32

"Hey sir, I...what are you doing here?" I ask as Mr. Hayashi grabs my hand and pulls me to my feet. He tugs me up with a single arm and like it was easy. Didn't he have back trouble? Hayashi looks tall and strong. It doesn't help that I just got the crap beat out of me by an old man so maybe it's just in my head. Man, he found me laying in my own blood on the street like a lost kitten. I can't help but feel some irony when I think about the last time we met.

"Well Red...or is it Satoshi? You go back and forth!"

"Mr. Hayashi, you can call me whichever."

"OK, well Satoshi then, and you sir, are…"

"Blaine, and I was just leaving my good man. Take care around this one, he's tough."

Blaine smiles and getting to his feet, he dusts off his pant legs as if he just noticed he was in a public fight and this would make him look somewhat civilized.

"Satoshi," he says to me while he pats down his shirt and grabs his lab coat. "it won't be long before the Gym Leaders and Elite Four seek to investigate the men we were talking about earlier. When that happens, I don't know how things will turn out, but one thing I do know is that key leaders will be absent from their posts for an extended period of time. We haven't seen as much as a peep out of Team Rocket in days, and I think that is no coincidence. Kanto will need you to be ready to act at a moment's notice. Please don't let us down."

"OK…"

"Oh, and here!"

Blaine hands me the Volcano Belt, and this time I actually take it. As I look over it's shiny flames and pink material, I look up to see Blaine throw up a single hand as if that qualified as a meaningful wave then turn and make his way back towards his Gym. Is he angry with me or is he just awkward? I just don't understand that man. Maybe I never will. Hopefully the last Gym Leader in Viridian is a normal guy.

"Well wasn't that a pleasant man?"

"Yeah, we're real close! Ha ha!"

"HA! Hey, I have an idea. How hungry are you?"

"Oh, I'm starving! I skipped lunch to come here and fight him."

Green's Dad looks at a Skillfinder on his left wrist for the time and raises an eyebrow before insisting I come eat with him at once. On my request, Mr. Hayashi takes me to Growlithe's, and I get several tasty looking hot dogs, some fries, and a strawberry milkshake. Mr. Hayashi eats a single hot dog and vanilla milkshake with counted bites while I inhale my own meal. So hungry!

"Right then, so it's been awhile since we saw each other last."

"Yes, I heard that you turned yourself into rehab...oh were you in rehab here in Cinnabar?"

"Yes, and I am so glad that I did that! It wasn't that I needed any education or anything but just the stability in my life. I actually came here feeling quite sober physically, but I needed the kick in the pants to get my life back in order. Once I got here, I was so...so bored ha ha. I decided to commit myself to studies and taking care of my body and taking care to follow any and all program activities."

"Yeah?"

"Yes, by the end of the thirty days, I was cooking in the clinic kitchen, teaching sobriety groups, and working out with kids your age though not lasting as long as them I might add. And then Dr. Oak showed up on my graduation day."

"Dr. Oak? Here?"

"Yes, he showed up and gave me a Recovery Serum. He said it was from a Psychic Pokemon, not sure about that, but Satoshi, can you believe it, the stuff worked!"

I wonder if that Serum came from Mewtwo, the powerhouse experiment I keep hearing about.

"What do you mean it worked?"

"I mean I rubbed that stuff into the skin around my back where I got shot in the war, and the pain went away, and my Skills started working again! I can walk, run, and fight almost as good as I could back in the war! I've been dealing with this for years, and now it's just gone. Like instantly! I'm a new man!"

"What? That's amazing! Mr. Hayashi! How did your wife take the news? I bet she is thrilled!"

"Huh, well I…"

"You did tell her right?"

"Well I haven't yet no, but…"

"WHAT? But sir, how long has it been? Three weeks since you've been out of rehab?"

"Yes...I know…"

"But I don't understand. What on earth have you been doing?"

"I...oh…"

Hayashi stops talking for a second and plays nervously with his coat then when he sees that I'm still waiting for him to say something he digs into a pocket for something.

"Here...check this out!"

I take the card in my hand and recognize the font and logo of the International Police. It looks almost identical to the card that Looker showed me long ago. The card identifies Mr. Hayashi as "Hero."

"I received this code name. I'm in the IP now. They've had me doing intelligence gathering and analyzing data. Sometimes I'm just walking around and talking to people, and sometimes I'm reviewing files on the internet. It's quite exciting!"

"But...you're not answering my question! You got in IP, but how is that? And why didn't you tell anybody?"

"Satoshi...I burned those bridges. The last time I saw my wife, she looked at me like I was some rotten meat in the fridge. She is sick of me. My daughter...she…"

"Your daughter is in a coma right now. Did you know that?"

"I...yes, I heard, but I can't go there in person. They'll run me out of there. Satoshi haven't I done enough damage in the lives of those two women? I was invited to become Hero for the International Police and leave my old life of boozing and failure behind me. Wouldn't it be better if I stayed out of their lives and let them move on without me?"

"I'm going to say something important, and I want you to listen for a second OK?"

"OK…" he groans. "I'm Listening."

"Green, I truly hope she will get better, but the reality is that she may not. She could...not get better, and I have made a point of going back to check on her everyday to see her because I don't want to live a life of regret. I...can't sleep sometimes thinking about it. That I might lose her, but I accept that there is nothing else I can do than be there. You are her father! I...I lost my Dad seven years ago. I didn't ask for that nor did my mother."

"I know…"

"Please listen! It was hard and sometimes it still is. I miss him everyday. Losing my Dad changed me into someone much harder. I had to be tougher. I had to move on. It's true, but it's not the same for you. You didn't die. You may have tried to ruin your life and even thought you could take yourself out of your story, but that's just madness! You are still alive and now you're well! It's truly a miracle. You can't waste that! And your wife and daughter...they need you...they root for you...maybe you don't know it or you can't see it, but it doesn't change reality what you think. If you have any hope to get back into the lives of your wife and daughter, you have to take it. They don't have to move on without you. They don't have to endure that loss. You have made mistakes, but there is still hope. Please sir, I don't mean you any disrespect, but you cannot delay in this another day. Go to your family and make things right with them. Be there for them and make the name 'Hero' be more than just a nickname. You are your daughter's Hero go see her...at least do it for me."

"You think I can really do that? Even after all this time?"

"Yes, yes, I do."

"Satoshi, again the young must advise the old. Let it be said you are my hero. I did this rehabilitation out of respect for the kindness you showed me two months ago and I'm only better now because I took that first step toward turning my life around. I am overcome with self doubt and anxiety, but because of your courage, I will believe in hope. I will do it! I will go and see them! I'll even go now!"

"That's the spirit! You got this Mr. H!"

"Oh, that reminds me Satoshi. We should talk about something."

"Uh...OK."

"It's OK, you're not in trouble. I wanted to ask. Are you still dating my daughter?"

"I...yes, I mean the coma hasn't changed the way I feel about her, if that's what you mean."

"I didn't think so. No, I wanted to know if you love her?"

For some reason, the question throws me off a little bit. I look at Hayashi afraid for a second before opening my mouth. He looks at me longingly, holding his breath for the words I might say. I think he just wants the truth. I relax back into my chair and smile as I push my plate away from me.

"Yes, sir! I do! I really do!"

"Oh wonderful, and might I also ask, have you considered marriage? Do you kids even do that anymore?"

"I...yes, we do! I mean...marriage is very important to my family and upbringing sir, and I know it is your family as well. We...have talked about marriage, but I...well I haven't proposed to her...not technically yet."

Do I dare explain to him the visions I saw under hallucination in SAffron City? How I saw Green's darkest fear and greatest fantasy for her life? How I saw us getting married and holding a baby when he came home? Do I tell him these things?

"Oh, I thought so, Satoshi. I knew your father well and have great respect for the man they raised you to be. I only have to ask as I am her father. You understand?"

"I do. I hate to say it, but I had thought about talking to her about a proposal by now, but the incident happened, and I don't know...I don't know what I would even do. I don't know what I would say."

"Would you be faithful to her? Would you treasure her your whole life? Make her feel like the only woman to walk the earth? Learn from the mistakes of her father and vow to treat her like the beauty she is?"

"I...yes Mr. Hay…"

"Please son, you can call me Tetsuo. If you marry my daughter, you'll see a lot more of me, which is in part your fault now that I think about, ha ha, but you will, and you can't be my son and call be my surname. That won't do!"

"OK, Tetsuo then!"

"Nice, I like it. But let me ask, do you even have a ring?"

"Huh...I, no, actually...but we did go shopping a lot in Celadon and Saffron, and I tried to watch what rings she looked at when we visited the jewelry stores."

"But you didn't actually order a ring yet, right?"

"I...no…"

"Oh, good!" he says and digs into one of his coat pockets for something.

When he doesn't find it immediately he holds up a finger cuing me to wait then shifts his weight and begins checking his other pockets. At last he pulls out a tiny white box and puts it in my hand. I open it and take out a ring, an engagement band in white gold with diamonds cut into three little stones on the top. When I hold it up in the light, the stones shimmer and make tiny prims of different colors.

"You should give her this! It's her size. I double checked! She mentioned this to me one time I wasn't drunk and went with her on a trip to Cinnabar for a daddy-daughter date about….oh, four years ago. I have some earnings from my field work already, and I have only kept the essentials for myself and spent the rest getting this gem. What do you think? Isn't it perfect?"

"Mr. H...I mean Tetsuo, I think she would love it, but...I can't just take this ring from you. I have to pay for it."

"Satoshi, I don't want your money. Please, think of this as a dowry. A gift from your future father-in-law, a reward for helping me get off my butt!"

"But sir, I have made some money from my training, and your family could use that money. I can't.."

"Satoshi, this isn't a debate. It's not a cheap ring, but now that I have this job I'll be able to support my wife even more than I did before the war. Don't worry about me. Keep your training money, and go buy my daughter a nice home somewhere. OK?"

"I...yes, sir! I'll do that! Sheesh!"

"OK come here and give me a hug, and we'll Fly to the hospital together!"

We both laugh and stand to give each other a hug. My future father-in-law? And he gave me this wonderful ring? Can I be so lucky? I just need to hear that Green is awake. I need for her to be well. I need to hear her voice again and…

"Oh my gosh! What if she doesn't say yes?"

"Ha ha ha, relax. She'll say yes!"

"You're sure?"

"Now who's acting scared?"

Bzzzt! Bzzzzt!

"Haha, you got me. I...hold on, Daisy is calling. She was at the hospital. It may be about Green."

"OH! Go on then."

I hit the answer call button and put the phone up to my ear.

"Hello, Daisy...hold on, can I put you on speaker, I'm here with Green's father?"

"You...sure."

I set the phone down on the table and hit the speaker button.

"...Hello? Mr. Hayashi?"

"Hi Daisy, are you there with my wife and Green? How are they?"

"They are doing fine sir! You should come see us when you get better."

"I'll do just that my dear. Let Emma know I'll be there soon."

"OH! OK, please forgive me, but can I bother Red for just a minute?"

"That's fine!"

As Tetsuo gives her permission, I turn the phone off speaker and put the phone back to my ear.

"What's up Daisy?"

"Red! Ugh! It's Blue! That jerk brother of mine! He's broken up with Summer!"

"He did what? When?"

"Just a moment ago, they were in Viridian City. He just got his Belt, apparently there was something shady involved about it, and Summer confronted him, and he just said the most awful things to her! I mean terrible. She's in tears now! I asked Yellow to go and check on her and take her back to Lavender Town where her step dad lives."

"Uh...you may want to tell her to go back to Celadon City and stay with her sister instead."

"You think so. I thought she only was only sort of Erika's sister but really close to that Fuji guy."

Yes, but he may be about to go to jail the way Blaine was talking. Oh, and maybe your grandfather is, too! How do I say that to her? Why put them through the upset if it might not even happen?

"Whatever, Yellow will know what to do. He's good with these things."

He would know what to do since he may be the one arresting Fuji in the first place, but I won't tell Daisy that either. Ugh, I hate knowing secrets!

"Look, if Blue were not my brother, I'd tell her good riddance and move on, but this is crazy, even for Blue. It's like he's lost his mind and become somebody else!"

The Rare Candy! Blue must be acting worse now because of that.

"This is terrible Daisy! Can I do anything to help?"

"Help? I don't know! I just want my brother back! Please, go there to Viridian City and snap some sense into him. He won't answer his phone so don't bother calling him, just go and kick him back into gear...please...before he leaves. I...oh...let me call you back...sorry, please let me know what happens. Talk to you soon!"

The phone clicks, and I stuff it back into jean pocket.

"You have to look into that don't you?"

"It's my friend, Blue. I don't know. He's been taking these supplements and it's making him a jerk, more than his usual jerk self. He's apparently in Viridian City now. I need to talk to him."

"Go! Go and help your friend get his head back on his shoulders. You're good at that, I should know! Go help him and then come back to Saffron City and spend time with the Hayashi's. And don't forget this!"

I take the engagement ring from Mr. Hayashi and put it in my jeans pocket and thank him for my late lunch. He pays for our meal, and then we step outside. I watch quietly as he takes flight into the sky towards Saffron City, this strange man that I once saw lying drunk on the streets of Viridian. I have to go and help my friend. I'm hurry and talk to him and then, I'll go back and see Green.

33

With a full belly and engagement ring in my pocket, I feel on top of the world as I Fly. Heading north towards Pallet my home town, I can look down below at the place where I grew up and notice how small it is.

Part of me wants to stop here. I remember playing in the woods with Blue and chasing after Rattata with our nets. I can see Daisy gliding across the floor in her white sundress as she brings us cookies from the kitchen at the Oak residence. I remember my mother flipping my bedroom lights on and off and singing to me in the morning to wake me up. I can even remember seeing Green in class, her little smiles and waves in the hallways. Were our feelings for each other even present then? Oh, how I long for a chance to go back and be a kid once more! Just one more day in school, one more day of innocent fun and no care in the world.

But I don't stop for Pallet Town and keep on Flying. The days I long for are not in my reality anymore. They are but memory, and that's all they can ever be now. The moment I left Pallet Town to be a Monster Trainer I signed away my rights to being a child. I am a man now, and as a man I have to do things I don't want. That is one thing I remember my father telling me as child when I complained about chores. "Son, you don't want to do your laundry, and you've been able to let your mother do it for you until now. That is the boy in you, and that is normal, but one day you ought to be a man like me. Boys do only want they want and take care of themselves. Men sacrifice the things doing the things they want to do take care of others. I spend a lot of time doing things I don't want to do Satoshi, but I do them out of love. When you do something you hate because you love someone, that's when you've truly become a man!" And now I must be a man for my dear friend Blue.

As I pass Pallet Town and the clearing above, I see Viridian City at last. I happen to look towards the Viridian City Gym and see several people standing outside the front doors including my old rival and would be friend. Diving down towards them, I slow myself down and land on the soil slowly and on my two feet. It's taken several weeks for me to practice Flying like this, but I can say it truly paid off.

The crowd of fans appear to be trying to get autographs from Blue, but I notice he isn't paying them any attention. His eyes are trained on me. I'm not sure, but they seem almost bloodshot.

"RED!"

The fans all turn and acknowledge my presence then start bouncing in place like a bunch of bugs at a picnic. Their excitement at what's going on reminds me of the misplaced joy I saw when Blaine approached me in Cinnabar. This is no time for cheer, but they don't know that. Blue pushes those people in his way aside as if they were merely obstacles on his path and doesn't miss a beat or look back as one boy falls to the ground and begins crying.

"Red...what took you?"

"Blue, what the heck is wrong with you? You see that kid over there? You're acting strange. I just heard you broke up with Summer?"

"Yeah...so!"

He tightens a fist as if I said something insulting.

"You idiot! That girl is crazy about you. You both have a real connection. Why trash that?"

"What do you know about connections, Red? You don't even know how to get something in this life without taking it from someone else!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh, come on now! You always were my grandfather's favorite growing up. You always wanted to date my sister. You always wanted to come over to my house and play with my things. Let's face it Red, everything you've ever want has belonged to me first. You want whatever I have. You even noticed that Green liked me so you moved on her. It's like this Champion thing. You think I don't know? You're gunning for the top, too!"

"What are you talking about? You're not making sense."

"Don't play dumb! It's in the news everywhere. Red is fighting his rival to become the next Champion. Red the hope of Kanto! Red, a true hero! But you knew that was always my dream! You knew I wanted to get out of my grandfather's fingers and make a name for myself. Let's face it, Red. The only reason you went on this journey was because I wanted to do it first. You wanted to be like me. Well you know what, we can't all be winners Red! You don't want to be Champion as much as I do, and that's why I'm going to win!"

"Win? What are you talking about? I don't want to be Champion. I did go on this journey because of you but not to take anything away from you! You're my friend, I wanted to do this adventure with you, and every step of the way you have tried to push me out! Why do you keep doing this? Why keep pushing everyone away?"

Blue stops talking for a second and looks away. That meant something to him. Gosh, I know my friend is hurting. What should I say?

"Maybe I did push people away...maybe they deserved it. What's it to you?"

"Blue, are you still taking those Rare Candies? I think they are messing with you head! You have to let them go."

"Stop trying to tell me what to do! You're just mad that you keep falling behind me. You want to catch up? You'll have to go and get the Earth Belt first. Go on!" he says pointing towards the Gym.

"Blue, I don't care about getting a stupid Belt right now. Can't you come with me and see your sister? She's worried about you. You should apologize to Summer, too. You really hurt her…"

"Feelings? Don't talk to me about feelings Red! I'm not as soft as you are. I don't need things like that. If you want to talk to me, you've got to earn my attention. Go and get the last Belt or turn around and go home."

Blue points behind himself towards the Viridian City Gym like I didn't see it there earlier. Despite a sign on the door saying "Open" I can't help but notice how dark the building looks. Something's not right. Why does Blue need me to get my Belt before talking to him? Has his narcissism really gotten this bad?

"Fine!"

"Go on then, I'll be waiting for you outside. Don't take all day now!"

Is he serious? I had no intention of getting three Belts in one day when I woke up this morning. I don't even know if I'm ready to beat this person. What if I totally lose? Is that the point? Blue wants to see me lose again and remind me how much better he is than me since he just got his Belt. Whatever!

When I make my way into the Gym, I see a large atrium with mounds of dirt stacked up on the sides to form a ridge all the way around the mud floor in the center. In fact It feels less like I've walked into a Gym and more like I'm going into the belly of rocky quarry or maybe a pit since there aren't many rocks. Despite there being many people outside, the whole building appears to be vacant. A single spotlight aimed down from the ceiling on the ground reveals a mat. I walk towards it and hear a click behind me. Did the door just lock itself?

Turning back I see a fan reach out and touch the door then try the handle. It doesn't open. He looks at me in confusion then points at something behind me. I turn back around and see a man standing on top of the ridge all by himself. He has on an orange suit and nice shoes and appears to be fiddling with something in his hand like a cell phone. Is he playing a game?

"You must be Red!"

"I am! Who are you?"

"My name is Dan Mirty," he says looking up from his phone for a second then looking back at it as if he had something more important to focus on. " I am the Viridian City Gym Leader, and if you're Red then that means I can finally do this and get out of here."

"Do what?"

"Ha, kill you, of course!" Dan says putting his phone away.

"What did you say?"

Dan pulls out a remote from his pocket and hits a button causing a gate I hadn't noticed to my right to open up. As the gate slowly goes up, I hear the faint growls of some animals from the other side.

"What is this?"

"This is the pit, my friend, and you walked right into it! Face the wrath of Kanto's toughest Ground type Pokemon. Enjoy this moment while you can. They won't give you much time to struggle."

Looking back at the gate, I see a Diglett come burrowing into the room. Diglett? These little mole looking things are so only show their heads above ground and move through dirt like an otter swims through water. It doesn't make sense how fast they move in the ground! One of these things isn't really all that scary. I...wait! There's more! Oh wow, there's maybe a dozen of them now! Wait, what's this? The Diglett are moving in packs of three! Oh, these are called something else. Its…

"Dugtrio! The evolved Diglett," Dan answers for me.

"Dan, what's this about? Why use Pokemon instead of face me yourself? Why fight in the dark? Where is everyone?"

"Ha, not your usual sing and dance huh? Are you disappointed that your fans aren't here to congratulate you? Well there's no lights and camera in here for you. I have the generator turned off and a jammer in place to block out any signals. No one can send calls or messages to you or even track you in here and of course no messages out either!"

I pull out my phone and notice that I have no signal. Looking at my Skillfinder, I see it's still turned on, but there is an error signal on the screen meaning some of the bluetooth/wireless features are not functioning. I'm in a deadzone with this guy and whatever tricks he has for me. Dan smiles at me from on top of the ridge. Ugh, I can't stand him! I didn't want another dash of drama today, but this is dangerous. This guy is not playing by the rules. I have to be smart or I might not get out of here alive!

BADOOOOOOM!

I jump back as a Dugtrio pops up out of the ground next to me like a stick of dynamite.

BADOOOOOOM!

BADOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Dugtrio keep Digging underground then bursting up all around me. I have to stop this somehow before they get to me. Rising about six feet off the ground, I can safely watch the Dugtrio move around under me without risk of attack for a second. Flinging my arms back and then diving forward, I Wing Attack the nearest Dugtrio in their little brown faces. The remaining pairs reroute around me and try to flank me from the side, but I rise into the air again and dive for another one.

BAAAAAAAAAAAAM!

I Wing Attack another Dugtrio, and this time the others all scatter to the edges of the room.

"WHAT ARE YOU DUMB THINGS DOING? FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"

I look up at Dan who is clearly taken off guard by the behavior of these Pokemon. Is he an idiot? Why would he use the Pokemon to fight me instead of face me himself?

"THEY AREN'T THINGS, DAN! These are wild animals, Pokemon. You think they'll just fight me because you ask them to?"

"Grrrrrrrr! I expect them to attack you because you're in their pit, but maybe not! Maybe they won't, but I know the others will. You can fight them all at once for all I care!"

"All at once?"

But the truth is revealed soon after when Dan hits multiple buttons on his remote and multiple gates begin opening up around the room. Out from the left come a Nidoqueen and a Nidoking, the blue and purple creatures that evolve from the top of the Nido Pokemon. They are quite big for animals, probably around four feet tall and over one hundred pounds each. Another pair of them appears from the right, and when they all emerge at the same time, they hold open their little hands and start forming Poisonstings. Oh no! Each one of them could make dozens of those needles! I could die from that amount of toxin in a matter of minutes!

Shk! Shk! Shk! Shk! Shk!

I jump into the sky to dodge the Poisonstings then maneuver around in the air as more and more needles come hurling towards me,

BAAAAAAAM!

"OWWWW!"

Just when I was feeling safe in the air, a huge rock knocks me down like a switch striking a fly. I grab my jaw and lick up a taste of blood in my mouth as the source of my last surprise reveals himself. I get back to my knees and look eye to eye with a giant and rocky Rhyhorn, the big beast from the Safari Zone! I take a deep breath as Rhyhorn grunts and a piece of rock pops off of it's body and levitates toward me as if being moved by a giant, invisible hand. I have to get out of here, but I can't move…

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM!

Crack!

I cringe as the Stone Edge falls on top of me and cracks my Charizard Skill not to mention knocks the wind out of me. Now I can't Fly off the ground anymore. That was my best advantage here! Looking up from beneath the stone, I see that Rhyhorn is preparing to use the same attack again. Checking my left and right, I can tell that the Nido gang is making more Poisonstings. It's time to counterattack! I transition to my Gyrados Skill and slide out from under the rock.

Rhyhorn sends the Stone Edge for me, but I I propel the Hydro Pump at him and knock the Stone Edge back into him and then push him back. I keep the pressure flowing into he falls over then spin my feet and sweep the room making the Nidoking and Nidoqueen drops their needles and fall back. In fact the two Nidoqueen and one Nidoking turn and run away.

The remaining Nidoking holds out a hand and touches the ground in front of himself making it change to solid black. What? The black earth rises from the ground in a way similar to Stone Edge and comes flying at me. I dodge the strange Earth Power but only barely as it slams into the ground next to my right leg. I catch my bearings and send a Twister coursing for Nidoking. He flinches and turns around to run away.

Turning back towards the Rhyhorn, I see another animal coming in from behind him, a Rhydon. Rhydon is the slightly bigger and upright version of Rhyhorn. I have these two beasts left to fight so I better focus. Rhyhorn and Rhydon both make a Stone Edge and throw them my way.

This time I'm ready to use Hydro Pump and blast them back. Rhyhorn growls and turns to run away whereas Rhydon seems to only get more aggressive and comes charging towards me. He Stomps his feet on the ground making the earth shake around me and causing me to fall down. I get back up only to get headbutted in the face with Rhydon''s Megahorn.

"OWWWWWWWWWWWW!"

Crack!

I transition to my Nidorino Skill and roll out of the way as Rhydon tries to Stomp me flat. Jumping to my feet, I decide to use my old favorite for Rock type Pokemon, the Doublekick. I launch into a barrage of strikes as Rhydon tries to hit me with it's big horn, but with timed and well aimed strikes, the beast can't stop me and starts to wear down. At last I deliver a final blow to its face, and even the fierce six foot tall, two hundred something pound Rhydon turns and runs from me.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! What's wrong with you guys? Do I have to come down there and fight him myself?"

Dan punches several buttons on his remote control, but it looks like whatever plan he was hoping for with these Pokemon has failed. They simply won't respond to him. They have no will to fight me. I actually feel sorry that he tried to use them this way.

"Get down here you coward! Game's over!"

"YOU!"

Dan throws down his remote control and sprints down the hill towards me only to trip and fall halfway down. By the way he stumbles and gets up, I can tell he has twisted his ankle, but he is so mad that he gets up and tries to run at me like it doesn't bother him. I let him get close then charge him and grab him by the collar. Dan grabs onto my wrists and flails about, but he is in no condition to fight me.

"Start talking! Why are you doing this? Are you acting alone?"

"It didn't work! You were supposed to be dead by now. He told me killing Blue was optional but definitely kill you."

"Who told you to kill me?"

"Uh uh uh, a magician doesn't reveal his secrets, at least not for free!"

"Good thing there is nothing magical about you!" I say slapping him in the face.

"Owwwww!"

"Now listen up! Who hired you? What did you attack me for, money?"

"I don't have to tell you anything."

"Yeah, and why kill me but give a Belt to Blue?"

"Uh duh, Blue has the stuff man. If you have the stuff, you avoid the rough. Why, do you have the stuff, too?"

"Are you talking about Rare Candy?"

"Yeah man, that's the stuff! You got it?"

"UGH! You disgust me. No, I don't have your drugs, now quit messing around and unlock the door. I'm done playing games with you."

"Ha, you wish. You'll just have to sit here with me until Giovanni comes back. He always checks on his work."

"Giovanni?"

"Oh, oops. I shouldn't have told you that."

"No, you shouldn't have. This changes things! OK, then. Let's go!"

I release Dan's collar but reach behind him and twist an arm behind his back to make him walk with me back through the valley of the Gym towards the front door. He winces in pain and pleads with me the whole way. This guy is no Gym Leader. I'm embarrassed to have come here today. When we get close, some people outside the door are waiting in anticipation for us.

"OK, last call, unlock that door. You can do it the way that hurts or the way that doesn't."

"When Giovanni gets here…"

But I don't let him finish his empty threat. I grab him and hoist him overhead like a log and chuck him into the door as hard as I can.

SMASH!

The glass shatters and the doors bow in where he impacts. The fake Gym Leader groans but doesn't try to move as I pick him up and put him over my shoulder and push open the doors to walk outside. When I exit, Yellow is waiting for me. He looks at Dan and his busted mouth and limp body on my shoulder then back at me.

"Red? What happened? Why did you just chuck the Viridian…"

"This may have been a Gym Leader at some point, but now he is just some junky on Rare Candy, a goon working for Team Rocket."

"Team Rocket? But that...oh my gosh, Dan Mirty was the mole...You trash! You sold out Kanto to the enemy. You're the one who gave him resources and intel on us, didn't you?"

Dan doesn't say a word but instead just laughs to himself. I set him down on the ground and officers of the IP come and take him away. I look around the area for Blue, but he's gone. What's his deal? Spectators all come up trying to ask me questions, but Yellow intervenes for me and helps me get out of the crowds.

"OK, well, I have to say good job once again Red. I'll make sure that you get an Earth Belt."

"I really don't care about that right now. Blue was here...he bribed Dan for a Belt. Dan used Pokemon to attack me...II just need to get some rest for a minute if that's OK."

"Whoa, no kidding. Well I'll find Blue and look into Dan character. Don't you worry about that. Can I do anything for you? You look beat."

"Can I go to the Focus and get fixed up, maybe take a nap? I was about to check on Green again and see how she's doing, but I just need a break first."

"I...yes, let's do that Red! Hey, can I see your phone for a second?"

At the instance he asks this question, my phone begins beeping with tons of notifications and missed messages. What happened while I was in the dead zone?

"What is it?"

"Oh, it's actually some good news," Yellow says taking my phone out of my hand. "...but I don't want you to worry about anything right now. Just let me take that for now! I'll get you to the Focus and fixed up and after your nap, you go on over to Saffron. OK? Sound good?"

"I...you're not giving me the option are you?"

"Nope, haha. Just trust me on this! You'll thank me later."

So I agree and listen to my friend and go to the Focus on IP escort. I get some kind of fancy tea with vitamins in it and slurp it down before using the Recuperation Bed. When I get out, Yellow sends me down the hallway to the locker room and instructs me to shower and take a nap, and he will get my clothes cleaned. I don't understand why he is being so nice to me but whatever. I can't complain.

I follow all of his instructions and after a nice two hour nap, I wake up feeling totally recharged and ready to go. As I put on my clothes, I find my phone and beside it a gold colored Belt with an emblem of a green tree in the middle. It's the Earth Belt, my eighth and final one! Cool! I pull up my phone and start reading the messages, but I can't comprehend it all. Green is awake?

"They're from everyone you love telling you the good news."

I sit up in my pod and look to Yellow who has the biggest grin on his face.

"What's going on? Is it true?"

"Yes, Red. Green, has finally woken up! I made sure that you got refreshed before worrying about it, but now you should be ready to go and see her. Are you ready?"

"Am I? Thanks man!"

"No, problem! You go on over to Saffron and enjoy the night with with family. I'll call you tomorrow about this serious stuff with Blue and Giovanni."

"You sure?"

"I'm sure. Go on, you have today to tell her everything you need to tell her. She could use you, more than you know. Get to it Champ!"

"All right! I'm going to Saffron!"