Red treaded sadly through the rain, gazing down at the grey pavement that supposedly caught his interest. After finding out from Professor Oak that his journey was postponed to a later date, the red capped teen spent the last few hours walking aimlessly around Pallet town. The sounds from the rain overlapping the sounds of his footsteps on the concrete. After several minutes, Red found himself by the shore, gazing out the sea with a sorrowful expression on his face. He then sat down by the boats, continuing to stare towards the large body of water that was furiously going back and forth.
'I wonder what is at the other side of this ocean.' Red thought, continuing his gaze at the raging tides. His red jacket started flapping against the breeze as he realized that the winds are getting stronger and the droplets are coming down harder. He grasped onto his cap as he got up and quickly ventured for a place to take shelter from the brutal downpour. After a few minutes of searching throughout the city, Red continued to sprint towards the shore to seek refuge under a stray boat that was tipped over. For what seem like hours, the scarlet eyed boy shivered as he stayed under the boat, viewing the lightning that was tearing through the clouds. After a while, the rainfall started to slightly recede, much to Red's comfort and glee. However, the thunder roared as lightning still flashed throughout the sky at a frequent rate.
'That's strange. It's all focusing at one place.' Red thought, studying the bolts as they travelled through the sky several times, finding a pattern. The teen analyzed the clouds a few more times, seeing that his speculation was true, seeing the electricity travel to the other side of the shore. This caught Red's curiosity as he found himself walking towards the area that the lightning keeps striking. On his way, the scarlet eyed boy could spot a small hill that looks to be burnt. As he stepped closer, he realized that the bolts start colliding with the hill more and more, sounds of crying filled the air along with the roars of thunder. Hearing this made Red hike up the mountain with vigor and speed despite the rocks being wet and slippery.
As he reach the top of the hill, the red eyed boy saw a Pokemon, crying out in pain as it continuously gets struck by the lightning that descended from the sky. The Pokemon's red cheeks were glowing with electricity, its brown eyes filled with tears as it could barely lift itself off the ground and its heart shaped lightning bolt shaped tail on the floor. The red hatted boy looked at the scene with a sad expression before slowly and silently making his way to the mouse Pokemon. Its ears twitched slightly as it glanced at him, struggling to put itself in a fighting position as its cheek flared with electricity. Unfazed and eager to help, Red still continued towards Pikachu, only this time at a slower and gentler pace. This action made the Electric-type slightly lower its guard but it cheeks still glowed as lightning sparked from them. It never stopped studying Red as the raven haired boy slowly approach the Pikachu. He was about to touch the quivering mouse until a flash of lightning hit it, causing it to release an powerful electric shock that scorched and destroyed the area along with electrocuted Red as the blast send him down the hill. A few minutes later, Red slowly rose from the ground, his body twitching due to the powerful shock he was hit by earlier as he climb the hill again, seeing the aftermath of the electrical attack in awe as he reached the top.
'Woah. That was close. I could've died right there.' He thought as he searched his body for bruises. He then walked towards Pikachu who had fainted and was panting heavily. Instantly worried, Red took off his jacket and wrapped it around the Pikachu in order to keep it warm, he then picked it up and quickly carried it to the Pokemon Lab. As he arrived at the building, he slammed on the doors, receiving silence as his answer. The raven haired boy tried several times before giving up and walking towards the front of a store, using the shelter to shield himself from the rain. As he went in, he searched his bag for any medicine that can help the Pokemon, his mind set on helping it, even if it is a little. Red was able to fish out a Potion and a Revive from his bag and quickly but carefully gave them to the Pikachu. The rodent's expression lightened as it's beginning to felt better, wiggling its tail weakly and letting out a squeak.
"Pika Pi." It said in a shaky tone, barely able to lift its body. Red took a blanket out of his bag and laid it on the Pokemon and patted its head. Pikachu purred against his hand as it snuggled in the cloth and got comfortable and started to close its eyes.
'Go to sleep.' Red thought while rubbing behind its ear as it sighs in content.
'Thank..you…' A voice rung through the black haired teen's head, surprising him.
'What was that?' Red thought, searching around frantically for the source of the unknown voice, which resulted in him finding nothing.
'Guess it was nothing.' The boy deduced before laying down on the sand and finally dosing off to sleep. For a few days, it continued to rain, causing Red to stay under the boat which was their safe haven from the intermittent downpour, taking care of Pikachu. As the time passes, the rodent started warming up to him because of his caring nature as it played with him and snuggled with him at nights. Red tried to take care of the Pokemon as best as he could, using some of his cleaner clothes as bandages for its bruises and turning his bag into a bed for it to sleep.
As the rain subsided and the sun starts to rise, Red woke up out of bed in a cold sweat, panting and panicking as he observed his surroundings. Just when he was about to get up, he noticed something curled up on his lap. Red then realized it was the Pikachu, it was breathing better now but he still had to get it healed as it still had bruises all over its body. Carefully taking up the Pokemon and putting it down, he got himself ready and prepared some food for the mouse Pokemon as he went to stretch his legs outside as he saw the sunrise.
'It's good to see the sun after three days of rainfall. I thought it would never stop.' Red thought as he walked along the shore. He then sat on the sand, thinking about the events that occurred the past few days and the state that he is in currently.
'A lot of things happened in just a few days. I have nowhere to go.' The teen started picking up stones and chucking them across the water as he sighed in exhaustion. He then looked into the town to the direction of his house with a frown. 'She's not gonna want me back. She basically kicked me out without having to tell me.' He glanced down towards the grains of sand on the beach.
'Well, that's out of the question. I guess I'll just try to get to Viridian without a Pokemon. If I walk carefully and avoid the wild Pokemon, I should be there in no time. In fact, I think I bought some Repels.' He convinced himself as he looked to the ocean, watching the calm waves going back and forth in a mesmerizing pattern. After couple minutes of being deep in thought, he glanced towards the direction of his boat before walking back to it.
'Now I need to think about getting Pikachu healed up. Hope Professor Oak's lab is open. Sad that Pallet Town doesn't have a Pokemon Center.' He thought, rubbing his chin as returned to the boat. When he reached and went under it, he suddenly felt some rubbing against his feet, glancing down to see Pikachu beside him.
"Chuuu." It happily squeaked, looking up at Red before resuming nuzzling against his foot. The scarlet eyed teen smiled as he carefully picked up the Pokemon and rubbed behind its ears. 'What did you go through? What did you face to give you injuries?' Red thought, slightly frowning as he glanced and felt at the injuries on its body, it was unsettling to say the least. He then took out a Potion, spraying them on the wounds when he took off the bandages off then putting new bandages on its body. He then put down the yellow rodent after ruffling its fur, much to its amusement and enjoyment.
Red then ate ramen for breakfast as Pikachu was playing with his hat and jacket, which earned a chuckle from Red when it was struggling to get out of the jacket. When he finished, he got himself ready and held Pikachu in his arms before going to the Pokemon lab. On his way to the place, Pikachu looked at the building and people with interest and curiosity in its eyes. As he reached the lab, the red hatted boy walked through the lab, making his way to one of the aides and showing her the injured Pokemon, gesturing silently for help. She had a worried until she looked at Red's face, to which she scoffed, about to ignore him until a voice came from a couple feet away, startling her.
"Marie! We can't turn an eye to an injured Pokemon." Professor Oak walked over, giving the female aide with a disapproving look before looking at Pikachu, who had multiple injuries on its body. "What happened to the Pikachu?" He asked Red, who responded with a shrug of his shoulders then gestured for help for the injured Pokemon.
Professor Oak then looked into the teen's scarlet eyes and saw compassion and worry in them, "Don't worry, Red. We'll fix her up in no time. Just take a seat and wait." He said to which Red nodded before taking the mouse Pokemon to the healing room with Marie, who had an annoyed look, behind him. After an hour of waiting, Red found himself frantically pacing around the hallway with his hat and bag on his seat.
'I hope she's ok. I hope I didn't make it worse with the medicine. If Pikachu's got worse because of me, I could never forgiv-' His thoughts were interrupted by a hand on his shoulder, turning to see Professor Oak, who had a smile on his face.
"It's ok, now. It just needs to rest a bit more." Professor Oak stated as he patted the teen shoulder, Red nodded, sitting down and glad that Pikachu is ok and let out a breath he didn't knew he held. The elderly man eyed the boy before his expression hardened, sitting down on one of the chairs looking intensely at the red capped teen.
"Where did you find the Pikachu?" Professor Oak asked Red, who pointed towards the beach at the hill, making the professor look towards the beach where a small hill is located. "You found it at the beach? By the hill." He asked, which got the scarlet eyed teen nodding as a response.
"What was it doing there?" He questioned once more, which got a shrug of the shoulders as a response.
"I see." The man rubbed his chin before looking at Red once more.
"When did you meet him?" Professor inquired, which got Red putting up three fingers. "Three days ago?" The professor inquired, which got another nod from Red.
"Professor Oak! We need your help a bit with this work!" An aide said from another room. Professor Oak nodded before looking at Red. "It will be ok, Red. Just wait a moment. Pikachu will be alright." He said, reassuring the red capped teen before leaving him in the silent hallway, waiting. After a few minutes of silence, the teen started thinking deeply for a while before he started shuffling in his bag for something.
After half an hour, Professor Oak and Marie came out of the room with Pikachu, happily squeaking in her arms.
"Red, Pikachu is all better now. I-" He stopped as he doesn't see Red in the hallway. Professor Oak started searching for the teen until he saw a note on the seat where the teen was sitting on. Curious and confused, the elderly man went to read the note, with Pikachu perching on his shoulder.
Dear Professor Oak,
Thank you, Professor Oak for taking care of Pikachu. Once she healed, you can just send her in the wild, she will be happy to be with her family and friends. I am glad that she is ok now. You have no idea how grateful I am for what you've done for her and I will promise to make it up to you someday. Please, take care of Mom and look after her for me. She may hate me now but I will always love her. I guess this is goodbye. Possibly for now.
-Red
The man had a shocked expression on his face as he read the note before turning to Pikachu, who looked puzzled. Professor Oak sighed, running his hand through his grey hair and then smiling then rubbing Pikachu's ear, gaining a happy squeak from it.
"What's wrong, Professor?" Marie asked, curious to know what is on the note. The professor turned and looked at her with a smile on his wrinkled face as Pikachu jumped on the floor.
'They were wrong about you, young one.' He thought, smiling and he picked up Pikachu, who seems to be searching for something or someone.
"Marie, I need to search for a few things for me." The elderly man said, which made the Electric-type and the aide look at him confused. He then put Pikachu down on his desk, as he gestured Marie to assist him in searching around his office, which she did. He found a few gadgets which he gathered and placed into a small pouch. After he was finished with his search, he looked at Pikachu, who look worried and seemed to be looking for something. Professor Oak approached with a smile on his face, which got its attention before putting the pouch around its neck.
"Now since you're going to be here working with me, there are a few errands I want you to do. Is that ok, Pikachu?" Professor Oak said, ruffling its fur, earning a happy cry from the yellow rodent. Pikachu then locked eyes with the man, before nodding and squeaking in compliance. The professor smiled wider then motioned it closer to him as he took out a pen and wrote down something on a note. He put the note in the pouch and closed it before looking at Pikachu with a serious expression.
"Now. Your first errand!"
Red was at the outskirts of Pallet town and the entrance to Route 1, looking towards the road ahead that leads to Viridian City. As he gripped the strap of his bag tighter, he slowly made each stepped until he was on the border to the road ahead, feeling nervous as he started to wipe sweat his brow.
'Alright, Red. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.' He thought to himself, trying to assure himself while he made deep breaths to shake off his nervousness. After he got rid of his anxiety, he looked back to Pallet town, the place he has been all his life, looking at his house, his school and the shore and lab, memories flooding his mind as he looked at each place of his childhood.
'I'm gonna be alone, huh?' He looked down, kicking some sand. Red then released a shaky sigh before looking into the sky with a melancholic expression on his face.
'Well, it's no surprise. I have always been alone. It won't bother me as much.' He thought, chuckling to himself at his misfortune as he put his cap over his eyes. He took one more glance at his hometown, the gentle breeze going through his black hair despite his cap being on. After a moment of staring and reminiscing, the red hatted teen turned back to the road with new found courage, making step after step unto Route 1, until he heard a familiar voice.
"Pikachu!"
Red turned around on instinct, eyes widening as he saw a Pikachu running towards his direction. Thinking it was another Pikachu, he motioned to turn around until it tackled him, knocking the air out of him and made him fall to the ground. The teen sat up, seeing the mouse Pokemon hugging him, crying loudly and cuddling his stomach.
'W-what?' Red thought, wondering why the Electric type was right in front of him. He then put the Pokemon down, seeing a pouch around its neck with a note on it. Red picked up the pouch, seeing a note. He then put down pouch before taking the note and reading it.
Dear Red,
I hope that you are doing well, my boy. I wrote this to tell you that Pikachu is all right, if you have not seen so yourself. She's an energetic and obedient one, but it doesn't seem like its going stay in the lab one bit and since you are going on a journey, I hope you can take care of her. I packed a few gadgets in the pouch to get your journey started. They may be a bit outdated but they can help you until you can find a suitable replacement or a person that can update them. Better than nothing, right? From how you acted today, I can see that the rumors were wrong about you. You are a good soul, Pikachu seems to think so as well. Your father would be proud of the kind young man you have grown up to be. I wish you good luck on your journey, Red Fires. And don't forget to have fun, my boy. I believe in you. Go and make your parents proud!
-Professor Oak
Red eyes widened, not able to believe what he was reading. He then read the note multiple times, making sure that his eyes weren't playing tricks on him. He rubbed his eyes and read the note again, thinking that there was something he misread. Each time he read the note, his hand started shaking, his breath started to get heavy as he had to sit down to process everything that just happened. Realizing that he was reading correctly, he then checked in the pouch, which had a Pokedex, a region map and a PC card license. Red looked in disbelief, tears started to weld in his eyes as he looked between the note and the items in front of him. Red had always thought that since that dreadful day, things will never be the same and he was right but what he never thought that someone in Pallet Town will help him ever again. Looking down at the items and Pikachu, he didn't realize that tears started falling from his cheeks. Pikachu looked at him in worry before starting to lick the tears off his face, causing Red to look at it.
"Pikachu…." He said, his voice choked with uncontrollable sobs, making the rodent looked into his eyes
"Are you…sure you want to come with me?" Red asked the Electric-type, waiting keenly on its answer. It continued locking eyes with the scarlet eyed teen then closed its eyes.
'I won't force you to go if you don't want to. You have been through enough already.' He thought, still looking at the Pokemon as it put its paw under its chin and wiggle its tail in thought.
"Pika!" The yellow mouse then nodded, surprising Red, before it jumped on his shoulder and started to nuzzle the boy's cheek. More tears exited Red's eyes as he silently broke down and sobbed on the road, thinking that everything is a dream. After several minutes of crying, Red wiped the tears off his face and got up, putting the gadgets he got from Professor Oak in his bag. As he started to breathe in the gentle breeze, he took one more look at Pallet town with a smile on his face, glad that he won't be alone on his journey. 'I'm not alone now.' He thought, making him grin wider.
"Are you ready, Pikachu?" Red asked the yellow mouse on his shoulder, who shouted in happiness. The boy smiled and pat its head and he took deep breaths.
"It seems that you two are gonna get along well. Good." Professor Oak said to himself, chuckling at the scene happening in front of him from his office window.
'Now your journey begins, boy. Make the best of it.' The man said, taking up a picture of himself when he was younger with his team along with his friends and family from his desk. He sighed happily before returning the wooden frame down.
"Nothing makes a week better than seeing the different reaction of the new generation as they make their first steps towards their dream." He said to himself, putting his hands in his pockets as he glanced out his window once more.
'Red Fires. A unique one, I have to say. I'm looking forward to see what the future holds for him.' Professor Oak thought, turning to resume his work.
Red finished mentally preparing himself before making his first step to Route 1, with Pikachu by his side.
'This is where my journey begins. Wait. No.' He looked at Pikachu with a smile, ruffling its fur before advancing.
"Now, our adventure begins."
A/N: Hello again, readers. Enigma is here. This chapter was not actually supposed to take this long to be published but life decides to do life things. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter. And thanks for the reviews and views. Enigma out.
