Chapter 5

Author's Note: This is word emphasis

-this is telepathic conversation-

Just Outside Vermillion City:

Citrine watches as her Eevee frolicks along while they make steady pace towards their next destination, which happened to be Vermillion City, home of the Kanto Electric Gym. The ocean comes into view, and they can see a massive cruise liner from where they were. Red had Poli, Saur, and Pika out currently. It was too bright for Zu, and Dor was napping after having trained a lot with Red. Haunter was hanging out in her shadow once again, all the better to defend her quicker. " Red, before we investigate that cruise liner like I know you want to, I need to get a brush for Eevee, and we should probably make sure we have enough of everything now that we're near a human settlement again. " Citrine says.

" Yeah, I can see how that would make sense. " Red admits, and opens himself up more fully to Citrine, as they would be near people again.

They head for the nearest PokéMart where Citrine gets a brush for her Eevee whom was back in her PokéBall to keep people from getting Stupid Ideas. Then they sneak on board the S.S. St. Anne to see what it was like. Red was the one that got them caught after he saw a pokémon on board, since he hadn't learned how to curb his startle reflex yet. Then she has to laugh as Red gets accosted by the head of the Vermillion Chapter of the Pokémon Fan Club. her eyes narrow after a member reports that his Exeggutor had been stolen, -Red, this is most likely the work of Team Rocket. Remember how they stole Misty's Gyarados?-

Red doesn't react externally to what Citrine said telepathically, but he acknowledges that she might be right. They both agreed that they needed to get back on that ship that they were told was owned by Lieutenant Surge. It was the only thing large enough to hide all the stolen pokémon in. Poor Pika gets left behind to be cuddled by the president of the Pokémon Fan Club while the rest of them sneak on board. Haunter reacts before Red can touch what looks like a PokéBall, only Haunter knew it was a Voltorb. Voltorb gets sent hurtling backwards by Shadow Ball, forcing a Self-destruct. " That's a mighty fine Haunter you have for someone breaking onto my ship. "

-Red, find the stolen pokémon, his mind confirms that he did in fact take them. Haunter and I have this.-

Red and Poli slip off while Citrine stares down Surge, whom reveals Electabuzz. He sends his Magnemite out after Red and Poli, -Red, water conducts electricity, use Dor!-

" You won't be able to beat my Electabuzz, girlie. " Surge states.

Citrine just levels a look at him, and Haunter counters Electabuzz's Thunder Punch with Protect, -Use Attract, and then follow that up with Energy Ball!-

Surge blinks when Electabuzz has swirls for eyes, meanwhile one of Surge's Gym Trainers, and the man's Magneton corner Red and Poli. Dor gave a good showing, actually was holding his own with Magneton, then again, Red did happen to have the Technical Machine containing Ice Beam, and Steel Types, of which Magneton was part Steel Type were really weak to Ice Type moves. Dor unleashes a point blank Ice Beam on Magneton at the same time Poli is grabbed and thrown overboard. There was nothing Red could do as he was surrounded by Magnemite. Magneton is knocked out, and before Dor can poison the human male Red is thrown overboard as well. Dor does not take this lightly, and he poisons the human male, and then nails all of the enemy Magnemite with one continuous Ice Beam.

In the water Red is remembering a similar incident where he fell in the water when he was younger. That was when Poli evolved into Poliwhirl. Red honestly thought this moment would be his last, he's unconscious for being saved by his newly evolved Poliwrath. Poli leaps up onto the deck of the St. Anne with Red in his arms, eyes narrowed when Surge gets sent ass over tea kettle towards him along with his Raichu. Citrine and Haunter saunter after them, Citrine's eyes are narrowed angrily, " How dare you even begin to suggest that in exchange for giving me a leg up in the Indigo League that I become your BED WARMER! "

Surge scrambles backwards on the deck as quickly as he can, in order to get away from the RIGHTEOUS FEMININE FURY that was about to head his way. Especially when the blonde's hair lifts up in an unseen wind. He'd only seen Sabrina pissed off once, and she was a trained Psychic, he did not want to see what an untrained, pissed off psychic could do! Especially one he had insinuated become his bed warmer " THUNDERBOLT! "

Surge gets sent hurtling away with his Raichu. Poli sits Red down on the deck gently, and then goes to free the stolen pokémon with Misdreavus. Dor stays with Haunter and Citrine, Haunter helping Citrine to rein her powers back in again. Citrine had never been more pissed off in her young life. It was then her Lunar Wing Necklace pulses briefly, and Citrine manages to find her calm again. She calls Eevee out to work on training her again, it was still daylight out, and she was so hoping she could get the friendship levels up high enough that her Eevee might actually evolve into Espeon, which would give her a psychic type. Even she knew she needed a psychic type to help her train more with her powers. It was why she had been stunned to find a wild Eevee in Kanto, a female one at that! Red is just starting to come to when Poli and Misdreavus return with the stolen pokémon, " 'Trine, what happened? "

" I only showed up shortly after Poli saved your ass, Red. " Citrine says.

Dor carefully nuzzles his trainer, he'd been worried when he'd gotten thrown overboard. It was a damned good thing Poli evolved when he did, otherwise Red probably would have died, no two ways about it. " I got thrown overboard after Poli was, it was so similar to what happened to have Poli evolve from Poliwag to Poliwhirl, now he's evolved again into Poliwrath. "

Citrine tosses him a Thunder Badge, " Swiped them off of Surge. We'll need to call Misty and let her know that Surge is up to no good. Oh, Poli can now learn more fighting type moves as well. "

Red nods as he slowly makes his way to his feet, when he sways Poli is there to hold him up, and Red notes the time before digging out Citrine's pain meds along with some more Oran Berry Juice to take them with. Citrine does so without complaint even as she continues to work with her Eevee. She needed to take advantage of every daylight hour she could. Maybe she could even breed her Eevee as well, if the little lady wanted to be bred, that was something very important to remember as well. Pokémon happened to be sentient, and so should be able to make choices themselves as well. If she remembered right Eevee could be bred with male Nidoran, she'd have to get some more books to study. Pick up battles were going to be a must as well, money was a necessary thing, even if you could live off the land to cut down on the cost of food supplies. She did have field survival guides for Kanto and Johto after all. Honey was better to buy though since no one wanted to deal with a pissed off Beedrill.

The President of the Vermillion Chapter of the Pokémon Fan Club got a bit of a surprise to find out that his Abra had evolved up to his final stage of Alakazam once they returned all the pokémon to their rightful owners. When Red finds out about a race that had a ten thousand Poké Dollar prize he so wanted to enter. Citrine cocks her head to the side, " Why not call Misty first, she might have a couple of Bike vouchers we could use since she is basically bound to Cerulean City, we still need to tell her about Vermillion's Gym Leader anyhow. " Citrine suggests.

Red nods at this suggestion and they head for the Pokémon Center, Eevee was placed back in her Ball since the sun was starting to set. Pika and Zu were the only Pokémon left out since Poli was now too big to be out in town now. Zu shrieks happily at being allowed out again, being nocturnal made it harder for Red to train him while on the road, but they managed it. Zu was really good at helping them navigate through tricky areas with his echolocation. After getting all their pokémon on hand checked out by Nurse Emiko Joy they make the call to Misty, and then fill her in on what had been going on with them. Misty frowns when she finds out Lieutenant Surge was the one behind the thefts of the Vermillion Chapter of the Pokémon Fan Club's pokémon, and admits she does have three Bike Vouchers, she agreed to call the Vermillion City Bike Shop to let them know that Red and Citrine of Pallet Town were authorized to use two of them.

Citrine was the one to handle their laundry this time while Red gets a shower in. Their pokémon in their room with Red save for Haunter whom always went everywhere with her mistress. No need to take chances with Citrine's mental, emotional, and physical well being. Haunter was not going to allow her young mistress' family to drag her back to them. She was so much happier with Red, and Haunter would do whatever she had to protect that happiness. Once all the laundry was done, and sorted Citrine heads to the room she would be sharing with Red. Only Eevee remained in her Ball, she be back out during the daytime. Citrine wasn't going to enter the race, there was no way in Hell her ribs would be able to handle that. Instead she would be waiting at the finish line for him, Haunter would be on full alert since they would be separated for a bit of time.

" 'Trine, I don't have to enter the race, if me entering puts you in any danger from them I won't enter. " Red says softly.

Citrine looks at him, " I have Haunter and Misdreavus. You do need to actually live your life too. Plus, I have the Lunar Wing, it might be able to offer me some protection, and I am getting better with the offensive capabilities of my powers. "

Red had watched her train her telekinesis by lifting different objects in nature, like rocks, branches, things like that. Her brain was a muscle just like anything else in the body, and she had to exercise it. She had done so in Pallet Town too, so her telekinesis wasn't too bad off, it was her umbrakinesis that really needed the work, and she worked on that in different forests or other areas that cast shadows for her to work with well away from spies. Citrine has Haunter assist her with her evening shower, and she emerges from the bathroom dressed for the night, she hands Red her hair brush, and he makes quick work of brushing and braiding her hair. However it was her telepathy that really needed the work, as she could make people forget they had even seen her. Blue could be trusted to keep his mouth shut, Misty didn't know enough to tell anyone anything of importance so that avenue was safe too, and she always introduced herself as coming from Pallet Town.

That's why she was really hoping that her Eevee would chose to evolve into an Espeon, though if she chose to breed to Dor she could get Espeon and Umbreon. Umbreon happened to be a Dark Type, and Dark Types were immune to all Psychic attacks. An Umbreon would be really useful against Sabrina in Saffron City, though she really needed to train her ass off, because she got this nasty feeling that she would have to have a one on one psychic confrontation with Sabrina. -Red, we need to take our time approaching Saffron City. Every instinct I have says that I am going to end up in a psychic battle with Sabrina. I'd rather be able to train my ass off before that than get thoroughly thrashed because I got in over my head. Sabrina is a telekinetic telepath. This means that I need to make damned sure I get those two powers of mine up to snuff, immediately.-

Red silently acknowledges what she'd said to him, he'd follow her lead on this, because her instincts were usually spot on. This meant that once the race was done they could take Diglett's Cave back to outside of Viridian Forest. First though he had a race to win tomorrow after they redeemed the Bike Vouchers Misty was going to let them use. Citrine would be able to handle a normal pace on a bike, it might hurt, but it would strengthen her legs. There was also the fact that on a bike you needed much higher situational awareness. Citrine snuggles into him as best she can, -You should meditate, see if you can figure out how better to use your Aura, Red.-

-I suppose I really should. Like you practice with your psychic abilities I really should try and work on my own powers as well. I just don't really know how I should go about it.- Red admits, though meditation should help him be able to at least learn how to access his Aura, and call it up at will. Red had no idea of Cresselia's idea to help him train his Aura.

Tree of Beginnings:

-Mew, I have an idea I'd like to share with you. It's about young Red.- Cresselia calls out.

She waits for Mew to appear, as the Tree of Beginnings happened to be his home. -What sort of idea do you have, Cresselia?-

-I was thinking of making a tournament happen where Red could win a Riolu egg as a prize since his Aura does need training.- Cresselia replies.

-Your idea has merit, but where would we have the tournament take place? Citrine rightly wants to avoid Saffron City until she has better control over her telepathy and telekinesis. I do wonder how she found a wild female Eevee of all beings in Kanto.- Mew muses, Cresselia's idea was worth putting into action, as a Riolu could be able to better help Red train his Aura up properly. Especially since his and Citrine's path would be filled with plenty of dangerous trials.

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or Pokémon Adventures.