A/N: Five years and I suddenly have an update. I hope you all enjoy. Life is beautiful; it's important to share that joy.

Chapter 6: Memories

There was a tree in the forest. It was one of the prettiest, most comfortable trees to climb. As a girl, she'd sit in its boughs and watch the whole world crawl by.

How many spearow chicks she has seen hatch within its branches! How many metapod have cracked open its cocoon to transform into a beautiful butterfree under her fascinated gaze! That tree was one of her secret treasures of the Forest; no one but herself knew its value. No one but herself could know its value.

But she's noticed how, as the seasons passed, the tree lost branches and became brittle in places it never had before. She had been worried, certainly, but as she gripped and climbed and hung on its branches, it supported her weight as easily as an old father would for his child. She had never thought it dangerous.

It was a day like any other. She journeyed to that spot where the tree always waited for her, looking forward to watching the mating dances of the butterfree as she hid in its leafy branches. And there it was: bent over right at the middle of its trunk. Its innards were rotting wood, eaten away by the fungus growing out of its gaping wound like a fearow when it spears open its prey. A battle had been raging. And her favorite tree lay on the forest grass, defeated.

-.-.-

The sea was not home to Yellow. As soon as she stepped onto the ship and watched the Kanto shoreline fade into the horizon, she missed home. The salty smell of sea brine on wood was a poor substitute for the leafy scent of Viridian trees. The arrhythmic splash of water against the ship's hull was a jarring contrast to the gentle sound of wind rustling through branches. The incessant call of Wingull and Pelipper were not as melodious as the chirping of pidgey or spearow. And every time the boat rocked beneath her, she couldn't help but miss the firmness of Forest soil.

Chuchu, however, was not of the same mind. Since the start of the boat's takeoff from shore, she and Pika were having a grand time dashing about the ship's corridors, so much so that their trainers couldn't even stop at their cabins. Their combined energy was far too much for the cramped cabin space; they had to move to the deck before their fellow passengers started yelling at them.

The rodent pokemon ran to and fro, provoking some wild wingull. Two of them descended onto Yellow's flower-wearing pikachu only to run away with their feathers between their legs when the feisty rodent zapped them right where it hurts.

Yellow couldn't help the giggle that burst from her mouth, even while the knot in her stomach from being on the unfamiliar sea tightened. She turned, knowing that her pokemon can take care of themselves well enough, and looked out over the vast foamy waters where the sun sparkled merrily over the sea. She leaned on the ship's rails, clutching at the silver pendant resting on her bosom that she never took off for the world, and reminded herself that she was away from home for a reason.

A beam of red light flashed to her left and the form of a gyarados rose up out of the sea, its sudden appearance causing a wave to drench Yellow and her entire side of the deck. She shook her head, clearing the water from her eyes while a black-haired scarlet-eyed trainer grinned at her from atop the head of the gigantic sea serpent.

The trainer and his pokemon seemed to laugh the exact same way. "Come on, Yellow! The water's great!"

For a split moment, Yellow just stared at the boy she's loved almost her whole life. The handsomest boy she's ever known; a dazzling smile on his face, sitting atop one of the fiercest water pokemon of the seas, looking at her like she was the whole world.

What a far cry from the trembling mess she had greeted at her door with a manila envelope clutched in his shaking hands was mere hours ago. And here he was, smiling like he had no care in the world.

She grinned back at the playful boy before her. She jumped over the rail and called, "Pika! Surf!"

Said pokemon squeaked excitedly at the chance to use the move before launching itself into the air and onto the electrical platform that let it cut through the waters. Yellow landed easily on it with Chuchu clutching at her shoulder. She gave the pleased Pika a scratch behind its ear.

Red watched her with a gentle gaze before saying, "You're the only one Pika listens to other than me."

"It's 'cause we understand each other," she replied as she straightened up. Pika chittered happily beside her in agreement.

Suddenly, she twisted the board to launch a wave of water at Red's face, making him sputter in surprise. She and Pika hi-fived. "Our very own splash attack!" And sped off to surf parallel to the ship, Yellow's laughter echoing over the waves.

"Oh, no, you don't!" Red and Gyara swam after the duo. "Flail!" Its hefty tail lifted and slammed on the surface of the waters. Pika and Yellow had to constantly jump over the disturbed waves to prevent toppling over.

Yellow couldn't do it by herself; in her hand was a pokeball.

"Omasuke! Help!"

What ensued was the fiercest water fight the people on board the ship ever saw. Crowds of passengers lined up along the ship's railing to watch the golden-haired girl with a pikachu that learned how to Surf put up a fight against a trainer that looked strangely familiar.

Omasuke materialized on the surface of the water, where it used Surf to calm the waters around his trainer. It skated on the surface of the sea like only a true ocean pokemon can before diving into the ocean.

Red and Gyara looked around, on alert at wherever the fossil pokemon might re-surface. But...

Yellow's voice was full of laughter as she commanded, "Brine!"

Spouts of water launched from three different places around the sea serpent. Two of which were stopped by a well-timed tail swipe for Gyara, but the third doused Red right in his face.

The omastar re-surfaced at Yellow's side. Yellow giggled as Pika and Chuchu shook their tails playfully at Red. They sped off once again.

The Champion wiped his eyes with a grin. "Brace yourself, Yellow! I'm only getting started!"

A cheer rose from the ship's deck as people began to realize that the young man was the Champion of Kanto.

Red, not taking any notice of the ruckus his presence was eliciting on deck, readied himself to chase after Yellow, when a harsh whistle from the ship interrupted them.

"Hey, you two!" a middle-aged sailor barked at them. "Didn't you read the sign? No going overboard!"

The crowd on deck booed at the sailor, who stood his ground. "This is for everyone's protection. Champion or not, we don't need people jumping off the ship!" He turned his attention to the couple in question. "Get back on here, or else we'll have to ask you to stay in your cabin for the rest of the trip!"

Yellow sheepishly flew back on deck with Pisuke, dripping wet and holding in her laughter so as to look very apologetic. "Sorry, sir."

Red, on the other hand, casually jumped off Gyara's back to stand beside Yellow, a little defensive, a little possessive, but with such a sincere grin on his face the sailor couldn't be angry.

"I know you can handle yourself, sir," the sailor said to Red, and, nodding toward Yellow added, "and this little miss, if she's with you, probably can, too. But I can't have you setting a bad example for us regular folks on deck. Going overboard is very dangerous for those who don't know what they're doing."

Red made a noncommittal grin, while Yellow nodded sincerely. "We understand, sir. We won't do it again."

The sailor grunted, but he winked at the couple discreetly before turning toward the people on deck, "Alright, show's over. Go have your battles in the right places on the ship."

Yellow looked around, intensely aware at how the crowd looked at herself and Red. She pulled at his sleeve. "Red, umm..."

He grabbed her hand and leaned over. "Follow me."

The robust sailor purposefully pushed into the crowd, forcing people to back off, much to their chagrin. Red took advantage of the chaos, pulled Yellow to jump off the railing again, but this time landing on Gyara's head so the sea serpent could bring them to the other side of the ship, where their activities hadn't been noticed by the people. Pika and Chuchu very silently slipped away right behind them.

Gyara's head dropped them off to a part of the ship where no one noticed their escape. Pika and Chuchu jumped off happily, waited for the trainers to join them, then promptly dashed off to another adventure. Gyara closed its eyes as Yellow thanked it with a gentle pat between its eyes. It then moved to dive back into the waters to play with Omasuke, who had stayed behind on the waters.

Red scoffed, "So much for having fun."

Yellow giggled. "What are you talking about? We can have fun even if we don't go overboard. There's a top deck where we can fly around for a bit. We can fish. We can find some trainers to battle... Um... Red?" Yellow moved to squeeze the water from her drenched dress, but Red refused to let her hand go.

She looked toward him and the look on his face took her breath away. He pulled her close and her hands automatically clutched at his still-damp shirt. He trembled beneath her fingertips.

She had noticed. She had noticed all this time. Since she saw the picture in his home, since his smile was just a little more tempered, and how he was always hesitant to go back to Pallet Town, and not just because he wanted to stay with her, but because there was something in Pallet Town that was hard to see, buried deep in a hidden place.

It reminded her of the fungus that grew on her favorite tree. For years and years it ate away at the tree, never surfacing, never seen, until it toppled over. A majestic tree with leafy branches as rich as all the others, but rotting on the inside. And all that time, nobody had known. She, who had climbed and slept and hung up and down its sturdy trunk, had never known.

Without thinking, her heart went out to the boy sighing softly in her ear. Her own powers of the Forest responded to the desire in her soul to heal and comfort him.

Red chuckled breathily as he nuzzled her hair, lips brushing her forehead. "You're using your powers on me."

Yellow snapped out of it. "You can tell?" She blinked owlishly at him, whose smile was so soft and sincere. Then, she shook her head, stuttering, "I-I'm sorry. I didn't even know I was doing it."

"It's happened a couple times now. But I don't mind. I just hope it's not making you tired." He pulled away to brush a stray hair behind her ear.

"No, I'm not tired." She looked at her hands. "It's strange. My powers don't work on people."

Red took her hands in his own, shrugging. "Maybe they only work on me." He laughed at the skeptical look on her face. "I wouldn't be surprised. I feel better just being around you. At peace. Happy."

She glanced at her hands again, wrapped as they were in Red's much larger ones. "You think it's my powers?"

"Honestly?" he gave her his dazzling smirk. The one that always made her heart beat. "No. I think it's just you. And the fact that I love you."

Her whole face burned to a thousand degrees. How can he say those things so easily? She turned away in a poor attempt to hide her face. "Wh-what am I supposed to say to that?"

Red laughed, a bright sound that made Yellow smile. "I only say it 'cause it's true! And I am being serious." Red's smiling tone immediately darkened, ever so slightly, but enough for Yellow to notice. "I wouldn't be on this ship if it weren't for you. And I'd probably still be angry and upset."

Yellow's heart softened for this cheerful boy who always put a brave face on. "I know this isn't easy for you, Red. But I'm glad to be here with you. No matter what, you can count on me!"

Red's smile was so gentle, her heart ached. "Thanks, Yellow."

He kept his arms around her, but his gaze turned toward the sea, and she could see from the storminess of his eyes and the tightness of his jaw that he was anxious. Her grip on his shirt tightened.

Pika and Chuchu returned to them, obviously concerned at the battler's subdued attitude. Chuchu sat herself at Yellow's feet, beady eyes fixed on Red, while Pika jumped on the rail in front of him to nuzzle at his shoulder.

Automatically, Red patted the rodent's head, his pensive expression never leaving his face. "She was dead, you know." He didn't need to say anything else.

Yellow bit back the question that was on the tip of her tongue. But was she really dead? To you? But a careful look at his stormy eyes and she knew he wouldn't know the answer. Not at this point.

So instead she prompted, "And now?"

"Now?" Red shook his head. He turned away from her to brace himself against the ship's railing, arms falling from her small frame. "Now she's not dead anymore. I don't even know what to think."

Bitterness and resentment battled in his clear ruby eyes. There was the fungus that had been eating away at his heart for years, unseen by anyone else, hidden away so carefully, masked by a confident exterior.

"For...for twelve years, she hadn't contacted me once! Not a letter, a call...nothing! I thought she was dead! I...!" Red's words choked in his throat.

Yellow reached up and cupped his face in both of hers, forcing him to look at her. Her heart broke as she saw his usually bright gaze, turned cloudy and dark with unshed tears. He closed eyes and pressed his forehead against hers, allowing himself to relax beneath her touch.

There were no words exchanged between the two. But words needn't be said. Yellow could tell; there was something Red wanted to say, but had no idea how to even begin. That's fine. She could wait. She had waited for him for years. She could wait even longer if she needed to.

The tree that had died from the fungus growing inside it chose to die while she was away. It had waited so that she was nowhere near it. If there was anything she had learned from exploring the Viridian Forest, it was that waiting always gave the best results.

Indeed, at this moment it did. Red moved to press his lips against her forehead, a gentle action that never failed to fill her heart with warmth. He said, "I never told you what happened right before I turned eight." He paused. "I...never told anyone what happened."

Yellow pulled away to look at him. Pika pushed himself into Red's arms, who held the mouse closely to his chest. At the same time, he touched his belt, grabbed hold of one of the pokeballs attached there and released the only pokemon who really knew.

As soon as Poli's full form materialized from the light, it fixed its bulging eyes at its trainer with such understanding, it made Yellow's eyes sting.

Red placed his free hand on the space between Poli's eyes. The water pokemon closed its eyes under his trainer's touch. Yellow placed her hand on top of Red's.

The Champion of Kanto closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes, he began to speak.

-.-.-.

Before modern human advancements, before technology reigned supreme in the Kanto Region, and before Fuchsia was a city, it was a simple village in the southeast corner of the region. Surrounded by pokemon and the wild, the people lived in harmony with their environment. It was a common thing for the children of the village to wander the wild.

Among all the children, the one who wandered the farthest and the longest was Callistus. As a child, he was a wanderer. As a man, he lived more in the pokemon world than the human one. He had trekked the heights of Mt. Moon, braved the treacherous Whirl Islands, and even explored the extent of Ilex Forest before anyone dared to plumb its depths. With his faithful Arcanine by his side, Callistus never turned down an adventure.

He sought neither fame, glory, nor recognition for his travels. Indeed, he was a man of precious few words. Whatever fantastic sights he has viewed, or mythical encounters he experienced, none of them ever passed his lips. He was known for his travel-weary wrinkles and deep, piercing brown eyes. Even his Arcanine behaved more like an umbreon, with its light, graceful steps, and uncanny ability to disappear into its surroundings; an odd characteristic for a bright pokemon of flame.

Before Callistus's tenth birthday, he was already known to be a quiet, reclusive child. He was neither loved nor detested, sought after nor despised. But he would disappear for hours into the wild and come back so silently, no one ever knew he was gone, until a curious family member asked him what he was doing.

One day, he came home with a growlithe at his side. But even that was a discovery to be made days later. Normal growlithe were energetic pups that jumped and barked at the slightest warning. But Callistus's growlithe was calm, more of a sentinel than a pet, kept quiet unless prompted. It followed Callistus around for months before it had been properly captured in a pokeball.

As soon as Callistus turned ten, he left behind his hometown, his family, and all that was familiar, to go on his adventure with his faithful growlithe at his side.

He left as quietly as he always did. One day he was there, the next he was gone. He was gone for years and years. If he ever visited his family, no one ever knew.

By contrast, Delia was the flower of her borough in Saffron city. Her raven hair and flaming red eyes danced with laughter. She was a petite, slim little thing, but her pretty face masked a ferocious capacity for battle. Once, she had faced off with her own father, the man who taught her everything she knew, and beat him fair and square. She had a graceful meowth that had more attitude than a snubbull and claws sharper than a scyther.

She was bright and well-loved by neighbors and anyone who came in contact with her. When she left for her pokemon adventure, her escapades won the admiration of many in her hometown.

Everyone thought she would become famous, maybe a Gym Leader, maybe even an Elite Four.

After years of making a name for herself in the region, no one expected Delia to come home and announce to her family that she was pregnant, and that the father was a no-name trainer from backwater Fuchsia Village.

Her family was opposed, but Delia didn't care. She had found the person she wanted and was carrying his child.

No one in Saffron saw the father. Delia seemed to be preparing for the birth of her child by herself, but she did so with such serenity, no one could be unhappy for her. And just as it seemed the child would burst forth from her bulging belly, Callistus came to the city, a man with deep dark eyes and travel-worn wrinkles, completely out of his element in the boroughs of the city and took the woman carrying his son. Without anyone knowing, they left the city behind and settled in a nondescript house in Pallet Town.

The strange couple made quite the impression on this sleepy town, but they were kind people, with formidable pokemon. No one asked questions, and that was that.

Delia gave birth and the baby boy was named Red: red for the eyes he shared with his mother, and red for the fire of Arcanine's mane.

As soon as the boy learned to walk, he learned how to interact with pokemon. From his silent father, he learned fearlessness when faced with the powerful creatures of the wild. From his mother, he inherited a knack for pinpointing a pokemon's strength and weakness with a glance.

And Callistus. He and Delia were a fine couple. The flower of Saffron remained as beautiful and vibrant as a mother and wife as she was as an innocent young girl. And the silent Callistus, around his wife, would sometimes even crack a smile.

Theirs was a family that kept mostly to themselves, though Red would prove to be quite the trouble-maker. Especially after he captured that poliwag; the two never seemed to lose energy.

The family was happy. But it was not a surprise when, as Red grew older, more energetic and curious about the world, Callistus began to roam again. It would just be an outing on a weekend here or there, sometimes with Red, sometimes without. Then it became week-long trips. By the time Red turned seven, his father was gone for months at a time.

The day after Red's seventh birthday, he overheard this conversation between his parents.

"Delia, you should have seen it. The way the sun shone on Sootopolis City in Hoenn... Come with me. You and Red would love it."

"Callistus, Red just turned seven. His journey is still a long time from now, but there's so much he needs to learn. He only has his poliwag; he needs to learn how to pitch his own tent and start his own fire."

Callistus's eyes seemed to hold the entire world in it. "Delia, I have to go to Hoenn. I have to."

The raven-haired mother smiled. "When have I ever said no to your adventures? Just come back, okay? Red needs his father."

There were no other words exchanged between them. Callistus left the next morning.

Red stood at the doorway of his house as he watched Callistus get ready to leave. His father knelt to look Red in the eye and whispered, "Son, no matter what, always follow your heart. Even if it means traveling to the ends of the world, see everything you can, have a lot of adventures. Your pokemon will always be with you."

Red nodded his head cheerfully. Dad always said that to him before leaving on a journey. "Okay, bye, Dad!"

Callistus gave his wife a kiss and patted Red's head. The next moment, he jumped on Arcanine's back and the two were gone.

Six months later, a letter arrived and Red's mother was inconsolable.

Four months later, six weeks before Red's eighth birthday, he stood at the doorway of his house, but this time, he faced his mother.

Her red eyes had a strange look to them. Red didn't know what it meant. "Mom?"

She knelt in front of him, just like his father did ten months ago. She pressed a kiss to his forehead. "I'll be back soon," she said. "I promise."

For two years, she never came back. On his tenth birthday, he stopped waiting.

-.-.-.-

So that's what it was, Yellow thought as Red finished his story.

That was the part of his heart he had never shared with anyone. Green and Blue had to dig it up with their own investigations. This was the first time he must have said this to anyone of his own volition.

Yellow's eyes filled with tears. He must have felt so alone, all this time. All by himself, in that house of his in Pallet Town. No wonder why he never liked going back there!

She took his hand in hers.

They were sitting on a bench, now, overlooking the sea from an inconspicuous corner on the ship's deck. Red had taken off his hat. Yellow wore his vest to protect her from the chill of the sea breeze.

Gyara and Omasuke continued surfing along the wake of the ship. Red was holding Pika close to his body while Poli sat faithfully at the feet of his trainer. Yellow's Chuchu sat silently on her lap.

"You must have felt so alone," she said quietly.

Red patted Poli, who grunted gently at the gesture. "Not alone," he said with a small, sad smile. "Poli was with me. And my neighbors were good to me, too. They helped me out a lot."

"What was in that letter your mother received? Was it news that your dad died?"

He shook his head. "It only said that he had gone missing. He was exploring the region that would become the Safari Zone, and never came back. The letter came from the local officials of Lilycove City."

"And your mother left to find him."

"But even after two years, she never came back. I never heard from her after that day." He chuckled bitterly. "I figured she died."

He reached into his backpack and pulled out the wrinkled manila folder he had received from Professor Oak. "Now I find out she didn't die. Instead..." The unsaid words hung in the air and were carried away by the sea breeze.

Yellow shook her head. "Red, there had to have been a reason for her to have stayed away." How could anyone just up and leave the most wonderful person in the world? It made no sense to her.

"Yeah? Like what?"

She thought of her Uncle Wilton, finding her on his doorstep on the darkest night of his life. "Maybe she didn't think she was good enough."

Red chuckled bitterly. "Yeah, right."

He opened the manila folder in his hands and pulled out the damning piece of paper that spelled out all the information. He stared at it for a moment, and she saw a shift in him. A shift from despondent gloom to anger, pure anger.

"Look," he started, "she stayed in Hoenn for five years. Five years! Working in the Safari Zone development office!" He shook his head disbelievingly. "She left her son on a different continent to spend five years working at the place that killed her husband. On what planet does that make any sense?"

Yellow bit her lip. They'd gone over this again and again. And each time, he seemed to get angrier, more resentful. "Red, let's not..."

But he wasn't listening. "And after that?" he continued." Two years in the Sevii Islands." He crumpled the paper in his hands, making it tremble in the air. "We were in the Sevii Islands, Yellow. Kicking up a real fuss and making the news on every broadcasting channel out there. She had to have known that it was me." He shook his head. "After that, she jumped from region to region... What is wrong with her?!"

Yellow took his trembling hands in hers and tried to hide the tears gathering in her eyes. Slowly, beneath her grip, she felt his anger mellow out again into the softer cadences of sorrow.

"What's worse, Yellow?" came Red's voice, broken and full of pain. "Thinking your parents died? Or knowing that you were abandoned?"

She couldn't hold back. Her voice hiccupped as she said, with all the heart and the honesty she could muster, even as her voice shook with the emotion behind it.

"You're not abandoned, Red," she declared. "I'm here and I'll never leave. Never."

It was a promise, a vow. She will do everything in her power to keep it.

-.-.-.-.

Alola was beautiful. They landed in Hau'oli City's harbor of the region's most populated island. The firmness of earth immediately comforted her, but the humidity was something new altogether. She tried to tighten her ponytail higher on her head to let her neck air out; sweat was already forming there and they had hardly gotten off the ship. She put on her straw hat so as to block the sun, warm and merry in an impossibly blue tropical sky.

She was certainly very far from home.

Hau'oli City was bustling, tourists and fashionistas and all kinds of people milled about, tanning on the beach or just walking around the city. There was a festive atmosphere in the air. Chuchu and Pika, never having been recalled back into their pokeballs, launched themselves out of their trainers' arms and chittered excitedly at the new sights and smells of their surroundings.

"Wow," Red whistled as he stepped off the ship and stood by her to watch the people go by. "This place is nice."

Yellow hummed in agreement. "It's warm and friendly here. Everyone seems happy."

And so it was, the bustling city seemed ready to burst at any moment with a party.

"Well?" Yellow said, turning to her boyfriend. "What's next?"

Next was, of course, going to find the place Delia of Pallet Town was now residing, but Yellow wanted to give Red some space. She wanted him to go at his own pace. There was no need to rush. The tallest trees in Viridian reached their height by being patient about their growth. It must be the same for Red.

The Champion smiled gently at the girl by his side. "Right now, I think I just want to enjoy the sights with you. I know we'll eventually have to make our way to...to her place. But..."

Yellow nodded in agreement. "That's okay, Red. There's no rush. Let's have some fun in the meantime!"

Red hugged her gratefully before pulling her hand to run toward the beach. "We can't just come to Alola and not go to the beach!"

Yellow laughed and off they went, their pikachu dashing off after them.

-.-.-.

An entire morning and most of the afternoon flew by. There came a point when Yellow had to stop Red, who was eager to move on to the next exciting tourist attraction.

"Red, you're stalling," she said, gripping his fingers in hers.

At his feet, Chuchu nudged his leg, as if agreeing with her trainer. Pika's hind leg scratched behind its ear, uncaring.

He squeezed Yellow's hands back, a sideways, sad sort of smile on the corner of his lips. "Am I that obvious?"

She tilted her head at him with a quiet gaze, and nothing else.

He seemed to understand her gaze because he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Once he opened them again, he seemed resolute. He reached up to adjust his hat before taking Yellow's hand in his once more. "Okay," he said with more strength than he must have felt. "Let's go."

At the sight of his trainer's resolve, Pika jumped onto his shoulder, while Chuchu jumped into Yellow's. Hand in hand, the two with their partners, headed off to find Red's mother.

-.-.-.

Delia of Pallet Town owned a battle café on the Beachfront District of Hau'oli City. A local favorite, it wasn't hard to find the tiny, chic, shack by the seashore. When the duo arrived at the location, Red nearly stumbled over his feet. Even Yellow couldn't quite process what she was seeing.

The establishment was called RC's café, written in fancy black letters. The main color theme was red. A majestic Arcanine and cute poliwag were painted as mascots next to the name.

...It was so obvious. Yellow couldn't help but feel a bit of hope. Maybe...maybe his mother did have an important reason to stay away. She snuck a look at Red.

Said boy had his eyes hidden beneath the visor of his cap. His chin trembled. Yellow reached up to stroke it, small fingers resting lightly on the skin there. Red learned into the touch, lips brushing gently against her fingertips.

Once again, he took a deep, centering breath. Then, he turned toward the café's entrance. "It's now or never," he said beneath his breath.

He strode through the door, Yellow not even a half-step behind.

-.-.-.

"This "yes" tells them that they can always trust one another, and that they will never be abandoned when difficulties arise or new attractions or selfish interests present themselves." - Pope Francis's post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation, "Amoris Laetitia'' pp 132.

Update: I'm sorry. The timeline within this story is entirely all messed up. I'm updating it so that all chapters are consistent. I'll make it clear once and for all, as well as in the last update.

Red was abandoned at eight years old. He left for his adventure at ten. Professor Oak's investigation was at a standstill for one year. Then, ten years later, Green found more information. This means Red hadn't seen his mother for twelve years. He's now twenty years old, making Yellow eighteen.

It's been five years since I last updated this story. I haven't read any arcs beyond HG/SS, so I can't imagine that this story can ever truly fit in within the canon universe. That's okay. I'll just take some creative liberties.