Oh look, I'm finally updating a story other than The Final Battle! I haven't done anything with this story in a while, but I'm thinking about going back and rewriting some of the older chapters.
We said we'd escape together in the morning. But when I woke up, my brother was gone.
I searched everywhere, but I couldn't find my brother. That's when he approached me, the man that took Mother. He called himself my father, but I knew better. Parents were suppose to care, they were suppose to be there. That wasn't this man.
He told me that I was my fault. That's when it hit me; my mother, my brother- they had took the blows for me. If would have done as I was told then they'd still be here.
Now there was nobody between me and him.
I didn't want to listen, I didn't care anymore. But he never seemed to notice, I had an ability that he wanted me to use. The one that made the creatures react to my emotions, but I couldn't control it.
I went out of my way to cause trouble, anything I could do to hurt the man that hurt me. This time I was the one that took the blows instead, but I didn't care. Nothing mattered to me anymore.
One night I went too far. I took the blows once more, but they were too much to handle this time. I couldn't take it like I could the others.
He told me to shut up and listen to him.
So I did.
"Hey!" A familiar high pitched voice called as Red stepped out of the Pokemon Center. Red turned to see a strawberry blonde haired girl charging towards him. Aoi was wearing a simply blue dress that matched her eyes, and a hat that reminded Red of a premier ball. Aoi ran up to him, grinning, "How are you?" She gave him a huge smile.
Red shrugged, but Aoi didn't seem to notice, she dug into her bag, pulling out a Pokeball, "Guess what? I get to go on a journey too!" She opened up a Pokeball, releasing an undersized Bulbasaur, "Meet Kiku!"
The Bulbasaur glanced around, and Red knelt down, stroking the grass type. The female Bulbasaur made a humming noise deep in her throat.
"Ahh! So cute, Kiku likes you already!" Aoi cooed, then she ran and scooped up Charmander, "But he's a cutie too! Do you have a name picked out for him yet?" She asked, cuddling the fire type.
"You know, it doesn't matter how much you ask him, he isn't going to reply," Forest growled, walking out of the Pokemon Center. Aoi's smile turned to a frown.
"So? It doesn't mean I hafta ignore him!" Aoi snapped, hugging Charmander closer. Red backed away as Forest approached, but the Professor's grandson was only looking at his neighbor. They stood still for a moment, Forest sneering, Aoi glaring, and Red looking down.
"Look's like Gramps gave you a runt," Forest said after a moment, looking at the little Bulbasaur.
Aoi stuck out her tongue, "I know that she's smaller, but that doesn't mean that she can't battle. Mr. Oak did offer me to wait so he could get another Bulbasaur, but I like Kiku! I'll show you how strong she is, once I come back with the Earth Badge!"
Forest smirked, like he knew something, "Yeah, good luck with that. I'm off to Pewter City, I'll see you later, maybe, Slowpokes," He turned, leaving.
"Oh- oh yeah? Well, come on," She grabbed Red's wrist, "We're going to the gym!"
Red sighed to himself as he was once more dragged off by Aoi.
The Viridian Gym was one word: Terrifying.
Red did not understand why the earth brown brick building sent chills down him, but he just knew that he shouldn't be here. Everything about Viridian reminded him about before, and he couldn't shake off the feeling that he had been here once, but when he tried to remember he only got a feeling of dread.
Aoi did not seem intimidated by the gym, nor did she notice Red uneasiness. She skipped right up to the giant double doors, and tried to open them. They were locked. Red relaxed a bit, now he had a reason to get them out of here.
But Aoi was giving up that easily, she handed Red his Charmander (Whom she had been holding the whole trip to the gym), and knocked on the doors. Muffled voices could be heard on the inside, and footsteps. Aoi beamed, and Red took a step back, gripping Charmander tightly.
The fire type lashed out, trying to get away. Half responding to the terror he sensed from Red, half wanting to get out of the boy's vice grip. One of the doors swung open, and a teal haired man looked out at the two teens. He glanced quickly over Red, and focused his gaze at Aoi, "Yes?" He asked.
"We're here for a gym battle!" She chirped, pointing at her and Red.
The man laughed, "Sorry young lady, but I'm afraid the gym is closed right now. In fact, the gym leader isn't even here at the moment!"
Aoi's smile fell, "But he's the gym leader! Why wouldn't he be here?"
The man closed his eyes, as if he had this conversation many times before, "Look, being a gym leader is more of a second job for him. He's an important business who has many things to deal with. Especially right now."
Aoi sighed, "Makes sense, I guess..."
The man glanced over her, "Now don't get down, you'll get you'll battle eventually. Besides, not to be rude, I'd recommend getting a few more stronger Pokemon before you take on this gym leader, he's no push over. Especially you boy, a Charmander won't cut it..." The man paused, his green eyes blinking in surprise. He hesitated, staring at him, "Red? Is that you?!"
Red some how managed to go even more stiffer. He looked up at the man, and Charmander slipped out of his grasp. The fear in Red's eyes was clearer than day. The man stared at him for a moment. Aoi looked between them, confused.
He opened his mouth to speak, but something in Red snapped, he grabbed Aoi's wrist, and took off running down the street. There Pokemon blinked, then charged after their trainers.
"Do you know him?" Aoi shouted as Red dragged her through the city. Red, of course, didn't reply. Aoi grumpled something, as if she didn't like being the one dragged around.
Red navigated the streets as with ease, as if he had been in them before. He darted towards the northern end of town, slipping into an alleyway. He released Aoi, sinking to his knees, panting. Running wasn't his forte.
"Char... mander..."
"Bulba..." There Pokemon slank into the alley after them, tried from their run. The two Pokemon looked at Red, wanting an explanation. Red's heart and mind was racing, trying to think. But of course Aoi was asking him a million questions, distracting him.
"Why did we runoff?" She asked nervously, "Is he dangerous? How do you know him?"
Red closed his eyes, why did Proton have to be the one to answer at the gym? Anyone else he probably could have slipped away without recognition. Proton was the probably the person that knew Red the best...
"Gol!" A Golbat swept into the alley way, looking at them, then it flew out just as quickly. Red panicked a bit, knowing who the Golbat belonged too. Charmander cocked his head, picking up Red's emotions. Bulbasaur stamped her feet a bit.
Red inched back, but the end of the alleyway was a tall brick way- something he couldn't climb. He glanced back at the entrance, and the Golbat was back, this time with his trainer. Aoi looked nervous, but not frightened.
The teal haired man from the gym looked over at Red. A mixture of surprise and greed shown on his face, "Woah Red, no need to run," He said gently, "It's me, Proton, we're cool with each other, aren't we?" He took a step into the alleyway.
Red glanced back at the brick wall once more. There was a time when he had trusted Proton, but that trust soon proven to be misplaced.
"We thought you were dead Red," Proton continued as Aoi got a confused look, "Your father wasn't too happy. You need to come back with me."
Red whipped his head side to side, trembling.
"So you do know him!" Aoi exclaimed to Red.
"Is it your father?" Proton asked, "I wouldn't worry, no one will blame you for running off. Project M2 meant business, running was the natural thing. Everything would be easier if you come back willingly, Red. Nothing will be held against you," Proton was speaking to Red in the same way someone would speak to a young child.
Red's eyes flickered up towards Proton, and he got a glimpse of Red's angry glare.
"Wait... Don't tell me you're still upset about that incident," Proton said, mind pinning the pieces together, "I couldn't disobey direct orders, you know that. You don't hold it against me, do you?" He chuckled.
Red shook with rage. Proton was treating him as if nothing had happened! Anger pounded through him. Red glanced at the Pokemon, reaching out to them, not holding back any of his anger.
Charmander's confused look vanished instantly, pupils shirking. The fire on his tail sputtered as he growled, stepping forward. Aoi's Bulbasaur took up a battle stance, shaking with with an alien rage, two vines growing from the sides of her bulb.
"Kiku?" Aoi asked, confused at her Bulbasaur's sudden change.
Proton frowned as his Golbat shuddered, then it wheeled around to face him, pupils dilated. "Red..." Proton's gentle voice was gone, replaced with nervousness, "Call off the Pokemon..." His eyes flickered back and forth.
Kiku sprang forward, tackling Proton to the ground as his Golbat swooped in with a Wing Attack. Charmander dashed forward, claws gleaming. The Scratch hit Proton on the arm, drawing blood. Aoi shrunk behind Red as the Golbat sank its fangs into its trainer.
"Kiku! Stop!" Aoi cried, but the Bulbasaur kept attacking. Another Scratch hit right above Proton's eyes, and Charmander fell back and Golbat swooped in with another Bite. Blood poured down from Proton's forehead, blinding his right eye.
Aoi cried again for Kiku to stop, and Proton shouted a command to his Golbat, but the Pokemon were blinded by the rage they felt. It surrounded their minds, clouding all other thoughts. The only thing in their head was a sudden and blinding rage for Proton.
But Red's adrenaline was fading, along with his hold on the Pokemon. Golbat began to tremble, trying to throw off Red's anger.
Charmander opened his mouth, the back of his throat glowing. Proton's eyes widened as he realized that a fire attack was coming on, "Red!" His voice was fearful.
Golbat finally got a hold of himself. A Wing Attack knocked Kiku away, and a well timed Swift hit both Charmander and the Bulbasaur, and the Ember attack was sent skyward. Charmander panted as he regained control of his emotions, blinking.
Kiku backed away, cowering. Confusion swept through her as she tried to process where the sudden hatred for this man had come from, and why it was now gone. Aoi rushed forward, scooping up her Bulbasaur. Charmander looked back at Red in worry, who stumbled, vision blackening slightly.
Golbat whimpered to his trainer apologetically as Proton stood. Blood flowed from where Charmander had scratched him and where Golbat had bitten him. Bruises were forming from Kiku's and Golbat attacks. More blood flowed from his forehead into his right eye. He cursed, trying to wipe it away.
Proton glared at Red with one eye for a moment, who held the stare, trembling. Charmander growled, along with Kiko, this time driven for their trainer's safety rather than by Red's anger.
Proton turned, leaving the alleyway open, stumbling back towards the gym without a word. He could have possibly done more, but he was wounded and didn't seem to want to face another barge of angry Pokemon.
Red let out a sigh of relief, sinking to the ground. Blackness tugged at the edges of his vision.
"Ohmygosh! Kiku, what happened! Why did all of you attack all the sudden, are you guys sick? Oh no, we should get them to a Pokemon Center..." Aoi cuddled the grass type closer, and she looked at Red, "Are you alright?"
Sweat was rolling down Red's forehead and face. His hands were clasped into fists, and his heart pounded in a mixture of fear and anger. Charmander darted up to him, whining softly. Aoi sat next to him.
"... Red? That's why he called you, right? Is that your name?"
Red nodded slowly.
"I don't really know... I mean, what that man was talking about or why our Pokemon attacked like that, but we should get to the Pokemon Center. Our Pokemon need a rest, and by the looks of it, you need one too. We'll call the professor, he'll know what to do."
Red shook his head, standing up. He looked at Charmander, pointing to his shoulder. The fire type darted up, perching on his shoulder.
"What do you mean no? Red- whoever you are- you couldn't move for a week until yesterday and now it looks like your breaking out in a fever! It's obvious that you don't like that man, Protean or something, but he mentioned your father. Maybe we should go talk to him-"
Red whipped his head around to face her. Aoi recoiled a little, surprised by the angry glare he gave her. After a moment Red lowered his head, dragging his hand across his face. He needed to get out of this town.
Red cautiously stepped out of the alleyway, glancing around. No sign of Proton, or anyone else. Aoi followed Red out into the streets as he made his way to the edge of town. The pathway faded out of the city and into a tall, dense forest.
"'Viridian Forest'," Aoi read the sign, "Are you really leaving that quickly? What about Charmander...?"
Red went down the pathway, and Aoi didn't follow him. She watched him vanish into the dark forest. Kiku pressed up Aoi, who sighed, "Let's go back to the Pokemon Center."
"Chuuuu!" A small mouse released the electricity in his cheeks, sending the Thundershock at the small Weedle. The bug type recoiled, but rushed forward, it's horn glowing purple. A simple Quick Attack allowed him to dodge the Poison Sting. The Pikachu grinned, zapping the Weedle once more.
The Pikachu stretched as the Weedle fainted. Battling was fun, but the Pokemon in the forest were getting too easy for her. She wanted a challenge.
Even the trainers that past through were boring, most of them just obsessed with stupid bug types and shorts. Though the last trainer that she fought didn't have bug types... but the water and flying type had provided no challenge for the eager electric type.
A flash of orange light caught her attention. The Pikachu pricked her ears up, curious. She scaled a tree, leaping across the branches. There was another flash of orange, near the trail humans followed, and the smell of smoke. The Pikachu jumped through several more trees, perching herself up high on a branch overlooking the path.
Coming down the trail was a boy, no older than the last trainer the Pikachu had fought. In front of him was a small Charmander that was frying what ever bug crossed their path with a powerful Ember, knocking most of them out with one hit! The Pikachu darted ahead, keeping above in the trees, watching with interest.
A fire type, something the Pikachu had never battled before. It was handling the annoying bugs with no trouble at all! It usually took the Pikachu a few shocks for him to take care of those bugs herself. The Pikachu watched as an annoyed Pidgey dove down, screeching at the Charmander.
The fire type glanced at his trainer, but received no acknowledgement. The Charmander fired an Ember, then lashed out with his claws. Pikachu realized as the Pidgey flew off that the Charmander was taking no orders, all this power was without guidance from the human!
A grin crossed the Pikachu's face, finally, a real challenge!
What's a story with Red without his Pikachu? (Cough cough Pokemon Origins cough cough)
In this chapter Aoi finally learns Red's name, and we also get a bit more info on Red's background. Just to clarify, Red's selectively mute, meaning he his capable of speaking, but doesn't. More specifically he has reactive mutism, which means he chose to go mute because of traumatic events in his past.