And… another chapter
There really aren’t any pokemon-relevant notes for most of this fic… oh yes. Red Kitcham = Ash Ketchum. They’re universe counterparts…
Chapter 5
It was raining the next morning.
“So, what do you think of this world?”
“It’s nice enough I suppose. I just miss – no, I don’t miss being popular.”
“Were you a…” Red thought. “Gym leader?”
“No.” Lance smiled.
“Then…”
“I was the Champion of the Pokemon League and the Leader of the Elite Four.”
Red’s jaw dropped. “WHAT?!”
“Yes, I had twenty-eight badges, and…” Lance brought up a screen on the pokedex. It had pictures of all the gym leaders up to the…
Yes, there he was…
“You don’t look any older.”
“I don’t have to. If I look younger, people underestimate me.”
“You’re not really twelve, are you?”
“No, I’m fourteen, almost fifteen.”
“Sugoi… no wonder you’re so smart! But why are you pretending to be younger?” Red frowned. “Is it…?”
“I fear that perhaps others have also been displaced here. It is easier to hide as a child.”
“… I guess so…”
“Do not worry. I will protect you and your family.”
Red looked downcast. “Just me and mom…”
“Do you not have any other relatives?”
“Nope…” Red sighed. “But I really shouldn’t be bothering you with my problems.”
“It’s nothing, Red. After all, your family took me in.”
“But you saved my life!”
“So?”
“I mean – that’s important, right?”
The child was so naive… but it was refreshing, not having to watch his guard as much. “Yes. But you won’t tell your mother these secrets, right?”
“Right! I promise!”
They shook hands on it.
The rest of the school year – not much, went by without a hitch, and soon, it was glorious summer.
Still nothing had happened, but…. Just in case…
Three years passed…
Two months passed in the pokemon world…
Now, Red and Lance were both in junior high. Lance was still six years older than Red, but…
It wasn’t that bad… except for one spot. Delia was now… well, walking dead…
No one knew how it had happened. The most that Red could determine was that it was something similar to having one’s soul sucked out by a Dementor.
Horrible…
Yet, he could do nothing. It wasn’t his place. If there were monsters on the loose, he didn’t have any way to face them.
He didn’t have powers or super pokemon like Lance.
However, Lance took care of him, and he was happy for the time being.
Alas, their peaceful life was about to come to an end…
“Starmie! Rapid Spin!”
“Duck!” Lance yelled, pushing Red to the ground. “I knew it!”
“Starmie, Hydro Pump!”
“Hakuryuu, Hyper Beam!” Lance cried, without bothering to look. Hyper Beam blew the Starmie into a wall, exploding it.
Misty cursed.
“I knew you’d find me eventually…” Lance smirked. “But I’m far from unprepared. Hakuryuu, Wrap attack!”
Before Misty could move, she was all tied up…
Red stripped Misty of her poke balls, while Lance found the two transport devices she had brought. One was for backup…
“Are you sure?”
Red nodded, eyes serious. “I want to see your world too, Lance.”
“Very well.” Lance did some quick hacking on Misty’s pokedex. “There. Now this is your own pokedex, from Professor Carnation of Cerulean. You have four pokemon – Starmie, Staryu, Goldeen, and Tentacool.”
“Got it.”
“No badges yet – wait. You do have Cerulean but that’s all…”
“I know.”
“Family… don’t put me, please.”
“I don’t mind being an orphan, really!”
“I suppose we’re all set then… Hakuryuu, return!”
Hakuryuu had done a thorough search, and found an extra 600 pokeyen secreted on Misty’s body, but no other pokemon, weapons, or possible teleportation devices.
It was time to go home.
“Ready?” Lance asked, taking Red’s hand.
“Yes!”
Lance hit the ‘Home’ button, and they winked out of existence in the real world…
Back in the Pokemon World, Lance landed on top of a surprised Claire.
“Lance! You’re back! We were so worried! Where have you been for the last two months?”
“Two months?” Red mouthed. Lance shook his head. < I’ll explain later. >
“I got amnesia.”
“Ouch.” Claire winced. “Well, here.” She tossed a poke ball forwards. Lance’s Dragonite materialized in a flurry of ruby light as he hugged his trainer tightly.
Thank Lugia! You’re not dead! You’re not dead!
“No, I’m not.”
“So who’s the kid?”
“New friend I met.” Lance said. “This is Red Kitcham from Cerulean.”
“Hi…” Red said shyly.
“Red, ne? Pleased to meet you.” Claire shook his hand. “Why don’t you stay the night? I’m sure there are a few empty rooms…”
“Thank you, Ms…”
“Claire.”
“Thanks Ms. Claire!”
“It’s nothing, Red, just call me Claire.”
Red went to bed, feeling odd… now that they were back here, he was twelve while Lance was fifteen….
Did that mean…?
Oh, Lance didn’t think of him in that way! They were just really good friends and brothers! That was all!
He shouldn’t have read those ecchi stories online… now he was thinking bad thoughts! With a yawn, he fell asleep…
Claire watched the boy with interest. His odd red eyes were intriguing… hmm…
Well, who knew?
End Chapter
Completed 2/27/05
Kanto, Johto, Houen, and Orange… Lance’s badges…