p class="Normal"As we head through the entrance to the complex, I can immediately feel the warmth of the sun on my skin. As I sigh in content, I can't help but think 'God I love this town'. For all it's faults, and for all its inhabitants faults, this place will always truly be home for me. Maybe after getting Princess groomed we could go seaside for some lunch. While it would be great to head into the water, Princess is the real primadonna and won't get her fur wet, nor would I leave her on her own in the area. A pretty girl such as herself wouldn't be safe around here on her own./p
p class="Normal" /p
p class="Normal"On our way to the underground, I realise that Princess is fast asleep on my shoulder. I chuckle lightly as it dawns on me that I've been relegated to the duty of a manservant yet again. She truly did live up to her name, but I wouldn't have her any other way./p
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p class="Normal"Walking through one of the refurbished areas to reach our destination, I can't help but ponder how the city has changed over the recent years. When the whole family had moved in 12 years ago from New Bark, Goldenrod, while still lively, was but a mere drop of water in the lake that it had now become. A boom in population growth had surged numbers from 320,000 to the 1.4 million that it has become today. The town had quickly and easily dominated the title of the largest city in all of Johto, and just recently passed into second place within the Kanto-Johto area, narrowly edging out Celadon City at 1.377 million. But alas, Goldenrod would be hard pressed to become the most populated town as Saffron City still dominated the scene by a large margin. Not that it needed to, since it's current level of population growth had left it in a precarious position./p
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p class="Normal"Due to the large growth, estates were filled at a rate that was too high to keep up with. Now, while the richest lived in style and elegance, the poor were relegated to the east side to live like sardines inside a matchbox. To add even more insult to the town, it was the middle class stuck in said matchboxes leaving the poor straight up homeless. With the glitz and the glamour of the big city, many people came with big dreams, but found that dreams were the only thing they had left. Possessions, money, dignity, even friends and family. Poverty had a funny way of taking everything away from a person leaving nothing but a husk. Those that could have been scientists, engineers and doctors, stuck in the gutter without a way to realise their inner potential to aide the world./p
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p class="Normal"No matter how much the current gym leader Whitney tried, she just isn't capable of keeping up with the demands of the job. I'm not even sure my dad would have been able to if he was still here. There were rumors floating around the upper circles that the league had her under a performance review. Other rumors stated that she was going to be outright fired, but there was no concrete evidence towards either of these things. Personally, I believe she's done a wonderful job in her time, since there is no way she could do it without help. Still, no matter what I think or believe, it wont help the fact that I have nothing to do with league matters, and if she loses her job, this town will just erase her memory and move on./p
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p class="Normal"Oh well, even if they do replace her, the city will still have a history of corruption, lies and deceit no matter where you turn. The rich only trying to get richer and more powerful, and the poor only trying to get richer and more powerful. The only interaction the two having being when the rich get robbed by the poor, or when the rich get too rich and inevitable stumble upon a life fueled by the chaos of drugs and lose it all. Very few rise in the city, but it's only too easy to fall and crash into oblivion./p
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p class="Normal"Dissent would also be present as there were further rumors going around town that there were two gangs on the rise. The young and ambitious who were born on the wrong side of the town were now resorting to thievery and thuggery to make their way in life. It is unknown what the two gangs identify as, but there are fears that someone may be taking advantage of the town's darker side to revive the once notorious Team Rocket. Once ruled by ex-elite 4 member, and Viridian gym leader Giovanni, the group was disbanded only three years prior. Reports say that Agatha Oak and husband Samuel Oak, who was the champion of the Indigo league before his wife beat him over 40 years ago, were the ones to single handedly defeat the organisation after they invaded Saffron city and took control of Silph Co. In the fray, Giovanni and a few of his elites managed to escape through the use of many self-destructing voltorbs and geodudes, paired with some powerful psychics. Since then, none have been seen and it was thought that Giovanni had given up on his ambitions of controlling the underground black markets and all other shady operations that not even the Ace Trainers could dig up afterwards./p
p class="Normal" /p
p class="Normal"Before I know it, the high-rise buildings are gone and replaced with one of the more modest shopping precincts. Mum used to take me to this area pretty commonly as a child as she quickly fell in love with the park across the road. She found that the city wasn't where she felt at home, but the park allowed her a quaint little piece of nature that she could allow herself to relax in if only temporarily. I truly wasn't surprised when she told me she'd be moving to Little Root Town after dad got shifted by the league; apparently the Hoenn region needed a stronger representation of authority or some other such thing./p
p class="Normal" /p
p class="Normal"But the one thing I truly appreciated about always coming to the area was that there was a hidden gem of an underground shopping centre nearby. Having a market and some quirky little shops, it quickly became one of my favorite areas, and thus why I'm heading there now. There's one little pokemon grooming shop that I often come to for Princess' sake. As we arrive to the underground, I nudge her awake and she quickly perks up at the prospect of becoming beautiful. Such a vain little creature, just like her daddy./p
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p class="Normal"As I exit the escalator, I hear a sudden shout of 'Ethan?!' from god knows where. I look around somewhat dazed, still trying to shuffle forward so I'm not getting in anyone's way, before someone glomps me from behind. I tense not really knowing what's going on, until I recognise that familiar blue hair and scent./p
p class="Normal"'Lyra? Is that really you?' I feel she's let me go and only now realise that Princess had already abandoned ship when he knew the danger was coming./p
p class="Normal"'It really, really is! Lyra, in the flesh!' As she strikes a pose to emphasize her own point, I'm reminded once again of just why she could be painful to deal with./p
p class="Normal"'What are you doing in Goldenrod? I thought you were still living in New Bark with your family?' She pouts suddenly realising that her grand entrance might as well have just hit a ghost pokemon, but decides to move on with the conversation. Who said Princess was the only one capable of figuring people out?/p
p class="Normal"'I decided to take some time away from that stuffy little lab and spend some time with my grandparents at the daycare! And it'd be such a shame if I didn't take advantage of being so near to Goldenrod and get my dear little Bob a haircut!' Out of the corner of my eye, I see yet another blue object and realise that's who Princess had ditched me for. Princess and Bob the marill had become fast friends when they met 7 years ago./p
p class="Normal"'I still can't believe you named your female marill 'Bob'. It's such a butch name for a jolly little female. You should have called me up, I would have made time to come with you instead of meeting you randomly'. I was actually vaguely hurt that she didn't, but I think I had given her enough information to figure that out. Shit. Princess is giving me that eye again, so I was being a bit too vague. Damn fox./p
p class="Normal"'I would have, but I know that you're usually busy, so I decided that it would be easier to come alone than try in vain. Sorry! My bad in the end. And you know I named her after the action, and not the man'. She actually seems a bit bashful, so I might let her off this once. Not to mention that she was kind of right, I do work quite a lot, but it was a Saturday and she should know I get those off./p
p class="Normal"'I guess I might forgive you, but it just means that you're going to have to spare Bob for some photo shoots. Oh! And would you look at that, we're already in the underground, so we don't even need to go anywhere!'/p
p class="Normal"'That sounds like a lot of fun! I'm guessing by the way Princess is with you that you're here to get her hair cut too? Maybe we could go get the photoshoot done after that!'/p
p class="Normal"'Sounds like a plan.' You would think I'd feel just a little bit of shame at how Bob had just caught onto the conversation, and how her eyes were widening to almost comic proportions. But no, the cackling internally continues on at the thought that I can not only give Princess a photoshoot, but get even for Lyra's lack of forethought at the same time./p
p class="Normal" /p
p class="Normal"When we arrive at the salon, I'm thanking my lucky stars that the younger salon owner is in. While the salon was fairly successful and renown among the contest scene, being in such an out of the way spot should have had a bit more of an impact on their sales. Fortunately, they had been thriving for the five years they had been open, mainly thanks to the work of the two owners. I had shown Lyra this place several years ago, and she was instantly in love with it just like I was. She thankfully wasn't fussed with who groomed Bob, and I certainly wasn't in a position to stop Princess from getting the younger brother. As we entered into the room, the older brother gave us, or rather, me a welcome./p
p class="Normal"'Ah, Ethan! In for Princess' regular clean-up?' At the prospect of someone calling her dirty, she gave him what could only be described as a murderous look. Knowing it without even seeing it, I decided to correct him./p
p class="Normal"'She's always stunning, she just needs a bit of a trim to make sure she maintains her beauty'. More content with that description, she stopped paying attention to the lowly brother and went over to nudge the leg of the younger brother, already ensuring them that he was who she wanted. Such a diva. With the younger brother's attention now on the little fox by his feet, he let's a smile fall on his face/p
p class="Normal"'Ah, little Princess! You look more radiant each time I see you. Now let's go make sure everyone knows just why you're the Princess and they're lowly servants'. With that, she allows herself to be picked up and transported like the most delicate of jewels, head held high and obviously loving every second of the treatment. Shaking my head, but not surprised in the least, I decide to just sit in one of the waiting chairs and get comfortable/p
p class="Normal"'Are you not going to with them?' Lyra seems particularly confused about my choice of actions as one of the other attendants works with Bob right in front of her./p
p class="Normal"'Nah, if there's one place I feel comfortable letting her roam around on her own, it's this place. She probably loves him more than me at times. Actually, that is dangerous. She's got him wrapped around her little finger, she's going to want treats from him'. With that I get up and follow where they had headed through to. Right away, I can see that I was absolutely right and he was reaching for the treats on his station. 'Princess, you know better than that. Conning innocent people into giving you food. Your evil knows no bounds young lady'. The innocent 'eev?' did nothing to convince me that she truly wasn't pulling a fast one on an unsuspecting sucker. I hear the owner chuckle and say that he just can never say no to that face./p
p class="Normal" /p
p class="Normal"As I continue to make small talk with him, I ponder over the situation with Lyra. It truly was a shock to see her out of the blue like that, but a positive one at that. We were the same age and went to primary school back in New Bark Town together until my family moved out here. She was the daughter of the regional professor, and I was the son of, at the time, one of the ace trainers, so with our fathers often interacting after school, we quickly learnt to be friends. It also helped that I wasn't one of those kids that enjoyed mud and worms. I think I actually hated getting dirty more than she did so we got along without much assistance after formally being introduced to each other. After we moved, I didn't see her for a few years, but she spent one summer when she was 14 up with her grandparents as her parents needed to go overseas for a conference. Thankfully, it turned out that her grandparents operated a pokemon daycare on the outskirts of town, so she was able to spend quite a lot of time with me. From there, she would spend more time staying at the daycare as it meant that not only could she see me, but have more access to the fashion and ocean that Goldenrod provides. I'm sure that if she wasn't inheriting the family business, she would have moved out here at first chance./p
p class="Normal" /p
p class="Normal"As the haircut finishes up, I let Princess climb back up onto my shoulder knowing that the ground would now 'pose a threat' to her beauty. After paying and picking up both Lyra and Bob, we finish the five minute walk over to 'Lock On Photography'. Princess always enjoyed being photographed way more than I did, but I was also much happier to direct the shot and make her as glamorous as possible. With resigned eyes, Bob watched as both Lyra and I picked out a large assortment of outfits and accessories for the both of them. Shoes, glasses, crowns, capes, no rock was left unturned. After a solid 90 minute session, Bob could finally relax and Princess felt like she had been properly fawned over for one day. We had the pictures printed and finally left./p
p class="Normal"'Bob, I can't believe how cute you are dressed as a pirate! You truly are the king of the seas with that eye-patch and foil'. I chuckle out loud, and at Lyra's confused look, I laugh even harder. 'What? What's so funny?' I point towards Bob, where she had been getting progressively more angry. Finally, she couldn't stand Lyra's ignorance at the situation any further and sent a water gun in her face and promptly walked off. 'I don't understand, what just happened?'/p
p class="Normal"Finally containing my laughter just enough, I responded, 'You just called your female marill a king. She's already sensitive about being named a guys name'. Realising her mistake, she ran after Bob to make up for her mistake./p
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p class="Normal"-/p
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p class="Normal"Not where I initially thought this was going, and didn't cover as much as I thought. Oh well, more character introductions coming up/p
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p class="Normal"Someone beta this; as a dancer I loathe anything I create, so if I read this I'm going to hate it/p