Ten chapters guys! Whoo! (And only one gym battle so far... This story is going to be longer than I thought...) I don't mind though, this story has been really fun to write!

"Rooow!" A Fearow cried, preening her feathers outside of Oak's lab.

A young Forest stared at the Fearow as he walked down from his house, not believing his eyes. He hesitated for a moment, before calling out, "A-ava?"

The Fearow looked up, her eyes gleaming. She let out a long call towards the boy, "Fear-row!" Forest ran up to her, stumbling over in his excitement. He threw his small arms around the Fearow's long neck, and she playfully nipped at his messy brown hair.

"Ava, if you're here..." Forest began, looking up at her hopefully, "Does that mean that Dad is home too...?"

"Fear," She replied, pointing with her beak towards the lab. Forest trembled in excitement, then bolted into the lab. He threw open the door, looking around, and he saw him. He was following around Professor Oak as he paced, talking urgently. Forest was confused on why Gramps was treating Dad so coldly, but Forest didn't care- Dad was home!

"Daddy!" Forest cried, and both adults froze, "Dad- it really is you, you're really home! Citrine was right!"

"Forest," Professor Oak said stiffly, "Go outside and-" But Forest had already run forward towards his father. His father hesitated for a moment, before kneeling down and bringing his son into a hug.

"Hey kiddo," He said quietly. Forest hugged him tighter, trying to keep back tears of joy. His father was home now! He was finally home! He pulled back, looking up at the man he hadn't seen in ages. He was wearing a gray outfit with the letter 'R' over his shirt pocket.

"William," Professor Oak said sharply, "Please step away from my grandson."

William looked up at Professor Oak, "Pops," William replied quietly, "He is my son-"

"You have no right to call him that after you left them like that!" Professor Oak snarled, anger shining in his eyes, and Forest flinched, inching closer to his father. He had never seen Gramps that angry before, "And right after Melody's death as well! You thought it was hard enough for them to lose one parent- well you made them lose two!" Professor Oak clenched his fists, "Left your own children to join that stupid corrupt organization-" He muttered angrily.

William stood up, "Rocket is not stupid, Dad," William said, "It is the future of Kanto, and-"

"Rocket is not what you think! The future of Kanto is not going to be some crime syndicate!" Professor Oak yelled, spinning around to face his son. He glared at William, "And don't you 'Dad' me! You will address me as Professor Oak, I did not raise you to leave your family and become a criminal!"

"W-what?!" Forest squeaked, gripping his father's leg tighter, "Dad didn't leave- he just came back! And he's not a c-criminal, right Dad?!" Forest looked up at his father with his big green eyes, and William looked away.

"Why don't you go play with your sister?" William said quietly, "I need to talk with... your grandfather."

Forest pulled away slowly, uncertainty in his eyes. He looked back between his father and grandfather, unsure of who he should be agreeing with, since they seemed to be fighting right now. Forest stumbled towards the lab door, slipping outside without another word. He scurried around the lab, finding the window Professor Oak always kept open in the hot summer, and he sat right below it, listening in.

"I allowed you into my lab today under the conditions that you would not talk to my grandchildren," Professor Oak said quietly, "I was giving you a chance to explain yourself."

"It's not my fault that Forest came in here," William replied, "He spoke to me first."

Professor Oak's voice began to break, "Will... You saw Forest, he needs you..." Professor Oak said quietly, tone softening, "And Citrine... she can barely sleep at night, she's taking harder than Forest, she needs you... Will, please, quit all this- this Rocket stuff- they are not what you think! Come home, these children need you, they need their father. I'm trying my best, but..." He sighed, "How can I replace their parents? They lost Melody, and she's gone forever. You can come back though, Will, please. You're my only son and-"

"'Son', is it now?" William said coldly, "Because I recall just told me to stop calling you 'Dad', Professor Oak."

Professor Oak took in a sharp breath, "You left your family," He hissed, "Then returned to try to convince me to join Team Rocket, of course I was mad- am mad. I will have nothing to do with Rocket again!" Professor Oak went quiet, "But I'm trying to give you a chance, if you were anyone else I would have called the police ages ago. Please come back Will, I'll help clear your name with the league, I'll-"

"The league is nothing," William interrupted, "It is weakening, Kanto is falling apart at its seams. Look at us compared to... Unova! We're a joke! Sinnoh has progressed while Kanto has fallen apart! The league will not protect us, and even you know that, or else why would you have quit it? Your knowledge could help Rocket, you could get up high, support the kids! And like I said, Team Rocket is the future, and I'm glad to be apart of it."

There was a moment of silence, and Professor Oak's voice went cold again, "Get out," He said quietly, "Get out of my lab and get out of my town. Don't you ever try to come back here, and don't you ever even dare look those children in the eyes again."

"They're my kids-"

"They were no longer yours the moment you joined Rocket!" Professor Oak screamed, "Get out of my lab, now!" There was the sound of a Pokeball opening. Young Forest curled up, unsure of what was happening.

"Fine," William said, "I'm excited to watch you fall along with the rest of Kanto. And Barney doesn't scare me a bit," Forest heard someone turn sharply, and angry footsteps leaving the lab. Forest leapt to his feet, running around to the front of the lab just as his father threw open the lab door, heading towards his Fearow.

"Dad!" Forest screamed. He wasn't quite sure what was going on between Gramps and his father- but it sounded like his father was about to leave forever. He couldn't lose his daddy again! William paused, looking at his son, "Daddy, please don't go again-!" Forest began.

"Forest!" Professor Oak snapped, "Get over here right now!" Forest glanced over towards the door of the lab, where Professor Oak was standing with Barney the Dragonite. Forest shrank back at the sight of his angry grandfather, and William watched him for a moment, before continuing to Ava. The Fearow crained her head up as her trainer came closer.

"But Dad-" Forest began.

"Listen to your grandfather kiddo," William said, mounting on his Fearow's back as Professor Oak headed towards Forest, "But you won't get far in life."

Professor Oak grabbed Forest's shoulder as he took another step towards his father, "Forest, back into the lab, please."

"But Daddy!" Forest yelled, trying to break free of his grandfather's grasp, "I don't want him to go again!" Ava opened up her wings, ready to fly.

Professor Oak said nothing as he forced the young Forest back in the lab. He didn't turn around as he said to William, "You have one minute to get out of here before I call the police, Rocket."

Forest looked back, only to watch his father give Ava a small kick in the side, and she sprang into the air, carrying William off to the east.

"Are you going somewhere Gramps?" Citrine asked as she watched Professor Oak gather a few objects around his lab. Near the door was a large, golden Pidgeot. The shiny Pokemon tossed her head as the professor's granddaughter entered the lab. Professor Oak looked up, surprised to see Citrine, though he quickly covered it up with a smile.

"Ah, yes," He said, stuffing something into a messenger bag, "I need to fly over to Route 25, visiting a... friend. I won't be gone too long, I just need to drop off some old research with him that he wants to look at. If you need anything while I'm gone just give Mary a quick visit, I'm sure she'd be glad to help you," His eyes scanned the messy lab as if searching for something.

A Butterfree swooped into the lab, landing on Citrine's head as she snorted, "I'm seventeen Gramps, I'll be just fine," The Pidgeot ruffled her feathers, eyes glued to the Butterfree as it lazily flapped his wings, resting on his trainer's head.

"Of course," Professor Oak, not fully listening. He was lifting up some papers, still searching for something, "... Now where is that stupid folder..." He muttered, "I shouldn't have gotten it out so soon..."

Citrine watched her grandfather for a moment, while he shuffled through some papers, shaking his head. Whatever he had misplaced had obviously been important, judging by the worry on his face and his frantic searching. She glanced around the lab, spotting a large, bright white folder then seemed out of place among her grandfather's other work. It was sticking out from under several large books, as if it had been stuffed under there. She walked over to it, wondering if this was what he had been looking for. She grabbed it, gently sliding the folder out from the books. In the top right hand corner was a few words written in small print. She frowned, she had planned on handing it to her grandfather, but her curiosity overtook her as she read the small heading.

"Gramps...?" She asked, "What is... 'Project M'?"

Professor Oak jerked his head up, eyes wide as he noticed the folder in Citrine's grip. An angry look flashed over his eyes, "Give that to me," He said sharply, storming over to her.

Citrine flinched, startled at her grandfather's attitude change. She quickly held out the file as he snatched it out of her hands, glaring down at her. He didn't say anything, and for a half a second a bit of fear flashed over her face.

Professor Oak blinked as he saw this, and his gaze instantly softened, and he took a step back. He looked away, "Sorry..." He muttered, "This is the information my friend needs, and I was worried I had lost it. I guess I... overreacted when I saw it in your hands, it's just very important."

"T-that's fine," Citrine said quietly, "It's just a big folder, and I had never seen it before..."

"Curiosity isn't a bad thing," Professor Oak said, carefully opening the folder so it was angled away from Citrine, he quickly glanced over the pages, then closed the folder and stuffed it deep into his bag, "And I'd be more surprised if you had seen it before, it is very old work of mine, something I haven't touched in years."

"So," Citrine asked, "What is Project M?"

Professor Oak closed his eyes, "Something that would be safer for you to forget," A small level of coldness had entered his tone, "I must be going now, I'll be back later," Professor Oak laid a hand on Citrine's shoulder, forcefully guiding her outside. The Butterfree floated up into the air as they stepped into the sun, and the shiny Pidgeot followed, stretching her wings as Professor Oak locked the door to his lab.

"Gramps..." Citrine began.

Professor Oak mounted his Pidgeot, "I'll see you later Citrine, good day," He nudged his Pidgeot in the side, and the golden eagle charged forward, opening her large wings and sprang into the air. Citrine turned away, partly upset at her grandfather's attitude, and partly because of the bright sunlight shiny Pokemon reflected as she flew.

"Char!"

Thump!

Red groaned as Aiden knocked him to the ground as he attempted to jump up onto Red's shoulder. The Charmeleon looked down at his trainer in confusion, now perched on a fallen Red's back. Red tried to stand up, but he was pinned to the ground by the large Charmeleon. After a strong wave of annoyance from Red, Aiden stepped off of him, sniffing his trainer as Red stumbled to his feet, back aching.

The Charmeleon roughly came up to his chest in height, though he was easily much longer than Red in you measured the fire type from snout to tail. His tail was long and muscular, with a bright burning flame yellow flame at the end. He no longer dragged his tail around as he did when he was a Charmander, but now he used it for balance with his speedy and powerful legs. Aiden hopped around Red excitedly as he adjusted his hat, eager for more action like he had at the cave yesterday.

Tempest watched Red and Aiden with her coppery eyes gleaming. Aiden was looking Red's shoulder with longing, wanting to sit on his favorite perch. Tempest got a look in her eyes, a grin spreading across her face. Her back legs twitched as she got ready, then she sprang through the air and landed roughly on Red's shoulder. Her trainer jumped in surprise, watching her with wild eyes as she shifted about to find a comfortable position. She rolled her eyes as she saw the familiar look of fear in Red's eyes. Usually at this point she'd spark her cheeks to tease him, but she didn't. One, she was on his shoulder and could be easily shoved to the ground if she approached Red wrong, and two, her respect had gone up for the boy.

Sure, he had that weird power where he twisted the other Pokemon's emotions about, but he only seemed to do it when it saw it necessary, not just because he could. And yes, he was a coward, but he was by no means weak. Maybe it had taken him sometime to decide to help the annoying girl, but he had in the end. He had taken his sweet time with gathering the wild Pokemon, but in the end he had provided the much needed back up.

This was her trainer now, she might as well work with him, not around him.

Besides, she had saw how powerful Aiden had gotten when he had connected with Red back at the gym, and she wanted that power for herself.

And who was going to protect this coward of a trainer? The Charmeleon acted like a hatchling, he would not do. Though she had to admit she was being hatchling-like herself as she stuck her tongue down at the Charmeleon as he stared up at her in shock and jealousy as she sat on Red's shoulder.

"Char- Char-" He stuttered, lower jaw twitching as she nuzzled her cheek against a stiffened Red, mocking Aiden with the fact that he could no longer sit on Red's shoulder. A frustrated look crossed the fire type's face, "Charmel!" He cried, stomping his feet unhappily, smoke puffing up from the flame on his tail.

Aoi approached Red, three Pokeballs in her hand, "Looks like all your Pokemon are okay from yesterday," She commented, and Red didn't reply. They had stumbled into Cerulean City yesterday exhausted, filthy, and with wornout Pokemon. They had left their Pokemon in care of the nurse for the night when they had arrived at the Pokemon Center, while they had gotten the much needed rest from what had happened in Mount Moon yesterday.

The scientists had mostly been unharmed, with the exception of the one that had stood up against Team Rocket, but his injuries had been minimal. They had rewarded Aoi and Red for defending "Lord Helix" by giving them a fossil. Aoi had received some amber that had a fossilized tooth in the center, and Red had gotten a dome fossil. All Red saw was a rock though, but had hauled it out of the cave anyways.

"Shou is still with the nurse," Aoi said, looking down at her feet as she thought of her Spearow, "That Raticate broke one of his wings when it shook him. They're doing their best to get him into fighting shape, since evolution will be his quickest way of healing the fracture," She held up a Pokeball, "Then I still have this guy, I don't even know if he wanted to be caught or not, but he was in such bad shape I couldn't leave him back at Mt. Moon."

She released her Bulbasaur and Magikarp, holding the last Pokeball in her hands. She aimed the Pokeball towards the ground, releasing a small Sandshrew, "Sand?" He chirped, looking around at the Pokemon Center. Aoi knelt down onto his level. Aiden was behind Red, glaring at up at Tempest. She flashed a grin down at the Charmeleon, savoring the new kind of victory.

"Hey," She said quietly, "Sorry for catching you like that, but you needed to get medical attention."

"Shrew!"

"I can take you back to Mt. Moon," Aoi said, "Or... Or you can stick with me! If you want to, that is!" She added hastily, watching the Sandshrew for a reply. The small brown Pokemon thought for a moment, then shrugged. Aoi let out a squeal, bringing the Sandshrew into a hug, "Welcome to the team Riku!" She held him out to her Bulbasaur and Magikarp. Kiku smiled warmly, waving a vine in hello. Mizu however flopped about unhappily.

"Karp... Karp... Karp..."

Red was startled by how quickly the Sandshrew had given away its freedom, by how it hadn't given it much thought. The newly named Riku was perfectly content with leaving its home without even a goodbye and following a trainer for perhaps the rest of his life without knowing how she would treat him.

"Well Kiku," Aoi said, looking at her Bulbasaur, "It looks like you're up for this gym alone. Shou's out because of his wing, and Riku doesn't have the experience or the typing for a water gym, so-"

"Karp!" Mizu cried, jumping up and hitting Aoi in the face. She yelped, pulling the Magikarp off of her, staring at him as he flopped about, "Karp... Karp... Karp..."

"Um, well..." Aoi muttered uncertainly, "You do have a type resistance... do you want to be backup Mizu?"

"Karp!"

"Okay then!" Aoi said, holding him up, "Let's do some special training so you can learn Tackle! If Kiku falls in the gym you can take her place then, okay?"

"Karpkarp!" The Magikarp flopped out of Aoi's hands. The Sandshrew scratched the back of his head uncertainly, and Aoi turned to face Red, pulling a piece of paper out of her pocket.

"Here," She said, "I was going to take on the Nugget Bridge challenge, but why don't you instead? Riku isn't ready to face trainers yet, and Mizu needs a water source to battle properly. And without Shou that would be making Kiku battle five trainers on her own, and I'm not doing it."

Red took the paper, but didn't bother looking at it since he couldn't read.

"I think it would be good for your Pokemon," Aoi said, "Since Charmeleon needs to get use to his new form and your Pikachu will need lots of experence since I'm sure you'll be using her in your next gym match, she does have an advantage after all."

"Pika!" Tempest grinned, liking what the annoying girl was saying.

"It's just north of the city," Aoi said, pointing out of the Pokemon Center, big bridge on Route 24, you can't miss it. If you beat all five trainers on it you get a cash prize! It's also great training for your Pokemon, and you never know, you may find another Pokemon out there that you want on your team," She tilted her head, "I mean, Charmeleon will be at a huge type disadvantage with the next gym and you may want a grass type or something. What do you say, want to try out Nugget Bridge?"

Red looked at his Pokemon. Tempest nodded, her little paws prancing in excitement at the thought of battling. Aiden was still shooting dirty looks at Tempest, but looked up at Red, showing off his new long claws, "Mel!"

Red shrugged, looking back at Aoi. His Pokemon did seem to enjoy battling... and the Pewter Gym had provided a feeling that he couldn't describe... The heat of the battle, the action, it...

It made him feel alive.

Red nodded to Aoi, he would try out this Nugget Bridge challenge. If he could feel that feeling again...

And if he could have strong Pokemon, he wouldn't be weak anymore. He would be able to fight off Team Rocket again, like he had in the cave. He wouldn't just have his freedom, he'd be able to protect it.

"Awesome!" Aoi chirped, "The north side of town should be that way..." She pointed towards the back of the Pokemon Center, "Should lead right up to routes 24 and 25, where the bridge is, do you think you could find it?"

Red shrugged, he could travel in one direction with no problem. Besides, he was eager to get away from Aoi's high pitched voice.

"Okay!" She said, waving to him, "I'll see you later Reddy!" She ran out of the Pokemon Center, her Pokemon going after her.

Red frowned, watching the Magikarp desperately flop after her until Aoi turned around, picking him up, then running off once more.

Fun fact, originally Red was going to have a Sandshrew and Magikarp on his team in earlier plans of this story, but I shifted those Pokemon to Aoi later on. And Aoi at one point was going to have a mono poison type team, consisting of the Bulbsaur, Zubat, Nidoran, Weedle, Tenacool, and Gastly evolution lines, but later that was changed as well.

Also, a question for you guys: Do you enjoy reading the flashback scenes that I put at the beginning of each chapter?