Chapter 57:Lapras Pod! Back to Pallet Town!
After winning the Orange League winner's trophy, Lyra decided it was time to return to Kanto, as the Orange League was now finished. Currently, they were riding on Lapras across the ocean.
"I can't wait to show my trophy and badges to Mum and Professor Oak," Lyra said, fixing her hood.
"I still say your battle with Drake was amazing, Lu. It was one of the greatest battles I've ever seen," Tracey said.
"It certainly was," Lyra replied with a smile. "And now it's high time to head back to Kanto."
"I can't wait to go to Kanto and finally meet Professor Oak," Tracey added.
Suddenly, Lapras started to speed up, acting as if he were excited about something. "Hey, what's wrong, Lapras?" Lyra asked. Her answer soon appeared in the distance: a school of Lapras.
"Look at all those Lapras!" Tracey said, sketching in his pad.
"I wonder if this is the pod Lyra's Lapras was separated from," Misty mused.
"Is it true, Lapras? Is this your family?" Lyra asked. Lapras nodded, confirming they had finally found his pod. Lyra remembered the promise she made when she caught him—that she would release him once they found his family. Now I can keep my promise, she thought. Lapras swam toward the pod and called out to them.
The pod heard him but ignored him. A light-blue Lapras in the group wanted to respond, but the others forced her to ignore him. Lapras called out again, but the leader of the pod used Water Gun and Mist to lead the group away. Lapras began to cry, and Lyra hugged him to calm him down.
"What happened?" Misty asked.
"I don't know," Tracey said, "but something isn't right here."
The gang went to the nearby Tarroco Island to find answers. They found Officer Jenny and told her about the encounter.
"I see," Officer Jenny said. "I think I know why they ran away. There have been Pokémon poaching pirates around here led by Captain Crook. They capture Pokémon in protected areas to sell for a high price."
"Those jerks!" Lyra said angrily. "How can they do this to Pokémon?"
"It's no wonder the pod is afraid of humans," Misty added.
"We have to do something," Lyra declared. "We can't let them get away with this. We need to find the pod before the pirates do."
Tracey was worried the Lapras would be too scared of them, but Lyra insisted they had to try to keep their promise to Lapras. Tomo, Misty, and Tracey agreed. Lyra told Tomo to stay at the Pokémon Center with Growlithe for safety, and Misty left Togepi with him as well.
Meanwhile, Team Rocket was in the ocean in their Magikarp submarine, hoping to catch the pod for a massive profit. James spotted the Lapras, and they prepared to move in.
Lyra, Misty, and Tracey were also searching. Lyra had switched her team and now had Triton (Gyarados), Mystic (Milotic), and Dragonair ready for battle. Suddenly, a loud bang echoed in the distance. Tracey used his binoculars and saw that the pirates had found the pod, attacking them with cannons and a school of Tentacruel.
"We need to hurry! Full speed, Lapras!" Lyra cried. Tracey jumped into the ocean with his Marill to go get Officer Jenny.
At the scene, the pod was surrounded. Lyra and Misty arrived just in time. "You're not catching any Pokémon here!" Misty shouted. The pirates fired their cannons, but Misty's Pokémon countered with Water Gun. Lyra released her two Gyarados and Dragonair. Triton used Dragon Rage, Dragonair used Dragon Pulse, and Mystic used Dragon Breath.
The wild Lapras watched Lyra and Misty protect them and realized not all humans were bad. Team Rocket tried to intervene, but Captain Crook's Tentacruel attacked their submarine, blasting them off.
Misty eventually tied up Captain Crook and his crew, gagging the captain to stop his orders. The wild Lapras helped by freezing the Tentacruel with Ice Beam. "They trust us now," Lyra said happily.
The light-blue Lapras nuzzled Lyra's Lapras, and Lyra realized it was his mother. Officer Jenny arrived to arrest the pirates and thanked the gang. Misty released the pirates' Tentacruel, telling them they were free.
"Well, Lapras," Lyra said with a sad smile, "my promise is fulfilled. It's time to return to your family." Lyra hugged him, remembering their journey together. Lapras helped her onto Jenny's boat but then swam back to her with his mother.
Lyra used her Aura ability to understand them. "What? No way!" she gasped. She explained to her surprised friends that Lapras wanted to stay with her, and his mother didn't want to be separated from her child again, so she wanted Lyra to catch her too. Officer Jenny allowed the capture, noting the mother's trust in Lyra. Lyra caught the mother and sent both Lapras to Professor Oak's lab.
The gang finally made it back to Pallet Town. Tracey was eager to meet Professor Oak, while Lyra and Misty still wondered about the mysterious GS Ball that no one could open.
They stopped at Lyra's house first. They were greeted by Julia and, surprisingly, Brock. Brock was acting depressed, and when Misty mentioned Professor Ivy, he curled into a ball. "Don't say that name," he whimpered. Lyra and Misty decided not to ask any more questions.
Lyra placed her Orange League trophy and four badges on the shelf next to her Indigo League awards. Then, the group headed to the lab. Tracey finally met Professor Oak and showed him his sketches. The Professor was impressed but wanted to see the GS Ball.
Lyra released her team into the corral, including Triton, Espeon, Mystic, Salamence, Shiny Ponyta, Crystal Onix, and Shiny Snorlax. Tomo did the same. Lyra's massive collection of Pokémon, including her baby Lugia, Arashi, greeted her joyfully.
Suddenly, a loud bang was heard. Team Rocket had covered the lab with a giant tent and was using a vacuum to steal Poké Balls. Professor Oak tried to fight back but was trapped in a metal ring.
Lyra sent out Dragonair, Gabite, and Shiny Ponyta. Jessie and James countered with Lickitung, Victreebel, and a newly evolved Cloyster. During the intense battle, Lyra's three Pokémon began to glow.
Professor Oak watched in amazement as Dragonair evolved into Dragonite, Ponyta became a Rapidash with grey flames, and Gabite evolved into Garchomp.
"Dragonite, use Razor Wind to cut the tent!" Lyra commanded. The tent was shredded. Then, Lyra ordered a double Fire Blast from Rapidash and Garchomp, blasting Team Rocket away.
After the battle, Gary Oak appeared. He congratulated Lyra but announced he was heading to the Johto region to win the League there. "You'll have to beat me first, Gary," Lyra giggled. Gary challenged her to a 1-on-1 battle.
Gary used his Eevee, and Lyra used Zorua.
The two fought a close match, but Zorua's Night Daze and a powerful Headbutt knocked Eevee out. Gary took the loss well and set off on his new journey. Lyra waved goodbye, looking forward to their next meeting in Johto.
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1. I didn't like Lapras leaving in the anime. Since his mother didn't want to be separated again, I had Lyra catch her so they could stay together. If you're wondering how Lyra got a Lugia, you'll have wait for further updates
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