No, I'm not dead...
I'm so sorry I haven't been writing this for so long. I've been getting into other fandoms and put this on hold, but I never had the intention of giving this up. I have high hopes for this story and a lot of great things planned. I hope I haven't lost your attention.
This chapter has been on the back burned for a very long time, for various reasons. It's not my best work but it's one of thoses transition chapter that bridges two major events together, so bear with me; the next one will be better.
Chapter 11: Unshaken
A couple of weeks went by during which Red and Margaret waited patiently for Lance's plan to defeat Team Omicron to come to fruition. Both of them actually quite enjoyed the feeling of safety Cinnabar Island gave off. For the first time in a long while, they could relax without having to worry about being spotted and taken away. Margaret was also particularly happy to finally have people to talk to (Red never was much of a conversationalist). The majority of the people in the camp were young trainers who had managed to evade the evil cult's grasp. To a lesser extent, there were also family members, particularly the escaped trainers' children who were kept under the protection of the group. There weren't a whole lot of people in her age group, but Margaret still happily chatted with them and lended a hand wherever she would be needed. Even though she was no trainer, the mere fact that she was Red's mother earned her the respect of everyone.
The island being almost completely barren of buildings, the rebel trainers all lodged in tents of varying sizes. The Papenbrooks didn't have one of their own so they were provided with a spot in a large one to share with other people. Red almost felt guilty being handed a relatively comfortable spot because of his fame while he knew for a fact that many people were stuck sleeping outside, however, he decided to just take the compliment and make the most of it. Besides, he fully intended to give all of his power and skill to the cause as thanks for their hospitality.
He never was a social flower, though, and kept mostly to himself, only occasionnally interacting with trainers who wanted to meet him. He spoke very little and spent most of his time training his team in preparation for the battle that was sure to come. Even so, he still had too much time to think and worry about his homeland and the people there he had unwillingly left behind. Most notably professor Oak and Blue. How he hoped they were safe. He was especially worried for Samuel Oak as the aging man was not a trainer (anymore) and in no real position to defend himself against Team Omicron. And him being a very renowned pokémon professor specializing in the pokémon-trainer bond, he could be an appealing target for them...
He was not as worried for Blue, though. There was little doubt in Red's mind that if he himself had managed to evade the cult, his equally skilled best friend would have as well. Surely, he was hiding out somewhere and it was only a matter of time before he heard of the resistance, if he hadn't already, and would join them to kick the bastards out of Kanto. Surely...
There came a day, a week or two after the Papenbrook's arrival on Cinnabar, where Red was called to Lance's tent. The former champion went in to find the dragon master and a few other familiar faces who were a part of the resistance, such as Bruno, Koga and Erika, standing around a table.
"Red," Lance greeted with his usual seriousness. "Thank you for coming."
The brunette nodded to return the salute and mimicked the others by taking place around the table.
"I've been thinking through this invader problem that we've had..." the resistance leader began. "And I've come to the conclusion that... There is not a really safe way to go about this. I've reflected upon all the possibilities at nausea, again and again. We are strong, but there is not a lot of us. And most of us don't have any military experience and don't know our way around a battlefield where no rules apply. This is not like your typical League battle."
There was a moment of suspenceful silence before Lance spoke again.
"I have had spies fly around Kanto for the past few weeks to see if there is any information they could gather that could help us kick Team Omicron out. Of those that returned... very little was discovered. Except that we found out that they are using the Indigo Plateau, or more specifically the League building as their headquarters. Whoever is behind all this is probably hiding out there. Which is why we need to reach it and... do what we gotta do."
Although he didn't say it outright, all the trainers present at the meeting knew what he was talking about and they all kept a grave silence. Taking back their homeland was likely going to involve killing. And not just their own kind but their pokémon as well. This was war, after all.
"For the moment being however," Lance went on, "we are at a disadvantage. We are outnumbered and they have far more resources than we do, as we are confined to what little can be found on Cinnabar and snuck out of the main land. So, I think it would be unwise to try and tackle the main force on Indigo Plateau right away. As we all know, Team Omicron has forced a good bunch of trainers on their side. Trainers who would give us an edge if we were to rally them to our cause."
Lance and Red exchanged a look, both of them fully aware of one particular trainer they had agreed to not harm and take back to Cinnabar.
"I think that the best place to start would be in Pewter City. Now, from what I heard, this place is not as well guarded as some other cities which are points of entry in the region, like say, Vermillion. They probably figured that no one could get in or our of there without them knowing, seeing as it is mostly surrounded by mountains and that the paths south and east are too difficult for people without pokémon to navigate. Now, if we can manage to take Pewter, this will open the way for us to get to Viridian... which is extemely closely guarded and our only point of entry to the Plateau. What do you think?"
Red was certainly no military strategist but Lance's reasoning sounded fine, at the very least. Pewter City was pretty far away, however and getting there through land would see them go through some dangerous territory. Indeed Viridian City was a key location in the conflict and if they managed to seize control of its northern neighbor, then it would allow them to bascially flank the Evergreen City from north and south. And that was not even mentionning the fact that there was a decent probability that Blue would be there, in the town he lived and worked in.
One question remained. How would they get to the Stone Gray City? Sabrina was the first one to break the silence and ask the important question.
"We can't risk trying to fly over Viridian," Lance reasoned. "We're going to have to go through Johto"
"Red, I don't want you to go," Margaret protested, as the former champion packed all the necessities for the long trip he was about to take.
That his mother wouldn't be okay with him leaving for battle, that was certainly no surprise. His mother, his single mother who had raised him all by herself, was extremely attached to him, to the point where she was afraid to let him go, even if he was a fully grown man and one of the best trainers of his time. Now, to be fair, Red would definetly not be okay if it was her heading into danger but she was his mother and as his son, he believed it to be his duty to keep her out of harm's way, now that he was an adult and she, a greying, aging woman. Besides, he had no intention of getting himself killed or captured.
"I know, ma," he sighed, deliberately avoiding her guilt inducing stare. He tied his pokéball belt, loaded with his specially selected team of six, to his hip. "But I have to do this. In exchange for you and I staying here safely."
He could see, out of the corner of his eye that she was glaring at him, arms crossed and brows furrowed.
"I don't care," she stubbornly refused. "You're my son; I'm your mother, and you're not going."
At this, Red couldn't help but smirk in amusement. It was adorable, really, how she spoke to his 22 year old self like he was 8. If there was a time the faintest sign of her getting mad at him would have him cower in a corner, now the five foot-nothing woman could no longer intimidate him like she used to, although he still had all the respect he always had for her.
Normally, he wouldn't do anything to displease her but this time it was different. The situation was dire and called for him to make decisions on his own; even if it had to go against the wishes of the woman who had given him life.
He turned to face her, smiling reassuringly at her pouting face. And then he took her into his arms, holding her tightly for a brief moment to express just how much he was grateful to be her son. When he let go, knowing she couldn't stop him if she tried, he simply smiled.
"Bye, mom," he said simply, turning away and leaving her behind in the tent as he walked out to his duties.
Charizard's fiery jaws bit down on the primeape, burning the fighting pokémon's tan fur, eliciting a cry of agony and rage from it. The ferocious dragon, flawlessly following his master's command, did not let go of its opponent just yet, viciously shaking its body left and right until it threw it against a nearby building, cracking the wall. The ape-like pokémon collapsed to the ground, unmoving.
Standing not far from his orange dragon, Red took his attention away from the defeated pokémon, leaving his black coat wearing adversary without means of defending himself. The red-capped trainer made an effort not to look at the four pokémon he had his fire lizard obliterate so as not to dwell to much on the pain he was spreading. A few meters away, the Team Omicron grunt started to turn tail and run. Even though he knew some of his fellow rebels would disagree about his choice to let him live, Red chose not to pursue and kill the man. He didn't want to kill anyone who had no means of defending themselves; it went against his convictions, even though he knew full well that the feeling invaders would inevitably get new pokémons and cause trouble again.
Around him, a furious battle was raging around Pewter City. After a long journey through Johto and the mountains up north, the resistance had reached the edge of the city. Team Omicron had taken over the place with relative ease, threatening harm upon any resisting citizens with their pokémon. The inhabitants had no choice but to try and go on with their lives while having about a hundred angry trainers watching their every move.
Lance had opted for the simplest stragegy. And so the resistance, about fifty trainers, including Red and the dragon tamer, had sent one of their own to kick up a fuss and atract the villains all into one spot, after which they charged the invaders without warning, catching them off guard. Many of Team Omicron's men were taken down without ever having the time to put up a fight. Those who did were swarmed by the resistance, Red taking it upon himself to attack those who seemed the strongest.
Now, the city was bombarded with fire, thunderbolts and rock throws, while screams of rage and pain resounded in the frigid air. The confusion was great and it became very difficult for the rebels to tell the difference between the enemy and innocent civilians. With his Espeon at his side, watchign his back, Red ran around the city, weaving between the battling pokémon and the explosions, looking for any familiar face that might have been ensnared by Team Omicron. Any trainer they could add to their ranks would make their chances of victory over the cult increase significantly. Someone... anyone... he could maybe save, instead of seeing them die.
You know, I'm no good with writing major war battle scenes that involve many, many characters which is why, instead of burning myself out trying to get this one out, I kept it short and sweet. Many, far more fascinating battles will follow but I just had to get this one out of the way.
Now, here's hoping I haven't lost too many readers. For those who are still with me, I'm gonna try and get back into this but I'm gonna need some fuel from you guys. So I wanna hear from you!
By the way, If you're interested, I've made quick sketch of Red as he looks in this story and made it the cover of this story. So check it out! I've made one for Blue too, but I'll unveil it later.
