Yay, an update! Don't think anyone is reading but oh well, here it is.

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Set My Heart on Fire

Lyra, the new Champion of Johto-Kanto, sat down with me recently, happy to answer questions about her role as Champion and her plans. Lyra admits to finding her new role tough as expectations are quite high and she admits to seeking guidance from former Champions, especially Lance. Readers might know that Lance and Lyra are romantically involved with each other, and when said if this arrangement would affect her role as Champion, Lyra admitted it could.

Although Lyra doesn't expect to make any changes to the current badge system, the possibility of marriage and raising a family was unanswered. When said if Lyra knew about marriage being prohibited for Champions, she looked unsure of herself, implying she's been thinking about it but just hasn't found the courage to speak of it, especially with her partner, former Champion, Lance Blackthorn.

Lyra admits to not talking to Lance about these important issues, stating, "We're both focused on our jobs." Is it possible the pair are facing problems already? The couple haven't been spotted together in the public since the handover ceremony and there are rumours their relationship is on turbulent waters.

Karen lobbed a rolled-up piece of paper at the computer screen. "That's defamation! She's trying to undermine you and cause problems!"

All Lyra could do was stare at the screen in shock. She had a feeling Marina was going to twist her words a little, but not as much as this. It was as if Marina never had the intentions of being truthful in the first place and had just interviewed her to feel professional. The worst part? Marina had thousands of subscribers, and most of them would believe in her lies. "…Why would she do this?"

"It's obvious she's insanely jealous of you, Lyra. It's no big secret Marina has been chasing Lance for years. When Lance was Champion, he'd receive hundreds of letters from females all around the region asking him all sorts of weird things." Karen picked up the paper and placed it back on the desk. "He was the number one most sought out bachelor in the region."

Lyra sat down on the couch and buried her face in her hands. What a mess this was. Now other journalists would find read this and write articles about it. The entire region would soon be asking questions of her thanks to Marina. "There's nothing we can do about it, is there? We have no power over the media."

"Unfortunately," Karen said, snorting. "If I had the power, I'd proof-read all their articles to ensure it reported the correct facts rather than this nonsense. She might not be a skilled trainer, Lyra, but she is a threat to you and the league itself. A woman driven by jealousy will do anything to turn the tables in her favour, even if it means ruining someone else's."

"So what do you propose I do? Come out and publicly declare that her words are untrue?"

Karen shook her head. "I know it's tempting, but that will only make things worse. Believe me, my mother used to be involved in this work – the more resistance they meet the more likely they were to write nonsense. Gossip magazines and blogs live to exaggerate the facts – it's how they make a living. It's just unfortunate you're their target. They think you are easy pickings." She sat down next to Lyra and tossed a lock of silver hair over her shoulder then sighed.

"I'll just ignore then."

"That's a start. Don't let her words get to you." She threw a hateful glance at the screen again then rose to her feet. "She did the same to me when I first joined the league. Apparently, she claimed I had paid good money to earn a spot on the elite four then said it was all just a ruse to get closer to Lance. That was news for a month."

"And it died down soon after?"

Karen nodded. "Thankfully. Don't worry – it's not true. I never had any intentions of seducing Lance. There was a brief time I thought I liked him, but it was nothing. He's not my type anyway, and besides, I like Will."

A tinge of red appeared in her cheeks, prompting Lyra to raise an eyebrow. That was news to her. Unable to stop herself from smiling, Lyra said, "Oh, Will."

Karen usually exuded a calm aura, but right now she was flustered. Lyra would've laughed if her situation wasn't so dire itself. "It's nothing, really. Will and I joined the league at the same time and he's never shown any interest whatsoever. You think he's scared of me because my pokémon could destroy his? I hear men are intimidated by powerful women."

"I wouldn't know, sorry, but I suppose it's likely." Her thoughts moved to Silver and the boy's frequent attempts to bring her down. That was another person she hadn't seen in a long time. Silver and Ethan. The last she heard Ethan was helping his grandparents at the day care centre, but she had no idea what Silver's activities were. "Have you tried talking to him?"

Karen intimidated her at first. All members of the elite four did more so than Lance ever had. It wasn't that they were unfriendly – quite the opposite – it was just the way they looked. Stern expressions as if they were looking at something that displeased them greatly. Fortunately, that wasn't the case. Over the past month she had gotten to know them quite well and they were all quite friendly. Being the only other female, she connected with Karen the most.

"I've tried, but he rarely speaks. He spends so much time trying to see into the future and interpret visions that I think he's become quite serious." She then sighed. "But anyway, I can deal with Will. Marina remains a concern. Her and her annoying fan girls. Just continue to act as you always do – eventually, she'll get bored…. I hope."

Lyra opened her mouth to reply when there was a knock on the door. The two females exchanged glances before Karen moved to open it. She was expecting to see one of the cleaners, but instead saw Clair. As always, the girl looked annoyed. Karen called it 'the resting bitch face syndrome'. "Clair, what brings you here so early in the morning?" Karen started, her eyes narrowing.

Clair glared back. "I'm here for Lyra." She pushed past Karen and approached Lyra. "Lance wants you. He was going to come here himself, but he can't so I said I'd get you." Flipping her ponytail over her shoulder, she narrowed her eyes and added, "Well, get up then. I haven't got all day."

"You can't just come in here and issue orders like you own this place," Karen started.

"I have rights, Karen. My cousin, the former Champion, is dating the current Champion. I'm more important than you."

Karen rolled her eyes then looked at Lyra. "I'll cover for you. Go on, take the day off. You deserve it."

Lyra stood up and followed Clair towards the exit. Her eyes met with Karen, and the girl just shrugged. It was no secret Karen and Clair disliked each other; she didn't know the exact details, but apparently the two trainers battled, and it ended poorly for Clair. She said her goodbyes to Karen and followed Clair down the hallway. "Mind explaining what's going on?"

"I didn't mean to come charging in there and giving you orders, but I hate Karen, and I hate being inside the walls of the league. This place is suffocating," Clair said dryly then turned to Lyra. "Look, things aren't going well for us in Blackthorn and I'm thinking you can cheer him up in ways I can't. I'll tell you more when we get there. Just know that it's urgent."

Was that an apology? She hadn't specifically said 'sorry' but then again this was Clair. She was extremely prideful, and unable to accept anything less than a win - the exact opposite of Lance. It was hard to see how they were related in some ways. Fortunately, Clair didn't appear so hostile towards her now.

"All right. Lead the way."

"I've been wandering Morty, what has happened to your friend, Eusine?"

Morty had planned on sneaking out of the gym unnoticed, but unfortunately for him, he had been spotted. When the old ladies were around, it was fine, but Naoko had chosen today to visit. How convenient. "Eusine disappeared. He took my advice and left the city." Partially true – the man had left, but now he was stuck in the Spirit World. Alive, but also not, and there was no chance of him ever getting out. On the downside, he was still trapped. He was still a problem for ghost-type trainers entering the realm.

Naoko tilted her head to the side. "…You sentenced him to a fate worse than death."

Nothing made it past Naoko. The kimono girls always seemed to be aware of their surroundings, as if they had some unique ability. Truth was, the girls were a mystery to him having arrived just after his father had claimed the gym. They claimed they were interested in the legend of Ho-Oh and Lugia and taking care of the legendaries to ensure they ended up in the right hands. Ho-Oh had already been passed on to Lyra, but there was no sign of Lugia yet.

Even to this day, he still didn't understand what their true purpose was. "…And give him peace? He doesn't deserve death, Naoko. That is far too kind for the crime he tried to commit."

"He was your friend."

"And he cared little for our friendship. All he wanted was to capture Suicine." Some obsession caused by his grandfather. The man had believed capturing Suicine would bring them glory. He believed simply catching a glimpse of one would bring them years of good luck. Proven untrue, but Eusine believed it. He craved the power the pokémon would bring.

"He's going to be a danger."

Morty sighed. "I was going to let him suffer. That's what he deserves."

"And leave him as a threat to other ghost-type trainers who traverse the realm?"

"Why does it matter? He'll die before the week is out."

"You want to disrupt the balance of the Spirit World? You know what happens when a person dies there." A person who died in the Spirit World was consumed by the spirits and simply disappeared. Morty hadn't seen it himself, but he had heard about it from other ghost-type trainers. Apparently, it was such a traumatic experience many of them never recovered. "You sent him there, Morty. You have to finish it now."

That meant returning to the Spirit World and engaging in battle with Eusine which would not be easy. Eusine wasn't a weak trainer and battling in the other realm meant leaving himself vulnerable to the roaming spirits who preyed on the undefended minds. "Or I could just leave him there and let him rot. Eventually, he'll lose his mind and the spirits will consume his soul."

"You will cause a rift too open, Morty."

"And how is that a problem?"

"Giratina."

Right. He remembered the reaper of the pokémon world whilst visiting Fantina a few months back to help her with a problem. It wasn't a creature he planned on crossing paths with again anytime too soon. "So you've heard about Giratina then."

"Yes."

"How? I never told you."

"It's all part of the prophecy, Morty. Why do you think my sisters and I came to this place?"

He frowned. "I thought you came here to settle and make a new life for yourselves... But there's more to it, isn't there? What aren't you telling me? You knew about Ho-Oh, so I presume you're familiar with Lugia too. You knew Lyra would be the one to capture Hoi-Oh."

Naoko nodded. "I did. It was written in the prophecy centuries ago by the druid seer."

"And you're just bringing it up now?"

"I always thought Red was the champion in the prophecy, but Lyra's arrival changed that. When she captured Ho-Oh, I knew there was something special about her." No doubt about that. Lyra was different. He could tell when she withdrew from the battle to save her Eevee from being attacked. How many trainers would throw themselves in harm's way to defend their companion from potentially a life-threatening attack? It was no surprise Ho-Oh had chosen Lyra. "She is the angel in the prophecy, the defender of the light."

"What prophecy is this?"

"The prophecy of the golden heart and the silver soul," she said softly.

He raised a brow. "What is that supposed to mean exactly?" How could a heart be golden and soul silver? A soul wasn't a physical item so how could it have a colour?

"The prophecy talks about the relationship between the sun and the moon, Morty," Naoko said, placing her arms on the table. "Gold represents the power of the sun, and silver is the moon. The moon controls the tides, and the sun the sky. Together, they provide light for the living. Without either, we have total darkness and that is what is to come if a holy union is not made beneath a starry sky."

Her words made little sense to him. It sounded like something pulled out of one those fantasy novels. "So you're saying if the heart and soul do not combine as one, all living beings on this earth will be in darkness? How are we supposed to ensure that even happens, and how do you even know this prophecy is coming to light?"

"Lance's grandfather saw it happening."

He quirked a brow. The Blackthorn Clan Elder was known throughout the region for his ability to see into the future. Most likely the man had known Lyra would be the one to become Champion and had issued Lance to protect her at all costs. He then frowned. Did the prophecy refer to Lance too? He supposed Lance represented the moon which meant he was the one to capture Lugia. He thought hard. Lance and Lyra united was to help protect the world from impending doom. A holy union – matrimony. Uniting the traditions of the old with the modern world. That was the prophecy?

"So you came to this city looking for the one person who fit the prophecy. That's why you were so keen to give Lyra the Eevee egg. You already knew who she was."

She nodded. "Yes. Edward Blackthorn sent me here to help bring the pieces together. He saw what was coming, and it's my job to ensure that doesn't happen. We are the guardians of the prophecy. The Five. We guard the homes of the legendaries until the trainer foretold has arrived and proven their worth."

"According to this prophecy then Lugia must be captured by Lance." No surprises there. He was a dragon master, and the only person capable of taming the legendary dragon of the ocean. He then frowned, reflecting on the latter half of the prophecy. A holy unification. That obviously implied marriage, but what if Lyra refused? The girl was only short of twenty.

Naoko nodded. "Indeed."

"What if Lyra refuses?"

"It's destiny. You can't fight it."

She seemed so sure. "We all thought Red was the hero of our region and yet he left."

"Red has a different role to play. He was never the true champion – he was the champion we wanted. There is a difference. Fate can't be defied, Morty. You of all people should know that. You believed you were the trainer for Ho-Oh, but you were proven wrong. Do you still doubt my words?"

So that's why the kimono girls had moved to Ecruteak City. She must've been working for Lance's grandfather the entire time, waiting for the moment for Lyra to arrive so she could push her down the right path. But why would she care about Eusine's fate? "No, I don't. What I don't understand is why do you care what happens to Eusine? It's not like the Spirit World means anything to you."

"It would be dangerous for other ghost-type trainers, Morty. Would you like others to suffer because of your own personal pride? What say one of your students entered the realm and they were killed there because of an angry Eusine? Your position would be in trouble, and I wouldn't be able to defend you. You need to put him to rest."

He sighed. "Fine. I will."

Kill his former friend in the Spirit World. Sounded much easier than it was going to be.

An arm swatted him in the face. Holding back a groan, and moving the arm away, Blue opened his eyes and then turned his head to the left. There was a busty blond female lying in the bed next to him, and one of her arms was stretched across his chest. Right. The girl from last night he had picked up at the tavern in Viridian City. He didn't even know what her name was.

The girl opened her eyes and smiled at him. "Morning, Blue."

He grunted.

"Is that all you can say? Not even a good morning, sweetheart?"

He sat up and looked at her with disgust. "Just because we spent a night together doesn't mean we're friends now. You're just a distraction, girl. Don't think it was anything more than that."

She slapped him. Hard. "You're such a jerk, Blue Oak!" She pushed him out of the bed, grabbed the pillow and threw it at his face. Grabbing the bed cover, she wrapped it around herself, stepped over him and grabbed her clothes off the floor then stormed out of the room. Blue groaned again and threw the pillow aside.

Another typical morning after a night out at the tavern. Meeting his grandfather always dampened his mood, and every time he visited, Blue would always find himself drowning his sorrows away with a few beers. He always managed to bring a girl back to his bed to, and each time it ended up like this – a frustrated female calling him a jerk.

It's not like it was his fault the girls were attracted to him, and he wasn't ashamed to take full advantage of that. He rubbed his eyes and sat upright then picked himself up the floor. Unlike his female friend, he was fully clothed. Groaning again, he raked a hand through his hair then walked to his closet to search for new clothes. He grabbed a black collared shirt and matching black khaki pants.

Nothing had changed. Even a night out with a beautiful blond girl hadn't lifted his mood. Cold on the outside and cold in the inside – that's how he felt. What was it like to feel happy? He didn't even know anymore. Did such a thing even exist or was it just a temporary state experienced by the lucky few? He finished changing clothing then exited the room to grab some breakfast.

Opening the fridge, he peered inside and saw nothing. Not even a loaf of bread. Empty. With a frustrated sigh, he slammed the door and headed towards the entrance. On the way, he grabbed his pokebelt and stashed his credit card inside then marched outside into the cool air. Winter was fast approaching and that meant short days ahead. Not that he minded much – it meant less time associating with other ignorant people.

Blue closed the door, locked it then walked down the cobblestone path towards the town's exit. Pallet Town didn't have its own PokeMart yet due to its small population, but fortunately the nearest was one just a short walk away in Viridian City. He walked by several trainers who were busy arguing about bug-type pokémon. Rolling his eyes, Blue ignored them and continued walking.

Evergreen trees entered his line of vision as he neared one of the city's main entrances. It was only the city in all of Kanto where the trees remained green all year long. Walking beneath the wooden archway, he entered the city and made his way towards the pokémart. As usual, the city was bustling with life. Recent months had seen the city undergo renovations to make it more attractive to tourists. Now there was a battling arena where trainers could practice their skills before taking on the gym challenge.

Construction on a new apartment block was currently underway. There were cranes, trucks and a large group of workers busy preparing for the structure. To the south of the site was the tavern he visited last night. It was currently closed to the public and would only open after six pm. Glancing to the right he looked at the rocky path which led to Indigo Plateau. In the distance, he could see the towering white building, and beyond that, Mount Silver itself.

"Hey – Stop right there!" Blue Oak pulled his gaze away and turned his head towards the direction of the speaker. There he saw a young adult male with a baseball cap looking in his direction. The boy marched over, his brows furrowed. Thrusting a finger forward, he said, "What did you do with my sister?"

Blue took a closer look at the guy. He was a head shorter than himself and quite lean. He was dressed in denim blue jeans and a plain white collared shirt. Blond locks of hair poked out from beneath his white cap. "Who are you and why are you bothering me?" Blue replied, impatient. He hoped the boy would pick up on the hint that he didn't want to be spoken to.

Unfortunately, the boy had no clue. He strode up to Blue and snarled. "I'm Henry, and you're the guy who made my sister cry!"

Oh. So that's where his blonde busty friend went this morning. "You're her brother? Looks like you missed out on the good genetics," he retorted. Raising his hands, he added, "What do you want? Money? I can give you a hundred dollars to walk the other way. Go take your sister out."

The boy poked him in the chest. "I don't want your money, friend. I want an apology. She was in tears this morning, and you're the jerk who upset her."

"Do you have any idea who I am?"

The boy nodded. "You're just a breaker of hearts, that's what you are."

He fought the urge to swing a punch. Why the nerve of this kid… "I'm Blue Oak. Recognize the surname? That's right. I'm the grandson of the professor and the former Champion. You ought to show me a little respect," Blue snarled, eyes narrowed, his fingers clenched into fists.

Much to his satisfaction, the boy backed off, but the fury in his eyes didn't fade. "You ever go near my sister again and I swear I will make your life even more miserable than it already is." He turned his back and retreated. Several bystanders glanced in his direction. Whispers were exchanged between the locals. Cursing under his breath, Blue ignored their looks and strode towards the pokémart.

This hadn't been the morning he had been hoping for. Rather, it was quite the opposite. Next thing there'd be comments about him all over PokéWeb – the power of social media these days. He supposed it wasn't all bad. At least he was still relevant and if people kept talking about him, he wouldn't be forgotten.

He grabbed a single loaf of wholemeal bread off the shelf and some strawberry jam. He then picked up some milk before heading to the counter to pay. The girl behind the counter smiled at him and he returned it with the trademark Oak smirk. She looked down, a smile gracing her lips as she scanned the products. "Hi Blue," she said, looking up again.

"Hello."

"I heard there was trouble outside."

She placed his groceries in a plastic bag then handed it over to him. The total of fifteen dollars appeared on the screen. Blue pulled out his card and pressed it against the eftpos machine. "Nothing I can't handle," he replied tersely.

"Don't you ever get tired of it?"

He looked up. "Tired of what?"

"Every time I see you come here to purchase groceries, you always look tired and worn out. Are you sure you're taking care of yourself? You look more exhausted every time you walk through these doors." She looked at him again, flicking her brown ponytail over her right shoulder.

"I'm fine," he replied, grabbing the plastic bag. "It's just been a long couple of weeks."

She didn't look convinced but didn't push the matter further. "Well… Take care yourself of Oak. I know a lot of people say bad things about you, but you've never done me wrong. I'd hate to see you fall and be unable to get back up again." He mustered up a fake grin, tilted his head then exited the store as fast as his legs would allow.

Placing his card back into his pocket and unaware of his surroundings, Blue bumped into someone. He jerked his head up and hissed. "Watch it," he said heatedly.

The other person, a male with longish red hair, glared back. "You're the one who wasn't looking. Why don't you watch it?" he replied curtly, his eyes holding a steely gaze. "Hey wait – I know you. You're Blue Oak. You're the prick who sent my friend almost to her death at Mount Silver."

Great. One of Lyra's friends. Just what he wanted to deal with today. Holding his ground, he said, "I don't have time for you so do me a favour and step aside or there will be trouble." Normally, that would be enough to intimidate any trainer, but not this guy. The boy smirked. "Beat it, kid. I mean it."

He tried to move past this freak, but the red-head wouldn't budge. The boy thrust his hands forward promptly shoving Blue back a step. Temper raised, Blue threw the stranger a hateful glare then retaliated, swinging a punch. His swing connected with the side of the boy's jaw, forcing him to stagger backwards. He quickly recovered and lunged, tackling Blue to the grass. Uttering a growl, Blue shoved him off then straddled him, his right fist drawn back.

"Blue! Stop!"

Caught off guard, Blue lowered his arm and looked up. Brock was running towards him. Another face he didn't want to see. Before he could speak, he was thrown off and pinned to the ground. "If you're going to hit someone, hit them. I can see why you lost the title. You're weak." A hiss of pain escaped his lips as a fist connected with his jaw.

His opponent rolled off him. Blue Oak climbed to his feet and ran his tongue across his lower lip tasting blood. A busted lip. That was going to look bad for a couple of days. He fixed his eyes on his rival then charged forward, tackling him to the ground. He pinned his arms and straddled his waist then said in a low voice, "You're a face I've never seen before, but now I will remember you – as the chump who lost to me." He punched him across the jaw then stood up. "Weak men talk big."

A crowd had gathered. Some people were taking photos. Others wore expressions of shock. One of those expressions belonged to a face he recognized but hadn't seen in almost a decade. His eldest sister, Daisy Oak.

Clair had warned her Blackthorn had changed, but she hadn't realized it been such a significant change. There was a new fighting arena for tamers to practice in as well as few new residential buildings, but it wasn't additions that caught her eyes – there were new faces she didn't recognize parading around the city, as if they owned the place.

"Just who are they?" Lyra said, glancing in the direction of three young adult males. One had blond shaggy locks, another with ginger hair and the third male with dark hair.

"You're looking at our new problem – foreign dragon tamers who believe they have the right to take over Blackthorn City now that our grandfather has passed away. They want to build a dragon tamer facility right in the heart of this city open to all tamers." Clair narrowed her eyes and snorted. "They claim it'll make a lot of money for the place, but we know all that revenue will go into their pockets. We won't get a single say even if this is our hometown."

"But surely you can drive them off?"

Clair shook her head. "If only it was that easy… but these boys are here on behalf of the council elders whom believe my cousin is unfit to rule. If Lance isn't the leader then our clan legacy is lost forever." Her fingers curled into a fist. "He's going to have to face trial when the leaders arrive – the judges - and Lance can't win. He's out numbered."

She didn't reply, allowing some time for Clair's words to sink in. Lance was the only remaining heir to the Blackthorn throne, and if he was sent away, that would be the end of the oldest living clan. It would be remembered in the history books for many generations to come how the clan fell apart, and the blame would be placed on Lance for damning them all.

"What happens in a trial?"

Clair continued leading Lyra towards the dragon shrine. Several locals looked at them as they passed by. "I don't know all the details, but I know that he will have to justify his actions. He's going to have the fight charges laid against him, and I… I don't know if he's going to have the support." She looked down.

They reached the cave entrance and stepped inside. The last time Lyra had visited she had learned about Lance's identity and the crimes of his past. Up ahead was the shrine itself. There were now banners of other dragon clans placed outside the front entrance - the clans of Kalos, Unova and Hoenn. Had they already begun the takeover?

Clair kicked one of the banners and knocked it over then opened the door. She waited for Lyra to enter, closed it then locked the door. "I don't want any surprise visitors," Clair said, noticing Lyra's frown. "If we don't lock the doors, they just come inside and make themselves at home."

Lyra looked around. Most of the family heirlooms were gone. Most likely, Clair and Lance had stashed them away in a chest somewhere to avoid them being broken by the foreigners. Even the Dragonite statue had disappeared. Above the fireplace was a Dragonite head made of clay, but that was it. All other symbols of the clan had been removed. It was certainly quite a change from her last visit, and now felt strangely empty.

"Where's Lance?"

"In the bedroom. He might still be sleeping. Why don't you go in and check?" She wandered into the kitchen and opened the fridge. Realizing Clair wasn't going to speak further, Lyra headed towards one of three closed doors and knocked. No response. Placing her hand on the doorknob, she turned it clockwise and slowly pushed it open just wide enough to peek inside.

Lance was lying on the bed and reading a book. "Lance?"

Lowering the book down, he jerked his head in her direction, a smile spreading across his face. "Lyra."

She stepped inside and closed the door then walked over. The room was at least half the size of the Champion's master bedroom, and nowhere near as furnished. In comparison, it was quite empty. Lance's room had the basic furniture – a bed, a single column bookshelf with three drawers, and a table without a chair. He didn't even have a carpet.

"You don't have a chair to sit on?"

He shook his head. "It broke…. But you don't need one. The bed isn't just for sleeping." He sat upright as Lyra sat down next to him then wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. "Arceus… I missed you." Lyra cuddled her back against him and sighed. He gently turned her head around to face him, his dark eyes studying her face for a few moments before gently brushing back her hair.

Lyra looked into his eyes deeply and smiled. It was hard to believe how much time had passed since she had last been this close. "I'm glad to be here with you too," she replied softly. He smiled at her again, his eyes bright with happiness that she suspected he hadn't felt in quite some time. A surprised gasp exited her throat, as she felt his fingers slowly trace over her shoulders and down to her stomach.

His lips sought hers. She felt her heart quicken in her chest as she kissed him back. The concept of time faded from her mind as she continued to kiss him until he pulled back. "I've been dying to kiss you…" he replied slowly, gazing deeply into her eyes. He pulled her into a warm embrace again, gently pressing her against his chest. "I'm glad you're here. Your absence… didn't feel right. I don't know what I'd do without you."

She smiled and cuddled herself up to him again. "Well, I'm here with you now." Her smile then faltered as she looked into his dark eyes. "Clair told me things are looking a little unstable here in Blackthorn with the arrival of the other clans. Is there anything I can do to help?"

He shook his head. "No. Nothing. The league has no power over the dragon clans. We're separate entities." He kissed her again then pulled back. "But enough about me. How are you coping? I hope the journalists haven't been too hard on you."

"You don't follow Marina's blog, do you?"

His eyes darkened. "What did she do?"

"She organized an interview, and she said me questions about my plans for the future as Champion… and with you. She posted the interview on her blog and twisted my answers to make it look like you and I are having problems," she replied, looking away to the side, as if embarrassed. That interview had been a mistake, and she should've tried harder to avoid it.

Lance cupped her chin and gently turned her head around to face him again. "Marina will stop at nothing to make life miserable for you out of petty jealousy, but you know I will never turn my back on you. Marina can do whatever she wants – she can spread false rumours and make up lies – but she will never break the bond that we have." He gently ran his fingertips along her cheek.

"Clair told me the dragon council members are going to put you on trial."

He snorted. "I don't know what the future holds… but I do know a trial is never a good thing."

"Aren't you worried? Because I am. I don't want to lose you."

He looked away for a brief second then turned back. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried. If they succeed, we lose everything. The Blackthorn name just becomes something of the past, and it would be my fault for ending our legacy. That's a worse fate than death – at least in death you're remembered, but this? Forgotten."

"There has to be something you can do. That we can do together," she said, placing a hand on his, fingers intertwined, her eyes locked on his. "I'm the Champion. You're the former Champion. Surely, that's enough power to make them retreat."

"They won't listen, Lyra. I appreciate the help, but this isn't a fight you can help me win." He forced a bitter laugh and looked downwards. "I made a mistake, a crucial error, and now I have to face the consequences of that alone. I can't bring you into this fight – I don't know what they'll do to you and you've already got a lot to deal with as Champion."

She narrowed her eyes. "Don't be stubborn, Lance. I can help you. I want to help you. We are in this together, and nothing you will say is going to change my mind. I didn't come here for you to kiss me and then tell me that I can't help because you don't want to endanger me. If I must turn my back on the league to save you, I will."

"You can't do that."

"You almost gave up everything to save me, Lance. If you hadn't of come after me… I would've died at Mount Silver and no one would've known until it was too late." She drew in a deep and exhaled. "I won't let you fight this battle alone, not after everything we've been through together. Don't shut me out because you think you're being noble."

"I'm sorry, Lyra. I never meant-"

Silencing him with another kiss, she pulled him down onto the bed. "You don't need to apologize."

"From the moment I saw you, I knew you were special, Lyra. I don't think there's any other place in the world I'd rather be at than by your side."

He tenderly pressed himself against her while he kissed her neck, her cheeks then her lips again. A soft pleasurable moan escaped her throat as he continued his actions. It was only when she felt one of his hands slide up beneath her shirt that she became aware of where this was heading. A part of her wanted to keep going, but she knew it was far too soon to be on that level. "…We can't do this right now…" she said, struggling to keep her voice steady. "…What about your cousin?" she added.

He pulled his hand away. "…Sorry." With what appeared to be great restraint, Lance rolled off her and sat upright on the bed. She could see the disappointment in his eyes, but there was also a hint of regret. "I lost control."

She sat up. "It's not that I don't want to, it's just… it's too early for that."

He refused to meet her eyes, embarrassed. Marina's words flashed in her mind. The Blackthorn surname was carried on through the males in the family, and he needed an heir from Lyra. It was like marrying into royalty. Certain expectations had to be met for the bloodline to last another generation. Perhaps it was the thought of having a child that made her afraid?

"I understand," Lance replied, still refusing to meet her eyes. He then brought a hand to his head and hissed. Alarmed, Lyra raised a brow. He raised a hand. "It's fine. Just… a headache." He moved around her and off the bed then stood up, a hand still pressed against his left temple. He only managed to take one step forwards before stumbling over. Fortunately, he was able to support himself on the nearby table.

Lyra didn't waste a second. She swung her feet over the side of the bed then stood up and moved to his side immediately. "Lance?"

"I guess Clair didn't tell you." He remained hunched over the desk, drawing in deep ragged breaths.

"That you were sick? No, she didn't." She helped him back to the bed again and sat down beside him, her eyes wide with concern. "How long as this been going on for? Why didn't you say anything? Why not visit the pokémon centre?" Stubborn dragon master. Why was it always the tamers that had to be so difficult?

He lay back down on the bed again. "For the past couple of weeks. It happens at random. I didn't want you to worry."

"I'm going to get someone to help."

She moved off the bed again and tried to head towards the door, but Lance grabbed her arm. "Don't need to tell anyone. Can't have them knowing," he said in between breaths, his tone laced with pain. "Don't need to give the dragon council members more of a reason to prove that I'm unworthy and unfit to lead."

She wanted to seek medical assistance because watching him, her strong and mighty dragon master, unable to move without help caused her heart to ache. "You can't put me in this position," she said, looking down at him, unsure of whether to be angry at him. "If you're feeling unwell…" As much as she wanted to seek help, she knew she couldn't. She looked towards the door again, biting down hard on her lower lip.

"Please don't go."

"I'll get Clair and something for you to drink. Maybe painkillers as well."

"…Lyra."

She shook her head. "I'm not going to watch you suffer." He released his grip on her arm and she exited the room, her head filled with worry. Quickening her pace, she headed into the main part of the shrine and searched for Clair. Fortunately, the girl hadn't strayed far and was currently sitting down at the table eating a bowl of noodles.

Clair looked up and smirked. "…Did you tire him out?"

"Do you have any painkillers?" Lyra replied, ignoring Clair's question. "Lance says he has a headache. He almost collapsed."

That removed the smirk off her face. She set her bowl down and rose to her feet. Cursing under her breath, she sauntered towards the drawer beneath the cutlery and grabbed some Panadol. She then opened the drawers above the sink for a glass. "It's the third time this has happened. No one in our family has ever had a history of experiencing migraines or anything, and he's never shown any signs of it before." She filled the glass up with water and headed towards the bedroom when there was a knock on the front door.

"You were expecting visitors?"

Clair scowled. "Must be those damned dragon tamers again. Here, take these to Lance. Force it down his throat if you must. I'll deal with whoever is at the door and if it's them… They're going to wish they had never come." She thrust the glass and Panadol into Lyra's hands and stormed over to the door. Lyra nodded and returned to the room.

"Wow, what a fight! He's more than just a pretty face!"

"Isn't that Silver? That weird guy who tried to beat Lyra but always lost?"

"I heard he was a thief."

Blue Oak didn't bother pursing his sister. As far as he was concerned, she was nobody. She was just some other random in the crowd who had come to look. Drawing in a deep breath and trying to calm himself down, he picked up his groceries and headed home, desperate to get away from the crowd so he could think.

Silver. That must've been the guy he was fighting. The boy had mentioned he was a friend of Lyra's – how else would he have known about the sending Lyra to Mount Silver to battle Red? He'd have to ask Lyra about that when she came around…. That is if she was even going to. Still, he had given her a fortnight to think about it. There was still some time left before a decision had to be made.

He reached his house. Laying his groceries on the floor, he pulled out key and inserted it into the keyhole then opened the door. Picking the bag up again, he headed inside and slammed the door shut. Before he could even help himself to a quick snack, the door flew open. Blue glanced over his shoulder and was disappointed to find his sister standing in the doorway.

"Don't you know it's rude to not knock?"

She closed the door behind him. "Grandfather said I'd still find you here."

So, Samuel had sent her after him. That explained why she was here standing beneath his roof. It wasn't as if she had come here out of the kindness of her heart. How much had grandfather paid her? He turned his back to her and grabbed a piece of bread. "Did he send you here to talk to me hoping you could change my mind?"

"That's not why I'm here. What's between you and grandfather to discuss."

He took a bite out of the bread. "Then if you're not here for him, then why are you here?" He didn't care that she was his sister. As far as he was concerned, she was just as rotten as grandfather, and he'd be happier never seeing her again. But alas, unfortunately for him, here she was. "Don't lie to me, Daisy."

He heard her sigh. "…I just passing through the city doing an errand for grandfather and he suggested that I should pay you a visit."

Throwing the slice of bread back into the bag, he turned around and glowered. "You expect me to believe that? I haven't seen you in almost ten years and now you show up out of the blue deciding today was a good time to visit your brother?" he retorted. "Or did you finally come to your senses and came to apologize?"

Sometimes it was hard to believe he was related to her. They shared the same hair and eye colour, but their personalities differed greatly. From the little he remembered of her, she was uninterested in becoming a trainer, preferring to bring out the best in pokémon by starting up a beauty clinic. He remembered her spending hours grooming pokémon. To him, it was just a waste of time.

"I had no choice, Blue. I had to take up the offer."

Ten years ago Daisy had made the choice to leave home to pursue her dreams of becoming a coordinator and part-time researcher. He had been five years old at the time and she had been twelve. The girl had been offered an apprenticeship in one of Kanto's leading beauty companies and she had taken it without a thought.

What was even worse was that their grandfather encouraged her to pursue her ambition yet cared little about Blue's ambitions to become a great trainer. It was always 'you need to follow in my footsteps, grandson.' "You had a choice," he fired back, unable to stop himself. The adrenaline from the fight against that freak with the red hair was still in his system. "And you chose to leave."

"It was a once in a lifetime deal."

"And so that justified walking out on us?"

"You didn't need my help, Blue. Grandfather was taking good care of you."

He scoffed. "Taking good care of me? If you mean by feeding me, then yeah, he did his job, but he failed at everything else! He always went on about equal opportunities and giving everyone a fair go, but he never gave me a chance at all. It was always everyone but my own grandson," he said heatedly.

She pushed a strand of loose brown hair away from her eyes. "That isn't true."

"You're so blinded by love for our grandfather that you fail to see his faults," he seethed, pointing a finger at her accusingly. "Grandfather despised me from the moment I was under his care and you know it. Why else would he choose a neighbour's kid over his own grandson? You remember Red, don't you? The weird neighbour's kid. I turned ten first and yet I had to wait a few extra months for Red to turn ten. You didn't have to wait!"

It was always Red. For whatever reason, his grandfather loved the kid. It was almost as if he wished Red was his grandson and not Blue. Even Leaf preferred Red. Everyone did. He was the Champion everyone admired whilst he was just the jerk everyone loved to hate. "Grandfather made a deal with Delia. That he would wait until Red turned ten as well so you could have a healthy rivalry with someone your own age."

"He didn't make you wait."

"Because all the other kids in town were of different ages. Red was the same age as you, and grandfather saw this as an opportunity for you to make friends because he thought it would help you." What was that supposed to mean? "Grandfather was worried about you."

Excuses after excuses. He wasn't buying any of it. He snorted. "So he was so worried about me that he forgot my own bloody name? Shows how much he genuinely cared. I didn't get to choose my own starter pokémon until Red had chosen. I guess that shows the true extent of grandfather's care towards me. He didn't even care when I became Champion, but he was there when Red claimed the title."

Daisy looked around the room, her eyes resting on red ribbon on the floor. She raised her eyebrows and turned back to him again. "And this is exactly why grandfather tried so hard to guide you down the right pathway because he was afraid this might happen. Did becoming Champion make you happy?"

"No." He wanted to say it had, but the truth was it only brought him more misery. The elite four certainly weren't thrilled with his takeover, nor were any of the gym leaders. Most of them complained he was obnoxious and rude. "What does it matter? I achieved a status not many people can obtain."

"Does anything you do today bring you joy?"

"You're avoiding the question."

"And you're avoiding mine." She sighed again and rubbed her temples. "From what I've been hearing, you've been making a nuisance of yourself. I heard what happened with Lance – you provoked him into striking you, didn't you?"

"What makes you think that?"

"Because that's the person you have become." He wanted to fire back with a retort of his own, but the words wouldn't come out. For once, he was speechless. She picked up the ribbon from the floor and held it before his face. "You're someone who is desperately trying to call out for attention and you're acting out in reckless ways. Is this who you really want to be?"

"Maybe what you're looking at right now is the real me," he said after a few moments pause.

She shook her head. "I refuse to believe that my brother could be so cold and cruel."

"Maybe you're just blinded by fear."

"I think you're the one who is afraid, Blue."

He would've laughed if she hadn't looked so serious. "You don't know what you're talking about. You left when I was five so don't act like you know me. We're basically strangers who only know each other through the words of others." His gaze hardened as he closed the gap between them. He leaned close to her left hear and said in a low tone, "I have nothing to be afraid of – it's the world that should be afraid of me." Pulling back, he raised a hand and pointed at the door.

She opened her mouth to speak further, decided against it, and closed her mouth. Turning her back, she headed to the door. As she opened the door, she spared one last glance over her shoulder, her dark eyes full of regret. "You might blame us for abandoning you, but we never did – you turned your back on us, Gary."