Chapter 2

Do you remember me? Lost for so long.

"R-Red…" I found myself murmur in sort of a strange dream like voice. For some reason, my voice sounded raspy and light and everything was pitch black.

Then I woke up in a hospital bed, gauze wrapped around my left arm nice and tight to the point where I felt like there was a good chance I may lose circulation. My head felt light when I sat up and the room slowly began to spin like an amusement park ride.

"W-What just happened…?" I ask myself as I brush back my bangs in between my pale, thin fingers. Nothing right now was adding up, how the hell could I possibly be in the hospital if I had seen Red just a few minutes ago?

The room was simple, white and rectangular. The walls were fading and paintings of various pokemon hung perfectly straight. A glossy wooden nightstand, stood right beside me and held a small bouquet of flowers in the most complex designed vase I've ever seen. I felt like my mom came into this room because everything seemed too clean and I remember far too well about her OCD for cleanliness.

I lifted up my head to see a mirror right in front of me and I saw a girl staring at me. Her hair was slightly messed up. Sort of like Spinarak beginning to spin its web consisting of light caramel strands of hair. Her skin was fair and her body was rather thin and tall like a natural born athlete. Bangs framed her face like a mane and her face thin. The only thing that was possibly worth noticing was her rose colored lips and cloudless sky blue eyes surrounded by long chocolate brown eye lashes.

"So this is what I look like…" I murmur to myself, fondling with my bangs again as I could feel myself becoming more self-conscious. My fingers strummed through my wiry hair, each strum losing strands as they feel back by my stomach.

"I think you look lovely." Nurse Joy commented in a cheerful chime, holding a clipboard against her dress. She smiled her signature smile and checked my arm, her fingers pressing lightly against my bare skin. Her smile melted away as she felt for swelling. Nurse Joy's eyes met mine and her smile came back. "Your swelling is gone so I'd say everything is how it should be. You and your Vulpix can be discharged now."

Then it hit me.

"Oh my god, Ember!" I exclaim, not meeting her eyes anymore. "What happened to us, why in the world are we here?" I look back at Nurse Joy who was surprised to see me react like a mother who lost her child.

"You and your pokemon were poisoned by a Beedrill. After the Beedrill stung you two, you ended up passing out and a young man brought you here. You know, you are very lucky-"

"Where is he?" my voice turned hasty and I sprung to my feet, tugging down on my crimson red skirt to hide anything appealing to men.

"He just left a few minute ago and-"

"BYE!" I yelled, cutting her off as I sprinted out of the room to hear her shouting back at me.

"Wait, Wait!"

Nope, I couldn't wait; my life depended on this chance. I had to see him, but first I needed Ember.

Lightly panting, I hear small footsteps following me and tapping against the wooden floor. Looking down beside me was my trusting sidekick Ember who was just as determined as I was to see Red.

We skipped down the side stairs and slammed the door open to see the figure of the familiar young man who had saved our butts back in the Veridian Forest.

"RED!" I called out on the top of my lungs, even though I was panting hard and my throat began to burn. The burning sensation spread like a wild fire and I bent over to catch my breath.

My eyes stared down at the ground as I pathetically gasped for precious air, Ember leaned on my leg to comfort me. I knew Red was still there, because his shadow was able to reach the side of my eye. All was well when his shadow grew in height and width, it was two times as big as before.

I dared myself to lift up my head to see a giant Charizard watching me with very stern eyes. His stare caused my body to jump and I let out a small shriek. My heart began to pound against my chest and tears welled up in my eyes.

"Papa…" I whisper in a raspy voice, bowing my head down I feel the memories pour into my head.

The casket, him lying in there with third degree burns all over his face and hands. He looked so peaceful the last time I saw him.

Patches of black and brittle skin, blisters on every inch of his skin, he looked nothing like my old dad. However, his faded charcoal black hair with slight gray highlights was an easy indication to tell me that he was mine. Nobody else that I knew would have hair as long as his, slicked back in a ponytail.

I remember being 9 years old at the time and watching my mom sob over the sight of my dad. During the funeral, she'd run out of the room and lose her mind. Screams and cries could be heard as she pleaded for Arceus to come and bring him back to life. However, I knew better and would look down at my dad. I whispered my last goodbyes before they buried him in Lavender Town. That was where we found was it to be more suitable for him since he was always intrigued by Ghost types.

All of this happened because of a stupid Charizard. It was the reason why he died… It was the reason why I became afraid of fire and lost half of my childhood.

Lifting up my head and pushing away any tears that had slipped out and looked the Charizard in the eyes with the same expression.

Unphased, the Charizard let out a load roar and startled me by knocking me over and landing on the ground. I began to shiver as the Charizard stomped closer to me and lowered his neck to look at me. His mouth unhinged as he took a deep breath before letting out another roar, and I pushed myself back against a building.

Was this the end of me?

Ember was nowhere in sight and I could feel the thoughts of my father come back to me.

"Charizard, no." said Red in a calm voice as he walked towards me and his Charizard. His hands outstretched to hold his pokemon by his snout and pet him from the forehead down. Charizard's eyes softened when they met Red's and he felt ashamed when Red silently scolded him.

Ember scampered to my side and jumped into my arms. I really didn't know whether or not to yell at her for not being by my side or hug her for being glad that I was still alive.

Red's eyes met mine and I studied him for a couple of moments.

In the back of my mind, I began to doubt myself on whether or not he remembered me. We hadn't seen each other for about six years and I was pretty sure he met too many people to even recall any memories of me.

I remember seeing him on TV when he was competing in tournaments. My mom would have me sit in the living room and watch him for hours on end. I would watch him and feel serious jealousy over the freedom he was given. Watching him win rounds and compete against everyone was like getting your teeth pulled out by the dentist. It would just eat away at me to see him so alive and so strong. Honestly, I wanted to be just like him.

I wanted nothing more than to be that girl who became a household name for following her dreams.

I mean if Red could do it, why couldn't I?

A smile grew on his flawless face as he stopped petting his Charizard's head.

"Nice to see you again Sky."