Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Chapter 6

They were leaving Cinnabar – well, Red was leaving Cinnabar, Lance and his pokemon had hidden after ferrying to that island, and Red knew that Lance was still shy so he did not press.

They flew back to Pallet. Red had done well in the past few months, obtained several of the Kanto badges; Blaine’s Volcano Badge was now proudly displayed next to his others…

Now, they were checking in with Professor Oak. It was a bit sad, but Red talked to Bill much more than he did to Oak, for though the old man had given him his pokedex, he really was not that close to him. Bill was happy to talk every time Red transferred pokemon.

Lance looked around. Red, it is too quiet here. There is no one…

Red nodded, smiling at Lance. Over time, he had gotten used to the silence. “I know. Something is wrong… where is everyone? There has to be someone here…”

He reached to open the door of Oak’s lab, but Lance gripped his wrist. Red blinked at him.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Lance did not reply, as he casually tossed a poke ball in. A scream sounded, and Red wrenched the door open, only to see Lance’s Dragonair strangling a Kadabra.

“What-what?”

It was a trap. Lance threw the notepad and pen at Red, who caught them, and rushed in. < Hakuryuu! Hyper Beam! >

The Kadabra was hit, but did not faint. Lance nodded. < I know you’re out there. I can sense you. >

< Oh! Perceptive. > A girl faded into view, the red ‘R’ of Team Rocket prominently displayed on her white dress.

< I know you have been watching us. > His smile was brittle, as he felt Viridian’s power in his fingertips.

< And what of that? >

< What have you done to them? >

< Oh, they’re simple hostages. But why would you care? >

< I don’t. > He replied. < But he does. > And before she could react, the blades had whipped through the air. It was lucky she teleported though, or else she might have gotten hurt.

< You shouldn’t be so hasty. > She chided. He did not reply, his fingers already dipping into his cloak for more. How was he so fast?

Surely he was not psychic.

No, not psychic. It was in the eyes. They were a strange color, and she hesitated. That hesitation was enough for him to reach into her pokemon’s mind and steal the information he needed. She attacked afterwards, but his Dragonair was fast and already had a Light Screen defense up…

With an irritated glare, she recalled her fainted Kadabra and teleported out.

They needed more firepower…

Red had watched all of this silently. He knew Lance was powerful, but he also wished he knew what was going on.

“Lance?”

Here. Lance handed him a sheet of paper with three lines in silver ink. Red read through it hastily, and his eyes widened.

“They’re holding all the citizens of Pallet hostage in Saffron City? Why?”

It’s a trap, Red. They want you to go there…

“But why?”

I do not know. The Kadabra had not been too clear, but Lance could guess. They were interrupted when they looked outside and saw Green landing on his Charizard.

Red felt a subtle stab of jealousy. His Bulbasaur had only recently evolved into Ivysaur, and Green already had a Charizard…

“Red!”

“Green! Do you know what is going on?”

Green nodded as he held out an aerial photograph he had taken above Saffron City. “Yes. The Rockets have taken over Silph Co.”

Red winced. “Why would they kidnap everyone from Pallet though?”

Green put his hands on his hips. “Red, are you that dense?” His tone indicated severe exasperation.

Red met his stare unflinchingly. “No.”

“You played hero all over Kanto! It’s your fault this happened!”

No!

Lance shot Green a very poisonous glare as he gathered Red into his arms. Red did not protest. Subtly, their roles had shifted, and now it was Lance’s turn to protect him.

Green was not an easily intimidated child, but Lance was powerful for a reason. He felt Viridian’s power inside of him, and he pushed.

Green stumbled out of the lab on waves of an unseen force. Angrily, he climbed on Charizard’s back and took off.

He held Red until he had calmed down, before he kissed him. Red’s lips parted beneath his, almost unconsciously. Excellent.

< Shh… > Lance urged, knowing that Red was in no frame of mind to wonder about his psychic powers. < Sleep, Red. Sleep. >

There was a hint of suggestion in his tone, and Red’s eyelids drooped over his startlingly bright eyes, as he let out the barest whisper of a sigh.

Lance continued to hold him until he was sure Red was asleep. Saffron… they would have to head there soon, but not yet…

Green frowned. He would have expected Red to come in, guns blazing, worried about his actions and ready to reclaim his honor, but he had not.

There was something inherently disturbing in his absence.

Blue frowned, as she took off her Silph Scope. The Mr. Mime still keeping the light screen up was located in front of Silph Co. no if only there was a way to bring it down, the barrier would fall.

How were they to do that?

Green’s Golduck could ascertain directions in Silph with its psychic powers, but he was unable to attack from a distance.

“Excuse me?”

He sighed as he eyed the Jigglypuff girl. “What do you want?”

“I think I might have an idea for getting in.”

Well, at least she wasn’t asking him for a date this time. He sighed. “Well, do tell me your brilliant plan.”

Blue huffed a bit, but crossed her arms. “I do have a pokemon that might be able to pass the walls.”

“Then let’s see it.”

Blue released her Mysdreavus, who winked at Green. Green nodded. It was worth a try… and ghosts could pass through walls, so why not a Light Screen? He did not recognize what type of ghost pokemon it was, but it mattered little…

As they watched, it phased through with apparently no problem at all.

“Now I’ll have my Golduck transmit the mental images of the city to your Mysdreavus so it can attack the Mr. Mime.”

“I understand.” Blue said.

Moments later, the Light Screen protecting Saffron went down.

End Chapter

Completed 6/6/06

I like Blue and Green. They’re nice. I hate Yellow. She sucks. I like Silver, but not Crystal or Gold. Those two are irritating, especially Gold!

I’ve always wondered though, why is Yellow Spanish in the Viz translated manga? I mean, why does she speak Spanish? They’re trying to make her a cowboy, but still…