You know, it's harder than you'd think to rewrite chapters that you've already written. Oh well, enjoy my next rewritten chapter and I don't own Pokemon!

Chapter 2: Mr. Pokemon And The 'Cursed' Egg

Monday, May 15th

The next morning, I was going nuts trying to pack everything up for our trip to Mr. Pokemon's house, which could easily take three or four days. Maybe even five, if I went slow.

"Lyra, breakfast is getting cold!"

"I-I know mom, I'll be down in a minute!" I replied, still struggling to pack everything up nicely.

"Tot tot tot!" Totodile was currently marching around my room with his trophy: my hat, which he had stolen earlier and I had been too busy to chase him around to get it back. Finally, I stood up, jumping up and down while clapping my hands at the beautiful scene before me: a packed bag.

"Yay! I'm finished!" I then expertly scooped up Totodile from the ground, my hat still being gently carried in his jaws, and headed downstairs. After my favorite breakfast of stuffed full omelets and an assortment of tiny, chocolate chip and berry filled pancakes with a dab of whipped cream on top, with syrup of course, my mom continuously began finding ways to keep me from leaving the house.

"So you've got all of your clothes, flashlights, headphones, soap,-"

"Yes mom, I've already packed everything."

"Right right, so you've got Potions and Antidotes-"

"Yes mom! Look, I know you're worried about me, but I'll only be gone a couple days. Plus, I've got Totodile with me! I'll be fine." I told her comfortingly, a hand reached above me and put on her shoulder. She nodded, one of those parent smiles painted across her face. Finally I was able to step out into the mediocre spring weather, only to be yanked back inside.

"Lyra, I almost forgot, here!" She handed me a small box with red Torchic themed wrapping paper and a pink ribbon tied around it. I gasped with excitement.

"You got me something! What is it what is it!?"

"You have to open it first!" My mom and I have more in common than just our looks. We both love surprises, cooking, lots of stuff like that! I simply pulled on the silk ribbon, which turned out to be two ribbons, then ripped off the magazine like paper covering the box like a hungry Carvanha. I then threw the top of the box off, revealing a small pink device.

"You got me a new Pokegear!"

"Yep! You need some way to call me the required three times a day, and that lousy excuse for a Pokegear you have right now won't cut it." We smiled at each other, and then I noticed the envelope in her hand.

"What's that mom?" She held it up, remembering the letter in her hand.

"Oh this? It came for you in the mail today, and guess who it's fro-om!" My eyes lit up with a joy like no other.

"Dad!"

"Uh-huh!" I snatched the letter from her hand, but she didn't mind. I didn't hear from dad often, being that he works at the power plant in Kanto. Seeing the letter in my hand, I realized that it'd be even harder to keep in contact with him, me being on the move all the time. Before I could rip that open too, my mom locked me in a tight embrace.

"We're so happy for you Lyra. Leaving town for the first time, it's easy to see that you're growing up."

"It's alright mom." We hugged for a moment more before letting go, my mom reluctantly. "I'd better get going."

"Right. Have fun sweetie."

"I will! Love you mom!" And with that I was out of town, heading down Route 29. At one point we came across a small purple Pokemon, making a sort of hissing noise at us.

"Isn't that a Rattata Totodile?"

"Toto!"

"Hkkkkkkkksh!" The normal type continued to make it's strange hissing noise at us. I cocked my head at the angry creature.

"Maybe it wants to battle?" The water type shrugged in my arms. That was when the Rattata attacked us, a Quick Attack that I had to dance around to not get hit. "Eek! Totodile, use Scratch!" Totodile jumped down and scratched the angry Pokemon, who turned around and used Tackle on Totodile. "Totodile use Scratch again!" After that, Rattata fainted.

"Awesome! We won our first battle!" We spent the rest of the day battling wild Pokemon and traversing the long Route. By lunch time the next day, we'd reached the entrance to Cherrygrove City, too small to be an actual city. It was lined with beautiful flowers of all different colors, the fragrance drifting throughout the area. I immediately headed towards the Pokemon Center with it's tell-all reddish orange roof, but saw an old man struggling with some grocery bags. My instincts told me to help out, so I did.

"Do you need any help sir?"

"Oh, yes, please please young lady!" I set Totodile on the ground, taking two of the four bags from the old man. "Thank you so very much, my house is in the center of town, come with me." He led me to a two story house, a flower garden stretching all the way around, similar to the other houses. Inside, he instructed me to set the bags down on a table in what looked like the kitchen.

"Again, thank you so much, there aren't many kind people like you around these days. What is your name?"

"Um, Lyra. And this is my friend Totodile!" I held up the shy Pokemon, who I then set down on the table, hiding behind me.

"I am Gent. So you're a rookie trainer then?"

"Yep! Well, I guess not technically. I'm just running an errand for Professor Elm."

"I see... Well, I must repay you for the generous help of yours!" Gent made his way towards a closet nearby.

"Oh, no Gent, I couldn't."

"But I insist, here." He had taken out a shoe box, and handed it to me. Opening it up, I saw two pink tennis shoes, brand new.

"Gent, I couldn't-"

"I insist, besides, not like I'd ever wear them!" I smiled.

"Thank you." Right then and there, I put the new shoes on, sticking the old ones in the leftover box and put that into my already too full bag. "Well, nice meeting you, I should get going though."

"See you around Lyra!" I smiled at him one last time before leaving Gent's home, almost sad to leave the both modernistic and cottagy feeling residence.

Finally at the Pokemon Center, Nurse Joy kindly healed Totodile for me, gave me a room on the first floor for the rest of the night. Sitting on my bed, I took out the letter my father had sent me, not having yet read it.

Dear Lyra,

Sorry it took me so long to write you back Spinda Kid! Work at the powerplant has been really hard and slow lately, power has been going out all over Kanto and we're having some trouble fixing it.

Anyways, mom was somehow able to get ahold of me the other night, and told me all about your new friend! I'm so excited to meet Totodile, and any other Pokemon you might meet along the way. It's about time you got out of New Bark!

Sorry to cut this short, but being the manager they need me to get back to work. Be safe and have fun Spinda Kid!

Sincerely, Dad

P.S. And try to get into a bit of trouble for once, too! Don't want you to be too safe!

I smiled, folding the letter back up and putting it into my bag for later. I saved all of my dad's letters, and I still had yet to reply to this one. I looked down at the Pokemon bed that the Center provided. Totodile was sound asleep. I should be doing the same. I thought to myself. I lied down on the comfortable bed, but still not my own, and wished that my dad was here to tuck me in. But he wasn't, so I did it myself, and fell asleep soon afterwards.

I stepped out of the warm shower, not too hot not too cold, and wrapped a towel around my wet body. Stepping outside of the bright white bathroom, Totodile ran in, jumping into the shower to savor the last of the water. I giggled, grabbing some clothes. After getting dressed, I dragged Totodile out of the shower and downstairs. I returned the key to my room to Nurse Joy, said good bye, and went towards the Poke Mart right next door to see if there was anything there worth buying that I didn't already have. I bought one Escape rope, just a plain old rope manufactured by the company Escape. Do you need an escape from the real world? Then come to us! Escape has everything you need for the camping or survival trip of your dreams! That's their motto. I also bought two Repels, not the Escape brand, though. Those things are strong enough to repel a rampaging Gyarados.

I checked out my things, not taking a grocery bag in favor of my own bag. After leaving, I made my way towards Route 30 in the warm May morning. We battled a wild Ledyba, winning. But before we could battle anymore, we came across a small house, with an Apricorn tree outside. I took my hand to his door, rapping on it three times. A man, probably in his forties, balding, came to the door.

"Ah, hello? You wouldn't happen to be Mr. Pokemon, would you?" He smiled, laughing a little.

"I'm sorry, but no-"

"Oh I'm soooo sorry! I only knew that he lived around here-"

"It's fine, don't worry about it. It happens aaall the time kiddo. Mr. Pokemon lives much closer to Violet City than this."

"Well, thank you sir, sorry about that."

"No problem! Have a safe journey!" We smiled, then I left. I saw no one else for the rest of the day, and the next morning I finally came to another house. Checking my Pokegear, I saw that we were very close to Violet City.

"If this isn't it, I have no idea where this guy lives."

"Tot." Totodile agreed with me. I picked him up, heading towards the door. Pressing the doorbell, the classic clock tower music played. I could hear it resonating on the house from out here. The door swung open, a man with white hair, in a fancy brown suit laughing at someone behind him.

"Ah, hello there! May I help you?"

"Yeah! Professor Elm sent me?"

"Oh!" The man looked completely off guard, having forgotten all about my coming. "Right, of course, please please, come in!" He opened the door real wide, gesturing for me to come inside. I did, Totodile happily hiding his face in my chest as to try and not be seen. The house was fancy, lots of old looking artifacts and antiques around. A man easily recognized was sitting at a wooden table. I'd seen him on TV too many times to count.

"Professor Oak!"

"Ah, and who might this be?"

"I-I'm Lyra! You're the Professor Oak! I've seen you on TV like, a bajillion times!" The Professor stood up, walking towards me then patting my head.

"Nice to meet you Lyra! And I suppose I don't have to introduce myself! Anyways, it's always nice to meet a fan!" I grinned like a Gengar, so happy to have met someone of such high status.

"Now now, no time for tea when such an important delivery is to be made!" Mr. Pokemon made his way towards one of the glass cases in his room, punching in a code on a security system next to it before opening the case door, gently taking out an orange case with something inside of it. Mr. Pokemon slowly, cautiously, brought it towards the table, setting it down before us.

"This...Is the marvel we today call a Pokemon egg." Everyone in the room looked at the egg, covered with red and blue triangles, in awe. Totodile however, looked more curious than awed. He attempted to poke the case, an action which caused Mr. Pokemon to look at the water type in horror, so I quickly took Totodile back into my arms. A nervous and embarrassed smile took the place of the awe after that.

"I'd like you Lyra, to take great honor in bringing this egg to Professor Elm, as well as great care. If anything were to happen to this egg..." Mr. Pokemon didn't finish, and I didn't want to think about what would happen if something happened to the egg.

"Care to tell us the origins of this mysterious egg?" Oak asked.

"Please! I'd love to hear it as well!" I said, sitting down at an open chair at the table. Mr. Pokemon smiled, obviously proud of himself.

"If you insist!" We didn't have to insist for him to tell us the story. "Well, a good friend of mine in Ecruteak gave it to me, under the words, 'Take great care of this egg dear friend. If anything were to happen to it in your possession, a terrible curse will befall you!'."

"A curse you say?" Oak asked.

"Indeed!" Well that didn't make me nervous at all. Mr. Pokemon held the case up, examining it in the bright light of the chandelier above us. "I'll bet you can't find this kind of egg in Johto. I'm hoping Professor Elm will be able to tell what exactly it is. 'He's the best when it comes to the research of Pokemon evolution!' That's a quote from our very own Professor Oak ladies and gents!" I clapped and laughed, Professor Oak bowing as I did so. Mr. Pokemon then, with the utmost care, handed me the egg.

"Well, I suppose I should get going."

"No no! Please, stay for tea Lyra!"

"We insist!"

"Sorry guys, but I need to get going. I'd like to get this egg back to Professor Elm as soon as possible. Good-bye!"

"WAIT!" I jumped, not expecting the yell from Professor Oak. He walked up to me, and began pinching the cheeks of Totodile in my arms. "This... Is a very rare Pokemon!"

"Uh, yeah. Totodile is my first Pokemon."

"I see! You must be helping with Professor Elm's research! I think I understand why Professor Elm gave you that Pokemon. You treat your Pokemon with love and care." I blushed a little, looking towards the ground.

"Thank you." I almost whispered. I appreciated that Professor Oak thought I was so responsible. If he only knew how much I wanted to be a true trainer.

"Hm hm! You seem dependable! How would you like to help me out?"

"I wou-"

"Of course you would! Here!" He shoved a pink device into my face, which I immediately recognized from commercials and documentaries on TV.

"A-a-a Pokedex?!"

"So you recognize it?"

"OF COURSE!" I yelled, jumping up and down. From what I'd seen on television, these things were super expensive and super cool.

"It's the latest model! As you probably know, it records data on the Pokemon you encounter. It's a super high tech encyclopedia of Pokemon, and I want you to have it!" I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. Unfortunately, Mr. Pokemon and Professor Oak didn't know me well enough to realize what I was about to do. I breathed in deeply, aaand-

"AAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I was surprised I didn't shatter all of the glass in the room.

"I-I'm glad you like it Lyra!"

"Like it!? I LOVE it!" I basically hugged the Pokedex, if that's even possible.

"Well, I suppose it's time to say our goodbyes." Oak suggested.

"What, now you're both leaving me to my lonesome?" Mr. Pokemon pouted, I giggled at his childness.

"Lyra has to get back to New Bark Town, and I must get to Goldenrod for usual radio show. Nice meeting you Lyra, and I'll see you around Arnold!" I assumed Arnold was Mr. Pokemon's first name.

"Bye Mr. Pokemon, you too Professor Oak!"

"Good-bye!" And that was how my journey truly started, with just one, very, very, important man giving me a very expensive Pokedex, and an old man named Arnold giving me a so-called cursed egg, and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Thursday, May 18

All done! Read and review please!