Chapter Text
˚⋅˖⋆❀☆⋅° morning °⋅☆❀⋆˖⋅˚
Harmony left the train station and stopped to look around Lumiose City. The sky was bright, the air fresh and warm, and the beautiful views were promising an unforgettable summer vacation. She could already see the Prism Tower on the horizon, towering over the big city’s skyline. It was exciting and it was all ready for the taking.
Harmony looked at the bag she was holding. She didn't pack too many clothes, planning to do some shopping in famous Lumiose boutiques, but she surely came prepared when it came to pokéballs. After all, she came here to rest after the summer semester, but also to join Z-A Royale. So first, she had to catch a pokémon. Or six.
“We're good to go!” Harmony heard a man say to someone. She liked the enthusiasm and the voice, so she turned her head. “Get ready for the spotlight again, you three!”
Nice, he was cute. He had unique blond and peachy hair, striking blue eyes and a wide smile. He was smiling at three pokémon. He wore a blue shirt with a pokéball pattern and a stylish brown jacket. And he was wearing gray sweatpants. Harmony looked at them for a bit longer than appropriate.
“Today's mission is to add to our ranks!” The cute guy continued, focused on his pokémon. “We need to find someone to recruit to the cause!”
Harmony took a few steps, stopping for a second before crossing the street.
“Bingo!” She heard the guy shout upon seeing her. She smiled and looked at him, trying to focus on his pretty face, not on his gray sweatpants.
“'Scuse me! Yeah, hi!” The guy approached her, all excited and peachy like his hair. “You just—”
“I’ve heard everything,” Harmony said, putting a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. “So, what's the cause?” she asked, making the guy blush a little. They moved to the side of the sidewalk, making it easier for other people to go past them.
“So…” the cute guy started, “I've got a hunch you're a tourist! Judging by that big old travel bag…”
Harmony looked down at her brown bag, her wide-leg pants, brand new sneakers and her white v-neck t-shirt. She didn’t think she looked that much like a tourist.
“That I am,” she admitted, nevertheless, since the guy was quite charming. “My first time here, just for the summer break.”
“Perfect. And you're about my height. We'll look nice standing side by side.”
“We already do,” Harmony said, winking. The guy bit his lip.
“Listen,” he said after a second that he apparently needed to go back on topic, “would you mind helping me out with something? I just need to film you saying Hotel Z's a hidden gem of Lumiose! Easy, right?”
“Is it now?” Harmony asked, allowing herself to be cheeky. “A hidden gem?”
“Well, I can show you it later,” the guy offered. “No worries if you're staying somewhere else!”
“Actually, I planned to choose a place to stay today. You know, see the area first, then book a room.”
“I love it.”
They smiled at each other. The guy was silent for a moment, just looking at her, so Harmony glanced at his pokémon, waiting patiently by his side.
Harmony learned some theory before coming to Lumiose City for Z-A Royale, so she had no problem recognizing the little creatures. Chikorita. Tepig. Totodile. All of them were just as adorable as their trainer.
“So you work at a hotel?” she asked. “That's the cause? Finding new quests? And those three are there to attract them?” she added, pointing at the pokémon. “It might be working, I love pokémon. I’m planning on catching some while I’m here.”
“I work at the Hotel Z, yes.” The guy nodded. “But that's just part of the cause! And this city and its pokémon are a wonder. I know you’ll love them both and you’ll catch as many pokémon as you want! So, ready to film?”
“Why not, since you’re asking so nicely.”
Harmony followed the guy to a little park close to the station. There she did her best to say some nice things about a hotel she never saw, while playing with three sweet pokémon, that apparently took an immediate liking to her. It was nice, she had to admit.
“All done,” the guy said after taking a few videos with his rotom phone. “Thank you so much. You can stay at Hotel Z, if you want. For free.”
“Should I really go to a hotel with a guy I don’t even know?” Harmony asked, once again letting her cheeky nature speak for her. “Especially when he says it’s free.”
“It’s not—” The guy got all flustered and embarrassed. Lovely to see. “You know what?” he asked, finding his composure rather quickly. “Let me invite you for a coffee first,” he offered. “Just us getting to know each other, beautiful views, and those three, of course,” he added, pointing at his pokémon. Then he held out his hand. “I’m Urbain.”
“Nice to meet you, Urbain.” Harmony shook his hand. “I’m Harmony. Lead the way. I expect some really good coffee. Then I will consider your hidden gem of a hotel.”
˚⋅˖⋆❀☆⋅° noon °⋅☆❀⋆˖⋅˚
Harmony ordered a second cup of coffee, this time to go. Damn, it was good. Ember Roast, recommended to her by her first Lumiose City friend, Urbain. He also ordered another coffee to go and paid for both without asking.
So after a nice chat at a cozy café, they took a long walk around the city. Urbain put his pokémon in their pokéballs and also offered to carry Harmony’s bag, since he invited her out before she even had a chance to unpack.
Sipping from her paper cup, admiring the local architecture (especially exceptionally unique flat balconies) and letting the time go by, Harmony was content and excited. Her summer vacation started even better than she imagined, even though she didn't catch a single pokémon yet. She glanced at Urbain. Well, she kind of caught something even better.
“What are you studying?” Urbain asked, as they walked and chatted, slowly finishing their coffees. “I’m in urban planning at Lumiose University, I want to work on the wild zones.”
“That’s great. Wild zones inside a city are not something you see often. Or ever.” Harmony replied. “I’m studying history. I want to specialize in pokémon history. I’ve heard there’s a great museum here.”
“There is!” Urbain agreed. “I’m taking you there tomorrow,” he offered immediately. “If you want to, of course,” he added, his cheeks showing that lovely pink and peachy shade.
“How could I say no to another day with such a cute guy?” Harmony replied, all virtue and innocence, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Urbain bit his lip, again. What a lovely view. Harmony was enjoying his company more and more.
“It’s a date then,” Urbain said, matching Harmony’s excitement. “So… I could take a pic of you with the Prism Tower in the background,” he offered, taking out his rotom phone. “It’s a great spot. Do you want a short video too?”
“Should I say something about Hotel Z?” Harmony asked, as she started posing.
“Very funny!” Urbain shook his head. Then he took several pics and videos. “Done. Though now I need your number to share them. And to find you tomorrow, if you decide to stay elsewhere.”
“Smooth.” Harmony reached to her pocket. “Hang on—” She looked around, her heart skipping a beat. ”Where'd my bag go?”
“Fuck!” Urbain looked around too, having put the bag on the sidewalk when he took the pics. “That Pancham has it!” he screamed.
Harmony saw a short pokémon with black and white fur and a puffy tail. He carried a small leaf in his mouth. And a big bag in his hand. And he was running.
“After him!” she ordered.
˚⋅˖⋆❀☆⋅° afternoon °⋅☆❀⋆˖⋅˚
Harmony was quite a good runner, so she managed to catch up to the bag-stealing Pancham, but the playful pokémon surely made her work for it. Urbain was just behind her.
Harmony stopped in a back alley when she saw Pacham bring a bag to two people more or less her age. A dark-skinned woman with a big backpack and a bigger guy with a belt full of pokéballs.
“Hey, you!” Urbain shouted as he stopped next to Harmony. He was panting a little, which wasn’t an unpleasant sound. “That nice bag happens to belong to my friend here!”
“Hey, you're Urbain!” answered the woman, looking quite shocked. Harmony wondered if her new friend was famous by any chance. Maybe among the local pokémon trainers?
“I... can't say I know you.” Urbain answered.
“It's us, Andi and Andre!” the woman continued, now even more shocked. “From the Z-A Royale! How could you forget already?!”
Harmony smiled. So she was right, he was famous among the local pokémon trainers. And taking part in the Z-A Royale.
“Yeah, we faced off just last night!” added the guy, Andre.
“Ohhh, now I remember,” Urbain said, putting his hands on his hips. “You two weren't much of a challenge.”
Harmony smirked. Fuck, so her cute guy knew how to be mean if it came to pokémon battling. Nice.
“Listen up!” Andre answered, mimicking Urbain’s pose. “We'll return your bag — if you battle us right now!”
“You're on!” Harmony answered, rolling up her sleeve.
“Do you even have a pokémon, Harmony?” Urbain asked, turning to her.
“Not yet,” Harmony admitted, her honesty disarming. She heard Andi and Andre groan.
“Well, I'm not about to let you battle me two-on-one!” Urbain said to the opponents.
“And I'm not going to let you keep my bag!” Harmony threatened them in turn.
Urbain thought about something for a moment. Then he took out his three pokéballs.
“Good thing then, that we've got three pokémon right here, ready to help!” He let out Chikorita, Tepig and Totodile. “Choose which one you'll battle with. If you know your moves, of course.”
“I know some theory and I'm happy to put it to practice.” Harmony nodded. Then she looked at Chikorita. “Are you ready to help me?”
“Chiko!” the leaf pokémon answered, all cute and feisty.
“Enjoy your first-ever pokémon battle here in Lumiose City!” Urbain encouraged Harmony. “You battle Andi and her Pancham, I’ll take on Andre.”
“Got it!” Harmony agreed, focused, looking at her opponent. Then she ordered Chikorita to use Tail Whip just as Andi ordered her Pancham to use Tackle.
˚⋅˖⋆❀☆⋅° evening °⋅☆❀⋆˖⋅˚
As the sky over Lumiose City got darker, the city lights got brighter. The air was still pleasant, even if a bit colder. Harmony was getting tired from hours of walking and talking and yet she had nowhere close enough of this day. She was walking alongside Urbain, who was once again carrying her bag.
“That's huge, winning your first battle!” he said with honest amazement in his cute voice. “You and Chikorita must've been meant to meet. Why don't you keep her as your partner?”
Harmony raised her eyebrows and stopped. Now that was a sudden offer, even stranger than that free hidden gem of a hotel.
“Are you sure?” she asked, shaking her head. “It's a generous gift.”
“What can I say, I'm a generous guy.” Urban smiled and he held out Chikorita’s pokéball. “Especially when I see such a talented and pretty new trainer.”
“Thank you so much.” Harmony accepted the gift and smirked at the compliment. She caressed the pokéball and put it in her red satchel that she brought with her for this purpose. She felt a cold shiver run down her spine.
“Are you cold?” Urbain noticed. “Here.” He took off his jacket and put it on Harmony's back, not waiting for her response.
“Thank you again.” Harmony smiled warmly.
As they kept walking, she noticed a holographic wall, akin to that of a wild zone, but red. “Is that a battle zone?” she asked. Urbain nodded. “I’ve read about it. I want to join Z-A Royale,” she explained.
“I’m happy to help you with that. I must admit it’s actually the other part of the cause.”
“Then it looks like you recruited someone to your cause today.”
“Looks like it.” Urbain looked into Harmony’s eyes for a while longer than necessary. She felt it was her getting her cheeks flushed this time. “Want to go in together?” Urbain asked. “Just for a bit? But first I’ll show you how to register.”
“Why not,” Harmony agreed, wanting her first Lumiose City adventure to keep going.
Two hours later the sky was fully dark, the moonlight illuminating the city streets alongside the lamps. Both Harmony and Urbain were panting, sweaty and tired from all that running and screaming (mostly shouting pokemon moves, though there was some actual screaming too).
Harmony had no idea pokémon battles were so exhausting for the trainers as well. And that someone could jump you in a back alley, their pokemon hiding in a trash can, attack you, beat you, and run away, all in line with Z-A Royale rules.
So now Harmony and Urbain put their pokémon back in their pokéballs, the brave little creatures too tired to continue battling, even if the battle zones were deactivated only with the sunrise. They found a gate and left the area before anyone else demanded to battle them.
“Damn, you’re good at this,” Urbain said, taking a seat on a bench, just outside of the battle zone.
“So are you,” Harmony answered, plopping down next to him. “We make a pretty good team. Though I cannot imagine battling all night.”
“Agreed.” Urbain nodded, turning his head to Harmony. “There are better things to do all night long,” he added with a wink in his voice. Harmony licked her lips. Urbain noticed. “So…” he continued. “Wanna go to our safe spot, Hotel Z? Or should I walk you to another hotel?”
Harmony smiled. She made her decision a while back.
“Hotel Z it is,” she said, making her new friend grin from ear to ear.
It took them about fifteen minutes to reach the hotel. It was hidden, that’s for sure. And it looked rather nice, with vines reaching the highest floors of the building, trees growing on both sides of the entrance, and a small plaza welcoming the guests in front of the hotel.
“Welcome to our humble establishment!” Urbain said as he led Harmony to the entrance. “We pride ourselves in offering the most tranquil, relaxing stays around…”
“Good, I'd love to relax.” This time it was Harmony who offered a verbal wink.
The receptionist turned out to be a very strange and very tall older guy. Though he had a pretty pokémon with him and he seemed nice, just as the two other people from Urbain’s team that Harmony met in the lobby. They all agreed to tell her everything about the cause tomorrow morning, as it was getting quite late and she seemed rather tired.
Being almost sure she was not getting murdered or recruited into a cult, Harmony, accompanied by Urbain, took a lift to her floor and opened the door to her room. She was going to spend her entire summer vacation in this room, so she hoped it would be at least half as nice as the lobby.
“Damn,” she said as she walked inside.
The room was way nicer than what she had hoped for. All dark green and elegant, a queen bed in the middle. There were curtains adorning two tall windows and the wall behind the bed, all dark green, held open by golden ropes. There was a wardrobe, a desk, a chair, a table and two armchairs, all dark wood and dusty blue. A stylish rug on the wooden floor, paintings on the walls, fresh flowers in vases, three lamps illuminating the room with a warm light. And a bathroom, all clean and white, with a bathtub and a shower.
“Quite neat, isn’t it?” Urbain asked, seeing her reaction. Then he took a step back. “I’ll leave you be. You should get some good sleep. Goodnight.”
“Is that so?” Harmony asked, pure innocence in her voice, sprinkled with just the right amount of disappointment. “Goodnight then, cute boy.”