Pokémon: Finding Red

Chapter 22 ~ Miscreant

A/N: Big timeskip right there, don't get mad at me. Mild swearing as well. You have been warned.

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Chapter 22 ~ Miscreant

[Skylar's POV]

I quickly pulled away from the hug, feeling shocked and happy at the same time. "Red," I started. "What happened to you?"

"After sending Gold back, I got Pika and my other Pokémon back. When I went out, though, something struck the back of my head and I was knocked out. Until yesterday, I woke up and found myself and my Pokémon in a Pokémon Center. The nurse said that a Chansey found me and took me there. I just left this morning, but I'm okay now." Red explained to me. I had a feeling of doubt, but he's back, and that's what matters.

"Thank you.... For getting my Pokémon back... They mean everything to me..." I said. I never forgot what Gold told me, the night I woke up.

He smiled. "Don't mention it. Good thing I came back just in time for the holidays. I guess we'll spending the Annual Dexholders' Reunion with you. It'll be fun, I promise."

~~

"What, you're still hungry after all of that cakes?" Red joked as I entered the kitchen. He was standing in front of the window, watching the fireworks.

"Very funny, but no, I need something to drink." I said, eyeing the glasses of iced tea on the kitchen counter beside him. "Happy New Year anyway." I went beside him to reach for a glass, but just as I was about to he cupped my face with his hand. I turned to him in surprise, just in time for him to lean in then pressed his lips to mine.

I was shocked, frozen in place. It was just a short kiss, but it made me blushed profusely at once. He slowly pulled away and handed me the drink I was supposed to get. "Happy New Year, Skylar." He gave me a small smile before walking away.

That was the last thing he said to me. Before he disappeared. Or should I say left. None of us could believe it when we saw him in Aqlastic's surveillance in Gold's laptop. He went to the aircraft. And he didn't even tell us before he left. I knew there was something fishy about his story when he returned, but because I was just so happy that he was back, I ignored my doubts. His story wasn't even a bit true. Turns out that the baroness let him go, but made sure he came back after the holidays by using his Pokémon as hostages.

That baroness belongs to hell. She placed a shock collar on Red, I'm going to make her pay for that. It took us three days to devise a plan, hopefully it'll be successful. Emerald, Ruby, Green, and Yellow will go the room with the main machine to get Yellow's powers back. Emerald understood how the machine worked after I showed him the footage. Crystal, Dia, and Pearl will disable the security system and handle the guards. Platina, Silver, and Sapphire will rescue the gym leaders. And that leaves me, Gold and Blue to rescue Red.

I'm not mad at him. I understand why he didn't tell us, but............ I was hurt. He just left right away after New Year. I thought everything was back to normal, everyone was having fun. My instincts told me that there was more to his story, but I ignored them. I shouldn't have let my guard down.

There must be a reason for all of this, and I will find that out today.

"Ready Sky?" Gold asked me. We were on an airplane, hovering about 100 ft from the ground. We're supposed to jump down in parachutes, and I'm feeling a bit nervous. It's a long way down, but it's worth it. Apparently we didn't bring our Pokémon. No one wants to risk the chance of their Pokémon inhaling dangerous gas again.

I nodded anxiously. "I g-guess."

"When we jump off, don't look down, look at my face instead okay?" he told me. "Stick to the plan and everything will be fine."