Me: There will not be a banter today, seeing how this is the final chapter of It Just Takes One. Instead I would like to send out a special thanks to all the reviewers that have been kind enough to post about my first fanfic.
Shin M. Hiram: You were the very first reviewer I have ever had! You've stuck with me through these past months, and I'm grateful for all the support you've provided me with! You rock! I'm glad this story has made it into your favorites, and that you continue to review! And like Gardevoir said in Chapter Seventeen, don't worry about Red. Things will all work out! ;D
Sapphire Birch: You are a wild child, but hey! That's why we all love you!
Reader-Favs: Fear not my friend! The story has only begun! :D
DragonCatt: You're reviews may have been blunt as you say, but I loved them anyway!
Max's Local Food: Girl, I miss you so much that I've put you as a special guest in the banters. Don't you ever change!
Cheep the Hedgehog: :3 Back at ya! :)
Mai Mai123: THE LOVE TRIANGLE CONTINUES! Haha! I appreciate your compliments and the fact that you like my little story. Thank you so much!
yuuki-baka: Red is adorable isn't he? XD
Candlehead Marina: I try my best to update ASAP. That way, I don't get discouraged and leave you all hanging. That'd be mean!
POKESPE-FAN: I can't promise you that everything will be revealed yet, but don't worry. The journey's not over yet! Stick with me, kid! You'll get your answers! :D
Random Person: I don't know...are the Porygon evolutions supposed to grow like that in the computer? :) Teehee! Guess we'll never know for sure!
vortex: My story's probably not one of the best, but thanks for thinking so! Moving sucks, doesn't it?!
rushninja: I could totally imagine you flicking your hand as you said, "Silly Yellow." Every time I saw those two words, it made laugh and feel all warm inside. Thank you for the support!
idunno: You're not alone! We'll meet one day on the marshmallow battlefield if it's the last thing I do! Haha!
ripplehealer: Grah! You're not supposed to hate Amber! You supposed to LOOOOVE him! Hehe! I guess we're all entitled to our own opinions though, no? Either way, sooner or later I am going to make sure that you love him! XD
iluvfanfics09: Don't ice slides just sound like fun?! Teehee! And you're waiting is over! Here's the final chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon in any way, shape or form. If I did, I would have this story published for all to read!
Chapter Nineteen: Yellow
"Do you remember what to do?"
I nodded. "Black will be at the Caterpie Café with White, and I'll just happen to be walking by. Black will say he forgot about something and rush out, and I'll make sure she's distracted until seven when the party starts."
Blue tapped my head proudly. "Good girl. Now it's already three so you'll only have to keep an eye on her for a few more hours before you bring her."
"It's a costume party, right?" I asked her. When she nodded, I pointed out, "Then when and how am I going to get her to change into one?"
The brunette waved her hand as Green, Silver, and Amber continued putting the final adjustments on the decorations. The entire gym was sparkling from ceiling to floor in hundreds upon hundreds of shimmering scales. Set in the middle was a giant white table coated in MetalPowder and QuickPowder ready for the food the catering service would be delivering soon. Various types of entertainment were also scattered around the floor, taking up the entire space and making it look full for once.
"Don't worry about it. I've got a costume for her, and you told me you had one at home."
I smiled. I knew exactly what I was coming as tonight.
"In that case, you can go home to change after you deliver White."
"Okay," I concluded. "I better go take her off Black's hands so he can come help." I suddenly realized that only three boys were here. "Where's Red?"
Blue shrugged. "I've been trying to get a hold of him all day. He's probably at the lab doing some more research."
I nodded slowly and waved before heading for the front doors. "I'll be back later."
Grabbing onto Kitty who I released once outside, I made my way into downtown Viridian aerial style. The café name was foreign to my knowledge of the city, but lucky for me, the shop had a huge sign that caught my attention from even this high.
After landing down on the sidewalk some ways away from the café so they wouldn't see me, I quickly returned Kitty and tried my best to look nonchalant as I began walking. Sooner than I'd like, the big glass windows of the Caterpie Café came into view, and I vaguely scanned over the inside, restraining myself from looking for the two. I was finally relieved of my stress when White saw me and waved her hands to tell me to come in.
Pretending like I'd just spotted them, I smiled and waved back before entering the shop.
"Yellow! What are you doing here?" She asked merrily. "I'd have thought you'd be on your patrol with Amber."
I shook my head, taking a seat beside her. "I gave him the day off today. He deserves a rest for working so hard lately. What are you guys up to?"
She smiled excitedly. "Still on the subject of working, I've been trying to teach Black how to spread the business. We do this whenever we go out, but he, uh, needs a little help."
The boy across from us huffed lightly. "I'm sorry, okay? I can't just walk up to people and talk them into taking a BW card."
She rolled her eyes and winked. "Don't worry; I'll convert him."
I giggled as Black looked at his XTransceiver and stood up hurriedly. "Hey, I have to go. Uh—things didn't go well when I took Silver out last week…and I, um…promised him I'd make it up to him today!"
"That sounds fun!" White cheered. "We'll go with you—"
"No!" Black and I stopped her.
She lay back in her seat with scrunched eyebrows. "Why not?"
The two of us sweat dropped. Was this like a repeat of Friday or was it just me?
"B-because," I began, wracking my mind for something and remembering what she'd just told me. "I'm curious about how easily you can convince people about your company. Would you show me?"
Her face instantly brightened, and she produced a small stack of business cards identical to the one she'd given me. "Of course! Black, we'll have to catch you later."
The chocolate-eyed boy sighed in relief behind her back and ran for the door. "Alright. See you!"
I shook my head at him before White stood up and dragged me to the front counter. "Now, it's all about eye contact and finding the points that could turn their decision. Watch."
She set me at a table and went back to the counter where the manager was consulting the cash register. She walked right up to him and leaned on one fist. "Slow day, huh?"
The manager took notice of her and sighed. "No, it's been like this for a while now. Not getting as many customers as we used to."
White saw the easy opening and grabbed onto it. "Have you considered boosting your media input?" She saw his confused face and chuckled. "Have you thought about making a commercial? That might be able to attract more people."
He nodded. "Yes, but I've had no luck contacting any TV studio or filming crew."
The brunette's smile grew even bigger. "Well, do I have some good news for you."
And like that, I watched as she quickly convinced the guy to make a promotional commercial with some of the company's Pokemon and was relieved of one of her cards.
Giving him a "call us soon", she skipped back to me, and we stepped out onto the sidewalk.
"See?" She said. "Simple. Now your turn." She shoved a card in my hand and steered us toward the next store on the street.
And so my afternoon went by with White pulling us all around town and encouraging me to hand out cards which usually ended in me stuttering like an old lawnmower, my fingers dropping the card, and White swiftly snatching it up to recover for me.
It took forever, but the last card was finally given away, and I slumped on a park bench while White gave a contented sigh.
"Wasn't that fun?" She mused aloud.
"Yeah," I agreed doubtfully.
Noticing how low the sun had gotten, I worriedly looked at my Pokegear. It was already quarter 'til seven, and I quickly got up to leave.
"H-hey, White," I said. "Blue told me to tell you that she wants to talk to you. We should probably head over to the gym. Which is where she is. Right now."
The girl simply smiled and started in that direction, showing no signs of suspicion. "Okay! Let's go!"
I laughed at how easily she was going along with it and followed her as she started running. It wasn't long, and we were standing at the gym's doors. Motioning for her to open them, she did so and was met with a grand festivity that the business girl had never seen coming.
"Surprise!"
White stared a little as the lights flashed on, and the five people inside jumped out in front of her, Blue pulling the girl inside and putting a party hat on her head.
"W-what is this?" She asked excitedly.
"I got news that your birthday went uncelebrated this year so, Happy Birthday!" Blue told her cheerfully. "And the best part is, we're gonna dress up in costumes the entire time!"
White looked about ready to explode with happiness as she heard that last tidbit. "Really?!"
Blue nodded rapidly. "Yup! I've got everybody's costumes here already except for Yellow. She's going to run home with Amber real quick and change. Then we'll be able to get this party started!"
I watched while the older girl whisked the younger away, both of them surrounded by Green and Silver and Black as they all headed off to change into their costumes. I sensed someone else in the room and turned sideways to see Amber standing there shyly in a black tux and bowtie. He came all the way up to my side and grinned at me.
I laughed lightly. "What are you supposed to be? A secret agent?"
His smile faltered. "You could say that." He glanced at a watch on wrist. "We should get you to your house so you can change in time."
Nodding, I went after him as he walked out of the gym and into the forest. I noticed that his usual smile was lost, and he seemed upset by something. Call it a hunch, but I had a feeling something on his mind was really bothering him.
"Amber? Is everything alright?" I asked him, continuing our trot through the trees. My house wasn't too much farther than here, and there was just enough time left in case he felt like talking.
He looked at me with a smile as if I was silly. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
I simply stared at him a moment before he turned his head again and the grin melted in an instant. My natural instinct of suspicion kicked in then, but I decided to let it go for now and just keep a watch on him.
Our talking ceased altogether when we climbed the steps to my house, and Amber waited outside for me to go in and find my costume. I'd already set it out earlier today and glanced at it with fondness as I entered my room. I may not have been able to go with Red tonight, but he would still be there with me anyway.
I smiled sadly. This was probably the closest I'd ever be with him anymore.
The snow and silver flashed in the low sunlight coming from my window as I headed to the bathroom to change for tonight.
I stood there impassively as White finally came out of the room designated for the girls to change in wearing a red Latias outfit. She sauntered over to Blue who had decked herself out in a pink and purple CheshireCat costume, complete with tail, ears, paws, and of course, an air of mischief.
"Are you sure this is alright?" White asked her.
"Totally!" The blue-eyed girl said happily. "I picked it out especially for you!"
I could guess why as Black suddenly exited from the guys' changing room. The boy was fitted with a blue Latios costume identical to White's except for the color and markings. White saw this too and gawked at Blue who only winked at her and skipped over to Silver who was leaning against the scale-showered wall in a full-black ninja suit.
"Do I have to wear this?" His voice sounded gruff and irritated as she came to a stop and pinched his cheek.
"Would you rather me cross dress you into a traditional Japanese school uniform?" She grinned evilly when he quickly shook his head. "Then yes. Yes you do." Her eyes traveled to my still normal clothes, and her body soon followed. "Greeny!" She pouted at me. "Why didn't you change?"
"First of all," I said tightly. "Did you really expect me to come out here sporting fluffy Buneary ears and the rest of that horrid outfit?"
Her devilish grin matched the character she was posing as perfectly. "Well, I'd been hoping…" That silver camera glinted in the light for a moment before she put it back behind her.
Pesky blackmail-obsessed woman.
"And second, I'm still wondering why Red isn't here. Has he answered yet?"
She dropped the smile and frowned. "No. To be honest, I'm starting to get worried."
"Yeah, me too," I admitted.
The groaning of the front doors sounded then, and we all turned around to see Amber and Yellow coming back. The fancy-dressed boy was leading her by the arm with neither a smile nor frown which really caught my attention. The girl, however, was positively beaming in the costume she'd chosen to come in.
She wore a long flowing snow white dress with framing silver bands and little silver brooches that held the sleeves together. The skirt fell gracefully to her feet which were adorned with the same white heels Blue told me she'd forced her to wear last Friday. Her hair was loose and free, the bangs held back from her face with a sparkling ring of silver leaves that wove in and out of her golden locks. In all, she was the perfect image of a Greek goddess.
I hung back as Yellow was fawned over, watching Amber's carefully blank expression with growing suspicion. Why was I suddenly so suspicious? He'd been nothing but a good friend and brother—or at least tried to be—and it was very possible that he was just not feeling too well. So why was his slight frown giving me a bad sense?
As the others were gradually floating away, I was able to snag Yellow from everyone for a moment. I took her a little farther away from the others and gave her my famous stare. "Okay. What happened after we left last night?"
She looked at me in confusion. "When Red stayed behind?"
"Yes," I said firmly. "You guys obviously talked about something. I need to know what it was."
Her eyes clouded over for a moment, and she glanced at the floor. "I-It was nothing really."
"Yellow."
She snapped up at my soft tone.
"I need to know. We have no idea where Red is, and you might be able to help me find him."
The petite girl closed her eyes and breathed in sharply. "…h-he was telling me about how much I caused you all to worry. How much I made him worry," she whispered. "Then he suddenly flew off."
There it was. A direction. "Where?" I asked adamantly.
"To the west," she mumbled.
I sighed in relief, knowing exactly where he'd gone. Taking in her upset aura, I placed a light hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm going to go bring him back."
She only nodded, and I swiftly snuck out of the gym to release Charizard and fly on his back toward the west.
"Right after I kick his sorry butt."
I lay on my back, watching the clouds float by on top of Mt. Silver. All of my Pokemon were with me, out of their Pokeballs and relishing in the free time. Me, however…It was a little harder for me to enjoy the scenery.
My hands under my head, I closed my eyes, wondering what all the others were doing. Judging from the burnt orange sky, the party was probably starting about now.
A loud thud sounded behind me, and I sighed as I heard the cry of a Charizard. "Go away, Green."
I sat up to see him returning his Pokemon and walking over to me instead. "Seriously. Go have fun at the party."
"I'm not going anywhere until I take care of the pity one here," he said lowly, taking a seat beside me. "Now what's going on?"
I turned away. "I just wanted some time to think."
"About what happened last night?"
My eyes found his surprisingly non-hard green ones. "How'd you know?"
"Yellow told me. And she was about ready to break down, too," he said softly. "What did you do, Red?"
I got up and started pacing. "I don't know! I guess I just couldn't live with the fact that she'd moved on, and I just…let it out by accident!"
He sighed. "Look. Do you want Yellow to be happy?"
I stopped and looked at him as if he were dumb. "Of course!"
"Then what if there was something else in her life that made her happy besides you?" The brunette stared right into my eyes. "Would you really be selfish enough to turn it into something miserable for her?"
My mouth hung open a little, and I glanced down. Was that really what I was doing? I thought back to our few encounters since Saturday and realized he was right. I clenched my fist and closed my eyes. That look of turmoil after the shoot…I never wanted to see it again.
So, as much as I didn't want it, I decided right then and there. If Amber was who she wanted, who made her happy, then I would support her choice. As long as that was her wish…I would not object.
The sudden decision finally sunk in, and I flopped down in defeat. That was it. I had just convinced myself to let her go. I watched my feet sadly as Green spoke.
"I take it you just learned how to deal with her being with Amber." When I nodded very slowly, I was quite shocked to see him simile. "Lucky for you, you might not need to."
My head snapped to him. "What?"
He shook his head with a scoff. "I can't believe you haven't realized it. I can see it in her eyes all the time."
I froze at his last sentence.
"Red, she still loves you."
My entire body refused to move as hope suddenly welled up inside. That fountain was instantly dammed though when I remembered Saturday. "T-that's not true. Don't lie to me. When I ran away from her after the shoot, she caught up before I could fly away. But she never moved, Green. When I started off again—" My breath caught in my throat for a moment. "She never came after me."
His face dawned with understanding, and I watched in surprise as he sprang up. "She should have told you! Ah! I wouldn't have to be cleaning up this mess if she did!"
I shook my head in confusion. "Green, what are you talking about?"
"Saturday," he said quickly. "She didn't stay behind because she chose Amber. She stayed behind because she went to battle Melany."
My legs were faster than my mind, and I quickly got up to join him. "What?!"
He was nodding firmly as he turned to me. "You would think she'd lose, but I saw the whole thing. She won, and in return, Melany's going to leave her alone."
"Why would she do that?" I asked unbelievably.
"I'm not sure," Green admitted. "Maybe she got cocky and thought Yellow couldn't beat her. So she made the bet."
"No, Yellow."
"Oh." He stared at me again. "She did it because she didn't want anyone to get hurt anymore. Especially you."
My mind was reeling as he stopped talking. The entire time. All along, she…she was trying to protect me? My rashness and reserved nature lately came back, and I face-palmed. I really am an idiot. This whole mess between us—it's my fault. All because I overreacted.
"I've got to fix this," I said determinedly.
Green smiled a little. "Now that's the Red I know. Let's go back before it gets too late."
Returning all my Pokemon except for Aero, I grabbed on and followed Green back to Viridian. After a glance at my Pokegear, I saw that it was nine, the summer sun gone and the stars beginning to glow. It'd be another two hours before we returned so I thought about what I'd tell her. It didn't take even second to know what that was. It was about time I'd said it, and that was exactly what I planned to do. Whether Amber was there or not.
Our quiet flight seemed to pass quite fast, and soon we were landing at the Pokemon Center. I started walking toward the gym but paused when Green went the opposite way.
"Where are you going?"
He sighed. "Blue wants me to dress up in a stupid outfit, but I wouldn't be caught dead in it. So I'm going to pick up a coat from the lab and pretend to be a researcher."
I chuckled. "So original."
He shrugged. "Better than a freaking Buneary."
Continuing to laugh, I walked beside him as we make our way through the forest to Pallet Town. Apprehension was slowly flooding my system, but it was only because I was so nervous. I mean, what would she say when I told her?
The lab door opened silently as we arrived and went inside.
"I'll be back," Green told me, disappearing after turning on the lights.
Subconsciously, I wandered toward the back room where we kept the tracker. I went inside and flicked the lights up, standing there for a moment to take in the tables and computer. I shivered in surprise when I felt a breeze and saw the window was open.
Wait. The window was open.
I rushed over to it and slammed the panel shut, my head twisting from side to side as I scanned the surroundings. This part of the lab was at the back where there was a giant pine grove. If someone decided to sneak in by this way, it'd be hard to see them coming.
Taking another look around, I sighed as my eyes found nothing abnormal. I suddenly froze though when they stopped on the metal table in the middle of the room.
The pendent. It was…gone.
My jaw dropped, and I stood there like an idiot as Green strode in sporting the white lab coat he always wore whenever he came to work for his grandpa.
"Much better. Ready?" He saw my expression and followed my eyes to the table. The brunette stiffened in an instant.
"Shit."
That seemed to snap me out of it, and I dashed forward, my fingers passing through where the pendent had been. Another thought coming to mind, I ran to the computer, and to my horror, the disc reader was empty.
"Someone took it," I whispered.
"Why didn't I realize it before?!" Green fumed to himself.
"What is it?" I asked.
He started pacing. "We were able to track Melany, her guys, and probably all the other Rocket grunts. So who's to say they couldn't track this one back to here?"
It suddenly clicked in my mind, and I scowled. "Man, Melany's good. She said she'd go away, but she didn't say anything about not taking back Team Rocket property."
Green stopped pacing, and his eyes widened. "I don't think it was Melany who took it."
I spun around in his direction. He started walking and paused at the window, grabbing something from the sharp corner of the sill. I almost gasped aloud when I saw what it was.
A small piece of black material with gold lining.
"No," I murmured in denial. "That doesn't make any sense!"
It's my job.
I'll have it done by the night of the lunar eclipse.
No, I thought. No, it's not possible. The lunar eclipse is tomorrow. Not tonight.
Suddenly recalling something Blue had said Friday, I whipped out my Pokegear and hit her number as Green went to check the security cameras.
A single drop of nervous seat rolled down my face while I waited for her to pick up. After a few beeps, her voice came through loud and clear.
"Red! Where have you been?! I've been trying to get a hold of you all day!"
I winced, pulling the device from my ear a little until her ranting was over and putting it on speaker. "I know. I'm sorry. I was…out somewhere. But that's not important. Blue, what's the special thing you have planned tonight?"
She giggled playfully on the other end of the line. "You expect me to just give away the surprise?"
"Blue!" I exploded. "This is serious! What is it?!"
The girl huffed, and I could just imagine the hand on her hip. "Okay, okay! If you must know, it's an astronomical phenomenon."
I turned to ice. "What kind?"
"A lunar eclipse! Isn't it exciting?! I can't wait until it happens!"
I literally fell to my knees. "What time is it at?"
"Midnight. I'm about to take everyone outside to watch it."
That explains it. With it at midnight when the time rolls over, the computer posted it as occurring on Tuesday instead of Monday. Which was today.
It took everything I had to make myself speak, even though it was low and fearful. "Hey, Blue? Where's Amber and Yellow?"
"Actually, they just went off somewhere a little while ago. I hope they're back in time for the eclipse…Okay, no more questions, Red! I don't know—!"
The rest of her words were lost in a cellular jumble as the Pokegear fell out of my hands and clattered on the floor. I could hear her calling my name, but my mind was so far away.
I couldn't believe it. This whole time…My own brother.
A small motion in the doorway made me look up and see a wide-eyed Green. Blue seemed to have thought I'd hung up, and the line went dead.
"You heard?"
He nodded.
I hastily checked the time to find that there was a half hour remaining until midnight. If Amber was planning to do what I thought he was, then that would be the perfect time—when everybody was distracted by the eclipse.
I nervously looked at Green, and he set his face.
"Let's go."
I happily obliged, and we both sprinted out of the lab, hoping we could make it in time to stop Amber and save Yellow.
"Where are we going?" I asked for the umpteenth time, picking up the skirt of my snow white dress.
"Remember how I told you Blue's surprise was a lunar eclipse?" Amber called back from ahead in the trees. "Well, I know of a great place to watch it from."
"Why didn't you tell the others?" I wondered curiously. "I'm sure they would have wanted to come, too."
He stopped for a moment and turned to me. "It's something I wanted to share." He looked down and closed his eyes. "J-just with you."
I stared at him as he opened them and began walking again. Following silently, we soon left behind the forest and came upon a large, wide open field with long pretty grasses and an amazing outlook of the sky where the moon was steadily nearing its zenith.
Amber didn't stop at the edge, instead taking us far into the sea of waving grass. It wasn't until we were in the direct middle that he brought his feet to a halt.
I sat down, my dress spilling out around me as I looked up toward the dark sky. "You were right. This is a great view!"
He copied my motions and smiled at me. "Yeah, it is."
I glanced his way and blushed a little. When I returned his smile, he suddenly lost his and would meet my eyes.
"Amber?" I asked concerned. "What is it?" I already had Red doing this to me—I didn't want him to follow suit.
My eyes widened as he started trembling and buried his face in his hands.
"I can't do this," he mumbled. "I can't do this."
I stared in shock and nudged his elbow as he kept repeating the phrase. "Amber! Tell me! What's going on?"
He brought his golden-orange eyes out, surprising me even further when I saw that they were tinged with red.
"Amber?" My voice was soft, and it completely vanished as he started speaking.
"Arceus…how do I say this?" He let out a deep breath and closed his eyes. "Yellow? …I…I…I'm a spy."
I was still for a moment before giggling. "Oh, I know that! You're costume says it all!"
His eyes remained shut, but his muscles tensed. "N-no, Yellow. That's not what I meant. I am…"
My laughing ceased as he pulled down the collar of his dress shirt, and something flashed in the moonlight.
The TR pendent from the lab to be exact.
"A spy," he whispered through clenched teeth.
My hand went to my mouth. "Where…where did you get that?"
"I-I never wanted things to turn out this way," he said quickly. "I never wanted to hurt you!"
For some odd reason, I wasn't mad or upset. Probably because I knew that this wasn't the real him. "Then why do this?"
He looked away. "I have to. It's the only way to save her."
My eyes widened. "…Jade?"
His head only sunk further, and he flinched at the name. "No. Jade…"
I waited patiently for him to finish and paused when he did.
"Jade's dead."
Okay. I'll admit it. I hadn't seen that one coming. I'd gathered that something had happened, but I'd thought that it was a little less significant, like the two had simply broken up, and the girl had taken his last Pokemon, or she'd had to move away, and he'd given that Pokemon to her. Never in a million years would I have imagined…
My eyes snapped to him. "Who else could it be?"
He finally brought his face up, and in the soft light, I could see the single tear running down his cheek. "I'm so sorry, Yellow."
Before I could say anything, he leaned forward and caught me in a tight hug. Not knowing what else to do, I hugged him back, and a hot tear of my own fell.
Still surrounded by his trembling arms, I almost missed the imperceptible touch of something soft and fluttery. Instantly, my eyelids started dropping, and I couldn't properly feel my limbs anymore. As scary as it was, though, I didn't fight it. Maybe this was the best way to end the senseless pain and attacks and help Amber.
I could feel his hold grow tighter as I began going limp.
"I'm so sorry, Yellow!" He cried out again. "I-I just have to save her."
Her who?!
That shocked thought was the last thing I remembered before my mind went blank, and I fell into a world of black.
Red
I don't think I could have been running any faster as I rushed through the trees in the direction Blue had told me Amber and Yellow had gone. And the only way I could get her to stop yelling at me long enough to ask was for Green to give her his stare specialty. She'd finally complied but refused to let us both go, demanding him to stay and explain why I had disappeared.
So here I was, by myself racing against the clock. My breath was coming quick, and it wasn't just from my sprint. What if I didn't make it in time? What would happen to Yellow? What would I do?!
I froze suddenly, my feet kicking up old leaves and dirt. My eyes widened in amazement when the light around me turned blood red. After a moment of mindless staring, I smacked myself and kept going. Why did I stop?! Now of all times! Those few seconds could've made a difference between rescue and getaway!
There were a few more minutes of dense foliage before I broke the tree line, panting as I walked out onto a large field of tall grasses that swayed in the red moonlight. My head whipped all around, searching everywhere for even a glimpse of either one of them. Terror was growing swiftly as I couldn't find them, and I finally I decided to chance it and take a look at the sky.
The eclipse was almost over, the red becoming fainter by the second. Squinting my eyes, I scanned between the dark and the stars, hoping with every fiber of my being that I didn't find anything.
However, my life doesn't always like to work out for me.
To the east, right above the top of the trees, was a dark helicopter with a streak of red on its side, slowly getting smaller in the distance. The sight of it broke something in me, and I almost collapsed right there at the spot.
I was too late. They'd gotten her.
The helicopter was already far enough gone that I couldn't catch them on Aero. I looked after it helplessly and clenched my teeth. My heart was fighting my mind in denial, my feet carrying me backwards toward the woods. I didn't even notice it though until my shoulders slammed into a thick tree trunk. I paid no attention to the slight pain, sliding slowly down the tree until I was sitting on the ground, my eyes growing warm as I watched her fly farther and farther away.
This was because of me. If I hadn't been such a blockhead and just asked her to come with me when I had the chance, this wouldn't have happened. She'd still be here, by my side, smiling at the world with those bright green eyes I already missed so much.
The first couple of tears were dripping down off my chin, my jaw shaking, when I heard something above. At first, I didn't care. It was most likely Pidgey or some other Pokemon that lived in the forest. But when the noise got louder and closer, I finally looked up, and my eyes widened at what I saw.
Silver was weaving through the branches in the tree I'd been leaning on, dressed up in all black with a large bundle of white on his shoulder. His face was focused on trying to find good footholds to keep him from falling, and I could see his silver eyes find mine in the dark. Then like the ninja he was posing as, he dropped down to the ground, his feet thudding softly on the grass. When he bent back up, I gasped at what was in his arms. Or to be more precise, who.
Because it was Yellow.
Her eyes were closed, but I saw the faint rise and fall of her chest and knew she was okay. She was wearing the snow and silver dress I'd gotten her for the Reunion, and the sight of her in it only made me smile more.
I took a moment to look up at Silver as he said a little gruffly, "You know, Red? You're going to have to try a little harder if you want to be her hero."
"How did you save her?" I asked incredulously. "The helicopter was long gone by the time I got here!"
"It wasn't that hard actually," he scoffed.
Silver's P.O.V.
Where did they go?
I tried to pad along through the trees quietly, keeping an eye out for either a yellow head or a black one. I'd watched Amber and Yellow sneak out of the party earlier, and that had given me an odd feeling for some reason. Almost like suspicion…
A soft voice sounded ahead, and I paused at the edge of the forest, right outside a huge waving field. My eyes moved slowly across the landscape. There was nothing there. I was standing up, about ready to start heading back, when a single figure suddenly rose from amidst the grasses. I immediately recognized the black spikey hair but tilted my head when I saw no one else with him.
My curiosity getting the best of me, I parted the beginning of the field and crept through the tall plants, bending down as much as I could so as to stay hidden. Soon I was crouched not ten feet from where Amber stood, and my eyes widened when I saw a slumped form lying against his leg. They narrowed right away when I saw that it was Yellow.
What's going on?
I froze as a high-pitched sound suddenly reached my ears, and I tilted my head back to find a helicopter approaching. My gaze followed it, and I quickly recognized the TR symbol on it that matched the pendent back at Professor Oak's lab. Now why was an old Team Rocket helicopter coming here?
I looked to Amber again, and my face went dark when I saw something flash around his neck and knew exactly what it was. That little traitor…
The helicopter was directly above the two now, preparing to land in which it did only seconds after. The entire forest went silent as the blades gradually stopped rotating, and nothing moved.
Then the moon turned red, and the door to the flying contraption flew open, seemingly as if midnight were to cue.
My fist tightened considerably when I saw who jumped from inside and onto the ground.
"Finally! I swear! You're like a turtle when it comes to missions!"
Melany went straight for the unconscious girl at his knee, but he pushed her back with a grim face. "I told you I'd do it, didn't I? Now. Where is she?"
The pixie-cut blonde waved a hand. "All in good time. Let's get back in the air before the eclipse runs out, and they come looking for her."
Amber said nothing. He bent down and gently picked up Yellow, carrying her to the helicopter and taking them both inside. Panic causing me to react before thinking, I quickly crept around to the helicopter and threw a random rock on the ground in the direction I'd come from. Melany's head snapped around at the noise, and I used that moment of distraction to sneak on board.
It was actually a fairly large helicopter, most likely fifty feet long. Staying to the shadows, I watched Amber come back empty-handed to the main area from a door in the back of the room. Melany soon entered also, shutting the sliding door behind her. The two of them went to the pilot's cabin to check in before liftoff, and I wasted no time silently running to the back room.
Softly shutting the door behind me, I could make out Yellow's limp figure in the dark and smoothly got a hold on her as the engine roared to life. Anxiously glancing for a way out, I thanked Arceus when I saw a small cargo hatch set in the wall. Doing my best to be quiet, I got it open and stood there looking down at the tree tops about three feet below that were slowly falling behind faster and faster.
Not waiting for the helicopter to speed up even more, I closed my eyes and braced myself, launching both of us into the air. I shielded her head and neck with my arms as we hit the dense branches and leaves, breaking several of them before we finally came to a stop a flatter one near the trunk.
The excess leaves fluttered around us a moment, and I softly brought her head from my shoulder and saw the content look of sleepiness on her small face. As the last leaf fell and found a resting spot, I heard rustling below us and stiffened, thinking that they might have come back already. I mean, they were going to notice very soon, and I hoped to be gone by then.
Glancing below, my eyebrow rose when Red came stumbling backwards right underneath this tree until he rammed right into it and sunk to the ground. My eyes widened even more so when I saw a few tears falling from his chin. I took a moment to look at Yellow and back at him before setting my face.
No one was going to take Yellow away from us all. Not even that little traitor Amber.
I flinched as he finished his story. "So it's true, huh? It was Amber."
Silver nodded firmly. "Saw it myself. I-I'm sorry, Red. I know he was your brother and all, but…"
I shook my head. "No, I know."
The redhead suddenly paused a moment and looked at the sky. "We'd better get going."
I glanced up at the panic in his voice. "What's wrong?"
He shifted Yellow in his arms and pointed at the stars right as the moon turned back into silver. "I think they just figured out she's gone."
Following his finger, I soon found that sometime during Silver's explanation, they'd turned around and came back, maybe only a hundred feet away now.
I quickly turned to him and started shoving the younger boy into the forest. "Go! You've got to get her out of here before they come back!"
He looked back, his ninja costume blending into the cover of the trees so that only his sparkling cat-like eyes were showing. "Where do you want me to go?"
"Anywhere!" I said hurriedly. "Just take her away from Pallet Town and Viridian. We need to get her as far away as possible!"
He gave a curt nod, and I only got another second to smile to myself at Yellow's sleeping form before he disappeared into the dark. The helicopter was only fifty feet away now, and I grimaced at the sight of it.
In less than thirty seconds, I was hanging from Aero's claws, racing back to the gym to warn the others. Luckily, my Pokemon was faster than it, and I was soon bursting through the front doors.
I could hear Green still talking to Blue before he noticed me. "And I didn't want to wear that costume you got me so…"
My sudden entrance attracted the attention of the people still there, and it wasn't long before I was flooded by all four of them.
"Woah, woah, woah!" I shouted over their questions of my previous whereabouts. "We don't have time for this! We've got to leave!"
"But it just hit midnight," Blue pouted, putting her Cheshire paws to her cheeks. "There's still plenty of time to party!"
"It doesn't matter! They're coming!"
"Who?" Black asked curiously.
Green quickly shut off the music that had been playing, and the entire gym was still. White was about to say something when a sudden whirring noise sounded at the front doors. Making a, "I told you so!" gesture with my arms, I started pushing them to the back of the gym where Green was opening a back door.
Once we were all safely outside and out of view from the front, I instructed them all to release their Flying-types and climb on.
"Red!" Blue demanded. "What's going on?!"
"I'll tell you when we get airborne!" I snapped rather harshly. We were just too close to capture for comfort. "Everybody! Get going!"
They all looked at me for a moment before obeying and flying off into the dark sky where the helicopter couldn't see them from the ground. I was the last one to get up there, making sure we had everybody before heading to east, which was the direction Silver had taken.
White was hanging onto Black atop a new Pokemon I'd never seen before (I'll have to Dex it later), the two of them like a perfect legendary Eon pair. Cheshire was in front of the researcher on his Charizard since Wigglytuff wasn't exactly the fastest flyer, and the two aimed for me as I caught up.
"Red!" Blue shouted over the wind. "Where's Silver? And Amber and Yellow?!"
Green face was asking me the same thing though he'd probably already guessed it. I just looked at the both of them, and after a second, they nodded sadly.
That was it.
And from time to time that's all you need.
Because sometimes, it just takes one.
One look to know that you're entire world has turned upside down.
One look to know that life as you know it has changed in an instant.
And that it will never be the same again.
To Be Continued...
Watch out for the Second Chapter of the Old Grudge Series:
Two Sides to Every Story
Approximate Story Timeline:
June 4-June 24
Current Locations and Ages:
Red
Location: Kanto Town: Viridian
Age: 16
Yellow
Location: Kanto Town: Unknown
Age: 15
Green
Location: Kanto Town: Viridian
Age: 16
Blue
Location: Kanto Town: Viridian
Age: 17
Silver
Location: Kanto Town: Unknown
Age: 15
Gold
Location: Johto Town: New Bark
Age: 14
Crystal
Location: Johto Town: New Bark
Age: 15
Emerald
Location: Johto Town: New Bark
Age: 13
Ruby
Location: Sinnoh Town: Most likely Snowpoint as that is where the long travel boats dock.
Age: 13
Sapphire
Location: Sinnoh Town: Look to Ruby.
Age: 13
Diamond
Location: Sinnoh Town: Look to Ruby.
Age: 12
Pearl
Location: Sinnoh Town: Look to Ruby.
Age: 12
Platinum
Location: Sinnoh Town: Look to Ruby.
Age: 12
Black
Location: Kanto Town: Viridian
Age: 14
White
Location: Kanto Town: Viridian
Age: 14
Cheren
Location: Unova Town: Unknown
Age: 13
Bianca
Location: Unova Town: Unknown
Age: 14