Here I am once again. I can't believe I actually managed to update so quickly. Gasp! Anyway...I hope you all enjoy this next chapter in the arc!

IMPORTANT NOTE: Oh, and I also have to warn you that this is where I deviate slightly from the game's (SoulSilver's at least) plotline.

Enjoy~!

Lyra gazed at the sunset as she stood on the balcony of the lighthouse. The view was absolutely beautiful from where she was standing. Her (main) faithful companion during the lighthouse battles, Vulpix, called out in awe as it too saw the fading sun disappear behind the mountains.

"C'mon, Vulpix. We're almost to the top!" she cheered her cute little fox on. She then did a little jump before walking back into the lighthouse. Vulpix let out an excited growl as it bounded of towards its trainer.

After clearing what was left of the lighthouse, Lyra climbed up the last set of stairs with her Vulpix riding in the hood of her sweater.

Lyra peaked her head through the opening in the floor and was presented with a circular glass wall around the middle of the room, which she was inside of. She heard a soft wheeze and turned her head to see a sickly-looking Ampharos and a beautiful girl attempting to comfort it.

"Um, excuse me, are you Jasmine? I-"

"Listen, I can't battle right now. Amphy here is sick and I can't afford to leave here alone," the girl huffed. "I'm really sorry, but why don't you just go to Kanto to get another badge? I heard that the league is accepting 8 badges from either or both regions."

"Um, actually I was wondering if there was some way I could help?" Lyra said, timidly.

"You want to help? That would be wonderful!" Jasmine smiled. "I will battle you afterwards if we manage to help Amphy."

"Great! My name is Lyra." Lyra grinned back.

She looked at the sickly pokémon and approached slowly as not to startle it. It looked at her with a sad expression, but didn't seem too hostile towards her. Perhaps it would let her touch it?

"What are you-?" Jasmine started.

Lyra pet its side as gently as she could. It cooed a little before coughing, but it still snuggled into her touch and sighed.

Lyra smiled as she turned towards Jasmine, but for whatever reason, Jasmine had a look of betrayal on her face.

"Um, Miss Jasmine?"

The auburn-haired woman turned to the younger brunette with a much tighter smile.

"Please don't touch Amphy. I am the only one that can get close to him." she said almost threateningly.

"Um, right. Sorry." Lyra quickly said as she took a few steps back.

Jasmine spoke without tearing her eyes from Amphy, which was lying in her arms. "The only thing that could possibly heal Amphy now is a Secret Medicine that is only made in Cinnabar Island. Luckily though, I ordered a shipment to be delivered. But apparently, the shipment was delivered to the wrong location and is now in Cianwood City. I need you to go get it while I take care of Amphy. Can you do that?"

"Um, well..."

"What is it?"

"I never got the HM for Surf, so..."

Jasmine sighed. "I can't exactly call a boat over to take you since we're so busy this time of year and no leftover boats are available. I'll have to make an appointment with one of the sailors to take you there."

"I'm sorry about that."

"It's fine." The way she said it made it seem like it was not fine.

Just then, Lyra's pokégear rang.

"Huh, I wonder who that is?" Lyra said as she answered the call. "Hello?"

"Hello, Lyra?"

"Yes?"

"It's Morty."

"Oh, Morty, hi..." Lyra said with surprise. Jasmine too seemed shocked as she turned to look at Lyra. "How did you get my number?"

"I asked the Professor for it. I know that you need the HM for Surf, but the guy who was handing them out went out for a trip, so just tell me where you are, so I can give it to you."

"Oh, wow! Thank you so much! I'm actually in Olivine City right now." Jasmine gestured for Lyra to hand her pokégear over.

"Great. I'll see you there."

"Um, could you hold on? Miss-er, Jasmine wants to speak to you."

"What? Um, alright."

Lyra passed the phone to Jasmine, who snatched it from her grasp none too gently.

"Morty. Hello. It's nice to hear from you again." she spoke politely, a soft lilt in her voice that wasn't there when she spoke to Lyra. "Yes, Amphy is sick. I was wondering if it were possible for you to help us?"

She nodded as she heard what he said, her eyes flickered to Lyra once before focusing once more on the conversation.

"I see. Thank you for the help." she ended the call and returned Lyra's pokégear back to her.

"It seems that Morty will arrive on the Lighthouse's balcony with the HM for Surf. I will go down to the balcony and get it myself to give to you. Please wait here." she said, tone gentler. She seemed to be lighter and a soft blush was on her face.

"Um, but Miss Jasmine?"

"What is it?"

"I thought you said that Amphy could not be allowed alone and he would only let you get close to him. Besides, wouldn't it be easier if I just get it myself? That way I can get the medicine faster and Amphy can be cured quickly."

The air that Jasmine seemed to be floating on disappeared.

"Right. Of course. I will stay here with Amphy. Please hurry. And don't take to long speaking to Morty or anyone else. Amphy's health is the main priority." Jasmine ordered.

"Yes! Of course, ma'am!" Lyra stiffened at Jasmine's tone. She couldn't help the impulsive salute to the older girl.

"Good. I'll let you get to it then." Jasmine sighed and turned her attention back to Amphy, who appeared to be flailing a bit in her arms.

"I'll be back as soon as I can!" Lyra called out as she walked down the ladder.

"Please hurry."

"I will!"

Lyra huffed as her feet landed on the ground. She put Vulpix on the floor and the two exited onto the balcony once more.

"Hey Vulpix..."

Vulpix turned up to look at its trainer.

"You don't think she hates me do you? She seemed really mad at me for some reason..."

Vulpix merely tilted its head at her.

"Of course!" Lyra hit her forehead with the palm of her hand.

Anyone with ears and eyes would know why Lyra was so upset with her. It doesn't take that much to be able to put the puzzle pieces together. Honestly. Lyra couldn't help but laugh at herself for her obliviousness.

"It's so clear why Jasmine was so mad with me!"

Lyra nodded to herself. She'd be mad too if someone had done the same to her.

Vulpix yelped at her.

Lyra turned to her small fox friend.

"See Vulpix, the reason why she's so mad is because Morty had called me instead of her. If he had called her instead, Jasmine wouldn't have been so mad!"

Vulpix nodded.

"If he had called her instead, Miss Jasmine could have just asked him to get her the medicine instead and she wouldn't have had to ask me to go get it! Amphy would be healed a lot quicker and she could go back to her duties as a gym leader. She obviously looks tense, cooped up in the lighthouse. She's so nice to drop everything she has going on to help a sick pokémon. Wow. She must really love pokémon!" Lyra's eyes glittered with pride.

Vulpix huffed. It seems her trainer still was a bit clueless.

"Well, I just gotta wait for Morty to give me the HM, so I can get on my way! I won't let her or Amphy down! I'll prove to her that I'm just as reliable as Morty!"

Mmmm. Lyra is still a bit out of it when it comes to people's feelings. Oh well.

Response to Reviews:

Mizhera: *giggles* Thank you so much for your support! Lyra is one of the sweeter and more naive girls out of the SORA group and I wanted to let that show in her arc. And along with that comes her obliviousness. Gosh, look at me trying to hit the cliches. *shakes my head* Anyway, yes, Morty likes Lyra quite a bit and he makes another brief appearance in this chapter as well. And Eusine is being Eusine, of course. Silver is a moody pre-teen. He doesn't know how to get rid of all that tension he has going on with his life both in the XD way and the T^T way.

Also, thank you so much for being so understanding~. I'll try not to leave you in suspense for too long! I am basically updating for you guys XD. Sometimes I refuse to update without a review. (I'm so mean). So you guys are helping everyone else who doesn't review for quicker updates! :D

the willyrex: I didn't want to be forgetful like last time, so I will try to update a little more quicker than the (roughly) monthly updates I got going on. It will also take me forever to finish this story and the following arcs. Thank you so much for your understanding~. And I hope that you're doing awesome in school! Good luck on your tests! x

Yes, our adorable little Lyra is the counter, yet perfect fit for the much more stoic Team Rocket Leader, Leaf. Lyra is much more open with her emotions and a lot more clueless to the subtle messages between people. Leaf is the opposite with her being more aware of the subtle feelings people try to hide, but less willing to express herself. They balance each other out for the most part. And thank you so much for your continued support!