You know what, I just realized today that there was a chunk of the last chapter missing... I should have noticed it looked smaller than it actually was. You didn't miss out on much but I still recommend you go back to chapter 11 and read the second half of it. I don't know if I'm the one who screwed up or if the website did but well... it's fixed now.

Here is chapter 12. I know I made you wait for this one too. I'm trying to get back into writing because I want to see this story to the end although I still can't decide on a very important plot point and I'm just moving foward in spite of this... You guys' feedback may be what I need to make a decision so I wanna hear from you.


Chapter 12: I am not afraid

While the battle was still raging on outside, Red had taken it upon himself to investigate the Pewter City gym, as was instructed by Lance, hoping to find, perhaps, the person in charge of the detachment of Team Omicron that had invaded the city. The semi-familiar building was quiet and empty when the former champion set foot inside but he was on high alert, his Charizard by his side, lighting the way with his fiery tail. What had happened, he wondered, to the rightful owner of this building?

Just as he set foot on the spot a regular gym challenger would, a silhouette emerged from the darkness. The electricty seemed to have been cut in the city, or at least a portion of it. The few small windows the Pewter gym posessed weren't quite enough for Red to see with much clarity. But as the mysterious person walked up to him, as if to greet him, the red-capped trainer frowned sadly without disguising his feelings upon seeing this person he knew did not want to do what he was about to do.

"Mr Harrison," Red said in a serious tone, hoping against hope it wouldn't go beyond words.

"Red," the kind hearted gym leader of Pewter City answered back, his current stance a far cry from his usual solid and confident posture.

Brock wasn't exactly his friend but Red had the utmost respect for the man, for the important role he had in teaching young trainers about the ways of the battle, including himself. The man, who had been barely 20 when Red first met him, happened to be the first gym leader he had battled and gotten a badge from. Their first battle had introduced a lot of very important concepts that Red would remember for the rest of his life, and in spite of a disadvantage, with his fire-type Charmander against his rock and ground types, Red had emerged victorious and got himself a Boulder Badge.

Gym leaders chose their team to face their challengers in accordance with how many badges said challengers had, so as to ensure they actually stood a chance (Blue was a notorious exception to that rule). If Red only had a geodude and an onix to worry about the first time they met (at which point Red had no badges at all), he knew full well that Brock, now a thirty-something very experienced trainer had a fully evolved and trained team to battle with, the likes of which would not be very far in terms of power, to the Elite Four's level.

Red had had a few friendly battles with the man in the years following his return to Kanto and had gotten to know him enough to not want to put him or his pokémon in harm's way. A righteous and sensible man like Brock couldn't possibly have joined Team Omicron; at least not on his own free will.

"It's good to see you again," Brock said, smiling sadly at him. "Although I wish it were under different circumstances."

"Likewise," Red said simply.

"Well, I'm sure you've seen it," Brock told, throwing a glance out one of the windows, both trainers clearly hearing the shouts and the roars of the battle outside. "These bad men have taken over my city."

"We are taking care of that, as we speak," Red assured, hoping he could get the older man to join their side.

"'We'?" the gym leader asked.

"Lance and a whole bunch of trainers have formed a resistance. We've come here to rid Kanto of their tyranny. We could use a trainer like you by our side."

To his mild surprise, Brock remained silent instead of showing the somewhat expected enthusiasm at the idea of siding with him. A minute later, he spoke again:

"I would love to, Red," he said, while slowly reaching for one of the pokéballs on his belt. He looked down sady at the round object in his hand. "I really would. But these fiends havent's just stolen all the trainers away. They've taken the innocent people of Pewter City hostage. For months now, no one not bearing that dreaded circle, has been allowed in or out of town. People have tried to live their lives in spite of the occupation but... if I don't do as I'm told... Innocent people will die."

The rock-type specialist clicked his pokéball unlocked while Red looked back at him full of pity. His Charizard let out a low growl at the anticipated threat.

"Forgive me, but I have no other choice," Brock finally said.

A blinding flash tore through the ambiant darkness and out of the pokéball materialised a fearsome Golem. The rock monster shook the ground as he landed on the floor, shaking dust out from all the nooks and crannies of the neglected building.

Red did not falter but sighed in disappointment. He had been hoping it wouldn't come to this. The former champion silently ordered his Charizard to stand down with a swift hand gesture. A dual fire-flying type was no pokémon to battle a powerful rock type. Instead, Red pulled out a pokéball of his own and sent out his enormous Venusaur.

Out of the three pokémon professor Oak had offered to his ten year old self to begin his trainer career, Red has chosen Charmander and his rival had picked Squirtle. The professor's Bulbasaur had remained in the man's custody for the several years following that until the day Red saw the old man again and inquired about the fate of the seed pokémon. The small creature had been living a peaceful albeit boring existence with the old man for all these years. And Red had offered to take him as part of his team, which Samuel had agreed to without hesitation, knowing that he would take good care of it and take it to levels he himself never could. Years of training later and the bulbasaur had grown into a fearsome Venusaur; a grass type that would be the perfect opponent for a Golem.

"Earthquake!" Brock commanded.

"Energy Ball!"

Venusaur may not have been a very fast pokémon, it was still faster than Golem. The creature generated a pure energy ball out of the flower on its back and sent it hurling in the direction of its opponent. Normally, that would have been the end for a rock-ground dual type pokémon that had a pretty low resistance to special moves. But Red knew that the rock monster's sturdiness would not have it go down in one hit. Yet, he was confident that his Venusaur could take the attack that was coming its way. And endure it did, all but insuring its victory over the Golem as its superior speed would let it finish it off without giving it the opportunity to strike again. A second energy ball did the job and the Golem fainted.

It wasn't really a matter of wining for Red. It was much more about keeping the gym leader occupied while his allies took care of the invaders outside. Once these were dealt with, there would be no need for Brock and him to fight anymore and the gym leader could actually join their ranks. Besides, it was evident that Brock's heart wasn't into this battle. Red could clearly see that the man didn't want to fight him. He was merely doing what he though was right by protecting the innocent citizens of Pewter. The formen champion had nothing but respect for that. There is nothing to fear, Brock. You'll be free soon.

They both knew this was not a good match against his Venusaur but Red suspected Brock had nothing to counter a grass type effectively. He sent out a kaputops. A pokémon that had a speed somewhat equivalent to his'. Red got ready to end it all instantly with another energy ball but was surprised by an aqua jet that let the mollusc hit his pokémon first. Still, a water move of relatively low power did not hurt his Venusaur in any significant way which tiped Red off that Brock really had nothing to counter him; no pokémon and no will. Maybe he even understood what Red was trying to do and was simply trying to play his part as convincingly as possible for as long as he had to.

Another energy ball made short work of the shellfish pokémon. Brock had sent out a Rhypherior but the battle was interupted when the doors of the gym behind Red flew open. In walked a tall man with bright red hair, followed closely by an even taller orange dragon.

"It's over," Lance declared.

Behind him, through the open doors, both Red and Brock could see outside where the resistance trainers had gathered with their pokémon, many of them covered in blood, sweat and dirt. Not one black coat with a white circle painted on the back could be seen... standing.

The dragon tamer looked over at Red, and then at Brock, then at Red again and seemingly understood what had been happening. The man was clever enough to understand without needing an explanation. He could tell just by Red's expression.

"Mr Harrison," the leader of the resistance said with his distinctive commanding voice. "There is no need for you to fight anymore. Your city is free."

And when Red looked over to the gym leader, he saw with immense clarity the relief wash over the man's face as he relaxed his posture, allowing his pokémon to do the same.


People who didn't read Invisible might not know this but I ain't exactly the author to follow if you want pokémon battling. I'm pretty sure I've said this before but I think they're a lot of fun to watch and play but not so much write about. When I do, I HAVE to keep them short and sweet otherwise it would stretch on so much it would break the rythm of the story. And you know by now this story is focused much more on the characters than on the pokémon themselves. The battle in this chapter was pretty short but I mean, actual pokémon battles in the game sometimes go by very fast too, right?

To make up for the slow update, I drew you guys a portrait of (my version of a mid 20s ) Blue Oak. I put it up as the cover for the stort so have a look! Just like I did for Red. Only this time I drew the lines in Photoshop and applied some flat colors. It's still very much a work in progress but it will eventually be a finished portrait with plenty more details. And Red will get the same treatment too. I'd be glad to hear your thoughts on it.

Speaking of Blue, what the hell happened to that guy?