Chapter 2: If the ____ Fits

"It's time. Let's go."

Karkat, Strider, and Kanaya were caught off guard by Red's words. A majority of the day was spent grinding. Why now, while standing in the middle of Pewter City's museum, had Red decided that his team was ready to take on the first gym? Red led his team to the Pokemart and used all his remaining money on Potions.

"We won't need these. But it wouldn't hurt to have them. You three head over to the entrance to the Gym. I'll meet you there." Rich walked off toward Pewter's southern end.


"Well I guess we should all head over toward the gymLAST ONE THERE'S A MAGIKARP!" Strider took off, with Kanaya close behind. Karkat, not having wings, walked. Karkat wanted to fly almost as much as he wanted to be able to swim.

"I can't do anything special. Even being a fire type, I only know one fire move. What does mast-... Red... see in me." It was unusual for Karkat to be so upset with himself. This sudden insecurity had taken hold of him like an endless bind or wrap. Red's dream may have been fictional, but its effects were very real. For a short time, Red had loved that Charmander. Was it that his trainer had never given more than "Nice job"? Was it that he never greeted anybody with more than a stoic expression?

Strider and Kanaya were already sitting in front of the gym, bickering about Strider cheating or something like that. Karkat observed the rusty sign made to greet hopeful trainers out front.

"PEWTER CITY GYM: THE POKEMON HERE TOTALLY ROCK BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL RAISED BY BROCK."

"Now it all makes sense!" Karkat's revelation caught the attention of Kanaya and Strider, whose argument had turned physical as they were now rolling on the ground fighting. A synchronized "What does?" came from both of their mouthes.

"Brock uses rock Pokemon. Even if we were the same level as his, we wouldn't stand a chance. Look; two flying types and a fire type. That's why we spent the day leveling up- Red knew. He knew we needed more. He knew we needed to be stronger."

The gym door had opened. Karkat looked around to see Red halfway through the door already.

"Exactly. And now all of you are ready. So lets do this."

Now, it's a little known fact that Gyn Leaders pick the levels of their Pokemon very carefully. They are all masters of deception. For example, when Brock sent out a level 12 Geodude, he expected it to lose rather quickly. It's not so much to lure an opponent into a false sense of security; it's more like a reconnaissance battle. A warm up of sorts. Gym leaders read the way you battle like a book, and hold that information for the ace they always have in their sleeve.

Kanaya and Strider made short work of Geodude. Brock had made a mental note of Red changing Pokemon. Kanaya could have easily handled the situation on her own, yet Red switched her out for Strider. Red had also stayed purely offensive, avoiding even stat changes. Brock was ready.

"Very nice job. But now the fun begins. Onix, go!"

The rock beast emerged from its technological prison, eager to fight. But Red had anticipated this.

"Karkat, it's your turn. Get out there."

"But, Red, I'm a fire Pokemon. I won't be able to burn Onix, and tackling won't do much because of it's high defense." Karkat had a point, Onix was using harden as they spoke.

"You can and will win. Get out there."

Karkat stood up and held his head high, through the fear. Onix had opened strong with a powerful Rock Tomb, but once again Red was prepared. As soon as Karkat had climbed out of his makeshift grave, Red issued one and only one command.

"Metal claw."

Karkat nodded and ran head first into the beast. To Karkat's surprise, his claws sliced through Onix's third segment. Steel was super effective against Rock types! Before Karkat could celebrate, though, Onix whipped its tail around and binded Karkat. The rock snake crushed Karkat's body against its own. But all Red had to do was utter the same two words. Karkat's claws glowed as he threw the final blow in the match. Brock was defeated.

"That's quite the impressive Pokemon you have. It's not every day that we see a fire Pokemon use a steel move in this place. You're a strong trainer, and deserve this badge. Take this TM too. It's for Rock Tomb. You'll want to head to Cerulean City out east, next. To get there, though, you'll have to travel through Mt. Moon. But by the looks of things, I think you'll be adequately prepared. Best of luck."

The party healed up at the Pokemon Center, and headed west just like Brock said. But someone stopped them before they entered Rt. 3. It was a man in a labcoat, one that Karkat and Red both noticed from the Professor's lab.

"You're Red, right? I have a package for you, from your mother."

"Thanks, but you're wrong. Send everyone my regards, though."

"Whatever kid."

There was a very simple reason as to why Red believed that this present wasn't actually from his mother. As he tied the laces on his new running shoes, Red played the conversation again in his head. It was clear as day. Red was only a small child with dreams of someday owning a Pokemon of his own.


The shoes couldn't come from his mother, because the only person who knew he wanted them was his father.

Chapter 1: Changing Fate

"What the hell are we even doing here anyway?"

Kanaya the Butterfree sat on the side of Rt. 2's northern half, above Veridian City. Her trainer was off in the tall grass training Strider, his Pidgeotto. Impatient as ever, Kanaya decided to use her downtime to complain to Karkat. Karkat was busy though, inspecting his newly evolved Charmeleon physique.

"Master says we have to level up before we face Brock. You heard him."

"I know, but grinding is just so BORING."

"Right," Karkat replied, "Coming from the Pokemon that leveled up twice in a matter of hours. And on that note, how did you even do that? I'm having a hard time getting used to ONE new body."

"Ugh, but I wanna go FIGHT something, ya know? Something besides a level 4 Caterpie."

"I repeat: A few hours ago YOU WERE A LEVEL 4 CATERPIE. And that's not the point! If Master thinks we need to get stronger, then we get stronger. That's the way it works. End of story. Besides, Brock has Rock Pokemon. All 3 of us are going to have a tough time against them."

"Pfft. By the time he lets us face the first Gym our levels will be twice as high as his PokeOHMYGOD OUCH WHAT THE HELL."

Kanaya was unaware that her trainer had taken a quick walk to Pewter City to grab a few potions. Strider had snuck up behind her and tauntingly used gust (a super effective flying attack) on the poor bug Pokemon.

"DAMMIT WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU STRIDER."

"So I see you like my new move. Relax, we're all going down to the Pokemon Center in a few minutes anyway."

Kanaya grumbled. She knew that arguing with him would lead nowhere, so instead she sat down on the (short) grassy side of the road and looked up at the sky. Watching all the the free-flying Spearow and Pidgey reminded her that it wasn't long ago when she was free herself. But as a Caterpie, the dense flora of Viridian forest can be quite intimidating. And if it wasn't for her capture, she wouldn't be sitting in this spot with wings on her back and two allies on her side. Something had been bugging her, though.

"Why is he like that."

Karkat turned around. "Master?" Kanaya nodded.

"To be honest, I don't know. He seemed... troubled... the first time I met him. Not like this, but still at unease."

Strider stuck his beak into the conversation. "You're right. But after what happened on Rt. 22, whatever it was got worse. He was hesitant to even set foot near there, like he knew what was coming."

"What happened on Rt. 22?"

"Some dick named Green ran into Master and challenged him out of the blue... he didn't even make eye contact. The two had met back in the lab, when Master chose me. And then Green... he chose..." Karkat choked up a bit. Something was wrong. Strider's keen eye picked up on this and finished the story. Strider's serious side was something kanaya had yet to see in their short time together.

"Anyway, there were four of us back then. He caught Tavros, a Rattata, and Jack Noir, a Spearow. But during the battle, Tavros was crippled. His face when Tavros died... there were tears falling, but no emotion whatsoever. It was blank. Then Jack Noir was grounded by Green's Squirtle." Karkat twitched, and rapidly changed the subject.

"But then we won the battle. Green ran, leaving Master, Strider, and I. He grabbed us, and with the same expression that Strider described, told us we did a nice job. But he was still hurt. The Pokemon Center healed us, but not him."

Strider wrapped the story up. "So then we went into the forest, where we met you."

"So... neither of you know what happened before he chose you, Karkat?"

"No. But I will admit, I am concerned for him. Whatever happened, it couldn't be good."



"You're right, Karkat." A silhouette had appeared behind the trio while they were psychoanalyzing their master.

"GAH. Master... I'm sorry. I didn't see you there. We were just talking about..."

Kanaya interjected. "Why are you like this, huh? Something's wrong with you, and you won't even let your own team know? It's like you don't even trust us!"

Strider swooped down toward Kanaya and held her mouth shut with his wing. "Are you CONFUSED or something? WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?"

Then he spoke up. "Strider, let go of her this instant. So you want to know what happened to me?" Kanaya nodded. Strider and Karkat nodded subtly along with her.

"Last night, before I set out to the lab in the morning, I had a dream. In it I was walking down Rt. 22 when I was ambushed by... by him. My party wasn't prepared for his higher leveled Pokemon. Even though there were more of us, he was still stronger. One by one, my party fell. Then, as I was forced to send out my weakened Charmander, with no Potions to heal him with, I prayed. I prayed for a critical hit. but it didn't come."

Tears fell, but his face didn't move and his voice didn't shake.

"I held him, there in my arms. He died in my arms. It hadn't even been an hour or so since I got him, and now my first and last Pokemon died there, looking at me with empty eyes. Disappointed eyes. an innocent Pokemon who had been kept in a Pokeball for who knows how long, was given his first taste of freedom, only to have it taken away from him. My tears doused the ember left on his tail. Then, I whited out. I woke up. I chose Charmander in the lab. I caught the same Pokemon along the way to Rt. 22. But even though I prepared, half of my team died at the same spot. But I didn't let it all happen again. Strider and Karkat made it out. They're okay. I didn't let what happened happen again. I won't let it happen. I won't let anything happen to any of you, I promise." Karkat was crying.

"Master, don't... I..."

"I told you Karkat..."





"...Call me Red."