She would find him tonight. And tell him everything.

The gravel was damp and muddy as Lyra walked along the paved roads of Goldenrod. The sun was setting, the clouds finally parting. She took it as a sign, or rather forced herself to. She needed some kind of hope, anything to get her to him. As shy as she was, her legs surely wouldn't follow her heart without some sort of comfort, resolve.

Lyra decided she would not let tonight be like the other nights. This would not be one she'd always regret. One of the nights where her heart ached to see him, but just couldn't connect with her body, it seemed. Couldn't force her to move. The feeling was so heavy, it seemed impossible some days to even function...

Her dear Togepi she'd been cradling in her arms stirred, and she pet it gently, soothing it back to sleep. The tiny egg Pokemon was deathly afraid of many things, a thunderstorm of course one of them. Lyra didn't mind, as exhausting as it was lulling her to sleep and calming her, as it gave her an excuse to stall even further than she already had. Or, has been. For longer than she knew.

The sky grew darker, the brightest stars coming into view, and Lyra knew she'd have to hurry. He'd be leaving soon; Nothing was binding him there, he was completely oblivious to the situation.

Not that there really was much of a "situation", though. Just a cowardly girl and her poor Togepi. Poor because she had to witness this same cycle every night. The cycle of her motherly figure, her world, crying every night over some boy who spat cruel words at her at every opportunity for the longest while.

Togepi wouldn't have to watch this tonight however, as she had already fallen to sleep in Lyra's arms. This comforted Lyra, but also made it even more nerve wracking. Who cares if she had to do this alone, but even so she didn't want to be by herself, as embarrassed as she was to take out Togepi or any of her other Pokemon.

After several minutes of running, Lyra finally stepped into her most favorite place.

The fountain bubbled, cascading with light, more calming than the ocean waves of Olivine. Grass rustled and was specked with dew, sparkling to match the stars in the heavens. The ground had already dried for the most part, the brick paths clean and bright orange below the moon.

It was all so inviting, so perfect. It was the ideal place to meet him, she thought.

Lyra knew in her heart he'd be here tonight, as he once confided in her that this was one of the best places to be in Johto. She'd hoped his taste hadn't changed since their last talks, as long ago as they were.

Placing her Togepi in her bag, Lyra foud a bench to relax in, and re-fastened the elastics in her hair. She only wished she knew what he thought of her hair how it was. Were the pigtails childish? She couldn't blame him for thinking so, she was 16 after all, and it was unbecoming of a trainer with at least some potential to act so silly.

But would he forget her if she decided to axe the look? Lyra smiled, thinking how nice an elegant ponytail and fringe might look. Maybe she could find a nice chiffon dress to pair it with. She could become feminine, be rid of her silly worn overalls. In short, maybe she could truly get him to like it. To like her, perhaps. The thought made her heart stir. How she wished for someone to talk to besides Togepi, who hardly understood matters of the heart if at all. Lyra had her mother, of course, but she would never understand. All Lyra had said about him was that he was the most wonderful person, always seeing beyond his shortcomings and usually cruel personality. It'd be like describing an entirely new person. Her mother would just laugh. She shook her head, sighing.

Moments became minutes, and minutes became hours. No one but her came along. The park was still, silent. There was a short time where the rain picked up again, but only a sprinkle; Lyra had endured it hopefully. But the red head was a no show.

Lyra cursed herself, tears stinging in her eyes. How long had this cycle been going? Of her resolving to meet him and failing? Several months? It had to have been by now. In a way she was grateful, as now she'd have time to reinvent herself to her idea. She could go shopping, find a new look, quit acting like such a child, this way to fill herself with hope would be what she'd do. But it was shallow, like everything else she'd tried, and she knew this to be true. That she should retreat, sullen, pretending this night never happened.

Lyra swallowed, standing, slowly exiting the park to the east. She had waited hours, she felt so embarrassed. Had anyone actually seen her that night, she'd have seemed a mess. Lyra flipped open her badge case, her reflection in the shining badges confirming this. As pretty as she was, her eyes were darkened underneath, her hair littered with flyaways and frizz from the humidity. Her hair bow was coming undone as well, but she really didn't care. How somber she felt, for what seemed the millionth night in a row. She couldn't even be happy with her badges. After being stricken with these feelings, his cruel words, she had been on "hiatus". She had hardly anything to show for herself, little badges and accomplishments. Her purse wasn't empty, but close enough; she couldn't live comfortably. But if she went home and her mother saw her this way, she knew she wouldn't be able to leave again.

Defeated, Lyra trudged through Ecruteak city, so dark at this point one couldn't have known where they were had it not been for the looming tower that touched the sky.

The Pokemon center was dimly lit, so she chanced a knock at the locked door.

No response. It was almost midnight after all. Lyra glanced at her pokegear, wondering who she could call at this hour, but then decided against it. She didn't even care anymore.

Within minutes, she was in the burned tower, the only unlocked "building" in the city. Gingerly, she removed her Togepi from the bag, curling around it and using the bag as a pillow.

The room still smelled of cinder and ash, charred wood and dust. The occasional ash brushed over Lyra's face, tickling her, preventing her from sleeping for a good hour as she lost herself in thought. What would her plan be for tomorrow? How would she confront Silver?

He just had to know. He had to...

But neither Lyra nor her feelings would be safe for long.