1. Ash's Story (Part 7: Kalos)

Chapter 16: Fragrant Detour

After Serena catches Pancham, we stay in Camphrier Town a little longer instead of rushing straight toward Route 7. Pancham walks beside Serena with the red sunglasses resting proudly on his face, and every few steps he checks his reflection in a window, a fountain, or anything shiny enough to prove that he still looks like a Performer.

Pancham's meaning reaches me with excited pride. "These are not only sunglasses. These show everyone that Serena chose me for the stage." Fennekin gives him a dignified look from Serena's other side, and her meaning answers with careful approval. "Then behave like someone worthy of standing beside Serena."

Serena laughs softly when Pancham straightens at Fennekin's warning. "Looks like my team is already setting performance rules."

"That might be useful," Clemont says. "Pancham has a lot of energy."

Bonnie points ahead before Pancham can protest. "Look, there is Hotel Camphrier."

The building has polished windows, pale stone walls, and flower baskets hanging near the entrance. At first, it seems peaceful, but the moment the doors slide open, a heavy wave of perfume, soap, and sharp cleaning scent rolls over us. It is not rotten or ugly. In fact, the first breath almost smells beautiful. The second breath makes my nose sting.

Froakie stiffens on my shoulder, and his meaning reaches me with immediate caution. "The scent is pleasant on top, but something underneath is too strong." Pikachu sneezes into his paws, while Chespin grabs his nose and hides behind Serena's leg.

A hotel clerk rushes toward us with a worried expression. "I am sorry, dear guests. Please do not breathe too deeply. We are having a fragrance-control problem."

"Fragrance-control problem?" David asks, already looking toward the vents.

The clerk explains that Hotel Camphrier is famous for scented rooms, perfume displays, and spotless service. Today, several perfume bottles broke in the storage hall, and someone used the wrong cleaning supplies while trying to clear the spill. The scents mixed through the ventilation system, turning a beautiful hotel fragrance into something strong enough to irritate guests with allergies.

Clemont adjusts his glasses with alarm. "Perfume, cleaning supplies, and closed ventilation can become dangerous very quickly. A nice smell does not mean the air is safe."

"Exactly," the clerk says. "Our safety instructor is handling the guests, but she needs help controlling the source. She also manages the hotel's Venom Badge challenge for Trainers, though this is certainly not how she wanted today's lesson to begin."

I blink at the word badge. "Wait, did you say Venom Badge?"

The clerk gives me a small, apologetic smile. "Hotel Camphrier trains traveling Trainers in Poison-type safety, fragrance control, and allergy protection. Trainers who prove they can manage dangerous scents without panicking earn the Venom Badge."

I take out my badge case and stare at it for a moment. "Sixth region, and fate still found a way to make me chase eighteen badges."

Serena covers her smile with one hand, while Bonnie laughs openly. Even Pancham points at the badge case as if he thinks it is part of a performance routine.

We meet the safety instructor in the main hallway. Her name is Mireille, and she wears a hotel uniform with a purple badge pinned near her shoulder. Several guests sit near open windows with damp towels, while a Chansey helps them sip water and breathe slowly. Mireille's partner, a Swalot, is stationed near the storage corridor, carefully blocking the worst fumes from spreading farther.

Swalot's meaning reaches me with steady duty. "The scent is not an enemy to fight wildly. It must be contained, swallowed carefully, and kept away from fragile guests."