Chapter 6

"Aren't you going to take that off?" The man shook his head. Misty felt like ripping it off his back but stopped herself. Green looked like he was either going to laugh or cry.

"Pidgeot, show him what you're made of!" Green released his main Pokémon.

"How's Charizard doing?" Misty asked.

"He's fine. I sent him to Charizard Valley to help other Charizards." The stranger released his own Pokémon, A Pidgeot. "That's a fine Pidgeot you've got there. Maybe almost half as strong as mine." Green smirked but lost his confidence when the man wasn't even unnerved. "You used to trash talk right back!"

"Let's begin." The challenger's Pidgeot slammed into Green's.

"Pidgeot, Quick Attack!" Green's Pidgeot shook off the damage from the other Pidgeot and quickly drove its beak into the opponent.

"Pidgeot, Revenge." Green's Pidgeot was quickly defeated. Green shuddered but returned his Pokémon.

"Arcanine, show them power!" The challenger returned Pidgeot and sent out his own Arcanine. Green's Arcanine used Extremespeed, and missed. The opposing Arcanine pranced away. "Try an Aerial Ace!" Arcanine missed again, and was hit by a Take Down. "Aerial Ace is impossible to dodge! How did you do it?" The challenge shrugged.

"Training." Green laughed.

"Arcanine, Thunder Fang!"

"Close Combat." Green's Arcanine rushed forward but was met by a flurry of powerful attacks. Green's Arcanine used Bulldoze by instinct and scored a hit on the challenger's Arcanine. Soon, both sides were too tired to move on.

"Return. I see there is no point in battling anymore." Green tossed the challenger the Badge. Green's Rhydon appeared from behind the Gym and approached the challenger. After sniffing the fedora, it swiped it. "Return it."

"Let it keep it." The challenger left the room. Misty noticed the challenger's black hair looked a lot like Ash's. She was puzzled but thought nothing about it. Maybe it was a new fashion?

(What happened to Ash?)

"I never knew that Pikachu were used for such a helpful cause! Thanks to you, my Pikachu got a huge power up!"

"Our pleasure! Your Pikachu was strong from the beginning anyway." Ash smiled and left the Pokémon Center.

"I wonder where Misty went?" Ash opened the door to the Pokémart. A man was reading a newspaper. A worn waistcoat was folded neatly on the floor and a messed up ski mask could be seen in the trash can. "Hello, sir? Do you know where the worker went?"

"He's in the restroom. He'll be back soon." Ash nodded and was about to leave when he spotted dozens of Pokémon Badges on the man's shirt.

"Holy ****!"

"What's wrong?" The man looked up from his paper. Ash gasped. The man's eyes were a bloody crimson. They seemed to pierce into his soul. His hair was messy yet in a stylish way. He was well-built but not enough to attract attention.

"Sorry… It's just that, you have so many Badges." The man smiled.

"Ah, a Trainer, are you?" The man got up and walked up to Ash. "I travelled all the regions, battling Gym Leaders and earning Badges. I'm guessing you plan on doing the same?" Ash nodded. Just then, Misty walked in and the man looked away.

"Ash, I'm sorry but it looks like I won't be going with you any further. I have a person I need to find."

"Really, what's his name?"

"Red. He was my… friend. I've lost contact with him for 7 years and I'm worried sick. I've spoken with his mother and even she doesn't have a clue. Green agreed to help me."

"Green? Do you mean the Gym Leader I battled earlier?"

"Yeah. I hope you don't mind."

"I'm ok. I'm just worried about you. Good luck on finding him." Misty smiled and walked out of the door. The man looked worried, but straightened his face.

"Hey, I didn't get your name earlier."

"Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Ash Ketchum." The man stiffened. Horror filled his eyes mixed with what seemed like longing and sorrow.

"Ash… Um, my name is Purple." The man scratched his head.

"Purple? That's a cool name." The Pokémart worker returned.

"Ash, what do you need to buy?"

"Huh? Food supplies, Pokéballs, a few other things…" Purple grabbed several of everything in the Pokémart and handed them to the worker. Purple payed the worker and handed all the supplies to Ash.

"Is this enough?"

"Wow! I didn't know you were rich. You didn't have to do that you know…"

"Relax, it's a Give & Take world. There's the saying, 'There's no such thing as a free lunch.' I have something I want of you."

"What is it?"

"I want to go with you on your journey, up to a point. I could also train you up for Gym Battles a little." Purple grabbed a spatula and toyed with it. "And I'm also a killer chef."

"Of course you can come with me. Solo journeys are said to be lonely!" Purple held out his hand and Ash grabbed it.

"Isn't that the guy that just beat Green?" Several reporters and citizens began to crowd around the two trainers.

"We gotta run." Purple grabbed his bag and took off, with Ash at his heels.

(Viridian Forest)

"I'm sorry. Viridian Forest is a restricted area. Nobody is allowed past here-!" Purple flashed his Badges and the guard steeped aside.

"It's really awesome how you can get into restricted places!"

"Badges are only given to those who are deemed worthy by the Gym Leaders. Due to this, we are given these privileges as well as responsibility to rid the regions of any evil."

"Like those Team Rocket goons?"

"Exactly." Purple stopped walking and took a deep breath. "Do you feel it? The power of nature is truly the most wonderful miracle. Hear the sound of Pokémon playing in the branches. Smell the blossoms of flowers that Butterfree helped bloom. Ash closed his eyes and inhaled. A nudging made him open his eyes. A Caterpie was rubbing its head against Ash's leg.

"Hey there. I guess you like me?" The Caterpie nodded.

"Caterpie is a Bug type Pokémon that's common in this area. Why don't you try and capture it?" Ash nodded and pulled out Poliwag's Pokéball. Pikachu scampered onto Ash's shoulder. "Hey Ash… That's a really healthy looking Pikachu!" Purple picked up Pikachu and began playing with it.

"Poliwag, I choose you!" Poliwag hopped up and down. "Bubblebeam!" Caterpie was knocked back by the powerful Water attack. The Caterpie shot string into the air and latched it on a branch. Something sweet fell on Ash's head. "Huh, why is there honey..?" A swarm of Beedrill appeared from the sky.

"Ash, take cover!" Purple released all of his Pokéballs. An Aerodactyl. Venusaur. A Pikachu, a Poliwrath. A Snorlax and an Espeon. "You guys know what to do!" Purple's Pokémon nodded and all began to take down Beedrill, several at a time. Soon enough, most of the swarm was defeated and the rest had scattered.

"That was pure awesomeness!" Ash began to marvel at Purple's Pokémon. Pikachu looked curiously at Purple's Pikachu. Ash noticed this and smiled.

"Your Pikachu was awesome! I hope Pikachu becomes as strong as yours one day!"

"Ash. I forgot to mention something. Your Pikachu hatched from an Egg while in the care of Professor Oak. My Pikachu sired the Egg. So your Pikachu is descended from mine!" Both of the Pikachu began to play together.

"Was it you?"

"Huh? What was me?"

"The one that asked Professor Oak to give me Pikachu?"

"Yes. I ordered Gold to give it to Professor Oak so it could be handed to you."

"What's your relation with Gold? And why do you care for me so much?"

Well, I sure love cliffhangers…

Don't you?

-KenTheKing