His extra bedding and books were packed and on their way home. He left his room key at the front desk. He picked up his pokeballs and never even thought about returning them. He healed his pokemon, made one final goodbye to Nurse Jane -with her young daughters blushing behind her- and headed straight to the arena. He knew Ray and Delia were outside, waiting for him. Ivysaur and Snorlax knew what he promised them.
They were all leaving today- to breathe in Kanto air outside of the academy.
Unlike Delia and Ray, Red waited to study his opponent. He watched his past battles, other challengers fight him and the types of pokemon and strategies he used.
This time, he was ready. With the Underdog secret in tow and two perfect pokemon for the occasion, he confidently approached the massive doors, stepped right up to Giovanni's podium and-
"You ready to challenge me, little boy?"
Giovanni saw the black-haired, fire-eyed boy approach the front desk as he gave the lesson. The other professors warned him, yet their senile minds didn't understand. He remembered what they said about Ricky Forster. No one remembered him for a reason. These kids are always being propped up as the next big challenge. He didn't believe them. And this boy was going to up-end his winning streak? As the youngest master in the Academy, he saw how out of his mind the child was.
But, a challenge was a challenge. He nonchalantly flipped a switch, turning the arena into a rocky surface, picked his three challengers and threw out his first challenger.
He crossed his arms as his Rhyhorn did the intimidation for him.
The boy didn't flinch. He too stood with crossed arms, and let the only sound come from the pokeball popping and a roaring Snorlax.
Neither knew what the other was capable of, but Red prepared for it.
"Trainers! Are you ready?!"
Both teacher and student nodded their heads as the referee waved his flag. The battle had begun.
"Stomp, Rhyhorn! GO!"
The massive rhinoceros charged and stomped down on Snorlax where it lay.
"ICE BEAM!"
A blast of ice shot out of Snorlax's mouth, hitting Rhyhorn at point-blank range.
The only sound in the room was the crash of the Rhyhorn, falling on its back.
"Hmmph. Beginner's luck." Giovanni looked away in disgust as his Rhyhorn was declared unable to battle.
"So, your pokemon knows Ice Beam, huh? When did you teach it that?"
Red relaxed a bit. "The pokemon already knew it when I got it."
"So you really got lucky then, Red?"
The little boy stood his ground. "I didn't. All pokemon given to students are rejects from other trainers. All students have the chance to learn what their pokemon is capable of."
Giovanni rolled his eyes. "So you taught it no moves, yet still found the luck to reach me? All you do is pick the right moves so they can win battles for you?"
A Nidorino flew out of its pokeball as Red thought of an answer.
"Before you answer me, little boy," Giovanni began, his hands firmly entwined with each other.
"Why do people think you're so special if all you ever were was the receiver of an over-powered pokemon from the start? If I began with your Snorlax, would I be as good as you? Could anyone go far with a Snorlax that knew Ice Beam or whatever moves they needed to succeed?"
Giovanni leaned forward, a sneer gripping the side of his face, dark brown eyes staring right into his soul.
"Because, if that's all correct, then you don't deserve to leave."
The battle is Nidorino vs. Snorlax! BEGIN!"
"Nidorino, POISON STING."
The poison pokemon raised its horn and swung it at Snorlax. It landed with a stinging pain, but didn't poison Snorlax."
Red stood speechless as Snorlax looked at its trainer. Giovanni called for a horn attack.
Should he make another call, one for a finishing move untaught by him? Should he add fuel to the fire that Giovanni set?
He had prepared. He purposely made Snorlax's moves for any pokemon Giovanni could throw at him, yet it would feel like he cheated...
"You don't deserve to leave..."
"Yes, I do! Snorlax, EARTHQUAKE!"
The ground rumbled, as ripples of dirt and rock sent Nidorino tumbling into the wall.
Giovanni's eyes widened. His nostrils flared up, the calm demeanor fading fast.
"NIDORINO, GET UP."
The purple pokemon with big ears and a massive front horn struggled to get up.
"YOU CALL YOURSELF A TRAINER! YOU CHEATED WITH THAT OVERPOWERED REJECT OF A POKEMON. YOU DON'T DESERVE TO WIN THIS FIGHT, LITTLE BOY! THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE, A LITTLE BOY WITH A BIG TOY! THAT'S ALL YOU EVER WILL BE! NIDORINO, SHOW THEM HOW IT'S DONE!"
Nidorino launched forward with a fire in its eyes.
"Focus energy into a horn attack!"
"Two moves at once?! That's illegal!"
The poison Pokemon rammed into Snorlax, sending the big green and white blob backward.
"You know what should be illegal? Giving little boys overpowered pokemon so they win every battle without earning it."
That's it.
"Snorlax, amnesia!"
As Snorlax built it's special up, Giovanni chuckled.
"You taught it Amnesia? That's ironic."
"EARTHQUAKE!"
Another wave of rock and dirt crashed into Nidorino, finally sending it flying back towards its master.
As he called back his pokemon, Giovanni turned towards his little opponent, down two to zero.
"You're beating me, child," He began. "You think you might be on to something, but you will go down in Pokemon history as a hack. Since you faced no challenges here, allow me to finally give you the first challenge of your short-lived career."
Out of his final pokeball popped an enormous creature with a horned head and a baby in its pouch. Giovanni had sent out a-
"Kangaskan vs Snorlax shall be the next battle. Both trainers are (after turning to each trainer for agreement)...ready! Fight!"
Without a single command given, the Parent Pokemon charged towards Snorlax with bright fists.
Comet punch... that's super effective...
"Snorlax, rest!"
Giovanni snickered.
"Too late, little child."
The furious punches slammed into Snorlax, knocking it senseless into a heap across the arena. It twitched before succumbing to its wounds.
"Snorlax is unable to battle. Kangaskan wins!"
Giovanni laughed victoriously.
"And just like that, you have no more options. Your prized winner is now gone. What weak secondary must you have? A level three Charmander or something?"
Red held the ball in his hands, cradling it between his fingers.
Just for a second, he thought, willing his Ivysaur to listen.
Let's shut this man up. We're going to leave this place today. And he will personally send my diploma to my parents while groveling on his stupid knees.
Ivysaur leaped out with a deep growl and a bright flower.
"We may not be remembered, Giovanni, but when we beat you, no one will let you forget it."
