Lyra spend the remainder of the day with Marcus even after Dawn meets up with Stanley who is happy to see his friend finally dating. Lyra seems so caught up that she doesn't want to leave.

"Lyra, what time do you want me to take you back to masters tower?" Marcus gently asks as they sit under the night sky enjoying the evening air. "If I go back will you come back to my room and lay with me?" Lyra softly asks in return. "I have to check with Kazuki. He doesn't want us mixing our group with yours." Marcus says.

"Why?" Lyra asks raising her head to look at him. "It's a long story." Marcus says not knowing if he can share the reason. "We've got time." Lyra says. "I need to call him to see if it's okay to share. Honestly it isn't my place to share that information." Marcus says. "So call him. This is important to me." Lyra says. So Marcus made the call.

"You're with Lyra?" Came Ash's immediate answer. "In more ways than one." Marcus responded. "Good. Keep her close and away from the traitors. She is not to go back to them whatsoever. Am I understood?" Ash says. "Is something wrong?" Marcus worriedly asks. "Yes. Khourey has said she's sided with us after the picture she sent to him. Misty may be out for blood. I doubt she'll do anything because the two aren't close but Khourey will be a problem. Tell her what she needs to know about the situation move her into your room in the tower. Until further notice Khourey is on a watchlist and security knows to not let him near her." Ash explains. "Orders received." Marcus says. "Good. Get back here A.S.A.P." Ash says. "Understood." Marcus says before hanging up.

"We need to go." "What's wrong?" Lyra asks confused. "Your ex-boyfriend is causing a problem. The champion wants you caught up on events and moved into my room for your protection. We'll take my boat so I can explain on the way." Marcus says. With only an annoyed groan Lyra follows him to the pier where a sleek blue speed boat is safely tucked away.

"You own a speed boat?" Lyra asks as she gets in. "Any member of the league old enough to drive has one. Kazuki says for his group they're standard issue." Marcus says before driving off.

"Where were you five years ago?" He asks. After some thought Lyra answers, "I was just leaving Vermillion city after the end of the grand festival. Khourey and I were on our way to Sinnoh." 

"Does the name Ash Ketchum ring a bell?" Marcus asks. "Of course. Khourey and I met him when he was travelling through Sinnoh with Brock and Dawn. He was my guy best friend who inspired me to give Khourey and I a chance at being a couple. Why?" Lyra asks. Marcus proceeds to give a synopsis of the betrayal and Ash's arrival in Alola. "That's terrible and I've been travelling with them." Lyra says before screaming in anger. 

Once she's done she sits quietly and thinks for a few minutes.

"So let me see if I have this right. Five years ago when Khourey and I were together off in Palet town the group I have been travelling with for three years now betrayed Ash and told him to give up on his dream causing him to leave and come to Alola where he built a new life and became champion. Then present year we were all invited to the masters league so he could get his revenge?" Lyra asks. "Correct." Marcus answers. "Ugh. They kept this from me." Lyra groans before burying her face in her hands.

"At the present moment Ash is going by Kazuki until all the traitors have been dealt with." Marcus says. "Right. I can keep that part a secret." Lyra says as she tries to enjoy the ride.

Not long after they dock on a black sand beach and disembark. After making sure the boat won't float away with the help of a Sandyghast Marcus says, "We're southwest of masters tower. We should hurry." "Right." Lyra says. Marcus takes her hand and leads her up a slope and towards the tower where several guards are waiting to take them inside.

After climbing up the slope the two return to masters tower only to come face to face with Khourey just before they reach the elevator.

"Where have you been, Lyra?" Khourey asks. "I was spending the day with my boyfriend if you must know." Lyra says relatively calmly. "That's impossible I've been looking for you all day." Khourey says. "Khourey, we broke up last year. I've got a new boyfriend now and not only is he better looking he's better in every way compared to you." Lyra taunts. "Lyra we're still together."  Khourey says. "If it wasn't clear when I said it one years ago I'll say it again now. We are over." Lyra says as Ash steps out of the elevator. "You can't do that." Khourey loudly proclaims. "We assure you she can and with so many witnesses her in the lobby has." Ash says.

"Butt out. This is between me and Lyra." Khourey snaps causing Ash to raise an eyebrow at him. The traitor retreats a step at that look.

"Before I go tell me something, Khourey. Five years ago Ash was betrayed. Did you know about it?" Lyra asks. "What? Of course I knew. Misty told me two days before." Khourey says surprised. "So you actively betrayed the boy that got me to give the relationship we had a chance?" Lyra asks. "What are you talking about, Lyra? We are still together and that weakling had nothing to do with it." Khourey says.

"You're more of an idiot than I thought. The only reason I dated you was because Ash inspired me to give it a chance. You were never worth my time before then. If we had dated before then it would've been platonic and out of pity not love. When I said yes I figured I could help you get stronger and that what little feelings I had for you would grow. For a time, I was right and you did get stronger but my feelings were always the same in regards to dating. Minimal at best. Marcus and I have both greater and more mutual love for each other. I love him more than I ever could've loved you. Nothing would've changed the amount of feelings I had towards you. We would always be friends but now I want absolutely nothing to do with you, you spineless worm.

"Marcus, can we go now?" Lyra asks. "Of course. I don't see this conversation going anywhere." Marcus says leading her the open elevator. 

"Once you two are done we have a meeting before dinner. Don't be late." Ash says before taking another elevator. 

Khourey is left stunned by the events of the conversation and stays rooted in place as the doors on the elevator Lyra and Marcus are in close.

After moving all of Lyra's belongings to Marcus's room the two head to the conference room to see their group.

Immediately Lyra is surprised to see Sawyer present.

"Sawyer, what are you doing here?" she asks. "I'm with Alola same as you." Sawyer answers.

"Now that everyone is here we can begin. This meeting only has one line of business.

"Starting tomorrow the elevator will only be able to operate using key cards so no one can sneak onto another's floor. Upon daybreak tomorrow everyone with the exception of those in this room will receive a card programmed to their room and floor. This minimizes or even eliminates entirely the chance of anyone sabotaging another competitor." Ash says.

"What will we do since we won't have key cards?" Lyra asks. "With the exception of you and Sawyer everyone here has something called a nanodex which serves as our pass to get into our rooms and now onto our floor. You will be given one so you can reach your room and so we can contact each other easily." Ash says.

"What about Sawyer?" Lyra asks. "For the time being I won't have one since my job is to spy on the traitors." Sawyer says. 

"Any further questions?" Ash asks. No questions get asked so the meeting is called to an end.

-------------------------------------------------------The following morning-----------------------------------------

As the alolan elites head out for the day they see Khourey in an argument with Misty while all the other traitors are at the front desk asking for the nature of the key card system.

"I don't give a damn, Khourey. We all knew she'd find someone eventually. If it happens to be that frontier brain Marcus then fine." Misty says. "You don't understand." Khourey snaps. "I understand more than you obviously. Since the two of you broke up we had all known that Lyra would leave. We don't need her. She's useless baggage." Misty says.

"I don't like being called useless baggage, Misty." Lyra says in passing. "Whatever." Misty says at the same moment Khourey challenges Marcus to a battle for Lyra.

"Why would I do that?" Marcus asks responding to the man's challenge. "Are you afraid to lose?" Khourey taunts. "Not even close. My question pertains to why I would wager my girlfriend's free will." Marcus calmly clarifies. "She's a woman. It doesn't matter what she wants." Khourey proclaims much to every female in the lobby's disgust. "Then it's no wonder why she left you. Everyone has a right to choose where they want to be." Marcus says.

"Marcus, was it?" Misty asks. "Yes." Marcus answers. "Accept the challenge as a favor to me please. No strings attached. He needs to get it through his thick skull the value of women." Misty requests.

"What do you mean no strings attached? This is me getting my woman back." Khourey says. "If you bothered to actually think you'd realize that you could be arrested for harassment almost immediately. On top of that if you look around there are enough women here who would kill you for that comment you made. The battle will have no strings attached." Misty tersely explains. To this Khourey takes a look around to see every woman in the lobby including his friends are glaring at him as if their gaze alone will strike him dead.

"I believe I can agree to that deal. Have him meet me at the Battle Plant this afternoon. I'll mark out a time slot just for him." Marcus says before leaving with Lyra. The other elites follow after and go about their daily tasks.

With the elites gone all the female traitors rail him on his comment about women's value.

-------------------------------------------------That afternoon----------------------------------------------------------

As Khourey and the other traitors arrive Marcus is in the middle of a battle with someone so they take a seat to wait. All of the traitors refuse to engage Khourey in conversation as a way to further punish him.

The moment the brain notices them he concedes the battle and hands over the symbol to the challenger who respectfully declines saying, "If I'm going to get the thunder symbol peace from you I want to win it fair and square when you aren't preoccupied with an idiot. Word spread fast across the region about his comment this morning. I doubt any girl will even talk to him now let alone not spit in his face the minute they see him."

"Where's Lyra?" Khourey asks as he takes his place on the battlefield. "Where she is is none of your concern. This battle is between you and I. It's six on six with substitutions." Marcus says.

"Where is she?" Khourey demands. "Don't worry about it, you bastard." Serena shouts. Khourey glares at her but receives one twice as scornful in return before the ref goes over the specified rules.

"Garchomp, let's go" Khourey says. "I see. Mimikyu, Battle time." Marcus says. "Battle begin. Khourey has the first move." the ref says disdainfully as she is a woman.

"Garchomp, use sand tomb followed by dragon claw then dual chop." Khourey says. "Mimikyu, use protect followed by giga drain then wood hammer and moonblast." Marcus says. Garchomp's sand tomb is utterly negated by the protect and while it is quick enough to get in close the proceeding dragon claw is utterly ineffective against the ghost/fairy type. 

"Dragon type attacks are useless against fairy types, nimrod!" Clemont shouts as Mimikyu retaliates with a close range giga drain and wood hammer. Before Garchomp can retreat the moonblast sends it sailing across the battlefield.

"Is Garchomp still able to battle?" the ref asks. "Yes.

"Get up, Garchomp." Khourey says. Garchomp slowly rises but soon falls again unable to battle.

"Garchomp is unable to battle. Will Khourey please send out his next Pokémon?" the ref says. "Crobat, let's go." Khourey says. "Battle resume." the ref says. 

"Crobat, use cross poison followed by toxic then venoshock." Khourey says. Mimikyu, use charge beam the thunderbolt followed by work up and payback." Marcus says.

"I wonder why he didn't call for a protect this time. He should realize that toxic does more damage every time it activates." Clemont ponders aloud. "I believe Mimikyu has access to destiny bond so he's hoping that Khourey will attack ruthlessly only to have his Pokémon faint as well." Sawyer provides. "Sound strategy. Khourey will still be at a disadvantage on number of Pokémon plus he has no idea what other Pokémon Marcus has with him right now." Paul comments.

"Marcus is also at a disadvantage since he doesn't know what Pokémon Khourey has with him." Clemont says. "He's a frontier brain so in this case it doesn't matter." Paul says.

"What do you mean in this case?" Serena asks. "Khourey is blinded by rage. He isn't thinking clearly therefore he isn't battling like his normal self. This battle was over before it even begun." Misty provides as Marcus calls for the destiny bond taking out both Pokémon.

"Double Knockout. Will both trainers please send out their next Pokémon?" the ref says. "Sandslash, let's go." Khourey says. "Very well I'll do the same. Sandslash, Battle time." Marcus says sending out an alolan Sandslash. "Battle resume." the ref says.

"Sandslash, use poison sting then fury cutter and swift." Khourey says. "Sandslash, use rapid spin then gyro ball followed by swords dance and iron head." Marcus says surprising his opponent. The poison sting lands first but like with Garchomp's dragon claw this attack does no damage and leaves the kantonian Sandslash wide open for the rapid spin and gyro ball. Wasting no time Marcus' Sandslash sets up two swords dances and lands a powerful iron head.

"This battle is utterly one-sided. Marcus has the upper hand in every way." Paul says. "No argument there. We all knew from the get-go that Khourey wasn't going to win. This is really just a punishment for his stupidity." Misty says. "He should've known better." Delia says though her mind seems to be elsewhere.

"What's on your mind?" Trip asks. "Ash's father likely knows where Ash is. If we could get to my former son and kill him it would deal a devastating blow to all of his idiotic friends therefore giving us yet another advantage." Delia answers. "That would work if we could trick him into telling us." Paul says. "And therein lies the problem. Sato is never off his game unless he's caught off guard. I caught him by surprise the day I tried to kill him. Now I wouldn't be able to get close let alone deceive him." Delia says. "Maybe one of us can do it." Misty suggests.

"It would have to be someone who doesn't give off a creepy or unsettling vibe as well as a female so he'll let his guard down." Delia says. "Who do you suggest then?" Misty asks. "I suppose May would be ideal here." Delia says. "We'll try after the next round since the battles are tomorrow." May suggests. "Actually the sooner the better. Try tomorrow before the battle." Delia says. "I'll see what I can do." May says as Khourey loses spectacularly with Marcus only losing his Mimikyu.

Khourey looks furious at his loss.

"You cheated! There's no way you could've beaten me otherwise. I know your strategy inside and out!" he says. "And just how might you know that considering this is only our second meeting and I haven't used any of the Pokémon I used today with the exception of Sandslash who got me past the screening round." Marcus snidely remarks. The traitors look on in horror as Khourey gets ready to spill the beans.

"Acerola betrayed you. She gave us the run down on all of your group's Pokémon and strategies during her last date with Sawyer." Khourey says before any of his friends can stop him. "Thanks for the tip. I'll look into that." Marcus says so calmly that it surprises all the traitors.

Stay classy, Nightfuries.😁