Chapter 10: Heartfelt Reunion

Prior to Red and Black's retreat…

'O' watched the battle with a frown that was hidden by the fabric covering his mouth. He turned to the scarfed duo and murmured quietly, "I'm going to go ahead with plan F." Nothing else could be done in this situation and if he didn't act soon then things could turn even uglier than they already were. If the Kanto Champion were to die or get captured then it would be game over. He was an extremely skilled trainer and teamed up with Green, they could pack quite a punch in Team Plasma's plans.

"Oh, alright. Just be careful," the blond one said. "Don't get caught." If 'O' was exposed along with the scarfed duo then everything they worked for would be for nothing. Although, they would sacrifice themselves if it meant freeing Green.

"Yeah, the same goes for you as well."

'O' was no stranger to sneaking around with high stakes. He had taken down an evil organization before, with some help of course. Truthfully, he and his 'partner in crime' had taken down two organizations together. They both had to do some snooping around in the enemy bases to gather info before thwarting them in their plans at the last moment. He had picked the nickname 'Omega' based on his past while his partner had chosen 'Alpha'. To help reduce any leads, he had shortened his codename to 'O' and had stuck with it. He just hoped Alpha was doing fine with her part of the mission. She had not contacted him for a while.

With a sigh, he made his way through the lower levels of the vessel quietly. It was like a ghost town because everyone wanted to watch what was going on above rather than attend to their duties. At least there wouldn't be any problems with going through with the plan then. He just hoped that things would turn out ok for both Green and Red. They both deserved a break.

As soon as he got to Green's cell, he knocked on the door. The brunet seemed to be pacing around in an anxious manner. Surely he had heard some of the commotion but there was no way that he would know what was going on for sure. Poor guy must have been confused as heck. As if to prove O's hypothesis, he demanded, "Just what the hell are you weirdos even doing out there? It sounds like a battlefield!"

"There isn't much time, I have to get you out of here. Fortunately, the security cameras are down which means –"Actually, one of the scarfed duo had helped with that. "—this is your lucky break, congrats! We do have to hurry though."

Green turned to face him fully and stopped his pacing, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "How do I know that you're not, I dunno, tricking me? You're not exactly trustworthy being a Plasma and all."

With a groan, the black-clad teen removed all of his face and head-gear to reveal who he was. Maybe, just maybe he would be recognised. To say Green was shocked by the reveal was a gigantic understatement.

"Holy Arceus, you're Ruby from Hoenn. You took down Team Magma while blasting through every one of the Pokemon Contests and gyms."

Sighing in relief, Ruby nodded, glad that his face was so recognisable. It would be difficult to tell who he was without his usual beanie. "I'm glad that you know me at least. That makes things a lot easier."

Green rubbed the back of his neck. "I try my best to keep track of every Dex-holder I guess. I chalk it up to being bored and surfing the net for anything interesting I guess." It was probably because he was the grandson of a famous Pokemon Professor too.

"Now that that's out of the way, let's work on getting you out of here, while everyone is distracted."

A big 'boom' sounded from somewhere above and the two nearly fell on their asses. They would have to hurry, that much was obvious.

Green felt as if his throat had collapsed and therefore he could not say a single word. His eyes were wide and his lips were parted a little. All he could do was stare at Red because he hadn't expected to see him so soon and in that cell he had worried over him getting into some serious trouble, being the type to get into risky situations as if drawn to them.

He had not even been away from him for that long but it had been horrible yet here he was, right here in front of him… right here… in front of him.

His body reacted and he ran forward, nearly tripping on the first step, and pulled Red into his arms, being careful as if the teen would shatter at any moment.

Red looked shocked and was still unable to move. All he did was blink in rapid succession, having trouble processing what was going on. He looked pretty dazed.

Black watched with a genuine smile on his face. It seemed that things had suddenly shifted into their favour and he was glad. It was scary how easily hope had been lost. Team Plasma was like every other evil organization and would follow the same routine; they would be foiled in the end and their plans would be destroyed.

As if to create a keepsake of this moment, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small camera. He always kept one handy and the one that went around his neck had been left behind because it was a prized possession. So, he turned the camera on and backed away a little before focusing the camera on them and snapped a photo without a single sound. Green happened to be looking in his direction at the time the flash went off and immediately flushed exclaiming, "HEY! You can't just- we- ugh- delete it!"

He let go of Red and looked pissed off yet his red-face told a different story. Poor guy must have been so embarrassed.

"Haha, nope!"

Green looked ready to rush over and delete it himself but he immediately spun around upon hearing the sound of a 'thump' on the sand. "Red? Red! Hey, what…"

The Kanto Champion was out cold and on his back. He looked a lot paler than usual and Green crouched beside him, examining his condition.

"We have to get him out of here. It won't be long until Team Plasma arrive and his state could worsen if he's moved around too much. He's exhausted and could be dehydrated too," Black said, changing to being serious.

As if agreeing, the Milotic cried out a certain tune that sounded like a melody. It wasn't long until its call was met with something else, "Oh shit, just what has Ruby been up to?"

Turning to face the voice, Green and Black saw a girl dressed in blue clothing with a matching bandana. She was grinning and despite being a bit on the short side (about Black's height but shorter than Green) she looked damn intimidating.

"Sapphire Birch," Green stated. "You took down Team Aqua."

The girl smirked and puffed out her chest in a prideful manner. "Oh yeah, with my wicked skills! It's not like anybody else had the balls to, damn newbs, am I right? Heck yeah I am! Ruby took down the other team but eh, I did it with more action and explosions! Woo!"

With an annoyed expression, Green gently pulled Red into his arms and lifted him up, bridal-style in order to ensure that he would be carried safely and securely. He wasn't too heavy at least but carrying him for a while would get tiring. "That's great and all but do you know anywhere safe? I'm assuming you're working to take down Team Plasma along with Ruby."

"Yup, that's right! Milotic, go back to Ruby, 'kay?! As for you guys, follow me!"

Sapphire was quick on her feet and kept yelling to, 'keep up or I'll leave your sorry asses behind'. Black was ahead of Green who was panting from having to run with so much extra weight. He kept his mind clear of thoughts and just focused on Black's back.

At the far left side of the futuristic looking area, Sapphire stopped where there was a fence barring people from falling into the water.

She stamped her foot three times and a large square appeared on the floor behind her. She turned and placed her hand on it only for the square to disappear and reveal stairs leading down into darkness. "This is a secret area! It's been my hideout for a week or two now so it's safe! Just hurry up and get inside, I've gotta show you guys around and then get back to my mission!"

Black was quick to descend inside and with a sigh, Green followed along with Sapphire following then pausing, snapping her fingers to close the entrance.

The ending of the stairs led into an open room that was rather spacious but rather dull. The walls and floor were grey while there was a few beanbags and canned food scattered about. There was a pile of clothes and some possessions but not much else.

"Boring, I know, but I spend most of my time on the surface rather than down here. Anyway, dump him on a beanbag or something and chill. There's some bottled water and stuff over there but I really gotta go. That's all from me really. I'll be back later so bye-bye!"

Sapphire rushed back up the stairs in a hurry, not leaving any time for a reply.

"I really hate trainers from Hoenn," Green muttered moodily as he made his way over to a beanbag and placed Red in it slowly.

Black 'hmmed' but didn't voice his opinion.

While Green and Black kept watch on Red, trying to get rid of the boredom by conversing, Red himself had his own matters to deal with. He was dreaming and it was in very familiar surroundings.

There was snow flowing down from the sky above and a sheet of white on the land. In every direction it was just the same endless white. It seemed familiar since it was like being on Mt Silver all over again. It was safe there and quiet. It was quiet here but did not feel the same kind of safe. It felt more foreboding if anything.

He wondered if this was another vision but no… what had he even been doing beforehand? Hadn't he been with Black? From there, it was difficult to remember the events that occurred.

Everything changed to be the surroundings of the very bottom of Mt Silver. He was suddenly recalling a memory of the very first time he had come here.

After ditching his own responsibilities as the Kanto Champion, he had the urge to get away. The cities of Kanto would never again be the place he called 'home' so he sought out a place just for him to live without any disturbances or reminders of his past mistakes. He had heard that Mt Silver was full of tough Pokemon and a harsh environment that made it an undesirable place to explore. Getting through the hordes of ill-tempered Pokemon had been no task for him and he hadn't particularly run into any trouble. He was a quick-learner and knew from his time around Kanto what to avoid and what was safe. So, he got to the top and looked around. There was a few caves, rocks but not much else at all. Everything was covered in a blanket of snow and there were no humans at all. It was just him. No, his Pokemon were with him too so he wasn't alone.

"…ok." Red murmured after a quick intake of breath. This place was now his home but first he would need to grab the necessary supplies to actually be able to live up here.

The memory was gone like a fleeting dream and Red started to recall more. He usually didn't think about the past and liked to dwell in the present. The past was full of failures, things that needed to be forgotten and let go in order to move on.

He recalled how tough the first month had been to adjust to the mountain but gradually and with the support of his Pokemon, things changed to be normal for him. He even had a routine: Train by fighting wild Pokemon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, look for food that grew on the mountain on Tuesdays and Thursdays, take a break on Saturdays and Sundays by doing some hobby.

He liked to read but had not brought much reading material with him unfortunately. So once every few months he ventured to a random city and would buy a load of supplies that consisted of books, sewing materials (he eventually made sewing and knitting a regular hobby), treats for his Pokemon, an assortment of clothing and blankets, DVDs (after he bought a mini TV that Pikachu could power) and whatever other knick-knacks he found useful or interesting. He could afford this from his past winnings before he became the Champion. Every time he went on this shopping spree, he would wear a black hoodie and sunnies that would disguise who he was. It worked every time. Was it weird if he was feeling homesick?

This question didn't matter so much because then his eyes were opened and he was rather tired plus he felt heavy. There was voices but they sounded far too loud and he winced. Everything was so bright. The lights on the ceiling were like miniature suns so he felt the urge to hiss like an Ekans.

"RED!"

Ugh, it sounded like a screech but it probably was as loud as normal speech usually was. He wanted to go back to his memories again. So he closed his eyes tightly and let his weariness consume him. The waking world could wait.

Sapphire watched as the Plasma Frigate started to dock. Just a few more seconds and…

An explosion shook the PWT and there were cries from trainers, Pokemon and Plasma grunts alike. The whole area started to shake as many shipping containers burst into flames and rained debris down. The Hoenn trainer watched with glee as the Plasma Frigate started to retreat. They wouldn't be getting their shipment of weapons anytime soon unless if they were up for digging through a load of ash and flames. Sure, the locals and visitors were probably shaken up but they would be glad to know that the PWT wouldn't be taken over anytime soon, unlike the rest of the region's current status… It was sad how fast the other towns had been overrun with lowly grunts.

"Better report back to Ruby and hear what's next to deal with…" she mumbled to herself with a decisive nod, fishing out her Pokegear.

Sapphire hoped that it wasn't too late to save Unova but at least the Kanto Champion and ex-Champion were here to help… That reminded her of a certain gift she had to give them from Ruby.

Back in Castelia City, the trio of White, Bianca and Hugh were worn out and before them stood N. They were out on the street and the distant sounds of battling had died down. Earlier, the residents of the city had been winning against the grunts of Team Plasma so their city wouldn't be taken over. The fact that Team Plasma had more of them in number turned the tide of things and ever since their back-up had arrived, things had looked dim.

Bianca was out of Pokemon and Hugh's were worn out. Half of White's team still remained strong so she stood in front of her girlfriend and friend, as if to protect them.

"I am unsure as to why you still fight. Team Plasma is working towards one simple goal; to free all Pokemon from their cruel masters," N said, taking a step forward.

White did not stand down and she clenched her fists. "You speak as if all of humanity is as cruel as you say. I know that some trainers can be selfish and their actions to be… questionable but the majority of trainers are not like that!" she replied, glaring at the guy.

N sighed as if he were trying to get through to a child and shook his head. "You're all so blind but I can't be too harsh on you. Those that are not in Team Plasma still need their eyes to be opened but don't worry, I'll save you; I'll save everyone."

Hugh and Bianca exchanged worried looks. They wanted more than anything to fight at White's side and defeat this strange person but their Pokemon needed to rest more. It would be cruel to send them out in their weakened conditions.

"Fine, I'll just have to bring you down," White said, sending out her Mienfoo who took note of her trainer's defensive stance and mimicked it.

N smiled and sent out a massive Pokemon with black skin. In surprise, White took a step back because she had this odd feeling all of the sudden. The Pokemon's red, piercing eyes made her anxious. This was no ordinary Pokemon, this creature with wings and teeth like knives. The air itself felt 'different' with its very presence.

"What is that?" Hugh murmured quietly, his confusion clear.

"Oh, umm… I have no clue myself. Sorry," Bianca replied, frowning. She went to White's side and took her hand in her own, for support.

White glanced her way and immediately felt all the more better. Whatever this being was, she was going to beat it and make sure this city wouldn't be taken over!

…

It didn't take long for the odd Pokemon to defeat White's team. It was just too strong in a way that wasn't normal.

Beaten, White fell to her knees and recalled her last, fainted Pokemon. "You all did great," she praised, hoping they could hear. "It's my fault for not realizing the difference in power."

Bianca and Hugh were at her sides, still on their feet and looking determined as ever. "That Pokemon, what is it exactly?" The blonde asked, a no-nonsense look on her face.

N turned to the being and raised a hand up to its face. In return, the creature lowered its head so its trainer could reach better and accepted the pat of praise.

"My friend here is going to help me change the world. He cannot be defeated by someone like any of you."

Hugh looked pissed off and ready to run over to the guy and punch him but he relaxed when White tugged at the fabric of his pant-leg. It was as if to remind him that getting into a fist-fight wouldn't solve anything.

Bianca, seemingly unfazed by the creature, took a step forward. "So what you're saying is that it- I mean- he is a Legendary Pokemon?"

N shrugged and turned to face them. "Call him whatever label you wish. Now, because you-" He gestured to White. "-were kind to your friends, I'll allow the three of you to leave this place. However, if we were to ever meet again, then I won't be so lenient."

Unable to do anything else, the trio retreated and left the city which they had failed to save, feeling more and more ashamed with every step they took. After sending a joint voicemail to Black, they headed to Route 4. Nimbasa City was up ahead and they would have to go through there to eventually end up at the PWT. For now, they would need to reunite with Red and Black. Unknowingly, they would soon come across Green and Sapphire as well, forming a team that would hold the fate of the Unova region in their young hands.

Red slowly stirred awake, hearing noises he recognised; Pikachu and Eevee speaking in the way that Pokemon did. It was like being back on Mt Silver again…

Where was he exactly anyway?

His eyes widened and he looked at the ceiling. It was man-made and definitely not that of a cave's. Why was Eevee here too? Why was Pikachu out of his ball?

Sluggishly, the Champion slowly moved his head to take in the sight of the two Pokemon chasing each-other around the legs of Black who looked unsure as to if he should move or not. His Pokegear was in his left hand and he kept glancing at it now and again, as if waiting for something. Probably a call.

Across the room was Red's Charizard and Mewtwo along with Green's Pidgeot and Arcanine plus… Red had to do a double-take because there in all his glory was the guy himself and he was feeding all the Pokemon.

Green's here, he's fine, I'm fine…

What had he been doing earlier anyway? Hmm. Oh, he had been trying to rescue Green but had failed only to reunite with him anyway. How had that even happened? Ugh, it was hard to remember much else.

Unconsciously, he moved his hands to the pocket pouch of his hoodie and brushed his fingers on the egg. Oh yeah, it probably wasn't safe to keep carrying it around if it really was a Celebi egg.

"Red?"

Crimson eyes looked over to Black who looked surprised. All the Pokemon stopped what they had been doing and turned their attention to the Champion as well. Green quickly dropped the Pokemon food and rushed over to his side, getting on his knees so they were about at the same level.

"Er… How are you?" Green asked, fidgeting. He put up a brave expression but Red could see the worry in his eyes.

"Fine," Red replied.

"That's a relief…"

"Green?"

"..Yeah?"

"Why am I in a beanbag?"

The brunet covered his mouth but his laughter still came out uncontrollably. He threw his head back and started to laugh freely, happily. It was as if Red had said the most hilarious thing in the world.

Now that he thought about it, it had been a rather long time since Red had heard Green laugh like this. He was used to the cruel kind of laughter that he always loathed.

"O-Out of… all the things... You h-had to say…" But he just kept on laughing which caused Red to smile that rare smile of his.

After Green's laughter died down, he got to his feet and reached his hand out to Red, to help him up. With a nod of thanks, Red reached out to take it but as soon as he made contact, he felt the familiar feeling of having a vision come on.

Sure enough, the world fell away and he was met with pitch-black. He waited and was about to call out but a piercing scream made him jump. It was like nothing he had ever heard before because it was so full of pain and sounded like something straight out of a nightmare.

Who's…? Whose scream was that? Why? Am I supposed to be seeing something? Who's in pain? Please, let me see…

He couldn't see anything though. It was as if he were blind, as if the vision itself was hiding something from him. How was this vision supposed to help if he couldn't even take anything away from it?

"Red?"

When he blinked, he was back and he was grasping Green's hand still. Upon realizing, he let go and took in a deep breath. It was ok, he was back here and that scream could have been a Pokemon's or something… Yeah.

"Hey, do you need to lie down or something? You look a bit, I dunno, sick?" And wow, Green was really close now and his eyes were wide. He was frowning and it was as if Red's distress had somehow transferred to him.

Red shook his head. "I'm fine. Just a little…" He trailed off, looking for the right word. As he thought, he noticed that Green was being oddly patient. The guy was usually quite the opposite. "-tired. I'm ok though, really."

Obviously not convinced, Green fixed him with a look that read, 'really?'

Red sighed but gave him a small smile in return to reassure him.

"Fine but if you suddenly pass the hell out then you owe me."

Black watched their exchange briefly as he took up Green's task to feed the Pokemon. In addition, he let out his own too and gave praise to whoever wanted it. His Zebstrika kept coming back for it and looked over to the duo's exchange as well, snorting.

"I wonder how long they've been friends. They obviously have a strong bond," Black murmured. The electric-type snorted, louder this time before butting Black with his head. "Haha, hey!" It was as if his Pokemon was saying; 'don't be nosy!'

"Fine, fine! I guess I better give everyone some water now."

He could tell that Green's return had made Red happier. It was as if they were complete or something but Black's thoughts didn't linger too long on it.