The evening sun paints the sky in a soft shade of light pink, similar to Sylveon's fur. Green sits cross-legged on the back porch of his apartment, watching a dandelion sway in the breeze.
His Pokegear lies next to him, the open message screen taunting him. Red hasn't messaged him in a few days and Green… Green doesn't know what to feel. He's not sure he really wants to know, either.
Sylveon's ball shakes, likely sensing his anxiety, and Green brushes a finger over the capsule. It doesn't seem to reassure Sylveon much, as the ball shakes a few more times before settling into an uneasy stillness.
He's distracted from his thoughts by the Pokegear ringing and Green blinks, picking it up. Who could be calling him right now? He clicks Accept and says, "Hello?"
Blaine's voice filters through the speakers, edged with panic. "Green. I need your help. Get to Cinnabar Island as quickly as possible and bring your Pokemon."
"Wait," Green says, trying to process everything. "Wait. What."
"The volcano's going to explode earlier than predicted. You're the closest gym leader," Blaine continues, "and it's going to be some time before the Rangers arrive so we need your help. Get here as quickly as possible." There's a noise in the background and Blaine curses softly, then hangs up.
Green sits there, stunned for a moment, then closes his Pokegear and jumps to his feet. He quickly exits the backyard and heads towards Elan's apartment.
The door opens a moment after he knocks and Elan is standing there, eyes widening in surprise when he sees Green. "Leader? Wha-"
"I need to teleport," Green says. "Can your Porygon2 use teleport?"
"Ye-es," Elan says, "but what do you need it for?"
"I have to get to Cinnabar quickly," Green says. "Blaine asked me to."
"Okay," Elan says, exiting his house and closing the door behind him. Porygon2 appears in a flash of light and blinks curiously at Green.
"Hold on to the leg," Elan instructs. Green obeys, gripping Porygon2's leg firmly. It's cool and smooth under his hand.
"Teleport," Elan continues. "Cinnabar Island."
Porygon2 glows for a moment, and then they materialize on Cinnabar Island, right next to the Pokemon Center. Green lets go of Porygon2's leg, stumbling slightly. The sounds of people crying drift through the air and his heart pounds.
"Thank you," he says, then heads off towards where Blaine and Arcanine are trying to herd a scared crowd of people towards the beach. He tosses out Sylveon and calls for a Fairy Wind, trying to calm everyone.
"Thanks," Blaine says as the group of people start to move in a more organized way, heading towards the beach flanked by Blaine's Arcanine and a Magmar. "You have some water and flying Pokemon, right?"
"I only have two," Green says, summoning them. Crawdaunt lands on the ground with a cackle and immediately glares at Blaine. Pidgeot coos softly.
"That should be okay for now," Blaine says. "We need to get the elderly and children out to Seafoam. Get your Pokemon to help."
Green nods and heads to the beach with his Pokemon and Blaine in tow. "Children and elderly, get on the Pidgeot and Crawdaunt!" the fire-type gym leader calls out. Green helps an old lady and her husband onto Crawdaunt's back as Pidgeot takes off, carrying three children. The ground shakes and sirens start up, wailing loudly.
Panic spreads quickly through the crowd as Crawdaunt takes off, speeding through the water. Sylveon bounds up to Green's side and lets out another Fairy Wind, looking a little stressed. One tendril wraps tightly around Green's arm, perhaps trying to comfort him or seeking some form of comfort. Whatever it is, they both need it.
The panic dissipates somewhat, but there's still an underlying current of tension in the air. Families huddle together, looking around with scared eyes as the ground rumbles beneath their feet. Green looks up, praying to see Pidgeot coming back.
"Look!" someone in the crowd says suddenly, pointing out to the ocean. Green spins around, looking towards where they're pointing, and exhales a sigh of relief.
Two boats dock up at the shore of Cinnabar Island and a ramp lowers from each boat. Rangers, accompanied by various Pokemon, head out.
"Everyone, get on the boats!" Blaine calls out. People start obediently shuffling onto the boats and Green directs Sylveon to go help the rangers. Pidgeot lands next to Green, having finished with depositing several children.
"Is there anyone else we need to get out?" Green shouts over the blaring sirens and commotion. Crawdaunt climbs up onto the beach, looking a little tired but still determined.
"Everyone should be out!" Blaine yells hoarsely, standing on the boat's ramp. "Come on, we have to leave!"
Green recalls his Pokemon and runs towards the boat, glad to be off the island and - what was that?
He pauses, staring towards one of the houses. Something was moving in the shadows of one of the houses.
"What are you doing?" Blaine yells. "We have to leave!"
"Someone might still be here!" Green yells. "I'll go check with Pidgeot. You go."
"What-" but Green is no longer listening. Pidgeot is out in a flurry of feathers and tags along beside him as he runs towards the house.
"Is anyone there?" he yells. "If you're there, please come out!"
The thing/person moves and then a small figure appears, clutching a plush Pikachu. A child, likely six or less, shuffles hesitantly towards him.
"Hey," Green says, trying to pitch his voice to a more comforting tone. "Hey. We have to leave, okay? We have to get out."
The kid sniffles, stumbling as the ground shakes. "I'm scared," she whimpers softly. "Scared. Wha's happenin?"
And there's no way Green could ever tell a child that her home was going to explode, that she might never be able to live there again so he settles for comfort. "It's going to be okay," he says. "Climb up onto Pidgeot, we need to leave, okay?"
The girl is crying softly but Green manages to get her onto Pidgeot's back. "Hold on," he says. "Hold on and don't let go."
The ground shakes even more and Green stumbles, managing to pull himself back upright. The sirens are louder now, to the point of being almost painful, and his heart pounds.
"Pidgeot," he calls out. "We have to go. Now."
Pidgeot stares at him for a second, then swoops up into the air with one powerful push of its wings. Green's heart leaps up into his throat for a moment - is he going to get out fast enough? - but Pidgeot's talon digs into his shoulder and pulls Green up into the air. He reaches one arm up and Pidgeot's other talon grabs it as they fly towards Seafoam.
There's a loud explosion and a rush of heat blows past Green, making his eyes water. He looks back, watching as Cinnabar Island is enveloped in fire and smoke.