Red Potter

by DainoChild

Red is a wizard and so-called Chosen One everybody wants to destroy the evil Team Rocket. All he wants to do is play with his pokemon and get away from his mean uncle and weird cousin, but destiny calls.

36. The Only One He Ever Loved

I'm so, so sorry about how long it took me to get this chapter out. By now a lot of you know why. It's no secret; I've addressed it many times on my tumblr and twitter accounts. All the same, for those who don't know why I disappeared for several months, I don't want to address it here. I feel like it'd overshadow the chapter itself. I promise I did my best to get this out as quickly as possible without compromising myself or others. In the end, that wasn't very fast, but I did my best and kept my focus where it needed to be. I honestly can't regret that, no matter how long the delay to this fic.

So, all that's left to say is: Thank you for your patience and support during that extremely difficult period. Special thanks to my good pal trouble mate Atle for helping me put this chapter together.

I hope you enjoy the final chapter of Red Potter.

---

The Only One He Ever Loved

From the moment he'd seen Red cut his hair, Green knew he was gonna run off on some hero's gambit. In a way, he'd known it was coming all along. In Red's mind, everything was as simple as him VS Giovanni. He thought killing Giovanni would be all it took to fix everything. There was no way he'd stop and realise, 'This entire organisation is rooted in very deep cultural problems that most likely relate to magical people forcing a feeling of superiority over muggles like we're not constantly doing everything to hide from them just because that's who we are as a community'.

The point was, Red was an idiot. And Green had always known, sooner or later, it'd come down to this: Red sneaking off in the middle of the night, and he, Green, deciding to let him go.

Red was beyond reason. Red saw only death. Did he even realise that being suicidal and being a martyr were completely different things? Probably not.

So if Green was going to destroy Team Rocket, he was going to have to do it without Red. He'd be working the rest of his life, trying to bridge the gap between two communities that didn't make sense. Trying to finish what he now understood his grandfather had started.

Still, it hurt that Red left the day after Gramps died.

When the others realised Red was gone, they panicked. Green wondered how they hadn't seen it coming. Then again, they hadn't accepted that Red would die. Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs were too stupid to give up, and Ravenclaws too deeply entrenched in could-have-beens.

It wasn't fair. They got to cling to hope, and that meant Green had to give up, because he had to be rational and smart. If there was any hope, Red wouldn't've left his pokémon behind, and Green wouldn't've had to put up with Pika making his hair all static-y.

Seriously, how had Red always managed to have such weirdly flat hair when that damn pikachu spent so long clinging to his head?

Green's mind kept latching onto strange thoughts like that, thoughts that made him almost laugh and cry. It made it hard to focus on Red's friends freaking out, or think of ways to bring Team Rocket's downfall, or even the giant cavity in Green's chest where his heart had been before Gramps dragged a chunk of it to Hell and Red ran off with the rest.

Love. What a crop of bullshit that'd turned out to be.

"We've got to go after him!" Gold predictably cried.

"Yeah," Black agreed, "but where did he go?"

"After Giovanni, obviously, duh," Gold said. "Why're we still here? We have to go now!"

"We know where Team Rocket's been most active lately," Dia said. "Or, we've got a good idea."

"I picked up this note Giovanni gave Red," N said, pulling a ball of crumpled paper from his pocket. "It says Hogsmeade. A very specific place in Hogsmeade, even."

Black leant against N, reading the address aloud. "Hey… isn't that the coffee shop?"

"Madam Puddifoot's?" Gold asked suspiciously. "That ultra couple-y one that's been inspiring post-Hogsmeade homeruns for generations?"

"Is that why we went there?" Silver muttered. "Seriously, Gold? Like I've ever needed the encouragement."

"I'm not being distracted!" Gold cried. "We're going after him. Right now."

"No we're not," Green said.

Gold stared at him like Green'd done something awful.

"We're not," Green repeated. "Because if we run off towards Team Rocket with no plan, we'll die too. Especially if we're running to some place where they're already expecting Red Potter."

"Then what're we supposed to do?!" Gold shouted. "Let him die?!"

"Yes," Green said.

Gold punched him. Green kind of expected that, too.

"I'm not letting him die! And fuck you if you're gonna!"

"I'm letting him do what he wants," Green hissed. "We knew this was coming. We can't keep pretending some solution's gonna come up when it's not. That's why he left, you moron, because we were making it too hard for him to do what he wants and needs to do."

Silver, Dia and Pearl had to pull Gold off Green. When Gold was restrained, Green saw Platinum frowning at the apparent note N had found.

"This sounds like Giovanni wants to make a deal with Red," she said. "Would he —?"

"No," Green interrupted flatly. "He's gonna find a way to make them kill him. Or, I dunno, kill himself, maybe." He was starting to get seriously pissed with how slowly his brain was running. "He'll have a plan. So we need a plan."

"Breaking in and getting Red back is the plan," Black replied.

"No. Like. A proper plan. An actual plan."

Black looked confused. And he was the smart one.

"Hate to say it, but Green's probably right," Silver said.

"What else can we plan?" Black retorted. "We know where they are, we know Red's almost definitely going there, we know we need to go there, and we know we need to not die."

Green coldly asked, "You think Gramps planned on dying?"

He might as well have slapped Black, for how shocked and alarmed he looked.

"No," Black said, "but —"

"If my grandfather couldn't win against Giovanni, we're not gonna," Green said. "We're not even gonna get out alive without a plan."

Silver's eyes flickered to Pika, who was lying in Green's hair. "Red left all his pokémon behind?"

"Yes," Green replied. "More proof he's got some stupid plan."

"Giovanni's never understood how useful pokémon can be when they cooperate with you," Silver said.

"What's that got to do with Red?" Gold demanded.

"Nothing, he's not here," Silver replied. "It's everything to do with how we can outsmart Giovanni, though."

Green's brain finally caught up. "He'll be expecting us to use magic. Unless, seeing Red and Char —"

"If there's anything I know for sure about Giovanni it's that he doesn't learn from his mistakes," Silver replied. "He won't expect it. Dunno how many times I used my pokémon to escape him. He's never learnt, though. There'll be every magical protection you can imagine and then some, but he won't even think about pokémon."

"Even though they're tools to him," N said. "Typical."

"So, what, you think we can sneak in plain sight?" Black asked.

"Something like that," Silver replied. He looked at Gold. "Whatever it takes to keep Red away from him, I guess."

Gold nodded.

"This isn't just about Red you know," Platinum said. "What about Hogwarts? What about an entire school load of blackmail material they can use against us and against him?"

"If he makes Red a horcrux —"

"If you drag Red away and circumstances haven't changed, what will stop him from going right back to Giovanni?" Dia asked. "Think about it like that."

"I'll — I'll make him," Gold said.

"You three, can you get the Order to meet us at Hogwarts?" Black asked.

"Probably," Platinum said. "I'd imagine they're quite lost and disorganised without Professor Oak."

Green felt sick.

"Excuse you," N sniffed tensely.

"What?" Platinum asked. Nobody answered or looked at her. "What'd I say?"

Black cleared his throat. "Uhm. Well. If you can do that, some of us'll sneak into Hogwarts to get the Rockets there. If we can."

"We can," Silver said. "Easily if Karen's in charge."

Black nodded. "Okay. Then, uhm. Then the other'll be in Hogsmeade, waiting for a signal to go into Madam Puddifoot's?"

"Lots of variables to consider," Green pointed out. His mind was too sluggish to figure them out. "What signal. Stuff."

"Obviously," Black agreed. "And if we can find a place in Hogsmeade that's safe, how close it is to Hogwarts and Madam Puddifoot's, all that. But it's a start, isn't it?"

Green nodded.

"So it's not completely hopeless yet," Black concluded.

Fucking Gryffindors.

They came up with a detailed plan. Green was listening, taking information in, and even processing it, but he couldn't stop thinking about Gramps' body. He'd never thought about what to do with a body before. He knew his mother had been cremated, because that was what wizards did. He knew muggles tended to be buried below ground, in biodegradable caskets, to return to the earth. Especially in Sinnoh, and what if Gramps had to be buried in Sinnoh because he died in Sinnoh? Is that how it works? No, that was ridiculous, it had to be something else.

Platinum and Silver had helped him shroud Gramps' body and move it. Platinum said they'd get help from the Order. She'd contacted them. They hadn't heard back.

Green wondered if he'd ever get to see Red's body, or if he'd spend the rest of his life trying to convince himself there was a chance Red was still alive, somewhere out there, maybe standing on a frozen mountain top being too much of an asshole to remember people cared, people needed him, and dammit, Green didn't want to be alone.

It was decided that they'd split into groups. Dia, Pearl and Platinum would deal with the Order for obvious reasons, and bring them to Hogwarts. Gold, Silver and Black would break into Hogwarts and go after Karen. Which left Green and N in Hogsmeade, waiting for a signal to go into Giovanni's weird coffee shop.

Green was sure they'd stuck him with the empath because they thought he was going crazy.

"Maybe, before you go, you should wait to hear back from the Order?" Dia suggested.

Which was a polite way of saying, 'Do you want to intervene before the Order takes Gramps' body and decides what to do with it for you and probably has a funeral without you?'

Though, did funeral usually happen the day after? And Gramps had been murdered, what if they had to do forensics? No, no, that was a muggle thing, wizards didn't do that, which was why most magical criminals got away with everything. Such an ineffective system was exactly why everything was on Red. Why Red had run away and left Green alone with his dead grandpa.

Not that Green was angry or resentful. He'd be a good boyfriend until the end. (Hadn't Red said he wanted to be with Green for as long as he could, up until the end? And then Red left. He said he'd always be there and then he left when Green needed him most.)

"No," Green finally decided. "It's fine."

What did it matter, what happened to Gramps' body?

"If you're sure, then we'll leave in a few hours," Black said. "Who knows how quickly Red's getting there."

"Not very," N replied. "He doesn't want anyone else involved."

Green left before anyone tried talking to him. He went to the room he and Red had been sleeping in. Red had taken his bag, but he hadn't bothered packing the clothes he'd left thrown around. That stupid fucking skirt was lying on the ground, near the window, crumpled. Green picked it up. He balled it up in his fists before shoving it in his own bag.

Fucking Gryffindors, he thought for some reason.

Sometimes Green had caught glimpses of Gramps, absent-minded in his office at Hogwarts, looking through a jewellery box. He'd remembered the expensive-looking gems set in heavy, tacky rings, pendants, hair-pieces, and knowing they were his grandmother's, and leaving without bothering Gramps.

More often, Green had seen his father smiling sadly at the large portrait of his mother in the hall. It happened more often when he was younger. He'd always thought he remembered wrong, because Archer was an asshole who didn't love anybody right.

Agatha hadn't loved Gramps right either, though. Yet Gramps hadn't ever mentioned anybody else. Green had always assumed his evil grandma was the only one Gramps had ever loved. Until he got to know him better and realised how much Gramps loved him. Daisy too, probably.

Maybe the real Oak curse was falling in love with people who couldn't love them properly. Or maybe it was less pathetically self-serving than that — maybe it was being so caught up in being an Oak, you'd forget to tell the ones you'll love how much they meant.

Green wished he'd been less embarrassed to love. He wished he'd told Gramps even once.

Maybe someday Green would be an old man sitting alone in a room, staring over the clothes Red left behind, pretending they brought them closer. Pretending something of Red's presence was still on them. Pretending to remember his smell, his smile, his soul.

Green shoved everything in his bag. He beat it down to fit with his fists even though it wasn't remotely necessary. Pika watched him with a soft growl.

"I don't care," Green said.

Green turned away and walked to the room where they were keeping Gramps' body.

Gramps' body was in the bedroom closest to the entrance. They'd closed the door. Green had spent an hour after Red left standing there, next to it, staring at it, and feeling his head spin woozily like he still couldn't believe reality when it was right in front of him. The shroud was clear; he could see through it, he could

Now, it was more about confirmation. A reminder: this hasn't changed. This is still happening. You won't have even gotten used to this before finding your boyfriend's corpse. If you're lucky, who knows, look at what Giovanni did to Steven Stone. Either way, in a few hours, he'll be gone too. The only one you ever loved enough to say it.

Green closed the door behind him. He walked around the bed, before leaning against the wall. It was dark. Badly lit. Maybe Gramps' corpse was starting to rot already. He didn't know.

'It looks like they could be sleeping', people always said about viewing bodies. Green didn't know if that was something morticians did, with the lighting, with the coffin, with makeup and embalming and fucking, cotton-stuffing, and other things he'd never bothered to think much about. Green had seen Gramps sleeping thousands of times. It didn't look like he was sleeping. Sleeping people weren't that still. That pale. Gramps' mouth was hanging ever so slightly open, but not like he was going to snore. Like his jaw had relaxed because there weren't any signals from his brain telling the muscles to work. Someone had closed his eyes. It hadn't been Green. Probably Platinum. Maybe Silver. If Silver could be so sentimental.

What did it matter, Green wondered. Why were they all trying to pass death off as something else. Why were they hiding from it.

The door opened. Dia entered.

"I might say something that oversteps boundaries," Dia said. "Sorry if that's the case. But I don't know if you understand what's might happen if you leave now."

"Why would you know?" Green asked. "Are you a Seer now too?"

"That would be useful, but no," Dia replied patiently. Fucking Hufflepuffs. "I meant about Professor Oak."

"He's dead," Green said. Like they weren't standing in the same room as Gramps' utterly lifeless body.

"They're going to have to take his body, probably," Dia persevered. "They might bury him, they might cremate him, I don't know. Are you prepared for that?"

"Yes," Green said. The question made him feel sick.

"I don't know you very well, and I didn't know your grandfather except for that one conversation," Dia said. "But I know how this works. I remember bits from when my dad died, I learnt more because I was a bit morbid after that."

"So you were always fucked up," Green said. He wasn't even sure if he meant to be an asshole or not that time.

"I guess so," Dia agreed. "If you're worried about what's gonna happen to his body, tell me what you want to happen. Or what he wanted to happen. I'll make sure it happens while you go after Red."

"Fucking Hufflepuffs," Green said, accidentally out loud.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to meddle," Dia replied.

"No, it's fine, thank you," Green replied. "I don't. I don't know what to do."

"What does your family usually do?" Dia asked.

"Cremations. But he was weird, Gramps was — Gramps was different."

Dia nodded slowly.

How could Red do this to me, Green thought angrily. How could he leave me alone with these choices and these people who don't get it.

"My mother died giving birth to me," Green suddenly said. He didn't know why. "My sister hates me because of it. I think."

"That's stupid," Dia replied. "I found looking after my siblings made it easier to cope."

"Last time I saw my father he tried to kill me," Green said. "Gramps was the only one, in the entire family, the only one who ever loved me."

Dia looked thoughtful. "You should be in our family too, then."

"I don't need your pity," Green spat.

"It's not pity, it's concern," Dia replied. "I don't know you very well because I haven't had the chance. I want the chance. And you have to know that right now."

Green started digging his teeth deep into his lower lip.

"No matter what happens today, or to Red, that's not gonna change," Dia said. "There's always going to be people here who care, Green, whether you want to see it or not. So let us care."

Green stared at Gramps' face.

"Green," Dia said insistently. "This is an end, but it's not the end. You know that, right?"

In a humiliatingly strained voice, Green replied, "I'm trying to."

"Good," Dia replied. "I'll remind you if I have to."

"Don't," Green said frantically. "Your — your Hufflepuff speeches are embarrassing."

Dia laughed a tiny bit. "So I hear."

Green tore his eyes from Gramps' body. What was the point of a body without a soul? What did it matter without the soul?

Maybe he'd be asking himself that for the rest of his life, too.

"If they have to, cremate him," Green said. "But don't let them, I don't know, bury the ashes or hold a funeral or anything."

"They wouldn't do that without you," Dia replied. "Okay though. I just, wanted to make sure, before you left."

"Yeah. Thanks."

Dia nodded. "I'll, uh. I'll leave you be now."

He did.

Drawing in a deep breath, Green mentally calculated: how far to Hogwarts, how long the attack on Hogwarts was likely to take, a total guess at how long they'd have to fight Giovanni after that. Another day. Maybe two, at worst. He'd round it to thirty hours, just to be sure. So for thirty hours after he left Gramps' body, he had no choice but to be like some idiot Gryffindor. To push everything down and out of sight like it didn't matter until he was just acting, tunnel-visioned, towards one specific end: killing Giovanni.

Then at the end of those thirty hours, he could be an actual human being again. He could feel. He could be angry. He could be sad. He could let the pain sink in. He could be anything. He'd have all the time in the world.

In thirty hours, Red would be dead too.

Green left the room. He stopped feeling light-headed once he did. Everything else still felt heavy, especially his arms. He wasn't sure how he'd ever manage to raise his wand. He kind of expected to feel as though he was leaving part of himself behind with Gramps' body, but he didn't. It was just a body. It was only special because it used to be Gramps'.

While he waited for Red's squad to get their act together, Green sat in the sunroom. He'd read somewhere in a pile of muggle academia that sunlight was an effective therapy for depression, and wasn't that a part of grief? Better to get started now. Pika climbed around the back of the couch irritably, and Green wondered how Red was feeling without the annoying rodent hanging off him constantly.

"Yo," Gold called as he walked in with Silver.

Green didn't bother replying. He was too tired to bother with people.

"So, we were just thinkin'," Gold announced as he flopped down next to Green. "That pub, the Hog's Head, up on the hill?"

"Mmhm."

"It's pretty close to Hogwarts," Gold continued. "Like, probably the easiest way to get there if we, I dunno, fly. Maybe up to the Astronomy Tower? To avoid the front door, and sneak in. It's pretty close, so that makes it, what was it —"

"Strategic," Silver supplied.

"Yeah," Gold finished. "Whaddaya think?"

"Gramps always went there," Green replied. "Maybe that was why."

Gold looked uncomfortable. "Oh. That's — that's not gonna be a problem for you then, is it? It was only an idea, I'm sure there's better places, I —"

"It's fine. Shut up."

Gold started babbling. Great. "It was pretty gross that one time I went there, y'know, when we were setting up Oak's Army? Back in Fifth Year?"

"It's not gross any more," Silver said. "Someone new took over as manager."

"Was it a Rocket?" Green asked.

"I doubt it," Silver replied. "I don't remember Giovanni having any plans to buy property in Hogsmeade. It tended to be more influential places like Saffron and Goldenrod."

"Yet he has a coffee shop there," Green pointed out. "Maybe Gramps was going there to investigate."

"What are you arguing about now?" Black asked as he and N entered.

"The Hog's Head," Silver said. "Who owns it."

Black raised his eyebrows. "Bill does."

"Huh?" Gold twisted to face him. "Like, our brother Bill?"

"Yeah. Year or so ago."

"Why didn't I know that," Gold muttered.

"I dunno, Gold. Try listening to Mom gossiping more."

So, Daisy's husband. Perfect. "Gramps said they were in England. Him and Daisy."

"Maybe they are," Black replied. "That's who owns it, though. Why's it relevant?"

Silver started talking about how they could more easily sneak into Hogwarts from there than any other place in Hogsmeade. Green knew it hadn't been Gold's idea, but he wondered why Silver didn't say it to him. Maybe too caught up in the horrors of daddy dearest to face him.

"I, I guess," Black said. "Uh, what, we'll fly across on pokémon…? I don't think Reshi can be subtle."

"So don't use Reshiram," Silver replied.

"I'd rather not offend her?"

"We'll deal with this later," Green said. He was tired of listening, tired of sitting around. Tired of Red getting further and further away. "Let's just go there."

At least their attempts to be sympathetic to Green meant they were more obedient.

As they moved down the hall, Dia, Pearl and Platinum stopped them.

"Where are you going first?" Platinum asked.

"Hog's Head," Gold replied.

"Oh," she said, sounding relieved. "So you know it's a safe house for the Order."

"No," Gold said. "Wow. What a lucky guess, huh?"

Platinum looked concerned. "If you can guess..."

"We don't have time for this," Green said. "Let's face it, pretty much everything we managed to do right was a hunch."

"Or Arceus guiding us because we're doing the right thing and need to win," N said.

Gold placed a hand on N's shoulder and seriously said, "Dude. I love Jesus Christ Superstar as much as the next high-brow master of fine arts and tastes, but please. Don't."

"I understand about seventy per cent of what you say at any given time," N replied.

"Lucky you," Silver said.

"Is this really the time," Black said flatly.

"We can Apparate you there," Dia offered.

"It would make it safer," Platinum said.

"Is that normal?" Black asked. "They don't have a problem with that?"

"Not when it's us," Pearl grinned.

Green thought Daisy would have a problem with it regardless. Then again, he didn't know her, did he?

"But, what would stop Team Rocket from doing the same, if there aren't Anti-Apparation Fields?" Black asked.

"Decorum," Silver said. "Giovanni's very big on it."

Typical. Maybe that was why Green's father love Giovanni so much. That and the eugenics.

Obviously, they agreed to Apparate. The only problem was Sidelong Apparating is very difficult to do with more than one person. They'd have to do it in multiple trips. Pearl was apparently the best at it, so he was going first with Green.

Gramps used to be able to make Side-Along Apparation barely hurt. Pearl was such an amateur. Green considered telling Pearl as such, but it was too much effort.

The Hogs Head wasn't the dingy little dive it used to be. It was clean, for one thing, with actual tablecloths and natural light coming through the windows. There wasn't anyone there, though. Probably because it was before 11. Green turned towards the bar. And there, staring at him in surprise, with her auburn hair tied in a bandana, was Daisy.

"Green," Daisy said, probably surprised.

"Oh hey," Pearl said, like this wasn't too awkward for words. "Thought you were in the UK."

"No, we decided to come back," Daisy replied. "After my grandfather left the school, we thought it would be best."

Pearl nodded uncomfortably. "There's, more of them, I gotta get back."

Green actually wanted to ask him to stay. How pathetic. Jeopardising the mission because his sister was scary.

"Is there something going on?" Daisy asked.

Green looked at her levelly and said, "Gramps is dead."

Daisy gasped. "What? What happened?"

"Giovanni murdered him."

Daisy slumped against the bar. "But I was going to see him on Sunday."

"We're trying to end this today," Green said. "We want to take back the school and stop Giovanni."

Daisy's eyes widened. "Do you mean, kill him?"

"Yeah," Green replied. "And any of his supporters who get in the way. I guess. If we have to. Even if it's Dad."

Daisy buried her face in her hands and very softly said, "Oh, Green…"

Green frowned. "Well. He's made it pretty clear he wants me dead. It's no big deal, I've been expecting this for a long time."

It was totally a big deal.

"It is a big deal," Daisy said. She looked up at him. She wasn't crying, just wide-eyed. "Green, don't get yourself killed."

"Uh, yeah, cos I was totally planning that," Green sarcastically replied. "What do you want me to do? Not fight?"

"Yes," Daisy said. "You're barely seventeen."

"I'm surprised you even know that," Green said. "I'm doing what I want. And I'm getting out alive. I'll — I'll have funerals to plan."

Daisy sighed. "I'll help you, then."

"Isn't it a bit too late for that?"

"Probably," she admitted. "You've sprung a lot on me. I don't know what to think, or do."

"You don't have to do anything," Green said.

Daisy looked sad.

The others started to appear. Green figured Pearl had nervously and loudly demanded they all give Green and Daisy a minute. He wished that hadn't bothered.

"Okay!" Gold said loudly once they were all there. "We've gotta get to Hogwarts, right Silv? Black?"

"We all know the plan," Silver sighed. "Green made damn sure."

"And I know it'll probably fall apart, so enough with the tone," Green replied.

"How were you planning to get there?" Daisy asked. "If it doesn't interfere, there's a direct tunnel, through the painting on the mantle. Some of the students have been using it."

Black and Gold exchanged looks.

"Sounds perfect," Black said.

As they left, Green drew in a deep breath to offset any panic sinking in. Twenty-seven and a half hours, he reminded himself. Then it would all be over.

And Red would be dead.

---

Once they got through the freaky painting tunnel, Black was happy to see Yellow, but the timing wasn't good. They didn't have long to gather up the Rockets, and the last thing he needed was Yellow's gang of rebels being caught or getting in the way.

"This is a covert operation," Black quietly told Yellow.

She looked at him strangely. "I know. I got that."

Gold snickered.

Yellow moved closer to the door.

"What're you —?" Black started to ask.

"There's gonna be a teacher outside," Yellow warned them quietly, pulling her wand from her ponytail.

"You shouldn't keep your wand there," Black said, "it's a safety hazard."

Yellow stared at him in disbelief. It was a bit of a weird thing to say when they were about to charge Team Rocket. "Just be ready, okay?"

She opened the door and slipped out. There was a bit of a scuffle to be the first to follow, but they made it out very quickly when Yellow started casting Stunners. Her opponent dodged them and started shouting insults at her.

The man had black hair in a horrible bowl cut, the waxy pale skin made him look like a basement dweller, he was wearing a jumpsuit under his robes, and worst of all, he was calling Yellow a bitch. Black's hand shook as he tried to aim his wand, but the bastard kept ducking, swerving, aiming spells at them. They scattered, running to encircle him.

"You fools," he snarled, slipping between Gold and Sapphire. Why was a basement dweller so fast? "Do you really think you can defeat Team Rocket?!"

"Actually, Carl, I do," Silver said.

The basement dweller apparently named Carl froze. He looked slowly over his shoulder at Silver. And somehow got even paler as he whispered, "Silvanus?"

Silver's grin was terrifying. He grabbed Carl by the shoulder. Next thing, he was pinning him against the wall. Carl wheezed, struggling to breathe. Silver dug his elbow into Carl's back, tightening his arm around his neck.

"Silv!" Gold cried.

Silver looked back at Gold. His face was blank. While he wasn't looking, Yellow slipped up behind him and pointed her wand at Carl.

"Stupefy," Yellow softly said.

Carl slumped.

Silver frowned. He let Carl go. Carl crumpled on the ground.

"Sorry," Yellow said. "I'm sure you had your reasons, but this is better than killing him."

"I wasn't," Silver said. "Where's. Where's Karen?"

"Headmistress' Office, obviously," Sapphire said.

Everything about the atmosphere was so surreal. Black knew they were stepping into a fight, but it felt like they'd stepped into an entirely different world. By the look on Gold's face, he was thinking about the same thing.

"There's other Rockets too though," Yellow said. "I don't know for sure who. I think Gideon, he's the new History of Magic teacher."

"We haven't been keepin' up, they might've taken away some of the teachers," Sapphire said. "Yells, no offence, but I'm startin' to see flaws in the rebellion."

"Sapph, no offence, but I don't think it's going to matter after today," Yellow replied.

"That's what we're hoping," Gold said.

"We could always interrogate Carl," Black suggested.

"I can handle that," Silver said coolly.

"No, no, he'd probably lie anyway," Gold said quickly. "We don't have anything to make him tell the truth."

"Don't we," Silver replied.

"No!"

"Unless you're meaning torture, which doesn't work anyway," Black said. "I think my fiancé can confirm that, don't you?"

"Lance," Yellow said quickly. "He's been trying to help us. He'd spill everything. Right, Sapph?"

Sapphire nodded. "Yep, defo."

There was something very uncomfortable about how Silver was still eyeing Carl.

"Silv," Gold whispered. "I know, I get it, but please."

Silver tore his eyes away to stare at the wall.

"We should split up," Black suggested. "Half of us can go after Karen, the other half after Gideon. On the way we'll look for Lance."

"And how will we communicate?" Silver asked. "PokéGear don't work inside Hogwarts."

"I've got my rufflet, and, Silver's got crobat," Black replied. "Haunter too, I guess. They'll do it, won't they?"

"They won't exactly be inconspicuous," Silver said. "But I guess it's time to be fast instead of cautious."

Black nodded.

"Me 'n' Silv'll go after this Gideon guy," Gold declared.

"I want to go after Karen," Silver said.

"Is that really a good idea?" Gold asked.

Silver glared at Gold. Oh boy, how nostalgic. "Am I suddenly incapable of self-control?"

"Uh, yeah?" Gold replied. "What were you just doing?"

"Time," Black reminded them.

Silver rolled his eyes. "Fine."

"I'll go with you," Sapphire said. "Even numbers, right?"

"Sapphire…" Wally said quietly.

"Yeah, pretty sure you have a bigger vendetta against Karen than I do," Sapphire said. "'Sides, we'll all have time to gloat at our fallen enemies after we're done, right?"

"Good point," Silver said.

Black flicked his wand at Carl, conjuring ropes. Sapphire helped him drag Carl back towards the Room of Requirement.

"Let's go," Black said.

"Be careful, bro," Gold said.

"Obviously," Black replied.

Sapphire ran off ahead towards the stairs. Gold gave a startled cry and ran after her. Silver sighed and followed.

They headed quietly down the corridor, down the stairs, along past the suits of armour to the stone gargoyle.

Black wondered if he'd ever have seen the Head of School's office if Red hadn't sat in their compartment that first time on the Hogwarts Express. Imagine if Gold hadn't had a fight with White and they'd actually stayed with their siblings as planned. He couldn't, actually. Imagining a life without Red was impossible now.

They had to get in.

"What's the password?" Black whispered.

"I don't know," Yellow replied. "Why would I know?"

Black bit his lip. Well, shit. Now how would they get in?

"Uh, guys?" Wally whispered. "Why don't we just knock?"

Black looked at Yellow. Yellow looked at Wally.

"Good point," they said.

Wally knocked against the wall by the gargoyle. There was no movement for a long moment. Then the gargoyle opened its mouth and asked, "What business have you with the headmistress?"

Yellow elbowed Black, eyebrows raised significantly.

"We know where the rebels are stowing away," Black lied.

The gargoyle leapt aside. "You may enter."

Easy enough, Black thought. Now they just had to subdue a Dark Witch in her home turf. What could possibly go wrong?

They went quickly up the staircase over quietly. Black had to move very fast to stay ahead of Yellow and Wally. He understood they had more of a personal motivation, but he was pretty sure their experience dealing with evil was entry-level at best.

Black threw the heavy oak door open. The bluish-haired woman behind the desk had to be Karen. As she looked up Black cried, "Stupefy!"

Karen slumped, looking shocked even in unconsciousness.

"That was easy," Black murmured, glancing around the room. He couldn't sense anything. He'd never been as good at sensing magic as the others though.

"She's not very smart," Yellow said. "She actually fell for my fake crying."

"You've always been a really convincing fake crier," Black dismissively replied. He shifted his hand, resting his wand in his palm, holding it only loosely, and murmured a couple of spells to check for magic. His wand jolted, pointing towards a door at the back. "So she put jinxes on the bedroom door but not the office…?"

"It is a school," Wally reminded him. "She probably thought she could handle the students. She was very, um. Cruel."

Yellow stepped around Black. She crossed the room to Karen in quick strides. "How're we gonna move her?"

"Levitation Charm," Black replied. He conjured ropes to bind Karen. "Let's go. We'll take her back to where Carl is."

Unsurprisingly, Silver had the same idea. Gideon, it turned out, looked even more like a stereotypical mad scientist than even Colress.

"Did it seem too easy?" Gold asked.

Black nodded. "I guess they really weren't expecting anything."

"Karen was never smart," Silver said. "She intimidated people into doing whatever she wanted, and that was meant to compensate."

"We gotta go find Lance," Black said. "Some of us, anyway."

"I'll guard 'em," Sapphire said. "Shouldn't be too hard, right? 'Cept for boredom?"

"Uh, I'll stay too," Wally said. "That's safer, right?"

"Yeah," Black agreed. He looked at his watch. They'd taken forty minutes already. "Gold. We've gotta hurry."

"Staffroom," Gold suggested. "Lance was always pushing his company on people who didn't want it, so! Staffroom, right?"

"Best bet we've got," Black replied. "Let's go."

"What's the big deadline?" Yellow asked.

Even thinking about explaining was too painful. They had to stay focused. He had to stay focused. Black knew he could do it. He'd done it against Team Plasma when they'd had N.

"Red," he said, hoping that'd be explanation enough. If it wasn't, too bad.

Black started running down to the staffroom. Gold soon caught up to him.

"Bro, I think they know we're here," he said. "Saw something out the window but — but that doesn't make sense…?"

"We can't change the plan now," Black replied.

They burst into the staffroom, wands at the ready. Morty, Wattson and Lance looked up at them.

"Oh my," Lance gasped.

"Called it," Morty murmured, taking a sip of his tea.

They filed into the room, lowering their wands.

"We're here to help get rid of Team Rocket," Gold said. "And it's really, really important that we do it quickly cos… cos…"

"Red Potter is going to do something stupid, if you can possibly imagine," Silver finished for him.

"I most certainly cannot!" Lance exclaimed. "Red Potter always does the best he can!"

Black couldn't help exchanging confused looks with Gold.

"There are many things I have Seen about this eventuality," Morty said. "The future is foggy, but the coming death is clear."

"Is not," Gold snapped.

"Calm down," Black whispered. To the teachers, he said, "Do you know about any others Rockets in the school?"

"There is Carl, there is Gideon, and there is our Headmistress," Lance replied. "I daresay there are no further traitors in our midst. I have been monitoring everybody very closely."

As Lance spoke, Black could see Yellow in the corner of his eye moving towards the wardrobe.

"You seen something?" he asked.

Yellow shrugged. "I thought I did."

Black shook his head. Time. Essence. "So, that's it? That's all of them?"

"Indeed," Morty said.

"So we're done?" Gold said. He turned to Silver. "That easy?"

Black had to wonder why it was this easy. Didn't Giovanni care about the school? Hogwarts was valuable blackmail, why have just the three pathetic losers securing it? It didn't make sense.

A loud wand swish sounded. There was a blinding burst of red light. Next thing, Black's wand was flying from his hand. Gold, Silver, Yellow — theirs too, he could see. All their wands spiralled into Wattson's outstretched hand.

"Quite a shocking twist, isn't it?" Wattson cackled.

"Fucking hell," Black groaned.

"I certainly didn't see it coming," Morty said, still sipping his tea.

"Makes more sense," Silver said.

"Shut up," Wattson said. He stood slowly. "For years I've stayed hidden, loyally watching you for your father. I knew what he didn't, that it would come to this: you betraying him. Doesn't take a kilowatt brain to figure out."

"That one doesn't even make sense," Black sighed.

"Now I will return you to him," Wattson said, wand in Silver's face. "You'll learn the true meaning of loyalty yet."

"How dare you!" Lance cried. "After all the trust we placed in you, after all these years of being workplace proximity associates — how dare you!"

"Draw your wand and I'll have to hurt him," Wattson said, eyes still fixed on Silver. "I'm sure your father wouldn't mind."

Gold's eyes widened, his jaw dropping ever so slightly open. So he had an idea. Good, because Black was struggling not to bring Reshiram out.

Yellow gave a startled cry. A rattata darted out from under the wardrobe. Oh no. It couldn't be. Black didn't have time to finish his thought — Morty threw the rest of his tea at Wattson. Wattson yelped. Silver ducked out of the way. As Silver ducked, Gold punched Wattson, grabbing the handful of wands. Silver grabbed Wattson's own wand.

"Noooo!" Wattson shrieked.

Lance threw his cape dramatically back as he drew his wand. "Stupefy!"

Wattson fell to the ground.

"Oh dear," Wallace said, fucking taking the time to pose. "Looks like I wasn't needed."

"Wattson," Lance groaned, falling back in his seat. "Of all the people… a Hufflepuff…"

Gold handed Silver his hand, and threw Yellow's across the room to her. As he handed Black his, Gold gave the long 'Bro. I have an idea. And it's epic' look.

"Uh, guys?" Yellow said. She pointed to the window. "I, I think that's Giovanni."

Black ran to the window. He could see a swarm of people, all in black, marching towards the castle. It wasn't an organised militant march. It was like they were ready for a party. At the front of the swarm, closest to the entrance, there was someone… it looked like a Pokémon Trainer in a vibrant red jacket.

"Oh no," Black whispered.

Yellow was shaking beside him. Of course she was. Giovanni's diary horcrux had almost killed her.

"Gold," Black said shakily. "We're too late."

"What?" Gold cried.

Black turned away from the window. "Giovanni has Red."

"No!" Lance gasped.

"They're coming to the castle," Yellow said. "We've — we've got to do something."

Black closed his eyes. Deep breath. Exhale. Deep breath. Exhale. He opened his eyes. Gold looked destroyed.

"We need to evacuate the castle," Lance declared, jumping to his feet. "Yellow, my brave dear, how has your group been moving?"

"There's a tunnel," she explained, "to the Hog's Head. We can get out through that."

Morty stood up. "Lance, you go help the students evacuate." Surprisingly, he pulled out a PokéBall. "We will help protect the castle."

"I can help you," Wallace said. "I stole one of Giovanni's so-called weapons — a pokémon he had been controlling, one that desperately seeks vengeance, as do I."

"Come on Yellow," Lance said. "We haven't a moment to spare."

They ran off.

"Be careful!" Gold shouted after them.

Black turned to the window. He struggled to open it.

"Bro," Gold said. "What…?"

"Reshi and I can hold them off for a while," Black replied. He pulled out Reshiram's Ball. "Silver. It's like you said, right? Giovanni wouldn't kill Red without making a big spectacle of it?"

"I — I don't think so," Silver said.

Now he sounded uncertain. Great.

Black climbed up on the ledge. "You stay away from him," he said. "You too, Gold."

"Black!" Gold cried.

They didn't have time for this. Black knew he deserved to argue with Gold, to get himself pumped by talking up how Giovanni was after Gold and Silver and not interested in killing him, Black, like any of that mattered any more. But they didn't have time. Red didn't have time.

Black jumped. As he did, he sent out Reshiram. She caught him effortlessly.

"Come on, Reshi," Black said, clinging to her tightly. "Circle 'em with fire."

Reshiram gave a loud cry, unlike any Black had ever heard from her. She swooped down, low and fast, a jet of flames bursting from her mouth. They circled the Rockets, trapping them, dodging spells as they went.

"Up, up," Black said, "I know, you know, quickly, oh shit —"

He looked over his shoulder, even though it was terrifying, to see where the jets of green light were coming from.

"Go left, swoop! Right!" Black guided frantically.

It wasn't really necessary. He could feel that connection between them, like Reshiram could see what he could see, and he could see what she saw. Yet it wasn't exactly seeing.

They flew into the clouds. Black shivered close to Reshiram.

"Oh, oh," he realised, gasping. "Disillusionment Charm!"

Reshi gave an irritated snort.

"I'm sorry!" Black cried. "I — I haven't been thinking."

Quickly, Black fumbled his wand into an appropriate position. It took a couple of tries to get the spell right. He wrapped his arm around Reshiram to compensate for barely seeing her.

"Let's go back," Black said. "They've probably put the fires out."

Reshiram swooped.

As they descended again, screams got louder. For a moment, Black feared the worse. As they got closer, he could see dark energy balls being thrown — a pokémon's attack, clearly. He couldn't see the source.

"Ghosts," Black gasped. "Morty had Ghost Types!"

The Rockets were scattered and fighting. Reshiram dove, circling groups with fire as Black fruitlessly cast Stunners.

One thing became clear as they assaulted the Rockets. First: Giovanni, standing several hundred metres from the entrance, looked amused. Second: Red wasn't taking advantage of the chaos. Red stood by Giovanni's side, head bowed.

Black's hands shook around Reshiram's feathers. Was it too late?

---

N had been uncomfortable enough with all the emotions in the Hog's Head before the Order started showing up. Daisy's anguish over being a bad sibling was pointless, and Green needed to stop before his negativity have N a migraine.

Of course, then the Order started to show up. First (unsurprisingly) was Alder, who clapped N on the shoulder and said, "Good to see you're looking yourself again!"

N could strangle him, if he weren't the most inane paternal figure in Red's life. That Alder was the last remaining one was quite tragic.

Even more so when Alder looked around and asked, "How come Pika's with you, Green? Where's Red?"

Pika's anger. Well, that was justified and sensible. But Green's negativity.

"He ran away to trade himself to Giovanni for other people's safety, or some similar stupidity," N replied.

Alder's horror. "No — no! Where did he go?"

"Hogsmeade. We're dealing with it."

"You are such a jerk," Green muttered.

Honestly. What was the point of 'tact'? People's emotions surged into deep spirals of negativity no matter what. Especially when they were Green Oak.

Oh, yes, N was aware, Green had good reason to be negative. 'Good reason' didn't make it less of a constant thudding pain in N's head.

Blue was next, and though her emotions were mercifully small, she had the gall to immediately say to Green, "Sorry about your grandpa."

"Yes," Alder agreed. "Professor Oak, and then Red, jeez, this must be really rough for you."

"I'm trying not to think about it, actually," Green said.

Blue's emotions got a lot louder when Hahajo arrived with White. Thankfully, N had emotions of his own at that. White in no way looked her old self, but she wasn't skeletal or pale. Progress, little by little, N recalled.

Hahajo pulled N into a too tight hug. "Oh, N, it's so good to see you're all right. White told me everything."

"Mom," White said, prying her off. "The touch thing? Remember?"

"Sorry dear," Hahajo said, smiling tearfully.

More and more Order members arrived. The room got louder, as did the emotive buzzing in N's head. N backed against the wall, closing his eyes, breathing in sharp shallow breaths as he tried to clear his head.

How had he done it before? How had he limited it to only when he was touched? He'd become too dependent on Black. It was easy to focus on Black alone. Perhaps not dependent, perhaps simply obsessed. Regardless, he needed to learn to draw it in, restrict the empathy to the layers of his skin. He would start with that and have to build back up to choosing when people's touch would show him their emotions, as he had been developing before.

Assuming he lived.

The buzz of emotions faded. And N realised Green was talking to him.

"I didn't hear," N said.

"Yeah, I noticed," Green said. "I was saying, why're there so many people? We're not gonna be able to keep an eye out like this." He glanced around the room with disgust. Oh, N hadn't felt that, he'd guessed it from the way Green scowled. Good, good. "This isn't some wake for Gramps. We're doing what they should've already fucking done and saving the fucking school."

N glanced thoughtfully around the room. Black would say it was 'immoral', but perhaps Green would see… "What if I tried to make them feel the gravity of the situation?"

Green looked at him in surprise. "You think you can do that?"

N shrugged. "I've become much better at making others feel my emotions than restricting my empathy or precognition. I've never tried to do it on more than one person at a time, but I'm sure I could. It would only be fair after the migraine they were giving me."

Green nodded. "Well. Okay then."

Closing his eyes, N focused on: we have to stop Team Rocket. We have to do something. Mourning Oak can wait until a safer time. It brought a fiery feeling to his chest. N took this feeling and focused on sending it out. Over everybody talking about what a shame it was, what will we do now, how could a room of forty people be so useless.

Very quickly, the chatter died down.

"You should say something to them," N whispered, opening his eyes. "You're his grandson, after all."

Green looked around the room. "Uh. I guess."

"Forget the plan," N said. "We can start spreading around Hogsmeade. Or, they can. We can wait for the signal."

Green nodded. "Yeah. And who knows what's gonna go down in the castle." He moved away from N, towards the bar. People started looking at Green. Morbid curiosity — what does a 17-year-old who has lost everything look like? Some were wondering, what was Green Oak doing with a pikachu clinging to him? Where was Red Potter?

N shook his head to clear the emotions.

"Hey," Green said. "Uh. So. I guess you all know my grandpa's dead."

There was a murmur of sympathy.

"Yeah, it sucks, but it's gonna have to suck later," Green said. "We found out there's Rockets in Hogsmeade. We all know there's Rockets in Hogwarts. And it's time we did something about it, before it's too late."

"Where's Red Potter?" asked someone N had seen dozens of times but never bothered to remember the name of.

"Red's out there trying to do it on his own," Green replied. "He ran off to fight on his own. See, that's what happens when you build a kid up as a martyr, he takes on too much for one person to handle. We all know that's not fair, right, but none of us stopped it, did we? We're all sitting around here talking about how sad it is that my grandpa died, instead of finishing the battle he died fighting? That doesn't make sense!"

N folded his arms over his chest. He glanced out the window, towards the castle. He couldn't see anything but the towers.

"We can't leave this all up to Red," Green said, like he hadn't made his point. Going for impact, probably. He was talking to scared adults, humanity's densest phase. "So let's get out there and fight. Let's take back Hogsmeade. Let's help Red. Because he deserves all the help he can get."

If it had been one of Kyouhei's movies, Green would have gotten a standing ovation. What he got instead was Norman saying, "We should split in three groups. Groups one and two can take Hogsmeade from both sides — here, and the forest. That should clear the way for easier access to Hogwarts."

"Black, Gold and Silver are in Hogwarts subduing the Headmistress and her agents at this very moment," N said. "They'll give us a signal when they're done."

"The painting is a passage to Hogwarts," Daisy explain, gesturing to the mantle. "It leads to the room where a group of children have been hiding from Karen."

"So if some of us go through there, it'd be good backup," Flannery said. "Alder, you know the castle well, right? You should go there."

They started moving, sorting themselves quickly into the three groups. Phoebe led a group in Apparating to the forest. Alder (thankfully with White, Blue and Dia, N could sense from their animosity that Hahajo had forced them into the safest group) was climbing up to the mantle, into the painting.

"You know," Norman said to Green, "your grandfather would be so proud right now."

"Yeah, I know," Green replied. "Good luck."

The sense of accomplishment was short-lived. Within moments of Norman's group filing out, an extremely loud, extremely familiar roar sounded.

"What the hell was that?" Green asked, moving to the window.

"Reshiram," N replied. He pulled out his wand. "We have to go."

Green nodded.

Outside, it was easier to see the castle. Reshiram was circling and swooping, breathing fire. If N squinted he could see Black.

"I don't know what to do," N said.

"Get down there and fight," Pika seemed to be saying.

"I hope Red isn't down there," Green moaned.

"He is," N replied.

"Did you see something?"

"No. But I know it's true." He looked at Green. "So do you. You're just pretending you don't."

Green sighed in frustration. He looked around. "That zorua partner of yours, or whatever you call it -"

"Zöllner. I call him by his name. Idiot."

"I read something about high-level zorua being able to project illusions," Green said. "So maybe if Zöllner could project an illusion over there, well, you catch my drift."

"I don't think Zöllner can do it from this far away," N replied. "Perhaps if we got closer. Or fought our own battles instead of using pokémon."

"Fucking Gryffindors," Green sighed. "Fine. Let's go charge into battle like idiots."

"Good of you to come around to my way of thinking," N said.

He made it five steps before crashing into something invisible. Someones, rather, by the startled cries and hurried "Shut up I don't think he noticed" whispers.

N reached out, carefully. Solid. Fabric. He closed his fist and pulled off the Invisibility Cloak.

"Prepare for trouble!" one of the humans shouted.

"We're already in trouble you colossal losers!" Green growled. He pulled the Cloak from N's hand. "Jessie. James. Where did you get this?"

Oh, N remembered them now. The hole fetishists.

"Red Potter gave it to us," James replied.

"Why do you do that!" Jessie shouted.

"Youse gotta play ya cards more careful than that Jimmy," the meowth said.

"Why are you speaking the language of humans," N gasped.

"Leave Meowth alone, emo twerp!" Jessie cried. "Don't take your failed Pokémon Justice Warrior nonsense out on him!"

"Emo twerp?" N repeated in disbelief.

"Why did Red give you his Cloak?" Green demanded.

N grabbed James' arm and focused his magic. "Because he's given up saving himself and already surrendered himself to Giovanni and these three idiots were in the way trying to stop him because they didn't realise what they were signing up for, or how evil Giovanni is."

James pulled his arm away. "You made that up!"

"Go hide in the Hog's Head if that's what you want," Green told them. As they ran off, he turned to N. "You should go too, sneak into Hogwarts. Find Gold."

"But Black —" N started.

"He's got Reshiram, he's fine," Green replied. "Let's face it though, I'm physically stronger and who knows what your empathy'd do to you in a crowd of angry Rockets."

"That is a good point," N hated to admit. "Fine. You take the Cloak."

"Obviously," Green said. "I don't wanna die."

Green threw the Cloak around himself. N turned and ran back to the Hog's Head. Daisy and Alder were back, helping groups of students down from the mantle. Surprisingly, Yellow was there too.

"What's going on?" N asked her.

"N," Yellow gasped. "They're attacking the school. We're evacuating."

"I need to get through," N said.

Yellow passed the message along. The flow of escapees paused, and N climbed into the painting. Magic wasn't often ridiculous, but sometimes it tested him. Climbing into a painting was one such time. No time to figure it out. N ran down the corridor, jumping out into the Room of Requirement.

"Thank you," he said to Lance.

"Good luck to you, dear brave boy," Lance replied.

N understood why Gold always complained about Lance.

N burst from the Room. Gold and Silver looked at him in surprise. Good. Just guarding.

"Red's down there," he said.

"We know," Silver replied. "Black said —"

"Who cares what Black said?" N interrupted impatiently. "They're handling it. They're getting the students out. Now let's go fight."

"Now you're talking," Gold grinned.

"We have a castle, so we'd better use it," Silver said.

"You go to the roof," Gold suggested. "Your pokémon'd be able to help create cover, yeah?"

"As usual," Silver agreed. "You can't expect me to stay up there but. It's a start, I suppose."

"And we'll go down and — and give them everything we've got," Gold said. "We can get Red away from Giovanni."

"Or see if he's a horcrux yet," N replied.

Silver grabbed Gold by the shoulders and kissed him. "Be careful," he said quietly. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"It's gonna be fine," Gold replied. "I promise."

Silver ran to the nearest window, his crobat carrying him to the roof.

Gold grabbed N's arm and started dragging him down the stairs.

"What are you doing, let go," N hissed.

Glimpses from the windows told them Silver was already working. Black and Reshiram were swooping through dark smog. They only made it to the Entrance Hall before a voice hissed to them, "Wait!"

N felt the self-pity and guilt first, and knew it was Wallace. He looked over at the usually glamorous man-cum-evil-pokémon-impersonator. His clothes were torn, cuts and bites on his pale skin, blood smeared across his face.

"I'm glad I caught you," Wallace quietly panted. Very, very quietly he said, "Gold. You can't go out there. That's what Giovanni wants."

"He wants Silver," Gold corrected.

Wallace shook his head. "He was to use your death to make Red a complete horcrux. I discovered this when I set Mewtwo free."

"Mewtwo?" N frowned. "Is Mewtwo out there?"

"Yes, somewhere, I'm sure," Wallace impatiently replied. "Giovanni most likely won't act until he sees you, Gold. So if we can kill him before that, Red has a chance."

"Red'll still be a horcrux though," Gold said. "Kind of."

Wallace waved a dismissive hand. "Better that than dead."

"Now you say," N said.

Gold looked thoughtfully out the window. N did too, but he couldn't tap into what Gold was thinking. Perhaps he was too distracted from seeing Giovanni effortless put out Reshiram's flames time and time again, or the shower of Stunners and Killing Curses growing more and more in frequency as the Order closed in.

"I have an idea," Gold said. He didn't look happy about it. "It'll be hard but — Come on. Red's gotta get out of this alive." Gold clenched his fists. "He deserves it. He can't die before he's had a chance to actually have a life where he gets to make his own choices."

"I agree," N replied. "I don't see how there could be a way, though."

Gold grinned. "Well, I do. We're gonna need Black though."

N could feel how certain Gold was, at least. Or maybe it was that after all these years he knew Gold well enough to understand the determined look in his eyes. At any rate, he understood enough to know it would be one of those rare moments of Gold's genius.

"Okay," N said, "I'll find a window to jump out of."

---

Red made it to Hogsmeade easily enough thanks to his Invisibility Cloak. As much as he hated to admit N was a little bit right, he would've taken his pokémon along if he'd thought through the actual process of getting to Hogsmeade. They would've been useful.

But that wasn't outweighed by how much danger he'd leave them in if Team Rocket got them. So Red regretted ever considering more than anything else.

The Invisibility Cloak made it easy enough to sneak on public transport. The most difficult thing was waiting for a witch or wizard to call the Knight Bus. He'd made it happen after he realised he didn't have to wait. There were spells for that. He didn't want to think about it, but there were spells for that, and they weren't that difficult to perform, and it didn't matter if the Imperius Curse was Unforgiveable because he'd be dead soon and everybody forgave the dead. And the old wizard would be okay.

They'd all be okay if Red got it right.

It was mid-morning when Red reached Hogsmeade. Snow covered every roof, piled along the cobblestone paths. Red shoved his hands deep in his jean pockets, pretending that compensated for his bare forearms. He wasn't sure if his head felt light because Pika wasn't hanging off his hat, his hair was short again, or because his mind was so blank. He walked toward the coffee house.

Red knew he was getting close when he saw tall figures in black robes embroidered with 'R's and stupid flat-caps on their heads. They looked at him. Red kept walking as though he hadn't noticed.

The address led him to a small coffee shop whose floral pink sign declared 'Madam Puddifoot's'. It was the only shop in Hogsmeade made from pine, not oak. Red glanced suspiciously at the lacy curtains in the window. Irony was Silver's kind of humour, so maybe it was Giovanni's too?

The bell chimed cheerfully as Red pushed the door open.

"Welcome to Madam Puddifoot's!" two voices chirped.

Next thing Red knew, he was grabbed by two sets of arms and led towards a table. He struggled, but it wasn't very effective.

"Sit down," the flamboyant, bubbly voice said. "No need to frown!"

"Hats off," the flamboyant, smugly superior voice said. "This is a fancy establishment, there's no time to be rude."

"Get off me," Red snapped.

"No need for the attitude, messiah twerp!"

That sounded familiar. Red twisted until he could see lavender hair on one head, long swooping magenta on the other, matching maid outfits…

"Jessie?" Red asked. "James?"

"Meowth! That's right!" a meowth dropping from the ceiling said.

Jessie and James finally released him. Probably to pose. Red couldn't see behind him.

"Did that meowth just speak English?" Red asked. "Sometimes it's hard to tell."

They ignored him.

"So the twerp remembers us," Jessie said. "Can't blame him, who could forget such a beauty as the great Jessie?"

"Can I go?" Red asked. "Your boss wants to see me."

"But nobody's supposed to know they're beneath the —"

"There is no boss here!" Jessie cried. "Except me! I am the boss and I don't want to see you! Leave! Insolent twerp! Go back to school!"

Red dryly replied, "But I'm too cool."

There was a long silence.

"The messiah twerp thinks he's cool," the meowth said.

"How funny," Jessie said.

"You're not cool," James said. "Look at that outfit. Who made it? That Hufflepuff?"

Red nodded.

"He thinks he's so tough," James fumed. "I'm the one who took the boss's uniform and made something beautiful!"

And he twirled to prove his point. Red didn't see his point, but he also didn't care, so he'd fake it.

"You're right," he said. "You're a better fashion-er."

"Designer!"

"Sure, that too." Red moved to stand up. The meowth held its claws in his face.

"Paws there pal," it said.

"Yes," James said. "Yes, I have to design a better outfit for you! Right at this very second!"

"With what material, Jimmy-boy?" the meowth asked. "The table cloth?"

"No, we'll have to leave, won't we?" James concluded.

"Come on, messiah twerp," Jessie said. "This is vital. A final kindness."

Red glared at them. "Are you guys trying to keep me from Giov—"

"Don't say the name!" they all cried.

"He can hear!" James added. "It's jinxed in Hogsmeade!"

"Shut up!" Jessie cried.

"Why're you keeping me from him?" Red demanded.

They didn't answer.

"I don't have time for this," Red said. He had an idea. "You know. I have a perfect Invisibility Cloak. Could even cover two people and a pokémon in ridiculously poofy skirts, if they wanted to sneak away."

"Good guys get all the breaks," James sighed dramatically.

"It's in my bag," Red added pointedly. "If some thieves wanted to take it, they could. Very easily."

For a moment, all three stared at each other in consideration. Then they all lunged for his bag at once.

"Oh no," Red deadpanned. "Not my Invisibility Cloak."

Jessie pulled it out with a shout of triumph. "Your stupidity has failed you for the last time, messiah twerp-scream!"

She pulled James and Meowth close, threw it over all three of them, and loudly stumbled away, bickering all the while.

"Finally," Red muttered.

He stood up. He didn't understand what they meant by a 'jinx', but he guessed if he spoke Giovanni's name, he'd appear.

Red looked slowly around the deserted coffee shop. He could stay in a limbo of pink lace, doilies and conjured coffee for the rest of time. He could even leave, if he wanted. He could run and live. He could stay and fight. He could stay and surrender. He could go back to his friends, to Green, and apologise for giving up. He could hold on for another way. He could search harder for one. There were a lot of things Red could choose to do.

With that reality in mind, Red didn't know what to do. He'd tried to prepare himself, but how could anything actually prepare him to die?

Slowly, Red reached into his bag and took out the Resurrection Stone. He'd been keeping it carefully tucked in the pocket of his (or, well, Leaf's) bright yellow bag meant for a PokéGear. Somehow he'd known he'd need it, without ever really stopping to think why.

"Please," Red murmured as he turned the Stone over in his palm three times, thinking of Steven.

Time hadn't taken the brightness of Steven's smile, the shine in his eyes, the stylishly dishevelled fall of his hair, the warmth of his presence, the soothing calm of his voice and its eastern Hoenn inflections. For a moment when he heard the soft whisper of his name, Red thought it was only his memory. Even after he opened his eyes and saw Steven, he still thought, this is too good to happen to me.

"Red," Steven said again, a little more firmly.

Red knew he couldn't touch him, but all he wanted was to throw his arms around Steven and cry. Like when he was fourteen and Tracey was dead and Giovanni was back and it'd seemed nothing could get any worse.

"I don't know what I'm doing," Red blurted out. "I don't know what's right any more."

Steven's smile became sadder. "Funny, isn't it. How often that becomes the case the older we get."

"It's not funny at all," Red replied. "I'm not even an adult. I'm never gonna be an adult."

"Isn't it too soon to say never?" Steven asked.

"Is that what you did? Pretended there was some way out until the last minute?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact," Steven replied. "Down to the last second, even. Wallace was there. Silver was there. I hoped something would happen. It didn't. It wasn't a waste to hope, though."

"I think I'm meant to die," Red said.

"That's ridiculous," Steven said. "Who would decide such a thing?"

"I don't know. Arceus?"

"I doubt that," Steven said.

Red bit his lip. "Is, Arceus really… you know?"

"Who really knows," Steven replied. "What I do know, I'm not supposed to say."

"But, but… There is something after you die, right?"

"Yes, something."

Red swallowed the lump forming in his throat. "A-and, and I'll, I'll get to see them all again, right? When they die too?"

"Most likely," Steven said. "I am here with your mother and father, so, I think it'd be very likely. It's more complicated than you'd think, on the other side. Which means it's only more like the world you know that you'd think."

"I don't think that makes sense," Red whispered. "I guess none of it does."

Steven looked ready to cry. "You don't have to do this Red."

Red looked away. "Neither did you."

"It's too soon to give up," Steven insisted. "Red, I can't see much from here, but I know your friends are fighting for you. I know they haven't given up."

"Someone has to be brave enough to," Red said.

"Don't trick yourself into thinking this is your only option," Steven said. "Please, Red. Please be sure you want to do this."

"I wasn't sure," Red admitted. "But I am now. It'll be okay. This makes sense."

"Does it?" Steven asked, sounding tired. "Or are you being strong for my sake?"

Red didn't know how to answer. He didn't want to lie to Steven, but he couldn't confirm it.

"Please, try your hardest to live, Red," Steven said. "Or else, what did I die for?"

Red looked at Steven and replied, "You died doing what was right."

Steven gave a strained smile. "Oh, Red. Don't talk it up as some grand sacrifice. You'll only convince yourself to do what I'd rather you didn't."

Red felt his lips curl slightly upwards. "I have to do what's right, Steven."

"I know," Steven replied. "Still, I hoped."

"I wish I could hug you," Red said.

Steven nodded. "Me too."

And Steven reached out to him, slowly raising one arm, and stretching out his hand as though it could touch Red's shoulder.

"You are too brave, and too kind," Steven whispered.

Red bit his lip. "I have to. I have to go. Steven."

Steven nodded.

Red stared at the floor. "I'll. I'll see you soon."

"Is it bad to say I hope not?" Steven asked.

Red shook his head.

"Well, Red," Steven said. "Sorry I didn't make it to your birthday party."

Red clenched his fists. It didn't stop the tears from coming. "I-it's okay," he said. "For, forget about it."

"I'll try, but it's hard to forget letting you down," Steven replied.

"It's okay," Red insisted. "I'll. I gotta go. I gotta do this."

"Bye, Red," Steven said.

Red scrunched his eyes tightly shut. "I love you, Steven."

"I love you too," Steven said.

"Bye," Red whispered as he let the Stone fall from his fingers. He caught it again before it hit the ground. For a moment, he held it close to his heart. "Bye. Bye, Steven."

When Red returned the Resurrection Stone to his bag, he couldn't feel any trace of tears. He felt braver, but at the same time, more sure he did actually have a choice. He could choose to go find his friends, to fight harder to live, and take all the risks that would come with that.

Red wondered if Oak had a choice. Even the illusion of one.

It didn't help to wonder.

Red chose to say Giovanni's name.

With a loud crack, Giovanni appeared. Red met his eyes. Was that smirk the last thing his parents saw, too?

"Well, well," Giovanni sneered. "Red Potter."

Red sighed. "Do we really have to do that?"

Giovanni clicked his tongue. "Decorum is important, you uncouth brat."

Red crossed his arms over his chest.

"Well. At least you're looking more yourself."

"Look. You've won, just get it over with," Red replied. And to prove it, he pulled out his wand and held it out to Giovanni.

Giovanni chuckled. "Oh no, Red. It won't be that easy."

"I'm making it that easy," Red said.

"And only petulant children insist on getting their way all the time," Giovanni snapped, snatching Red's wand.

It took Giovanni a long moment to change his anger into amusement again. When he chuckled, it still sounded strained.

"No, Red. You haven't suffered enough. After all the trouble you've caused me, I deserve some fun," Giovanni replied. "And what could be more fun than creating my ultimate horcrux using the murder of Gold Weasley?"

Red closed his eyes and groaned.

"Oh yes," Giovanni said. "You will be the bait that lures him out."

"He doesn't even know I'm here."

"Ah, how predictably noble," Giovanni sneered. "Then, isn't it lucky that old fool's Order of the Moltres is presently trying to cope with his death by attacking Hogwarts?"

"The more you draw it out, the more likely you are to fail," Red said.

"I'm well aware your plan is to become a full horcrux then kill me," Giovanni replied. "Do you think you can buy yourself another sixteen years of borrowed time?"

Red didn't see any point in pretending otherwise. "No. I'd kill myself after."

"How noble," Giovanni sneered. "Up until now, I was convinced you were actually a Hufflepuff — your incredible stupidity, you see."

There was no point in replying. Red had to hold out hope that the others had no idea where he'd gone. That they were still in Sinnoh, crowded in Platinum's sun room, frantically trying to figure out where Team Rocket could be. They wouldn't figure out Madam Puddifoot's in time. Giovanni would get impatient and make Red a horcrux. Red would kill Giovanni. And then he'd kill himself. It was just a distraction in the plan.

Giovanni conjured ropes around Red's arms, binding them so tightly against each other he could barely move, yet the ropes still cut into his flesh. Giovanni took in Red's discomfort with a sneer that only made him way more uncomfortable.

Why don't you try touching me, Red wanted to say, but he was kind of hoping Giovanni had forgotten how Bugsy died.

"Come along," Giovanni said, tugging the end of the rope. "There's an audience awaiting you, Red."

Rolling his eyes, Red followed. He ignored the catcalls of the Rockets they passed, the gasps of civilians, Giovanni waving at them all like some European monarch, the cold burning at his face, the crowd on Hogwarts' grounds becoming more visible. He ignored everything but holding his head high as walked to his death.

"Hello, hello," Giovanni called once they were at the edge of town. "I see many of you are enthusiastic to join us."

The Rockets jeered. Red half expected them to throw tomatoes.

"Well, I see no harm in that," Giovanni declared. "This will be my greatest triumph. The more witnesses, the better."

They cheered.

"Now come along," Giovanni said. "We're taking Red back to Hogwarts."

Red felt more and more cold the closer they got to the school. Hogwarts Castle looked so strange. It was the same, yet didn't look remotely inviting any more.

"Karen has done a good job, hasn't she," Giovanni chuckled. "There is no length she won't go to in order to impress me. Quite pathetic, really."

"I know," Red replied. "You're incapable of actual emotions."

"An insolent brat until the end. I suppose you will think you remained true to your principles, though the rest of the world will know you as a traitor."

Red stared. "Are you making this up as you go?"

Giovanni made a strange movement, like he was going to hit Red, but stopped. His smile fell. "You couldn't even begin to comprehend my genius, Red Potter."

"Maybe cos I don't care," Red sighed.

"My lord," a nearby voice gasped.

"Archer," Giovanni acknowledged.

Red stared determinedly ahead, away from Green's father.

"I knew you would succeed," Archer said. "I knew you'd —"

"Why are you here instead of at your station in Saffron?" Giovanni coldly asked.

Archer hesitated. "I heard my son was here. It is my responsibility to take care of him, is it not?"

"True," Giovanni said. He was eyeing Red. "We will of course make sure you have an excellent vantage point, Red. Anything else would be rude."

Red ignored them. They wouldn't get Green.

"It must be very disappointing, to have such an insolent son with no value," Giovanni continued. "Not particularly intelligent, nor magically gifted, so I hear. Is that true, Red?"

Red replied, "He's smarter and better at magic than your son."

Giovanni almost hit him again. So he did remember what happened to Bugsy.

"I highly doubt that," Giovanni said. "Silver's rebellious streak has taken him quite far, but never to the ideologies of that old fool Oak. Killing him was satisfying indeed."

Red ignored him. He looked up at the castle. There was a window being opened. Red quickly looked away. He didn't want Giovanni to notice. From the corner of his eye, he could see movement. A burst of light, a streak of blue. Red's heart pounded. He hoped it wasn't, but then Reshiram screamed, "I'M RAINING DOWN THE PAIN!"

Quickly, Red ducked towards the building. Just in time; Reshiram was circling, setting the grass on fire until they were enclosed.

"Oh good, I was hoping your friends would turn up," Giovanni calmly said. "He's become much more impressive with that dragon. What was this one called?"

"Black," Red said quietly.

The Rockets started shooting spells at Black and Reshiram without direction. Stunners, Killing Curses, hexes Red didn't recognise. Reshiram flew higher, dodging. It was terrifying. Was this how Black felt every time he watched Red do something stupid? No wonder Black had so many panic attacks.

Giovanni flicked his wand. The flames disappeared.

"How amusing," he drawled. "I wonder how long until Gold makes his move."

Red could hear chattering. He glanced up at the castle. A group of Ghost pokémon, a gastly, a gengar and two haunter, slid through the wall. They started throwing Shadow Ball attacks at the Rockets.

"Tasteless," Giovanni sniffed. He flicked his wand again. A very solid protection charm surrounded them. Which also meant Red couldn't run even if he'd wanted to.

Reshiram swooped again, breathing fire again. Black Stunned a few Rockets. They kept barely dodging the counterattacks. And all Red could do was watch.

The Order marched in, led by Norman. There was no commentary, no delivery of speeches, no direction from Giovanni. The fight broke out. Blinding flashes of light streaked everywhere. Reshiram and Black continued to attack, but it was obviously harder to pick the Rockets from the Order when they were clumped together and fighting. Red could see Hahajo fighting and though, Oh fucking hell, why isn't it just me and Giovanni.

It was blinding. It was too difficult to follow. Red couldn't escape, he couldn't help. All he could do was watch.

A dark smog descended from the castle. Red could still faintly see the spells flying, but most people stopped to yell in confusion.

Red's scar jolted with a sudden, sharper pain. He looked at Giovanni. He was smirking. Strange. He was… elated.

"Enough," he said. He flicked his wand, sweeping the smog away.

The pain faded. Red blinked several times. His eyes felt strange.

Giovanni grabbed him carefully by the shoulder. He dragged Red towards the battle. Red deliberately tripped over his feet, falling to the ground.

"Stupid boy," Giovanni growled. He let Red go, looking to the roof. His guard was down.

Red contorted his bound arms until he grabbed Giovanni's hand. Giovanni shouted in pain, throwing him off. Red had hoped his grip on his wand would falter. It hadn't. The spell had broken, though. Red stumbled back as far as he could.

"Stupid, insolent, stubborn brat!" Giovanni shouted. He raised his wand. "I should have done this a long, long time ago."

"Expelliarmus!"

Giovanni's wand flew from his hand. He snarled.

"I should have done that a long time ago," Wallace said. He waved his wand again. The ropes around Red's arms disappeared.

Giovanni gave a strained chuckle. He reached into his jacket and pulled out Red's wand. "No matter. I'll simply —"

Wallace transformed, and started to run.

"Some hero you have, boy," Giovanni dryly remarked.

"The only hero here is the Hero of Truth," N's voice said. Red fought the urge to groan. "And he's not a rat-faced pokémon impersonator."

"You're just, not good at one-liners," Red sighed.

N grabbed Red's arm and they started to run.

"Where are we going?" Red asked.

"Away from your stupid failure of a plan," N replied. "Hang on."

Zöllner came running over, yapping about illusions. Red glanced back. He could see himself and N, running in a different direction. Flannery stumbled into the illusion as she fell to the ground. He couldn't tell if she was alive or dead. The illusion disappeared.

"He wasn't fooled," Red said. "Giovanni, he's still —"

N suddenly pulled him to a stop. Red glanced around. They were near the lake. Across it, near Brock's hut, Red could see a hint of Silver's hair. He wondered where Brock was. But there was nothing special about the area, so why…?

Red spun around, looking back at the castle. They could see a corner. Around one side, Giovanni was coming. Gold lurked at the other corner, looking ready to attack.

Another sharp, burning pain in his scar. Red shook his head, clearing it quickly. What if Giovanni was trying to access his mind? What if he had? But Giovanni kept coming. And so did Gold.

"No!" Red shouted, running towards Giovanni.

"Oh, come back then?" Giovanni sneered.

There was a heavy thud as Reshiram landed. Red looked in alarm. She was unconscious, or dead, or — but Black was okay. Black stumbled to his feet, recalling Reshiram to her Ball.

"How perfect," Giovanni said. "Your whole team coming together. Well, we're missing that Oak brat, but don't worry. I saw Archer taking care of him."

Red started to shake. He tried to say something, but the words wouldn't come out.

Silver was running around the lake. But Gold was coming closer, too fast. It was all Red could do to run between Gold and Giovanni's raised wand. His own wand.

"I am starting to question if I truly want you as a horcrux," Giovanni remarked. "Such a pathetic, pathetic child."

"So kill me," Red said.

"Red, no!" Gold cried.

"I'll kill you all soon enough, wait your turn," Giovanni said. "Very well, Red. Why not. Avada Kedavra."

There was a blinding flash of electricity as the jet of green light appeared.

Suddenly, claws closed around his shoulders. Before Red could make a noise, he was yanked backwards and up. He couldn't see what it was, but he could feel, and if he squinted through the Disillusionment Charm — Aero.

And —

And where did the jet of green light go?

And why was Gold on the ground?

"Let me down!" Red cried.

Aero didn't.

"Oh," Giovanni remarked dryly. "What a shame. My original target."

"No!" Silver shouted.

Giovanni froze.

Silver shoved past him, to Gold. Red could see, from where Aero was holding him, Silver crying, he could hear Silver telling Gold to get up.

"Let me down, please," Red begged.

Aero set him down near Black. Red moved towards Gold. Black grabbed one of his arms, holding him back. He could see N, on the ground, near Giovanni, and thought, oh no, no, no, not him too.

"Red," Black said quietly.

He was cut off by Silver looking up at Giovanni and shouting, "I'm gonna kill you! I'll make you pay, I —" Silver tried to get up. But he stumbled, gave up, and slumped against Gold's body. Crying again.

There was a blinding pain in his scar.

To his relief, Red saw N's hand coil around Giovanni's ankle. At the same time, through the agony of his scar, he knew Giovanni couldn't feel it. A strange numbness was taking over his body, completely, until all he could hear was Silver crying and —

He'd made his son cry. Silver hadn't cried in front of him since he was an infant.

It sounded as though Silver was in actual pain. Hadn't Silver suffered enough due to his mistakes? And now he had misjudged, misunderstood, hurting Silver in his attempts to protect him.

How was it his fault? Any parents would murder those who looked lustfully at their child, their child who had experienced too much lust too soon.

It wouldn't have happened if you'd been there, a voice bid.

It wasn't the first time he'd thought it.

If you'd never killed the Potters, you'd've been there, it tried again.

He hadn't thought of that before. It was true, wasn't it? In his quest for immortality, he became incapable of protecting his son. The only one he'd ever loved.

Some strange sensation swept over him. Some strange feeling being pumped by his heart until it flooded his entire body. It was warm, it was sickening, and yet he didn't care. All he cared for was Silver, Silver crying, Silver hating him, and —

He regretted everything.

The pain became intolerable. Red would've collapsed if Black wasn't holding him up. It was deep, deep at his core, agony, worse than the Cruciatus Curse. Yet his heart kept beating. He started to feel warmer. And Red realised, it wasn't the worst pain he'd ever felt. The moment he'd realised Steven was really, really dead was. That moment he'd shoved aside and tried not to think about, trying to focus instead on love. How much he loved Steven. How much he loved his friends. How much they made life worth living, every day, no matter how much pain he suffered. Red got used to the pain of living without Steven. It still hurt, it would always hurt, but love made every day worth it.

And you could've had that love too, the voice said, faintly. Red could barely hear it.

There was another surge of pain. It faded quickly, barely registering. Red's vision was coming back clearer. He could see Giovanni, slumped and curled and screaming in pain. He could feel Black's hand on his forehead.

"Your scar," Black cried, excited. "It's gone, it's not there."

Giovanni threw his head back and screamed.

N pulled away, rolling and jumping to his feet. As he did, Zöllner jumped into his arms. N walked over to them, smirking.

"What," Silver whispered, "what's —?"

Gold sat up.

Red stared.

"Sorry Silv," Gold said. He quickly climbed to his feet, pulling Silver up as well. "It was an illusion. But, hey, I'm fine! So, that's something!"

Silver's face clouded. "You tricked me."

"I'm sorry," Gold said again. "Can we, talk later, there's kind of a war —"

Silver punched him.

There was a streak of blue light. Red reached for his wand, or a PokéBall, before remembering he had neither. A familiar figure floated over Giovanni. Tall, feline, Mewtwo.

"You," Giovanni rasped. "Did you do this to me?"

"No," Mewtwo replied. "This was all your own doing. I will be finishing you, though."

Giovanni tried to stand up. He couldn't. He looked over at Silver.

"My son," he said. "Silver, I'm sorry."

"Like I give a fuck," Silver snapped.

Giovanni closed his eyes.

"This is nothing to do with the vendettas of humans," Mewtwo said, conjuring a dark energy ball. Red tried to step forward. Black held him back again. "This is my personal revenge."

Red forced himself to watch as Mewtwo threw its attack at Giovanni. Confirmation, he told himself. Giovanni gave a weak yell of pain. He fell back, body limp, eyes lifeless.

There was no relief.

Maybe because there was still a war going on.

Maybe because he didn't know if Green was safe.

Mewtwo disappeared without a word.

Black finally let him go. Gold ran over to him, hugging him tightly.

"You damn idiot," he said. "You stupid, stupid, idiot!" Gold pulled back. He brushed Red's fringe aside. And grinned. "It's really gone, bro. Your scar's gone. You're not a horcrux."

Red pulled away. He turned back to the battle. "We still have to finish this."

Gold ran forward a few paces and shouted, "GIOVANNI IS DEAD!"

Red didn't care. He grabbed his wand from Giovanni's corpse. He ran into the fray. Ducking Stunners, ignoring Gold's shout, ignoring Aero's roar. He could hear them following him, shouting about Giovanni's death to everyone. He didn't care.

Green had to be somewhere.

As word spread, the battle died down around him. The Rockets were surrendering. Before he found Green, Red found Alder. Or more, Alder threw his arms around him in a tight hug, drawing him close and saying, "Thank everything."

"Who's dead?" Red pleaded. "Is, is everyone —?"

Alder shook his head. "We don't know yet."

Red fought the urge to cry. He looked around the battle, over Alder's shoulder. He couldn't tell who was Stunned and who was dead. There were people moving around sorting the bodies. He could see Blue run to Silver, barely slowing down as she threw her arms around him.

"It's okay," Alder said softly. "I know, I know, it's a lot."

Red breathed in a deep, shuddering breath. "I thought I was gonna die."

"You're all right," Alder said. "Maybe not entirely. But you're alive."

Red groaned. He pulled away from Alder. "Have you seen Green?"

"Not in the battle, no," Alder replied. "Let's split up. I'll look this way, you —"

Red ran off before Alder even finished. He ran past Hahajo and Phoebe, grim over Norman and Flannery's bodies. Their faces were too serious for them to only be Stunned. When had Crystal last spoken to her father, he suddenly wondered. Pointlessly wondered. He kept running, past strangers, people he'd never know now.

He wondered how many of the Rockets were like Jessie and James, staying only because they were too scared to leave. And now dead.

Red paused, breathing heavily, wiping his eyes.

"LOSER!" a voice behind him cried in delight.

Red turned around quickly. Pika was running towards him, shouting over and over that he was a loser. Red crouched down, holding his arms open to catch him.

"I'm sorry," Red whispered, hugging Pika tightly. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Pika nuzzled against his cheek so hard Red's entire face went numb for a few seconds.

There were footsteps approaching. Red looked up hopefully. Green's face was filthy with sweat and mud, but he gave a forced cocky smirk.

"Yo," he said, holding out Red's Invisibility Cloak.

Red set Pika down before throwing his arms around Green.

"I had to watch as they arrested my father," Green explained. "You should've seen me, I kicked his arse."

Red sighed in relief.

"Sorry I left," he said. "I know it was a bad time."

"Oh yeah," Green agreed. "But, you're alive…? What happened…?"

"I have no idea," Red replied. He let Green go. Pika climbed up his leg, settling on his shoulder. "I, I guess. I guess we need to ask Gold."

Green nodded, scanning the crowd. "Oh, there, by the lake."

They started walking. Red did his best not to look around, to focus on Green.

"You know," Green casually said, "you're going to have to spend the rest of your life making it up to me."

"I know," Red replied.

"I still haven't really processed — anything," Green admitted. "But, it's gonna get better from here. Right?"

Red frowned. "Green, I dunno what anyone's told you, but…" He hesitated. "It doesn't. It doesn't ever stop hurting. Not even a little. But you get used to it. You learn to enjoy life again anyway. For other reasons. While, while still loving…"

Red's voice faltered. He hadn't processed Oak being dead yet either, and now there were all these new deaths to deal with.

"That's kinda grim," Green said.

Red shook his head insistently. "It's just. The way it is."

Green reached back and took his hand.

They reached the others. Blue had left again. Silver was standing to the side, away from Gold.

"What was that?" Red asked. "And, and is Reshiram okay?"

"Reshi's fine," Black replied. "Tired. We faked it. You know the drill."

Red shook his head. "What — what was that? What happened to my scar?"

"Remorse," N said, like that was obvious. "Giovanni felt enough remorse to mend his soul, taking back the part he'd left in you. Of course, I had to help, but I wouldn't've been able to do it if he hadn't had the emotions for me to amplify."

Red frowned. "But…"

"Think about it," Gold said, "How could anybody not love Silver?"

Silver made a disgusted noise. He turned and started walking away.

"Wait!" Gold cried, running after him.

"Why should I?" Silver snapped. "You tricked me, you used me, you lied to me, and I'm an idiot for trusting you!"

"No you're not," Gold insisted. "It was — extreme circumstances, and —"

"Do you have any idea how that felt?!" Silver shouted. "And what, I'm supposed to be happy? I'm supposed to be fine? Should I give a fuck that apparently Giovanni cared about me to whole time, but never enough to actually be nice to me?!"

"I don't know!" Gold cried. "All I knew was it made sense, the way he reacted to —"

"Shut up!" Silver screamed. He glared at Gold and demanded, "How could anybody who loves me do what you did?"

"I dunno," Gold said. "I guess… I guess cos I love Red more."

Silver laughed bitterly. "Big shock."

"Not like I love you, and I do, I love you so much," Gold insisted. "But, he's my best friend, and this way he's alive, you're alive, Giovanni's dead, and I'm sorry I lied to you but everything turned out good."

"I know," Silver said. He turned away. "I need time. Away from you. To figure everything out. To figure out who I am. And not be so dependent on you."

Gold sighed heavily. "That's what I was scared of."

Silver turned away.

"I think it'll be good for you," Gold called. "If that's, worth anything."

Silver didn't reply. He walked away.

"Awkward," Green sighed.

Gold turned back to them. He forced a smile. "It was worth it."

Red looked away. There wasn't anywhere he could look without seeing the destruction, the burnt grass, the bodies… Except the lake.

"Dude," Gold said urgently. "Sorry we tricked you, too."

"It's okay," Red replied. "I'd be dead if you hadn't."

Across the lake, Brock's door flew open. Brock emerged, looked around (probably), and gasped in surprise. "Whoa! What'd I miss!"

Red looked away, back to Green. Back to Black, clinging to N, and Gold. And he knew, some things would never change.

Pika climbed from one shoulder to the other, clenching a fist in determination. Red nodded.

"Let's go help out," he said.

They walked together back into the aftermath.

---

I hesitated for a very long time over this chapter title. I worry it made the ending too obvious. I decided to go with it despite that risk because that has been my key focus in this fic: love, and its many forms - romantic, platonic; good, bad; beautiful, ugly; destructive and redemptive.

You can always tell me how obvious it was in the comments x: I also struggled a lot with the POV shifts... Usually not my style. I think I did okay.

There's still more to come! In a few days, I'll be posting the epilogue.

See you then!