0. [Hello there! Glad to meet you.]

Rust's the village weirdo, and Bluebell's his wheelchair-bound childhood friend that's unfortunately stuck with him. Pallet Town's a lot quieter once they leave on their journey.

"...Squirtle, you don't have to tolerate his insanity if you don't want to."

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on AO3 as『 once linked, considered eternal. 』

Pokemon Fire Red and Leaf Green Novelisation.
Protagonists names are changed to defer from their canon counterparts.