2.
Lyra watched Lance's eyes, gauging his reaction to her abrupt question. A coldness clouded around the corner of his iris, a coldness that she was sure mirrored her own. She knew, in that moment, that his jaw had steeled, and a quick widening of her focus isolated his clenched muscles. Their expressions must have looked the same. The shadowed, precise connection elicited a bizarre understanding. He was dangerous, Lyra realized, but not a threat. It was only a moment, only a feeling, but the electricity buzzing on her fingertips had calmed. Lance looked away briefly, furrowing his brow. Lyra swallowed, waiting for his response.
"I'm not completely sure," it came. "I-I think… Something's happening to the magikarp in this lake. They're evolving too fast."
Lyra's frown deepened. "The gyarados."
"Yes," Lace responded emphatically. "Something about the way it evolved must have… Affected it." He paused, staring at Lyra once more. "Someone's doing this. I've been able to track a radio broadcast coming from Mahogany Town, and, well…" Lance's jaw clenched. "I think whoever's broadcasting it is trying to make these magikarp evolve."
"Who on earth would do that?" Lyra felt silly as soon as the question left her lips. People, she knew, were capable of all levels of stupidity and destruction. They had proven it time and time again… In fact, the last time anyone had treated pokémon so ruthlessly… Her heart clutched, an apprehensive mist falling on her brain. "Not them," She managed.
"No," Lance's eyes bulged as he spoke quickly. "I don't know who these people are. But I doubt they're military. It's too clandestine, too covert."
Lyra nodded slowly, but a knot had formed in her stomach that didn't leave. "Clandestine?"
Lance's focus on her had become unrelenting, but non confrontational. "Did you see the souvenir shop when you were in Mahogany Town?" He asked.
Lyra nodded.
"There's a broadcast tower, disguised as a tree. Whatever's going on, we should start there."
"We?"
"Uh. Um, well. You can fight." Lance rushed to explain, pursing his lips as he bought time to find words. Lyra decided to give him that time, thinking of the Gyarados that had just almost drowned her, of its infatigable rage. It didn't matter whose finger was on the button if that unchecked fury was released on the region. It just couldn't happen. "I… I'd like you to help me. Please. You understand." Lance continued. Lyra came back into the conversation, nodding. "I do," She replied. "Fine. I'll help you. We need to heal up," She gestured at Peaka. The oddly marked furret was up in its hind legs, staring intently at Lance. It wasn't threatened by him. "I can meet you at the souvenir shop."
"That's fine. Thank you."
Lyra nodded. She turned on her heel, her furret just behind her, in the direction of Mahogany town. "Wait!" came Lance's voice. Over her shoulder, Lyra saw him moving closer. "I, um. What's your name?"
"Lyra."
"It's nice to meet yo-" Lyra was already walking away, the gyarados resting on her mind. "I'll see you there." She heard behind her.
Lyra looked at Peaka as they walked. The furred met her gaze, tilting its head. "Fur.. ret?" "I don't know, Peaka," Lyra murmured. "Something bad is happening."
"Ret."
"I'm scared," she confessed.
"Ret!" the furret rubbed against Lyra's hand. Lyra smiled weakly, concern etched into the corners of her eyes.
"Are you ready to fight again?"
The furret's gaze steeled. It stared up into the rain, and growled deep in its throat.
Thank you to everyone who's following this story! I've been revisiting pokémon on a nostalgia kick, and have in the process encountered my share of creepypasta and theories. I thought it would be interesting to incorporate some Shinto and pokémon war theory into a G/S retelling. I hope you all continue to enjoy it and please, let me know what you think!
-AxO