Arriving at Professor Sycamore's lab, our heroine's group finds Alexa waiting for them. Seated in a corner reading something, is the quiet Akane.
"Hello again, Cici." Sycamore points to some reports about Missingno displayed on a large computer screen. "Alexa has told me you encountered a most unusual Pokémon."
Akane slightly nods to indicate she is aware of her friends' presence.
"It was way creepy." Emma has a funny look on her face.
"My sources tell me Missingno are especially elusive." Sycamore explains. "They were discovered in the Kanto region, lurking on the beaches of Cinnabar Island."
"I couldn't even collect any data, my Pokédex went all wacky!" Hilda thinks back to the scene.
Professor Sycamore explains that Missingo have the ability to disrupt electronic devices, and due to the risks, the Pokémon League has advised trainers to avoid contact with such anomalous Pokémon.
Some speculate a connection to Cinnabar's paleontology research. Rarer varieties of Missingno resemble the skeletons of Kabutops and Aerodactyl. These prehistoric Pokémon, once considered extinct, have recently brought back using their genetic material.
A more supernatural origin has even been theorized. Ghost-like Missingno are occasionally encountered, and they have the same inexplicable effect on electronics.
"What should we do now?" Citrata asks. "I'm a trainer, not a hunter."
"I'll keep you posted if it's spotted again."Alexa smiles. "This Pokémon is news, I don't intend to give up so easily!"
Citrata gives Alexa a phone number to contact her.
"Cici." Akane sets aside her book and stands up.
"Hi there, Akane." A bit surprised, Citrata greets her friend. "Having a good time with that book?"
"Your father." Akane's expression indicates she's pleased. "He was seen leaving the southwest exit."
Emma suggests the group separate to cover more ground. Lumiose City is her home, she'll have a better chance at finding the lost Wooper.
"Will you be alright on your own?" Citrata seems worried. "Team Flare is probably looking for you."
"I've got Mimi, and Alexa can help while she's tracking Missingno." Emma pets her Poké Ball.
Going their separate ways, for the time being, Citrata and Hilda say goodbye and leave the lab. The duo has yet to notice that Akane is following them…
"Greetings." A wandering clown waves at the heroines. "Have you visited the PR Video Studio?"
"Uh, no." Citrata doesn't understand. "We're leaving town."
Not really listening, the clown directs our heroines to the studio.
"I guess we're here." Hilda looks around at the trainers recording videos to promote themselves.
"Hi." A receptionist recognizes Citrata from television. "Would you two like to create your very own PR videos?"
"I don't like selfies." Citrata mumbles in annoyance.
"It'll be fun." Hilda holds up her mobile phone. "The sign says the videos are just a few seconds long."
The displeased Citrata makes a celebration pose in front of a camera. While recording her own video, Hilda giggles at her friend's unintentionally humorous blend of victory and irritation.
"Thank you very much." The receptionist transfers the footage into a terminal.
Soon after Citrata and Hilda leave the studio, they encounter Akane waiting at the city's exit gate.
Meanwhile, Ash and company have arrived at Clemont's gym, otherwise known as the Prism Tower, where the showcase was held. They decided to interrupt their journey, to inspect the damage that Missingno caused.
"It's worse than I thought." Ash stares at a crew sweeping away the broken glass, and repairing light fixtures. "Professor Sycamore said a mysterious Pokémon did all this!"
"I'm just glad the showcase contestants weren't hurt." Serena sighs in relief.
Having returned to the scene in search for clues to Missingno's whereabouts, Alexa and Emma introduce themselves.
"You're looking for a lost Wooper too?" Clemont appears surprised. "They don't usually venture into the city."
"We'll be happy to help, but I just have to meet Missingno!" Thrilled by the countless rare and exotic creatures he's encountered on his adventures, Ash clinches his fists in anticipation. "I never saw anything like it, back when I visited Cinnabar Island."
Cinnabar Island is home to fire-type gym leader Blaine, a veteran who enjoys confounding challengers with riddles. Although the gym complex does feature a building, he also has a more dangerous arena built within a volcano.
In response to the island's tourism, Blaine somewhat reluctantly opened a hotel as well, fittingly named the Big Riddle Inn.
This tale is not Ash's story, however. With his group busy further investigating the Lumiose City gym, let us rewind to where our heroine left off…
"Hey." Wasting few words, Akane motions toward a skate park just outside the city.
While the facility may be small, it has become a gathering spot for roller skaters and the like. The unmistakable Cacturnemobile is sloppily parked nearby, occupying more than one space.
"Great, he must be at it again." Citrata shrugs at who her father has become.
Riding a green skateboard, Cacnea-Man shouts at a bunch of kids he thinks are delinquent.
"Who does this geezer think he is?" A young boy wearing inline skates tries to out-speed the self-proclaimed superhero. "He's fast, but totally has no style."
"Whoa!" As he rides into a patch of grass, Cacnea-Man begins to lose his balance.
"Cici!" Sensing an impeding collision, Akane jumps to push Citrata out of the way, but ends up falling to the ground along with her.
Concerned for his daughter's safety, Cacnea-Man puts away the skateboard and checks to see if she needs help getting back to her feet. Both Citrata and Akane decline the assistance.
"I'm okay, Dad." Citrata replies.
In her typical wordless fashion, Akane dusts herself off, then briefly gives Cacnea-Man a disappointed scowl.
A moment later, a roller skater about our heroine's age impressively jumps several of the ramps, stopping in front of her. He has short black hair, with a thin purple extension in the center that ends between his eyes.
His attire is more eccentric yet. Consisting of a white hoodie, featuring a pirate emblem on the front. Tuxedo pants torn off below the knees, and punk rock boots.
"Kids these days." Cacnea-Man sends out Cacnea. "I won't let some hoodlum harm my family!"
"Get real, old man. I'm no kid, I'm Royle!" The shifty roller skater laughs, as he calls forth his Pokémon. "Machop will send you back to school."
Cacnea-Man commands Cacnea to use Magical Leaf, a move whose accuracy makes up for its low power. It's a direct hit!
"Mach!" Machop complains.
"We're strong against plants, counter it with Fire Punch!" Royle punches the air in front of him.
Mild flames emerge from Machop's right hand as it lands a solid jab.
"Clever, but we're on the same page!" Cacnea-Man boasts.
Responding with its own fisticuffs, Cacnea launches a powerful Counter attack. This move only works immediately after the user has sustained physical damage. Machop slumps backwards, its eyes spinning in defeat.
"I'll remember this!" As Royle retrieves his Pokémon and darts away, he seems to wink at Citrata.
Our heroine nearly begins to chase after him, until Akane puts a hand on her shoulder.
"The nerve!" Citrata shakes her head.
"Woo…" A faint voice sounds in the distance.
"Did you hear that?" Hilda glances around. "I think something is in those bushes over there."
Hilda walks over to the shrubbery, returning with a squirming backpack cradled in her arms. Suddenly, a Wooper pops up from inside it!
"Hello, little one." Somehow, the Pokémon's cuteness rubs off on Citrata. "Do you belong to the Quagsire Bureau?"
"Woo?" A bit disoriented, Wooper takes a moment to reply. "Wooper!"
Our heroine tells her father about her recent adventures. Winning a gym badge, meeting Missingno, and so forth.
"Hmhm." In a heroic gesture, Cacnea-Man places his arms on his hips. "The TV said you stood proud against Team Rocket. I'll be watching!"
Cacnea-Man dashes over to his car, making an overly dramatic exit.
"He's something." Hilda chuckles.
Returning to Lumiose City, our heroine's group follows the Pokédex's map to reach the Quagsire Bureau. It's a large, blue building designed to greatly appeal to a water-type aesthetic.
Inside, most of the staff are wearing the organization's distinctively sleek uniforms.
"Welcome to the Quagsire Bureau." The receptionist generally resembles a Nurse Joy, except her hair is blue, covered by a hat shaped like Wooper's head. "Oh! Could that be our lost Wooper!?"
Citrata introduces herself, and describes how she and her friends found the missing Pokémon.
"Agents Barnacle and Coral will be pleased, Royle is a local troublemaker." Taking back Wooper, the receptionist hands over a set of coupons in exchange. "Use these for a meal at one of the city's cafés, you've earned it."
Out heroine's phone soon rings. It's Alexa with an update on Missingno.
"Hey there." Citrata answers the call. "We've just brought Wooper home."
"That's good." Alexa says. "Emma and I have concluded Missingno is probably headed west. As you know, it lives on the beach."
"Alright." Citrata responds. "Will you be joining us?"
"I'm afraid not." Alexa puts her hand on her chin. "We're helping Clemont with the gym repairs. See you later!"
Continuing their journey, Citrata and company visit Café Soleil, the dining establishment nearest to the city's southwest exit.
"How may we serve you, ladies?" A polite host at the door, greets and seats customers.
"Table for three." Citrata hasn't eaten much lately, kept preoccupied by recent events.
The trio is seated by a window, where they can watch urban life unfold. A public transportation service known as the Gogoat Shuttle, lets people ride the specially trained goat Pokémon around town.
Socialites prefer to stroll with their Furfrou, a canine Pokémon whose long, quick-growing fur has become fashionable. A variety of elaborate patterns are available, although upkeep is a challenge. The styling needs to be redone in a manner of days.
"Here are your menus." A waitress sets the table with dishes and utensils.
Deciding takes a while. Much of the cuisine selection is foreign to Citrata and Hilda. Even global staples like burgers or pizza, offer several toppings uncommon in their regions.
"Submarine." Akane places her finger on the description of a party-sized sub sandwich, stacked with cheeses, veggies, and what appears to be sliced meat.
"Ice cream, please!" Hilda flips her menu to the dessert section.
"Uh, I'll take what they're having." Undecided, Citrata lets her friends pick the meal.
"Very well." The waitress writes down the order, taking it to the kitchen.
"Say…" Citrata breaks the silent moment. "Dad didn't call me an evildoer this time."
The studious Akane points out that James from Team Rocket has a wealthy family, yet he still tries to steal Pokémon.
"James, huh?" Amused, Citrata smirks. "I must've looked pretty dumb, running off to join Team GR."
"It happens to the best of us." Hilda reassures our heroine. "In Unova, a lot of people were duped by Team Plasma's speeches about liberating Pokémon from their trainers."
While the trio waits for their meal, Hilda shares some more of her experiences in Unova. It is a land of big cities and majestic dragons. The Pokémon Kyurem, Reshiram, and Zekrom have a strange, intertwined history. Recently, Hilda and Zekrom teamed up with Hilbert and Reshiram to battle against Team Plasma.
Ash and Looker later succeeded in arresting several of the organization's leaders, leaving Team Plasma presently greatly weakened.
"Enjoy." The waitress returns with a large sandwich cut into thirds, and three plentiful servings of ice cream.
"Mm." Hilda munches on her food. "Cici told me you're a knight, Akane."
"Yes." In a good mood, by her standards, Akane has let her guard down a little. "They have been very kind to me."
Akane continues on, elaborating that she keeps a journal of her travels, and joined the Knights of Fennekin seeking inspiration to write about.
"You're in the right place, then." Citrata boasts. "We have seven more gyms ahead of us. There's so much to see, just here in Kalos."
Their meals consumed, our heroines again depart for route 5, also called the Versant Road.
What intrigue awaits at the journey's next destination, the cozy Camphrier Town? Stay tuned!