Red's POV

Yet another day of a Pokemon Champion's life. God, the life is good, when you're popular, you tend to get support. And I knew how to do it.

The weather was great. The best thing about the day was - no sunlight. I've been sick of the sunlight, only because it made me irritate myself. The temperature was already so high, then the sunlight played a complete different role, getting into my eyes.

The sun was probably hiding behind some cloud. And the clouds, they were grey and black, it was about to rain.

The wind was cold too, and blew slowly.

I looked around to see my three companions. Lyra and Ethan looked tired. As for Bugsy, he walked as if he already had a water break.

'Hey', said Ethan, pointing forward. 'What is happening there ?'.

There were two police officers, just standing in front of something. I couldn't see it properly. I hurried forward to get a closer look.

'What's that ?', asked Lyra, looking at the thing the officers were protecting.

'Can't you see ? It's a Well', said Ethan, arrogantly.

'Officer', said Bugsy, calm. 'What is going on ?'.

'Bugsy. It's a big story. In this old well, hundreds of Slowpokes live. Local thieves started clipping off their tails and started to sell them. Slowpoke tails grow back, so it became a business', explained one of the officers.

'That is so not good', said Ethan, sad.

'Recently, we got a report that Team Rocket was seen here. Maybe they are eyeing at it for a business', explained the other Officer.

'Team Rocket. Wherever there is trouble, it's always Team Rocket', I said, angrily.

'Oh, you have a personal anger for them', said the Police Officer. 'Wait, you are Red. The Kanto League Champion. Oh, I know about you and Team Rocket, you got the Kanto branch turned off'.

Ethan and Lyra made a face which clearly said - seriously officer ?

'Tell us more about the Well', said Lyra.

'Uh, guys. I must go. I have to do some preparations before the gym battle. See you in the gym', said Bugsy, walking away. 'See you'.

Ethan and Lyra exchanged looks. 'That was unusual', complained Ethan.

'Can we enter the Well ?', asked Ethan.

'Ethan, don't be ridiculous. They said they were protecting the Well, nobody is allowed to enter', I said.

Ethan cringed.

'Okay, let's just go towards Azalea, its already...', I said, looking at the watch Ethan was wearing. '4:32 p.m'.

'What is the date today ? Sorry, I can't keep track', asked Ethan.

'Its 2 April ?', asked Lyra.

'April 3', I corrected. 'Okay, just a short walk from here. We are almost there'.

I looked at the map in my PokeGear. Azalea was 5 minutes away.

In exactly 5 minutes, we entered the Pokecentre in Azalea Town.

After getting our Pokemon full to health, I talked to Mom, while Ethan and Lyra went to the room.

Then, I called Professor Oak. The bell rang and he picked up the call.

'Ah, Red. Thank goodness you called me', said Professor Oak, exhausted.

'What happened Professor ?', I asked.

'Remember the GS Ball ?', asked Oak.

'Uh, yes', I said.

'A trainer gave it to a man named Kurt, he is Pokeball specialist. The trainer forgot to take the Pokeball, so I want you to get it and give it to me', said Professor Oak, trying to get calm.

'Okay', I said. 'The ball will be unlocked ?'.

'Yes, and do not, I repeat do not open it. We don't know what's inside', said Professor Oak.

'Alright, Professor', I said, hanging up the call. I went upstairs in my room. This time, all three of us had our own room, thanks to the availability.

I grabbed out my diary and started to fill it. I hadn't filled it since Ruins of Alph.

I looked at the digital clock, the time was 10:27 and it was time to sleep. The next day was again a big day, I had to battle Bugsy.

I lied down on the bed and closed my eyes, trying my best to fall asleep. I stopped thinking about anything, cleared my mind but my brain made me remember an old dream.

I sat next to Leaf on a hill near Mount Silver. Then, Mew was seen flying towards the frosty mountain.

Suddenly, I heard my name. 'Red !'. I thought it was Leaf who was calling me but the sound distorted and sounded like Ethan's. I woke up.

'Red', said Ethan, thrilled. 'Thank God, you woke up'.

'Ethan ? Wha-what happened ?', I asked, baffled and sleepy.

'From the window, I was checking if the Police Officers were still there, standing in front of the Well. I saw them jumping into the Well', said Ethan. 'Come on, please. I don't feel good about this'.

'Huh ?'. I was puzzled.

'Just get up, will ya ?'. Ethan forced. 'We'll just go and come back in minutes'.

'Just sleep, Ethan. You're overthinking'. I explained. 'Go and sleep'.

'Red, please', said Ethan. He grasped my wrist and pulled me off of the bed, I lost balance and kept my feet on the ground to avoid falling on the floor.

I stood up, still sleepy, and bent like a sloth. Ethan walked outside and I followed.

We went downstairs and outside the Pokecentre.

'I felt it was weird. Why would the Officers trying to protect the Well will ever go inside ?', asked Ethan. 'Something is not right. And we need to find what'.

'You brain, it's not right, you're not thinking straight, they must've gone inside for some reason', I said. 'Can we go back now ?'.

Ethan stopped, so did I. I looked forward and realised we were standing right in front of the Well.

Ethan walked forward and looked down. 'This is deep', he said, eagerly.

'Just be careful', I said, walking forward. I too looked down, only to see nothing, there was no bottom of the Well. I could only see darkness inside it.

'Its not safe'.

'Oh', said Ethan. 'You talk like my grandmother'.

'Ethan it's not cool, we are near a place we were strictly told not to enter', I said.

Ethan walked around the Well. For a second I didn't know what he was up to. Then I saw the ladder to the inner surface of the Well.

'No !', I exclaimed.

Ethan started climbing down the ladder. 'Come on, Red. Live the life you wanna live. Don't be so...so formal, regarding your life. It's your life'.

'Its my life, that's why I'm not coming with you. My life, my decision', I said.

'I know you would come down. I know that you know that I know that you would come', said Ethan.

'What ?', I asked. 'That didn't make any - forget about it. I'm not coming'.

Ethan's POV

I climbed down the ladder which slowly went into the darkness of the Slowpoke Well. But I wasn't afraid of the dark. I knew there would be some light down there.

Sad thing, I didn't bring any of my Pokemon. Finally, the ladder ended and I stepped on the ground.

The soil was damp and I swashed further. I could feel the water in my shoes. The Pokegear had a flashlight, lucky me I brought it along.

I was standing in the middle of a circular place, I looked up and saw the night sky.

By just using the flashlight, I saw an opening in the wall, the opening was as big as a door. I walked inside, the place was like a hallway, and i hated hallways because they were spooky and gave me chills.

I made my way further inside. After walking for about a hundred meters, there was a change of direction, so I turned, only to see a huge place.

The place was like a cave, but I couldn't see much as I was standing low. There was a ladder leading slightly upwards. I climbed up in excitement. I was eager to see the place.

As soon as I climbed up. I saw a river, in a distance, flowing withing the cave, heading to somewhere that was unknown to me.

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I freaked out and turned around. It was Red, my old friend, uh...enemy, um...frenemy. Surely, I hated him but part of liked the guy.

'Did I scare you ?', asked Red, exhausted.

'Uh, no. I was acting out', I said. 'I thought you didn't want to join me'.

'I didn't, I just came here to make sure nothing happens to you'. Red smirked.

'Ah, I see', I said. 'This place is good. But I see no Slowpokes'.

Suddenly, a Team Rocket grunt came running towards us. 'Get out of the way, kids'.

'Hold it right there', said a Police Officer, chasing the Grunt.

I quickly his behind a rock to avoid the Officer. 'Red, if he sees us, there's a good chance we'll be arrested'.

Red rushed to the rock and stood beside me, crouching. The Grunt and the Officer went outside.

'Now we have the reason why the Officer wasn't there', I said.

'Where is the second Officer ?', asked Red. 'Maybe the both officers were Team Rocket grunts'.

'Can it be a possibility ?', I asked.

'Odds are fifty-fifty', said Red.

I felt water in my feet even when the surface below me was dry.

I looked down and saw water. I hurried to the ladder that led to the hallway type-ish place. The place was filled with water.

Red's face went pale. He didn't know what to do. He seemed scared. And I knew why.

I learned that he was just like me. Only because his Pokemon were powerful and he was a Pokemon Champion, he acted the way he was.

It gave me a better understanding of training my Pokemon nicely.

'I don't have my Pokemon'. Red spoke. 'I think we're trapped'.

Red's POV

I tried calling Lyra, using the Pokegear but there was no signal. We had no way out. The only entrance was blocked by water and swimming hundred meters underwater, was not what I could do.

'There must be a way out. I'm lucky I'm with you, everything works out for you', said Ethan.

'Will you stop saying that ? I'm not a perfect person', I said. 'There are always problems in ones life. I don't care if I won the League. It doesn't brought my dad back'.

'Stop that. You bring your father in every conversation. It's like you have an excuse to get out of everything', said Ethan.

'How dare you ?'. I irated. I tightened my fist and punched Ethan in the stomach.

Ethan bent down, hurt. 'You had to do that ?', he asked.

I started to walk away. 'Yes', I replied.

'Where are you going ? It's not over yet', said Ethan. And I felt a hard punch on my back.

I fell to the ground, which was filled with water now. Ethan was standing straight, waiting for me to get up.

The water reached his ankle.

I held Ethan's legs and pulled him down, he fell with a splashing sound.

I slowly stood up. The flow of water increased and reached my knee in a few seconds.

Ethan was inside the water and stood straight up. 'We are going to die', he said.

'Sorry for the punch', I apologized.

'Dude, we're dying here and you care about the punch ?', asked Ethan. 'Can't we just try to swim out ?'.

'Okay, for doing that. You must have to hold your breath for like five minutes. If you think you can do that, go on', I said.

Ethan stopped and took a deep breath in. 'I am sorry, it was my idea', he said.

The water reached my stomach. I raised my arms, avoiding the Pokegear from getting wet.

I tried another call to Lyra. Thank god, the bell started ringing.

'Signal, yes', I cheered. 'Come on, pick up the gear'.

The bell rang and rang and rang, no one picked up.

'She would be sleeping', said Ethan. 'There is no way out. Even if she picks up, there's no way, she'd reach here before we drown to death'.

The water reached my shoulders. 'Ethan, sorry for being so harsh on you', I said.

'I am sorry for using your towel, yesterday. Really. And your soap too', said Ethan.

'You did what ?', I asked.

'See you in heaven', said Ethan, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes. The water reached my eyes. I swam upwards, pulling Ethan along.

'Whoa', said Ethan. 'Stop, I want to die before you, because then I'll be elder than you in the next life'.

'Man, you serious ?', I asked.

Suddenly, Ethan was pulled inside. 'Ethan', I screamed. I went underwater to see where he was but he just vanished.

I went back up and took a deep breath. 'Oh no, oh no', I chanted.

Suddenly, I was pulled in too. I saw myself heading toward the hundred meter hallway.

In a few seconds, I was out of oxygen and struggled. I couldn't see what was pulling me, but I could say, it was a fast swimmer. I fainted.

My eyes opened and I found myself lying outside the Well.

'Are you okay ?', asked Lyra, worried.

'Red, she saved us', said Ethan.

'Gosh, am I dead ?', I asked.

'Yes', said Ethan. 'If you want to hear that'.

'No, you're not', said Lyra. 'I didn't do anything. Wartortle and Ditto did. I heard voices from your room so I went there and found it empty. Through the window I saw both of you going inside the Well. By the time I reached there, it was filled with water. So I went back to take Wartortle and Ditto, so that both of you could be saved'.

'Brains', said Ethan. 'Good'.

'Thanks', I said. 'I thought I was going to die. Thank you'.

'Go to your rooms, both of you. And sleep', Lyra ordered.

'Yes ma'am', saluted Ethan. He started walking back to the Pokecentre.

I got up and followed, I turned around and a Pokemon jumped out of the Well.

Lyra pointed her Pokedex towards the Pokemon.

'Slowking, a Royal Pokemon. It has incredible intellect and intuition. Whatever the situation, it remains calm and collected', explained the Pokedex.

'So this must be the Pokemon who filled the Well', said Lyra. 'Nice, now no one would go inside to take the Slowpoke tails'.

I stared at Lyra. 'Oops', she laughed.