Radic   and   Red

Hellodere! It's me again, yer friendly Pokémon fanfic writer! And here we have one of my oldest works, Radic and Red. Of course, it continues where Aftermath, or rather, da Epiclog, left off. Radic thinks Red is dead, while Red wanders around, searching fer a way back ta Indigo Plateau. Ah, and I included some of my own Pokémon in this story, da Clegencyana, da Gencey, da Manachu, da Riachu, and da Ranachu. It's easier if ya know about em and stuff.
Anyway, on with da story!

Radic and Red: Chapter 1
"The Storm Ends"

Radic had been running through a clearing, when the rain stopped.
Radic looked up at the sky, shocked. It had been raining for what felt like days. Weeks even. But that was probably because he had stayed in the storm for much of it's duration. He felt some wind rushing by him, and noticed Accident, his Blastoise, sucking the water off him by putting it's water cannon's into reverse. Accident gurgled happily as it replenished it's water supply. Radic leaned over and patted it's head.
"Hey."
Radic turned around sharply, trying not to admit he had been startled by the sudden voice. He noticed a familiar glint of a spike on the person's chest, and a familiar mocking grin.
"Myk." Radic said, hatred in his voice.
"That's right!" he said, mocking a Meowth's voice. The spiky haired trainer sauntered right up to Radic, and held a pokéball in his face. "I see you haven't got a new pokéball yet."
"That's because you STOLE IT!" Radic said angrily. Myk smiled and balanced the pokéball on his finger, moving it away when Radic tried to grab it.
"Where's your friend?" he asked. Radic paused. He wasn't sure how to answer.
"He....he's not here."
"Why? You drop him off a cliff or something?" Myk said. Radic flew into a rage, trying hard to grab the pokéball, but Myk was taller then he was.
"I DID NOT!!"
"Sure. I'll tell you what, let's have a pokémon battle, right here. I feel like BEATING someone." Myk said, walking away. Radic clenched his teeth in fury. He didn't feel like a pokébattle now. He usually only fought with Red...but now Radic could feel the incredible temption of perhaps winning a battle once. He wondered what it was like...ever since he had defeated the gym trainers, he hadn't fought anyone and won. He could beat the elite four....but Red...Red was the current pokémon champion...
Radic shook the thought away. WAS the current..
"HEY! We going to fight or what?" Myk's voice rang from across the field. Radic clenched a pokéball so hard his hand hurt. He wanted to WIN...just once.
"We're going to fight, and I'm going to win." Radic said angrily. Myk laughed.
"Right. We'll see."
Myk selected a pokéball from beneath his jacket, throwing it into the field with furious energy.
"MERLIN, GO!"
The pokéball burst open with a flare of energy that hurt Radic's eyes. The huge Alacazam stood in the center of the ring, gesturing with it's two spoons. Radic stepped back. He didn't have his Gengar with him....he looked through his pokémon. He grabbed a ball and threw it into the ring.
"GO, Weedle!"
Their was a buzzing noise as a huge Beedrill flew upwards, it's drill arms making whirring noises. The Alacazam watched it silently.
"Beeeeeeedrill!"
Myk looked skeptical.
"You called you Beedrill "Weedle"?"
Radic hated it when people mocked his pokémons names.
"Weedle, Tackle!"
The Beedrill hovered upwards, then dove towards the Alacazam, it's drills held in front of it. The Alacazam pointed a spoon at it.
"Merlin, Psybeam!"
Energy gathered around the spoon in a multitude of colors, lancing out into a concentrated rainbow beam, that hit Weedle square in it's insectoid chest. It fell to the ground, buzzing it's wings faintly.
"Merlin, Body Slam!"
Radic was instantly concerned when he saw that Myk was not joking when he said he felt like beating someone. The Alacazam picked the Beedrill up by one of it's thin legs, holding it upside down. Merlin was about to beat it into the ground.
Weedle suddenly opened it's eyes, and then buzzed it's wings with all it's strength. It slipped from Merlin's grasp, then it drilled into Merlin's chest, using all it's force. Weedle's drills whined as it tried to dig through Merlin's chest. Merlin fell back. It grabbed the Beedrill and slammed it into the ground viciously, cutting off it's attack. Weedle layed still, it's only movement a slight buzzing of it's wings.
"Weedle, String Attack!" Radic said, not sure of what other damage Weedle could do on this pokémon. The Beedrill fluttered it's wings weakly and rose into the air, just in time to avoid a crushing attack from Merlin. The Beedrill fluttered weakly above the Alacazam, spinning long thread from it's drills. The thread fell in coils around Merlin, then suddenly tightened when Weedle jerked it's drills up. The Alacazam broke it's bonds easily, but it's movement was much slower. It pointed at Weedle with a spoon menacingly, it's chest dripping blood.
"Merlin, Psychic." Myk said with a evil smile. The Alcazam held the spoons to it's head and closed it's eyes, powerful waves going towards the Beedrill. Weedle held it's drills to it's head, obviously in pain. it fell to the ground, a limp heap of wings and black and yellow. Radic recalled it.
"So much for "Weedle"" Myk said mockingly. Radic knew he couldn't beat Myk now. He had no pokémon that could stand against that Alacazam, even Accident would be a poor match. It was the same feeling he got when Red brought out Ratty. Radic sighed, lowering his hat.
"I.....I...I forfeit." Radic said quietly. Myk leaped in the air.
"YES!"
Radic turned to leave when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Not so fast." he heard Myk say, his voice having a chilling ring to it. "There's something you need to do for me."
"Why should I?!" Radic said angrily, turning around and batting Myk's hand away from him. Myk smiled smugly.
"Because I won. And whoever wins, gets to order the loser around."
"I've never heard of that rule." Radic said sulkily. He turned to go.
An instant later, he was on the ground, pinned, the Sandslash spike on Myk's pendant an inch from his eye. Radic gulped.
"It's MY rule."

Radic and Red: Chapter 2
"Red and the Tauros"

Red stumbled again for the seventh time, only to fall on the furry back of the Tauros. Constantly, Red wanted to stop and rest, the pain causing his vision to blur and his head ache. He stumbled again, his legs giving out on him. He wanted to lie down...lie down on the wet ground and sleep...let himself rest. but that Tauros....it wouldn't let him. it kept nudging him upwards with it's horns, whipping him with it's tails. Red had to keep on going. He regretted ever catching this Tauros which tormented him.
The Tauros knew that Red had to stay up. They had to reach a town. They had too. Or else they would both die out here. The Tauros sensed it's master's anger, and felt a tinge of regret. It didn't want it's master mad at it.
Red glared down at the Tauros, unable to see with his blurry vision that the rain was stopping.
"When we get to town," Red began, taking a breath between each word, "I'm going to give you a name....a stupid, Radic-like name."
The Tauros didn't know who or what Radic was, so it just ignored the comment.
"I'll call you Pookie. That's it." Red said scornfully.
Tauros's do have their pride, and being called something as degrading as "Pookie" was highly insulting. Giving a angry "Taaaaaaurroooooooos!", the Tauros lowered it's head and butted hard into Red's back. Tumbling down a hill, Red rolled without any noise or resistance. Landing at the bottom, Red panted, using this as a excuse to rest his aching and exhausted body. The Tauro's realized it's mistake, and hopped down the hill. He shoved Red roughly, turning him over.
"Go awaaaay..." Red moaned, covering his eyes from the rain. It was when he felt warm sunlight on him that he realized that it wasn't raining. He opened his eyes in amazement, then stretched himself. He then settled down for a nap.
The Tauros butted him again. Angrily Red tried to hit the Tauros, but it was too quick. When Red sat up, The Tauros dug it's horns under Red's back and flipped him onto IT'S back. Red groaned, and fell asleep against it's fur. The Tauros sighed and began trotting off. Soon it came to a town...unable to read the sign, it trotted through the paved streets, utterly confused. Where the heck was it?
There was a scream from a little girl.
"HELP! MOOOOMMMY! THERE'S A BIG WILD POKéMON OUT HEEEERE!" the girl wailed. Her mother came out, swept her up in her arms, and ran back inside. The Tauros shook it's head and tried to understand what was going on. Red began slipping off it's back. It tried to get him back on, but Red was too far gone. Red fell against the paved street, his head thumping painfully. In a deep, coma-like sleep, Red remained almost motionless in the street. There was a fearing face peeking from the window, then a woman with her hair in tied up braids ran out.
"By the legendary pokémon Articuno! It's the league champion! Red! In OUR town! And he's hurt! This is a job for Nurse Joy!"
The woman picked up Red and ran back inside the pokécenter/hospital. The Tauros trotted along behind, but the doors of the pokécenter were locked. It tapped at them with it's hoof, but no one heard. It settled down and tried to ignore the pain shooting through it's leg. It watched some young boy walk by, seemingly younger then it's master. The boy was carrying a Pidgey in his arms.
"Hang on there, Pidgepidge! Hang on!"
The Tauros looked at the boy curiously, then got up and waited for the boy to open the door. As the boy ran inside the pokécenter, the Tauros followed after it. Finally inside, it tried to pick up Red's scent. Following the faint trail, he found it leading to a room with a sign with a syringe on it above the door. The Tauros bellowed. "TAUUUURRROOOOOOOOS!"
Joy burst out so fast that it startled the Tauros.
"Quiet! Don't make so much noise! That nurse can take care of you! Now leave me alone, I have to heal the league champion!" Joy said angrily, then dissapeared back into the emergency room again. The Tauros turned to see someone who looked just like Joy walk up to him. Now the Tauros was more confused then ever. Leading the Tauros to the rehabilitation center, Joy wondered what her sister was doing.
The other Joy poked into Red's pockets, taking out his wallet. She looked in it, checking if he was the real champion. She unfolded a long strand, each dotted with a badge and a short description of the pokémon that was most important in the battle. But no diploma...no pictures from the hall of fame. And where were Red's pokéballs? She kept looking through it, and finally found a rumpled piece of paper that was a torn remnant from the original diploma. It said "Red is now the league Champion-" and then the rest was ripped off. Underneath the words was half of Prof.Oaks signature, and next to it was Red's signature. She stared at it, then at the battered body on the strecher. She sighed.
"You're supposed to be the best of the best...the one that beat Lance, Agatha, Bruno, and Lorelei like nothing. There are all sorts of stories about you...but now you're in my city...and you're hurt and with no pokémon..."
She sighed again.
"This has been one of the weirdest days I've ever had...." Joy said, and began investigating some medicines.

Radic and Red: Chapter 3
"The Bridge"

Radic pounded towards the bridge, his sneakers hitting the ground and thudding back against his heel noisily. It was pure luck he had escaped. Pure luck...
Myk was prepared to make Radic do his bidding, or rip out his eye with the Sandslash spike, when Accident finally decided to intervene. With one mighty paw, he had swept Myk away. In that instant, he grabbed Radic in his claws and ran, his huge paws making craters in the ground. Radic had leapt from Accident's grasp and began to run. He could hear the cry of a Dodrio behind him. Forcing his legs to go faster, he saw a bridge over a chasm. He heard the rapid beats of the Dodrio catching up to him. There was no way he could out run a Dodrio...He growled at himself in frustration. Why didn't he check if Myk had a Dodrio?
He skidded to a stop at the bridge. Planks were falling off, the ropes were rotted. He stared at it uneasily. That couldn't support his weight....but when he looked down, he could see a large river flowing beneath him. Accident thudded up next to him. Accident looked more worried then Radic...it couldn't even touch the bridge without it breaking. He heard Myk skid to a stop a short distance away, and hear him call out.
"GO MERLIN!"
Radic closed his eyes, trying to ignore the shudder of fear running through his body. He stepped gingerly on the bridge, feeling it shudder under his weight. He heard, or rather felt, a cry from Accident as Merlin hit it with Psywave. He had to hurry.... He began to run, watching his feet carefully, stepping only on the steady planks. He heard a SHING noise, familiar to the sound of a...
A Sandslash spike!
He heard a creaking noise as the spike began slashing through the ropes holding the bridge. Radic felt the breath rush past his chest as there was a sharp snap. Suddenly the bridge listed crazily to one side. He hung on desperately to a plank, before hearing another Snap. He began plummeting through space, falling. He screamed. He was answered by a echoing shriek from Accident. He plummeted through the air, hitting the water with a dull BOOM.
Instantly the breath was ripped from him, and he lost consciousness.
There was blackness for a period.
Then hazy images came into view. He could see his mom's face...but it was unfamiliar. He hadn't seen her in so long. She held a Voltorb in her hands...
"Time to get up...Wake up honey..." he could hear her voice saying, echoing all around him. He was floating....
The Voltorb self-destructed, filling the air with smoke. He could see...
Red.
Red laughed at him, the mocking sound filling his ears. He wept tears of bitter shame at how Red died...
Then he could see a pedestal in front of him, with three pokéballs on it. He could see the names on them.
Bulbasaur
Squirtle
Charmander...
He squinted, a faint, wiggley figure standing in front of him. He remembered this...this was his first day...beginning...
He picked up Charmander...and a voice echoed around him, describing it. He picked up Squirtle, and the voice continued again. He picked up Bulbasaur, not watching what he was doing with Squirtle. he pressed the button on the pokéball, and it bursted open, showering him with golden light, where visions of Red falling and Accident screaming and Ratty crying and Kitsune losing and Raichu screaming in joy flitted through his mind, then all of them were seared by a flash of light that cut through his very mind...

Radic and Red: Chapter 4
"Recovery"


Red woke up.
He was in a blindingly white room. He put a hand to his head, and felt a bandage. He couldn't feel his hat. He noticed Joy standing next to the bed.
"Glad to see you're awake, Pokémon master." she said cheerfully. Red groaned, holding his head.
"Where am I..."
"You're in the Fuschia City Pokécenter."
"Pokécenter?"
"Well, it's a hospital too, but everyone calls it a pokécenter."
"This is too strange..."
"You're telling ME! First this Tauros comes yelling around the hospital, waking people up, to see the supposed Grand Pokémon champion laying on the ground all beat up and weak! What happened anyway?"
Red rubbed his head, trying to remember.
"There was Radic...he had something to do with it...."
"Radic? Not the all-time Pokémon loser?"
"The very same....wanted to...to battle me..."
Joy looked in dissapproval, but made no comment.
"I won...and then...then it rained...and then..there was this Tauros..."
Joy gave Red a strange look.
"That Radic will never give up...he just won't accept the fact he lost..." she said, sighing. She gave Red a glass of water. "Drink this, you need rest."
Red drank it very fast, feeling thirsty. In a flash he was asleep.
"Chansey!" Joy's chansey said, looking concerned just like it's owner.
"I just don't know what to believe." she said, "How and Why in the world is the pokémon champion in this condition...."
The Chansey shrugged along with her. The two of them walked out of the room.

Ratty was tired, hurt, and alone.
Managing to chew out of it's bonds, the Raticate had stumbled down the cliff, falling and bouncing silently. It hadn't said a word since Radic had left it alone. It then, limping, made it's way through the forest, trying to track it's master. Utterly exhausted, the Raticate slumped in the middle of a clearing, it's eyes closed as it relived it's memories of it's master.

Red was dreaming. He could tell. He always knew when he was.
Ratty was running towards him.
But next to it was....Lilsquirt? His old Squirtle?
Red felt himself cheering Ratty on, who surpassed the Squirtle with ease. Ratty leapt into Red's arms, where Red hugged the Raticate fiercely.
Next was RockyBalbo, his golem.
Red gave a cry of joy at seeing RockyBalbo again, and he held Ratty and RockyBalbo in his arms.
Then there was a thud.
It shook the ground he was standing on.
it was followed by more thuds.
Red looked up and saw a humongous Radic staring down at him. Radic lifted him up easily in his giant hand.
"All hail the great pokémon master! Ha ha ha ha ha!"
The laughter rang around him, when he noticed his certificate of Championship pinned to Radic's vest.
Red woke up with a scream, sweating and frightened. He held his head, feeling the moist bandages there. He then clenched his fists.
"That loser Radic...he can never be League Champion...Never! Never!" he said almost deliriously to himself. Then he lapsed into a deep dreamless sleep, far too deep for him to hear the piercing wail of Ratty floating through the open hospital room window.

Radic and Red: Part 5
"Ekanssss..."

Radic coughed, feeling a big paw on his back. He could feel sunlight burning his eyes.
"Blaaaastoissse?" Accident said concerned. Radic turned over and coughed again.
"What happened?" he asked no one in particular.
"Blas blas blas toise, toise blastoise blast!"
"I fell in the river?"
The Blastoise nodded.
"And you must have got me out!"
Accident nodded again.
Radic stumbled to his feet, noticing something glimmering near him. He picked it up.
"Hey....this looks sort of like a Meowth coin..." he said, remembering the scratches on his face. He began walking, Accident booming along behind him.
"Ekanssssssss...." Radic heard something hissing. He stood up straight.
"An Ekans! But...But they aren't supposed to live around here! It's like they avoid me or something!" Radic said in amazement, "We have to catch it, Accident! We just have to! This may be our only chance!"
The Ekans slithered out quietly. It noticed the two travelers, then reared up, hissing threateningly. Radic carefully and quietly withdrew a pokéball from inside his vest. He then threw it at the Ekans. It bounced off it's head, then landed near it, springing open.
"GO PARAS!"
In a flash of orange energy the Parasect stood in the middle of the field.
"Paras, Leech life!" Radic shouted before the Ekans could retaliate. The twin pincers shot out on the long vines, wrapping around the Ekans. The two pincers chunked into the Ekans flesh below it's head. Energy began coursing down the vines in big pulses, while Paras became stronger.
"Ekaaaaansssss!" the Ekans cried. It swished it's long body near the Parasect, wrapping around it. It squeezed hard, causing the Parasect to chitter in pain.
"Paras, Cut now!" Radic shouted. The Parasect tried to obey, but the coils of the Ekans were trapping it, unabling it to move. Radic took out his pokédex, pointing it at the struggling Parasect and the Ekans. "Wrap-A move that allows Ekans to close it's coils around the enemy, preventing it from attacking for any amount of turns." the pokédex said in it's mechanical voice. Radic looked up.
"Break Free Paras! Come on, You can do it!" He tried to shout encouragement. Paras chittered in pain as the Ekans coils closed tighter and tighter around it. Radic tried to will Paras to break free, but the Ekans wouldn't let go.
"Paras, return!" Radic said reluctantly. The beam shot out, sucking the Parasect back into it's ball. The Ekans fell into a heap in the clearing.
"Okay, I'll get some real Pokémon out now!" Radic said, trying to intimidate the Ekans. He looked at his Pokéballs, trying to decide. "Meoweth, Go!" He cried, throwing the pokéball. This time the Ekans ducked. With a growl, the Persian sprang from it's ball, leaping on top of the Ekans.
"Meoweth, Bite!"
The Persian opened it's jaws, and sank them into the Ekans. It shrieked in pain, hissing wildly. It bit Meoweth with it's own fangs. Radic knew that Meoweth was poisoned.
"Meoweth, PayDay!"
The Persian leaped on the Ekans, ripping it's claws down it's entire body, but saw no pocket, and saw no wallet. It shrugged. It couldn't steal money if there wasn't any money to steal!
The Ekans was near faint. Radic grabbed a great ball and threw it. It hit the Ekans between the eyes, bursting open with a flare of energy, drawing the Ekans into it. Meoweth prowled around it, making sure nothing funny went on. The Ball sat in the clearing, rocking back and forth violently.
Ding...
Ding...
DING!
The pokéball stopped moving. Radic leaped in the air.
"YEAH! I CAUGHT A EKANS!"
There was a earth shaking thud as Accident also lept in the air and hit the ground. Meoweth growled at this. It sniffed the pokéball to see if it wouldn't open. Then it purred and rubbed up against Radic. Looked between Accident and Meoweth.
"Accident, you wouldn't mind If I let Meoweth out for a while, would you?"
Accident shook it's head. It was tired, it wanted rest. Radic used the Persians pokéball to finally let Accident rest. Then he patted Meoweth's head.
"Well, Meoweth, I hope you enjoy your exercise! I think you'll be out until we reach the next town." Radic said.
"Peeeeersian.." Meoweth purred.

Radic and Red: Chapter 6
"Violet"

Red went in and out of conciousness several times, fighting to keep alive. The work of Nurse Joy and her Chansey helped him live. One thought was always in his mind.
"I have to get back...back to Indigo Plateau...Have to keep my place as Champion..." he kept thinking. It was this thought that helped him stay alive. Ever since his latest pokébattle with Radic, he had been off track. No doubt the Elite four were wondering where the heck he was. He reached over next to him, and encountered nothing. He sat up quickly.
"Where's Ratty?" he asked. Nurse Joy ran in.
"Ratty? The world famous Raticate?"
"Yeah....wasn't he in my belt?"
Joy looked away.
"You didn't have one when you came."
"I didn't?" Red asked. That was strange. He always had his belt on, that's where his Pokéballs were clipped! He vaguely remembered something about a tree...
"Your condition is stabilizing nicely. I think we can let you go."
"Really? That's great!" Red said happily. He leaped from the hospital bed. He could finally go back to Indigo Plateau! Joy held out his clothes, still ripped and torn, but now clean. Then Red noticed he was in a hospital gown. He took them and changed in the bathroom, loving the feel of his hat back on his head. He adjusted it, and then felt a bandage scrape against his forehead.
"Wait a minute..." he said. He turned back to the mirror, staring at himself. Sure enough, the bandage crossed down over one of his eyes, going at a angle across his head. He whirled around, about to face Joy, when she spoke before he could.
"Yes, the bandage is still there. I suggest you keep it on until your head stops bleeding. It's not serious, but I don't want it getting infected."
Red crossed his arms defiantly, trying to get some depth perception. "I look really stupid with this thing on."
Joy crossed her arms in the exact same way.
"Well, Unless you want a life threatening infection, you'll keep it on."
Red muttered defiantly, but made no other comment. He tilted his hat so it covered the bandage. He slightly limped out into the hallway, only to be bowled over by his Tauros.
"Tauros! What are you DOING!?!" he shouted. Joy stuck her head out the room she was airing out for her next patient.
"Be quiet! There are sick people in here you know!"
Red waited until she left, then smacked the Tauros over the head.
"Tauros, watch where you're going!" he whispered fiercely. The Tauros whimpered and shied away from it's irate master. Using it as support, Red began to make his way over to the computer in the corner.
"OH...MY...GOD!" he heard someone shout. A girl with light green hair in long pigtails ran up to him, dressed in overalls that clashed with her shirt. Red stared at her hair in wonder. He didn't even know Green was a hair dye color...if her hair was died...The girl ran up to him, and grabbed his hand.
"I never thought I'd see you! You're the most famous trainer EVER! I can't believe I'm holding the great Red's hand! I have all your posters and merchandise!"
Red didn't even know he HAD merchandise.
"Oh please please please please please can I go with you?" she pleaded. Red finally said something.
"No way. I can't have a amateur trainer slowing me down." he said, shaking his head fiercely. The girl began crying outrageously.
"You HAVE to let me come! You HAVE to! I need the experience! And Mom won't let me go by myself! If I go with you, I can finally begin my pokémon journey outside of my town!"
Red made a look of digust, staring up at the sky as if looking for guidance. He looked down and noticed his Tauros nuzzling up to her. He sighed.
".....Okay...." he said reluctantly. The girl squealed in delight.
"My name's Violet! I won't be any trouble at all! I swear!"
"Better not you little...." he muttered sullenly. Violet ignored him, to caught up in her throes of joy. He turned to the computer.
"What do you want to access?" it said in it's mechanic voice. He pressed his finger on "Bill's PC". It made a beep noise. He then pressed his finger to Box 1. He looked through it, but didn't see Ratty. Likewise with all the other boxes. Dissapointed, he switched his Tauros for some other pokémon, setting up his favorite team.
"Um....Violet, you can use the computer now."
Violet blinked at him.
"I don't need too."
"You don't need too?"
"Well, I only have three pokémon..."
Red sighed and began walking out of the hospital, followed by the ecstatic skipping girl, who sang out to everyone who she was traveling with. Soon a crowd began to follow them, causing Red to blush in embarrassment and pull his hat over his eyes.
"Can't believe everyone knows I have this girl following me..." he muttered. He tried to ignore the jeers and taunts of the crowd as he made his way out of the town.

To Be Continued...

Radic and Red: Part 7
"Ratty is found!"

Radic had been walking along at a nice pace when he heard Meoweth slowing down. Looking behind him, he saw Meoweth laying on it's side, gasping for breath. He came closer, and noticed the sickly green color flooding it's face.
"Oh Meoweth, I completely forgot you were poisoned by the Ekans. I'm sorry." he said apologetically. He let Accident out of it's pokéball. It streched as if it had been cramped. Moving swiftly, he let Meoweth back into the Pokéball. It went with a flicker of weak light. He looked through his pokéballs, choosing one of the 6 in his vest. Unable to control his natural instinct and reaction to throwing pokéballs, he spun it on one finger, then threw it in the middle of the clearing with a elaborate flourish. Feeling even more guilty and stupid then before, he watched it land. Chiding himself for letting his instincts get the better of him, he stared at the pokémon that emerged from the ball.
With a flurry of feathers, Takachan the Doduo sprang from the pokéball with a angry squawk. It then began screeching at Radic alternately with it's two heads. Putting his hands over his ears, he put Accident in Takachan's ball.
"Look Takachan, I don't care that your tired and your wing hurts. You've got to fly me out of here to another town."
Takachan's heads both shook the answer "NO" vigourously. Radic pleaded.
"PLEASE Takachan, I don't want to have to walk."
The answer remained the same. Throwing his hands in the air, Radic approached the Doduo carefully. Takachan watched him warily. With a sudden swift movement Radic leaped on Takachan's feathery back.
Takachan screamed, it's other head echoing it, in surprise and sprinted off as fast as it's spindly legs could go. Radic ducked as low as he could to the Doduo's body, trying to avoid the branches and thorns that raced above him as Takachan plunged forward, regardless of what it ran through. Radic gave a cry of pain when a thorny branch cut into his back. How long would this take?...
Takachan suddenly skidded to a stop, so fast that Radic flew over it's head. Flipping in the air a couple times, he landed face first in the dust, rolling over and over and over again to run into a furry bundle. Radic got up, surprised, hurt, and dusty.
"RRRRRRRRATICATE!" he heard an angry cry near him. He stared down in surprise just in time to see Ratty latch it's huge fangs in his leg.
Radic's scream of pain could be heard for quite a long distance.
Radic grabbed the Raticate and pulled it off his leg with a wrench, only to find the Raticate squiggling around in his hands, trying to bite him. He carried it over to Takachan, who shied away from him. The more Radic came after it, the more Takachan raced away, until they were at opposite sides of the small clearing they were in. Ratty managed to bite into Radic's hand, causing another surprised scream. Shaking his hand furiously, Radic danced around the clearing, much to the jeering laughter coming from Takachan's two heads.
Radic whipped his hand back and forth, seeking desperately to get the stubborn Raticate to release it's grip. It finally did, along with a chunk of Radic's hand, and flew into a tree. Ratty stumbled to it's paws and wavered back and forth for a moment.
"Ratty, it's me! Radic! You know, Red's fri-...um......shoot..." he thought. His Relationship with Red was anything but good. Ratty ignored him and leaped at him again. Radic barely dodged. Ratty got it's fangs caught in his vest while it tried to bite his shoulder. Moving swiftly, he rolled the Raticate in the vest until he had a wrapped bundle of screaming fur. The Raticate's muscles stood out like cords as it tried to break the vest, but it was wrapped around it too many times. Radic panted for breath, tucking Ratty underneath his arm.
"Takachan, come over here." he pleaded. Takachan was busying itself at pecking a tree. It looked at him, laughed, and then continued.
"Takachan, as your trainer you're supposed to obey me..." Radic began, trying to get his most serious and lecturing town. Takachan let out a flutelike note and continued.
"TAKACHAN, GET OVER HERE NOW!" Radic shouted, a intense moment of anger flaring. Takachan looked up, it's four eyes wide in surprise. It trotted over to him, and lowered itself so he could get on.
"That's better." Radic said, surprised at his own flash of anger. Guiding it through the trees, Radic and Takachan kept up a steady pace.
Ratty seemed to never run out of energy, during the whole ride it was squirming and screaming and trying to bite him. Once while trying to avoid it's snapping jaws he had sat up on the Doduo's feathery back and gotten slapped in the face with a thin whippy willow branch. Still sporting a large red mark across his face, Radic cursed the fates that had ever let him meet Ratty. He bet Red had wished this on him...
That was before he remembered that Red was dead.
And it was because of him.
Radic looked at the Raticate, who had a crazy red glint in it's eyes, and thought perhaps this was the least he could do to honor Red's memory. He screamed again as Ratty sank it's fangs into his arm. Pulling it away sharply, he sat up and got whipped in the face by another branch, this one almost knocking him over. Sighing, he tried to get as close to Takachan as possible, and as far away from Ratty as possible. He wasn't doing a good job of either.

Radic and Red: Part 8
"Buzzaki"

Red blushed deeply with embarrassment as he sat in Violet's house. He pulled his hat down over his face so it was dark, but Violet's mother could still tell who he was.
"So you're who my precious is going to be traveling with? How nice!" she said, smiling. Red fidgeted and looked away.
"Yeah lady."
"You have to make sure she gets enough sleep."
"Uh huh."
"And make sure she doesn't hurt herself."
"Uh huh."
"If she gets in trouble, I need you to get her out."
"Uh huh." Red was getting impatient.
"And make sure she doesn't get lost."
"Uh huh."
"And make sure she eats well."
"Yeah sure." Red said quickly, cutting in before Violet's mother could say something else, "look Lady, we're not going far. We're just heading to Indigo Plateau, and We'll be Flying there."
"Oh! Okay then," said Violet's mom, who seemed to have rebounded surprisingly fast, "then make sure she doesn't fall off."
Red thumped his head against the table hard.
As Violet's mother bustled to the kitchen to make up some provisions for the two of them, Violet thumped down the stairs excitedly.
"Moooom!" she yelled in a annoying whine, "I can't find my Red shirt!" she emphasized the word Red. Red put his hands in his hair, avoiding the bandage, and sighed.
"This was a big mistaaaake..." he moaned to himself.
Violet's mother came out holding out two backpacks and Violet's Red shirt. Violet grabbed it and put it over her current one, resulting in an odd mixture of colors. The top shirt was a bit big, so most of her shoulders showed, showing the yellow turtleneck she was wearing. Coupled with the bright blue jeans she was wearing and her brushed and washed light green hair, Red was getting a headache just looking at her.
"Here you go you two! Two backpacks stuffed with nutritious and healthy snacks!"
"Any chocolate?" Violet said, snatching her bag and looking inside.
"I don't want you to ruin your teeth. Are you sure you have all your Pokémon?"
Violet revealed the row of clips down the side of her shirt, on which were pinned three pokéballs. She counted them carefully.
"Yeah, they're all here!"
Red sighed louder this time. He shouldered his pack and stood up.
"Okay, time to go." he said. Violet's mother inspected her daughter one last time, then looked at Red.
"Oh dear, why do you have a bandage?" she asked. Red pulled away from her.
"Injury okay? Lady, we really have to get a move on."
She pinched his cheek painfully, something Red hated with a terrible intensity.
"Oh, you two are just so adorable! Run along now, and come visit me some time!" she called. Red rubbed his cheek as he dashed out the door, followed by the skipping girl.
Red tried to lose her, but she was two fast. He grabbed a pokéball from his belt, throwing it into the clearing on the outskirts of town. It burst open with a flare of electricity, and a Zapdos screeched at the sky and pecked at the ground.
Red was about to say something when Violet knocked him over in a rush to see the rare pokémon.
"OH WOW! A ZAPDOS! I heard they're even better then a Pikachu!"
Red groaned, rolling his eyes as he got back up.
"Zappy, Fly us to Indigo Plateau." he said. Zappy made a buzzing noise like electricity through wire.
"No? Why not?"
Zappy pointed at Violet.
"Two passengers? Why should THAT be a problem?"
"Zaaaaaaaaaaapdos, ZaaaaapZaaaaapdos!" it buzzed. Violet tried to get close to it, but it scooted away. she began chasing it around the clearing, causing it to shed yellow electric feathers like crazy.
"Violet, stop it!" he called to her. Violet did. She began poking around in bushes, trying to find new pokémon. Red gave a cry of dismay and held his head.
"Oh no!"
"What?" Violet said, looking up innocently.
"The two of us are two heavy for Zappy to carry at once. We'll have to walk." he said angrily. Zappy pecked at a tree. Violet beamed.
"That's great! That'll give me a chance to catch more pokémon!"
Red sighed. Violet skipped out ahead of him as they began walking. She stopped suddenly, noticing a rustling in the bushes.
"LOOK! I bet there's a pokémon in there!"
Red rolled his eyes. Sure enough, a Pikachu walked out.
"Pikapikapikachu!" it said in a adorable voice, blinking it's two cute eyes. Red gagged, although Violet was ecstatic.
"WOW! A PIKACHU! I always WANTED one of those!" she cried. She grabbed a pokéball from her shirt, throwing it like one would throw a frisbee.
"Go Caterpie!"
"Catacata!" The Caterpie said, sitting in the middle of the clearing, grinning. Red fought the urge to burst out laughing.
"Caterpie, do Stringshot!" she shouted, trying to sound dramatic. It sounded familiar. With a start, Red realized that she was trying to imitate his voice. He shuddered and watched.
The Caterpie shot out strands of webbing, covering the Pikachu in sticky strands.
"Pika pika!" The Pikachu cried, startled. It closed it's eyes and concentrated. A bolt of electricity burst from it's cheeks and burnt the string off. Zapdos made a scoffing noise at it's weak burst.
The Pikachu sent a ball of electricity spiraling towards the Caterpie, which made a cute noise of distress. It was burned badly, but it staggered to it's cute little feet.
"Caterpie, Tackle!" Violet shouted in the same mangled tone as before. Red winced and wished he could cover his ears.
The Caterpie dashed forward as fast as it could, hitting the Pikachu with a lot of force. It thunked into a tree, falling forward.
"Pikaaaaaa!" it cried. It then zapped the Caterpie again in anger, and this time it fainted. The Pikachu was weak. Violet grabbed the Caterpie and held it in her arms before returning it to it's pokéball. She stood up, her eyes blazing.
"You'll be sorry Pikachu! I've got a world famous pokémon master here," at this point grabbing Red and pushing him in front of her, "and he'll beat you so bad you'll faint right away!"
Red sighed again.
"Zappy, spread your wings." he said. The Zapdos crunched up to the Pikachu, glaring down at it. It spread it's mighty wings, energy crackling down to the tips to lance around it's entire body. It let out a shrieking buzzing noise.
The Pikachu looked up, lowered it's ears, gave a scared noise "Pipika!", then flopped over, scared out of it's mind. Violet took this oppurtunity to grab a empty pokéball from her bag and throw it at the unconcious Pikachu. It hit it between the eyes, opening and sucking the Pikachu inside. It didn't even move back and forth, just clicked.
Violet did a very disturbing version of Red's victory dance. Red burst out laughing at how stupid she looked. Violet burst into tears, and then Red was faced with another problem. He sighed and rolled his eyes again.

Radic and Red: Chapter 9
"Radic's Past Revealed"

Radic finally stumbled into the outskirts of the town. He tripped on the hard cobblestones and fell hard. He grunted and got back up. Ratty has it's fangs in his shoulder, and was hanging there very tenaciously. He tried to ignore the flaring pain. He could find shelter soon...find the pokécenter....
"DODUOO!" Takachan screamed from behind him, tossing it's two heads. It scraped it's feet against the cobblestone's trying to get away. It hated cities, and it hated this whole situation. Radic had split a rope into two, and tied the two ends to Takachan's necks. He was dragging the Doduo forcefully along with him, trying to ignore it's shrieking cries. He stumbled to the Pokécenter. Thankfully, it had automatic doors. he walked up to the main desk.
"Rrrrrraticate!" Ratty cried, it's cry muffled by the fabric in Radic's shirt. Radic leaned against the counter, staring with half-lidded eyes at another Nurse Joy.
"Could....you heal....my...pokémon..." he mumbled, before he thunked his head against the table, passing out from exhaustion. Nurse Joy ran out from behind the desk. followed by her Chansey.
"Chansey, get the Raticate and Doduo healed, quickly! Take the rest of his pokémon too!"
"Chansey!" it said cheerfully. It grabbed Ratty and pulled it off with a wrench. It grabbed the rope and carried them off. Ratty struggled at first, but then calmed down, exhausted. The Chansey tottered off. Nurse Joy pulled the pokédex out of Radic's pocket.
"This Pokédex is owned by Radic." it said in it's mechanical voice.
"Radic?! The all time LOSER?!" she said out loud. She remembered. Red had been televised as he won the league Championship. They had asked him to come, after he had won, out to the big ring, where they could tell everyone about his new status as league champion. Everyone was cheering, a massive crowd was collected. They had just pinned the award to his vest when a voice had called out.
"Red! Red! I challenge you!" It had been Radic of course. He had ran in front of Red, holding out a pokéball.
"I can beat you! I know I can! Then I'll be League Champion!"
Red had shrugged.
"As you wish."
What happened was one of the funniest and most pathetic pokébattles of all time. Radic called out Raichu, Doduo, Blastoise, Parasect, Ninetales, and Persian. His pokémon were very weak, not having been trained enough. Red had defeated each of them with ease, using Raticate, Articuno, Arcanine, Vileplume, Golem, and Snorlax. Radic fainted one pokémon, the Vileplume, by a lucky shot. Other then that, all his pokémon were fainted. Radic looked shocked and sad as the entire audience that was watching laughed at him. Everyone, without exception, was laughing at Radic, standing alone in the ring, holding Accident, his Blastoise, in his arms, looking incredibly close to crying. Red called Ratty up to his shoulder, flipping his brim around, aand flaunting his new award.
"Face it Radic, you will never beat me. Not now, not ever. Your pokémon are too weak, and your training is pathetic. Forget your dream of being champion, because it will never happen."
Radic's mouth had dropped open at the words, then clenched shut.
"Then I challenge you tomorrow, at the same ring!" he called.
"Tomorrow? Fine. I'll beat you there like I did now."
Ever after that, Radic had lost every single battle with Red. Sometimes he came close, sometimes he was beaten badly. He kept trying, But he never, ever won. Everyone knew about his famous loss, and everyone mocked him for it. Along with the dolls of Red made by toy industries after his crowning as League Champion, they had made Radic dolls. It was a favorite pastime of people to act out the most pathetic battle in history. Joy wondered how on earth Radic could stand continuing his useless quest to be the pokémon champion, when it was obviously a pointless and far-away dream.
"The loser...."she said thoughtfully. She picked him up easily, and began carrying him to the Emergency room.
"Radic, the world-reknowned loser. The person everyone wishes they won't become. If I didn't have to keep a impassive relationship with my patients, I might've felt sorry for you."
She carried him to the steel operating table, examining his injuries.
He had glowing Meowth scratches on his face, along with a long bruise that went across his face, probably he had ran into a branch. He also had two black eyes, evidently someone had been punching him. He had a large bite mark on his shoulder, along with ones on his thigh and his hand. He had gashes and scratches down the length of his arms. His clothing was ripped and tattered, covered with dirt. She rolled him over, and found a long and deep gash caused by what she guessed was a thorn branch. She examined the wounds, and saw that there was a great amount of dirt in them.
"What in the world have you been doing to get all these injuries?" she asked rhetorically. She walked over to a metal medicine cabinet and took out a bottle. She put some of the liquid in the bottle on a ball of cotton, then dabbed it on Radic's face.
Radic at first felt nothing but a cool numbness, but there was a sudden burst of pain that exploded on his face. He sat up immediantly, looking around, clutching his hands to his face.
"OW! What the-..."
"Relax, Radic, you're in a hospital. You're hurt. I'm going to treat you."
"Red...where....Taka..Takachaaaan?" he rambled deliriously. He tried to get up. Joy pushed him down roughly.
"Don't get up!"
"My face hurtts...." he moaned.
"I put some disinfecting agent on it. Then I put some medicine for Meowth scratches on it. They should heal soon."
"Neeed....need to...continue....journey...." he said, trying to get up.
"No! You need to stay HERE!"
"Noooo!" Radic moaned, and began struggling. Joy grabbed a syringe from a small table she had next to her just in case this happened. She grabbed his upper arm and held it firmly, then injected the fluid into Radic. Radic tried to get up, then his eyes rolled back, and he fell back with a clank.
"Didn't want to have to knock you out like that Radic, but it was necessary."
Radic of course didn't answer.
As extra precautions, she strapped him down to the table so he couldn't struggle. She then began rummaging through her medicine cabinets, collecting various medicines for the big task that layed ahead.

Radic and Red: Chapter 10
"The Pikachu Rumor is dismantled Quickly"

Red sighed to himself. He could not believe he was stuck on this long walk to Indigo Plateau with this inexperienced-
"PiKAchu!"
He groaned. Of course Violet would HAVE to let her Pikachu out to follow her around and blink it's cute eyes and cry it's cute cries. Her persoanlly hated Pikachu, and Raichu for that matter. He wished he had Ratty, then he could teach that stupid Pikachu a listen...
"Hey!"
He looked up, startled from his daydream.Violet was staring at him.
"What's a good name for a Pikachu?"
"How about Pikachu?" he said, sounding tired and annoyed.
"Stop saying that!" Evidently, that answer had been given many times. "Tell me a GOOD name."
"Think of your own." He said, wishing he could get back to his pleasant dream sequence of his Raticate ripping a Pikachu to shreds. She huffed indignantly and turned away from him. After a short silence she spoke again.
"What's your Zapdos's name?"
"You don't remember?" he said, sounding as indignant as she had before.
"Well...No. So tell me anyway."
Red sighed and rolled his eyes, perfectly mimicked by the Zapdos walking next to him.
"Zappypokémon, but I usually just call it Zappy."
"Hmmm..." she said, sounding as if she was thinking harder then she usually did. "I'll call it...Buzzaki!"
Red gave her a unbelieving look. She was Serious.
"Pikachu!" her pikachu said happily.
"Okay then, it's names Buzzaki!" she said smiling. Red forced himself to stay quiet and walked a bit faster.
"Hey!"
"What?"
"Let's battle!"
Red stopped immediantly, followed by Zappy. Zappy was copying his moves exactly, gesture for gesture.
"WHAT?!" he said, his tone asking if she was serious or not.
"C'mon, let's battle!"
"You have to be joking." Red laughed. Violet turned an angry red.
"I am not! C'mon, Your Zapdos against my Pikachu!"
"YOU want to challenge ME." he said, as if he wasn't hearing right. Violet was dead set on it.
"Pikachu's are the cutest and most powerful electric pokémon ever." she said, and she sounded like she believed it.
"Where did you hear THAT?" he asked. That was the stupidest thing he had ever heard.
"Everyone knows it. It's common Knowledge." she said, trying to sound as if she knew what she was talking about.
"More like common folklore." he muttered to himself. Violet humphed and crossed her arms.
"If you're scared Buzzaki will beat Zappy..." she said, trying to get him to agree to battle. Red wasn't that stupid.
"You can't possibly win. I'm the world reknowned pokémon master, remember? You're just some inexperienced girl with four Pokémon." he said, crossing his arms in a mimic of the way Violet was crossing hers. Likewise, Zappy crossed it's wings over itself. A flare of electricity lanced across it's body.
Violet was furious.
"OH YEAH?! We'll see about THAT!" she said. She picked up Buzzaki and threw it in front of her.
"C'mon Buzzaki! Do a Growl against that stupid Zappy!" she said, sounding determined. Red sighed and shrugged, looking at the sky as if for guidance.Zappy walked over the the Pikachu, it's huge claws crunching the ground with every step. Buzzaki was terrifired.
"PIKAPIKAPIKACHUU!" it growled, sounding incredibly pathetic. Zappy's attack power was lowered a bit because of the fact it was laughing so hard.
Red thought to himself. He didn't want to beat her now, that would seem unfair. He wanted her to try her electric attack, then he would show her Thunder. He smiled. He would play this out.
"Zappy, show the Pikachu a REAL growl." he said, smiling like he did when he was facing Radic's weak pokémon. Zappy smiled along with him. It walked closer, leaning it's pointed beak very close to the Pikachu's terrified face. It gave a loud, piercing, rumblind noise like electricity exploding underground. Buzzaki was so scared it could barely attack.
"Don't be afraid Buzzaki! Do a THUNDERSHOCK!" she called, using the same mangled imitation of Red's voice. Red grimaced.
"Piikaaaaaaa..." Buzzaki started, clenching it's paws together, closing it's eyes. Almost reluctantly electricity flowed from it's cheeks.
"CHUUU!" it yelled. The energy flowed in a jagged line toward the legendary bird. The Zapdos seemed to absorb the energy, a slight burn mark on one wing feather as a sign of Buzzaki's attack.
"Alright Zappy, enough playing. Show the Pikachu a REAL electric attack. THUNDEEERR!"
"Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzapdosss!" Zappy cried. It flapped it's mighty wings and flew up high. Suddenly dark clouds began to gather, clouding over the sky. Buzzaki was confused and frightened, as was Violet.
"What's goin on?" she demanded Red. Red smiled and shrugged.
Zappy forced it's way through the thick cloud layer. A rumble shook the air, followed by a flash of lightning.
"ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZAPDOSSSSSSSSS!" Zappy cried. It plummeted from the sky in a dive at Buzzaki. Buzzaki was so terrified he couldn't move. Zappy banked sharply at the last moment and grabbed the Pikachu in it's talons.
"PIKACHU!" It screamed in pain as the talon's pierced it's flesh.
"BUZZAKIIIII!" Violet screamed. She ran towards the Zapdos, but it was flying to fast, and was beyond her grip in a few seconds. It pumped it's wings, ignoring the frenzied electric bursts coming from the terrifed Pikachu. It struggled and screamed in Zappy's talons. The Zapdos reached the level of the clouds. It released a buzzing shriek, like if someone was forcing electricity through something it didn't want to go through. A huge lightning bolt, as if all the lightning bolts had collected and came together, lanced into the Zapdos. It's body rippled with power, which was suddenly sent into the Pikachu.
"PIKAAAAAAAAAACHUUUUUUU!" It screamed in pain, as the energy lanced into and around it's body, burning into every inch of it's tiny yellow body. It's eyes closed tight as it screamed and wriggled in the Zapdos' inexorable, tightening grasp. Lightning bolts came at random, and struck the Pikachu. Buzzaki hung limp in the Zapdos' talons, blacking out from the intense pain. Lightning and electricity lanced around it's body, unable to be held within.
Zappy withdrew his talon's with a squelch, and Buzzaki fell a long distance to the ground. It hit the ground with a thump.
"BUZZAKI! BUZZAKKIII!!!!" Violet screamed, running forward. Another buzzing cry from Zappy was ignored by her, but a moment later the sky was clear again, and Zappy was standing looking very pleased with itself next to Red's side. Violet reached to hold the Pikachu in her arms, but the surplus electricity shocked her too, causing her to stumble backwards and hold her arm.
"You....You killed Buzzaki!"
"It's not dead," Red said, without too much concern over the Pikachu's health, "just in faint. A very very deep faint."
He looked in his pack for some rubber gloves. When he first caught Zapdos, he couldn't touch him when he came out of the ball without getting shocked. He carried the gloves all the time, in case Zappy's electricity level got too high. This high electrical burst was good for it, it needed to get rid of some lightning and thunder anyway. He tossed the gloves to Violet.
"Here, put these on. These will prevent you from getting shocked."
Instead, in her fury, Violet took the rubber gloves and slapped Red across the face with them.
"ZZZAPDOS!" Zappy exclaimed angrily at Violet, angry at it's trainer being hit. Red was knocked over from the force of her blow.
Nevertheless, he smiled. He enjoyed teaching people the truth about pokémon, even if it meant shattering some myths. He watched, with a red hand mark on his cheek, as Violet picked up the Pikachu and cradled it in her arms, looking highly concerned.

Radic and Red: Chapter 11
"Radic is found...by whom?"

Radic woke up, but he couldn't see. All he could do was feel. He tried to talk, but his mouth was dry. He couldn't tell where he was, but he felt like he was in a bed.
"Radic. Radic. Can you hear me?" he heard a disembodied voice say. He couldn't see, so he turned his head towards the noise. It was like his eyes refused to open.
"Radic, answer me! Nod your head." the voice said again. Radic decided nodding would be a good idea, and he did so. When he did that he felt a twinge of pain in his back. The blackness that shrouded his eyes became lighter, as if light was pouring through black fabric.
"Wh..where..."he managed to gasp out.
"You're at a Pokécenter."
"Poké..." he mumbled.
"You were hurt, and you had a Raticate attached to your shoulder."
"Rrrrraaticate.." he said. That memory came back quickly.
"You were dragging along a Doduo. Do you remember?"
"Taka....chan..."
"Good."
Radic raised an arm to try and paw off the something that was covering his eyes, but he found something was holding them down. He grunted as he tried to pull free.
"Radic, relax. Nothing is going to hurt you here. Go to sleep again."
"hurt...."
He tried to move a leg, but found he couldn't do that either. He didn't like this.
"let...go..."he said.
"You're restricted. You were thrashing around, so I had to tie you down."
"un..tie!" he said, with a bit more energy.
"No. Not until you're under control."
"under control...under control!" he tried to convince the strange voice, but he could hear it leaving. He groaned.

Joy had examined Radic's injuries, and found he had a severe knock to his head. Several, actually. She didn't know if Radic could remember anything or not, so she decided to try and wake him up. It worked, but Radic could barely talk. One good sign was that he could at least remember his pokémon's name. Another unfortunate thing she had to do was tie a black bandana around his eyes. They were badly damaged, and couldn't be exposed to light. No doubt that was what confused Radic the most.
She watched the Raticate prowl around, occasionally trying to bit at the chain that held it. The Raticate, after being healed, had gone ballistic searching through all the hospital rooms. She was certain it was Red's Raticate Ratty, but that was impossible. Red would never let Radic have it...unless something happened to him. She thought carefully. Radic hated Red, and could have killed him. But she doubted that Radic could be capable of such an act. She decided to watch Radic very carefully for a few days. She looked in his pokédex, but couldn't get any information about it. She did, however, find the names of the pokémon he was supposed to be traveling with.
Radic, however, wasn't very happy at all. He was sure the voice could explain what had happened, and why he couldn't see. He wanted to know what was going on. He was utterly confused and had no chance of defending himself if someone came in. He hated feeling helpless.
Joy wondered if anyone else had seen Red. The news had been broadcasting searches for him all the time. It showed the elite four. Lorelei seemed very worried, as did Lance. But Agatha seemed almost amused, and Bruno was to busy training to make any comments. Joy heard Radic trying to move again. She walked back into the room, just in time to miss the phonecall from the Joy in Fuschia City, reporting she had seen the missing champion.
Joy found Radic struggling harder to get out of his bonds.
"Radic, stop struggling, you'll tire yourself out. Do you want a drink?"
Radic seemed to have to force the words out, like it was painful.
"Driink..." he repeated. She got him a glass of water, and poured it in his mouth. Radic seemed to be a bit more talkative after that. He could make more complex sentences. She grabbed a pad of paper and a pencil.
"Can you tell me why you had Ratty?"
"Found Ratty in clearing...bit me...lots..." Radic said, sounding very unhappy.
"Why where you dragging the Doduo?"
"Takachan wouldn't...come into city...hates...cities..." Radic said, sounding annoyed.
"Now, this is important Radic, do you know what happened to Red?"
Radic abruptly burst into tears.
"Wrong question to ask, apparently." she thought. She didn't know what to say to make him stop crying, so she left the room instead.
Radic knew the presence was gone, he couldn't hear it fidgeting in the chair anymore, or the skritch of pencil against paper.
Joy walked to the front desk. She was about to call her sister in Fuschia when there was a ding noise from the bell on her desk.
"Yes?" she said brightly, turning around. A spiky haired kid was standing in front of the counter, looking concerned.
"Did a Radic come in here?"
"Yes. Why?"
"I'm a friend of his. What room is he in?"
"Room 47. The one with a Parasect on the front."
"Thanks!" the kid said, and turned to find the room.
"Wait!" Joy called out, "What's your name?"
The kid seemed to smile for a moment.
"My name's Myk."

Radic and Red: Chapter 12
"The Vaporeon escapes"

Red walked along behind Violet, grumbling to himself as he gingerly touched the red mark on his cheek. Violet was refusing to speak to him, and she still wouldn't put the stupid Pikachu away. She held it with the rubber gloves stubbornly, ocasionally fizzing as Buzzaki gave her a weak jolt. Red had let his Chansey revive the fainted Pikachu, but even the Chansey couldn't restore it to full health. Zappy seemed unhappy with the situation also, feeling very uncomfortable. The Zapdos walked along, occasionally zapping small animals wandering on the forest floor. Violet kept walking and walking and walking with an air of injured dignity that Red was finding more and more annoying, until he had decided to remark about it. But at that moment, Violet stepped off the dock she was walking on and into the water.
"EEEEEEEE!" he shouted, scrambling to get back on dry land. Red couldn't help but laugh at her. It was echoed by the peculiar buzzing noises Zappy made. Violet looked even more upset, dragging Buzzaki out of the water. She put him on dry land, and walked right up to Red, fuming as if to say something. With a lot of effort, she managed to keep herself under control. She stomped away, picked up the Pikachu, and was about to say something when a noise interrupted her.
"Vaporeeeeon...." a soft, tinkling voice said. Red looked around, recodnizing it instantly. He remembered when he had gotten HIS Eevee, and he had evolved it into a Flareon. Luckily, he had managed to win a wager with someone, and got a Jolteon as prize. With A Vaporeon, he could complete his collection of the Eevee evolutions. He pointed dramatically with one finger at the head sticking up from the water, trying to ignore the bandage over one of his eyes, calling out Zappy's name.. The Vaporeon had three fins, one on each side of it's head and one on top, and it's white ruff stuck out a tiny bit from beneath the sea water.
"Zappy, Thu-"
"Buzzaki, Thundershock!"
Red stared in disbelief as Violet stood in the exact same pose he was in.
"HEY!" he cried, annoyed.
"What?" she said, looking confused.
"That's MY vaporeon! I'M going to catch it!"
"No way! Vaporeon is the cutest thing I've ever seen, and I want it!"
"You can't even catch it, your Buzzaki is too weak."
"He can too! Watch!"
The Vaporeon dove beneath the water, stroking with it's powerful finned tail. A moment later it appeared on the dock, looking at them quizzically and twitching it's tail. Buzzaki looked at it warily, then looked at Violet. It didn't trust Violet anymore, not after the obviously mismatched battle between it and Zappy. It took a few steps back.
"Buzzaki?" Violet asked. It shook it's head.
"Pikapika." it said, sounding cute and annoyed.
"Why don't you want to fight?"
"Pipikapikapikachu, pipikapipipikachu."
"That's not a good reason! Zappy got lucky!"
Buzzaki shook it's head. She pleaded with it.
"PLEEEEEEEEEASE Buzzaki, try this once!"
Buzzaki rolled it's cute eyes.
"Pikachu." it sighed, reluctantly. Violet hugged it, ignored the shock, and watched the Pikachu toddle out. The Vaporeon looked at it, never saying a word. Red watched in general amusement.
Sparks began to fly from Buzzaki's cheeks, gathering around them. With a crackle, the electricity was thrown at the Vaporeon, who reared back, startled.
"Vaporeeon!" it said, it's tinkling, soft voice sounding sort of surprised. The energy hit the tip of one tail-fin, and traveled up in a visible shudder up the Vaporeon's body. It was shocked into motionless for a moment, then shook itself free of it. It abrubtly turned around and thwacked it's tail on the dock, sending up a flurry of sand from seemingly nowhere, flying into Buzzaki's eyes.
"Pikaaaa!" it said, distressed.
"Buzzaki, do a Thundershock again!"
Buzzaki pawed the sand from it's eyes the best it could, but everything still seemed blurry. It collected the Electricity and sent it towards the nearest shape.
"Aaaaa!" Red cried as Buzzaki's attack hit him instead. He twitched a bit and sat down, holding his head. It wasn't a strong attack, but it still stung. Zappy watched him concerned.
The Vaporeon leaped forward and used it's claws to scratch at the Pikachu. Buzzaki couldn't see, and the claws cut narrow gashes in it's back.
"PIKACHU!" It cried, rolling over. It got up slowly and walked back over to Violet, where Buzzaki firmly attached itself to her leg. "Buzzaki, what the...? Get off my leg! Go out and fight!"
Buzzaki shook it's head no stubbornly and hung on.
"Let's see if I can get this Vaporeon." Red said, regaining his breath. Violet looked at him angrily.
"NO! It's MINE! If Buzzaki were healed, I would've beaten it! You can't take it!"
"Yes I can. As one of my favorite quotes says, 'All's fair in love, war, and Pokémon battles.' Go ZAPPY! Do a thundershock!"
The Zapdos walked over to the Vaporeon, who stared at it cooly. It understood why it was supposed to use a weak attack, so it wouldn't faint the Vaporeon. It gently as it could sent out a tendril of power through the planking towards the Vaporeon.It touched the Vaporeon's front left paw.
Immediately it leaped in the air, all it's fur and fins sticking straight out, it's eyes wide.
"VAPOREEEEEON!" it cried, as energy crackled through it's body. It fell on the planking, twitching, trying to get up.
"Alright Vaporeon, you're mine!"
The pokéball sailed through the air and hit the Vaporeon on the tail. It was sucked in. The light flashed, and Red watched confidentally.
Ping..
Ping...
whoosh!
The Vaporeon burst from the Pokéball, gasping for breath as it struggled against it's power. Breaking free, it ran for the ocean.
"NO! Wait! Come back! Zappy, go get it!" Red shouted. Zappy flapped it's wings, sending the air crackling with energy, and flew after the Vaporeon. The Vaporeon's paws thudded against the wood as it heard the legendary bird catching up to it.
"Vaporeeeeon!" it cried, sounding like windchimes in a hurricane. It leapt of the edge of the dock, splashing into the water a few seconds before the Zapdos' talons clutched it's finned tail. Stroking powerfully, the Vaporeon swam from view. Red stared in disbelief, while Violet laughed.
"Gee Pokémon master, guess he was a bit too fast for you, eh?" Red was too stunned to reply.

Radic and Red: Chapter 13
"Myk becomes a problem AGAIN."

Radic was trying to sleep when he hear someone walking towards his room. He tried to focus his eyes, but only blackness showed. He heard the doorknob squeal as it turned. He turned his head towards the direction. It wasn't the presence from before. He could tell. He knew it was someone else.
"Ha ha ha..."he heard a familiar laugh off to his right. He tried to remember what it was from. But, his mind kept drawing a blank.
"Who's there?" he asked, turning his head back and forth to find the source of the noise. When he turned his head to the left, he felt something pricking his throat. It was very sharp. He gulped.
"Well, Radic, I hope you haven't forgotten about our little deal." a mocking voice said. Radic almost thought it was Red, until he remembered what had happened to him. The sharp object traced up until it was beneath his chin. He flicked his eyes back and forth, but he could see only black. He twitched his arms, but they wouldn't move. The spike pricked his throat so painfully that he had to lean his head back.
"Don't worry Radic. This will all be very very easy. You don't have to do anything but just lie there."
"No...go away..." Red said, rather loudly.
Instantly he could sense the sharp thing hovering close to his eye. "Don't argue with me. I'm the one in control here."
Radic didn't say anything, he could sense that the entity was feeling annoyed. He felt the spike relieve the pressure beneath his eye, and he relaxed his stressed muscles. He heard a quiet click, then a sound of energy rushing out. He tried to remember what it sounded like. Then he remembered. The sound of a Pokémon being let out of it's ball.
"Merlin, Hypnotize him."
"Alacazzzzam..."he heard a deep, almost russian-like voice say. It came to him in a flash. The person was Myk!
"I see you know who I am now." Myk said, sounding very smug. "Don't worry, you can't tell anyone. You won't get the chance."
"HEL-" Radic started to shout, but he felt something strike his face hard, leaving a burning feeling across his face. He bet that Myk had hit him with that thing he carried around...what was it? Now he remembered....it was a Sandslash spike. Myk always had it with him.
He felt a deep calming peace growing in his mind. He could vaguely hear something chanting in the background.
"AlacaAlacaAlacazam....AlacaAlacaAlacaZam..." it became a steady drone. He could feel the pain from the scratch leave his body. He could vaguely feel one of the spoons a Alacazam always carried touch his forehead. He felt the feeling of wanting to rest become stronger.
"Listen, Radic. You are coming with us. You will make no noise. Understand?" he heard Myk say. He realized what was happening.
"No...o..." he said with a tremondous effort. Everything in his body was telling him to obey Myk...but he knew he shouldn't, and he knew he couldn't.He was struck suddenly by the thought that this might be what a Pokémon went through in a pokéball. He tried to fight it, but the cold metal on his forehead would not move.
"AlacaAlacaAlacazam..."
Radic fought, trying to keep his eyes open. Beyond his control, they sank to a half-lidded, almost tired stare. He couldn't see Myk anymore, but he felt that he was a friend he could trust. He was a friend he had known for a long time. Radic wondered why he was fighting so hard against him. He let go of his struggles and lay quiet.
Myk smiled to himself. This was just what he wanted. Merlin slowly removed the Utensil from the place where it touched Radic's forehead.
"Merlin, is he under control?" he asked the Alacazam next to him. It nodded silently and slowly. Myk didn't hesitate, he began to undo the buckles of the strap's on the table, the ones that held Radic's arms down, and prevented him from moving. Letting them loose, he waited for Radic to get up and try to escape, but Radic remained quiet.
"Radic, get out of the bed." he said, sounding more confident then he felt. Radic sat up slowly, and stepped out of the bed, clad only in a white hospital gown. Myk looked around. This wouldn't work...
He spotted the vest, and the Pokéballs that were attached to it.
That's where Radic clipped the Pokéballs.
With a a swift flick, the vest was in his posession. Radic stood silently, still as a statue, a scratch bleeding across his face. A black bandana was tied around his eyes. Myk looked at it from the back, and found a intricate knot. He considered, then decided Radic was better blindfolded. With that, he made a single gesture to Merlin, who nodded and turned towards Radic.
A while later, when Nurse Joy went into to check on Radic, his room was empty. The only thing moving was the fluttering of the curtains on the window that hadn't been open before.

Radic and Red: Chapter 14
"The Riachu!"

"Look Red, I said sorry!"
"Go away. Go back to your mother and continue your stupid journey by yourself."
Red grumpily trudged onward, Zappy crunching along next to him, it's talons biting into the ground with each step. Violet was jogging to try and keep up with him, her Pikachu following along behind her. Red didn't slow down has pace.
"Red, don't be so sensitive! It was only one comment-"
"One comment, feh!" he said, making a noise of annoyment, "Make fun of me for losing that Vaporeon, the stupid thing..."
"PLEASE don't be mad with me! I need to continue my journey! I need more Pokémon."
Red sighed, looking skyward. He only saw Zappy's long beak staring down at him, making curious buzzing noises.
"FINE. Just don't make any smart remarks anymore."
"YAY!" Violet said, leaping in the air with joy. Red groaned and slowed down a bit until he was walking at roughly the same speed Violet was. They walked along in silence. Then he heard something.
"Pipi pikapikachu..." Buzzaki was singing softly. He tried to remember the tune.
"Pi pikapikachu..." It sounded very familiar.
"Pipi ka CHUUU!" There it was! On the point where Buzzaki's voice suddenly went high he finally remembered.
He had been wondering through a Pikachu reserve, a place where the Pikachu lived and prospered, and heard them chanting. It was excruciatingly cute, and he hated it the moment he heard it. He groaned again. Did EVERY Pikachu know the stupid sing-song chant?
"Pipi...kapikachu..."
"Zapzap,zapzapzzzzzzzapdos!" he heard Zappy trying to sing along. It was totally off cue. Buzzaki looked at it angrily.
"Chu! PikapikapipiKAchu!" it said, sounding as if it were asking Zappy to shut up.
"ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZapdos!" Zappy shrieked angrily. Buzzaki ran onto Violet's shoulder, and cowered.
Red enjoyed the short silence.
"Pipi..kapikachu..."
Red made a sound of frustration. That stupid Pikachu! He heard another voice mixing with it, high and unnatural.
"Pipika...CHUUUU!"
He covered his face and ears with his hands. Now Violet was singing along!
He tried to ignore the sounds of the two horrible singers by listening for other noises. He heard a rustle on his right. He put an arm out to stop Violet, who almost tripped and fell.
"HEY! What's the big-" she was about to exclaim, but Red put a hand over her mouth.
Two bright eyes blinked from the bush.
"A pokémon!" he said softly to himself. Violet's eyes widened.
Silently and slowly the Pokémon stepped out of the bush. It had two spiky ears, between which sat a lightning bolt-like horn. It sat down, leaning slightly to the right. It's left paw had massive claws hidden within it's fur. The Pokémon regarded them curiously, bright red circles on it's cheeks.
Red realized it had to be related to the Pika-Raichu family. No other Pokémon he knew off had those bright circles on their cheeks. Lightning bolt shaped black markings streaked across it's face and down it's back, all the way to it's long fluffy tail. It's legs were completly black. it swished the tail around a bit, looking at them as if to inquire why they were there. Red slowly took out his Pokédex, which scanned the strange Pokémon.
"Riachu. A rare Pokémon. Unknown and unheard of by most Pokémon trainers, most trainers doubt it's existence. It likes to gather with Raichus, and pretend to be like them. While attack viciously if a Raichu is hurt, although otherwise known to be a shy and gentle Pokémon."
"A Riachu!" he heard a voice saw in wonder near him. He remembered about Violet.
"Buzzaki, go out and talk to it! You're a Pikachu, you're related!"
"Chu! Pikachu!" Buzzaki protested. She shoved him forward anyway. Red watched as Buzzaki stepped forward slowly towards the Riachu. It regarded him silently and quietly. When it got within a foot, it suddenly changed in a blink of an eye.
It leapt to it's paws, inflated it's fur, and let energy crackle around it's body threateningly, and let out a hissing threatening cry,
"RiiiiiiiiiiACHU!"
,all in less then a second. It startled everyone, even Zappy.
"CHUUU!" Buzzaki said, scared, and dashed back to Violet. Red looked through his Pokéballs, but remember that none of them contained a Raichu. Not knowing what else to do, he searched through his backpack.
He saw lots of miscellaneous items, but none that were useful. He noticed a flash of orange and yellow near the bottom of the bag. He plucked the object out, and sat it in his hands.
It was a Pokédoll! Of Raichu no less. It's stuffed eyes looked up at him cutely, as it's floppy tail and beanbag body flopped around in his hand. Seeing no other alternative, he grabbed it firmly by it's back. Getting down on his hands and knees, he gently wiggled the doll back and forth.
"Raichu! Raichu!" he tried to imitate a Raichu's voice.
"Riachu?" he heard the other Pokémon say. It stepped forward slowly, sniffing at the doll.
"That's it...a little closer Riachu..."

Radic and Red: Chapter 15
"Accident has a hard decision"

Myk finally stopped running in the middle of a clearing, huffing for breath. The Sandslash spike that hung from the chain around his neck hit his chest as he sucked in air greedily. He glanced behind him, watching Merlin lead Radic along.
When he was sure of Radic's hypnotism, he had shoved him out the window, and hid out there. Then, taking some frayed rope from Radic's backpack, he tied Radic's hands behind his back, and then around his chest in a lasso like knot. He dragged Radic along for a while, but then felt so weary he entrusted Radic to Merlin. Merlin tugged quietly at the rope, occasionally sending out small hypnotic probes to Radic's mind to see if he was still under his control. He was.
They had been running for hours, finally they could rest. Myk wearliy sat down and panted, trying to regain his breath. Merlin tugged Radic into the clearing. Radic stumbled over almost anything in his path, unable to see through the black bandana around his eyes. He never complained, nor acted wild or tried to escape. Just followed obediantly. Merlin handed the rope to Myk, who took it with a smile.
"Tell me Radic, didn't I say during our last Pokémon battle that we had some favors to exchange? Wasn't the arrangement 'I win, you do some things for me?'" Myk said, tugging hard on the rope. Radic stumbled and fell to his knees. He kneeled quietly.
"Yes." he said, his voice quiet and emotionless, like a machine.
"And what did you do? Ran away. RAN AWAY! Was that the right thing to do?"
"No."
"Are you even listening to me?"
"Yes."
Myk thought, resting his head on his palm.
"Say "My name is Myk.", Radic."
"My-name-is-Myk." Radic said, in the same mechanical voiceas before. "Radic, now say 'I'm Radic, the world's biggest loser.'. Say it!" "I'm-Radic-the-World's-biggest-loser."
Myk laughed with the sheer immensity of the power he felt. He had complete control!
"Radic, I order you to...um...kiss my shoes!"
Radic obediantly knelt down and kissed Myk's shoes.
"This has great possibilities." Myk said outloud. Merlin watched, looking detached from the whole affair, keeping it's eyes fixed on Radic. Radic didn't move from his position when Myk got up and paced around him.
"Stand up."
Radic stood up, and then stood as still as a board. Myk paced around him, regarding him as if he were some interesting object.
"This is very good, Merlin. Very good. Let's see If I can make Radic feel some pain, for the problems he caused me before."
Merlin seemed hesitant for a moment, but nodded.
"Radic, tell me, what is you're best, and favorite Pokémon."
"Accident. A-Blastoise. Is-first-Pokémon-I-got. I-care-a-lot-about-it."
Myk smiled and nodded again. He took out the six pokéballs that were on Radic's vest. He ran Radic's hand over them.
"Which one is Accident's." Myk said, stifling a snicker at the stupid name. Radic hesitated for a moment, as if thinking, then pointed at the top Pokéball.
"That-one."
Myk unclipped it and pressed the button on it's front. It burst open in a spray of water.
"Blaaastoise?" it said, confused. It looked around, seeing Myk grinning at it.
"BLASTOISE!" it said in alarm, then noticed it's tied up Trainer. Accident grabbed Radic in one massive paw and lifted him off the ground to remove the ropes. With his giant claws on the ropes, Accident poised to rip them to shreds.
"Radic, tell Accident to put you down." Myk said.
Radic didn't move, only speaking.
"Put-me-down, Accident."
"Blaaastoise?" Accident said, sounding even more confused then ever. He reluctantly put Radic down, who stood as he did before.
"What attacks does your Blastoise have?" Myk asked, grinning sadistically. He was getting a great plan. Merlin's eyes widened, but it made no comment, instead keeping it's eyes focused on Radic.
"It-has-Surf-WaterGun-Skullbash-Hydro-Pump." Radic said, his voice lacking emotion. Accident looked more confused then ever, prowling around Radic to try and prevent Myk from getting to close.
"Radic, tell Accident to do Watergun...on you."
Radic remained silent for a while. Deep in the recesses of his mind a tiny voice reminded him of how much it would hurt Accident to hurt him. He didn't want to do it....but that soft drone in his head made his will to resist fade away....Myk was his friend...He should do what his friend said. The tiny voice of protest faded away.
"Accident-do-Water-Gun-on-me." Radic said, not moving or turning around.
"Blastoise??!" it said, sounding aghast. But it had to comply. It reluctantly put it's cannon's into place, aiming them directly at it's trainer's body.
"Blastoise...Blastoise..." it said, sounding heartbroken. Myk started laughing, this was going to be good.
"Blastoise!" Accident gave a final cry, then sent the streams of water rocketing towards the still body of Radic.
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