Gordon's pupils started to dilate, not because of arousal but because of sheer surprise. He stood up but his hands and legs were shaking, and a little bit of sweat started to co from his forehead. His body started to shiver from inside, not from fever but from excitent and surprise. In a matter of a couple of seconds, he had thought of all the best starting lines to make a good impression but alas, none of them were perfect for his opinion.
It was only for a few seconds but after raking his brain for the longest ti, he ca up with, "Hello."
Red, being an experienced person knew that he was eting one of his greatest fans. So, he gave a sweet smile, ca near Gordon, and shook his hand saying, "Hi"
"Hello, My na is Gordon. I am a huge fan of yours.", said Gordon with all the gratitude.
"Thanks. It is always nice to et a fan. As you already know, I am Red."
After that, Red took a seat and they started to talk. Finally, Gordon cald down and started to speak normally.
Red might have given up his dream of becoming the next Pokemon master and he had received a lot of hate from the public. But not everyone hated him. People like Gordon still respected him like a god.
Why?
It was because Red was the closest one to reach the title of Pokemon Master. The public didn't know the hidden requirents of becoming the Pokemon master but even a child could tell that it was an almost impossible thing to accomplish.
"So, I hear that you are very good at planning the interiors of a restaurant.", said Red.
"Yes, but I am just starting my business."
"Don't sell yourself short. Have a bit of confidence in yourself. Now, I heard about you and Axel and even though you may feel that Axel is asking for a lot of money and share from you, Axel is a good guy.
He would never cheat on you and he would only make such a deal if he considers it to be fair.", said Red.
"Thanks for the input."
When Red vouched for Axel, the process went on smoothly. Gordon already had ideas for the interiors of Axel's restaurant. They talked and planned for a whole day. Axel also made so of his own dishes that he was bragging about and for Gordon, it was not bragging anymore.
These dishes were so entirely different, filled with spices and flavor. There were so of the ingredients that he had not even seen or heard before. He was really impressed with Axel's cooking.
Unfortunately, Gordon could not stay for long and had to go back the sa day. He had already booked his return flight at 7 p.m. If he knew that Red was staying here, he would have thought to live in Axel's ho for a couple more days.
While returning, there was a ti when only Gordon and Red were present at Axel's ho gate. Axel was getting ready and was taking so ti.
Gordon looked at Red and asked, "Red, if you don't mind, can I ask you a personal question?"
"Yes, of course. I am an open book. You can ask anything unless I don't want to answer.", said Red with a smile.
"Why did you quit the journey of becoming the Pokemon master? You were already very close. You were the champion of 6 major regions and only had 2 to go.", asked Gordon.
This was the question that the entire world wanted answers to. There was a press conference where Oak said that Red would not continue his journey due to so reasons. Red was not even present there and nobody knew the reason.
The decision ca out of nowhere.
Red didn't look at Gordon but at the sky. He looked very emotional for so reason. Clearly, the reason was very deep inside his heart. He then spoke,
"When you see the world as I have seen, you will co to know how evil the world really is. You will not only see the greatness, hospitality, and gratitude of the world but also evil, treachery, and corruption. But I didn't quit for those reasons as I was already prepared for it.
The reason I quit my journey was cause one of my Pokemons, one of my best friends, that trusted with its life died right before my eyes and I just could not do anything."
By this ti Red had tears in his eyes. His voice was not scattered from the tears or all the built-up emotions. He must have been very good to hold himself and beco as neutral as possible but his eyes betrayed him.
Gordon knew that this was very personal and didn't want to ask another question.
"I am sorry. I should not have asked.", said Gordon.
Red didn't say anything and rubbed his face to clear the tears but the sticky feeling of tears was still prominent on his face.
###
"It looks like I will have to prepare Axel for this too.", mumbled Red to himself.
Red had not said anything about Axel regarding the death of his Pokemon and the reason for quitting his journey. Of course, this was not only the reason for quitting but this was the driving factor that led him to make that decision.
That was why Red was so much more focused on training Axel's Pokemon and Axel. He didn't want Axel to make the sa mistake that he had made.
After dropping off Gordon, both of them ca ho while walking. Yes, walking. The airport was fairly far from his ho and by walking it would take a couple of hours.
"Red, why do you want to walk? We would be wasting a lot of ti.", complained Axel.
"Axel, I just want to talk today. Can't you have so patience?"
Looking Red so serious, Axel agreed. Axel knew that there were so hidden anings to this walk. So, he just kept quiet and started to walk with Red.
"Axel, why do you work so hard to beco powerful? Why are you training in those aura techniques?"
"Well, I just want to be ready to protect myself and my Pokemons and also my family and friends."
"But you already have loyal Pokemons by your side to protect your loved ones and your Pokemons are far more powerful than you to need any protection.
Don't tell that you want to achieve grand energy as the first Pokemon master. I can tell that you don't want it."
Axel just didn't have the answer. He just trained hard cause that was what he had been doing all his life. It was not that he wanted to show off. People in this world show off with their Pokemons, not themselves.
"I have told you the reason for quitting the journey to beco the Pokemon master. I had many reasons to leave but I have still not told you the real and the main reason for doing it."
Red then took a deep breath to continue.
"I left the journey cause my Blastoise died right in front of and I just could not do anything."
This was like a bombshell for Axel. He had never expected this to be the main reason. He just never imagined that his Pokemon might die soday.
"It died and I could not do anything because I was too weak. I neglected to train myself thinking that I could do it later or that I have Pokemons to protect . It never occurred to my mind that just like I needed their protection, they too needed mine.
Blastoise wanted a nickna and I always postponed it. It died without not getting a nickna and I deeply regret it now. If I had just trained myself a bit harder or if I had Kripton with at that ti or if I had not gone there or just reached there after a day, then it would not have happened."
Axel didn't speak to console Red. It was just too awkward to say anything.
"Rember Axel, just like you need them, they need you too. So, train harder, get that grand energy and even evolve it if you have to. Just like you cannot clap with one hand, love is also two-sided and caring is also two-sided."
"I promise Red that I will do anything to protect my Pokemons.", said Axel with determination.
"I like your eyes. I believe..., no, I know that you can do it. The training for the 3rd requirent is going to be very hard. It would be nothing you have ever experienced before. So, be ready.", said Red.
By this ti, they were already ho and Axel went to sleep.
###
Next day,
"Axel, are you ready?", asked Axel as Xatu was near Red. Both of them were ready.
"Yes, I am ready."
"Ok, first of all, we will just start with simple cuts of hand and feet. Rember, the mission is to be able to hold the pain not heal it.", said Red.
"Yes Red, I am aware.", said Axel.
"OK then. Xatu, start with the illusion."
Xatu's eyes glead in purple light and Axel expected sothing drastic to happen. He expected the scenery to change but nothing happened.
It just looked like its eyes glead in purple light and it could not create an illusion. Suddenly its eyes glead again in purple light and Axel felt a cut on its right hand.
"Ahh...", Axel gave a soft scream.
It was sitting in a ditative position and he was regulating his aura to not feel the pain or restrict the pain.
First, it was just a simple cut. Then the number of cuts started to increase in his hands and legs. The pain started to increase. He was doing everything to hold the pain and had even closed his eyes to concentrate, but he was not able to do anything.
Moreover, the illusion had not started and in his mind, this was all real. So, he started to panic. He could see Red who was giving an evil smile.
"Red, why am I not in illusion?", asked Axel but Red didn't reply and started to give that creepy vibe.
After who knows how long, Axel suddenly felt that sothing had changed. He then looked at his body and there were no cuts and no wounds. The blades of grass were not soaked in his red-colored blood and it looked as green as ever. Axel imdiately understood what had happened.
"So, I was already inside the illusion.", sighed Axel.
"Yes, you already were. Xatu is very good at doing this and I want you to realize that even if you are under the illusion, think that it is real. Because the injuries you would suffer in the future would not be illusions but real injury.", said Red with a smile.
"Ok, let's do it again.", said Axel.
"No, first feel and rember those pain and try to think how you would manipulate aura so that you can resist that pain to a minimum level. The training would only be harder in the future."
"Ok, I will do it."
anwhile, today was a holiday for his Pokemons. Axel had denoted one day in a week as a holiday where the Pokemons could do anything that they wished. This was done for them to have a good ntal state. Having a sound and rational ntal state was also very necessary.
So of them were sleeping, so of them were playing and so of them had decided to explore the forest. But there was one Pokemons that ditated with all of its concentration. This was Vigoroth.
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