Chris breezed through Route 12, battling a couple of trainers along the way, which helped to strengthen his own Pokemon. At around three in the afternoon, Chris arrived at Coumarine City. Like the previous cities, Coumarine was built directly next to the water. Coumarine in specific was a port city with multiple ships docked in the water. Chris looked at his phone, checking to see where the gym was. To his surprise, the city had another level to it only accessible through a monorail at the east side of the city. The monorail would take people from the base of the city, where the marina was, and take them through the mountains up to the upper part of the city, which is where the gym was.
"Eh… I'm in no rush," stated Chris upon learning this. "Might as well sight see."
Chris and his Pokemon ventured around the city for around ten minutes, until Chris' Talonflame acted unnaturally, flying away from him. The falcon Pokemon had seen another Talonflame circling in the air, and began flying towards it. As Chris' bird Pokemon did, the other Talonflame descended to the ground. Chris followed his own Talonflame which had led him to a red-haired man in a red-suit. Chris' Talonflame now returned to Chris' side as he stared at the man from a distance. The man in the red suit handed a small letter that was rolled up to his Talonflame. The bird Pokemon took the note, and began flying away to an unknown area, Chris' bird Pokemon planned on chasing after it, but Chris called off the bird Pokemon. The man dressed in red then checked his surroundings before venturing off into the city.
"Messenger birds? What the hell are they up to?" thought Chris. Curiosity began to eat him alive.
"God, what are they up to?" "Why does Charlotte want me to stop?" "Are they even doing anything dangerous?"
Chris grew frustrated with himself as he continued asking himself these questions.
"Should I just forget it?" he then asked himself. He stared at the man in the red suit walking away. He was heading in the opposite direction of the monorail, which Chris planned on taking.
"What will happen if I don't?"
These questions ran through Chris' mind with no definitive answer, but they did make half an hour monorail ride blow by. The upper half of the city was much more rural compared to the city beneath. Once he reached the new section of the city, Chris scanned all the buildings there. He then looked back at his phone and grew annoyed, sighing with frustration. At this moment, an elderly man approached Chris. He was riding on a Gogoat, a common Pokemon for transportation in Kalos.
"Having some trouble there son?" he asked.
"Yeah. Do you know where the Coumarine City Gym is?" asked Chris.
"Huh? What's that?"
"Do you know where the Coumarine City Gym is?" asked Chris much louder.
"Ah the gym… Oh its back down there," responded the man pointing to the bottom of the city.
"You gotta be kidding me," said Chris defeated.
"AHAHA, I'm just joking young buck. They're renovating it right now," he said with a smile. Chris noticed he had golden tooth right by his canine.
"Okay..., do you know when they'll be done?"
"Around August…," responded the elderly man. It was late June. The news killed Chris.
"Well what about the gym leader? He's gotta be around here somewhere. Maybe he'll just let me battle him outside the gym."
"I bet he would," responded the elderly man. "He's quite the generous and handsome man."
"You know him?" asked Chris naively.
"Know him!? I am the dashing gym leader!"
The elderly man proceeded to laugh.
"Oh…great, would you be willing to battle?"
"Ah no problem kid, let's battle right here on the street, nobody'll mind. I'm Ramos by the way," he said stretching his arm out.
"Chris."
The two shook hands as the battle began. Chris tossed his first Pokeball revealing Talonflame.
"Ah hell not that thing," said Ramos.
In just a few minutes, the battle had come to an end. Talonflame had charred all of Ramos' grass type Pokemon, including his Gogoat.
"Whenever a trainer comes by with that Pokemon… it's always a landslide," groaned Ramos.
"Well… you beat me fair and square so here you go, the fourth Kalos gym badge. I always keep a spare on me just in case of kids like you."
Chris held the badge to sky, the sun brightening it.
"So…you're halfway through the Kalos trial. How's it been so far?" asked Ramos.
"Uh…it's had its ups and downs…But mostly ups."
"Good to hear kid…, listen if you're ever thinking of staying in Coumarine City a while I recommend this place back at the marina. They have these delicious oysters that you gotta-"
Chris began to ignore Ramos, focusing all of his attention on the passing by man in a red suit. Upon passing by Chris, he accidentally bumped into Ramos.
"Sorry," he grunted.
Ramos squinted at the man in the red suit as he walked away.
"Crazy clothes am I right? Bunch of 'em have been zipping in through here."
"A bunch?" asked Chris instantly.
"Yeah…they seem to be heading south towards Route 13."
"Route 13, why? What's on Route 13?" asked Chris hectically.
"Jeez kid, calm down. They're just a bunch of fashonistas...Probably heading back to Lumiose for a fashion show."
Ramos laughed at his own joke, but Chris didn't.
"Alright…well thank you for the battle Ramos. I'll be sure to try those oysters sometime," said Chris.
"They're delicious…, and Chris! The next gym is in Lumiose City. Just take Route 13 directly south and you'll be there."
"Was already on my way. Take care Ramos!"
Chris waved to the elderly man as he headed south to Route 13.
The bright Coumarine City instantly turned to a dry landscape with ground type Pokemon running amuck. In the distance he could see the Lumiose Tower, but something was different. The tower wasn't as bright as it had always been. Chris remembered reading that the lights to the building never turned off. He then scanned Route 13, seeing a Power Plant at the western side of the route. He remembered the red-suited man traveling to Route 13, and wondered if they were responsible for this.
Chris traveled towards the Power Plant, all six of his Pokemon trailing behind him. Upon reaching it, a large steel door locked the building. As he peered through the window, he could see an unconscious man in worker attire laying on the concrete floor.
"Something's going on here," said Chris to his Pokemon. "And I can't just turn a blind eye to it." Chris now stared at Aron and Tyrunt specifically.
"Think you can bring the door down?" he asked.
Aron and Tyrunt looked at him as if they were being mocked. Immediately, the two rock types charged into the door, blowing the door down after just two hits.
The fall of the metal door echoed throughout the Power Plant. Upon entering the building, Chris checked the man's pulse. He was still alive but unconscious. Shortly after that, Chris ventured down the large stairwell leading him deeper into the Power Plant. As Chris reached the lower level, a hoard of Houndoom barked at him aggressively. Immediately, Beedrill sprung forward in front of Chris, wanting revenge for its burns, but it was little Aron that called out to Beedrill. Beedrill looked back at Aron, the small Pokemon stared at the bee confidently and then at Chris, the same look on its face. The Pokemon then advanced in front of Chris, with multiple Houndooms ready to pounce on it. Aron pawed the ground before charging directly into one of the Houndooms, creating an uproar amongst them. They began biting down harshly on Aron.
Now Beedrill charged directly at one of the Houndooms, jabbing at it with its stingers constantly until it fainted.
Umbreon followed up Beedrill, charging directly into another one of the Houndooms.
Tyrunt followed up Umbreon, biting down on Houndooms horns so harshly, they snapped.
Talonflame slashed at another, and Frogadier fired multiple blasts of water at Houndoom, but there was still one biting down viciously on Aron. The Pokemon began surrounding itself in a bright light, its armor hardening to unbreakable levels.
Aron had evolved into Lairon, shoving the Houndoom off of it, and then charging into it with its Iron Head causing the last of the hounds to faint. With all of the hounds down, Chris now advanced deeper into the Power Plant, patting Lairon on the head.
"Now...what the hell are you planning," said Chris to himself.
Chris entered the final room of the Power Plant. It was a large, dome-shaped room with two generators that strecthed to the ceiling like pillars. It was dim with the sounds of the generators booming through the empty dome. Inside this room were multiple red-suited men and women. Chris turned his attention to the right corner of the dome room, seeing multiple workers tied up.
"Hey!" he shouted to the group of red-suited men and women.
"What the hell's going on here!" demanded Chris. A woman with distinct purple hair stared at him harshly.
"You must've been the one causing all that ruckus," she said. "No matter...guards deal with him."
Multiple red-suited men and women tossed their Pokeballs revealing multiple Houndooms.
"You sure you wanna do this?" said Chris taunting the gang. "They already took out all your damn poodles."
She chuckled.
"Cocky little shit," she murmured. "Take him out," she then ordered. All the Houndooms charged at Chris, but his Pokemon encircled him, defeating the onslaught of hounds.
Bodies of fainted Houndoom's surrounded Chris. Despite this, the purple haired woman didn't fret.
"Now who the hell are you?" demanded Chris.
"We...we….are Team Flare, and we will not displease our master because of some teenager!" exclaimed the purple haired woman.
"Then fight me then!" ordered Chris.
She laughed at him.
"And what do I have to gain from that?"
"So you're afraid?" he said continuing to taunt her.
"Enough of this…Charlotte…deal with him."
Chris' heart sank when he heard that.
"Charlotte…," he mumbled. Behind the purple haired woman was Charlotte, wearing the black dress that she wore when they first met each other. She was motionless.
There was brief period of silence amongst the two.
"So this is why you wanted me to forget huh?" he said staring at her. Charlotte stared at the concrete floor beneath her.
"Chris, I..."
"These people hurt my Pokemon! They burned my Beedrill! And you were working with them all along?"
She continued to stare directly downwards.
"LOOK AT ME!" shouted Chris. A single tear fell down her cheek. The purple haired woman laughed at the two.
"Awe...poor Romeo had his heart broken."
Lairon roared at her, instantly silencing her.
"Well Charlotte...what're you waiting for!" demanded the woman. Charlotte sniffed, wiping away the tears, then pulling out a Pokeball, and tossing it beginning a battle.
Charlotte had sent out Bellossom. The sight of the Pokemon killed Chris to see.
"The Sun Stone," he whispered. Chris then ordered Lairon into battle, but Bellossom had the speed advantage.
"Sleep Powder" she whispered. Bellossom began firing off spores at Lairon attempting to make it drowsy, but it was ineffective of Lairon. Steam was seen bursting from steel Pokemon's nostrils as it awaited Chris' order.
"Lairon, Metal Claw!" Lairon's claws sharpened and the Pokemon charged towards Bellossom, slashing it harshly.
"Giga Drain, Bellossom."
Her voice sounded empty as if she had already been beaten. Whereas their last battle was full of excitement, this battle was full of silence. Bellossom began sapping Lairon's energy, but gained little from it due to its steel resistance.
"Iron Head, Lairon!" shouted Chris. Lairon charged towards Bellossom, head butting the small grass type into one of the walls of the building causing the Pokemon to faint.
"The hell was that?" asked the purple-haired woman.
"BEAT HIM YOU BITCH!" she then screamed. Charlotte flinched, more tears streaming from her eyes.
Without hesitation, Charlotte sent in her ace Pokemon, Blastoise, whom now had the speed advantage.
"Water Gun." she ordered instantly. Blastoise stared back at Charlotte, seeing her crying. "NOW!" she then exclaimed. Blastoise obeyed, blasting Lairon with water causing the rock type Pokemon to faint shortly after contact.
Chris returned the fainted Pokemon to its Pokeball, then sending out his next Pokemon, Umbreon, whom now had the speed advantage.
"Umbreon, Foul Play!" Umbreon charged towards Blastoise, similar to the move Take-Down. Once close enough, Umbreon tackled and scratched Blastoise viciously. However, due to Blastoise's bulky defenses, the move did little to damage the turtle.
"Water Gun," she said quietly. Once more, Blastoise fired a blast of water at one of Chris' Pokemon, the attack doing a surprise amount of damage to Umbreon.
"Bite, Umbreon!" ordered Chris with a fire in his voice. Umbreon looked to bite down on Blastoise like last time, the back of the neck, but the tortoise Pokemon anticipated, and countered by grabbing Umbreon, slamming the Pokemon to the ground, stomping on the feline Pokemon continuously until it fainted.
Chris ordered in Frogadier, shortly after returning Umbreon to its Pokeball. Immediately, Chris called out an order.
"Smack Down, Frogadier!" Frogadier fired a rock at Blastoise, but this time the tortoise wasn't easily angered. It was more concerned with Charlotte's well being.
"Bite," she said in the same empty voice. Blastoise chased after Frogadier, trying to bite the Pokemon, but it was too fast. In response to this, Blastoise unleashed a geyser's worth of water, the exact same events as those in the tower. Like last time, the frog Pokemon caught the water, but this time, a light began surrounding Frogadier. The light blinded everyone within the dome-shaped room. Once it faded, Frogadier had evolved into its final stage turning all the water Blastoise fired into a shuriken, much larger than the one Frogadier crafted back in the tower. Greninja fired the shuriken back at Blastoise, the move doing enough to cause Blastoise to faint.
There was another period of silence after Blastoise fainted.
"That's it? You're strongest Pokemon loses like that!? He's got four more still you worthless-"
"Shut the fuck up!" roared Chris at the purple haired woman. For the first time, Charlotte's head shot upwards as she stared at Chris. The two now stared into each other's eyes, more tears streaming from Charlotte's.
"I tried to warn you… Chris….I told you to forget all of this...you'll be safer this way."
"Enough with the bullshit Charlotte! Whatever you're doing, stops here. I'm ending this!"
Charlotte then noticed Beedrill in the background slashing the ropes which tied up the workers of the Power Plant. Now freed, the workers began fleeing the Plant. The purple haired woman began to head towards the exit where Chris was standing, but Beedrill entrapped her.
"You're not going anywhere," said Chris. The purple haired woman looked back to Charlotte.
"You got two more Pokemon, use 'em!" she shouted.
Charlotte returned Blastoise to its Pokeball, then sending out Jigglypuff. Greninja now forged swords from condensed water within the room, and charged towards Jigglypuff at speeds similar to Korrina's Lucario, slashing Jigglypuff harshly. In just one attack, the puffball Pokemon fell.
"Chris…please," she muttered, then sending out her final Pokemon. Without a word, Greninja used the same sword charging at Amaura. In one fell swoop, Amaura fainted, leaving Charlotte with no more fighting Pokemon. The dome-shaped Power Plant now came to a complete silence as the battle ended.
"I'm trying to protect you-"
"So that's it!?" exclaimed the purple-haired woman.
Chris' Pokemon began surrounding the remaining Team Flare members. Moments later, the police arrived at the inside of the Power Plant, arresting all Team Flare members…including Charlotte.
As she was being dragged out of the Power Plant, she stared at Chris one more time.
"Wait," said Chris to the officer carrying her.
Chris stared at her for a few seconds. He then gestured to the cop allowing him to take her away. As she was taken out of the building, the officer shook Chris' hand.
"Can't believe a teenager did all this…," he said.
Chris spent the remainder of the day on Route 13. At night, Chris lay on the dusty ground, watching as power would return to Lumiose Tower. Once the tower lit up, the city seemed to rejuvenate, Chris and his Pokemon staring at it in amazement.
"Pretty," said Chris.
Despite the sights he was taking in, Chris mind ran elsewhere.
"Should I have let her go? She's wasn't a bad person...no wait she was. She was working with them."
Chris then looked back to his Pokemon, all of which were still gazing at the tower.
"We did it guys...saved the day, and got our revenge."
His Pokemon smiled at him, but something was still off, with all of them. Despite their acts of heroism, Chris and his Pokemon felt like they failed.
"Wonder what the Professor will think when he see's her daughter in jail," said Chris.
"Wonder what the media would say…Ah I shouldn't be thinking about these things…I should focus on the beautiful sights in front of us."
Though he said it, Chris couldn't stick to his word, his mind continued to linger.
"It's weird...isn't it," he then said garnering the attention of his Pokemon. "Y'know...she's gone...And...well I dunno..."
There was a brief silence between him and his Pokemon.
"I kinda miss her."
His Pokemon looked at him surprised. Chris then looked at the Mega Bracelet.
"She's not ruthless… or evil, but...she…was crying…and she was worried about us."
Chris stared at his Pokemon strongly now, like a father would his son.
"From now on, we watch each other's back, alright? We're all that we have. You guard you're brother."