Golden Echoes: Memory 5

Silver slogged through the muddy ground. He hated being in this environment; he preferred forests to muddy hills and rock cliffs. But Chuck, the gym leader, wouldn't be back in Cianwood for a few more days, so he might as well train in a remote area while he waited.  

Away from all of the noisy, obnoxious people…

Silver froze as he glanced up at the nearest ledge. Speaking of obnoxious people…

His rival, Lyra, was up there, training with an Eevee and her beloved Bayleaf. Silver was pretty ticked off at her, even more so than usual. The last time they had met up, she had accused him of liking her. Of liking her! He would never develop feelings for such a stupid, annoying girl. Even if she was kind of cute.

Evidently, Silver was not overly eager to see his rival again, even if she claimed she had just been joking. Yet, his want to battle her was quickly overpowering his anger, so, with a twinge of irritation, he called up to the bothersome trainer.

"Hey, Miss Weakling!"

Lyra paused, and then quickly turned around to face Silver. She scowled, and crossed her arms.

"What is it, Silver?"

Silver's heart skipped a beat. It freaked him out whenever Lyra actually used his name. Hardly anyone did, not even his own father. And he certainly knew Silver better than Lyra did. Though, as much as Lyra must hate me, Giovanni probably hates me more.

"Are you going to answer me already?" Lyra sneered. "Or are you just going to stand there looking like an idiot?"

She's using my own words against me! "I'm not the idiot, stupid. Anyways, I was going to ask you for a battle, but if you're too scared…"

"I'm not scared! Bring it on, pretty boy!"

Pretty boy! Silver clenched his fists. At least I don't wear overalls like some sort of country bumpkin!

***

Okay, that's it. She's cheating. She must be. Because there's NO WAY that she just defeated me for the THIRD TIME IN A ROW.

Lyra smiled smugly as she faced Silver. "Who's the weakling now?"

"Ya know, you've become a lot nastier since we first met."

Lyra shrugged. "You must be wearing off on me." She reached down to pet Bayleaf. "I only act this way towards you, though, so I think I'm okay."

Silver took a step closer to her. "Well, being a total jerk really doesn't suit you. You completely suck at it."

Lyra reflexively took a step back. "Oh, so you admit-"

CRACK! Lyra's words were stolen straight from her mouth as she tumbled off of the cliff, along with various pieces of mud and rocks.

"LYRA!!!" Silver yelled. He ran to the edge of the cliff. Lyra was sprawled out about twenty feet below.

Dammit, Lyra! Silver rushed back the way he came, closely followed by Bayleaf.

Neither noticed the boy sitting near Lyra, shaking her gently.

***

Only when he reached Lyra did Silver become aware of the young man who was slowly lifting her body. However, he didn't recognize him quite yet, as his mind was taken up by one very important question.

"Is she alive?"

The boy nodded. "'Course. She just rolled down the slope. It's not too steep," he paused. "Hey, you're Silver, aren't you?"

"Yes. How do you…" Silver studied the boy's face. "You're Ethan."

Ethan smirked. "Glad that you remembered. What are you doing here, anyways? You didn't push her off, did you?!?"

"OF COURSE I DIDN'T!!! I never touched your little girlfriend."

"Lyra's not-"

"Huh?" Both boys stopped as Lyra slowly opened her eyes. She blinked twice, and quickly stood up. She groaned, grabbed at her left leg, and collapsed back onto the ground.

"Take it easy, Lyra," Ethan said softly.

"Ethan, why are you…? What happened?"

"You fell off the cliff," Silver explained.

Lyra started as she recognized Silver's voice. She stared at him with wide eyes, as if not believing that he hadn't just abandoned her after the fall.

"Silver…? Ethan?"

"Lyra?"

"BAYLEAF!" Bayleaf proudly exclaimed as she pounced on her trainer. Lyra started giggling as Bayleaf's tongue licked off the grime from her face. Both were obviously overjoyed to see the other.
Silver's features softened as he watched trainer and Pokémon reunited. The two were kind of cute… No! Not cute! Silver stiffened. It's pathetic how much the two of them care for each other! Pokémon and trainers shouldn't be friends!

…Right?

"So, Silver, what are you doing here?"

Silver glared at Ethan. "I could ask the same of you!"

"I was just passing through when I saw my best friend roll off of a freaking cliff."

"Well, I was just battling her when she rolled off of the freaking cliff."

Ethan grinned. "I bet Lyra won."

Silver clenched his fists.

"So, I was right! Go Lyra!"

Lyra, who had just put Bayleaf back into her Pokeball, glanced from Silver to Ethan. "Do you two know each other?"

"Yep," Ethan smile grew even wider. "I beat this idiot a few months ago in a battle. He was pretty pissed after; he blamed his Pokémon and then started accusing me of cheating. You can tell he thinks he's all that."

"Arrogant prick," Silver retorted. He started walking away, his mind in an uproar. What right did this idiot have assuming things about him? No one has any idea what I truly feel inside.

"C'mon, Lyra. Let's go the other way."

"You do realize," began Silver, turning back to the other two. "That the city is this way."

"So what?"

"Ethan," Lyra started. "I think I need to get to the city as soon as possible." She pointed to her left leg, and winced. "I don't think I can walk on this…"

"Oh, right." Ethan blushed slightly. "Um, give me your hand."

Silver watched as Ethan lifted Lyra up, put a hand around her waist, and slung her other arm around his shoulder. Slowly, they trudged toward him.

Now would be the time to leave. Yet, Silver paused as he continued to watch Ethan and Lyra. It was his fault, after all, that she'd fallen off that cliff. Would it really hurt to stay with them, at least for a little while?

Silver snorted. I must be getting soft. He silently waited for Ethan and Lyra to catch up, and then matched their pace as the three moved toward Cianwood City.

***

The trio stopped as the sun began to set. Few words had passed between them. Silver had kept his sights ahead nearly the whole time. Whenever he had peeked back at the other two, he had been greeted by a gold glare from Ethan or a tentative smile from Lyra. He didn't know which one unnerved him more.

They agreed to stop for the day in a small grove of trees; one of the few spots WITH trees in this good-forsaken wilderness. If they continued through the night, they could probably hit Cianwood by midnight, or so Ethan suggested. Silver and Lyra wholeheartedly disagreed; the latter was completely exhausted, and the pain in her leg was increasing with every step. Besides, traveling at night was dangerous. So, they decided to unroll their sleeping bags, and settle down for the night.

However, Silver could not sleep. His thoughts were overwhelmed by the day's events. Why had he freaked out so much when Lyra had fallen off of the cliff? It made no sense; she was his rival, after all. Not that he would just walk away if anyone fell off of a cliff. But he had felt that desperate worry when he had seen her topple over; the same feeling he had felt when those brutes had been harassing her.

And he couldn't help but wonder… who would be there for him if he was in trouble? His Pokémon certainly wouldn't care. If he was dying, they would probably rejoice. He treated them so harshly… would it really be wrong to just be a little nice?

Yes! It would be wrong! Silver shook his head in amazement. Where were all these stupid thoughts coming from? It must be the fault of that stupid girl. Being around her… affected him. He needed to get away.

Silver yawned. He snuggled further into his bag, and closed his eyes. I'll leave first thing in the morning.

***

Silver got up at the crack of dawn. Ethan and Lyra were still fast asleep. He swiftly rolled up his bag and gathered his belongings. He crept silently out of camp, careful not to wake the sleeping occupants.

Not that I care if they rest enough or whatever. I just don't want anyone to ask any questions…

"Silver…"

Crap. Silver turned around to meet the eyes of his recently awoken rival. She still seemed half asleep, with her heavy eyelids and crumpled pajamas.

"Um…" Lyra began. "I-I just wanted to say… thanks. For yesterday. For not… deserting me."

Silver's pulse quickened. "Oh, uh, no prob. Um, I mean, I was going this way anyways, and, uh, it was my fault… and, ya know, you and Ethan are both so weak and stupid… you'd probably get lost on your own."

Lyra giggled, clearly unfazed. "Well, thanks anyway," she frowned slightly. "And, Silver?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't felt too bad about losing to Ethan. This is his third year of his journey."

"I-I didn't feel bad about it. I'll beat both of you someday."

Lyra's lips shot back up to form a dazzling smile. "Whatever. Bye, Silver."

"…Bye." Silver ran away quickly, all the while aware of Lyra's gaze at his back.

Dammit dammit dammit! Why does she make me feel so tongue-tied all of a sudden?!? And why is she suddenly so stupidly nice?!? Yesterday she was being all nasty… and today she's happy and stupid and… not nasty! What the crap is with her?!? Why the hell is she so confusing?!?