So I'm going to be student teaching soon! Then I will have graduated and officially have my degree in Education! I can't wait!
I'm not sure what this semester will bring, but I'll do my best to update when I can! But before I start, I want to give you all one more chapter before everything officially begins!
Coming up is Chargestone Cave, a chapter or two I've been just waiting for.
Hope you enjoy!
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The Adventure Saga
The Truth Behind Us
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Start Date: June 2nd, X017
Current Date: October 17th X017
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Hilda sat across from her father in the hospital cafeteria. They were completely alone, munching on vending machine snacks, courtesy of her father. Everything was turned off, the janitors had cleaned everything down, and the only interruptions was when security would walk by them every so often.
Clay had given them special permission to remain here past visiting hours, as a thanks for helping with Team Plasma. It was a few minutes past midnight.
"Are you full, kiddo? Need anything else?"
Her father broke the tense silence, his voice gentle, like he was trying to sooth a child after they had a horrifying nightmare. In truth, Hilda felt like she had stumbled headfirst into one. Hilda felt like she should be tired, but she was so high strung and wired from worry that she was wide awake. She was confused and upset and worried… But most of all, she wanted to go back to normal. She wanted to go back to the days when she was gallavanting around with Cheren and Bianca with dreams consisting of nothing more but being rich and providing for her Mom.
"I need answers, Dad."
Hilda answered his question with blunt honesty, all she's ever been able to provide. She knew that upon answering his question like that, she probably never would be able to go back to being normal. But was there ever a normal, considering her abilities?
"I don't even know where to start." her father shook his head, sighing as he pushed his bangs off his forehead.
"What's my real name?" Hilda decided to start off with what was bothering the most, staring at her father with fierce intensity. "Or better… What's your real name, Dad?"
"No better place to start than there, I suppose." her father closed his eyes with a sigh. "My name, my real name, Hilda, is Rowan Veritas. Meaning your last name isn't White… Well, legally it is, but biologically, you inherit my name; Veritas."
"Rowan Veritas." Hilda echoed. "So Gray is…?"
"A nickname." he explained. "I've always had a very black and white view of things, so much so that people began to call me Gray. I liked it more than Rowan, so I went with it and it stuck."
"Okay, so your name isn't Gray and my last name is Veritas." Hilda sighed. "This doesn't explain what this all means, Dad."
"I know, I'm getting there." he sat back in his chair, exhaling a long sigh. "Hilda, how much do you know about Unova's history?"
"Depends on what aspect." Hilda crossed her arms. "We talkin' about like old history, like when we gained independence from Galar and Alola allied with us, or are we talkin' old, old, old history, like how this country came to be?"
"The beginning of it all." her father said, tilting his head back. "We're talking when Unova first formed."
"You mean with the twin heroes and shit?"
"Yeah. You see, Hilda, when this all began the twin heroes brought together using the power of a great dragon pokémon. However, even when the heroes united the nation, they still argues on how to rule. One wanted to rule by truth, but the other wanted to rule by ideals. The dragon began to argue with itself, and eventually split into three separate pokémon."
"Reshiram, who sided with the older brother that sought truth, Zekrom who sided with the younger brother that sought ideals, and Kyurem, the leftover remains of the dragon that fell into deep sleep."
"That's correct. The brothers reignited the war between the nation, until eventually, they set aside their differences and settled on opposite ends of the continent. However… Their sons resumed the battle."
"Including those times, it is said that the battle of truth and ideals warred over Unova nine times." Hilda muttered. "All fought by the descendants of the original kings, supposedly. Around the ninth time, Kyurem came back and intervened on the fight, and the Tao Trio hasn't been seen since."
Hilda lifted her gaze, crossing her arms.
"So what does this have to do with me?"
"The twin kings original surname was 'Harmonitas'. When they split and separated, the older brother took the surname Veritas, a name that symbolized truth in ancient mythology. The younger brother took the surname 'Harmonia', a name representing the idealistic thoughts of harmony and concord. And you…"
"And I'm?" Hilda insisted. Her father furrowed his brow, as if he was uncomfortable with revealing the truth, but knew he had no choice but to do so.
"Hilda, you are the most recent child in the ancestry of the Veritas name. And N is the most recent child in the ancestry of the Harmonia name."
"Waaaaaaaaait, waitwaitwaitwaitwaitwait." Hilda shook her head in confusion. "Hold on a minute. Are you meaning to tell me that me and N, who is the motherfucking King of Team Plasma, may I remind you, are the descendants of a pair of mythical fucking twins?"
Suddenly, another thought hit her.
"Holy fuck, we're related?!"
"Well, loosely." Gray chuckled. "I'm pretty sure that your genetic relation is so far apart that we're talking just barely related."
"Ugh." Hilda shuddered. "Oh, this is so fucking gross. Ghetsis is N's father, right? I think I'm more disturbed that he's somehow related to me than N is."
"About that…"
"Yeah?"
"Well, let me pick up where I left off. You seem to have the misconception that the twin kings were myths or something. Well… The kings were no myths, Hilda." her father almost seemed to be lecturing her as he spoke. "They were real people and what happened were real events. They had children, and each of those children displayed other-worldly abilities."
"Like what, understanding pokémon? Always knowing the truth?"
"It's… complicated." Gray rubbed his temple. "But in short, yes. Every single descendent has developed abilities. However, those who fought the war, the children and the great grand children and so on and so forth… they didn't develop abilities. Hilda… Hilda, they were born with them."
Hilda sat back, contemplating that.
"Well, I wasn't born with this ability, it developed… right?"
Her father was silent.
"Dad, c'mon," she reached across the table with a small chuckle, playfully punching his shoulder. "I developed all this crazy stuff, right? Right?"
"Hilda, think back as far as you can." her father said sternly, staring at her with sternness that seemed entirely uncharacteristic for the jolly man she knew, but that stern look was enough to convince Hilda that he was one thousand percent serious. "Have you ever lied? Have you ever not understood pokémon? Was the truth always something you could sense?"
Hilda was about to deny it, but realized she couldn't bring herself to deny such a thing. Because she dug, really, really dug through her memories, trying to think of a time where she lied about anything, about something. Struggled to think of when talking to pokémon and understanding them was just pretend, when she started to call people out on their bullshit.
But it wasn't about when she started, because she always could while she could never lie.
"So are you fucking telling me," Hilda exclaimed, standing up abruptly, slamming her hands on the table. "That I'm supposed to be fighting some fucking war with N, who is somehow my motherfucking cousin-"
"Distantly related." her father corrected her, but that only made her blood boil.
"It doesn't matter! I'm supposed to fight him with a legendary pokémon?!"
"All the signs point to that, yes."
"No." Hilda shook her head. "No. Nononononono, no, no, no."
Turning on her heel, she began to march towards the exit.
"Hilda, wait, I'm not done." her Dad trailed behind her.
"No. I don't wanna hear anymore, it wasn't supposed to be like this." Hilda refused to turn around. "All I ever fucking wanted was to get my license, become rich, and support Mom. I didn't ask to be a freak or restart some stupid ancient war, I didn't ask to get tangled in this mess with Team Plasma, I. Did. Not. ASK FOR IT!"
As her father grabbed her hand to stop her, her voice rose to a yell.
"Hilda, calm down, please." her father turned her around, putting his hands on her shoulders. "Destiny doesn't decide what hand to deal people. It dealt you the hand of a hero, Hilda."
"Hand of a hero?!" she hollered. "If that's the case, destiny can kiss my ass! I never wanted to be a hero!"
"But Hilda-"
"That's the damned truth, Dad!"
Silence settled over them, because in saying that, they both knew the words she spoke were true. Hilda felt her entire body trembling as she stared up at her Dad.
"Why the fuck would you even have a kid if you knew this was a possibility?" she asked, tears finally dribbling down her face. "Did you… Did you plan this with Ghetsis or some shit?"
"Dear Arceus and hell below, no!" her father exclaimed. "Hilda, did he tell you that?!"
"No, but what the hell else am I supposed to think?!" she yelled back, tears now pouring. "He keeps rabbling on and on about knowing you and shit, and then you leave us when I'm a kid and he has a freaky kid of his own… I don't know what to think anymore..."
"Hilda, come sit back down, please, and just let me finish." she avoided her fathers gaze. "Please, Hilda, I owe you an explanation and you want it… no, you need it, deserve it. But you need to listen. You need to let me talk to you."
Reluctantly, Hilda allowed her father to lead her back to wear they were sitting. Once she sat down, he sat beside her rather than across from her. Hilda didn't look at him.
"How are you related to Ghetsis?"
That was the Bouffalant in the room, the question she wanted the answer to the most. Her father let out a long sigh, a hand on her shoulder.
"Well, we met a long, loooooooong time ago, way before you were born. When I was about ten years old, I ran away from home. I didn't get along with your grandparents because they didn't want me to leave to go on my journey. Well, I didn't like that very much, so I left anyways. This was waaaaay before any of these laws were put into place, so I know that no one was going to look for me anyways. That's when I met Ghetsis. He was fifteen when I first met him, a much more experienced trainer than I was… And he trained with me. He taught me so much about pokémon battles, he is and was intelligent beyond belief, Hilda… and back then? He was kind, too."
Hilda imagined Ghetsis in her mind, trying to imagine him as a kind, doting fifteen year old. She struggled to do so, because all she could see was those terrifyingly cruel eyes hiding behind a charming smile.
"Him and I were friends for many, many years. He took care of me when I needed help, trained me to be strong, taught me so many things I never thought I needed to know. To an extent, I thought of him as an older brother for a long, long time. We travelled to so many places and countries, met so many people… Including your mother, Hilda. We were young and immature when we met. I was twelve, and she herself was ten, just barely kids. But like always, Ghetsis took us under his wing and taught us all her could. Eventually, we drifted apart. Your mother and I yearned to travel, Ghetsis wanted to receive a higher education. So we took all he taught us and travelled the globe."
"So you lost connection?" Hilda asked.
"Not quite." her father shook his head. "During that time, Ghetsis wanted to study children with otherworldly abilities. This was because I inspired that in him. I told him about my abilities as a descendent of the Hero of Truth, and it caught his interest. He wanted to research if there were other people like me in the world. We kept in touch, because, honestly? The subject interested me too. When you think you're the only wierdo in the world, you kinda hope there's others out there like you."
"Okay… so, uh… where're you going with this?"
"Well, after he finished school, we reunited, the three of us. Ghetsis had joined a group of researchers. He told us said he got a lead on the Harmonia line, which as you now know, is closely related to the Veritas family line. So me, being me, got all excited and we travelled to meet this Harmonia family. Turns out, it wasn't the Harmonia family, but the Mitsuru family. The mother was the most recent descendent in the Harmonia line, er, well one of the most recent. She married into the Mitsuru name and took that name in marriage. She had a son around that time, just a little, little tyke. That tyke was N. We shared a good laugh, Ghetsis interviewed her about her family history, we came back to Unova. Around then, my relationship with your mother, well, evolved, lets say. I found out that your mother was pregnant with you, so I told Ghetsis, and he was so excited and happy. He was happy for us, of course, but he was excited because he thought he'd get a chance to study a a descendent as their abilities developed. Except, well… something happened."
"Define 'something'."
"Ghetsis had a stroke."
"Wait, what?" Hilda reeled back, looking at him. "He's only five years older than you, right? That would've made him young for a stroke…"
"I was surprised too." he pushed his bangs off his forehead. "He would've been, oh… I think twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Late twenties at least when he had it. That's when I learned something new about Ghetsis; he's a narcissist. He's so arrogant in his own health and body that he thought he knew better than the doctors. Turns out he comes from a long line of high stroke risk due to high cholesterol… But he never went to a doctor, never tried to fix it… and then it happened. But he was so arrogant that he didn't even call the doctor or believe that something was wrong. I… I found him, collapsed on his couch, two days after he had the stroke. Ghetsis didn't have many friends, or really, any friends outside of me and your mother, I think… Hell, I don't even know if he has family. So obviously, I called the paramedics, he was my friend, my brother… I thought I was helping him, but…"
Her father pushed his bangs off his forehead, covering his eyes with his hand as he stared at the ceiling.
"I went to the hospital. You've seen Ghetsis walk, yeah? You'll notice he doesn't right side very often, and that his right eye is covered with that… thing. That red plastic patch or whatever."
"Is that… 'cause of his stroke?" Hilda asked, thinking back, she began to recall things. The way that his left hand gripped his cane, how he always walked with a bit of a limp, how his face drooped and how his right eye was always covered…
"It was. Since he neglected to get to a doctor, the stroke had catastrophic effects on him. His entire right side was completely fucked, couldn't work anything at all. And when I went to visit him… he was mad at me for calling the paramedics. He looked at me like he loathed my existence, was beyond angry. I'll never forget what he said. He told me that he wished that I'd let him just die instead of allowing him to live deformed."
"What an inconsiderate fuck." Hilda muttered.
"Hilda…"
"What?" she snapped. "You saved his life and he got mad at you?"
"Anyways…" her father continued, not acknowledging what she said. "Well, Ghetsis didn't contact us at all. You were born, and I tried to be a good Dad. However, six months after he cut ties, I ran into him in Accumula, and I was surprised to see him walking, though he was leaning heavily on a cane. That's when I found out how mentally fucked he was as well."
"What did he tell you?"
"He told me that he needed my help. He wanted you."
"Me?"
"He suspected that he could use you to get the legendary pokémon, he wanted the most recent descendants because, according to when we talked to the Harmonia family, their son displayed his talents since he was born. He believed he was going to use these children to bring on the next war and rise as King of Unova…"
"And what did you tell him?"
"I fumbled out a lie saying that Lisa miscarried so there was no baby, then I ran home as fast as I could. At this point, our relationship became stagnant. We were young and immature, so when I told your mother I wanted to go travel, she wasn't surprised. So… I left, and lead Ghetsis on this wild chase, trying to keep him away from you. Of course…" Gray shook his head. "He didn't believe me. I know he didn't, but it is why I kept you in such a small little town. Because Ghetsis wouldn't ever think to look for you there…"
"I ain't mad about being in that little town." Hilda buried her face in her hands, resting her elbows on the table. "But you're hiding something from me, Dad. I can fucking tell."
"Hilda, think about what I just told you. You said Ghetsis was N's father. Yet N was already born in another country to loving doting parents?"
"Sooo…" Hilda glanced at her father. "I'm not related to Ghetsis?"
"No."
"Oh, thank fucking Arceus." Hilda let out a laugh. "Honestly? Best news I've heard all day."
"Hilda, please take this seriously."
"Oh, I am. If my genetic lineup has any chance of being somewhat related to Ghetsis, I'm closing down the shop before it even opens, if you catch my drift. No way does this world need even the fucking potential of a second Ghetsis."
"Are you done?"
"Yes, I am now."
"So can you think about what I just said? N wasn't even in the same region as Ghetsis when he was born. Ghetsis talked to no one but me and your mother, and even then just barely. Then, suddenly, he has a son who is a descendent of the Harmonia line?"
"Holy shit!" Hilda exclaimed. "Ghetsis kidnapped N?!"
"I believe so." her father nodded solemnly. "Or he manipulated N into coming with him, I'm not sure as of now. But I do know that N shouldn't be in Unova, because when I first met his mother, the question was brought up why she left Unova. She left to be with her husband and his family. And don't worry, cops are aware of this. In fact, a couple of cops told me this. Or, well, I deduced it based off what they said, but you know, you get what you get."
"Damn… N seems to have so much faith in Team Plasma and it's 'cause'," she spat that word out sarcastically. "It's just hard to believe he might be a victim too… But still, Dad…"
"Yeah?"
"I don't get what Ghetsis's main goal is." Hilda muttered, furrowing her brow. "Because I have a feeling he's not just doing this for the good of pokémon. He's… He's hurting people, Dad."
"I know." her father sighed heavily. "Ghetsis successfully surrounded himself with intelligent people and built an organization that promotes a subject that no one wants to address; are pokémon happy fighting for and with us? A noble cause, sure… But it's one that worries me. Hilda, you're a trainer who's bond with their pokémon is strong. What's the type of person to listen to Ghetsis? The type who's to believe that they're abusing their pokémon simply by keeping them by their side?"
"The dumbasses?"
"C'mon, now, Hilda, don't be like that. Drop your bias for a minutes and answer me honestly, okay?"
"Well…" Hilda thought back to Team Plasma's speeches and protests, their broadcasts on the news and their interviews with reporters. But most of all, she thought of the pokémon trainers who were releasing their pokémon. Closing her eyes and rubbing her temples, she sighed. "Dad, I'd say the trainers who actually give a damn about their pokémon would listen. 'Cause they want their pokémon to be happy."
"Right. And if you look at it, us humans are pretty shitty. We capture pokémon and rip them from their homes and families, just to use them to fight each other for our own glory? Pointing it out makes some people redevelop their entire relationship, looking at our world and culture and how it functions."
Hilda furrowed her brow, biting her lip. Doubt curdled in her stomach for a moment, because when her father put it like that…
"No," she shook her head, smacking her cheeks. "No, they're wrong. And I know they're wrong because pokémon have the ability to maim and hurt us and get away. They can fight back, they will! A world with pokémon and humans fighting and living as one is the only truth there is!"
Slamming her hands on the table, she stood.
"There might be some assholes in the world who mistreat pokémon, but that hardly counts for every human out there! I refuse to believe that Team Plasma's ideal is the truth!"
Her father gave her a small smile. A small, but sad smile. Hilda furrowed her brow in confusion.
"What's wrong, Dad?"
"It's just…" he sighed. "I don't know what changed. Or maybe, nothing really changed at all, and he was always like this, he was just really good at hiding it before his stroke, or I was to dumb to see it beforehand. If I knew his main goal, I would tell you, but I have no idea what he hopes to accomplish by separating pokémon from humans, or by trying to. I guess I'm just sorry. Hilda, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, because I inadvertently brought you and so many other people in to this dumpsterfire of a mess."
"Ain't your fault your quote unquote friend is fucking crazy."
"… Yeah. But… Hilda, do you know the end of the legend of the twin heroes?"
"This bullshit again?" Hilda sighed. "Listen-"
"No, you need to listen." her father insisted. "Hilda, the end of the legend, the twin heroes either kill each other or, so the legend says, when one wins… They're to become the King of Unova."
"So what're you saying?"
"What I'm saying is that, if N is the new Hero of Ideals and you're the new Hero of Truth-"
"What did I fucking tell you?" Hilda hissed. "I'm not a hero, I don't have any desire to be one. And I certainly ain't about to become the King of Unova."
"Yeah, but N does, doesn't he?" her father asked. "Hilda, I'm not sure what N's relationship with Ghetsis is exactly, but he thinks he can build the ideal world by becoming King… by becoming Champion of Unova."
Hilda was quiet.
"The fight is inevitable, Hilda…"
Hilda didn't say anything to that, letting the words hang in the air. Things were tense and uncomfortable. She knew that her father was aware about how she felt about that, and the heavy thought hung in the air.
Her father stood, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"How about we get some sleep, kiddo."
Hilda nodded only once, her father taking that as a cue to put his arm around her and lead her towards the door. She remained quiet, fists clenched tightly at her side as she mulled on her fathers words. The fight is inevitable? Why her? Did she have to fight this? Why did she have to be a part of this stupid legend…? She didn't want to do it at all!
"Dad, I…" she trailed off, biting her lip.
"Yeah, tyke?" he asked. She didn't say anything. "It's a lot to take in Hilda, I know this. If you have any questions, I'll do my best to answer them. Whatever you need, I'll help you through this, I promise."
"Yeah, Dad… I know. It's just…" she stopped, knowing her father wouldn't want to hear what she wanted to say. He wasn't willing to argue about that point, about her being some 'Hero of Truth' and destined to fight N in a war. "Nevermind."
"You sure?"
Hilda didn't answer that, because she knew that she wouldn't be able to lie and say she was sure.
I don't want to be a hero…
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October 18th, X017
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"I cannot believe that he had a pokémon that could teleport to Driftviel. We could've been three steps ahead of Sa- I mean Blitz! Who knows where that girl is now…"
Silver let out a sigh as he shook the loose sand from his suit. Looker was already out of his suit and marching into Nimbassa. He's been listening to Looker complain about Gray since he had left, and while Silver himself was miffed, he was more worried about Lyra and, at this point, Vale. There was so much going on and it's been almost a month since he last saw Lyra, about a week since she stopped trying to call him. He… was worried. He wasn't sure if it was poor connection or she was just refusing to talk to him, but he could feel panic clinging gripping at his chest like ice.
Thankfully, though, that worry melted away when he exited the route gate, and saw a familiar figure sitting on the steps leading to Nimbassa.
"Lyra…" he breathed out her name in relief, but when she looked up at him, his heart sunk a little. Her eyes were tinted red. Was she crying…?
"Silver, we need to talk." she said simply.
"Uh… yeah. Sure." Silver muttered, having a sinking feeling that he was somehow in trouble. Lyra gave a side-eye to Looker, who was hovering.
"Looker," she smiled at him. "Sara and I just departed today. I think she was heading to Driftviel, but she's spent the last couple weeks here doing some investigating. She wouldn't tell me to much, but maybe before you chase after her, you try to get an update from the police or the coroner?"
Coroner? What the hell happened that would get Sara and Lyra involved with a coroner?
Silver glanced at Looker, whose furrowed brow seemed to reflect the same worry that Silver was feeling.
"Thank you, Lyra. Silver," he glanced at him. "I'm going to go to Driftviel as soon as possible. You should perhaps follow when you're finished."
"I will." Silver nodded. Looker then left with a flourish of his trench coat, speed walking towards the police department while dodging tourists, leaving the young couple alone. Well, somewhat alone, as tourists were still coming and going through the route gate.
"Lyra, what's wrong?"
"We just need to talk, in private, Silver. I wanted to catch you before you went running off again, as well as to pass that message to Looker."
"What happened? Why did you mention a coroner?" Silver asked, trailing behind her as she walked away.
"It's a long story, but I don't want to talk about that right now." Lyra shook her head. "I promise, I'm fine, and Sara is too. To be honest, I don't know all the details of what happened, I do know that someone… died."
"Who?" Silver asked. As they reached the hotel, he placed his hands on her shoulders, turning her around.
"Silver, your hands…" Lyra looked up at him, concern obvious on her face. He could feel his body trembling slightly, but to be honest, he wasn't really sure why he was scared.
"Just tell me who died. Please, Lyra. Who died? How did they die?"
"… It was a Plasma grunt." Lyra answered, averting her gaze. "Sara wasn't very open about how he died, but I overheard her talking about Dayna while she was smoking."
"Dayna?" Silver echoed. He knew that Sara and Looker were working closely with the dexholders in order to bring down Team Plasma and to bring missing children home. Truthfully, Silver believed it had less to do with being public figures of good, and more about finding Leaf's little sister. Well, at least when it came to Leaf. Fire, Dayna, and even to an extent, Gary, might be more for helping out the world as a whole.
Silver's mind raced as he tried to place where the other dexholders were right now. He knew that Krystal and Ethan were doing public speeches and announcements about what happened with the Masked Rockets. Basically covering for him and Lyra while they were in Unova. Fire and Dayna were helping them with that, but less publicly. Like they had in Kanto, they were helping Johto rebuild and to heal. As for Gary and Leaf… Well, he wasn't sure. He supposed that they were either being proactive about taking down the few of Ghetsis's laggies still in Johto or Kanto, or Gary was trying to convince Leaf down off Mount Silver again.
"Why would she be calling Dayna?"
"Well, I mean…" Lyra twiddled her thumbs. "She was asking Dayna if she got some blood samples yet… I… I think it has to do with the Plasma member who passed away."
"Blood samples sent to a woman who's primary talent is healing…" Silver trailed off. "The grunt must have died of an unknown poison or disease. Somehow, Sara got samples and sent them to Dayna in order for her to concoct a cure."
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking too." Lyra mumbled. "Which is scary. Why would Sara want a cure concocted unless…"
"There's a possibility of a mass outbreak. Or a mass poisoning, depending on what we're discussing." Silver muttered, crossing his arms in contemplation. "I'll have to contact Dayna to see what's going on…"
"But first, we need to talk." Lyra insisted.
"Lyra, there's a possibility of massive death looming over us, can't this wait?"
"No, it can't."
"Lyra-"
"Silver, we need to talk about us."
That word hung with such insistency that Silver fell silent. Lyra looked visibly upset with her fists clenched at her side, but was hiding her face away from him.
"Please, Silver. Don't make me do this in public. Don't make me chase you anymore."
"… Okay." Silver nodded, despite feeling a bit shaken, for some reason. "That's fine."
Lyra didn't say anything, but also didn't let out a sigh of relief like he thought she would. Instead, she turned and walked into the hotel, with him trailing behind her until they reached her room. Even when they were sitting inside the small room, the tenseness didn't ease at all.
"Silver, why did you leave?"
Lyra finally broke the silence with that question.
"I already told you why I left. I had to go talk to Sara and Looker about something."
"But why didn't you tell me?" Lyra asked. "Or take me with you?"
"It's… complicated."
"How much more complicated?!" Lyra exclaimed. "Silver, how much more?! I've been through so much, with you, without you… We fought Mask together! We became heroes together, chosen by legends! We transcended time together! Do… do you think I'm stupid or something?"
"No-"
"Then what is it?"
"It's just that-"
"That what? That there is anything in this world that is more complicated than what we've already been through?"
"It's that you would've told me I was wrong!" Silver suddenly roared back. "You would have told me that I was grieving or something stupid like that!"
"Grieving…? Is this about Vale?"
"Of course it's about Vale!" Silver snapped. "What else do I have that's worth grieving?"
"Silver-"
"She's not dead." Silver spat in her direction, taking the picture out of his pocket and shoving it in her face. "Look. That's her. She's alive."
Lyra gingerly took the picture from his hands while he ranted on.
"She's alive, and I stupidly let you tell me that I didn't see her in Castelia. I did. It was her, and she was with the same guy in this picture, but I chose to believe you and listen to you! That she was dead, that I was seeing things, because I was grieving. But you were wrong, and I have proof right here."
"… Why didn't you tell me?" Lyra stood up, waving the picture in his face. "Silver, why didn't you tell me?! All you had to do was show me this, and then we could've gone together… I could've supported you!"
"What, while you pat me on the back saying 'Oh, poor, poor Silver, Vale offed herself, that can't be her, you're delusional', then let you spout out more garbage about happy endings and justice?"
"I…" Lyra's voice warbled. "I was trying to help…"
Silver turned away as she started to cry. Dammit… Now he was the asshole. He hated seeing her get upset, especially when it was his fault…
"I… I just don't understand!" she continued to sob. "You know that I'll help you and support you no matter what! Don't you trust me, Silver?"
"Of course I trust you."
"Then why did you leave me here in this city?! Why don't you tell me things?!" Lyra snapped her head up, tears still running down her face. "It's like you don't even want anything to do with me anymore!"
"You know that's not it either, Lyra!"
"Then what am I supposed to think?!" Lyra practically wailed. "You don't talk to me, you don't want to spend time with me, you abandon me in an unfamiliar city with no explanation… I know that you went through terrible things! I know this! But we're in a relationship. I want to be here for you, but how am I supposed to do that if you won't let me?! Are… are you just humoring me?"
Her voice went quiet as she asked that question, sniffling. Silver felt like the entire room suddenly went cold as his stomach lurched uncomfortably. He could only stare at her, lips parted slightly in surprise.
"You are, aren't you?" her voice cracked as she spoke, crumbling into sniffles and sobs. "I should have known! You've been humoring me this whole time, just trying to pacify me… How could someone like you possibly be interested in someone like-"
"Dammit, Lyra, stop!" Silver marched across the room and grabbed her shoulders, giving her a light shake. She blinked up at him tearfully. "Stop it. Stop talking like that."
"But why-"
"I love you, that's why." Silver declared, pulling her into a hug.
"Silver-"
"I don't want to see you get hurt. I'm so scared you're going to die. He killed you before, Lyra. He killed you when you were just an infant, when he was traveling through time." his voice shook as he recalled it. It was the one thing he didn't ever want to think about again, let alone talk about it. "Don't you remember? That dark space we were in? I… I'm certain you ended up there because you were erased from time, but somehow brought back. I'm not sure how, I'm not sure who was looking out for you that day. Lyra, he's going to kill you. He'll kill anyone to regain control, and he doesn't care."
Lyra's arms were limp at her side, but she was still trembling, still upset.
"Why didn't you tell me that?" she whispered.
"Who the hell wants to tell their girlfriend that they had to hold their corpse as an infant?"
"Arceus, Silver… Oh my Ho-oh, why didn't you tell me this? Any of this?" she reached out, hugging him tightly this time.
"I… I just wanted to forget. But I can't forget, because Ghetsis is still out there. There's still a target on my back, on your back…"
"So what? You thought just leaving me alone would make them forget?"
"I thought it would keep you safer. Ignorance is supposed to be bliss, and I genuinely believed that if I told you about Vale… You would tell me I was trying to 'fill the void' or whatever."
"I didn't mean to hurt you when I said that."
"I know you didn't."
"Team Plasma is already aware of everything you do." Lyra muttered. "I was targeted, surrounded by grunts. They tried to kidnap me, Silver, and you weren't there."
"I…" Silver trailed off, pulling back. Lyra sank down on the couch. Silver slowly sat next to her. "I didn't know that."
"You weren't here to know. I was lucky Sara showed up on time." Lyra said quietly. Silver's eyes drifted down as she fiddled with her sleeve. There, he saw the green and yellow remainings of a bruise around her wrist that looked disturbingly like fingers.
"Lyra…" he trailed off, taking her hand to examine her wrist closer.
"It was Atilla and Hun. They were trying to steal your Weavile, but I wouldn't let them." she took her hand back, flexing her wrist a bit. "It hurt for a bit, but I'm okay now."
"...I wasn't even answering my gear." Silver muttered, a deep, cold feeling falling into the pit of his stomach. What if they had succeeded? Would the last time he ever spoke to Lyra have been when he woke her up for her Dragonite? Her being half asleep and begging to know where he was going, but he never even answered her? Or would the next time he answer his gear be to a ransom call from Ghetsis, or worse, a confirmation from a cop or coroner or something that they found her body?
"Silver, I want to help you." Lyra reached out, gripping his hands. Immediately, they stilled. He hadn't even realized they were shaking... "I want to support you. But most importantly, I want to be with you. But by pulling away, it puts both of us at risk. Please, I want to be with you, but you can't keep pulling away…"
"But I don't want you to get hurt." Silver muttered. "Not ever again…"
"Silver, I'm already neck deep in this mess." Lyra shook her head, reaching out and gripping his face, forcing him to look her in the eye. "I'm strong in my own right, aren't I? I'm here to help you."
"I know that," Silver cast his gaze down. "Lyra… You're the greatest rival I ever had. You rivaled Leaf, nearly neck and neck. You're strong, so strong. But this… Lyra, you might be neck deep, but I don't want you to drown. I don't want to drag you down with me. I feel like I never should have brought you here. This is my problem, what was my revenge mission… You should've stayed home, been the public figure that Johto adores and loves as a nation..."
"I'm not going to let you flounder on your own." Lyra brought her face closer, noses nearly touching. Closing her eyes, she continued speaking. "I'm not going to leave you, but I don't want you to leave me either. Obviously we're our best when we're together… We're both at ease when we know the other is safe, when we know what is going on. You need to let me in, Silver. Let me fight by your side. You might've started out on your own… But that doesn't mean you have to finish alone. You already know that I'm not going to let that happen,"
She pulled back, smiling a small little smile.
"Right, Silver?"
Silver was quiet, contemplative.
"I love you, Silver. And because of that, I refuse to let you drown in this mess."
"But…"
"But what? If you drag me down too?" Lyra shook her head. "Then that's what happens. But we won't fall without a fight, and if we do fall, we fall together… You know how you feel if I were going to die? How do you think I would feel if you suddenly died?"
Lyra's hand rested over her heart, a sad look on her face.
"I know the danger of this mission. I knew what I was getting into. So does that put into perspective how scared I was when you didn't answer or call me back? Or I woke up with a foggyish, half-asleep memory of you leaving? A month of anxiety and waiting, not knowing if or when Team Plasma would show up, not knowing if Ghetsis was going to come after you? Or if he already had you and that's why you didn't answer? I know you were trying to keep me safe, but I worry about you too. I want to get through this with as little repercussions just as much as you do… But we can't do that if we're separating ourselves from one another… even if it's with the intention of keeping the other safe."
"It would be easier for Ghetsis to divide and conquer if we already divided ourselves…" Silver muttered.
"Exactly!" Lyra suddenly seemed to bounce back from her somber mood, smiling bright as she always did. Hugging his arm and resting her chin on his shoulder, she continued. "Silver, I love you. I want to fight not just for you, but with you. But you need to let me do that. Just… open up a bit, Silver. Talk to me. I can handle it, I promise. I want to help you and protect you and support you as much as you want to keep me safe. So won't you let me do that?"
Silver closed his eyes, staying still for a moment as he collected his thoughts. Thinking back on it, he knew he acted both impulsively and stupidly. But he just thought, in the moment, that keeping it all secret was the best option both for Lyra's safety and his own sanity. He figured the less Lyra knew, the better it would all be, but all it ended up doing was creating an emotional and physical divide between them. When he was younger, he remembered taking innate pleasure out of trying to make Lyra cry, but now? He just felt terrible for doing so.
"What are you thinking about?" Lyra asked the question tentatively, chin still resting on his shoulder. Silver shook his arm free, wrapping it around her shoulders as he let out a heavy, heavy sigh.
"I'm thinking about when we first met, and how much of an ass I was."
"Yeah?"
"I used to actively go out of my way to make you cry. But you never did. Now I've… succeeded, if you want to call it that, in making you cry, I feel terrible about it." he lowered his head slightly, resting his chin on her head. "I'm sure the me of two years ago would call me a sissy or a weakling or something like that."
"I wouldn't say that." Lyra chirped reassuringly.
"No, you never would." he mumbled. "Lyra?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm thinking about something." Silver closed his eyes. "When this is done. When Ghetsis is gone, dead, arrested, whatever happens… I'll work on being a better boyfriend. And don't say that I'm already great,"
He could almost predict Lyra's rejection of such a claim, sternly cutting her off so he could continue.
"… Because I know that I'm not. I'm not emotionally available, I hate social situations, and with all this crap with Ghetsis and Team Plasma and Vale, we hardly ever got to spend time together."
"You're doing your best…" Lyra trailed off.
"Oh, so you don't want to do sappy couple stuff?" Silver pulled back, a smile tugging at his lips.
"I do!" Lyra exclaimed. "But I- Hey, wait! Wait a minute, you're making fun of me!"
"Not entirely, no." Silver shrugged, pulling her close again. "Maybe just a little."
"Sometimes you're not very nice, Silver." Lyra was obviously pouting into his jacket.
"Was I ever?"
"What got into you?" Lyra asked, staring up at him. "You're not normally teasing like this…"
"Well… I'm just thinking, Lyra. You deserve better than me 'doing my best'. But… my best is all I have right now, and I know it's meager."
"Well, I mean, we're kinda dealing with some pretty heavy stuff…"
"When all this is said and done, Lyra," Silver muttered. "Let's… do something. Make traditions, do things we never had as kids. Just be better than what we grew up with. Do you think that's something we can try?"
"Of course!" Lyra exclaimed, beaming at him. Hugging him tightly, she continued. "Silver, all I ever, ever wanted was for the both of us to be happy. Once this mess is cleaned up, I'm sure that we can find that happiness."
Silver held onto her, a small, subdued smile on his face. His relationship with Lyra was strained, they chose a terrible time to get together as a couple. Her being abandoned by her mother and him and his plethora of parent issues, plus Ghetsis and Vale… But he knew that he loved Lyra. He needed to stop being stupid and work his hardest for her happiness… and his own. He would be better. He would tell her all he could, update her on everything necessary… And once this was said and done, he'd recommit.
But first, he had to remove anything that was threatening them. And their biggest threat as of now… was Ghetsis.
o.0.o.0.o
Well, a few days late, but meh. Here you have it, a new update! A bit heavy on narration, but we get a lot of truth coming out.
Hope you enjoy!
Amy47101 signing off! ^.^