Kamon directed Duncan and Crystal into that house in Viridian Forest. "Here's our hideout," he announced. It was his home, ever since he was a child. Kamon took a breath of air to absorb the nostalgia.

Crystal shakily opened the door. "He- hello?"

"There's nothing to fear," assured Kamon. "These people won't harm you."

Kamon walked off into another room. Duncan observed the various artifacts on a shelf mounted to the wall. One of them was the legendary GS Ball.

"Wow... it exists," he said in awe.

Crystal saw a picture of Kamon on the wall. It seemed to be old and torn; this couldn't be him, unless that happened to be Maxie. For some reason, it made her flush with sadness and sympathy. It must have had been really tough for the father and son pair to have reunited.

"Hello there," said a man. Crystal yelped in surprise. "Are you Maxie?"

"Guilty as charged," he joked. "You must be Duncan and Crystal Caliduct."

"Uh, yeah," said Duncan, surprised. "What was Kamon doing during the past year and a half?"

"Come with me, and I'll tell you all about it." He was well-prepared to explain, but hoped that they wouldn't look at Kamon differently after that. This could psychologically damage Crystal even further! But they needed to know the truth.

--

In the peaceful Pallet Town, Kevin "Blue" Oak headed outside and pulled out the mail from the mailbox. "Just isn't the same as when those Pokémon were in the mail," he mused to himself. At least they were in a safe place, locked so that only administrators could withdraw them. As he headed back inside, he checked the mail, checking if there was anything for him. There was a letter in a manila envelope to him from the Pokémon League. Opening it, he read, on professional résumé paper:

Dear Kevin,

This letter is to inform you that the Viridian Gym Leader position that you applied for is now yours. Congratulations! It is such an honor to become one of these powerful eight trainers. You now work 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday.

"Awesome! I'm a Gym Leader now!" Kevin exclaimed in delight. Also in the mail was a letter to Daisy, which he left on the nightstand. "Probably a love letter from that Bill guy."

He then started to wonder what his former neighbors were up to these days. Karl "Red" and Hadley "Green" Caliduct had moved with their mother to Indigo Plateau, after their parents divorced. Guess their mother liked Koga better.

And what became of their Pokémon? Could they possibly have been tested for research at some lab? That seemed a bit hypocritical, considering that the goal was to stop the creation of genetically-engineered Pokémon!

--

Karl and Janine played Super Smash Bros. Brawl in Karl's bedroom. "Hey, Red, I can't believe you sold yourself out to Nintendo to put yourself in their game," said Janine.

"At least they gave me a lot of money for it," answered Karl. "Now, watch as I finish this match with Triple Finish!"

"Take this! Triple Finish!"

Janine, who was playing Marth, jumped out of the way. "Ha! You just wasted that Smash Ball."

"Five... four... three... two... one... Time!"

"Sudden Death! Go!"

Marth slashed Charizard out of the arena.

"Game! And the winner is: Marth!"

Karl dropped his controller. "I can't believe this... I'd been playing for a few years, and you still beat me."

Karl sighed. He headed to his bedroom and crashed onto his bed. He thought about the events that occurred a few years back.

I first battled Team Rocket at age twelve. They had captured Professor Oak's granddaughter, Daisy. With my sister Hadley "Green" Caliduct and neighbor Kevin "Blue" Oak, we reached Team Rocket's hideout in Celadon City's Rocket Game Corner. It was there that we saved Daisy from her imprisonment.

Soon, we were drawn into a secret plot. Team Rocket was contracting another company to create superpower Pokémon, including one that could allow them to control the world's climate! The effects of removing the legendary birds from their habitats really showed themselves, as Fuchsia City froze over, the Seafoam Islands became warmer, and volcanoes erupted unexpectedly.

We had found out that our Pokémon – a Charmander, a Squirtle, and a Bulbasaur – were a few of the super Pokémon themselves. Together, we foiled a future apocalypse at Pewter Canyon.

The sole surviving lab Pokémon are now in captivity at the Pokémon League Development Center in Indigo Plateau. Kanto is at peace, at least for the time being, and Karl partially returned to being his old self – still somewhat a lazy teenager, but one in training under his stepfather.

Meanwhile, in the next room, Hadley checked her e-mail on her computer. There was a message from Kevin.

Hey, Green! I did it! I'm the Viridian City Gym Leader now. Way cool, huh? I was thinking maybe you could be my door-girl or assistant. How about it? I'll pay you for it.

Hadley smiled upon receiving this letter. She replied to Kevin, saying:

Sure, Blue. I'll be your door-girl, when Red and I get back to my dad's house on Monday. I'll try to convince my mom to let me stay there. See you then!

Hadley knew that Koga would be an essential influence for moving back to Pallet Town, since, after all, at least she could say she was employed.

--

Maxie had taken a long time of relating to Duncan and Crystal the story of Kamon – telling about how he was genetically engineered, his true identity and purpose, how his workers had betrayed and almost killed him, and how they had contracted with Team Rocket to create powerful Pokémon clones.

"That last part just about sums up the events from a few years ago!" exclaimed Duncan. "Our cousins intercepted those Pokémon."

"That was where your family came in," said Giovanni. "I had actually met Karl Caliduct that night."

Maxie deadpanned, "We're approaching the end of a long conflict." The Caliduct family had come in, and they destroyed Team Rocket, bringing a blow to Nixyzon. The conflict, however, was not over just yet.

Crystal just stared at Kamon. He wasn't... natural. There was so much more to him, and her family had been dragged into the whole conflict.

"I think Crystal's in a state of shock," said Kamon worriedly to Giovanni.

"Don't worry, Ms. Caliduct," assured Giovanni. "I'm sure you'll get used to it. But I warn you; you must not tell anybody about what you heard today, even your relatives."

Crystal said nothing.

"They'd think we're nuts anyway," said Duncan. "And I think Crystal is too shocked to say anything more."

"I think a therapy lesson with me should help," offered Maxie. Crystal had to accept that Kamon was back; hopefully, he would set her straight again. No, he certainly could.

--

Karl and Hadley had returned to Pallet Town. Hadley, her father, and Koga had come to an agreement that Hadley could stay as long as she could support herself. Smirking, she knew there was no way Karl could do that.

Kevin hugged Hadley. "I'm so happy to see you again, Green," he said to her.

"When do we start?" she asked.

"We'll start on Monday after school. Meet me at the Gym."

"Wait a minute!" exclaimed Red in jealousy. "You're working now?" He wanted in on what Hadley was given. After all, he was in the team too!

"Look, Red," said Hadley, "We've been through adventures together, but we've gotta spend some time together, just Blue and me. You know what, we should just call each other by our real names now, Karl."

"Hadley's right," said Kevin. "I gotta save my money for long-term expenses like college."

"Sure, Hadley and Kevin. Whatever." This Color Triad thing was getting kind of old anyway. He had more pressing matters at hand, such as school. "Maybe you've got a point," he continued bluntly.