Chapter Two: The Champion and Cerulean City

In the history of the Pokemon world, there have been a very few who could truly be called a master, somebody who was adept not only at Pokemon battling, but also catching them. They were, and are, the very best, like no one had ever been.

And it was probably a safe bet to say that Red was the one that all of them were measured up to. Leaving Pallet Town at the age of 11, with a Pikachu by his side who was so stubborn he wouldn't even get in his pokeball. And yet, over the following months and years, Red did things nobody else had done before: he beat all of the Gym Leaders, defeated both the Elite Four and Blue (his rival from Pallet), foiled the evil schemes of Giovanni and Team Rocket, and, perhaps most amazing of all, he at one point or another had in his possession at least one of all 151 species of the Kanto Pokedex... and he had gained more since then. He had lost, of course- all Pokemon trainers lose now and then- but he was, to most, the greatest of the Pokemon masters.

He was now in his early 20s, the boy had become a man, and now he heard talk of some type of "Pokemon World Tournaments" that were going to happen in Unova. He was bit worried about the fact that none of the other masters seemed to be interested in going- not even Ethan- but it would be a fun challenge, and he'd never been to Unova, so he probably would go.

Today, however, Red was coming to Cerulean City, his buddy Pikachu by his side and his teams rounded out by Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur, Snorlax and Lapras. He considered maybe bringing his Espeon instead of Lapras, but considering where he was going he thought Lapras would work better. Cerulean, after all, was home of Misty's water gym, and if he was going to test some of the trainers there, he figured that having an extra water Pokemon could help him teach some of them some water Pokemon tactics. That's why she'd invited him, after all. And they were almost there. The walk through Mount Moon was complete, and he could already see Cerulean coming up.

So could Pikachu.

"Pikachu-pi!" shouted the mouse Pokemon.

"Yeah, that's right, Pikachu, we're going to see Misty," said Red, who now could see the old sign ahead: "Cerulean City: A mysterious, blue aura surrounds it." He still could remember the first time he'd seen that sign. Blue, his rival, had vandalized it with a taunt.

It felt so long ago. Heck, everything seemed so long ago. He couldn't remember a single thing he'd done since his fight with Ethan that he'd done anything truly as exciting as the old days. There were still lots of interesting things happening across the world, in far away places, but Kanto had been quiet.

The price of greatness, he guessed.

"Let's go, Pikachu," he said.

"So, what happened?" asked one of the beings standing there, in the darkened endless plain, "besides the fact that our plaza has become so much darker?"

The being, like the one it was addressing and the others scattered around, would probably have looked strange to Red, had he been there. After all, it had a much bigger head, it's arms a bit too long and perfect, and legs that had the same strange perfect evenness.

The second being responded somewhat hurriedly: "Well, Bright, you see, I was assigned to check out the overall structure of the local multiverse, and..."

"I thought Water was going to do it today, Sky," said Bright, who was something of the leader of the beings.

"Well, he was, but he begged off, so I took over," replied Sky.

"Okay, so, what happened?" said Bright.

"I detected openings- incursions- into a bunch of universes. There was one at 0781, another at 0286, in 0886, 0789, 0293..." Sky trailed off.

"What has been doing this?" asked Bright.

"I don't know, it's like it's been hidden from us. I can't see the people doing it, merely where the rift is."

Bright rubbed his hand against his chin, "Sky, somebody is always watching at least a portion of every universe in local multiversal space. They would have seen something happen."

Sky jumped in the air, ever so much, just to emphasize what he was about to say: "Yes, but, they can't see everything. And..."

"What would we do about it anyway, Sky?"

"I was thinking," he moved his arms up and down, as if he was trying to shake the idea out of himself, "that we could put together a team of the best heroes to face this threat."

"We don't know if it is a threat, Sky..." Bright said.

The Pichu was the first to notice it, the sensitivity of youth. One second, it was just scrounging through the garbage looking for some trinket or whatever to amuse itself (it was a city Pichu, after all), the next second, it felt something wrong. Something in the air.

The Jigglypuff, attempting to sing for it's supper (but generally just sending it's enemies to sleep), fell silent.

The Pidgeys and Pidgeottos took to the air.

But it took Pikachu to finally make Red realize something was happening. The electric mouse ran in front of it's trainer:

"Pika-pi!" it cried, "Pika!"

"What is it, Pikachu?"

"Pichu!" came a cry. Red turned around and saw a small Pichu running towards him.

"Pi-ka!" shouted Pikachu at the young Pichu.

Maybe they're cousins or something, thought Red.

The Pichu stopped just by Pikachu, and the two soon had entered a conversation.

Then suddenly, in the distance, there was a sound of thunder.

Elsewhere, there was a being named Cedar. He sat there, monitoring and watching his assigned universe- universe 0296. It was a good universe to watch, since it was filled with so many interesting creatures and there were plenty of interesting people in it.

Currently, he was watching Red and Pikachu, two of Universe 0296's most notable characters. They were being pestered by a Pichu, right now, and the Pikachu seemed to be listening to it, so he probably had something to say. Now a Jigglypuff was coming up to them, and was similarly shouting, leaping up and down.

"Jiggly! Puff!" yelled the little round Pokemon.

The Pikachu now pointed to the sky, jumping up and down, desperately trying to get it's master's attention...

Red couldn't remember the last time Pikachu had been like this. And the sky, something about the sky. Pikachu was trying to tell him to look to the sky.

And suddenly, there was something that Red couldn't ignore. Like nails against a chalkboard or a Magnemite scratching against pavement, it put Red's hair on end. He turned, and looked to the sky.

And there was a scar. Opening. Red could hear people shrieking throughout Cerulean, the Pichu ran and hid behind it's older cousin.

Red always had had some good eyes, able to see things from a good distance aways. He'd never doubted his eyes before, but now, he couldn't believe them. For out of the scar that had ripped through the sky, he saw small dots. And as they got bigger, he realized they weren't any dots. They were old sailing ships.

Warships flying through the sky.

Cedar began to zoom in on the intruders as Sky and Bright ran over, hearing his call.

"Where's Field, Cedar?" said Bright, "He has a stake in this world as well."

"Bright," said Sky as the intruders came into view, "I don't think Field matters..."

Upon the screen, the airships' covered the horizon. There had to be dozens of them, gigantic propellors in the air, keeping them aloft. Flying by alongside them were small, masked, red-clad beings, small but numerous. And manning the airships were turtles- some with red shells and some with green shells- walking on two feet. And there were spherical bombs, living and walking. Little small brown beings, seemingly without arms, were there as well.

"Koopas," said Bright.

"That's not all," said Sky, as he pointed to one of the other airships. They were like bigs, and they carried swords, spears and bows.

"Moblins and Bokoblins," said Bright, "Perhaps you were right, Sky."

The strange airships began to descend, and Red could see small black dots emerge from them.

"Pikachu!" cried his friend.

It was then that Red realized what they were: missiles. Giant black missiles. And they were coming towards Cerulean City. Others were realizing this: children were fleeing, some were screaming, and none wanted to face what was coming. Cerulean City, after all, wasn't a place that was troubled very often.

But Red wasn't going to run. No, maybe these were some kind of new Pokemon, or maybe they were just missiles. But either way, they were coming after people and Pokemon, innocent people and Pokemon, and he wasn't going to let that happen. Not while he, or any of his Pokemon, were still standing.

The lead missile was getting closer, Red could see a vile smile upon it, and eyes. Heck, for second he thought he saw it blink. No, it couldn't have. It was time to battle.

"Pikachu, go!"

"Pika!" cried his companion, who leapt forward. Only it wasn't just Pikachu who leapt forward, the little Pichu leapt forward too. The Jigglypuff, at least, was still standing back. For now, at least.

In the distance, faint booms went off- other missiles were hitting the outskirts of Cerulean.

"Those people..." said Red, "They..."

The missile was becoming even closer. Pikachu turned around, waiting for instructions. He wasn't going to wait forever- self preservation overrode even loyalty- but Pikachu had a lot of loyalty. He would wait until the last possible second.

He wouldn't need to. Thrusting his finger out for emphasis, Red commanded Pikachu:

"Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu's cheeks flared with 100,000 volts of electricity, and then, like lightning, it was sent out with a hefty "CHUUUUUUUU!"

It hit the missile dead-on, and the missile, the bullet, fell to the ground, dead, no longer a threat. The Pichu took to the air, cheering as it jumped up and down. But another missile was incoming, and Pikachu didn't even have to wait this time, almost as if psychic, it knew full well was Red was about to say: "Thunderbolt."

And soon, another bullet fell from the sky.

Beyond, the beings watched. The invading army was meeting resistance: Red and his Pikachu were shooting down the Bullet Bills that were being sent near their location, the trainers of the Cerulean City Gym had emerged, their water Pokemon already going after the fires. Now, though, the actual attackers were nearing. The waters knew what they were: airships of the Koopa Troop, carrying Shy Guys, Goombas and Koopa Troopas. But not just them, but elements of the army of the dread king of evil, Ganon. Bokoblins and Moblins.

"How?" said Second, who had been called from his viewing of some archives of the timelines and worlds that 'oblins usually were found in.

The others remained silent. They didn't know. And with the exception of Free- who had gone to scour Universe 0781, they weren't doing a thing besides watching. The Shy Guys- the fly guys, really- came first...

"Go, Blastoise!" shouted Red.

Red wasn't sure what these were- maybe they were some kind of new Pokemon- but they were definitely living and thinking. And they really didn't seem to like him or anybody else very much: he saw one of them shoot at a youngster with a slingshot before it turned towards him and Pikachu. There had to be about four of them now, although there were hundreds in the sky above. Red, most of them were, small- perhaps the a little big larger in size than Pikachu- with strange white masks.

And, well, now they were in troubles.

"Blastoise, here we go! Hydro Pump!"

Blastoise aimed it's two giant water cannons at the approaching creatures, and, unleashed it's cry as water came blasting from them. The lead invader was knocked back, hitting the other that was behind it- they both fell to the ground, the lead one having fainted.

One down, three to go, thought Red.

The Pichu leapt forward and charged at the fallen invader, but he wasn't going to reach it. Jigglypuff, rolling like a bowling ball, passed him. The invader was just getting to it's feet, but it only had time to jump up in shock before the puffball struck it, sending it backward to the ground, fainted.

Okay, two down, two to go.
The next two invaders were getting ever closer- one of them had pulled out a slingshot again. They wouldn't be a threat for much longer, though.

"Pikachu! Blastoise! Take them down, Thunderbolt and Water Spout!"

Pikachu jumped forward, taking a place alongside Blastoise. Beams of water and electricity emerged from them, and soon, the other two invaders lay fainted.

Red stopped for a second, looking to the sky as Pikachu and Blastoise celebrated their victory with a high five and the Pichu and Jigglypuff tried to join in. It wasn't over yet. No, it most definitely wasn't. Because coming straight at him was... an airship. It's shadow moved over him and the Pokemon, and they too looked upwards. Strange figures looked down upon them, and with cries and war-calls, they threw down ropes.

"Pikaaa!" yelled out the electric mouse Pokemon. It turned and faced it's master, concern upon it's face.

"I know, Pikachu..."

Down the ropes came strange creatures. Some of them appeared to be large, human-like beings, but with the physiognomy of a twisted version of a Pignite or Grumpig. The others resembled something like large Squirtles, only of a yellow color with green shells.

"...We're surrounded..."

Pikachu leapt upon Red's shoulder.

"...so they're in trouble!"

With quick movements, Red reached down, and, one after another, called forth his team to join Pikachu, Blastoise and the two wild Pokemon in the struggle.

It had been a long time since he'd seen Red, the man in black thought.

Too long.

Over a decade had passed since that final showdown at the very gateway of the plateau.

Red. So much potential, so many possibilities. And yet, here he was, still fighting with that Pikachu and the others that he'd used back then.

One of the Pignite-like henchman- Moblins, he was told they were- was knocked backwards by the Snorlax. One of the hammer-wielding Koopas was being slashed and burned by that Charizard of his. Some sort of Jigglypuff- a Jigglypuff of all Pokemon, had sent a heavily-armored "Dark" Koopatrol to sleep and was now pounding it into submission.

No matter, thought the man in black, time is already running out for him. He looked to the sky. The Magikoopas had arrived. A broad smile came across of the man in black's face.

Red's Lapras hit the final Moblin with a full-on ice beam. It fell to the ground, frozen and unconscious.

Now was the time.

"Who are these jerks?" asked Red, to nobody in particular as he took a second to catch his breath. The only ones who were around to listen were Pikachu, Pichu and the Jigglypuff- he'd put the rest of his team back in their pokeballs.

"Pikaaa..." said Pikachu, which Red figured meant "I don't know."

More airships were cutting through the sky. And now some sort of blue-cloaked creatures were flying alongside them. These weren't Pokemon- he thought he'd seen some kid try to throw a pokeball at one of those harmless little red ones, only for it to bounce off the invader, same as if he had thrown it at a human or a rock. He couldn't help but worry that he could kill them, or something, or, worse, that they'd kill him. He had to get to the Cerulean Gym - Misty would be able to help.

Pikachu heard the newcomer first, and let his master know it with an angry "Pi! Ka!" The other Pokemon spun to attention as well, although they didn't recognize him. Red, however, still was focused on the foe that was in the skies, thinking.

That is, until he heard the newcomer speak. It was a voice he never wanted to hear again.

"Red of Pallet Town," said the voice, male and a bit deep, "I always said we'd meet again someday."

Red spun quickly to face him. He had a sharp black suit, slick black hair, and a smug grin across face.

"Giovanni of Viridian City," said Red, "You are behind this!"

Giovanni tugged down on his suit and let loose a hushed and sarcastic laugh, "Team Rocket is over, boy."

"I heard, Ethan shut you Rockets down in Johto, Giovanni," said Red.

Giovanni sneered at the champion, "I'm well aware of the Johto champion, Red of Pallet Town."

"So whatever happened to devoting your life to studying Pokemon, Giovanni?" asked Red. More of the blue-cloaked creatures flew overhead, like witches on brooms. He was getting worried, really. There seemed to be a lot of them.

"Did I say I was studying, or trying to become stronger, boy?" he paused, once again tugging on his suit, "I can't quite remember."

Pikachu's cheek began to spark. Red moved his hand down. Stop, he was signaling, not now.

"Why are you attacking Cerulean, Giovanni?"

Giovanni again gave off his hushed laugh.

"Who said my associates were attacking Cerulean City, Red? It just happens to be in the way of our real target," he said, "A very powerful target, one you are familiar with, Red of Pallet Town."

Red's eyes widened as he realized what Giovanni spoke of.

"The monster of the Cerulean Cave, hidden away from the world in an unknown dungeon. The ultimate Pokemon..." said Giovanni.

A loud explosion echoed in the distance. Red knew what it meant.

"Mewtwo," he said. Pikachu threw in a "Pi-ka!" for emphasis.

Red then blinked: "You won't find it in the Cerulean Cave, I captured him. Years ago. He's in Bill's box right now."

A silence fell upon the two old foes. Even the Pokemon weren't saying a thing. Only distant explosions could be heard.

And then Giovanni, once again pulling on his suit, replied: "I know you're bluffing, child."

"I used the Master Ball on it!" shouted Red.

Giovanni's laugh was no longer hushed, it was a far louder one.

"Fwahahahahahahahaha! You very well did, Red of Pallet Town!"

He stopped, and then, menacingly, without a touch of humor, added: "And then you let it go."

Pikachu's ears popped up: "Pika!?" He was shocked that the Rocket-man would know.

"It was too powerful for anybody," replied Red, "Especially you, and I swear, I will defend it from you."

"Fwahaha, What are you going to do to me, Red? You can't get to the cave in time! You've already lost!"

Another, very loud, explosion. Red knew what had to be done.

He pulled out a Pokeball, turned his hat backwards, and, with a mighty heave, called forth his Flame Pokemon:

"Here we go, Charizard!"

He shouted at Giovanni something simple:

"This isn't over."

The cave is cold, dark and dangerous, but it is home. And I am the master of it, I am the lord of it. I did not choose to be born- none of us are- but I was not truly born. I was created. Spliced and grown, given great power, but also so much pain and anger.

I fled here, far from the humans, alongside the Ditto, the Kadabra, and the Rhydon. Here, I could rest. Here, I could be at peace. Alone. A self-imposed dungeon.

Occasionally, some souls would wander in. But never far enough to see me. They would run away, their scared cries echoing as they and their Pokemon rushed back out of the cave. After awhile, they stopped entirely. I sensed that somebody had sealed my dungeon off, so that only the best could attempt to conquer it.

Only once did somebody actually reach my inner sanctum to face me. It would likely have been a brutal battle. But the trainer, the boy, simply produced a purple ball, and threw it at me. And so, I was captured.

The boy- Red, he said his name was- seemed to be of a good heart, not like the evil men of my youth. But after a few battles, against the most powerful of foes, he and I both realized it was not to be. I was just too powerful for this world, something that would tip the balance too far.

So I returned to my cave. And waited. Undisturbed.

Until today.

I heard the explosions long before they breached my home, and I sensed that some great force had struck the nearby city. But it was not my place to care.

I heard the cries of battle, but it was not my place to care.

I heard the airships near my home, and the cackle of the invaders. But it was not my place to care.

But now, now they were entering my home. Now I care.

I reach out psychically, and sense them coming. They are not from here, not man or Pokemon. They seem to call themselves Magikoopas, and they are coming for me. I prepare for them- they are not like Red, who's intentions I did not know. They aim to take me. Not even as a trainer takes a Pokemon, but rather as a tool or slave. I will not let that happen. Not without a fight.

I begin to form a ball of energy, a Shadow Ball. The Magikoopas burst into my domain, wearing strange blue robes and holding out what I believe would be called wands. I release the first Shadow Ball at the lead, and knock him down into the water. I send another, one that is smaller, at another one, and similarly send him downwards, shouting as he falls.

But there are more of them, I cannot stop them all. One of them knocks a hanging stalagmite towards me. I am barely able to dodge it, I smell the soil and dust it kicks into the air. It is then, however, that something hits me, and I fade away, I am sleep... sleeping... sleep...

I awaken! And I see light! So much light! The sun above, and Cerulean City... below?

I realize that I am floating, trapped inside a bubble. And I am flying. The Magikoopas surround me, and I can see airships, like human boats, flying through the skies. Such strange creatures inhabit them, and so filled with darkness. A darkness that now fills me. I must escape! I will escape! I unleash a small Shadow Ball, but it hits the sphere without effect. I send fourth a psychic strike in the form of a wave, and it dissipates harmlessly against my bubbly prison. I slam my tail with quick ferocity, but feel only the pain as it hits the bubble. It has no give. One of the Magikoopas turns and laughs at my predicament.

And I become more angry.

Suddenly, though, I sense some type of hope. I feel him coming at us, upon his Charizard, his Pikachu by his side. It is Red. The lone person to capture me. The lone person, perhaps, to show any care or love to me. And he is trying to save me now! I see him fly past the airships, and soon I see him near my captors. But one of the Magikoopas is ready. It fires a ray at Charizard, and I see and sense it hitting him.

And the wings of Charizard disappear. His long horns shorten, he grows smaller. He is not evolving... he is... devolving?

And I see Red and Pikachu falling.

And I feel anger! Anger! Anger!

Red had seen many things in his days as a trainer, but never this. And, he had to be honest, this wasn't the way that he thought he and Pikachu would go to the big Pokemon Center in the sky. Getting his Charizard de-evolved while trying to save Mewtwo from invaders that had come from a rift in the sky wasn't really on his mind this morning. There were some things he could do, though. He reached down to his belt, grabbed Chariz- Charmeleon's- pokeball.

"Charmeleon, return!" he yelled, and soon Charmeleon was back safe in the ball. Now time for Pikachu. Maybe he'd die, but Pikachu...

A roar echoed through the air then. And, looking down, Red saw the one thing he thought could make the day worse:

A Gyarados flying at him and Pikachu. Truly, this day couldn't get any worse. He looked over to Pikachu, still falling.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu shook his head. But why? Why wouldn't he want to take down the Gyarados, avoid the possibility of getting devoured?

And so, Red closed his eyes and prepared for the end. And then, he felt a tug, and a brief shout of "Pika!" He couldn't help but think out loud:

"Ugh... am I dead?"

"Not today, Red," said a woman's voice, a voice that Red had heard before.

He opened his eyes, and he saw her: Misty of the Cerulean City Gym.

And then, exhausted, everything turned a little black and hazy.