After The Honor

Chapter 1: That Man's a Real....Looker

Kalos Champion Allete Jun sat listlessly at her desk; having recently turned 21, she was finally legally able to take the title of Champion from her predecessor, Diantha. Little did the young Defender of Kalos realize how immensely tedious the position would be.
Spending days upon days languishing in her plush living quarters in the Elite Four Palace, not allowed leave without partial supervision or an event to attend. Her father had said nothing of this part of Champion life back in Unova! His stories were always full of excitement, mystery and just plain fun- at the time, Allete couldn't wait to be champion of her own region and take power over it's governing body. But now that she actually was part of it all, she found it downright boring.
“I miss the days where I could travel freely with just my team to guide me...” she sighed, turning over the 'Hero of Kalos' medal that hung about her neck, “Being Champion sure is a bore.”
She stretched out her long legs, ankles crossed atop her oak desk, reclining in her chair with head lolling back as she gazed into the cavernous ceiling above. Stained glass casting sprays of multicolored light around the room.
She closed her blue eyes; no challengers had been by for weeks, now. The E4 under her employ were the same ones she had defeated, and as such had been doing a damn fine job keeping challengers at bay, thus preventing Allete from getting much excitement in her lofty tower. She was about to drift off in her chair when an interesting chirping caught her attention.
A Pidgey flew in her large window, but not just any Pidgey- this one was bright red with a black beak, yellow eye-lights and a forked black tail, a curious letter clutched in its mouth.
“Ah, Rocher,” she yawned, removing her feet to lean in towards the tiny Pokemon as it landed on the desk before her, “What's this you have for me?”
Rocher was a cross-bred Pidgey, son of her Champion Talonflame, Rohan, and her Pidgeot, Ruthie. Since he was far too young and too genetically unstable to battle, Rocher acted as a liaison for Allete and her cabinet of Elites, carrying writs, letters, bills, amendments and the like to and from the Palace and the various cities around the country.
“Letter for you, Mistress,” the cross-Pokemon said, dropping the envelope, “It has no return address, but it says to deliver straight to you.”
Puzzled, the young Champion lifted the letter to her face:

'Urgent Message'? Whatever could that mean?
Unable to resist the temptation of such a mysterious piece of post, Allete reached for her Honedge-shaped letter opener and cut the seat with a delicate flourish as Rocher watched on in curiosity.
Inside was a short note typed on what seemed to be parchment paper, thick and crisp to the touch. Who in the world used parchment paper anymore? Other than her Uncle N, of course.

The letter was not signed, nor decorated with any form of identification as to it's sender.
“Rocher...?” Allete asked, “Where did you get this?”
“Um...” the little Pokemon thought, pressing his wing to his beak, “I was flying over Lumiose and a flash of light caught my attention in one of the alleys...I saw this note taped to the obelisk in Rouge Plaza and, seeing as it was addressed to you, I took it,” he said.
“Rocher...” Allete pinched the bridge of her nose in disbelief that her letter carrier had been so careless as to bring an unmarked, seemingly random letter straight to her desk, past all security and the usual mail checks. The little bird looked concerned.
“Nevermind,” she said, “This seems to be harmless enough. But I do want you to run any kind of unmarked mail through security next time, though. We can't risk any accidents in the E4, we're the chain of command in the Region, you know.”
She tried to hide the gnawing feeling of excitement bubbling up in her chest at the chance to perhaps break the monotony of her Champion lifestyle as she dealt with her ward.
“Yes, Mistress, I'm sorry,” he chirped, embarrassed.
Exhaling, she placed the letter carefully back into the envelope and placed it against her pen caddy, just within reach.
“No harm done,” she smiled, scratching the Pokemon's head “You're free to go, Rocher. Thank you for your visit.”
Rocher bowed politely, “Always a pleasure, Mistress,” and away he flew, scattering a handful of red down feathers in his wake.

**

The letter sat atop her desk for a few days untouched, collecting dust. Writs of challenge were still scarce, but there were still bills to sign and disruptions to quell. Running a region was not easy, yet, each day Allete's vision would linger on the mysterious post for a second longer, until her curiosity gave in at last.
It was a crisp fall day, the leaves of the towering trees of the League's lush gardens had faded into various hues of red, orange and gold, giving the grounds the impression of a field of fire. The air was sharp, yet not too cold as the young Champion stepped out into the elements.
Fresh from an E4 Cabinet meeting during which they were debating on what to do about a recent avalanche at Frost Cavern, Allete had made the decision to leave the grounds instead of retiring to her plush office or personal suite; her reasons were not known to her staff, and only the slight crinkle in her pocket propelled her forward.
Once clear of the massive wrought iron gates of the League, she unclipped a pokeball from her belt and hurled it into the air. A brilliant stream of blinding white light escaped the capsule with a satisfying 'pop!' and materialized into a magnificent, raptor-like bird. The uncommonly large Talonflame turned to his trainer and bowed his head.
“Yes, Mistress?”
“Rohan, I need you to fly me to Lumiose,” she said.
“What's the occasion?” the bird asked, spreading his wings to allow his trainer to climb aboard.
“That's just it...I don't know.”
“Very well,” Rohan nodded, shifting a bit before furiously beating his wings, scattering embers across the dead leaves that fizzled and crackled below him as he ascended into the sky. The wind whipped at Allete's face, throwing back her pale blonde hair surprisingly without disturbing her hat.
The surge of currents under Rohan's wide wings provided excellent lift and within an hour's time they had reached the central point of Kalos, the largest and most advanced settlement in the country: Lumiose City.
“Merci, Rohan. That was an enjoyable ride,” she said softly, pressing the button on his pokeball to withdraw the large bird back into his enclosure with a flash of red light before switching it out for another, this one with a small sticker plastered on its front.
“Dyo, I need you,” she said, pressing the button without tossing the ball.
Another brilliant flash of white illuminated the ground before her and materialized into an incredibly tiny pokemon; bright pink with wide red eyes and a plague-doctor face that covered most of it's body.
“Yes, Mistress?” her voice was soft, lilting, ethereal-sounding.
Allete knelt to her Spritzee's level,
“I need you to be my lookout, okay? I don't know what I'm getting myself into by being here, so I want you to keep watch over me,” she said, extending her hand so the little fairy could hop up onto her shoulder.
“And what should I do if there's any trouble?” she asked.
“Moonblast them to Distortion World,” Allete grinned, beginning her walk along the intricately-paved streets.
Dyo's eyes closed in delight as she giggled, “Yes, Madame!”
Being a fairy type made Dyo a very valuable companion indeed, with her strong aversion to dragon types and high attack and defensive stats, and her petite physique offered her the element of stealth; she could sit on Allete's shoulder all day as her wide eyes scanned their surroundings without the possibility of detection- truly a great asset for a Champion to have.
“Where are we going?” she trilled in her trainer's ear.
“Looker Bureau,”
“That weird, unmarked building in the alley by the Sushi Place?” she asked, confused, “Mistress, why would we ever go there?”
Allete reached into her coat pocket and withdrew the parchment letter, showing it to her lilliputian companion.
“This is why, Dyo. This landed on my desk a week ago and has been driving me crazy ever since. I have to see what it's about,” she pocketed it again, her head on a swivel to assure she wasn't being watched.
“But I need you here because I don't know if this could be a trap or not, understand?”
The pink pokemon bobbed in a full-bodied nod followed by a solitary blink.
“Yes, Mistress,” she agreed.
A tart, cranberry scent filled the air about Allete's head as she walked- courtesy of Dyo's natural perfume- making her feel much more at ease about the situation she may be facing; what did an obscure individual need from such a high-ranking trainer? Not that she wasn't grateful for the respite in her duties, but it still came off as odd.
By the time she reached the threshold of the Bureau, she found herself taking a deep breath before opening the door. A small bell jingled above her head before she was faced with the hunched-over back of a man in a long, tattered brown coat amidst a sea of office furniture. He did not turn to face her.
She swallowed her fear, resorting to her challenge face as she cleared her throat.
“I received your letter,” she said.
The man turned, clean-shaven face worn with age and dull blue eyes filled with sadness stared into her soul. His once brown hair was dusted with spots of gray and white, an obvious dye job having gone horribly wrong some time ago. His hand graced the bottom of his chin.
“I was wondering when I'd see you again, dear Allete. I've heard so much about you.”
Allete stepped back, Dyo bristled against her cheek, ready for action.
“Who are you, exactly?”
“Ah, I didn't see you had a pokemon there! Clever girl, very clever!” he laughed, “But there is no cause for alarm here. My name is Looker, I am quite familiar with your family as you may know,” he lowered his hands to brace himself against the desk, “I believe it was your grandmother who first came to know me.”
The young Champion thought for a moment, “Wait...are you the same 'Looker' who helped Mamé on Stark Mountain? And the one who worked with my father to catch my Uncle's old Sages?” she blinked.
Looker laughed heartily, a hand over his chest.
“Oh, clever, clever girl, indeed! Riya and Kellen didn't raise a fool!” he said, “But yes, the very same. International Police Agent Looker at your service, My Lady.”
Her fear of him had all but ebbed away at this point; he was a friend, at the very least, an ally. However old he must be now still eluded her, though. He wasn't the youngest when her grandmother met him, after all- and he was still traveling after all this?
Realizing she was staring, she bowed her head and apologized.
“Je suis désolé, monsieur,” she said, “I didn't mean to stare.”
“Ah-ha! Not a bother at all, my dear!” he clapped, “Now, about the business I called you here for...”
Allete lifted her head and leaned in.
“As Champion, you are aware of the chaos caused by Team Flare, yes?”
“Of course,” she said, “I dismissed Lysandre myself.”
“Splendid! Yes, of course you did. I wanted to ask you, Madame Champion, if you would like to join my police force for a time and help me protect the streets of Lumiose.”
A spark of interest surged in her veins at this offer; a chance to get her hands dirty again? Freedom to explore the city and possibly battle ruffians like she had in the days before her succession? How could she say no?
“I accept; as a Champion, it is my duty to protect my people,” she crossed a closed hand over her heart, “Where do I start?”
“Splendid, indeed!” Looker said, “For your brave answer, I thank you. Lumiose City will regain its tranquility!”
He turned for a moment to shuffle papers on his desk, passing a small folder into her hands. It resembled a pokemon card holder, but with only one plastic sheet that bore five empty slots. She stared, confused, at the empty file.
“Um, I don't...?”
“Well, I wish it could be that easy. Because even though you are Champion, you're still a rookie when it comes to detective work. And that's why I must ask you to enroll in my class in detective and espionage skills: "The Looker Method: Yes, even YOU can become a detective in five easy steps!"
He must have noticed her confused stare, because he instantly continued speaking.
“Allow me to explain what you will be doing. You will need to find five Looker Tickets that have been sprinkled about Lumiose City, and then bring them back to me! There's nothing more to it! Simple as can be! The Looker Tickets will be sure to catch your eye with their glitter and sparkles. I want you to succeed, so I have left some hints in my notebook about where to find the tickets!”
She shot a sidelong glance at Dyo.
'You're kidding me...he called me out of the League Palace, away from my duties-boring as they might be....for a SCAVENGER HUNT??'
She was about to revoke her response before he spoke again.
“Ah ha, so then, it is time. Away with you to begin your training! I trust you'll live up to my hopes!”
The admittance of expectations on her part placed her in a delicate situation; as Champion, she couldn't refuse helping her people, let alone the police, no matter how pointless the mission seemed; it would reflect badly on her character and could cause gossip amongst her underlings. Sighing, she agreed once again, handing over her Holo Caster for Looker to punch in the clues leading to the tickets.
'Crazy old man,' she muttered to herself as she left the Bureau en route to her first stop.

**

“Daft vieillard, me faisant courir autour Lumiose comme un Pidgey sans tête à la recherche de billets brillants. Pah! J'aurais dû rester au Palais ...”
“Mistress, you're mumbling again,” Dyo chirped, “You said you wanted adventure.”
“But this is so...infantile! I have to look for some stupid little tickets around the biggest city in Kalos! This has no merit to helping the people of this city at all!” she grumbled.
“I'm sure it's for something, Mistress,” the fairy shrugged, “I don't think he would have sent for you so urgently and personally for just this.”
Allete sighed, reached over her shoulder to scratch the fluffy chest of her Pokemon.
“Maybe you're right, Dyo...he wouldn't have called me away just for this...there must be some ulterior motive, but what that might be concerns me.”
“I guess we'll wait and see,” said the fairy, “I believe we want to hit the Lumiose Station first...”

**

After wandering about the venetian-style city for hours, Allete had finally collected all five shiny tickets, one of which was located in the building of her old job- Hotel Richissmie. A bit more than disgruntled, she reluctantly brought them back to Looker, who was more than excited to see her.
“Ein, tvo, tri, fjore... Fif! Five Looker Tickets! Congratulations, Allete! You have completed your training using my patented course, "The Looker Method: Yes, even YOU can become a detective in five easy steps!" From this day onward, you are a fully fledged, completely boiled detective!”
She rolled her eyes, was this going to continue? She wasn't the young child she used to be, after all.
“Ahem! With that accomplished, let me issue my request once more: Mme. Ch. Allete, be my crime-fighting partner?”
“I thought I already agreed to this, Looker...” she said, growing bored with his cheerful persona, “It's my duty as a Champion, isn't it?”
“Excellent. It will be an honor for you to serve as an official member of the Looker Bureau! And... as partner to the one and only Looker! I'll send you a message on your Holo Caster whenever we have a job to do!” he said, dismissing her with a smile.
“So....that's it?” she asked, perplexed.
“Yes, for now anyway, Mme. Champion. Until we meet again!”
She turned on her heel and left the Bureau feeling unfulfilled and a little bit used.
“Well, that was a waste of my precious time...”
“Look at it this way, Mistress, you got out of the Palace for the day,” Dyo said.
Allete shrugged, “I guess you're right- return, my dear.”
She zapped Dyo back into her Pokeball and traded it for Rohan's once again.
“Did you enjoy your adventure, Mistress?” he asked.
“I don't really wanna talk about it, Rohan,” she grumbled, straddling his warm, softly feathered back, “Just take me home.”
The large raptor nodded, not wanting to pressure his obviously exhausted trainer further.
“As you wish.”