Author: Zhampy
Rating: K+ / PG - 13
Disclaimer: Don't own Pokemon
Summery: The annual dragon festival is happening in Blackthorn city and according to clan traditions, in the absence of the Dragon Master, Lyra must take up the role whether she likes it or not. Lyra, Silver, Clair, Lance centric.

Dragon Festival
Chapter One
March 30th

Despite being the gym leader and direct family, it wasn't often that her grandfather summoned her. She had been expecting it this time, however. April was coming closer and the annual dragon festival would be commencing then, on the 1st. And as the leader of their gym and a prominent member of the clan she would of course be important to the festivities and rituals.

Not that she didn't enjoy it when she were summoned to the den, but she often felt used; like they only called on her when her cousin wasn't around. And with certain recent happenings in her personal life, her and grandfather weren't exactly on the best of terms. Nevertheless, she had an important responsibility to the clan so she made her way through the den at a leisurely pace.

The few other trainers she passed all respectfully averted their gaze to avoid any confrontation with her. Eventually, Dragonair approached the shrine at the very centre of the den. It was a very intimidating old building. Even the trainers under her at the gym seemed to cower or patter about nervously around it before gathering the courage to enter, but she'd been inside more times than she could possibly remember; it had become like a second home.

It was always pretty dark inside, the only light that from the dim lanterns. The red walls and low light had always irritated her eyes, however. Something she'd never gotten used to and probably never would. Slowly but with confidence she walked across the main floor before the monks, none of them saying a word. She stood before the old man at the head of the line between two Dragonite statues.

"Ah, Clair," his voice was slightly muffled through his long white beard and moustache. It was strong and commanding but didn't contain the usual friendly undertone he reserved for his family. "I've been waiting."

"I apologise, grandfather," Clair stood up straight with her arms firmly by her side. "I didn't get word you wanted to see me until a little while ago."

The old man nodded slightly. "Understandable. I assume you know why you have been summoned?"

Now this Clair was actually unsure of. Surely it was regarding the festival, but the tone directed at her was far too formal, as if her grandfather were admonishing her for something. She knew what he was disapproving of but it were hardly the thing to bring up at such a time. Either way her grandfather didn't allow her the time to answer.

"April shall soon be upon us," he began. "The annual dragon festival shall begin in little more than three days. Of this you know, however certain unexpected circumstances have arisen. None have been able to contact Master Lance and as you know, we can't begin the ceremony without the Dragon Master."

"I am aware, grandfather," Clair said. It was very odd behaviour that her cousin would be unreachable at such an important time.

"We cannot begin the ceremony without the Dragon Master," the Elder repeated, "but we also cannot cancel the festival. It is an important tradition within our clan. What we have decided upon is for an individual to take the place of Master Lance for the festival period only."

The Elder saw his granddaughter's eyes light up, as unintentional as it may have been. Clair held her breath, her head held high and her posture poised. Finally the break she had been waiting for! If she could prove to her grandfather and his fellow elders she was a capable dragon tamer she might finally be able to pass the dragon users test. If she could organise and uphold the clan's honour as good as (or better than) her cousin then they would have no reason not to pass her. Then she would have the freedom and power to do the thing she'd wanted and needed for years…

"That is why we have decided upon the young girl from New Bark."

"Lyra!" Clair blurted uncontrollably, all composure instantly lost. The elders gathered in the room gave her disapproving glances and her own grandfather looked down at her with disappointment. Nevertheless Clair continued. "But she's not even apart of the clan!"

"The girl has passed the dragon users test. In the stead of Master Lance she is acting Dragon Master," one of the elders said.

"But she doesn't have any dragon Pokemon!" Clair reasoned. It was unbelievable that a young girl who had only fleetingly visited the city take the most important role the clan had to offer.

"Untrue," another elder said.

"For certain she has a Dratini; the very one she earned by passing the test."

"But that's one barely trained Pokemon! I know the team she entered the League with and that Dratini was not part of it."

"The clan rules are not to be argued!" her grandfather said sharply, his voice raising dangerously. "My granddaughter, you know this well and yet you speak against our wishes. The young Mistress Lyra has passed the test, of this there should be no argument. In the absence of Master Lance she is the only person who is capable of taking his place."

"Capable?" Clair practically shrieked. She held out her hands pleadingly almost shaking with rage. "The girl has no idea about our rituals or their importance! She doesn't have the skill to carry them out, how could she handle everything on her own? This is - I can't even - why not me!"

The elder turned his back to her. "You've spoken enough, Clair. Bring the young Mistress to the Den as quickly as possible."

Any further words died in her mouth the moment her grandfather turned away from her. Shamefaced and still trembling with anger Clair swiftly strode from the shrine.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

"Run, run! Faster, Loam! Almost there!"

"Jump, Miltank! Jump again!"

Lyra stood from her position next to her fellow competitors cheering and encouraging their teams to victory. She waved her hands and hopped about on the spot shouting to her Pokemon as they cleared each hurdle. Whitney jumped about next to her, equally excitable and cheering her own Pokemon on.

"That's is, Loam! We're winning, keep it up!" Lyra waved her arms madly as her Furret took first place.

Whitney stamped her foot with a huff of irritation as the Pokemon overtook Miltank. Planting both feet firmly on the ground she held her head high, hand on hips, "alright, no messing around now! Miltank, use Rollout!"

The other Pokemon on the track yipped with surprise as the heavyset Miltank took a running leap over a hurdle and into the move. It ploughed along at an impressive speed getting faster and faster after each catapult over the hurdles. Furret stumbled and crashed into a hurdle on its own track as the other Pokemon slammed into the ground near it.

"Ahhh, no, Loam!" Lyra wailed as the other Pokemon overtook took first place. Whitney laughed triumphantly watching Miltank clear the finish line a clear distance before any other. Furret hobbled along pathetically in last place.

The points were given and as was usual Whitney had destroyed the competition. Afterwards the two girls sat outside the Pokeathalon dome each with a beaker of Aprijuice.

"You came second," Whitney said in what was probably supposed to be a reassuring tone but came out as slightly smug.

Lyra laughed good-naturedly at her friend. "We'll have to train harder to beat you! We'll do it eventually, right guys?"

Her Pokemon looked up from their empty bowls and each gave a cry of determination. Lyra grinned at them as she emptied out her beaker of juice into their bowls, which they lapped at graciously.

The girls sat together a while chatting about unimportant things when Lyra's Pokegear began ringing. "It's Clair," she said.

"Dragonbreath!" Whitney shrieked. "Don't answer it! It's a trap!" she worriedly clung to Lyra's wrist.

"I-I can't not answer it," Lyra replied. "I always answer. She'll know! We were on TV just now, what if she was watching?"

"Don't do it Lyraaaa," Whitney wailed piteously. "You're my best friend, I'll miss you if you die."

"How bad can it be? I-I mean, sure she was a bit - when I won the badge, and in the Den she was - okay, no I can do this!"

"You don't have to work with her," Whitney said, almost sobbing. "At meetings and stuff she sits there with this mean look on her face. I know she hates us all, and she's not scared on anyone either! Not even Sabrina or Karen, or Bruno or anyone! She's not even afraid of Erika, Lyra. Erika! Don't do it!"

Lyra looked at her friend oddly. "I think you're overreacting a bit now." With a trembling hand Lyra answered the call. Holding her pokegear to her ear Whitney also leaned in to hear.

There was a brief moment of silence before Clair spoke. Even over the phone the contempt in her voice was clear. "You're wanted in Blackthorn. It's not important why. Just meet me outside the gym. Don't make me wait any longer than I have to."

Then there was silence again. Lyra sat back on the bench, her hand slowly lowering but still clutching the pokegear so tight her fingertips turned white.

"You know, me and Morty have this theory," Whitney casually mentioned as Lyra began turning pale. "We think she's a vampire who's trying to take over the League. You know how hardly anyone has the Rising badge? It's because she eats anyone who beats her and turns them into, y'know, uh… dragon-y… things and uses them as slaves! She keeps them in the basement under the gym and practices Pokemon on them. Eventually she's gonna get us all and there's nothing we can do about it!"

Lyra smiled weakly, "well I guess if we both go an-" she looked up sharply as Whitney sprang to her feet and began trotting off at a speed not entirely nonchalant. "We're you going?"

"I uhh, have things to do. I am a gym leader you know! I'm very busy with… gym leader stuff! I have a responsibility to all the - okay, bye bye! Call me later 'kay?"

"Hey, wait, don't leave me alone!" Lyra shouted after her friend.

"The brat would only be in the way anyway," the pokegear said to her. Lyra looked down at it, a mortified expression crossing her face.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

a/n: Short chapter is short. It seemed like a good stopping point. Don't particularly want the early chapters to be the usual 20-page-long-chapters I usually do, hahaha.

PS. Seems we're not allowed to use an exclamation mark and question mark next to each other anymore. *sigh* ffnet, why you gotta do this to us? Totally taking away the feeling of words now, aren't we.