Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon...
A/N- This is a story about the Pokemon games for Game Boys and Game Boy Advances.. not the TV shows or the games. It's kind of odd... a romance between Crystal and Lance... oh, well, read it if you want to!
He's dead.
Flannery stood by the door of Lavaridge's gym, not quite understanding what her father had just said.
Your grandfather, Flannery. her Father repeated, almost impatiently, he died in his sleep last night. Looking up, she saw that her father wasn't even crying. He had never really liked his father-in-law, but Flannery had always stubbornly believed that her father would get over it. Obviously, he hadn't.
Suddenly the words began to sink in, and she felt weak, oddly weak, her knees giving in as she dropped to the floor.
A nearby Slugma asked, cocking its head inquisitively.
Flannery stared at the tiled floor, not bearing to look up. Grandpa. Grandpa was dead.
Minutes passed, and finally she glanced up at her father. Dad, are we, uh, going to have a ceremony or something?
He shook his head. We'll talk about this later, all right? Right now I think you should go visit your grandmother. The words sounded forced, and Flannery was sure that mom had persuaded him to say this. This - this is a hard time for her, you know.
Flannery did cheer up a little at the mention of Grandma, though. Her grandmother was an amazing person, always telling stories about when she had been the Pokemon Champion. In fact, the first thing anyone visiting Lavaridge usually did was come and see her, because she had hundreds of Pokemon that were extinct in Hoenn.
Flannery approached Grandma's house, knocking lightly on the door.
There was no answer.
Grandma, it's me! Flannery!
Still no answer. She cupped her hands to the door, and heard faint sobs coming from inside, so reluctantly pushed it open. Grandma never left her door locked.
Flannery's grandmother was inside, tears streaming down her face. Her once vibrant hair was now thin, and gray, and her eyes had lost their sparkle. Her arms wrapped around the neck of the strangest Pokemon Flannery had ever seen - sort of a cross between a dragon and a snake. And it was bright red.
Gyrados, oh Gyrados, he's dead, Lance, my Lance, he's dead, Gyrados- She was sobbing into the Pokemon, not looking up until Flannery came closer.
Flannery said, a little uncomfortable, Uh, Grandma, what is that thing?
Grandma look puzzled for a second. What thi- Oh, him? This is my Gyrados. The only one like it in all of Johto, Kanto, and Hoenn combined.
Flannery must have looked confused, because Grandma said, Most Gyrados are blue. Haven't you seen one yet? They're a bit rare here, I know.
she couldn't think of anything to say, so blurted out,Where'd you find him?
The Lake of Rage, Flannery, which is - Oh, blast it! I can't remember whether it's in Johto or Kanto! There was a pause as Grandma scratched her head, and then sighed. Oh, well. I'll look it up later. Anyway, Lance - your Grandfather - helped me to catch him.
Were you the Pokemon Champion then?
Grandma laughed. Champion?! Of course not! I was just a child then...
Then why did Grandpa - Lance, I mean - help you? Flannery asked, backing away as the giant red Gyrados inched towards her.
Because I'd met him before.
Met him before?! When?
Well... I didn't so much meet him as hear about him....
So you didn't meet him before?!? Flannery shouted, completely puzzled. Oh, Grandma, this is way too confusing! Could you just, like, start from the beginning?
All right,said Grandma, leaning back in her armchair, It was a warm summer's evening, and my Bayleef and I were wandering the streets of Mahogany...
