Author's Note:
Hey, everyone! Thanks so much for the reviews :) I'm glad you like this story! I've always loved the HGSS trio with Lyra and Ethan and Silver, they're my favorite, and I feel like there are too many Lyra haters out there! Not that I don't like Kris, too! I personally see Kris as being the more outgoing one, while Lyra seems more shy and dreamy to me.
Anyway, this story was inspired by some really pretty HeartSoulShipping artwork, and one of Lyra and Kris fighting over Ethan. :P I just couldn't resist! Oh, and the song "I'm Only Me When I'm With You" by Taylor Swift. It seems to fit them so well!
Hope you enjoy!
Chapter Four: Ghosts of the Past
The lilting, feathery notes of the zither in the corner of the Dance Theatre quivered under ivory fingers and, with a last shake and a rustle, took flight from the strings. Like ghostly birds, they wafted around the the darkened room, breathing a soothing mist into the cracks of the ancient walls.
The atmosphere reeked slightly of smoke and homesickness, though the Theatre itself was clear, save for the faint aroma of incense that lingered in the air. It was calming, haunting, blanketing all of the people who came to the Dance Theatre in a peaceful daze as they settled around the wooden tables and sipped their tea, eager to unwind after a tiring day.
Kris sighed and raised her own teacup to her mouth, inhaling a long sniff of the bitter chamomile and expelling it back into the shell of fragile white china in a cloud of steam. She fingered the intricate patterns of trees and cherry blossoms that lined the cup as her other hand absentmindedly meandered toward the petals of the Meganium crouching next to her and stroked the pink flower.
"Megaaann." The large green Pokemon purred softly, her antennae drooping as she let her body relax, resting part of her weight against her trainer. It had been a long day, and both trainer and Pokemon were exhausted. Meganium's petals were sinking, and Kris's dampened pigtails likewise mirrored the usually bright flower.
She had taken Bruno's advice and trained in the Dragon's Den, the place he had recommended, nearly every day since she had been defeated. Meganium had wrestled off countless dragons until both of them were panting, Kris's voice hoarse from shouting so many commands. Arcanine, Graveler, and Dewgong were spent as well, their foreheads slick with sweat as they had lain on the cave's stone floor.
Kris had wiped her own forehead and, with a determined face, withdrawn all of her Pokemon—excluding Pidgeot, who had let her climb on his feathery back and flown her all the way back to Ecruteak City.
Ecruteak was by far her favorite city. Kris loved the exotic feel in the air, loved the Dance Theatre and the mysterious Kimono Girls who were decked out in their colorful garbs, twirling onstage or bent lovingly over their instruments. Their delicate fingers plucked the withered strings with a fiercity and fragility that startled the young girl; how could these two emotions mix so beautifully?
Battling. Of course. She could express those emotions just as well—in her battling. What was it that Bruno had said?
"Remarkable. I believe in your potential, too, trainer," the fighting type master had declared earnestly after he had defeated her.
Shocked, Kris had raised her trembling arm mutely and closed her eyes, unable to bring herself to look at the collapsed form of her last Pokemon on the ground as she recalled it.
I lost, she stated simply to herself, catching her breath as she tried to comprehend what had happened. I lost…
As she grappled with the realization that balanced like a crushing weight on her shoulders, Bruno had faced her with solemn strength in his eyes and reached out with a thick, muscle-bound arm.
"I really mean it," he had proclaimed. "What you have—it's remarkable. You have true strength, and even more importantly, true bonds to your Pokemon."
Well…I guess I lost.
Kris nodded, puffing out her cheeks in an attempt at bravado. She faintly remembered thanking Bruno.
This is it, isn't it? I just lost. I…
"It should not take much to make a trainer like you stronger," he had assured her, kindly, though stoically, in his usual manner. "Perhaps you should train in the Dragon's Den before returning to battle me." He bowed his head. "I look forward to challenging you again."
What…what will everyone back home think?
Stunned, her hand drifted down to the Poke Balls fastened around her waist at a painfully slow speed, as if she had been paralyzed by a Thunder Wave. Her mind barely registered the sound of her own footfalls against the tiled floor and the stairs as she descended the floors of the tower.
Mom, dad, Ethan…what will—what will Ethan think?
Kris left the building through the ornate entrance. As she paced through the shadows of the golden arches that led up to the Indigo Plateau, all she could picture in her mind was a different kind of gold.
All she could picture, truthfully, was Ethan Gold.
His smiling face, the corners of his mouth drooping, maybe even scowling in disapproval, once he discovered that she had lost…
It was unusual, Kris mused, for something to take over her mind like this. She had always been much more of a doer than a thinker. She never liked it when her own thoughts cluttered her mind, distracting her from her focus, her goal, whatever she was aiming for at the moment.
What she had just done, though, was to lose on her way to this goal.
Kris snorted.
Loss. What a strange, unfamiliar concept.
Much less familiar than that boyish face she'd grown up with…
And strangely enough, that was the image that burned in her mind's eye as the reporters scurried up to her, their cameras and mics at the ready, their loud chatter pressing in on her. Kris composed herself and adjusted her yellow cap as the bright, cocky grin spread across her face. She jauntily answered their eager questions and told them that oh, yes, she was fine with losing, that she had learned from the experience, that she would just train up more and be back any day now. Just like every other day.
It was true. Kris was not giving up. Hell, no. She still completely believed in herself, that much hadn't changed. She would win, because she had always been expected to, because she had always been the best.
But still, it was hard to wipe the image of Ethan's face from her mind.
Kris sighed, resisting the urge to prop her sneakered feet on the table. The other guests surely wouldn't appreciate it. The Dance Theatre was a classy place, full of traditionalists and grandparents and people who had a great appreciation for the arts. There were artists who carried sketchbooks, strange people who chanted and from time to time waved their arms mystically and perched on the edge of their seats, peering up into the bright lights. There were the musicians, their feet tapping and bodies swaying in time to the music.
And, of course, there were a few perverts who only came to leer at the women. Kris made a face at the thought.
It wasn't only people of those walks of life, though—in fact, most of the guests were regular young trainers like her, but they all toned themselves down and polished themselves into young adults once they entered the fancy blue doors of the Theatre. Out of sheer respect for the elegant place, they spoke in indoor voices and calmly sipped their tea around the tables, their eyes occasionally wandering to the stage. Out of sheer respect.
"Meganium, you can have a sip, girl," Kris offered, gesturing toward the cup. Meganium inclined her head in gratefulness. Kris knew her Pokemon would appreciate the herbal scents of the tea. She leaned back, rubbing her sore legs, and her mind wandered again.
Ethan. How was he doing? Kris hadn't seen him in a while, not since she had visited New Bark Town and been given the Master Ball from Professor Elm. It had been a short meeting, both of them a little flustered and surprised. Kris really had had to go, then—but—but what if she had stayed longer?
Now she wished she had…
Kris let out an exasperated puff of air. The kid had managed to pop into her mind yet again. Always sneaking in to her thoughts without permission with that innocent grin, as much as she tried to stop him.
She smacked her forehead with the palm of her hand. Meganium cast her a worried look.
It was stupid, really. Kris had always thought Ethan was cute—yeah, she would admit it, the boy looked good, with his lazy grin and the lock of black hair that always swooped over those bright golden eyes…
Yup. Ethan Gold was attractive, that much she could admit.
She hadn't minded flirting with him a little back when they had lived in the same town. Harmless flirting, all of it. It had been going on for years, really, if she thought about it. Ever since they had hit puberty. He was just a cute boy, that was all. And she sure loved to see him blush…
Why does he have to spend so much time with that girl, though? a small, annoying voice in her head piped up.
Psh. So whiny, Kris scoffed, waving her hand.
Lyra…you know they've always been closer…
Will you shut up? Kris snapped back, scowling into the bottom of the cup at the bits of tea leaves that swirled around in the golden liquid—Gold, Gold again. Lyra's…Lyra's little. She's always been a tag-along, you know that. Always a little wannabe…she's never had any strength of her own.
She's still my friend, though, Kris reminded herself, feeling an uncomfortable stab of guilt. I shouldn't be thinking these things…
She swallowed, feeling terribly mean. Kris really did like Lyra, seriously, no matter how she acted or what she said. How was the girl doing back at home, anyway?
Sudden applause erupted around her, dragging her from her mutinous thoughts. Kris glanced up, her eyes flicking toward the stage, and saw the five Kimono Girls take a graceful bow, the sheen of the fabric of their kimonos reflecting the spotlights as they spun and twirled and bowed again. Smiling mysteriously, the five women linked arms and strolled off the stage in a perfectly smooth line, almost as if they were gliding.
Kris clapped, joining the applause, as the women took a seat at the next table. She could hear the rustling of the expensive cloth they wore as they sat down primly, folding their hands in their laps.
She turned back to her tea and finished it with one last sip, setting it on the table with a soft clang. Kris sighed and wiped her mouth with the napkin.
"What am I going to do, Meganium?" she asked, turning helplessly toward her Pokemon.
"Megyah?" Meganium's topaz eyes were wide with concern. What do you mean?
"I…I'll admit it." Kris crossed her arms. "I like Ethan. Okay?" She scowled and buried her face in her arms. "Maybe a lot. Okay, fine, I've liked him for a while. I thought it was just flirting, but—" She shrugged. "Whatever."
"Gaahn." Meganium smiled, nudging her trainer's shoulder with her nose. Kris turned and patted her Pokemon softly on her long neck.
"You're the best, you know that, Meganium?"
"Gayhn." And you are too.
Kris let out her breath and smirked. "Hey, I think I have a decent chance," she scoffed, patting her pigtails down as her voice took on a mock-announcing tone. "Celebrated trainer from New Bark Town, beat all the Gyms in Johto, and I'm on my way to the Elite Four and the magnificent land of Kanto. Plus…" Her grin widened. "He always seemed happy to see me. He always blushed when I talked to him."
"Megaaan, gan gayn nium," Meganium chortled in agreement. Kris could smell the sweet aroma emanating from her petals, so different from the spicy, aggressive fragrance of her time spent as a Bayleef. It resembled more of what she had smelled like as a Chikorita.
It had been so long since she had begun her journey with the young green Pokemon bounding by her side. Now it was like they had gone back, back to New Bark Town with a young boy who had golden eyes and an equally golden heart.
And really, Kris felt right with the grin on her face, with the case of badges tucked in her bag, and with all her victories dangling over her head like a flashing neon sign of confidence. Like it was simply her place in life. If Kris had never had anything else, she had always had that: confidence. Assurance. Kris had always known her own strength, and it had only served to boost her as she rose from one challenge to the next, and emerged, grinning, having always succeeded.
Ethan Gold was simply another one of those challenges, one that lay a bit closer to her heart.
But what about…
"Lyra…"
Kris nearly jumped, her head snapping from one side to the other as she slammed her hands against the edge of the table.
Had she really just heard what she thought she heard? A whisper, a murmur, echoing her own thoughts? Squinting, half-rising, she fought to scan the dim-lit room, her heart hammering against her ribs.
When she heard nothing and saw nothing out of the ordinary, her elbows quivered, and she sank back into her chair.
Meganium gazed at her trainer with bewildered yellow eyes and relaxed her stance; she had been ready to battle a moment ago at the girl's violent reaction. What was going on?
Slowly, Kris allowed herself to breathe again. Maybe it had only been her imagination. But she could have sworn—
"The girl's name is Lyra…"
Her head snapped up again. So she had heard correctly.
"What the hell?" Kris turned again, her gaze fervently attempting to penetrate the darkness.
Kris caught her breath in alarm as she saw.
It was them.
Their hair fastened in intricate buns she could never even hope to master with her own blue pigtails, pins piercing the black coils that arched upward to reveal pale, delicate necks and the red scruff of the top of a kimono. Their voices were soft, musical, as they chattered amongst themselves, proper, composed, eyes gleaming with that forever mysterious light. The last people Kris expected to be discussing her ordinary friend, but she saw it on their lips, the name—Lyra.
What? The Kimono Girls were talking about Lyra?
It must be a different Lyra, Kris reasoned, feeling foolish. It wasn't a common name, sure, but there had to be at least one other girl in Johto named Lyra. Someone fabulous, maybe, worth gracing the scarlet lips of Ecruteak's exotic beauties…
How stupid of me…jumping to conclusions…
"From New Bark Town." A soft, tinkling laugh, a rustle of ivory skin against ivory teacups. "She's from New Bark Town. Professor Elm…he gave it to her…"
Kris froze.
There was definitely only one Lyra in New Bark Town.
"What in Arceus's name is going on?" she muttered furiously, glaring down at the wooden table. "Professor Elm—did what? What did he give her?"
Suddenly, she felt strangely like she was steaming, for no reason she could think of. Kris's jaunty exterior was hardly ever ruffled by anything, least of all by that harmless, shy twig of a girl.
"What reason do they have to be talking about Lyra?" she mumbled. "She's just an ordinary girl who lives in the most ordinary little town…"
She shook her head. It didn't make sense.
Meganium looked on in puzzlement. She vaguely remembered the girl herself—small, skinny, with brown hair and wide, uncertain brown eyes. Was there something interesting happening with her? As far as Meganium remembered, there had never been much to say about the Lyra girl. She had been quite ordinary, rather quiet.
"Unless…" No. Kris almost laughed at the thought; it wasn't possible. She was the trainer from New Bark Town. How silly for her to imagine something like that.
Still…why in the world would the Kimono Girls be discussing her friend? It must have been whatever Professor Elm had told the, whatever he had given her. After all, he had some prestige in Johto, and maybe Lyra had started helping him out in the lab, too, along with Ethan. As far she knew, her friend had no name, no fame in the rest of the region, and barely any in New Bark Town itself. And yet…
"First Ethan," Kris grumbled, her stomach twisting uncomfortably, "and now the Kimono Girls?"
Her beloved, exotic Ecruteak City was the very opposite of little New Bark Town, where Lyra lived, and belonged. How had her name made it here?
And what exactly did Professor Elm give to her?
She curled her fingers around the cup, her voice chalky with irritation. "What exactly is going on here?"