After surrendering my Jigglypuff inside her Poké Ball. It was bliss to be able to touch down on Earth and take in the fresh oxygen that I was not used to breathing for the last few days. It felt like manna from heaven. The smell of the cedar pines and the clear blue sky with the mountains ranging up ahead with their clumped points of elevation. I knew I was finally home from hundreds of thousands of miles away.

Being in space was an entirely different experience from Earth in comparison to let's say a space suit. The pressure of being able to breathe in such a hostile environment put a lot of strain on my lungs. Plus the contained environment of a flying saucer was quite different in cabin pressure. There was not enough intake like you would have on our home world.

Despite how educated and experienced me and Yellow became after going into space. The odds of being able to survive under those circumstances were amazing at best. But we finally made it home. The sun was setting on the horizon and we had arrived quite far within the Kanto region where Red was venturing from when we were abducted on Route three.

Seeing his face drop from shock to a relieved smirk was also very relieving to me. I was particularly worried about him. Especially in regards to his supposed capture under the Love Organizations hand. My heart was beating with such aggression after the incident. That I was worried that Hanz had placed him in unnecessary danger.

He looked at me and I looked back into those caramel brown eyes. I had so much that I wanted to explain to him on my journey. But I couldn't, where would I even begin?

The boy tipped his red cap down. Facing toward the ground. As the fire of the saucer crash consumed the darkness. I could sense that he hid in the shadows on purpose.

What's going on with him? Is he?.

Red clenched his fists together as Pikachu looked up at him with a comparable look from mine. He looked just as concerned as I was.

"Chu?"

Stepping forward along the rough gravel. His arms outstretched. As he got closer, I could feel the breath of his trembling voice. His nostrils sucking in. His face turning bright red and from what I could gather. He seemed to be crying.

Feeling his arms wrap around my back and smelling the cologne along his neck. I smiled from within as I rested my chin along his broad, manly shoulders. He pulled me in close. Embracing me for a long period of time, after recovering from the surprise hug.

I then returned the embrace right around his hips. Yellow from behind seemed to be facing the opposite direction. Which I found a little odd. I thought he would be just as excited to see Red.

Red started to tremble as he was holding me in close. I could feel his heartbeat. He seemed to be in distress and scared about something. Like something literally spooked him.

"Hey... what's wrong?" I Inquired.

"............"

Red couldn't say a word.

Despite all that I could do to try and comfort him. He seemed rather disturbed about something. Like I was going to disappear from off the face of the Earth again.

"Red.. you have to tell me."

I pulled him aside from the embrace and looked into his eyes. They seemed to wander away from mine and I could sense that he was concerned about us based on the way his eyes shifted from mine to the ground. Tears still watering down from his cheeks.

Being the masculine one among the group. This certainly is not something I would expect from an aspiring Pokémon Champion.

He had his motivations for being who he wanted to be. But it seems that, that was still placed away from the forefront of his mind.

"What's wrong?"

"............."

"I.....I was worried."

I knew what his answer was right at the moment he winced from that response.

Just as I thought. Ever since we had been taken aboard the craft. He probably felt powerless in the moment.

Who wouldn't have been concerned under those circumstances? If Red was the one that was taken aboard the craft. Even I would have felt pretty helpless.

I would have felt that my journey would have been for nothing.

"Hey, we are still here Red." I assured him with a soft voice. As I locked my wrists around his neck.

"We haven't left, we're safe."

The boy shook his head and released my locked  hands gently around his soft black hair. Pulling them down toward my hips as he held my hands together, shaking his head in the process.

"No.. we are not." He said as he let them go gently.

The boy stepped back from me and turned about face. Adjusting his cap and facing his embarrassment away from me towards the cabin ahead.

"Team Love is looking for you, Leaf."

Me? Well, that's quite obvious. I just escaped one of their own mining depositories on the Moon. Part of their money chain was destroyed while I was there.

However, anything was possible. I was almost sure that Team Love was still out to get me. The fifteen members of the Apostles wouldn't just idly do nothing. I gulped from that response.

"Red, you have to tell me. What do they want?"

".........."

The boy paused once more. Gripping his fists again, something was seriously bothering him in the back of his mind. Like he knew.

"How do you know about Team Love Red?"

"..........."

How did he know? I've never told him about the organization at all in my life. It has always been a family secret that I kept under wraps with him ever since childhood.

Yellow is the only one that seemed to be the person I've told the story about. But that was because of the coincidences and the involvement of the Legendary Ho-Oh which Yellow was able to successfully abort from destroying me on my first initial step into the world as a Pokémon Trainer.

Red! You listen to me right now! You need to tell me. Who the hell is coming after me!?" I yelped.

I didn't want to be stern with him.

But how could he not tell me unless I switched my tone? Sure, Red is usually one to not say much but ever since he was a kid. His air headedness never left his personality.

Since we have encountered Solress on our journey. He isn't the talkative type nowadays. But I can tell by his behavior. The only reason he isn't looking at me. Is because something is up.

"Tch, ......he." He said struggling to respond.

I could tell he was desperately fighting to tell me. I gripped my fists in furrowed anger.

How dare he!?

He knows better than to be keeping this a secret from me. Especially since it involves the very Organization that trafficked me at such a young age.

Without hesitation I pulled out Lucy's Poké Ball and aimed the device straight at Red's body. Threatening him for a battle.

"Red, if you are not going to tell me what they are planning, this is not protection."

"Wh-wha-wait!" Intervened Yellow.

"Didn't we just come back from the Moon? We've already encountered Love there. Maybe word spread about you being missing Leaf!" He said while holding his straw hat in place.

I gritted my teeth together. Yellow was being annoying, always getting in the way for my sake.

Of course he knows; he just won't tell me.

This Organization is dangerous. He's already putting me and my family in danger for not telling me anything.

"Red! Pull out your Poké Ball immediately! I'll battle my way to make you talk." I gritted.

The boy raised his arm up towards me. Facing me down with those fiery-golden eyes. He stared with such magnification that he was willing to go into battle for this secret. Even for the one he cared about, me.

I noticed very quickly that his tears had ceased and that his stoic appearance showed; he was willing to sacrifice without compromising his composure.

Steering his eyesight towards mine. Pikachu readied up along his arm. Just like when he battled 'short shorts.' Sparks of electricity flew from outside the yellow mouse's cheek pouches. Protecting Red's stoic aura.

The electricity sparked rapidly and flew towards the spot from where I stood. With enough momentum; I launched myself back to avoid the Thundershock attack conjured by his Pokémon. This was so unlike Red. I could tell, he was doing this to prevent me from getting hurt.

What irked me the most. Was that he wouldn't communicate. He wouldn't tell me about how he was feeling. He would never utter a word or explain to me the reason as to why, or whom Love was after me.

"We just arrived and wanted to reunite with you and this is the thanks I get? Red, I know you care. But you don't seem to want to tell me anything of what's going on?" I said with furrowed gritt.

Yellow joined in holding his fishing pole by his side as he tried to protect me from him alongside.

"Who is it that you are trying to protect Leaf from?" Asked Yellow as he gestured me to stay back.

"............."

"I'm trying to protect her." Assured Red.

"Not with that problem. You can't hide that secret forever Red. It will only break her heart."

"............."

The boy turned back away from the battlefield and started his walk towards the cabin. Red felt guilty, I certainly could tell by the way he was playing it cool and placing his hands inside his pockets. I noticed his lips move with the words faintly exhaling from his tremble.

"Autumn Green is looking for you."

The world around me began to pause. Everything, both the world in motion, the Pokémon the people around me all froze into place as my mind tried to justify what exactly Red just said.

No.... it can't.

My face became white, the shock of those words. The truth that was uttered from his mouth. This made absolutely no logical sense. In my mind; he was dead ever since I was little.

Autumn... is alive?