Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.


Chapter 2 - Leaving and Meeting


Lyra - 14 Years Old


It wasn't until four more years passed that I proved to my mother that I was responsible enough to go out into the world and travel. And she just barely let me go at that, may I add.

I was so proud when I got my first Pokemon. A Cyndaquil. I thought it was the cutest little thing in the world. But April and her entourage, of course, thought differently.

"Hiiiii, Lyra, 'cute' Pokemon you got there," she trilled out into my ear. "But, of course, my Chikorita is cuter." She looked down at the spoiled little green leaf Pokemon that was standing beside her. Her friends, Chelsea and Anna, giggled loyally by her side, as well. I winced noticeably. Over the last four years, her voice had actually managed to get that much squeakier. I chose not to acknowledge her, and continued to pack up my bag for the long journey ahead of me. "Whatcha doin'?"

"Packing up to leave," I answered emotionlessly. "Now would you mind leaving me alone?"

"Completely," she replied sarcastically. She then did that awful snort that only she could do. "So you're really go off to get all of the badges of Johto?"

"Yes."

"So you think you're going to battle Lance, don't you?"

"I don't think so, April, I know I will so."

"Oh, c'mon, Lyra, we all know that you're barely going to get past Mr. Pokemon's house before you come back here crying to Elm and your mother," she babbled on and on to me, flipping her faux blonde hair. "Really, just admit it to yourself now and drop out of the race. Don't risk looking like more of a fool than you already are. Even I have a better chance at making it to - and with - Lance than you do."

Zipping my bag up, I was now furious. Why was I so easy to rile up? "You know what, April? I don't care what you think! I'm going to get all eight badges and make it to the Pokemon League and beat your beloved Lance! And that's when you'll look like the fool!" I bent down and grabbed my bag and Cyndaquil, who was just as confused as Chikorita was. "Let's go, Cyndaquil," I huffed moodily. As I stomped away from the group of superficial girls, they laughed at me.

"At least be sure to put a good word for me in!" April called at me. "I'd love to get to know Lance better!" For some reason, this annoyed me. But, whatever. I needed to forget about all of this and especially about April, because tomorrow I would be starting a whole new chapter of my life.


"Bye, Lyra. We're really gonna miss you," Ethan told me as he motioned to his Marill, who was jumping up and down beside him.

"Aw, Ethan, I'm not going to be gone for that long. A year, at max. I'll be back before you know it!" I smiled at him, hiking my bag up higher on my shoulder. He looked down at the ground sadly. "I'm gonna miss you, too."

He hugged me, and I hugged him back. Stepping back, I turned to my mother. "Bye, mom," I smiled at her now.

"You better call me and update me regularly, young lady," she explained to me her terms. "Or else your going to be in some boiling water when you get back here.""I know, mom," I exhaled.

Smiling sadly, she hugged me tightly. "I love you, Lyra. Please be careful out there. It's a big and dangerous world, but it can be beautiful if you experience it in the right ways." She began to cry.

I nodded, feeling tears beginning to prick at my eyes, too. "I love you, too, mom." I had to get out of there fast, before I started crying myself! Finally, I turned to the last person who was there to tell my goodbye and wish me good luck.

"Thank-you, Professor," I grinned brightly at him.

"For what?" he fixed his glasses, which kept falling down his narrow nose.

"For Cyndaquil. And for giving me the chance to go on my own adventure."

"You're welcome for that. But now it's time you gave back. You need to prove to us all that you can make it! That you're going to thrive and prove to everyone in Johto that even small town kids can make it big!"

I pumped my fist confidently. "I will, Professor! I won't let any of you down!"

Now, with all goodbyes said and received, I was off. I turned around, and began to walk towards the exit of the town, towards Route 29. Stopping at the edge of town, I waved a final wave at the three of them before I started walking again.

Smiling to myself now, I involuntarily began to run, throwing Cyndaquil's Pokeball to release it. He bounced along beside me, flames on his back flickering happily. I was free. I was free of the restricting little town, of April, of all of it. And I was ready to prove her wrong - but more importantly, prove myself and Ethan, the Professor, and my mother right.


I was almost there. I almost had all my gym badges, and I was almost fifteen. Only two gym badges to go, and only two weeks until my fifteenth birthday. I had promised my mother that I would be home for my birthday, but it looks like that wasn't going to happen. I was too close to just stop - even for a break - now. I had to keep going.

April had been stupefied by my endeavours, but she was still convinced that I wasn't going to make it. "Just because Lyra's three quarters of the way there, doesn't mean she's going to make it," were the exact words she had told Ethan to tell me. But I couldn't be bothered by April any longer. I had learned to ignore her. This wasn't to prove her wrong anymore, it was solely for me, myself and I and those I had made the promise of succeeding to.

Now, here I was, at the Lake of Rage, searching around. I'd heard that a funny redhead was wandering around there, and I wanted to see if that funny redhead was Lance. Maybe I'd be able to catch a battle with him before getting to the League. I found it near impossible to see let alone find the young man through the rain. I wondered what was causing such a horrific storm - I'd heard that this lake was usually calm. So what was-

"Gyyyyyarraaaaa!" a loud roar broke through my thoughts. Swinging around to see the source of it, I saw a red - red - Gyarados thrashing about in the middle of the lake. It looked pained and distraught. I felt the immediate need to help it, and so sending out my Seadra, I jumped into the freezing water, without any consideration for my-already-chilled-to-the-bone-self, grabbing onto one of his fins and commanding him towards the great beast. When we got close to it, it quickly became clear that the only way I was going to be able to help the distressed creature would be to catch it. And despite myself, I couldn't help but think, cool. I was going to own the only red Gyarados ever! At least I would if I played my cards right. The thing looked extremely powerful.

Jumping off of Seadra, I called him forth for battle now, considering he was my only Water-type Pokemon. "Seadra, use Hydro Pump!" I directed him. Obediently, Seadra shot a shockingly powerful blast of water at the Gyarados. It turned around in a rage, now fully aware and alerted of the challenge I was imposing on it. "Now use Hydro Pump again!" Seadra followed my command with the attack again. Gyarados roared out before firing a Hyper Beam at Seadra, who took it on full force. I looked at Seadra worriedly after this. He had been hit hard by the extremely strong attack. But I knew that he wasn't going to give up that easily, and neither was I! When he flapped his fins at me, signalling that he was okay and ready to go again, I commanded one last attack, our secret weapon, his most powerful attack. "Seadra, use Dragon Pulse!" And with one perfectly aimed shot, the fire scalded at the red Gyarados's scales, burning him severely. Instinctively, I pulled an Ultra Ball out of my bag, throwing it at him before he could react in his savage fury. Closing around it, I held my breath as it floated and wriggled around the water. Finally, it glowed red, and I was ecstatic. I had caught the red Gyarados! The one and only! Swimming over, I grabbed hold of the Ultra Ball, putting it in my bag for safe keeping.

Latching myself back onto an equally as exhausted Seadra, we both swam back together. As we did, the rain clouds slowly began to disappear. Good, I thought, I'll be able to search for Lance now.Still no consideration for myself, but whatever. My mother wasn't here to reprimand me about it, so I was fine for with a few Potions, my new Gyarados would be as good as new, and then I'd show Lance just how much more powerful I was than him.

As soon as we got back to shore, before even getting out of the water, I returned Seadra to his Pokeball. He deserved a good, long rest after that battle. Swimming a little farther, I finally found my feet touching the soggy, mushy, dirty ground of the Lake of Rage. Grabbing onto a ledge, I tried to pull myself up and out of the water, but found I was too tired and it was just too slippery, and so the end result was me slipping piteously into the water again. I grumbled, but then sighed. Great. I didn't want to bring out any of my Pokemon to help me, as it was much too cold from the rain and they were all too tired, and-

"May I offer you a hand?" I heard a soft, but manly, voice interrupt my thoughts. Looking up and pulling my wet hair out of eyes, I noticed a friendly-faced young man with red hair offering his hand to me, a Dragonite flying slightly off the ground not far from his side, making happy little humming noises to itself.

Because of the situation, I was in no place to reject his offer. "Um, sure," I responded back numbly, reaching my hand up to meet his. Taking hold of it, he wrapped his other available hand around my back to help pull me completely out of the water. I soon found myself being held against his chest, his arms and cape wrapped around me.

"You must be freezing," was what he whispered to me. I couldn't help but blush, despite what I thought about him. I almost let myself get lost in the warmth he was providing me with - almost - but instead pulled away.

"T-thank you," I shivered - more from how suddenly nervous I was than from the cold atmosphere. I breathed in shakily, regaining my composure bit by bit.

He smiled at me, and I felt myself lose it all over again. Why was I acting like this around him? All he was was the conceited champion of Johto and Kanto, and nothing more than that! "No problem." He stepped closer to me, extending his hand out. "I'm Lance, by the way."

Blinking at his hand, I took it and shook it carefully. "And I'm Lyra."

"Pleased to make your acquaintance," he said gentlemanly, releasing my hand. "That was quite the catch you just made," he complimented.

"Um, thanks," I replied shyly.

"I-" he cut himself off abruptly, looking around, and I frowned, figuring he was bored with talking to me. He then continued, though, "I'm sorry for that. I just heard that strange noise again… Say, Lyra, would you help me?"

I was a little hesitant. What strange noise? Was he crazy or something? "With w-what, exactly?"

"In town, there's a strange tree. Have you seen it?" I nodded. "Well, it's been giving off a strange noise, radio waves, and I believe, and it's been forcing the Magikarp out here to evolve before they are ready. I've been investigating it for a while now, and I've finally gotten some leads. I'm going to need some help if I am to stop the criminals behind it. So, are you in?"

Again, I was hesitant. I barely knew this guy, yet he was asking for my help. But then again, he was a lot more trustworthy than some other people I had come across - and at least I knew who he was to a general extent. But any and all thoughts flew out of reach when he flashed his dashing smile at me. "So?"

I went with the first word that came even briefly to mind. "Sure."


I think I got a little more than I bargained for. Whereas I thought we were only going to do a little snooping around, I somehow got mixed up in the taking down of the Rocket base. It had taken an impossibly long and tiring time to do (in my mind - as I was so worn-out to begin with), but we eventually found the source of the radio waves that had been affecting the Magikarp - a giant machine powered by Electrode. Unfortunately, though, the only way we were able to stop it was to knock out the poor Electrode, which neither of us liked doing. But it had to be done.

So now here we were, standing outside the door of the shop that he been disguising the Rocket base. "Good work back there. Thanks a bunch for teaming up with me. We make a great team, don't you think?" he smiled at me again, pulling a hand through his spiky red hair. I nodded self-consciously. A moment passed, and sticking his hand into his pocket, it remerged a second later, holding something directed at me. "Here," he said. "Just a little gift for your helping me. It's Hidden Machine Whirlpool." I simply blinked down at it. "Good ahead, take it." Taking the HM from his hand, I placed it in my bag for safe keeping. "Again, thank-you for the help."

"It was a lot of fun, actually," I found myself saying.

"Well, please forgive for cutting our conversation short, but I must be going. I have to get back to the Indigo Plateau - Karen told me there was someone waiting to battle me, and she said they were tough. It's been a while since anyone has challenged me, let alone been good." He fished a Pokeball out of his pocket, before releasing his Dragonite again. Just before hopping on, he turned to me again. "Are you going to be challenging the Pokemon League?"

"In fact, I am," I answered confidently.

"Then I look forward to seeing you again," he smiled that smile again before jumping on his Dragonite's back. The Dragonite's wings began to flap rapidly, and then they were off. "See you soon, Lyra!" he shouted at me from high in the sky.

"Bye," I waved slightly at him, but he was already too far off to see or hear me. My face was burning up at his smile and the comment of wanting to see me again soon. And as I began to walk off in the direction of the Pokemon Center, I suddenly hit me altogether that I had forgotten to ask for a battle. And surprisingly, I didn't care. I'd get to prove to him my power soon enough.


The End of Chapter 2...


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'Til next time!

Fooboo24