Hey again! I wanted to say a couple of things this chapter:

1. After redoing each Legend's team, (including Leaf's, which you never saw) I'm now pretty sure I'm going to do the tournament again with the Sun and Moon Legends (But better). I learned a lot about Pokémon battling recently and I now know that there's tons of stuff I didn't do that I should have done. For example, use Diamond's Giratina and Arceus correctly, have Red use Stockpile with Snorlax and most importantly, show the nicknames that some Pokémon have. Most of them are nods to this and that, and others show off the history between trainer and pokemon. Another thing I forgot to do is correctly explain Krystal's team. Krystal didn't only lose her best friend, she also lost all her Pokémon except for Suicune, who turned shiny thanks to Arceus. That's why she doesn't have her starter Bayleef with her and she has a gen 4 Gliscor instead of a gen 2 pokemon like the rest of her team. Which brings me to my next point:

2. All of the teams. I did a little snippet of this during my previous point. What I want to do is release all of the Legend Teams I made. For each Legend they have their current team (which changes over time) and the team they originally had during their adventures. I'll probably put all of this on my page to avoid cluttering each chapter with content readers might not want. However, I do want to have an explanation for each team, which I don't know if I should put here as separate "filler"chapters between real ones (which will still come as regularly as before) or make a new story solely for explaining everything and little HOPL tidbits. Speaking of tidbits:

3. Red's Notes. This is a little idea I had a while ago while making each team. Red's Notes are essentially Red's comments on everyone's teams, habits, fighting style, and pokemon. For example:
Diamond. His team is one of the scariest thanks to his obsession with Legendaries. Arceus, specifically, poses a huge threat to all pokemon. However, Diamond is an idiot. For example, instead of giving Arceus Swords Dance to further boost his power and have the rest of his moves be type-covers, he instead insists on using Arceus' signature move (Judgement) and having not one-but two recovering moves. One for HP and the other for status effects. His team could obliterate all others in HOPL, but he decides to be flashy instead of actually focusing on winning. Another example is his choice of giving Dialga Roar of Time, which is essentially a glorified Hyper Beam with Dragon-type slapped onto it. I only gave Hyper Beam to my Mega Mewtwo Y because his Special Attack makes it absolutely ridiculous, which is what I might need in a pinch. He tends to rely on his Legendaries' awesome power instead of thinking of a more clever way to attack. This makes him very transparent, as most of his moves are going to be head-on attackers like Spacial Rend and Dark Pulse instead of status changers or stat buffers. The closest he'll get is putting you to sleep with Darkrai's Dark Void, but that's also just to show off Darkrai's signature move and use Dream Eater/Nightmare/Dark Pulse on you once you're asleep. It's not a bad technique, but it's still predictable and counterable.
There's more than just that, but I don't want to fill up this thing with a demo for something that might not happen. Anyways, if I include it, it's going to be the same as the team explanations: either between chapters (weekends or Wednesday) or as a whole new story. Maybe I'll put them together and add a new story? HOPL Tidbits might be it.

Edit from the future: I wrote the first chapter as a pilot and I'm now 100% sure I want to write more! The official name of this new fic is The Legend Files. Head over there for more/better information on all the Legends and Leaf's Team I never used!

The other thing about the next tournament is that I'll try to write it in a better way. Last time is was kind of messy and choppy. I'm going to add more in-between stuff and make Pokémon last longer than one turn. Plus, I'm going to add more mechanics to mess with to make it more interesting and less "use the move that is strong against the pokemon in front of you". For example, Snorlax's Stockpile and other status-changers. Also, I'll do the battles with normal chapters between them like during the female tournament.

Anyways, let's get on with the chapter!

Chapter 29: Three Steps From Home

Even after a steaming hot shower, Red is as cold as always.

He gives us all a single look, sighs, and leaves the House with Leaf at his side.

After hearing Red was finally leaving the House (the last time he left was over two years ago) everyone decided to join him. Even Ruby, who felt sick this morning. I think that the main attraction was the fact that we're finally going to see Red's hometown. For someone so cold and mysterious, he must have a difficult upbringing, right? At least, that's my theory. Serena seems to think Red lived in the most peaceful and quiet town that ever was. Wouldn't that make him more like Nate and me? Anyways, what I'm wondering is what kind of pet he had as a kid. I had a Fletchling, so Red must have something super strong and badass, like a Machamp or a Gyrados. Sadly, we won't be able to have the full Kanto experience as it was originally intended because of tourists and Red fans, but we can imagine what it must have been like. I can already see it:

A desolate landscape, now covered in gray because of the Pokémon War wreckage all over the place, about three houses in each town, tons of Pokémon graves because Pokémon Centers are scarce and not a single kind of Pokémon Competition or clothing shop to be seen. After all, Kanto was the most affected region in the Great Pokémon War (and Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh, although not as much). I'm also pretty sure Red was born right after it, since his dad left him for it. That reminds me, I still haven't tried finding AZ to ask about the War. Then again, I don't blame the adults for wanting to forget all about it. It probably left a huge scar on them.

"We're touching ground in a moment." Red says just loud enough for us to hear between the roaring winds.

We've been flying for a while now, each one of us on our favorite flying Pokémon. Red's on his Charizard next to Leaf with her Pidgeot, Gold's on Ho-oh with Krystal and Lugia, Ruby's riding Rayquaza together with May, Diamond and Dawn are using the Sinnoh Legendaries, Black is riding Zekrom while Hilda rides her Braviary and Nate rides Reshiram while Rosa hangs on to her Golurk. I'm on Talonflame and Serena flies on Yveltal.

The clouds finally part to reveal a land full of lush green forests separated by roads and buildings and decorated by a huge mountain range and a beautiful sea. The now-famous Mt. Silver looms in the distance, a constant reminder of how much work Red went through and how much I still have to do.

Serena looks over to me and makes a face that instantly tells me: 'Told you so!'

I shrug at her and grip Talonflame's back as we dive together, heading for Pallet Town.

We land without much trouble (apart from landing space, Pallet Town is pretty small) and look around Red's hometown.

Red sighs and puts his palm to his forehead.

"I knew it. They ruined it."

I don't know much about Pallet Town, but I know enough to know it's not supposed to be a tourist spot. Next to the once-humble houses are new buildings that stick out like a sore thumb. Apart from a Pokémon Center and a Poké Mart, a couple of tall buildings have been built in Pallet Town. They're probably a hotel, a shopping center and a tall building for sightseeing, souvenirs and the whole Kanto tourist experience.

"After your success, people were bound to make a profit out of this tiny town. It's like free money." Gold attempts to console Red.

"That 'sight-seeing' building is taller than the Silph Co. tower! And it's right next to my freaking house!" Red's about to blow a fuse.

Actually, his screaming seems to have attracted a tourist mom and her kid that look like they're from Alola.

"Wow are you really Red, the greatest Pokémon Master ever!?" The black-haired young kid with a blue striped shirt and a black cap excitedly runs up to Red, who takes a step back.

"When I grow up, I'm going to be just like you-no, I'll be better than you! Mark my words, I'm gonna beat you someday!"

Red frowns and pushes the kid away.

"... ... ..." Red rudely goes past the kid's mother and heads for his house.

Leaf decides to comfort her.

"Don't worry about it, he's just not very good with admiring tourists. Specially from such far away lands like Alola."

The lady seems somehow surprised.

"Oh no, we're from here. We're just taking a last look at our home before we head for Alola. We're moving tomorrow."

"Oh! That's nice. See you later then!" Leaf smiles and waves before she goes after Red.

Without a second thought, I hurry after the others. I kinda feel bad for Red. What if Vaniville Town suddenly became huge like Shalour? I'd hate it too.

"Mom?"

It's the first thing Red says in his home after a while.

A lady in a dark pink dress and graying hair turns around and almost immediately bursts into tears. She practically tackles the greatest Pokémon Master in the world into a hug.

"Red! Oh it's been so long! How have you been?"

She gives a warm motherly smile and looks up at him.

"Oh my! You're taller than me now! Time is really different in that place of yours, isn't it?"

Red nods and smiles as well. I've only seen him smile a few times before: once during a heated pokémon battle, once when hugging Leaf and once when seeing Gold fail miserably at copying Red's PokéMoves (The moves he developed in Mt. Silver while fighting his Pokémon). I'll add this to the moments where Red lets himself go. When he looks at his mother, I know that just for a moment, he's that sweet, young and inexperienced 11 year-old from Pallet Town again.

"Yeah. How have you been? Have the tourists been bothering you in any way?"

She shakes her head almost violently.

"Oh no, they've been really kind with me. I get money for just being here! Plus, my house is off-limits and hardly anyone ever notices me anyways. By the way, there's this really kind woman who I met a while ago. She really reminds me of myself when you were just a little boy! She's been helping me out with the renovations they're doing to Kanto."

She smiles again, remembering the old days.

"You should meet her son. He reminds me of you as well!"

Red sighs and shakes his head.

"I can't be around for long, mom. I'm just visiting."

"Oh." Red's mother looks a bit disappointed.

"Have you ever heard of PokéGO?"

Red asks, showing his Pokédex with PokéGO on it.

She nods and brings up an identical Pokédex.

"I use it all the time!"

Red's face freezes for a moment.

"I have a Pikachu too! Want to see?"

Red furiously shakes his head.

"I just...I need a moment." Red sits down on one of the chairs around the table.

Red's mom awkwardly looks at all 13 of us.

"Do...any of you want any refreshments? Water? Cookies?"

"COOKIES!" Gold and Nate yell in unison.

She smiles and points to the kitchen. She then finally notices Leaf.

"Oh Leaf! Long time no see!"

Leaf smiles back at her.

"Nice to see you too. Have you seen Professor Oak lately?"

She shakes her head, smiling.

"No, he's on vacation again somewhere. I swear, Red made him so famous he's now living on the lie that he's the greatest professor there ever was! That man better send me postcards..."

Leaf chuckles.

"Blue hasn't been here either, but that's because he's still travelling to find someone as good as Red. You and I know that's never going to happen."

She laughs again.

"Say, what of you and Red? I was there for your marriage, so I deserve at least some kind of answer."

Leaf frowns.

"Answer to what?"

"When are you thinking of giving me a grandchild? I know time is different there, but it can't take that long. Is Red having...difficulties performing?"

Leaf instantly turns a shade of hot pink.

"N-n-no! That's not it! We're just not...thinking about it."

"Well you better think quick because I'm getting bored around here. You know you'll always be able to drop the baby here for a while if it's giving you too much trouble."

Leaf's covering her face now.

"I-I'd rather not talk about it."

Red finally stands up from his chair and lifts his old Pokédex.

"Enough chit-chat, it's time for us to head out now. We're heading to New Bark Town and catching some Pokémon on the way!"

Red triumphantly reveals PokéGO on his Pokédex with a smile on his face.

Yay! Writing this, I realize there's so much stuff about Red and Kanto I still haven't explained yet. Maybe I'll save it for Primal Legends?

Apart from that, I had a ton of fun writing this too. Seeing Calem learn more about Kanto and Red's origins, seeing how Pallet Town changed over the years after Red's journey, getting to meet Red's mom again, there was so much stuff that I had to divide this chapter in two because originally, next chapter was going to be part of this one.

Also, I found a great opportunity to *sneak* in some teasers for later arcs. I say *sneak* because I actually wasn't very sneaky at all.

Next chapter will be a whole new PokéGO journey for the whole crew, so expect that soon!

As always, please let me know what you thought about this chapter in the reviews!