Continuum

A slight note: I got a lot of the names of chapters from Acid Tetris, so they're copywrite that.

Costumed

The sunset set the entire field alight with red, touching every stalk of grass with it's rosy glow. It lit everything, shining and glowing with an inner fire, that bounced and refracted after everything it touched, reflecting back onto the beautiful sunset. Everything was painted in lavish, fiery-red and gold hues.
Lumina smiled, the red light reflecting off her fur, turning it a glimmering ruby. Her wings were now golden-red, the tips silver-red. Her halo caught a flash of light, showering the area with a brief flash of reddish-gold light. She waved her tail, which dangled behind her, so it flashed millions of glimmering silver and ruby lights over the grass. Sitting on the tree was comfortable. There was room enough for her tail to hang over the branch she was sitting on, and it gave her a wonderful view of the sunset. She had never seen one before. She had only heard descriptions.
"Do you like it?" she heard a whispery voice say near one of her ears. She turned to one side and focused her eyes hard. She made out the faint outline of Trent, sitting next to her. It was hard to see him out of her Ghost phase, but she could manage.
"It's...It's beautiful, Trent. Thank you for showing me." she said, sighing at the sight.
"I'm glad you like it." his voice sounded like whispers on wind. She breathed quietly to herself the word "phase", and suddenly everything became fuzzy, while Trent became clear and sharp, having his own colors. The dying sunlight only shone through him, as it did to her now, because of their now phantasmal bodies. But Lumina didn't mind. As long as she could see Trent better.
"I thought this should be one of the first things you see as your first experience into our world."
"I didn't know there were things like this." Lumina whispered, sliding a bit closer to Trent. He didn't seem to notice.
"How could you? Locked down in that cavern with that awful Manachu..."
"Manachu wasn't awful. It protected us. It took care of us. It did care."
Trent seemed doubtful. His impression of the Manachu wasn't pleasant. Afterall, it was the Manachu that had killed him in the first place.
Lumina breathed a ghostly sigh. Trent took her paw in concern. His face, hidden by the mask, was almost uninterpretable. Only his eyes and mouth could really show how he felt. But that was enough.
"What's wrong?"
"I....I miss my friends."
"The other Clegencyanas?"
"Yes...them and the Genceys too...and the Ranachu. And Manachu. And all of your friends. I miss them all."
Trent smiled.
"You haven't even known them that long yet."
Lumina abruptly burst into tears.
"Oh Trent, I'm just not able to cope with such a solitary life!"
"Lumina..." Trent began, placing a paw on her ghostly shoulder. She sobbed into her paws.
"I miss being around other Pokémon....I miss being with others! I can't live by myself....I can't...."
Trent looked down. The Marowak was ashamed at what he had tried to push Lumina to become.
"I'm sorry. I just thought you would be able to adjust...like me. It's only been a week with no contact...."
"It's too much. I want to see someone else. No offense...but...."
"I understand." Trent said. He stood up, holding his ghost bone-club. He took Lumina's paw. She spread her shimmering wings, and the two of them floated off.
"Who are we going to see?"
"Who else? Let's visit Torrent. Maybe he has some news."
Lumina wiped her tears away and nodded with a smile.

~~~~

Torrent was sleeping when they found him, resting in the clearing in the woods near a pond as always. Night had fallen by that time. It was both Trent and Lumina's favorite time. They landed noiselessly near Torrent, who sniffed and then sat up.
"Trent. Lumina. What do you wish of me?" Torrent asked, in his rippling, blood-like voice. Trent could not surpress as shudder, but Lumina was unaffected.
"I'm so glad to see you, Torrent! I've missed everyone!"
"I'm sorry to say that Manachu doesn't feel the same about you or me."
"I didn't expect him too."
Torrent yawned and streched, flexing the webs between his toes and streching out his long, crescent-moon ended tail.
"I suppose you want to know what happened to Solaris?"
"Oh yes! I haven't seen her in a week!"
"She'll be fine. She was lucky that it was only a glancing blow from the Manachu's power, or she wouldn't be here."
Torrent began walking off, and Lumina and Trent followed behind him.
"It's hard to believe you've avoided all human or Pokémon contact all week, Lumina. It seems so different for you."
"It is, Torrent. For me anyway. Trent takes it all in stride."
"Of course. Trent is Marowak. The other half of a Pokémon that's type is 'Lonely'."
Trent didn't like his species referred to like that, but he didn't comment. Torrent arrived at a small next-like structure constructed off strips and bits of fabric and other soft things he had found and patched together.
"Solaris! Visitors!" Torrent called up. A head poked over the rim, blinking.
"Lumina!" there was a joyful cry. The Gencey leaped from the nest, spreading her tiny, golden wings. One was missing a lot of feathers, and the tail was missing half of the customary poof on the end. There was also a patch over the Gencey's head, going over one eye.
"Are you doing any better?" Lumina inquired.
"I'm feeling a lot better. I may leave soon."
"Hmmm." Lumina sighed.
"Don't worry, Lumina. I'll still be around."
"I know, I know..."
There was an awkward silence. Trent coughed, and finally Solaris spoke again.
"Well, if that's it..."
Lumina looked as if she wanted to say something, but couldn't think of what. She took hold of Trent's paw again, and the two floated off. Torrent watched them leave, with the injured Solaris near his side.
"They're in love. You can tell." Torrent said, sounding very sure of himself.
Solaris wasn't too happy with the prospect.
"I wonder if they know it..."
Torrent smiled.
"I miss talking to Eeeee. I'm going to go see her. I'll be back soon. Don't leave the nest."
Solaris smiled, sitting upright and crossing her fluffy paws.
"I think someone ELSE is in love and doesn't know it."
Torrent's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, half hiding the circles on his cheeks. He turned around angrily.
"We're not in love! We're just friends!"
Solaris only smiled in a way that infuriated Torrent.
"And besides, what would she want with me anyway? I'm leaving!"
Torrent said angrily. He leaped into the air and dove into the water with a tremendous splash, using his powerful tail and webbed paws to propel himself as fast as he could. Solaris smiled knowingly and shook her head.

~~~~

Eeeee wished she was dead.
She really did.
It would be better then where she was now.
Eeeee slumped down in the middle of the cavern, under the ever gazing eye of the Manachu. Everyday, tortured until she was only a slight distance from death...then the Manachu would stop so she could recover for more torture. One of the fins on the side of her head was torn off....it still bled. The Manachu had been too rough at first, not knowing the fin wouldn't grow back. Now it took pleasure in reopening the wound. Eeeee limped slightly to the right now, her balance askew. Her back was covered in long gashes, some old, some new. Her tail spikes were ripped clean off, her ruff was tattered and torn, nothing more then scraps around her neck. But she did this too help her friends...
The heavy chain attached to her neck drug her head down as she tried to stand on her weak and tottery legs. There would be no more pain today.
At least, not physically.
The Manachu insisted that they talk while she recovered. There were chains around her paws too, and even her tail. Not that she would try to escape. That would be going back on her deal.
"How is Torrent lately?" the Manachu asked, laying on it's back and staring at Eeeee with it's penetrating eyes.
"He visits me more..." Eeeee said in a hoarse, weak voice, rough with countless shrieks and screams.
"Does he? Does he know I know about his visits?"
"No."
"When is he coming next?"
"I don't know."
The Manachu slammed a paw down so hard it shook the floor. Eeeee lowered her remaining two fins, but couldn't, wouldn't move.
"You don't KNOW?" the Manachu said, sounding outraged. Eeeee shook her head no. The Manachu leaned back suddenly, with a strange smile on it's face. Another thing about that Pokémon that scared Eeeee were it's sudden mood swings.
"No matter. He'll come eventually. Then I can surprise him. Cause him some fear. That should be fun!"
Eeeee shuddered at the glee in it's voice.
"Solstice!" The Manachu suddenly shouted. A Clegencyana fluttered near it.
"Yes?"
"Get the prisoner some food and water. Nothing too special...don't want her getting too strong now."
"Okay."
Solstice spread her beautiful wings and zipped out of the room, a flash of gold, silver, and white.
"I still don't understand why they stay here with you...you MONSTER !" Eeeee shouted. Sometimes she shouted or yelled at the Manachu, and once she had even attacked. She wouldn't do THAT again. But shouting was okay. It seemed to make the Manachu happy, in fact.
"I help them. They're too naive to understand battle...too innocent to understand training. They could never be raised by any Pokémon trainer....they could never survive on their own. So I stay here and help them. I protect them from other Pokémon that don't like them. In exchange, they help me get what I want."
"Screams." Eeeee spat.
"True, true. But anything shiny will do in a pinch."
Solstice fluttered back into the room, holding a dish of pellets and a dripping bowl of water. She placed them gently in front of Eeeee, looked at Eeeee with sad eyes, as if wanting to help her, then flew off again.
The Manachu's ears perked up.
"Ah! I think it's your friend Torrent now. How convenient. I'll pretend to be asleep." the Manachu said, curling into a ball of matted, dark fur.
"You can't! I'll tell him!" Eeeee threatened. The huge eyes of the Manachu were instantly staring into her.
"You do and you'll have NO fins left on that head of yours."
Tears flowed openly down Eeeee's face, but she couldn't do anything to stop them.

~~~~ Torrent burst out of the water with a splash, shaking himself as he took stock of his surrondings. He was near the cave he had exited, along with the other escapee's, so long ago. He noticed the scratching on the wall, inflicted by his own crescent-moon ended tail, marking the path that he had once hoped Eeeee would take to freedom.
He had really tried to convince her to come with him. The first time he came he waited until he could tell the Manachu was asleep, and began to work on breaking her fetters. She instantly butted him away. While Torrent listened in confusion, she explained why she was going to stay. Torrent tried to convince her to come with him, but she wouldn't listen. After that he would sneak in in mid-day, when he approximated that the Manachu would be asleep, and talk to her. Everyday he asked her to come with him, and every day she said no.
But today, he told himself, would be the day she would relent. He knew it.
He wandered in the underground tunnels, following the marks he had made. He could see perfectly in the dark...just like the Manachu.
He came into the cavern, and saw the huge ball of dark, matted fur in one corner. It was asleep. Good.
He saw Eeeee, resting her head on her battered, torn paws, looking half-asleep. He silently walked over to her, nudging her with the tip of his tail.
"Eeeee? Eeeee, are you okay?" he asked, sounding nervous. She rolled over weakly, having no strength to get up. She looked up at him, blinking her swollen eyes. A tear rolled down on of her tear-stained cheeks, going over the wound where one fin used to be.
"I'm sorry, Torrent." she said.
He turned around just in time to see the Manachu unroll from the ball, slamming a paw down on the crecent-moon of his tail.
"AAAGH!" Torrent shouted. There weren't any bones in the crescent-moon, but it really hurt!
"Hello Torrent. I wasn't expecting to see you around here again." The Manachu smiled, lifting up Torrent by the tail effortlessly. Torrent stared at Eeeee, with the chains around her neck and paws, staring at him sorrowfully.
"You told!" Torrent shouted accusingly.
"Honestly, Torrent, give me some credit. I'm not stupid." The Manachu smiled, showing all it's fangs. Torrent stared at Eeeee angrily.
"He made me, Torrent. I couldn't help it." she said, almost silently. Torrent heard. The Manachu swung him around by his tail, causing Torrent sharp pain, while it thought about what to do.
"I need a good statue. What do you think, Torrent?"
"Let me go!" Torrent shouted. The Manachu's eyes glew an eerie yellow. Torrent could feel his body stiffening.
"I think I'll use something special...perhaps a shot of DoubleParalysis? Maximum Power?" The Manachu smiled. DoubleParalysis was a move only the Manachu knew. It transformed the opponent to stone for a week...on minimum power. Torrent could feel his toes beginning to change.
"No! No! Stop it!" Torrent gasped. The Manachu put him down, but it's eyes kept glowing. Torrent could feel his body hardening, his tail was frozen in one position, already stone.
"Try to strike an interesting pose. I can't redo it afterwards." The Manachu said.
"Torrent!" Eeeee said, trying to run to him. She almost reached him, but the chains that held her didn't let her reach.
"Eeeeee...." Torrent moaned, trying to move his body, "how..."
The stone creeped up his back, spilling downwards into his paws, freezing them in their outstreched position to Eeeee. He looked at Eeeee one last time as the stone creeped up his chin, around his ears, over his eyes, and finally, over his mouth, left hanging open. Eeeee stared at the statue of the Ranachu, shocked speechless.
"Torrent...." she murmured. The Manachu picked up the Statue, and placed it closer, so she could reach it.
"That takes care of one nuisance." the Manachu said, turning it's eyes to somewhere else.
Eeeee put her chained paws over Torrent in a hug, weeping. The Chains made dull sounds on the stone.
"Oh Torrent...why did you have to come back...I said no...you should've stayed away Torrent. Why did you do this..."
Eeeee wept bitter tears, realizing how deep her feelings ran for the Ranachu. The Manachu eerie, chilling laughter burned her slashed flesh, and tore her heart to pieces, echoing around the cavern.

Inner Walls Released

Radic and Red had set up camp deep in the Viridian Forest. Red had proven this by finding nothing but Weedles, while Radic only heard the cries of Caterpies. Whenever either one would reach for the other's bug type Pokémon, Weedle or Caterpie, they wouldn't find it. They understood this as a phenomenon common to the two of them for some reason. Some Pokémon liked one of them, and avoid the other like the plague. They didn't know why that was, but they knew it happened to a lot of trainers.
Radic and Red had set up tents next to eachother, and were sleeping in the night. They had eaten over the fire, with Violet chattering away at her Pikachu. She had borrowed one of Radic's Revives, one of the few things remaining in his vest pocket. Radic had used a super potion that Violet had found on his arm, which was now good-as-new. Neither Radic nor Red liked Pikachu very much, although Radic was the only one who liked Raichu.
Red noticed Violet being extra-attentive around Radic, trying to help him, bring him things, walk him around. Radic rejected all these offers angrily, insisting he could do things by himself. Red could understand how feeling helpless was so hard for Radic.
Red had Ratty out, who was snuggled around him while they ate. Rockybalbo was put away, the Riachu no longer needed to be held to stay with them. It curled around and over Radic most of the time, showing great affection and undying loyalty towards him. It apparently credited him for saving it from the Marowak out to kill it, and it appreciated the fact that Radic was a Raichu-trainer. Red felt slightly jealous. He found the thing.
Radic had Kitsune out of it's ball. The Ninetails was sitting next to Radic, lapping delicately some soup out of it's bowl. Finally, the group was tired, and they went to sleep. Radic went to his own tent, and Red and Violet went to their own respective tents. They fell asleep quickly.
Red was having dreams of being back at Indigo Plateau, about the Elite Four, when something woke him up.
He rubbed his eyes hard, yawning and blinking incomprehensingly at the dark shape in the doorway.
"Wha..."
"Red?" he could recognize Radic's voice. It sounded strange... almost like Radic was afraid.
"Jeez, Radic...do you know what time it is..." Red groaned, looking over at his alarm clock. It read 3:00 Am. he turned and looked at Radic. He was a faint shadow in the doorway, made by the moon's light, but Red could tell that Radic was wearing just some simple pajamas. Red felt self-concious because he wasn't wearing a shirt, but then he remembered Radic was blind.
"No. How could I? I can't sleep, Red."
"Why not." Red said grumpily, turning away from Radic.
"It was different when I wasn't...blind. I could open my eyes when I wanted. But now...it's like there's something hovering over me...it reminds me of the Manachu. Terrible nightmares."
"Too bad." Red said, trying to get back to sleep.
"Red?"
"What?" Red said irritably.
"Do...do you mind if...if I sleep in here tonight?"
Red paused, thinking this over.
"Fine. You can share the sleeping bag. Just don't take up too much room."
"Thank you."
He heard Radic tiptoe in as quietly as possible, stumbling over things that Red had left on the floor. He heard other pawsteps behind him. Kitsune was with him.
He felt Radic stop near his sleeping bag, then felt Radic wriggle gently in next to him. Red tried to understand what he was feeling when a large weight suddenly settled on both of them.
"Kitsune, don't sleep on us. Get under the cover with me." Radic said, groping out blindly. He patted Kitsune on the head.
"Ninetails." Kitsune said, pawing it's way beneath the blanket. Red felt Ratty wriggle in closer next to him. Radic probably hadn't realized that Ratty was under the covers too.
Now Radic and Red were back to back, their Pokémon sleeping next to them.
Almost half-an-hour passed, and Red could tell that Radic had fallen asleep. He was close to falling sleep too. Red's eyes closed. He could feel Radic moving next to him. He knew Radic liked to toss in his sleep. He had often walked in on him in the wackiest positions, often half on and half off the bed.
"If you kick me Radic..." Red mumbled softly under his breath. Ratty, asleep, twitched a bit, but didn't wake up.
Suddenly, he felt Radic's arm over him and pulling him close, like he was some cherished toy.
The first reaction was shock to Red. Then to push Radic away. But then he realized that Radic was asleep...he must've confused him for Kitsune. Actually, now that Red thought about it, it wasn't all that uncomfortable.
Red put his hand over Radic's, closed his eyes, and tried to sleep, nestled between two Pokémon and a human. He had never felt so safe.

~~~~

Violet was laying awake in her tent, thinking. It wasn't something she liked to do, but sometimes she had to ask herself hard philosophical questions at times.
Like times she couldn't sleep.
She sighed angrily and rolled over, trying not to disturb Buzzaki, sleeping at her feet.
That Radic...there was something very compelling about him. He was so helpless...and he was pretty cute too...Violet blushed. She liked him. She wished that he wasn't so hostile all the time though. She wondered why he was like that. Was there someone else in his life?...
Violet sat up, her eyes blazing. She was tired of waiting! She was going to find out!
She stood up, pulling on some warm clothes. She heard Buzzaki yawn.
"Piiiiiiika." Buzzaki said, streching. She whispered what she was going to do. Buzzaki looked the picture of disapproval.
"Pika! Pikapi...pikapikachu!"
"Please Buzzaki! Please!"
Buzzaki sighed and relented. He followed her out. She snuck quietly out into the night, trying to ignore the calls of Zubat's and other creepy Pokémon she heard at night. She made her way directly to Radic's tent, followed by her Pikachu.
"Radic-" she said, opening the flap to his tent.
There wasn't anything there. Not even Kitsune. Only the Riachu, sleeping and snoring gently on Radic's pillow. Violet blinked.
"Huh?...Where is he?"
"Pikapi!" Buzzaki whispered. Violet turned around, noticing the bare footprints of Radic and the pawprints of his Ninetails leading away.
"Good job Buzzaki."
"Pikachu!"
They followed the tracks, finding they led to Red's tent.
"Red's tent? Why would he be in here?"
She checked her snazzy, digital, Pokéwatch with a picture of a Pikachu on it, and found it was around 4:30 Am. She looked at the sky, but it was still dark.
"I hope he doesn't mind me waking him up." she said to herself.
She opened the tentflap and gasped.
There was Radic and Red, sharing the same blanket and sleeping bag, hugging one another, while their Pokémon slept next to them! They both looked contented in their embrace. And Red wasn't wearing a shirt.
Violet was speechless for a few moments.
"R...R..Red? Radic?" she said.
Radic blinked and woke up first. He shook Red awake.
"Hey Red, did you hear something?"
Red rubbed his eyes and yawned, sitting up. He found himself staring straight at the horrified Violet, her Pikachu looking just as aghast.
"Violet?" he said, confused.
"Violet's here? What's she doing?" Radic asked, tugging on Red's shoulder. Red ignored him for the moment.
Instantly tears began running down Violet's cheeks.
"Oh Radic...why didn't you tell me?"
"Tell you what?" Radic said, blinking his pink sightless eyes.
"Ninetails?" Kitsune said, yawning and sitting up. It looked just as confused. Red flopped over and looked at the clock near where he was sleeping.
"Wha time is it..." he muttered angrily.
"That you and Red were....were more then just friends!" Violet shouted.
"Wha...more then...you mean, when we were asleep...Violet, it's not what you think!"
Red sat straight up, wide awake.
"ExCUSE ME?!"
"I don't want your explanations!" Violet shouted, running out of the tent, leaving a stream of tears.
"Pikaaaa!" Buzzaki cried, running after her.
"God, she has to do this at 4:30 in the morning, doesn't she..." Red groaned, sitting up and yawning. He looked and saw Radic groping around.
"What do you think, Radic? Where are you going?"
"I have no idea. I think she saw us asleep....I'm going to go find her. Kitsune will sniff her out. As soon as I find the leash."
Kitsune flipped the collar over it's head, and held the leash in it's mouth. Radic groped aound blindly.
"It's next to you, Radic." Red said, holding his head.
"Right." Radic grabbed the leash, and Kitsune instantly began leading him.
Red looked at Radic, who didn't look back. He had no idea that Red was looking at him. Red was utterly confused, and not because of Violet.
"Rrrrrraticate?" Ratty said, sounding worried.
Red sat up and pulled on a shirt, putting on his vest and hat. He noticed that Radic had his hat on. Red sat down and tried to get his bearings, while Radic made his way out of the tent, lead by the Ninetails.

~~~~

"Violet? VIOLET!" Radic called, keeping on her trail. A few feet away, Violet sat on a tree stump, wiping her eyes with the end of one of her braids.
"Red? Is that you? If it is, go away!" she said angrily. Radic knelt down and dropped the leash, holding onto Kitsune's head.
"Kitsune, go get Red. Lead him here."
"Nine!" Kitsune nodded and ran off.
"Radic? Is that you?"
"Violet? Where are you? Talk again." Radic said, holding out his hands in an effort to find her without the guidance of Kitsune. How he hated being blind!
"Why talk..." Violet said. Radic could hear her walking towards him. Before he could react, he felt Violet's hands on his face. They wrapped around the back of his head, entangled themselves in his hair, and pulled him towards her.
Before he knew what was happening, Violet was kissing him.
"Mmmf!" Radic tried to protest. He tried to break off, but she was was holding his head. He couldn't break free. It was a terrifying feeling for him, considering he had never been kissed before in that way, and now he couldn't even understand or see what was going on. He, in a fit of hysteria, shoved Violet away from him.
"VIOLET!" Radic said, sounding horrified. He fell over backwards, landing hard. He was so confused he could barely understand what was happening.
Violet began crying again.
"So it IS true. How long has this been going on?" she asked angrily. Red walked into the clearing.
"Did I miss something?"
"Nine?" Kitsune said from behind him. Ratty was sitting on his shoulder, looking very unhappy and grumpy at being awake this early. it glared at Buzzaki, who glared back.
"Red? Red! You won't believe what Violet just did!" Radic said, jumping up rashly. He rushed towards where he had heard Red last. He felt Red's hands grip his, stopping him.
"Woah, slow down, slow down. Let's take this from the beginning. Now, what happened?"
Radic just was so overwashed with emotions he just couldn't handle it.
"Oh Red...she...she...." he began, but couldn't finish. He started crying. Red just reacted instinctively, letting Radic cry on his shoulder, hugging him and trying to make him calm down.
"Nine! Ninetails!" Kitsune said, pawing at Radic, sounding very distressed. Ratty switched to the unwet shoulder, slightly confused.
"What did you do to him?" Red asked Violet accusingly, sounding slightly angry. He could see the sun beginning to rise, touching everything with it's faint red light. Violet stood a slight distance away, looking both shocked and heart-broken at the same time.
"I...I..." she stammered. She grabbed one of her long, green braids, and began fiddling with it nervously.
Red wasn't even sure of what exactly he was doing. He was just going by instinct. He rubbed the top of Radic's head soothingly, speaking softly too him.
"Radic...it's okay...calm down....calm down..."
Radic sniffled a few times and stopped crying, but didn't look up. Red looked at Violet angrily, who sat on the stump she had been sitting on, chewing on one of her braids and looking down, talking softly to herself.
"I...I....don't know..."

~~~~

It was mid-afternoon when the three trainers set off again. They had caught up on their sleep.
Red had led Radic to his tent, and neither Violet nor Radic commented about it. When they all woke up, they felt very subdued, although not tired. Even Ratty seemed less energetic. They prepared and ate breakfast in silence.
Radic and Red set out at the same pace, Radic using the even pawbeats of Kitsune to keep him on track.
He could hear Violet walking a few feet behind them, obviously deep in her thoughts. She kept lagging further and further behind until Radic and Red could speak without her hearing.
"Red?" Radic said.
Red turned towards him.
"Yes?"
"Th...thanks for last night. I really needed someone to be there for me."
There was a short pause.
"You're welcome. I was glad to do it." Red said after the short silence.
There was another pause.
Red could feel someone take a hold of his hand. He looked over and saw it was Radic. He thought for a few moments, then tightened his grip on Radic's hand.
The sun above them cast down shadows on the two trainers, as Radic and Red, holding hands, set off for Indigo Plateau, with another, downcast trainer behind them.

I See It Now

It was Hitmochan that originally thought of the idea. The remaining Pokémon of Radic's unwanted collection had agreed to it. Weedle the Beedrill, Alacaxam the Alacazam, and Pixel the Porygon. The group had become quite close-knit after Eeeee had sacrificed herself for them. They travelled together, slept together, ate together, and fought together. One day, while they were resting outside Victory Road, Hitmochan had plucked a flower and was munching on it idily while she thought of her idea.
"Ya know what?" she said. Weedle was hovering over some flowers, but he buzzed back over to where the rest of the group was laying.
"What?" he asked.
"We're a pretty good fightin team, aren't we?" The Hitmochan asked, rolling over. She stared at Alacaxam, who was levitating flowers off the ground for fun. Pixel had it's eyes closed, apparently it was "Axsessing it's mem o ree banks" or whatever it said it was doing.
"Of course. No one has been able to beat us yet." Alacaxam said, it's eyes glowing.
"We've never fought any trainers before, that's why. There aren't any wild Pokémon around that's used to being attacked in a group." Weedle said, landing lightly on Pixel's back and resting for a moment. Pixels's eyes snapped open. Weedle was startled for a minute, but eventually relaxed again.
"We haven't fought any trainers because we don't HAVE one." Alacaxam said, "They think we're just a group of wild Pokémon they don't want."
"Well, here's what I think. Why don't we form our own group?" Hitmochan suggested.
The others blinked at her.
"Well, think about it. Who really needs a trainer, anyway? We could probably make it through da Elite Four by ourselves!"
"Wait a minute," Weedle said, holding up his drills, "Pokémon can't be in their OWN teams. They need a trainer."
"Who says?" Hitmochan asked angrily.
Weedle put the drill to his mouth, puzzled. "Well....uh...."
"She has a point." Alacaxam said.
"To test our new hypothesis, we should find a test subject." Pixel said in it's mechanical voice.
"Right." Alacaxam said. Hitmochan hadn't understood a word Pixel had said, but went along with it anyway.
"Look! There's a trainer now!" Weedle said. He pointed out a boy walking along the path. He was rather young.
"Why don't we try beating him?"

~~~~

Jake was walking down the path to the Elite Four, humming to himself. He was sure he could win! His Pokémon were all in their upper 30's. He had heard of someone beating them around those levels, so he was sure he could. What he was specifically worried about was the Current League Champions Raticate, Ratty. But he had also heard that The Current League Champion was missing.
He was humming when he noticed four pokémon off the side of the road. An Alacazam, A Porygon, A Beedrill, and a Hitmonchan. He had each of those Pokémon, so he didn't bother going to capture them. He noticed they kept staring at him. That was slightly unnerving. He speeded up a bit and tried to whistle. He looked back, and noticed the four Pokémon were following him. He speeded up again, and heard a buzzing noise over his head. He skidded to a stop as Beedrill hovered in front of him. He turned and saw the other Pokémon had surrounded him.
"Wha...WHAT DO YOU WANT?!" Jake shouted, frightened.
"Hitmon...Hitmonchan! Chan!" the Hitmonchan laughed.
"Alaca....Alacazzzam?" the Alacazam seemed to ask the Porygon.
"Porygon. Porygon. Porygon." The Porygon said mechanically.
"Beeeeeedrill. Beeeeeedrilllll!" The Beedrill buzzed.
"Go, Vulpix!" Jake cried. He released the fox from the Pokéball, where it stared in terror at the Pokémon surronding it.
"Vulpix, what are they saying? Tell me!"
"Vul! Vulp vulp...Vul vulpix!"
"They want to BATTLE?! Where's their trainer?" Jake asked.
"Vulp vulpix pix?" the Vulpix asked the Beedrill. It hovered in front of the Vulpix, pricking it with it's drills.
"Beeeeeeedrill."
"Vulp vulp!"
"They don't HAVE one? But how can they...? Well, if they want a battle, they'll get one!" Jake said. He recalled Vulpix. The group of Pokémon had moved in front of him, clustered together.
"I call...Butterfree!" Jake cried, releasing the Pokémon.
"Beeefreee!"
The Group of Pokémon talked among themselves.
"Hitmon hitmon...hitmonCHAN!" the Hitmonchan cried, pointing a boxing glove officiously. The Beedrill hovered out.
Jake held out his Pokédex and scanned the Beedrill. He found it was at level 46!
Weedle was very proud of his recent leveling.
"Beefree! Beeeeeefreee!" His Butterfree said.
"Hitmochan calls....Weedle? Is that what the Hitmonchan said?"
Jake said, confused.
"Chan! Hitmon!" the Hitmonchan said.
"Beeeeeedrill!" the Beedrill said, glowing.
"It's doing Agility!" Jake cried. "Butterfree, use your Sleep Powder!"
"Beeeeeefreeee!" The Butterfree said, blowing powder from it's wings.
"Drill?" The Beedrill said.
"Alaca! Alacazamzam AlaZam!" the Alacazam cried.
"Drill!"
The Beedrill flapped it's own buzzing wings, blowing the powder away. Jake was utterly confused! The Pokémon were calling advice and commands to one another! He had never fought a battle like this before!
"Chan! Hitmonchanchan hitmon!" the Hitmonchan cried. The Beedrill nodded, extending it's drills. Pointed Needles stuck out from their tips. They instantly zoomed out, striking the delicate Butterfree in it's wings.
"Pinmissle!" Jake cried, horrified.
"Beeee..." his Butterfree cried. He recalled it, in faint. The group of Pokémon rejoiced, patting the Beedrill on the back and offering what seemed to be congratulations!
"Ooooo! I'll show that Beedrill! Pidgeot, go!" Jake cried, calling out his Pidgeot.
"Pidgeyaaaa!" the Pidgeot cried.
The group of Pokémon consulted.
"AlacaAlaca..." The Alacazam started.
"Porygon."
The Hitmonchan ran out.
"Pidgey...Pidgeyaaaa!" the Pidgeot cried.
"Alacazam calls...Hitmonchan? They're calling THEMSELVES out? This is too weird. No matter. Pidgeot! Wing Attack!"
"Pidgeyyaaaaa!"
"Pokédex, scan that Pokémon!"
"Ahem. Name: Hitmonchan. Level: 58."
"Oh no! How did these Pokémon get such high level?" Jake asked no one in particular.
"Hitmon!" the Hitmonchan cried, as the sharp wings of the Pidgeot slashed it's chest.
"Beeedrill, drill!" the Beedrill cried, as if shouting encouragement. The Hitmonchan grunted, standing on wobbly legs, groaning.
"Alacazam! Alaca! Zam Zam!" the Alacazam cried, pointing a spoon at the bird.
"Hitmon....CHAAAAAN!" the Hitmonchan cried, striking the ground with one fist in pure fury. Electric energy surged into the Hitmochan, the lancing out and striking the Pidgeot square in the Breast Feathers.
"PIDGEYAAAAAA!" it shrieked, collapsing.
"Not Pidgeot! You Pokémon are a mockery of the system!" Jake shouted at the Pokémon angrily. The enemy Pokémon just laughed.
"Fine! I call...MACHOKE!"
"Ma!" the Pokémon cried, coming out of it's ball.
"Beeedrill...Beedrill...DRILL!" the Beedrill said, pointing at the Machoke.
"Alaca...." the Alacazam said, moving out.
"Beedrill calls...Alacazam?" Jake said after his Machoke's translation. He scanned it, and gasped in horror. That Alacazam was level 72!
"Machoke! Seismic toss!" Jake cried desperatly.
"Porygon, Porygon....Poryporygon." The Porygon said in it's unfeeling voice. The Alacazam put it's spoons to it's head and concentrated. The Machoke held it's head and screamed.
"MAAA! CHOKE CHOKE MAAAA!" it cried, falling over in a dead faint.
"Psychic..."Jake said softly. He recalled the Machoke. He sent out his next Pokémon.
"Go Onix! Show these Pokémon whose boss!"
"Groooooonix!" The huge snake cried. The Pokémon again consulted.
"Porygonporygon...porygon."
"Porygon calls out....Hitmonchan?" Jake said after Onix's translation. "No Matter! Onix, Slam!"
"GROOOONIX!" the Onix cried, moving forward.
"Beeedrill! Beeeedrill!"
The Hitmochan raised one fist to the sky, and a bolt of blue lightning hit it. It ran forward, faster the the poor Onix, and slammed it's fist into it's face. Instantly Ice formed over it, crackling down it's entire body.
"GROOOOAAAA!" the Onix screamed, slamming to the ground as the ice froze it. The Hitmonchan jumped free, much to the cheers of it's own team.
"Grrrr..."Jake said. He couldn't believe it! He was on Victory Road, and he was being beaten by some stupid Pokémon without a trainer! He grabbed his next to last Pokéball.
"Go Clefairy!"
"Clefairy fairy!" the Clefairy cried.
"Hitmon hitmon...hitmonCHAN!"
The Porygon walked out. It stared at the Clefairy.
"Pory?"
"Cleclefairy?"
"Don't stand there, Clefairy! Sing!"
"Cleefaiiiiry....cleclefaiiirryyy..."the Clefairy began to sing.
"Hitmon!"
"Drill!"
"Alaca!" the rest of the Porygon's team gasped.
"Alacazam! AlacaAlacaZAM!" the Alacazam cried. The Porygon instantly focused within itself, calling on it's own power.
"It's level 55?!" Jake cried, after he scanned it.
Instantly, a sharp edged triangle shot from the Porygon and slammed into the Clefairy, knocking into the air and back at it's trainers feet.
He picked up the unconscious Clefairy.
"Triattack....You'll pay for this!" he cried angrily at the enemy Pokémon. They laughed again. He recalled his Clefairy.
"GO VULPIX!" Jake cried, sending out the Fox Pokémon. It's eyes glew with a vengeance.
The other Pokémon collected and talked to one another worriedly.
"Hitmonhitmon...chan!"
The Alacazam stepped out.
"VULPIX! CONFUSE RAY!" Jake shouted.
"VUUUUUULLPIX!" The Vulpix cried, it's voice burning with hatred and determination. A black ball flew from the Vulpix, slamming into the Alacazam, who staggered around, trying to regain it's bearings.
"Drill!" The Beedrill gasped.
"CHAN! HitmonCHAN!" the Hitmonchan cried deperately.
"Alaca...." the Alacazam said dizzily.
"You won't beat Vulpix so easily! I've worked hard with it...it's my best Pokémon!"
"Porygon!"
The Alacazam held it's spoons to it's head, trying to concentrate. Instead, it accidentally smacked itself in the head with one of it's spoons. The Rest of it's team gasped.
"Vulpix! Hit it with Flamethrower!"
"VUUUUL!"
The Vulpix opened it's mouth, a torrent of flame bursting out and engulfing the Alacazam.
"DRILL!"
"CHAN!"
"GON!"
The flame died away, revealing the now charred and smoking Alacazam, who was still walking around dizzily.
"Chan! Hitmonchan!"
"Beeeeeedrill!"
"Porygon...porygon!" The team members cried. Alacazam shook it's head, and it's eyes glew red with fury as it glared at the Vulpix, no longer dizzy.
"CHAN! Hitmonchan!" The Hitmonchan cried, holding out a boxing glove. The Alacazam pointed a spoon dramatically at the Vulpix, and a multicolored beam shot from it, slamming into the Vulpix's skull.
"Pix!" the Vulpix cried. It grunted, trying to stay awake.
"Vulpix! Hit it with Fire Spin!" Jake cried.
"Vuuul...." the Vulpix moaned. Instead it smacked itself. It was confused!
"CHAN! Hitmooonchan!" the Hitmonchan cried. The Alacazam pointed it's spoons at itself, and slowly it's burn marks healed.
"Vulpix! Come on Vulpix! Hit it with Fire Spin!"
"Pix....Vulll..." the Vulpix moaned. Again it smacked itself, and this time it fainted.
"VULPIX!" Jake cried, running forward and picking the tiny fox up, holding it close to himself.
He saw almost all the Pokémon in the group that attacked him shimmer for a second, then seem bigger. He knew that meant they had gone up a level. He held his unconcious Vulpix. He needed more work. Jake blinked back tears.
"You....YOU...." he shouted at the enemy pokémon. They stared back with uncomprehension. Uncaring things, Jake thought scornfully. The Vulpix was breathing shallowly in his arms, it's six tails draped over his arm. Jake ran off for the Pokécenter.
"Oh my gosh..." Hitmochan said, as soon as Jake had left. The others tuned back into her, they had been so busy trying to understand Jake. "We did it..."
"Yes, we did defeat the trainer. We are successful." Pixel said.
"Alright!" Weedle said happily, spiraling into the air. Alacaxam looked at it's spoons, then at the others.
"We're so powerful. I didn't know we could do anything like that..."
"Let's try and beat da Elite Four!" Hitmochan said.
"We can do it!" Weedle said, humming by. He streched his new, more powerful wings. He zipped inbetween trees, going as fast as he could. He zoomed over his friends, causing a breeze ta go by. He landed lightly.
"I've never felt so great! So useful! I've never felt like a success before...Radic never let me out to level...never let me try ta reach my full potential...and now I'm so powerful! I never knew I could be this strong! I never knew I could win!" Weedle said joyously.
Hitmochan flexed her muscles, slamming her punching gloves together. She slammed her glove into a tree, and it cracked and fell.
"I've never been so...useful!" she said, "I never thought I could be useful ta anyone! But now I am! I am important!"
Alacaxam focused it's energies, lifting the tree that had just fallen into the air easily. He waved a spoon, and the tree flipped through the air easily, as if it were no effort at all.
"I'm not...I'm not 'cheap' anymore. I'm not 'too good'. I have my own qualities...I'm part of a team."
Pixel watched as Weedle weaved through the branches off the hovering tree. It fell to the ground as Alacaxam let go of it's energy.
Pixel walked easily on to the top of it.
"We're all useful now. We have new abilities Radic would never have let us learn. But we must not lose sight of the goal we have set. We have to prove to everyone we are a above-average battling team." Pixel said in it's mechanical voice.
"I think the Manachu has given us experience enough to face anything." Hitmochan said. The others laughed, until they remembered what had happened to Eeeee.
There was a awkard silence.
"I wonder what ever happened to Eyanaka." Weedle said.
"Da Articuno?"
"Yeah. It flew off, and I don't think I ever saw it again after that."
"It's probably back where it lived before."
Hitmochan stuck a glove into the air.
"We can do it this time!"
Alacaxam's spoon touched the Glove.
"We can succeed!" Alacaxam said, telepathically to the rest of it's team. Hitmochan winced slightly.
Weedle grabbed Pixel with it's legs, lifting it easily off the ground with it's new power. It raised the Porygon up until it could touch the glove and spoon with one foot, while Weedle touched it with one back leg.
"We're in this together." Weedle buzzed.
"We are a team." Pixel said, it's voice mechanical.

Simple Song

Radic was sitting at a table at Indigo Plateau. In fact, it was part of the luxurious surrondings that befitted the League Champion. Radic sighed. He had once aspired to live here. To be League Champion. To be reknowned all over the world as Radic, Pokémon Master. But he could never quite cut it. I guess that was the consequence of working with Pokémon you like instead of powerful Pokémon.
How twisted was that?
"Peeeeeersian?" Ruby said, nudging his elbow. He patted Ruby on the head. He took the knife he had been holding and took the Pokéball he had been etching. He stuck the knife back into the Pokéball, making another notch. After he was done, he put the knife down and ran his fingers over the marks he had just made.
He could feel the contours. He felt the Persian sharpening it's claws on his chair, and he shooed it away.
"Peeeeersian." Ruby said, sounding miffed. It began licking itself serenly.
"Sorry Ruby. You can't scratch up Red's chairs."
"Peeersian." Ruby said, sounding angry.
"Well, I didn't make the rule. Why don't you argue it with him when he gets home?"
It had been only one day's travel to make it from Viridian Forest to Indigo Plateau. Violet had refused to leave Radic and Red alone, insisting she come in with them. The instant they were in Red was taken from all sides by his compatriots, Lance, Agatha, Lorelei, and Bruno. They quickly hustled him off, leaving Radic and Violet alone to fend for themselves. Radic didn't trust Violet anymore, so called out Callima to help protect him if Violet tried to kiss him again. Violet seemed hurt by this precaution. Someone came and asked them what they were doing. As soon as they saw who Radic was, they kicked him roughly out, saying that Losers had no place here.
Radic sat outside, utterly miserable, with only Callima the Parasect to keep him company, until Red finally came out, looking haggard. He cleared the mixup, and asked Radic if he would stay with him for a few days until everything was cleared up. Radic had agreed. Of course, Violet got a different room in another part of Red's quarters.
"Ruby, Violet isn't in here, is she?" Radic asked.
"Peer? Peeeeersiaan." Ruby said, sounding confused.
"Good."
Radic put down the Pokéball he was working on and fiddled with a cup of hot chocolate he was drinking. He sipped it slowly. When was Red going to come back? He had left so early in the morning. Was he gone all day EVERYday?
He heard a key rattle in the lock. He stood up so fast that he knocked over the chair he was sitting in. Ruby yowled at the suddenness of his movement.
"Red!" he said, smiling. He turned towards the door, which he heard open and close. He ran towards it.
"Red! You're back!"
As usual, he felt Red's hands grab his to prevent him from running into something. Radic hugged Red, then walked back to the table, calling Ruby to help guide him.
"What was that for?" Red asked, with a sort of amusement in his voice.
"I don't know. I just felt like it."
Radic put his chair back up, and sat down. He heard Red take the seat across from him.
"Why were you gone for so long?" Radic asked.
He heard Red sigh, resting his head in his hands.
"Ugh...I've never been so tired. The Elite Four just kept asking question after question after question as to where I've been for this month. Then, they wouldn't accept my explanation. Then we had to announce to everyone where I've been and so forth and everything. Oh, it was a nightmare! I'm never leaving without advance notice again."
Radic sipped his hot chocolate.
"What's it like living with the Elite Four?" Radic asked idly.
The door to Red's room suddenly slammed open, and Radic heard a massivly powerful voice speak.
"Hey Red! Where ya been?" the voice asked. Radic was so startled he dropped the hot chocolate on the table, where it luckily didn't spill. He pushed back so fast on his chair he flipped backwards.
"PEEERSIAN!" Ruby cried distressed, leaping out of the way of the falling chair.
"Hi Bruno." Red said, sounding tired. Radic felt Ruby make it's way back over to him, and lick his face with concern. Radic felt powerful hands grip him and lift him easily off the ground. Radic gasped, reminded strongly of the Manachu.
"What's this? What's this loser doing in yer room Red?" he heard Bruno say. He heard Red get up, and walk over to Bruno.
"Put him down, Bruno, thank you. Why he's in here isn't any of your buisness, anyway." Red said, sounding even more tired. Bruno made a haughty noise, and Radic dropped to the floor, gasping.
"Well, anyway, I just came ta tell ya that some weird group of Pokémon is tryin ta beat us."
"A group of Pokémon? Whose their trainer?"
"That's just it. They don't have one."
"Well, kick them out. Their not supposed to be in here without a trainer."
"That's just it...we..uh...can't."
"I don't care, Bruno! Get out of my room! I'm tired, and I want some SLEEP!" Red suddenly shouted. Radic could hear rapid footsteps leave the room, and hear the door slam. Radic felt Red grab his hand and pull him off the floor.
"Are you okay?" he could hear Red's concerned voice ask.
"Yeah...I'm fine..." Radic said.
"I'm sorry I yelled like that. Sometimes, they push me so far..." Red said, sounding angry.
"Just forget about it." Radic said, patting his ribs. They were sore. That Bruno was pretty strong.
"Peeeersian!" Ruby yowled.
"Violet!" Radic said, sounding terrified. He felt Red's hand grip his, and he felt his terror ebbing away.
"Radic?" he heard Violet's timid voice say.
"We're both in here, Violet." Red said, sounding confident. It was such a different tone then the one he was using before, that Radic was slightly startled.
"Oh..." Violet said quietly. "I was just wondering."
"Yes?"
"When are we going to continue our Pokémon journey?"
There was an awkward pause.
"What do you mean?"
"When are you going to help me train my Pokémon some more? You promised me."
There was another awkward silence.
"I can't, Violet. I'm back as League Champion. I don't have time. You'll have to ask someone else."
"I don't WANT to ask someone else!" Violet abruptly shouted.
"Don't act like a child, Violet! You can't get what you want, when you want all the time!" Red shouted back.
"Well then, why can't Radic come with me? He's not league champion!" she said.
"Why don't you ask him instead of me?" Red said angrily. Radic heard Violet stomp over the carpet and right up to Reds face, breathing in shortly as if she was furious.
"Piiiika..." he heard at her feet. Buzzaki must have come with her. That stupid Pikachu had to follow her everywhere.
"Peeeeeersian." he heard Ruby growl.
"PikaPIKA!" he heard the Pikachu shout. He felt Violet turn towards him. He instinctively felt frightened. He felt Violet take his hand and pull it.
"You'll come with me, right Radic?" she said. Radic was terrified. What if she tried to kiss him again?
"PikaPikaPIKA!" he heard Buzzaki shriek at Ruby.
"PerSIAN! Peeeersiaaan!" Ruby snarled. He heard Buzzaki acessing it's electricity, and in an instant Red, Radic, and Violet were shocked, along with Ruby, who shrieked in anger. He heard Ruby lunge forward, but apparently Buzzaki was too fast for it. Radic and Red both sat down hard, sizzling, and Violet fell. Radic heard Buzzaki tearing across the room, knocking things over as Ruby angrily stalked after it.
"PeeeeerSIAAAN!" there was a angry cry.
"PIKA!"
Ruby had caught Buzzaki.
"Buzzaki! Let go, you stupid Persian!" Violet shouted, kicking Ruby in the nose.
"Peeer!"
Ruby whimpered and slunk over to Radic, who rubbed the nose consolingly. Violet picked up her Pikachu, and began cooing to it again. Radic rolled his eyes, patting Ruby on the head.
"I forgot what we were talking about." Violet said, holding her Pikachu.
"It's okay. I'm sure it was nothing important." Red said. Violet left the room.
"How many times do you think that's going to work?" Radic asked as they left the room, still holding hands.
"I don't know. She never does seem to get a clue, does she?" Red said.
"RRRRRATICATE!" there was an ecstatic cry from Ratty as they entered Red's bedroom. Radic felt the impact as Ratty leaped into Red's arms.
"Rrrraticate! Rrrrraticate!"
"I'm sorry I was gone so long, Ratty. I had....business to take care of."
"Rrrraticate." Ratty sounded sulky. He heard Ratty jump to the floor and sniff at the bruised Ruby, who sniffed back. The two Pokémon hissed at each other, and retreated. Red broke his grip on Radic's hand, and Radic was left to stand by himself. Radic called over Ruby, and kept his hand on it's back to help guide him. He heard Red lock the door.
"Violet won't be getting in HERE anytime soon." Red said. He heard Red put the key on the table.
"Thank goodness."
Radic sat down in the middle of the floor, hugging and stroking his Persian. It purred loudly. He heard Red changing.
"Are you really that scared of her?"
"Of course I am."
"Why?"
Radic tried to think of some good words to express it.
"Well...you wouldn't understand it unless you're blind...like me....it's a terrifying feeling. She wouldn't let me go...I felt....trapped. It was... terrifying for me."
He heard Red rummaging through some drawers.
"Uh oh." he heard Red mumble.
"What?"
"I don't know where my sleeping bag went. Unless you want to sleep on the floor, you're going to have to sleep on the bed with me tonight."
"I'm not going to sleep on the floor."
"Well, come over here then."
He heard Red move over somewhere to his right, and asked Ruby to lead him there. Ruby slide out from Radic's grasp, letting him hold onto the tip of it's tail instead of it's back, so Radic could move easier. Radic moved slowly over to the bed, tripping over everything. Ruby didn't notice or just didn't care that there were little things in the carpet that could hurt Radic's feet.
Radic groped his way over to the bed, and got under the covers. It was softer then anything he had ever imagined. The life of the Pokémon Master was better then he had ever thought. But at what price? Red seemed so tired.
He felt Ruby jump on the bed and settle on top of his legs. He closed his eyes and began drift off to sleep. In his dreams he could always see.
During the middle of the night he vaguely felt Red putting his arm around him, but he was too far asleep to care.

~~~~

A loud BANG shook the morning air, shocking Red awake. He was so startled he rolled off the bed and onto the floor. Radic sat up immediantly and began looking around, trying to figure out what was going on.
Red stared angrily at the image of Lance with his long cape standing in the doorway, which was now open.
"Wake up, Red! We have a crisis on our hands!"
"God, can't it wait until later? It's too early." Red groaned, standing up. He put his hat on, then felt Bruno's huge hand grab his and drag him off.
"This can't wait! I told ya those Pokémon were bad news!"
Red looked back at Radic, who was groping around pathetically trying to figure out where everyone had gone.
Agatha and Lorelei were waiting in the main room, both looking very unhappy.
"What is so frickin important it can't wait for a decent time in the morning?" Red said angrily. Lorelei looked embarrassed and unhappy at making Red so irritable. She pushed up her glasses.
"Red, there's a group of Pokémon out there. They claim that they've come to battle us and win. They won't leave. Everything we've tried, they just resist. They're incredibly strong...some stupid trainer must of abandoned them."
"Radic." Red thought immediately to himself. Bruno slapped his back so hard that Red practically fell over.
"We're sure ya can take care of da problem, champ!"
"Ow." Red mumbled angrily, rubbing his back. He stood up.
"Okay. So what are these Pokémon, and they're levels?"
"There's a Beedrill...it's around 50...a Hitmochan around level 60.... A Porygon at 57....and a Alacazam at 73."
Red grimaced.
"A tough competition. Well, they can't battle us without a trainer."
"That's just it." Agatha said with a secretive smile, "They won't take no for a answer."
"Hmmph. Well, I could take them. Ratty!" Red called back.
"RRRRRATICATE!"
The Raticate bounded into the room, leaping nimbly onto Red's shoulder. The rest of the Elite Four backed off a bit....they remembered the last time they had fought Ratty.
"Ratty, are you ready to fight?" Red smiled at his Raticate.
"Rrrrrrraticate!"
"Good."
Lorelei's Dewgong was out. It was sitting next to her, flipping it's delicate tail.
"Deeewgong....dewgong? Dew?" it asked, blinking it's bright eyes. It waved one of it's beautiful fins at Ratty, showing a healing scar that Ratty had inflicted so long ago.
"They've got protection against every element....Their Hitmonchan's electric punchs took care of a lot of my Pokémon," Lorelei said, pushing her glasses back up, "and when those failed, the Alacazam's power took out the rest."
"The Hitmonchan's ice punch took care of my Onixs..." Bruno said, sounding sulky. "Then the Alacazam took care of my Fighting Pokémon."
"It was the Alacazam that was a problem for my ghosts." Agatha said simply.
"They all ganged up on my Dragons, but the Hitmonchan's ice and electric punches did a number on them. I just don't understand. Its punches are more powerful then they should be at its level...it's very strange."
"The main problem is the Alacazam." Red said, leaning back on a couch and closing his eyes. "If we can isolate it, we can defeat the rest of the team, no problem."
"But how?"
"They may have a powerful psychic..." Red smiled. He snapped his fingers. There were some footsteps from the otherside of the room. The Elite Four turned to see the glaring, hatred-filled eyes of a Mewtwo, striding evenly across the room over to Red.
"But I have an even better one."
The Mewtwo lashed it's tail. The Elite Four backed away from the creature instinctively. It seemed furious at everything. Lorelei searched for her glasses, which had fallen off.
"But...Psychic against Psychic doesn't work well."
"That's why my Mewtwo knows Twinneedle."
The Elite Four gasped.
"How does it know that?" "Mewtwo has many strange abilities. I simply showed the Mewtwo the attack over and over again, and it seemed to take it in. It thinks it's swift...but it's not. Mewzaki! Are you ready to battle?"
The Mewtwo clenched it's fists, focusing in it's power until it glew a bright blue. It nodded silently.
"Rrrrrraticate...." Ratty said, grumbling. Red stood up, striding out of the room angrily. The nerve of some Pokémon thinking they could beat him! They even woke him up for it...this early! He'd show them. The Elite Four watched him leave, then exchanged glances.
"This should be a interesting battle." Agatha said.
"I can't believe you caught two more ghosts, Agatha. You're so lucky! I didn't think there were any others than Gastly to Gengar."
"That's what I thought too." Agatha tossed the two Pokéballs on the table, revealing a ghostly Marowak holding the paw of a Clegencyana.
"What the heck is that?" Lance asked, poking the Clegencyana. It shrieked and moved away from him, and Marowak moved forward threateningly.
"I looked it up. It's a Clegencyana. It can phase from Ghost to Flying."
"All right...what a catch." Bruno said.
"I wonder if Red can beat those Pokémon." Lorelei said, standing and petting her Dewgong on the head.
"Deeew?"

~~~~

Red walked angrily out into the middle of the Stadium where all league battles were fought. He saw the group.
It was them! It was the group that had escaped the Manachu's cave with him! He thought so. He stood in the middle of the ring, Mewzaki safely in it's Pokéball. Ratty snarled at his feet at the Pokémon across the ring.
"Alacaxam, Pixel, Hitmochan, Weedle! You have come to challenge me?" he called out. He remembered fighting these Pokémon with Radic before. He remembered their names.
The other Pokémon were shocked at hearing their names again.
"Hitmonchan, HitmonhitmonCHAN!" The Hitmonchan said, pointing at him with one boxing glove.
Meanwhile, Radic was making his way through the rows to the front row of the bleachers on one side of the Stadium. He knew it made no difference where he sat....the view wouldn't change. But he felt better being closer to the action.
"Parassssect." Callima hissed, walking alongside him. He put a hand on it's mushroom top, letting it guide him. Finally he sat down, and listened to the battle that was about to rage.
"That sounds like my Hitmonchan, doesn't it, Callima?" Radic asked, stroking the Parasect's mushroom top.
"Parasssect." Callima hissed. It sounded very unhappy. Radic looked around, even though he couldn't see anything. It was one of those instincts that's hard to break.
"What? Is someone there?" he asked. The Stadium Red was battling in was oddly silent, it was 4 in the morning, so no spectators had come. Radic should be the only one here.
He felt icy cold hands touch his neck. Radic shivered and practically jumped 10 feet.
"Hello, Radic." he heard Violet's voice say. Radic squealed and instantly held on tightly to Callima's mushroom when he landed, shutting his eyes and shaking fitfully.
"L-l-leave me al-lone, V-violet!" Radic stammered, close to tears. Violet was hurt by this reaction. She hadn't meant to scare him so badly. She wished she COULDN'T scare him so badly. She sighed.
"I'm not going to do anything. I just came to see what was going on, and how the battle would turn out. Don't worry."
Radic was still frightened half-stupid, so he clung to Callima stubbornly.
Callima hissed and bared it's claws. Violet moved down a few seats, so she was further away. Radic, shivering, retook his seat. He was unable to stop his body from trembling all over. Radic had always been half-paranoid, and now with the added threat of Violet, and the fact that Red wasn't around, he was deeply frightened.
"Radic!" he heard a cheery voice say. He smiled happily.
"Atelli?"
"I'm here too!" he heard another voice all.
"Ella E? Where are you guys?"
We're right in the aisle! Can't you see us?"
Radic rubbed the back of his head.
"Uh...that's another story."
"I get to sit next to him." Atelli said, shoving Ella E out of the way. Ella E shoved right back.
"No way! I do!"
Radic sighed. Atelli and Ella E were his cousins, and they were always fighting over who they could sit next to. Radic and Atelli and Ella E were very good friends, ever since they were little.
"Why don't you sit on either side of me?"
"That's a good idea!" Both Atelli and Ella E said at the same time. They took their seats.
"Groow?" he heard Ella E's growlithe, Growlissa, say as it hopped into Ella E's lap.
"Deeew!" Atelli's Dewgong, Dewy, said, curling itself around her feet.
"Whose that girl, Radic? The one over there whose blushing herself stupid." Atelli said. Ella E turned and looked at the girl.
"What's wrong?" Ella E asked, looking concerned. Violet just turned away, blushing more then ever.
Meanwhile, Radic was turning a slight tinge of red, also.
"Well...uh...she's this trainer that was following Red around."
"Where is he, anyway?" Atelli said, looking around. Ella E, deciding that Violet really didn't want to be disturbed, began peering and looking. She finally saw Red standing in the ring.
"Ooo, he's fighting someone!"
"Where's the trainer?"
Radic wished he could see more then ever.
"I don't know. Red said this was just a band of Pokémon that decided to see if they could become champions, or something."
"That must've caused quite a stir!" Atelli smiled. Her Dewgong copied it exactly.
"Yeah...so he's gonna beat them into the ground, and show them. What are they, anyway?"
"You really can't see?" Ella E said, looking concerned. She waved a hand in front of Radic and noticed how he didn't react at all. Atelli was slightly creeped out by his pink eyes.
"Why not?"
"Well, it's like this..." Radic began, stroking his Parasect absently.

~~~~ Back in the ring, Red was thinking hard as he contemplated his choices as to who to send out. Rock hard defense seemed best, as they didn't have any water Pokémon available. And if the Hitmonchan DID have Ice Punch, it would be very weak.
"Red calls...RockyBalbo!"
He threw the ball with all his might, and it bounced on the floor and burst open, revealing the Golem, standing and grinning.
"Alacaalaca...zam." Alacaxam said, pointing with one of it's spoons. Hitmonchan strode out, rippling with power. Rockybalbo only growled.
"Rockybalbo, Toxic!" Red cried.
"Toxic?" Radic said, interrupting himself from the stands. That's right, he thought, Red liked to give his Pokémon weird attacks.
"GooooooLEM!" Rockybalbo cried, rushing forward. Before the Hitmonchan could move, Rockybalbo had it pinned, and it sunk it's claws deep into the Hitmonchan's flesh. Rockybalbo grew with a strange, black light, and black venom seemed to seep from it's claws into the Hitmonchan.
"Hitmooonchan!" Hitmochan shrieked. Rockybalbo withdrew it's claws with a spatter of blood, and Hitmochan fell to the floor, gasping and turning a sickly green.
"Porygon. Porygon." Pixel intoned.
"Beeeeedrill! Beeeeedrill!" Weedle said, as if shouting encouragement.
Ratty hissed, waiting eagerly for it's chance to battle. It wanted to fight. Red held a hand to prevent it from attacking, and Ratty reluctantly hopped to the floor and waited.
Hitmochan staggered upwards, the poison flushing it's face. It seemed weaker. It's eyes flared with anger at the Golem that faced it now. It slammed it's gloves together, energy crackling between it. It leapt into the air, and slammed a punch right on top of Rockybalbo, spreading Ice Crystals all over it's back.
"Gooooolem!"
"Rockybalbo, Rock Throw!"
"Gooolem!"
The Golem grabbed the Hitmonchan, pinning it's arms to it's sides. Then it leapt into the air, throwing the Hitmonchan into the air with all it's might. Hitmonchan slammed into the ceiling, and then fell downwards, almost unconcious. Rockybalbo jumped and caught the Hitmonchan in mid-air, then slammed it into the ground. Hitmochan groaned and struggled to get up. The words of encouragement from it's team lent it strength. It staggered upwards, and stronger flush of poison seeped into it. Hitmochan almost fell over, but resisted the urge.
"Poryporyporygon." Pixel said. Hitmochan nodded, then grabbed the Golem with it's gloves. It glowed with a strange, white light, and Hitmochan lifted Rockybalbo off the ground!
Red gasped, and so did Ratty.
"Strength." he whispered.
Hitmochan slammed Rockybalbo back into the ground, angrily, and Rockybalbo bounced and rolled. It staggered to it's feet, trying to keep concious. It finally keeled over, in faint.
"Rockybalbo, return!" Red said, recalling the Golem. He thought carefully, then grabbed another of his pokéballs. He threw it angrily.
"Go, Mewzaki!"
The ball burst into pieces as soon as Mewtwo broke free. It glowered with power, blue energy surging around it in a powerful field. It seemed furious and angry with everything, and it showed. It's eyes narrowed into two narrow red slits, clenching it's paws and lashing it's tail angrily.
"Meeeewtwo..." it said, sounding almost cute at the first syllable, then dropping down dangerously for the second.

Atelli gaped in wonder.
"Woooow! A MEWTWO! Coooool!"
Violet was utterly disgusted.
"Ugh...it's so...hideous!"
"That's all you care about!" Ella E said, angrily, holding her Growlithe.

Hitmochan heard her teammates trying to call her back, but she didn't want to go. She wanted to prove she could beat Mewzaki. Maybe it was the poison that was doing it, but she really felt she could succeed. She clenched her gloves, practicing a few lightning fast punches.
"Hitmonchan, come back! Let Weedle go!" she heard Alacaxam call, but she ignored it.
"You can't defeat me. I am the ultimate. I am the all-powerful. I am the created one. I am Mewtwo." Mewzaki said, sounding frighteningly passive and demonic.
Hitmochan noticed a glimmer of fire to her right. She turned, and saw a huge flame bursting from a Growlithe, frying something. Then she noticed a familiar face near it.
Radic!
Finally, she could show him how good she was! He'd regret abandoning her.

Ella E had just finished flaming Violet, who had made a snotty remark about her Growlithe, when she turned back to the ring. The Hitmonchan was glaring her way. In fact, it was glaring at Radic. It began moving.
"Radic? Radic? Didn't you have a Hitmonchan?" Ella E asked nervously.
"...yeah. So?"
"I think we found it."
The Hitmonchan had broken into a sprint now, and was running full-tilt at Radic. Radic couldn't see it coming, however.
"Meeeew! Mewwwtwo! MewTWO!" The Mewtwo cried, pointing at the Hitmonchan. A chunk of the ring exploded violently near the Hitmonchan, but she didn't slow down.
"Where is that Hitmonchan going? That's against the rules!" Red said.
Atelli gasped in surprise as she looked up just in time to see the Hitmonchan leap at Radic.
WHAM!
Instantly the Hitmonchan punched Radic square in the noise. He fell over backwards, holding it tenderly, utterly confused.
"Hitmochan!" he cried, terrified.
"Hitmonchan...chanhithitmonchan!" Hitmochan cried, punching him again and again.
"Callimaaaa!" Radic cried.
"ParaSSSSSECT!"
The Parasect leaped between the Hitmonchan and it's swollen and bruised ex-trainer. Radic cowered behind the Parasect, trusting in Callima's ability to protect him. Callima brandished it's sharp claws, snapping them together meaningfully.
"Parassssect! Paraparassssect!"
"Hitmon-" Hitmochan began, another flood of poison overcoming it. It tried to punch Radic from around Callima, but Callima snapped it's claws shut on Hitmochan's glove, stopping it. Hitmochan then abruptly fellover in a dead faint without a sound.
Mewzaki lowered it's paw, releasing it's grip on the Hitmonchan's mind. Psychic was far too much for it to handle.
"Dewy! Flip the Hitmonchan into the ring!" Atelli cried.
"Deeeeewgong!"
The Dewgong slid it's tail under the Hitmonchan, and then pulled up quickly. The Hitmonchan went sailing.
Growlissa was busy licking Radic's wounds. Radic staggered upwards, one of his eyes now swollen and black.
"Are you okay, Radic?" Atelli asked, concerned.
"I wish we could have warned you!"
"It's okay." Radic said, sitting down and holding his head. He felt a headache coming on.
Violet didn't say anything.

Red smiled as the Hitmonchan thudded back into the ring. Instantly it's team members dragged it back, trying to revive it. He watched Mewzaki walk back with a confident, even stride, standing next to him. It lashed it's tail as it clenched it's paws together so hard energy surged around them.
Meanwhile, Weedle was hovering over Hitmochan's unconcious body.
"Stupid fool. We told her to retreat. We told her she was weak to psychic. What did she do? Ignore us!" Weedle buzzed angrily.
"Keep your temper, Weedle." Pixel said, it's eyes closed. "We need to stick together on this."
"I suppose you're right...but what can we do? That Mewtwo is too powerful."
"Come, fight me mortals! Fight me and lose!" they heard Mewzaki call from across the ring. Alacaxam grimaced. It was holding Hitmochan's head in it's lap, but then gently put it down.
"I guess I'm the only one that stands a chance." Alacaxam sighed. Weedle and Pixel blinked a few times, staring at the Alacazam. Weedle then put a drill on Alacaxam's shoulder.
"We trust you can do it. Give it all you've got."
Alacaxam nodded, then walked out. It was shaking from nervousness, clenching the spoons in white paws.
There was deep, disconcerting laughter as Mewzaki laughed.
"Ha ha ha ha...an Alacazam? Fight me? I'd like to see you try." Mewzaki said. Alacaxam was uncomfortably reminded of the Manachu, but stifled it's fear. The two psychic Pokémon strode up to one another, staring eachother in the eye. Mewzaki raised a paw, and Alacaxam floated into the air. Alacaxam blinked in surprise, then asserted it's own power, driving itself back to the ground.

Violet held her Pikachu in her lap, petting it absently.
"Pika pika?"
"Mewzaki sounds like your name, Buzzaki."
"Pika. Pika pikachu..."
Meanwhile, Ella E and Growlissa were howling together for fun.
"Groooooowlithe! Groooooowlithe! Grooooooooowlithe!"
Atelli was admiring her Dewgong.
"You're so pretty, Dewy! Absolutely stunning!" Atelli said, brushing her Dewgong's coat until it glimmered.
"Deeeeewgong!" Dewy crooned, arching it's back.
"Sect? Parasssect?" Callima said,concerned, tapping some of the bruises on Radic's face gingerly. Radic winced, but smiled.
"I'm glad you care, Callima."
"Parasssect!" Callima said, sounding happy.
"Stupid ugly Parasect..." Violet mumbled to herself. Atelli leaned close to her.
"Excuse me?"
"It's just that Parasect is so ugly. I can't believe anyone likes it at all."
Atelli growled to herself, as did Radic.
"I'll let you handle this one, Radic." she said, bowing towards Radic.
Violet cringed as Radic stomped over, guided by his Parasect.
"I happen to be the number one admirer of Parasect. In fact, it's my favorite Pokémon. I can't remember seeing-" at this Radic paused for a moment, "seeing anything more cute then a Parasect. And looks aren't everything, may I remind you. Parasect is also powerful. It could probably take on those two down there."
"Those two psychics? Please. They would faint Callima in no time." Violet said, holding her Pikachu.
"Pikachupikapipikachu." Buzzaki said, sounding slightly angry. Radic clenched his fists, trying to handle Violet's stupidity.
"Leech life, Violet. A bug attack. Bug attacks are super effective. All Callima needs to do is put them to sleep with spore, then Leech Life or Slash them to death."
"It's a stupid, ugly Pokémon." Violet said, sulkily.
"Are Dewgong's stupid too?" Atelli asked, a fire lighting behind her eyes.
"And Growlithe's?" Ella E said, barely suppressing her anger.
"Yes." Violet said without thinking. Then she noticed Radic, Atelli, and Ella E surrounding her, their eyes lit with hatred.
"Appearance is all you care about."
"Not whether it's powerful, or whether it's good."
"Just what it looks like."
"Appearances aren't everything." Radic said. "I should know, now."
Violet looked desperatly at Buzzaki, who looked just as unhappy as the other three.
"Pika! Pika pika pika!"
"Buzzaki, Radic, Atelli, Ella E, I didn't mean it."
"Let's teach her how powerful the unwanted can be!" Atelli said.
"Groooooowlithe!"
"Parasssssect!"
"Deeeeeewgong!"
"PiiikaaaaaCHUUUU!"
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!"

~~~

Red tried to ignore the scream from the stands. Mewzaki and Alacaxam both looked away for a moment, then looked back.
Alacaxam decided to try something. It closed it's eyes, glowing with a white light like Hitmochan's. It's eyes snapped open, filling the room with blinding white light.
"Meeew!" Mewzaki cried, pawing at it's eyes. Alacaxam thought back. He knew how much Radic had hated the fact that he had given the Alacazam flash, instead of leaving room for another attack, but now it was useful.
Mewzaki blinked through the white lights exploding in it's vision. In utter fury, it clasped it's paws to it's head, and a flare of energy, so bright it lit the whole gym, erupted from the Mewtwo.
"MeeeeeW!" Mewzaki cried, sending out the powerful force with all it's might. It slammed into the Alacazam, knocking it against the wall.

Meanwhile, a voice called out to Radic.
"Sedona?" he asked.
"I'm right here!" A cheerful reply came back to him. He heard his other cousin sit next to Callima.
"How have you been, Sedona?"
"Oh, I can't complain! My Vulpix is doing great! What're you guys doing up this late?"
"Look down in the ring. Some abandoned Pokémon of mine are fighting Red."
"Whose controlling them?"
"No one."
"That's strange."
"Yes."
"Vulpix!" Sedona's Vulpix said, sounding tired.
"We should get Red to postpone the battle...it's really late."
"He's right in the middle of it...he should finish it."
Violet was unconcious, but Sedona didn't seem to notice.

---- Alacazam felt it's bones breaking as it hit the wall. It dug deep witin itself, remembering the knowledge for Recover... soon it's bones were mended, and it could stand. It stared at the Mewtwo, which smiled. It stared past it, right at Red. Suddenly, it could feel itself enveloped in anger, terrible fury. It felt it's whole body fill with rage, and found it couldn't control it. It's anger was towards the Mewtwo, but also at Red, who had a mocking smile. He knew he had won.
Anger filled Alacaxam's whole body, making it shake with rage. It focused it's ultimate attack at Mewzaki.
Then, at the last minute, focused it's eyes on Red.
Sudden, searing, blinding pain entered Red's head, and he screamed. Alacaxam focused it's whole attack on the trainer.
"RED!" Radic cried from the stands. He tried to run to Red, but he tripped over a chair and fell flat on his face. "What's happening! Someone tell me what's happening!"
"Alacaxam just did Psychic on Red!" Sedona cried.
Red collapsed to the floor, totally unconcious.
"Rrraticate? RRRRRRRRATICAAAAAAATE!" Ratty shrieked, leaping forward. Mewzaki was preparing a attack, but Ratty's incredible speed made it easily surpass the Mewtwo. It leapt at Alacaxam, opening it's fangs, sank them in the Alacaxam's leg.
Then Ratty used Hyper Fang.
"You can't attack a trainer! You can't! Alacaxam broke the rules! It broke the rules!" the angry cries of Sedona, Atelli, and Ella E rang out. As Chaos broke free, Radic tried to get off the floor, but found he was stuck. His blank eyes looked more concerned and worried then anyone could've known, but no one was looking at him now.

Tearing Up Spacetime

Red was deep in his own dreams. He didn't know where he was, or what he was doing. All he remember was the glowing eyes of the Alacaxam focusing on him. That was it.
His dream was hazy. It wasn't as clear as usual. Red found this odd. He always knew when he was dreaming, so he knew that he was dreaming now. But he couldn't understand why everything seemed so hazy. So cloudy. Like a fog had descended on his mind. Perhaps the Alacazam had done it.
He wandered through the mists of his mind, waving his hands to clear the smoke from in from of his face. It felt like it was raining, but the fog obscured everything. This worried him. He usually could see perfectly fine in his dreams, but this was different. This was strange and unearthly, and the fog glew with it's own light.
Radic sat next to Red's bed, waiting and waiting, staring off at the distance, looking incredibly worried. Behind him stood the Elite Four. Nurse Joy walked in, taking Red's pulse. She looked at Radic, who looked past her.
"He seems to be stable now. You can wait in the waiting room if you want." she said. Agatha, Bruno, Lorelei, and Lance slowly shuffled out of the room. Radic remained.
"Hello?" she said. She waved a hand in front of his eyes. Radic didn't really react. "Could you go in the Waiting room? He needs his rest."
"I....I want to stay here...." Radic mumbled. Nurse Joy shrugged and left the room. Radic stared at Red, wishing he could see. Red's eyes were closed, asleep. A bandage went over his head, and an IV was hooked to his arm. He was breathing slowly.
"Rai?" Radic heard his Raichu say. He patted his lap, and Nova jumped on it.
"Do you like your new name, Nova?" Radic asked. He stared off into the distance.
"Raichu..Raichu!" Nova said, looking at Red.
"Yes, he doesn't look all that good, does he?"
"Ri? Riachu?" he heard a timid voice say from around him. He felt a furry weight jump next to Nova. He felt the weight curl around Nova and begin purring.
"You need a name, Riachu." he said to the newcomer.
"Riachu...Ririachu..."
"Rai?"
"Ri..."
Radic tuned them out for a moment, thinking. He was in the Indigo Plateau Hospital. That's where Red was recovering. The Alacazam's attack was devastating, Radic had heard Doctor's say, and it would take a while for Red to recover. Radic sighed, feeling depressed. He knew this was all his fault. If only he hadn't abandoned those Pokémon. If only he had taken better care...if...if only....
If only he could see! If only his eyes looked like they belonged in his head, if only they worked properly! Why was everything always going wrong for him!?
The Riachu noticed the Raichu's trainer looking very upset. It batted at the tears that fell.

Red was reliving his own memories. Vague things that were from a long time ago...when everything was so simple. Everything was so clear-cut. It wasn't like that anymore. No...everything had to change.
Ratty. There was one thing that had remained consistent....
He remembered a long time ago, when he had caught Ratty. How he had instantly abandoned his Squirtle for it, and Ratty was still a Rattata. Ratty was key in all his battles. Ratty fought everything whenever it could, and won! It was Ratty's well-timed evolution that led to the defeat of that trainer at Cerulean Gym. Ratty was wild at first....so he had tied a rope between his wrist and Ratty's footpaw. Soon, they had become so attached they didn't need it. They became friends.
Red wished Ratty was here now. But he was in his dream world, nothing was real. Nothing.

"Radic? Radic, are you okay?" he heard a female voice call behind him. He leaned back,relieved.
"Oh, Atelli, I was-"
"It's not Atelli, Radic." he heard. He heard the door close, and heard someone walk towards him. Shivers ran up his spine as he realized who it was. Violet!
He shuddered so much, he could barely get himself to get up. He flopped backwards into the chair, turning to where he had heard Violet last, and blocking his face with his arms.
Nova and the Riachu, disturbed by this reaction and this disturbance, stood to protect their trainer. The Riachu's fur raised, and Nova sparked.
Violet frowned as she walked around Radic, trying to be as quiet as possible. Even though the Riachu and Nova kept their eyes on her, Radic remained facing the same direction. Soon, she was behind him, and he had no idea.
"Oh Radic...." she said, her voice full of pity. Radic nearly screamed, turning in the chair so swiftly it tipped and he hit his head on the floor.
He held his head and hissed between his teeth in pain. The Riachu and Nova had leapt nimbly when it overturned, and were now perched on the armrests, now looking even more unhappy. Violet slowly walked over to Radic, placing a hand on his forehead. Radic pulled away, the fear in his sightless eyes evident.
"Radic, why are you scared of me?" she asked him sadly. Radic scrambled as far from her as possible.
"Y....yo...You keep sneaking up on me! And....and you...scare me! You don't tell me what you're doing...only...only you do it!" Radic said, fumbling for words that wouldn't offend Violet.
"You when when I kissed you?" she asked. Radic gulped fearfully and nodded.
"I'm sorry about that. I didn't think it would scare you. I guess I was being stupid."
Radic, shivering, nodded his head. Violet sighed.
"Don't you see I care about you, Radic? I pity the loss of your sight! Red doesn't care...remember? He slapped you...he doesn't care, but I do!" she said. Radic thought hard. He remembered that painful argument. He instinctively touched the cheek where Red had hit him, remembering. When he thought of it now, he knew that Red had been right. He just couldn't accept his blindness, and was taking out his pain on everyone else....
"I feel for you Radic...you'rr...you'rr like some....trapped Pokémon...that doesn't know how to escape..."
Radic thought bitterly to himself. "That's because I have no escape."
"I can take care of you! You need someone to watch you, make sure you don't bump into things, cook your food, care for you and make sure you don't hurt yourself. You need me!"
Radic, when hearing those things, could only think of one person. And it wasn't Violet.
"I don't need you..." Radic said, with a touch of his old enthusiasm. "I can take care of myself."
He felt Violet's hands take his, and he felt shivers go up his entire body. He couldn't handle his now instinctual fear reaction of her.
"No, you can't. You're blind! You can't see what I'm doing, or anything! Without someone to watch you, you'll get injured or worse! Without your sight, you are helpless! Let me take care of you!"
At this Radic blanched. He had thought that...once...but now he appreciated how important his other senses were. He tried to pull his hands away from Violet, but she held on stubbornly.
"My life isn't over, Violet. I'm not dead."
"But you will be! Don't you understand! You can't take care of yourself anymore!"
Radic suddenly felt a surge of fury. He stood up, pulling his hands away from her. He struck what he hoped was a proud pose.
"I can take care of myself! I'm not a baby! I'm a full trainer!" he said, trying to regain some dignity. He walked off for where he had heard the door. It wasn't until it was too late that he remembered the chair, and he tripped over it and fell on his face. Nova and the Riachu dashed to him.
Violet stared at Radic, her eyes full of tears of pity.
"Oh Radic, look at yourself! Don't you understand?"
Radic tried to stifle tears that flowed, for some reason he didn't understand. Before Violet could touch him, he got up.
"Don't touch me! Leave me alone!" he said angrily. He ran for the door. He slammed into the doorjam. His nose began bleeding. Holding it, he staggered out of the room, one hand on his nose, the other out in front of him so he wouldn't run into anything else. Violet looked at the trail of blood Radic left. Tears brimmed in her eyes.
"Oh Radic..." she said, her voice full of regret and pity.
Nova and the Riachu ran out of the room, following their bleeding friend.

Shouting...shouting in his dreams. Much shouting. Red didn't like that. He didn't like loud noises.
The background was swirling red with black. Black....Red focused far too long on the background, but he couldn't pull his gaze away. The background formed into the shape of a hat. He studied the symbol on the front. He could tell it was Radic's. It was opposite of his own. The Hat floated towards him, and he touched it.
A huge white flash lit his dream world, and he cried out in pain.
"He's awake!" he heard someone say.
Red opened his eyes a crack, then shut them against the light.
Nurse Joy looked over at someone that was next to him.
"He came out of it quicker then usual. Most take months to recover."
Red sat up, holding his throbbing head.
"What happened...where am I...how long has it been..."
The figure next to his bed was Lorelei, looking concerned.
"Thank goodness your awake! The group of Pokémon won't leave!"
Red stared uncomprehendingly.
"That Alacazam hit you with Psychic! Considering it's level, you might of died right there, if it weren't for Ratty. Ratty's speed and swiftness managed to get it to the Alacazam to stop the psychic waves."
"How'd Ratty do that?..." Red moaned.
"Ratty bit it. In the leg. With Hyper Fang."
Red smiled.
"That's why Pokémon need trainers!" Nurse Joy said. "They don't understand their own power! A Psychic should NEVER attack a human!"
Red leaned back, holding his head. How it hurt...it ached. He closed his eyes.
"He was only out for a two weeks...extraordinary! He has marvelous powers of rejuvenation..." he heard Nurse Joy say. He sat up, alarmed.
"I've been unconscious for two WEEKS?!" he shouted. Lorelei pushed him down.
"Red! Stay calm! You need rest!"
Red was stunned. Two weeks! What had happened while he was unconscious?
Lorelei walked out of the room, and he heard a familiar cry. "Rrrrraticate!"
"Ratty!" he said happily. In moment's the Raticate leaped onto the bed, looking him in the face happily. It licked him all over.
"I'm glad to see you too, Ratty!"
"Rrrrraticate! Cate! Rrrrrrraticate!" Ratty said happily. It curled itself around Red's neck. Nurse Joy stared in amazement as Red fell asleep. She shrugged. She walked out of the room, into the waiting room, where most of them were.
"Red has woken up, and is recovering nicely!" she said happily. Instantly, everyone got up, but the first one to reach Nurse Joy was Radic, who was running towards the room in joy.
"Woah!" Joy said, grabbing his wrist. "Be careful! You'll run into something!" she said, sounding just like a mother. She dragged Radic over to the room, leading him inside.
"I know you can't see him, but he has Ratty around his shoulders, and is sleeping now."
Radic calmed down, although all could tell his excitement. He walked over to Red's bed slowly, and sat down on the chair nearby. He sniffed....his nose was still clogged up after it had stopped bleeding.
Violet watched from the doorframe, her eyes full of sadness. Radic reached over, feeling with his hands. Finally, he found Red's. He held it, and stared at what he hoped was Red's direction.
"Red? Red....can you hear me?"
The Elite Four slowly drifted in around him, and Atelli, Ella E, and Sedona walked in, sitting near Radic.
"Red...please..." Radic said softly. Violet stared from the doorway, unable to move. She was frozen in her tracks. Pain shot through her as she stared at Radic.
Red grunted, opening his eyes. The sight that greeted him was Radic's pink eyes, staring at something above his head.
"Red...It's me...Radic..." Radic said, smiling. Red smiled back. Violet ran from the doorway, but no one noticed her.

~~~

Violet slammed the door angrily behind her, retreating into the room that Red had gratefully let her stay in for a few days....or at least, that was the original plan.
"PIKA!" Buzzaki said angrily, disturbed from it's nap. Violet ignored her Pikachu and threw herself on the bed, burying her face in the pillow. She began weeping in earnest.
"Why doesn't Radic understand?" she lamented out loud to her Pikachu. Buzzaki, realizing how upset she was, hopped onto the bed and put a paw on her head.
"Pika? Pikachu?" it said, blinking cutely. Violet was far too upset to look at it.
"Radic just doesn't understand! He doesn't trust me!" Violet weeped. Buzzaki looked confused. Violet looked at her Pikachu.
"He doesn't think I can take care of him! I can! I know I can!" she said to Buzzaki. "He can't train his Pokémon anymore....no more Takachan, Ruby, Accident, Kitsune, Callima, or Nova!" she said.
Buzzaki looked angry at the thought of Nova, giving off some weak sparks.
"I even spent the time to learn their names!" Violet wailed, and began crying again in earnest. Buzzaki clenched it's tiny paws. How it hated that Raichu...that....that NOVA! Violet eventually calmed down.
"Why doesn't he trust me....Why can't he like me? Why is he so frightened....I'm not scary...am I scary Buzzaki?" she said to her Pikachu. Buzzaki looked at her. She had tear streaks on her face, and her hair was stuck to her forehead.
"Pika! Chu!" it said, shaking it's head back and forth. She rubbed it's head.
"Thanks for caring, Buzzaki."
"Piikachu!" it said cheerfully. Violet got up, looking in a hand mirror at herself. She undid the end of one of her braids, letting her hair flow free. It fell in light green waves down her back. She stared at herself.
"Maybe he would like me better if I took out my braids..." she said. She looked at herself, then her face clenched up and tears flowed again. In fury, she threw the mirror at the floor, shattering it.
"He's blind!" she said angrily. "He's blind, he's BLIND!" she repeated to herself, over and over. Buzzaki leaped in fear at the sound of the broken mirror.
"PIKA!"
"Oh no! What is Red going to say when he sees what I did to his mirror?" she said, realizing what she had just done. She leaned down and began picking up the pieces. Buzzaki leapt onto her back, then to the floor, picking up the pieces and putting them in Violet's hands. Soon they had picked up all the pieces and put them in the trash.
"Pika! Pikachu, pika pika pipipikachu, pikachu!" Buzzaki said, waggling a paw at her. Violet held her head.
"I know! 7 years bad luck! Oh, it figures!" she said, falling backwards on the bed, holding her head. She looked at the ceiling.
"I wish sometimes I could break things when I'm angry and not get into trouble, or do SOMETHING to release all this tension!" she said. Buzzaki pointed to the circles on it's cheeks, sparking.
"Pikachu!" it said cheerfully. Violet looked at it.
"Oh, I know, Buzzaki. You can send out bolts whenever you're upset. But I can't...I'm not a Pokémon...."
Violet was suddenly reminded of her words to Radic. "I feel for you Radic...you'rr...you're like some....trapped Pokémon...that doesn't know how to escape...". She thought about it hard.
She wondered about it. She wondered what it would be like to own Radic....to teach him...to train him. Just like a Pokémon! Violet smiled at the thought, then shook it away. Radic would never let her. He was too proud. Too proud of himself, too much dignity. That was part of his problems! That was what was holding him back...was Violet the only one who could tell? Why didn't anyone listen to her!
"Pikachu? Chu....pikachu?" Buzzaki said. She looked at it, thinking about Radic. She slowly began braiding her hair again.

~~~

"Radic? Radic, has your nose been bleeding?" Red asked. Radic touched it self-consciously.
Red was now sitting up, looking at Radic curiously. Everyone else had left, realizing that they were all uncomfortable, and the two needed some time alone. Radic kept one hand on Red's, but raised the other to his face.
"Yes...I ran into a door."
Red sighed.
"You shouldn't run, Radic. You are blind. You run into things. You could get hurt."
"I know, I know..." Radic mumbled. Red stared at him.
"Why were you running?"
"Violet..."
Red felt anger surge through him.
"Did she kiss you again? I told her not to do that!" Red said. He made as if to get out of the bed, but Radic stopped him.
"No, no, you didn't let me finish!" Radic said. Red looked skeptical, but sat back down. Radic tried to find the right words.
"Well then, what DID she do? She didn't PUSH you into the door, did she?" Red asked.
"Of course not....she snuck up on me...."
"I swear, I'm going to have to talk to her and tell her to-" Red said angrily. Ratty was sleeping near him, looking quite peaceful compared to it's trainer.
"No no...she just...it's hard to explain. She said these...things...they made me angry. So I wanted to leave, and I ran into a door..."
Red gave Radic a doubting look, even though he knew he was blind. It was a natural reaction.
"What kind of things? Did she make fun of you? Call you a coward for being frightened of her?"
"No...she..she said I was..." Radic stuttered, and felt his sightless eyes grow moist...and he didn't know why. He swallowed hard. "She said I couldn't take care of myself...and I was helpless. She said she could take care of me...but...the way she said it made me so...so angry and...and..."
"I understand. Violet is very clueless...you shouldn't take her so seriously."
"She loves me, Red! And it scares me!" Radic burst out, then felt incredibly awkward. There was a slight pause. He wished he could see the expression on Red's face, to know his reaction...
"She doesn't know anything about love. She's confused. She'll get over it."
"No she won't...she determined. She said she could do everything for me. She said that I was useless..."
Radic could hear Red sigh.
"You're not useless. You're a trainer, remember? A Pokémon trainer. You have a purpose."
"Is that ALL I am?" Radic said, holding his hands upwards. Imagining he could see, he put them where he thought they would be if he were looking at them. This resulted in his hands being held awkwardly in front of him. "Is my whole life just...just LOSING to people? To YOU?"
There was an awkward silence and Radic felt stupid for saying such a thing. Wondering whether he had hit that sensitive nerve that hurt Red deeply, Radic closed his eyes and held his breath, expecting some kind of blow upon his person.
Instead, he felt Red touch his hand. Out of instinct, Radic opened his eyes although they would do no good. He wished he knew what Red looked like right now.
"Radic, listen to me. Before you met me, you never lost. You didn't do this whole thing just so you could end it losing over and over again. You wanted to win and you WON, several times." Red shook his hand for emphasis at certain points. "It's just...you pushed yourself too hard too fast and hit the wall. And you never started again."
Radic pondered this strange metaphor while Red kept talking. "Why is it you never think of yourself as anything, Radic? You keep putting yourself down. Why?"
"Because I AM a loser." Radic said sullenly. "I lost to YOU, and I lost to everyone after that. Why should I try? I'm obviously inferior to everyone else...especially you. You're so much better then me at EVERYthing..." Radic said, with growing emotion. Red grabbed his hand with a tighter grip, effectively silencing Radic.
"Are you going to hit me again?" Radic said, not exactly sure of what possessed him to say such a thing. Red inhaled sharply, then released some of the pressure he had on his hand.
"No. That was stupid of me to do in the first place. I shouldn't have let myself go out of control." Red said, sounding slightly angry. Still, Radic felt a growing apprehension.
"You sound upset." Radic said warily, trying to keep his ears open in case of any sudden movement.
"Because I AM upset, you moron. In fact, that's why."
"What's why?"
"Because you're being a moron. That's what's making me upset."
Radic thought for a moment.
"What do you mean?"
Red sighed in frustration. "You just don't understand! You're always dwelling over how much you suck to even look at how much you DON'T!"
Radic sat in silence.
"I swear, it's almost like being told you're good is painful to you or something! It's always 'I'm such a loser' and 'You're better then me' and blah blah blah....it's depressing and I'm tired of it!"
"But it's-"
"Don't even try to finish. 'It's true'? Is that what you wanted to say? Well, it's not."
"But-"
"Let me finish!" Red was too insistent for Radic to argue, and all Radic could do was sit back and listen. "You don't understand anything. That's your problem, Radic. You think I'm oh-so-much better then you, and you're wrong."
"You're a Pokémon Master...THE Pokémon Master..." Radic said quietly. "You're better then EVERYone. Especially ME."
"Is that what you REALLY think?"
Radic couldn't think of any other response then a simple nod. He heard Red sigh again.
"If that's what you really and truly believe, then there's nothing I can do...I'm sure losing to you on purpose would do nothing, right?"
Radic nodded again.
"So I guess you're stuck with your inferiority until you can get over it."
Radic wasn't sure how to respond. He had been expecting Red to come up with some plan to help him out of this depression. Instead...Red just accepted it. This wasn't like him.
"What?" Radic said, feeling angry at himself for not thinking of anything better to say.
"You heard me. If you can't help yourself, then who can? I certainly can't."
"Really?" Radic said before he even knew what he was doing. He was surprised at the seriousness of his voice, and apparently Red was as well, for he paused for a moment.
"Really." Red made some kind of movement, and Radic guessed it was a nod. Radic wished he could look at his hands, but he could only feel them. He closed his eyes again and thought. Red paused for a moment, unsure of what to say.
"What do you WANT me to do?"
"Well..." Radic tried to plan out what he was going to say before he started, but ended up saying whatever came to his mind. "I just thought that someone would have to pull me out of where I am, and I can't think of anyone else but you."
"Pull you out of where?"
"You said it yourself! My depression and stuff. You know what I mean."
Red remained silent for a moment.
"How could I do that, if I could?"
"I don't know. I just want someone to believe...truly BELIEVE that I'm worth something...and then convince ME of that."
"Doesn't Violet believe that?"
"No!" Radic said, suddenly feeling a surge of anger. "No! She wants to improve me, she wants to help me. She thinks I'm not good enough by myself, so she needs to add on to me what she wants! If anything, she makes me feel worse...she keeps dwelling on my sight..."
"Was it the loss of your sight that caused you to feel worse?"
"I've ALWAYS felt this way, you know? I felt this way ever since I lost on national television. Do you know what that feels like? Of course not. You've never lost. No one ever lost worse then I did." Radic wasn't even caring that his sentences sounded strange.
"...Do I really make you feel bad?"
"It's not you, it's everything. It's everyone I see...saw, because I know I'll lose...I'll always fail...I'm failing right now! I can't even express myself clearly!" Radic said, frustrated.
"Well, as much as a surprise as this may come to you, I'm failing as well."
"At what?" Radic said sarcastically.
"Trying to find some rope to pull you out."
Radic was stunned into silence by this abrupt statement, then galvanized himself.
"It was stupid to tell you this..." Radic leaned back and tried to think. "I should have kept this whole thing to myself...no one can help me anyway..."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"I think I can. But I'm not sure. Will you let me if I can think of a way?"
Radic waved a hand airily, not caring anymore. His sadness was taking over his conciousness. He didn't want to be here, and he didn't want Red's pity. Red was probably laughing at him silently so he couldn't see. Why did he tell Red of all people about his problems? He couldn't solve them...he didn't know what was bothering him...if he didn't know, how could someone help? Radic was so confused...he was sure it was his constant losing that was bothering him...but it wasn't about battles. It was about something else...he was losing another important battle, and he didn't know what it was. He heard Red moving closer to him, sitting up straight.
"Was that a yes?" Red asked. Radic sighed.
"If you know a way, then sure I guess. I don't think I can live much longer in this blue fun-"
Radic never finished his statement. Something that his rational brain told him would never happen happened, yet his heart was not surprised. The shock was strong at first, so strong that he couldn't move or even attempt to resist Red's hands on his face, pulling him close. He couldn't even understand what was happening until he felt Red kissing him.
The experience was not unknown to him, considering it had happened before against his will with Violet, but something was different. There was no fear...no desperation...no feeling of no escape. Just a vague kind of happiness...and success. Had he succeeded? Was this what he had been fighting for? Had he won?
He didn't know what he had won. He didn't know what he wanted anymore...but he could feel his sadness draining away. He could feel the joy of victory, lost so long ago that it seemed unfamiliar and strange. Red broke off and leaned back.
"Did it work?" he said after a moment. Radic breathed quietly, thinking about what had just happened to him and what he was feeling.
"Yes..."

~~~

Violet had decided. She wouldn't sit back and let Red control Radic. She was going to take Radic away from here and show him that he could be his own person. Show him that he needed her.
"Pika pika?" Buzzaki looked at her. Violet thought about her last statement.
"I think I'm contradicting myself."
"Pika pikaaa...." Buzzaki lowered it's ears and sighed. "Pi pi pika pi chu."
"I'm not planning on throwing a blanket over him and running off or anything, Buzzaki." Violet laughed. "I'm just going to see if I can talk to him alone. Wherever he is, I wonder what he's doing. I wonder if he's thinking of me."
Violet giggled and hugged her pillow. She took on a slightly deeper voice and held a one sided conversation with herself as if she were talking to Radic.
"Radic, really! You're a full-grown trainer, you shouldn't be following someone like Red around." Violet said in her normal voice. "You're right! I should be with someone who appreciates me like YOU do, Violet." Violet said in her "Radic" voice.
"Pikachuuu!" Buzzaki jumped on her pillow, the picture of disapproval. Violet sighed.
"Fine, fine, I'll stop talking about him. Sheesh."
"Pichupi pika pikachu chu chu pika chu." Buzzaki waved a paw around dramatically and pointed towards the door.
"What do you mean 'Red will kick me out'? He won't. I just want to talk to Radic."
"Pika pikaaa?"
"I said I didn't want to kidnap him or anything! I'll just convince him to come along with me on my journey."
Buzzaki made the motions as if it were bonking itself on the head with a club and dragging itself off (which was actually rather difficult to do) and Violet looked at her Pikachu angrily.
"I'm not a cavewoman! Honestly."
"Pika chu Pichupi?"
"Red won't care. He's busy. Why do you bring him up?" Violet felt herself getting angry for no good reason.
"Pichupi pika pikapi."
"Well, he invited ME to stay here to. And he has to take care of those Pokémon that Radic let loose. He won't be a problem."
"Chu Pichupi pi."
"No Red won't."
"Chu Pichupi pi."
"No Red won't!"
"Chu Pichupi pi!"
"Buzzaki!" Violet yelled at her Pikachu, which glared stubbornly at her and crossed it's arms.
"Chu Pichupi pi!"
"I give up! You're just impossible!"
"Pichupi PI Chuchuka."
"HE DOES NOT!" Violet shouted, half-horrified and half- surprised. "Red does not...he's just Radic's friend! What ever gave you that idea?!"
"Pichupi pika pika pipipika chu pika..."
"Well, Red did that because he was crying. Who WOULDN'T comfort a friend?"
"Chuchuka kapi pikachu ka Pichupi."
Violet blushed slightly, but tried to keep thinking. "Well, I bet he did that because he was having bad dreams and wanted someone to help him. It's not like...that."
"Chuchuka pi Pichupi! Chuchuka pi Pichupi!" Buzzaki chanted and danced in a circle. Violet blushed harder.
"Stop saying that! What if they hear you? They do not, so drop it."
Buzzaki sighed and grabbed a pencil and some paper. Violet watched silently as Buzzaki drew a very rough drawing of Radic and one of Red.
"Chuchuka..." Buzzaki pointed at Radic, "ka Pichupi..." Buzzaki pointed at Red, "pika PI!" Buzzaki concluded as if speaking to a small child.
"They are not Pi! I mean, in...No! They aren't! I'm going to talk to Radic right now and convince him to come with me. He won't protest at all! He's just a friend to Red, nothing more."
"Ka!" Buzzaki shook it's head and hopped off the bed, gesturing for Violet to follow. Violet sat on the bed, not sure of whether she should or not. She felt some kind of deep apprehension and couldn't explain where it was coming from. Shrugging, she stood and followed her Pokémon.
Violet walked down the halls of the Indigo Plateau, staring at the people who brushed by her, the glittering of eight badges shining proudly. She began imagining fondly what it would be like to actually continue on her journey and one day kick Red out of Indigo Plateau and become the Pokémon master! Everyone in her town had wanted to go, but she was sure she was the only one with any talent.
Violet blushed happily as she thought what it would be like traveling with Radic. He already had all his badges. He would know what to do...maybe lend her some Pokémon now and then? Surely that wasn't against the rules...since she was such good friends with Radic, they would probably obey her every command. She sighed happily at the thought of controlling Accident or even better, Kitsune or Ruby. They were so cute, even if they DID have attitude problems.
She watched her Pikachu as it hopped back and forth, pointing forward. "Chupika! Chupika! Chupika!" it said repeatedly, as if calling her name. Violet shrugged and kept following it.
"Where are you taking me?" she asked, amused. Buzzaki smiled and winked at her.
"Pikachu kachu Chupika chu Chuchuka ka Pichupi pikapipichu pikachupichu." Buzzaki said.
"I don't know what you mean by showing me the truth, but..." Violet shrugged again. "All I want is Radic."
"Chuchuka?" Buzzaki smirked. "Chuchuka pikachuchupi pi Pichupi..."
"Stop saying that..." Violet said, as her Pikachu led her into the hospital wing of the Indigo Plateau.

~~~

"What did that mean?" Radic finally asked after a long silence. Red crossed his arms and leaned back, staring at the boy who looked so confused. He sighed and rolled his eyes.
"You have to have a reason for everything, don't you?" he asked in irritation. He watched Radic's reaction, which was cocking his head to one side and looking confused.
"Tell me."
"What do YOU think it means?" Red said, feeling slightly angry at himself. What in the world had come over him to do that? He didn't understand what he was doing or how he was feeling. It bothered him.
"I don't know..."
"Well, it worked, didn't it? End of story."
"Why did you think of that? Why? Wasn't there something else? Why that in particular?" Radic's eyes were open and he was getting the typical, slightly-upset look he got on his face when Red refused to tell him something. Red knew it well. He rolled his eyes again, not caring that Radic couldn't see that.
"I don't know, okay? Stop bugging me about it."
"No. I want to know."
"...well, I don't know, okay?"
"Yeah you do. You know, but you won't tell me."
"Can't you figure it out?"
"...it would mean more if it came from you."
"What came from me? What are you talking about?"
"You know what I'm talking about. Just tell me."
"I don't know!" Red said loudly in frustration. He noticed Radic staring in his general vicinity with a look he recognized. It was a look of something that he couldn't quite realize. Red could feel his heart slightly calming down...for a while, it had been racing. He didn't understand why.
"You do. Tell me."
"...I just wanted to cheer you up..." Red said rather lamely. Radic looked almost hurt.
"Is that all? It didn't mean anything to you?"
"Well, of course it did!" Red said without thinking. He looked at Radic and was glad he couldn't see him blushing. "I mean..."
"...I can tell...you...it didn't mean anything, did it? I'm not worth..." Radic mumbled sadly to himself. Red felt like hitting himself.
"It meant something! And stop talking like that! I told you, you aren't a failure!"
"Yes I am...why did I ever believe you...you're just lying to me..." Radic said sadly. Red could see the beginnings of a tear forming in his eye. He leaned over and grabbed Radic's hands forcefully, pulling him face to face with him.
"I said stop it! I wasn't lying to you! I'm not lying now! You ARE worth something!"
"No..." Radic protested weakly, tears falling freely from his eyes now.
"You're so STUPID sometimes!" Red said angrily, feeling his heart quickening again with emotion. Radic just sobbed in response. "What does it take? What does it take to prove you're worth something?"
"I...I don't know...I...I felt it for a second, now...now it's gone..." Radic gasped between tears. Red glared at Radic, the frustration that came with dealing with the other boy rising quickly.
"I don't know why I even try sometimes with you! It's so frustrating!"
Radic sobbed again, not listening. Red felt guilt trying to overcome the anger and emotion he felt, but ignored it. Again he was struck with the same desire that had started this whole conflict. Unable to think clearly while under such a flux of emotions, Red obeyed what his desires told him. He grabbed Radic roughly and turned him towards him, kissing him fiercly, half to make him stop talking and half to stop the repeated rushes of emotion he felt.
It happened to be at this moment that Violet would walk into the room, led by her Pikachu.
As it was, Radic and Red were far too busy to notice her entrance. Although Buzzaki normally would have gloated that he had been right, he remained silent for once. Violet stared blankly for a few moments, not believing what she was seeing. The pad of paper she held in her hands where Buzzaki had drawn it's crude caricatures slipped from her hands and clattered against the floor.
Where Red was situated, all he would have had to do was open his eyes to see Violet. He did so, noticing her, then paused. He moved away from Radic, who remained frozen in his position.
"Red? What's wrong? Is someone there?" He asked softly.
Red stared at Violet, who stared at him with tears building in her eyes. He didn't say anything, only leaning back and crossing his arms. Violet moved a few steps into the room, staring back and forth between the two brown-haired boys.
"This can't be true..." her voice was choked with emotion.
"Violet?!" Radic was so startled that he fell out of his chair. "When did she get here? What are you doing here?"
She walked over to Radic, extending a hand to lift him upwards. She had forgotten about his blindness, and Radic simply remained where he was. Red coughed slightly, and Violet blushed as she realized what she was doing. She knelt downwards and took Radic's hand. Radic tried to pull it away in fear. Violet was crying openly now.
"Radic, tell me this isn't true."
"What isn't? What's going on? I don't know what you're talking about!" Radic's voice was panicky.
"You're just scaring him, Violet." Red's confident voice came from behind her.
"Like you know ANYthing about him!" She stood angrily. Radic listened passively on the floor while the two continued to talk. Red made a scoffing noise.
"I know more then anyone, I think. More then YOU certainly."
"No...No!" Violet practically shrieked. "You don't know anything! This can't be real...this can't be! I...I can't believe that you..."
"You're such an idiot." Red's voice took a dangerously low tone.
"You tricked him!" Violet sounded relieved and desperate at the same time. "You must have tricked him, I know he wouldn't have done that...this is all your fault!"
Before Red could respond, Violet slapped him with all her strength. Then, sobbing hysterically, she ran out of the room.
"What happened?" Radic gently pulled himself onto Red's hospital bed, completly confused.
"She slapped me. I don't think I've ever seen someone so immature."
Radic crawled upwards, reaching out with his hands until he touched Red's face. "Does it hurt?"
"Not really. Not only is she stupid, but she's weak."
"You shouldn't get in fights over me. I'm not worth-"
"Shut up." Red pulled Radic down from his kneeling position until he was laying next o him. He placed a finger on Radic's lips, preventing any further words. "I don't want to hear it."
Radic sighed, not fighting Red in any way. He waited until he removed his finger before speaking again. "I wish I could see..."
Red sighed as well. "It's not the end of the world. You've gotten along fairly well without it so far."
"Really?" Radic moved his head upwards, although he knew he wouldn't see anything.
"Sure. So you're blind, big deal. You can deal with it, can't you?"
Radic was silent for a moment, letting his head rest on his shoulder. "You think I can?"
"Sure."
"Then you're the only one who does."
Red didn't say anything, only putting an arm around Radic. Radic responded in kind.
"Remind me to get you something when I wake up." Red mumbled. Radic wasn't sure what he meant.
"You're just going to go to sleep?"
There was no response. Radic felt awkward, sleeping here with Red in a hospital with no real reason, but he found that he didn't want to move at all. So he closed his sightless eyes as well. He felt comfortable where he was, a feeling of safety that he usually didn't feel. He felt a weight fell over his legs and guess that it must have been the Riachu and perhaps Nova. He didn't care as it was. He fell asleep, letting Red hold him.

~~~

"This can't be real, Buzzaki." Violet was beyond tears as she sat in her room. She clutched the bedsheets with white knuckles, staring straight forward, her voice tight and strange. Her Pikachu sat next to her.
"Piii...pika pika Chupika pi Chuchuka pi pipika pi..."
"That couldn't have been...that wouldn't...Radic...he's not like that. You know that, right?"
Buzzaki was afraid of disagreeing with her. "Pika."
"Red must have forced him...Red's the problem, Buzzaki. He's always been the problem. He's always manipulating Radic, making him do what he wants. We have to tell both of them that. We have to make them realize. We have to get Red away from Radic, Buzzaki, or else Radic will be gone forever."
Buzzaki personally thought Radic was gone before they had even met him, but didn't comment.
"Radic is being led against his will, Buzzaki. I know he is. I have to stop Red, no matter what."
"Pikaaa..." Buzzaki scrached his head, lowering his ears. He didn't understand the majority of what was going on, but one thing he knew was true and would most likely remain that way, despite Violet's planning.
"Chuchuka pi Pichupi..." He whispered to himself.

~~~

Nova dashed into the room where all of Radic's Pokémon rested, including a few of Red's, RockyBalbo and Nidia, his Nidorina. Radic's Pokémon and Red's Pokémon kept a healthy distance from eachother.
"Hey guys, you won't believe what I saw!"
"You mean you can see through those sunglasses of yours?" Ruby asked with mock interest. "Could have fooled me."
"Shut up! This is important."
"Important?" Rockybalbo said slowly. Nova nodded.
"It has to do with Radic and Red."
This instantly got all the Pokémon's attention. They looked at him. Nova paused for dramatic effect, but this wasn't obvious to some Pokémon.
"What? Did they fall off another cliff? Don't keep us waiting, Nova." Kitsune sounded more irritable then usual. Nova enjoyed the attention he was getting.
"I saw, with my own two eyes, Radic and Red-"
"Get to the point." Ruby cleaned herself busily.
"They're...in..." Nova paused between each word. Kitsune rolled her eyes.
She didn't have very long to do so, however.
Alacaxam burst through the door, still wounded from his previous battles. He carried with him Hitmochan, who was unconscious.
Instantly every Pokémon in the room activated it's self-defense mechanism, either raising it's fur or hissing or crouching for battle. They needn't have worried.
"Please...I need your help..." Alacaxam's voice was strangely full of pain then usual. Behind him, Weedle and Pixel could barely be seen.
"What YOU want?!" Rockybalbo cried angrily, apparently having not forgotten their battle. "You fight, you lose, disqualified. Leave!"
"We can't leave..." The four Pokémon entered the room carefully. Alacaxam layed Hitmochan's unconscious body on the floor of the room. "We need help."
"What kind of help?" Ruby asked suspiciously, sniffing the body of the Hitmonchan. She remained senseless. Alacaxam was evidently in pain.
"The Pokécenter won't accept us...they claim we're a disgrace to the system...we can't heal ourselves...and Hitmochan was poisoned..." Pixel and Weedle looked at Rockybalbo, who didn't seem to notice. "Without the Pokécenter's help, we can't heal her. She's going to die without help."
"What about you?" Kitsune pointed to Pixel. "You know recovery, don't you?"
"Recover is a restorative move inherently known by Porygons. Maneuver can only be executed on one Pokémon. The executer." Pixel's mechanical voice never changed in tone.
"We can't heal her...we were hoping that one of your trainers would have a Chansey..."
"Even if we did, we wouldn't help YOU." Ruby spat angrily. "You ran away from Radic and tried to kill him! You even formed your own team! Do you know how wrong that is?"
Alacaxam stared at the six of Radic's chosen Pokémon with sad eyes. "I envy you...you never felt neglect...you never were left in a Pokéball, wondering whether or not you'd be used again. Someone cares about you...but no one cares about us but ourselves. We need eachother, just like you need Radic. Please..."
"I think we should help them." Accident said. Ruby turned to him.
"Shut up, Accident, you want to help everyone."
"I think we should too." Nova touched the Hitmonchan's forehead with one paw. It was burning to the touch. "Another Pokémon could die. Do you want to be responsible for that?"
"You have to help us..." Weedle buzzed. "We have nowhere else to go...no one will even look at us...we're desperate..."
"I think Radic does have a Chansey..." Ta looked thoughtful. For once, the other heads joined him.
"Yeah, it was called Fortunata, I think."
"Wasn't terribly powerful..."
"But it did have Soft-boiled. That could help."
"But how can we get her out here?"
"I know how." Chan said softly. His two sister heads stared at him.
"What?"
"I know how Radic gets his Pokémon. I could use the computer and get it out here."
"Please...if you know how, please get Fortunata. And hurry."
"Takachan, go and get Fortunata." Callima took charge of the situation. She walked over to the Hitmochan, gently shaking some powder off her mushroom. "This should help her get to sleep easier."
"I'll go tell Red what's happening." Nidia trotted out of the room. Takachan walked to the computer that was in the corner of what seemed to be every room and tapped his beak against the keys.
"Let's see...I'll access Box 6...that's where he keeps them, I think..."
Stepping back, Chan smiled. "There! That should do it."
Ta and Ka wanted desperatly to berate their brother, but couldn't find a reason to do so. From the disk drive of the computer a shining light shone outwards. It eventually formed into a Chansey. She looked confused.
"Where am I? What's going on?"
"Fortunata, we need your help."
She smiled. "I'm always glad to help."
"Could you heal that Pokémon over there?"
The Chansey waddled over to there the group of Pokémon remained gathered. She studied the sleeping Hitmochan carefully.
"Yes, I think I can cure the poison...and restore most of her health...but not all..."
"Will you do it?" Callima stepped back.
"Of course." Fortunata smiled again. "I wouldn't let another Pokémon suffer under my care."
The Chansey took place in front of the Hitmonchan, closing her eyes and chanting silent words. The egg in it's pouch slowly raised upwards, releasing a rainbow of light that bathed the sleeping Pokémon. It seemed as if the process lasted forever. Hitmochan's anxious teammates stared at her prone form silently.
Finally Fortunata finished, the egg returning to her pouch. She sat back heavily.
"Phew...I need to rest now..."
Hitmochan no longer looked the sickly color she had before. Her team- mates looked incredibly relieved.
"She should sleep for another hour or so..." Callima nudged the Hitmonchan's body gently. "That's about as much as I shook on her..."
"Thank you so much." Alacaxam looked very sincere, something very strange.
"Um..." Weedle rubbed his stingers together, looking awkward. "I'm sure this is on all my team-mates minds, but...can we...uh...stay in here until she wakes up? It's a really nice place, and it would be just in case she got sick again. Please?"
Although Rockybalbo, Ruby, and Kitsune were against it, the majority of Pokémon were in favor. The four took up residence near a couch in the corner, remaining unobtrusive. Weedle settled on a overhanging lamp. Pixel perched on top of the computer, and Alacaxam napped on the couch, holding Hitmochan in his arms.
Callima smiled brightly. "They're kind of cute together, don't you think?"
"Yeah..." Nova said softly. He jerked suddenly. "Oh! That reminds me..."
"Yeah Nova, what were you going to say before? You never finished."
"Right, right..." Nova fixed his sunglasses. "Radic and Red are..."

~~~

"Awake?"
Red slowly opened his eyes.
"I had the strangest dream, I dreamed that you..." He then realized where he was. He sat up quickly. Radic soon joined him.
"I had a weird dream too, but I don't think it was about the same thing."
"Hmmm...was there something I wanted to do...?" Red scratched his head. "I can't remember."
"You wanted to give me something."
"Right!" Red snapped his fingers. He slowly got out of his bed, shuffling out of the room. Radic turned his head to where he had last heard him.
"Where are you going?"
"I'll be right back, don't worry. Just stay there."
Radic put his arms around his knees and waited. He could hear Red's footsteps slowly moving down the hallway.
He was still confused and now he felt alone. And frightened. At least when Red was with him he felt safe. He felt like he was someone. But as soon as he left...he felt like nothing. And he was worried that Violet would return.
"Rrrrraticate..." He heard a angry voice near him. He turned in shock, but found that Ratty was not attacking him.
"Ratty?"
"Rrrraticate, rrrratrrraticate..." Ratty tried to keep the menacing tone out of his voice.
"Red went to get something."
Ratty made a noise and stopped talking. Radic guessed that he had gone back to sleep.
"Ri?" He heard the weight on his legs say. It eventually moved, nudging up to his arm. He pet it distractedly.
"I wonder what in the world Red would want to give me..."
"I'm back..." He heard Red walk into the room. He felt relieved on many levels that it was Red and not anyone else.
"Where did you go?"
"That's not important. Here." Red leaned over him, pressing a box into his hand. Radic felt it carefully.
"What's this?"
"Open it."
Radic oblidged. He felt in the box carefully, feeling some kind of velvet and a chain. He felt some more and realized there was a heart- shaped stone.
"Is this..."
Red took the box from him, evidentally taking the necklace out. "Yes, it's a necklace. It has a heart on it. I thought you would like it."
"Why would you give something like that to me?" Radic was still confused. He felt Red's hands around his neck, fastening the clasp. Red's face was close to his own. It made his heart beat faster.
"I don't know..." Red sighed. "A peace offering, maybe. For all that I've done wrong to you."
"Really..." Radic didn't believe him at all. He