Disclaimer: Pokemon is published and owned by Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri. I own nothing but the computer this story was typed up on and the account that posts it.

[Jasmine]

She's warm.

So very warm.

I open my eyes to get a look at her. Her hair is slightly frazzled from lying on the bed for so long. Her body is scrunched into a ball pulling most of the cover on the bed to her. I don't mind the lack of blanket warmth. Her body was close enough to mine to share her natural warmth. I closed my eyes and listened to the gently breathes she was taking. I inhale the smell of her next to me. A scent so soft and yet so strong that I could smell nothing else not even the smell of my own body from the sheets. Slowly, my hand reached out to touch this girl next to me. Daintily, as if fearing she would break beneath my touch, my fingers rested against her warm cheek. Her skin was smooth and soft to my fingertips, so very much a contrast to the only other beings to get this close to me: my Pokemon. The memory of how their cold and hard bodies felt to me was empty compared to the soft warmth of Lyra.

Taking in all of this girl, from sight, smell, sound, and touch, my mind wondered to my chest. To my heart. To the swelling heat within my heart that grew the longer I focused on Lyra. I don't understand this. This feeling is by far stronger than anything I have ever felt. Stronger than the feelings of loneliness and dread that had made up most of my thoughts, and even stronger than those feelings for my family and Pokemon. Something so powerful growing in my chest at the presence of this girl. I dare not call this by the 'l'-word. To do so may curse it to abandon me.

Lyra shifts suddenly. I pull back my fingers for fear of what she would think of me touching her in her sleep. Her body moves closer to me the moment I take away my hand. She keeps moving until her head rests against my neck. A murmur escapes her lips and then she stills. Her shallow breathes are the only sound once more. My heart is pounding violently in my chest at the closeness of our bodies. Her hair tickles my neck. I move my head down so as to move her hair away from my neck only to find my nose buried in that vary mane of brown. I feel my body shake slightly as her smell explodes into my nostrils. I suppose it to be weird to be this entranced by a human aroma.

The sunlight begins to pour in through my windows brighter. It was well into the morning by now, but I was afraid to move. I was still tired from sleep but had too much on my mind to go back to sleep. I had some duties to be tending to but my fear of waking Lyra kept me from meeting them. I find it odd that neither of the trainers beneath me had come to tell me of a challenge. Perhaps the word that I had returned to my gym hadn't spread enough for anyone to actually come to challenge me.

Challenge me…

Lyra was going to fight me today, I recalled. No doubt on that. She would want one of my Mineral Badges to call her own. We would fight and then she will leave me here. The feeling in my chest shifted. Warmth replaced by a sudden sharp, cold sting. Lyra's arms wrapped around me as she pressed her head closer to my chest, almost as if she knew of the pain my heart was feeling.

The warmth had returned. I laid a hand on her shoulder as I rubbed the back of her head with my other. I sighed, smiling. This girl has such a hold on me, and I sure she knows it. But that didn't change the fact that she and I would be enemies sometime this afternoon. And she would beat me, I'm sure of it, and then she would leave me.

If she wanted to left, I would not be able to stop her. Not with the dreams she had. I am nothing compared to such great dreams. Collecting all Johto badges, seeing all the Pokemon the world had to show, and even catching the Legendary Pokemon Suicune: those were the dreams she had told me about last night as we lay in bed talking. And by the stories she had told me of her journey thus far, this hard to attain dreams would be nothing for this girl. Lyra would meet them all as easily as if they were an object waiting for her to touch just in front of her.

All the things she had told me were magnificent. From the moment she got Totodile to getting me that medicine, it all seemed so magical coming from her voice. The battles with the Gym Leaders before me; the mysterious and dangerous Team Rocket battles; hatching a Togepi given to her to raise; this thief that seemed to have a grudge against her and a childhood friend named Ethan. I stopped my train of thought at the recalling of that boy, Silver, who had been treating her so foul. The boy needed to be put in his place, my angered mind told me. And I would be the one to put him there if he came by my gym in the future. No one would be allowed to harsh my Lyra while I was around.

Hold on…My Lyra…?

I need to time to think. I glance at the clock on my wall. It was approaching noon. I glanced back at Lyra, smiling a bittersweet smile. Time to think, away from the temptation that lay with her chest against my chest. Perhaps a soothing walk on the beach after visiting Amphy to see if he was alright. Then after I had my alone time, I would come back for Lyra and treat her to lunch.

Yes, I liked the sound of that plan.

But first, the tricky part of getting her to let me go without waking her up. After much wiggling and squirming, I managed to get free. And hit my head after a fall. I had gotten free but with no bed underneath me. I sat up, rubbing my head, and looked at Lyra's still sleeping form. All that movement and the thud of my body against floor, and she was still asleep? Amazing. I hurriedly changing out of my sleep clothes; I rushed out of my room. Closing the door behind me, I turned around to begin my walk only to come face to face with two grinning individuals.

[Lyra, Meanwhile]

Lyra turned over in her sleep and began to chew on her pillow.

"Lava cookie," she moaned into the soggy pillow.

[Jasmine]

"…Don't scare me like that," I snapped at the two trainers. My hand was placed over my heart as it thundered in my chest.

I looked up at the grinning twosome. Strange to see them so…Smiley. The gentleman trainer Preston clasped a hand on my shoulder and gave me an approving smile while Connie took my hand and began to talk at speeds I'm sure an Arcanine couldn't keep up with.

"OHMYARCEUSYOUGOTTATELLMEEVERYTHINGWHOISSHEAREYOUACOUPLEISSHEGONNASTAYWITHUSDON'TIKNOWHERFROMSOMEPLACE?" the young lass yammered on.

I had no idea what she had even said, so I smiled back.

Preston looked at me and stated his peace, "I must say, Jasmine, while I don't approve of you two sharing the same bed at your ages and this early in your relationship, I am so very proud of you." He hugged me. "She will make a fine husband for you. I should know, I faced her in combat and she soundly beat me."

"Oh yeah, that's from where! Me too!"

"…What?" I was confused.

The two of them looked at each other then to me, confused. "Your girlfriend," the both explained at the same time without missing a beat.

I am certain I blacked out for a second.

Stammering to explain, I hastily replied, "S-she's not my g-gi-g…That. She's just a friend."

Preston took a hold of his cheek and gave a thoughtful expression. "A little too quick to deny if you ask me, Connie."

Connie put her hands on her hips, grinning at me. "Totally." She leaned closer to me, and wiggled her eyebrows as her grin grew. "If you're just friends why were you cuddling her? Hmm?"

I pulled my head back, face flushed.

"…I-I wasn't, you see…She just…"

"Don't worry about it," the bow-wearing lass said, wrapping her arm around my shoulder. "No need to deny it, we're proud of you. We just wanted to tell you that, Jasmine. We know that starting a relationship like this, especially when you're both girls, has got to be hard. So, here's us saying we've got nothing against it and are nothing but overjoyed for you two."

"Indeed," was followed by a pat on the shoulder.

I am ashamed. Not just by this current conversation, but by all the wrongs I had said about this two. I had told myself that they didn't care about me, but I was so very misguided. No, I had acted stupid. They were more than those trainers who acted as my juniors. They were a part of my family. There is no mistaking that now, not after those words.

I leaned forward and threw my arms around both of their necks. "I'm sorry," my voice squeaked as I tried to hold back tears of joy and shame. I felt the two hug me back the best they could in this position.

"Don't worry about it."

"Quite right," Preston said pulling back.

I wasn't sure if they knew what I really meant or not, but that didn't matter. Not when I suddenly realized what Preston had said earlier.

"You've faced her in battle?"

"Oh yes, and neither of my Growlithe were even remotely a match for her. A clean victory," the derby-wearer confirmed.

Connie nodded.

"Marill against Marill, and she still beat us like it was nothing. She's way strong, Jasmine."

I smiled.

"I knew she would be."

The two of them looked at me surprised, suddenly surrounding me as my back pressed up against the door.

"You mean you haven't fought her yet?"

"…No…"

"And you still shared the same bed?"

"…Yes…"

Connie shook her head, then smiled at me. "Doesn't matter, she may be tough but she's no match for you, Jasmine." She gave me the thumbs up.

"…I'm hoping…" it came out a whisper.

Preston caught it and pressed on, "Why?"

I took a deep breath then began to tell them everything.

[Lyra, a Little Later]

Lyra rolled over in bed, her eyes beginning to flutter open. As her eyes slowly opened she saw a mustachioed elder man and a brunette girl wearing a bow leaning over her smiling. Lyra yawned, then closed her eyes. Connie and Preston looked at each other, surprised by the girl's lack of response. Lyra's eyes abruptly shot open as she let out a cry of surprise.

The two trainers moved away from the bed.

"Who are you people?!" Lyra cried out.

Connie smirked, stepping forward and explained, "We're the trainers who work under Jasmine. Remember you fought us at the Lighthouse."

Lyra's confused look didn't change. She scratched her head as she looked over them. Giving a yawn, she asked, "Did I win?"

"You did indeed, madam," Preston informed.

"Well that's all that matters." Lyra plopped back in bed, and closed her eyes. After a moment of silence, she sat back up. "Where's Jasmine?"

"She went on a walk an hour or so ago."

"Bet she's checking up on Amphy." Connie leaned against the wall, looking over Lyra. "We hear you went after the medicine for Amphy. That was pretty awesome of you. So thanks for helping out Jasmine."

Lyra shrugged it off. The expression on her face was serious though.

"Can I ask you guys something?"

"Go ahead," Preston insisted.

"Why did it go that far? Why did Amphy suffer until I came along? You guys are her friends right, so why didn't you go get the medicine?"

The two trainers' expressions turned to that of shame.

"We…"

Lyra stood up, stretching. "Forget it, not my place to question or judge. Did you at least apologize to Jasmine?"

"Yes."

"Then that's all that matters." Lyra grabbed her backpack and turned to the two trainers. "Is there a bathroom I can use?"

"You can just use Jasmine's, I'm sure," Preston said pointing to the bathroom.

"Cool," the pigtailed girl said walking to the bathroom.

"After you get done, Jasmine insisted you stop by the café next to the PokeCenter," Connie said with a wink as they two began to walk out of the room.

[Jasmine]

I'm romantically interested in Lyra.

I know that now, and I will not lose her. That is what I've decided. I will give this battle all that I've got. I will not hold back and I will beat her. When I win, I will offer her the position of training under me. That way she will not leave me. She will stay with me, and train with me. She won't even have to change the Pokemon she uses. I don't force the trainers under me to use only Steel-types. That is unfair. The rules never say they have to use my specialty type so why should I force them too?

It's a good plan. Perhaps, I should just skip the battle and offer her the position the moment she comes through that door. No, that won't work. She has her own dreams to think of. I can't force her to abandon them. If only there was a way for me to go with her.

I frowned. What am I doing? I don't even know if she likes me. That is what I have to ask the moment she enters that door. Everything that follows we will decide after that important topic.

I hear footsteps coming towards me, so I turn back to see Lyra standing there wearing her usual attire. I smile, and offer her the seat next to me. She takes it, and tells the waiter what she wants the moment he asks. We sit there in silence as I decide what to say. Once I feel I have the right words, I turn to her to talk.

"So, are we gonna, you know, be a couple or something?" Lyra asks, looking me directly in the eyes.

I lose all thought at that question. She asked me first? I had been brooding over this all night and morning and she just comes right out and asks me as if it were nothing. My mouth moves for a moment as I try to find my voice.

"…O-okay," I whisper.

She grins at me.

"Not expecting me to ask you? Heh, you should see the look on your face. It's adorable." She takes her plate when the waiter comes back to our side of the bar. "I mean, that's what's been bugging you, right? I'm glad I was right, because, well, I like you too."

"…O-okay," I whisper.

She laughs at my reaction. "Is that all you've got to say? I mean you've been thinking about this all day, right?" She folds her napkin over her lap.

"…How did you know? T-that I felt the same way for you, that is?"

"Connie and Preston told me," she says taking a bite of her hamburger.

"W-what?"

"Kidding," she says, putting her burger down.

I feel a smile come to my face as she smiles at me. We spend the next few minutes talking about ourselves. There is no way to describe how relieved I really am. My eyes look down at where our hands are clasped together. Her hand is warm and soft. She is telling me another story that had happened to her, and I am hanging on every word. She makes even the most boring story an amazing tale. As her story comes to an end she begins to start asking me questions about myself. My story is something I worried would be dull and bland, but I tell her everything because she asked. Her eyes gleam brightly as I tell her. She begins to ask questions as my story continues, pressing for more information about myself.

"Well, isn't that just the sweetest, most pathetic thing you ever saw," a boy's gruff voice says from behind us. I don't recognize the voice but Lyra clasps her hand over her eyes and groans. She must know him, I assumed. We turn around to face a boy in a navy jacket with red trim. His hair was long and bloody red. He sneers at us. "Geez, I should have known. All the talk around town was that the Gym Leader here was a totally crybaby. No freaking surprise that a wuss like you'd bed her."

Lyra frowns at him, rising to her feet. She gives him an intimidating glare. "Silver, I don't care what you say about me but don't you insult Jasmine," she shoves a finger into his chest, warningly.

Silver?

I recognize the voice and appearance to be that of the thief from Lyra's story. I can feel the muscles in my body tightening. My blood is become hot as my mind races across all the stories Lyra had said about him. Stealing from another, mistreating his Pokemon -which he might not have caught but stole as well -, and worse of the worse his verbal and sometimes psychical assaults against Lyra. My fist tightens. I find myself wondering if I had ever been this anger in my life. I know one thing, if he tries anything I will stop him to protect her.

I stare up at the boy sneering down at us. His look piercing down at Lyra as he takes a threatening step closer to her. Lyra's determination doesn't waver at the boy's approach. His eyes dart to the pokeballs attached to his waist, before staring at her. Noticing her lack of evidence of carrying one of her Pokemon with her, he smirks.

"What're you gonna do, shrimp? You haven't got any of your Pokemon with you, idiot," he scoffs.

His arms reach out and shove Lyra back until her back hits the counter. She lets out a cry of pain from the impact of her back against the hard edge of the counter. The next few seconds fly by in a flurry of blurs and the color red. I find myself standing with my hand held out. There's a burning sensation in my extended hand. The sound of flesh striking flesh echoes off the walls. A grunt of pain follows, leaving silence the remainder. The redhead stumbles backwards, bumping into a table. His eyes are glaring at me as he places his right hand over an increasingly red area on his cheek.

"You insect," he growls.

My pale brown eyes stayed glued to his silvery gray ones. Two heated angry stares, though one truly cold and the other slightly more tender. The onlooking bar patrons gape at us, as if they were watching some TV show. I can hear hushed murmurs coming from within the small crowd. Outside of those murmurs and the sound of Silver's now hasty breathing, there is silence in the small tavern. For a minute. A loud, girlish laugh booms from beside me. I feel my body jump at the sudden noise. Our eye contact breaks as we look to my side. Lyra is doubled over, holding her side, and laughing uncontrollably.

"That's, ha ha…Oh, it hurts…" she tries to say over her laughs. One of her hands pulls away from her side to point at Silver. "She slapped you! Ha ha! You have no idea how many times I've wanted to do that too! Arceus, no doubting it know! I totally love you, Jasmine, heh heh!"

Silver whole face was now bright red, at the mocking laughter.

I place a hand on her shoulder, my resolve now faltering at the truly hateful look from Silver. "…Maybe you shouldn't, uh, l-laugh at him. He looks kind of," I was cut off by Lyra who waved off my worry.

"He had it coming. After the mean way he treats his Pokemon and all the things he's said about me and Ethan. Somebody was bound to put him into his place. He's nothing but a jerk." She emphasized this with her own glare at Silver.

His eyes continued to burn, but a smug smile crossed his face.

"Still yapping about the proper way to threat Pokemon, to me?"

Lyra placed her hands on her hips. "Always," she stated. "Until you either face up to the problems you've inflicted upon your Pokemon or give up because you're never going to beat me or Ethan. I'm long past the belief that you'll ever realize how much your Pokemon are suppose to mean to you. They are suppose to be your friends not your slaves. I'm not as kind as Ethan is. I don't care about your feelings or whatever issues you have. Not after the way I've seen you treat your Pokemon. You aren't good enough for your Pokemon, and if you keep up like this you never will be."

I am in awe of the power, passion, and love this girl possesses. I am certain I can feel it all radiating off of her, covering me in a blanket of warmth. I glance over at Silver, as if to compare him to her. There is no feeling of passion or love from him. Just a chilling hate, evident in those eyes. His hate is nothing compared to her love.

"Bite me," he snaps at her. "I'm sick of all that friendship garbage! I get enough of that from that pansy friend of yours. I ain't gonna take it from you! These Pokemon aren't my 'friends'! They're tools for me to use to show you and everyone else how much greater I am!"

I choose at this moment to speak up, "Then have already you failed as a trainer." I refuse to meet his stare this time. If that is truly how he feels, than he isn't worth the time. I place my money on the counter, and turn to look at Lyra. "Let us go, Lyra. You have a very big battle ahead of you today. We should get started." Without addressing Silver, I walk past him. I can't see Lyra's expression, only hear her footsteps hurrying to keep up with me. The last thing I hear from the bar is the sound of a fist slamming into a table and a yelled curse.

I expect us to walk the rest of way in silence, but I miscalculated the Lyra-factor again. I feel two arms wrap around my waist and a chin on my shoulder as we walk. My heart flutters at the contact. The closeness of our bodies is so relaxing despite the awkwardness of walking. I stop walking directly in front of the Center, causing Lyra to walk closer into me at the abrupt stop. I turn my head to face Lyra's confused expression with a warm smile of my own.

"I want you to go into the Center, heal all your Pokemon, pick out the ones you want to use against me, and come to the Gym," I inform, regrettably break the contact so I can turn around to fully face her. I notice that my voice isn't a delay in my speaking or a hushed tone to my voice. I am speaking fully and clearly, something that I must say is odd for me. I choose to think Lyra is the cause of this momentary courage inside me.

"We are going to battle for your next badge. I want you to pick all of your strongest Pokemon, because you will need them. I won't be holding back just because we…Be-because y-you're my…my…."

So much for my courage.

Lyra suddenly leans in and kisses me softly on the lips. I feel that familiar burning sensation to my cheeks that she always brings out. She pulls back, smiling at my dumbfounded look.

"Don't worry about it. I wouldn't want you to give me any less than your best. You best not hold back." She pokes me in the chest for stress her point. She turns to walk to the PokeCenter, waving at me before entering. She leaves me standing just outside the Center, hand over chest and blushing. Willing my legs to move, I start to head back to the Gym only to have Lyra step back out to me. Her lips collide to mine before she pulls back.

"The word you were looking for is 'girlfriend'. I am your 'g-girlfriend'." She even mocks my stutter with a wink.

I watch her leaving me for the second time, this time I am smiling. And the Nurse healing Lyra's Pokemon has her hand over her mouth. The Joy realizes I had seen her, so she pulls back her hand, smiles, and gives a gentle wave before going back to work.

I hurried back to the Gym, there was much I had to tend to before she arrived.

[Lyra]

Having picked out her dream team for the upcoming battle, Lyra was racing back to the Gym. To say she was excite was an understatement. She was ecstatic. She was more excited about this battle than even the first time she had faced a Gym Leader. Then again, no offense to Falkner but she had already faced plenty Bird-types before fighting him. But she couldn't recall ever seeing even one Steel-type let alone fighting a user of them of the Gym Leader level. That wasn't the only thing about this that made it a thrill. There was the addition of the fact that this Gym Leader was her girlfriend. Her first girlfriend. She felt herself giggle as she stopped outside of the door. She took a deep breath before swinging open the doors.

Her eyes widened. She hadn't really got a look of the gym itself, since it had been dark when Jasmine used that secret entrance to the rooms in back. Seeing it now in all its glory, it was amazingly beautiful. All the other gyms seemed to have a motif resembling their specialty type - some more interesting than others (Namely Falkner and Morty, sorry Bugsy and Whitney). Jasmine's was different. Sure it did have the steel girder arches and tiled floors, but outside of that it just reflected Jasmine's particular tastes. The pale pink and white designed walls and the metal pavilion Jasmine stood in waiting for her. It was cute and girlish with a metal center, in a manner of speaking. It was definitely Lyra current favorite Gym and nothing short of a Gym full of lava or something amazing like that could top it.

The moment she stepped into the Gym, she was ambushed by Preston and Connie. The two were crowding her directly in front of the entrance door. Preston put a hand on her shoulder while Connie playfully slapped her on the shoulder.

"I knew you'd come here," Preston said with a nod of his head. "I've heard all about you and Jasmine getting together. I am pleased her first relationship would be with someone like you."

Lyra was somewhat surprised by part of his words. Not that he knew about her and Jasmine. She knew the lighter haired brunette was going to tell the two, who she was sure already knew they should get together, from the little skip she had seen in Jasmine's step when she left the Center. It was that Preston had said she was Jasmine's first relationship. Even with Jasmine's shy nature, she still found it hard to believe that someone as attractive as Jasmine hadn't had any previous relationships. She choose to turn the surprise into fuel for her pride. She was Jasmine's first.

The derby-wearer continued, "But battle is a separate matter." He smiled at her, giving her shoulder another encouraging pat. "Go for it!"

Connie giggled.

"I know how capable you are from the Lighthouse. It's time you showed that side of yourself to Jasmine," the girl exclaimed as she began to shove Lyra towards Jasmine. Just before they got too close, Connie leaned in and grinning to Lyra. She gave the pigtailed girl a heavy shove. "Good luck, lover girl!"

Lyra was barely able to stop herself from colliding into Jasmine. Jasmine stared down at her with an amused smile which Lyra returned with her wide cheery grin. Jasmine motioned for Lyra to join her up on the pavilion. Lyra rushed up the stairs.

"I see you don't have your lead Pokemon out of your Pokeball," Jasmine noted, curious. "That seemed to be one of your traits as a trainer."

Lyra kept grinning.

"I want them to be a secret just like yours are a secret to me. Don't want you coming up with any pre-battle strategies."

"Clever girl," the Gym Leader said stepping back a few steps. "Thank you for your help at the Lighthouse…And for being my g-gi…"

Lyra put her hand on her hips, clearly enjoying Jasmine's struggle. "Girlfriend." She shook her head. "You're thanking me for dating you? You're too cute."

Jasmine's face turned bright red, her Gym Leader ominous aura shattered by the flattering words.

"This is different, Lyra. As it states in the rules and regulations set forth by the League…Please allow me to introduce myself, properly. I am Jasmine, a Gym Leader."

Lyra interrupted the trained speech with, "I had no idea my girlfriend was named Jasmine. And she's a Gym Leader, no way!" She giggled at Jasmine frown.

Jasmine cleared her throat. "Ahem! I use the…" She suddenly clapped her hands together causing a loud noise to echo throughout the small Gym. "CLANG! Steel-Types!" Lyra stared on, surprised before bursting into laughter. Jasmine knew that Lyra would enjoy that, so she had put aside her shame for the other trainer's enjoyment before continuing her speech. "…Do you know about the Steel-type?"

Lyra shook her head.

"Nope, never even seen a single one."

Jasmine's eyes seemed glow at hearing that. "They are very hard, cold, sharp, and really strong," her voice had a youthful glee to it as she spoke. She stopped when she saw Lyra giggling again. She pulled out a Pokeball as she addressed her girlfriend. "Um…I'm not lying."

Lyra, pulling out her own Pokeball, nodded.

"I have no doubt."

Without any further words, the two girls threw out their first Pokemon. As the lights exploded from the tiny red and yellow balls, the two fighters took stage. The first Magnemite floated up into the air, its magnet 'arms' swirling in a few circles at its side. Lyra's Sudowoodo shook her branches and swiveled her hips, a the traditional dance of joy amongst the imitation Pokemon. As the single eye of the magnetic orb locked with those of the gleeful fake tree, the trainers ensued their first commands.

[Not Far Away]

From a far, unknown to anyone within the town, this battle was being observed by a mysterious third party. Standing upon the waves, listening and feeling the battle, stood Suicune. Its crimson eyes focusing on the gym as it took in the entirety of the battle. Ever since it had been resurrected by its heavenly master Ho-Oh, it had an uncontrollable need to find its true human master. It had become all the aurora Pokemon could think of for sometime. But unlike its roaming brethren, it had seen something back at the remains of Burnt Tower. The girl that had come directly towards them with no fear, worry, or doubt. Something in its mind, perhaps directly connected to that part that wanted its master, was telling it to focus its search to this girl specifically.

That this girl would become its one true master, and complete it.

Only then could it come to rest. With its master found and battled, it could stop its running. It would no longer have to travel the lands looking for strong trainers to fight only to be disappointed by their weakness. With this Lyra, it hoped its rest would come. And judging from the battle it was witnessing, it may have to wait and let her grow stronger but there was no doubt in its mind it had found its master. All she needed was time to grow and a little encouragement. Remembering what it had heard the previous night, Lyra would be heading back to Cienwood.

There it would wait for her to come.

There it would make contact with her again, in hopes that it may encourage her still.

[Jasmine]

I could only watch on and accept my inevitable defeat as Lyra's Feraligatr caught my Steelix's Iron Tail with its powerful jaws and bit down hard. Steelix was left flinching as the big jawed Pokemon readied its final attack: a powerful Surf attack. I watched on stunned as the powerful wave hit Steelix hard enough to lift the gigantic iron snake through the air. Steelix was stopped in flight as it hit one of the walls. Feraligatr, seemingly ignoring its wounds and the sand partials ripping across its scales, stepped forward incase of another attack from my Pokemon. Even as Steelix lifted its head, I knew there would be no continuing. No further attacks from me. Steelix gave and fainted, its large body falling down to the ground.

Lyra had won.

With Steelix's faint, the sandstorm died down. Without a word, I walked over to Steelix and put my hand on its head, feeling her cold and wet body. A smile formed on my face. It had been touch and go throughout the whole battle, but she had pulled it off. Summoning my Pokemon back, I faced Lyra. The girl was busy doing a silly little victory dance with Sudowoodo and Feraligatr. I could help but laugh at the sight. This girl, who danced giddily with her Pokemon, had bested me in battle. And had captured my heart.

"Well done," my voice stopped the trio's dancing. My head was lowered and shaking at my defeat, but I was smiling at the joy of seeing how strong Lyra truly was. "You are a better Trainer than me, in both skill and kindness."

Lyra frowned.

"That's not true. Maybe skill, but not kindness."

"No, Lyra, you showed me just how much you care about not just your Pokemon but those of others today at the café and yesterday at the Lighthouse." I now stood directly in front of her with my hand held out. In my palm was a tiny, shiny badge. "In accordance with League rules, I confer upon you this Badge."

Lyra took the Mineral Badge from me. She looked over it, even holding it up to the light. Her eyes were still radiating her passion as she squeezed her hand around the badge. She thrust her fist up into the air, jubilantly.

"That's five badges down, three to go," she declared, the Pokemon mocking her pose.

I smiled at the childish bliss.

"Outside of Chuck of Cianwood, possibly, two of those Gym Leaders are far stronger than I."

Lyra made a scoffing noise, "No way."

"Oh," I had forgot one other important gift to winning trainers. I rushed over to Connie who was waving a small silvery disc for me to take. Regaining my composure, I handed it to the pigtailed girl. "Um…Please take this, too."

Lyra took it and turned it over and over.

"That's right, a TM to the winning trainer."

"Exactly."

"What is it?"

"It is called Iron Tail," I explained. I saw Lyra's expression turn to that of pure excitement.

"You mean that move Steelix used in battle?" I nodded and she thrust her fist into the air. "Sweet, that move was powerful. I mean, I've never had one of my Pokemon KO'd by a single blow. Can Feraligatr lean it?"

The blue reptilian seemed interested in knowing this, too, when it leaned over Lyra to look at the disc.

I gave confirmation of what both of them were hoping for. "Yes, Feraligatr can in fact lean that move. If you do decide to use it, please understand that your Pokemon will hit the target with its hard tail. Occasionally, this will lower the target's defense."

I heard Connie and Preston stepping close. Preston shaking Lyra's hand while Connie threw her arms around her in a hug. After a couple of circles, the two separated.

"Impressive! You should continue your journey to different places."

"You are amazing…You should aim even higher, since you have such potential," Connie declared with a nod. "Hey, have you been to Mahogany Town?"

Preston seemed to agree to that idea. "Since you can use Surf, why don't you try it on the Lake of Rage?"

Lyra seemed interested in the ideas, even asking them a little about Mahogany Town and its Gym Leader. Even with all the excitement this gave Lyra, it was breaking my heart. I felt sick to my stomach. As if someone had just kicked me multiple times in the gut. In all the delight of battle and getting my first kiss and girlfriend, I had forgot all about what had me most worried. Lyra would be leaving me soon. She wouldn't stop her journeying for me. Even if she was willing to, I wouldn't let her. She had too much potential to stay here. She needed to go on to greater things. Things far greater than I.

"Jasmine?" I heard Lyra worried voice call out to me, snapping me out of my daze.

"Y-yes?"

She stepped closer to me. There was worry painted clear across her face. She was worried about me, I poignantly realized. Her hand reached out to touch my arm.

"Are you alright? You were all smiles a minute ago, now you look worse than when we first met. Worse than when Amphy was so sick," she said.

I forced a smile. "It's nothing…Um, I don't know how to say this, but good luck." I leaned forward and hugged her before pulling back. Forcing all of my body, I turned my back to her to make it easier on her to leave. As I took a single step forward, her hand grabbed my arm stopping me.

"I knew it!"

I turned to look at her confused only to have her grab me by the cheek. She was forcing me to look at her, eye to eye. There was a new kind of passion, but still just as strong, in those eyes. With no other words, she kissed me. There was something in that kiss. Something that made my legs feel weak. I can't describe exactly what it made me feel but I know I loved it. Without think, I leaned into the kiss and applied my own pressure. For once, I was returning the kiss in all its intensity. But I knew better. I had to pull away and end this here. For Lyra. So she could continue on the journey she deserved. I tried to pull back, but Lyra wouldn't allow me to. She just kept kissing me. It was like her lips were trying to convey some message directly to mine. And I know what the message is, though I know I shouldn't accept it. We can't stay together. We should never have even got together today. I knew better than that because I knew she would have to leave. Yet, I still gave into my weak heart.

She pulled back and smiled at me before resting her forehead against mine.

"Lyra, I.."

"Just shut up a moment, okay?" she asked, her voice actually begging me. I said nothing, only waited for her to continue. "I kind of always knew what you were worried about but I didn't know how to bring it up. But let me see if I got this right: You're afraid that because I want to collect all the Johto badges and you are a Gym Leader that that means we can't be together. Am I right?"

I was shocked. So shock I couldn't speak, only nod.

She smirked. "Knew it. Anyway, I've been thinking about this all morning and I came to a single conclusion." She stopped talking. She looked at me as I remained quiet. Lyra frowned at my lack of response. She reached out and grabbed a hold of my nose, pinching it lightly. She released after I began to struggle. "Well, aren't you gonna ask me what I came up with?!"

"…You said for me to shut up." She frowned and grabbed my nose again. "Ow! Okay, I'm sorry! What is it? What did you decide?"

She let go again. She stood directly in front of me, hands on her hips. A proud smile on her face. The words she spoke I never expected. They almost literarily floored me.

"I want you to go with me on my journey, Jasmine."

I just stood there, wide eyes and mouth agape.

A single noise escaped my lips.

"…Ah…?"

Author's Note: She lost the battle, but is this victory of the war?

Connie and Preston are in fact the Lass and Gentleman from the Lighthouse, which are shown to be the two trainers in Jasmine's Gym. Many lines from the chapter are still in fact lines from the game itself.

I also realized that I didn't have Lyra meet Silver at the Gym before meeting Jasmine. I decided to correct that mistake here. No, I am not Silver-bashing in this chapter. I like Silver, but honestly he was a jerk early on and I'm sure Lyra/Ethan would agree to that. Later, yeah, he becomes alright but at this point in the game he's a straight up jerk. He does shove Lyra (if you pick her) around just as he would Ethan, so he wasn't above psychically assault a girl to some degree. That's a jerk in my book.