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Friends in high places

The trip to Nacrene had been pretty long, but it was worth it. The city was bigger than Striaton, and was bustling with all kinds of people. It had a unique feel to it, with its layout and buildings, and seemed to be a fluorishing center of life and art.

Alma looked around, marveling at every new detail she caught - while she toured the city, she saw people standing in queue at a department store, a bustling café with a lively entourage of street artists, and the museum that doubled as a gym.

If she wanted to have a shot at battling Sakura, she knew she had to go to the museum to check whether she was available or not. When she came in, she found it pretty deserted. She scratched her head in confusion, and seeing her puzzled looks one of the staffers came forth to explain.
"You're here for the gym challenge or to visit the museum?"

"Uh, both I guess, but maybe it's not a good time?" "Well, today it's our gym leader's birthday! You can find her at the Café Warehouse just nearby. I can tell her you came by if you leave your name, or you can just go talk to her yourself. Your choice!"

Alma thought about it for a little, then she smiled. "I think I'll go wish her a happy birthday myself, and then go ask for her for the nearest available slot for a battle. Thanks!" "No problem. Have a good day!" She waved at the staffer and got out of the museum. The sun was setting, but the party at the Café Warehouse gave no signs of stopping.

She cautiously entered the building, and was surprised by the sheer amount of people there. A chatty young man who she recognized as Daku, the fifth gym leader, was laughing with a group of ladies.

Emerald, the third gym leader, was cheering up the crowd with a sick breakdance routine, and then she saw the birthday girl herself, holding a bouquet of white flowers and blushing intensely.

"Thank you, thank you! You're too kind!" She waved at everyone, and then she was lifted up on the stage, where Emerald was just finished up with her dance. The other gym leader winked at her and passed her the mic. "Thank you, everyone, for coming here on this day! I am happy to celebrate my twentieth birthday with every single one of you!"

Sakura smiled as the crowd clapped and cheered. "Today is a very good day indeed, not only for me, but for the entire city! A very special guest and a friend of mine gave me a wonderful gift that I want to share with all of you. The esteemed Ester Auguste Laurent herself not only freed up her busy schedule to come visit, but she gave me the best birthday gift ever: a generous donation to the Nacrene City Museum, which I will use to renovate and expand so we can all share the history of Unova across the world!"

There was an explosion of loud cheering and whistling. Sakura waited for it to quiet down before talking again. "I want to thank every single person that has helped me make this city as wonderful as it is today, and I hope we'll be able to keep improving it forevermore! Now, Ester, would you please come on stage?"

"Me? Oh, but you're too kind. I don't deserve this kind of attention."
Alma turned to see, as did everyone else. Standing there in the crowd, commanding attention with her elegant yet simple red dress, natural makeup, deep green gaze, imposing stature and quiet yet stern voice, stood a woman that had to be in her early twenties.

She walked forward and the crowd parted in stunned reverence as she took the stage, her brown hair flowing behind her.

"Thank you again, Ester. Truly. From the bottom of my heart." Sakura smiled, as the woman looked at her fondly. "Oh, it's no biggie. It's the least I could do for you, after everything you did for me." She clapped briskly, and a pair of bodyguards hurriedly arrived with a case.
Sakura opened it to find an enormous check, and she was almost moved to tears as everyone took photos and chatted excitedly.