Scene 10: Red
It's been over a month since the Team Rocket poaching incident. They've taken over the top floor of the Pokémon Tower as their base. None of the townsfolk know what to do to stop them. Cubone is finally getting along with the other Pokémon in the House, but he's reproachful towards humans. The only ones he trusts now are Mr. Fuji and little Lyrik. Reina, though she tries her best to play with each of the orphaned Pokémon, still can't get close enough to the little guy.
She sighs. Reina turns to Lyrik, asking for her assistance. Lyrik manages to get inside Cubone's pen easily. She kneels down besides the small Pokémon, coaxing him into her arms. Reina is looking over the little door with a twinge of sadness, "I only wish Cubone could trust me like he trusts you, Lyrik." Lyrik pats his head. She thinks back to witnessing Marowak's brutal death. It's no wonder he doesn't trust humans.
As the weeks progress, rumors spread through the town. There's been some kind of hauntings happening in the Pokémon Tower. No one knows what is happening or how to fix it. Several of the residents have stopped visiting the graves. Mr. Fuji wonders if Team Rocket has something to do with it...
On a dusky Sunday afternoon, Mr. Fuji prepares to make his usual trip to the Tower.
"I want you to stay here." Lyrik puts down the Pokéflute in her hands. Mr. Fuji had made the flute for her to play with. She had always loved music, but Mr. Fuji explained to the girl the power of this very special flute. He had given it to her as a little project and she was now in the middle of painting it.
"But I want to go! You don't believe those ghost stories, do you?" Mr. Fuji patted her head, "Who knows? What I do know is that you'll be safe here. Understand?" She nods. Lyrik waves off her grandfather, smiling. But as he disappears into the approaching fog, something strange pulls inside her chest...
She falls asleep while waiting up for him. Lyrik wakes up the following morning, Cubone and the others at her side. She rubs the sleep out of her eyes, heads into the kitchen and begins to prep their breakfast. The place is much too quiet. She looks around at the still room. Lyrik walks around the house in her house slippers, curiously. She looks to the other Pokémon, "Where's Grampa Fuji..?" But no one has seen him.
Confused, Lyrik takes to walking the town. She goes from house to house asking the neighbors, but none of the townsfolk has seen him either. At the Pokémon Center, Nurse Merry and Reina offer to help her search. Lyrik shakes her head, "Thanks. But I'm alright." Lyrik walks out, passing an older boy. Reina looks to Nurse Merry worriedly, though they both know how independent she is. The boy walks up to the counter asking Nurse Merry to heal his Pokémon. Nurse Merry breaks off their conversation and turns her attention to the visiting stranger.
After a while, Lyrik makes her way towards the Pokémon Tower. The tall daunting building has never felt so cold as it did that day, surrounded by a soft fog. She nears the entrance of the tower where she notices something on the damp ground. She goes to pick it up. It's the watering can they used when tending to the plants. She wonders if Grampa Fuji had begun his work but was distracted.
Hesitantly, Lyrik enters the tower. She gulps. The Tower is extremely dark and eerily quiet. She thinks back to the stories she's heard the past few weeks. Taking one step at a time, Lyrik finds her way to the first set of stairs. She stops. She can hear voices just up ahead. A man walks by and she recognizes the uniform he's wearing. He's from Team Rocket. Lyrik's eyes get wide. She takes a tentative step back only stopping when she hears the name of her grandfather.
The Team Rocket Grunts are discussing the "old man" that had found them last night. "Fuji" they said. They didn't know what to do with him now that they had him hostage. Lyric grips the side of her skirt, her eyes shut tight. She wants so desperately to help her Grampa Fuji... but she can't..! [ I'm just a kid! What can I do..? ] The tears burn at the edge of her eyes as she tries to calm her nerves.
Lyrik waits till she loses the sound of the Team Rocket Grunt's footsteps before she makes a run for the outside. She doesn't stop until she gets to the Pokémon House. Inside she finds Reina speaking with a stranger while the other volunteers are taking a break at the table. Reina immediately notices how hard Lyrik is breathing and goes straight to her in concern. The other adults crowd around them.
Lyrik looks from Reina to the stranger. Having lived in a small town her whole life, she's naturally cautious of outsiders. Reina smiles and assures Lyrik that Red is a friend. After a moment, Lyric nods. She tells them all what she had seen inside the Pokémon Tower.
Reina is now more worried than ever about Mr. Fuji, but how can they help him? Even the adults are too frightened to go up against Team Rocket. Not after last time. Reina looks at them all- but what about rescuing their dear Mr. Fuji? The stranger, Red, steps forward before them. He volunteers to go.
Everyone looks at the boy. Lyrik listens intently as he gives them his promise to rescue Mr. Fuji and to take down Team Rocket. How could he be so sure of himself..?
Red walks the girls back to Lyrik's house, making sure that they're alright. That night Reina preps dinner. Red is walking around the open room admiring the old photographs. He turns and sees little Lyrik sitting at the table. He can tell that she's upset. He goes to sit with her. Red pats her shoulder, "Reina told me what happened to Cubone's mother." She looks up at him.
"I'm sorry you had to witness that. But don't you worry, I promise to save your grandfather. You can trust me..!" He's smiling... Lyrik doesn't understand this boy. He doesn't look that much older than her. Sure he's a Pokémon Trainer, obviously, but what could he possibly do against those Team Rocket goons? Lyrik isn't so sure.
After dinner, Red leaves. Lyrik goes to the door and watches as he enters the fog. But before he disappears he stops. As if he knows that Lyrik is watching him, Red gives her a thumbs up. She can't help but smile. Maybe she can trust this strange boy…
Reina stays with Lyrik throughout the night. After she falls asleep Reina leaves to check up on the Pokémon at the Pokémon House. When she enters she hears a strange cluttering in the back. Cubone breaks out of his pen and before she can stop him, Cubone runs off towards the Pokémon Tower. She chases after the small Pokémon, calling after him. She follows Cubone all the way to the Pokémon , Reina finds Red. That night, they both discover the truth behind the rumors of "ghosts" haunting of the Pokémon Tower.
...
In the early hours of the morning, Lyrik wakes up. She sits up groggily as the soft rays of early sunlight peek into her bedroom. She suddenly remembers the events of the previous day. Her Grampa Fuji is missing! Lyric jumps out of her bed, dresses, and runs outside. She notices several of the other townsfolk making their way to the Pokémon Tower. She remembers the boy from yesterday. Did something happen?
As she joins the crowd at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the tower she sees her Grampa Fuji. She can't stop the tears from falling as she runs the steps and jumps into his arms.
"Grampa!" He catches her, holding her tightly. Reina and Red smile at one another. Mr. Fuji takes Lyrik's face in his hands. "It'll take more than the likes of Team Rocket to get rid of me." He wipes away Lyrik's tears as she smiles up at him.
Back at the Pokémon House Lyrik makes a comment about Cubone. Red and Reina had told her about what had happened in the Tower. It's thanks to the two of them Cubone has started opening up to other humans and now they know that Marowak is at peace.
Mr. Fuji gives his thanks to Red for bringing things back to normal in Lavender Town. But Lyrik also wants to thank him. She gets an idea. Lyric jumps out of her chair and hurries to her room. The others wait as she enters the room with a gift. She hands Red the Poke'flute. With the painting just finished, the bright colors shine under the light. He smiles, "For me? Are you sure?" Lyrik is blushing as he looks at her. All she can do is nod in response. Mr. Fuji goes to the nearby cabinet and starts digging around.
He shows them a small box. Inside is a pair of stones. He thanks the boy for all that he's done for his town and family. They're not sure exactly what they can be used for, but Red is appreciative of the gift.
As the people gather outside to say goodbye, Red pats Lyrik on the head. She keeps her eyes to her feet, building up the courage to say something, "I-I wanna be a powerful Trainer just like you when I grow up!" Red smiles down at the small girl, "And I'm sure you will be. I look forward to battling you someday!" Lyrik gives Red a big smile in return, "That's a promise!" He gets on his bike and rides off, Lyrik and the other townspeople smiling and waving goodbye.