TEEN: Blizzard

[raychuu]

Hello, everyone!

I have always had a love for writing, however, I usually lack the motivation to do so. Just to give you an idea, I started writing this fanfic last year and it is still very far away from being completed! In order to fix that, I decided to publish a fanfiction written by me, to hopefully finish writing something while improving my skills.

With that said, I would like to leave a few notes about "Blizzard".

This fanfic is based around Pokémon Trainer Red's journey (from the main games); however, it is told via memories as Red ventures in the present. As such, normal text stands for present Red's adventures, while italics represent the memories from the past. Also, this Pokémon Trainer Red is my interpretation of the character, as the games are rather vague about him. His character and journey may be different from others'.


I hope you have as much fun reading this fanfic as I had writing it!
ghaskan.




INDEX

1. Prologue
2. Chapter 1 - Enclosure

 

[raychuu]

Prologue

During that day the air was so chilling that cold could be mistaken for a living, sentient being. White was everywhere, from the cloudy air to the frozen ground, and the sky could not be seen, despite the gargantuan size of the mountain; the mist kept it from sight completely. Wind brewed furiously, making the snow, which was falling abundantly, twist into various loops. Still, despite the calumnious weather, there was abundant illumination, mainly due to ice’s reflective qualities.

Someone was sitting on a rock which looked just like a stone bench. Framed by the snowstorm was what appeared to be a youngster on his early-teen years, wearing a pair of jeans and a sleeveless jacket. The only trembling he did was provoked by the wind blows, so anyone could have easily commented he was probably kept warm by his jacket’s colour: a burning red. Next to him was a scarlet cap and, as such, without anything to keep it in place, the teenager’s wild hair flowed with the blizzard. He was sitting in the lotus position and his eyes were closed, his expression revealing a great focus.

It all started when he was still a kid barely surpassing his mother’s knees. Normally, she was cheerful and playful, but then her pale face, outlined by a beautiful chocolate hair, started to have an empty expression and her movements became so rushed and clumsy that it had almost looked like she was soulless and lost, unable to truly express her miserable and mysterious feelings to her child.

From that day onwards, the boy matured relatively quickly. While sometimes his mother was good and able to take care of everything, other days were spent by her crying and hiding from inner ghosts she had acquired. Those were the worst days and he soon understood it was his duty to take care of her and the house. Their neighbour helped them during the first years of the struggle, but when the son learnt how to take care of things himself he never asked for assistance again and the fellow never enquired why.

When his mother was good, the boy never wasted an opportunity to play with his neighbour’s grandson, who was called Blue. Blue loved the colour he was named after and was very good at inventing games. They had a good share of fun, even if the boy’s was always tainted with sorrow and a hint of jealousy; he envied his friend for having time to be a child, all the time.

Life was tolerable until Blue became suddenly more aggressive and arrogant. First, he threw in a few insults, which the boy could understand and tolerate; but every new day brought an even more nefarious Blue. Soon enough, the boy left his former friend and isolated himself from the outer world where, he thought, people were bad and rotten.

On her son’s tenth anniversary, the mother asked him to leave and go on his own journey. He declined firmly, believing his life had only a reason: to protect her. Devastated, she cried and muttered, knowing her child would not be happy with her. Even though she was afraid to share her home with someone else, she hired a maid, who proved to be very competent in all of her affairs, including treating her boss’s crisis.

A very strong and chilling windblown thrust him from the rock. With cat-like reflexes, he rolled on the snow, stopping just by a ledge which led to certain death. He was kneeling and staring, his clothes covered by snow. Normally, looking from the edge offered him a wide view of the mountain’s surroundings, but when the mist was thick like during that day it was impossible to see beyond a distance of two feet. The mist made him blind...

“Red, don’t be so blind... there’s much more to see ahead of Pallet. Don’t worry so much. I’ll be good!“, his mother had said, using one of her warm smiles to convince him.

Finally, after considering for days, the boy reluctantly left on his journey.

 

[raychuu]

Chapter 1 - Enclosure

Red shook his head. The wind was blowing strongly again and it would not give him another chance that time. The teenager got up and walked away carefully to avoid the mortal fall. He had left his mother alone and climbed so high; there was no forgiveness for him to become a disappointment.

The boy fought and won against many foes. He never refused a challenge, no matter what. They always made him stronger, and closer to his goal.

Sensing his trainer’s distress, a yellow rodent appeared. Red permitted himself to gift the Pokémon with one of his rare smiles and he let it ascend all the way up his body. The Pokémon used its tiny, furry paws to cling itself to the right shoulder. Pikachu squealed its name while Red kept on walking, the freezing airstream whipping both their faces mercilessly.

He fought with his Pikachu, a gift from his neighbour, a middle-aged Pokémon Professor called Oak. Pikachu was a yellow electrical rodent with red cheeks, brown stripes on the back and a lightning bolt shaped tail from where it released powerful electrical energy. Many underestimated the tiny Pokémon, only to be defeated shortly after by Pikachu and its highly powerful bolts of yellow electricity.

Pikachu was caught off guard by another of the blizzard’s merciless blasts of air and fell on the white snow. No thud was heard, for the snow was fluffy like cotton.

“Pika...” Pikachu whimpered.

It walked on all fours, close to the ground, to get nearby Red, who picked the fallen Pokémon up. He carried Pikachu in his arms, holding it tightly.

The boy was carrying Pikachu in his arms, running to the nearby Pokémon Centre. The first Gym battle had been horrible and depressing.

Both Pikachu and Red fed respect for each other, but they did not understand one another, there was no friendship. For the trainer, friendships would weaken him, and the Pokémon was too proud and independent to bother about loving a human.

After their tenth win, Red had thought he and Pikachu were ready for the next great step.

Their heads had been raised high when they arrived at the Gym. It was a humble piece of architecture outside, a simple cubic building painted of white, however, inside it had been another matter entirely.

Flanked by three rows of cheap plastic seats at each side had been a rectangular stone arena, a smooth surface ruined by dozens of rock formations. At the end of the arena, just in front of them, had stood a tan, young man, the Gym Leader, Brock.

Red had challenged Brock, excited by the possibilities the win would bring to him. He did not care much for Pikachu; he thought Pokémon could not feel pain, otherwise, why would they battle?

The first Pokémon used by the Gym Leader had been Geodude, the living rock Pokémon, who Pikachu had countered by using the Double Team technique to create multiple copies of itself and then by hitting the slow foe with a few well placed body slams. Victory had been sweet and trainer and Pokémon felt confident, although Pikachu’s breath had been more ragged than usual.

Unfortunately, despite all hopes they had cultivated, Pikachu was no match for the Gym Leader’s most powerful Pokémon.

Red trotted quietly, while Pikachu huddled up comfortably against him, keeping his trainer’s chest warm. Red admired a snake-like rock formation that had appeared amidst the haze with a shiver, despite the increased heat provided by his companion.

Onix, the giant rock snake Pokémon, had been able to hit through Pikachu’s copies using its tail, destroying them all in a single hit. The yellow creature had attempted to use its electric powers, but to no avail; just like Geodude, Onix was immune to electricity.

Desperation had invaded Red, appalled by how real the pain really was. He had even wanted to join Pikachu in its struggle, but he could not. Powerless, he had watched, trying his best to command Pikachu. There had been nothing they could do – Pikachu had been tired, almost as slow as its foe, and, with the Double Team tactic failing, the rodent’s lack of an effective attack to use against the rock snake had been lethal.

The torture did not last for too long. Brock was no fool; the gym leader knew there had been no point to keep the painful play going. After its trainers command, Onix had used its head, adorned by a shark-like stone fin, to ram Pikachu, making it faint.

Red had lost his first gym match.

The rock was adorning the mouth of a cave, like a Greek column. Red entered the cave, where there was an odour of damp earth. Sensing his Pokémon’s desire, he let Pikachu jump from his arms to the cold but secure stone floor. The teenager knew very well that caring for his Pokémon was just as important as training it. That lesson had been one he learnt early on.

After the devastating loss, isolated in a cave at the surroundings of Pewter City, Red trained Pikachu. He wanted to teach the electrical creature a move he had seen the humanoid beetle Pinsir using before. It was called Brick Break, and resembled a karate chop one would use to break bricks. It worked very well against Rock-type foes.

It was an arduous task, but eventually Pikachu was able to power up its muscles using electricity and chopped stones with excellence, breaking them into rough halves.

During that time, Red understood friendship was something powerful, after all. By worrying about his Pikachu, he would understand the Pokémon, and even better, their union would bring happiness along with the glory of winning battles.

Red was currently sitting near the mouth of the cave, fully admiring the roaring blizzard along with Pikachu, who sat on its forelegs next to him. Being outside at that moment was suicide, even for survivalists like him. He was glad to have learnt not to face impossible adversities without a need; instead, he prepared himself properly and waited.

Pikachu fought against many Digletts, brown mole Pokémon with big, round and red noses who seemed to be always buried under the earth with only their cylindrical heads showing. Even their dangerous Ground-type attacks were no match for Pikachu’s dazzling speed and perfected Brick Break technique. Trainer and Pokémon alike were ready to face the harsh Gym once more.

Bored of watching the snow, Red rose up and moved deeper into the cave’s throat, followed by the small rodent. The cave’s bowels started as a humble rock clearing...

Again at Pewter’s Gym, Pikachu fought on the familiar stone arena. Geodude had easily been beaten by a single, powerful Brick Break, but Onix still proved to be quite a challenge.

With improved stamina and speed, Pikachu used the Double Team technique to make multiple copies of itself as it had done last time. Onix prepared to swipe them all and Red knew that. He ordered his Pokémon to use as much agility as it could muster to confuse its foe by running around it. Roaring angrily, Onix trashed wildly in order to hit Pikachu, but the rock-type Pokémon was too slow.

Before long the yellow rodent, managing to dodge all attacks, climbed a tall rock formation and jumped from there. When Pikachu soared over Onix’s head, it charged down, its clenched paws ready to strike. Onix still tried to spring and hit Pikachu heads on, however, that was a terrible choice.

A flawlessly placed chop used all of the rock snake’s strength against itself, making it crack all over its stony body. Onix had howled in pain before plummeting back to the earth with a crashing thud. Awe filled both Gym Leader and trainer. Pikachu simply expressed its happiness as best as it could, by smiling and squealing, despite being very tired.

Brock was impressed and, as per the rules of the match, handed Red a badge, the first of many – the Boulder badge.

...and then darkness devoured it whole.