Pack up your things because it's time to head back to home to Pallet Town in this chapter of Broken.
The four remaining trainers, two boys and two girls sat around a small campfire in silence. What they've experience and witness back at the Pokemon League will forever change their lives. They suffered both physically and mentally as they saw loved ones died right before their eyes; they endure the painful scars and bruises from their attacker; Lance. Just the thought of the man's name makes everyone shudder and tremble in fear, as they his presence still lingers around them. The trainers made very little eye contact with each other, not knowing what to say or what their next objective is. That is until the boy with a red cap wearing red clothes spoke up.
"We're going back to Pallet Town." The boy with the red cap spoke while his hands are trembling. The girl next to him with a white hat with long chestnut brown hair looked at him and nods her head in agreement. Another trainer with red hair looks at him with a serious face and nodded his head. The girl next to the red head also wears a white hat, but have brown curvy pig tails that goes up, nods her head too.
"That's fine Red, but Lyra and I have decided to back to Johto, we need to tell Ethan's mom about her son." The red headed said while looking at the girl named Lyra. Lyra drops her head down slowly as she sniffle a bit and wiped away a couple of tears from her face, but nodded her head without saying a word. Ethan's death kept replaying in her mind as she recalls Ethan's last words to her, 'I've always loved you.' She never replied back to his comment; she started to cry against her knees. That is until the boy with red hair stood up from his sitting position and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Lyra…I know it's hard for you…but-"The red headed boy was interrupted by a loud echo.
*SLAP!*
Silver was cut off when Lyra suddenly stood up and slapped Silver's cheek that made her other two friends in shock. Silver's head is turned to the side from Lyra's slap. Lyra's eyes were in tears and anger as she glares at Silver.
"Fuck you Silver! This was your entire fault! You worked with Lance and caused all of this shit, and because of that; Ethan's dead!" Lyra shouted at Silver who still has his head turned to the side; he doesn't know what to say, she was right.
"Hey calm down Lyra, we're all sorry about Ethan, but-"The girl with the white hat said, but was cut off by Lyra once again.
"This was also your fault too Leaf! If you haven't asked Ethan for his help, he would probably be still alive! Ethan always help out the people he cares for and I always warn him about the danger!" Lyra shouted at Leaf who looked down at the ground; know that it's true on what she said. That is until Red stood up glaring at Lyra.
"Do you honestly think that Ethan will still be alive after he becomes champion!?" Red questioned with a serious tone. Lyra raised an eyebrow at the boy.
"And you Red, you're the main reason why everything turned up like this-" Lyra was cut off when Red shouted back.
"Do you know what will happen to Ethan if he did become champion!?" Red shouted at Lyra who was stunned by Red's agitated shout.
"Ethan will become the next victim once he defeats me on Mt. Silver and will become the next person to be standing on that fucking mountain!" Red shouted toned down a bit as Leaf held on to his arm with worries.
"You're not the only person here that suffered Lyra, we all did! I've lost everything that I held dear to me, mom, dad, my pokemon, Blue, and I almost lost Leaf!" Red shouted again. Lyra was in shock what Red has said. She stared into the ground as tears have reform in her eyes. Red continues on.
"Leaf was raped by Lance and his min, she lost her home here in Kanto, and she lost her pokemon too!" Red glares at her as tears weld up in his eyes. Leaf gripped onto Red's jacket tighter as tears on her eyes were forming. Silver stood still in silence; Lyra starts shaking her head side to side and clenching her hands.
"If you need to blame on someone, then blame it on me because I did choose to stay on that mountain." Red said as he stomped away from the group and went deep into the woods. Leaf follows him with worries. Silver and Lyra sat back down on the ground in silence. Silver looks down on the ground with a monotone look and Lyra stared at the blazing campfire in deep thought.
"Red wait, slow down!" Leaf calls out to Red, but he didn't slow down as he kept going. Leaf finally caught up to him and embraced him from behind; he finally stopped.
"Red…what's the matter with you?" Leaf asked with a worried tone. Red turned around and embraced her tightly. Leaf didn't know what's going on Red's mind, but returned the hug.
"This is all my fault…I caused all of this madness, if only I think things through before making that decision….if only-" Red was silence when Leaf's lips touched his. Red shut his eyes and enjoyed the kiss. They broke apart looked at each other in the eyes.
"Don't you ever think that this was your entire fault. Nobody would've known this would happen." Leaf softly said as she rests her head on his chest. Red sighed a relief and stroke the back of her hair.
"Leaf, what will I do without you?" Red questioned her as he looked down at her blue eyes. She giggled and replied back.
"You'll probably be stuck on that mountain." Leaf joked. Red chuckled as he held onto her. Red suddenly remembered what Blue said about the Harvester.
"Red…the Harvester came from…" Red shook his head from that flashback comment. He has to know for sure before jumping into THAT conclusion.
"It can't be…could it?" Red whispered to himself. Leaf looks up at him with a puzzled look.
"Red?" Leaf questioned. Red looked back at Leaf and shook his head.
"Nothing Leaf…let's head back to Pallet Town, together." Red said with a smile. They both walked back to the campsite hand in hand.
The couple has reached the campsite and saw both Silver and Lyra sitting down near the fire; they both looked up and saw the pair happier than before. They both raised an eyebrow looking at the couple, wondering what had happened. Red looked at Lyra and frowned.
"Lyra, I understand if you don't want to talk to me anymore, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm sorry about that whole shouting act earlier." Red said with a weak smile. Lyra looked up at Red, but didn't smile back or say anything, instead she nodded her head. It was good enough for Red.
"Lyra, I wanted to apologize too for brining Ethan along, it wasn't his fight, but mine, I'm sorry." Leaf said with a smile. Lyra won't forgive Leaf, but can't stay mad at her. Lyra just nods her head again.
"Leaf and I have decided to head for Pallet Town in a few minutes, so if you guys have anything else to say, now is the time." Red said as he looks at both Lyra and Silver. They didn't respond back, but sat in silence. Both Red and Leaf sighed.
"Silver, Lyra, we bid you farewell and take of yourselves back in Johto." Leaf said. She didn't get a response, just silence. Red grabbed his red jacket, and turned towards the road. Lea held onto his hand as they walked down the route.
Red opened his sleepy eyes as he looks around. Red is no longer on the road, but he managed to find a bus that charted back home to Pallet Town, luckily he found a few spare change for both himself and Leaf. He sighs as he look into his Pokegear, 6:14 p.m. Red shuts the little device off as he looks outside of the window. There were so many things that had happen so fast, it was an experience indeed.
"Red…the Harvester came from…" Red shook his head again from that flashback comment again. He reached into his right back pocket and pulled out a red device stained with dry tears.
"Blue…why?" Red whispered to himself as he looks into the red device.
"Red…" A female voice called in a sleepy manner. Red looked down on his left shoulder and smiled as she sees Leaf snuggling against his arm with her eyes closed; asleep. Red put the red device away and held onto Leaf's hand.
"Live for her." A voice echoes in Red's ears. Red nods his head and smiled to himself, then he looked down at Leaf. With his other free hand he brushed away a strand of brown hair away from her face.
"Leaf…" Red whispered to himself. Red looked at her as he starts reminiscing. He realized that he's truly alone now, no parents, no friends, and no pokemon, the only person he has left in this world is Leaf herself. He truly does love her and if anything were to happen to her, there wouldn't be a point living anymore. She is his soul, the fire in his heart that made him keep on living and the will to fight on, she is his Burning Leaf.
The bus stopped and the door opened, the bulletin board said 'Pallet Town.' The bus driver turned around and looked at the two couples, indicating that they're at their destination. Red nudged Leaf gently, trying to wake her up. She opened her eyes groggily and looked at Red.
"Are we there yet?" Leaf asked sleepily as she rubs her eyes and yawned.
"We sure are sleepy head." Red said with a smile. Leaf smiled back as she got off of Red's shoulder and stood up. Red stood up too and they both walked out of the bus. The bus driver closed the door and drove off.
"It's time already?" Leaf questioned as he looks up at the night sky.
"Yeah…and it looks like it's going to rain pretty soon." Red said as he looks up too.
"Well, let's go." Red said as he and Leaf ventures on the dirt road and into the forest that covers Pallet Town.
"Hey Red?" Lea questions as they both kept walking in the woods.
"Yeah?" Red replied back while looking back at her.
"Do you remember when we first met?" Leaf questions further. Red was confused on why she asked such a question.
"Of course Leaf, you were eight years old when you moved into Pallet Town from Sinnoh in a little town called Twinleaf Town, why?" Red questioned. Leaf shook her head.
"Nothing, I just wanted to see if you remembered." Leaf said with a smile.
"Hehe you're weird sometimes Leaf." Red giggled. Leaf's face flushed bright red, luckily it was dark for Red to see her.
"You're mean Red." Leaf pouted while putting her hands on her hips. Red laughs as he grabs her hands.
"Come on klutz, we're e almost there." Red said with a smile. Leaf nods her head happily. 'Klutz, he still remembers.' She thought.
They walked a bit further until they saw the small secluded town, however, the atmosphere felt empty, in fact, the whole town is empty with a creepy eerie feeling. There wasn't a single soul left in town, no people, no pokemon, and the small houses are empty with no lights at all, except for the lab. Red took out his Pokegear; 8:00 p.m.
"This is strange…" Red said while looking around. He took a step forward until his hand's being squeezed tightly. He turned around and see Leaf trembling in fear, maybe it's because she's afraid of ghosts; she's always afraid of them when she was little and the empty town made it feel that way. Red smiled and walked back to her.
"Don't worry, I'm here for you." Red said with a smile. Leaf looks at him in freight and simply nodded her head. Red holds her hand as they walked towards Red's house.
"Mom…" Red quietly said as he finally reached his house. Leaf looks at him with concern. Red shook his head as he reaches down in his back pocket and pulled out a key. He inserted the key in the keyhole and opened the door. They both walked In, it was dark until Red flipped the light switch on. Strangely and surprisingly the electricity is still working and the furniture are still here and his mom's room is still the same since he left. Red clears his throat and looked at Leaf.
"Leaf, stay here for a while, I'm going to the lab." Red said. Leaf looked at him confused and worried.
"Why alone? Let me go with you." Leaf said. Red shook his head as he pulled out Blue's Pokedex out.
"I believe, I'm the one who should tell Professor Oak about Blue." Red said. Leaf nods her head; she understood him, but at the same time disappointed.
"Hey don't worry, I'll be back." Red said as he held onto her hands and kissed her; she kissed him back. Suddenly their kiss became more passionate as they tongue each other in the mouth. Leaf moaned in pleasure as Red gently picked up Leaf and placed her on the couch as they continue to kiss each other. Leaf wraps her arms around Red's neck and took off his hat and was about to unbutton his red jacket off until Red stopped her. She stops kissing him and looked at him confused and hurt.
"No Leaf…not now." Red said as he looks into her blue eyes.
"But…why Red?" Leaf asks with tears in her eyes. Red wiped the tears off her face and takes her hands.
"Because I love you too much and I don't want to hurt you at any way." Red said as he gently kissed her lips. She looks back at his red eyes as they broke apart. She understood what Red meant, love isn't about sex, and it's about trust and caring for one another. For that, Leaf smiled; Red is truly the one for her. Red got off of her as he bent down and picked up his red hat off the ground and placed it back on his head.
"I'll be back." Red said as he was about to leave the house until he suddenly felt a soft embrace from behind. He smiles and turned around.
"What is it Leaf?" Red asks as he pats her head. Leaf looks at him, tears in her eyes.
"I love you…so much Red…" Leaf said while smiling. Red giggled and wiped her tears off her cheeks and returned the embrace.
"I love you a lot more klutz." Red softly replied. Both of them laughed. Leaf looked up at Red and dove in for the kiss. It was a simple, yet at the same time, heavenly. The broke apart as Red walked out while fixing his red cap and headed towards the lab. Leaf walks back in the house and closes the door.
"Professor…Blue…." Red whispered to himself as he looks at the red device. Red shook his head and advances towards the lab.