Author's Note: I didn't expect that I would finish this so soon. Enjoy. Reviews are welcome, but not necessary. Sorry about upping the rating. Better safe than sorry, right?
Chapter Two
"This is exciting!" Professor Elm exclaimed. Both his interns passed their completed paperwork to him. He accepted with quivering hands. "I haven't made Trainer Cards for beginners in a very long time. It will take about a day for them to be complete."
"What about our trip Professor?" Lyra asked.
"You can make do with your regular ID until these are finished," he said. "I'll get to work on them as soon as you two leave." He set their papers on his already cluttered desk. Lyra and Ethan exchanged a glance. Both knew he'd either forget or get preoccupied with something else.
"I hate it when you two do that," Professor Elm muttered. "Do you have no faith in me?"
"Oh no, Professor!" Both of them said immediately.
Still looking dejected, he called in a lab assistant from the hall. A man with greasy black hair and enormous round glasses poked his head inside. "Yes, sir?"
"Take these, and begin inputting the information right away. Drop everything else," Professor Elm said shoving the papers at him. "These new trainers need their cards."
The assistant bowed low and accepted the papers. "Consider it done," he said in a squeaky voice and left the room.
Professor Elm gave them a triumphant look. "There, they will be done!"
Lyra and Ethan smiled at each other. "Good to know, Professor."
"Let's get down to—"A knock at the door interrupted him. The assistant walked back in.
"Sir, did you say Trainer Cards? These are papers for Pidgey stats," he squeaked.
"Really?" Professor Elm searched his desk as his two interns laughed to the point of wheezing. Papers flying all over the room didn't help their amusement.
"Here!" He said finally finding the papers. "Yes, yes, you two can stop now."
"S-sorry, Professor," Ethan said suppressing his lingering laughter.
"We can delay it longer if you wish?" Professor Elm said with a smile. That shut them both up, to his pleasure.
"No, we're fine. Really," Lyra insisted.
"Yeah, we're okay," Ethan added.
He returned to his seat and pulled the wheeled chair closer to the desk. Unearthing the briefcase from the mass of papers he popped the locks. The top sprang open on the desk revealing three Poké Balls clustered in the center of the bag. The capsules were the size of oranges but red on the upper half and white on the bottom. The two hemispheres were separated by a black band with a white button in the center.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Welcome to the world of Pokémon. Ethan, Lyra, are you ready?" he said pulling away from the desk to give them better views of the Poké Balls. "Your own tale of adventure is about to unfold… Oh forget the speech. Both of you may choose one."
"What's in them?" Lyra asked a little faster than she would have liked herself to say.
"Three Pokémon that both of you have very little experience with. Enough for them to willingly listen to your orders, but they probably will still be cautious of you," Professor Elm said. "Ethan, how about you go first?"
Lyra suppressed a scowl. She would have liked to go first. Her efforts must have failed since the Professor gave her an odd look. She quickly tried to hide it with a cough and looked away, feeling her face grow red.
Ethan stood up and approached the three Poké Balls. "They're labeled?" Ethan asked with mild shock.
"Oh, well… yes. But that was more for my benefit than yours," Professor Elm said. "I must have forgotten to remove them."
"Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile," Ethan read. "I remember them. Totodile didn't like me much." He picked up a Ball.
Lyra smiled. She knew Cyndaquil well enough. He was a timid little thing that startled easily. She found him adorable due to his timidity. She remembered Ethan somehow managed to hold the shrew-like Pokémon with some envy. He was always much better at understanding and bonding with Pokémon than she was. Of course, Totodile didn't like him much. But Totodile didn't like either of them much.
She recalled Chikorita too. She was a sweet Pokémon and very docile. Chikorita would be the easiest choice since it was naturally obedient and quick to bond with a trainer. It however required some more maintenance since its skin was prone to burning.
"I'm not sure it's that Totodile didn't like you, Ethan," Professor Elm said, adopting a lecturing tone.
"It bit me," Ethan said defensively.
"It bites everything. It's a very curious little Pokémon that learns by biting. It is difficult to train because of this," Professor Elm explained.
Lyra shrugged, agreeing with Ethan. She'd been bitten by the water Pokémon also. She still had a scar on her leg from it. She recalled that Ethan still had one on his arm.
"I think I'll take this one," Ethan said holding Chikorita's Poké Ball.
"I thought you would. And Lyra over there can barely contain herself. C'mere and choose," the Professor said waving her over.
Lyra jumped up with glee, almost knocking the chair over in the process. She plucked Cyndaquil's Poké Ball up from the briefcase. "This one."
"Didn't spare a moment, did you?" Ethan said.
"One at a time now, release the Pokémon. Ethan, you chose first, you can release Chikorita," Professor Elm said. "Lyra, stand back."
Lyra and Professor Elm moved a few feet back. Ethan pressed the button on the Poké Ball. In a flash of white light the plant Pokémon stood in the room. She was a small Pokémon with green tinted skin, a leaf on her head, and a row of buds sprouting around her elongated neck. She had one little white claw per foot and a stubby triangular tail. She shook her body as the last of the Poké Ball residue vanished. Her big red eyes blinked up at Ethan.
"Hey, remember me?" Ethan said in the same voice one would use to a child.
Chikorita evidently did remember him. She pranced around his feet waving her leaf and making cute cooing noises. The smell of her leaf reached Lyra; a pleasant aroma that smelled of all sorts of flowers. It always made Lyra a little sleepy. Ethan even looked a little tired when he patted the Grass Pokémon. Trainers of Chikorita were said to become immune to the smell of the leaves.
"Chikorita are very close to their trainers. It's not surprising that she remembered Ethan even though she worked with him over a few weeks ago," Professor Elm explained.
Both Ethan and Chikorita looked at the Professor. Chikorita's eyes lit up as she saw two other faces she recognized. She hopped over to the Professor and Lyra. She gave them a happy head-butt and returned to Ethan.
"And she remembers you, Lyra."
Lyra laughed. "Apparently she does." She tightened her grip on Cyndaquil's ball, desperate to see his face light up when he saw her.
As if reading her mind, Professor Elm turned to Lyra. "Alright, they seem to be set with each other. Feel free to release Cyndaquil," he said. He handed her a bag of fire Pokémon treats that smelled ashy and burnt. "He's skittish, remember?"
She accepted the bag. "I do. But I think he'll remember me." She sat down until, crossing her legs. She put the bag of treats behind her. Once she'd settled herself, she pressed the button on the capsule.
The same burst of white light exploded from the Ball. As the Pokémon solidified, it took the shape of a small, foot tall, shrew. His body was black with a creamy white underbelly. Four orange patches emitting heat-waves adorned his back. He had big black eyes and a long nose. He stood hunched over and watching the room with a wide eye. Lyra knew he was designed to live in volcanic caves, thus his eyesight wasn't great. He twitched his nose to sniff around the room.
"Hi, Cyndaquil. Do you remember me?" Lyra asked mimicking Ethan's tone. She pulled a treat from the bag behind her and offered it to the Pokémon.
Cyndaquil sniffed her hand. He seemed to remember her smell and came closer to take the treat until he was nearly in her lap. The little fire Pokémon happily munched on the offering. Once it finished he snuffled his nose around her and on her knees. He clicked his teeth as he did so. Lyra was ecstatic to see that he did remember her. He crawled around her and even let her pat his head.
"He remembers you, Lyra!" Ethan said as he and his excitable Chikorita appeared. Cyndaquil jumped but didn't flare.
Chikorita trotted happily to greet the fire Pokémon. Cyndaquil chattered nervously until Lyra whispered "It's okay. She won't hurt you." At which point Cyndaquil inched forward to sniff at the Grass Pokémon.
"It will grow friendlier if you let it walk with you," Ethan said. He snapped the magnetic Poké Ball to his belt, shrinking it to the size of a ping-pong ball with an extra press of the button.
Lyra nodded. She worried with Cyndaquil's poor eyesight it would get itself hurt. "I'm not sure I'll do that yet. I don't want him to hurt himself." Using a treat to guide the Pokémon, she lured him onto her shoulder. Cyndaquil looked confused to find himself on his master's shoulder but sat comfortably. "I guess if I can keep him on my shoulder, it won't matter." She also let the capsule snap to her belt.
"He'll be okay. Cyndaquil's eyesight improves as they grow and they evolve early," Professor Elm said. "Now that you two have your new partners, you're ready to head off. I've set up a place for you in Cherrygrove's hotel. It will probably take you until noon to reach Cherrygrove, and then another few hours to reach Mr. Pokémon's place."
"That far?" Lyra asked. She flipped her Pokégear open to check the time. It was a little after eleven in the morning. The trek to Cherrygrove usually took between one and two hours. Lyra remembered the days she had to wake up hours early just to reach the school at the right time.
"His place isn't terribly far, but he does tend to talk. A lot," Professor Elm said. "And don't give him any money."
"What money would we give him?" Ethan asked. "We're broke."
Professor Elm ignored his sarcasm. "Please leave as soon as you can. Although you should probably talk to your parents before you go." He turned back to his desk. "I'll call you when your cards are ready. And call me when you check into the hotel." He waved them off dismissively.
Lyra and Ethan left the building through large double doors. Chikorita immediately expanded her leaf in the bright sun and flopped down in the dirt. Cyndaquil yawned loudly on Lyra's shoulder.
"Chikorita, we'll rest in Cherrygrove," Ethan said.
Chikorita looked up at him, her big eyes narrowing suspiciously. She stood up and followed Ethan with reluctance.
"Good girl," Ethan said.
"How about we meet back here in ten… fifteen minutes?" Lyra suggested.
"Sounds good," Ethan said. He played enticed Chikorita into a race back to his house. The two sprinted off.
Lyra with Cyndaquil dozing on her shoulder, headed back to her house. She slid the key into the door.
"Home already, Lyra?" her mother asked. "What did—oh my! What is that?" her mother said with excitement.
Cyndaquil blinked in surprise at Lyra's mother. He squeaked his concern at Lyra. She put a hand up to reassure him.
"He's a little jumpy, mom."
"Oh, I'm sorry." She dropped her voice to a whisper. "Why did Professor Elm give…him?" Lyra nodded to confirm the gender. "To you?" her mother finished.
"A colleague of his found something. He wants me and Ethan to go get it for him," Lyra said. She sat Cyndaquil on the ground. It began to sniff around and explore the moment it was free.
"It's so cute," her mother said as she watched Cyndaquil. "Where'd you say you were going?"
"A little past Cherrygrove," Lyra said. "He's a Cyndaquil. A fire-type."
"Not too far, right?"
"No, but he's paid for a hotel room in Cherrygrove for us. Just in case."
"Well, let me give you something." Her mom walked carefully up the stairs, trying to avoid scaring Cyndaquil again. The Pokémon watched her leave with interest.
"Here it is." Her mother returned with a journal. "Record information about Cyndaquil. I'd love to hear about him."
Lyra took the journal and put it in her bag. "Thanks, mom."
"Should I be worried about you?"
"Won't you anyway?"
Her mother sighed. "Yes… But you're an adult now. And you have Cyndaquil. Even if it is dangerous…"
"Don't worry. I'll be fine. Plus Ethan will be with me," Lyra said worried her mother would refuse.
Cyndaquil scurried over to his trainer. He sensed the tense emotions and his whiskers pulled forward.
"Just call me when you get to Cherrygrove and when you're settling down for the night," her mother said. She jumped up and hugged her daughter.
"Mom, it's not far. I'll be fine. Need. Air." Lyra said.
Cyndaquil's fire burst from his back. He squealed angrily at the embrace.
"Mom, let go! Let go!" Lyra said quickly pulling herself out of the hug. "See, Cyndaquil, it's okay. It's okay. Don't attack. It's mom. We like her."
The fire fizzled out with a burst of smoke.
"Good." Lyra hugged her mom to show that the gesture was safe. "See?"
Cyndaquil looked at them as if they had four heads. Hopping forward he sniffed both of them. Deciding they were just crazy, he sat back on his hind legs and cocked his head to the side.
"He's confused," her mom said.
"A hug in the Pokémon world is considered aggressive behavior. It's usually something that happens in a fight," Lyra explained.
"Oh."
"We need to go anyway," Lyra said. She gave her mom an extra squeeze. "I'll call you when I get there." She sprinted up the stairs to gather a few last minute items.
Her mother walked into the living area and opened a drawer. Cyndaquil watched the parent with interest. His attention was drawn back when his trainer's footsteps came from the stairwell.
"Mom, what are you doing?"
"Giving you something extra to help," her mom said handing her a few crisp bills.
"Oh, we're only going to be a day at most," Lyra said taking the bills.
"I'm going to ignore your fake modesty and polite attitude because I know you want the money. And you will take it anyway, or whine at me if take it back," her mom said. "Now, didn't you say you had to leave?"
Lyra hugged her mom once more, watching Cyndaquil in the process. "Thanks mom. I'll call you regularly, promise."
She and Cyndaquil came back into the sunny day and salty air. At the entrance, by the signpost for marking the town, Ethan and Chikorita stood. The Pokémon noticed Lyra first; she raised her leaf and waved it at them. No doubt something she learned from Ethan.
"C'mon, Cyndaquil." Lyra extended her arm. Cyndaquil leapt up and scrambled to her shoulder. He clicked his teeth in her ear. "I know, you're happy to ride."
"A shoulder 'Mon?" Ethan said as they approached. "You better hope he doesn't get spooked and burn your ear off."
"Hopefully that won't happen." She wished she had a better, sarcastic response but the chance that Cyndaquil could burn her ear off was there.
They were interrupted by a person emerging from the trails. His red hair was long, for a guy. It hovered just above his shoulders. He wore something that Lyra thought was odd for a traveler to wear: a fine looking shirt and expensive pants. He looked to be around Lyra's age, perhaps older. Both Pokémon watched for their trainers' reactions. When they didn't act with fear or anger, the Pokémon relaxed.
"Are you looking for something?" Ethan asked.
The redhead walked past him, bumping Ethan's shoulder on the way out. He didn't say anything but grunted and glared at the physical contact.
"Well," Lyra said hotly, "That was rude."
Ethan rubbed his shoulder. "I'll say."
As if in agreement, Cyndaquil blew out a puff of smoke, making Lyra jump. Chikorita shook her leaf, dropping several sharpened smaller spikes to the ground.
The group remained silent as they watched the stranger look around the tiny town. He clearly was lost. He began walking in one direction only to pivot on his heel and begin in another.
"Whatever, let's go," Ethan said.
"Yeah… We're behind…" Lyra said still watching. She fell into step behind Ethan.
The grass was hard to avoid. The path that was worn was only wide enough for one person at the biggest. At the smallest, there was grass to their ankles. Parts of it reached higher than her elbow, even higher on poor Ethan. She felt relieved she put Cyndaquil on her shoulder. She didn't need to worry about the Pokémon getting lost or getting scared and burning the entire area down. Chikorita was forced to bound through it. Being only two feet tall, they couldn't see her most of the time in the tall grass. At times her head would pop up over the grass for just a second.
The rustling of the trainers and their Pokémon partners piqued the interest of wild Pokémon in the area. They only saw the wild Pokémon for a short time as the trainers went by. Most of them were curious Pidgey.
"We're nearly there!" Ethan said after they had walked over an hour. "I can see the sign."
Lyra could too. It was a nicer sign than New Bark Town's wooden post with one small arrow. This one was a nicely carved sign that saw regular maintenance. The wood was polished and the font on the sign was decorative. The border for the city wasn't far now.
Another rustling caught Chikorita's attention. Her leaf quivered as she anticipated the wild Pokémon's arrival. Normally Cyndaquil didn't take much notice, deciding to sniff the air and decide on the danger level. This time, Cyndaquil hopped off Lyra's shoulder. Landing on the ground, he arched his back and his flame burst out of the four patches.
Chikorita began to walk cautiously backward. She retreated behind Ethan's legs as an angry looking Spearow came out of the grass.
"Territorial dispute probably," Ethan said.
Spearow and Fearow were extremely aggressive bird-type Pokémon. They were well known for their attacks against anything they felt intruded on their territory. People who lived in areas where Fearow nested usually trained a variety of electric Pokémon as a defense. Luckily, Spearow near New Bark Town were rare. There was usually only one or two that dominated the territory and kept the others away. So far the ones that were in the area hadn't evolved yet.
Spearow's brown feathers around its neck rose until it was a wide mane. It beat its wings, kicking up dust in an aggressive displace of dominance. Cyndaquil remained unfazed.
"Ember!" Lyra ordered.
Cyndaquil breathed out a cloud of smoke and sparks. The sparks burned brighter the farther they flew. Upon hitting the bird Pokémon, they ignited. It shook itself, discharging the embers. Small scorch marks darkened its feathers. It launched itself skyward.
"Smokescreen!"
The Spearow swooped behind the fire-shrew. Cyndaquil's poor eyesight kept him from tracking with the airborne bird. Catching the wingbeats and hearing Lyra's order, Cyndaquil lowered his flame, causing smoke to billow into the air. Spearow found itself in the center of the smoke.
"Ember, again!"
Lyra and Ethan heard Spearow's screech of surprise and pain. Lyra knew Cyndaquil had hit his mark.
She felt triumphant until she heard a squeal that could only be Cyndaquil. A severely burned Spearow tumbled out of the smoke clutching the fire Pokémon in its talons. Several of Spearow's flight feathers had been burnt completely off. Cyndaquil's head poked between two of the bird's clawed feet.
"Cyndaquil! Flare your back! Please!"
Cyndaquil's fire exploded from his back. The bird released only part of his body, nimbly avoiding the fire.
"Chikorita, Tackle!"
Chikorita burst into the fray. It knocked the bird off the fire Pokémon and proceeded to continue to drive the Spearow farther away.
The smoke dissipated around the battlers. Spearow with a wing dragging in the dirt and burns all over its body, watched the two trained Pokémon. Chikorita's interference posed a clear problem to the bird Pokémon. Its feather ruff rose and fell in agitation. Cyndaquil rose to his feet, bloodied and sides heaving. Chikorita positioned herself between the bird-type and the battered fire-type.
Finally, Spearow submitted. It lowered its ruff and bowed its body. It acted as a sign to the victors that it didn't wish to fight anymore and that it recognized its defeat. The battlers eyed each other. The Spearow decided that was enough, it stretched its wings. The injury made it flinch. It tested its wings, realizing it was grounded for some time it hopped back into the grass.
"Do you think we should have caught it?" Ethan asked.
"No, flight feathers can grow back. Plus it didn't seem too injured," Lyra said. She had already moved forward to help Cyndaquil.
The little fire Pokémon had dozens of scratches and two deep gashes on either side of his hips. They weren't deep, thankfully. Lyra assumed that they happened when the Spearow held him, before he flared his back. Cyndaquil remained still as his trainer wiped some of the blood from his coat. His big black eyes watched her carefully. Finally, she took a bandage and wrapped it around the two wounds. After, she picked him up in her arms. She felt his body relax once she held him.
"We're almost to a Center, don't worry," Ethan said as he watched the two of them.