We leave the city that day, even though I want to go sightseeing more. According to the map, we should be able to come here from any part of Kalos- the entire thing is like a huge spoke-and-wheel system. That's a plus for us- this city is beautiful.

Juliet is still complaining, "Why Shin? Come on, Lilly! Don't you know about true love?"

"Yes, I do. I've got one myself. Listen, I promise we'll sub him back in. Good?"

Juliet nods, still pouty, and I exit out one of the huge tunnels, hoping feverishly it's the one I wanted.

In the tunnel, there's a man, smoking a cigar and wearing thick glasses. He suddenly approaches me, slamming one hand behind me, pinning me against the wall.

"Have you heard about O-Powers?"

"N-n-no..." I say.

"In that case," He takes the cigarette out, letting a puff of smoke cloud my face, and I cough and his yellowed teeth glint in the dim light, "It's bonding time."

Rune runs forward, Chrona and Pich at his sides, and he bites the man's leg, ears spitting out sparks everywhere. Chrona subdues him with a Vine Whip, and Juliet pecks his head furiously.

"RUN, LILLY!" Rune yells dramatically, taking another large chunk out of the man's leg.

"Uh..." I look down, and withdraw all three of them. With a backwards glance, I step on his leg right where Rune bit him and then walk casually away.

The woman in the tunnel behind the information desk looks at me, wide-eyed, and I spit, "What? Even you can't deny that was creepy."

Wisely, she shuts up.

I walk out into the bright daylight, no longer polluted by fancy city lights, just pure, perfect sunshine. It's hard to believe how rural this place is- right outside a city, grassy fields as far as the eye can see. Really, who knows how Kalos cities work? I don't get it, but then again, I wasn't an expert on this stuff in Johto either.

I walk out, arms outstretched, and see a small blue shape on the horizon. It's a Lucario, dashing towards me. It runs up to me, paw outstretched, and before I can dodge, it has it's hand over my heart. I look down at it, and it says, blue eyes glittering, "Good luck, my lady."

Then it's gone again, and I watch as it walks away. A girl in roller skates scoots up to me, and then smiles when she sees my confused appearance. "You must be very special. Usually my Lucarios don't run away like that, especially not to find some trainer."

"Oh. Should I be worried?"

"Nah." She skates away.

I stare after her for a while, and then go into the grass, looking for a catch this route. To my surprise, five Gulpin appear in the grass. Pich, thoroughly surrounded, begins picking them off one by one with Wing Attack.

"Pich! Look out!" Her eyes are wide as sludge falls on her beak, and she coughs and falls down, the poison wracking her body. She steps forward, trying to retaliate, and as soon as the last Gulpin comes close enough, she ends it with an upwards slash of her wings.

"Cah..." Pich groans, and I reach into my bag for an antidote.

"Oh no." I say, eyes wide, and scour the bag again. Not a single one. "We need to get you back to Lumoise, now."

An Ace Trainer blocks our way. "Oh really? Well, unfortunately, you seem to have caught my eye. You do know the rules of a Pokemon Battle, correct?"

He sends forth a Kadabra, which lifts it's spoons and a wave of psychic energy blasts from it, but before it can hit Pich, Rune runs in the way, teeth bared.

He jumps at it, but it knocks him aside with a psychic pulse, and spoon held overhead, brings it falling down like a guillotine blade, which Rune takes as an injury to the head. Bleeding, he gets back on his feet slowly, and Chrona whispers, "Oh dear. Too weak to protect her? Well, if you fail..."

Rune's eyes are wide, glancing around at the team, knowing what he'll see all too well. Underleveled teammates who would die in one hit. Chrona, the poison type. Pich... "Lilly!" Rune yells, "Please."

My eyes shine gold, and we flash seamlessly, the golden energy coursing through Rune's veins like the blood of the gods. We bite down on the Kadabra, but again, the spoon comes crashing down and Rune pushes me out.

He looks back at Pich, coughing and sputtering miserably. "I'm so sorry..." A bright light engulfs him, his whole body growing. He stands up on two feet, his ear fur grows, and he's wearing... a skirt? Oh boy.

He holds up a stick, and with it, slashes back with psychic energy of his own, which the Kadabra deflects with his spoon. They engage in a sort of lightsaber fight, each one deflecting and attacking until Rune does a loop and before I realize what's happening, the Kadabra is suffocating. "Checkmate." He sends it up and down into the ground.

"R-r-rune!" Pich manages a weak smile.

"Pich, are you okay?"

"Oh, I'm so sorry Pich. Looks like he evolved without you." Chrona is trying to conceal a smile.

Pich looks down and sighs. "It's... it's okay." She screams in pain again, the poison now visible in her veins.

I pick her up and run for the city.