1. and what went wrong

Two months passed before she became League Champion, the youngest in the world. Five months passed before he decided never to return to Sunyshore. And one year passed before she returned to Canalave Library, half-expecting to see the same young man sprawled at his table.

She wandered the floor, but the library was empty. The table they had once sat around was scratched and worn, cold under her fingertips. She sought him out between the dust-collecting bookshelves, between the rows and rows of technical jargon and the manuals he had so deeply absorbed himself in. She found nothing but empty space and loneliness, heard nothing but the click of her own shoes on the floor.

Her fingers ghosted the spines of the books, as if trying to bring back some distant memory. Outside, day was giving way to night, and the boy she was looking for had already fled to Veilstone City. It was so easy to get lost in the City of Stone, the towering walls protecting what was inside and casting everything else out. He was buried within those walls, isolated by will, building because there was nothing else to do.

The television brought news of her. They flashed pictures and lavished exuberant praise upon the champion, only fourteen years old and already so strong. She was so real and yet so distant. You couldn't talk to her through the television screen. You couldn't brush back the lock of hair that hung over her left eye. You couldn't ask her what she had done to make herself so happy and expect her to talk back.

It was different now. The fleeting memories he had kept of her faded. What he knew about her was relegated to the trivial facts he had gleaned from watching news broadcasts, watching interviews, watching her eyes dance upon the smudged glass surface of the television set. The girl he had once known became another face watching him from a different, better world. She was untouchable.

-x-

Six years passed, and the champion was now twenty; beautiful, smart, radiant. She was still pale and slender, but no longer weak and frail. She was tall, commanding, and breathtakingly powerful. Undefeated.

Her grey eyes were sharp with precision and intelligence. Her hair was no longer confined to a haphazard ponytail, but allowed to cascade down her back, gold against the striking black of her clothing. Her words became elegant, ladylike. They no longer held the childhood edge that made her tolerable to the fifteen-year-old boy so many years ago.

The world had been cruel to the young man, though. Weary lines had been drawn across his brow, though he was still young. He was certain Sunyshore had turned its back on him, as had every other city in Sinnoh. His mind had been hardened against the memories, and he refused to see the world in any other way.

His blue hair took on a blacker sheen. His eyes were wearier, darker. If he spoke, his words were clipped and cold. Frigidity lay underneath every phrase he uttered. He became a shadow of a man, unsure where to go, unsure of his path, unsure of himself. The twenty-two-year-old had become invisible, worthless.

She taunted him through the television screen. Remember when I was just like you, Cyrus? Now look where I am. Look what I've become. What have you done with your life?

"Nothing," he spat out bitterly, as if the word revolted him. It was heard only by the whirring machines he had set up around his room, humming with artificial life. Worn down by disappointment and weariness, the twenty-two-year-old buried his head in his hands, pieces of scrap metal littering the floor he sat on. His newest project was aggravating him beyond belief, and he didn't need cruel memories to further his annoyance.

The PC at the Pokemon Center would break down on occasion- it was a crudely made machine, one that was as difficult to use as it was to put back together. The technicians Nurse Joy tried to hire had all given up, advising her to invest in better technology. Still, though, she had put up an appeal for more help, and he had accepted for the sake of doing something new. Not willing to work in public, he had hauled the contraption back to his home, where it lay like a heap of trash amidst his better inventions.

Even an experienced technician like him couldn't quite figure out the idiotic device. Hours of tinkering with the original software had given him a splitting headache, one that intensified over the progressing days. Without thinking, he tore the computer apart and studied the pieces individually. He reconfigured the software, rewriting and rewiring it until it seemed unnecessary to do so. Finally, when it seemed presentable, he pieced the machine back together and sent it back without further thought. He had nothing to lose if the blasted thing did break down again.

Much to Veilstone's amazement, the reconfigured PC worked remarkably well. Passing trainers from around the region never failed to comment on the functionality of the computer and how much it differed from the clunky, unresponsive ones that they encountered in other cities. He was rewarded with more money than he had seen in his life, and work opportunities spread like wildfire before his eyes. Canalave City mailed its PC to him, as did the developing towns of Sandgem and Floaroma. He shut his other machines down and immersed himself in repairing the computers, the arduous task growing familiar to his wizened fingers. Yet, it still took days to complete a project, and when more and more orders piled up, he found himself asking for assistance.

Only a few people offered help: three teenagers, all looking for some pay and a little excitement. He gave them the jobs of delivering the computers to other cities, as the finished products were too delicate to be carried by mail. By then, business had risen to a peak, and he found himself sacrificing his sleep to complete a task that now seemed so trivial to him. Eyes weak with weariness, the man worked from dawn to dusk, no life to value and nothing else to do.

-x-

Sinnoh only had so many cities, and by then, it seemed that each one of them was equipped with the newest technology- even Sunyshore, a city he built for with reluctance. Even so, only one town hadn't sent in a request for a new PC.

Celestic. He recognized the name, and long-ago memories swept over him like waves.

The town was completely against modernization, hellbent on preserving the history it was so deeply intertwined with. A Pokemon Center had been established there to appease the League, but it lacked most of the amenities the other cities offered. Since so many trainers were forced to travel through the town, many found it ridiculous that Celestic didn't have a computer.

One of those involved in this struggle is the League Champion herself, Cynthia, the news announcer blared through the television set. As the granddaughter of Celestic's town elder, her fight for new technology undoubtedly bears great influence on the cause. Her recent arrival in the town is sure to aid the protest movements raging in the area, as her support is sure to herald success-

Ignoring the offers from his three assistants, the mechanic set out for the small town alone, hauling Celestic's new computer along with him.

Although he didn't know it yet, everything he did was all for her. It was as if his subconscious had some deep, unerring obsession with the young woman, one he couldn't control because he never knew he possessed it. It was present everywhere: in his work, in his words, in his emotions. He wanted to succeed in order to catch up to her. He kept building to show her that yes, he could be just as happy as she had become. More jarring, though, was the realization that he simply wanted her company.

Even now, nobody had fully understood him- not like she had, so long ago. And as he walked the few, fog-enveloped miles to Celestic Town, his heart raced, anticipating her presence and her songlike, lilting voice. Maybe, with her, he would find a life worth living. True happiness.

It was twilight when he reached Celestic. A throng of protestors had gathered around the Pokemon Center, though most of the people there were ignorant about the commotion. Most prominent was the slender, black-clothed woman, grey eyes hard with some unknown resolve, standing at the other side of the crowd. Trainers swarmed about her like insects, but she didn't seem to care at all.

Mind set, he unintentionally barged through the sea of people, the heavy box in his hands doing a fine job of shoving them away. He attempted to call her name, but his voice came out in a hoarse rasp, deadened from lack of use. Around him, people shouted and yelled, obscuring any sound he tried to make. Tossed around in an ocean of limbs and noise, he was pulled through the crowd and finally pushed out, landing on his back in the damp, clipped grass.

Suddenly, she was right in front of him, as if it were some sort of fate.

The league champion offered a slender, pale hand to him, fingers curling around his as she helped him sit up. He rubbed his head instinctively, sudden pain searing through his skull. The box he had carried from Veilstone was on its side, blessedly unscathed, and the young woman eyed it with curiosity before returning to meet his gaze.

"Are you alright?" she inquired before he could say anything. Her voice was different now- smoother, more mature- but the amusement behind them was all the same. He nodded at her question, and a smile greeted his response. "I thought I recognized you, even behind all those screaming people. Believe me, though, a bit of noise won't do much to sway my grandmother. She's been indomitable for so long..."

Voice trailing off, she cast her dignity aside and took a seat on the grass next to him. They regarded the crowd before them as a spectator sport, a means of entertainment.

"What of the citizens here?" He finally ventured, surprised at how naturally it came. "Would they be opposed to a new computer?"

"So you know what we're fighting for, do you?" She smiled sadly, arms hugging her legs uncharacteristically. "To tell you the truth, almost everybody in that crowd is a resident of Celestic."

His eyebrows raised in surprise, and she laughed despite herself.

"Actually, it came as a shock to them when I joined the movement. They never imagined that a girl like me would try to defy my own grandmother, even as League Champion. I know that everybody's been restless and eager for change here, but nobody's had the will to speak up against her until now." Sensing that the conversation was delving into deep matter, she abruptly stopped and cast her attention on the box splayed by his side. "Hey, what have you got there? I'm willing to bet that it's something brilliant."

"It's a computer," he found himself saying. "I've been building these for cities across the region. This town doesn't have one."

If he was hoping to elicit ecstasy, he was sorely disappointed. Instead of marveling at his generosity, the woman simply answered, "Well, here's hoping Grandmother's going to accept it. Times have been tough here, and this entire movement is just one of her troubles."

"Well, I'm sorry for adding to them."

She shook her head vehemently. "No, no, I wasn't implying anything like that. It was incredibly generous of you to bring a computer with you, all the way from..."

"Veilstone."

"Veilstone," she confirmed. "Yes, that's a long way to travel, just to deliver something so small. I appreciate it, really." Genuine thanks shone in her eyes, and he forced himself to believe her. "The problem is, my grandmother's been worrying about monetary issues. Celestic doesn't attract many visitors, so it's losing revenue. There are hardly any funds for most of the town's needs, and buying a computer would be close to impossible." Her voice dropped to a murmur. "And even if more people came, Grandmother's afraid that they'll ravage the town's natural history. She wants to preserve it more than anything."

Her eyes closed in weariness, just as he asked, "The Celestic Ruins, correct?"

"Mm. I share her concerns, but I don't agree with the drastic steps she's taking because of them. She needs to let Celestic expand, even at the cost of some tradition." Her eyes fluttered open and met his sadly. "You always have to make some sacrifices, right?"

He nodded silently, and she watched him without words. As the crowd dispersed and the evening glow faded into night, she finally got up, offered a hand to him, and spoke.

"I know you're impatient to get that computer set up, but it's going to be a while until the Center's empty enough. We haven't talked in so long, though. I'm sure we've got lots of catching up to do." He took her hand and she helped him up, noticing the dark bags that hung under his eyes. "Let's go to the Celestic Ruins. I'll show you around. We'll be alone there."

-x-

The time he spent with her in the ruins was one of complete serenity. He had never remembered feeling so content, so at peace with himself. The chambers she guided him through were quiet and dark, a means of escape from the chaotic world. She regarded his relief with a smile- she had felt the same way too, so long ago.

"I go here whenever things get difficult," she explained. "Somehow, though, it feels as if the most important events of my life have happened in these ruins. I met my Garchomp here when I was eight... of course, he hadn't evolved yet, and almost bit my hand off," she laughed. "I also flew here right before the huge League challenges, made peace with my grandmother. She wasn't entirely happy with what I had done, but she knew that I was never suited for a life of monotony. I think it was this knowledge that helped me win the championship."

"And the League challenges. Were they difficult?"

"Incredibly so. Even now, I think I got lucky." She smiled softly, her childhood glories still fresh in her mind. "Lucian's still a hard one to beat."

They walked in peaceful silence until they reached the back of the ruins. The caverns opened up into a magnificent chamber, impressively preserved despite its old age. Though the room was spacious, one thing commanded his total attention- a giant mural, covering the cavern walls.

"This is my favorite part of the ruins. This mural, here-" She walked over to the wall and traced a section of it with a fingertip, a wistful smile on her face. "-This was what brought me into Pokemon mythology. And even besides that, there's the knowledge someone was here long ago, carving this design. To me, that's fascinating in itself."

It was a simple mural- a triangle with a single sphere inside. The symbol held his attention, but it hardly seemed to make sense.

Finally, he resorted to asking, albeit reluctantly: "Does this even mean anything?"

She nodded. "My grandmother did explain a part of it to me. See that circle in the middle?" She pointed to it, and he acknowledged it with a slight nod. "It's supposed to symbolize a deity, while the points of the triangle represent three others. These beings preserve balance with the one in the center, maintaining control in the world."

Seeing his cynical gaze, she shrugged and added, "Of course, these could be flawed interpretations. Whatever free time I have goes towards decoding this puzzle, but I'm not any closer to solving it."

"What are those 'beings', anyways?" He scoffed. "Why does it take three to control only one?"

"According to my studies, the one in the center is an Original Being- one of the Pokemon that created the world. Apparently, there were three of them: the deity of space, the deity of time, and the Original One- Arceus." She sighed, clenching her eyes shut, and continued.

"To be honest, it gives me a headache. I'm still not sure why it takes three entities to balance a single being, or who those three entities might be. And I'm even less certain about which deity the sphere's supposed to represent."

"You have too much time on your hands," he found himself saying. She shook her head.

"No, Cyrus. Just... too many things to do."

-x-

It was nighttime when they left the ruins. Stars hung in clusters above the sleeping town, bathing the ground in otherworldly light. She gently murmured the names of some constellations to him, and he nodded along, not really paying attention. Listening to her voice was pleasant, but the mural she had shown him hung in the back of his mind like a shadow. It commanded his total attention.

"That mural," he interrupted her. "That deity in the center... you said it created the world."

"Well, it helped to," she muttered, a little insulted at being cut off. "Along with three others."

"So if one could harness that power, would that person have the capability to build new worlds?"

"Where is this heading?" Her eyebrows raised, and she sighed in exasperation. "This isn't about your 'perfect universe', right?"

"I'm surprised you still remember that. However, my question was purely hypothetical."

She scowled. "Alright. Fine. If you harness the powers of the deity of space, or the deity of time, or, heaven forbid, Arceus- then yes, I suppose you could create a new world."

"How interesting."

"And I hope I haven't given you any genius ideas," she added.

"Hm, ideas. I wouldn't say genius, but..."

She stared at him through narrow eyes, her voice suddenly turning harsh.

"Listen, disturbing one of those beings could have catastrophic effects on the world. I know you're incredibly capable, so I'm not putting anything past you. Get in over your head and everyone could suffer huge consequences."

His eyes glinted in the moonlight, giving off an icy stare. "A few victories and a title doesn't grant you the authority to preach."

"Hm. Well, then." She glared at him, but he could see that she didn't mean it. "A person dragging a computer from Veilstone isn't going to earn my immediate trust."

"So why do you trust me?"

"I never said that I did."

"You showed me the mural."

"I show everybody the mural."

"Would you be standing here at night, in front of abandoned ruins, with a man you didn't trust?"

She scowled good-naturedly. "I'm the damn League Champion, Cyrus. Do you seriously underestimate me?"

A cold smile played at the corners of his mouth, and she eyed him with an expression that was one part frustration and two parts amusement.

"Strange." He finally muttered into the night air. "You haven't changed a bit."

"Aside from the frown lines, neither have you," she retorted, the slightest smirk on the edges of her mouth.

-x-

He left the PC behind with her and started away from Celestic Town, knowing that it would be well past midnight before he set foot in Veilstone again.

"No new worlds," she had murmured to him before he left. "No capturing deities or attempting to kill people, alright?"

"I'll try my best," he had assured her. In that moment, he was sure he'd do anything for the witty, intelligent woman. It was an unfamiliar feeling, and lay heavy in his heart on the walk back to Veilstone, the blankets of fog obscuring his vision.

The girl simply watched as his receding form became a shadow in the night. The box he had carried was heavy in her arms, and she hauled it back to her grandmother's house, where a night was spent arguing and reasoning. The next day, the PC was carried to the Center and set up, much to the surprise of the protesting crowd. Cheers erupted, and she found herself smiling slightly at the memory of the man, the one who hid in Veilstone and experimented with machinery.

How much will it cost us? Came the note, hand-delivered from one of his assistants. The computer?

"It's free," he found himself laughing, eliciting gaping reactions from the three teenagers that stood in his doorway. "Tell her it's free."

Even the three assistants knew that something was different. Cyrus hadn't laughed in so long.

Little did they know that in a matter of years, everything would change.

Author's Note: Yay, more creative liberties. Seems like things are going uphill with the whole Cyrus/Cynthia thing, right? Give it another chapter and it'll all come spiraling down again. (Commence evil laughter)

Don't get me wrong, though: I love the pairing. I just like seeing characters suffer more? (I don't know. I don't know.)

Anyways, not much went on in this chapter- just the whole backstory and everything. The next one will deal with Team Galactic, a fraught relationship, and a fateful explosion. Intriguing? Not really? K thanks.

The experimentation continues...