Chapter Text
Red had seen Green cry before. Of course he had, It was only natural. Running around with his lifelong friend as children, subsequently witnessing the occasional fall and skinned knee; or instances like running into a wild Ghastly when they wandered too far past the limits of Pallet. Even if Green would deny that one, and his fear of ghosts for that matter. A rare occurrence for him to cry, at least in front of others.
Maybe that's why the brief feeling of accomplishment for winning the Kanto league left, being replaced with tightness in his chest while watching Green silently slink out of the Champions chamber. Green turned back before leaving completely, right as tears began to fall, meeting his friends eyes. Red didn’t have a moment to react, before being ushered to submit his Pokémon into the Hall of Fame by none other than Green’s not so supportive Grandfather.
Red and Green didn’t see each other for a few months after that. Red, (unwillingly) swept up in being the new champion. Interviews, demo battles, paparazzi and new found fans. Green, hiding out in forests and caves, before sulking home to his sister eventually, doing his best to avoid the criticisms of Professor Oak when possible.
They ran into each other a few months after their last battle. Green, raw and bitter still, walked directly by his rival, avoiding eye contact. Hoping the situation would be avoided… knowing that it couldn’t be. Red, the opposite, desperate for things to go back the way they were; to feel some sort of normalcy in his life again. Red grabbed for the other boys shoulder. Green hissed at the contact, so Red quickly pulled back and tugged his worn cap over his eyes.
“What do you want, Champion?” Green spat, arms crossed and gaze off to the side. “What could you possibly want with a loser like me?”
Reds eyes widened, lips tugging downward into a frown. He signed quickly in response, hopeful. ‘Please, let’s talk?’
“About what, huh?” Green could feel the hot tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. “About how you’re better than me. Always have been, even Gramps knows it? How he probably wishes you were his relative instead? God, Red, just leave me alone.”
Red opened his mouth, almost like he was going to speak, then clamped his jaw shut, all but grinding his teeth. ‘Fine.’
And that was the last time Green saw his rival, his friend, for many long years. Long years filled with regret with the last time he saw him playing over, and over again in his head.
--
Green sighed, locking the door to his apartment. It sat above the Viridian gym, which he was now the leader of, and had been for years. It was a sweet deal, being a gym leader, if not a tad mundane. Special perks of course; free rent on a rather large apartment, fame throughout the region… and Greens personal favorite, being allowed a 7th Pokémon, strictly as a companion..
“Vee!” Green’s small Eevee cooed, nuzzling his cheek affectionately. At first he had doubted if he wanted a 7th Pokémon with him, but found all of his companions to be rather large for his apartment and the bachelor life lonely. He had fondly thought of Red and his Pikachu, bonded like no other duo he could think of, and had easily made up his mind. Then as if on cue, the universe had aligned and Vee had found her way into his life. Green affectionately rubbed her behind the ears. She was an absolute princess, and Green loved spoiling and doting on her.
When Pokémon are released through the PC, there is an option where their trainer can submit why they are releasing them. The released are then transferred to the regions Pokémon laboratory to be seen if they are fit for release into the wild. If they are, they are transported to the area that would be their natural habitat, or transferred to other regions. Vee wasn’t able to be released due to her queenly attitude, and the trainers note on her release form was ‘Refuses to battle or evolve.’ Professor Oak all but told Green he was to care for Vee, and he was fine with that. They clicked instantly and the rest was history. She came nicknamed, and every trainer knows the rule- you can't change a nickname from a previous trainer. Green called her Princess Vee a lot, which she seemed to appreciate.
When he got downstairs, Vee sprinted off his shoulder to greet the awaiting Gym trainers, and to take her spot out of harms way in the bleachers, on a pink Pokébed that may or may not have been shaped like a miniature throne.
--
Opening the front doors to the gym, Green was immediately met with a declaration of challenge. A confidant younger boy, powerful looking Typhlosion burning behind him. The battle was long and tough, Greens eyes sparkling with the excitement of a true challenge. While yes, it’s a gym challenge, his job wasn’t to just smash down his opponents- it was to make sure they were thinking with strategies, that they would be ready to test their strength against the Elite Four. It sure was a treat to be able to go all out in a Gym battle. When it was said and done and Green had been beaten,the boy, Ethan, had told him he was almost as tough as the trainer with the Pikachu on Mt. Silver. Green could barely function enough to get the victors Pokégear number and thrust a badge into his hand. He had a trip to pack for.
--
How many years had it even been? Half a lifetime, at least. He’d been leader of the gym for what, at least five years now? If this even was Red up on this mountain, it filled the Gym Leader’s heart with an array of complicated emotions. He blamed himself for Reds disappearance. Maybe he wasn’t the only factor, but a big one. Would he want to see him? Hell, would he even remember him? He hugged onto his beloved Arcanine for warmth, and perhaps comfort, and the Pokémon snorted out flames in an affectionate response. The fire type expertly and swiftly carried his trainer through snow up the mountain, seemingly not noticing or caring about the deepening snow, thinning air, or pressure changes that were making his trainers ears pop painfully. There was plenty of gear strapped to the running Pokémon, hopefully to gift Red with if he was found, if not, for their own use. Canned foods, Full Restores, Berries, Daisy’s fresh baked Poffins. Other treats that Green remembered Red enjoying in their youth.
Suddenly, in the distance, it looked like a powerful Pokémon let out blasts of Flamethrower. Green’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Arcanine, use Fire Blast towards the sky.”
The large Pokémon skidded to a stop, and let forth flames that shot up towards heavy, snow filled clouds. A Flamethrower towards the sky in response. Greens heart pounded in his chest. The only reason a fire type would make it’s way up here; it would be at the request of it’s trainer.
“Alright, boy, can you keep going?” A yip in response. Green smiled. He’d have to treat Arcanine to something special when they descended the mountain. “Then let’s head to where that flamethrower came from.”
When they reached what seemed to almost be the peak of the mountain, not only had they not found the source of the flames, but Arcanine was tiring; Rightfully so. Seeing a cave with a suspiciously looking man-made ‘door’ on it made Green dismount, and head for it on foot. Pushing the rocks and wood aside, he found a spacious cave that was obviously lived in. Taking a glove off and running his hands over ash and coals to find them still warm confirmed that. He placed a few logs that were from the neatly stacked pile along the wall onto the fire pit and had Arcanine light them, before removing his gear from his partner and returning him to his ball for a nice, long rest.
Green sat and stared at that fire for what felt like eternity. It felt rude to search through belongings to somehow confirm who’s cave this was- also nerve-wracking to not know. He decided to take a look outside, perhaps send Pidgeot out for a quick aerial search and bring it back before it got too cold for his beloved flying type. As he slid the makeshift stone door he came face to face with Red, mouth agape, and an agitated Pikachu who decided to zap the intruder before figuring out who they were. Stumbling backwards, seeing stars, between the cold, the adrenaline and now electric shock, Green was becoming light-headed. Red rushed forward to grab the smaller boy before he tumbled into the fire. Dazed, Green looked up at him, exclaiming “Holy shit… it's really you.” Before losing consciousness.