even he could see that he had a lighter complexion compared to the reference photo provided in his Trainer's Pokédex.
"Froakie's relatively healthy. He battled just fine," Savannah continued trying to be reassuring, "All we can do is wait until we reach Lumiose City tomorrow."
She approached Damon and Froakie hopped down off of his shoulders to allow Savannah to snake her arms around his head.
"Just breathe and be patient," she whispered before kissing him lightly on the lips.
Damon breathed in through his nose and Savannah pulled away to allow him to exhale. His troubles eased just a little bit, but the possibility of the worst case scenario remained to weigh heavily on his brain.
The next morning, Damon and Savannah resumed the trek toward Lumiose City. The looming skyline of the metropolis towered over them even from the considerable distance.
"Holy shit…," Savannah muttered under her breath.
"Is it that big?" Damon asked.
"Yeah… it's… big," Savannah responded.
As they reached the southern gate that separated the civilization of Lumiose City from the relative wilds of Parterre Way, Damon felt uneasy again over everything that could be wrong with Froakie.
Lumiose City was big. It was the most populated city in the entire world. For newcomers and tourists alike, Lumiose City presented an almost-overwhelming challenge to explore. Its massive buildings created a labyrinth of avenues and alleyways. Its focal point was Prism Tower, the tallest structure in the city, and whose lights illuminated the night sky beautifully.
Damon and Savannah were on Southern Boulevard, which encircled the lower half of the city before turning into Northern Boulevard. Savannah looked at a map that was gratefully provided near the southern gate. She discovered they were about a block away from the Pokémon Center and that it was across the street from Professor Sycamore's Lab. After locating the Pokémon Center, she returned to Damon, and grabbed his hand.
"I know which way to go," she told him, "Don't let go of my hand."
Damon nodded and he allowed Savannah to escort him down South Boulevard. The noises of taxi cabs and people around him were overwhelming. Damon felt his heartbeat intensify and he swallowed a nervous lump. His grip on Savannah's hand tightened; too tightly, and she winced, but said nothing. She sympathized with Damon's anxiety and hurried to get him into the Pokémon Center. Maybe a nurse telling him Froakie was okay would help, but what if Froakie wasn't okay? She shook her head; refusing to accept that possibility, and stopped to signal the crosswalk at Vernal Avenue. She could see the red-roofed Pokémon Center just across the street.
The crosswalk signaled for pedestrians to begin walking and the subtle dinging provided for the visually-impaired made Damon feel accommodated. He and Savannah crossed and entered the Pokémon Center. They approached the nurse immediately and Froakie hopped down from Damon's shoulder onto the counter.
"My girlfriend told me that my Froakie seems a bit pale," Damon explained, "Is there something wrong with him? Please tell me there's nothing wrong. Please."
"Sir, I'm gonna ask you to calm down just this one time or you can go to another Pokémon Center," the nurse responded in an irritated tone.
"Excuse me?" Savannah asked, not appreciating the woman's tone.
Damon grabbed her shoulders immediately and held her back while the nurse gave them a raised eyebrow. Froakie croaked up at her and she looked down at him. She tapped a finger against her chin and noted he did look paler than a normal Froakie.
"Hold still," she told the Water-type.
She took out a thermometer and checked his temperature. That checked out. She looked over his Frubble for any sign of sickness, but found none. The nurse then took out a large book and flipped through the pages to one with two pictures of Froakie. One was slightly paler than the other.
"There it is," she stated, "Your Froakie isn't sick. He's Shiny."
"Shiny?" Damon questioned.
"There're color morphs with Pokémon. Shiny is the most common," the nurse explained.
"So Froakie's fine?" Damon asked, grinning.
"Yes. Your Froakie is fine. Is there anything else I can help you with?" the nurse asked.
"Yes. We'd like to book a room for next couple of nights," Damon responded.
"Sorry, but we're all booked up," the nurse apologized.
"Crap… are there any hotels nearby?" Damon asked.
"Yes, but I must warn you. They are expensive," the nurse told them.
"We'll check it out. Thank you," Damon responded.
Froakie returned to his shoulder and he and Savannah left the Pokémon Center.
"That nurse was a bitch. You should've let me tell her off," Savannah said.
"But then we would've had to go to another Pokémon Center," Damon responded, "You must learn to pick your battles, my love."
"Bite me," Savannah countered.
"Tonight, I promise," Damon replied.
Savannah rolled her eyes and looked across the street. Remembering the map telling her where Professor Sycamore's Lab was, she tugged on Damon's sleeve to get his attention.
"Professor Sycamore's Lab is across the street. Wanna see if he's there?" she asked.
"Maybe we should go look for a place to stay tonight first," Damon suggested.
"Come on. Maybe he'll know a cheap place to stay in the city," Savannah insisted.
Damon thought about it for a moment before shrugging. Savannah grinned and dragged him off by his hand to the crosswalk. Once the signal allowed them to, they crossed Southern Boulevard to the side where Professor Sycamore's Lab stood. It was rather odd to see such a rustic building amidst the high-rises that made up Lumiose City, but the Lab stood there like a welcome member of the family.
Damon and Savannah walked up the step and the latter knocked on the door. It opened and Professor Sycamore looked out at the two Trainers before him.
"Bonjour! I'm glad to see you both made it to Lumiose City," he exclaimed with a grin.
Froakie croaked and gained the Pokémon Professor's attention. Professor Sycamore's grin widened when he saw the Bubble Frog and he gently pet him.
"You have become so strong, Froakie. I can see it with a single glance. You and Damon were a match made in heaven," he stated.
He then returned his attention to Damon and Savannah. Professor Sycamore stepped aside, giving them silent permission to enter his Lab. Savannah led the way of course and looked around the homely front section of the Lab that resembled a studio apartment.
"I have a pot of coffee on. Would either of you like a cup?" Professor Sycamore asked as he entered a small kitchen to grab his coffee mug.
"I'm good," Damon responded.
"Same," Savannah added.
"So what brings you here?" Professor Sycamore asked.
"I found out your Lab was across the street from the Pokémon Center and we figured we'd pop in and say hi," Savannah responded.
"We weren't interrupting anything, right? You're surely a busy man," Damon added.
"Nope. It's been a somewhat unremarkable morning," Professor Sycamore stated.
There was a knock on the door and it turned everyone inside toward it. Professor Sycamore hurried over to the door and opened it to reveal Tyrell James on his front porch.
"What's up, Professor Sycamore?" he greeted the older man, "Pretty convenient you're across the street from the Pokémon Center. I almost got hit by a Skiddo running over."
"There's a crosswalk, you dummy," Savannah pointed out, hands on her hips.
Tyrell looked past Professor Sycamore and saw the fiery redhead giving him an unimpressed look. He smirked and Professor Sycamore allowed him inside.
"Heh, guess great minds think alike," he commented, "You two wanted to visit the Professor as well."
"We actually wanted to ask the Professor something," Damon pointed out.
"Oh?" Professor Sycamore asked, "What would that be, Mr. Pierce?"
"It turns out the Pokémon Center has no…," Damon started explaining before being cut off by a ringing in the other room.
"Sorry for the interruption, but I should get it in case it's a business call," Professor Sycamore apologized, stepping out into the other room.
Damon turned to Tyrell and shook his head. The latter's poor cologne assaulted the former's senses.
"Why hasn't that brand been discontinued?" he asked, "It's awful."
"Maybe I bought the remaining supply just to irritate you," Tyrell suggested.
"No, because that's too smart of a plan for you," Savannah countered.
"I need someone who can pick on you two with me, because this double teaming is some Tauros shit," Tyrell responded.
Professor Sycamore returned to the front room with three Pokéballs in his possession. He seemed a little excited, but also a little unsure. Professor Sycamore then looked at the three Trainers before him and smiled to himself.
"I… that phone call was from a colleague in the Kanto Region. He sent me three Pokémon to help me with research into Mega Evolution," he explained.
"I've heard of that. It's supposed to be achieved by Pokémon whose bonds with their Trainers have reached maximum levels," Damon responded.
"Yes. Not every Pokémon can Mega Evolve, but I've received reports of these three all being able to do so," Professor Sycamore revealed.
"What Pokémon are they?" Savannah asked.
Professor Sycamore smirked and answered the question by releasing the three Pokémon from their Pokéballs. Damon immediately scanned them with his Pokédex.
"Bulbasaur, the Seed Pokémon. A strange seed was planted on its back at birth. The plant sprouts and grows with this Pokémon. Charmander, the Lizard Pokémon. The flame on its tail indicates Charmander's life force. If it is healthy, the flame burns brightly. Squirtle, the Tiny Turtle Pokémon. It shelters itself in its shell, then strikes back with spouts of water at every opportunity," Damon's Pokédex revealed.
Damon lowered his Pokédex and felt Froakie descend from his shoulder to investigate the new Pokémon before him. The Water-type approached Squirtle first, but that one immediately retracted into his shell, and caused Froakie to recoil. Bulbasaur stepped forward and extended a vine out to greet Froakie, who shook it. Charmander had already wandered off and Professor Sycamore went to retrieve him.
"I'm glad you three visited today. I have something to request of you," Professor Sycamore revealed, "I'm not the best to uncover Mega Evolution for these three since most of my days are spent in this Lab. You three; however, would be ideal to do so."
"You're giving us the Pokémon?" Damon asked.
"Yes. Each of you get to pick one," Professor Sycamore responded, "It would be best to pick one of a type you don't already have to achieve a balanced team."
"I pick Charmander then," Tyrell stated, "I already have a Grass and a Water-type, so this works out perfectly."
"You have a Water-type?" Damon asked.
"Ah yeah. I never introduced you," Tyrell responded, plucking a Pokéball off his belt, and lobbing it into the air, "Come on out, Marill."
Damon immediately scanned Tyrell's Pokémon with his Pokédex.
"Marill, the Aqua Mouse Pokémon. The fur on its body naturally repels water. It can stay dry, even when it plays in the water," his Pokédex stated.
"I caught her on Ouvert Way. She's pretty tough," Tyrell revealed, "Are you two okay with me picking Charmander?"
"Fine with me. I already have Fennekin," Savannah responded.
"I'm cool with it," Damon added, "And since I already have a Water-type, I'll pick Bulbasaur."
"Leaving me with this adorable little guy," Savannah chimed in.
Squirtle nervously poked his head out to look at Savannah. She smiled warmly down at him and seemed to ease him a bit. Bulbasaur trotted over to Damon and looked up at his Trainer. He gently extended a vine out to Damon, but since he could not see it, he did not shake it. This seemed to offend Bulbasaur, who immediately retracted it.
"Bulbasaur," Professor Sycamore said, "Damon cannot see, so he didn't know you were trying to greet him."
"Oh! Sorry Bulbasaur. I didn't mean to offend," Damon exclaimed.
Bulbasaur grunted, accepting this, and Professor Sycamore handed out Pokéballs to the three Trainers before him. All of the Pokémon were returned to their Pokéballs and Professor Sycamore spread his arms out wide.
"Magnifique!" he exclaimed, "I hope you three figure out Mega Evolution and report it back to me!"
"Are we getting paid for this?" Tyrell asked.
"Really?" Savannah asked him in disbelief.
"We were given Pokémon," Damon added in.
"Yeah, but it feels like we were just given a job," Tyrell pointed out, "I'm just looking out for number one. No disrespect, Professor."
Savannah face-palmed with one hand and punched Tyrell's arm with the other. Tyrell voiced his complaints over being hit while Damon simply shook his head.
"Oh! Before we forget, Professor. The Pokémon Center is all booked up, and we're tight on funds. Are there any cheap hotels or motels in the city?" Damon asked.
"Hmm… there is the motel by the airport, but it's in a rougher part of town," Professor Sycamore stated.
"We can handle it," Damon assured.
"We can?" Savannah asked.
"All three of us can," Tyrell chimed in, "I also need a place to stay."
Professor Sycamore then gave the trio directions to the motel near Lumiose International Airport and they left the Lab after some farewells. Outside, Tyrell hailed a taxi cab and Savannah helped Damon get inside.
"To the Flying High Motel," Tyrell stated as he was the last to enter the taxi's back seat.
Later that evening, Damon sat on a lawn chair in the fenced off pool area of the motel. The noise of the nearby airport ruined any chance of peace and to add insult to injury, Tyrell's awful cologne joined the noise.
"Thinking hard or hardly thinking?" he asked Damon.
"Just trying to relax a little bit," Damon responded, "We ran into that woman again. The one who robbed me in Santalune Forest."
"Oh shit… h-how'd that go?" Tyrell asked, sitting on a neighboring lawn chair.
"Her Pikachu used Flash since Savannah and I had her outnumbered. I was the only one unaffected by it, so I chased her. She got away again because she threatened to hurt Savannah," Damon explained.
"Sounds like a terrible person," Tyrell stated, "You okay?"
"I honestly don't know. I had her for a moment. I had a chance to tell her off for messing up my brain like she did, but…," Damon responded before trailing off.
"But?" Tyrell asked after the silence dragged on for too long.
"But I couldn't… I couldn't. Maybe I subconsciously didn't want to blame someone else for my problems. Maybe… I didn't see the point," Damon resumed.
"Maybe you need to relax more often and count the blessings you have. Gorgeous girlfriend, check. Adept at battling, check. Awesome best friend, double check," Tyrell suggested before prodding his own chest with his thumbs.
"Yeah… Froakie's pretty awesome," Damon responded.
"Wow…," Tyrell replied in disbelief.
Damon smirked and stood up. He tapped his cane against the ground and waved at Tyrell. Damon then departed the pool area for his room. He heard Savannah's voice from the other side of the door. She was angry and talking to someone.
"Seriously… why can't you just leave me be?" she asked, "I've been doing so well, but of course you had to ruin it. Damon and I are fine!"
Damon stood next to the door and continued eavesdropping. He was unsure whether he should enter the room or just stay where he was. He was sure Savannah was talking to her mother. Only that she-beast would anger her this much and question their relationship.
"Yeah… Mom… I know it's hard to date a guy who can't see, and yeah… I wish he could see. Things would be so much better if he could see," Savannah continued.
Damon felt a sudden pain in his chest and it became difficult to breathe. A dull ringing in his head deafened him to everything else Savannah had said. Damon always knew Savannah wished he could see. He never mentioned it; however, because it could not be helped. To hear her admit this to her mother off all people hurt Damon more than he could have guessed. The dull ringing in his head subsided as hurt came over.
"Look… I have to go. Quit calling me unless it's actually important," Savannah stated.
She went silent, so Damon decided to open the door. Savannah looked up at him in surprise and her mouth fell open. She wondered if he had overheard her conversation with her mother.
"I'm… gonna go for a walk," Damon stated, "Just letting you know."
"Okay… I'll go with you," Savannah responded, standing up.
"No," Damon said sharply, "I mean… I get it that I'm blind and things would be so much better if I could see, but… I'm good."
With that, Damon left the room, leaving Savannah with her suspicions confirmed. As he made the hasty retreat from the motel, tears filled Damon's unseeing eyes. He had to get away. Just for a moment, or for longer. He didn't know. He just wanted to get away.
