"Bleh…" I laid on the grass near the Viridian City Pokemon Gym, bored out of my mind. "There's no one challenging me nowadays. Do I… just go there after all?"
I watched as a pack of children walked up to the entrance of the Gym just to be denied since the Gym Leader was not available. They all wore dejected expressions while parting ways to their homes.
"Yeah, no challenges." I replied casually.
"You could have fought them at least." A female voice with a miffed tone came from my right. "They only came for you."
Is that right?
"I guess it makes sense." I mumbled dejectedly. "Do you want me to work, Orpina?"
Orpina was a middle aged woman with always a gloomy aura around her and in black clothes. It didn't help that she frowned so often her face probably didn't know another expression.
"No, you're doing an amazing job." As simple as that, she turned to go. "How long?"
"What?" I asked back, confused.
"How long will you be away?" She asked casually as if I reached some conclusion. "Actually, I don't care. How was it? 'Smell ya later', Blue."
"Haha! What the hell?" I chuckled at the dry tone. "Don't go stealing catchphrases while doing such a terrible job at saying them. Smell ya later, Orpina!"
'I don't think she heard me.'
—
I walked down a path in the forest.
To be hair, calling it a path was pushing it. However, it was clear people used this as a route. No, not people. Mt. Silver was too dangerous for that so there was only one guy who could have made this shift on the environment to be noticeable.
'I knew him too. He might have been an idiot, going for a title made for me and stubborn to the point he would willingly fight Pokemons by himself, but… without further ado… he's…'
Afterwards, there was a massive cave system I ran through with Regirock's help. Again, signs of recent human life which ignited the seeds of hope in my heart. If he wasn't here after all, I would have no leads. I can't even imagine him losing to anything including death, besides me of course.
Climbing and climbing, ignoring the changing time and scenery, I dismissed my old memories. In the past, I might have overplanned and made sure no team could be better than mine. I threw all of that away.
Going from another region to another, never stopping from gaining stronger Pokemons, I found myself in an impasse. I couldn't tell if it was my own feelings of inferiority or genuine desire anymore. Did I want to stop seeing that guy's back and stand next to him or truly explore the world?
Even now, I can't tell. It was fun, but the fact that I became a Gym Leader after news of him disappeared shows there is some truth to the former.
I caught a glimpse of red on the peak of the mountain and grinned unconsciously. Who cares about the past when I got a battle ahead of me?
He was the same as always even in this awful weather, huh. Black shirt with long sleeves and blue jeans stood onto his figure with a red cap and vest over him to top it all. It was better than usual, but not enough for this place. Even as I try now, it seems like I was denied to gaze upon his expression.
That's right, he's-
-the strongest guy I ever met. A guy who funnily enough matches the stupidity of my own name.
I am slowly forgetting your face, pal…
"You really don't have a thing for decor, Red. Barely even enough room for a good old battle, but that's fine. Your pal, Blue, came to settle the score one last time."
"... … … ..!" Red turned his head towards me, a Pikachu right besides him
"?" I blinked, he definitely heard me… "Don't tell me Meowth got your tongue?"
My mind grew confused by thinking whether or not I should continue this. I might have gotten too over my head because of a reunion - Red's body can't be in its greatest state if he was here for years. Mayb-
He nudged Pikachu forward with a pat on the head and put a hand to keep his hat steady, familiar movements which calmed me down.
'Yeah, this is Red. Anything short of my 100% would be a disgrace to both of us.'
I smirked, something I have forgotten how to for a while because of actual work rather than fighting. Some might have described it as cocky, I call it fair and deserved. Only an incredible genius such as myself could accurately understand.
"Alright, pal. I might have ignored my team making skills for this, but it doesn't mean I won't try to one-up you." I grabbed a Pokeball out of my opened backpack. "Rhydon, I choose you!"
A gray red eyed Pokemon stood in front of me, with hide as hard as armor, a white abdomen and a menacing horn on its head. Several spikes appeared throughout its body, threatening any close quarters combatants to approach it along with its tail smashing even buildings.
It took an embarrassingly long time for me to figure out its bigger horn is because of its male gender and not just because I am the one who caught it.
While I was distracted for just one second, Pikachu already started moving. It was alright though, he is still a pure Electric Type so even if it used a super effective attack, its power output would be lower. True to that, his tail hardened, as if becoming iron.
Rhydon gave up on dodging and just put his hands together to absorb as much as he could. My face twitched afterwards. Iron Tail didn't manage to lower his defense, thankfully, but that doesn't mean it was unscathed.
Steam rose from the mark left, a sign of metal meeting metal at such a high speed.
I then frowned at the surging tide… Surf. I didn't realize Red's inability to talk would prove to be annoying. It doesn't affect me much because of how battles I fought, but not everyone could tell each move like this and that fast.
The horned Pokemon got caught in the middle of the attack, waves crashing down onto him together with the mouse which pushed him towards me.
A drop of sweat ran down my head right then. Was it the thrill of the battle or anxiety for Rhydon? I dismissed both ideas and caught his rising body. It was simply my mistake for underestimating a Pokemon that has been with Red for so long even with his disadvantage.
"Rhydon, are you okay?!" Truthfully, I was surprised at his determination.
There is no doubt that I trained my Pokemons at every opportunity, but the occasions where they got a lot of damage dealt to them could be counted on fing- Okay, not that far. Still, maybe understanding what was going on in my mind, Rhydon got fully up.
"GRRROOOAARR!" He roared as if trying to scare off the pain and soreness from his body.
"Heh, you heard the man, Red!" I yelled just as hard, how could a Trainer be outdone by his companions? "Now it's our turn to show you what we've got!"
I pointed at Red with a smile then nodded to my companion.
"Rhydon!" There's no reason to keep this longer than it should be. "Use Earthquake!"
Listening to my command, he stomped the ground hard once he caught his footing fully. Shockwaves could be felt all throughout the last layer of the mountain yet everyone ignored it. This place is inhabitable and in the case of falling, we have Flying Type Pokemons in our arsenal.
What we focused on was Pikachu jumping to any safe spots it could find over the trembling surroundings. Once, twice, thrice… until no such places existed and his once amazing speed was halted into one Rhydon can work against.
In a last attempt to completely trap the enemy, rocks beneath the mouse surged to send him flying. Regardless, he knew what would happen so while he tried to float as beautifully as Icarus-
He would too meet an end such as his.
"Nice!" My eyes suddenly contracted, everything was right there. "Rhydon, finish it off with Ice Punch!"
Everything under my Pokemon suddenly looked as if ignited, his speed skyrocketing to get Pikachu under any circumstances. The cold wind made a path for him until it decided to join both his cause and his fist. Entrapping his entire right arm with glaze, he struck the falling opponent with all of his might.
A sound like that of an explanation rang out, deforming the ground even further. Although I couldn't see what became of Red's Pokemon, I saw him retreat Pikachu back into a Pokeball and take another ball out.
'Tsk, I didn't account for numbers.'
This fight was as unofficial as it can be, leaving about anything available to exploit. Of course, we wouldn't resort to anything that bad, but it seems I was too impatient. That gray and purple humanoid one will be a pain in the ass too…
I frowned as I studied Red's movement. His arm-
Before I could even form a sentence regarding it, Rhydon disappeared into the blowing snow. A shell armored blue Pokemon stood in his place now, his identity too clear to anyone, especially me. Blastoise. Red shot his Pokeball with extreme speed and its momentum carried onto him.
I gritted my teeth at the foreboding negative feeling in my chest and turned to see my own Pokemon, still standing despite his caved in abdomen and several marks from the friction on the rocks. Even so, he wasn't staring at me, but at the newcomer.
"Hold on, you-" I watched as a haunting yet smiling face overtook Blastoise's figure in the distance while Rhydon finally retreated into a ball. "...Thank you, Rhydon."
It was a terrible day for rain. Even if it was a single drop.
"An eye for an eye, was it?" I chuckled at my absurdity for a bit.
"... … … …"
"Yeah, I guess. You're right." There's no need for dialogue, after all. "Go, Exeggutor!"
I screamed as I casually sent another Pokeball towards the battlefield. A tree with three goofy yellow "coconut" heads sprouted out and without pausing, started running towards the confused enemy.
We need to profit from Rhydon's Scary Face while we can!
"Exeggutor, use Leaf Storm!"
What started off as a ripple in the wind transformed into a tornado then a storm. Yet it ignored everything it should have picked up except leaves, at first ones from the actual Move then growing in numbers from the trees down the mountain.
Blastoise gained several cuts as such, but this also proved to give him distance right after by using Rapid Spin. Usually, that would be a problem and I was right. A blue beam was quickly shot as if it was spit.
It traveled right through the small storm, using the fact that it couldn't affect other materials!
"Shit, Ice Beam's freeze actually worked?!" My Pokémon was suddenly encased in ice, stuck in place.
What terrible luck! Why is it always me!
The only movement he was able to do now was moving his eyes and he looked towards me. I knew that look and I only hesitated for one second. I ran towards them and pushed Exeggutor right in Blastoise's hold. It hurt like hell and my ears started ringing, but I continued to stare.
This wasn't betrayal or cruelty - when a friend sacrifices himself for you, the least you could do was showing gratitude until the end. Unfortunately, I couldn't listen to Gramps' advice all the way through.
"EXEGGUTOR!" I turned around, the shame creeping in on my bones.
I looked at both Pokemons one last time, feeling a twisted happiness at mine's facial structures trying to match a grin while frozen. Just before anything could happen, I screamed the planned command.
"USE EXPLOSION!" Blastoise quickly understood finally what was happening, but it was too late.
The mountain ambience was dispersed greatly again. Debris, snow, leaves and ice flew in every direction yet none reached us, the trainers, besides the flames which touched my arm and hair.
Quickly saving my hair from burning further, the smoke flew and I locked eyes with Red while touching the hole on my gray jacket's sleeve. For a while, my long and hard breaths were the only sounds one could hear on the peak.
"Eh. Worth it."
Both Pokemons stood in the middle of the battlefield except not on their legs. They lied, fainted.
It was a great wake up call that this was in fact a Pokemon battle. The combination of the coldness and warmness seeped through my body to emphasize the twisted knot in my stomach - the former being the pain and the latter, my excitement.
I point my thumb towards my smirk, a feeling very similar to when I defeated the Elite Four in Kanto. Actually I did feel superior for once in this fight, how could I not? Red's strategy which took out Rhydon was used by yours truly against his Jolteon.
'Jolteon…' Despite my rambling, I couldn't help but reminisce about what I left behind for this. I don't have all the Pokemons I have gotten all throughout the years - the first ones especially are at home or at the Gym.
For once, I wanted to leave behind all of the bonds of Blue, Red's friend and the best trainer ONLY because Red disappeared. Something I knew Gramps would shake his head at, but I didn't care. I wanted to fight here with Pokemons I traveled the world for.
To beat my rival once and for all and to finally end a young boy's, an orphan left behind nowhere and with nothing to call his own except a tie with a Pokemon Professor which almost all had mentioned, dream.
Even now, I have problems accepting this scenario. I had no bad feelings towards Red despite wanting to, despite him being the only burden to a fire that hasn't been extinguished no matter who I fought. This won't truly solve anything.
A match seen by none. Would I be satisfied if I win here or would I continue being frustrated as people would doubt the conclusion and still only consider me as the best because Red retired?
I don't want that… I want to be the best. The strongest. Not just for myself to know, but for everyone.
BUT, HOLD IT!
You guys… what is it that makes you put everything on the line for me?! I can't accept it now! Winning by throwing everything I stood for, everything I am! That dream of being the best was created by a crying loser in his grandpa's hands!
'THROW IT ALL AWAY! That warped sense of morality, that false sense of envy and most importantly, that cursed dream. Right now and always, I am Blue!'
I am Professor Oak's grandson! I am Red's friend! I am a Gym Leader! I am a trainer given love from Pokemons I don't deserve! I am The Champion of every region I went to! Even if Red might be able to take those, I am still everything I worked for!
I won't let this get in the way of my battle! A grin graced my face before I could stop it, there's no way I will lose!
"See that?" To be honest, I am not quite sure if Red could have seen anything. "I happen to be an incredible genius!"
"... … … …" He seemed to have understood everything and adjusted his cap.
'That's right.' My smile widens even further. 'This is how it should be. It doesn't matter who's better right now. This is simply a confession. To you, my rival, I will show you the deepest of my feelings! What I trained for! Why I went through so much!'
Red grabbed the Pokeball I remember - the one everyone who fought him should remember.
"RRROOAAAAARRRR!"
The arena surged into flames, completely evaporating the small amount of snow that somehow remained after a prolonged battle between Pokemons, and Charizard's figure appeared through the steam. With a menacing frown, he looked like a dragon from hell until his colors were revealed with a flick of his tail.
I said no quip for once and held my next Pokeball, one with scars and dents, with a heavy hard for just a moment.
"Blastoise, go!"
Quickly throwing it in a perfect arc, a Pokemon exact to one that exploded with Exeggutor appeared. The only difference was mine's fiercer expression.
He roared just as loud as Charizard in order to not be outdone. I didn't realize until now that, like us, they might have their own agenda against each other. That wasn't so bad though, in fact I chose Squirtle back then for this situation!
'As always, my genius-!' My thoughts were cut short by the rainbow light linking my opponents. 'REALLY?! MEGA EVOLUTION RIGHT FROM THE START!'
Like a butterfly, the Pokemon undergoes complete metamorphosis. From a caterpillar, to a chrysalis formed by the blinding spectrum of colors to a… monster. No dragon from Lance's arsenal reached this level of similarity to this.
A completely black being with some mere blue details full of bulging muscle yet wings to carry his weight with blue fire from every orifice. Every exhale and movement flicked blazes to his surroundings, rising the temperature of a frozen mountain to a volcano. The peak of a Pokemon stood in front and I couldn't have asked for a better outcome.
I laughed. I laughed as hard as when I first got defeated by Red! If that's how he wants us to compete then-!
"Going straight for the big guns, huh, Red?" I snickered at my own pun. "Alright, I am game!"
'No one made me use this so I am glad you're my first, pal.'
I grabbed my necklace quickly. Too fast. Too rough. The clasp stinged the back of my neck and the chain broke, but I forgot all about it.
"Then!" I cheered - I am thankful I listened to Gramps' advice to keep the gem inside Blastoise's shell. "Let's see whose Mega Evolution hits harder!"
The Keystones resonate with each other so easily I high-fived Blastoise inwardly. I never doubted him, but it was times like these where I would just hug them even in the midst of a battle.
I ignored that urge as his form changed. His shell broke for just a moment to go over his arms, creating two smaller cannons to be used, then it all came back with plus to fuse his past weapons into a massive one over his back. To top all of it off, his big figure became even bigger.
Steam from the new accessories flew over him, catching itself blocked by the highest barrel for a second. Unfazed by everything, Mega Blastoise stared down his rival, Mega Charizard.
'Red might hold the advantage at experience, but it's water against fire!' Of course, even Pikachu was able to damage Rhydon so there's no room for underestimating. 'No need to overthink this regardless, Blue!'
"Blastoise, use Hydro Pump!" I screamed, clenching and stretching my untouched arm.
Red did the same!
"... … … ..!"
Blastoise's main cannon opened like a dam, shooting as much water as a whole Region might have used in a month. Eventually, he decided it wasn't enough and furthered the attack with his other guns. As if mocking everything that touched the battlefield, its speed and power overwhelmed any Move from before.
Against this, Charizard flew and pushed the flames he had created so far right in front of his mouth. His attack started as a ball of pure power until morphing into a simple Kanji, 大, perfectly describing it - big.
The union of the maddened blaze and tsunado formed blast soared through the sky, destroying Mt. Silver for future generations of geologists to come and understand what could have happened randomly in such a place.
Without counting the steam, the beams' elemental qualities got thrown out of the equation at this level. Evenly matched for the most part, the Pokemons got into a stalemate. Mere bits that got out of the clash quickly destroyed the near debris into bits or melted sizzling rocks.
Unknown to us, space above us started to crack. What was once a small wound to reality went to a colony of cuts throughout the sky. Blastoise, as if sensing doom, stood on his spot even firmer and channeled everything it had into Hydro Pump.
"Blastoise!" My voice cracked under the blowing wind. "Push it through!"
There is nothing else to do. In the worst case, this needs to be a tie! Any of the two could faint just from this attack if it lands.
Red and Charizard understood this. The Pokemon opened his wings even further for more area to burn and to push the wind to boost fire. Azure flames masked the overincreasing danger we didn't manage to observe.
Even with Blastoise putting everything on the line, Fire Blast pressed the water to its limit. It looked as if Cha-
Suddenly, it sounded as if thousands after thousands of mirrors got smashed into pieces all at once. I blocked my ears from their screams and found myself blinded by a blinding white light. Shards of glass fell right behind me into the abyss which woke me up - there was no more ground to speak of.
"Huh?! What's happening-" I looked around confusedly until I found Blastoise's worried gaze.
I couldn't respond to him as the light showed itself once again.
'BLASTOISE! RED!' I couldn't retreat my Pokemon in time nor get a hold of my friend.
As I found myself caught completely, I last saw Mt. Silver's lack of… existence.
In an instant, the two champions of the Kanto region had disappeared.
—
Question: What are Blue and Red to you?
"Flippant. Egoistical. If I were to say, they're good people. Silent or cocky as they might have been, they met me in my hometown and helped my Dragon Type Pokemons…" A caped tall man first spoke with his red hair swaying from the wind on the street. "And of course, considering they defeated me, need I say more? They-"
"My teacher! Well, Blue was. I didn't get to meet Red. BUT! I heard great things and wished to fight him." A boy with an inverted cap spoke enthusiastically. "However, I didn't get the chance after being defeated by Blue. Well, I guess I owe him my life since Mt. Silver is so dangerous! It just means they're-"
"We are great friends! Red went away at some point with Blue following right behind, but we didn't lose contact. Well, until like 3 years ago. I finally met Blue after a long time so it wasn't that bad." Next, a girl with a white and red detailed hat spoke. "I won't let them ignore me though! I trained hard so they're not the only ones to be recognized as-"
""Idiots."" Two henchmen said in unison.
"Idiots. Fools tasked on a great goal with pitiful mindsets. Although those proved to be enough to defeat me so I suppose I shouldn't speak." A man in a business suit between the two joined last, unbothered by the random interviewer. "To be honest, I don't really know much about them. I can say this though… they are-"
""""The Strongest!""""
~~~
AUTHOR'S NOTE! (Should I call myself an author over this? idk ngl)
Shoutout to AntiStorm for being the greatest writer (he worked hard for this while I would say I bummed around).
His own fic, Honkai Star Rail: FireRed (if he used a different name imma kill him then myself), is connected to this, but only Chapter 0 is the same action.
He is better than me so support him.