Beyond the gym was a familiar face.
"Heya, Bob!"
It was Lyra. Just like last time, they had met in the opposite roles.
"Hello, Lyra, how've you been?" He asked.
"You make it seem like we haven't seen each other for ten years," She replied, adjusting the strap of her yellow bag.
'Well, we only had a brief conversation,' Bob thought, 'why does she act like we are old friends? Is this how it is in this world?'
"Anyway," She said, pointing in a direction, "Let's have some tea while we speak,"
"Alright," Bob needed that tea after what happened today.
Once again, Bob sat at a table outside of this peculiar restaurant with Lyra opposite him.
However, compared to that other establishment, this one had a 'morning' type of feel.
Bob honesty was digging this, though it wasn't the morning.
He even noticed the previous restaurant a few blocks away, though he stopped himself from gazing into the distance.
'Cafe,' Bob looked at one of the menus on the white table, 'that makes sense,'
His bag leaned against his white chair, safely near him.
"So to answer your question," Bob looked across from him at Lyra, who had an elbow on the table, her hand against her cheek, "I was here to challenge the gym here, but as you saw, I ran into you,"
"Huh," Bob took out a pokéball, and after that a potion.
"You were walking out of the gym," She said, looking around, "how did it go?"
"It was pretty close but I beat him," He replied, spraying the pokéball, "Bugsy was really strong, though,"
"Wow, that's amazing," Lyra said, applauding after hearing this achievement, "congrats!"
"I wanted to ask you," Bob spoke, "how many badges do you have?"
"I only have one," She replied, her face falling on the table, "while you have two. I'm so envious,"
'Better see how strong her pokémon are,' Bob thought, "How did it go?"
"Hmm," Lyra placed a finger on her chin while she looked up, "it was against Falkner, I think that's his name? I honestly thought I was going to lose,"
"Speaking of which," She took out a pokéball, "Griffith got an evolution,"
With a light toss, a red fuzz appeared.
"Croconaw," She cried, looking pretty agitated.
"I don't think I told you, but Griffith is her nickname," Lyra spoke.
"Cool," Bob nodded, releasing Guts, "my Cyndaquil evolved as well,"
"Quilava," Guts said, before seeing Griffith in front of him.
"Croconaw," Griffith looked to relax as she began to speak.
"Your Quilava looks strong now," Lyra said, pouting, "I wish I had one. However, when I went to Professor Elm, there were only Totodile and Chikorita, but I don't regret picking and naming Griffith, I even got a TM from my dad after he heard the news,"
'Interesting,' Bob thought, 'so she arrived after me, somehow? Now that I think about it, I really just chose a pokéball without checking the contents. I could've gotten a different pokémon for all I know,'
"Professor Elm?" Bob asked, "I got him from the Professor as well,"
"No way!" Lyra looked at Bob with a surprised expression, "You're lucky,"
"But, that does kinda explain it," She looked at the two pokémon conversing.
"Explain what?"
"I found it weird how well Griffith got along with that Quilava," She spoke, folding her arms, "does he have a nickname?"
"It's Guts," Bob replied.
"Nice name," She said, "but I guess they knew each other back when they were still in the lab,"
Both looked at Guts and Griffith, who were now in a hug.
Around this time, their orders arrived.
A waiter dropped off the two cups of tea and left without a hitch.
"Oh yeah," Lyra sighed, and facepalmed, "my match with Falkner,"
Bob listened in as she continued, "He was pretty hard, but nothing bad. I think he was holding back,"
"What pokémon did you use?" Bob asked, 'She only showed me Croconaw, I wonder what other pokémon she has?'
"Oh, um," She said, sipping her tea, "its kind of embarrassing to say,"
However, Lyra continued while Bob drank from his beverage.
"I only used Griffith, my Croconaw,"
"Gak!" Bob stopped himself from blowing out his tea from his mouth.
"I know, I know," She said, her head on the table with her arms covering it, "he said it was foolish of me to use only one pokémon when I told him, but I think I made him mad as he went quiet after the match,"
'Holy crap,' Bob's eyes widened, 'She sweeped Falkner,'
"Also, there were these two other trainers I met before Falkner," Lyra said, scratching her cheek, "but my girl handled them,"
Bob felt like his soul was going to escape his body, but he breathed in.
"That's actually impressive," He said.
"How?!" Lyra questioned, still looking confused.
"You used one pokémon to sweep a gym," Bob replied, "that's a feat, even,"
"I guess you're right," She spoke, wiping sweat from her forehead, "I hope Guts is winning his battles,"
"How come?"
"Remember the last time?" Lyra asked, "when we fight in the league, I hope they both are undefeated,"
Bob raised an eyebrow, "I'll try,"
"Great, because only pokémon Guts is losing to..."
She smiled.
"...is Griffith,"
Bob smirked.
"Wait, wait, wait," Lyra began to wave her hands in defence, "don't take that as a threat!"
"It's alright," Bob replied.
"So, where are you going after this?"
"To Goldenrod City," He said, finishing his tea, "there's a tournament going on there, as I've heard,"
"Really?" Lyra asked, "When is it?"
"I...don't know," Bob answered, as he realised Miranda never gave him the date of when it would begin, "but I am going to sign up as soon as possible,"
"Damn," Lyra frowned, "I'm going to stay here for a bit to catch some pokémon and to get my second badge,"
"Mhm," Bob nodded.
After a while, the check came in.
Bob reached his bag for some cash.
"Now hold it right there, Bob," Lyra spoke, halting his action, "I may not be a strong trainer, but I know I am a good friend,"
With that, Lyra slammed some money on the table.
"That was stupid of me," She said, covering her eyes with the hat on her head.
Bob didn't want Lyra to spent her money on him as he did have money of his own, but after this stunt, he kept quiet.
They left the table.
"I'm gonna try and battle the gym," She said, "So it's goodbye for now,"
"Until we meet again,"
Having waved as she walked away, Bob walked to the Pokécenter.
'I'll head to the Pokémart after this,' Bob thought, waiting on his pokémon, 'I should head out of this city right after if I am gonna sign up,'
After receiving his pokémon, Bob reached the shop.
'Where are the TMs?' He thought, walking down the isles, 'Ah, there they are,'
On a shelf, stood many disks, each with different names and different regions.
Now noticing, there were even HMs in their own row.
After a look, Bob pulled out one.
'HM 6: Rock Smash,'
'Might as well buy moves for everyone,'
So after grabbing a few disks that he could buy, Bob purchased them by the counter.
'That should be it,' Bob walked out of the Pokémart and soon, out of Azalea Town.
While walking, he thought about what he had heard from Lyra.
'In the games, Falkner was pretty easy,' Bob thought, 'however, this is not the games, and he seems pretty strong, or maybe I'm weak? Either way, Lyra is freaking strong,'
He sighed.
The training was going to have to go up a notch.
Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.