Chapter 7: Am I being replaced?

"Hey Ash, long time no see!" There she walked in, an old friend.

"Lyra! I haven't seen you in ages!" They hugged, they were clearly pleased to see each other. Iris could only stand there and watch, she felt as if her heart had been ripped out and stamped on. Cilan as usual came in with his normal introduction and chatted along while Iris stood there silent. She didn't move, but she felt very ill. It couldn't be could it? Seriously not after all this time... He couldn't have been holding it back could he? Please don't tell me that... Ash has a girlfriend?

They walked off down to the nearby café to catch up on recent events in their lives but Iris was nowhere to be seen. While they walked off, Iris kept standing in that same spot. She made no introduction, she didn't say a word. Ash was completely oblivious to Iris not following on, he just walked off. Iris' day was done as far as she was aware. She slowly walked back to the hotel room with her face down, alone in her thoughts, ignoring the world. In just seconds, it was like Ash had completely forgotten about her. She was nothing, it was clear he liked her, they hugged at first glance... "I suppose she's a strong trainer and that's probably what Ash likes... That renders me useless..." What if this was the only the start of it. She just saw how easy Ash can walk away from someone, what if Ash asks Lyra to go with him on a journey? Then they both can be together while Iris is just a mere shadow? Was it really the end for Iris? "I don't even know if I should just pack my things up and go..." she thought to herself. She sat down on the bed, and opened up her bag. Inside of it were loads of pictures from their previous adventures. All happy memories, everyone with a big smile on their face. Looking at the situation now, it was hard to face up to it. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't hold back the tears. The feeling of being alone hit hard, but the feeling of being replaced only made the tears flow more. Other than her Pokemon, there was now no one by her side. She couldn't leave though, not now. It might only be temporary, Ash being with Lyra this evening but Iris liked Ash too much to run away from him. She didn't want to leave him, not after all they had been through. It was difficult, but there would be another chance to cheer him on tomorrow. Tomorrow's a new day, but today had gone from being really good, to the stuff of nightmares. She just wanted someone with her right now. On a dark rainy night, she cried herself to sleep...

So what was happening in the café? Well Lyra like last time they met, was quick to ask if Iris was Ash's girlfriend. Ash laughed for a bit, and soon realised that Iris had not said a word. After turning around it was soon apparent she wasn't there at all. Ash felt very stupid. How could he not realise that she wasn't there? She's usually one of the first to get a sentence in. The three soon became worried, she could be anywhere. Doubts were erased when Trip walked over.

"Yeah nice going, I can't imagine your girlfriend is too happy with you."

"She's not my girlfriend! Where is she?!" Ash angrily replied. Cilan and Lyra chuckled briefly, Ash turned around and glared at them.

"I don't know, probably back to the hotel."

Ash stood up. "I'm sorry guys I'm gonna have to go early today, I'll see you tomorrow for our battle though, Lyra!"

He walked out with a heavy feeling that she might be upset. So he ran back to the hotel to see her. The rain was coming down quite hard, and by the time he got inside he was drenched. He didn't know what to expect when he came in. Would she be crying, or would she be packing her things up early. This was a sensitive situation that Ash didn't quite know how to deal with. She wasn't in the main room, which could mean bad news. He quietly tip-toed over to the bedroom and opened the door. To Ash's relief she wasn't packing her things, but she was asleep. Ash sat down by the bed, and saw where tears had been falling. He felt really bad, and it was all his fault. He started to stroke her hair, and in doing so thought to himself:

"Does she really like me..?" The feeling guilt suggested otherwise, she was probably really angry that he didn't notice her. He thought he'd see how she was in the morning, now probably wasn't the best time for conversation, especially seeing as he needed a lot of sleep for round 3 in the Unova league tomorrow. Eventually Cilan made his way back to the hotel and Lyra went her own way back. Everyone was now asleep at the end of an eventful day...

The morning had finally come, and to everyone's surprise, Iris was the first up. She seemed in a very happy mood too. She woke Ash and Cilan up quickly and within 5 minutes they were changed and on their way to the stadium.

"So Ash, do you think you can win today?" Cilan asked

"I honestly don't know what to expect, last time I saw Lyra she was still a rookie from Johto..."

Iris' smile was weakened by that name, she wasn't entirely happy it seemed. Ash remained curious over last night. He didn't quite know what to say, but she seemed in a good mood so Ash though he'd just go straight in.

"Hey Iris, where did you go last night?"

She laughed a bit- "Oh I was really tired and wanted to go to sleep quickly! You walked off too soon for me to tell you all, and plus I would have probably fallen asleep at the café!"

It was an answer that Ash wanted to hear, although he wasn't entirely convinced. She looked happy, but her smile didn't reach her eyes. She still looked tired, it worried Ash, Cilan didn't seem to notice.

Upon arriving in the lobby, the trio were confused to see Trip talking to Lyra. When they saw Ash though, they quickly stopped. Iris didn't have a clue what to do, and Cilan seemed suspicious. Ash walked over to say hello, only to find out that Trip had been telling Lyra all of Ash's weaknesses. There was no time for arguments though this time as Ash and Lyra were the first battle of the day. Before they both ran off to go to the stage, Iris made her move. She wasn't letting Ash run off this time. Ash turned around to see the face he was expecting to see earlier. She looked really down, and possibly close to crying.

"Please beat Lyra..."

Ash smiled and winked before he set off to the stage.

The atmosphere was electric for the first battle of the day. The announcer cleared his throat and let out his lines.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to day 3 of the Unova league! Our first battle of the day is here, so please give a warm welcome to Lyra from Johto!"

Iris sat there, and upon hearing her name and the crowd cheering she put her head down, she wanted Ash to beat Lyra so badly...

"And her opponent, Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town!" The crowd roared, they were behind him, and so was Iris who was screaming Ash's name from the stands. Once again, it would b battle, it was time to see how much stronger Lyra had gotten...

"Ok Pignite- you're up first!"

"Go, Meganium!"

"Look at that, Ash has already got type advantage!" Iris cheered, she had a feeling Ash had this.

Meganium took the first move and surprised everyone by starting with Giga Impact, it came charging towards Pignite who braced himself, but the hit was incredibly strong. Pignite was well trained though, and survived the initial hit. Meganium now had to rest, so Pignite could land a direct hit now. Pignite used Flamethrower while Meganium stood there, helpless. The super-effective move made a direct hit and inflicted massive damage on the grass type. Two very strong moves in quick succession, Meganium could move now though. It then used Magical Leaf, an attack which doesn't miss, no matter how hard Pignite tried to run away from it. Meganium quickly followed up with Take Down but Pignite took the damage from the first attack and countered with Flame Charge. In this type match up, Meganium was always going to fare second best, and again it did, with Pignite yet again coming out on top. Megaium was close to being finished, so Pignite, now faster than before, came in with Flame Charge again, too quick for Meganium to think, and this time doing the job. Meganium was out.

Trip watched on from the stands-

"Wow she really is bad. That's her strongest Pokemon, the rest are nothing short of pathetic. Ash will breeze this."

Ash switched Pignite for Pikachu, in a move that proved to be very convenient. Lyra sent out her Marill, once again Ash had the advantage.

Marill started with Rollout in an attempt to counter Pikachu's electric attacks, but the yellow mouse was too quick and evaded the oncoming boulders coming his way. The boulders began to get more powerful as time went on but Pikachu was too quick and when he found half a yard of space he unleashed a powerful Thunderbolt which hit Marill hard. The amount of damage that Marill sustained surprised even Ash, Pikachu was all over Marill. Soon the boulders were getting dangerously big, so Pikachu countered with Quick Attack, eventually putting him in a position to fire another Thunderbolt- Marill was hit even harder this time. It started to wobble all over the place, before Pikachu finished it off with Volt Tackle. Marill was down, and out. It was almost too easy for Ash, two Pokemon down off Lyra and only one remained. Iris began to smile, this was exactly what she wanted to see.

Lyra had one Pokemon left, while Ash still had all three. Once again, Ash opted to switch Pokemon, bringing out Krookodile. It must've been Ash's day, everything seemed to just be going his way. His knew it when Lyra's last Pokemon came out, Girafarig. It was Psychic against Dark, and once again Ash had the advantage.

Girafarig nor Lyra looked particularly confident, it looked as if they were close to giving up. Ash was more fired up than ever, and he took the first move. Krookodile came charging in, at full speed, Girafarig copied and tried to use Psychic, which is where Lyra's naivety showed. It didn't have any effect on Krookodile at all, who kept charging while Girafarig was helpless. It then quickly lunged in and used Crunch, digging its long jaws through Girafarig. The attack was strong and now Girafarig was more vulnerable than ever. Krookodile then started running rings around Girafarig who didn't know what was going on, Krookodile came flying in with Crunch again and this time made it count. In just two turns, Girafarig was finished. Lyra looked down, she had been demolished. The crowd gasped in disbelief, except for Iris, who was cheering as loud as she could. It was over, a complete white-wash. Trip had seen it coming all along, she was still as rookie. They both went and shook hands before walking off, it was a very causal goodbye, which was a huge relief for Iris as it confirmed to her that there was nothing going on between them and that she was overreacting, she was over the moon and rushed down to see Ash. Ash was amazed by his victory, and was starting to believe in himself a bit more. He saw Iris waiting, and after everything that happened last night, he just wanted to hug her. They were both so happy, and Ash wanted to set things straight, while they were both in each other's arms, Ash whispered:

"I'm sorry..."

Later on in the day, Trip had once again won his battle and was through to the next round, Lyra wasn't seen again, possibly embarrassed from her performance today. After a long wait though, the fixtures were finally about to be announced. 16 trainers were left as the names rushed through, eventually, Ash's match-up was finally on screen:

"Ash versus...

Trip!"

At long last, the two rivals would finally face each other. Trip smirked, he looked very confident.

"We're finally against each other Ash, better pack your things early, the battle will be a short one, a bit like you against that pathetic excuse for a trainer today."

After today's performance, anything was possible for Ash, he wasn't going to put himself down, but he wasn't going to hype himself up either.

"We'll see, may the best trainer win!"

"Well that will be me then."

Avoiding any argument, Ash and co. walked off, after all of the mind games and trash talk, there would be one winner this time tomorrow. It would all come to an end, who will come out stronger? Ash finally faces Trip...