A Rival Or a Friend - Chap. 2

A Rival or A Friend.

Lyra x Silver or Ethan xD

Chapter 2

Ethan and Lyra had just left New Bark Town and were now heading to Cherrygrove City to try and find Lyra's mother who had gone shopping there earlier and not returned. The sun had now pretty much set and the two teens were trying to navigate themselves through the long grass. Marill and Meganium followed behind their respective trainers.
   "Hey… Lyra?"
    "Hm?"
    "Am I weak?"
    "Huh? No, of course you're not! Just because you don't battle a lot it doesn't mean you're a bad trainer or that you're weak,"
     "I guess…But you've come so far and I'm still a novice!"
     "To me, you're the person that gave me the push to start my journey. You taught me how to catch pokemon, you encouraged me when I was about to back down. You were the rock I needed to stop myself from falling at every hurdle. You might not be the best trainer out there,  but when it comes to being a good person you're the strongest person I know," Lyra told him with a smile.
Ethan gulped and blushed before looking at his feet.
    "I-I didn't know that I helped you that much…" He replied quietly.
    "Well, you know now. So don't think you're weak ever again, ok?"
    "Y-Yeah…I won't do it again,"
Up ahead, they could see the lights coming from the houses of Cherrygrove City.
    "Ah, we're nearly there!" Lyra said as she sighed with relief.
Ethan nodded but his mind was in overdrive. He needed to do something or he'd never have the courage! Slowly and gradually, he reached his hand over to Lyra's and grasped it firmly.
    "I'm s-sure she's fine, y'know…" He told her.
She nodded slowly, not realising that his gesture was one of love, not one of reassurance. She squeezed his hand gently and smiled brightly.
    "Yeah, I know. Lets go find her!"
She started to run, pulling Ethan with her. However, things weren't going to be that easy.

When they reached Cherrygrove, there were Team Rocket grunts everywhere. They blocked the entrances to the Pokemon Centre and the Pokemart. They barred the doors to peoples houses so they couldn't get out. The two trainers looked around in horror at the sight and Lyra nearly screamed when she saw her mother bound and gagged at the feet of a particularly vicious looking member. He regarded her with such venom, such hatred that she could practically feel it radiating off of him. He didn't look any different from the other members when it came to uniform but his intent was much more evil than the rest. It was easy to see that.
   "We were wondering how long it would take the fabled trainer to get here…And look, she's brought a lackey with her," He sneered, causing Ethan to growl meekly.
   "What do you want?!" Lyra snarled viciously.
   "Ah, straight to the point. I like that," The rocket thug grinned. "What we want, in exchange for her safety, is all 3 of the legendary dogs AND Lugia,"
    "You've GOT to be joking me!" Lyra cried.
The thug, seeing her hesitance, smirked and crouched down by her mother, yanking her up to her knees by her hair.
    "Don't tell me you like seeing her in this much pain…" He hissed.
    "I…...I…..." Lyra stammered.
That was it. Ethan had had enough. Stepping forward, he glared at the thug angrily.
   "I'll fight you for it!" He declared.
    "Well well, the lackey has a voice! I could use a bit of fun, lets go," The Rocket thug replied.
Marill skipped forward and let out a brave cry as the thug released a Houndour.
    "Heh, a fire type. This'll be easy! Marill, bubblebeam!" Ethan called.
    "Houndour, take down!"
The Houndour growled and slammed itself into Marill, knocking it unconscious instantly.
    "Marill, no!" Ethan gasped as he kneeled beside his companion.
   "And again, Houndour!"
   "Huh?"
Before either Ethan or Lyra could register what was happening, the Houndour slammed itself into Ethan too, knocking him back against a fence.
   "Ethan!"
Lyra was about to run to his aid when the Houndour blocked her way, snarling viciously with its hackles raised.
    "Oh no you don't, girly. We're not done here yet. Will you take his place and fight me?" The thug smirked.
    "…Yeah, I will."
    "Haha, let's see if you live up to your name then!"
    "Hmph…Meganium, body slam!"
This time, Meganium got the first hit in, absolutely flattening the Houndour into unconsciousness.
    "Gah! Don't get too cocky, I'm not done yet!" The thug shouted as he threw a pokeball into the air, releasing an Arbok.
     "Meganium, body slam again!"
     "Arbok, dodge it!"
      "Again, Meganium!"
      "Arbok, poison fang!"
Meganium couldn't move away fast enough. The Arbok trapped it in its coils and sank its fangs into the helpless Meganiums neck. It let out a squeal of pain as the poison sunk in, causing it to faint.
     "Meganium, no!" Lyra screamed, running over and pumelling the Arbok with her fists. "LET GO! GET AWAY!"
The Arbok hissed then gradually retreated, leaving Lyra to crouch over Meganium's body, holding its head in her lap and stroking the pokemons long neck.
   "Heh, I'm not done yet…" The thug whispered to himself as he silently released a Haunter. "Shadow ball…"
Lyra looked up at the Haunter as it conjured up a dark ball between its hands. Throwing herself over Meganium, she shut her eyes and waited for the pain. Nothing. She didn't feel anything. She looked up and gasped. Silver stood in front of her, his back towards her. He had taken the hit for her.

   "Silver!" Lyra gasped.
Silver could only manage a grunt of pain as he fell to his knees, gasping for air. Lyra gently set Meganium's head down and turned Silver around slowly to face her. His face was contorted in pain as he clutched his stomach. She sniffed slightly and wiped her eyes.
   "…Don't cry," Silver muttered. "You have no reason to cry, you're not hurt…"
   "No, but you are," Lyra sobbed. "And Meganium is. And Ethan is,"
Silver sighed and used his free arm to pull her to him, trying his best to hug her.
    "Typhlosion…Fire blast…" He muttered.
Lyra heard the Typhlosion's cry and soon felt an overwhelming heat.
     "W-Wait! My mom!" She gasped.
    "Relax. Typhlosion knows," Silver whispered in reply. "Do you have a pokemon on you that could get her outta there?"
     "I…I have Rapidash?"
     "That'll work. It'll be able to get through the fire,"
Lyra shakily released Rapidash, who quickly grasped the situation and leaped through the flames, rearing up at the thug who growled and quickly started to flee. Lyra's mother managed to sit herself up to Typlosion could gnaw through the ropes that bound her arms and legs. Soon, she managed to jump onto Rapidash's back and hold on as it bolted through the flames again. She saw Lyra being held by a red-headed stranger and looked at him cautiously.
    "She's fine…" Silver murmured. "Rapidash will take you home. I'll bring Lyra back soon,"
She nodded as the Rapidash set off at a trot.
Silver, as injured as he was, managed to stand and help Lyra to her feet, still refusing to let her go.
    "B-But Ethan…"
    "Shhh, I'll take care of things here…"
Strangely comforted by his words, Lyra let him steer her towards the direction she came from and guide her home.