Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon

The Grandee

Chapter Two

New Bark Town was considerably more peaceful than Mahogany Town in my opinion. It didn't leave traces of evil and it didn't struggle with the former chaos many towns did in the region back when I started my journey. Everywhere you looked people would be smiling brightly towards the always sunny sky. The place seemed pretty much untouchable, really. As if it had a barrier in which prevented bad things from seeping into it and the minds of everyone living here. So, no bad guys, no dirty grunts. A reason for loving it more is that it's my hometown. And the very place I made two great friends.

"Mom!" I greeted her with a smile and a hug and took the cup of tea she was holding out for me. "Sorry it took me awhile, Officer Jenny wanted me to report back to her before I did anything else."

Before I had came home, I had told everything that was important to the police woman, which wasn't much. There were a few times when I twisted the truth, but all for good reason. I didn't believe there was a real threat with Proton. Even if there was, I still wouldn't say anything. If I did, I was putting those I told in danger. I was the champion after all, and I trusted myself based off of that.

Instead of telling her about the executive, I told her that there were grunts in the base, but I defeated them. Nothing stood aloof from the truth, I told Officer Jenny reassuringly. And if anything else comes up with the grunts, I wanted to be informed on it.

"That's fine, honey. I'm glad to finally see you!" Her eyes shone with tears as she looked at me. "You've been growing so fast. It certainly has been a long five years." I patted her back and motioned us to sit down at the table. I noticed she was right though. I surpassed her height, even if it was by a few inches. Either that or my mother was shrinking. When she smiled, her skin would crease along the outer edge of her eyes, and when she laughed,lines of weariness would craft around her mouth. In a way, she seemed unrecognizable and unfamiliar, like five years was the period of loss, for both her and I. Once she had settled down, she asked, "So, what did you have to say?" My mother lean in forward more, ready for me to spill. So I did, like with Officer Jenny.

"Nothing really. There were a couple of grunts hunting around in the former headquarters. I took them out and I'm sure they won't come back." She leaned back in her chair then, looking quizzically as if she didn't hear right.

"Well then I'm surprised. I would have thought at least they were up to something new. But I'm glad they're not. I don't want you getting into any more situations than you have to. Especially when they are too mature for your age." It was my turn to look at her, and I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean I'm not mature enough? I'm eighteen. Surely I wasn't mature back then, but now, I am pretty much an adult." I didn't mean to sound rude, and I thought my tone was a bit snappy, but I only heard my mom chuckle.

"I know, I know. But sometimes young adults like you need to take a breather and enjoy things that are your age. I'm proud of you, Lyra. I want you to always know that. Though I guess I am still shocked that you beat the Elite four only at the age of thirteen."'

So that was it. I knew something was different about my mother, but now I realized. She never expected this much from me. "Thank you mom. But remember, kids in other regions beat the Elite Four at age thirteen too. Like in Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Kanto, remember hearing it on the Television?"

She nodded. I talked with my mom some more until I finally brought up the question that has been on my mind since I took off from Sinnoh, my more previous journey. "Have you seen Ethan around lately? I wanted to get back in touch but he wasn't home." My mother paused for a moment, thinking.

"Come to think of it, I haven't." She said. "Have you tried your Pokégear?"

I sighed and put down my tea. "Yes. Numerous times. When we last met, he told me he was heading to Kanto to be trained under Professor Oak. You think he's still there?" My mom looked at me for a few seconds and how close Ethan and I were, she understood how much I was looking forward to seeing him. The only thing she could give in return of his absence at the time was a reassuring smile.

"I'm sure he is, honey. How long will you be here?"

"For awhile I guess. I might wait until I hear from Ethan. Maybe I'll go see Professor Elm in the meantime." I stood from my seat, feeling that fresh air could do me good. My mother nodded, took our cups to the kitchen, leaving me to freely explore New Bark Town.

I went back to the front door and took hold of the brass knob. Before I turned it, I paused, looking back and listening to the humming coming from the kitchen. I smiled. "It's good to be home."

When I turned my head and stepped outside, blinding red light met my eyes. The sun's retirement set the houses facing west ablaze, I remembered, and it always shafted through the windows of our house. Now, my body and the rest of the world was bathed in the color, as was the figure leaning against the porch rail. Their head was turned away, looking out in the town, or the sky. I couldn't tell. Confused, I started, "Who are-"

"It's been awhile. I'm glad I came to the right place...I guess it's because I know you so well." The owner of the voice stood straight and looked me straight in the eye. I suddenly became overwhelmed with joy.

"Ethan!" I ran over to him with arms outstretched. My mind tried to make sense of his homecoming without me knowing, but I didn't care. Our reunion has been long since overdue and I couldn't think of anything better than hugging him to death. Along with me, he had gotten considerably taller, but unlike me passing up my mother, he finally managed to pass up my height.

Just when I was about to touch him, he grabbed my arm and started running.

"Hey!" I tried to stop him, planting my heels in the ground and raking my free hand over his tightly wrapped one over my wrist, but surprisingly, his strength kept me towing after him. "Ethan, what are you doing?" I tried thrashing out, greatly confused with his outburst, and more importantly, his unplanned appearance. Since I could not do anything else, I ran with him. It wasn't until we were at the outskirts of New Bark Town, and entering Route 2, when he stopped.

Out of breath, I sat down in the grass and looked up at my friend, his eyes searching around the area. "What's with you?" Before I could inquire further, he took out what looked to be a Pokégear and typed something into it quickly. Putting it back in his pocket, he looked down at me, smiled faintly, and sat along with me.

I still had a questioning look but suddenly got distracted when I looked at him closely. It had been awhile since I had seen him last, and everything about his features spoke maturity. What was once his round face was now a developed jawline, his eyes now a darker grey than before, and his expression...unfathomable.

"I guess this means your not the little guy anymore." I offered, trying to start up a conversation. True to my own word, Ethan was always shorter and lighter than me. Now it seems throughout the time I was gone, he completely changed into the exact opposite. But even though his outside changed, he was still my best friend, Ethan, in the inside.

He looked at me, probably giving the same assessment as I did, small smile still on his face. But instead of content gracing the curls of his mouth, a befallen expression tugged at them. An upsetting feeling came over me, yet I waited until he spoke. I waited for the words I was longing to hear again. I waited until he looked at me like he did only five years ago.

"I'm glad you haven't changed Lyra. I have been looking forward to seeing you again."

I raised an eyebrow. "Haven't changed? Ethan, the last time you saw me was when we were both thirteen. Obviously I've changed, if not a little." He laughed quietly and looked away.

"Of course. What I mean is...I'm glad your okay. And your still a hero." I raised a brow and looked at him funny. Of course I was still a hero! I was a Champion, after all. When I looked at him closer though, his expression seemed...guilty?

"Where is your smile Ethan?" I softened my gaze. I felt him stiffen beside me, as if he were caught doing something wrong. We didn't make eye contact for a few minutes, and it didn't seem like anyone was filling the space up beside me.

"Tell me. Something has been driving you into silence the whole time you've sat with me." There still was no response. My voice rose, "What? Aren't you glad you found me? You ran off with me...and now what?"

I waited for Ethan as he looked at his hands laying in his lap. My eyes concentrated on his when his lips started forming the words he was about to say. However, a buzzing noise interrupted the train of thought.

My concern for my best friend overrode the feeling of impatience as he took out the Pokégear and scrolled through it, while I just sat, focused on what was to come. Though this was twice the contraption was in his hand during our reunion, it wasn't long before he easily slid it back in his pocket. He stood up and took my hand in his so I was standing too.

Ethan's other hand covered mine for a moment. "I need to show you something." My brows furrowed in confusion yet again. I couldn't stand waiting any longer.

"Well then tell me for Arceus' sake! Your making everything more complicated than it needs to be!" My hand flew away and I placed both on my hips. His shoulders slumped and he gave me a hopeful smile. Because of this, he reminded me of the younger Ethan, and this gave me a glimmer of hope as well. As I scrutinized him longer I could see that whatever was coming wasn't what I hoped though. Like a hug for instance. When was I going to get one of those?

Then I suddenly noticed something. His hat. His icon. That's whats missing. Why he wasn't wearing it, I wasn't sure. Coincidentally at the same moment I pondered over this, he pulled it out of his pocket and placed it on his head. I looked at it for a moment, registering its familiarity. Unfortunately I couldn't.

A rancorous feeling shot through my veins as my eyes went wide and stomach turned with disgust. Ethan's face dropped sullenly. The individual red 'R' glowed menacingly against the white cloth like a carving, and the red atmosphere created by the setting sun only made it stand out more.

In some sort of twisted manner, it laughed at me.

My eyes shot directly at Ethan's, but they averted. "What happened to you!" I shouted. "I know you, and this is just a joke. So stop messing around." My face felt hot with anger but nothing left my friends lips. Nothing like a 'got you' or 'just kidding'.

I came inches from snatching the hat from his head and ripping it to shreds. And nothing could have stopped me from strangling him afterwards. Before this all happened, he cut in like a Quick Attack, and held something up to my neck.

"No, you used to know me. Unfortunately, I can't even call myself your beloved Ethan anymore. I'm sorry." His frown was the last thing I saw, silently telling me he didn't like what he was about to do.

Evidently, everything was not as it seemed. Everything twisted itself until it was foreign to me and know I wondered what all happened while I was away. Parts of Johto had changed, possibly for the worse.

Before this point I liked to call the world 'The Good Age'. Now, I had a new name for it:

The Messed Up Age.

Because everything was really messed up; I could call it nothing else. In reality and in my mind.

And in that very second when I was about to break down or even take out one of my Pokémon, everything became nothing but a black void.

Chapter Two: finished! Lyra has a soft spot for her mother, and of course, for all the right reasons. Unfortunately I have to admit my chapters so far have been a little boring, but I'm encouraged to create more material soon from your reviews! (Thank you!)

Besides that point, the 'R' is of course, 'Rocket'. As in Team Rocket. Yeah. It's part of the plot. I hope Ethan wasn't OOC, but it's partially because he has aged too, you know?