A/N: Thank you to those who favorited and/or followed! Interweb cookies for you all! I encourage reviews though, I like hearing what all of you have to say, whether it's good or bad that way I can improve my writing skills. Anyway, enough babbling. Here's chapter two!

2

Pikachu

Small towns have always been the best kind of places in the world. Even when I was a wild pokemon, I could always come here to Pallet Town and get any food humans left untouched, play with other pokemon wandering around in Professor Oak's laboratory or if I was in a feisty mood, battle other beginning trainers. Now instead of seeing this place as a sanctuary, I saw this place as another home. Everyone—from humans down to any pokemon—were always so welcoming of us, and the hometown heroes would always get a proper greeting from the town with great food from everyone.

Although we didn't come often, I'm sure most of us enjoyed coming here for the food. Sure, Red was a good enough cook when he had the materials, but up in the chilling mountain not much grew so we were all forced to mainly eat berries and pre-packaged meals that Charizard could easily warm up. Coming to Pallet Town could be considered a blessing from Arceus himself. Even after getting so much good food from his mother, Red would always give Espeon and I some scraps he didn't want as if he felt guilty we couldn't get much more up on the mountain. We stayed for a short time mostly, including this little visit—we stayed for only two days before Red and Blue headed for an airport that would take us to the tournament.

We couldn't go through the front entrance, of course, the crowds would be thick if anyone discovered we were there with Blue, both traveling somewhere together and, for obvious reasons, security allowed us to go through the back way to avoid any conflicts. After all, we could miss our flight if anyone discovered we were here. They would pounce and bother us and we probably would have reached the car two hours late.

X-X-X

So, why did we take the backroads and scenic routes? Easy. The reason why we take different routes first happened a few days after the championship match. Blue was pissed at Red for beating him, Red looked downright guilty for taking Professor Oak's approval, but both were still able to tolerate each other's presence for the time being, both unaware of the sudden fame they had earned. It was the first time we decided to go to Pallet Town for a visit since Red and I left for our journey together. The others hadn't met his mother, so they were unsure about it but didn't complain.

All we were doing was getting a bite to eat before we headed out, but a random encounter with a trainer caused him to scream, "It's Red! It's the champion!" I was deaf for at least a minute. Red was just surprised, growing tense with all the sudden attention at the diner, and luckily we managed to escape without being trampled and no one could match Charizard's speed in the air. As we flew off, I looked down curiously. The throngs of people had their cameras out, trying to get a snap at us before we disappeared. I wanted to take pictures, I like being recognized since before I started traveling, hell, before I was even born, us Pikachu weren't very popular among the battling arena. Most humans consider us to be fast, but weak when it came to fighting and taking hits.

Red decided to prove not only myself, but all the other Pikachu and humans that we weren't a weak pokemon. With the right training, any of us could be powerful, just like any other pokemon. I noticed that after we became champions, more and more people had a Pikachu or two in their teams, and even an Eevee here and there. I highly doubt a Magikarp could put up much of a fight, though. They do taste wonderful when they're baked, however. Especially Red's mother's cooking.

Anyway, ever since that first bombardment of people rushing at us at the same time, we decided to take the back routes, the long way home, go grocery shopping in disguises. For Red, it meant without the red hat and jacket, most people didn't recognize him without it. It surprised me, how stupid were humans? To be a champion team also meant dealing with stupid people, I guess.

Blue told us that he'd been ambushed at a local clothes shop trying to find his current outfit, his tan pants and black jacket. At first he had relished in their attention but after trying to get out, the people wouldn't let up, reporters had come, trying to get an interview with him and after he'd had it, he escaped on Pidgeot, who gladly took him away. I swear that bird always had a thing for her trainer, which was a bit awkward considering she stood at the same height as he did when he turned thirteen.

It was tense for a while as we hid on the top of a roof away from the crowds below and we were all silent for nearly a half hour before Blue was the one who initiated a conversation to fill the awkward and painful silence. Eventually, the two trainers had confided in each other what had happened to the two of them and agreed to put their anger aside to figure out what to do in order to avoid the desperate crowds to get a glimpse or a challenge out of them in the future. I think it was the best thing for the two, I heard them say that they used to be best friends, but they grew apart as they grew older. After they helped each other out of other outrageous situations, they grew close again, becoming the friends that they used to be.

One day after a year or so after the championship match, they had been running and Red pulled Blue into an alley, successfully hiding them from view. "What do you say about a truce?" Blue had asked, looking at Red as they tried catching their breaths. Red looked at him curiously, leaning against the wall. Blue got off of said wall, turning to face him and offered a hand. "That we won't be enemies anymore. I promise to help you if you promise to help me." Red stared at him and finally smiled with a nod, shaking his hand, confirming their deal.

X-X-X

In Pallet Town, we knew everyone in town and they knew us just as well, making a few upset that we already needed to leave to go to wherever we were going. The neighbor's Kangaskhan didn't want to let Red go, even picking him up off his feet to hug him tightly. I laughed as he yelped in the tight grip but he smiled as he patted her arm. She released him and just as quickly did the same to Blue although he fought more than Red did, causing the neighbor to laugh alongside Daisy and Red's mother. Red was hiding a laugh of his own, pleased to see our rival's embarrassed and look.

As they and Professor Oak all said their good-byes, a car pulled up to take us away though Red's mother smiled when she approached us. "I'll come out there when the tournament begins, I want to see my baby battle, after all!" She hugged him tightly then chuckled as his face flushed slightly. I heard Blue laughing at him from somewhere behind us. "Oh come on, Mr. Kanto Champion can't handle a little bit of mom's fun?" She pinched his cheek smiled as he rolled his eyes and gently pushed her hand off. She picked me up out of my trainer's arms, scratching behind my ears. "And you, cutie, watch out for him."

"Will do!" I confirmed, smiling as she patted my head one last time and let me jump back onto Red's shoulder.

"Yeah, yeah, let's go already!" Blue said.

"Patience is a virtue!" Daisy said to him as he waved at her and their grandfather, walking away with one hand in his pocket, soon stuffing the other into the next pocket.

Red looked at his mother one last time and smiled before following Blue inside the car that sped through the road and headed straight for the Viridian City airport.

X-X-X

It wasn't a large place, it was a basic, gray building but we did not stop at the parking lot; instead, the driver continued towards the back, eventually stopping at a set of gates where a pair of officers led us around to the tarmac. Above our heads in the halls we were surely walking under, I could hear many footsteps, some sounding like they were taking their trips leisurely, a few sounded like they were running. I stared at one of the large planes in the far back of the airport suddenly speed off until it took off into the air. I watched until I heard Blue ask suddenly, "Do you think people in Unova will know who we are?"

I had no idea, at the time, where Unova even was. Hell, I'd never been on an airplane before until that day. Red tilted his own head in thought but shrugged as they kept walking and stopped as soon as we reached a smaller plane than the ones in the far back with people and a few Machoke running around it to get it prepped for its next flight as the smaller Machop ran around gathering whatever their evolutions needed as a single Machamp barked orders and directions from somewhere else on the tarmac.

"Oh, come on. People in Johto through Sinnoh know who you are at least, but maybe Unova doesn't. That means at least a little bit of relaxation, right?" He patted a hand against his back, though Red didn't seem to be paying attention, a bored look on his face. "We can actually hang out in public without being bombarded by people or cameras." Blue suddenly grinned, knowing how to get my trainer's short attention span back. "We may be traveling together for now, but I intend on beating you at the tournament."

Red cocked a brow, silently daring him to try though he was starting to grow excited again. I raised a fist, mimicking his enthusiasm with a strong, "Pika pi!" I wasn't about to lost to anyone during this tournament, and I'd make sure we'd give everyone one hell of a fight.

Blue turned his eyes towards me, tossing a pokéball into the air that he caught. "I'm sure Jolteon wants a rematch as well."

I bobbed my head up and down. I sure did! That little fox of thunder needed to be sure of his place! Right beneath me with my victory in battle! My cheeks sparked in anxiousness and Red gave me the look, silently telling me to behave. I obeyed somewhat begrudgingly snapped back to attention when I heard a noise above us, like something hitting a window. I looked up and blinked when I saw what was causing the distinctive noise.

There was a kid standing there—no older than five—and stared right at me with huge eyes. Kind of awkward, but I guess I grew used to those stares from children, they always wanted to pet me, and usually it hurt but no matter what I did my best not to just Thunderbolt them all away. The child's pounding had attracted the attention of his mother, and soon the crowd gathered near the window, looking excited. Red looked at me in confusion when he noticed I wasn't paying attention to what he and Blue were talking about anymore—well, mainly Blue—both humans looked up, following my eyes with their own. Blue gave a soft scoff while Red sighed in exasperation.

"Well, it was only a matter of time before they found out you two were here."

Both Blue and Red turned around, hearing the new, but very recognizable baritone voice. The man who stood out in fashion anywhere stood there: spiky red hair and still a head taller than the two teenagers who had bested him in a single day. The last time we'd seen him, maybe a year and a half ago or so, Red barely reached the dragon trainer's chest and now they were both up to his shoulders. Lance smiled at them, six pokéballs that contained his precious dragon team sitting at his waist gleaming in the sunlight. "You two are finally catching up," he added slightly mischievously regarding their height, grinning at Red's annoyed scowl. He may have been shorter than Blue when they were only ten, but now the two trainers were nearly the same in height, much to Red's relief and Blue's distress.

"Lance? You're coming too?" Blue asked, completely ignoring the remark, and Lance nodded. "Oh, then you'll get your ass handed to you again."

The Dragon Master smiled confidently. "Even I have the time to train my pokemon, I'm much stronger than the last time you fought me, gym leader Blue." He chuckled at the annoyance on Blue's face. "It is what you are, gym leader, former champion—"

"Don't even get me started on former champion," Blue retorted and Red gave another sigh of annoyance. It wasn't new that Lance and Blue were like oil and vinegar, they had a love-hate relationship ever since they had first met at the Indigo Plateau.

"Well, it was unexpected that you kids challenged me and defeated me so I re-built my team to best both of you." Red and Blue casted each other an amused look before Blue burst out laughing and looked up at the red-haired trainer.

"Your entire team?"

"Don't get me started," Lance replied within a heartbeat, smiling as he used Blue's words against him, causing the other former champion to stop laughing instantly.

There was a feminine voice that said with a sigh, "Are they at it again?"

Red turned as Lance and Blue bickered with each other like little kids, and standing there were Erika, who was smiling despite the noise the other two caused, Misty, with her arms crossed across her chest and annoyed with Blue instantly. Brock gave a quiet wave as Lieutenant Surge, as cocky as ever, grinned beside Sabrina, who remained silent. Blaine was also there, chatting merrily with Janine. I wasn't sure what to make of her, but from what I heard, she had taken over her father's gym and was doing a decent job. She had improved since she first began, constantly improving and honing her ninja skills with Koga, who moved onto the Elite Four.

The one in the back, silently watching everyone was the one that Red glared at the most, already looking furious. Giovanni was standing quietly with his trench coat covering up his suit that was most likely embedded with the Team Rocket logo. Sure, after we defeated him the final time at his former gym he disbanded Team Rocket, but I still wasn't completely trustful of the awful man and I wasn't surprised that Red still hated him.

I was surprised he was even here. He was the leader of Team Rocket, and he'd gotten an invite to participate in this tournament? Gym leader-wise, I honestly don't understand why not, he was a capable gym leader but from any view point—and putting it mildly—he was just a not so nice human being. I'm sure Red and the others wouldn't even consider him someone worthy enough to still be walking around free from prison after everything he'd done. Even I didn't, not after what we had seen years ago. My cheeks sparked when I caught sight of him, and the others weren't immune to our hatred for the man glaring right back at Red.

At the Silph Co. building in Saffron city, Team Rocket had taken over it to steal the plans for the master ball, the only pokéball in the world that could catch any pokemon. Red and I ran through the building as quick as we could, trying to get to the top floor to be rid of the damned criminal organization. We freed trapped pokemon along the way but it had just felt so… empty.

Most of the employees had been set free, the ones they didn't need, though the scientists were kept to try and replicate the plans they had never seen. However, on the fifth floor, we had stumbled upon a dark room that made Red gag instantly from the rancid smell and awful sight. I'm sure it had been the employees that had fought back all in the corner on top of each other in a messy pile. Each of the bodies—both human and pokemon—had various wounds that made us assume that they had been mauled by a large and powerful pokemon to death.

In all our lives, neither of us would have expected to see a room full of bloodied bodies lying around like dirty dish rags. After Red had composed himself, I'd never seen him in such a rage before, his knuckles were turning white he was squeezing his fists so tightly and he bared his teeth at the scene like a caged ursaring. If he had been angry before, that was like a dream full of lollipops and fluffy, cute pokemon. Usually he was so good at hiding his emotions, even with his own pokemon, but even I felt the rage rub off on me as I sprinted after Red, using Thunderbolt on every pokemon and grunt we caught sight of, knocking them out instantly.

When we had finally reached the office at the top of the building, Giovanni was sitting on the couch with his feet up on the table with a glass of red wine in his hand with the president of Silph Co. nowhere to be seen. I was reminded of what I had seen in that room, giving my best ferocious growl as I could as the man smiled cheerfully, uncaring of what his grunts were doing to the humans and pokemon they didn't need. My growl only caused the boss member to laugh and set his glass down. He even had the nerve to offer Red some wine before the young trainer pointed a finger, commanding another Thunder, intending to take him down in one hit.

It was a near-loss on both sides eventually, his ground-type pokemon had taken out most of Red's pokemon, though Blastoise was still standing up against Nidoking, who was panting of exhaustion. Blastoise was likewise tired, but he wasn't about to show it to our trainer nor Giovanni and the opposing Nidoking. "Fine," Giovanni had said and rose a hand. "Nidoking, use Hyper Beam! Destroy this place!"

Red immediately returned the tired Blastoise then threw himself over me—my pokeball had been lost somewhere in the building. The following blast sent both of us into a wall and to the floor below us as the roof caved in and I heard Red grunt in pain from the impact. My ears were ringing from the blast and after the dust had settled, we looked up and stood, but Red looked like he wanted to pass out though he kept himself upright and glared at the blank spot where Giovanni and Nidoking had been. A helicopter was flying away, just as sirens started to fill the air and flashing lights filled our vision. Red gritted his teeth angrily then picked me up with arm, the other one hanging limply beside him as he stumbled for the door. I didn't doubt he'd dislocated his shoulder to protect me from sustaining any more damage. Blue had finally decided to arrive after the explosion, looking pale himself, and upon seeing us, he helped Red down the stairs and out the building, where we received instant medical treatment.

It was the only time I admitted to myself that I really did hate someone, a human no less. I wasn't sure if we should consider it a victory or a loss, and I still don't know. Seeing the man who had caused so much grief and misery in front of us again made me want to fight him, hissing and happy that Red did nothing to stop those hisses but the dangerous aura that flew out of him caused the other gym leaders to hesitate and instinctively take a step back. Giovanni remained where he was, hand in his pocket where no doubt his own pokeballs were.

Almost immediately after Red had taken a step, Blue pulled us away from those narrowed eyes, whispering in Red's ear, "You can have at him at the tournament, not here." He nodded towards the awe-struck and nervous fans staring at the tarmac, and even a couple that looked disappointed that a battle that could have happened was interrupted. Red didn't relax but I could still feel how tense his shoulders were, refusing to even look at Giovanni as he spun around on a heel, glaring over at Blue, silently demanding why he had stopped him but Blue chose to ignore it. "I don't know why he's here, but I guess any gym leader, former or current can participate in this thing."

I narrowed my eyes at Giovanni as he seemed to relax a little, removing his hand from his pocket and shot a dark look at me, saying nothing. I gave a final hiss at him just for the sake of hissing and turned around again on Red's shoulder, huffing with annoyance.

Soon after they had all arrived, the stairs that led inside of the plane came down and we boarded rapidly. Red sat as far away from Giovanni as he could, still in a sour mood as he held me in his lap, feeding me delicious poffins he magically had in his backpack. Blue sat beside him on the isle side of the seats. "Would ya stop being upset already?" Blue suddenly asked Red, who ignored him. "It's really starting to get on my nerves."

"Like you don't get on everyone else's?" Misty asked, who was sitting beside the two. Blue turned around in his seat, pointing a finger in her face.

"You irritate me too! You're so hot tempered! Just like hot head here!"

Red shot him a glare and Misty grew furious, instantly shoving her own finger in his face as well.

"Well excuse me for not going out of my way to annoy everyone and their moms, but you definitely are just as much of a hot head as Ethan is!"

"What?! That kid? You're comparing me to him?!"

"Yes! You both get so angry over nothing!"

"So do you, temperamental brat!"

"You little—"

I sighed, ears twitching in annoyance and Red shot me a small smile and nod, allowing me to use a weak Thundershock against the two humans. The instant silence was a bless for us, and quite possibly the other passengers on the plane.

Misty's seat-mate, Erika, giggled when the two went still, their hair fried beyond recognition. "It's a good look for both of you," she teased.

"Red!" Blue snapped, but soon brushed it off, getting the hint as he sat back down in his seat, arms crossed against his chest.

Misty leaned against her own seat. "Can you believe him? Letting Pikachu shock us to shut us up."

"It worked, did it not?" Erika replied calmly, smiling as Misty gritted her teeth together, her face turning a bright pink out of embarrassment.

I gave an innocent smile, sitting on Red's shoulder to look at her. I looked back over at Red, seeing him dig through his backpack the moment the plane was at a steady height. He pulled out a small mp3 player, plugging the white earplugs into his ear and turned on his music with a heavy sigh. It was a six hour flight, might as well get comfortable. I sat back down into his lap, glad he scratched my ears I yawned as I heard the dim bass from the earplugs, a hypnotizing sound to Red as well, it seemed, as he covered his face with his hat and became completely still within twenty minutes. His grip on the player relaxed and his breathing became deeper.

I yawned and looked at him and then up as Blue blinked and shook his head, leaning in his own seat. "How can he sleep like that? He was stressed out just a second ago," he mumbled to himself, keeping a close eye behind him, where Giovanni sat alone beside the window, his own eyes closed but he wasn't asleep like my trainer was. My ears twitched and Blue looked at me, as if sensing that I didn't want to sleep simply because I didn't want to take my eyes off of the horrible man in the back either. "Don't worry, Pikachu. I'm not tired, but you are so go to sleep. I'm keeping an eye on him," he told me. I knew who 'him' was and it wasn't my trainer. "You can trust me."

It didn't completely comfort me but it put aside some of my nervousness and finally I nodded, going back to trying to sleep.

X-X-X

I felt like I only slept for a few minutes, since I was being shaken gently. "Pika…!" I whined, blinking my bleary eyes open as Red smiled, wide awake and pointed outside the dark window. I turned my eyes outside; almost immediately my weariness was gone. There was a large, distinct building that was near the water's edge, filled with bright lights that lit up the night sky. I could see little booths with lights surrounding it, and several people walking around.

I looked up as a voice came through the loudspeaker calmly. "Thank you for flying Air Kanto, we are now arriving to Driftveil City, home of the Pokemon World Championship. On behalf of all of Kanto, we wish all of you good luck!"

A world championship? All kinds of different pokemon we'd never seen would be entered in this competition, I was sure of that. I could sense the excitement suddenly coming through the humans in the plane, the thrill of a real challenge was upon us all.

It had been so long since any of us have had a real challenge, and I already knew what Red and I were going to do during that week—we were going to train as hard as we could. Red was staring out the window, his face blank of emotion but his eyes betraying anxiousness. I patted his leg, smiling up at him as he turned his head to me.

"What's wrong with you? We're almost there!" Although he couldn't understand me, he smiled anyhow, scratching my ears once before looking away and I frowned a little. Whatever was on his mind at this moment, I was determined to cheer him up and climbed up to his shoulder, tugging his ear to catch his attention again.

Red gave me an annoyed look, though Blue was watching with mild interest, then crossed his arms across his chest. "He's trying to cheer you up, numbskull," he stated, earning a glare from my trainer.

I looked at Blue, nodding and then looked at Red as he hesitated and looked at me with a guilty face but finally smiled, pinching my cheek gently. After successfully cheering him up again, he yawned, rubbing his eyes and Blue grinned. "You're just mad that I woke you up. Well, time to wake up 'cause if you sleep the entire time, then it's a definite for sure that I'll beat you."

My cheeks sparked again but they stopped as Red gave a scoff, the unusual sound even startling Blue, but he chuckled to himself, trying to relax as the plane made its descent. We hadn't even touched the ground yet and they were already challenging each other to a battle. I sighed at the two humans as I saw the imaginary sparks fly between the two, shaking my head at them. Well, like they always say, rivals will always be rivals.

X-X-X