It started out innocently enough.

I bought a cart of Fire Red from my local GameStop. But let me stop you there. This isn't your average, "Someone made a really twisted hack and I happened to have the misfortune to buy it." No, it was just Fire Red. I wanted it because I had a DS Lite, and therefore, a GBA port to transfer those 'mons from my Kanto adventure and unlock certain pokemon in my Diamond version.

I checked the cart as soon as I got home, much like anyone else who buys a pre-played game. I'm not saying the last owner didn't know what he was doing, but his team was a little mediocre. He was on the bridge just south of Lavender Town, and his strongest pokemon were a level 36 Blastoise, and a Snorlax. I don't remember the details very clearly on the rest of the team, nor on the Snorlax's status very clearly. I decided to start over.

I renamed my trainer Satoshi, after the original Japanese name of Ash Ketchum. Everything is fine when I play the game. I've just made it to Viridian forest with my faithful pokemon by my side. Palmer (Male Bulbasaur) and Tarzan (Male Mankey) are both level eight, while Jerry (Male Rattata) and Yari (Male Spearow) are level six. This is where things start going south.

I've been feeling very strange recently. All of my free time is now glued to the screen of my Nintendo SP. My pokemon never level up... I can't find any wild pokemon to fight anymore... The colors are now washed out, almost monochrome now. I can't hear anything. My character seems listless now, as he's only moving at about half his normal speed. Viridian Forest won't let me pass, so I'm going back to Viridian City, and see what's going on.

As I reach Viridian City, I hear this awful screeching. When my sprite steps inside the city limits, he stops and the screen shakes as a gate materialized behind him. I walk down in the town, trying to get to Pallet, but as I pass by the Pokemon Center, the screen shakes again. I walk down and notice that my path is once again blocked, but this time by boulders. The only option left to me is the Victory Road, even though I don't have any badges.

I take a chance, and notice that the gate is set up much like in Gold and Silver. I try to go up, but two silent guards keep pushing me away. I try the Mt. Silver path. Again, I meet with resistance. All I can do is go down. But when I exit... This... This isn't right...

I'm at the Ruins of Alph. How is this possible? This is supposed to be a remake of the first titles. Johto wasn't even around yet. I then start to hear that haunting melody, the Unown singing their simple little tune. I have no control, Satoshi moves toward the ruins on his own now. As soon as he enters, the screen goes black.

Then I hear the tones... The tones from the Crystal opening. I see eyes at first, before I realize what's going on. The Unown are trying to speak to me. I look closely and see what they spell...

M.
I.
C.
H.
A.
E.
L.

M-Michael? That's my name.

Y.
O.
U.

A.
R.
E.

T.
H.
E.

C.
H.
O.
S.
E.
N.

O.
N.
E.

I'm starting to lose it. Even with the screen still pitch black, my start menu opens by itself, and I am compelled to see if my buddies are still okay. What I see next runs a cold chill down my spine.

My party has been replaced by Unown, all of them level 66 and spelling out the message CHOSEN.

Why me? What have I been chosen for? The screen changes back to black and the tones begin again. I'm glued to the screen. What are they going to tell me next?

Y.
O.
U.

W.
I.
L.
L.

D.
I.
E.

A.
N.
D.

B.
E.

R.
E.
B.
O.
R.
N.

I couldn't believe my eyes. I could feel a warm sensation flowing down my face. Pressing a finger to my lip, I lifted to see something thick and red. It was blood. I could feel my life force fading as my shirt was stained a deep crimson. I dropped my SP as I fainted dead away onto my bed.

When I woke up, I noticed that maybe an hour or two had passed, and my clothes were clean. My SP was still on, and I picked it up. Opening it, I saw something that made a chill run down my spine. I was at the start of a battle with a Ghost, yet despite this being a GameBoy Advance version, I saw the old GB sprite staring at Satoshi. I hit the A button, but nothing happened. I pressed it again, and noticed that the music had shifted slightly higher in pitch, the Ghost turning slightly. Now panicking, I jam on the A button rapidly, causing the music to rise steadily and the Ghost to turn to face me.

Satoshi faded from sight. The Ghost got bigger and bigger until it's chilling dead eyes were staring at me from behind the screen, it's mouth twisted in that devilish grin.

A text box opened right underneath it's mouth:

"Michael... You don't exist anymore. You belong to me now. Now DIE and fade away..."

I heard an ear-splitting scream. Everything went black.








I woke up in a cold sweat, yet now feel hollow inside. A grin creeps across my face as I realize it worked. People on the streets now recoil when they see my darkened face. Whenever someone cries out in terror, I laugh like a madman. In my hand, I grip that now bloody red cartridge, and I will never let go. After all, even if his body is mine, I can't give Michael to just anybody...