Subtly slips an update

34th Poke: Theoretically Speaking

Obviously, teleporting straight inside the infamous cave where Mewtwo dwells is a no go –It's protected by psychic barrier, Green- and Mew took it to himself to be a pain in the butt by taking his sweet time around the cave. It's a dark cave and Mew procured a lamp out of nowhere before asking me to provide for electricity so the light can be lit. I gladly provided, illuminating the cave in soft warm glow as the lamp was lit.

Cerulean Cave is one of those caves that grandpa had been fascinated with. He always had something new to say each time he visited there, though they don't allow visitors anymore unless you're the current champion of Kanto. Which meant that almost no one ever steps foot inside here except, well, daredevils or, obviously, the champion of Kanto. Threading inside the slightly humid cave carefully, we made progress covering the ground as much as two little pokemon with a single lamp could. Mew occasionally tries to break through the thick barrier preventing him to teleport further in or even get a read on the cave whole map.

Isn't it kind of paranoid of Mewtwo to set a barrier this thick just to prevent interference? I asked, flicking a Golbat out of its flying course with a small jolt. Mew gave me a disapproving look, He is not paranoid, he's just sensitive to little things, he seemed to sway as the light flickers, no stray pokemon should be able to reach Mewtwo, unless you're a legendary who knows prior about his whereabouts.

Sounds paranoid for me I shrugged. Mew did not answer so we travelled further in complete silence. Occasionally, Mew would get a few clues and hints on where we should go, but those moments came too far in between that we're so prone to running into a dead end instead of getting closer to the cave's deepest room. The wild pokemon inside the cave seemed content on flying or prowling without a particular goal in their mind. They seemed preoccupied with how they're going to get food instead.

I did not buy the reason that Mewtwo purposefully steered them clear from his lair, but the thought that Mewtwo is powerful enough to reject any pokemon with any type to reach him both physically and mentally actually worried me. What if he wouldn't listen? I know, Mewtwo would listen to Mew, but will he be willing to listen to me? A human in pokemon's body? Mew said it will be hard and I had confidently offered myself to do his biddings.

I am the key.

If I am the key, and Red is the lock?

What exactly it is that we're about to open?

….

"You don't want me to enter Viridian?" he remained calm, as always. Fixing an impassive look on his face is easy, he seemed to master it in no time. The man before him nodded, "Sorry, Red, but there's nothing you can do to gain entry" he tapped the dragon pokemon behind him a few times, "…aside from me, there're tens of Rocket members taking turn on patrolling the area"

Are you one of them?

The questions caught in his throat, yet the man seemed to acknowledge the suspicion flickering on his eyes. "No, I am not one of them," he answered, "…my name is Lance and I'm here under the request of Professor Oak to take you away from Viridian" he hoisted himself back up to the dragon pokemon. Red craned his neck up to stare at Lance right on his eyes, searching for that slight second of hesitation to signify lies or deceit. When he found none, he decided it's probably best to take his words at face value. Lance seemed pleased when he nodded his compliance. As Red called back all of his team pokemon, he noticed the absent of Mew. Green and Mew were missing. He frowned at this. He couldn't exactly leave them if they just took a stroll around the area, but Lance doesn't look like the most patient person in the entire world.

That reminded him.

The letter. Mew might leave that for him to explain where they were going. He pulled his bag and unzipped it. After a few seconds of rummaging through his belonging, he picked the letter up and unfolded it. It was written with careful, small writings, but it was clear that Mew had written the whole thing if the playful stroke and Mew's name on the bottom letter was anything to go by.

Red, don't search for us was the first line and Red stiffened. His chest tightened as he felt uneasiness creeping up his back. He shrugged it off and continued, We are going somewhere important as you read this letter. Somewhere, you are yet to discover. It's a place where everything will end, eventually. I'm sorry that we must part ways after our joyful travel, but this is something I must do. I take your Green with me as my backup power, at this line, Red stopped again, wondering why would Mew chose Green out of everyone else.

...not only because it was my wish to take him, but because that Green wished so as well. He told me a lot of things about his travel with you, Red, and how much it changed him. He's happy to travel with you, fighting as your pokemon. He told me many things, you know, about himself before he met you, about his displeasure to be your pokemon at first, and about his experience in this journey with you. I took it upon myself to give you his message through this letter. He wanted to thank you and also apologize for not being with you through to the end.

With emotions fighting for dominance in his mind, Red continued through the letter, Green said that he's sorry that he can't be with you until the very end. He's sorry that you couldn't find his namesake with him, sorry that he had to leave. And also, he wanted you to know that whoever owns that pendant he had with him should be proud of you. He told me to thank you for this whole experience that had changed him for the better. He told me a promise that he'll meet you again, although he doesn't quite know when. Green didn't say a thing afterward, though he seemed regretful of his choice. But I do believe that he will leave after he helped me, so…yeah.

Goodbye, Red. That's what he said for me to tell you.

Red clenched his fist, "That's not how this should be…" his teeth ground together as he struggled to hold everything back, to not let anything slipped past his wall. The letter still has one paragraph left and Red counted to ten before he read the rest, Red, I know you'll be shaken by Green's abrupt departure, but I want you to stay on the path shown to you. I told you what you should do, and how it will lead you to where you should be. This is selfish, I noticed, but there's nothing else I can do, but wish that you would stay on the path, that you have enough conscience and strength to stand on your own and take a step. I will rejoin you after everything come together at the end of your journey. For now, this is good-bye.

"Are you alright?" Lance finally asked, seeing as the trainer was trembling over a piece of paper. There was no reply, but the trainer folded the paper and carefully stashed it back to his bag before he looked up toward Lance, "…No, I'll be okay…" he said in choked words. There were unshed tears prickling the corner of his eyes, but Red refused to wipe it off. Losing one of his most trusted pokemon felt like a piece of him was ripped off forcefully. Losing it because it willingly left was painful. But Mew depends on him. Green trusted him that he'll be okay. And everyone is demanding him to stand on his two feet and move on.

"What is it that I have to do so I can get inside Viridian?" he asked. His cold, impassive voice only trembled at the few first words before his lips spelt firmly. Lance's eyes twitched, "Nothing at all, Red," he retorted bitterly, "…we can't afford to lose who Mew has chosen-"

"But, it is my duty as Mew's chosen!" Red snapped his head up, eyes blazing in determination, "I have to defeat the last gym leader and obtain the right to enter Mewtwo's cave!" his impatience reared on his mind, expectation driving each and every words out of his mouth. Lance pursed his lips before he brought a hand up to massage his temple, "…You haven't even caught all of the three legendaries, have you?" the boy grimaced at the mention of his lack of condition to face the inevitable. How awfully uncharacteristic of him. The 'Red' that professor Oak described was a calm and composed child with manners. If he is to be believed, then…who is this boy before him?

There're a lot of conflicted feelings trapped inside Red. There's the expectation that had so suddenly been thrown into his shoulder. There's the guilt that he felt pressuring his skull for not being able to find Green. There's the hesitation, that part of him that was yet to be convinced that he could do this without Green's help. He wanted to find Green. To ask him what would he do during this situation. To hear Green's voice as he mocked him for being weak and dependent.

But isn't that who he is?

The thought of finding Green at the end of his journey seemed far-fetched now, right at this turning point. If he went with Lance, who knew what will happen to Mew and his pikachu. Mew had another matter to attend to would not mean that anywhere he went would be safe. He could be caught and Giovanni would win. And he would never find Green. Even if by some miracle he would find his childhood friend, there would be disappointed eyes permanently staring at him as sharp tongue continuously preaches him about his lack of ability.

Without Green, he would eventually crumble.

How could he be this dependent?

He needed Green.

He needed his friend.

A muffled sob escaped his lips as his head bowed down gradually as if all the weight on his shoulder had finally won. Red dropped to his knees, wondering if Mew might have chosen the wrong partner. He could hear Lance calling his name, but he couldn't see anything. His only clues to Green had disappeared, left willingly even. He hadn't tried to replace Green with the Pikachu, he swore, yet the Pikachu still left, wiping off any trace of Green that was left. And it felt like Green was taken away from him the second time.

Yes, yes, he has to proof himself. That he could walk on without Green at the sideline. But how could he know whether he had grown stronger to continue or not? He simply fought his way here with his instinct, an ability that he had been born with. It is not impressive; he wasn't getting stronger by fighting with what he already had in the first place.

How could he know if he's grown if there's no one there to test him?

I will be the strongest trainer in Kanto! And I'll defeat you, Red!

Red closed his eyes and hoped that at least that he could see Green in his dream should he wish so.

…

Lance propped the unconscious child into Dragonite's back. He hoisted himself next, taking care not to prod the child to a fall. Tapping the Dragonite's nape twice, he held the boy firmly and braced for the flight. The child just had a breakdown and would be vulnerable both physically and mentally. It's strange that the boy had an attack like that all of a sudden and collapsed, not that Lance had never experienced someone doing that right in front of him. Unfortunately, he had no time left to let the boy recover. If Mew had chosen a trainer, then he'll train the chosen himself if he must.

Beside, there are a few others who wanted to meet with Mew's chosen.

It would not bring good morale to bring an unconscious sobbing child to them, no, he would not let such trivial matter bring shame to Mew's decision. That child better proved himself capable soon, or pray tell what would happen to Kanto.

….

She rested her head on the icy throne of her lair. There is a human here, she noted. A human in less clothing that they should be wearing in this kind of weather. Mindlessly, her wings fluttered as she let a slight cool breeze to sweep across the cold cave. The human shivered though they don't seem to be backing down. Determined, huh, she crooked her head up, I like that…

"Finally…finally…" the human spoke as they trembled before her. Articuno pulled her mighty form together and spread her glassy wings afar. This is not who Mew has chosen, she grimly concluded, curling her wings back to her body, disappointed. The human paused as they see her disinterested gesture. "Wait, wait! I have something to tell you!" they shouted desperately. Articuno merely glanced at the far exit and willed the human to go away. "I…I want you to meet Mew's chosen! I know where he is!" this remark perked her interest. Supposedly, they were ordered to wait on the chosen. Mewtwo allowed them to roam over Kanto five times before they have to settle in their lair and wait. Moltres had been caught during their last roaming, but nobody had come to her or Zapdos so they each had settled inside their respective territory and waited.

This would disobey the order that Mewtwo had given, but she's tired of waiting for any kind of prediction.

…

Lt. Surge had never felt this kind of power ever since the war. It was even wrought upon him in all its might. And anger if he might add. There was a loud screech ripping the air behind him as he ordered the Arcanine to run faster. Fortunately, he had brought this speedy canine with him, or else, he might not be able to outrun the menace. He looked back if only to ensure himself and gave out a big grin.

"Good, good," he gave a hearty laugh as he tapped the Arcanine's head softly as encouragement, "…let's just hope that Lance is as fast as he promised to be"

….

Hey, hey, have you heard?

Silence! I demand silence.

So…sorry, your highness, it's good to be back home though.

What do you three have to say for coming back empty-handed?

It wasn't our fault…we failed because of those humans in black uniforms

Ah, yes, I've heard of them. Surely you could just run past them and bring the last piece to the chosen couldn't you?

Pardon me, Lord Ho'oh, but no, they are vicious, those bunch of evil humans and we won't risk getting caught by those Kanto's dwelling.

Beside, we are not as empty-handed as you thought we are…

Ssssssh!

What was that?

Uh…we've delivered it?

Yeah, through a human!

How-

Look, that human will meet up with the chosen, okay, we…we have no other choice, we're being pursued.

Very well…but should it fail…

Yes, yes, we understand. We'll take punishment…

Good, now that that had been established…let's just sit and wait on the sideline. It's out of our hand now…

…

Hello~

Look who's back from the realm of the dead? Ahahaha~

I'm sorry for falling into Mob Psycho 100 pit, but what can I say…*shrugs

This is not by any mean because I'm a slut for espers, okay!?

Well, this is a lot to write about because making Red's personality finally fully known now is the most surprising thing for me more than anything else. At first, Red came across as someone who did not want to lose his friend. But in this chapter, I established that Red is more dependent than anyone think he is. His sole wish is to be with Green, hence why he went on his merry way as a pokemon trainer thinking that he could meet with Green occasionally instead of being left alone in Pallet town. His dependency to Green expands to his purpose. If Green wishes to be the strongest in Kanto, then, yes, that would be his wish too. That way, Green would challenge him times and again to prove himself the stronger of the two.

As a rival in game, Green makes a good stepping point for the player. He would appear out of nowhere and challenge the player to a battle, setting the base level that you should've reached before you go to the point beyond his fight. He is a good reminder that you are growing in the journey.

In this story, the absence of the rival makes Red hesitates that he's growing. He couldn't have known since no one is there to test him aside from the gym leaders. And he fought so far by his mere battle instinct so…it's obvious that he's doubtful that he is growing. Add this to the dependency he has toward Green and we have this disaster in this story. The expectation, Green's absence, and his lack of growth proof finally broke the poor boy. This is the first time I made a dependent character and it is interesting to see how he reacts to the action of who he depends to. I admit that I couldn't convey everything perfectly and up there is a mess that I can't tidy myself (hence this long ass author notes~).

Anyway, that is all for now, I'll see you later~