The morning sun slowly crept over the horizon. Lucas struggled against a yawn as he slowly sat up, looking around. Ralts and Wingull slept peacefully, curled up against each other on top of the bed. Lucas slowly crawled out of bed, careful not to disturb the sleeping Pokémon.

He glanced sideways, to the empty bed. A frown appeared- where was Red?

The sheets hadn't even been disturbed- Red hadn't come back yet. That wasn't good. If he was arrested, or- or anything else, what would Lucas do? He wouldn't leave behind his friend but-

A light knock came at the door, and Lucas scrambled to open it. Nurse Joy smiled down at him, "Hello Lucas."

"Hello Nurse Joy. Did my friend come back?"

"I- I'm sorry. He hasn't come back yet-"

"Red!"

A familiar teen staggered in after Nurse Joy. His crimson eyes were blood shot, and he cradled Pikachu in his arms. The Pokémon was half asleep, a few marks still lingering from what was probably a high-pitched battle. "Red? Are you okay?"

The other nodded, before pinching the bridge of his nose. "Lucas, you might want to go on without me to the second gym leader I am-" the rest of the sentence was incomprehensible to Lucas's admittedly limited sign language. Or maybe it was the fact that Red was signing so fast it looked more like his hands had gone liquid.

"R-Red, you're going too fast. And I don't think I know all of those words-"

"It's simple child. He's saying that you have two choices- go with him to a town with a gym leader you couldn't hope to defeat, or find some way of getting to the second gym leader by yourself to again, face a gym leader you can't beat." The drawling voice made Lucas flinch a little, head craning around Red.

A man stood there, red hair slicked back and spiked. "Who are you?"

The man stared down his nose at him in that vaguely befuddled way that stated he wasn't used to people not recognizing him.

Red sighed again, and wrote down, 'This is Lance, the Pokémon Champion of Kanto.'

"Not the champion. Gold is now the champion- that is, if he defeated you. He refuses to say." Lance crossed his arms, staring down at Lucas. Lucas fidgeted slightly, hiding behind Red. Red had faced this guy and won? No wonder he was so brave all the time-

"This is the one who brought you down from the mountain? How and why? He isn't strong-"

Red shoved a hand in Lance's face, frowning fiercely. His hands moved in quirk jerks, fast and insulting, partially hidden from Lucas's stare. "Fine, fine, I get it. Either way kid, that's what he's saying. So what's it going to be, Lavaridge Town, or the second gym leader?"

"Uhhh, Red?"

Red glanced at him. Lucas closed his eyes, remembering what Nurse Joy had said last night. What he had come on this adventure for. A pokémon adventure was one most often taken with friends you made along the way. If this was to be a true adventure, he needed to abandon Red and find a new friend. Even if Nurse Joy said it was not abandonment, that is exactly what it felt like. "I- I'm going to go get the second badge."

Red smirked, that small little smile that said he was pleased to hear what someone had just said. So he didn't feel abandoned? But Red was the strong one here- but it was Lucas making the decision. He brutally shoved the thoughts aside. "Though I'm not sure how I'll get there-"

Red plopped a pokéball into Lucas's hand. He pulled out a piece of paper, and began to furiously write. Lance frowned down at him, before looking away. "Can we get going already? I know just how excited you are to have a friend your age who doesn't regularly insult you, but I think Green is a far better match to you overall. After all you both did beat me."

Wait a minute, Red was the same age as him? Lucas glanced at the taller boy- Red looked older then Lucas. Was it just the differences between worlds? Was Red technically older? Or was he really the same age?

Red made a gesture that was probably rude, before continuing to write. He tucked the paper into Lucas's hand, and pulled himself to his feet. Lance sighed. "Finally. Let's go track down that man and get back my Dragonite."

Huh?

Lucas watched as Red pulled himself to his feet, rubbing tiredly at his eyes before nodding at Lance, and trotting out after him. He looked down at the written words.

Lucas,

I'm headed to Lavaridge Town. If you check your map, it's next to the mountain. To get to the second gym leader you're going to need to use my Lapras to Surf to the gym. He may not be there.

I know you must be wondering about what happened while I was supposed to go to jail- let's just say that information has come into light that one of the stolen Pokémon is a champions Dragonite, and as one of the few people who could defeat this Dragonite, I'm going to help out.

If you ever need me, then text that number. If you need to leave, then call the second number. Green will get you up Mount Silver. He might swear at you a lot, but he'll do it. Also, when you're done with Lapras, put him back into the computer please? I might end up having to use Lapras in my fight.

The letter wasn't signed. Lucas folded up the paper, and looked up. Nurse Joy smiled at him. "Do you remember what we were talking about?"

At every Pokémon Center, he should meet with the Nurse Joy and talk to her about what was going on. How he felt, how he was holding up- "And remember, if you ever feel like you can't talk to another Nurse Joy, then you are welcome to call me."

Lucas nodded, swallowing a lump in his throat. He took a deep breath, and reminded himself: I am not being abandoned. I am not being abandoned. Red is handling his own business. We'll meet up after this. I am not being abandoned, I am the one doing it this time.

Ralts cooed softly from where he sleepily stirred. Horns glowed softly in the dawn's light, picking up on it's trainer's distress. Lucas turned slightly. "Remember what I said, okay? And remember that there's nothing wrong with feeling lonely and scared. It's moving past that feeling to create new friends and experiences that's important." Nurse Joy smiled at him from the doorway.

Lucas nodded, and shouldered on his own backpack. His Pokémon gathered around him, awake now. "Very well then, I guess I should set out now."

He wasn't abandoned- but it didn't exactly feel like that.

Charizard's steady wing beats beat in counter to the Aerodactyl. The two trainers stared off into the wind, Lance's cape billowing behind him spectacularly. Lance spoke after a long moment of silence. "Does you finally coming down from your mountain mean you're ready to take your place as Champion?"

Red grimaced as he shook his head.

Lance tched. "First you, then Green, and now Gold. I've been beaten three times exactly. And each of them refuse the job. I am hardly the champion any more. The fact that I am holding the position is a bit of a joke. Though… I have been endeavoring to become a better Champion."

Lance stared off into the distance. "I did help Gold along his journey, and to ease Pokémon's suffering."

Red turned, one eyebrow cocking. The last time he had met Lance, the trainer had admitted boldly that he wasn't doing anything about Team Rocket because such petty concerns were beneath his strength. Red had to take care of it all on his own, with Green running around and challenging him.

"Does my change surprise you? It was you who made me begin this change. You challenged me with your motely, rag-tag bunch of Pokémon and won. Then you refused the glory of being Champion, and traveled to destroy the last remnants of Team Rocket… Especially after what happened to your voice."

Since when did Lance know about his voice? He had lost it before he had challenged the Elite Four. Red glared at him, eyes narrowing. Lance shrugged in response to the glare. "Green explained a bit too me."

Oh.

Red looked away. Lance glanced at him. "By the way- did you tell Green that you were coming down? I would've expected to find you in Pallet Town rather then Hoenn region. Moreover, how did that child get up Mount Silver anyways? His Pokémon are nowhere near strong enough to fight off the wild Pokémon that surrounds the mountain."

Red signed, "He's stronger then he looks."

"I see. That still doesn't answer the question about Green-"

Something began to ring in Lance's cape. The man blinked, and pulled out a small phone. "Hello?"

Even separated by what was probably twenty feet of distance and howling wind, Red could hear the voice clearly. It was a voice he hadn't heard in two years- but nobody could mistake the tones of a very angry Green Oak. It sounded something like an angry herd of Miltank bearing down on you while preparing the move Rollout.

"LANCE! I SWEAR IF YOU DO NOT TELL ME WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW SO HELP ME, I WILL KICK YER REAR ACROSS FIVE DIFFERENT REGIONS!"

Lance hissed in pain, cradling his offended ear and holding the offending noise at the end of his arm length. "Green, what is going on-"

Green's voice dropped to a more manageable tone- or Lance turned down the volume. Either one it was, Red found himself huddled around Charizard's neck. The fire Pokémon grumbled as he banked away from the wind. Silly trainers getting worked up over silly things.

Red stared at Lance, staring off with a blank look on his face. "Green, wait- no, look, I'll get back with you as soon as possible but Red and I are trying-"

Charizard and Red both froze. Pure killing intent curled out from around the phone. The Pokémon and trainer looked at each other. Lance glared at them both. He mouthed 'If you dare leave and try to disappear again, I swear I will open a free-for-all bug-catching contest on Mount Silver.'

Which was worse? Hordes of low-level trainers challenging him to battles with inane comments or an angry Green?

Red shot a glance towards Lance. Lance mouthed, 'And Gym Leaders will be invited as well.'

Either way he was going to have to face Green, wasn't he?

Red and Charizard seemed to think about it, while secretly planning on running away. If they just dropped into the water, they could escape Lance no problem. Lance said sweetly, "I can hand over the phone and you can talk to Red."

Aerodactyl winged closer, before flipping upside down. Lance hung off of his Pokémon, one hand dangling down towards Red with the phone in his hand. Red stared at it like a foreign object. "I can't talk."

Lance shrugged at the signed words. "I don't care. Take it. He's your friend."

"But-"

The phone was dropped into his lap. Lance waved a lazy hand. "My Pokémon is faster then yours, so I'm going on ahead. Have fun with Green!"

Red uselessly made rude gestures at the laughing Champion's back. He could hear Green's voice through the tiny microphone. "Lance? Lance? I know you didn't hang up on me-" Green sounded exhausted. With the time differences, Red supposed it was about 4-5 in the morning.

Cautiously Red picked up the phone, and lightly tapped the speaker. Green hesitated for a few moments- Red wished he could speak. Having no voice could be pretty inconvenient at times…

Red tapped the speaker twice. "Red? Is that you? One tap if yes. Two if you're Lance pulling the stupidest prank in the world."

One tap.

"In the name of Mew Red, the least you can do if you decide to come out of your selfish shell is too go home and say hello to your mom! Or, if you really want to 'protect' her from that much from fame, you can come to me. I can handle anybody."

Red tapped twice.

"Look, just stick with Lance, and I'll be there in well under a week, got it? And we're gonna battle until we're both exhausted, I'm probably gonna slug you a good one, and then you can keep on pretending you don't have any friends while I laugh over my victory."

Hey! He did have friends, even if Green had pushed himself off that list for a bit, and he hadn't lost yet to Green. "Heh. I can just imagine what sort of look you have on your face. Smell ya later looser!"

The phone clicked off. Red glared at the phone for a moment, unaware of the slight smile tugging at his mouth. Charizard glanced back to Red. Red took a deep breath. He smirked, "Full speed ahead Charizard. We're gonna get there before Lance." The cocky smile did well to hide the trembling hands.

Charizard took off in a flurry of wings, the blaze of his tail cutting through the clear day's sky.

Toon Link closed his eyes, listening to the winds howl and pound against the walls and roof of the mansion. Gooey Bombs exploded, almost in time to the Anvil Chorus by Giuseppe Verdi.

The sounds came to an abrupt stop.

More then one smasher reached for their weapons, coming on guard. Cessation of noise did not mean good things- especially when that cessation came from outside. Toon Link and Link took up flanking positions on either side of Zelda, as Mario and Luigi inched closer to Peach. Dedede glanced up from where he had been playing cards with Meta Knight and Snake.

Sonic began to bounce eagerly, a wide grin plastered all across his face. "Ooooh, this sounds like it's gonna be good."

Kirby rolled over and continued snoring. Donkey and Diddy Kong began to rise from where they had been napping, Diddy digging out his trusty guns. Nana and Popo grabbed hands, and swung their mallets.

More Smashers were taking notice of the unusual silence. Ness glanced around, his mouth forming a name- "Luc- ah." He paused, bereft of his friends and battle buddy.

Pikachu, Lucario and Jigglypuff pulled together, the Pokémon choosing to stand together. Normally there would be four others with them- Red, Charizard, Ivysaur and Squirtle, but they weren't here this time. Ness decided to help fill in one of those holes.

Master Hand burst in through the doors rather dramatically. "Excuse me! I need all Smashers gathered at once- oh; you're all already here. That's good. Now then, we can get down to business. Does anyone know where Lucas and Red went in their off time?"

Silence.

"I gave clearance to them earlier, but I forgot to get where they were going. I was going to explore this world to see if I couldn't find them, but they aren't on this world, which means they left through the portals. Or they went further out then my senses could pick up." Master Hand spoke quickly and concisely.

"If they were turned into trophies, then our chances of finding them are slim. If they are in another world, then there are far more problems to be had. While I can keep any permanent damage from occurring while you all are in this alternate dimension, I can't keep the same promise if you are to return to your home worlds, or go to another world."

Master Hand drummed his index finger against the ground, a quick, worried tap. "If a Smasher goes to another Smasher's home dimension and get injured there, then I'm afraid that the wound will not heal in any timely manner. There are reasons why I have forbidden travel between dimensions."

Toon Link was suddenly, intensely aware of three sets of eyes on him. One from Zelda, trusting that he would do the right thing. The other two belonged to Nana and Popo who had taken the blame to trouble-making to keep Red and Lucas's secret just a little longer. He looked up- Zelda's piercing, wise eyes stared down at him.

Toon Link sighed as he raised a hand. "I know where they are."

The statement went unnoticed underneath the hubbub. Adults everywhere were discussing how the search teams would best be split- Fox, Falco and Wolf were going to take to the air. Pit, who couldn't fly without help, wanted to go with them. Captain Falcon was suggesting he and Olimar could use his racing car to search, which Olimar quickly denies, stating he'd rather search the ground by foot with his Pikmin. The Villager volunteered to go with him. Wii Fit Trainer was busy volunteering for underground caves-

Master Hand only caught his voice among the sea of planning. "Toon Link, come with me."

Toon Link followed Master Hand, dread beginning to swirl at the pit of his stomach. Would he be punished? Would Nana and Popo? No, no, he'd take the blame for them, it was his responsibility. Would Lucas's and Red's adventure end so soon? Would Lucas get hurt in Red's world? It always seemed so peaceful- but peaceful worlds didn't make fighters.

"Toon Link. Or should I say Link?"

"Yes Master Hand?"

"Where are Lucas and Red? Do you know?"

"Lucas said he was going to Red's home world to go on an adventure." Toon Link admitted, before pausing for a moment. "How did you figure it out so soon?"

Master Hand had to know that Toon Link had been covering up for the two. He would've been stupid not too. Master Hand didn't have eyes, but Toon Link was certain that he was being given a very stern look. "I got several questions from concerned Brawlers over the fact that they were missing two of their Smashers."

"The adults cared?" No, that wasn't right. Adults often cared, they just didn't do anything about it. "Well, I mean-"

"No, it is a question you have a reason enough to ask. All of you children have been forced to grow up far too fast, to take the place of adults. But- the adults here are different."

They didn't seem different. But Luigi and Dedede were both adults, and they had helped cleanse this world from the evil and terror that gripped it. Sonic was (possibly) an adult as well. He had helped as well. Toon Link had been too slow to join the fight against Tabuu. But the Adults had helped… and Link was himself, just older.

Master Hand sighed. "Out of all worlds, to go to Red's… The Pokémon world. While those two would indeed blend in, only Ness, Nana and Popo would blend in from here, along with yourself. Adults… Are not considered the heroes. It is mostly children who become the heroes."

"But it's fine, right? It never seems like Red's world is violent."

"Even paradise crumbles. Just like with Lucas's perfect world, where there seemed to be no sadness or sorrow- it is there. Lurking in the hearts of everyone is the capacity for sorrow, the same as there is the capacity for greatness. Isn't your world the same? You thought it perfect- and it seemed like it was. But sorrow could still strike."

His sister being kidnapped. Fighting Ganandorf, and being forced to kill him. Fighting horrible monsters. But there was his Grandma's smile, his sister's hug, Tetra's playful slug on the arm… They had all carried him so far. It wasn't a perfect world, but it wasn't a horrible world either. It was something worth protecting.

"Did Red have to do something like I did?"

"No. But he did his own journey alone." Master Hand paused for a moment. "That is all I will tell you of another's story."

Link pouted. "You said more about Lucas's adventure!"

"Lucas adventure is… well… different then others." Master Hand didn't elaborate.

"So what happens now?"

"Now? I think that we can only wait and hope that Lucas and Red will return safely."

No, that wasn't the answer. Waiting and hoping for someone else was never the answer. "I can go-"

"No. Absolutely not. I am closing the portals- the only way to go is from that world here, and not the other way. We cannot risk any more harm to come to-"

"Hey! I can fight pretty well-"

"The rules are completely different." Master Hand interrupted mercilessly. "Now that I know where they are, I can keep at least a partial track of where they are and how they are doing."

Toon Link crossed his arms, sending Master Hand the most unimpressed look he could muster. Master Hand had prattled on about how adults were useful in this dimension, before turning around and doing something like this? "But what if Lucas gets hurt or something?"

"I hope that it will not come to that. But as long as Lucas returns here within five months of being in Red's world, there should be no ill side-effects."

"What kind of side effects might there be?"

"A loss of powers. A month in, he should start noticing how he can no longer use his PSI. That should bring Lucas back."

If Lucas even used his PSI. Lucas was a proponent of fair play, and lived his words. If Red asked him not to use his PSI, then Lucas wouldn't. Toon Link jumped down from where he was sitting. "Can I go now?"

He needed to talk to Ness.

"Yes. Thank you for this information."

Toon Link let himself out the door, and went straight to Ness. The PSI user was sitting next to Nana and Popo. "Toony! You helped Lucas get too another world? Which world was it?"

Toon Link sighed, "Red's world. They went to Red's world."

"Then we should go down to the portals and-"

"It won't work." Toon Link interrupted glumly. "Master Hand already has the portal's blocked off. We won't get it open. But we gotta get to him somehow. Master Hand says if Lucas is in there any longer then five months, he'll probably be irreversibly changed… I think."

Toon Link frowned. "Anyways, a month in he'll start loosing his powers."

Ness frowned. "There has to be some way of getting to his world. But Lucas should return well before the five months are up-"

"Lucas will do what he wants." Toon Link interrupted. "I know that you don't think very highly of Lucas's courage, but it is there."

"He ran away when I got turned into a trophy." Ness pointed out. "I mean, it wasn't exactly his fault but I…"

"You still feel bitter about that? Lucas couldn't of won on his own Ness. He and Red had a hard time beating down Wario together." Toon Link crossed his arms glaring at the boy. Yes, Lucas had run away, but Toon Link doubted he'd have stuck around either. A machine that could turn people into Trophies? His best friend no longer able to help him out? That wouldn't be fun, and all of his wisdom would be to run away.

"You would've stayed. And so would've Nana and Popo," Ness snapped back. "Besides, Lucas has no problem with Wario now."

"It's easier to be courageous with your friends around you then alone. Besides, we don't know Lucas's story at all." Master Hand's words lingered in his mind. Lucas's story... who knew what it entailed? Nobody talked too much about what they've done other then in airy, unconcerned tones to cover up the heartache behind it.

Ness stood up, a heated glare beginning to form. "Why are you taking Lucas's side only anyways! It wasn't my fault that we got into a fight! I don't want to hurt him!"

Nana and Popo watched the fighting with wide eyes, before Nana jumped in. "That's enough boys! If you two keep arguing, we're gonna have to go mountain climbing."

That's right, Brawl's were still off limits. "What harm can a little mountain climbing do anyways?"

Toon Link stared down at his waist, where a thin rope connected him to Ness. Ness seemed openly skeptical of the rope. Neither asked the question they really wanted to ask as Nana and Popo stood back, regarding their handiwork carefully.

None of the adults really knew they were out here at this giant mountain. The children had left before anyone could say anything. Most of the adults were busy organizing to look for Red and Lucas, and Toon Link wanted to avoid any crap that went down when they were informed that Toon Link had always known where Red and Lucas were. The craggy peak rose above them, covered in snow. "We're gonna climb up there! Whoever gets there first gets the candy I've been saving!" Nana sang out.

Popo nodded. "We've both been saving it, but we'll let you guys have it if you can beat us~"

"Yep!"

"That's gonna be hard, since you guys are the Ice Climbers and all." Ness pointed out. The two stuck their tongues out at him, in sync.

"We aren't gonna belay our way up, so we'll have to be a lot more careful then you. Try not to fall and turn into trophies, okay?" Nana and Popo began to move uphill, walking at a steady pace.

Toon Link and Ness started after them.

Silence hung between the two, broken only by a few pants and gasps as the slippery pat began to get steeper. It wasn't long before they hit sheer walls with only a few small ledges. Nana and Popo began to jump, moving from platform to platform. Nana would go first on one, and stomp on it. Popo would wait to the side and below, ready to catch if anything went wrong.

Toon Link and Ness started charging up the hill at the same time, trying to outdo each other. They missed Nana and Popo's exasperated looks as they slowly made their way up the sheer cliff.

"I don't think they're understanding what we're trying to teach them Nana."

"That's why we're out here Popo." The two children stared up at the other two children who had begun insulting each other. "They'll figure it out when the ice cracks."

The two Ice Climbers spotted a small trail of snow and dust tumbling from the small platform that Toon Link and Ness had stopped on. "It's going to break," Nana said.

"Yep," Popo said.

They both wished they had popcorn as they took up positions on either side of the platform and a little below. Toon Link pounced on Ness, making the entire platform shudder. The two up above froze, eyes wide.

Identical screams of terror ripped from young throats as they found themselves plummeting towards the ground.

Nana and Popo reached out at that same moment, grabbing onto the trailing rope. "Oof!" The two skidded forward slightly, boots scraping along the rocky, icy platform. "Popo?"

"Got it Nana!"

Popo and Nana each took a single hand off the rope to jam hands in the closest crevice of the wall. Toon Link and Ness kept screaming for a few seconds after they stopped falling. "Link! Ness! Stop screaming! We caught you!"

"You guys are my very, very best friends. Thank you so much!"

"So what-" Nana and Popo silently debated for a moment on who should take the strain of two dangling people, before Popo unhooked his hand and jumped to where Nana was, "Did you learn-" they both yanked upwards, bringing the two to solid ground, "In important life lessons today?"

"Don't fight on rocky platforms." Toon Link and Ness chimed together.

Nana glowered. "I'm gonna drop them."

"Don't," Popo pleaded, "We'll have to go all the way down to retrieve their trophies."

Nana grumbled as she yelled back, "No! That isn't! Well, it's part of the lesson. But honestly, learn to work together would you? It's called a belay rope for a reason, and you have to have a partner if you want to use it correctly."

Toon Link and Ness glanced at each other, and seemed to come to an agreement. As they did not want to plummet what was probably several hundred feet to become trophies, then obviously the only thing left to do was too agree with her.

"Yes Ma'm."

"Now then. Apologize to each other."

"For what?!"

"For being stupid idiots!"

Toon Link and Ness scrambled up onto the rocky platform, and Toon Link glanced at Ness. "Sorry about only taking Lucas's side. You're right about him running away."

"No, I guess I shouldn't really be mad anymore. He did apologize, and I accepted his apology. As Mom always said, 'When you accept a persons apology, that means you aren't mad at them anymore'. I guess I'm still a bit mad about that."

"That's understandable."

The two hesitated for a bit longer, staring at each other silently. "We good?"

"Yeah."

The two calmly shook hands. CRACK! A low rumble filled the air. That's when the platform, unable to stand the combined weight of four people, collapsed.

The Ice Climbers had the reflexes of a mountain goat, and instantly jumped to safety.

Toon Link and Ness plummeted right downwards. "Guess that means we get too keep the candy~" Popo sang, peering down after them.

The two Ice Climber's eyes widened, as in a flash of white light, Toon Link and Ness vanished. "Uhhh, was that supposed to happen?"

"Nope."

"Do we follow them?"

"Of course."

Nana held out her hand. Popo caught her hand in his. The two smiled at each other- a smile of knowing each other like the backs of their gloves. Trustingly, they both closed their eyes, and jumped. In a flash of white light, they too disappeared.

a/n: Useless adults, Lance, Green, Lucas and Red splitting, The others falling through a mysterious portal~ It's a whole bunch of fun. Especially when you take into account time differences between worlds and such! But yes, Guest, Red writes on his Pokemon to give himself another way of attacking because he can't speak. I figured that as long as he drilled which symbol meant what into the Pokemon's heads, they could probably understand it, like how seeing-eye dogs can understand a limited amount of sign-language and such. Thank you all so much for reviewing!