Hey everybody, I'm back from a chapter of Neverwinter, my other current story, to work on Pokemon! :D

By the way, in case anyone is interested, my old stories are still up for adoption by anyone who messages me, as long as they seem like they can write a good story. This includes my two old Pokemon stories, Advanced Love and The Mystery of Team Star, as well as my Harry Potter stories, like my Harmony story and my Sirius Problem story. However, my one-shots, featuring James and Lily and Ron and Luna, will remain my own.

Phew! None of you read that, but whatever. Just a reminder. Also, I hate to be that guy, but please check out my D&D story Neverwinter! If you'd read and drop a review, I'd be eternally grateful. As I said before, chapter two is now up!

(-o-)

POKEMON FIRERED AND LEAFGREEN
QUEST

Chapter Twelve

Blue. Why was there so much blue?

I was in Cerulean City, with short blue buildings and a bike shop. A bridge, apparently made of gold, glittered in the sunshine to the north of the city. It was actually a nice city.

But there was so much blue.

I mean, not the guy. Well, the guy did come up to me, but right now, I'm talking about the color. I hate the color blue. For obvious reasons.

First I walked to the Pokemon Center, as is everyone's first stop in a new place. The nurse smiled at me and I handed her my Poke Balls. Then I raised up the fossil I had from my bag.

Wait- stop right there. Sorry, got ahead of myself. Last time, I was on the floor, poisoned and fainted. How in heck did I get out of that one?

(-o-)

Well, Mr. Kick, my old buddy from the west end of Route 4, finally incapacitated his rival, Mr. Punch (and yes, obviously I made those names up). Mr. Kick was dragging the other black belt down the road when he saw me on the ground with an Ekans and a concerned little lizard Pokemon.

Of course, Mr. Kick was kind enough to bring me here, to Cerulean City. He splashed a little water in my face, and I woke up almost immediately, he said; I was apparently screaming in pain. He hastily poured a little handful of water on my wound, which was a sickly green color. It was slow, but the pain subsided.

Once I'd gotten my breath back, I asked Mr. Kick what had happened, where was I, and how had I healed from a little water?

Mr. Kick explained what I've now told you, where I was, and that the waters of this City had some ancient healing powers of some sort, which is why Fresh Water for Pokemon is made from this water.

Anyway, he helped me to my feet, grabbed Mr. Punch's left foot, and began dragging him away. I started to imagine the horrible things Mr. Kick might do to Mr. Punch, but all Kick did was drag his rival into the Pokemon Center. Which is where I headed, and brought us to the present.

(-o-)

Then I raised up the fossil I had from my bag. The nurse looked surprised to see some kid holding a relic. She said, "Where, exactly, did you get that?"

"Mt. Moon," I said simply. Of course I didn't tell her I had stolen it from some Team Rocket grunts. She wouldn't have believed me, anyway. She pursed her lips and nodded.

She then said, "Unfortunately, I can't handle that. If you want it to be studied or be a recorded find, you'll have to bring it to the Pokemon Lab on Cinnabar Island, south of Pallet Town."

I nodded, a little disappointed, and slid the fossil back into my bag, then stood there awkwardly for a while as I took it out again to rearrange my bags contents to fit the fossil comfortably again.

Soon, my Pokemon were healed and I thanked the nurse, then looked around for my black belt friend. Mr. Kick was nowhere to be seen. I shrugged and headed on out.

The next place I went was the bike shop I'd seen earlier. A small bike, fit for a kid younger than me, hung from two chains over the entrance with a sign on it: "Mike's Bikes. Bikes for less."

I laugh about it now, but those bikes were not for less. Of course, I didn't know it at first, so I walked right on in. A man with balding dark hair was hunched over a bike, fixing it up with a wrench.

He straightened up when he heard my footsteps and turned, setting the wrench down. "How ya doin?'" he said, and I got the feeling this guy was Mike.

"Um... hi," I said. "How much is a standard bicycle for my size?"

The guy studied me up and down, making me feel scrutinized and insecure. I'd always been a bit short, and I was still waiting on that magic growth spurt. Anyway, he finally appeared to make a decision and turned to go into a back room of the shop.

I waited a little while, and then he returned with a bike that appeared to be the exact right size for me. I waited for his price.

"That'll be a million Poke Dollars," he said, making it sound like 'Poka Dollas.'

Needless to say, I left pretty quickly. A little irritated by the guy's idiocy (Seriously? A million freaking Poke Dollars? Come on!), I made my way to the north of town.

And guess who shows up? Of course, my least favorite bully (who, now that we've brought up the height thing, is about four inches taller than me).

"Hi," he said curtly.

I swear, this guy gets friendlier and friendlier every time I see him.

"Hi," I replied in the same bored tone he always adopted.

"So... thinking of challenging the Cerulean Gym?" Blue said, pulling out a blue, teardrop-shaped badge and flipping it like a coin. "As you can see, I already have."

I was seething. This guy, of course, had upstaged me again, and in his stupid cool demeanor, was rubbing it in my face. "Shut it," I growled.

He smirked. I realized that was what he'd been waiting for. He readied a Poke Ball and spun it on his forefinger.

I was so mad I couldn't think straight. All I knew was I wanted to beat Blue. Badly. "Go! Mankey!" My Fighting-type took the stage, doing his usual light-footed battle dance.

Blue smirked. "How predictable. Pidgey, move it!" His bird Pokemon came out of its Poke Ball and gave off a cry, flapping its wings in the process.

I hated those little things. I hated him. I hated myself for it. "Mankey! Move out with a Karate Chop!" Mankey complied, zipping towards the Flying-type with his paw already glowing that familiar blue.

Why was everything blue today?

Pidgey narrowly avoided the initial attack, but the bird didn't know about follow-up. Mankey and I had had a battle tactics meeting and I'd told him to always use a move twice, just in case. This had, of course, been even before we'd gone into Route 4, so this was nothing new.

A blue paw slammed into Pidgey from behind, sending a surprised bird sprawling. An indignant squawk told me Mankey had done his job well.

Blue grimaced, and then ordered a Wing Attack. I was surprised at the powerful attack, but ordered a Scratch all the same. Mankey began a flip over Pidgey to deliver two Scratch attacks, but Pidgey's wing clipped my Pokemon, sending Mankey way off course.

Mankey went flipping wildly towards the bridge but went over the side, falling into the water. A knocked-out Mankey floated face-up to the top of the water. I pulled the brim of my hat over my eyes and rushed to pick up my fallen soldier.

Mankey was returned to its home with a button press and I turned to face Blue again. "Go, Charmander!" I said. My Fire-type entered with a battle cry and a burst of flame. Blue smirked.

"You haven't even evolved the stupid thing?" he laughed, his hands in his pockets. God, I wanted to punch his snobby face. Charmander looked affronted, and moved off without an order.

In a heartbeat, Charmander was up and over Pidgey, releasing a barrage of Embers as it flipped. It landed with a bow and a flash of bright light. The light faded, and in Charmander's place was a defiant Charmeleon. It glared at Blue, then rushed quick-as-lightning to my side again.

I stared at my newly-evolved starter, impressed. Charmeleon was much bigger than Charmander had been, as well as a dark red instead of orange. Charmeleon's fangs had grown longer, and his claws sharper. The flame on Charmeleon's tail was larger and more furious than Charmander's, but Charmeleon had the same eyes, and I knew that it was still the same old friend.

Blue almost looked shocked for a moment, but his composure was regained quickly. "I see. I send out... Rattata!" Out came a purple rat.

Guess what? I hated these too. I wished for Mankey back so I could decimate the little rat. But what I did have would suffice.

With an Ember and a few Metal Claws, Rattata was down. Blue returned the Normal-type, cursing its weakness.

"Fine. Abra, move it!" Blue send, sending out a Pokemon that was (finally) new to me. It looked like a little fox, with closed eyes and brown 'armor' covering its chest. The rest of the Pokemon was tan. My Pokedex told me Abra was a Psychic-type.

"Charmeleon!" I said, "Let's go with another Metal Claw!" Charmeleon's claws grew longer and became metallic, like they had for the Rattata. Charmeleon rushed for the Psychic-type head-on.

Blue just stood there. Cool as a Dewgong. For some reason, that angered me. That he couldn't be upset when his Pokemon was about to get hit enraged me. "What are you doing?" I shouted at him. "Your Pokemon could get hurt and you just... urgh!"

Blue smirked at me. That didn't help. Still, he waited. Charmeleon was right there. My Pokemon swung, and... "Teleport, Abra!" The little fox nodded as if sleepy, and then—poof-it was gone. Charmeleon slammed right into the grass, skidding a little bit. Abra appeared some feet away.

Blue laughed, and Charmeleon shot up, its green eyes blazing. Not heeding my call for a long-range attack (a la Ember) Charmeleon rushed for the teleporting Pokemon again and again, only serving to hurt itself more and more. Blue stared, a cruel laugh in his eyes. I gritted my teeth, and then pulled out Charmeleon's Poke Ball. My Fire-type was still going after Abra when it was returned.

I sent out Beedrill, a plan forming in my mind (I had finally cooled down after my outburst). Blue glanced at my bee, then looked away, that same laugh dancing in his eyes.

"Beedrill, rush in for a Fury Attack!" I ordered. My Bug-Poison type looked hesitant after watching Charmeleon's failures, but complied anyway, drills ready. Beedrill flew for the fox, already in the process of stabbing. However, Beedrill didn't know my plans.

"Beedrill, use String Shot!" Blue's cool smirk was replaced by an open mouth as Beedrill whipped around, delivering a slowing thread as Abra was about to warp away.

The string entangled the little psychic fox, causing it to wake from its slumber (which I hadn't even known it was in) and began struggling. I smiled. Abra was already out.

Beedrill took down the defensively weak little fox with a few Fury Attacks and then flew back to my side, ready for the next foe.

I was awaiting Blue's next Pokemon with bated breath as well. Mankey was already out, and Charmeleon wasn't much good against Squirtle or its evolutions, whatever they were.

Lo and behold, Blue sent out Squirtle's first evolution, Wartortle. It was a darker shade of blue than its predecessor, with fluffs of white near its hearing organs and on its tail. It also seemed more confident.

"Wartortle," Blue said, "use Tail Whip!"

I was honestly a little dumbfounded by this choice. Seriously? A defense-lowering move when... ah, never mind. You'll see how it worked out anyway.

Wartortle slid into its shell, swooped over to my Pokemon, then popped out and slammed Beedrill with its tail. Then I realized: Blue was using Tail Whip as an attack, not a stat-decrease!

After I figured that out, I began to analyze my surroundings, but found nothing useful around me. The bridge offered no advantage, the water would only help Wartortle, and...

Wait. The water.

I flashed back to my awakening earlier, and the black belt telling me...

I grinned. My little soldier was okay after all. 'Cleverly played, little guy,' I thought, and then withdrew Beedrill.

"What?" said Blue, condescending smile in place. "Going to send out your little salamander? Its sparks won't do anything against Wartortle."

I pulled the brim of my hat over my eyes again, removing Mankey's Poke Ball from its place on my belt. Suddenly, I raised my head and whipped my arm up from behind me, letting the ball go at the top of its arc.

Mankey's spherical home went soaring into the air, the wind whistling. Mankey forced the Poke Ball open, and with a flash my pig-monkey was fighting-fit and readying a Karate Chop- an aerial one.

With devastating accuracy, Mankey slammed down on Wartortle with the force of a comet. Wartortle's shell cracked, and the turtle slipped out from under Mankey's paw, sending Wartortle flying.

Blue stared at my Fighting-type, mouth agape. "H-how-" he said, but couldn't continue. He fell to his knees, trembling. A small gadget slipped out of his pocket, thudding to the grass. I moved over to him to pick it up and then help him up, but he said, "Take it. You've already taken so much, that won't hurt me."

I stared at him in shock, pity welling up in my heart. I'd heard something about how bullies are really just insecure about themselves, but I hadn't believed it until that moment.

Then he suddenly looked up at me, blue eyes shattered with defeat. "How did you beat me?" he asked, almost in a whisper.

I looked at him sadly. "Read your legends, Blue," I said simply, and moved on to the Nugget Bridge.

(-o-)

Blue. :( The inspiration for his little breakdown came from some amazing work I read on the feelings of Blue when Red takes everything from him. After I read those, he basically usurped Red and the 'technology is genius' guy from Pallet Town as my favorite Generation One character. God, Blue... why are you such a sad character?

Anyway, thanks for reading! A review would help so much! And, now, it's random tidbit time!

First off, FRESH WATER AND CERULEAN CITY: The idea that Fresh Water originates from Cerulean City was entirely my idea and is not actually stated or even implied in the games. But I had to come up with some reason why Fresh Water has healing properties. And, just as trivia, in this universe, that means the soda water used to make Soda Pop is derived from Cerulean Water, as is the Lemonade.

BLUE, HIS LEVELS, AND HIS MOVES: I'm sure you're sifting between this and one of the many Pokemon source websites during the Blue/Red battle and screaming, "WRONG! WRONG!" but there is a reason. A level 17 Pidgeotto? Right. Sorry, but Blue isn't a hacker in my book. Also, there's no legitimate way to catch a level 17 Pidgeotto, so please don't bring that up to me, because I know they sometimes underlevel wild evolved Pokemon. Also, a level 18 Squirtle? Puh-leeze. Blue's not an idiot. Squirtle isn't super powerful anyway, so why wouldn't he evolve it? And, finally, dat Abra! What is its problem? IT IS USELESS IN THE GAMES. Ahem. Anyway...

CHARMELEON'S DISOBEDIENCE: Well, if you've played Red, Blue, Green (JP), FireRed, or LeafGreen, you know the Boulder Badge exceeds level 16. So, no, Charmeleon is not going to disobey Red all the time. That was one time, because Charmeleon was absolutely enraged at Blue and his bullcr p Teleport tactic that isn't even legit. So... yeah.

Anyway, that's it for today! Hope to see you tomorrow with a third chapter of Neverwinter. Again, if you enjoy my writing style, or want a half-decent D&D story, swing on by! I have Fresh Waters for everyone.

-Shinigami out.