Chapter Text
January 5th 2453:
Bright sunshine washed over clusters of homes and stores thatched with red and blue tiles and white picket fences bordered well-trimmed verdant lawns. Beyond Pallet Town, rolling green fields stretched far out amidst swarms of tall thick trees and lush shrubbery. Here and there on the outskirts were windmills and cottages and farmsteads.
Red sat on a hill not too far from a dirt byway going into the town and took it all in one more time. 'Well.' He got to his feet, slipping his hands into his pockets and moving downhill. 'Better get to the lab.'
Today was the start of his Pokemon journey under professor Oak's direct sponsorship. Alongside Leaf and Blue, he was one of those lucky few who managed to pass the official exams and tests administered by the League and professor Oak to qualify for his sponsorship.
But, even then, he'd been helping out around the laboratory since he was eight. His distant travelling aunt (she worked for professor Oak) was never home half the time, so the professor had taken it upon himself to keep an eye on him when he could by having him work in the lab by running errands and taking care of the less dangerous Pokemon.
Of course, this did not guarantee a sponsorship from the professor. Kids all across the Kanto region aiming to become trainers could apply for sponsorships online at their local Pokemon Centers or at their own homes on their computers and take on those exams and tests themselves. All in all, receiving a sponsorship from a qualified Pokemon professor was very competitive business.
There were other ways of receiving sponsorships; businesses like Silph Co. and the Aether Foundation and the Devon Corporation also offered their own benefits and incentives for potential trainers. The main job of a sponsor was to provide their trainers with the correct tools and funds and resources to become competent trainers.
Not everyone applied for sponsorships, though. Some kids or teenagers or adults who had their own Pokemon could go out to complete the Kanto Gym Circuit with their own funds and resources. And, while not everyone succeeded, many managed to do well on their own.
'Besides—.' Red swept down a dirt road, heading deeper into Pallet Town. At the highest hill sat professor Oak's laboratory. '—I also had some extra knowledge helping me out.' His past life's memories had been a huge help in acing those tests and passing with flying colors.
On his way towards the lab, people emerging from their homes and opening up their stores for the day called out to him and waved at him. Red shot them smiles and waves in response; Pallet Town was a tight-knit community. Since he lived alone, a lot of his neighbors would bring him packed food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner when they could.
'Leaf and Blue must be there already.' The vendor who always sold him his wares for half price tossed him a fresh apple; he bit into it. 'I wonder if the professor's already let them pick out their starters.'
Finishing up his apple, he tossed its core into a bin.
When he reached the entrance to professor Oak's lab, he pushed open the door and stepped inside. Workers in lab coats bustled around the place, carrying sheafs of documents and Pokeballs. Shelves and tables strewed with diagrams and analysis journals and text-books with all kinds of details about Pokemon surrounded him.
"Ah, Red!" Mr. Cedar approached him. He was a broad-shouldered black-bearded man in a stained lab coat. Streaks of white and grey peppered his mane of black hair. He was a primary caretaker for the fire types in the enclosure outside on the property of professor Oak's lab. "Big day today, isn't it?"
"Yep." Red knew all the workers in the lab well. (He'd been working with them for the last few years.) "Do you know if Leaf and Blue are here?"
"Blue and Leaf are upstairs on the second floor waiting for you." Mr. Cedar pointed his thumb at the grey metallic steps at the far end of the main hall of the lab. "Don't worry about being late. If anything, you're just on time." He shook his head to himself. "Old Oak caught Blue asleep in his office last night and had to drag him home. And then he caught Leaf trying to sneak into the lab to get her starter early."
Red snorted. "Really?"
Mr. Cedar chuckled. "I can't really judge them; I was even more excited than them on the first day of my own journey." Patting him on the shoulder, he walked past him. "Good luck, Red!"
"Thanks, Mr. Cedar."
Red crossed the room, weaved between more aids and assistants and workers, and climbed the flight of steps up to the second floor of the laboratory. All along the walls were oaken-and-iron doors. He went through the last one to the left into a high-ceilinged room furnished with expensive technology all designed for researching Pokemon moves, evolutions, behavioral patterns, weaknesses, and strengths.
"Hah, Red!" Blue hopped off a stool at the end of an empty table, laughing away. "I'm glad you're here! Once gramps decides to stop wasting our time, we can get this show on the road!"
Blue was a gangling boy in a white t-shirt and trousers and a brown jacket with spiky locks of brown hair. His jacket buttons were Pokeballs, Great-Balls, and Ultra-Balls.
"Took you long enough!" Leaf giggled; she was reading through a leather-bound text-book. "I thought you got cold feet or something!"
Leaf was a tall brunette in a green shirt and trousers and a black coat. She wore a silver necklace with a Luxury-Ball-like jewel.
"Blue, Leaf." Red sank into an arm-chair. These two were his childhood friends; all three of them had spent a lot of time together running errands across professor Oak's lab. "Where's professor Oak?"
"I'd imagine he's getting everything ready for you three!" A jolly voice came from the doorway. Professor Oak walked into the room, cradling black iron cases and three well-laminated cards in his arms. "I'm sure the three of you are rearing to go out with your new partners, eh?"
"Yeah, yeah, gramps." Blue huffed. "You can give us our Pokedexes and trainer licenses after we get our starters!" He glared at Red and Leaf. "I've already called dibs on Squirtle, so pick something else!"
Leaf scowled at him. "We know; we heard you the last ten times yesterday!"
Red cracked a mirthful smile, but stayed out of their argument. The three of them had discussed what starters they would pick ages ago.
Professor Oak chuckled at them, then placed the cases and cards onto a round table and went towards a circular glass-domed container with three Pokeballs inside. He pressed a button with his palm and the glass dome receded. Both Leaf and Blue rushed towards it in a hurry.
'Well.' Red followed them. 'This is it…' His heart thudded in anticipation and his mouth stretched out into a ferocious grin.
"Gramps!" Blue shoved Leaf aside. "I get to pick out mine first, right?!"
"No fair!" Leaf elbowed Blue in the ribs. "I asked if I could go first, professor!"
"You'll receive your Pokemon no matter who goes first." Professor Oak sighed. "Red, since you're not screaming in my ear, you can go first."
Blue and Leaf both folded their arms, grumbling to themselves.
Red shot them a grin and picked out the Pokeball with a flame sigil on its button. 'Charmander…' Even in his last lifetime, from what he could decipher from those scattered memories, he'd been a fan of this Pokemon.
"Charmander." Professor Oak nodded to himself. "I was expecting you to pick out that one, yes." He grabbed the black iron case and laminated card off the table and handed them off to him. "This is the Pokedex I've registered in your name; you'll find an online version of your trainer license in its system."
"Thanks, professor Oak." Red slipped the iron case and card into his red-and-white jacket pockets. "And about my request?"
"To take Volt with you on your journey, alongside your starter?" Professor Oak smiled at him. "You're the only one he's taken a shine to in this lab since Samson sent him over. Of course you can take him!" He glanced back at Leaf and Blue; the two of them had released their Squirtle and Bulbasaur from their Pokeballs. "You know where his Pokeball is. Take him with you on your way out."
"Sweet." Red laughed. "Thanks, professor!"
"It's the least I could do for you, my boy!" Professor Oak said, plucking the other two cases and cards off the table. "Make sure you collect your resource package from Rose in the storage room beforehand!"
"I'll make sure to, professor." Red waved at him, heading downstairs and out back of the laboratory. Ahead of him were forested fields, bushes, shrubbery, lakes, streams, and pools. Within them were Pokemon of all kinds. "Alright…" He trekked into the shade of a cluster of birch trees, holding out his Pokeball. "Come on out!"
In a flash of red, Charmander emerged from his Pokeball and looked around. He spotted him, trilled in excitement, and raised a clawed hand.
"Hey, Charmander." Red knelt, patting him on the head and grinning even wider in excitement. "I'm Red…And I want to become one of the strongest trainers out there, no matter what." Charmander blinked at him and flashed his fangs at him in a similar jagged grin. "You want to join me on that journey, buddy?"
Charmander nodded at him with an excited growl and the flames blazing from the end of his tail seemed to flare brighter for a moment.
"Good to have you on board!" Red got to his feet and clipped the Pokeball onto his belt. "Do you want a nickname?"
Charmander nodded again, warbling and lifting his flaming tail.
"I'm thinking…?" Red scratched his tousled black hair in thought. "Does Crimson work for you? It's sorta similar to my own name; Red."
Charmander trudged towards him, inclining his head and grinning with his serrated teeth.
"Crimson it is, then!" Red picked him up. Charmanders could turn their tail flames harmless if they wanted to, he knew. Crimson did just that for his benefit. "We'll be heading out of Pallet Town soon. There are just some things I have to sort out before we leave for our journey."
Trekking up a cobbled path flanked by high jagged fences, Red walked past a few of the Pokemon breeders and feeders and went back inside the main first floor room in the laboratory. Off to the side were two double doors. "—Storage—" was etched upon the brass plaque above them. This was where Rose (one of professor Oak's treasurers) worked and spent most of her time at.
Crimson hopped out of his arms, staring at some of the Pidgeys on their yew perches. One Pidgey glared at him and Crimson glared back; puffs of smoke began to escape his fanged mouth.
'Would you look at that.' Red snorted. 'Looks like I've got a bit of a battler on my hands.'
The Pidgey crowed at Crimson, fluffed up her feathers, and turned her head away. Crimson trotted to his side, staring around some more.
"Rose!" Red pushed open a door into a dusty old room equipped with unopened crates and lined with shelves upon shelves with empty Pokeballs, Great-Balls, and Ultra-Balls and other boxes. "You in here?"
"Red." A slender, green-eyed, and goggled woman replied from one end of the room. Her hair was done up in an unkempt pony-tail, tied by a velvet black ribbon. "Your package is in the other room." She pointed her thumb at another oaken door, already going back to writing in her note-book on a spindly round table.
"Yeah, thanks." Red crossed the room, slipped through the door, grabbed the package marked with his name, and walked back into the main laboratory room with Crimson. "Just one more thing and we'll be out of here." Crimson warbled at him, flicking his tail side to side.
Red's scarlet eyes flickered towards a clump of Pokeballs inside an iron-legged container framed with dark yellow glass. Across the front of this container was a lightning bolt. Strolling towards it and setting his package aside, he pressed his palm against its scanner and pulled the glass covering back.
"Well—." Red took one of the Pokeballs out and closed the container back up by pressing the scanner. "—This is your new teammate, Crimson."
The Charmander grinned and clapped his clawed hands together.
"I'll introduce you two to each other back at my house." Red glanced towards the flight of metallic steps across the hall and grinned. "I'll challenge Leaf and Blue to a battle once I get everything sorted out."
Plucking his Pokeball off his belt, he stowed Crimson away in it in a flash of red light, attached both his and Volt's Pokeballs to his belt, and grabbed his package.
And Red set off, walking downhill and trudging through a flagstone path towards his three-storey home near the outskirts of Pallet Town. He was more or less the only inhabitant in the house since his travelling aunt was always in some other region doing work for professor Oak.
He did not mind living alone whatsoever; he enjoyed the freedom and lack of supervision. It wasn't too uncommon in this world for children to live alone, but it wasn't very common either. Besides, he was leaving Pallet Town soon to compete in the Kanto Gym Challenge.
'But there is Team Rocket to think about…' Red touched his head. 'I have all these damn memories of another life, but I'm not really that person anymore. I'm just myself.' He was Red and he was also that boy whose life he remembered from these distant scattered memories. These memories had been super useful so far, though, he reflected.
He entered his home, shut the front door, kicked off his black-and-blue shoes, and went upstairs into his bed-room. Dropping his package on his desk, he clicked on his lamp and tore it open.
Inside were six Potions, six Pokeballs, six Revives, and a red-and-black backpack.
These types of backpacks were supplied with top of the line storage technology, so he could put all kinds of items in it and not even feel any kind of pressure from carrying a bag with so much weight inside it.
It was another reason why direct sponsorships from professors were so sought after; trainers sponsored by people like professor Oak received a huge range of benefits.
Trainers who weren't sponsored by professor Oak could, however, receive a starter from him, but they would not receive the traditional Kanto starters like Charmander or Bulbasaur or Squirtle and would instead receive a starter like Nidoran, Pidgey, Spearow, or Rattata. They also wouldn't receive any sort of resources from professor Oak.
Placing each of the Potions, Revives, and Pokeballs in their designated compartments, he grabbed his pre-prepared outfits and clothing and tucked them away into his backpack afterwards.
Red pulled out his iron case and trainer license from his pockets. Information like his trainer ID, home-town, and sponsor (if he had one) was scrawled across his trainer license in neat black letters and numbers. He stared at his picture; a pale scarred crimson-eyed face framed by a mop of unkempt black hair stared back at him. "—Red Sato—" was written beside it in a deep dark red.
Setting his trainer license on his desk, he withdrew his red-armoured Pokedex from its black iron case and analyzed it for a bit. Red flicked it open and turned it on. Different icons popped up on its screen; there was one with the silhouette of a face, one with the silhouette of a Pokeball, one with the silhouette of a Poke-Dollar sign, one with the silhouette of some kind of advanced telephone, one with the silhouette of a Charmander, and one with the silhouette of a map of Kanto.
Red touched the face icon and the digital version of his trainer license popped up. All the information matched his license's physical version.
He touched the Poke-Dollar icon next and a total of 3, 000 Poke-Dollars flashed on his screen. Trainers under professor Oak's sponsorship would also get a stipend from him every single month.
'I'll have to connect this account to the one aunt Autumn set up for me.' Red thought. 'I can do that at professor Oak's lab later.'
The telephone icon opened up into what was pretty much just a contacts list; it was like the typical telephone back in his old world. Professor Oak had done him a favour and had uploaded his number, Leaf's number, and Blue's number onto his Pokedex's system, he saw.
The Pokeball icon presented him a list of Pokemon in Kanto, alongside information on their habitats, their average weight and height, their diet, their types, their evolutionary line, and a lot more.
The Charmander icon let him view his registered team of six Pokemon. Crimson and Volt, he realized, had already been registered into his Pokedex's system.
And, of course, the map icon detailed a map of the entirety of the Kanto region. He could even download maps for different regions like Johto and Unova and Kalos and Alola.
'I want to visit all these places.' A ferocious smile split his face. 'I'll dominate the Kanto Gym Challenge first…Team Rocket, Team Aqua and Magma, Team Plasma, Team Flare, and all the rest…I won't let them get in the way of my goal of exploring the world.'
He did not care what it took; he'd become the strongest Pokemon trainer no matter what.
'But first.' Red shut his Pokedex and tucked it into its case. 'I'll have to start my journey.'
Unclipping his Pokeballs from his belt, he released Crimson and Volt from them in beams of red light. Volt (a Pikachu from Alola) uncurled and let out an over-exaggerated yawn. Crimson, meanwhile, scurried towards a pile of red cushions and smacked them aside with his tail.
"Crimson meet Volt." Red said. "And Volt meet Crimson. The three of us are gonna be travelling around Kanto as a team from now on."
Professor Oak and his cousin Samson had done a trade between an Alolan Pikachu and a Kantonian Pikachu two or three years ago. The Alolan Pikachu had been aggressive with just about all of professor Oak's workers, even Blue and Leaf. However, he'd managed to befriend the Alolan Pikachu after a bunch of trial and error and had even gotten permission from the Pikachu himself to nick-name him.
Volt circled Crimson and his red-spotted cheeks sparked with small shrouds of electricity. Crimson bared his sharp teeth at him; a torrent of smoke flickering with weak flames began to gush out from his mouth. Red held back from interfering and sat on a Charizard beanbag.
More aggressive Pokemon would communicate like this to see if the other was "worthy" of their friendship. He'd once seen a Blastoise and Nidoking butt heads, but, after a day, they were doing good-natured spars.
Crimson and Volt glared at each other some more before they nodded to themselves and high-fived with their tails.
"Looks like you two are gonna get along." Red laughed. Volt and Crimson padded over to him and he took out his Pokedex. "Crimson, let's check out what moves you have."
He flicked open his Pokedex, clicked a button, and pointed its outer scanner towards Crimson; the Charmander tilted his head in boredom.
A mechanical voice beeped from his Pokedex speakers. "Charmander—the lizard Pokemon. The flame burning at the tip of its tail can be used to gauge its health and emotional state! The more weak a Charmander feels, the less bright its flames glow. The more angry a Charmander feels, the more ferocious its flames flicker!"
This was just a general Pokedex entry of a Charmander. If he wanted, Red could access much more information about a Charmander than that from the other entries in his Pokedex's system.
He pressed another button and the outer scanner analyzed Crimson a second time.
"This Charmander is male and knows the moves Scratch, Ember, Metal Claw, and Dragon Rush!"
'Metal Claw and Dragon Rush?' Red blinked at Crimson; his Charmander let out an impatient cry. 'Those are egg moves, aren't they?'
It depended on the sponsor, but trainers could receive starter Pokemon who were born with rare, powerful, or unique moves. He just did not expect professor Oak to secure starters with them for him, Leaf, and Blue.
"You two really are great, huh?" Red patted Crimson and Volt on the heads. Volt swatted his hand aside with his tail and uttered a confident laugh. Crimson moved back and cried out in excitement. "We'll start training when we're out on the road. For now, I have some business to finish up with at professor Oak's lab."
Returning them to their Pokeballs, Red pulled open his closet and brought out his camping gear to put away in his backpack. Throwing on a black t-shirt, dark blue trousers, and red-and-black jacket, he slipped his arms through his backpack straps and left his home.
He climbed up the sloping stone path to the laboratory and entered a hall. Professor Oak was chatting to Mr. Cedar, but he noticed him, ended his conversation, and approached him.
"Red!" Professor Oak folded his hands behind his back with a grand smile. "All packed up, I see!"
"Yep; I think I'll be heading out soon." Red took out his Pokedex. "Do you think you could link my trainer bank account to the one my aunt set up for me when I started helping out around the lab?"
"Forgive me, I must have forgotten to do that for you." Professor Oak was handed his Pokedex. "I'll be back in a jiffy." He walked past his assistants and sauntered upstairs.
"Red, there you are!" Blue stomped in through the tall double doors out into the grounds of the laboratory. He'd put on his brown-and-yellow backpack and also wore a different black coat trimmed with white. "It's time for us to battle! Course, if you aren't scared of losing!"
"Look who's talking." Leaf emerged from the doors after him, rolling her green eyes. "Didn't you just lose to me?"
"Whatever." Blue grunted. "You just had the type advantage!"
Leaf tossed him a mocking smirk. "Sore loser!" She jabbed her index finger towards him. "You're just jealous I'm better than you!"
"Are not!"
"Am too!"
"Yeah, yeah." Red cut in. "I'll fight you." He curled his fingers around Volt's Pokeball. "You did heal your Squirtle up, right?"
"Of course I did! Who do you take me for?" Blue scoffed, yanking his Pokeball out of his outer coat pocket. "Besides, gramps' package came with like twenty Potions!"
"I'll act as judge!" Leaf grinned, giggling. "Squirtle is no longer able to battle, Blue, please fork over one-hundred Poke-Dollars to Red!"
"Shut up, Leaf!" Blue hollered. "We haven't even battled yet!"
"By the way." Red said. "Did your Squirtle and Bulbasaur also come with any unique moves?"
"Yep!" Leaf threw him a thumbs-up. "Verdant can already use Power Whip and Toxic! You won't believe how handy that'll come in for catching Pokemon!"
"Mine has some sick moves too!" Blue chuckled. "Armour knows Aqua Jet and Aura Sphere!" He froze. "Why am I telling you this?! Stop looking for information to give you the upper-hand, Red!"
Leaf tapped her boot on the ground. "Are you two battling or not? I wanna see Blue lose again!"
"Hey!"
"I'm still waiting for my Pokedex to be connected to my main bank account." Red heard shuffling from the metal flight of stairs. "Guess professor Oak's done that."
"Ah, all three of you are together!" Professor Oak stopped in front of them and passed Red's Pokedex to him. "I hope the three of you will experience a range of things on your journeys! Make sure to relax once in a while and take care of yourselves and your Pokemon! And do call me if you ever find yourselves in a dilemma. I'll make sure to do my best to help you out!" He smiled at them and walked off.
Red checked his balance of 30, 000 Poke-Dollars and nodded to himself. Most of this money came from his aunt Autumn and the money he had earned doing errands around the professor's lab.
"Right!" Blue raised his Squirtle's Pokeball. "You ready for a battle?"
"Yeah." Red stowed his Pokedex away in his jacket pocket. "C'mon."
The three of them walked down the cobbled footpath outside and went towards a cleared-out field studded with a smooth slate-grey surface designated for Pokemon battles. Red and Blue stood on opposite ends of the field and Leaf stood at the outer line marked in the middle.
"A one-v-one match between Red Sato and Blue Oak from Pallet Town!" Leaf laughed, chopping her hand down like an official referee for Pokemon battles. (She didn't have their customary flag, however.) "The challenge will end if either opponent forfeits or if their Pokemon are knocked out!"
"Wow, Leaf." Blue sneered. "I don't think I knew any of that."
"Quiet, Blue!" Leaf snarled back. "Why'd you got to be such a spoilsport?"
'Yeesh.' Red sighed to himself. 'What a riot these two are.'
"Whatever!" Blue released Armour (the name for his Squirtle, Red reminded himself) from his Pokeball. "Armour, you ready?!"
The Squirtle puffed his chest out, shooting Red a stink-eye and motioning his hand at him with an over-confident grin.
"Like trainer—." Leaf muttered to herself. "—Like Pokemon."
"You'll get your chance to battle soon, Crimson." Red patted the wriggling Pokeball with a sharp grin, then held up Volt's Pokeball. His Pikachu appeared from it in a flash of red light. "Volt, you're up."
Volt went down on all fours; electricity shimmered from his cheeks.
"That Pikachu, huh?" Blue scoffed. "Of course gramps let you take that menace with you! I'm getting payback for the time you bit my finger, you pipsqueak!"
The Pikachu flashed Blue a sardonic grin, moving his paw like a mouth and laughing at him. Armour glared at him in response.
"Why you…I'm calling first move, Red!" Blue shook his fist, then swept it sideways. "Use Aura Sphere on the ground, pal!"
Bright blue energy began to coalesce between the Squirtle's palms. He lowered his stubby arms at the long stretch of stone in front of him.
It didn't seem like the Squirtle could use the move off the bat, Red noted. Blue would have to train his Squirtle to use it better.
"Quick Attack behind him." Red said. "Don't let the stone shards that the Aura Sphere will create obscure your vision."
"Damn it!" Blue clenched his teeth. "Redirect your attack, Armour!"
Volt blurred, dashed across the field, and ended up behind Armour. Grunting, the Squirtle twisted around and charged up the last of his Aura Sphere. He hadn't yet finished forming it, Red saw with a grin.
"Thunder Wave!" Red shouted. "Then Quick Attack away!"
Yellow sparks of electricity flickered from Volt's cheeks, consuming Armour and stunning him. When the Aura Sphere was blasted towards him, Volt zig-zagged across the battle-field back to his end.
'Thunder Shock might have finished it off.' He mused. 'But the attack would have collided with Aura Sphere and could have made some sort of impact that damages both sides. It wouldn't have been worth the risk.'
Armour wobbled around a bit, crying out in annoyance. Electricity shone from his body due to the paralysis that Volt's Thunder Wave had inflicted upon him. He righted himself and banged a clenched fist against his chest.
"That's the spirit!" Blue balled his hand into a fist and punched the air. "Use the speed of Aqua Jet to counter the speed of Pikachu's Quick Attack!"
Water swirled around Armour's shelled body; he pushed himself forward and spiralled towards Volt with a determined scream.
"Quick Attack!" Red called out. "But keep your distance for now!"
Volt became a blur once more and Armour chased him around the battle-field, but the effects of his paralysis caused him to stagger half-way through and crash into the ground with a pained grunt.
"Finish this." Red said. "Thunder Shock!"
And Volt turned around, gathering lightning in the pouches on his cheeks and unleashing a crackling yellow streak of energy upon Armour. It smashed into him and knocked him unconscious in seconds.
"Squirtle has been knocked out; Blue loses!" Leaf shouted. "Pokemon trainer Red is the winner!"
"Oh, man." Blue grumbled, took out a Potion, and sprayed its contents on Armour. His injuries were cleared away from his body. "You did great, pal. We'll get those two morons next time."
"Good match." Red healed Volt with his own Potion and patted him on the head. The Pikachu let out a victorious burst of laughter. "Good work, Volt. Rest up for now." He returned Volt to his Pokeball and turned to Leaf. "You up for a battle, Leaf?"
"Maybe next time, Red!" Leaf replied. "I really want to head out of Pallet Town now!"
"Same." Blue put his Squirtle back into his Pokeball in a beam of red light and stood up. "I want to catch myself some more Pokemon and challenge the Pewter Gym as soon as possible!"
"See you two later." Red shot them a wave. "I'll also be leaving soon."
Blue and Leaf swept up the path towards the laboratory and disappeared through its double doors. Red followed them not long after.
(-)
In his bed-room, Red double-checked his funds and supplies and Pokeballs. He walked downstairs, turned off all the lights in the house, and stepped out onto the cobblestone path bordered by a well-cut lawn.
'This is it, I guess.' Red brought his key out from his pocket, locked the front door to his home, and put it away. 'The start of my adventure.'
He'd make it to the top, no matter what.
Red walked down the main dirt road of Pallet Town and headed out.