"Green, Green slow down." Daisy said through the phone. "What do you mean, Red is in trouble? He's been missing for 10 years. How would you know, even if he was?" Green had the phone on speaker, as he rushed around his apartment, packing madly. He sighed and picked up the phone.

"I just... I just know ok? Red is in danger, and I have to find him." Green said into the phone. He tossed 6 of his best pokemon into his bag. "Listen... This is just something I have to do."

She sighed "Ok fine. But before you dash off to wherever. At least come home and have dinner with me and gramps. Pay Delia a visit."

"Yeah fine..." he sighed "I'll be over tomorrow."

"Good. See you then." She hung up.

"What am I doing...?" Green asked "Where would I even start to look? No one has seen Red since..." Green's eyes widened and he picked the phone back up, dialing quickly. The phone rang twice before a chipper voice answered.

"Hello! Gold speaking."

"Gold, hey. It's Green from Viridian City."

"Hey Green! It's been awhile!" Gold said "How's the gym going?"

"Not bad. Just closed up for the season. Listen, I have a question for you." Green said

"Sure! What's up?"

"Did you ever find Red? You know... When you went looking for him?" the line went quiet. "Gold... I think something terrible is going to happen to him..."

"Yes..." Gold whispered "Yes... I found him."

"Where was he?" Green asked, his mouth suddenly dry.

"He made me promise I would never tell... And even if I do... He's probably long gone by now."

"Gold. Where is Red?" Green asked.

"He's...Closer than you think." And the line went dead.

"Dammit!" Green cursed. "Closer than I think... Dammit Red what the hell made you run away like this? Before we left Pallet Town you would never leave your mom like that..." Green stands "So something changed you. Something between Pallet Town and Indigo Plateau. But what...?" He bit his lip "I guess, to see what you saw... I'll have to walk in your footsteps." He laughed "That's it. I'll take the path you took, and I'm sure if I can figure out where you went, I can see where you're going. Or are... First stop... Your place."

Green grabbed his back and ran out the door.

He reached Pallet Town by the evening. Daisy was surprised to see him so soon, but welcomed him in. His grandfather stood to greet him, and they sat at the dinner table together. And Green told him what he was doing.

"So you're going to retrace his steps?" Oak asked after a moment. "That's not a bad plan... I think Delia might have something that could help."

"I was hoping I wouldn't have to stop by there..." Green mumbled. Ever since Green could remember Delia had been... Off. She was kind, so kind... But she had always been reserved. Drawn away from people. Even more so after Red left.

"I don't think you should mention the bit about Red possibly being in danger. But you should tell her you want to find him." Oak crossed his arms

"Yeah..." Green sighed "I'll head over tomorrow."

"Good." Daisy said and put the dinner in front of them "But for tonight, eat!"

Green was up early the next morning. He said goodbye to Daisy and headed right next door. He knocked, a nervous feeling coming over him. He stood there for what felt like hours before the door opened a crack.

"Hello?" Delia asked.

"Hi Ms. D" Green said softly "Can I come in?"

"Oh hello Green." she said. Her voice was hoarse. "Please come in. You and your pokemon should rest." She let him in, before rushing to the kitchen. She glanced at the large window, waiting a moment before starting to fix him breakfast.

"You don't have to cook for me." He said.

"Nonsense. You should rest before heading back out. All boys leave home someday. That's what the TV says." She pointed to her old TV. It was running a very old draft recruitment video. It was 15 years old.

"All boys leave home someday!" the voice said as it showed a shot of soldiers marching. Green remembered when the same video addressed to his father came. "It's why you've been drafted!" Green remembered liking the video, but his grandfather threw it out after his father left.

"Right..." Green said softly "Delia... I'm going to find Red."

"Oh...?" She asked softly

"Yes. He's out there somewhere. I know it. And it's time he came home."

"All boys leave home someday." She said again. "That's what the TV says."

"And I'm going to find that boy and bring him home."

"All boys leave home someday." Green sighed and turned off the TV.

"Yes. But that boy is going to come home." He said firmly. Delia stayed quiet for a few moments before.

"On his desk." She said and pointed to the steps.

"Thank you." Green said, and walked up to Red's room. It seemed untouched. The bed was made neatly, but the shelves were covered in dust. Only the bed and the desk seemed to be somewhat recently used. He walked to his desk, where his old dusty PC sat. However, sitting in front of it was an old leather bound book.

Green picked it up and opened to the first page.

4/6/24

Professor Oak gave me a Charmander. He's a wonderful Charmander. The best even. Me and Charmander are going to make a great team. I was also given a Pokedex. It records information on any pokemon I catch! And I'm going to catch them all. Green got a Squirtle. I think he mostly picked it so he could have the type advantage over me.

I miss being Green's friend.

A journal. Red kept a journal. This was the key to finding out what happened to him! Green read the entire thing, and true to form, Red gave no details. Only a basic list of events and talk about Pokemon. Not to mention the last page was torn out! But it did give Green a map. He just had to go to all the places and talk to all the people mentioned by name.

He put the journal in his bag, before heading back down stairs. Delia had finished cooking and he ate with her in silence.

"Thank you for this." Green said standing

"Mhmm." She smiled sadly. Green waved and walked to the door "Green." She said. He turned back to her "He's closer than you think." She said and looked to the window. "Goodbye."

"Closer than I think..." Green said as he walked to the edge of town. Why do people keep saying that?

"Green!" Oak was running to him, cane gone. "Wait!"

"Gramps what the hell!" Green said, going and grabbing Oak before he fell over.

"Green wait..." He panted "Here!" He held up a pokedex.

"I already have one." Green said

"Yes, yes I know!" He snapped "This is a new one. I prepared it this morning- I had forgotten but 5 years ago, a Fearow dropped by my lab with a completed pokedex. I loaded it into my computer, and the Fearow took it back before flying off. Green, Red completed his dex and sent me the information. The information is now on that dex. It has all the pokemon, and where he caught them."

"Oh my god..." Green said looking down at it. "This and his journal should give me a complete idea of the path he took."

"Yes, I think so." Oak said "Now go, and find that stupid boy."

"I'll be back soon." Green said and waved as he walked off "Smell ya later old man!"