Chasing After A Legend

The Eye Of The Storm

~Author's Corner~

don't ever let me promise 2-week updates again lmao

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"Human talking"

'Human thinking'

"Human talking in flashback"

"Pokémon talking (present time or flashback)"

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Akai Residence

A deafening blast echoed from outside, so loud it seemed to shake the ground beneath the Akai residence.

Rose shuddered. "That sounded way too close," she muttered nervously, glancing through the rain-streaked window. "Red? Did you hear that?" She turned her gaze back to the dining table. "I think--"

Without a word, the younger Akai got up from his chair, covered his head with the hood of his new jacket, and walked out the front door.

"R-Red?!" Rose called after him, her voice quickly raising in alarm as she hurried to follow. "Where are you going?! Red, please!"

On the porch, Red stood still, staring to the left. Rose joined him, reaching for his arm to pull him back inside, only for her to freeze and gasp.

"Oh my God," she mumbled as she slowly took a few steps forward. "The Oaks'...!" Her hand gripped the porch railing as she stared at the smoldering wreckage in the distance. "But why... I could have sworn that house had a lightning rod built--"

But before she could finish, Red vaulted over the porch railing and headed straight toward the destruction. After quickly reaching back into her house to grab her umbrella, Rose ran after him, her heart pounding with fear and confusion.

"Red! Red, wait!" Rose called for her son, the heavy storm doing nothing to hinder her. "No one lives there anymore, sweetie! You don't have t--!" Her breath caught in her throat once she caught up to him.

In front of the debris, Red had already released his Espeon. Next to them, two other Pokémon, a Sceptile and a Greninja, appeared to be talking to them while the Psychic-type's eyes glowed. At one point, Red growled and his head lifted to look at the stormy sky.

"... Were... were these two inside the house?" Rose asked uncertainly. "They don't look hurt... but they shouldn't be outside regardless, especially if lightning is striking buildi--"

"This wasn't a lightning strike." Red's voice was low but certain.

Rose blinked, trying to understand. "What--?"

Red turned to Rose, his face calm yet intense. "... You're not safe here." He tossed a Poké Ball, releasing his Pikachu in a burst of light. "Pika, go help Ketchum if he needs backup... Vee, you go with these two. If you have to translate... go ahead."

"Pikachu?" Pika spoke up, pointing a paw at a stunned Rose.

"... I'm takin' her somewhere else. I'll be back." Before his mother could object, his Charizard burst out of its Poké Ball, its wings flaring wide as it crouched low.

"Red, please, what's happening?!" Rose shouted, her panic rising. But Red only lifted her onto the beast's back with him, his grip firm but calm.

"Hang on tight," he told her, his tone leaving no room for argument. And Charizard took to the skies, lifting them both away from the danger below while the other Pokémon ran off to complete their own jobs...