Chapter 2 - Breezes of New Beginnings

The whistles of the happy morning Pidgeys outside awoke me from my dream. At least it wasn't that nightmare again; Dad was alive in this dream, Mom and he were holding hands, walking side by side in this flowery meadow, singing some really cheery love song. Pidgeot and me were playing in the tall grass, chasing one another, Jigglypuff singing in the background. I almost smiled at the birds' song, until I remembered. Dad and Pidgeot were gone. And they weren't coming back.

Remembering that day from three years ago, I got up bitterly, thrust open the window and shooed the stupid birds away. Stupid, annoying little bastards. I didn't hate them because they reminded me of what I've lost; no, these little birds couldn't compare to the heroic guardian angel eagle who gave his life for me. No, I hated them because they always had a reason to be happy, always so happy, while I on the other hand, could rarely ever find a real reason to smile. I didn't hate them; I was jealous.

I shut the window, and turned to my dresser, pulling out some clothes. I replaced my shirt with a black tank top, and took off my cotton pajama pants. I pulled on some overalls, but left the straps hanging. The stupid draft let in the cool autumn breeze, causing my skin to shudder. I found a maroon sweater and slipped it on comfortably, and then did the straps.

I fumbled around my dresser top and finally found my hairbrush. I ran it through my chestnut-brown hair, smoothing out the tangles, making it straight from the knotted mess. I took out two hair-ties, and pulled my hair up into tight pigtails. I don't know why, but I feel safer that way. It's as if each strand of my hair is a string holding the pieces of my sanity intact, and the tighter my hair is pulled up, the tighter the pieces of my sanity are tied together. I don't want to have a mental breakdown in front of anyone; They all know that I'm fragile.

I reached the bottom drawer and searched for a pair of socks, grabbing some high stockings that reach my mid-thigh. When I placed my foot inside, though I tried to overlook it, I couldn't help but notice those scars. My burns that I had received on my twelfth birthday. I remember how that at first, I couldn't walk, it hurt so freaking bad, and after a while I got used to limping a little bit. I can walk just fine on them now, but I have to wear these really high socks to hide the evidence of what happened on that day. That's why I always try to avoid seeing those scorched, discolored legs of mine; it always takes me back.

*The Pokemon Rangers found me on Route 43 with the deceased Pidgeot in my arms, his dried blood on my white birthday gown and my seared legs. Two of them escorted me to safety while the others went to handle the situation at the lake. They interrogated me and fed me, gave me fresh clothes at the nearby Pokemon Center and discovered that I was the daughter of the fallen ranger. They gave me their apologies and condolences, and then they called my mother and make arrangements for taking me home.

*After the whole lake incident had calmed down, they held the funeral for the ranger and his partner there. Mom and I wore black dresses and our neighbors, Professor Elm, his wife and son, Joey, the Gold family and Kris Heart and her family were there, along with a few coworkers of my dad. They tossed rose petals on the water's surface for my father, and they had some Quagsire bury Pidgeot's casket underwater at the bottom of the lake so that way, he can be close to his partner, symbolically keeping human and Pokemon together through life and death. The Chairperson of the Ranger Headquarters in Johto gave a speech of the heroic and selfless Pokemon and Pokemon Ranger, giving fun memories and tough mission stories.

"Jacob Soul and Pidgeot were the perfect duo out of all our rangers in this region. They were the dream team, and were admired by everyone. We could never dream of having any better partnership in the business. They were the pride and joy of Johto."

The Chairperson then led us all in prayer, and we all prayed to Arceus that the two were happy and well now, wherever they are, and we thanked our god for placing these two wonderful beings on this world. Everyone gave little stories of the man, gave us their condolences and lots of hugs and handshakes.

The other four Top Rangers stood in a line, hung their stylers in the air as the band played the proud Ranger Union anthem. At the end, the rangers drew loops with their stylers, interlacing loops and circles, symbolizing unity and brotherhood. When they gave my mother a folded ranger flag and his styler, we both couldn't help but cry and get choked up, holding onto the last memorabilia of the loving husband and father.*

I remember how afterwards, everyone was careful around me. They were cautious of speaking of my father when I was near. Mom, though she was in bad shape too, was stronger than I was about this; after all, I did watch it first hand. I witnessed my father's death, right in front of my eyes, scarring me for life. Sometimes, I have better days, when I think about all the good times I had with Dad and Uncle Pidgeot. Sometimes, on bad days, I hate myself for begging him to take me to the stupid tourist attraction. But most of the time, I just remember and feel the pain of the attack and see the image of Dad being dragged underwater at least once everyday behind my eyelids. But I managed. At least I haven't cried out of nowhere without warning in a while. It used to be random waterworks, and my friends would comfort me and tell me everything's all right. But now, even though I miss them so much, and I think about them everyday, I'm ready to move on and use Pidgeot and Dad as an inspiration for getting stronger. They wouldn't want me to dwell in the past; Dad didn't raise me that way, he would want me to be stronger than this. And I've been trying ever since.

I shook off my trance, pulled up my socks and slipped on my shoes. I looked over and found my marshmallow hat. Oh, that white fluffy hat...

After the funeral, when Mom and I returned home, about a week after, she remembered my present. She gave me the box, and said "Your father got this for you. He remembered how badly you wanted it. He was going to give it to you when you guys came back from the lake, but... Well, you understand." I gingerly opened it, trying to hold back the tears. Then I saw it; a white, puffy hat with a red ribbon. I remembered seeing it before at a store before. Dad took me with him and Pidgeot when Mom sent him to Cherrygrove City for some shopping. I was holding his hand while Pidgeot followed. We passed an accessory store, and that's when I saw it; the big white hat. They only had it in one size, but I was sure I was going to grow into it.

"Daddy, look at that hat! It's so cute! Daddy, don't you see it?" I excitedly pointed at it, grabbing his attention. He agreed that it was a cute hat, and then we continued shopping for the groceries that we couldn't find in New Bark Town, and the whole time we were shopping, all I could think about was that hat.

With a heavy sigh, I slipped on the hat, and trudged downstairs to greet my mother.

I could hear her talking to someone on her Pokegear, and the clinking of dishes rang in the kitchen. When she saw me, she finished placing some waffles on my plate and set it on the table. As I sat down, she handed me a fork and the Smiley Surskit brand syrup bottle.

"Oh, Mr. Gold, go ahead and tell Ethan that Lyra is up now. Ok, good-bye." Mom hung up and she joined me at the table. I slowly chewed and savored the taste of the waffles and the sweet syrup.

"Thanks Mom, these are really good waffles." I complimented her cooking skills with a slight smile.

"Oh, you're welcome Honey." She waved it off, showing me that it was no trouble. She also calls me Honey, because she's afraid of calling me Princess. That was what Dad would always call me. "You seem to be in better spirits today."

I shrugged. "I had a good dream. You and Dad were holding hands. Me and Pidgeot were playing in a patch of flowers. It wasn't sad or scary like my dreams usually are." I swallowed another bite, and then another. "So what were you saying about Ethan?"

She looked up with a mouthful, then swallowed quickly. "Oh, he was here earlier. He and Marill were looking for you, but I told them you were asleep. He said he would come back later." I nodded. It wasn't unusual for Ethan and Kris to come looking for me. I tend to be cheerier after hanging out with them anyway.

I finished breakfast, thanked my mother, and then stepped outside and waited for my friend at the pier by my house.

I walked out to the edge of the platform overlooking the oceanside. I sat down and let my feet dangle in the water for a while. The breeze blew my pigtails back, my loose bangs whipping my face until I brushed them out of the way.

My eyes noticed a sign on my side of the pier, our town motto. "New Bark Town - Winds of New Beginnings." Just as I finished reading it, a new gust blew and my bangs were thrust back in my face. I merely brushed them out of the way again. Looking around, I remembered why we had that motto. The tall vertical windmills that power our town are similar to those of Valley Windworks in the Sinnoh region, or at least that's what a documentory on television told me.

The winds blew forth crisp autumn air, so sweet smelling and cool, filling my lungs with the chilly freshness. I savored the breezes against my skin, calming and cooling. I watched as these winds blew the multicolored leaves around me and on the water's surface, leaving little ripples.

Ripples like where Dad was dragged down...

I shook my head violently, trying to have a good day, not another day of self-pity. I don't want another one of those bitter days, remembering all the bad things and painful memories and vivid images...

An odd chirping filled my ears. I looked around, but couldn't find the source of the sound. I returned back to watching the fish swim under my feet, when I heard it again.

"Chweep! Chwerp!" I jumped up again and searched around, left, right then left again. I shook my head, and returned to my position.

"CWEEP! CHWEEK!" A little green face was suddenly all up in mine, and it screeched at the top of its little lungs in excitement, scaring me half to death.

"WHOA, HOLY MILTANK!" I fell backwards, grabbing the side of the pier so I wouldn't fall into the water, but my arms couldn't support me. After a startled chirp, some green vines wrapped around my waist and easily lifted me onto the pier again.

"Whoa, wow..." I gasped on air as the little critter loosened its grip on me, and the little vines retreated into the tiny barbs on its neck. It chirped in an apologetic tone, and I examined the creature. It was a cute little green thing, it had four legs and red eyes and a cute smiling mouth. After apologizing, it giggled and a leaf the size of its body sitting on its head twirled. A sweet aroma wafted from the leaf.

"Oh, thank Arceus, you found her!" Kris Heart's voice came up from behind me, and her hands scooped up the Pokemon, who nuzzled her cheek. Then she noticed me at her feet and gave me a confused look. "What are you doing on the ground?" Kris chuckled slightly, the Pokemon nibbling the side of her hand.

I looked at her incredulously. "Oh, you know, I just realized how soft and cozy the pier is. I've never been more comfortable." I spat with thick sarcasm.

"Really?"

"No! Silly!" I laughed as I got up. Sometimes my sarcasm is so good that no one catches it.

"Oh, ahaha!" She chuckled awkwardly. The green, obviously a grass type Pokemon chirped happily, obviously a jolly little animal. Kris remembered the little fella. "Oh, by the way, I see you've met my new Pokemon, Chikorita!" She held out the little Pokemon. "Isn't she the cutest?"

"Yea, she's adorable! Why didn't you tell me you have a Pokemon?"

"Oh yeah, that's why Ethan and I were trying to find you! Professor Elm needs you!" She jumped up, all excited.

"There you guys are!" Ethan ran up behind Kris, Marill not far behind. Marill squeaked with glee, and Chikorita greeted the blue mouse. "Lyra, goodness, we've been waiting for you for like, all day!"

"You mean a couple of hours, right?" Kris reminded him. He rolled his eyes, obviously not caring.

"Whatever, but come on! We promised Elm that we would come fetch you! Let's go!" He took off down the road, Marill at his heels.

"I'll beat you there!" Kris, carrying the little Chikorita, followed him down to the lab. When she was almost out of sight, she turned around briefly and hollered, "Well, come on Lyra! Hurry up!" Then she turned back around and chased Ethan.

I chuckled, and before I knew it, I was in better spirits and forgot all about my stress, and suddenly found myself smiling, filling lungs with sweet air and my legs were pounding across the ground towards the lab.

The neighbors noticed me chasing after my friends, (Who, having a head-start, had both beat me there.) and noticed me smile, which was a rare sight around town. The people outside waved at me, and as I waved back, they smiled at me, noticing I was happy, and they spoke among themselves as if they were talking about some inside joke.

I slowed down as I neared the Laboratory, going from a run to a jog to a walk. Just as I was about to turn the doorknob, something moving in my peripheral vision had caught my attention. If the figure hadn't moved around the far side of the lab, I probably would've let it go. But my curiosity wouldn't let me, so I tentatively followed.

I slipped around the corner, in an awkward alley between the wall and the trees. I noticed a man, well, a teenager, really, staring into the window of the lab. That's strange. It's an open lab, open for visitors. Why doesn't he just walk in? What is he trying to see?

This guy had long, crimson locks, olive skin and dark cold eyes. He was tall and wore a black jacket and dark jeans and dark shoes. Everything about this kid seemed dark. He leaned on the windowsill, his chin rested on his forearms as his calculating eyes surveyed everything inside.

"So this is the famous Elm Pokemon Lab... Hmph. Not as impressive as I thought it would be." He murmered. I just now realized that I was inching closer to him to listen. Suddenly his head whipped around and those dark cold eyes were on me.

"Can I help you with something?" He growled rudely and sarcastically.

"E-excuse me?"

"What are you staring at?" He asked coldly, turning his body toward me and taking a step forward. My heart started to thump my ribs.

"Sorry, I just... Hey!" His big hand wrapped around my arm, forcing me to be dragged along with his stomping feet. "Hey, what are doing? Quit it!" I struggled against his grip of steel, but to no avail.

"Leave me alone, you little pest." And with that and a swing of his arm, I was thrown down on the grass and dirt. He walked off and resumed his position at the window, seeming to completely forget about the girl he just tossed to the ground.

I wanted so badly to go up to him and give him what for, but instead, swallowed my rage, stood up and shook it off. "The nerve of some people..." I muttered to myself as I brushed the dirt off of my clothes. After I was satisfied, I gave the kid a last glare, though he wasn't even looking, and returned to the door of the lab.

As I turned the doorknob and stepped inside, the assistant, Henry caught sight of me and waved me over.

"Oh, there you are Lyra! Come with me, this way." He gestured with a nod for me to follow and I did as we walked through the hallways. We passed several individual test rooms and offices and at the very end of the hallway was the main research room, where we were headed. I've visited here before plenty of times, when Mrs. Elm asked me to bring the professor his lunch, or when he needed me and my friends to fetch something or just to simply entertain a Pokemon or two while he was recording information on it.

Our footsteps echoed slightly into the vast airy room. The windows in the back let in bright sunlight and a cool breeze. Many books littered the floor and shelves and desks, and the computers and laptops and other equipment beeped and flashed and dinged. Tables were covered in research papers and Pokeballs, empty and occupied. Kris, Chikorita, Ethan and Marill were helping to place the Pokeballs and a few books back onto the shelves. Professor Elm was occupied with typing an email of research findings to another researcher in some region or other, and turned around to see us when Henry coughed.

"Oh, there she is!" Elm said as he stood, straightening his coat before walking forward with an arm outstretched. "How are doing today, Lyra?" He asked, shaking my hand.

"I'm doing very good today sir, how are you?" I returned the greeting with a friendly smile. Elm was a close neighbor, and he was kinda like a distant family member.

"I'm doing quite fine." He answered, standing up straight and turning to lead me into the room. My friends noticed me, and they giggled among themselves. Elm, now standing in the middle of the room, turned to face me. "Lyra, I was conducting some research on how the bonds between Pokemon and people make Pokemon grow stronger. But I have no idea where to start, and no one understands this topic, making it an even more difficult subject to study." Elm began, watching my face intently. "But everyone is quite curious as to why, and I'm quite curious of this as well. After studying some battles, I've taken note that people raise Pokemon differently, and so they grow differently. Some raise with nothing but love, others do no less than train everyday. But what I hope to discover from this research is this; What is the best way to raise a Pokemon? Does friendship make a Pokemon more determined to work for their trainer? Do different Pokemon species or different personalities of a Pokemon determine how difficult it is or isn't to raise said Pokemon? And the point I'm trying to reach here Lyra..." He walked toward a carousel-type machine with two Pokeballs on it.

"The reason I called upon you and your friends here," He was trying to fight back a grin, but I could see it. "I want to give you a Pokemon!"

Author's Note:

When I read the reviews, (keep in mind, this is my first story here) I got so excited that I immediately got to typing up chapter two! Thanks guys for liking my story!

Okay, I know nothing really exciting happens here, but it's only the beginning, and better parts will come along, more interesting and entertaining chapters. It's just necessary for me to get through all of the beginning parts. To those of you who have played the game, you understand how tiresome it can be to get through the whole intro and "Get your Pokemon and Pokedex" Mission part at the beginning.

But, I will update this story as often as I can, I PROMISE! I have a lot of holiday shopping to do, and work and all that ( I know, sorry about the excuses!)!

But thank you for enjoying this story, I appreciate it!

And I will get to typing that next chapter for y'all! :)