The Burning / Lucky marathon is still continuing! LuckyBurn or BurningLuck, whatever it's called is still continuing!
"Wait…what?" Leaf whispered softly as she covered her mouth with her left hand. What did Red mean when he said 'I know?' The red jacket teenager sighed as he fixed his red cap.
"I tried to kill myself, and I did it by plunging down off of Mt. Silver, but somehow I ended up here in Pallet Town without a clue on what is going on. This is why I need your help, I no longer have any pokemon that could help me, and you're the only person who can see me that's starting a journey." Red said as he put his hands in his pocket and looking back at Leaf's blue eyes intensely. There was something that bothered her though, why would he do such an idiotic thing by jumping off of Mt. Silver? What in the name of Arceus would be a fool to do that?
"Why?" Leaf simply questioned. Red raised an eyebrow.
"Why what?" Red replied back.
"Why did you…jump off?" Leaf questioned as she looked back with a serious face. Red sighed as he shook his hand in the air.
"Nothing important, it's just something in the past." Red simply replied as he cracked his knuckles. Leaf looked at him as if he's stupid.
"Are you stupid!? Why would you do something so ludicrous!? What reason was it for you to jump off of a mountain in the first place!?" Leaf questioned madly at him. Again; Red brushed off his hands in the air and shook his head.
"If you must know, I just hate my life okay? That's all you've got to know about me, now can we please go?" Red questioned as he felt a bit annoyed. Leaf crossed her arm and sighed, it was best for her not to aggravate him even further, so she decided to drop the subject and agree on his term; however she does have one last question.
"Then why go back?" Leaf questioned him once more. Red looked back at her, his face was in full grim as if he doesn't want to talk about it. Surprisingly, he did.
"To find out what the hell is going on." Red replied back. Leaf slowly nods her head, there was an awkward moment between them as she looked around the area and noticed several pedestrians looking at Leaf as though she is crazy. She totally forgot that there were people looking at her, so she blushed out in embarrassment, she looks back at Red.
"Let's head back to my house, I need to get my bag, and then head to Viridian City to get a package for the professor." Leaf said as she looks at Red, he agrees as he nods his head too as they both headed back to Leaf's home in silence, none of them talk to each other or looked at one another.
It didn't take long for them to get to Leaf's house, she was greeted by her mother and was excited for Leaf's pokemon as she starts playing with it and petting it at the same time. The bulbasaur nicknamed Bulby, cried out in happiness as it was getting a belly rub by Leaf's mother.
"Oh Leaf, this little guy is so cute!" Leaf's mother exclaimed in happiness as she kept rubbing the seed pokemon. Leaf smiled as she shook her head.
"I'm going to get my bag mom, after that, it's my journey to become the best trainer." Leaf said solemnly as she headed upstairs with Red tailing behind, but not without looking at Leaf's mother.
"Mom…" Red whispered to himself as he shook his head and went upstairs towards Leaf's room. He enters and was surprised that it looks almost exactly like his room, except for the huge stuff animals sitting on the counters and instead of a regular NES console, it was a Nintendo 64 which at that time was new. He looked towards Leaf who was grabbing a yellow bag out of her closet as she wraps It across her chest and straddled on its side. She looks at Red who had a sad expression on it, she was curious and a bit worried for him.
"Are you okay?" Leaf questioned Red as he snaps back into his old face and nodded his head.
"Yeah…it's just that…this whole thing…just seems so off. Your room matches my room, and your mother is my mother. It just doesn't make any sense, how can that be?" Red questioned as he rubbed his chin; Leaf raised an eyebrow at him, confused on what he had just said. His mother is her mother? Her room is his room?
"What are you saying Red?" Leaf questioned Red as he crossed his arms and ponders with his eyes closed.
"Are we related…? Somehow…?" Red questioned softly. Leaf's eyes bulged out and were shocked on what he had just said.
"What!? No, I'm the only child here; my parents never have another kid." Leaf replied back to his question. Red opened his eyes and nodded his head.
"You're probably right…but something is definitely wrong, and the key to solving this mystery is Mt. Silver, I know it!" Red exclaimed as he shook his hands. Leaf put her hands on her hips and smiled at him. He gave her a look that says 'what?'
"You know, there are a lot of questions I want you to answer like how'd you become champion, what's it like being a pokemon master, and what kind of person are you. You don't seem like a depressed guy; in fact you're pretty cute." Leaf complimented him as she winked at him. This caused Red to turn, well, red as he quickly removes his cap and covered his face from sheer embarrassment.
"Nah, I'm just messing with you, anyways let's go! Maybe I can catch up to Blue!" Leaf exclaimed out in glee as she quickly went past Red and headed downstairs. Red followed her as he was stunned from that compliment. Never in his whole life did someone called him cute, even if it was a joke, it still felt like a compliment somewhere deep down in her words, he smiled from the thought of it.
"Alright Red, tell me what to do when I battle a pokemon?" Leaf questioned as they both walked through route 1's pathways. Red rubbed his chin.
"Well first, you have to make sure your pokemon are healthy enough to fight, if you're in a status condition like sleep, poison, burn, paralyze, or sometimes freeze, then it's best to take care of the ailments before you send them out to battle. Second, make sure you and your pokemon have bonded, that way they'll fight harder and better. "Red said as he looked at Leaf who was just confused on what he just said.
"Uhhh…I got lost when you said status ailments…" Leaf sheepishly admitted. Red chuckled as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Here let me tell you again-Leaf behind you!" Red exclaimed. Leaf was caught off guard as she turned around and saw two spiny needles are heading straight towards her. Luckily Leaf was pushed down on the ground by Red as he looked back up to see where that direction came from. It came into full view as a caterpillar like pokemon with a small horn, a round red nose and many legs had come into view. It screeched as it again fired another needle at Red and Leaf. Red rolled away, carrying Leaf as they both moved out of the way in time.
"Leaf, your pokemon now!" Red exclaimed as he got up from the ground. He extended a hand which she obliges as he pulled her back up on her feet. She pulled out a pokeball that was clipped onto her red skirt and threw it.
"Go Bulby!" Leaf cried out as the ball had erupt a bright light and formed an animal like form with a green seed on its back that is standing on its four legs. It roared out 'saur' in a high pitch crackling sound. Leaf looks towards the direction at Red, for some reason Red was confused on why she looked at him.
"Red what should I do!?" Leaf exclaimed as she looked at her pokemon, awaiting his master's order. Red smacked his forehead and shook his head.
"Command him to attack! For now he only knows tackle and growl!" Red hollered back as he stood next to her. She nods her head as she pointed a finger at the seed pokemon.
"Bulby use tackle!" Leaf ordered her pokemon as it replied with a 'saur.' Bulby charged towards the stationed caterpillar pokemon with a hard tackle. The seed pokemon send the opponent sky high as it landed against the tree and fainted. Leaf was stunned on what she had done as she looked down at Bulby with a smile on her face. She immediately kneeled down and hugged her pokemon, filled with affection and love. Bulbasaur cried out in joy as it nuzzled against its cheeks. Red on the other hand was happy for her first victory, but something was definitely off with her fighting. Everyone knows that pokemon are used to fight combat with given commands. However; Leaf never did so instructed, instead she had to look at him for some assistance. This got Red a little concern as he walked towards her.
"Leaf…we need to talk." Red said calmly, but with a serious expression on his face. Leaf looks at him as was a bit worried on why he asks such a thing.
"Sure thing Red…" Leaf meekly replied as she withdraw her pokemon back into her red and white ball with a single button in the middle as it shoots a red laser at Bulby and it disappeared into the ball. She looks back at Red with a frighten expression.
"Leaf, why do you want to go on a journey?" Red asked as he put his hand in his pocket. Leaf looked down on the floor as she advert her eyes on a rock, feeling a bit uncomfortable from the question he asked.
"Why else? I wanted to become the best of the best, to be a master and challenge the Elite Fours." Leaf replied back meekly as he put her hands behind her back. Red sighed as he shook his head, she's lying, he could tell.
"I don't believe you." Red simply said as Leaf's eyes widen in the sudden reply that she was given.
"What are you saying? Of course I wanted to go on this journey, that's the very soul reason I left!" Leaf responded back angrily with her hands clenched behind her back. Red shook his head again and crossed his arms.
"Every trainer knows how pokemon battle works, but you on the other hand looked at me on what to do for a solution. Heck even preschoolers know how to battle, but you on the other hand…you had no idea what to do on this journey, so what is it that you really wanted to go in the first place? "Red asked roughly. Leaf was taken aback; she glared at him as she raised her voice at him.
"I wanted to go on this journey because I just wanted to okay!?" Leaf replied back angrily with her eyes becoming watery from the frustration of Red's solemn replies.
"Is that the best reason you can come up with? Look, I was on the same boat as you. I went on a journey not because I wanted to be a master or champion, but to prove that I wasn't weak compare to my rival. You see, I was bullied by this guy since I was younger, he used to be my best friend, but he became a bully and teased me since then. I proved him wrong by beating him at the champion league, I was victorious, but…in the end…" Red trailed off at the end of his sentence. He shook his head and waved his hand in the air.
"What!? Spill it out Red!" Leaf growled back.
"Never mind…" Red replied with a growl. He turns his back away from her and started walking away.
"Hey!" Leaf yelled back at him. He didn't respond, his cap covering his red eyes as he kept walking. She sighed as she followed him, they were both silent, walking a few feet away from each other with Red leading the way towards Viridian City.
"Oh so you're affiliated with Professor Oak huh? Can I trust you to deliver this parcel to him?" The clerk asked as he reached down behind the counter and handed Leaf the brown box. Leaf nods her head as she took it away from the clerk's hand. She smiled at him and thanked the clerk who nodded his head in response. Leaf turns her head and could see Red leaning against the entrance, waiting for Leaf, she sighed as she exited out of the Viridian Market with Red tailing behind her in silence. Throughout the whole way, they've become really silent and haven't spoken to each other since that small argument.
"Thanks for the package Leaf, and I see that you and your pokemon are doing just dandy." Professor Oak happily complimented on her pokemon. Leaf turns her eyes to the side; Red was standing next to her, quiet as ever.
"Yeah, I and Bulby are doing excellent, heck he became really strong after I got a hang on the whole pokemon battle." Leaf happily said as she handed the parcel to Professor Oak which he happily took. He opened the box and looked inside.
"Ah, it's what I ordered, pokeballs!" Professor Oak exclaimed excitingly as he pulled out the red and white balls. Leaf raised an eyebrow at the professor.
"What are they used for? Aren't the pokemons already stored in the ball?" Leaf questioned the professor. Professor Oak started laughing as he shook his head. Red faced palm which Leaf saw what he did. She was angry as she kicked his leg which he gasped in pain and starts rubbing it.
"Oh Leaf, my dear girl, it's for catching, and I'm giving you five of these so you can go out and catch as many as you can!" Professor Oak exclaimed in laughter. Leaf felt embarrassed from such a stupid question. They say there are no such things as a stupid question, but this is one of them.
"Oh I also have five more here for my grandson. He should be here anytime soon." Professor Oak said as he finally stopped laughing. Hearing that; Leaf perks up as she smiled from that statement.
"Blue's coming!?" Leaf exclaimed in excitement as she clasped her hands together. Red rolls his eyes and shook his head.
"Yo gramps!" A door burst open at the entrance and a voiced boom through the lab which caught many assistants and scientists eyes at the young boy wearing a black T-shirt and purple jean pants as he ran towards his grandfather next to Leaf. Red scowls at him as he shook his head, just the presence of him make him very angry. Leaf on the other hand was happy as a blush was forming on her face.
"What did you need me for?" Blue asked as he crossed his arms. Professor Oak suddenly had a realization than just the pokeballs.
"Oh right, there's something I almost forgot, here are your pokedexes for the both of you!" Professor Oak said as he reached into his pockets and handed out the red devices to Leaf and Blue. Leaf examined it and wonders what it is. Red knew what these dictionaries do as he crossed his arms, he didn't need to explain it Leaf as he let the professor explain it her.
"They're pokemon encyclopedias, if you point it at a pokemon, you'll learn some knowledgeable facts about them, what's even better, are that you'll learn about their natural habitat!" Professor Oak explained to the two young trainers. Blue just stuff it in his pocket as Leaf put in her yellow bag.
"A world without the knowledge of pokemon is very crucial, so I want you guys to do me a favor and try to catch as many pokemons as you can!" Professor Oak said with a smile on his face. Red looks towards Leaf if she got that, but instead she was giving quick glances at Blue which he was shaking his head in disappointment.
"God…at this rate…how am I going to get to Mt. Silver!?" Red yelled out which caught Leaf's attention. She glared at him and shook her head.
After that whole boring lecture; Red and Leaf are finally heading back to Viridian City, but along the way; on route 22 Leaf was having trouble catching pokemon. She tried many times as she kept throwing her pokeball at the pokemon, but it will always come out, there were a few times where the ball will shake whenever she captured it in the ball, but it will always come out in the end. She became frustrated as she turned her head towards Red who was just standing next to her, without saying a word since the lab.
"Well, aren't you going to help me!?" Leaf growled at him. He didn't respond as he just stood there with his hands in his pockets.
"Grrrr… fine!" Leaf yelled out in frustration as she threw her last pokeball on the ground and stomped away towards a nearby tree. This caught Red in surprise as she went pass him, in tears as she stormed away. Red frowned as he picked up her last pokeball off of the ground, feeling guilty and sorry for her, so he walks towards her who was crying, she had her back against the tree and was crying against knees, covering her face. Red kneels down and handed her the pokeball. She raised her head, her cheeks were red and her blue eyes were misty from the tears she had spilt, she still has that angry look on her face that says 'I'm going to kill you Red.'
"Get up." Red simply said as he offered her a hand. She sniffled as she took his hand as he brought her back onto her feet. Coincidently there was a wild Pidgey landed next to them as it looked at Leaf suspiciously.
"First, you have to battle the pokemon with your pokemon, so send out Bulby." Red commanded as he gave her the pokeball. She looks at Red and nodded as she plucked the other pokeball from her waist and threw it in the air then out came Bulby, ready to fight.
"Second, weaken the pokemon, but not too much, otherwise they'll faint and you can't catch them." Red commanded as he stood next to her. She looks back at him and nodded her head.
"Bulby, use tackle!" Leaf commanded to her pokemon. Bulby replied back with a 'saur' as he ran towards the off guard Pidgy as it sends it flying back. It tries to stand up, but it was weak from the surprise attack. Pidgy grew angry as it tries tackling Bulby, which only flinch Bulby.
"Now take the pokeball and throw it at the wild pokemon." Red commanded again. She nods in response as she looks at her empty and last pokeball. She clenched it tightly and threw it.
"Go pokeball!" Leaf called out as she threw the red and white ball at the weak Pidgey. The ball glides over the weak pokemon and opened as the Pidgey turned white and was captured inside of the ball. The ball falls down and landed on the ground and starts shaking around. Leaf stared at it intently as it shook. After a few more shakes, it finally stopped moving. Leaf stood still with her mouth agape, she slowly closed her mouth and it turned into a wide grin.
"Yes! I did it! I caught my first pokemon!" Leaf yelled out excitingly. Red on the other hand smiled as he fixed his red cap. She immediately ran towards her captive pokemon and raised it high in the air and screamed out in excitement. Bulby cocked its head to side, looking at his master going crazy over a small bird.
"Hehe, okay Leaf, good job." Red plainly chuckled, but Leaf wouldn't stop cheering as she spins around in circle with her prize catch in hand.
"I shall call you Pride!" Leaf exclaimed out in joy, maybe a little too happy. Red couldn't help, but laughed with her. She immediately ran up to Red and hugged him who caught him off guard, he didn't know whether to hug her back or do anything, so he just stood there.
"Oh thank you thank you Red!" Leaf exclaimed in happiness as she finally released him. Red blushed as he covered his face with his red cap in embarrassment, he doesn't know how to react in front of a girl that hugged him, in fact, he never know what to do since this was his first time getting a hug. The moment was ruined when Blue's voice yelled out towards Leaf.
"'Hey Leaf, what are you doing?" Blue called out as he came walking towards her. Leaf turns her head back towards Blue with a smile.
"Oh Blue, it was great, I caught myself a pokemon!" Leaf exclaimed as she showed him the pokeball that contains the Pidgey. Blue just rolled his eyes which got Red a bit annoyed by his non caring way. 'Be happy for her damn it.' Red thought.
"Uh huh, yeah, great anyways, if you're heading towards the Pokemon League, then forget it, the patrol won't let me through." Blue said in a annoyed manner as he turned his head towards the route he was taking.
"Huh? Why's that?" Leaf asked as she cocked her head to the side.
"How should I know? If I did, I wouldn't tell you this anyways. By the way have you've gotten stronger?" Blue questioned as he pulled out a pokeball which caught Leaf off guard. He wants to battle? Here and now?
"B-But Blue…I'm not ready yet, I just caught my first pokemon and Bulby is still-" Leaf was caught off guard as Blue threw his pokeball, and out came a Charmander, a orange lizard with a yellow belly and a flaming tail came out roaring. Leaf was stunned on what to do, this was the second time she's going to fight against Blue, but she's totally unprepared, and from the looks of it; Blue has another pokeball strapped on his belt! Red grew frustrated at this, how low could Blue be for challenging a trainer who just recovered from a battle?
"Leaf…use your potions…spray it on Pride and Bulby. It'll heal your pokemons." Red said to her as she looked at Red. Blue raised an eyebrow at her, as he wonders what is going on.
"Okay…" Leaf whispered back as she pulled out two small vials with a spray and sprayed it on Bulby and Pride's pokeball. Bulby seems to be in his full strength as he stretched out his legs and jumped into position.
"Charmander, use scratch!" Blue commanded his pokemon as the flaming lizard charges towards Bulby and scratched its cheek, leaving a red mark on its face. Bulby flinch from the scratch as it glared back at Charmander.
"Use Bulby's new ability; Leech Seed." Red commanded Leaf; she nodded her head and pointed a finger towards Bulby.
"Bulby use Leech Seed!" Leaf commanded Bulby, as it sprouts three seeds from its giant plant on its back, towards Charmander. The seed planted on Charmander and small plants starts sprouting on it. It doesn't seem like it has any effect as she stared back at Red, looking for a solution. Red just nods his head in response. What the hell does that mean?
"Charmander use another scratch!" Blue commanded his pokemon; Bulby once again was scratched against its cheek. Leaf looked again towards Red, to find an answer; again he just nods his head.
"Now just keep on tackling him, the seed on Charmander will do its job." Red commanded towards Leaf. She raised an eyebrow, but nods her head.
"Bulbasaur, use tackle!" Leaf commanded towards Bulby which he obliges and managed to tackle head on collision on the head, resulting a critical hit! Charmander skid against the floor as it tries to stand up. Suddenly it fell back down as the plant on it starts glowing particles of light green aura and headed back to Bulbasaur. Bulbsaur's scratch marks were slowly fading away.
"W-What…how'd you?" Blue whispered in shock. Leaf smiled at the result and gave Red a thumb up which he responded back with a thumb up.
"Grr…Charmander scratch him!" Charmander slowly got up and tries to launch another scratch attack, but it was too weak, the attack missed Bulbasaur as it dodged away from its attack. Charmander landed on the floor and fainted from the seed planted on it.
"Tch, you got lucky, go Pidgey!" Blue called out as he threw another pokeball and withdrew his fainted Charmander back into the ball. The ball revealed Pidgey that is the same as Pride. The pokemon screeched as it looked at Bulby with intense eyes. Red's eyes widen as he looked Leaf.
"Pidgey use gust!" Blue called out to his pokemon which it obeyed as it flapped its wings and created a small whirlwind surrounding Bulby who's in a state of panic as it looked at its sides. Leaf watches in fear for the safety of her pokemon as the gust collided at Bulby. 'Saur!' It cried out in pain as it flew up in the air and soon landed on the floor with a loud thud.
"Bulby!" Leaf exclaimed as she ran up to her defeated pokemon and held onto it. Bulby tries to get up, but it fainted.
"Oh no…that could've seriously hurt Bulby! Flying types have the higher advantage against grass pokemons!" Red exclaimed as he glared at Blue. He clenches his fist, he wanted to hurt him for such an attack, and he knew that Blue wanted to win no matter what.
"Hmph…sorry about that…" Blue scoffed as he crossed his arms. Leaf sighs as she withdrew her pokemon back into the ball. Red looked at Leaf, she was acting rather calm after that, or accepting the fact that is at hand.
"Go Pride!" Leaf called out as she throws the newly caught Pidgey. The ball release a bright light as it opened.
"Red…what should I do?" Leaf questioned Red. He looks at her and looked back at Pride.
"Pride is going against its own kind, but from the looks of it; Blue has the higher advantage due to the training he has put into it. Since yours is newly caught, it hasn't learned gust yet like his. There is a way though. Hold out your pokedex and pointed at your own pokemon." Red explained as he pointed at Pride. Leaf nods her head as she takes out the red device and pointed at Pride, its data is being registered and it finally revealed the whole list.
"Check out its skills." Red said as he crossed his arms. Leaf obliges and looked through the skills. There was tackle, growl, and sand-attack. Red's face perked up when he saw the sand-attack skill.
"Perfect, but only if we're lucky enough." Red said. Leaf looks at him and nodded with him.
"What are you blabbering Leaf?" Blue questioned Leaf. She shook her head and smiled as she put the red device back into her bag.
"Nothing. Pride, use sand-attack!" Leaf commanded her pokemon. The small bird pokemon screeched as it kicked sand at his opponent. The dirt clod hit the opponent in the eye as it screeched out in fear. Blue was shock as he pointed at his own pokemon.
"Pidgey, use another gust!" Blue commanded his own pokemon. The pokemon obeyed as it flapped its wings to create another whirlwind. The whirlwind tries to deliver the blow at Pride, but the sand in its eyes are making it difficult to concentrate. Pride dodged in time as the gust missed its mark.
"What!?" Blue exclaimed in surprise. Leaf smiles a bit as she pointed a finger at Pride.
"Pride, use tackle!" Leaf commanded her pokemon. Pride screeched as it charge towards his opponent and landed a hard tackle against Pidgey. The opponent was knocked down hard as it landed on the floor, defeated.
"Awww…you lucked out…" Blue moaned in defeat as he withdrew his Pidgey back into the ball. Leaf's face turned into a huge grin
"Yes! I finally did it!" Leaf exclaimed in happiness. Red smiled as he fixed his red cap.
"Good job…" Red silently said as he gave a thumb up. Leaf looks at him and gave him a wink.
"Hmph, you just got lucky Leaf." Blue scowled at her. Leaf raised an eyebrow at him, but kept her smile.
"So…you said that if I became stronger…you'll talk to me more?" Leaf asked as she put her hands behind her back. Blue rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"Hey, you just got lucky, next time I'll get you. Anyways, the Pokemon League is crawling with tough trainers and I have to figure out how to get past them. You should quit dawdling from me and keep moving." Blue said with an annoyed tone as he walk past towards her.
"Hey…wait, I thought we-"Leaf was cut off by Blue as he stop walking and turned his head at her.
"Didn't you hear me? I said you got lucky. This one doesn't count." Blue said as he walked away. Leaf sighed dreamily as she claps her hands together. Red doesn't seem to approve the idea and now he realized what's her true intention on her journey, and he hated that reason more than anything.
"I get it now…" Red silently said as his eyes were covered by his red cap. Leaf looks towards Red as she ran towards him.
"The reason she went on a journey…" Red silently said to himself, to make sure she didn't hear him. Leaf smiled at him as he forced a smile towards her.
"She did it for him…" Red mumbled to himself. She smiles at him as she raised a hand for a high-five. He gave her what she needed as their hands clapped together.
"Thank you so much Red! I don't know what I'll do without you!" Leaf cried out in glee. Red smiled as he nodded his head.
"It doesn't matter what the reason her journey is. Her journey means nothing compare to my goal." Red mumbled again. She still has that cute smile on her face; he couldn't help, but was charmed by her looks. She's very attractive, but ignorant.
"Oh well…at least I'll stay with her for a while." Red mumbled again. Leaf had her hands behind her back as she has her back turn on him.
"Red…I'm sorry for everything…if you don't want to tell me…that's okay, as long as you're here on this journey with me. I can finally reach my goal." Leaf said with a blush on her face, hidden from view from Red. He starts rubbing the back of his head nervously as he chuckled.
"Anytime Leaf…anytime…" Red replied back with a smile.