Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon or any of its characters.

A/N

This fanfic is going to loosely follow the game canon from FRLG, HGSS, RSE, DPP, and B2W2.

As such, I compiled a list of made-up world rules that are helpful to know:

*Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Unova are the only existing regions.

*When a trainer challenges a gym, the number of badges he/she has determines what team the gym leader uses.

*The moment you obtain your trainer card, you are a legal adult.

*Mega Evolution exists but is currently unknown.

*In the games, Kanto & Hoenn take place at the same time as well as Johto & Sinnoh.

*Fairy type doesn't exist.

*Moves and stats are going to coincide with B2W2.

*TMs will be infinite-use.

*Physical/Special split exists.

Prologue: Bittersweet

"Come on, Red!" Red's mother yelled out to him from their front door, "Dinner's almost ready."

At the mention of his name, Red nodded silently to Green and made the 20-second run to his house.

Green was Red's friend and neighbor. They could be found "playing" together most afternoons after their daily lessons from Professor Oak. Green watched Red jog lightly to his house. Bittersweet was the word that came to mind. Today was the last day before they would start their journey, which also meant that it was the final day they'd play together like this. Once Red had disappeared behind the red door to his house, Green turned around and entered her own home.

Green's mother heard the back door open and close. "Perfect timing, honey! The potatoes just finished cooking." In the next few minutes, the simple wooden table that sat in the middle of their house was covered in steamy mashed potatoes, broccoli, and a thick juicy steak.

"So," Green's mother began as she cut into her steak, "how was your date with Red?"

Green almost choked on the piece of broccoli she was chewing. How many times had she expressed to her mother that she was, in fact, not dating Red? Green only glared at her mother in return.

A series of giggles came from her mother. "Relax, dear. I'm only kidding. Were you studying the type chart again?"

Green nodded. They had, only recently, been introduced to the type chart. About a week before their final exam, Oak had given each of his current three students the printout of the chart. Green's eyes visibly lit up with excitement. She loved battles and all of their little details and nuances. This was the first time she had been aware of the idea of types being important for anything besides STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus). It did look intimidatingly large, though. Her excitement to learn it with—

"You finished with your plate?"

Green was jolted from her thoughts. She had been shoveling food into her mouth while she reminisced, and now her plate was empty.

"…Yes…" Green replied and left the table before her mother could bombard her with more nosy questions. Her mother sighed in worry for her daughter. Green rarely spoke. The only exceptions were when it was all but necessary and when she was extremely sad or angry. The first option was clearly not the case, so it was obvious that Green was thinking about her journey and inability to see Red starting tomorrow. After finishing her dinner, Green's mother got cozy on their couch with a new book she bought recently. Green would be fine by morning.

Red ate his dinner as though he was a vacuum cleaner. The food on his plate was gone in 30 seconds. Before his mother could tease him, he was already locked away in his room, making sure he was all packed and ready for tomorrow.

His backpack was yellow with a pokéball design in black. It contained a central compartment with two smaller pouches on each side: one of which was for pokéballs. Backpacks were deceptively capable. They could hold an incredibly large amount of items despite looking relatively small. Red double—no triple—checked to make sure his potion was there. He spent a good amount of his meager savings on that potion, and he'd be damned if he left it behind.

Unfortunately, that was the only possession he owned that could be brought with him besides some essentials, like clothes. His wallet was filled to the brim with the 3000 his mother gave him to start his adventure, or it would've been—if he carried cash. Fortunately, debit cards were a luxury he could take advantage of: being born in the rise of technology. There was also a vacant spot for his trainer card to be slotted into. He wouldn't get that until tomorrow, though.

He tried to fall asleep, but his brain kept thinking of new things to get excited for: battling, trading, training, journeying, gyms, and eventually the league. It was all just so damn exciting. Somehow, he drifted off with a copy of his Trainer Tips book on his face.

Green looked out her window. The moon looked back at her from its spot in the sky.

'Don't laugh at me,' Green thought as she gave the moon her best glare. 'It's not my fault I can't sleep.'

She flipped over in her bed so that her back was facing the window. Oak's lab was directly in view, and it certainly didn't help calm her excitement. Then there was Red—A blush adorned her cheeks, and she rolled further over to hide her face in her pillow. She needed to abolish these fantasies of hers, or she would never live up to the promise she made with Red. The promise to be strong enough to challenge him after he became a master.