a/n: I'm not going to put a disclaimer, since, well it's a fanfiction. It's pretty much implied that I don't own most of this. I was hoping to have a more realistic take on Pokémon. Sorry this chapter starts out slow. It will pick up, promise. Thank you for reading, if you do.
Chapter One
A strange buzzing noise filled the room. Lyra, a tall eighteen year old girl, bolted upright in her bed. Her brown hair stuck out at odd angles. For a moment it was quiet. Lyra curled back under the blankets. She was just drifting off on her farfetch'd feather pillow when the noise filled the room again.
Her brain, groggy and fogged, tried to process all possibilities for the source of the sound. Oh. Pokégear, she thought. She dragged herself out of bed and fumbled about the room. Where did I put it?
Finally unearthing the small machine under a pile of papers on her desk, she put the Pokégear to her ear. "Hullowhoisit?" she said.
"Morning, Lyra. How are you?" said the chipper voice of Professor Elm on the other end. "I have a small assignment. I hope I'm not waking you! Could you come by my lab?"
"Oh, don't worry, Professor, I was wide awake," she lied. "What time do you need me?" She liked her work, but it was supposed to be her day off. "Is something wrong?" she asked. The only other time he'd called her in on a day off was when a few of his Pokémon had escaped.
"As soon as you can. I've already called Ethan," he said. He completely ignored her worry.
"Is an hour too long?" she asked. She still had some of the dirt on her from the previous day's work. Rattata made dens deep within the ground. Apparently they were deeper than she estimated.
There was a pause on the other end as he thought. "It is a bit long, but if that's the best you can manage…" he said.
Lyra thought she'd have to forgo washing her hair with some disdain. Her eyes fell on the big white hat with an over-sized bow on the side. Well, Grandma always wanted me to wear it… She thought.
"I'll be there in fifteen minutes, Professor," she said.
"Great!" he said. The line disconnected.
Lyra set her phone back on her desk, next to her computer. The room was lit only by the morning sun coming through the curtains. She stretched, trying to wake her muscles. Rising from her chair she thought, Today is going to be a long day.
After she threw on her shorts and a red blouse, she reached for the giant white hat. "Oh god, Grandma, what were you thinking...?" She plopped it on her head.
Her messenger bag hung on the door. She grabbed it as she slipped on a pair of shoes. Clipping her Pokégear to her bag, she ran down the stairs.
"You're up early, honey," her mother said from the kitchen. "Off to Professor Elm's lab?" She looked nothing like her daughter. Compared to her mom's jet black hair and dark eyes, Lyra was certain she looked more like her father. Even if she didn't know him.
Lyra checked the clock on the wall. Three minutes before she said she'd be there. "Yeah. I think I'll have to skip breakfast. Or have something at the lab." Professor Elm's wife cooked some amazing food. On the days that the interns were called in early, she would sometimes make extra for them.
"At least have some toast or something?" She passed her a plate of dry and slightly burnt toast. "Oh, I have an upgrade for the Pokégear," her mother said.
Lyra obediently handed the device to her. "What is it?" she asked taking the toast. She planned to crumble it up and give it to some of the Pidgey at the lab.
"Why, it's toast, silly!" Her mother said with a laugh.
Lyra raised her eyebrow. "I meant the upgrade, mom."
"I know, I know. You used to love my jokes." She sighed. "The upgrade allows it to keep time and the date. Plus it opens up a bunch more memory for you. You can now scan someone's trainer card to get their information on it too. It will track them and everything. Here," she said handing the Pokégear back. "Do you know how to use it?"
Lyra rolled her eyes. "Yeah, mom. I think I know how to use the Pokégear," she said clipping back on her bag.
"The names of people to call are automatically registered. Just scan the trainer card! I can't believe it's so easy," her mom said.
"I know, mom. Thanks," she said. She walked out the door with a wave to her mom.
The smell of saltwater assaulted her nose. Unlike areas such as Olivine, New Bark Town's sea was calm and quaint. Some people came for a relaxing vacation. Most of the visitors were elderly. The younger generations were drawn to warmer places like Cianwood or Blackthorn. New Bark Town didn't get very many tourists, but the few it got were cherished. The town could always use the extra money brought in by vacationers.
New Bark Town's main export was energy. The people employed the use of windmills. The strong sea breezes kept the blades turning constantly. Advanced machinery that Lyra didn't fully understand harnessed the power of the turning blades and used them to produce electricity for the houses. The windmills kept houses from New Bark Town to Cherrygrove lit. On a good year, Violet City could receive some extra.
New Bark Town saw a lot of travelers. To the east were Tohjo Falls and the borderline of Kanto. Often, trainers passed through on their way to the Elite Four. Of course, it was a major trainer hots-pot since Professor Elm called the town home. His presence brought other scientists and trainers. As one of his interns, Lyra was familiar with those visitors. Professor Elm also helped protect the town from wild Pokémon. Sometimes the occasional Tentacruel would get too close to the beaches or a wild Rattata would wander in the borders. He, or one of his assistants, would quickly take care of it.
A group of children gathered at the entrance of the town, waiting for their escort to Cherrygrove. Lyra was one of only a handful of teens or children. At eighteen she was the oldest of them. Ethan was the second oldest at sixteen. Professor Elm only accepted interns in their last year of school or after finishing school in Cherrygrove. The typical graduation age was seventeen, the age Lyra did. Ethan tested above his age level to graduate at fifteen. Both he and Lyra began their internship a year before graduation.
"Hey, Lyra!"
Lyra turned to see Ethan running towards her. "Morning. I hear you got a call from Professor Elm too?" She said as he stopped. He had black hair and eyes to match. He also wore a hat, but he always did unlike her large white one. Lyra often thought it would be more effective if he turned it so the sun would be out of his eyes.
"Yep. He wouldn't tell me what it was," he said. "What's with the Easter reject hat?"
"Oh, a gift from Grandma. I figured I should wear it at least once," she said with a shrug.
They walked together to Professor Elm's laboratory. It was next door to Lyra's house and across the road from Ethan's. It wasn't hard to spot. It had the biggest windmill and was bright white. They pushed open the double doors.
"Oh good, oh good!" Professor Elm said walking by. "You're both here. Come."
He always seemed excited. Today he seemed to be talking faster than usual. Something was definitely happening.
Lyra knew her mom couldn't stand the man because of his eccentricities. He was an acquired taste, being as disorganized as he was. Usually his white lab coat had papers spilling out the pockets. Even his short brown hair was messy. He wore big half-moon glasses, only adding to his Professor stereotype.
"What is it, Professor?" Ethan pressed. The two tried to keep pace with the anxious Professor.
"Just not going to let it be a surprise are you?" he asked. "Oh alright! I got an email from Mr. Pokémon."
"The man in Cherrygrove city?" Lyra asked. It wasn't his given name; he had changed it to Mr. Pokémon before Lyra became an intern. She sometimes saw him when she was still in school. Some of the Cherrygrove students were his interns. He wasn't a Pokémon Professor but instead an eccentric collector.
"Yes, that one. He finds the strangest things," Professor Elm said. He led the two interns down the hall and into his office. His office was messy and cluttered. Papers were all over the tables, desks, and cabinets. Stacks of books were on the floor. Some of the books sat open, writing and highlights were all over the pages. To the left of his desk was a suitcase, one that neither intern remembered seeing before.
"He sent me an email asking me to send someone to pick up an egg," Professor Elm said taking a seat at his desk.
"An egg!" Ethan exclaimed. "How did he get one?"
"Pokémon guard them well, especially egg-laying Pokémon!" Lyra said.
Professor Elm motioned for them to sit. "I don't know. He said he doesn't know what kind it is. Probably won it in some game in Goldenrod."
"Still gambling, then?" Lyra said.
"Unfortunately," the Professor confirmed. "Except this time it might turn out to be good. He was hoping I could take care of the egg. Since we rarely get to care for a Pokémon newly hatched. Especially an unknown one. We have no idea what the parents are or what could be in it. This is very exciting!" he said. He stood up enthusiastically for emphasis, spilling papers on the ground.
"What did you want us to do, Professor?" Ethan asked. "Are we going to be taking care of it for you?"
Professor Elm looked at them both and quietly took his seat. "Oh no, I was going to take care of it. I was actually planning on sending both of you to fetch it for me."
Both interns were quiet for a moment. "But sir, we've never been to Cherrygrove without a guide," Lyra said. "It's not safe if we don't have a Pokémon with us. How will we go?"
He laughed. "I would be giving you both your first Pokémon!" he said. He swiveled in his chair. Picking up the suitcase he set it on the desk. "There are three Poké-balls in here. In a moment you will get to choose which you want."
"In a moment?" Ethan said. He was on the edge of his seat, literally.
"Yes, we must first fill out your trainer card forms," he said. He pulled a clipboard from the mess. "Lyra, I'll start with you." He looked at the paper and up at Lyra with a smirk. "Tell me; are you a boy or a girl?"