Red's POV

The city was silent and the sound of the wind could clearly be heard. I sat on a cold steel bench next to my cousin, along with my old friend - Yellow.

Bugsy was standing in front of us as he had something to share. Surely that something was not going to be very good. My life was filled with negative parts, and I could tell that this part was one of them.

My mind was flooded with theories about what could be inside his pocket. The most obvious answer was - a Pokémon. I mean, it has to be a Pokémon. But then why would he try to hide a Pokémon from us.

You only hide something in embarrassment or guilt and by the look on Bugsy's face, it was definitely guilt, without any doubt.

Bugsy slowly reached for his pocket with hesitation, and flinched. "I can't. I'm sorry, Red."

"What is it?" I asked, slowly walking to him. "How bad could it be?"

"Very. I've been selfish, I'm sorry for that."

Selfish? What is it? What have you done, Bugsy, why don't you just tell me?

"Red", said Bugsy, putting his hand again into the pocket and pulling out a small box. "You told me to send this to Oak."

I was shocked to see that box again. I quickly snatched the box and pulled out the PokéFlute box. I kept the PokéFlute in my side pocket where the water bottle should've been and placed the small box inside the PokéFlute box. Sealing it from every side.

"Why do you still have this?" I asked. "Why do you still have the GS Ball?"

Bugsy sauntered rearwards. His eyes, filled with tears, his cheeks were red and the only thing in his mind was - I shouldn't have done this.

Yellow reached out to him and clasped hai hand. She looked into his eyes. "It's fine, Bugsy. You don't need to go away."

"Yellow, I-"

"Bugsy, I'm not mad at you or something. See I just want the reason that why you did it." I said.

Bugsy looked at Yellow and then turned to me.

"I wanted answers, a few years ago, my big brother died. No one knew what happened. The GS Ball is the answer. I wanted to use it, but I didn't know how it worked."

"You know what happened when we last used it." I said, calmly. "Things changed, people changed."

"And I won't let that happen, I won't interact with anyone. I just want to see how it happened."

"You can't!" I irated.

"Don't you wanna know how your dad died?" Bugsy enraged. He tried to calm himself down. "Uh- I'm really sorry."

"You're right. The day we got to know what the ball is capable of, was the day I got that idea. I wanted to go back and see what happened. But you know what, I don't want to know." I explained, tearing up.

Yellow and Lyra exchanged looks. "Um, let's just calm down for a while. No one is time travelling here, okay? We don't want the timeline to blow up. Who knows what will happen, one of us might die or get replaced."

"Also, I need to leave as soon as possible." Said Yellow. "So lease listen to Lyra. Bugsy, I don't know anything about time travel stuff. But what I know is it's wrong. Breaking the laws of the nature is bad, and as Lyra said, we don't know what could happen."

Bugsy calmed down. "I just-Red, keep the ball with you. Yellow and I should be leaving now. Bye."

All of us shared a last hug.

"I'll miss you guys." Said Bugsy. "And take care of yourself and the ball. You don't want it in the hands of Team Rocket."

Bugsy and Yellow waved and started walking away. I really wanted them to continue, it feels good when more people are with you. Watching them leave was sad, especially for Lyra, she almost cried. And then, they were out of sight.

I took a deep breath in and looked at Lyra. "It's gonna be fine." I tapped her shoulder.

"It's okay, I'm okay." Lyra wiped her tears and smiled, turning to me. "Next gym is in the Ecruteak City."

Lyra pulled out her Pokegear and explored the map. "It's North-west from here."

"How far?" I asked.

Lyra gasped. "From here, first we go west to Route 36, then north towards Route 37, which would lead us to the city."

"Oh man. We need to go back."

"Yes." Lyra put the Pokegear back inside her bag. "And we should go now, like right now. We're already lagging behind because of that thing in Goldenrod."

"Right." I said. "But admit it, the crossover was cool."

I expected a reply from Lyra but she turned and started to walk in the direction of Route 36.

"Prepare for trouble." Said a very familiar voice. Lyra stopped and looked at me.

"And make it double."

"To protect the world from devastation."

"To unite the people within our nation."

"Not these two again." I said, annoyed. Behind me stood Cassidy and Butch.

"Don't tell me that you just ruined our world famous dialogue. Never, I repeat never do that again. Do you have any idea how hard we worked to write these dialogues? You have no right to ruin-" Cassidy infuriated, interrupted.

"I think Takeshi Shudo wrote these dialogues way back in 1999." Complained Lyra. Cassidy and Butch exchanged looks.

"Um, don't dare you argue." Butch instructed.

"Okay, one more time." Cassidy nodded. "Prepare for trouble."

"And make it-" Said Butch, interrupted.

Lyra yawned loudly. "Go Chikorita."

"Huh, never mind. Go Drowzee." Said Cassidy, sending her Pokemon. Honestly, I've missed battling these two and their pathetic pocket monsters. "Kid, you may have defeated us a million times before–"

"But this time", said Butch, continuing Cassidy's dialogue. "We are one step ahead. I choose you, go Houndour."

I was shocked to see Houndour with Butch. "Wait, didn't he gave his Houndour to Ethan?"

"Red, forgetting something?" Lyra reminded. Oh yes, time travel. Of course.

"Okay, let's start. Go Wartortle."

So the battle began. Houndour and Drowzee versus Chikorita and Wartortle. While battling, I remembered the old days, no time travel, no Giovanni plans, no Team Rocket headache. Just me and Leaf, and sometimes these two idiots.

The time spent in the Kanto region was the best. The good old happy days. I miss those days. There are things that can not come back as we move ahead with time.

My old team, Leaf, Blue, and the homely feeling Kanto gave. Well obviously it was home to my town – Pallet. But other than that, it was familiar, where Johto isn't.

To be honest, I wasn't enjoying Johto that much and I couldn't do anything about it. When I travelled back in time to the Kanto Region, it was the only time I was happy.

I was calling Leaf and talking to her once or twice a week, which was enough. Still, my journey was lacking something.

Now, I had figured out what it was. A rival.

"Chikorita, Razor Leaf on Drowzee."

"Wartortle, Water Gun on Houndour."

Houndour fainted due to its vulnerability towards water types. The only opponent – Drowzee.

"Drowzee use Hypnosis." Said Cassidy, raging. "Can't believe they are winning, again!" She glared at Butch.

Drowzee used Hypnosis on Wartortle. Wartortle fell asleep and as usual, couldn't attack.

I noticed Butch, continuously looking at the tree behind me. He smirked and clapped. Odd behavior? No. It was a cliche Team Rocket plan.

They had three Pokemon – Drowzee, Houndour and Sneasel. And if I was right, Sneasel was going to make a sneak attack.

I leaned towards Lyra and whispered in her ear, "Ask Chikorita to get away."

Lyra was confused, but she did as I said. "Uh, Chikorita? Walk to that rock." She pointed at a small stone a few meters away. Chikorita too, did as asked. Oh, I miss conflict, those little fights Leaf and I had.

Suddenly, Sneasel made its appearance, it jumped at Wartortle and used Fury Swipes. Wartortle fainted.

"Wait, didn't I tell you to attack the girl's Pokemon?" Cassidy asked.

"But Cassidy, Chikorita was out of reach for Sneasel." Butch explained.

"Never mind." Said Cassidy, waiting for me to send a Pokemon.

I quickly grabbed Ivysaur's Pokeball. When I was about to toss the ball ont he ground, Lyra stopped me by holding me hand.

"I can do it." Said Lyra. She detached a Pokeball off her belt and threw it. "Go Flaaffy."

I was shocked to see Lyra standing up on her own. This was something I wanted her to do. Ever since she started the journey, she has shown the least interest in anything. It really made me happy, cause this was something new I was observing.

"Flaaffy, use Thunderbolt." Said Lyra. "On Sneasel. And Chikorita, Magic Leaf on Drowzee."

Drowzee fainted. Cassidy gave a look of disapproval. "Ugh, Sneasel, use Slash on that Chikorita."

Chikorita was critically hit. She fell to the ground, trying to get up. "C'mon Chikorita." Cried Lyra. "You're almost up."

Chikorita's expression turned from almost crying to angry and determined. She got up and marched towards Sneasel. Meanwhile, Flaaffy waited for a command. If Lyra was a good trainer, Flaaffy would do the same as Chikorita was.

Chikorita exchanged looks with Flaaffy and she too dashed in Sneasel's direction.

Sneasel looked scared and Cassidy, worried. Sneasel jumped upwards and Chikorita crashed into Flaaffy's head.

Flaaffy fell to the ground along with Chikorita. Chikorita fainted.

I looked at Wartortle's Pokeball and clipped it back to my belt. "Chikorita, come back." Said Lyra.

"Sneasel, Slash." Cassidy ordered. Sneasel flashed towards Flaaffy and used Slash.

I was about to laugh at what had happened. Sneasel cut a portion of wool from Flaaffy's back.

"Huh." Smiled Lyra with a gasp. "Flaaffy, shock wave."

Sneasel fainted. Cassidy ran to Sneasel and touched it. Cassidy felt the shock and stood over there, holding Sneasel and unable to move.

"Cassidy, what are you doing?" Asked Butch, walking to Cassidy and touching her. He stood still, almost paralyzed.

Flaaffy used Thunderbolt. Team Rocket blasted off. Sadly, unable to speak their line.

Flashback

Kanto Region, 2011. I was at school, after the day my dad died. Mom had insisted me not to go, but I wanted to, only because I did not want to stay at home.

Sadly, his body was not found where the bus crashed and he didn't get a funeral.

It was lunch break and was sitting at the last bench, crying, with my head down. "Red?" Said Leaf.

A sudden feeling of happiness hit me after hearing her voice. I looked at her, she was standing in front of me, wearing the senior wing uniform.

"Leaf, my dad–"

"I'm so sorry." She said, as she sat beside me. "But I'll tell you a story."

I nodded.

"Three thousand years ago, the king of the Kalos Region had a Floette Pokemon. He loved his Floette more than his own life. But one day, the Floette sacrificed itself in the war, saving many lives. The king, now filled with greif, created a device that brought back the his martyr Pokemon in exchange of other Pokemon. He lived with his beloved Floette untill the Floette found out the truth. Disappointed, the Floette left the king. The king then reprogrammed the device to wipe off humans to end the war. After the war ended, he left, and began searching for his Pokemon." Leaf narrated.

"Wow. Did he find it?" I asked.

"Nope. It is also said that he became immortal, which was a curse from the Floette before it perished again." Said Leaf. "But that's just a version of the story."

"So he's alive?" I asked.

"Maybe. But what we learn is, everyone loses someone they care about, the real test of character is what you do after they're gone."

"That's something, Leaf. But I'm at a stage where I don't know what to do."

"Time heals things." Said Leaf, smiling.