On Silver Wings

Chapter 1

Kris, for all intents and purposes, was a recent addition to New Bark Town. She did not leave her house much, not unless one counted escaping out the window of her second floor bedroom into the limbs of the large poplar tree growing unattended in the area behind the house.

Still, she knew without a doubt the man peering into the window of Professor Elm's laboratory was not a resident of the small town. She was sure she would remember his hair being as dark and bright as magma as it was.

Kris was content to leave him be. He did not give off pleasant vibes, and he was probably one of those overzealous fans she'd heard Professor Elm's wife complain about when the other woman visited her mother. He was about her age so she knew as well as anyone how obsessive they could be in the face of their interests.

Yes, it was not worth getting involved.

Unfortunately, Ethan did not have the same thought process, and, since Kris was technically accompanying him to the lab, she shuffled after him as he approached the mystery visitor.

"...So this is the famous Elm Pokemon Lab," the stranger mused to himself as she and Ethan drew close.

"Are you here to visit the lab too?" Ethan asked, effectively announcing their presence with all the delicacy of a young tyrogue.

Kris hoped the mystery man was not that kind of a visitor. She bet Ethan would try to invite him to join them or something. As it was, she had a feeling he was not as he spun around, striking silver eyes narrowed into a glare that made her stop where she stood ten feet away. She could take a hint. He wanted to be left well enough alone.

Even Ethan paused at the obvious antagonism, his hand dropping to the single pokeball at his waist.

The silver eyes followed the movement, and his glare twisted into a sneer as if he dared Ethan to send out his pokemon. "Why don't you mind your own business and get lost."

A very good idea indeed, Kris had to agree.

Yet Ethan didn't move except to straighten so that his height rivaled the other man.

And Kris had a sudden urge to bash her head into something.

Because Ethan was just going to get beat up, and his Marill sure wasn't going to be able to do anything about it. She should just leave them at it, but, as she watched, the magma-haired man was already clenching his fist. Mentally sighing, she snapped her arm out, gripping Ethan at the elbow before he could send out his not-very-intimidating pokemon.

The action graced her with an intense silver-eyed gaze.

She fought to match him with her own even as she spoke to Ethan. "Let's just go. Professor Elm is expecting us and he is not worth fighting with."

The stranger's lip curled at her words, but she did not care. She only wanted to get this meeting with Professor Elm over with so she could return to her self-induced solitude. Preferably without having to explain why Ethan had a black eye.

To her relief, Ethan complied, his hand dropping from the ball at his waist. "Fine. Let's go," he agreed, jerking around to slip past her for the laboratory door.

Kris sure didn't dally and followed without another glance at the mysterious stranger.

But her skin prickled with awareness even inside the lab.

Against her better judgement, she looked out the window as she passed and blue eyes met silver a second time. It only reinforced her initial thought.

It was not worth getting involved.