Title may be misleading but it's the song by Aquilo and it just encompasses Lance's mood. Pouty baby. Now we are getting the ball rolling with the plot and the story.

New beginnings come in many forms.

For new trainers, it's in the form of their pokemon partner, gifted to them by their regional Professor who has raised said pokemon from hatchling to its first two or three moves. It's a beautiful thing, starting a journey with a pokemon, at least that's what Lance believes. Whether they become a Nurse, Breeder or Gym Leader and beyond, it's a life-changing moment and when it gets marred by a robber, it makes him sad for the opportunities stolen from another person.

"This is terrible!" Elm exclaims as two policemen investigate the area.

Aaron takes the professor aside, offering him a place to sit while Lance watches with a calm expression. His golden eyes survey the lab, the floors are immaculate and shiny as the fluorescent lights shine down on them. Along the middle of the large main room sit some shelves stuffed with books protected with a glass covering to prevent damage. The back wall has two large windows sitting over the professors main workstation taking up the entire length of the wall. A health machine sits in the corner, connected to a desktop on a small desk beside it. On the long table on the other side of the room, another pokeball holder and maintainer sits on the right with all three pokeballs gone, two taken earlier by new trainers and the third one stolen.

Lance grimaces at the trail of destruction leading up to the machine, some officers take pictures and note of the crime scene while interviewing Kris, one of Elm's most trusted assistants. The other assistants have started cleaning up some papers not relevant to the crime scene and putting everything back in order. Apparently, the thief caused a ruckus to confuse everyone, tossing some smoke bombs and knocking over potted plants before taking the ball and leaving.

"Luckily, two other kids got their pokemon today," Elm sighs, slumping in his chair. "Lyra and Ethan are going to be fabulous trainers. Lance you better watch out."

The red haired man grins at the professor. A professional smile. "Hmm. I'll be the judge of that, Professor."

Elm grins back at him before regarding Aaron. "Lyra had run into the boy that was here. She already gave her statement to Jenny, what are the G-men doing here?"

It was a question Lance had been asking before they left the Plateau earlier. A simple robbery doesn't need G-men intervention, the local PD can handle that. There was something about this case, something Aaron caught wind of from Officer Jenny that he needed to come and see for himself.

And me.

While there are no hard feelings between them, Lance was surprised to be the one Aaron wanted to come with him. Words weren't exchanged on the way, or at all. The atmosphere between them wasn't hostile, which Lance was grateful for, but it wasn't friendly either. Or that could have been Lance's imagination.

"The description," Aaron grins, pulling out a mini notebook. "It said the boy had bright red hair and gray eyes. Is that correct?"

"Yes," Elm nods, cleaning his glasses. "Lyra confirmed that. She was the one to battle him over in Cherrygrove. Said his name was Silver."

Aaron writes that down. "Is there anything else you can tell me?"

"She did mention he was considerably rude and that it might transfer to his pokemon," Elm supplies with a shake of his head. "Jenny said there was no trainer license under that name, so who knows if he has one. Poor kid, I would have given him that pokemon had he gone through the right channels."

"I understand," Aaron smiles. "I want to help him out as much as I can. If there's someone out there giving out false licenses, it's our job to stop it. Right, Lance?"

Lance turns back at his name, his eyes meeting Aaron's for a quick second before turning to Elm with a smile. This day is starting to get full of smiles, it feels almost hostile at this point. "Of course."

Elm relaxes and nods at the two of them. "I'll let Lyra know to contact me should she meet him again."

"That'd be great," Aaron slides his notebook away and stands up. "Would you like help cleaning up?"

Lance has already gotten to work, picking up some files and trying to organize the papers when a young woman walks up to him. He recognizes her instantly from an old challenge against Elijah years ago. She had won and turned down the champion title to instead study pokemon under Elm and Oak. Her blue hair sticks out around the side of her head, and her blue eyes are bright as she beams up at Lance. It's clear she's a fan and he can't help but smile back at her.

"That won't be necessary," she states, accepting the files from him. "It's mostly done, anyway."

"You remember Crystal? I believe she challenged the Elite Four your first year being the fourth member?" Elm smiles, gesturing towards the blue haired woman. "She's been my student ever since and it's thanks to her we know a lot about Johto native pokemon."

Aaron comes over to relieve her from Lance's gaze, the champion willingly stepping back after a nod at her. He beams at the young girl, holding out his hand to shake. "Good to meet you, Crystal," he nods down at the fire type at her feet.

"Call me Kris," she beams, adjusting her blue hair in. She seems more relaxed with Aaron, but steals some glances at Lance as he heads towards the door. "When Silver came in here, I heard him talking about using that Totodile to stop something. I'm not sure what though."

"That's good to know," Aaron nods. "If anything else happens, don't hesitate to call me."

"Will do!" Elm waves them off.

Lance follows behind Aaron, avoiding the man's gaze and giving him some distance as they exit the lab. Early spring in New Bark Town is an act of beauty on Mother Nature's part. While small in population, the landscape sprawls across the rolling hills formed into farmlands and well kept fields. It lies close to the border of Kanto and the League where the two hailed from, Route 27 is an inlet with paths made of little blocks of land and some docks to get to 26 and then the league.

Pulling his jacket tighter around him, Lance follows Aaron's lead to the end of the road, out of sight of the lab and anyone who may watch them.

"I'm going to ask Clyde to keep an eye out for this young man," Aaron explains, turning to glance at Lance. "Can you ask the gym leaders to keep an eye out as well?"

"Sure thing," he nods without hesitating.

"Lance," Aaron pauses a few feet away. When the young man glances up at Aaron, the older man offers a gentle smile. "I forgive you."

No matter how many times he says it, Lance doesn't believe it. It may be true, but it also feels like a lie. "Okay."

Knowing it's not getting any farther than that, Aaron pulls out a pokeball. "Let's head back."

OoO

"So, Mr. Wataru," the interviewer starts, her voice is firm, but the blush on her face reveals the nerves beneath the facade.

Lance tries not to look too demeaning, sitting back against his champion's chair in the final battle room, and puts on a warm smile. It's the seventh time she's referred to him as such, despite his rebukes to just call him Lance, and he's ready to give up.

"This year, for the tournament, you seemed more driven than ever," she continues, glancing down at her notes. "What is your motivation to take on challengers? How do you maintain it in the heat of battle?"

A wave of shame makes Lance shudder a bit in his chair, he passes it off as a shiver and leans forward. Her question hits harder than intended, considering he questioned throwing the battle to lose. It happened last year for the final tournament, he faces his opponent unsur whether he's fit for the spot given to him.

He's not sure what she means by this year, he was so close , but it could just be the excitement for the fight.

"Well, I fought hard for my spot and hit a lot of challenges along the way," he starts. Then he gives her a sly smile and a chuckle. "Some of it self imposed, I admit. However, all those struggles disappeared on the field. Out here," he waves his arm towards the field, "I'm just another trainer. It may not seem like it to the challenger, but I am. I'm here to test them, win or lose it's up to them and their pokemon."

"How do you think you'd handle a loss?" She asks, recovering from another flush at his insinuation of his past.

He sits back at that, rubbing his chin and glancing around the field. "I don't think I'd be mad. I think we should always be happy when we lose because it means trainers are meeting our expectations. I believe, as a league, we are a test for trainers wanting to achieve greatness. The bar they can either reach or soar above, a loss is a loss to me. But it's an achievement for my challengers."

She smiles, loving the passion in his voice and sits up for the next question. "You've held this position for two years already. What does Serena have to say for that?"

Lance steels himself for the question, a grimace in front of her would be the headlines for the papers. He hasn't spoken with Serena since that night and it's left a gaping hole in his chest ever since. She never returned his call and he supposes it's what he deserved after everything she did for him. Everything she gave him.

He clears his throat, forcing a smile to his face and a strained laugh. "I hear her voice before every battle, warning me to not destroy her hard work. I'm sure she'd be the one mad at me if I never gave it my all."

The interviewer smiles, pleased with the answer and turns off the recorder to gather her things. "Thank you so much for the interview, Mr. Wataru. I hope you'll be pleased when it comes out in the next issue."

"Of course," Lance grins, standing and gesturing for a league staff to come closer. "If there's anything else you need, you have my email."

She flushes at his words and shakes his hand. "Y-yes, right. Have a good day."

He nods goodbye to her, watching as she fixes her appearance on the way out, and sighs once the main door closes.

"Well, that was a nice non-answer," a voice states from behind.

Lance turns to see Karen strutting up in her usual clothes, white pants, yellow crop top and heels. He half smiles at her and joins her on the way back to his office. "What do you mean?"

"She asked what Serena has to say, present tense," she loops her arm with his, easily keeping pace with his long strides. "You said you heard her voice, no indication of whether or not the two of you are talking."

"You know I can't say anything about not speaking with her," he sighs, opening the door for her. "It'd be first page news."

"The woes of being famous," she pouts at him. "Anyways, I have some paperwork for you. The Gym Leaders have all turned in their shit and want the okay to start their vacation rounds."

The thought of the pile of paperwork from 16 gyms makes Lance want to jump off a balcony. He stops in his steps to glance at the ceiling and close his eyes, exasperated by the work ahead of him on such a nice spring day. Then he feels a bit of guilt rise at it, this is what Serena did each year with little complaint, the least he could do was work. Do his job nonetheless.

"Yeah, okay," he sighs heavily. "I'll get a look at it."

"Good," she grins as they come up to his office.

She leans against the frame as he swings the door open and steps inside. She watches him unclip his cape and toss it on the couch in the middle of the room. He looks haggard from working, the tourney taking place just a couple weeks ago and the reports flooding in now. Running two leagues is a lot of work and if she didn't know Lance any better she would feel bad. However, he's turned down every suggestion for an assistant and almost every instance she offered to help.

It was okay the first year, but now? It's just a punishment he's inflicting on himself.

"You know," she starts after seeing him settle at his desk and grimace at the paperwork. "Will and I are having dinner tonight at his apartment here. You're welcome to join us."

Lance considers it for a moment. He knows the tone of her voice so well at this point, she's worried about him. Frankly, he's worried too. Nothing feels right anymore. Clair doesn't speak to him unless it's an insult, his parents tip toe around the topic of Serena though it's clear they want to discuss it with him, and he avoids Serena's parents. Though, Rowan makes it hard when she drops off meals at his house to ensure he's eating.

Jaxson has been off exploring the world, for a moment he thought Serena had run off with him, but Jax swore he wouldn't do that to Lance. He can't burden him with his problems, he's doing what wants to while Lance is stuck in the office.

Sometimes, he wonders if this is how he'll be for the rest of his life. Holding the champion title with thousands of fans, but all alone...

"I think I'll skip tonight," he gestures to the paperwork. "I want to get this done and then check on the G-men."

Karen looks somber when she nods, accepting defeat. "I know we haven't been here long, but Will and I are here for you. Whenever you need it."

"I know," Lance nods, though it feels like a lie when he says. "I'm just... not in the mood now. Thank you, Karen."

She nods and disappears, shutting the door and leaving Lance to work in peace. He glances down at the forms before him, his mind already sorting them and dives in. It took a while after his entry into the Hall of Fame to get the paperwork down right. Serena had sent instructions to his email on how to do it days after she left. It was the only correspondence between them and there was no message in the email. Just the instructions and he's kept it in his inbox ever since.

The sun dips closer to the horizon as he finishes up the forms, sending them to the Association for review, and closes his laptop. His watch tells him it's 5pm, in time to visit his father in the HQ down below. More robberies have occurred, instances of terror when random business get held up for past ties with Team Rocket. He doesn't understand it, has Giovanni returned?

He hopes so. He wants to give that shithead a piece of his mind.

"Hey, son," Wesley pats Lance on the back as the redhead steps out of the elevator. "How was the interview?"

"It went well," Lance shrugs. "The usual."

Wesley smiles. "That's my boy. Now, come see this." He gestures to monitor showcasing the map of Johto. "So far, all the hits have been in Johto. Nothing major, a few injuries to certain people. Witnesses say there were some arguments about loan money, I'm assuming it's people collecting debt under Team Rocket's name."

"Why?" Lance frowns.

"They terrorized the regions for years, it would be a good cover for someone looking to bring fear back," Wesley shrugs. "I don't buy it, but it's an idea to go off of."

"Giovanni's not back," Aaron comments, descending the main steps.

Lance glances away and moves aside to give Aaron space to move through, a move that doesn't go unnoticed by either parent. "How do you know?"

"I know my brother," Aaron replies, glancing Lance's way. "His failed attempt at a takeover, foiled by Red, and then abandonment of his gym and Team... No, he's not here. He's doing something else."

"Like what?" Lance frowns again.

"Searching," Aaron glances up at the world map on the wall.

"For S-Serena?" Lance breathes, his heart pounding at the thought of her captured somewhere. Suffering at the hands of her uncle.

"Maybe," her father sighs. "Last I heard, she was in Sinnoh still."

This catches Lance's attention, he assumed she was in contact with her family and while it hurts to know she's avoiding him, it's a relief to know she's okay. "When was that?"

"A couple months ago. I think she's going to Hoenn next," Aaron says. He glances at him. "For the record, I've been telling her to reach out to you."

Lance feels uncomfortable with the direction they're taking and tugs on his cape. "Oh, um. Thanks."

Wesley clears his throat. "You think it's his executives?"

"I do," Aaron sits at a desk, typing away until pictures show up on the monitor. "These are the ones I think are heading the operation."

"Proton... From the SS Anne?" Lance peers at the familiar face, his gut wrenching at the memory of Serena falling into the icy waters of Vermillion port.

"Yes," Aaron nods. "This one is Archer," he points to another blue haired man on the screen. "He was at the Saffron takeover according to Serena. I don't have names on the others but they were seen around each other a lot. I'm assuming they've made a come back, preceding Giovani's return."

"You think he's got something else planned?" Wesley interjects.

Aaron grits his teeth thinking on it. He knows Giovanni wouldn't just disband Team Rocket and give up his life of villainy all together. Their family worked too hard for it to come crashing down at the hands of a kid. While he knows Giovanni will come back, he's unsure about when he'll be back.

"I can't say for sure," he concedes after a few moments. "We're going to have to defer to police stations in every town until then. Lance," his voice softens a bit, "the gym leaders will have to keep an eye out. If they go on vacation I'd like one of their trainers to be acting leader to keep an eye on the town. If they can't maybe an elite or you can fill in the spot?"

Lance nods. "Yeah, I have a meeting coming up soon with them all. We'll talk about it more then."

"Sounds good."

Lance feels awkward from there as the two discuss plans on the way to their offices. Since taking over, they've been working much better hours and giving the G-men a better rep in the past two years. It makes Lance proud to see his father working in such a position, one he's been dreaming for most of his life.

Yet, the moments like this Lance feels out of his element and trapped without someone at his side to help him...

"Feeling alright, Lance?" A feminine voice questions from behind.

Lance shakes out of his reverie to turn and see a woman with brown skin and bright hazel eyes smiling kindly at him. "Juniper. Hi. Yeah, just a long day."

"Take a break then," she tilts her head. "You've been working hard since the end of the tournament. Don't you think a little weekend off would do you, and your pokemon, good?"

She had a point and he knew it. Despite being a few years new to the G-men, her past as a Pokemon Ranger had her climbing the ladder fast. She's a trusted agent that's worked close with his father on some cases, he doesn't know much about her but if Wesley trusts her, he will too.

"Just got a lot on my mind," he shrugs. "I can't relax if my head is here."

She half smiles, poorly disguising her pity, and pats his arm. "At least get some rest tonight. Not much else is new and your father will be in there for a few hours yet."

"Yeah," he glances up at the office Wesley and Aaron stand in discussing plans. "Thanks, Juniper. Good night."

"Good night, Lance."

He leaves with a swish of his cape and a wave to his dad above. The trek back to his office is cold and empty as he compiles a mental to-do list in the coming weeks.

Is this what you had to deal with, Rena? He thinks to himself, gathering his laptop and folders to bring home. Am I even doing it right? Would you be disappointed when you got back?

Outside, he calls on Ryu to take him home, his trusty Dragonite stretching his wings in the cool night air. The pokemon nudges his head affectionately, used to seeing Lance in a sour state after work.

"I'm okay," he breathes back, pressing his forehead to his Pokémon's. "I just miss her so much."

Ryu whines as if to say he does as well.

"Come on, let's go home," Lance pulls away with a half smile. "We can be sad sacks there."