Alain strolled silently on the shattered sidewalks, which were horrible due to the gang making it that way. Hands drilled into his pockets, he walked on the lonely road, the only one he ever knew by heart. He saw the long trail ahead of him, and then, a certain red-headed girl that seemed to be surrounding his life ever since her rich parents had moved there... for some reason.

"Alain!" She yelped in joy, chasing after the taller teenager, her side bag just barely holding onto her shoulder. She lept to his side, a bright grin on her face. "Where are you going?"

"Does it matter to you?" Alain muttered, keeping his eyes dead on the ground, his hands fidgeting with a small pencil in his pockets.

"Yup! You're my friend... riiight?" Her slight slurring on 'right' made him sigh in defeat. He had admitted, he enjoyed the company of the slightly idiotic younger girl.

"Fine, we're friends. Only because you'll probably just beg." Alain replied, rather coldly as well.

"Yay!" Mairin cheered, as they continued walking down the long road. Alain studied Mairin, now not in her school clothes. She wore a green hoodie and blue jeans. On her head, a green hat with orange triangles and a puffball on the top. Not to mention, big nerdy glasses, stumping him. If she could afford glasses, and possibly contacts, then why did she live in such a horrible place?

Continuing on their small little hike, Alain stayed mostly quiet. He, yes, would answer any of her questions (not all of the answers truthful), but he didn't dare ask her all that much.

The breeze that filled the land they were in was chilling, pokemon ate at other Pokemon's corpses,

"Why do I always see so many girls surrounding you?" By the time Mairin had asked this, the two were already out of the place and on a small nature trail towards Lumiose.

"What do you mean?" Alain queried, his voice oddly calm. Mairin looked up at him, her eyes big and curious.

"At school. Girls are always standing around you." Mairin replied calmly, staring at Alain with curiosity.

"They... Harass me. They want to... uh..." Alain dared not to finish his sentence. Mairin was at best, a dork. He truly did not want to harm the girl's innocent mind.

"Do what?" Mairin pressured, tugging at his sleeve. Alain's face turned a pinkish tone. She didn't know? How was he supposed to explain?

"...Nevermind." Alain sighed. Why was he bothering? He could easily get her to go away, but he didn't want to. Why? Was he becoming... soft?

No. Alain shook that thought away from his mind. He had lived 16 years without the assistance of anyone outside of some comforting words from the Professor, why would he need anything else now? He had always been an independent young man his entire life.

"Alain, why is this place so broken down?" Mairin whispered. Alain looked up from the ground, looking straight at her. She sunk a little bit, realizing his harsh look on his face.

"Xusk took over this place." Alain snarled. No one could live in Kalos for more than two weeks and have not have heard of Xusk. The largest gang in Kalos, strong enough to the point where that area where they lived in was a war zone. It wouldn't be uncommon for someone to be mistaken as a gang member and... eliminated. No one on the other side really cared about what happened anymore. They just wanted the gang to stop doing what they do.

About an hour of walking had passed, and they had finally gotten to the ends of the large neighborhood. Alain stood up a little straighter, seeing one of the League officers, staring right at Alain and Mairin, a gun in his hands. Mairin squeaked, hiding behind Alain.

"We're not gang members, sir," Alain stated, his voice shaky with fear. He, unlike many people thought, didn't want to have a hole in his brain from a gunshot. "We mean no harm." The man glared at Alain and Mairin.

"Alright, but the police are watching you." before letting them pass. The two stared at the large city in front of them.

Lumiose.

The beautiful lands of Lumiose flooded Alain's eyes. He had always wished that was where he lived. Mairin smiled gently, seeing Alain's widened eyes. The roads were clean and bikes rode past along with a few, bright blue taxis. Buildings loomed the streets, and people walked around on the fixed sidewalks. In the air, the scent of nearby bakeries, restaurants and such.

"Mairin, did you use to live here?" Alain queried, a much more relaxed tone on his face.

"Yes, actually!" Mairin cheered. Alain smiled back in response before starting to walk again.

"Why did you move to where I live?" Alain queried, looking at Mairin with confusion. Mairin said nothing, only biting her lip in frustration. She wanted to tell Alain why she moved but didn't know what to say.

Alain, on the other hand, looked so happy. He was smiling rather brightly and despite the bags underneath his eyes. Watching the area around him, he scanned the beautiful city of Lumiose, noticing the Professor's Laboratory. Mairin followed Alain inside.

The Garchomp Alain had rescued stood at the doorway, happily running towards the teenager, Roaring loudly in happiness at its friend, Garchomp nuzzled Alain roughly, smiling a great smile. Alain laughed, hugging the Garchomp happily.

"Gabbie! It's been forever!" Alain laughed, tears in his eyes. It had been three months since he last saw the Professor, due to an incredibly strict patrol leader, who thankfully wasn't there that day. Of course, he missed the large dragon in front of him. Mairin smiled, watching the two hug, but she truly did not expect such a reaction from someone who was normally so serious.

"Who's there?" a voice cut through the happy growls from the Garchomp in half, despite being a calm, kind voice. The man who had said it had short, curly black hair, his icy blue eyes were gentle and yet fierce at the same time. His blue shirt's collar reached halfway up his neck, his long lab coat sitting loosely on his body.

"Professor Sycamore!"