Lyra Soul

This is the story of Lyra.

*The father held his newborn child in his arms. She did not cry; she stretched and twitched her fingers. The mother, who was still in the bed, watched in wonder as her new daughter cooed. The father brought the girl closer to his wife who had just completed his family.

"Look." The mother gasped as though the father were not staring at his gift. They widened their already face-splitting smiles as the baby girl yawned and opened her eyes; big, beautiful caramel brown eyes. The infant rubbed her eyes and blinked, trying to make sense of what she saw. The parents couldn't help but giddily laugh. The moment couldn't possibly be more perfect.

"What should we name her?" The father asked as joyful tears slipped down his face. The mom just stared at her daughter, trying to find a beautiful name that fit her beautiful face.

"I like the name... Lyra. What do you think?" The wife asked her husband. He looked at her with nothing but pure love. "Why not a name like Lyra? Lyra Kotone Soul, what a lovely name!" The wife exclaimed. The husband gave a warm smile before kissing the woman before him. Though they had been through so much together, she was still as beautiful as the day he married her, even more so with that motherly glow.

He pulled back. "It's perfect." He whispered to her. "Her name, this lovely moment, and our family, it's all perfect now." He looked down at his precious little princess resting in his arms. "Little baby Lyra… She's going to grow up to be as beautiful as her mother, and strong like her father." He leaned down and kissed Lyra on her head before she yawned and went back to sleep. Though no one knew at the time, that day, a champion was born, a champion of whom no one would forget.*

*The ranger sat on the couch, not daring to move his eyes from his little miracle for a second. His wife had to take a break, so after a nap the woman was making her husband's favorite dinner; vegetable stew, which was the ranger and his partner's favorite meal. Pidgeot could never get enough.

"Honey, your bowl's ready." The wife called. The ranger kissed his baby, and placed her limp and sleeping body in her crib. He watched his angel for a second before joining his wife at the table.

"Pidgeot, come and get your food! We gotta go to work tomorrow! We got assigned the big mission of catching that Pokémon poacher." The ranger called his partner down. The great golden bird responded with several caws before leaving his roost on top of the house and climbing in through the window. The Pokémon awkwardly stepped around on his toes toward the table; the poor dear could fly at record speeds for hours without taking a break, but could rarely take a three step trip on his feet without falling. If only the house were big enough that he could fly…

The top ranger nudged a bowl of warm stew towards his bird, and the Pidgeot just plucked the veggies out first, swallowing them whole. After clearing the bowl of its solid contents, the bird ducked his beak into the bowl and in a mere three seconds flat, the broth was gone. If birds could burp, then a complimentary one would've been given.

The humans finished their seconds and were full, but Pidgeot surely cleared that pot with ease and much enthusiasm. Pidgeot was about to go back to his perch when a shy coo reached his ear. Being so absorbed in food had drawn attention away from the humans, and now they seem to be holding… What looks like a tiny, squishy human…?

Pidgeot adjusted his neck to better view it from afar. His best friend and ranger partner turned to him and smiled. With a nod of his head, the Pidgeot was invited over to see. The bird shyly swayed back and forth, considering it, and then carefully stalked his way over there.

"Dear, I'm not sure…" The mother was worried. She had to babysit a lot of children in her day, and if there was one thing she learned, it was that small children get scared around big Pokémon. And by scared, she means they start crying and throwing fits.

Lyra stared at her father blankly, and drowsily. A squawk and nervous murmuring filled little Lyra's ears. These new sounds intrigued her.

"Squawk?" Lyra jumped in surprise at the new face covered in… weird hair and a big shiny nose and mouth. What an odd creature..?

Pidgeot moved his face in closer for a better look. Lyra flinched, her eyes wide. The corners of her mouth started twitching, and her mom thought she was about to cry. She was about to shoo the Pidgeot away when suddenly…

Little Lyra laughed. The mother stopped and the father broke into an indestructible grin. Lyra reached up her month old hand and stroked the smooth golden beak. The bird, clearly pleased, moved in closer and titled his head so she could pet his feathers. Lyra's smile lit up the whole room, and the mother sighed of relief.

"Just like her father; I guess Pokémon start early." The mother said shaking her head.

The dad laughed, and then turned to his partner Pokémon. "How does it feel, Uncle Pidgeot?" He asked with a wink. The bird let out a happy shriek and so did Lyra. After a few minutes, when Lyra got tired and went to sleep, and the adult humans retreated to their rooms, Pidgeot uncomfortably rested on the floor beside the crib. Pidgeot did not mind; he knew that his partner would want him to watch over the little one. Besides, the eagle kind of felt a new friendship being born as well.*

*The two children sat back to back, asleep with nothing but a Marill between them. The little blue Pokémon snored louder than the boy and girl on either side of him, with a bubble rising out of his nose. He wasn't very big for a Marill; in fact, he only evolved yesterday, so he was still the size of an average Azurill, if not slightly rounder.

The sound of food being placed into a bowl and on the floor caused Marill's eyes to excitedly open. He turned his fat body for a better look and saw his master's father placing a bowl on the floor of the neighbor's kitchen. He beckoned for the Marill, and the blue-bodied mouse jumped off the couch as his tummy growled like an Ursaring. Excitedly he ran and ate the food with much enthusiasm.

Without the Marill to support them, gravity took over and the two kids leaned back and… BONK!

The kids eyes shot open and hands immediately went to the backs of their heads. "Ouch! Ethan, you hit me in the head!" Lyra complained.

"No I didn't! You hit me!" Ethan protested.

"I did not!"

"You did too!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Kids, calm down. If there is anyone to blame, it's Marill. He left and then you hit each other's heads." Mrs. Elm said, giving a sarcastic glare to Marill to convince the children who did it. Immediately the kids were on Marill, and the blue one ran upstairs and they gave chase all throughout the house while the parents laughed.

"How long has Ethan had his Marill, Mr. Gold?" Lyra's mother asked Ethan's father.

"I got it for him for his birthday. I went into Cherrygrove City, and there was a breeder who was giving away baby Pokémon to new trainers. I told him that my son's birthday was coming up and I figured since Ethan's favorite color was blue, that I would get him the blue bouncy Pokémon. But boy, I had no idea that little Azurill would be so hard to hide, what with its constant energy. But the day I handed Ethan the Pokéball, and he pressed that button, the Azurill straight up smashed the Pokéball in defiance; it clearly don't like being trapped and I don't blame it. But since then, the two have been inseparable and walked side by side since. It's been a year and a half now." Mr. Heart explained.

"Have you considered getting Lyra a Pokémon of her own?" Pregnant Mrs. Elm asked. Lyra's mother shrugged.

"Well, I do want her to have one, and her father says that it would be a great learning experience for her, but... We aren't sure when the right time is. I don't know if she's ready, and I have no idea what kind of Pokemon she would want anyway." Mrs. Soul explained. She waved her hand dismissively. "It's a big ordeal, and we want to wait a while, at least until she's a little older." The other adults understood and nodded.*

*"Ethan, stop messing around! We're supposed to be researching Pokemon types for the proffesor! Kris and I can't freaking focus when you keep tickling us!" Lyra scolded. Kris, their new best friend who moved in on their street from Mahogany Town a few months ago, followed suit.

"We, meaning all three of us, promised to help him with this! Now either help us with this essay or get out of my room!" She hollered, pointing at the door sternly.

Ethan put his hands up in surrender and sat down beside the girls on Kris's bed. When Kris looked down to scribble something on her paper, Ethan rolled his eyes and stuck his tongue out at her behind her head. Lyra giggled.

"Lyra, what types are Dark Pokemon weak to?" Kris asked without looking up from her paper as she finished jotting down the Dark type strengths.

"Well, according to what I've read," Lyra scanned the webpage she was using as her research source on Ethan's laptop. "...Dark type Pokemon are weak to Bug and Fighting types."

"And Psychic type moves have no effect on them." Ethan added as he patted his Marill. It blew a rasberry and giggled like the little weirdo it was.

Kris whipped her head around to glare at him. "I was writing down their weaknesses. I already wrote down their strengths."

"Well, I don't see any 'No Effects' on your page. I think that would be an important detail for Elm's research, if you asked me." He shrugged.

She groaned and stuttered, trying to think of a smart-mouthed comment, but she gave up. "Shut up, Ethan." The twelve year old rolled her eyes. The twelve year old boy stuck out his tongue at her very maturely. Lyra, younger than the others at eleven, just giggled.

"I was just trying to help. You know, you might need the assistance of an experienced trainer." He smirked. Kris blew up at him.

"Oh my Arceus, Ethan! I'll have you know, when Lyra and I get our Pokemon someday, we'll kick your butt hard!"

Ethan glanced at Lyra, winked and looked at Kris with a cocky grin. "What, you can't take me on your own? You need Lyra to back you up?"

Kris's eyes grew huge and her mouth fell open, only to release her frustration through words. "ETHAN GOLD, I WILL GET A POKEMON AND YOU WILL LOSE TO ME AND YOU WILL APOLOGIZE TO ME AND YOU WILL BEG FOR FORGIVENESS AND YOU WILL WORSHIP ME! THIS I SWEAR!" She screamed at him. Ethan watched her serious face, the face that meant she was ready to kill someone. She held her stone cold gaze for the longest time... until her grin broke through and they all laughed at the utter ridiculousness. Kris couldn't really get mad at these two; they were too fun. And Ethan was just playing around, like always.

Lyra finished laughing and sighed. "Kris, what kind of Pokemon do you think we're gonna get as our starters?" She asked, staring into space as she imagined what she could possibly meet in this big huge world.

Kris shrugged and immediately answered, "Hopefully something cute. I think cute Pokemon are the best." She looked back at Lyra and returned the question.

Lyra pondered her answer. "Cute is a good quality too I guess, but... I want a strong Pokemon. Something strong and beautiful and noble... Like my dad's Pidgeot!" She answered.

Ethan chuckled. "Well, I already have the best partner in the world right here! Ain't that right Marill?" Marill laughed and high fived Ethan's face; some would call it slapping, but Ethan calls it high fiving. They all laughed and after they finished discussing their hopes of becoming awesome trainers in this world Pokemon and dreams, they returned back to working.*

"Too bad Mom couldn't come with us." Lyra said while she hung her head, somewhat disappointed. Her father squeezed her hand reassuringly as they walked down the route towards the Lake of Rage. Pidgeot flew overhead, screeching with intense joy.

"Well, it's okay Princess. You can't blame her for being afraid of Gyarados. Gyarados are scary Pokemon after all."

"But still, it would've been cool if Mom could be here with us for my twelvthe birthday."

"I understand Princess. But Mom still loves you anyway. I promise you that."

"I know and I love Mommy too. It just would've made the best birthday ever even better."

"Yea, I know. But we're still gonna have fun, right?"

"Yes Daddy! Thanks for taking me here! I know I've begged like a hundred times!"

"Anything for Daddy's little princess!" The father chuckled. "Now, if we're lucky, we might find a Gyarados, so make sure you're on the look out!:"

"Woo-Hoo! Let's find a Gyarados!" Lyra cheered. She couldn't wait to see one in person, and also brag about seeing one to her friends.

*This is the day when everything goes wrong**

*This was not supposed to happen. It shouldn't be happening. Not ever. Especially not on her birthday.

"Daddy!" Lyra screamed as the thrashing Gyarados rampaged all over the lake, ripping out trees and thrashing people around and of course, disturbing the other Gyarados. Her little precious innocent voice could barely be heard over the screaming of the tourists and citizens, but it rang, clear and true in the ears of her father, flying overhead with Pidgeot. "Daddy, what's going on!? DADDY!?"

Pidgeot searched for his master's daughter frantically in the sky, cawing in response every time he heard her voice, trying to find her desperately. The ranger was on voicemail, frantically calling for backup. "Hello!? Top Ranger Jacob Soul of Johto to base! Is anyone there? Hello!?" He started to panic; he needed help with these Gyarados. "I'm requesting backup! I repeat, I'm requesting, no, I am demanding backup! There is an emergency down here at the Lake of Rage, regarding some Gyarados and more are coming! We have a code red, I repeat, a CODE RED SITUATION, AND TURNING MORE SERIOUS! And I can't locate my daughter! Please, I need help out here!" No answer. Something was blocking his styler's signal. He couldn't help freaking out. "Anyone!? Hello!?"

...

A stray tear slipped down his cheek. He choked up in frustration and he had no idea what he should do.

"Daddy, help me! Where are you!?"

Just as he looked down, he found her, his precious little princess curled up by a tree trunk, and hanging on for dear life. "Pidgeot, let's move!" Pidgeot saw her at the same moment and dove down, soaring below to the ground to protect the young girl. Unfortunately, while the Gyarados were trying to find a subject to unleash their rage upon, the biggest and most aggressive monster caught sight of the eagle soaring overhead.

"Princess, are you okay?" The father dove down toward her with his hand outstretched. Lyra let go of the tree and outstretch her hand, trying to reach her father, her king, her protector...

The enormous blue sea monster's teeth wrapped themselves around Pidgeot's feet, and the creature yanked, pulling the bird out from under the ranger, who fell in the water as the eagle flapped around vigorously to escape the fangs.

"Daddy!"

The ranger floundered around and tried to swim to the shore, tried to swim to Lyra. He didn't notice the blue crest of a Pokemon creeping up behind him.

"Daddy, look out!"

The Gyarados launched out of the water, grasped the fearful ranger in it's mouth, and sank back into the depths.

Just as the ranger's body fell below the water level, his eyes locked with Lyra's; eyes of love, fear, sorrow and apology. Just as the ranger opened his mouth to tell his daughter he loved her, his face fell under the water and, instead of giving closure to his daughter he so cherished and was so proud of, inhaled lung-sized gallons of lake water, drowning him as thoughts of his beautiful daughter and wife and his Pidgeot and this entire loving family swimmed across his mind. The memory of his gift Pidgey, the memory of his wedding and Lyra's birth all filled his thought, giving him a sense of peace. At least he passed on with the image of Lyra and her mother and Pidgeot inside of his eyelids; giving him a peaceful image to send him on his way as the Gyarados's fangs tore into him and death took the man into it's grasp.

Lyra stared wide-eyed at the water ripples where her father had submerged below the surface.

Pidgeot, who had escaped from the grip of the water dragon, had watched the whole thing from the skies. He stared in shock, as Lyra did, where his partner now lay dead beneath the surface.

"D-Daddy?" Lyra croaked. "Daddy, no!" She screamed harshly, her heart broken. She bawled and attempted to dive in after her father, her king, her protector, her corpse...

"CAAAWWW!" Pidgeot's talons gripped Lyra by her underarms, and pulled her out of the water, and away from her doom. She still thrashed and screamed and begged and cried for her father, her king, her protector, her now corpse...

Her anguished sounds attracted the attention of another angered Gyarados trying to find a new target. As Pidgeot attempted to fly away fom this painful place, the two companions of the fallen ranger heard the intense furious roar of a sea monster... and Pidgeot knew this roar... and knew what attack would follow.

Pidgeot immediately manuvered on its side, taking the blow of the Dragon Rage's blue flames in its back, incinerating its feathers and smoldering its skin, and screeching in pain. Lyra, on the other side of Pidgeot, screamed in pain as the blue dragon fire licked her leg, scorching and searing her, scarring her forever, as the now limp bird fell to the ground.

They landed with a thud, but Pidgeot was determined to get Lyra out of this dangerous, painful hell of a location. He fluttered up as high as he could, and flew away as far as he could on injured wings.

Pidgeot flapped desperately, trying his hardest to carry the injured, wailing Lyra to a safer location, but his strength could only take him so far...

His shredded wings and mauled muscles gave out on him at the route between the lake and the nearest town; at the moment neither of them had any idea where they were. He fell to the ground in the open space of the woods, a little heartbroken Lyra beside him.

Pidgeot, limping with his crooked, poor-at-walking feet, helped Lyra over to a nearby tree. Lyra helped to support the broken eagle as he helped her walk as well. When they reached the trunk, Pidgeot's breathing was shallow, his heartbeat even worse. Lyra, only wounded in the legs, winced at every step. Though she didn't get the worst of it, Pidgeot still felt like he failed his friend by letting his daughter get hurt. Lyra, unable to move another step, collapsed, and so did Pidgeot.

They sat there together, mourning the death of the ranger.

Lyra held onto her Uncle Pidgeot, the last knight of her king, the only thing left of her dad.

Pidgeot held onto precious little Lyra, the last thing he had left of his master.

Together, they listened to the roars of the Gyarados and the screams of people.

Together, they cried.

Alone, Pidgeot joined his partner in the heavens.

Lyra could tell, because, after a while, Pidgeot's body fell cold in her arms.

And she cried some more.

Author's Note:

Okay, this chapter is the backstory for Lyra. This is how she was born, who her father was, how she grew up and what happened to her father. I know, it's a little annoying, but totally necessary for the whole setting up the story, and this is my novelized version of Lyra's adventure. This is the prologue, then there's going to be the adventure and some epilogue parts!

And, there's going to be a lot of Lyra shippings so there's something for every Lyra fan (But I choose who she is with in the end!)

If there is something you would like to see in the story, lemme know, and I will see what i can do! (No guarantees though!)

so this is my first story on this site, so support it please!