"Dude...you look like you got hit by a train."
Derrick collapsed into the passenger seat of Scott's Cavalier, exhaling audibly through his nostrils. He wiped a hand down the front of his face, stretching his cheek muscles and yawning. He hadn't heard what had been said to him.
"What happened to you?" Scott pressed, backing the vehicle out of the driveway and beginning his way down the road.
"You seriously won't believe this..." Derrick muttered. "I was playing that bootleg cartridge while I was waiting for you, when I randomly fell asleep." Derrick's eyes drew to the window as he watched the neighborhood pass him by at about 25mph. "I had the most vivid dream I've ever experienced. I dreamed I was in the Pokemon world, and that I joined forces with Red to become a Pokemon master. It was incredible! I was having such an amazing time, when suddenly I woke up vomiting. And all this happened before you got here...it was all so weird." Derrick, let his eyes glaze over to mull on his dream, until he realized Scott hadn't said anything about it. He turned to face his driver, whose face was distorted with intensely suppressed giggling. He glared at the boy as he finally burst into a roaring laugh.
"Whoa-ho! Derrick, did you smoke something earlier today?" he exclaimed, unable to control his laughter. "I mean, I've heard some crazy reefer stories before, but Pokemon? Dude, that's just you tripping!"
"Hey, I wasn't on any drugs! It was a dream!" Derrick bitterly swallowed his chagrin, slumping more into the passenger seat. "I'm being serious, Scott. It was weird, yeah, but it was a really vivid dream."
"Maybe somebody should take a break from playing so many video games, then."
"What do you mean?"
"Face it. You play that Pokemon game like it's the only thing you know how to do."
Derrick gestured to make a retort, but reluctantly said nothing.
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If it was a dream...then how did the game suddenly get from Cerulean City to the S.S. Anne? Derrick examined the SP's screen thoughtfully, moving his little Red character around in the dark. Scott had previously left him at his own house while he went to drop his sister at someone else's home. Makes me glad I'm an only child, he half-chuckled to himself. He would have been dragged along, he knew, if it weren't for his annoying nausea returning to haunt him on the way to Scott's house. It still came in small waves as he attempted to maneuver Red through the pitch-black Rock Tunnel.
He experimentally closed his eyes as he weaved through the tunnel, quickly growing irritated with the thumping sound of hitting walls and running into more Zubats. Am I capable of playing this game in my sleep..? It didn't quite seem so, but how else was he able to play nearly a 2-hour's worth session in the seven minutes he was asleep? He closed his eyes again, trying to concentrate on the little memory he had in navigating this frustrating cave. Not much seemed to be happening but his character running into walls and repetitive fanfare of incoming wild Pokemon startling him. Still, he concentrated harder. Everything was so obscure just like it was supposed to be in the Rock Tunnel. He was simply too stubborn to make on of his team learn the Flash HM so he could see. He dodged wall after wall, Zubat after Geodude, trying to make his way around the cave.
"Stupid, stupid cave..."
...Derrick?
Derrick nearly jumped. He opened his eyes to find himself still surrounded by darkness. Was he dreaming again...?
"Red? Is that you?"
I thought that was your voice.
"Ugh, I can't see anything. Where are you?"
Just keep moving forward. I think we're almost out.
Derrick willed himself on, blinking every few seconds to make sure that nothing was wrong with his eyes, that he was legitimately in the Rock Tunnel. He flinched violently as he felt an almost cold hand on his shoulder.
It's me. Derrick...where did you go, back then? You got sick, then you just left.
Derrick squinted as he thought he saw a light in the distance. He pointed, as though Red could make out his gesture.
"Look, do you think that's the end of the cave?"
...It might be.
"Alright, get on your bike so we can finally be out of this creepy place."
Derrick grinned in spite of himself as he clumsily hoisted himself onto the back of Red's bike, the bicycle theme suddenly taking over his mind. He whistled it to himself softly to calm his mood as he and Red dodged more wild Pokemon to finally reach the end of the cave. As his eyesight finally returned to him, he dismounted the bike and began off, knowing that Lavender Town was ahead.
Wait, Derrick.
"Mm? What's wrong?" he asked, turning to face his stone-still companion.
How did you know I had gotten a bike...?
"The Chairman of the Pokemon Fan Club gave you a voucher for one in Vermillion City, didn't he?" Red didn't move a muscle.
I did, yes, and I went back to Cerulean City to get it...but that was after you left me alone on the ship...
Derrick froze, scavenging around in his mind for anything to cover up his folly with. How was he going to explain? Red approached him, and looked him in the eye. His normally static eyes...they were glimmering. With confusion.
You never answered my question. Where were you? Where did you go when you left me on the ship? You knew what happened afterward...but still you left me. Where were you?
He knew he was being pushed into a corner now. There was no hostility in Red's questions, but he didn't know how to answer him. He muttered a few useless comments, trying to find anything to cover himself. Finally, he went out on a limb.
"B-Back on the ship before I left...you called me God, didn't you? You told me that I knew everything and everyone...didn't you?" Red gave him a thoughtful stare before nodding in his usual fashion. Derrick swallowed. "...I-It's true..."
What..?
"I left you on the ship, yes...I got sick. But I never really left you. I was still showing you what to do. I helped you defeat Lt. Surge and get your third badge...I showed you the way to the Rock Tunnel, and began to stumble around in it with you." Derrick felt awful acting this way, but as he spoke, he noticed Red's demeanor soften a bit. "How...how else did you think you had maneuvered your way around so easily? I was...guiding you." Red averted his gaze.
I guess you're right...I never knew why or how I developed the urges to go where I went...they just happened. So you really are God after all.
Derrick suddenly wanted to take back every word he had said, but it was too late now. At least Red was no longer utterly confused by his poor word choice. He reluctantly nodded. "Can we move on to Lavender Town, now?" So I can pretend I never said anything. The inside of Derrick's heart almost ached. He would possibly regret this.
Whatever you say...God.
