Rising Leaves
Chapter One
****
"Yet another earthquake has hit the region, destroying Saffron City. The number of casualties is steadily climbing-"
The news report on the television was cut off by the owner of the said television set pressing the 'off' button on his remote control.
"The situation's worsening, isn't it?"
"Indeed."
Fourteen-year-old Red Kingsley sighed, tossing the remote control onto the sofa. His brown hair was sticking up in a variety of directions, and a frown was etched firmly across his lips.
Seated next to him was Blue Oak, the grandson of esteemed Pokemon researcher Professor Oak. He and Red were childhood rivals, but that rivalry had died down to a sort of skewed friendship.
Blue stroked Pidgeot, who had been his very first Pokemon, absently. It had only been six months ago that he and Red had successfully conquered all eight gyms and obtained the necessary qualification to participate in the Kanto League, a tournament held every two years where only the best would participate to win the coveted title of Kanto League Champion.
From the looks of the situation throughout the region, the Kanto League, which would be held in December, looked like it wouldn't take place.
"This is the sixth earthquake in two months," Red muttered, running his hand up and down his Pikachu's back, "it's just not natural."
"That's discounting the tsunamis which have wrecked Cinnabar Island and Fuchsia City, and the sudden blizzard that completely froze the Seafoam Islands."
"Unnatural natural disasters," Red muttered, with a grim smile. Blue nodded, casting a look out the window. Pallet Town and Viridian City were the only two places in the region which had remained strangely unaffected by the chaos that plagued the region.
He pressed his head to the glass, watching as a bolt of lightning split the heavens, rain pouring down like a waterfall.
"Something wicked this way comes," he whispered, and Pidgeot cooed her assent.
"I can feel it."
****
Arnold Louis, the Head of the Pokemon Association's Kanto Branch, was pacing up and down in his office.
The building was makeshift, the original grand building shattered when an earthquake struck Indigo Plateau.
Professor Samuel Oak sat quietly in his seat, his brow furrowed, while the Elite Four sat watching.
They were gathered to discuss the present chaotic situation at hand.
"These disasters are not normal," the Ice Queen Lorelei Winters muttered. Agatha Mallory, the eldest of the Elite Four, sighed, tapping her walking stick against the ground.
"There's definitely a cause to this- probably Team Galactic and another of their insane plans," she spat, her eyes narrowed.
Seated cross-legged on the floor, Bruno Wilson drew in a deep breath.
"Team Galactic would not keep quiet about their plans. By now, they would have made demands of the Association."
"And my weasel from Team Galactic says that they are suffering from these disasters as well."
"And your weasel wouldn't lie, considering what you do to him," Lorelei shot smarmily, earning a glare from the strongest of the Elite Four.
Lance Draca ran a hand through his flame-like hair, rested his head on his palm. Arnold sighed heavily.
"Samuel, do you have any ideas?"
The professor pressed two fingers to the bridge of his nose, before looking up.
"I know someone- a priestess, who lives in the Viridian Forest. She is much attuned to nature- but it is best for us to send Red and Blue."
Lance narrowed his eyes.
"Why?"
"Because they are children of nature. They are the Child of Fire and the Child of Water. She will speak to them- she has never spoken to me directly, only via my granddaughter, and even that was unwillingly. Send the two boys," Oak said, "and hopefully she will answer."
Arnold nodded in agreement.
*****
The two boys were eating their dinner- the best offering Daisy Oak, Blue's sister, could come up with being porridge and some fried fish- when a knock on the door made Daisy rise from her knitting to answer the door.
"Mr Louis, Lance."
Arnold nodded at the young woman.
"Miss Daisy. May we come in?"
"Certainly."
The two men stepped into the small cottage, hanging up their coats and wiping their feet on the doormat. Lance sighed.
"It's urgent that we speak to Blue and Red. Are they in?"
"They're in the kitchen, eating. Go on in."
Daisy shut the door, returning to her knitting. It wasn't any of her business what the Association people wanted to do with her brother and his friend.
Red was just shovelling down some porridge when the two men entered, and he cast them a baleful look.
"You have a good reason for interrupting my dinner, right? Mealtimes are sacred," he added, stabbing at his fish with some venom.
Blue sighed, setting down his spoon.
"What have we done to warrant a visit, gentlemen?" he asked, raising a brow. Lance drew out a chair, seating himself next to Red, as Arnold placed his briefcase on the table, opting to stand.
"We require your help, boys, in this issue of the chaos that has been plaguing the region."
Red set down his fork, and his attention shifted to Arnold.
There was an unnatural glint in his eye, something which made his crimson-stained brown eyes seem so dark.
"Spill."
****
Daisy stopped knitting, standing up to open the door.
She was hearing that voice again, that delicate, ruined, yet so beautiful voice singing a haunting song.
"The world will cry a scarlet red and all humanity will be dead…"
Sticking her head out the door, she strained to see if she could spot the owner of the voice.
She only saw a flash of white disappear into the trees.
%
Author's Notes:
I hope you enjoyed that.
This was kind of inspired after reading X/1999, with all the apocalyptic, end-of-the-world woo-woo. I was replaying Fire Red during my winter vacation, so I decided to do a Kanto story. Really, the Kanto Trio don't get much love, do they?
This is only the first chapter, I may write a second…but that depends on your responses. I'll try my best to write a second chapter, in the very least, for my personal satisfaction.
