Cut and Paste evilness strikes again!

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 5

Slowly, time passed. Red was no longer able to tell how much time had passed. There was no daylight here in the caves, and though he was getting stronger, it was taking so long…

Finally, they emerged into brilliant sunlight. He had to shield his eyes, that unused to natural light, and he got several odd looks.

Well, he liked wearing the long red jacket Lance had given him over his jeans and t-shirt. It was his fashion style!

Red’s pokemon were all recovered by now, and healthy to boot. Well, there was Pika, who was still missing... They were going to see Bill now – well, Red was going to see Bill, Lance was stocking up on supplies for them.

The Dragon Master smirked behind his sunglasses as he paid for the groceries, loading them onto one of his Hakuryuu, who flew home with their purchases.

They were in Johto, Goldenrod City, and Red was trying to buy a ticket for the Magnet Train so he could go back to Kanto.

“You don’t want to go there now, son.” The man was saying. “It’s nothing but a desolate wasteland now.”

Red looked as though he had been slapped. “W – What do you mean?”

“There’s nothing left of Kanto. The Magnet train station there has probably been destroyed by now. The only way you can reach Kanto now is through Tohjo falls…”

“Tohjo falls…” Red breathed. “How do I get there?”

“You must be very brave or foolish to want to go there.” The man snorted. “Tohjo falls is infested with wild water and rock pokémon of high level. You would never make it out alive.”

Red bristled at this, but decided not to bother explaining. The magnet train conductor finally gave him a map.

Lance picked him up a few minutes later. Red’s eyes lit up as he saw that Lance had gotten corn dogs for both of them. He accepted a stick happily.

“So, where are we off to now? You look excited.”

“Can we go to New Bark Town?” Red asked.

Lance’s eyebrows rose. “New Bark Town? Why?”

Red took another bite before he replied, “I want to go back to Kanto.”

Lance felt his insides freeze for a second, before he nodded. “Very well, Red… if that is what you really want, I’ll go with you…”

Red grinned. “Thank you.”

His wrists still twinged occasionally, and Lance wondered if he ought to take Red to Mount Silver to heal. Later. They could deal with that later…

For now, he had to traverse Kanto.

Would it be safe to venture fourth without a disguise?

Logically, the answer was yes. After all, the wild pokemon had well nigh razed the landscape. He doubted they would find any human company.

Lorelei said that the gym leaders and such had escaped to the Sevii Island chain. So much the better…

There would be no one in Kanto, until someone dared rebuild it.

Lance allowed himself a satisfied smile.

They returned home to the Whirl Islands and packed their bags for a trip. Red clipped on his poke balls with a smile.

It was really too bad that Pika was gone, but he had managed to transfer Vee, his Eevee, at the Goldenrod pokemon center.

Vee had been delighted to see him, but had mentioned that something was very wrong at home.

Red had fervently wished for his pokedex then, but as his roster was full, he had been unable to bring any of his other pokemon back.

That was why he was heading to Kanto, to find Professor Oak.

He had no reason to doubt that the lab would still be standing.

“It’s cold.” Red shivered, as they entered Tohjo falls. Lance was holding a lantern in his hands, as neither of them boasted pokemon that knew Flash.

“Do you want my cloak?”

Red flushed. “I didn’t mean…” But Lance was already removing it, and he carefully draped it over Red’s shoulders.

Red was quite certain he looked the very picture of ridiculousness, bundled up as he was, but the chill would not leave.

It was as though all the ice in the world had settled in his bones. Being with Lance made it bearable, and when they touched, the ache was practically gone, but he could not spend the rest of his life in bed next to Lance, no matter how pleasant it might sound, and feel. Wearing extra layers of clothing and drinking hot drinks also aided, but…

He just wanted to be healed.

Lance had tried – Red had been shocked when he found out Lance could heal injuries, but the power was for pokemon and not for humans, so it was much less effective when used on a human. Still, it was better than nothing.

They walked through the wet dirt. Red was certain that this was why no one crossed the border between Kanto and Johto. The cave’s atmosphere was dreary and damp and seemed endless. Above their heads, the whining drone of Zubats filled the air.

Suddenly, he stumbled over something.

Lance was at his side in an instant. “Red, are you all right?”

The round rocky lump he was lying on moved, and Red realized with a sinking feeling that what he had tripped over was not a rock but a Geodude… a very angry Geodude for that matter.

The Geodude was not about to listen to an apology, and barreled into Red, sending him to the ground with a thump and a cry of pain.

Lance moved quickly, his weapons had flicked from their wrist holsters into his hands before he had registered their presence, and two sharp stabs put out the rock-type’s eyes. It wailed in agony and clutched at its face as he stared at the bloody needles in his hands with a strange expression.

Red did not notice as Lance wiped the blood on the sleeves of his jacket and tucked the needles back into their holsters.

Red would not stain what was already red…

They walked onwards, the sound of their shoes against the dirt floor barely audible, as they moved deeper into the cavern.

End Chapter

Completed 6/19/06

Started 6/18/06

Lance is in shock now. Whee!

I hate Yellow.

Yeah, Lance carries weapons. And Red is naïve, though not quite so innocent in that way anymore…