Opposite Directions

Author Notes: Thanks for all the reviews and favorites on Mystery Disease. A sequel, with more verbose and naïve Typhlosion monologues, will be released sometime in the future.

Lyra is a girl who has become stronger and stronger over time. I am boy who has become weaker and weaker over time. We are moving in opposite directions.

She was always a better Pokemon battler than I was. She trounced me in our first battle and ever since then, no matter how much I recalibrate, no matter how intensely I redouble my efforts, I have been unable to beat her, to come close to snapping her ridiculous win streak.

Do I hate it? Is my pride crushed? Are there some days when I think it would better to not make eye contact with any girls with chestnut hair, for fear of boundless chagrin being heaped on my head? I'll let you draw your own conclusions.

However, in regards to Pokemon battles, in regards to battling tactics and strategy, I have gotten a lot stronger. Battling someone insanely talented like Lyra will do that for you. I even beat Chuck from the Cianwood Gym only using one Pokemon, which is pretty impressive if I do say so myself.

No, my accelerating weakness is not in Pokemon battles (although I have a long way to go) but rather matters of the heart. I have a big problem; I think that I may have fallen in love with my rival.

I don't want a congratulations, or love advice, or any useless encouragement. What I really want is a cannon and some gunpowder, so I can launch these feelings to the middle of the sea, letting them slowly fall to the bottom of the ocean, right between Blackbeard's lost treasure and the lost city of Atlantis.

Now, I know what some of you romantic types are thinking. "You guys would totally make a cute couple. You should just give her a chance." Don't ask me how I know who you are or what you are thinking. Figuring out the thoughts of the maudlin is no challenging task. Those kinds of appeals don't work on me.

Nevertheless, Lyra has an insidious quality, like that flu that won't go away, or perhaps like an explosion attack from the move metronome. It's impossible to hate Lyra, no matter how hard you try. She possesses most of the virtues that human beings find attractive and almost none of the vices that are repulsive. She is humble but not insecure, loyal but not stubborn, intelligent but not patronizing, spontaneous but not disorganized, voluble but not loquacious, resolute but not unkind, focused but not monomaniacal.

Of course, she has her flaws but they fail to subtract from her charm; perhaps, if anything, they add to it. Her clumsiness is cute and her cuteness is clumsy, never calculated or artificial but natural and spontaneous. I could spend hours trying to explain her charm but it must be experienced, as words, either spoken or written, never seem to do it the justice it deserves.

You say that my pride is getting in the way. I don't have pride; I have knowledge. As I said, Lyra and I are moving in the opposite directions. She is on her way to grand things, to elite four battles and champion interviews with DJ Mary, to free luxury liner tickets and the chance to battle with legends that live in secluded mountains. But me? If I am honest with myself, I only have a fraction of the determination and imagination that Lyra possesses. How can I confess to her? Do I even deserve her?

There's always the chance that she would pull me up but what if I drag her down? What if I don't live up to her expectations? What if I am the guy who derails one of the greatest prodigies that Johto has seen in fifty years? Will I be able to live with myself if that happens?

Of course, I want to ride in the clouds on a turbo jet but what if I pull it down to the bottom of a cold and dark sea?

Author Notes: Thanks for reading. Reviews and favorites are always appreciated.