3. Let's go! Off to the Kalos Region!

                                    

                                          

'Even if you're a researcher, you should still catch a Pokémon or two to assist you.'
That was what Bugsy said, but honestly, Axel was starting to question his wise words: Pika was the furthest thing from 'being helpful'. 
If anything, it was an absolute nuisance. 
"Come on, Pika... let's get along..." Axel sighed as his Pichu sat on his backpack, scratching its head with a yawn. Having dealt with his troublemaking Pokémon for the entire flight, he was completely beat. 
The last thing he wanted to deal with after that torturously long flight was Pika and its nonsensical behaviour. He lost count of the number of times the Pichu annoyed him, zapped him, or caused some sort of trouble. 
To be fair, Axel did try to befriend Pika— but that had ended up in failure, as the Pichu showed no sign of being tamed. He then tried to recall his disobedient Pokémon— which didn't quite work either. Every time he tried to do so. pika would only whack the Pokeball right back at him.
One thing was for sure: the Pichu was doing everything in its power to annoy him— and it was working. He was growing more and more frustrated by the minute. 
Am I doing something wrong? Axel thought as he explored the urban streets of Lumiose. It felt different from Vermillion City. Lumiose City gave a cheerful, lively vibe, with couples chatting and flirting with each other, families taking a leisurely walk on the sidewalks, visitors happily shopping to their heart's content, and shop owners screaming loudly.
Axe did a double take at that. 
Shop owners screaming loudly?
He quickly realized what was wrong. 
"Pika!" He searched around frantically upon realizing the missing rodent that had, to no surprise, wandered off itself. "Come on..." he muttered under his breath, scanning the crowd and trying to locate the source of the scream. 
"My Pokepuffs!" 
Axel quickly rushed towards the Pokepuff store, grabbing Pika by the tail. Pika, annoyed by its trainer's interference, gave Axel a powerful zap once again. 
"I'm so sorry!" Axel apologized to the old shopkeeper as a crowd started to gather. He didn't like where this was going at all. His first day (actually second) was about to become an absolute nightmare. 
"I—" he fumbled to get his wallet, "I'll pay you back! I'm so sorry! Is— is this enough— Pika! Say sorry!" 
He wanted to dig a hole and hide in it so badly when Pika simply ignored him, jumping back on his cap. It had no problem humiliating its own trainer in public. 
"Oh, no, it's okay, young lad, I was just startled, that's it," the granny running the store said with a hearty chuckle, "keep your money and spend it elsewhere instead." 
"Are you sure...?" Axel winced, avoiding the judging looks and murmurs around him nervously, "I'll take two Pokepuffs then."
Seeing the Pokepuffs in his hand, Pika snatched the snacks, gobbling them down (excuse me, attitude?), then jumped off again, darting through the crowd.
"Oh come on!" Axel grumbled, frustrated, quickly thanking and apologizing once again to the shopkeeper who sweetly waved him goodbye, he squeezed his way through the crowd, "what am I ever gonna do about you?" 
Axel chased after his Pichu once again, and after a few turns, he soon found himself lost in the giant city. Yet, Pika showed no sign of growing tired, laughing at him happily as he struggled to catch his breath by a water fountain.