The sun shone brightly overhead, warming the crowd below as they cheered. The crowd trembled with excitement, encircling a small group of people as they all stood watch in the streets. Four young adults stood in pairs facing each other, determined smiles on their faces. One pair, a boy and girl in what looked like matching red and black jogging outfits, called out their pokemon first, releasing them with a flash of red light from their pokeballs. The two pokemon, a Dragonair and a Kingdra, eyed the opposing trainers with a steady gaze, intimidating and inescapable. The second pair, two young men wearing tee shirts, well worn jackets and torn jeans called out their own pokemon in return. A Flygon and Kecleon burst from their pokeballs with a fierce cry, eagerly awaiting the chance to attack their opponents. With a shout the pairs of trainers called out attacks to their pokemon, instructing them in the battle. Just then the camera was struck with one of the attacks that had strayed from its mark, causing the screen to turn grey and crackle.
“Sorry about that folks,” said the newscaster for GNN, the Goldenrod News Network. “It appears that one of our Magnemite cameras was taken out during the battle. We should have another one up in a few moments.” He turned to the female newscaster. “Janine, what else do we have on the parade today?”
“Well Bob, as you and the viewers at home know, the Dragon Festival is going on this whole week for New Years. Scores of trainers have flocked to Goldenrod in hopes that they can be included in the Dragon Tournament, as you already witnessed—“
Knock knock knock!
Mikoto turned off the television and got up off the couch to answer the door. He stood at exactly five feet tall, his wiry body dressed casually in shorts and a tee shirt. His long, black hair was tied up in a messy pony tail and slung over his shoulder. He rubbed his light golden colored eyes sleepily as he opened the door. The young girl outside impatiently knocked again, only this time she knocked on his forehead instead of the door.
“Ouch! What the hell was that for, Lyra?” Mikoto hollered, rubbing his sore head as he glared at the young girl outside.
Lyra was his next door neighbor and long time friend. She stood a few inches taller than Mikoto, and she loved to tease him about it. Her hair was tied into two pigtails on either side of her ears, the rest of her head practically engulfed by an over-sized hat that seemed to threaten her balance at any moment. Her attire was more suitable, a nice blouse and a pair of short overalls. The two grew up together in New Bark Town since Mikoto and his mother moved there from Kanto when he was just a little boy.
“Oh I’m sorry Mikoto!” she said, pulling her hands back and clasping them tightly. “I didn’t mean to hurt you! I just didn’t know if you’d heard me knocking or not.” Lyra fidgeted uncomfortably, shifting from foot to foot. She looked at Mikoto pitifully and pouted her bottom lip.
Mikoto rolled his eyes and sighed, patting her on the shoulder.
“It’s alright, Lyra. Now what did you come over for?” he asked, rubbing his head and shielding his eyes from the light. He’d forgotten it was mid-afternoon and the sun was in just the perfect position to hit his eyes just right, making his head hurt worse.
“What, I can’t just visit my best friend?” she pouted, stepping forward so that she was right in front of his face. “Besides, I have important news for you.”
Mikoto flinched when she got in his face, but relaxed and sighed again. “I’m sorry. You’re right.” He gave her a tight hug, patted her on the back and asked, “Now what was the important news you had to tell me?”
“Oh so now you want to know,” she said dramatically, waving her arms vigorously in the air. “Just two seconds ago you wanted nothing to do with me, but now-“
“Lyra! Please!” Mikoto yelled, drowning out her whining tone. He furrowed his eyebrows and half glared at her. “What is it you have to tell me?”
Lyra jumped slightly at his tone and frowned at his rude look, but told him nonetheless.
“Elm was looking for you earlier,” she said, glancing down at a rock on the ground. She kicked it lightly as she continued. “Said he had something for you to do, but that was an hour ago, so I don’t—“
By the time Lyra had looked up Mikoto had already left, quickly shutting the door behind him and practically running down the street to Professor Elm’s laboratory. He arrived at the Professor’s lab a few minutes later, panting slightly from the sudden exertion. He silently cursed Lyra for not telling him sooner that Elm had been looking for him. If the Professor was asking for him, then that meant that today was the day…
Composing himself and standing a little straighter than usual, Mikoto pulled his hair into a tighter and neater pony tail, smoothed out some of the more noticeable wrinkles in his clothes and as confidently as possible opened the door to Elm’s lab.
