Gary Oak could barely see in front of him, his eyes blurry from the black eye he sustained during his latest altercation with the guards. Though that was mostly his fault for talking back, but really he was a smart enough man to know that pretty much every member of Team Rocket wanted his head on a silver platter at this point. He had taken way too many of them down in his younger days.
The guards pushed him through the hallway, passing several other cells of notable Pokémon trainers, including Cedric Juniper, an old colleague of his grandfather's from Unova. Gary turned away, not really interested in feeling more terrible about the situation they all found themselves in. One of the guards ran up ahead, opening a sliding door which led to a room that by now had become quite familiar: the interrogation room.
"Such a gentleman," he quipped with a smirk at the guard as he passed.
He was pushed into the linoleum chair forcefully, his shackles tied slightly tighter than usually to the back of the chair due to his little joke, or maybe not. The Rockets really weren't a big fan of his. After he was secure, the guards turned to leave.
"You're not even going to offer me water?" he said, faking shock. "Way to be rude to your guest, fellas."
The same guard from the door turned angrily, his fist raised. Gary braced for impact, but it never came.
"Stop!" came a voice, and Gary turned to see that it was Cassidy, the blonde leader of the team. Her eyes narrowed as she turned from Gary to the Grunt. "Do not let this imbecile make a fool of you."
The guard nodded, saluting his superiors before following his teammates out, slamming the door behind them. Gary let out a long whistle.
"Well, well, well," he said, leaning back in his chair with his feet. "Looky here, they brought in Mama Bear to ruffle me up this time!"
"Can it, Oak," Cassidy spat, sitting opposite of him at the small table. In her hands she held a fat manilla folder with a red "Classified" label stamped on top, a prop that Gary was sure only existed in spy movies. "I have some important questions that I need to go over with you."
"Are they any different than what your little lapdog Butch has been asking me for the last two weeks?" Gary raised an eyebrow. "By the way, saw the ring. Congrats on becoming the world's most obvious beard."
"Now, now, don't be angry just because my Butchy killed your wife," Cassidy smiled venomously. "And let's be fair here, your Arcanine did rip off his arm. How's the old saying go, a wife for an arm makes the whole world more alarmed?"
Gary felt his entire body tense as Cassidy let out a shrill laugh, taking hold of the folder and tapping it on the table to neaten its contents. His blood boiled with every rap against the plastic surface.
"Ah yes," she said, placing the folder back on the table. "It seems that Olivine City still hasn't found a new gym leader worthy of her post since we brutally murdered her at the lighthouse, eh? Ironically they did name it after her, but unfortunately we've been far too busy to make time out to go and visit the Jasmine Oak lighthouse."
"SHUT UP!" Gary roared, feeling his body strain against his holdings and Cassidy let out another laugh.
"There's nothing I love more about my job than tormenting people I hate," she smiled. "But let's get down to business, shall we? As you may know there's been a bit of movements within the world of For-Profit Pokémon Excursions. "
"That's a very PR friendly way of saying Pokémon Crime Syndicates," Gary said, earning himself a glare as Cassidy continued.
"This changing landscape has recently left Team Rocket at a severe disadvantage to our competition, though we do have one asset they do not have. Do you know what that is?"
Gary frowned, remaining silent but Cassidy didn't wait for his answer anyway.
"That's right," she said, taking the folder and pushing it towards him. Her perfectly manicured finger opened the file, pointing to fuzzy picture of a teenage girl with long brown-hair talking to a tall boy with green-hair in a black cap. "The last Conduit."
Cassidy threw a Poké Ball in the air, revealing a Tangrowth.
"Seriously?" Gary said as he squinted, staring at the fuzzy photo. "You guys are worth billions but you can't even afford a decent photographer?"
He looked up to see Cassidy had taken a seat on the table and was mere centimeters from his face. Behind him, Tangrowth took a stance, its long arms extended.
"What ar-ACK!" Gary gaged as Tangrowth's vine-like arms found their way around his neck.
"She was seen with your son, Oak," Cassidy said, sternly. "Now tell me, who is she?"
Gary remained silent, gasping for air when Cassidy would make Tangrowth release him only to have the Pokémon's grip return a second later. Even in his oxygen reduced mind, Gary knew she needed him alive, but that didn't mean she wouldn't come as close to killing him as possible.
"Well, if you're not going to talk," she said with a snap as Tangrowth released him again with a gasp and series of coughing. "Then I guess I'll have to go get your son instead since they seem so close."
"Go to hell!" Gary choked, as Tangrowth's vines extended again. This time taking a hold of his arms in a bone-crushing grip.
There was a flurry of steps at the door and Gary was relieved of Tangrowth's attacks when the Grunts from earlier reappeared at the door. His head hit the table hard as his body collapsed in on itself.
"Leader Cassidy, sorry to interrupt," said one of the guards eying Gary. "But the attack on Cerulean City has commenced."
Though his body in pain, at the sound of the city name he looked up at Cassidy who had returned the Tangrowth to its Poké Ball and was currently taking back her folder.
"Excellent," she smiled, turning to Gary to tap him affectionately on his stubble-ridden cheek. "Lovely chat, but I have bigger fish to fry. Don't worry, I'll be back soon."
Cassidy made her way out of the room, turning to the guards, "You can bring him back to his cell now, but make sure to make it unpleasant."
Red's chest was on fire.
Running as fast as his legs could go, for the first time in his life he was grateful for his thin frame as it allowed him the ability to barrel through the checkpoint leading into Cerulean City. Weaving between guards who attempted to stop him, he would deal with that when his family wasn't in danger, but right now he had bigger worries than showing some overpaid mall cop his Pokédex. Extending his long arms to support him, Red jumped a turnstile and pushed forward into the city where he was greeted by the scene of the only home he ever knew burning to the ground.
He felt a hand on his back, and Red turned to see Blue. Her cheeks were flushed from running.
"I'm gonna find Gran," she said, and Red nodded before turning to Green
"Go with her," he found himself ordering. He wasn't sure when he became the leader of their posse, but if there was any time for his bossy-genes to show themselves it was now. Green nodded and followed the long haired girl down the road.
Volunteers from the local fire department were already on the scene and Red threw Wartortle ball into the air and the water-type appeared in a flash of white light. Red didn't waste a moment and immediately instructed his starter to assist in efforts. After soaking himself in Wartortle's spray, Red ran into the building to find his aunts and mother.
The gym was hot and around him Red's senses were flooded with the smell of smoke, the heat the fire and the visuals of the trainers and their water-types attempting to extinguish the flames. He lifted his shirt to cover his face, but the smoke burned his eyes. Under his hat, he felt Pichu's steady pulses of electricity run through his body.
"You okay up there, buddy?" he said and he felt the pulses strengthen in affirmation.
Pushing against evacuating trainers and Pokémon, Red eventually found his aunts leading the evacuation efforts. When he reached the main pool, Daisy was the first of his family he saw and her face twisted in anger the second she saw him.
"Red!" she demanded, her usual tone stiffened as a her two sisters helped a couple of trainers carrying final crates of Pokémon out the Gym. "What the hell are you doing here?
"I'm here to help," Red said, his voice muffled by his shirt. "Where's mom?"
"Are you freaking crazy?" Daisy ignored him, taking her nephew by the shoulders. "You need to get out of here!"
There was a crash as the wall that connected the living quarters to the Gym's main pool crumbled, revealing Misty on the back of her prized Gyarados fighting what appeared to be a handful of men dressed in dark uniforms. Red recognized the R on their chests to stand for Team Rocket.
"Gyarados, hyper beam!" she ordered and the large dragon-type Pokémon opened its mouth wide, releasing a bright beam of energy. The attack burst through the wall, leaving only three trainers standing with their Scizor, Ursaring and Haxorus respectively.
"Mom!" Red called, running towards his mother. The crashed wall allowed for ventilation and most of the smoke from the blimp crash traveled out of the crater in puffs of dark clouds.
"R-Red?" Misty stammered as her son ran towards her. "NO! STAY BACK!"
Red skidded a stop as the three grunts switched their attention from Misty to the teen. With a smile, one of the black-cladded goons pointed to the boy.
"Ursaring!" she called. "Quick attack!"
"Gyarados, reflect!" Misty called desperately and the water-type's eyes glowed as a reflective shield appeared before Red. The Ursaring hit the shield headfirst, sending it flying into his trainer and both tumbling into the pool. Red turned to see his mother, her viridian eyes not filled with the usual fire but...fear?
"Daisy!" she turned to her older sister who nodded and Red felt her grab his arm in attempt to get him out of the rapidly decaying building. Red overpowered her, however, and slid out of her grasp like butter.
"Sorry, Aunt Daisy," he said, maneuvering out of her grip and running to his mother's side. Instantly, Daisy felt that she was missing one of her Poké Balls.
"Red!" she called. "Get back here!"
Red skidded in front of his mother, throwing the Poké Ball into the air to reveal Dewgong. Though only having one badge, Dewgong recognized Red and squealed in delight, seemingly unaware of the dire situation at hand.
"Dewgong, hit Haxorus with your ice-beam attack!" he ordered as the Pokémon happily complied. The Haxorus was down a second later, taking a super-effective attack that hit both him and his trainer. Red turned to his mother, "Mom, let me help you!"
"Red, please you don't understand what you're getting yourself in-" she stopped when she saw the final grunt's Scizor rushing towards her son. "Gyarados!"
The water-type was too slow, however, as the Scizor was instead stopped by a powerful flamethrower attack. Turning to the crashed wall, Red saw Blue and Green standing, with Charmeleon and Ivysaur at their sides. Misty looked less than pleased as Green ordered Ivysaur's vine whip to throw Scizor's trainer out of the gym.
"This isn't a game, Red!" she yelled, turning to her son. "Why are you being so stubborn?!"
"Because I'm your son," he shot back as Green and Blue ran their side of the Gym.
"Sorry we're late," Green said, as Blue ordered Charmander to throw another flamethrower attack at Scizor. "We got Blue's Grandmother to the Pokémon Center, is this the last of them?"
"No…" Misty said, as Blue finished off the Scizor. "It's not."
"What do you mean?" Red asked as half the lights of the main gym went out.
"Daisy!" Misty yelled, turning to her older sister. "Get out of here, you don't have any Pokémon!"
"But what about-"
"Forget about us," Misty said, eyeing her son and his friends. "Make sure everyone is out and that the wreckage isn't still burning."
Daisy nodded and exited the gym, climbing over piles of still smoldering debris. Soon there was a loud clapping noise and Misty turned to Red as Gyarados circled around them like a snake.
"Stay close," she said in a soft voice and two figures emerged from the darkness.
In the light, Cassidy's blonde hair glowed like an aura, her lipstick red smile pulled into a smirk as she continued to clap her hands in applause. Next to her was a man who Misty recognized as her partner Butch, who like Cassidy looked the same asides from his green hair was now slicked back with gel and he was missing his right arm.
"Why hello there, Misty-kins," Cassidy said with a smile. "Gosh, you really let the place go didn't you?"
"Yeah a little blimp with your insignia dropped in," Misty shot back and Red felt a bit of relief at the return of his mother's fire. "Hard to prepare for a houseguest who destroy half you gym, huh?"
"Still as rude as ever, brat," Butch called, his hand pulling the Poké Ball on his belt and within seconds a Tentacruel landed in the large pool. Zeroing in on a target, its tentacles reached over Gyarados heading straight for the trio. Misty and Red turned to see Green jump in front of Blue, getting caught and reeled back towards the pool.
"GREEN!" Red screamed as the Tentacruel held the teen in the air above the pool.
"What can I say?" Butch said with a devilish grin. "I like to kill Oaks."
"Oh Butchy," Cassidy laughed. "You can't have all the fun. I have a little surprise, too!"
Pulling a ball from her waist, an Arcanine appeared in a flash of white light with a roar, "Look familiar, kiddo?"
"Does that mean…" Green managed, looking at his father's Pokémon. "No…"
Green screamed in pain as Tentacruel's grip intensified around his body, and Red turned to the sea lion Pokémon. From his hat, Red felt the pulses from Pichu grew stronger. He felt like a live-wire, but Red knew better than to send the tiny mouse into battle.
"Get him out of there," Red called, pointing at Green. "Aurora beam!"
Dewgong's horn began to glow as Butch snapped his fingers and a the Tentacruel's reared back, shooting a fury of small poison stinger from it's horn. Dewgong avoided the attack, but Misty screamed as the stingers missed its desired target and headed straight for her son. Red closed his eyes, preparing himself for an impact that never came. Instead, he opened his eyes to see the Blue had flung herself onto him, clinging to him in a tight embrace, the poisoned stingers hitting her in the back.
"Blue…" Red managed as the girl looked up at him, her blue eyes watering with tears.
"Figured I...owed you one," she managed before losing her consciousness.
Red collapsed with her on the floor, gathering her up against his chest. He tried not to panic as his brain attempted to comprehend the situation. Before him, he watched as his mother's Gyarados fought against the Tentacruel, trying to free Green from its clutches. Ivysaur and Charmeleon stood before the two teens, knowing better than to get in the way of the giant water-type.
Red felt the electricity pounding through his body.
In his arms, Blue stirred and Red's heart jumped into his throat as she opened her eyes, appearing as if she wasn't just shot up with enough poison to take down a Kangaskhan. The only evidence left of her attack were some ripped spots on the back of her shirt. The two teens exchanged looks, both confused as hell before Blue took notice of something else.
"Red!" she gasped. "Your hand!"
"What," he said, looking down to see that his hand was currently sparkling bits of electricity. "What the hell…"
There was a crash and the teens looked up to see that Arcanine and Tentacruel had defeated Gyarados, sending its trainer tumbling towards the floor. Red called out to his mother as Blue and him scurried to their feet, but Misty stopped them with her hand.
"N-no," she managed, slowly raising to her feet. "I...I know what they want."
Cassidy raised an eyebrow, "Oh, you do now?"
"Yeah," Misty said, slowly walking towards the blonde. "You want me, right? Then leave these kids alone...they didn't ask for this war. Let the boy go and I will come with you, peacefully."
"No!" Red called, and his mother shot him a look that finally silenced him before turning back to the Rocket Leaders.
"I mean it," the redhead said, her arms in the air. "I promise."
Seeming to like this arrangement, Butch snapped his fingers and in an instant Tentacruel had dropped Green on the side of the pool. Desperately, Blue ran to her fallen friend, gathering him up in her arms.
Red stood still as his mother walked towards her captors, unable to move something inside himself was winding tighter and tighter. Like a spring, and the electricity from Pichu was rushing through him so intensely that he heard his heart beat in his ears. Everyone appeared to be moving in slow motion, as Cassidy laugh turned to a gasp as she turned and saw Blue.
"That girl…" the blonde hissed, obviously throwing her end of the bargain out the window. Charmeleon hurried to his trainer's side, but Red saw everything before it happened.
Charmeleon's failed attack, Cassidy's capture of Blue, Butch ordering his Tentacruel to attack his mother...everything played before him like someone had opened a book to the last page and shown him.
"PICHU PI!" called the tiny Pokémon from under his hat and Red exploded like a supernova.
Every bit of electricity that was coursing through him erupted from his body like a dormant volcano, and Red felt the power leave his body, draining him of everything before going dark. As if a fuse had blown in his mind or a power outage.
Did he just...die?
His mind worked enough for him to feel himself be thrown into the pool - he guessed one of the Pokémon got a hold of him. He heard Blue scream his name and felt the roar of the water as something else splashed around him. He saw the beautiful blue sky from the destroyed roof of the gym, filtered by the waves of water that consumed him - then came a hand, ripping him out of the pool like a claw machine. As Red flickered between consciousness, he heard more than he saw - the roaring voices of both Pokémon and humans, people calling his name, and the crumbling of concrete. When his eyes worked again, he saw the hatted figure of a man riding a Charizard, with what looked like a Pikachu on his shoulder.
Then everything went dark.