Red's POV

Violet City.

I opened my eyes and got up. I was on the lower bunk of the bunk bed, with the upper occupied by Lyra.

The first thing I did was brushing my teeth and getting a bath. I was in need of new clothes. I've been wearing the same since day one and it sucked. Also, they smelled really bad.

It was disgusting. Of course I washed them once a month but still, it doesn't seem nice.

The PokeCentre had an iconic scent. The scent of strawberries. A tapping sound came from behind and I turned instantly.

"Pika!" Pikachu came running. He jumped straight into my arms.

"Good morning, and let's get a bath." I smelled Pikachu's head. "We smell equally bad."

Pikachu giggled in his high pitched voice. He sniffed his arm pits. "Pika Pikachu" He said in disgust.

I laughed, walking to the bathroom, along with my old stinky clothes.

We took a quick bath.

I had big plans about this week. We had to head towards Ecruteak City where Lyra and I would battle against the gym leader. Okay, not so big but big enough.

Even after the bath, I was wearing the same clothes that reeked of sweat.

Back to the room, without disturbing Lyra, I sat on the table and took everything out of my bag. Trying to clean it. I tossed some expired items, like potions and burn heals. Then kept my stuff back in an organised manner.

I stared at the photo in which I was standing next to my dad, holding a Pokeball. In front of me, was a Poliwag. My eyes filled with tears.

Flashback

Dad helped me catch the Poliwag. It was the happiest moment of my life. I wanted to show everyone my new Pokemon. You know, show off. Blue would be so jealous about it.

"Well done." Said Dad, giving me a high five. "I knew you could do it. From the next time, whenever you are catching a Pokemon, imagine me standing next to you and cheering."

"I won't imagine you, Dad." I said, smiling. "You would be standing next to me."

"Hm. Now that's what I like." Dad sat on his knees and hugged me.

"Well, it's not like you're going somewhere."

"I'm always there for you, Hobbit." Dad laughed.

"Stop calling me Hobbit. I'm not that short." I complained, hugging Dad again.

"Let's show this to your mother." Said Dad, gently pushing me towards Pallet Town.

"I'm gonna call him Poly."

Flashback Over

I trained and evolved my Poliwag into a Poliwhirl and a few weeks later, Poliwhirl disappeared while I was on a trip to Pewter Museum and the worst part is, Dad spent a week, trying to find him. But couldn't.

"You're up ?" Lyra yawned. "So early ?"

"Yes." I said, showing her the photograph. "He looks so happy."

"It was your first Pokemon. Of course Uncle Ben was happy."

"Did he deserve it ?"

"Red, even though I have little memories of him, I knew he was great man. And a brilliant father. Anyone could tell that, it reflects on you." Lyra beamed.

Bugsy walked into the room, followed by Yellow. Both stood in front of us, then looked at each other. They looked serious, for the first time, which was bad.

"We both talk-uh, discussed about this and came to a-ugh." Bugsy stammered, exchanging looks with Yellow.

"Uh, um." Yellow began. "We came to a conclusion that-"

"We'll not continue this journey." Said Bugsy, nervously. He started to tap his feet on the ground.

I had no idea what was going on. Why would they want to quit ? I was really curious to know more about the discussion that led to such a random conclusion.

"Yellow's uncle wants her back. And since I have no purpose of traveling with you guys, why not learn something about the Kanto region for a change." Bugsy explained, without any hesitation.

"I came to Johto without my uncle's permission." Said Yellow. "So I need to leave as soon as possible."

"You sure ?" Lyra confirmed.

"Yes." Yellow answered. "But what about coming to the Sprout Tower with us before we go ?"

"Sure." I said.

Oak's POV

I was sitting in my living room on my favourite couch, sipping hot ginger tea and focusing on an important conversation I was having.

"Sabrina. I know you're dedicated to find out about Giovanni and I appreciate that but I need you to stay put for a while."

"Professor, I never understand you. Even though I have these powers to see through your emotions and your ideas, I never understand some things that you ask me to do." Sabrina confessed.

"You know when I asked you to protect Red-" I said, interrupted.

"Stupid plan, there was absolutely no point of making Red and Lyra believe that Bugsy was traveling with them." Sabrina complained, taking a sip of her ginger tea.

I knew the idea was a failed one, when I asked Sabrina to keep an eye on Red. Sabrina created an illusion of the gym leader Bugsy which travelled with Red for half a month, but the kid was able to figure out that the Bugsy was not real.

"Our main focus should be Giovanni, his plans are big, bigger than anyone could imagine. Keep updating Looker with every single piece of information you find out about Giovanni." I ordered. "It's the least you could do."

"I need to meet Looker, in person."

"It would be possible in a month. He has to go to the Sinnoh Region for something." I informed.

"About Giovanni ?"

"Not Giovanni. But it's something I am not allowed to share."

Giovanni's POV

I was unstoppable. The plans made by the Masked Man worked like he predicted. Everything was on point, every possibility had been calculated to the tiniest decimal. And slowly his plans were falling into place.

In 1999, I tried my best to find the most powerful Psychic type Pokémon - Mew. But I failed. Luckily my team was able to find an artifact with Mew's DNA sample. I realised that I can't capture Mew, so I created my own.

Mewtwo was born, a Pokémon far more powerful than Mew, but, it got away, destroying every document related to the Project. Project Mew 2 was lost and became a memory.

Still, I was unable to understand the Masked Man's full plans. He wanted me to kidnap that scientist - Ben.

Flashback

"Okay. Ben, you now have the Master Ball and-" I said, interrupted.

"The Poliwhirl. Yes I have him. Belonged to my son, where did you find him ?" Asked Ben, standing on the circular machine whose name was so scientific that I couldn't even remember it.

"Someone gave it to me." I said. "Now, don't lose the box I gave you. You know when to use it. This is the time."

Ben picked up the small box and held it tightly, he closed his eyes and chanted, "I can do this. I can do this."

A blue light emerged and Ben vanished in thin air. I couldn't believe half of the plan was a success.

"He did it." I grinned. I dialed the Masked Man's number and he picked up the phone.

"So it's done." Said the Masked Man. "Now we can do whatever we want. My brain, your ambition."

"Sorry to say, but you came late. It was my brain and my ambition." I corrected.

"I'm not picking up a fight. So I'll have to agree." Said the Masked Man. "But just don't get too ambitious. It's not over yet. A big part of the journey is still remaining."

"We did half of the job."

"There are two types of people. One, who think that half is done. Two, who think that half is left." Said the Masked Man. "Who do you choose to be ?"

"Right." I said. "So what next ?"

"We wait for Ben to come back." Said the Masked Man. "Is the armour ready ?"

"Not yet. It's going to take some time. Given that the other Earth's Giovanni betrayed us. I'm never getting that neuron transmitter doohickey." I explained briefly.

Scientists working under me weren't smart enough. Ben was way smarter, but I didn't get why the Masked Man didn't want Ben to build all the things needed for our plan. He was too mysterious. And so was I.

"Take your time." Said the Masked Man, hanging up the phone.

Flashback Over

Red's POV

The Sprout Tower was a nice place to be. It reminded me of the Pewter City Museum of Science. We weren't here for the tower, it was something else.

"Why are we here again ?" Asked Lyra. This same question I was going to ask.

"What day is it ?" Asked Yellow.

"Monday." I replied instantly. "Oh wait, May 26, it's Memorial Day."

"Yes." Said Yellow. "Come with me."

We tailed Yellow across the hall of the Sprout Tower. She opened the back door and went outside. It was a cemetery. Lots of people were standing there, placing flowers on their loved one's graves. We stopped in front of two graves.

'Azul del Bosque Verde, 1903-1943, a beloved son, a loving father and an honourable soldier. His absence is a silent grief. His life, a beautiful memory.'

'Rosa del Bosque Verde, 1907-1943, a loving wife and a devoted mother. Who left us suddenly in a mishap, and will be missed and loved always.'

Silence filled the air. Yellow placed a bouquet of flowers in between the two graves and smiled, a drop of tear fell from her eyes.

"My grandparents." Yellow stammered. Bugsy hugged her. "That day changed many lives. Dad told me about how it happened. He said that during the war, there was a hyper beam rain. They both...they were trying to save someone but they..."

"You know what's good. They passed saving people. They were heroes." Said Bugsy. Yellow smiled.

"Okay, we should be leaving now." Said Yellow, wiping her tears.

I looked at Lyra, then walked forward to Yellow and handed her the Master Ball.

"A gift from me." I said. "Now, I'll be there wherever you go."

"Really ?" Yellow pinched herself. "I couldn't believe it. You're giving the Master Ball to me ?"

"Of course he is." Said Lyra. "And here, this is from me." Lyra handed her hat to Yellow.

"Thank you guys."

"Well, I can't give anything." Said Bugsy. "That's why I'm coming along."

"Are we at the group hug stage ?" Asked Lyra. I pulled everyone close, all of us hugged. "Goodbye."

"I'll miss you guys." Bugsy cried.

Suddenly, Bugsy's jacket's left side began to shake. There was something inside the jacket's inner pocket.

"I've been noticing this for a while now." Said Lyra. "What is it you're hiding Bugsy ?"

Bugsy put his hand inside his pocket and it stopped shaking. He took a deep breath.

"Guys." Bugsy tried to pull out whatever was in his pocket. "We need to talk."