Hey you guys! Rachel V.S. World here!

Well, I am VERY happy to say that...

WE HAVE 1000+ HITS! YAHOO! :D

Thanks to all of you guys, my first fanfic has gotten a lot of success!

I applaud you all, times infinity tenfold! :3

Oh, and don't forget to review! I would love to hear what you have to say, it is very much appreciated!

Sincere Thanks,

~ Rachel V.S. World

Plop. Plop. Plop.

Lyra observed the clear, cool rain falling off of the roof of the Pokémon Center, splashing into puddles on the ground and falling into little streams which ran into the gutter with a rushing noise. Shuffling into a more comfortable position, she sighed and sat back into the bench, listening to the sounds of Goldenrod.

Pokémon cries to the south, buzzing neon on the seemingly endless buildings, a saxophone in the distance, and the grinding metal of the Train as it arrived from its midnight shift. After sitting in the same bench for two hours, waiting, Lyra knew the sounds all too well.

Leaf was snuggled close to her, drifting in and out of sleep while watching the people pass by with interest. He yawned, and climbed onto Lyra's lap. Like his Trainer, he didn't mind the rain. It was soothing to him and Lyra, whom they had to wait hours for news about Silver.

It was a very long night.

Gold started pacing after fifteen minutes, asking Nurse Joy constantly about Silver. When she finally lost it and told him to sit down, they got into a shouting match. Afterwards, Gold was forced to sit down and wait. He fell asleep at around 8:00, with Char sitting by his side, waiting in his stead.

At around 9:00, Silver's Totodile woke up, and threw a large tantrum because his Trainer was missing. Leaf calmed him down with a quick Stun Powder and a comforting hug. The Pokémon eventually fell asleep in Lyra's bench.

Lyra, who was kind of a night owl, didn't feel like sleeping, so she took this time to wander around the halls, peeking in doors. She was just about to enter the storage closet when Nurse Joy caught her, scolded her, and forced her to sit outside.

That was two hours ago.

Lyra sighed, she was thoroughly worried and bored, which is not a good combination when you have been impatiently sitting on a cold, hard bench for a couple hours. For once in her life, she had been feeling genuinely concerned about a stranger she had just met.

I hope he's okay, Lyra thought as she hugged a tired Leaf close to herself. Gold really seems to like him.

"Chiii…" Leaf unconsciously replied. I hope me and Char and Toto can all be friends…
He sighed. Wouldn't that be fun?

Leaf yawned again, and then fell into a light slumber.

Lyra looked down at the Pokémon in her lap, and giggled. He looks so cute when he's sleeping.

"I guess I'd better go to sleep, too..."

Gently, she lifted the small Pokémon off of her legs, and lay down on the length of the bench, placing the Chikorita on her belly. She lifted her hat so that it covered her eyes. "Hopefully we'll get some answers tomorrow."

The unconscious Pokémon mumbled a reply, and she smiled. "Goodnight, Leaf."

Lyra closed her eyes, and she drifted to the calming lullaby of a distant saxophone.

"Miss Lyra?"

Lyra grumbled, and shifted a little bit. Where am I? She thought. Man, this is uncomfortable ...

"Go away…" Sigh…I'm going back to sleep.

"Miss Lyra, please wake up!"

"Five more minutes…" She murmured to the voice. Can't you see I'm sleeping?

"But this is urgent! Please, you have to get up!"

Suddenly, a light filled Lyra's closed eyes, temporarily blinding her. The sounds of Goldenrod flooded back into her ears, jarring her awake. She flailed a little bit, making Leaf fall off of her belly with a surprised squeak. When she opened her eyes, she saw a man standing in front of the bench, holding her hat in his hands.

"Who are you? Give me back my hat!" She grabbed the hat out of his hands and pulled it over her head. She shot him a glaring look. "I'm trying to sleep!"

"Come now, Miss Lyra! Don't you recognize me?" The man said, sounding a little hurt.

Lyra squinted her eyes, and they came into focus. In front of her, the man became clearer, until she saw the familiar freckled face of her favorite deliveryman.

"Frankie!" She squealed, hugging him. "I'm so sorry about that! I didn't know it was you."

"It's okay!" He laughed, smiling. "By the way, I have another delivery for you." He handed her a brown package, tied up in a little bow with twine. Leaf rolled over and looked up at the package, giving a hopeful chirp.

Maybe it's food… The Pokémon's stomach grumbled a little. I'm starving!

"Oh…" Lyra said, turning the package over in her hands. She could hear something rolling around. "Probably more Berries from Mom…" She sighed. "She really needs to stop spending my money."

Leaf's stomach grumbled again, so he nudged her leg. If you don't want them, I'll have them! I don't
mind.

Lyra sighed and nudged him back, giving him the go-ahead. Leaf squealed and snatched the box from her, pulling on the twine with his small mouth. Lyra glanced sideways at Frankie, who shrugged.

"I'm sorry about that, Lyra." Frankie said putting a hand on her shoulder. "You know, mothers are like that, sometimes. I'm sure she's just worried about you." Snarfing sounds came from Leaf's direction. He'd found the berries.

"Yeah, I guess so." Lyra shrugged, turning away from the noshing Pokémon. "Thanks, Frankie."

"Aw, it's no problem. Hey." Frankie grinned, taking an envelope out of his parcel. "Maybe this'll cheer you up."

"A letter? Who's it from?" Lyra asked, taking the piece of mail from his hands.

Leaf lifted his head from the now empty box and burped. A letter?

He waddled over to Lyra, and nudged her in the leg again, with a curious look. I wonder who it's from!

"…I don't know. It doesn't have a return address." He wrinkled his brow in curiosity. "Well," he said, turning to walk away, "I'll see you later!"

"See you!" Lyra gave him a quick wave. "Have a good day!"

"I will!" Frankie replied. Whistling happily, he walked away to make more deliveries.

Leaf sighed. Well, so much for that.

When he was out of sight, Lyra sat down on the bench, looking at the envelope in her hands. It was clean and white, with no stamp or address, just a scribble on the front that said "Lyra Green" in neat cursive.

"Hmm…" She wondered. Leaf inspected the letter, sniffing it and prodding it, and shook his head. He didn't know the scent.

I dunno about this, Lyra…Leaf looked up at his Trainer in worry.

"It's okay, Leaf. I'll be careful." She assured, ripping open the envelope. Two pieces of paper fell out, one of them slightly browned, with newspaper print on it; the other looked like flowery stationary. Lyra picked up the folded piece of newspaper and smoothed it out, reading the article carefully.

"Oh no..." She gasped, scrambling for the other paper. Opening it up and reading the neat writing, her heart skipped a beat with each word. When she finished, she fell back in the bench, exhaling a shaky breath.

"Chii!" Leaf cried in worry. He nuzzled into her neck, checking her pulse. "Kori?" he nudged her.

Lyra had paused to collect her thoughts, her eyes wide with some kind of emotion that her Chikorita had never ever seen in his friend. Leaf cried again, Lyra, what's wrong?

Not responding to Leaf's pleading, Lyra took out her other Poke ball and rolled it around in her hands, contemplating something. Suddenly, a determined and stoic look came over her face.

Lyra?

She grabbed the two papers and the envelope, and stuffed them in her bag. Putting the Poke ball securely back in her belt, she picked up her concerned Pokémon and placed him on her shoulder.

"Chii? Chi!" The Pokémon protested. Wait! I want to stay with Toto and Char…

"I'm sorry, Leaf, but we can't wait for Gold and Silver." Lyra said firmly, getting up from the bench and throwing her backpack over her other shoulder. "We have to go."

I just wanted to play with them… Why do we have to leave so soon?

"Itaa..." He muttered sadly as she carried him away from the Pokémon Center… and his newfound friends.

(Psst!

Hi, it's me again. I forgot to tell you that I have another Pokemon project on . called Truth or Dare! (So original, huh? :P)

My problem is, though, I don't know what the public wants in terms of which group from the Gameverse should go next. If you would please go to my profile a vote on the poll, it would be very helpful!)

Thanks for listening!

~Rachel V.S. World

P.S. (I think it might also help to tell me which Shipping from the groups you want me to do, too. Just so I can get the most story bang for my writing buck, if you know what I mean.)