Chapter 21
June 20th, 2006
"Are you doing okay Lyra?"
Lyra jumped slightly at the sound of the voice. She wasn't expecting anyone to come over to where she was sitting, much less talk to her. She looked up and her own light brown gaze was met with a matching pair, a pair that belonged to none other than Ash. She nodded once. "Yeah I'm alright." She answered and turned her gaze away from Ash, but she could still feel his eyes stuck on her, she felt as if he was trying to read her actions. There was rustling to her right and she watched him sit down next to her on the ground. They sat in a short bout of quiet silence.
She could both feel and hear Ash shifting uncomfortably next to her, it seemed as if he wanted to say something but for some reason wouldn't. She looked at him sceptically. "How long do you think this will take?" She asked breaking the silence, hopefully probing him to say what he wanted to.
"Hopefully not as long as I think it will." He gave her a sideways glance, a small frown was on his face, barely noticeable, but she could see it. "There are twelve of us, two for each region, if we need to go to all of them, that'll be tough. Let's keep hoping that Kalos and Unova stay calm and neutral for a good amount of time while we're all dealing with the other regions, it would really help. It's not easy with what we have on our shoulders right now." He laid down with his arms resting on his stomach, rising with each breath. Pikachu scurried over to them and jumped on Ash's stomach, making him go "Oof!" And curl into himself slightly. Lyra watched with a smile as he stroked Pikachu who was happily sitting on his trainer. Interest sparked on his face and he looked over at her. "Hey, how's Chikorita?" He asked.
Lyra smiled and fished in the pocket of her overalls for a particular pokéball. "She's wonderful!" In a flash of red light, a Meganium appeared. "Gotten plenty stronger right Meganium?"
"Mega!" She cried and laid down next to Lyra, tucking her legs under her green body. Pikachu twitched his ears as he stared at the now evolved Chikorita. Pikachu beamed and scurried over, talking excitedly to the grass-type.
"Marill is now an Azumarill too. You haven't seen the other's I've caught either." Lyra said. "Marill was really hesitant on evolving, and then finally decided to do it. I didn't say anything to change her mind, we were battling one day and she just let it happen."
"You have more?" Ash asked, Lyra nodded. "I have all six spots filled now. Meganium, Azumarill, Girafarig, Ponyta, Farfetch'd and a Granbull!" She said with a smile. "They're all the best pokémon I could ever ask for!"
"They sound awesome!" Ash exclaimed. "Hey, you said you worked in the radio tower right?"
"I'm an intern, yes."
"Did it exist in this time?" Ash sat up again, looking very interested.
Lyra thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, it did."
Ash suddenly jumped up, startling Meganium. "Why don't we go and see if we can look inside of it?" He suggested. "I know you're feeling kinda homesick so why not go and visit something familiar? Even if it's a bit different, wouldn't it be cool to see the old technology they used to use before?"
"It would." She agreed. "Why not?" She shrugged and stood up, brushing herself off. "It sounds fun!" She looked over at Meganium. "Sorry but I have to put you back in your pokéball. I'm going somewhere but you can come back out as soon as I come back!" She promised, rubbing Meganium's head. The grass-type nodded in understanding.
Ash grinned as he watched Lyra return Meganium, "Let's go!" He said cheerfully and grabbed her arm. "Guys, I'm gonna look around town with Lyra, we'll be back for supper!"
"Be careful." Cilan advised from where he was sitting next to Iris who was busying herself making something, a book in his hands, Paul's book. "Team Rocket can and will know who you are. Think before you do things."
"We're tough! We'll be fine!" Ash said with a reassuring grin. "We got this, no need to worry!" He looked over to Dawn who laughed at him.
"Right!" She agreed, "No need to worry!"
June 20th, 2006
"So you live in Goldenrod right? I mean if you're working here it just makes sense." Ash asked as they walked down the main road of the large city. It was still very much the same as it was the day before. Busy people running around, trying to both sell and buy various products on their way to work. It was still expected to happen in Goldenrod, no matter what era it was in.
Lyra nodded, looking down at Azumarill who she was carrying in her arms. "I do, or did; I don't really know how to say it. Not in this time I guess, but in the future." She smiled at Ash. "I lived with Khoury; his dad bought us the apartment. He makes a lot of money for being a researcher and pays the rent for us. I'd rather him not because Khoury and I can pay for it fine ourselves." She wrung her hands together whilst still holding onto her pokémon. Azumarill gave her a look.
"I'd feel the same way." Ash agreed, "Even though I do still technically live with my mom." He shrugged with a laugh. "Hey..." Ash started, "Are you and Khoury... y'know, a thing?"
Lyra stared at her friend incredulously and then then burst into laughter. Ash's face turned bright red with embarrassment; she didn't even know he could have such a reaction. She had never seen him blush for herself. "No, no. We're not. We were in a relationship for about a month after we came back Sinnoh, but we just found things too strange and awkward between us. My feelings are mostly platonic towards him, they always had I'm sure. It was a mutual decision and were both happy just being best friends. I wouldn't doubt that we might look as if we're in a relationship because we're so close." She smiled sadly. "Right now, the biggest thing I want for Khoury and I, is for me to find him wherever he may be. I haven't told anyone this, but Khoury's been gone since Johto went back in time. I'm not sure if it's because of who we are, but don't you find it weird that I was the only one, as far as we know, who stayed?"
Ash mulled the thought over. "It is very strange. My best bet is because of who we are. I can't think if anything else that can relate to it at all. I just feel constantly confused all the time."
"Really?" Lyra asked, "It doesn't seem like you are. You're just always smiling and are a genuinely happy person."
Ash nodded quickly. "I just make myself do other things that I can make sense of instead." He shrugged. "I don't like being confused and thinking too much gives me headaches."
"That's a good thing to do. It'll help keep your mind clear and unbiased if it's ever needed in a certain situation." Lyra said.
"Let's hope that it won't ever be needed." He agreed solemnly.
Lyra looked up at him. "Would you ever lie to any of us?"
Ash tilted his head to the side, Pikachu copying his trainer's actions. Confusion swam through his eyes, he asked. "What do you mean exactly?"
Lyra looked around her, a very unpleasant and uneasy feeling settling in her gut. She deduced it as nothing and turned back to him. "Since I came later, to me it doesn't seem like everybody is telling the truth on their own accord." Her stomach churned viciously, she closed an eye to will it to stop.
"I wouldn't lie unless I knew it would harm one of my friends in that moment. I'd probably hold off of the truth for as long as I could." He admitted. "I hate seeing everyone upset so I do the best I can to keep them all smiling. If they're smiling, then I'm smiling." He looked towards Lyra and noticed that she was hunched over some ways behind him, not having heard what he said at all. "Lyra!" He called and raced back to her. "Lyra!" Worry painted his features, "Lyra, are you okay?"
Azumarill was standing beside her, a very concerned look on her face. Lyra moved to the side of the street where there were plenty of bushes around, she willed a silent thank you to go through her mind. She leaned forward over the bushes and all of the food she had consumed in that day came rushing out of her in a very disgusting way. Her vision was blurred with tears, or just blurred, she couldn't really tell. She felt fine before so why was she reacting like this? She knew she wasn't sick so what was happening? What was her body trying to tell her? Ash hurried forward, rubbing soothing circles on her back. She could see faint shadows through her vision, a gray metallic room, she felt constrained as if something was pinning her against a wall. Her stomach pounded like a headache, she didn't understand! Lyra began growing frantic, her vision of the city deteriorating and being replaced with something else. Her stomach jabbed with pain as if it was slowly being cut with a knife. It churned wickedily again. She could hear a cry from beside her. What was that? It was no human.
"You'll be okay; we can go back after this so you can rest." Ash said calmly. She could barely make out his words.
"I don't think that will be necessary Mr. Ketchum." A voice said. Ash whipped his head around and stared at the man behind them. His blue-green hair spiked neatly under a black hat while he wore a full black outfit consisting of a shirt, jacket and pants. The jacket was used to cover the large red 'R' placed right in the center of his dark shirt. "I have a feeling that you two can both rest easy with us."
"Who the hell are you?" Ash demanded, taking a protective stance in front of the still retching Lyra, Pikachu jumping off of his shoulders, sparks flying from his red cheeks, he let out a low growl of warning.
"Somebody you will soon know well enough, don't worry." He laughed. It echoed around them. A haze of black surrounded them, Ash's head spun as he teetered back and forth, trying to stay upright on his two feet. Lyra had slumped down on the ground moaning, one hand firmly placed on her stomach while the other clutching her lower forehead, her eyes were obscured. The world quickly sped into darkness.
June 20th, 2006
Everybody was on edge. A hysteric Misty was pacing back and forth while Iris tried to talk to her soothingly. She kept lashing out to the dragon-trainer who would barely flinch at her shouts. Drew, Cilan, Paul, Clemont and May were all stationed around their camp, a pokémon beside them as they stared out into the darkness of the forest. Dawn and Serena were tending to a mostly passed out Gary who was writhing on the ground, thrashing and talking, speaking words that nobody would understand.
The sky was black while little sparkles of stars twinkled in the night. Ash and Lyra hadn't returned in over six hours. They had left an hour after lunch and seeing the moon in the sky, it was getting close to midnight.
Dawn was running her fingers through Gary's brown locks, his head resting in her lap on a pillow so he wouldn't give himself a concussion as he hit it off of the ground. His, or Cilan's, glasses were perched on her on head to keep them safe. Serena was beside her with her Delphox, trying to hold him still as the attempted to wrap him in a blanket to keep him from hurting himself and the two girls. Serena and Dawn both flinched when they heard another furious shout from Misty, who face was very close to Iris'.
"Who are you?" Dawn heard Paul demand. She quickly looked up and watched a person emerge through the underbrush of the forest. It was a boy with dusty brown hair and blue eyes; a Charizard was beside him, towering over the boy who was actually quite tall, close to their age. He had on khaki shorts and a light brown button up shirt. Aagron, who was standing beside Paul, towered over Charizard even more, letting out a threatening growl. The boy winced slightly with a smile and rubbed the back of his head.
"Sorry," He said. "I thought I heard a familiar voice."
Dawn saw Misty stiffen out of the corner of her eye and she whipped her head to face the boy. "Sammy?" Misty asked incredulously. "You're... you're older!"
Sammy laughed with a nod. "I did get older, as have you. That usually happens to people."
"Why are you here?" Paul asked harshly. "Don't say it's just because you know Misty. We have more important things to deal with right now."
Sammy's eyes widened, "Like what? What's happened? Was it Team Rocket?"
"How do you know about them?"
Sammy stared at Paul. "Because they took Celebi." He said sadly. "Celebi and I have a special connection. I usually know of Celebi's whereabouts whether Celebi wants me to know or not."
"He's another protector." Dawn whispered and Paul turned his gaze onto her, his eyes narrowed. Sammy noticed Gary withering on the ground.
"Is he alright? Maybe I could help?"
"He's fine." Cilan said a little too quickly.
Sammy frowned. "I don't believe you."
Misty sighed and walked towards him. "I think we should tell Sammy."
"Tell me what?"
Dawn jumped as Gary let out a scream and quickly sat up. He grabbed the sides of his head and let out harsh, ragged breaths. Everyone was staring at him, waiting for his next move. He whipped the blanket Serena was trying to wrap him in off of his body and used it to wipe off of his face roughly. Dawn handed him the glasses from the top of her head, he gladly took them and slipped them back onto his face. He let out a groan and Serena handed him a bottle of water, already opened. He took it out of her grasp and began to readily gulp down the whole bottle. He took a few more breaths to steady himself. He cleared his throat then said. "Radio tower."
"What?" Iris asked as she approached him. "What do you mean?"
"The Radio tower." He locked his eyes onto hers. "That's where they're being held."
"Who's being held?" Sammy asked.
Gary gripped the blanket tightly so his knuckles turned white and stood up quickly. "Lugia, Celebi, Ho-Oh. All of them." He said. "I know why I had the feeling to stay in Azeala Town. Johto will be saved by Lyra and I." He looked to Sammy. "And him."
"Me? What is all of this?" Sammy demanded. "What's going on?"
"Team Rocket has captured the three legendary pokémon. You, Lyra and I are all the protectors of them. Lugia with myself, Lyra with Ho-Oh and you with Celebi." Dawn felt Paul's gaze on her, she looked over to him again and he quickly averted his eyes, staring at Gary instead.
"The others are there too." Gary said with a huff. "Ash, Lyra and... and Leaf."
"Leaf?" Somebody asked but they were quickly disregarded.
"We're going there now. The other three protectors are on their way, I saw them. Suicune, Entei and Raikou."
"How did you see them?" Misty asked. "If Lugia's locked up how do you know?"
Gary stared at her, fixing his glasses. "We can all connect, that's how I know. My headache started when Lyra and Ash got taken, she had called to me somehow, probably through Ho-Oh and Lugia. You won't understand until you find yours." He grabbed his bag which was near a tent and dug through it. "We're going now; get all the stuff you need. Don't complain."
June 21st, 2006
Dawn followed the group in her line, two rows side by side. Paul was standing next to her, any other time she would feel awkward, but she was glad he was there. She felt safe when he was with her and that's what she needed right now. The knowledge of her being safe and that they could do this. They were a strong group and they would and will save their friends. They will save the legendries. They will save Johto.
She stared at the ground, thinking over what pokémon she should use against Team Rocket and what would be the most effective moves against their pokémon, silently remembering each type's strengths and weaknesses. She brought a hand up to her mouth and began to nervously rub her lips. They were just a small group of people, eleven to be exact, and they were fighting off against a massive organization.
Something warm slipped into her hand and she jerked her head over. Paul was staring at her intently. He wasn't scowling. Dawn stared back at him; she could feel heat creep up onto her cheeks. He was holding her hand. "You'll be okay." He said. "Just think through your moves when you face an opponent, nothing bad will happen to us."
"How do you know?" She asked. "We're such a small group compared to them."
"We're stronger." He reasoned. "We have better ideals which will overpower them. Our pokémon are all stronger than theirs combined. Not all of their members will be there, that's a ridiculous idea, but a fair amount will be because they're holding such strong pokémon and even people." He admitted. "They will be protected by guards no doubt, follow what Gary does and what he will do. He is the biggest opponent against them right now and we can't be in his way." She nodded. "And I won't leave you."
Dawn's eyes widened. "You won't?"
"I won't."
Dawn smiled softly and averted her gaze from his. "I'm sorry." She said softly. "I didn't mean any of it."
"Of what?" He asked her an eyebrow rose, questioning.
Dawn looked up at him again. "Our fight in Kalos."
Paul's face hardened back into a frown. "Not now."
Dawn was taken aback. "W-what?"
"We can talk about this later. Now isn't a good time." He looked away from her and his hand slipped out of her grasp. "Just focus on the task at hand."
"Right..."
A day early again! I couldn't wait to post this chapter so here it is! It's 3000 words too! Longer than what I usually write which is about 2500.
What do you think the battle will turn out like?
We also know of three of the protectors hurray! And possibly three more? ;)
Hope you all have an amazing week guys!