Unraveling
The world we live in isn't really all that bad. We spent countless years working up to this point with our ideals. Looking at history and you see people really have tried to create laws to combat the notion of wrongdoing. Though the beginning of laws had to start the idea of their being wrong, it was a major step for humanity. We do detest evil and as an entire community we sought out a righteous way of living.
Red pensively stared out the window, looking out towards the sun setting in the horizon as if some sort of person for him to project his various thoughts to. It has nearly been over a week since Kuraisora's plot to bring disarray to Kanto. Over a week he laid in the hospital bed, recovering from the battle. He didn't suffer much beyond a few broken bones. They began to heal abnormally fast to the doctor's shock but Red was relieved that he will leave soon.
Shortly after waking up in the hospital completely fine, Lance came to visit him. The elite trainer vehemently thanked him for saving him and Kanto/Johto. He suffered on minor injuries and rapidly healed along with his Dragonite.
Lance was in a hurry but he did make time to explain to Red on everything that went down after he fell unconscious. He went straight to their allies' situations. All the gym leaders were well and the only ones to sustain wounds were Brock and Misty who were hit by the blast in the wall as well as ceiling and knocked them out after Ice tried to make his way out.
Leaf and Blue, however, weren't so lucky to make it out unscathed. They were nearly caught under the falling debris but that wasn't that did them in. It's been revealed that they've been exposed to a toxic gas that when inhaled causes lightheadedness and nausea. Enough went into their bodies that they passed out. They are not in critical condition as the toxins have left their bodies but they were still unconscious in the hospital's care.
Red had to explain that Kuraisora had a member well versed in creating toxins and poisons with his Pokemon. It segued into the next topic of discussion of Ember and the rest of Kuraisora which Lance thoroughly answered.
Ember's body along with his Charizard and Joey's were not found under the collapsed ceiling. Only Ember's Infernape and Magmortar were recovered from the disaster with critical injuries. They both have been placed under intensive medical care to keep them alive.
As to where his brother went, nobody could figure out where as not a trace was left behind of him or the Joey guy who he tried to save. As to why he left his Pokemon to die, no one could fathom why. Leers's Pokemon, on the other hand, were all present and taken into custody by the League. They haven't figure out on what to do with Leer's body so guards have been set up for the mean time.
Signs of the rest of Kuraisora members were gone. There were three others (Ice, Vladimir, and Electra) who disappeared. None of them made it to Saffron City as Leer told them too. Lance determined they went under hiding and bounties have been placed on their heads all around the landmass. Lance's cousin was in police custody and is currently being interrogated to hopefully find leads on the others.
Lance scavenged the little time he had left to inform Red on his situation. He has been told to keep quiet for the mean time as they try to organize the mess this became. Little by little information has been given to the public. They know that someone not from the league took down Lugia but has yet to reveal themselves.
At that moment, Red's mother burst through the door. She hysterically yelled at Red for being stupid and reckless yet shouted in joy to see him completely fine. Lance had to calm her down and slowly explained the situation to her.
Red spied Emily enter the quietly after his mother's boisterous entrance. She did act unusually timid for the moment. Her replies were short to his questions that he had for her.
The door clicked and opened. "Looking out the window again? Don't you ever get tired of watching the sky?" Emily interrupted Red's various thoughts, entering the hospital room in a loud fashion.
Red smirked seeing that she had their dinner in the two bento boxes she carried in a plastic grocery bag. She set them on the counter next to sink.
"I was just pondering on Leer's final words to me," Red revealed his thoughts.
"That again," Emily sighed. He has told her the details of the fight but she believed Red was taking too seriously on Leer's words as it was probably lies.
There was a sharp knock at the door that made Emily get up from her seat close to Red. She opened the door and smiled brightly when she saw who it was.
"Yo, Red," Blue entered the room, making small gesture with his right hand and the other in his pocket. He had bandages wrapped around his left arm but seemed fine other than that.
Leaf shortly entered and Red immediately took notice of the bandage wrapped around her head resembling a bandanna.
"You guys finally woke up," Red exclaimed. "And you're up and walking already."
"We woke up yesterday night and they checked our vitals before we were told we could be discharged today," Leaf helpfully informed.
"We decided to stop by before we left," Blue said, walking up the foot of the hospital bed.
"We got to talk about what happen at Navel Rock," Red was eager to find out.
"Perhaps another time. We have to leave soon but I just wanted to make you haven't forgotten about the tournament," Blue said.
Red raised an eyebrow. "Tournament? What tournament?"
Blue seemed quite as confused as Red. "How could you forget? The Indigo League Tournament! The tournament you compete after gathering all eight badges. It will be held in little over month."
Red rubbed his temple. "Please forgive me since I've just been through hell this last month," Red apologetically said. "I completely forgot about it. I need to prepare for it."
"There is no hurry," Leaf reassured. "There is still time and you'll be set to leave as early as tomorrow. Your preparing can wait a little longer as you recover."
"I don't got time to recuperated. Which is why I'm starting soon with my training," Blue arrogantly said. "Just came by to remind you. I'll be gone so next time we'll see each other will be on the battlefield."
"I'll be waiting," Red smirked. "I'll get started tomorrow as well!"
Red's home was finally fixed up. It was remade into an almost exact copy of their last house but larger and fancier furniture to fill the otherwise barren house. They didn't take too much advantage of the funds given by Emily's grandfather.
"Now this is a great place for me to read," Red's mother elatedly showed Leaf a new corner of the house. A window seat with two large bookcases on either side took the spot of a simply table that was in their old home. Two small lamps shaded with opaque glass were mounted above the spot perfect for reading or napping.
Well, Red hoped they didn't spend too much on the refurnishing. He gawked at the extra room he had. He wished to thank Emily for the help again but she left to start on her own training for the upcoming tournament.
"It does look very comfortable, Mrs. Ketchum," Leaf nodded, wishing she could lie down after their meal. Leaf came over to help with dinner after her work at the lab finished. She also wanted to see how the place was after all the work that went into making it.
"It looks like it will be dusk soon," Red mentioned, acknowledging the falling sun.
"If that's the case then I better start heading home," Leaf said, grabbing her stuff off the couch. "Thank you Mrs. Ketchum for having me over." She graciously bowed.
"I should be thanking you for the help," the kind mother gently replied.
"See you Red!" she bounced out the door.
Red gathered his Pokeballs sat at the coffee table and placed them on his belt one by one. He picked up his rugged bag off the floor and pulled the straps over his shoulder.
"And where are you going?"
"I need to go into the forest," Red hesitantly answered, hand already on the doorknob. "It'll be quick."
"Oh no you're not," Delia insistently said with a raised voice. She crossed her arms as to scold a young child. "After what you've been through, it's time that you take a much needed break."
Red carefully analyzed the situation, trying to figure out the best way to respond. He breathed, turned around with a sincere look. "I'm off to the castle close to Pallet Town," he answered truthfully.
Red's mother face falter to mixed emotions. "Why are you going there? Isn't that place unsafe to be around? You could get hurt the debris and unstable walls!"
Red nodded. "I realized your concerns but I've already been there before. I need to go again to meet up with mentor."
"Mentor? Nobody lives there?" she became increasingly worried.
"Mom, I know who I am," Red calmed her down, backing away from the door. "I'm an aura guardian. I trained my talents in that castle by this guardian."
"Aura Guardian?" she asked nervously. "I see…then you did take after your father."
"My father? So he was an Aura Guardian," Red asked excited.
"But he wasn't very good at it since he could hardly do anything with his powers so he didn't mess with it," she explained.
"So I'm much stronger than he is? I managed to control my power with the training I received from Brom," Red said.
"Fine then, go," Mrs. Ketchum gave in. "But please get back before it gets dark."
"I'll try to," Red cheerfully replied, and went through the door before his mother could change her mind.
"Just like his father," Delia wistfully said.
"Careful Charizard," Red cautioned his reptilian friend from knocking over the unstable brick wall keeping the ceiling from falling onto them. They had traversed the entire ancient castle on foot, eating up most of their time in the afternoon and night was approaching fast. Not a single trace of the Aura Guardian was left behind for Red as he searched the final tower of castle. Traces of all life have disappeared, and nothing was left for him in case he came back.
Red looked out the window for a last time. Dusk was falling rapidly. Beyond the vast wilderness around the old palace, the distant lights of Pallet Town twinkled. He believed he could see his new house looming in the distance, against the darkening blue sky.
In the empty room, the trainer started towards the exit. He stopped at the doorway, to reminisced in the memories he shared with this room. It was the room that he was assaulted by Brom. He slyly smiled and motioned for the fiery dragon to follow him. They walked through the various corridors that snaked around the castle walls. They managed to reach a breach in the wall that lead into the courtyard.
-"What now?"- Charizard asked, gazing up to the sun setting in the horizon.
Red wordlessly walked to the pile of wooden logs neatly stacked at the end of the courtyard. He split these logs during his training of endurance. He gathered enough to make a fire last for the night in his arms.
-"I guess we are going to stay the night here,"- Charizard grumpily said, not perturbed by the idea of staying but by Red's silence.
Red dumped the firewood next to the ring of stones that made up the fire pit. It hasn't been used in quite some time. In fact, the last time it was used was the day Red left to the Sevii Islands. He could tell because Red threw his energy bar wrappers at the end but they didn't fully burn up. The wrappers were left in the same state as when he left them.
Red had Charizard start the fire. The sky was darkening so Red stayed close to the flames by pilling up the unused logs for him to sit on. Charizard had nothing really to do so he lay down across the ground to rest for the night.
The time passed in silence and Red took out his Pokedex to fiddle with. He took the time to study every Pokemon he has ever encountered. The flames of the campfire began to die down so Red ordered his Pokemon to bring it back up again.
Charizard lazily lifted his head, spitted a fireball and went back to his sleep. He didn't pay much heed to the loud crackle knowing it was just the logs breaking from the increased heat. A second crackle garnered his attention for it came from the opposite direction of the fire.
"Relax Charizard," Red soothed, poking the log deeper into the flames.
The fire increased the lighting in the area. The light reached the edges of the courtyard and irradiated the dark figure. Cloaked in his green coat that flanked around his knees, the stranger approached the fire placing a lot of weight on his staff. Pulling back his hood, Brom revealed his drained cheeks and drowsy eyes. He looked as if he traveled miles without sleep or rest.
Brom wasn't alone as a creature the size of a Pikachu floated above Brom's head. Flying in a zigzag pattern, the green fairy-like creature closely followed Brom. Clear, tiny wings flapped tirelessly on the Pokemon's back. It's large round head came to a point. Large blue eyes with black rings around them blinked when the approached the fire.
Red stood up to greet his mentor. "Glad to finally see you safe and sound Brom," he spoke first. "Who is your friend?"
"This is the legendary Celebi," Brom introduced the green fairy.
-"It's a pleasure to meet all of you!"- she eagerly greeted floating over to Red and swirled around his head. Her voice resonated with feminine tone in Red's head reminding him of Mew.
"It's nice to finally meet you Celebi," Red replied. "Did Brom seek you?"
-"He found me during my crucial nap,"- she crabbily replied, glancing back. –"He didn't have the courtesy to give me a snack after my nap!"-
-"I can relate now since I was in the middle of falling asleep,"- Charizard said, yawning.
-"These naps are incredibly important to our health,"- Celebi said. She flew over Charizard's head, zigzagging around after each sentence making Red realized how much energy this Pokemon must have to keep up.
"I see you cleaned up nicely," Brom approached the fire to warm his hands. "The devastating power that the Sea Guardian left quite a wreckage in the forest but for it to be only be small portion of the forest. I commend you, Red."
"So you saw, Lugia's work," Red pieced some puzzles in his head. "Which means you did just come from Johto. Is that why you look so worn out?"
Tossed his ransack that he carried under his cloak right next to the stump of a rotten tree along with guardian's staff. He took his seat close to the fire, facial expression calm as ever. "I did go to Johto to find Celebi," Brom contently replied. "It lived in the Ilex Forest, close to the small-well it isn't small anymore- Azalea Village."
Red contemplated on traveling that far and back in a matter of weeks. He observed Celebi, trying to imagine what was so special about since it has been considered a legend. He remembered some faint idea of what Celebi can do which raised more questions.
"I believe it's time you explain everything before you disappear," Red said, taking his seat close to the fire pit.
The conversation finally caught Charizard's interest. -"Disappear? You can't leave yet!"- Charizard exclaimed, making gestures towards himself and Red. –"We still have much more to learn from you."-
-"Learn? Didn't he teach you everything?"- Celebi innocently asked her question.
"There is much more that I can teach you young ones since I only taught you the basics," Brom said. "But I can't stay here any longer."
"And why is that?" Red asked getting to the point.
Resting his arms on his lap, Brom solemnly answered, "I'm a traveler through time." He paused before continuing to let it sink in. His head tilted down as to avoid Red's shocked expression. "I come from the past set many years ago."
-"How-how did he do that?"- Charizard stammered not believing what he just heard.
-"It's because of me,"- Celebi giggled, twirling through the air in glee. –"I can travel through the rifts of time back and forth!"- She sounded quite pleased with her powers.
"That certainly explains your choice of style," Red lightly heartily joked, pointed towards Brom's traveling attire that seemed appropriate in medieval times. "And it does explain our meeting such as you being surprised with my variety of Pokemon. It was not the actual Pokemon but the ability to contain their forms in these Pokeballs."
"I'm still quite amazed that humans managed to accomplish such a feat," Brom said.
"And this is why you insistent on hiding your pass and identity?" Red asked, receiving an affirming nod. "Then I wish to know all that I can about you," he boldly demanded.
Brom shiftily moved his eyes up to Red. "I still can't talk about some aspects of my life but I will respond to most of the questions you have. It's the least I can do after so much you have done for us."
"I wish to know who exactly you are." Red held his breath.
Brom answered directly without hesitation. "I'm Brom from Tokiwa. Son of a farmer but I was taken in by Aura Guardians to train my Aura Powers at the castle."
"Tokiwa, where's that?"
"Directly up north of where you reside," Brom briskly answered.
Red figured the city of Tokiwa no longer existed but instead was replaced. "Viridian City?
"That's what it's called nowadays I guess," Brom sighed. "I came passed by I didn't go through it and skipped it to reach Johto."
Red carefully pondered. "The closest castle to Viridian was Pallet's," Red figured with his limited feudal knowledge.
"That's correct."
"Then did you meet my-"
"I did meet Sir Pallet," Brom interjected. "I went there after his remarkable defeat of Lugia. In fact, he was the one who discovered my innate abilities after he returned home from hiding the Elemental Crystals. A simple farm boy was taken under Sir Pallet's wing, and from there I worked my way up."
"A disciple of my ancestor," Red murmured. "Knowing that then you must have heard his prophecy of me in person. Is that why you came? Pallet told you so to come?"
Brom scratched his gray beard. "I'm afraid there is no prophecy," Brom revealed.
"What!? No prophecy? Then what was all that talk of Pallet knowing what will happen in the future when we first met?" Red implored.
"You didn't let me finish," Brom replied with composure. "Prophecies have existed for many years and even in my time they were abundant. But as all prophecies, they were all predictions of events to happen."
"And what made Pallet's claim so different?" Red asked and added, "I don't doubt the prophecy at all since it did actually came true. I just want to know how my ancestor found out about this."
"Sir Pallet wanted to make sure that such catastrophe never happens again that he embarked on a journey to meticulously hide the crystals even more than last time. However, along the way he searched for knowledge on the future of Lugia," Brom replied.
"You can't just skim the part of where he got the knowledge on the future," Red interjected.
"I can't exactly tell how he came upon such knowledge," Brom sternly replied. "It could have been some Pokemon who could see into the future or something like that. He didn't answer any of our queries of how he attained such information. Many doubted his foresight for his silence except for me."
Red studied Brom who grew suspiciously silent. "Then let me ask you this. How do you think he obtain the information?"
"None of my speculation theories is important," Brom adamantly answered.
"Come on. There must be something you believe in that let him see the future," Red poked Brom in a somewhat serious tone.
Brom stayed silent on the subject but not for much time.
"I-I like to believe that he found it," Brom said uncertained, clenching a fist.
"Found what?"
"There is an ancient artifact that dates well before our time. An object that not only enhances our ability to sense Aura but let's see beyond our dimension," Brom oddly explained. "The Sphere of Consciousness as it was written in the ancient texts. People wrote on it but what happened to the artifact has been lost in the scriptures."
"Sphere of Consciousness?" Red tried to comprehend what it was trying to display. "Like you could see dead people or ghosts?"
"Whatever lies beyond our dimension," Brom shortly replied. "Perhaps even the future but that was just my wild guess which would explain his unwillingness to talk about it since people will fight to obtain such power that existed."
Red doubted this vague object to be behind the prophecy but he did admired Brom's commitment to Pallet's words. "And even with the people doubting him, you kept your faith in him. You followed through to go to the future and help."
Brom's face faltered into regret. "I came into the future on my own accord. Sir Pallet never ordered me go."
"On your own accord? Why would you do that?"
"Sir Pallet realized that only an Aura Guardian would be able to manage such a disaster, so he increased the training requirements in the castle for Aura Guardians. He needed to foster the next generation of Guardians to be better as to help the next generation and so forth. He didn't live to see flaw in his idea."
Brom stopped cold after mentioning his mentor's death. He closed his and continued. "When I began teaching, the school has diminished in students due to the vigorous courses and trials. Combine that with the fall of the need for Aura Guardians, the school was faltering in potential strength for the future. Veterans that were like myself walked out seeing the place had no future and thought Pallet went insane in the end with talk of the future.
"As you can clearly see, there couldn't be any prospect for the school if there was no one to keep the torch burning. The connection with Pokemon and humans increasing helped solved humanities many problems that we used take care and they were plentiful while we were few. Even Sir Pallet's only son decline the right to become head of the school and left to start his own community and family, which is now where you live in."
"I see," Red realized the bigger picture. "You saw no future in your mentor's plan, which made you choose to go to the future to instead train the future Aura Guardian. Which brings me to my next point, how did you know about the time period to travel to?"
"Pallet gave an estimate of hundreds of years ahead in time. Given the range of time which was a span of a hundred years, I had Celebi take me to every few years in hopes of finding the Aura Guardian with extraordinary power," Brom reminisced in those failed years.
"And if you didn't find the right Aura Guardian in that year?"
"Then I would go find Celebi and have it take me a few years into the future. Repeat until I meet a formidable Aura Guardian. But I never tried to mess up the future by going outside so I kept here and drew them with my crystal," Brom patted the green orb on the end of his staff.
"And Celebi just willingly helped you every time?" Red asked Brom was more directed at green fairy.
-"Hey, I care about what happens to this world! Plus, he is going to give me something in return,"- Celebi eagerly answered.
"What are you giving her?" Red spouted another question.
"It's nothing that I can disclose," Brom firmly answered.
-"Yeah, it's only for me!"- Celebi rejoined critically. –"So, let's get going Brom!"-
"Wait, you're returning back?" Red asked slightly shocked.
Brom stood up. "I must return to my timeline," Brom asserted. "I don't belong here."
"But you can't return with the knowledge of what happens in the future," Red pointed out his concern. "You could easily change history with knowing of the future."
-"I can help in that aspect,"- Celebi chirped in.
"Yes, Celebi will erase my memory of the future," Brom solemnly said. "After I give Celebi the promised gift, then will she erase my memory."
"All of your memory of the future? Even us," Red asked growing anxious.
A single nod was all that Red needed. "I will like to retain the memory of completing my mission so I don't try and come back here."
"Do you have to go?" Red queried.
Brom smiled and placed his hand the boy's shoulder. "I can't. I have a family back home who await my return." His hand slipped off before ambling towards Celebi.
-"Wait for a little as I try to take us back,"- Celebi said. She twirled around in circle glowing bright green.
"Tell me before you go, what is your last name," Red asked on last question. "I hope to meet your decedents in my time."
Snatching his cloak and staff off the ground, Brom spun on the heel of his feet to face Red. "I'm Brom DeWitt of Tokiwa Town."
Red smiled. "I hoped that you don't forget me, Red Ketchum of Pallet Town, but that's hopeless now."
"I will forget but you'll keep me close in your heart prophecy boy," Brom jokingly said.
"Prophecies are all stupid," Red returned with a sad smile.
"Destiny is not something concrete and can always change," Brom agreed.
-"I'm ready!"- Celebi shouted in her high pitched voice. The glowed bright white and flashed. In her wake was a large, emerald-colored bubble. It flashed with green light that swirled around the sphere just large enough for her and Brom.
Brom entered Celebi's swirling vortex. He glanced back at Red with his tired eyes. Brom felt like he had to say something as did Red. They kept silent as the vortex flashed faster and louder. The crackle as if a couple firecrackers were lit tore at Red's eardrums once the light flashed for a last time.
Red rubbed his eyes from the flash. He blinked several times before he finally regained his eyesight. In Brom's and Celebi's place was not scorched earth as he expected but a ring of flowers. Tulips, roses, and dandelions along with various flowers he didn't know made up the ring of life.
Celebi does seem like a being to bring life to even to barest of terrains, Red thought amused.
-"You didn't even say goodbye to him,"- Charizard murmured, making the gesture to bade someone farewell.
Red shook his head. "Sometimes words aren't always necessary. Both Brom and I couldn't find any fitting last words but saw what each wanted to say. None of it matters now as he probably lost all memory of us."
They grew silent, looking down at the ground having lost a dear friend.
"Let's go home. We got a long time of training ahead of us," Red broke the silence. His right pocket buzzed and he pulled his Pokegear to see he had one unread message.
The text read, You didn't make it back here by nighttime but I trust that you have a reasonable explanation. Just be safe. The number was undeniably his mother's.
Red warmly smiled, putting up the phone and climbed on top of Charizard.
A/N: Exposition heavy chapter which turned out to be more than I anticipated. Hope you're not too overwhelmed. I also decided against it to have Red challenge the Elite Four immediately but instead have him attend a tournament that allows him the chance to challenge the Elite Four. It's similar to the anime's Pokemon League Conference because it has always been a format that I've enjoyed.
