Knock. Knock. Knock.

Professor Oak stiffened in his chair. He knew who was at the door; he knew what they wanted from him, he knew what he was going to have to do. Because of them, he thought bitterly as he made his way to the door. Because of them, he thought again, his rage threatening to unveil itself. He opened the door, slowly, as if he wanted to be anywhere else in that moment. In front of him he saw two tall figures and a cat-like pokemon near their feet.

"Have the preparations been made," the one with long, magenta hair questioned him. She was wearing a white crop-top, something he thought had died in the 80s. A red 'R' emblem seemed to have been stitched onto the shirt.

Professor Oak rubbed the back of his neck and flinched inwardly at the thought of would happen tomorrow, tomorrow morning to be exact. "Yes, the preparations have been made," he began. "They should leave the town tomorrow morning."

"Very good professor," the one with violet hair responded this time. Unlike his female companion, he had a full shirt with sleeves; he bore the same 'R' emblem on the heart. "We weren't sure if you would be able to do it but it seems like you're quite the cunning man aren't you," he sneered, mocking him.

The professor resisted the urge to punch the man in the face and instead settled for a cold, hard glare. "Well you didn't give me much of a choice did you," he retorted and began to close the door.

It seemed as if the duo weren't done playing with him yet however as the one with violet hair shot out his hand to push the door back open. "My, my professor," he started, voice taunting. "I can understand sending strangers but sending your own grandson? You have to be a certain type of monster with no heart to be able to do that," he lamented.

The professor seemed to freeze at the sentence, face going white, as if he had just realized what he was going to be doing tomorrow morning. Sending two – no three he remembered. Sending three kids to their likely deaths, one of them being his own grandson and for what? Because he had been threatened? The professor had never despised anyone else as much as he did himself right now. He was a coward. A useless human being. Sending three, innocent kids out on their deaths. Would Arceus forgive murderers, he asked himself.

The two people in front of him took his silence as a cue to leave, slamming the door shut behind them, the professor still in the same spot they left him, his eyes dark and his fists clenching.

On the other side of Pallet Town opposite to where the professor lived was a smaller house. A house that could only be seen if one was looking for it for it was always overlooked. Hidden beneath the trees, as if they were protecting the humans inside from the wrath of the big world. Little did the young boy and his mother know that soon the world would wreck havoc upon their very lives.

After the events of the professor and the duo, night settled in rather quickly and morning came soon after. It might've been just a normal day for any other person, but not for the three teenagers who would soon be acquiring their very first Pokémon today.

The sun was shining exceptionally bright today and the glare fell through a still sleeping Red's window. Red stirred in his sleep as if his conscious knew that if he didn't get up right this instance, he would be late for the very important thing that would be taking place today. His clock read 6:59 only one minute away from ringing. Just one look at his room could tell you how nervous – yet excited – he had been for this day. Clothes were strewn across the floor, pillows sat on chairs and his Charmander plushy – the one he'd had since he was just a little boy – was lying on the floor something very unlike Red.

RRIIINNNNGGG!

Red jumped out of bed at the sudden loud noise almost banging his head against the low hanging light. He had told his mom multiple times about how one of these days he head was gone be chopped right off by the sharp edges of the light but his mother had told him to make do, money was tight right now.

Red took one look at the clock that read 7:01 now and scrambled out of his sheets, being mindful to turn off his alarm lest he wake his mother from her sleep. He ran to his washroom, nearly stumbling on the Charmander plushy and took a warm, yet quick shower. Throwing on the new pair of clothing his mother had gotten him for today; a black tee, a fresh pair of jeans, a red and white button up, and his personal favorite; the red and white limited edition Pokémon baseball cap. His mother, who knew just how important this day was for him had already packed his backpack.

Red felt a pang of hurt hit him. Today he would leave home and leave his mother all alone. His father had left them both when he had turned five and it had been ten years since. In addition to the hurt, a stabbing guilt also gnawed at the back of his mind. His mother had pleaded for him not to go, not because she would be lonely – although he figured that might've had something to do with it – but because she thought it would be far too dangerous. She still viewed him as her little boy after all. Making a mental note to tell his mother he loved her, he ran down the stairs almost tripping over the Charmander plushy again.

Red was surprised to see his mother already up and about scuttling around the kitchen preparing breakfast. "Hey mom," he said as he grabbed a piece of toast and buttered it accordingly.

"Hello there, Red," his mom replied looking at him. He could feel her gaze linger on him for a few seconds, the worry evident in her eyes before she pushed it back and went back to her smiling face. "I hope you packed a clean set of underwear," she reminded him, a twinkle in her eyes.

Red sweatdropped. It was so like his mother to tease him when she was nervous. "Mm, yeah I packed the extra underwear," he said with his mouth full.

His mother turned on him. "RED," she shouted. "How many times have I told you not to eat with your mouth open, this is why you don't have a girlfriend yet," she said not unkindly.

Red stared at his mother before flushing. "I don't have a girlfriend because I'm not looking for one," he said arrogantly as he went back to munching on his toast.

DING-DONG!

"I'll get it," Red yelled already half way to the door. It's got to be Blue, he thought to himself as he flung open the door. Sure enough, Blue was there, set and ready to go.

"Hey dork," he said pushing aside him to wave a greeting to his mom and take his seat at the table. "So," Blue started. "What time do we leave?"

Red checked his watch as he continued eating his toast. "Around 7:30," he replied.

"What's the time now?"

Red looked at his watch, then looked back at it again as if he read wrong. "7:31," he said meekly.

Blue sighed as Red sat frozen in place. It was his mother in the end who ushered the two boys outside pushing them out into the world. "Now listen Red," she began. "If I find out you've been doing things while you're on your adventure," she said sternly.

Red blushed. "Moomm," he whined.

"I'm just joking Red," she said happily as she pulled him against her chest. "Oh my little boy already grown," she said as a tear slid from her eye to her cheek.

Red hugged her tightly before –reluctantly- letting go. "See you later mom," he called waving at her.

His mom waved back at him enthusiastically, knowing that an era to her life had already come to an end. Her little boy had already changed in front of her eyes. She grinned to herself as she walked back inside her home. Make me proud Red," she thought as she began to wash the dishes.

So… how was it? I don't know what route I want to go for this fic honestly, I don't want to go too dark but just dark enough so that readers aren't bored with the content. This is just the prologue and I promise that the incoming chapters will be much longer (hopefully.) So anyways, tell me if you enjoyed and any/all feedback is appreciated. Review!