The ship looked odd and out of place. It kind of looked like an old ship but with modern features like jets… Ah! Did it just disappear before my very eyes? Really? Please disappearing ship, get to the back of the line, I have a lot of unsolved mysteries in my life already. I wonder if anyone else saw that? No, no one looks shocked. Did I imagine it? Am I dreaming whilst still being awake? Arceus, I need some sleep! The ferry had about an hour until it docked in Castelia so I had only an hour to spare. That's not enough time to get some satisfying sleep. I think I'll write a letter to my Grandmamma instead. I'm going to tell her all that's happened so far, but, uh, I'll just leave out the weird stuff.

When the ship docked in Castelia there was one place I really wanted to go. To bed! I checked into the Pokémon Centre and got given a twin room again, but it seemed that my partner is discomfort was already out for the day. Yes! Now I can get some good sleep!

I awoke to the jingling of my X-transceiver. Who dares interrupt me when I'm sleeping? Oh, it's Hugh.

"Rosa. Rosa? Were…were you sleeping? Nate told me that you were in Castelia."

"Yes genius I was sleeping. Can you not tell by my overly excited tone of voice?" I drawled down the X-transceiver. Oh! Something in me snapped. What does my hair look like? No, I can't check myself out right now. Hugh will laugh at me. I just hope I don't look mental. I kind of woke up sarcastic too. I hope he doesn't think I'm being rude.

"Rosa, it's almost sundown. Wake the heck up!" ALMOST SUNDOWN! I'm, I'm speechless.

"Look Rosa, something strange is happening here at the Castelia Sewers. Champion Iris told me. Can you believe it? Champion Iris! Anyway, there are reports that Team Plasma's down there. They are also saying that they saw Burgh, the Gym Leader down there. Yep, he's not in the Gym so don't bother going to challenge him right now. Apparently he's never there! So anyway…" what was I listening to? A gossip show!

"Shhhh, Hugh. I'll be there as soon as I can. You said the sewers right?" I said sleepily.

"Rosa? Are you alright?" Hugh seems concerned. I'd better get him off my tail.

"I'm tired that's all. It's been a long couple of days."

He sighed. "Yeah, tell me about it. I'll see you in five." The X-transceiver clicked, ending the call. Brilliant, now I have to get up, get ready, find a snack because I don't have time to eat, and find these bloody sewers in five whole minutes. You know what? Hugh is totally going to have to buy me dinner for this.

When I arrived Hugh was hopping from one foot to the other. Was his bladder alright or was he excited?

"Come on Rosa. Let's team up and conquer the world!" I've never participated in a double battle before nor conquered the world so I guess this will be fun! Besides, if there are Team Plasma members down there I guess they'll need someone to hold Hugh back so he doesn't skin them alive.

As we entered the sewers there was an overpowering stench. It's not surprising though; we are going into the Trubbish-infected guts of the city. There's bound to be something nasty lurking around.

"Stop you pathetic kids!" Speaking of nasty, a foul mannered man popped out of nowhere.

"Yes that's right- you- you pathetic kids." Awww, someone's new to this! Oh this is priceless, even the first man turned to look at his squeaky accomplice.

"We are Team Plasma. The new Team Plasma!" The first one spoke again. They didn't look like Team Plasma Grunts. Where are the grey tents they were wearing two years ago? Oh wait, on their caps. The Plasma logo.

"Team Plasma! I'll skin you alive." And thus Hugh's rage was popped. I totally called the 'skinning' thing too. He's so predictable. The Plasma Grunts sent out some 'gruntish' Pokémon like Trubbish and Zubat. Look: if I were Ghetsis I'd get my followers some better Pokémon at least. If they all have the same Pokémon I'm going to get bored. As the never ending Trubbish kept fainting and reappearing I kept switching my Pokémon for a more rounded battle experience. Plus I wanted to train them all up, not just one.

"How do you have so many Pokémon…and where did you get that Axew?" Hugh asked with amazement in his eyes. Even the Grunts stopped to ponder my little powerhouse.

"My Grandparents are Breeders, well they were, anyway, and they sent me an egg each to take on my adventure. And Hugh, your Snivy evolved already?" I wanted to change the subject. I didn't tell him that I wanted to give one of the eggs to him for his sister. Imagine giving his sister an Axew! At least it would be harder to steal. It's safe to say that Hugh and I won the battle easily. Battling with someone else is different. You have to take their Pokémon into account as well as your own. If there is an enemy Pokémon that has the potential to take out one of your partner's Pokémon you have to address it before the Pokémon is seriously hurt.

The Grunts ran off further into the sewers, their defeat clearly stinging them. Hugh was uncontrollable.

"I'm going to get you, you bastards!" Hugh shouted waving his arms around. Ouch! One of his flailing arms made contact with my face. This sobered Hugh up.

"Oh shitty Arceus are you okay Rosa? I'm so sorry, I got a little carried away." Sounds like someone got carried away with their profanities!

"Yes, Hugh, I'm fine. Look I'm not bleeding or anything." There's definitely going to be a bruise though.

"No Rosa, let me take a look. Darn there's not enough light down here. I can't see you properly." He held my head in a strong grip while he looked for any signs that he'd damaged me. He turned my head towards his and kept his hold.

"Well, it looks like there's nothing there." Oh Arceus he was close. He was really close. He has lovely ruby-red eyes. It's an odd colour really, but they are mesmerizing.

"Hey Rosa are you alright? You look a bit spaced out." He brushed his hand down the back of my head."

"Hugh, for the last time, I'm fine." I replied, snapping out of my trance. I must not think about his eyes, or how close he was!

"I'm not interrupting anything am I?" A voice said seductively from the darkness. Hugh was so startled he almost fell into the sewer water.

"N-no, there's no interruption going on here. I mean you're not interrupting anything." Hugh's funny when he's embarrassed.

I heard footsteps until the owner of the voice was close enough too see. He was dressed rather extravagantly for a dip in the sewers.

"It's Burgh!" Hugh exclaimed with excitement.

"I'm sorry Burgh I've got to go and chase after some Team Plasma members. He turned and shouted down the sewer tunnel:

"Hey, you two, don't think that I've forgotten about you. I want to know where my sisters Purrloin is you thieves and I'm not going to let you go until you tell me!" I hope, for the safety of the two human lives beneath that Team Plasma exterior, that Hugh doesn't find them. Because, judging by his accidental punch to my face, they would be really sore! He started running down the tunnel but I suddenly remembered my ultimatum.

"You owe me dinner!" I shouted after him. He stopped and turned.

"What? Oh, alright. I guess it's the least I can do." Before Hugh had time to turn around again Burgh spoke up.

"Don't worry young man, I'll look after your girlfriend seeing as though you can't." Ouch, you could feel the heat from Hugh's blushing all the way over here…or was that my blushing?

"She's, she's, not my-oh nevermind." I heard him say quietly before he took off again, this time he disappeared from view completely.

"Shall we?" The strange Gym Leader was quite gentlemanly as he gestured for me to walk with him. We didn't get far before another voice appeared.

"Interesting, that was, very interesting." It said. A man soon materialised. He looked like a scientist or a doctor. A pretty hot one too. Or was he too young to be one? At first glace he looks mature, but when I looked a little closely I could see signs of childishness. He had a lab coat on that had diamond shaped buttons and it looked quite classy, but underneath it he seemed to be wearing a black, school uniform-looking outfit with blue piping. But his hair, now that is a masterpiece. I've only just met this man and I can tell that his odd hairstyle suits him. He has a lovely tone of blond hair tidily slicked back, but then a blue stand curls around his head like an antenna. I kind of like his hair. Oh he just pushed up his glasses with his hand. A white gloved hand! Oh no, gloves make me feel queasy. They remind me of doctors that want to hurt you and prod you with needles all day long.

"Yes, my research is coming along splendidly since I was dropped off here." What the heck is he talking about? I'm going to play with this evil-gloved man. He deserves it for wearing those horrible white…things!

'What, you mean you were dropped off by your invisible boat?" No one but me saw this boat apparently, so I'm going to have some fun. Plus it was probably a figment of my sleepy imagination. The mysterious man actually looked shocked.

"What are you talking about? Did that bump to the head scramble your brains? I saw that you know. That boy really ought to calm down in the presence of a lady." Burgh looked puzzled.

"Oh, you're hurt. Perhaps I should take a look at it?" The mysterious man stepped closer.

"Oh you're a doctor then? Can you save her?" Gosh Burgh is over dramatic.

"Let me see." He grabbed my head before I could protest. Only he was a gentler than Hugh. I heard him fumble around in his pocket. He's going to inject me I know it. Abort, abort! Come on legs, get me out of here. The man with his arms around my head must have felt my alarm because his grip tightened.

"Don't move, I'm trying to help you." He whispered gently into my ears. His voice was kind of soothing. He pulled a torch out of his pocket and shined it on my face.

"Ouch, that looks like it's going to be a nasty bruise, but, you'll live!" He said jokingly. Burgh was too busy praising Arceus that he didn't hear what the man said to me next.

"It's not a boat, it's a ship." Then he gripped my shoulders tight and whispered violently in my ear.

"Say nothing more about it, or else."

"Oh, thank you mysterious miracle worker! She's going to live." Burgh came forward and shook the man's hand. I was in awe. Did that mean that I didn't imagine the ship? Am I on a Pokémon adventure or a detective mission?

"I'm sorry but I must be off. You be careful now." The gloved man pointed to me. I don't know if what he said was meant to be sinister or not, but it made me shudder. The man turned and walked into the tunnel that Hugh disappeared down. I wonder where Hugh had got to now?

"Come on love, you look like you've seen a ghost. Let's get you some fresh air." Burgh put his hand on my shoulder and led me out of those smelly sewers.

"Don't forget to call that charming spike ball, he owes you dinner!" Burgh winked and then turned to walk off. Winking, again? Do I honestly attract winking weirdoes?

After Burgh had walked away a small girl walked up to me.

"Did you see an angry boy with an angry hairstyle down there?" She must be talking about Hugh. A small growl escaped my mouth.

"Yes, I did. He's fine, he's always like that." I replied despondently.

"Oh, okay. That's good. Only he promised he'd take me out to dinner but it's getting late. So I'm going home now. If you see him can you tell him? Thank you."

Bitch said what? This must be the 'Champion Iris' that Hugh mentioned earlier. Ha! He's probably forgotten about her anyway. Hugh's not so good when it comes to remembering things like that.

My X-transceiver began ringing again. It was Hugh. I was in a good mind not to answer him but I couldn't help myself.

"So we're on for dinner then? Where are you?"

"I'm at the entrance to the sewers Hugh. I'm safe…and ridiculously hungry so you'd better be ready for some serious eating." Hugh chuckled at my confession.

"Alright, I'll be there in a minute." The call ended. A couple of seconds later I saw him emerge from the tunnel. Well, that was fast.

"Come on." He said taking my arm. "I know a good place down one of the side streets." Hugh led me down some dodgy looking street. I could see why he had taken my arm. The gesture still didn't stop me from tensing up.

"Don't be scared Rosa. I'm here. Do you get nervous in places like this?" I simply nodded. My words had run away.

"Look, there it is!" Hugh pointed to a green door with a neon sign above it.

"Honestly, the food is great here. Don't judge it on the exterior alone." Hugh let go of my arm to open the door and allow me through. He was chivalrous! Gentleman Hugh!

"Table for two please Walt." Hugh said to the waiter standing by the podium to greet customers. The place didn't look too bad actually. The wall was exposed brick and the tables were made of dark wood. There were only tables big enough for two people and only seven tables so the restaurant looked really cosy and intimate. There was a crisp white tablecloth and a white candle on a gold plate on every table.

"Right this way please, Hugh." The waiter led us to a table in the corner.

"Compliments of the chef." The waiter placed two bowls on the table. They were filled with rice, curry and a whole host of tender char-grilled vegetables. Thank Arceus, I thought I'd have to pull the vegetarian card then. The waiter then brought out two iced teas, bowed and then left.

"Hugh? What's going on here!?" I was shocked and delighted by the whole experience.

"My Grandfather went to school with the owner. I've eaten free here all of my life." He spoke quietly and softly. He must miss his Grandfather.

"How did they know I was a vegetarian?" I asked, interested.

"I called before hand to let them know that we were coming, and that we would want vegetarian meals." How thoughtful of Hugh! But I can't help but wonder if Iris was a vegetarian too? He might have planned this for her and not me. No, I have to forget negative thoughts for now. I mustn't be jealous. What Cheren said to Bianca about jealousy crept into my mind, it's ugly, and I don't want this lovely dinner to be spoiled by that little brat.

When we had finished our delicious meal the chef himself came out to greet us. He playfully grabbed Hugh's head and rubbed a fist against it. He pretended to be hurt by one of the spikes. They were really cute!

"So Hugh, will you and this precious lady be wanting some desert?" He had a foreign accent. He wasn't a local of Unova.

"Rosa, desert?" Hugh looked into my eyes. Oh, I can't get entranced again!

"Hugh, I'm really tired at that wonderful meal filled me right up." Hugh looked a little disappointed until the chef spoke out.

"It's better that you don't have desert. All we have are Castelia cones and they were bought hours ago. They've all gone soggy now!" The chef left, howling with laughter, causing the other diners to stop and see what the commotion was.

"Come on then Rosa, I'll walk you back to the Pokémon Centre. I assume you are staying there." Hugh linked his arm though mine and walked me through the Castelia backstreets again. He stopped just outside the Pokémon Centre. He got his room key out.

"Look, I'm in Room 202 if you need me." He jangled his keys for good measure.

"Good night Rosa." He gave me a slight hug before he entered the doors. I felt like he wanted a better hug but something was holding him back. I walked in feeling a little bit dizzy. I sat down on one of the saggy sofas and got my room key out. It had '202' engraved into it.

Well shit.