And so I remembered to update this yay. Thanks to Tgonthefiery and mirrorkinomoto for reviewing the previous chapter.
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Chapter Twenty Three: A Dance of Dragons
Reaching Blackthorn had been a tiring and cold journey. Her legs were sore, her arms tired, her body drained… All she wanted to do right now was drop on the floor and sleep. But that would be a bad idea because she was still on the Ice Path. It was like being stuck in a freezer again, but fortunately, she could see the end in sight. And besides, when she closed her eyes all she saw was Archer standing on the ledge readying himself to take that final jump. She shook her head, pushing thoughts about Archer aside. Right now she had to concentrate on getting her final badge.
The journey through the Ice Path had been rough. It involved pushing boulders, awkwardly running across ice and getting lost often. There were no directions here at all, and Lyra wondered if that had been specifically done so she could not get through. Fortunately, she obtained some form of reward for surviving. She had received the move Waterfall from a lonely man, and she had rescued another kimono girl who had gotten herself stuck. Eventually, she made it to the light. "Thank Arceus," she muttered, stumbling out of the cave.
She was pleased to be back in the sun again. Her Pokemon also seemed rather relieved. They ran around in circles, basking in the warm rays of the sunlight. Up ahead, she could see the gateway leading to Blackthorn City, the home of dragons. The city's buildings were carefully structured to survive whatever the mountain could throw at it. The houses here were far sturdier looking than the houses in the other cities. The archway itself had images of dragon-type Pokemon engraved in the stone. She spotted a Garchomp and a Salamence standing on either side of Dragonite.
"Welcome to Blackthorn City, the home of dragons," said an old man, bowing his head respectfully. "I see you have two dragons of your own… you will find they will draw strength from this place." He pointed to the gym, a large fanciful mansion. The roof was a nice shade of auburn, and its walls painted white. Statues of various dragon-type Pokemon were placed around it. "Your final gym challenge awaits you."
"Where is the Pokemon Centre?"
"You will find the Pokemon Centre to the right of here. The building is not hard to miss." The old man stepped aside, and Lyra walked past him, gazing around in awe. It was like stepping into a place built for royalty. Everything was grand and majestic here. Fortunately, the Pokemon Centre looked the same as it did anywhere else in Johto. That was her first stop. Her Pokemon were pretty tired by this point and so was she.
Once she stepped inside, she spotted Lance. He was trading words with a couple of trainers. She felt her heartbeat quicken; she had never thought to see him again so soon. She continued looking in his direction, deciding it would be rude to just approach him while he was busy. Lance caught her eye and grinned. "You made it," he said, walking over towards her. "How are you feeling?"
"Cold."
"I meant, how are you feeling after the episode with Archer?" He studied her features carefully.
"Shocked… I try not to think about it though. Every time I close my eyes, I see him there, standing on the edge of the ledge." She drew in a deep breath. "I'm tired, but I'm scared to close my eyes because he'll be there to haunt me. I feel like… it was my fault," she admitted softly.
"Don't blame yourself, Lyra. Archer was a cruel man with an ambitious twisted mind. He got what he deserved."
"But he can't have always been a bad guy, right?"
Lance shrugged. "Some people are just born bad, Lyra. There was nothing you could do to save a guy like him." He grabbed her arm and led her to the corner where there were a couple of comfortable leather couches. She sat down and he sat down beside her. "If there's anything I can do to help you, let me know all right? You've got a tough battle coming up next so you need to be in peak health." He looked her up and down. "And you should change – you're going to catch a cold. We don't have a shop as big as the one in Goldenrod but you'll be able to find something. Are you able to walk?"
She nodded. Right now she didn't feel mentally prepared to take on Clair. Perhaps after some much needed rest and a good meal she'd feel better. "All right." She picked herself up and followed Lance out of the Pokemon Centre, aware that many trainers were watching them. In the corner of her eye she spotted two girls who looked to be twins, trading whispers and death glaring Lyra. Not exactly a warm reception, Lyra thought. She remained closer to Lance.
"You'll be able to get a change of clothes from the hut over there," Lance said, pointing towards a cottage with a straw roof. In comparison to the other majestic buildings in the area, the hut looked very out of place. "It may not look like much, but there are some very powerful dragon-enhancing items there." He strode over to the hut and Lyra followed behind. It looked rather tiny on the outside but it was actually quite roomy. Four people stood inside. The old lady acknowledged Lance with a respectful nod then spoke.
"Greetings, Master Lance. What can I do for you today?"
"My friend here needs a change of clothes. Do you have anything that will fit her?"
The old lady examined Lyra. Lyra fidgeted, uncomfortable. "All I have is a dragon tamer's outfit."
Lance nodded. "That will do then."
"A dragon tamer's outfit?" Lyra repeated, looking at Lance. "What does that mean?"
"You'll see. I'll wait outside." And so he did while one of the other people in the room (a young female) brought out a dragon tamer's outfit. It was a dress (much to Lyra's dismay), but at least it wasn't one of those frilly puffy ones. This one was a skin tight black dress that came with matching black high-heeled boots. It also came with a cape. It didn't exactly look comfortable, but she didn't have a choice. Her current dress was dirty, wet and torn in several places. She sighed, grabbed the clothes then changed.
Once she was done she stepped back into the room where Lance was standing, but this time, there was someone else there with him. A tall female with long sapphire hair, tied back in a ponytail. She too wore a black cape and held a gaze that could stop a raging Gyarados in their tracks. She exuded power. The woman looked at Lyra with obvious distaste. "You're Lyra. I've heard so much about you, but I have to say, I'm not at all impressed."
Ouch. That comment stung. Lyra felt herself shrink. "Lyra," Lance started, "this is Clair, my cousin," he added, a hint of annoyance in his tone.
Clair walked over to Lyra and towered over her. "Your journey ends here today." She turned around and looked at Lance. "Honestly, cousin, I thought you had a better taste." She stomped out of the hut and Lyra couldn't help but feel like she had just been struck in the face.
"Don't mind Clair, she's like that with everyone," Lance said.
Lyra wasn't looking forward to the final gym battle now. Clair seemed so mean. Clair returned a few seconds later, poking her head through the entrance. "I'm actually glad I invited you to come and watch my battle, cousin. You can hold Lyra's hand when she loses," she jeered, before exiting again, kicking up clouds of dust into the hut.
Lyra waved her hands before her face clearing the air from dust. "That's your cousin?" How on earth could such a nice guy like Lance be related to that?
"She was actually quite nice to you," Lance responded, giving Lyra a lopsided grin. "You should see how she greets other challengers." If that was Clair's nice side she hated to see what her nasty side was like. "Anyway, you should head back to the Pokemon Centre and rest up. I'll see you in a couple of hours for the battle at the Blackthorn City Gym."
The thought of having Lance watch her battle from the sidelines made her stomach twist and turn. "Are you sure it's a good idea to watch my battle with her?"
He frowned. "Why would it be a bad one? I've seen you battle Lyra, we've fought alongside each other remember? I'm curious to see how you'll fare against my cousin. I know you can teach her a few things about battling."
Lyra brought a hand to her head, twisting a lock of hair around a finger. "Gosh, talk about pressure." Nerves had gripped her mind and her stomach, making her feel a little uneasy. She was pleased to see him again so soon, but he was going to watch the battle? What if she made so many mistakes? He'd probably lose respect for her as a trainer. She frowned. Wait. Why would that matter? It wasn't like she was in the love with the guy or anything. He was just a friend. Like Morty was. Yes, that's it, she told herself. Just friends.
"Are you all right, Lyra?"
She nodded. "Yes, perfectly fine."
He raised his brows, but didn't say anything more. "Well, I'll see you at the gym." He walked towards the exit, as Lyra headed back to the Pokemon Centre after thanking the old lady and her assistants. Arriving back in the Pokemon Centre, Lyra approached the nurse at the counter. Lyra said hello but the lady didn't even seem to realize she was there at all. It was as if she was daydreaming.
"Isn't he sooo perfect?" she said dreamily, eyes focused on the door. "So gorgeous…" She sighed again.
Lyra cleared her throat, standing directly in front of the lady. "Um, hello? I'd like to rest my Pokemon. I have a battle with Clair soon."
The nurse jumped, pulling herself out of her trance. She looked at Lyra, studying her facial features closely. "Aren't you the trainer who defeated Team Rocket? Lyra, right?" She tilted her head sideways, examining Lyra from a different angle. She screwed up her nose in disgust. "Yeah, that's you. I saw you with him before on the couch over there, and I'll say it now, but you have no chance with him," she almost snapped.
"Uh… I'm not here to woo anyone. I just want my Pokemon healed."
The girl ignored Lyra. "He's the best trainer in Johto and in Kanto so he's virtually untouchable. You might have defeated Team Rocket, but that's not going to make him interested in you, so you should probably stop trying. So many females come here just to get his attention, but he never looks their way twice," the nurse prattled on.
"I'm a trainer. I just want to heal my Pokemon." She was becoming irritated now.
She waved a hand in the air dismissively. "That's what all the girls say when they come to Blackthorn. They all claim they are trainers because they think that somehow, Lance will fall head over heels for them." She squinted, peering at Lyra's face. "You're not bad-looking… but you're nowhere near pretty enough for him."
Lyra rolled her eyes. "I'm not here looking for a relationship. I just want to battle Clair."
The nurse blinked. "Well, why didn't you say so?"
"I just… nevermind." Lyra handed her pokeballs over to the nurse, shaking her head. Did Lance often experience this strong of a reaction from the girls? Or was this nurse just a special case? A few moments later, Lyra received her pokeballs back. Before the nurse could say anything, Lyra hurried out eager to get away from the lovestruck assistant. "It's gym time," she said to herself. All thoughts of Archer's suicide were pushed aside, as she briskly walked towards the magnificent Blackthorn Castle Gym.
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Lance leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest as Clair paced back and forth. She was gnawing on her fingernails, looking more agitated than usual. "Settle down Clair, Lyra hasn't even entered the gym yet and you're a nervous wreck."
She stopped pacing, turning a steely gaze on him. "I'm not nervous. I'm eager to crush her. I wish she would just hurry up. Did she fall over her cape or something?" She turned her head around, looking towards the entrance. There were sweat beads on her face, but they weren't from nerves, but rather from the lava bubbling around them. Their ancestors had designed the gym to be mentally and physically challenging. Could Lyra withstand the heat?
"You're going to lose today."
Clair snorted. "Thanks for your support." She turned to the entrance. "Hmph. The brat has finally shown herself."
Lance straightened, looking in Clair's direction. Lyra was at the entrance talking to the gym advisor. The gym advisor pointed to the moving platforms located in the gym then pointed to the lava pit. Even from this distance, Lance could tell Lyra was nervous. "Come on, Lyra…" he said quietly.
"At least she's brave enough to step onto the platform. The last couple of trainers couldn't even do that. Ooo, she's about to face off against Paulo. I do hope Paulo goes easy on her… I want to fight Lyra."
Paulo and Lyra prepared to battle. Lyra summoned her Feraligatr to face off against Paulo's first Dratini. Lance was a little surprised she hadn't chosen to go with her own dragon-type, but perhaps she was saving them for Clair. It didn't take long for Lyra to defeat Paulo though, thanks to Feraligatr's Avalanche attack. "Not a bad move," he said. "Lyra will get here pretty soon if she keeps this up."
"Paulo's a weak trainer, anyway. All the gym leaders in this gym are. I only selected them because I have to as part of the league rules," Clair said, arms crossed. "And good. I hope she does get here quickly. I'm growing impatient." She tapped her left boot on the floor. Lyra defeated the other Dratini but showed signs of struggle against the Seadra. Seadra wasn't a Dragon-type, so Dragon-based moves weren't going to inflict a great deal of damage.
However, Lyra managed to pull victory and she moved on to face the next trainer, Lola. "This battle should go quickly," Lance commented. "I'm surprised you even selected Lola – I thought she was on the lower ranked tamers?"
"I needed one more trainer."
As Lance had predicated, Lola quickly fell. The tamers in this gym weren't exactly the greatest tamers Blackthorn had to offer, but they were the only ones who had chosen to stay. Other tamers left to travel to other regions to attempt to walk the path of a Dragon Master (and to get away from Clair). Most of them failed. "Lyra's reached the second platform now. Three more trainers and she'll reach us. Feeling nervous yet?"
"You must be mistaking my nerves for excitement."
"Cody, Fran and Mike won't know what hit them."
"They're weak."
"Really Clair, you should've chosen some stronger trainers."
She shrugged. "These are the only ones who could put up with me," she said flatly.
Lance chuckled. He pitied any trainer studying under Clair. The battles against the final three tamers went by rather quickly. Lance felt almost embarrassed for them. Standards had certainly slipped since the days he was a gym leader here. Eventually, Lyra reached them. Now the true battle would begin.
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Getting past the five dragon tamers had been a lot simpler than she thought it would be. It was like they hardly even trying. What was the deal behind that anyway? On the plus side, at least she didn't have to return to the Pokemon Centre to deal with the freaky nurse lady. She walked up to Clair, ignoring Lance.
"I've been looking forward to this moment ever since I saw your face on the television screen. You may have defeated Team Rocket, but they were weak. Their Pokemon wouldn't even land a single attack against mine." She smirked, flipping her long blue ponytail over her shoulder. "I'm Clair, the world's best dragon-type Master. I can hold my own against even the Pokemon League's Elite Four. Do you still want to take me on?"
"Of course," Lyra replied.
"Let's do this then! As a gym leader, I will use my full power against any opponent!" Clair was unlike any of the other gym leaders she had battled against. The other gym leaders were also confident, but not arrogant. Clair on the other hand reeked of arrogance. Lyra really disliked Clair. It was as if she purposely wanted people to hate her.
Clair summoned her first Pokemon, a Gyarados. Lyra didn't have any Pokemon to counter it, so she sent out her Espeon, hoping to rely on the feline's super high special attack. "Gyarados, use Dragon Rage!"
A large chunk of health was taken from Espeon. Clair wasn't holding back anything that's for sure. She seemed determined to prove something, as she continuously kept glancing in Lance's direction. "Okay Espeon, hit that Gyarados with Psychic!" A glowing red beam left Espeon's gem, hitting the Gyarados in the chest.
"Use Dragon Rage again, Gyarados!"
Espeon was close to fainting now. No wonder the girls at Whitney's gym had called Dragon Rage a cheap attack. It took a fair chunk of health from the opponent no matter what the type was. "Hang in there, Espeon! Don't let Clair intimidate you! Use Future Sight!" Espeon closed her eyes. Gyarados twitched, as if it had been attacked by an invisible force, yet sustained no damage. At least not yet anyway.
"Use Bite, Gyarados." Dammit, thought Lyra. Espeon fainted, crushed by the creature's gaping jaws. She brought out her Gabite. "You seek to insult me by using a dragon-type against me?" Clair sneered.
"Don't listen to her Gabite, use Dragon Rage!" Gyarados roared, as it was struck by the beam. Clair seemed surprised, by that quickly faded, replaced by amusement.
"Not too bad… but you're still weak. Use Dragon Pulse, Gyarados!"
"Not so fast, Clair. Look."
Gyarados didn't attack. Instead, it was frozen in place, its eyes a misty grey. Clair frowned. "Gyarados! What are you doing?" A pink glow emanated from the Gyarados, preventing it from moving. The light suddenly faded and Gyarados fell to the ground, eyes crossed. "What?!" Clair shrieked.
Lance offered an explanation. "She used Future Sight on you."
Clair regathered her composure, flicking a strand of hair away from her face. "Lucky break, so you defeated my Gyarados. I've still got three Pokemon left. Dragonair!" A blue serpent-type creature with a white underbelly appeared.
Lyra didn't feel threatened yet. Dragonair had been pretty easy to take down if she used a Dragon-type or ice-type moved. "Gabite, use Dragon Claw!" Gabite rushed forward, slashing at the Dragonair with its claws. Dragonair fainted. This was becoming too easy, thought Lyra. Clair summoned another Dragonair and like the previous one, it fainted rather quickly.
"Are you ready, Lyra? The other three Pokemon were just a warm up for the real battle." Her smirk widened. Lyra glanced in Lance's direction, judging his expression. He didn't look so relaxed now. She took that as a warning sign. "Your battle ends here! No one gets past me! Kingdra!" She threw out her final pokeball. A large, seahorse-like Pokemon with a tightly curled tail and long powerful snout appeared. It was mostly blue, except for its belly which was yellow.
Kingdra. The evolved form of Seadra. It is said that it usually hides in underwater caves. It can create whirlpools by yawning.
Lyra felt nervous just looking at the Pokemon. It looked mean… and very strong. "Gabite, use Dragon Claw!"
"Kingdra, use Dragon Pulse!" Kingdra moved first, sending forth a purple and yellow ray at the Gabite. Gabite fainted immediately. Clair laughed. "You thought you had me, didn't you? Did you really think your final gym badge was going to be that easy? I will crush you. I will ruin your dreams and shatter your goals. You will never make it to the league because you don't deserve to!" she rasped.
Lyra summoned her next Pokemon, Staraptor. Staraptor wasn't even able to get one move in when she was struck by Dragon Pulse. Her avian fainted. Now she only had three Pokemon left. Growlithe, Feraligatr and Shelgon. Her confidence was beginning to drop. "Shelgon!"
"Dragon Pulse!"
Another Pokemon down. Lyra summoned Growlithe.
"Hydro Pump!" Two powerful jets of water exited the Kingdra's mouth, sending the canine flying across the room. Growlithe landed on the ground, unable to move. Growlithe too had fainted. She was now down to her last Pokemon, Feraligatr. Lyra was beginning to see why Lance and Pryce had warned her about Clair. Could anyone get past her? Her Kingdra seemed invincible. "I'm glad you made it to me, truly. It'll be my honour crushing you to a pulp. I hope you're taking notes, Lance. This is how a true Dragon Master battles. Kingdra, use Dragon Pulse!"
Fortunately, Toto was bulky enough to withstand the attack… Barely. One more attack like that and the battle would be over. If she lost, she'd have to retake the challenge again, but she'd find herself in this position still. Kingdra had one weakness – dragon-type moves. Unfortunately, her dragons weren't fast enough to out speed it. A sense of helplessness gripped her mind. Was this it? Was this how her journey would end?
She gave her Feraligatr a hyper potion, recovering all his health. But it would mean nothing if she was unable to ever land an attack on the Kingdra. Kingdra blasted Toto with Dragon Pulse again, bringing Toto to the point of fainting again. "It can't end like this… I've come too far…" Lyra said, voice thick with desperation. "There has to be something I can do…"
Scenes of her former gym battles came to her now, playing in her head like a short movie. Every gym leader had multiple weaknesses she could exploit, but not Kingdra. She only had one. Lyra healed her Toto again, and once again Toto find himself on the brink of fainting. How many times could she heal him before she ran out of potions? Hold on, she thought. That's it. Trainers ran out of potions and all Pokemon had a limit on the number of attacks they could use. All she had to do here was outsmart the Kingdra. Clair relied on pure power alone to defeat her opponents. She had no sense of smart strategy at all. Lyra smiled. "This battle isn't over yet. I've found a way to defeat you."
"I've heard that one before, and I sent her packing. Kingdra, use Dragon Pulse!" Fortunately, Lyra had remembered to purchase a lot of Hyper Potions. She was actually prepared for a battle for once. She healed Toto again.
"We can do this, Toto! Just hang in a bit longer!"
Clair narrowed her eyes. "What are you playing at? You can't beat me. You haven't even attacked Kingdra yet… so how do you expect to win if you never attack?" She gave a mocking laugh. "Kingdra, Dragon Pulse!" Kingra looked tired now from using Dragon Pulse. Surely, it was running low on steam now.
Lyra healed Toto again for what felt like the fifth time. "Get ready, Toto…"
"Dragon Pulse!" Lyra gave Toto yet another powerful dose of healing potion. Clair growled. "Is this what you call strategy? Heal over and over again? Trainers who have to rely on potions every turn shouldn't be allowed on the battlefield." Lyra glanced at the Kingdra. She was panting. "Dragon Pulse!"
That surely had to be the last Dragon Pulse; the Kingdra didn't look like it had the strength to use another. Lyra healed her Toto again for what she hoped was the last time. "That's it, Toto…"
"Dragon Pulse!" This time, Kingdra didn't attack. She turned her trainer, waiting for another command. Her jaw tightened. "So, you hoped to wear me out? A smart plan, but you haven't won yet. Kingdra, use Hyper Beam!" A bright beam of yellow sped towards Feraligatr, crashing into his chest. Toto was flung a couple of feet away, but the reptile managed to stand, much to Clair's displeasure. "You're really beginning to annoy me…"
"Toto, use Crunch!" Hyper Beam might be a powerful attack, but it left the user immobile for one turn. Lyra had the chance to inflict some damage now. In the corner of her eye, she caught Lance grinning. "You're tough, Clair. You're the strongest trainer I've battled against. But power isn't everything." Kingdra still couldn't attack, so it was Lyra's turn again. "Use Crunch again, Toto!" Toto brought his teeth down around the Kingdra's neck.
"Use Hyper Beam again!"
Lyra had to give credit to the Kingdra. She was extremely hard to take down. Still, Lyra had to keep trying. Eventually, she'd get there. Toto was hit once again, by another powerful beam. Lyra healed Toto up to full health. Three hyper potions remained. "Use Crunch, Toto!" Again, Feraligatr bit down on the Kingdra. "Keep using Crunch!" Crunch was the only attack Toto had that could do some form of damage. Clair used another Hyper Beam, and Lyra healed Toto again. The cycle repeated until finally, the Kingdra fainted.
"No way! I don't believe it!" Clair cried. "This… must be some… mistake!"
"Clair, you lost the match," Lance said.
Lyra had almost forgotten he had been there. Clair was trembling with rage. "I won't concede the Rising Badge. I might have lost, but you're still not ready for the Pokemon League."
"This is ridiculous, Clair. The league rules state a gym leader must give the victor the badge."
She glared at him. "I don't care! She's not worthy of it!" She spun around on her heel and looked at Lyra. "You should take the dragon master challenge. Behind this gym is a place called Dragon's Den. There is a small shrine at its heart. Go there. If you can prove that you've lost your lazy ideals, I will admit you are at trainer worthy of a gym badge." Clair stormed out of the gym, yelling at all the other gym trainers.
Lance looked at Lyra apologetically. "Sorry, Lyra. Clair can be a little… difficult so to speak."
Lyra pouted. "I can't believe this."
"Come on, I'll show you to the Dragon's Den."
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"She doesn't deserve the Rising Badge, grandfather!" Clair said, rounding on the old man. "Just because she defeated me, doesn't mean she's earned it! I'm not soft like the other leaders in Johto," she screamed, just as Lyra and Lance entered through the door. Hearing Lyra's footsteps, Clair spun around and glared. "You'll never get this badge!" She stormed out of the shrine, fists hanging at her side.
"I am sorry, but I must test you. Please sit," the old man said, motioning for Lyra to sit on the floor across from him. Lance waited at the front, leaning against the door.
Lyra fidgeted. A test? Not another battle, she hoped. "You're not going to battle me, are you?"
The Elder shook his head, chuckling lightly. "No, not at all. I'm going to ask you a few questions. These questions will let me know if you truly understand the bond you have with your Pokemon. It'll also help me understand what type of a person you are." He cleared his throat. "What are Pokemon to you?"
"Pokemon are friends," Lyra said.
"…a caring heart…" he said, smiling. "What helps you to win battles?"
"Strategy, of course. It's not just about relying on super-effective moves to defeat your opponent."
"…a wise mind…" He paused briefly then continued. "What kind of trainer do you wish to battle?"
"All trainers. The level of experience should not matter. You can always learn something from every battle."
The old man nodded. "You are not judgemental, that is good. What is most important for raising Pokemon?"
If any of her battles had taught her anything, it was that love and knowledge really did conquer all. "Love and knowledge."
The old man made a humming noise. Lyra hoped that was a sound of satisfaction. "Yes, you understand the bond well… Strong Pokemon. Weak Pokemon. Which is most important?"
"It doesn't matter, all Pokemon have weaknesses that can be exploited."
He smiled again. "Your bond with your Pokemon is strong. I felt it the moment you entered this room, Lyra. Please, accept this Pokémon as a gift from me, the Blackthorn Clan Elder." He stood up and walked over to black box. He opened it, reached down inside pulling out a familiar pink pokeball.
Lyra stood up as the Elder handed it to her. Lyra recognized it as the one she had retrieved from Archer. It brought back painful memories. Once again, she briefly saw Archer stepping up onto the ledge to make that final jump. "That Pokemon is the symbol of our clan, the Shiny Dratini. Please, take good care of her." He bowed respectfully.
"I… I can't accept this… your gift is too much." She held out her hand towards the Elder, hoping he would take it back, but he shook his head.
"The Shiny Dratini is yours to keep, Lyra," Lance said, walking over to join her. He grabbed her hand, and folded her fingers back, so that the ball was firmly in her palm. "You've been entrusted with the symbol of our clan."
She looked up at him. He looked down at her. "I'll…" Her mind drew a blank. For the first time, she was actually speechless! She could feel her face reddening. Did he have to look at her like that? It was the same way Morty did. "I… uh… I'll take good care of her," she babbled. Get a grip, Lyra, she scolded herself. Lance is just a friend. So why did she feel like her stomach was suddenly full of live Butterfree?
"I have no doubt you will take good care of her."
She nodded. She opened her mouth to say something intelligent, when Clair burst through the door again. The gym leader looked at her cousin then at Lyra then back at Lance again. "I'm sure your fan club would just love to get a picture of this."
Lance lessened his hold on Lyra, and glanced sharply in Clair's direction. "Don't say a word."
Clair ignored him, turning to face her grandfather. "So, how did it go? I guess there's no point in asking. She did fail?"
"Lyra passed the test, Clair," the Elder answered calmly.
Clair's jaw dropped. She turned to face Lyra, trembling with rage. "What? You passed? That can't be! You're lying! Even I haven't been approved!" She looked to her cousin for an explanation. "This is a joke, right?"
"Lyra passed the test."
"Am I the only one who sees her for what she really is?! She's poison! And she's ruining everything for us! She's not like us; she's not a dragon master and she never will be!" Clair was furious now. Lyra took a few steps back, unsure. Clair looked ready to tear her head off with just her hands. "Look at what she's done to you!" Clair screamed, directing her gaze at Lance.
A deathly silence hung in the air. Lyra took a few more steps back until she hit the wall. She'd rather be facing the Red Gyarados again than be in the same room as Clair. "The only thing Lyra has done is prove to me she deserves the Rising Badge," Lance replied.
"Don't be a fool, cousin. It's not your speciality." She lifted an arm, pointing an accusing finger at Lance. "She's done more than that, she's poisoned you! You care more about her than you do about me! Morty called me after the battle and he told me everything! He said you came to visit Lyra after the ordeal with Archer! I said that was ridiculous, my cousin, infatuated with some worthless brat? Absurd! But then it started making sense to me during the battle. All the pieces came together."
"You're being irrational," Lance replied, calmly. But Lyra could see the signs of irritation showing on his face. Was what Clair was saying true?
She cackled. "Am I? I think I know you better than you know yourself. You said it to me earlier – Lyra's important to you in ways I could never comprehend. I can't believe I didn't see it earlier, but I now understand why you said that… but you probably don't realize it yet." She clenched her jaw. "But I'm not going to let her make a fool out of me. One day she's just going to get up and leave. You'll give her your heart and she'll throw it back in your face! It's what people like her do. You'll see that I'm right. I'm trying to protect you!" she spluttered.
"I don't need your protection."
"What, because you're the Champion?" She threw her head back and laughed. "You're a lousy one! You didn't even earn it! Red gave you the title!"
Wait, what? Lyra turned to face Lance. "You're the Champion?" He was the person people were often talking about? The greatest trainer in Johto and Kanto? The person who had tried stealing her Gible all those long years ago was the Champion? The person who jumped into the lake to rescue her despite not being a strong swimmer was the Champion? The person who had over to personally congratulate her was the Champion? That person was Lance? "All this time I thought you were just another trainer… have you been spying on me?"
It was like a Hyper Beam in the face. He didn't care about her after all – he was just being nice and doing what a Champion should be doing – looking out for the residents of the region. This was getting ugly rather quick. What had meant to be a simple process of obtaining the final badge and turned into a battle of words.
"I haven't been spying on you, Lyra," Lance said, almost sounding like he was pleading with her.
She thought hard, reflecting on past events. "You were near Azalea Town when I was on my way there. We met in the forest and you tried to steal my Gible. Why were you there? To stop Team Rocket down at the well?" He wanted to take the glory for himself… but she had gotten there first.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yes."
"But you didn't. I did. And at the Lake of Rage… were you sent to watch over me?" She felt betrayed. This entire time he had acted like a supporting friend, fooling her into thinking he wasn't anyone special, but he was actually the Champion himself. The long trek to the Lake of Rage… had that just been an act to study her technique better so she'd be easier to defeat when the time came? Was that why he watched her battle against Clair? "You made me think that you were a friend."
"Lyra…"
"Oh, this should be good," Clair said.
"Allow me to explain," the Elder said, stepping forward before things could get even worse. "Please, follow me. I will explain everything to you so you understand." Lance and Clair both attempted to follow, but the Elder gave them a stern warning glare. "What I have to say to Lyra is for her ears only. Both of you – wait outside." He slowly limped towards another room and sat down on a comfortable cushion. Lyra sat down on the opposite one, closing the door, feeling a wave of depression come over her.
.
"I told you she was poison," Clair said, through clenched teeth. "She was never going to stick around when she discovered the truth about you."
Lance couldn't quite describe the emotions he was experiencing right now. The ugly emotions of anger and hate were there, but he also felt a strange sense of loss and regret. "You just had to open your mouth, didn't you? Everything was going smoothly until you decided to have another one of your infamous fits," he said, heatedly, refusing to look at her in the eyes.
"You should be thankful. I just saved you from doing something stupid. There's no future with someone like her and you know it!"
Someone like her. Someone like Red. She was a hero of the region now, the trainer responsible of for single-handedly shutting down a criminal organization once and for all. She was just as famous as himself – and her fame would become even greater when she became Champion. Would she be able to handle it? Or would she run away like Red had all those years ago?
But what if Clair was right? What if Lyra did decide to abandon the post of Champion in favour of living a quiet life elsewhere? Red leaving had been a shock, but he hadn't known the guy that well anyway. But what if Lyra did decide to leave? Somehow a life without her in it seemed empty. Hollow. "She won't leave. She's not like Red."
"Lyra's made you weak," she spat. "The Lance I know didn't take crap from anyone, nor did he care about anyone else outside the clan. You were once willing to do whatever it took to prove to everyone that you're a real Champion and now?" She stabbed a finger in his face. "You're willing to let some female trainer walk all over you and take glory for herself? And why? Because you're in love with her?"
Lance didn't say anything. How could he answer a question he didn't know the answer to?
Clair rolled her eyes. "You're not just keeping an eye on her because you have to; you're doing it because you want to. There's a difference there. I'm not going to lose you to some outsider. I'm trying to protect you like you've always protected me. We're family – no one else matters, not even Lyra."
"She matters to me." She made him happy, yes, but that wasn't an indicator of romantic interest was it? "What are you afraid of, Clair?"
"When grandfather leaves this world, you'll be the only family I have left. I've looked up to you for years and I won't lose you. Lyra will never dethrone you because she won't make it to the league. I will never give up the badge – you can't make me."
He looked at her now with disgust. "You're right. I can't make you give up the badge. But I can force you." Being a Champion had its benefits. He was responsible for choosing gym leaders to represent the region… he also had the power to remove them if he had a reason to.
She hissed. "You wouldn't dare."
"By the powers invested in me as Champion, I hereby revoke your title as the gym leader of Blackthorn. You will surrender the badge or there will be consequences."
She flung herself at him, releasing a string of curses. "You traitor! I did everything for you! You've always been the one I wanted to impress!" He evaded her easily, and managed to grab hold of her arms. She thrashed wildly and kicked him. He grunted, recovered, and grabbed her arm roughly. "You'll see that I'm right! She will leave you!" Clair cried, hitting at his arms, trying to free herself. This time she bit him. He swore, forcibly shoved her back causing her to topple over onto the ground. She lay there panting, death glaring him. He was probably doing the same.
"I want you to leave," he stated coldly, glaring down at his cousin, trembling with rage.
She stood up, dusting herself off. "You can't tell me to leave. This is my home too!"
"I want you out of my sight… permanently. I never want to see you again."
And just like that, the fire in her eyes dimmed. "Wh-what? You can't be serious. Where will I go?" She looked vulnerable now. Scared. Lost. Innocent even. But he wasn't going to be fooled. Not this time. "Lance!"
He continued looking at her, his gaze unmoving. "I'll forget I ever had a cousin. You're dead to me. Get out of my sight!"
Her bottom lip trembled, as she took several steps back. "I hope Lyra does leave because you don't deserve to be happy!" She took in a shaky breath, composing herself, as tears fell down her cheeks. "And to think I actually idolized you for so long… but I hate you. Do you hear me? I hate you!" She sent him a malicious look and stormed out of the cave, cursing his name, tears flowing down her cheeks like waterfall.
Lance watched her retreat, his head pounding. Clair had left him. Lyra was most likely going to leave him too now. Any trust she had in him was probably gone. How was he going to regain what was lost? Was it even possible? Everything he had worked for was now falling apart around him and it was his entire fault.
.
"I always knew you would to me here, Lyra," the Elder said, gazing calmly into Lyra's eyes. "I can see into the future. I know what will come to be. I saw the resurrection of Team Rocket and I saw you defeating them."
That was kinda creepy, Lyra thought. There were times she wished she could see into the future, but now it seemed more like a curse than a blessing. What would be the fun in living if you knew exactly what tomorrow would bring? "And you knew I would pass the test. You didn't seem surprised."
He nodded. "You are very special, Lyra. You may not see it yet, but I have." He sighed, rubbing his temples. "I apologize for my granddaughter's behaviour. She is not used to losing; it is very hard for her to accept. But she will come around and realize her mistake. The girl does have a golden heart deep down."
Lyra found that hard to believe, but the Elder knew Clair better than anyone else. They were related after all. "What about Lance?"
"I am to blame."
She frowned. "But you didn't do anything?"
"I am responsible for sending Lance after you." Lyra didn't say a word. She was too lost for words now. The Elder continued. "I told him to keep his identity a secret from you until the time was right otherwise you would be less willing to work with him if you knew who he was."
She scratched her head. "I… don't understand. Why does it always have to be about me?" Archer had made the same claim. He believed Lyra was the key to finding Red so Team Rocket could have their revenge. But what made her so special?
The Elder nodded. "Have you ever wondered why people asked you to help them complete tasks?"
She thought back on her past adventures. Professor Elm had asked her to find Mr. Pokemon. Kurt asked her to help him defeat Team Rocket at the well. She had been asked to locate the Farfetch'd in Ilex Forest. Ethan had asked her to track down the three stolen day care Pokemon. Jasmine had asked her to retrieve the secret potion to cure Ampharos. Pryce had sent her to the Lake of Rage. "I thought I just happened to be in the right places at the right time."
He shook his head. "The moment you set foot into the world of Pokemon, you set off a chain of events that would change the lives around you. Trainers of your calibre are extremely rare; when I saw you in my vision, I knew you had to be protected."
"That's why you sent Lance after me… A Champion's duty is to protect the lands from evil." She stroked her chin, thinking hard. "You knew he wouldn't be the one to defeat Team Rocket, so you sent him after me, to… what? Protect me?"
"To save himself by protecting you."
"I'm sorry, but I don't understand?"
He smiled warmly. "This will become clearer to you in the future, but now you must go forth and claim the title you have earned." He closed his eyes and sighed then reopened them again. "I have seen far enough into the future to know you will become Champion… what comes after that though… is up to you to decide. I will not be here when you return," he added softly, closing his eyes briefly.
Lyra's eyes widened upon hearing the last part of his sentence. He's dying, she thought. The Elder had seen the end of his journey. "Does Lance know? Clair?"
He shook his head. "No, only you."
"Aren't you going to tell them?"
He shook his head again. "No."
"But why not? You are their grandfather!"
"I am not going to let my death be the reason they reconcile. They need to find it themselves. Please Lyra, I ask that you take care of my grandchildren, especially Lance. He needs you more than both of you realize right now. He will tell you things that will make you angry, but I know you will be able to find it within your heart to forgive him. Farewell Lyra, it has been a pleasure meeting you." He closed his eyes, and lowered his gaze. Lyra knew this conversation was over. There were still so many questions that needed answering. But she would not get them from him.
She exited the shrine.