Chapter 2

The light began to flicker on and off. Lyra looked at light switch which was being pushed around by the nose of a Totdile. A Chikorita lay sprawled across the professor's back as he tried to find the glasses that fell off his nose.

"Lyra, thank goodness it's you! Please help! This Chikorita is hurting my back." Lyra picked up the green Pokemon.

"How could something as sweet as you hurt anyone?" she asked. Then, it opened its mouth and let a ball of green energy smack her in the face, and it tackled Elm once again, knocking the glasses he'd picked up out of his hands.

She ran towards it, but it leapt off his back and began running around. In an attempt to catch it, she tripped on the professor, landing on his back. The Chikorita stopped running and jumped onto Lyra's back. The Totdile stopped messing with the light and toppled on top of the Chikorita.

Lyra tried to get up, but the two were too heavy, and she fell back down, the wind coming out of her. Out of the corner, she saw a blue and tan figure rushing towards them. Not another! She thought, bracing herself for the weight of another Pokemon.

But instead, it rolled the Totdile off Chikorita and rolled it off Lyra's back. She got to her knees and looked at her hero. "Thanks, Cyndaquil," Professor Elm's exhausted voice came. "You're a real life saver." It looked away, an embarrassed look on its face. "Back in the balls you go." He picked up the three Poke' Balls and called the three back.

"So," she began. "What exactly is it that you want?" The professor stared at her for a moment, looking at her as though she were crazy, but then his face lit up.

"Ah, yes. I wanted you to come over. Though, that whole fiasco made it slip my mind, so I don't quite remember why I'd asked for you to come. Probably just to tell you Happy Birthday. You can go home now."

Lyra moaned. This happened almost anytime Professor Elm ever summoned her. But, she left the small lab and headed for her house, only to find Ethan blocking her path.

"Come on. I want to talk to you." She hesitated, wondering if it was worth while. Her childhood friend always was quite enjoyable to have around, but she wasn't really in the mood. "I have candy." He added.

"So you're bribing me?" she asked sarcastically. "Fine, I'll come." She followed Ethan up the hills west of New Bark Town until he finally sat down on the tallest where it had a perfect view of the sky. "So what is it?"

"I was just thinking. Today you're supposed to be getting your first Pokemon, right? Well, I was planning on heading out tomorrow and thought maybe you'd want to come along, too?" Ethan was slightly blushing.

"You really think we should? I think it would be better to go out alone, with only your Pokemon there to help you if you need it. I would really help people bond with their Pokemon! But no one seems to do that anymore except those people who sit around waiting for a trainer they can beat that just happens to pass by. Don't you agree?"

He just shrugged. "But what if your Pokemon need you and you can't help them?"

"I don't think that will ever happen. Pokemon are too powerful to need help from humans." But he still didn't look convinced.

"That guy Red said almost the exact same thing, and until he learned better, he got his hinny kicked around all the time."

"But he's the Kanto League Champion!"

"He wouldn't be if he realized how wrong he was, even if he did travel alone." Ethan was always so stubborn.

"I hate boys! They're all idiots!" Lyra stormed off towards home. No one was going to get in her way now. She opened the door to her house. The room was decorated and presents sat on the dining room table.

"Surprise!" her mother called as almost every one from town poked their heads out from hiding. But Lyra ignored them and stomped up the stairs and into her room.

She flopped on her bed and screamed into her pillow. She'd dreaded the fact that this day had loomed over her, and now it was finally here; just as bad, or worse, than she'd imagined.

Her door squeaked open as her mother came in. "Lyra? Are you okay?"

"Okay? Do I look okay?" she demanded. "I wish it was over and I could go on with my life!"

"Lyra, if you act like this whenever something goes wrong when you become a trainer, people are going to think you're a maniac!" her mother snapped fiercely.

"That's not going to happen because I'm not becoming a trainer. I'm staying here, at home."

"Get up," her mother said, picking her up but her arms. "Your brother and sister each sent you a gift, and Ethan's mom and I spent all morning getting those decorations ready. I'm not letting all everyone did go to waste because you're in a bad mood. Now march downstairs."

Lyra slumped out of her bedroom. "I said march!" Lyra instantly straitened her back and did as told. Everyone was sitting down and talking. Even Ethan had come with Aqua. It seemed the whole town was here. "Lyra wants to apologize to you all!" her mother announced.

All eyes turned to her. "I'm…I'm sorry for being so… cranky." They all turned and continued to do what they were doing before.

"Um, Lyra?" stammered Ethan shyly. "I want to say sorry to

you. I guess I was kind of a jerk."

"'Kind of'?" Lyra taunted playfully. "Come on, let's play!" She picked up Aqua and spun it around in the air. I let out a small laugh as it was twirled around.

"You got over your fear of Aqua!" Ethan gasped, until he saw her stop, put the Pokemon down, and back away slightly. The two laughed. "Same as always."

Lyra's mom gathered everyone around and they all sang the 'Happy Birthday' song, a song Lyra could have gone without. She then blew out the candles on her cake and watched everyone dig in. She opened her birthday presents and everyone left.

When everyone had gone, her mother set two giant bags in front of her. One was a bright red with white ribbons coming of the sides. The other was a dark blue with white paper in it. They each had a letter attached to them. Lyra opened the letter from the blue bag.

Dear Lyra,

Hey there! It's been a while sense I've seen you. I'm so proud to have a responsible and brave younger sister like you. I hope we get the chance to battle some time.

Sincerely,

Thomas

And then the other letter.

Dear Lyra,

I hope that mom got this in time and it isn't three weeks late like last year. I'm so happy for you! My little sister's growing up and is bound to be one of the greatest trainers ever. I miss you so much, and wish I could be there, but some wishes just don't come trues. Have a great birthday!

Sincerely,

Amber

Her mother smiled. "Now look what's inside the bags."

Lyra took out the paper in the red bag and grabbed out a cute plush Pikachu, her favorite pokemon, a new trainer's outfit, and $150 to buy things at the Poke Marts. Inside the blue bag was a White bag with blue strapes, perfect for carrying supplies, an Umbreon and Espeon plush, $150 for shopping at Poke Marts, and a weird, egg shaped thing.

Her mom's eyes grew wide and she gasped. "A Pokemon Egg! And by the looks of it, it's a…" she trailed off.

"What is it, mom?"

"I guess you'll just have to see for yourself," she said, winking. "Now I suppose is a good time to talk to Professor Elm about getting that Pokemon of yours before it gets dark." Lyra nodded, ran upstairs, put her things on her bed, and left.

Dark storm clouds covered the setting sun as Lyra headed out to Professor Elm's lab again. When she reached the door, something caught the corner of her eye. Looking over the side of the lab, she saw a boy with shoulder length, red hair and a black and red jacket. He was gazing into window; obviously, he hadn't seen her.

"So this is the famous Professor Elm's lab…" he muttered, just loud enough that she could somewhat hear what he said.

"You! What are you doing gawking at that window? Do you want to see the Professor?" The boy turned to face her.

"I'm…uh…kind of…maybe…"

"Are you here to get a Pokemon?"

His face lit up, and a mysterious look sparked in his eyes. "That's it."

"I'm getting one today, too! Come with me, we can get ours together!"

He looked away, his face scrunched into a frown. "I…I can't…"

"Sure you can! Professor Elm's not scary, in fact…" The boy clasped his hands around her shoulders. "Wha-"

"You're really bugging me, you know that?" His grip got tighter. "There's nothing to see here, so you can just go back crawling to your mommy." He shoved her away, knocking her to the ground.

"Hey! What was that for?" The boy ignored her and started walking away into the trees. "I'll call the police on you!" But he was gone.