Ambient light created by skyscraper rooms and street lamps and cars spread across the habour's water, wriggling, dancing with the gentle waves. The ship arrived late in the night. But, Castelia, being unique and different from any other city in Unova, was wide awake. The city that never sleeps, as it is often referred to, welcomed my turbulent soul into its iron sanctuary.

Hueso and I walked to the nearest pokémon center to rest up. In the morning, we would leave together for the gym, or that was the plan at least.

I sigh and say, "Unbelievable."

Servine cries out.

"And after we had planned to go together to not get lost in this enormous city."

Riolu takes a hold of my hand. Magnemite tries to cheer me up by lifting strands of my hair with its electricity.

"Come on, guys. Lets take a walk."

Stepping outside into the morning sun's light, I take a look all around. At the people walking in all directions. The cars passing by. The harbour across the street, the ocean beyond. The imposing buildings. It smells slightly better than Virbank.

A whiff of carbon monoxide from a passing car tingles and irritates my nose. Or not.

Walking down the street, in no particular direction, I'm violently shoved from behind and see a man running away carrying a pokémon. Riolu and Magnemite cry out. It hits me a second after. The man was wearing a Team Plasma uniform like the guy at Floccesy Ranch. And the pokémon he was carrying was Servine. "Hey!" I give chase.

Swerving around other people on the sidewalk trying to keep up with him, I see him shoving people out of his way as he desperately tries to get away. I manage to hound him down to the edge of the harbour, but lose sight of him as soon as we enter the freight depository. I look all around, trying to catch a glimpse of the man to try and recognise him. He kept his head down so I won't be able to recognise him by his face if I do see him pass by.

"Hey!" I turn around and see a young girl walking up to us. "Glad I was able to catch up with you!"

I'm visibly low on breath but, upon seeing her closer my voice cracks into a higher pitch as I run out of breath.

"Uh! I-Iris!"

"Take a short break. After, I can take you to the place where I think he might've run into."

I wait a moment before saying, "How do you know? Where he is."

"I've been following that guy around for a while. He's been seen snooping around places he shouldn't be in. And he's been acting suspicious. Well, now we know.

"Nice to meet you, by the way!"

"Mhm! I'm Catheri."

"It's great to meet you, Catheri. Now, are you ready to–"

She's interrupted quite rudely by the abrupt arrival of Hueso.

"Catheriii!" he yells out as he makes his way in. "Where is he? Where'd he go? That guy better brace himself because I'm bringing the Smack Down on him!"

"My," Iris says, "who's this? Friend of yours?"

"Sure," I answer.

"Hugh," he says, "the next champion in the making!"

Iris laughs and says, "That's great!" She wraps an arm around both our necks as she takes us down to her eye level and says, "You two should make the perfect team, am I right?"

"Well," I say trying to keep my footing with my knees bent at ninety degree angles, "this would be the first time we'd have to team up."

"Ah, but, I have a feeling it won't be the last."

"…Maybe."

Hueso says, "If you know anything about those guys, spill it. Spare me the details and point me in their direction. Justice never sleeps."

"You've been watching too much Toxtricity-Man," I say.

Iris says, "I like your attitude but, are you sure you're up to the task? I ask this of the both of you. Team Plasma may not be the grand group of villains they were a couple years ago, but even then they're still just as dangerous. Sending both of you in, knowing the dangers, I, as this region's champion must also hold some type of responsibility. This includes people like you two, young trainers who constantly get into trouble and go off the beaten path. So, I ask you both, are you ready to face Team Plasma together?"

"Yes," Hueso answers the second after she finished saying her last word.

I nod and say, "I'm ready." I think.

"Okay." She lets go of us. "This way."

We follow her to the harbour's edge. Down a set of stairs we approach an iron door. Iron bars block access into the sewer tunnel, letting only filtered water out. Iris takes out a set of keys and unlocks and opens the door.

She gestures inside with a smile on her face and says, "I shall wait for you out here just in case our friend decides to back out of a fight."

Hueso says, "He won't be moving after I'm done with him."

"This door was locked," I say looking at the lock mechanism on the thick iron door, "how did he even get in there without a key?"

"We believe he works at the harbour and obtained legitimate access to the sewage tunnels."

"We?"

"I'm currently working with the Castelia police department on this case."

"Don't you have…champion duties? Er?"

"Yeah, this is what I was saying. Responsibilities. Being more than just a trainer and an icon. Serving the people, the region. Being a role model and setting examples for the rest of you. That's a champion in my opinion."

"That's like a real life superhero. Like a real life Toxtricity-Man."

"Precisely, Catheri. Now, you two be careful down there. Here, take these with you. Some revives and potions for your pokémon, just to keep them safe so they can keep you safe."

"Thank you," I say taking them and putting them in my bag.

Hueso and I enter the dark sewage tunnel, adamant to the dangers lurking within.

"Magnemite, make some sparks to give us some light."

The dimly lit tunnel becomes better illuminated thanks to Magnemite's electric sparks. Rattatas and Raticates scurry away from us as we make our way through. After what feels like forever, we make it to what appears to be a large chamber, but we aren't sure because of the poor visibility. Just as back in the tunnel, dim yellowed lights mark the walls along various paths. Numerous sets of stairs go up and down to upper and lower levels. We hear the chittering sound of Zubat coming from somewhere above. There is also the sound of splashing water.

"Which way should we go?" I ask Hueso.

"I think we should go this way, come on."

I follow Hueso's lead. We head down a set of stairs, pass alongside a concrete canal, and up another set of stairs. On the platform, the way splits three ways. Left goes further into the chamber. Straight ahead is a ladder that goes up to ground level, telling by the daylight spilling through. Right is a dark corridor. We decide to go right. The dark corridor turns to be a hole in the wall, caused by a blast from the other side as all the ruble and debris is here on this side. Hueso and I look at each other before stepping through.

On the other side is a cavern. It stretches for who knows how many miles out. We hear chattering coming from somewhere up ahead and head there immediately.

"Hey!" Hueso exclaims.

Two Plasma grunts are conversing. One turns to look back and yelps, the one who has Servine captured inside a clear cylindrical casing.

"Riolu!"

"S-Sandile!"

The other grunt also brings out his pokémon. "Scraggy!"

"Go! Pignite! Catheri, you take care of Scraggy! I'll handle Sandile. These guys are weak compared to us."

"You cocky brat," says the grunt with the Scraggy. "Scraggy, Low Kick!"

"Riolu, dodge!"

"Sandile! Sand Attack!"

Sandile cries out and plumes dirt into Pignite's eyes. Pignite rubs its eyes to clear its vision.

"Use Sand Tomb!"

Sandile stops its feet and traps Pignite in a vortex of sand and dirt, but more dirt than sand.

"Pignite, Flame Charge!"

Pignite flares up, takes aim at Sandile and charges.

"Eyes over here, missy! Scraggy, take it down! Use Headbutt!"

"Endure!"

Riolu takes the full powered Headbutt head on.

"Counter!"

Riolu strikes back, knocking Scraggy away with its fist.

"Sandile, use Dig!"

Sandile rapidly burrows into the ground, avoiding the Flame Charge. Pignite is repeatedly struck by coarse sand.

Hueso says, "Coward!"

The Plasma grunt frowns.

"Riolu, finish it off! Use Force Palm!"

Riolu closes in on Scraggy. Right when its about to strike, the Plasma grunt calls out, "Faint Attack!"

Riolu and I are taken by surprise as Scraggy retaliates with an uppercut from lying on the ground. This time, Riolu is knocked back.

"Use Headbutt!"

"Come on, Riolu, get up!"

Riolu lifts up its upper body but, takes a Headbutt to the face and is pushed further out. It's pushed far into the darkness I can't see it anymore.

"Haha! Give up. Your pokémon is mine, kid."

I grit my teeth. "Riolu, power up your Force Palm!" I yell into the pitch black. A blue light breaks through and illuminates Riolu, standing with its fist balled up.

"Now, Force Palm!"

"Uh!"

Riolu makes a beeline for Scraggy and strikes it once on its chest, sending it flying to the rock wall and knocking it out.

"No! Scraggy!" the grunt cries out as he goes over to check his pokémon.

Hueso says, "You can't hide forever."

"Riolu, search it out! Find Sandile!"

The timid grunt does a confused expression. Riolu closes its eyes. In its vision, it senses and sees Sandile's aura under the ground beneath Pignite's feet. Riolu opens its eyes and cries out, waving an arm at me and pointing a paw at Pignite.

"Below Pignite!"

The colour drains from the grunt's face as his plan is thwarted. He yells, "Dig!"

"Dodge!"

Pignite moves right on time as Sandile springs out from below, snapping its jaw.

"Flame Charge!"

The Sandile braces itself and closes its eyes as Pignite tackles it with brilliant flames.

"Ah! Use Bite!"

"Don't let it. Use Arm Thrust!"

Pignite shuts Sandile's mouth back up as it strikes it down with a flurry of Arm Thrusts. It might've been overkill, but Sandile stays down as it lies fainted.

"Ah!" The grunt drops the casing from his trembling hands and backs away, returning his pokémon in the process.

The competent grunt says, "Ha! Ain't no way you're breaking through that."

"Watch me," I say. "Servine! Growth!"

Inside the tube, Servine enlarges.

"Hey…"

"Growth! Again!"

Servine grows bigger. Its limbs and face press against the clear tube.

"Stop!"

"Make me! Growth!"

The stress inside the cylindrical casing builds as Servine grows even bigger. An audible crack is heard followed by the wail of twisting metal. What sounds like glass breaking echoes as Servine breaks out of the casing.

"You!"

"I what?" I say, staring him down with Riolu and Servine at my side along with Hueso and his Pignite. The timid grunt scurries away into the darkness.

"This was a bad idea. We blew it," he says as he scampers away.

"Cowards!" says Hueso. "Thieves!"

"Jerks!" I add. "Don't mess me or my pokémon ever again!"

The grunt points and says, "You better watch your backs," before disappearing in the darkness.

I take Servine into my arms and give it a hug. It's huge, nearly the same height as me. The Growth wears off and it shrinks back to normal size. It cries out.

I let out a sigh. "Were we supposed to let 'em go?"

"Well, we couldn't have contained them. We don't have handcuffs or anything."

"Servine could've wrapped one of them."

"Yeah, but his feet would still be free and he would run away like a coward."

"Pignite could've taken hold of his feet, right?"

Pignite cries out.

"While Servine holds him by the arms. And then you and I could've wrapped around the other guy."

"And what? Slithered our way back to the entrance? Come on, Iris is waiting for us."

We headed back to the surface and met back up with Iris. We told her about the two grunts and the cavern. The Castelia city police arrived shortly thereafter. It's my first day in this city and I already feel the rush of city life. I wonder what tomorrow will be like.

My thoughts are interrupted by someone calling out my name. It can't be Hueso as he's talking with the officers and Iris.

"Catheri, was it?"

I turn to see who's there. A tall blond man with a grey lab coat and a weird set of oval glasses approaches.

"Who's asking?"

"It's good that you're cautious. One shouldn't be quick to trust.

"My name is Colress. I'm a pokémon researcher studying the true way to draw out a pokémon's power. My goal is to find the most optimal way to draw out their raw strength. What are the factors that are important when raising a pokémon for competitive battle? Which ones are not? Which pokémon are most suited for combat? All these questions, they should lead me to the creation of a catalogue. A pokémon catalogue. Yes."

This guy is weird.

"No one understands this better than you and I, Catheri."

"How so?"

"Well, apart from being a researcher, I too am a trainer such as you. Pokémon, their true power lies in having a strong bond with their trainers."

"That much is clear, yeah."

"It's no surprise you know. But, is that all there is to it? Is it really just friendship or rigorous training that pokémon undertake with their human partners that refine them into such fierce monstrosities?"

"What else could there be to it? Isn't it just all self explanatory?"

"Yes and no. Yes, what else could there be? And no, I disagree. I believe it isn't self explanatory. There must be more to it. There has to."

I don't know what to say.

"This has been a nice small chat, but I must be going now. May fate bring us together again."

He walks away.

What a weirdo.

"Who was that?" Iris asks approaching with Hueso.

I shrug and say, "Some researcher?"

"Researcher?" Iris says with a bit of concern behind her voice as she watches him leave.