21
After the match with Erika, I take the Rainbow Belt and add it to my collection in the Bill Box. This belt is solid white but reflects every possible color when flipped over in the sunlight. Sweet!
"Red, you are quite the trainer! I am glad we got to fight today and eager to hear more about your quest in the future. I'm certainly a fan! Have you noticed that you're kind of popular here at my gym?"
Erika chuckles as she looks back at the line of girls ogling me across the room. I'm not sure but did one of them just sigh? Oh brother!
"Hey Red, way to get another belt. You better zip on over to Saffron and get your fifth so you can catch up with me."
"Wait, what do you mean Blue?"
"While you were hanging out in Lavender Town playing with the undead, I got the Rainbow as well as the Marsh Belt. Way to be a Slowpoke!"
"Whoa! Man, is he serious?"
I turn to Summer who gives a smiles and a nod.
"Yes, he likes to stay busy. It's hard to keep up!"
She pokes him in the side making him flinch then runs off with Erika and leave us guys to talk.
"Man, she is something else."
"She is."
I'm expecting him to seem a little more excited about the fact the pretty girl likes him and is willing to follow him around everywhere. Is there still tension between the two of them because of her past? I hope he isn't staying so busy he can't see what he could have with Summer.
"Any word from Green?"
"No, not yet. Oh wait!"
Checking my phone as we're talking, I discover a text from Green as well as some from Mom including several voicemails. I tell Blue to hold on and quickly call Mom to update her on all that's happened with me. Doing my best to reassure her with "I'll be fine!" among other things you have to say to your mother, I finally get her to calm down. Once I get her off the phone, I go back to Green's message.
"Red, hey, that's great! I am happy for Blue and look forward to seeing you soon. Where are you now?"
I explain to Green how I made it to Celadon today and just beat Erika.
"Oh wow, you must have passed me because I just got to Saffron coming from Celadon myself! Did you get the belt from Sabrina yet?"
"Sabrina?"
"She is the Gym Leader in Saffron City."
"Oh no but, I was going to head there soon actually. Try to get two belts in one day!"
"Look at you!"
"Probably not actually, but at least that's the next gym for me."
"Cool! Can you maybe eat dinner with me first? I mean if you're not too busy."
"What? No! I'll be right over. Meet you at the west gate?"
"Yes! See you then."
I look up from my phone and see an annoyed Blue staring at me.
"Oh…sorry!"
"Green?"
"Yeah, she asked me to go to dinner with her in Saffron."
"Oh goodie! Thanks for inviting me, too."
He rolls his eyes.
"Ah Blue, I didn't…"
"I'm kidding loser. I'm going to leave for Fuchsia City in a few minutes. Got some business down there anyway as well and of course the next Belt is there, too."
"Business?"
"Yeah, I'm going to meet someone there for trading."
"Trading?"
"Yeah, I'll get some extra skills and trade them to other people for things I want. I was originally going to trade in Skills I had for ones I didn't have, but so far there isn't much need for that. It's not like I need to collect 150 different Pokémon Skills for any reason, ya know! Instead I've been trading in for these bad boys. "
He digs into his pocket and pulls out a small dropper bottle. When he hands it to me, I observe it close up, but it just looks like regular water in the container.
"They call this stuff Rare Candy. You use one, and it raises the level of one of your skills one point automatically. They're not cheap or easy to find, but they help you get ahead of the game."
"Sounds like cheating."
"Or being smart. Take this one on me."
I want to protest, but he keeps motioning with his hands for me to use it so I open the bottle and pour it on my hands. As I rub my hands together, I feel a slight burn in my arms and fingers then check my Skillfinder. The LVL icon next to Nidorino changes from 26 to 27. Cool!
"Hey Red, a bit of advice. When you get to Saffron City make sure to watch your back around Sabrina."
"Why?"
"Let's just see she's a little…special."
"Huh?"
What does that even mean? I try to ask him what he's talking about, but Blue has already turned around started walking off towards Summer. Whatever!
I have walked all over the place today, but the thought of dinner with Green has me determined to head east right now anyways. I can worry about Blue later.
Me and Green, just the two of us! Is this our second date? I can't wait!
I wave to my friends, and a girl that works for Erika quietly escorts me outside. Unlike the raving fans in skirts and fancy hair, this girl with straight brown hear and a quiet smile wears a kimono like Erika and gives off a no nonsense vibe. The girl walks me down a different path than the one I came in, and I start to feel like we're going the wrong way, but she reassures me to keep up.
"Excuse me, but where are we going?"
"Please don't fret, I'm taking you out a back door. There are spectators standing at our front door, and it's quite nosy."
I notice a monitor hanging on an actual wall of the building instead of the line of trees I keep seeing that shows an image of Celadon City. The screen shows the streets filled with crowds of people. What are they doing here? A blonde woman in a blue dress, a reporter I guess, appears on the screen.
"…if you've been watching you just saw Red get his forth Monster Training Belt this month! You know that Green got hers only hours ago not mention that Blue got his fifth one yesterday…"
Yesterday! Oh man, I am a Slowpoke!
"…This is an unprecedented record not seen sense their fathers were training years ago…"
Our fathers? What is she talking about? Did my Dad go through all of this training at a super-fast rate as well? He never really talked about his training now that I think about it.
"…we just finished talking with esteemed Professor Oak about his contributions to their training…"
A clip of a Professor Oak comes up showing him talking to someone behind the reporter. I hear foot steps behind me and turn to see Blue looking intently at the screen.
"…yes, Nicole. The Champion asked me personally to provide my research to him in any way possible, and I developed a Skillfinder that allowed for the three youths from Pallet to train at an enhanced rate. I'll spare you the details of how this works."
"But Professor, why prepare these trainers in this way and why now?"
"That's a good question. I…Champion Cohen requested all state employees contribute their expertise to fighting this new menace, Team Rocket. Last year they were mere characters of fantasy, a bad rumor. Now the enemy has shown their true colors, and we have to chip in however we can to protect Kanto. Make no mistake, these trainers like their parents will fight for this country. They have agreed to take on a unique journey to become defenders of Kanto. Please lend them your support…"
"What does he mean? He knew about Team Rocket before we left Pallet Town?" I ask to no one in particular.
Blue reaches out and flips the screen off. The flare of his nostrils and furrow of his brows shout his anger louder than his soft words.
"He lied to us. Gramps…Oak didn't want us to become trainers for our amusement or because he wanted to…whatever. This is all part of his plan."
"What plan is that?"
"He wanted to enlist us. We are his present to the Champion, tools for Kanto."
"It does seem a little dishonest."
Summer says matter-of-factly at first, but then seems to regret it and looks uncomfortably away. I don't know how to feel.
"We are working for Kanto. I mean that what we wanted right? I guess I didn't know all the details at first. Maybe I thought the trip would be more lighthearted and laid back, but it sounds like your grandfather really sees promise in us. He could have given those Skillfinders to someone else, but…"
Blue turns to me biting his lip for a second then takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. When he opens them, he makes the biggest smile I've ever seen him make, but somehow I know he isn't happy.
"Red, I will help Kanto and get rid of Team Rocket but not to help Mashmo Cohen or my grandfather. I'm going to do it because that's what I want to do! I'm going to be the next Champion and release the history of the war as well as all of the research that my grandfather worked on. There will be no more secrets and no more victims of secret projects."
Summer walks up to him and puts her hand to his face.
"You want to be the Champion?"
"Yes, I want to be the Champion! I want to be the very best, the best there ever was!"
"You're doing this all for your own glory? Monster Training is just about making a name for yourself?"
"No…it's not that! I don't want to just fight and die to have my name scribbled down on some wall only to be forgotten. People deserve to know what happened in the war, and I can't trust anyone to get the truth out there but myself. I don't know why Gramps did what he did, but there is more to this than we know. The Champion. Team Rocket. There is something missing here. There is something that we still don't know about."
"Blue…" I try to talk to him, but he turns and glares at me.
"Please Red, don't talk. Go and meet Green and keep on training. I hope that you'll come to aid me someday, but for now you have to get stronger. I'm going Fuchsia City. You should go there after Saffron City. Remember?"
"Right, OK."
"All right then. I'll smell ya later, Red!"
Blue marches past us through the crowd heading for the door without another word. The girls in the room all shh each other and take a step back to let him pass. Summer looks to me with troubled eyes, but we don't speak. After a moment of looking back and forth, she finally runs to catch up with Blue. Just as she rounds the bend, I hear a door open and then the boom of cheers fills the air.
Good luck, Blue, I say in my head and turn to go out the back door instead of the front like him. I just hope my hard-headed friend is going to be OK.
When I get outside, there are some people walking back and forth but no mob like on TV. Looks like Blue took them off my hands. For once I'm glad that he is getting special treatment!
"Red!"
Oh no! I've been spotted.
"IT'S HIM!"
Just as I take a couple of steps on the street, a few girls come out of a shoe store with sparkles in their eyes. Time to run!
And I do! I run straight past them and keep going as a few more people come out of stores cheering and shouting something. A police officer tips his hat to me then turns toward some fans and waves his hands to get their attention making them stop in place. As I pass the cop, I hear him say, "All right! All right! Let the trainer by."
I keep running, and within minutes I make it to the edge of town and stop to catch my breath. Bending over to rest hands on my thighs, I gasp for air for a few seconds.
"It's you!"
I look up to see a guard with a thick mustache and concerned eyes staring at me. He points behind me, and I turn to see more fan girls racing towards me. What is this? I'm not a rock star or anything? When I look back to my facial hair friend, he starts motioning me forward with both arms like a flight director. I give him a thumbs up and pass through the gate to Route 7, a road I can't seem to get enough of.
The next few minutes on the road between Celadon and Saffron go by in a blur. I do my best to maneuver around trainers and fans by trekking through tall grass and scaring wild Pokémon away in packs. Looking up to the sky, I notice that the sun is beginning to set.
I make it to the next gate and again pause to get some oxygen to my lungs. A guard comes over to me with a bottled water and offers it to me out of pity I assume, but I thank him all the same. At least he isn't trying to make me give him something so I could get into town myself. I'm relieved that no one is trying to stand in my way of getting back to Saffron City.
The excitement of being chased is a nice challenge but also a reminder I could spend more time running and working out instead of just doing Monster Training. I know that Blue is much faster and stronger than me given his strict routine, but how he manages to make time for that and travel like he does just blows my mind!
When I look up for a second, a pretty brunette in a red skirt and tights is standing in front of me. At first I can't even form words and just stare with my mouth open in a daze.
"Hey handsome! How are you?"
"Green…I…hi beautiful!"
"Ha ha! Hey, are you OK? You look ill."
She touches my forehead with her hand and smiles.
"These people…keep chasing me."
"You too, huh?"
Green smiles and grabs my hand to pull me towards her. I feel body bump against her chest and gently run my fingers through her hair with my free hand then pull her face to mine. I can taste her lips before in the space between us.
"I'm so happy to see you again."
"Yeah? It's been a week right? Ha ha."
"Yeah, why cut me off for so long?"
"I…I honestly thought I liked you too much. I guess I wanted to see if you went away for a week…if you'd come back."
"But I did come back…"
"Yes, you did!"
And with that, she brings her lips to mine, and electricity courses through my body. I take hold of her head with both hands and kiss her. We kiss like we may never kiss again, like air wouldn't work without kissing, and for a few seconds I forget where I am or why I'm here. In this moment nothing exists except the two of us.
Green wraps her arms around my back and cradles her head against my chest. In a whisper she says, "I missed you."
"I missed YOU," I reply.
"OK, want to try another date? Maybe a boring sit down and eat dinner kind of date?"
"That sounds wonderful!"
She pulls back from me and kisses me once more before tugging my hand and pulling me toward the gate to Saffron. I suddenly notice that we've been kissing in front of the guard and word to him, "Sorry." The kind man simply shrugs and smiles before looking behind me and dropping open his jaw. What is it?
"HEY!"
I look over my shoulder and see that another band of fans has caught up to us.
"GREEN! LET'S GO!"
She squeezes my hand as we run through the gatehouse into Saffron only to run into another crowd. It's clear now that we can't escape the fans. They cheer and bounce in place to see us, and all the excitement makes me feel uneasy. I want to leave, but Green stands tall and smiles at everyone and offers a friendly wave.
"Oh my gosh, there is so many of them! Do you like this attention?" I whisper into her ear.
Green turns back to me half way to reply, "Oh no, it's awful! Can we get out of here?"
As people run up to us, they start to ask questions and throw out comments left and right. It's hard to follow.
"Red, is it true you work directly for the Champion?"
"Green, did you start training for the same reasons or because you liked Red?"
"Dude, she totally did this because of Red!"
"I heard it was because her father is a big drunk and…"
I decide to step forward and cut off this fan boy before he can dig himself into a hole. I remember what happened in Viridian City like it was yesterday.
"Actually yes, Green and I both took our names from the Unit that are fathers served in during the Kanto War. They both fought hard for their country, and we all owe it to them to stand and fight when a threat appears."
Green squeezes my hand and drapes her body gently against mine. I can feel her heart beating against my arm and how she grabs onto me tightly like an anchor for a ship.
"Cool!"
"Yeah!"
"Are you two dating?"
"Yeah, are you boyfriend and girlfriend?"
I feel a little pressure from these questions and quickly look to Green. She awkwardly smiles and answers for us.
"Ha ha, yes!"
The crowd cheers louder than before, and she has to wait a minute before she can say anymore.
"And like Red said, I did start training out of respect for my family. I wanted to serve my country similar to the way he did…but I do I like Red obviously. I just didn't know he liked me until we started our journey. I call that a bonus!"
She looks to me with a blush, and I feel my body go numb from excitement as I smile back at her. Any doubt I have had about us in the past week is now distant memory.
The next few questions are much easier somehow.
"What's next?"
"Can we see your Skillfinder?"
"How old are you?"
"Saffron City Gym…sure…18."
After answering a few more requests and taking pictures with some people, we are finally released to get away when some police officers come to our rescue. I wave at them and some of the fans before pulling Green forward with me. Just as I am about to say something, a little girl in a pink dress and long dark hair walks up to us.
"Hello, my name is Lisa!"
"Hi, Lisa. Did you want something?"
"Yes, you are Green right? And this is Red?"
"Yes, that's right!"
"Good! My mother Natsume asked me to come find you and invite you over for dinner."
"Oh? Uh…do we know your mother from somewhere?"
"My mom owns a restaurant in town called Spoons."
Green and I look each other. Was that supposed to answer her question? Never heard of the place.
"Please come! She is eager to meet you."
Lisa reaches out and pats her hands on our legs as if desperate now. She stares into my eyes for a minute, and I accept that I have to listen.
Though the cops have disbanded some of the crowd and people have started to leave us alone, the thought of more crowds enters my mind. I can't imagine trying to go eat anywhere with so many people trying to talk to us. Green looks at me then back at Lisa then brings a finger up to her mouth as she ponders something.
"I guess we could go there. I mean I am hungry."
"Yeah me, too!"
"Oh, please come see! I'm told that mother makes the best food in town. She is famous for her pork shabu shabu!"
"Pork shabu shabu, I've never had that!"
"Wait, what is a shabu?"
"Shabu shabu! Ummm…well Red it's kind of like Fondue."
"What is fondue?"
"Please come and see," Lisa repeats.
"She's right. It's easier to see than explain. Come on Red! I can't wait to see you have your first shabu shabu."
So then it's decided. Off we go with this strange girl to satisfy our stomachs and maybe sit down somewhere in peace.
The walk to the restaurant is short so we don't actually talk to Lisa on the way. When we get to Spoons, I notice the restaurant is a small business on the bottom floor of a shopping center in the middle of town. From the outside it looks like a convenience store, but upon entering we see it's quite pleasant.
The shop section of the business holds incense, dried meat and fruits, and different cloths and fabrics. The place reminds me of something like a farmer's market in the few times I've been to one with my mother.
Behind the counters of the store however is an incredible looking restaurant. With smooth jazz playing overhead and the light of hanging lights in a dimly lit room, Spoons has the feel of a fancy reservations-only kind of dive. Throughout the room are rows of dark brown tables for people to eat community style and off to the side are booths that look like they are lined with gold.
"Whoa!"
"Cool!"
Lisa brings us to a booth, and we sit down as she smiles and walks off. Looking around the room, I notice two other couples eating and laughing at a table in the center of the room in nice clothing. The two guys have on grey dress shirts and blacks pants while the girls have on shiny pink dresses. Are they supposed to be matching? Is there a formal somewhere in town?
"Hey Red, what are you looking at?"
"Huh? Oh sorry, I just noticed the couples over there seem all dressed up."
She turns to look behind her and turns back with a laugh.
"Oh dear! We're underdressed."
"Hey, don't worry about it. Lisa brought us here."
"Right, right. OK, so anyway we're here."
"Yes, we are." I take her hand. "You know we just got a lot of questions a few minute ago."
"We did."
"I heard that we're dating."
"Are we?"
"I…thought so."
"OK good because otherwise this would be kind of awkward."
"Ha ha, I agree! So that means you're my girlfriend then?"
"Well I thought so…and that would make you my boyfriend."
"That makes sense to me. Well I'm glad that we figured that out."
The two of us laugh for a minute then, leaning across the table, we kiss a couple of times. I relish the taste of Green's lips on mine. Her familiar pine perfume is pleasant and soothing to my nose. Raking my hands through her auburn hair, I listen to the faint sounds of her moaning as she grabs my neck both hands. I love the way being near here makes me feel. I hear the sounds of footsteps and sense someone approaching and sit back resisting the urge the urge to keep kissing the beauty in front of me. When I look to my left I see waitress walking towards us. Like Lisa, she has dark hair though she has it cut short.
"Hi, there. My name is Ivy, and I'll be serving you tonight."
We smile as our server takes our orders. She quickly leaves and comes back with waters for us to drink. When we agree to have the pork shabu shabu, Ivy claps her hands and turns to leave with a smile.
"That must be a popular item here. I…"
"What is it Red?"
I can't help but stare as I watch the server passing the middle table in the room at the other guests. The two couples that were just sitting in the center of the room have separated and are now seated at separate booths at opposite ends of the restaurant. Green turns and notices what I see then frowns.
"Weird? Hey!"
When we both look back to our table a single slip of paper is in the table that wasn't there before. I quickly look all around us, but no one appears close enough to us to have dropped the note. I flip the piece of paper over and see the words "It Begins."
"What begins?"
"Green, look!"
I point to the guests as they all stand and turn to look at us with scowls on their faces. They all reach for their chests and ripe off their formal clothes like a shower curtain to reveal black uniforms on underneath. The familiar "R" logo of Team Rocket glares back at us.
"NOT YOU GUYS AGAIN!"
"Red, we have to fight! We have no choice."
We slide out of the booth and raise our arms to defend ourselves, but the Rocket Grunts stand in place like statues. Their faces are blank like they have no emotions or are in some kind of daze. What is going on?
One of the female Rocket members walks slowly towards us pulling something out of her pocket. I don't a second and throw a Poisonsting her way, but the girl simply raises a hand and a shimmering barrier forms in front her like a pane of glass and deflects my attack. Green raises her arms to ceiling and a ray of energy appears then turns into a cyclone of leaves. She brings her arms down and dozens of the Razor Leaves fly at our opponent as she quietly walks toward us, but Rocket Grunt simply reflects them all back to the ground.
I transition to Scyther Skill and run at the girl with hands like knives. Using Fury Cutter, I pierce the barrier at last and manage to make cuts on her arms and push her back. At first she simply holds her head as if I gave her a head ache. Perhaps she is Psychic and is using her mind to make the barrier? Bug moves are strong against Psychic Skills.
Green runs to my side and throws some powder at the girl not unlike the Sleep Powder Erika used on me earlier. The Psychic girl sneezes and stumbles backward then falls to her knees, but just as we think we've gained the upper hand, the three other Rocket Grunts raise their arms and a purple energy forms above them. They swing their arms and something like a current from an ocean comes rushing toward us. We can't escape this wave of Psychic energy!
I cover my face and close my eyes as a strange warmth comes over me. At first the warmth is scalding hot, but after a moment it feels invigorating, like a morning shower. When I open my eyes though I can see something very strange is happening because all I can see is a bright light where the room once was and the girl on her knees holding a card. I squint to make out the small print that reads simply "Joy."
I say the word out loud and the girl disappears!
We look behind the girl with card and notice that room has disappeared. Wait, where's Green? She vanished! I don't see anything for a moment and begin to panic. Am I dead? Where am I? Then just like a voice from above, I hear Green speak.
"YES! Oh father, you're home at last!"
I blink and open my eyes to see Green's hair as she looks in front of us at a door. We are now in a home I don't recognize, but for some reason it feels familiar. Have I been here before? I look at the door and see a man walking in from the sun. It's her father! He is sober and seems to be standing a few inches taller than before. He wears a button up shirt and dress pants and has big, stronger looking arms than the last time I saw him in Verdean City.
"Oh my dear, we missed you all!"
I turn to my right and see Green's mother. Like Green, she has the most beautiful brown hair and form. She and Green both have on purple skirts and bangles on their wrists. I barely know the Hayashi's, but right now they feel like my family. And…what is that?
I can't believe it! Green turns her body to face her father, and I see in her arms a small bundle of cloth and a head. A baby? Is this our child! Green notices me looking at her and baby and walks up to me.
"Oh my gosh! Red…it's real! I mean… How can I be so lucky? We're all home together!"
I step closer to her and wrap my arms around her and the infant. I want to be happy with her right now, but my brain is spinning. Is this really our child or maybe a child in our future? Is this something that Green is hoping for?
"Red, you may kiss the bride!"
"Huh?"
I turn back to my left and see my own father now! Standing in front of me in his uniform and beaming like a sun rise. I can't form words to explain my excitement!
"Dad! You're here!"
"Son, please! You're bride is waiting!"
I turn back around, everything is different again. We are no longer in her house, but outside. Green stands before me in a wedding gown, and she no longer has a baby in her arms. A thin veil covers her face and a beautiful gown hugs the frame of her body. Her brown her is pulled back behind her head in large curls and has a shiny gold flower pressed into the middle.
Looking to my right, I see a small group of people standing and watching us including our parents not forgetting Blue and his family as well. But something is off. We're surrounded by trees, and I have the feeling I've been here before.
"Where are we?"
"Red, were back in Viridian Forest dummy! Remember?"
"I…"
But before I can say another word, I look to the ground and see the root that I fell on just weeks ago. This is where Green got poisoned. This is the first place I put my arms around her and held her close. Where I think I first felt feelings for Green.
"Hey Red, you remember where you are?"
"Yes, Green dear, I do. I'm sorry for making you wait."
"That's OK sweetie! Please just tell me why you're so mad?"
"Mad?"
What does she mean mad? We're getting married! Why would I be mad?
"Please stop! Please!"
Turning behind me now, I see that I am no longer in Viridian Forest but in the middle of a busy street in Cerulean City. A tall man with a stick is striking an old man lying on the ground in the fetal position and despite his cries for help no one is stopping. This sort of reminds me of how I found Mr. Hayashi.
"Someone please! Help this man! Why let this happen?"
"You idiot! Do you want to get hurt, too?"
"Yeah, then mind your own business pal!"
"Ah, he probably deserved it anyhow!"
They all say empty nonsense, and I won't' hear it!
"I won't listen to your stupid excuses!" I bark back. "Stop that now!"
I dive for the tall man's whipping arm and latch onto it. Pulling back with both arms, he yanks me every which way with ease. I can't control him.
"Red! You jerk!"
"What?"
Looking to my side, I see Green in a black dress and heels like the one she wore back in Viridian City. What happened to her wedding gown? I don't know, but she looks just as beautiful except her face tells me she is furious with me. The man suddenly stops moving, and I feel myself relax until I turn back to look at him. Or her!
My hands are no longer gripping a whip but instead Misty, the Gym Leader's arm. She smiles at me and leans in close so that her body presses against mine. Her white bikini does little to cover her skin, and as my eyes trace the length of her legs, I force myself to stare at the ground.
"There you are!"
I swivel my head around and see Daisy in a yellow bikini come running up and casually shove Green out of the way nearly knocking her over. I look over Daisy's shoulders to see Green's eyes start to water.
"Green, I can't believe you!"
"I…"
"Oh my," Misty starts. "She really is just a moody one isn't she, Red?"
"Oh Misty," Daisy adds. "She's no better than a little child…a very plain child at that. I mean look at that hair, so straight and boring."
"Oh that's the word, plain! To think Red wanted to date a girl like that when he could be with me!"
"Yeah right! Red wants to be with me!"
"HA HA HA HA!" The both cackle like witches.
"Stop it…STOP IT! I don't feel this way. You are both pretty, but I don't want to be with either of you. I love Green!"
I try to pull myself away from them, but Misty reaches out and drags me back to her. Green just stares at me for a moment then turns around and runs away.
"Oh Red," Misty says caressing my cheek with her hand. "Please relax! You have nothing to fear."
"Fear?" I ask.
Suddenly the sky becomes dark like night and I see Green stop in her tracks. She turns around and walks back to me. Misty and Daisy let me go and fade away like steam which I watch dissipate above us. Green comes up to me and drops to the ground a few feet in from me weeping more than I've ever seen a person cry in my life. More than when my mother cried for losing my father at the funeral. What is wrong?
"Red…trusted you."
"Green…"
"Please don't…just leave!"
"Leave? Green, I'm not going anywhere."
She points to my side and I down to see that I have packed a bag and my Bill Box. I feel something in my hand and look to see a belt with white and red stripes. When I turn it over in the light, I see the word "Champion."
Champion? Do I become Monster Training Champion and leave Green? I throw the belt on the ground and kick the Bill Box aside.
"Green…I don't want this to happen. Come here. Please come to me!"
She wipes her tears and shakes her head defiantly.
"Please! Come here!"
Avoiding my gaze, Green finally gets to her feet and walks towards me.
Boooom!
The ground begins shaking and the street crumbles beneath me. I blink, and we're suddenly back at my house. My mother is balled up in the floor with her arms over her head. I hear the sound of people screaming, and without warning the windows bust open and fire floods in like a tidal wave consuming Green right before my eyes.
"Ahhhhhhh!"
"GREEEEN! NOOOO!"
I run into the flames feeling the singe on shoulder and reach out for her, but Green disappears in ash and smoke. My eyes burn, and I blink vigorously but can seem to get relief. Falling to my knees, I can feel myself getting choked up and start painfully coughing.
"Satoshi? Please…Satoshi…"
I hear a voice calling to me, but now the flames are too bright and too nosy for me to even tell where to look. I can't look! I can't see a thing. Is this truly it? Am I dying here? How terrible! If only I knew who was calling out to me. Do they need my help? I can't help you now. Please forgive me whoever you are.
"Satoshi? Satoshi, snap out of it!"
"Huh?"
And just like a bad dream, I blink and all that I've seen is gone in a flash. I open my eyes to see that I'm back at the restaurant with Green holding me in her arms on the floor. With one arm wrapped around me and squeezing me tight, she does her best to use her few hand to wipe tears from her face. I take a deep breath and sit up as she sits down next to me and kisses me on the cheek.
It's her, oh, it's truly her! We're safe! But why did she call me Satoshi?
"Green, what is going on?"
"Satoshi...Red…you were in a daze for nearly a minute, and you didn't answer to Red, but I called you by Satoshi, your birth name, and you woke up!"
"I did? What happened to me? I saw these amazing…and terrible things!"
"It's OK! I did, too! I just came to before you did."
"You called me Satoshi," I repeat.
"Yes, I remembered you calling me Kyomi at the Rocket Base. I don't know why, but if most people call me by that name I feel disrespected. When you called me by my birth name, I felt something warm. I felt connected to you, and so when you didn't respond to Red I just had to see what happened. You woke up!"
"I think I feel the same way as you. I like people to call me Red, but with you…I guess it's just different."
"I'm glad. I saw such terrible things. I thought…I thought it was real. I thought we died. I thought I lost everyone. I thought that you…"
"That I left you?"
She nods.
"Green…Kyomi, I couldn't leave you. Where would I go?"
"Ahem!"
I turn to my left to see Ivy once more. She smiles as Lisa comes running out from behind her with a worried look on her face. Ivy puts her arms around the girl as she turns around to bury her face in the lady's skirt.
"Mommy, they saw terrible things! Is it over? I don't want to see anymore."
"Shhhh, darling. The drug seems to have worn off, but why don't you go on upstairs and get ready for bed. Mommy, will join you after aunty and I talk to them."
Aunty? Mommy? Is Ivy the owner of this restaurant? Why act like a server? Why drug us?
"OK!" she says and turns to run towards a door at the front of the building as "aunty" walks in.
I can't believe my eyes. It's her! The girl I saw earlier on a fire escape leering over me is now standing in front of us in a shiny pink dress. She has long black hair that falls straight down her back and a face that matches Ivy's. They must be sisters. The tall woman walks toward us like a panther getting ready to pounce on its prey. I don't see her blink once.
"WHO ARE YOU TWO? WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?"
"Ah Green, glad to meet you officially. I am Ivy and owner of this fine restaurant not a server. I apologize for the mystery, but the drug that my daughter gave you had just started to take effect when we met, and I didn't think it was necessary to explain myself until now. It is clear from this testing to me that you two have strong bond between you even given your age. I am most impressed with you, but my sister wishes to test your further about your commitment to your mission."
Testing us? What drug is she talking about? Checking my arms and legs, I notice an odd sensation on my pant leg. There is some sort of clear sticker. How did I miss this? Did Lisa put this on us when she met us the first time? I show Green, and we take the bandages off.
"This was all planned? I don't understand Ivy. And who are you? I saw you earlier. You were stalking me!"
"My name is Sabrina."
Her mouth doesn't move even though I hear a voice as plain as day! Why doesn't her mouth move? Sabrina? So this is the person Blue wanted me to watch out for. She is the city Gym Leader right? Isn't she supposed to be a good guy? Why did she do all this? HOW did she do all this?
"Ivy, go ahead and put Lisa to bed. Thank you for your assistance tonight!"
Ivy nods and turns to leave then stops and looks back at us.
"It was a pleasure to meet you both. I hope you can forgive us for the delay and otherwise enjoy your meal!"
Meal? I almost forgot that we came here to eat. A sudden pang in my stomach makes it clear that I am still quite hungry despite my desire to leave this place and never look back. The nerve of these two!
"Sit!"
Sabrina motions for us to sit down at a community table and makes her toward us and sits down next to Green. We sit in silence for a moment as the Psychic grins at us. I wonder does she ever open her mouth to speak or always do this creeping mind-talking thing.
Sabrina doesn't say a word when she raises her hands to the sky like she is lifting two large trays over her head and holds them there. After a few seconds, I hear a rustling noise in the kitchen and see something coming toward us. It's a pot! A large pot of bubbling water flies into the room and sits down in the middle of the table without any help followed by plates, utensils, and napkins. Next is a pork shoulder, a basket of vegetables, and a small bag of spices.
When I look back over to Sabrina, I notice her hands are moving in conjunction with vegetables as they fall into the pot with the meat and spices. She is moving these ingredients around with her mind! How is that possible?
"You've never seen Psychic abilities before, have you?"
"I…no."
"Let me try to make you feel more at home then."
Sabrina lifts her hand and a glass of wine appears from the kitchen and gently dips into her hand. She takes a sip and sets the glass down with her own hand and sigh then opens her mouth to speak.
"Is this better?"
"You can talk like a Normal person!"
"I can! Yes, surprise. I think you two have seen enough tonight so I'll try my best to revert to more…traditional habits for now. Maybe I could tell you about my plan then."
"Yes…"
She cuts me off.
"So first off, I have developed a few different abilities and talents by focusing on the raw and unique powers of Psychic Pokémon such as Alakazam."
Sabrina picks up a spoon and holds it before us. At first I don't see anything special, but then I notice it begin to bend and bend until head of the spoon dips over the back of her hand like a wish bone. She did this with her mind! I have never seen this happen before, but I remember hearing on the radio once that Alakazam, the final evolution of Abra and Kadabra, muscular cat looking creatures, has strange powers that allow it to levitate, Teleport, recover wounds and energy, and even move things in the environment.
"I incorporated some of the Powders from my Venomoth Skill into a hallucinogenic substance that I gave Lisa to use on you. The drug is safe in the dosage I used on and when used in conjunction with a person with my abilities, whole streams of thought can be explored and challenged. Though some would call this mind reading, your brain is not simply a book I can pick open and look through. The Psychic Blend I made allows me to prompt your mind a direction like I would during an interrogation, and your mind unless trained to resist me will 'look' in certain directions telling me about your intentions. This can actually be educational for you as well as me."
"Wait hold on, Venomoth is Poison-Bug thing, but you are a Psychic Trainer. I don't understand. Also, you made a blend to interrogate us?"
"Yes, Green. I specialize in Psychic Skills, but most trainers try to have some variety. As for the blend, I won't tell you the ingredients, but know that I am quite experienced at using it."
"How is that possible? Aren't you supposed to be a Gym Leader? Where do you get the time to focus on hypnotic drugs and stuff like that?"
"Good point! First off, the Psychic Blend works in tandem with my abilities. My Foresight allows me to make things that your mind tells me into images that I can display on the wall."
"What you mean like a projector?"
"Yes, actually. Observe!"
Sabrina raises a hand and points at a wall to the side. We see first a flash of light then Green and I standing together in Viridian Forest in a tuxedo and dress. The image is from the vision that we had earlier of our wedding. The one we haven't had yet or even discussed. I look over at Green, but she is too focused on the image to even notice me.
"The drug makes you more susceptible to revealing information to me when I prompt you with a trigger word such as joy or fear. I may not be able to simply read your mind like a magazine, but if I ask you brain something it can respond like in a conversation where one waits for the other speak then talks back."
"Wow! I still feel kind of violated, but that is amazing that you can do even do that!"
Well I've only been the Gym Leader here for a few weeks. I'm afraid the previous Gym Leader, Kolchi Augus, died in the attack on Saffron City. The previous city gym focused on the use of Fighting Skills, but when Kolchi died, his students refused to appoint one of their flock to replace him. The International Police tried to recruit different people to step in, and I happened to be available. With my Psychic abilities, I easily defeated all of the Fighting Gym's trainers in one bout and was elected Gym Leader. Since then trainers have switched camp if you will to train under me though you can still go to the old gym across town and fight some of Kolchi's old students."
"Whoa! Wait, you came here from the IP?"
"Yes, that is where I got my experience. I have been used to fight, detain, and interrogate enemies of the state for a few years now."
"Years? But you seem about as old as the two of us!"
"Well Green, thank you! I'll take that as a compliment. I am actually just a few years older than you though I got involved in Monster Training when I was a little girl and had great promise. Typically the IP doesn't recruit anyone but adults with training and experience, but they made an exception for me."
"Sabrina, I don't mean to cut you off, but I have to know," I start. "Why interrogate us? Do you think WE are enemies of the state?"
The Gym Leader cuts me a dirty look across the table as she reaches for her bowl to get some of the shabu shabu then sets it back down. I may be returning the look myself, but I don't care. Green who has already started eating her first bite stops chewing her food and stares at the two of us.
"Because Red or Satoshi Himura, Jr, which ever name you go by these days, today on the afternoon news as well as the past several days, all Kanto seems to care about is two things: Team Rocket and three amateur trainers from Pallet Town. I've been tracking that organization for the last year and made minimal progress in shutting them down, but when you received your Skillfinders from the world famous and somewhat reclusive Dr. Oak, Team Rocket began breaking and entering different buildings all over the country. When you confronted them in Pewter and Cerulean City, they escalated the situation by attacking Saffron City. I showed up on the scene, and things seemed calm for a while, but when you went on a cruise, Dr. Fuji went missing in Lavender Town and reports of Ghost-human attacks started for the first time in the last 50 years. And when you confronted them at the Rocket Base and then Memorial Tower, Team Rocket vandalized the Safari Zone in Fuchsia City as well as various parts of the Viridian Forest."
"Are you saying that because we tried to help, we forced the hand of Team Rocket? Come on now! That's not right!"
"But it's not that simple. When you attacked and destroyed the Rocket Base, everyone who may have been unaware of you or Team Rocket suddenly got a pair of eyes. Everyone is watching you now. When you get your belts in a matter of days and fight Team Rocket directly you encourage people to think that either you are going to be their heroes and trust in you over our government or that anyone can start training today and be their own heroes!"
"What? That isn't what we're trying to do!"
"Regardless of what you may think you have gotten into, you cannot simply fumble around in the public eye. If you were to quit on your journey or worse to be publicly defeated by Team Rocket, the people of Kanto would be devastated!"
"We aren't going to quit anything!" Green pipes in.
"Yes, you saw our minds. I wish you hadn't, but you know how we think despite what we are up against! Please don't try to talk us out of our training now."
"Well…I have to admit that I was thinking you were both just some dumb kids with fancy Skillfinders and dumb luck, but your minds reveal characters of substance."
"Thanks…I think."
"It is clear to me that you two have strong feelings for each other two, but there is some sensitivity there. Nothing unusual I assure you. I am curious, have you fought much about marriage or children yet?"
"Um…"
"I think what Red is trying to say is that we really haven't talked about those things at all."
I try to look in her eyes, but all I see is dread as she looks down at her food. Sabrina quietly takes her first bite of food at last then makes a devious looking smile. What's on her mind?
For the next several minutes, I try to eat my shabu shabu which actually tastes really good while enduring this awkward conversation with Sabrina. Ivy comes down and has a bowl with us briefly then quickly leaves us alone again to go clean something. Our conversation goes back and forth with Sabrina interpreting our minds and her accepting that we may actually be decent candidates for whatever experiment Oak signed us up for. I guess I should feel appreciative or something.
What is more interesting to me though is the fact that Green and I haven't talked about marriage or children, but the idea is on both of our minds. She is afraid of me cheating on her or leaving her to pursue others passions, and I'm afraid that Kanto will fall into unrelenting chaos and lose people I love in the process. She doesn't look at me directly most of the night, but I notice when I put my foot forward under the table, Green brings her leg forward and wraps hers around mine.
"It has been eye opening talking to you both. You must stay in Saffron City and train. Train at both gyms with students of Psychic as well as Fighting abilities. Get stronger each of you. Kanto needs people like you."
We thank Sabrina after a night of mixed emotions and good food and head out. Green and I walk down the street to the local Focus. Though it's dark, Saffron has many buildings with lit up windows and street lights almost as if it were day time. How do people sleep here? The walk is quiet and difficult for me. I'm so tired, and though I didn't appreciate Sabrina reading our minds, I sort of want to know what Green is thinking about. As we approach the front door to the Focus, I try to break the silence.
"Long day huh?"
"Ha, yeah!"
"You OK?"
"I…actually I feel kind of sick. I mean my head is still reeling from those visions, but my stomach also feels really bad."
"I hope it wasn't the food."
"Oh, I don't think so…did you like the shabu shabu? I never asked you!"
"I did! It was really nice. I…just wished that we didn't…I mean on our second date as well…"
"Yes, I know what you mean. Red, we should talk about all of this…I mean what Sabrina saw in our minds."
"Green, I just want you to know. I mean you got to know me more tonight…like really know me, and maybe you didn't want me to know you that way, maybe it was too soon, but you know whatever. I just want you to know that after what I saw tonight, I don't feel any different about us. If anything I feel closer to you. I intend to stay here like Sabrina suggested and train for the next week or so and get my fifth belt, and I want you be by my side. That being said, I understand if you want to take another week to…"
She shakes her head as she puts a finger over my mouth and gives a playful smile.
"No, I'm not going to leave for a week again. I'll be right here tomorrow. I promise."
I grab her finger and kiss it.
"OK, good."
We check in at the front desk, and then turn to head down separate halls to sleep. I can't keep my eyes off of Green, but I'm so tired that she is starting to get blurry looking. If she tries I talk to me or kiss me I won't be able to leave. I can see hesitation in her steps as well, and I'm about to say something when turns around and looks at me.
"OK Red, get some sleep! Good night!"
"Good night! Love you!"
Wait what did I just say? I didn't just say that! But I look at Green and see her mouth wide open. Oh I did! What now? She heard me say that earlier when Sabrina turned my deepest feelings into home videos and now from my half delirious mouth. What will she think of me now? And just as I feel like my I might pass out from pure nervous overload on my psyche today, Green makes the most wonderful smiles. She walks right up to me and kisses me deeply for a moment that soothes my body and mind.
"And I love you. Have a good night."
"Good night!" I nervously repeat.
Her words are soft like a blanket on my heart. I don't care if Sabrina hit my brain with a club or if walked for three days straight, today has officially ended on good note!
Green looks over her shoulder at me once then practically skips her way down the hall. I can't believe this happen. I'm so excited! Oh, I can't wait to face tomorrow and all that is coming our way.