AN: Well, chapter three! But really, don't expect any more updates for a week. Reviews might make it a double update though. Might. Don't feel obliged to review, since I actually appreciate reviews that tell me what I did wrong or ask questions than just compliments. Of course, flames will be put into the stocks and the audience will be given tomatoes. Fire at will!
Answers to reviews:
Zio : The reason for the onesided battle is that Red has trained his Charizard to even higher levels than the wild charizards. Along with that, the foes Charizard is used to fighting are wild, they act less on logic than on instinct. Red's Charizard used strategy, something Charizard was not used to. Another part was Ash, not dodging the flamethrower was a bad move. The reason why Charizard is with Ash is explained in the chapter.
Tharrow: I see that each of Ash's journey's through a region last about 1-1½ years. Ash is about fifteen, the battle he saw before he went on his journey was one of Red's last.
Bowser comunist lv x: The reason I'm mixing manga with game is that "..." isn't really a lot to go on. I can see the conflicts, but I will try to avoid them. If you see a plot hole about something not matching up to the manga, that's my excuse, for example in Red's past Misty was not a gym leader yet.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon. I also made a decision to not buy another taco, so I am tacoless.
Spark
In Sinnoh, Exact Location Unknown
Unspecified Time
"Sir, communication from *********, for you!"
"Then leave so I can talk to her."
"Yes sir! Right away sir!"
"Hello sis."
"J."
"What is it, I have a job at the moment. If you want me to get something for you then don't call me on a personal line."
"No. I was ordered to contact you by Leader."
"..."
"He wants me to warn you about a storm on Mt. Silver, it's deadly."
"I haven't been in Kanto or Johto for almost seven years! What does he think he's playing at, warning me about-"
"Red has left the mountain."
"..."
"Yeah. Bad."
"I assume you mean the Red who turned Team Rocket into a gang instead of an organized group of criminals. Why do I personally need to know this? I'll be careful, if that's all you want, but I don't see this as a major problem for me."
"You know we have people everywhere."
"And?"
"The International Police sent a request to Red, asking him to come to Sinnoh and deal with the increasing crime."
"So you think I'm the target."
"You've been at large for what, over twenty years? I would find it unusual if they didn't ask him to deal with you, even if they originally have him deal with Cyrus."
"Him? Isn't he a part of your organization?"
"You used to be a part of it too, sis. Just as good as us, but too focused on profit. Cyrus actually betrayed us a few years back, snatching old documents on Arceus, spirit, and space-time. We want him gone."
"He contacted me a few weeks ago. Asked if I went after legendary pokemon. Traitorous little..."
"I presume that you aren't going to take a contract with him?"
"Only if he wants help committing suicide."
"Heh. Only you J..."
In Pallet Town
The explosion was quite impressive, sending a bolt of lightning several feet thick into the sky and causing a crater in the ground. It was worth noting that the epicenter of the explosion was about twenty feet up in the air and the crater was near thirty feet deep. Ash and the spectators were all blown back, Professor Oak managed to stay standing, and Red just stood there, his jacket flapping behind him. It proved the age-old idea that if one is epic, they will always win against their foe.
"Pikachu!" Ash shouted as he drew himself to his feet, wobbling slightly. When Ash recieved no answer, he gritted his teeth and ran into the still fading dust cloud, still calling for Pikachu, not heeding the grime that entered his mouth. He came upon two shadows, one standing over the other, and ran towards the defeated one as Pika headed off the ruined field.
"Pikachu!" Ash kept talking to Pikachu as the dust cloud settled, fearing the worst. Pikachu was unnaturally still. Ash bowed his head as tears started to fall on his partner's face. Red looked on, slightly stunned at how badly Pika had hurt Ash's pokemon.
"Pi." Ash whipped up his head. Pikachu had spoken, opening one eye, gritting his teeth. He looked like he was in immense pain, but wanted to reassure his trainer that he was fine. A bit of the tension drained from Ash's face, but the tears still fell at the actions and pain of his brave starter. Red turned to Pika and gave him a disapproving look, before calling him back and walking a short distance away.
"I need time to think," Red told Professor Oak as the man came up behind him. 'I hope that Pikachu ends up okay. I would hate to have Ash go through the same pain that I did, with Yellow...' "Charizard, let's fly."
Ash watched as Red flew off in the corner of his eye, but didn't care despite his anger. Pikachu was more important, but luckily all professors have to own at least a basic healing device to help injured pokemon. "Professor Oak, can I use your healing center to help Pikachu and Charizard?" Oak shot him a look that gave him all the answer he needed. "Thanks," Ash muttered as he sprinted inside with Pikachu in his arms. 'This is all my fault!' Ash thought guiltily, fearing that Pikachu or Charizard might be permanently injured. 'And to think that Charizard was going to go back to the valley later today. If only I hadn't asked him to stay for a while so we could see each other before I left...'
Caught up in his thoughts, Ash didn't notice as Professor Oak came in and looked at him sadly. The man soon left, and so missed the visible signs of Ash's thoughts turning darker: clenched fists and tensed muscles. Ash was repeating all the ways that he could make Red pay for hurting Pikachu and then running when he felt a hand grip his shoulder and say "Ash."
The boy looked up. Red was standing above him with Pikachu on his head, fast asleep. The older man had a look of deep sorrow and compassion on his face that seemed totally out of place considering what he had done earlier, but seemed to fit him well. "Thought you might want to carry Pikachu." Ash reached up and took Pikachu from Red, noting that his injuries were gone. Looking up at Red questioningly, he got an answer, "I decided to help Pikachu get better."
Ash's anger subsided at that, now he didn't want to kill him and his family, just put him into a compromising position after he fell asleep. Ash could only say one word, confused at Red's actions.
"Why?"
Red turned away, not meeting his gaze. "I felt I owed it to you."
"Why did you even accept my challenge then, if you knew that I couldn't win? I mean, you must know how strong you are. If you hadn't then maybe Pikachu would be fine."
"You reminded me of who I was and still am a bit. The difference is that when I made a boast like you, my badges were stolen."
"What?"
Red didn't answer the question. Instead he moved to a completely different subject, "The old man has nothing but praise for you."
"I think you just finished showing me that I wasn't a very good trainer."
"That was almost four hours ago. And not a good trainer? Don't make me laugh. How many others do you think could figure out a way to stop Pika from winning at attack one?"
"Still, that was just luck."
"Oak also mentioned that you've saved the world a few times. Impressive."
"It was all luck, anybody else would have done just as well. And sometimes people died..."
"Did you really just say that anybody could save the world? I thought I asked you not to make me laugh."
"Yeah, suppose it is pretty ridiculous when you put it like that," Ash chuckled at himself, while Red shook his head. "Anyways, where did you go after the battle was over?"
Red grimaced. "I went away to think. I had to consider a request that Professor Oak asked me."
Inner Flashback (AN: Inner flashbacks are private, only the person having them know what happens in them, nobody else.)
Red felt extraordinarily guilty as he flew away, knowing how this must look. The defender severely injures the other guy's pokemon and shows how little heart he has by leaving. It's like a plot from a bad story.
"Charizard, do you think I should have stayed?" Red asked his pokemon. Charizard roared once in response, also feeling slightly guilty at what he had done, there was no need to beat on Ash's pokemon like that. The flamethrower had probably already finished it.
"I know buddy. But still, looking at... Ash? Ash's face would have killed me inside." The two flew on until they reached a suitably tall cliff, Red signaling for a stop.
"I think this is far enough," Red said, jumping down and returning Charizard in one motion. He sat on the edge of the cliff, considering Ash. The kid was good, but young and naïve. But there was potential there. 'He's like me...We use a lot of the same pokemon... We both use unusual strategies... And to think that this is because of that storm...'
Red continued to watch the sky and flocks of pidgey and pidgeotto flying over Viridian Forest. At last, after staying for almost two hours, Red made his decision. He wanted to just stay at Mt. Silver, after all he had gone up there for a reason. He sighed, before releasing Charizard and flying back to Oak's lab. There was some things he needed to ask and do. He hoped that Ash would approve. 'In some ways he reminds me of you, Yellow...'
Flashback End
"I thought it through and made my decision. First I spoke to Oak, wanted to ask him a few questions, before I looked in and saw Pikachu. Helped him heal a bit, and that brings us to now." Red finished, still looking sorry. Ash slowly gave Red a small smile.
"So... What did you want to ask me? I mean, if you just wanted to heal Pikachu you could have and not told me."
"I could have wanted to make you not think I was heartless." Red snapped back, smirking.
"Could have? I think that answers your question." Ash bantered back, giving a larger smile. Red sighed.
"Never did have good word choice. Well, yes, I have a very important question to ask you. But I have to tell you, how you answer will define what I think of you as a person. Are you sure you want me to ask?" Red said.
"..."
"..."
"Yes. Ask your question." Ash resolved that not answering the question would be just as bad as answering wrong. Red shot a steely gaze at Ash and asked the question that would define life for all beings, the question that would result in an international crisis, the question that there was no wrong answer to.
"Ash..."
