Red's POV

Ecruteak City.

It was time for another gym battle. Wasn't expecting one this soon, but here it was. This was it, my journey had reached it's fifty percent and I couldn't even realise how the time flew past.

The world was growing rapidly, I'd seen a lot of things changing from time to time but 2014 was new in some way. From quality to quantity, everything was getting better and better.

Not only talking about technology and advancements, also talking about - people. Lyra changed, in a good way, of course, but she did.

The other day in the Pokémart, I was purchasing a few items, I saw a new variety of Pokéball. Knowing that there is no other ball like the Master Ball, but these were new.

"How can Pokéballs be of different kinds?" I asked.

The shopkeeper replied with a smile. "Companies are working hard these days, trying out these new Pokémon catching doohickeys."

"Well, what'd they do?"

He picked one of the Pokéball that was white in color, but unlike the regular Pokeball, this one was completely white with a 2D red printing around it. The shopkeeper placed it on the table, for me to observe the ball.

"This is the Premier Ball."

"What does it do?" I asked, curious. It had to do something with the catch rate of course.

"Nothing, just for the looks. But then, here is the real deal. Dive Ball, increases catch rate for Pokémon deep in the sea. Fast Ball, works best on quick Pokémon that often flee from a wild battle."

"Interesting." I said. "But I'd like to buy an Ultra Ball and a Premier Ball."

"Kid, I don't sell Ultra Balls. Go ahead, the Premier Ball is yours. 500 bucks."

"500 bucks? That's a lot. I can buy 5 regulars from that." I complained.

"I didn't set the prices. Moreover, your Ultra Ball is supposed to be 800 bucks."

"Fair enough." I said. Finally, I purchased the Premier Ball, it was a bit expensive for a useless Pokeball, but I bought it. Can't say much, I'm a crazy Pokemon Trainer.

Ecruteak City was situated in the woods between Mount Mortar and the open fields of the western shores of Johto. Known for its mythological history, which I barely knew. Lyra told me something related to creatures called Dogs. (Which obviously is a made up word).

The houses were ancient, made up of white bricks, perfectly aligned blocks, purple stack rooftops. I could see no road in the entire city, only grey footpaths surrounded by evenly cut grass. People too wore old fashioned Japanese clothing. It was a city of cultural tradition.

Among all the people, I saw a person wearing regular western clothes. He stood outside the PokeCentre. As I walked closer, I recognised his face.

The copycat fiddled with his PokeGear and suddenly noticed me.

"Red!" Exclaimed Bill. "I think I found Articuno."

The city was already silent, but now the loud wind gave a dramatic mood. Bill found Articuno? That's the best thing I've even heard. According to Yellow, Team Rocket has the possession of Articuno. I can't believe Charles is doing things and Giovanni is not even trying to stop him, like he said.

But then, I don't even know if I can trust Giovanni. It's very uncertain.

"Charles has Articuno, and I know how to rescue him." Bill explained. "Mahogany Town, Team Rocket has a secret base over there."

"Mahogany Town? Isn't it...far. I mean it's not but then Mount Mortar is difficult to cross. By the time we reach, who knows what could happen." I said. "I'll go, right now. Charizard-"

"Mount Mortar is a no fly zone." Said Bill, sad. "It takes days to cross. I can ask someone to go there for you, if you want. I know a guy."

"Who?" I asked.

"Leave that to me." Said Bill. "You should go, you barely have time, the league is 3 months apart."

"You're right, but..."

"No buts, chill, I got this. I'll take care of your Pokemon, till the time you reach Mahogany, you'll get your Articuno."

"Thank you, Bill."

"Now go, battle!" Said Bill, patting my shoulder. He gave me a slight push into the PokeCentre.

I walked inside.

"Red, we need to hurry." Lyra bumped into me as soon as I entered. She was rushing outside for some reason.

"What the hell" I said, picking up my Pokedex, which fell due to the collision. The lens behind it was broken. "Not again."

"Again?" Asked Lyra. "I'm so sorry. We need to go, the league starts in exactly 3 months."

"I know." I said, looking at my Pokedex. This was the second time this Dex broke, last year I accidently broke it after catching Squirtle.

"What are you waiting for?" Asked Lyra. "Stop day dreaming and hurry!"

She ran outside and I rushed after her. She was fast, faster than me, I was a disappointment. Girls run faster than me, height really is a problem.

In a minute or two, we were standing outside the Ecruteak City Gym.

Professor Oak's POV

I was shocked.

"What are you even saying Rowan?" I demanded an answer. Rowan was freaking out, I could hear his loud breathing in the call.

"Something wrong is about to happen, Oak. It all adds up, give it a thought. We thought Galactic was harmless, we were wrong. If we just add one more thing to what they have, they can open an inter-dimensional gateway." Said Rowan.

He was right, maybe there was something Team Galactic was hiding, but what.

IT MADE SENSE! If only, he had something but no. "It's unobtainable." I shouted. "It's just a myth right?"

"They are mythical creatures. But maybe they exist. We don't know." Said Rowan, uncertain.

"Yes but, it's impossible to find it. You believe that somehow Team Galactic has it?"

"Not sure." Said Rowan. "Anyways, I'll continue my research on this to find more clues. And probably you have work to do."

"Ah, yes I do." I said, Rowan hung up.

I went into a deep thought, almost got a feeling of dissatisfaction. I knew just the right person who could help. I quickly scrolled through my contacts and dialed the number. The bell rang a few times and then the call was answered.

"Hello?"

"Sabrina, flight to Sinnoh. Tomorrow morning." I said, in a rather serious tone.

Red's POV

I bravely stood in front of the gym leader, in a ready to battle mood. Morty was a really tall man, with not so wide shoulders. His body was perfect for a ghost type trainer.

"He sure would look like Ryuk from Death Note if you turn off the lights." Lyra whispered in my ear.

I almost laughed.

He wore a purple bandanna along with a scarf of the same color. He had a long sleeved striped black shirt on with a white jeans, and limited edition sneakers - black with red sole. His scarf had some kind of badge or symbol, shaped like the greek alphabet 'sigma'.

"Evening trainers." He said. "Welcome to the gym of-"

"It's afternoon." Lyra corrected.

"Uh, you see no sunlight enters the gym so I can't tell."

"You're wearing a watch."

"Huh, fine." Morty sighed. "Afternoon trainers. Welcome to the gym of Ecruteak City. I am Morty, a ghost type specialist."

"I'll battle first!" Lyra volunteered.

"Well yes, ladies first." Morty said. "I'll be using two Pokemons, you may use all of yours. Good luck."

I walked to the side and occupied an old rusty bench.

Lyra tossed a Pokeball and Chikorita came out. "I choose you!"

"Misdreavus, show time."

I can't tell how much I disliked waiting for my turn. Lyra always get to battle first, that's- racist. I ignored the battle and turned on my Pokegear.

I missed my old friend, my best friend, Leaf. And the only thing I was thinking of was her. I missed the time when we used to be together, traveling across the Kanto region. Those were the golden times. No team rocket grand plans, no time travel, no dimensional travel. Just me and Leaf, fighting Cassidy and Butch. Fighting the gym leaders. And now, it's just not fun anymore.

I quickly dialed Leaf's number on the Pokegear and placed a call. The call was made and the PokeGear rang, but she didn't answer. Not at all a reason for me to worry.

"Chikorita, use Razor Leaf." Said Lyra.

Another thing that made me miss my friend even more. The only thing I wanted to do was to kick stuff. I couldn't control this anymore. But she was just fine without me. She barely ever called me herself. Everytime I was the one placing the calls. Not at all heartbreaking.

"Haunter, use Shadow Ball." Said Morty. Haunter used the attack. Sending a ball made of some sort of black energy was directed onto Chikorita. Chikorita fainted.

"Come back, Chikorita." Lyra called, calling her starter back. "Go Togepi."

Now this was a bad choice. Togepi was too weak for a gym battle.

"Togepi literally just hatch a few chapters back." I shouted. "Remember?"

"So what? Hashtag girls-can-do-anything." Lyra smiled.

Well yes, they can. And that includes crazy things. Lyra was crazy and I had no doubt she was gonna lose really bad.

"Togepi, use Metronome."

I looked back at my Pokegear, expecting a call from Leaf. But no, it was pointless. Life could never be the same again. The more I wanted to remember my great times in Kanto, the more I had to miss Leaf. I was even missing my dumb rival Blue. He's a good guy now, so no problem, but still.

"Haunter is no longer able to battle." Said the Gym Leader Morty. "You win!"

I was surprised. Lyra won? Now that's a glitch in the universe.

Lyra was not that happy with her victory. The first thing she said after the battle was - "Easy peasy."

I felt really bad for myself only because Morty was gonna use more powerful Pokemon for me because of the fact I am Kanto League Champion.

"Uh, kid. Can you wait for a few minutes, I have to get them healed." Said Morty.

"Aren't you going to use other Pokemon for me?" I asked, overconfident.

"Why would I do that?" He asked.

"Um, cause I am the Kanto-" Lyra interrupted me.

"Was." She said, frowning.

I realised that I was no longer the Kanto Champion. Time travel sucks.

"Okay if you want me to use something else. Here you go." Said Morty. "Let the battle begin."

I grabbed a Pokeball from my belt. "Go Wartortle."

Wartortle stood on the ground, ready to battle.

"Go Misdreavus." Said Morty. "Use Confuse Ray.

Wartortle was confused.

"Wartortle, use Water Pulse."

The attack failed. Wartortle hit himself in his confusion.

"Misdreavus. Use Thunderbolt." Said Morty. "That was easy."

Thunderbolt had an advantage over Wartortle's type. Wartortle fainted.

"Wartortle, come back. Go Bulbasaur."

"Misdreavus." Said Morty. "Shadow Ball."

Bulbasaur was critically hit.

"You can do this. Bulbasaur, use Razor Leaf." I said.

Misdreavus was critically hit.

"Misdreavus, Spite." Said Morty.

Bulbadaur fainted. Misdreavus fainted.

"Go Ditto." I said. I knew this was a bad choice. I didn't even know was Morty was about to send. Sending Ditto was of no use.

"Time to come out. Go Rick." Said Morty. A Gengar came out of the Pokeball.

I almost laughed at the names. I was expecting a "wubba lubba dub dub" from the Gengar. Huh, lame.

"Rick, use Shadow Ball." Said Morty.

"But Ditto didn't even-" I said. "Ditto, show them your best move."

"You mean his only move." Said Lyra.

Ditto transformed. Shadow Ball now had no effect on Ditto. I pointed the Pokedex towards Ditto to see his attacks.

"Why didn't you use- never mind." I said. "Ditto, use Hyperbeam."

Gengar was critically hit.

"I'll tell you why." Said Morty. "Rick, Hyperbeam."

Ditto fainted.

"Come back." I said. "Go Eevee."

"Rick, Fire Punch."

"Eevee, Swift."

Gengar fainted.

"I did not expect that you'll be able to defeat Rick that easily." Said Morty. "Here are your Fog badges and TM30s, they contain Shadow Ball. Teach them to your Pokemon."

He handed us the badges and the TMs and walked away.

"That was rude." Lyra complained.

I kept the badge and the TM inside my bag. I looked at the Pokegear and quickly dialed Leaf's number. The call was answered.

"Red, you have a very bad timing. I'll call you okay? Later." She said, and cut the call instantly.