A/N: Bit of a delay, about to graduate. In all honesty, I love the person who is following this story. I'm thinking its leaning towards RedxGreen and I will most likely make a separate story for it, I have ideas for it so I hope my inspiration for Pokémon stays a bit longer.

I don't have a beta so everything is checked by me and that sucks. Thanks!

I realized Green doesn't have a water type Pokemon. Threw me off a bit.

He moped at home for three days, turning the stupid badge in his hands over and over. How did Red figure it out? It was at the time Raticate died that he had started to hate Red. He had kept thinking that if Red had calmed down a little bit, if Green had taken Raticate out of the battle when he saw he wasn't going to win maybe Raticate wouldn't have died.. How many times had those thoughts run through his head?

On the fourth day he decided to hell with moping and got up to start his search.

He decided to try the gym leaders first, Red could easily be recognized by the gym leaders. Brock and Misty were at the same gym so he didn't have to go far. Unfortunately they proved to be useless, they were convinced Red was gone forever. Those words irked him in the wrong way.

Red wasn't dead, there was no way a guy like him would kick the bucket at ten years old. It was strange to think it had only been three years ago, he remembered the excitement they both had when they received their first Pokémon. Those childish dreams they chased and after some thought, accomplished. Green wouldn't become champion and a part of him accepted the fact Red was champion and Red would always be better then him at battling.

At least he knew he'd come in second. He stared at the badge and decided he was going to return it to the male if it was the last thing he did.

With reluctance he met up with Lt. Surge. The guy was pushing it to try and look young and fit. It was another dead end but Surge believed Red to still be alive. At least he wasn't the only one still believing Red was too stubborn to just die.

Erika was next, she was a calm and quiet gym leader but her fierceness in battling was attractive. He may have flirted a bit with her but in the end it proved useless as the gym leader knew nothing of Red. Though she seemed to have grown warmer to him and he decided that was a wonderful thing. By the time he reached Sabrina he was starting to doubt the point of his search. What was he doing? Red was his rival, why was he putting in so much effort?

But when he looked at Red's mom, he saw Daisy and it ate at him. She lost her son and he knew the pain of loosing someone at such a young age.. Red was only ten for fucks sake. Why on earth had they thought they could go on such a journey at the age of ten? They were just kids and were thrown into the world without a single concern of how it would be on the their own.

Green's dreams and world had been crushed at the age of ten. From what he now knew, so had Red's. Green had thought he'd been the only one to get scarred but knowing Red had faltered and messed up made him realize they both had their dreams and worlds torn. He wouldn't admit it but he wanted to help the kid out in whatever he had gotten himself into.

'I don't want this talent.'

Well too fucking bad, Red.

Sabrina was another dead end, but she did provide him with the knowledge that Red was alive and his heart and soul were still in this world. With hesitance he thanked her.

He went off to find Koga but was met with a young girl, the mans daughter. He didn't even try to figure out why it had changed, he just left for the next leader.

Blaine was next. A pretty bad ass leader if the others were anything to go by. He spent some time at the small islands before asking Blaine for information. He was told that Red hadn't been seen in awhile but he had visited the mansion before going missing. That left Green curious so he inspected the mansion thoroughly, not wanting to miss anything. All he got were old journals describing the possible cloning of Mew. Did Red go in search of that clone?

He went back home after the initial gym leaders and saw Red's mother outside, watering flowers. His heart broke a little when he realized they were red roses. He walked up to her before realizing what he was doing. She blinked, smiling at him as he kneeled in front of her.

"He's alive. I'll bring him home. So please believe in me."

She stared at him stared until her eyes filled with tears and she cried. "Please, please bring my baby home, Green."

The next day he made his way to Viridian city gym. He ignored the other trainers working there in favor to go see if Giovanni was there. Instead, he met someone he didn't know.

"Who the heck are you?" Was the first intelligent thing to leave his mouth.

The man stared at him, frowning as if he had been deeply insulted. "I'm Viridian Cities gym leader. Been one for three years already. You here for a challenge or what?"

He already didn't like this guy. It was a little insulting for all the gym leaders, really. Giovanni was a criminal but he was still way better then this guy. There was no way this guy would have known Red, so he just left without answering, feeling insulted himself for some reason. Couldn't Lance and the others choose a better gym leader? The guy didn't even look that strong...

He decided he might as well ask the elite four if they had seen Red. According to Daisy, Red had said he needed to talk to Lance before he disappeared. He knew Red wasn't one to like Lance that much, Green could tell just in those small hazy moments before their battle. He shoved the thoughts back, he didn't need to remember any of that.

He passed the gates to the league, deciding to just walk along victory road and see who was up there training, maybe they'd be a challenge to him. While walking, he looked at the mountain that separated Kanto with Johto. Mount Silver. It was rumored to be a place where only the best of the best trained and survived. Legendary Pokémon were rumored to be up there as well. Looking at the snowy mountain something itched at him. It was a challenge that was beyond the Pokémon league. Beyond the champion Lance and... beyond Red.

"No.." He muttered to himself silently, squinting his eyes as he took in the mountain again. No one could survive on the mountain for three years, Red was still human after all. Plus Red didn't know what winter clothes were to begin with, the kid always got sick from the cold weather due to his outfit choices.

While distracted, someone knocked into him and he frowned. It was a boy, maybe a year younger then him. He was oozing happiness to the point where Green was almost disgusted.

"Oh my god! Are you here to challenge the elite four too? I know I'm gonna be champion!" The kid nearly squealed in happiness. Green ignored his thoughts for the moment in order to address the kid. Their eyes had met, they would have to battle. Damn it.

"I beat Gym Leader Fernando without breaking a sweat! I'm the next champion for sure!"

Green snorted, putting his hands on his hips. "Kid, anyone can beat that gym leader without breaking a sweat. There is no way you're gonna be champion. You're too wet behind the ears."

The kid bristled and brought out a Poke ball. "Well, let's just let our Pokémon determine that!"

Green grinned, this kid was still too inexperienced, for sure. So he decided to make a suggestion.

"I'll let you in on something, if you can beat me, I promise you that you can beat the elite four." Green had beaten them all once, this wasn't a complete lie. No one was better then him, no one but Red.

The kid sent out a Venasaur, his strongest Pokémon first. His hasty nature gave Green an advantage as he brought out Arcanine.

They battled, Green could see how the boy had beaten the other gym leaders, he was strong. But he knew he lacked something, the patience of a battle and the maturity of it. He lacked the patience to take in advantage types and moves that could work to his advantage. The boy had been on his last Pokémon when Green had a small realization. Arcanine awaited his next move that would finish it all but instead, Green called his Pokémon back after he had complimented Arcanine.

"H-Hey! We aren't done yet!"

Green shook his head and walked forward. "You got skill kid, I'll admit that but you still lack the patience of a battle and an actual through look of your situation. You'll be done in on the first Pokémon of the elite four." He crossed the way to the kid before speaking again. "Actually, Fernando should have been the one to teach you that. He's the gym leader who brings all your skills together for the elite four."

The kid shuffled his feet, flushing and looking defeated, like his dreams had been torn. Green stumbled when he recognized that look. He took a breath, his mind yelling at him to make it right. He didn't want another kid to have to feel the pain of reality so young. He put his hand on the kids head and smiled lightly. "You're still young. I know you'll be good enough to be champion soon. Just listen to your Pokémon. Then you'll get that special talent."

The kid nearly burst into tears but he nodded and took off for the nearest Pokémon center. Green took a breath. The elite four must be bored if they kept getting trainers like that kid. The gym leader was a bad leader. Heck, Green had given that kid way more to go on that 'Fernando' had. How the heck was he a respected gym leader? He was probably in on it for the money...

"Hey!"

Green turned, seeing the boy return with a wide grin.

"You're so better the Fernando! You should teach him something!"

The kid scampered off as Green stared.

Teach him... something?

He put Red on hold, something filling his chest as he released Pidgeot and they were off to the closest Pokémon center.

"Wait a minute, Are you seriously asking me this? Green, you're 13."

"So what Dragon ass. Red was ten when he whooped your ass and don't forget so was I."

Ugh, Green had tried to be civil when talking to Lance but it just didn't happen. Something about Lance seriously pissed him off. (It was probably that Dragonite thing. Honestly. It was like Agatha and her fucking Gengar's) The dragon tamer looked as peeved as Green.

"The responsibility is a lot more harder then a champion's, kid. Trainers look at you for guidance, Fernando-"

"Fernando is not a gym leader. You know it. How long has it been since a trainers gotten to your chamber?" He cut Lance off, irritated at the way the other was trying to talk him out of it.

Lance sighed a clear sign he was giving into Green. Score one for the ex-champ! "Okay, okay. I get your point. Just know this is a lot of responsibility and once you get it you just can't leave your post."

Green grinned, a fresh feeling of doing what he wanted to do entering him again.

"This is what you have to do in order to be a gym leader..."

Maybe it was those year in Johto that changed him. He was able to get a second look at what Gym Leaders were doing when he went against them there. They were strong, but they were kind and forgiving. But he realized why Gym Leaders were there to begin with. They were there to be your stepping stones to become champion.

Green barely realized when he had challenged that kid earlier that he was one of them. But in reality he had been one since he turned ten. He was that stone for Red to step on, he pushed Red upwards. Red was Champion and Green was the secret gym leader that helped him reach it, to help Red be the best he could be. He knew he should feel bitter because being champion had been Green's dream but when he thought it over, Green didn't have to be a champion. It was now that he saw why he didn't want to be champ. It had happened in Johto too, when he rejected the badges.

He wanted to be himself, not a champion or a trainer that everyone else wanted to be. He wanted to be a gym leader. A gym leader that could challenge new faces, see which ones were worthy to continue onto the challenge of being Champion. He'd be that stepping stone to make sure only the best of the best got past him.

He was going to be Viridian cities gym leader. This way, he could live life how he wanted to. Not as the champion Red had seen him want to be and not a researcher everyone thought he'd become due to his Grandfather.

He was going to become Green, Viridian Cities Gym Leader.

Green kicked Fernando out in the only way he could think of to do.

Force.

Needless to say after Lance told him he'd have to challenge Fernando for the title of gym leader Green jumped at the thought of kicking Fernando out on his ass. Fernando had acted tough demanding only the best could face him which made a lot of pointless battles for Green who had to pass the guys trainers. He worked quickly, he wanted to enjoy every expression on Fernando's face when he kicked his ass out of the eighth gym.

When he reached Fernando he sent out Eevee. The guy made the mistake of laughing at Eevee.

Sadly, he didn't know that Eevee was one of his most toughest Pokémon.

Eevee was also pissed, she wiped the floor of all the Pokémon in a matter of minutes. Green had never been more proud of his starter then at the moment she let out a huff and puffed out her tail at Fernando. Green's final words to the gym leader were, 'smell ya later!'

Word spread fast of Fernando's through ass whooping. Lance came in person to present him with a badge of certification and license to the gym with a bunch of other gym shit. Like all the other leaders, he got the lecture of his do's and don'ts of the gym business. But he did get the okay in doing as he pleased in his gym. He was sworn in on the thought of making his Gym a very large puzzle for the challengers to try and solve. It was his gym now.

That night he took in a few new trainers(the boy who made him realize his dream was in that crowd) and celebrated, he took action on his plan with Red.

He hadn't been certain at first but Pidgeot and Arcanine talked him into it. The two would work as a team in order to make the journey.

He grabbed a bag, putting in a few containers of food and juice. Then, on a regular slip of paper he wrote down a note in large black letters.

'You are a fucking idiot, Red.

-Green'

He folded it, drew a crappy picture of an Eevee along with her paw print(that had been an accident, she had stepped in something and smudged the paper. Apparently she didn't like his drawing).

He told Arcanine to go to the peak, then he asked Pidgeot to watch his back. He hadn't wanted to send his Pokemon up there. It was dangerous, but the two nagged at him constantly before they shoved the things he had wanted to send on Green's lap. With Arcnanine suited up, they took off.

Green had managed to get his gym open and running when he got a response. Pidgeot and Arcanine had come back a few days before without a bag and a response. It pissed Green off a bit but at least it meant someone had been up there.

It had started off as a commotion. People that were there to challenge him were screaming in excitement. He left to check what was going on when he saw something that made his heart stop.

Charizard stood proud in front of his gym, ignoring the kids who wanted to catch him. Around his body was another bag.

"Hey back off!" He exclaimed, approaching the fire type pokemon And swatting a few nosy trainers out of the way. His Eevee gave a warning growl. It became a known thing of how strong Green's Eevee was, it worked to scare a few people off.

It was Red's Charizard. There was no doubt in Green's mind that this had been that tiny Charmander Red had caught in the beginning of their trip. Charizard puffed out his chest before ducking his head for Green to grab the objects. He called for one of his trainers to get him some Pokémon snacks and water which he gave to Charizard who took it without hesitation.

"Ugh. How did I know Red would send one of his flashiest Pokémon."

Charizard gave him a lazy look, obviously enjoying Green's pain as he was sure Red was enjoying as well. With Charizard suited up, the Pokemon left back to Mt. Silver. He waited till he was back in his office to read the note. When he did read it he had cursed loudly and was about ready to climb the mountain just to whack Red over the head.

'Yeah but I'm still the champion.'

Ugh. Why was he putting so much effort into an asshole like Red? Honestly, Green really wanted to know..

But he still smiled because the note meant Red was alive and kicking.