Trapped in the Darkness - Chapter 14
A Pokemon Fanfiction
The pace is going to pick up, so it'll be much much faster soon!
Please enjoy!
Gold: Because Pearl is not present at this time, the author owns absolutely nothing!
~000~
Green stopped in at the Ecruteak Pokemart, trying not to stare sadly at the signs that showed they were going to be merging with the Pokecenter soon. It was a huge, new idea that came from Unova, and many trainers were behind it because they wouldn't have to walk as far anymore. Green, however, thought they should just stay as they were now. Who didn't need a little more exercise?
He picked up a few max potions from the back of the store and moved to the counter, asking for a few revives from behind it before paying for them with some borrowed money he got from Steven. He thanked the man, smiling, before leaving out the front through the sliding door.
Lifting his hand to shade his eyes from the harsh sun beating down on him, he quietly walked closer to the small crowd of people formed in the center of the usually small and quiet town. As he got closer, he jumped as his Pidgeot landed gracefully beside him and the crowd parted to let him through.
In the middle were the ex-Champions, Gym Leaders, and Wally. Only a few had their Pokemon, for only a few of the leaders had volunteered to go on the trip to break the Champions out. Morty was standing next to his Driftblim, Falkner with his Honchcrow, and Janine with her Crobat. Clair was standing near Lance impatiently, and Erika was standing with Falkner, chatting quietly until Green made his appearance. She smiled, nodding to Falkner before making her way over to the Viridian leader.
"I take it everything went well at the Pokemart?" she asked in her quiet voice. Green nodded, smiling back at her. He continued he walk back to Clair, thrusting the bag of items in her arms before she knew he was there. She let out a sound of suprise and Erika covered her mouth to hide the tiny smile that showed.
"There you are, Clair," Green said. He raised an eyebrow, frowning. "I don't get how you couldn't go get them yourself when Steven asked you to do it." He turned around to his Pidgeot, stroking its beak gently as Clair muttered a reply.
"Lance needed some help with the crowd, " she hissed. The Blackthorn leader pursed her lips. "Besides, you still need to get used to talking with people. They haven't seen you in a long while, and they were beginning to worry." She patted her cousin's Dragonite she was going to share the ride with.
Green blinked before smiling in an embarrassed fashion, rubbing the back of his head. He turned away from the dragon-type trainer, turning instead to Sabrina. He frowned halfheartedly, tilting his head to the side. "Are you sure you aren't going to come with us?" he asked, crossing his arms.
Sabrina smiled, closing her eyes. "Your future does not contain me or my Pokemon. I must stay and attend to my gym anyway," she said. Her smile turned mischievous. "Besides, there's only a need for one future-seer in your trip, even if he may be a little to eager to see it clearly." Her gaze shifted to Morty for a split second.
Green laughed, nodding before Steven cleared his throat for everyone's attention. When the small group looked his way, his Skarmory tensed to fly. "Is everyone ready?"
When there was a chorus of agreement, Steven smiled. He and Wallace took a hold on Steven's Skarmory. Cynthia was on her Braviary and Alder next to his Volcarona.
Green quickly helped Erika on his Pidgeot and then got on himself, advising the grass-type leader to hold on tight.
"He's a wild one," Green smirked, nudging his bird-type with his foot. Erika smiled, laughing lightly.
"He's just like you," she said. Green laughed but paused, reminiscing to the days Red would tease him about that. He let out a shaky breath he didn't know he was holding and patted his Pigdeot gently.
Green looked around himself, his chest swelling in pride at the number of faces that were following him. He was finally making a difference, finally being the leader like he always wanted. And for once, Red was the one who needed the help.
Green couldn't help but imagine gloating about this to his grandfather's face.
"Ready?" he murmured softly behind him. Erika nodded into his back. He looked back at the others on their flying types. "Let's do this!"
They all kicked off the ground, soaring high into the Johto air as the sounds of cheers faded behind them.
~000~
Green felt like they had been flying for hours. Green didn't even know where they were anymore, all he knew was that they had been flying above the clouds and he couldn't see through them. There was a buzzing on his wrist that broke him out of his thoughts.
He lifted the Pokegear up to answer it, and it was an all too familiar voice that greeted him from the other line.
"Green, where in the world are you?"
Gramps.
Green grimaced, and Erika shifted behind him.
"Look, Gramps, I don't have the time to talk right now," he said, looking above him in exasperation. There was a long pause from the other line.
"You're on your way there, aren't you?"
Green's grimace deepened. "Why does it matter? You wouldn't have helped me anyway!" he snarled into the Pokegear. He felt Erika tighten her grip around his waist and he tried calming down. "I'm just doing what's right, like you wanted me to."
"You're not doing what's best for you, Green."
Green bristled again, but kept his calm for Erika. "Well, what is best for me, Gramps? Bed rest? What if "what's best for me" ends in the death of other trainers!" He felt sick for even thinking that, but it was the only thing that came to mind. "Not when I could do something about it. I'd never forgive myself if that happened."
"Green."
"What, Gramps?"
"Don't die, son."
The line went dead, and Green stared at the Pokegear long after it had stopped its call. That was pretty much the best advice his grandfather had ever given him - at least when Green was paying attention to him.
"That's some sound advice," Erika said, her voice raised to compete with the wind blowing around them. She stiffened as Green's Pidgeot took a sharp turn. It let out a cry and Green understood completely.
"Hold on tight!" he yelled, raising his arm to alert the others behind him of the steep descent below. Just as he did, the Pidgeot did a nosedive, falling sharply down below the clouds. Green's adrenaline pounding, he let out an excited cry as they spiraled down through the suspended precipitation. Erika, silent like always, was holding on so tightly Green was beginning to feel lightheaded from his oxygen being cut off.
Then they saw ground.
"Pull up!" Green ordered loudly. His Pidgeot didn't listen, but seemed to fall faster. Panic set in. "Stop showing off! Pull up! Pull up!"
With a short caw of what sounded like laughter, it pulled up, and fluttered to a slow and light stop, making contact with the ground in a few short seconds.
The other leaders and ex-Champions followed shortly after to find Erika and Green a shuddering mess of relieved, but nervous, laughter on their ride that showed no stop for several more seconds.
"That must have been payback," Erika said breathlessly, her voice shaking. Green responded with a huffy agreement. Erika continued her quiet chuckle, not letting go of her iron grip around Green's waist.
Green started coughing and Erika finally noticed her grip. She retracted her arms immediately, her gaze turning worried. "Are you alright?"
Green nodded, struggling to contain his outburst. "Y-Yeah," he said when he had finally quieted down. Erika nodded herself, but still seemed unsure about the trainer.
Green slid off the back of his Pidgeot before helping the grass-type leader down. The others quickly assembled, gazing off behind where Green was standing. He turned around to see the faint outline of a castle looking structure.
"That must be it," Green whispered. He took a step towards it before something caught his eye.
Dirty blonde hair and an orange and white striped shirt. A green scarf was wrapped around his upper left arm, but burgundy stained it. His black pants were ripped in a places. The boy was lying face-down on the ground, unmoving.
Green started running, his blood running cold. "Pearl!"
He reached the boy and gently flipped him over. Pearl winced against the light that reached his eyes, and Green felt relief flood over him. "I must be dead if you're here, Green," the Sinnoh-native breathed.
Green clenched his teeth. "No, kid. I'm not dead, and neither are you! Wake up!"
Pearl didn't open his eyes. "We saw you. . . and you were just there dead. Your eyes were all blank and Red was really loud. . ."
Green bit his lip, picking Pearl up and throwing him over his shoulder. By then, the others had reached the two and Cynthia gasped.
"Oh no," she murmured, taking Pearl from Green gently. She set him down on the ground in front of her and cradled his head gently. "Pearl? Pearl, can you hear me?"
Pearl struggled to open his eyes, and when he managed to, they widened as they veiwed the ex-Champion. "Cynthia? When did you die?"
Cynthia smiled softly. "I'm not dead, Pearl. Nobody here is dead."
"Then why is Green here?"
"I told you, Pearl," Green interjected. "I'm alive! They thought I was but they were wrong. I've never been more alive in my life!"
Pearl looked up at the sky, struggling to sit up. "Really?" When Green nodded Pearl frowned. "Well you owe a lot for making us worry! I'm fining you one million! Especially Red. He's been acting completely weird ever since you left!"
Green flushed, biting his lip as he looked off to where the castle was. He turned back to Pearl. "How'd you get out?"
Pearl had finally sat up, and when the question was asked he looked at Green with a mildly surprised expression. "I didn't get out. They kicked me out after I passed out in the cell," he said. He looked at his fists. "I guess Mars got tired of me."
There was a slow murmur before Erika stepped forward, her Roserade at her side.
"Aromatherapy, please," she said. The Roserade closed its eyes, and an extremely soothing scent came from the bouquets attached to its arms.
Pearl immediately brightened, the strength seeming to return to his limbs.
"It's not permanent or very strong on humans," the gym-leader said. "But it'll last for a little while." Erika smiled and thanked her Pokemon, returning it to its Pokeball.
"Do you want in on the plan?" Cynthia asked, her smile turning wry. Pearl leapt to his feet.
"Of course!" Pearl said, excitement filling his tone.
Green stood as well, facing the castle. He took a deep breath before yelling, "I'm coming, Red!"
~000~
Red looked up from his seat in the cell, hearing the echo of Green's voice off the walls from outside. He scowled bitterly as his rival's voice mixed with Platinum's sobs from the other side of the cell.
The cell was silent at the news of Pearl's death. Especially because his last words were a confession for Platinum's ears. The only sounds that filled the cell was the Sinnoh girl's cries and Diamond and Sapphire's calming sounds.
Red decided he must be dying if he heard Green's voice. Or insane. Or quite possible both. The Kanto Champion felt his throat tighten in grief, but he did not let any tears fall.
Not if he was going to see Green soon.
~000~
So.
Pearl's alive.
And Red thinks he's crazy.
Can you guys guess my favorite gym leader? Hint: it's not Erika, even though by the amount of her in the story it would seem so. (I still love her to death, though.)