Last time on Pokemon - Kanto Quest:

Azure and Pichu arrived in Pallet Town, where they prepared to settle down, and wait the night in front of the lab, only to meet an old lady by the name of Delia Ketchum, who took them home, and gave them a place to stay and a meal. There, Azure was reminded of the cold, hard facts of how getting carried away with your goals hurts those around you. He learned that his father was not the only one who went missing on his Pokemon Journey, but Ms. Ketchum's son as well. He promised her that while he was on his journey, he would try and find her son, and in return, she gave Azure her son's old hat.

Now Azure and Pichu are on their way to the Pokemon Lab, to obtain a starter, since Pichu is too small to battle. What kind of Starter will Azure choose?


Episode 3

Pallet Town

Town of Tainted Grey Beginnings?

Azure ran down the street as fast as he could, Pichu clinging to his back. He had slid the hat Ms. Ketchum had given him into his backpack the moment he had left, just because he was afraid of ruining it more then it already was. He could see the Pokemon Lab up ahead! The excitement was almost too much…

Suddenly, he felt something tangle up with his ankle, and he tripped, flying through the air, and landing hard on the ground.

"Ow…" Azure groaned, sitting up and looking behind him, "What did I trip over?"
"Me you doofus!"

Azure looked up. A tall kid with pointy red hair, and sharp blue eyes stared down at him, his face twisted in a mocking sneer. He looked down and saw the kid's leg was sticking out…

"You tripped me!" Azure gasped,
The kid shrugged, "Don't blame me for your clumsiness, baby!"
"Baby?" Azure said, "I'm not a baby!"
"Sure look like one to me!" He laughed, "Hey guys! Come look at the baby with his baby Pokemon!"

A group of kids materialized from the side of the street, forming a tight circle around them.

"Pichu…" Pichu cried nervously, clinging to the back of Azure's head.
"It's alright, Pichu." Azure promised, pulling himself up, "Why did you trip me?"
"Just like a baby." The kid laughed, "Blame others for his lil' booboos."
The kids around them started laughing.
"Stop that!" Azure snapped, "You tripped me, and you know it!"
"What are you going to do about it, baby?" He laughed.

Azure balled his hands into fists. Without thinking, he reached out for the kid who tripped him, wanting to punch the kid right in the face! But something held him back. He gasped as the straps of his backpack pulled him back.

"Pichu!" Pichu whined, climbing over Azure's shoulder and clinging to the front of his shirt. "Wha?" Azure gasped, turning around to see one of the kids holding the front of his backpack and digging through it, "Stop that! Get out of there!" He spun around, pushing the other kid back. But unfortunately, Azure could feel the kid's hand pull something from his bag.

"Awe! Look here guys, baby has a baby blanket!" He laughed,
Azure looked back and saw the kid holding Pichu's 'blankie', "Give that back!"

He tried to reach for it again, but someone grabbed his backpack again, pulling on it hard enough to knock him down. The gang around Azure started to laugh again.

"Awe! The little baby wants his blankie back!" One of them called,
"Pichu! Chaaaa!" Pichu cried, her eyes wide as she stared at the blanket.
"That belongs to Pichu!" Azure begged, "Give it back!"

The kid holding the blanket clenched it in both hands, holding it as if he was going to tear it.

"No!" Azure yelled.

Suddenly, a hand came out of nowhere and clenched tightly onto the kid's wrist. The kid gasped, and released the end of the blanket within that hand.

"What the?" He gasped, turning to see who had grabbed him. Azure followed his gaze. A tall kid, probably around their age was standing there, his blue-white hair was bone-straight, and long, tapering back to the back of his head, his bangs hanging down in his face. His blue-green eyes could be seen peering out through the bangs. He wore a grey shirt, under a black and red jacket, and black jeans. He did not look like your everyday average kid…

"Cyan!" The kid gasped.

Cyan did not say anything, just squeezed the kid's wrist tighter.

"Ah!" The kid cried, "L-let go! I'm sorry Cyan! I'm sorry!"
"You shouldn't pick on others." Cyan said, his voice was soft, almost whisper-like, "Especially if they are weaker then you. There is no honour in defeating a helpless enemy. Now give the kid back the blanket."

"Weaker?" Azure frowned, he stood up and the kid walked over to him, holding out the blanket with a scowl. Azure grabbed the blanket from him, and the kids all ran off, leaving Azure and Cyan standing in the road.

"Um… Thanks." Azure said.
"What are you doing here, kid?" Cyan replied, emotionlessly,
"I'm here to get my Starter Pokemon and my Trainer's License." Azure explained,
"You might as well just give up and go home." Cyan said, equally tonelessly. He turned and started walking towards the Lab.
"No way!" Azure shook his head, chasing after the stranger, "I'm not going home! Not until I am a Pokemon Master!"
"You will never be a master." Cyan replied,
"What?" Azure growled, "Says who?"
"I will become the Pokemon Master." Cyan stated coldly, "Anyone who stands in my way, will be squashed."
Azure frowned, "No way! The title of Pokemon Master will belong to me!"

Cyan stopped walking and sighed, "Kid… do you know this town used to be called 'The City Pure White Beginnings'?"
"Huh? Yeah! Of course I did!" Azure nodded.
"Though time has tarnished that title." Cyan whispered, "Some famous people started their journeys here, and got further than anyone else ever has, and now everyone comes here. Their presence has polluted the area. Turning it into all the other towns."
"Like those guys…" Azure whispered, looking over his shoulder, "Man, thanks again for saving me!"

He turned back to look at Cyan, but the kid was gone. Azure gasped and looked around, but he was nowhere to be seen. Azure frowned and stopped to fold up the blanket, swinging the bag around his back to put it in…

"THE HAT!" Azure gasped, "Pichu! Where is my hat?"
"Pichu?" Pichu shrugged,
"Help me find it!" Azure asked, turning around and searching the ground,
"Pi!" She nodded.

Azure searched everywhere he could, from where he fell, to the side of the streets, to even the path back to Ms. Ketchum's house… but he could not find it anywhere. With a defeated sigh, he collapsed on the curb, pulling his legs up and wrapping his arms around it. Pichu walked up and patted his leg.

"I can't believe I lost it already!" Azure cried, "Gah! How did I let this happen?"
"Pi-cha pi!" Pichu cried, tugging on Azure's pant leg,
"What is it?" Azure asked, looking up.

"Look at the baby."

Azure groaned when he recognized the voice, "Haven't you guys had enough?"

The group of kids came out of their hiding places again, each of them snickering.

"Its just like a baby to have to rely on others for help." One laughed, "My name is Ken Euro, and I will be the greatest Pokemon Master! Not you, not Cyan."
"Yeah!"
"He will!"
"Ken's the greatest!"

Ken smirked as his gang cheered him on, "Don't you know baby, that the Indigo League is always won by a Trainer from Pallet Town? You don't stand a chance!"
"Big talk coming from someone who just ran away from another trainer." Azure spat.
"Why you!" Ken growled. He stopped and composed himself, "Everyone here knows not to mess with Cyan."
"Cyan?" Azure asked, "That moody guy who just left?"

Ken slowly pulled his hand out from behind his back, and Azure's eyes widened when he saw what Ken had been hiding behind his back… it was Ms. Ketchum's son's hat!

"That's mine!" Azure gasped, "Give that back!" He leaned forward to grab it from Ken, but the other boy just jumped back.

Ken and his 'flunkies' started laughing, though they were looking around nervously - probably looking for Cyan or anyone else who would catch them. Azure grounded his teeth, "Give it back!"
"You want it so bad?" Ken laughed, "Then come and get it!"

He turned around, and started running off down the street, his gang laughing and following after him.

"Hey!" Azure called, "Give that back!"
"Piiiiichhhhuuuuuu!" Pichu called.
"Come on Pichu!" Azure growled, scooping up the baby Pokemon and taking off after the 'bullies'.

The kids just laughed as they saw Azure chasing them and picked up the speed, dashing through the streets, and pushing anyone who got in their way aside. Azure growled, and Pichu's cheeks sparked as they chased them. They were fast, but Azure pushed himself harder, until he was gaining up to them…

Ken laughed, rounding a corner and dashing past the welcome sign. Azure's eyes gazed over it… 'Pallet Town: Town of Pure White Beginnings' … yeah right… these kids seems totally 'pure'… pure rotten. Cyan's words ran through his head - polluted was what he had called it, and Azure was finally seeing why Cyan thought that.

"Pichu!" Pichu called.

Azure stopped as fast as he could, nearly tripping himself in his efforts. He gasped as he regained his balance. The kids had took off through the tall grass on the outside of the town. A sign rested right before the grass reading:

ROUTE 1
Pallet Town - Viridian City

WARNING:
Do Not Proceed Through Tall Grass Without A Pokemon.
For More Information:
Please Visit the Pokemon Lab

"Piiii…" Pichu whined.
"I know Pichu… but we don't have a choice." Azure sighed, "We need to get that hat back! I promises Ms. Ketchum I'd return it to her son when I found him!"
"Chu!" She nodded.

Azure took a deep breath, before charging into the grass. He felt the tall grass tickle his legs through his jeans, but ignored it as he trudged forward. Pichu clung nervously to his back, her little face pressed into his hair. He kept his eyes open for any wild Pokemon.

A few Rattata ran by, but none of them seemed to be interested in him. The kids were just in front of him… he could see them! They exited the grass on the other side, and was standing in a small clearing. Azure burst through the grass and entered the clearing, watching them with suspicion as they fanned out and surrounded him.

"Looks like the baby wants to play." Ken laughed,
"Give me back my hat!" Azure snapped,
"Awe, this thing?" Ken laughed, putting the hat on his head, "Make me."

Azure balled his hands into fists. Without thinking, he charged at Ken, raising his fist to strike, but stopped suddenly when Ken held out his hand with a Pokeball in it. With a devilish smirk, Ken released his Pokemon, a Spearow sprung from the Pokeball and landed between its trainer, and Azure.

Azure gasped, looking down at the Spearow, the little bird looked back at him with cruel eyes.

"Pichu!" Pichu growled, arching herself over Azure's shoulder, eying the Spearow carefully.
"If you want the hat back, lets have a Pokemon battle?" Ken smirked,
"A battle? But I don't have a Pokemon!" Azure replied,
"I'm guessing that shrimp on your shoulder is just a stuffed animal then?" Ken sneered,
"Pichu is too little to fight!" Azure growled, "Just give me back my hat!"
"Spearow! Peck attack, now!" Ken ordered, pointing at Azure.

Azure gasped, his eyes widening as Spearow took to the air with a loud cry, its large wings beating fast. It called out again and charged towards Azure. Azure gritted his teeth, and jumped out of the way, the Spearow's sharp beak nearly striking his arm.

"Hey!" Azure panted, climbing to his knees as he glared at Ken, "What are you doing?"
"Come on baby, you gunna fight, or are we going to leave you for Rattata food?" Ken laughed, "Again! Spearow, peck!"

Azure jumped to his feet and tried to dodge the Spearow, but this time, he was not fast enough, and he let out a cry as he felt its sharp beak tear through his sleeve.

"Pichu!" Pichu gasped.

Azure braced himself, digging his heels into the dirt as he spun around to face Ken and his Spearow. He could feel something warm on his arm, and looked down to see a small trickle of blood dripping down his arm from where the Spearow tore his sleeve.

"This guy is serious…" Azure whispered,
"Chu…" Pichu cried.
"It'll be ok." Azure promised, "Ken! Call off your Pokemon! This isn't funny!"
"Then why are you the only one not laughing?" Ken smirked.

Azure looked around, the ground that was surrounding him was laughing - apparently finding this entire situation hilarious. Azure could not think of a single funny thing about this…

"Well guys, don't let me hold you up. Feel free to join in the fun!" Ken ordered.

Azure tensed up as he saw three of them pull Pokeballs out, and summon their Pokemon - two more Spearow, and a Rattata…

"Attack!" Ken ordered, pointing at Azure.
"Pi-cha!" Pichu yelled, pouncing from Azure's shoulder, and landing squarely on all fours in front of him.

Ken blinked a few times, his finger lowering slightly, before he burst out laughing, "Awe! Does the lil' baby want to fight?" The others joined in, laughing as hard as they could at Pichu.
"Pichu no!" Azure gasped.

But Pichu was not listening, her eyes were glued on Ken, sparks flying up from her cheeks.

Ken laughed harder, "Just, get this over with Spearow!"
"Spear!" Spearow called, flying up into the air, and charging towards Pichu.

The two other Spearow, and the Rattata followed by example, and charged at the little mouse.

"Pichu!" Azure yelled, running towards her, but before he could reach her, her entire body lit up with electricity.

"PICHU!" She yelled, electricity flying from her as she used her 'Thundershock' attack. Azure gasped and shielded his eyes as the electricity launched out, shocking the four Pokemon.

Ken growled, "Spearow!" But his surprise was short lived, as the electricity died down. He blinked and laughed. Pichu was laying on the ground, panting, her cheeks sizzling slightly, and her fur frizzed, the tips singed.

"What was that?" Ken laughed, His Spearow shaking off the attack, "Out of electricity already? And what? Did it just shock itself?"

"Pichu!" Azure gasped, running forward and scooping up the little mouse. He glared at Ken, his eyes narrowing, but he knew there was nothing much he could do…

The group around him were still laughing, and the sound was next to torture in his ears. He could feel the hairs on the back of his head prickle up, and could hear the tall grass sway in the wind behind him. Every sense seemed hyper-aware.

He knew this feeling quite well. It was something he had felt since he was a little kid, sneaking under the Nugget Bridge back in Cerulean City, to where he would escape in the afternoons to Routes 24 and 25. He could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins was all too familiar…

He tightened his grip around Pichu, and gritted his teeth. What did these kids want with him?

"Pi…cha…" Pichu whined.
"Its ok, Pichu." Azure whispered, placing the baby Pokemon back on the ground, straightening up,
"Does the baby want more?" Ken sneered,
"Give me back my hat!" Azure snapped.
"Make me." Ken laughed.

Azure growled under his breath, his mind clouding over in rage. Without thinking, he stormed forward, fist raised in the air to strike Ken.

"Rattata! Tackle attack!"

Azure barely heard the words, before he felt something collide with his side, he gasped in pain as the attack sent him flying sideways and into the grass, flattening a small section under him. His eyes were wide, and he was gasping for air as he laid there, the attack knocking the wind out of him.

"Pi!" Pichu cried, pulling herself up onto all fours,
Azure coughed and followed suit, straightening up onto his hands and knees.

Ken walked up to the flattened grass, and dropped Ms. Ketchum's son's hat into the dirt.

"Stop!" Azure shouted.

With a mocking sneer, Ken stomped down on the hat, grinding it into the dirt, "You see kid, there is just way too much competition this year, a kid who needs a Starter Pokemon from the Lab doesn't deserve to be a Trainer."

Azure leaned up, his eyes glued to the hat, still crumbled under Ken's foot, and his mouth hanging open. The Spearow called out as they flew around him, and the Rattata waited patiently for more orders.

"Every year, there are more and more wannabe trainers appearing from the woodwork." Ken spat, "And that is why we're here, to make sure losers like you don't further mess up the system."
"Who are you to say who can be a Trainer and who can't?" Azure shouted,
"If you can't beat us - then your not worthy to train Pokemon." Ken retorted, "I'm bored. Let's finish this!"

"Pichu!" Pichu shouted, jumping to her feet and running forward, towards Azure.
"Finish em!" Ken gave the order.

The world blurred around Azure, and he felt his brain click off. Everything seemed like it was moving in slow motion as he forced himself up to his feet, and ran forward, quickly scooping up Pichu and curling around her, tucking her safely underneath him, and away from the attacking Pokemon.

"SPEAROW!" The birds called,

Azure squeezed his eyes shut, and screamed as they all flew towards him.


A/N:

Starting now, we're going to leave authors notes from all the people working on the project!

Air-Head: Thank you so much for reading! We're having a lot of fun with this project, but we would really like to know what you all think so far? Is the rating fine? So, please Review! It would mean a lot to all of us if you do!

Manganimefandom: Hey! This was the first chapter in a long time I had to write with an action scene in it... its been a long time. Hope it was ok?

Rygel-n: Sorry for the lack-of-art in this chapter ( Ao3 Version ), I was in the hospital and missed the 'deadline' lol... totally not because I was lazy, though being lazy is also the case XD

Bellona-Dancer and Meangreenrpinmachine will appear to say their two bits when their characters appear.