Hello! This fic is the second of a bunch of one-shots I wrote going off of a list of prompts I found, one I unfortunately can't find anymore, based on a story I'm probably going to write in the future, or at least take place in the same game-based universe, featuring prototypes of real scenes I plan to include. So if anyone is reading these after my theoretical series has begun… Possible spoilers ahead. I may just straight-up use these scenes in the future. I'm going to be posting a lot more of these, so if you like this one, keep up with my profile!

Also, I use Japanese place and character names for Gen 1-4 stories, English localized names for Gens 5, 7 (except the protagonists), and 8, French localized names for 6, etc. As much as it makes me feel like a purist teenage weeb from 2009, different languages exist in Pokémon, so I thought it would make sense for them to speak and be named in their "native" language.

Aaaand this one truly gets into the meat of my headcanons.

I basically took the little blurb that says "Your rival used to be your BFF until he started picking on you!" in the Gen 1 manual and ran an entire mile with it. This is also one of the fics I may just copy-paste into my story later. If you're really into the whole idea of Red and Blue/Green being absolute BFFs forever, well this ain't for you.

Hopefully I was good at capturing the immaturity of a 7-10 year old boy, because a big goal with my fics is trying to write at least somewhat realistic children (well as realistic as criminal-stopping 11 year olds can be).

And yeah, Red talks in my fics. Pre-timeskip at least.

Also a character named "Daisuke" makes a cameo here. He'll be relevant in a later fic, all you need to know is that he's a respected older boy in town that Red especially admires.

Green and Red were best friends.

Ever since they were babies, they had been so. Him, Red, and Leaf, the inseparable trio of Masara Town. They always stuck together, they always played together. And being the more popular boy, he would always stick up for Red against bullies. Even if others made fun of him for being friends with the local dweeb, he didn't care; they were best friends, and they were equal.

He was the one who had told Red when they were 6 that losing at video games was no big deal after Red had cried and thrown a tantrum, and while he had had trouble accepting it at first, it seemed that lesson had stuck with him.

Sure, Green loved bragging about his achievements. But he was always proud when Red or Leaf matched them.

But as he grew older, something gnawed at him from the back of his mind.

Why did he always have to be the same as him?

They were the same height, they were born in the same month and so were nearly the same age, they had about the same grades, they could jump the same height, they could swim at the same speed.

He started to grow increasingly frustrated, increasingly uneasy.

And it was around this time he had started feeling… Different about Leaf. When he was 8, he managed to be alone with her without Red and had confessed to her. She wasn't sure, and had told him she would think about it. He hadn't gotten an answer since.

The next day, they met and played together like nothing had ever happened.

After all, he had to share her with Red. They were a trio, weren't they? If they like-liked each other, Red would feel left out, wouldn't he?

He shared his sister with Red as well; they were fairly close, after all, and she was always happy to humor him.

Increasingly, he was tempted to change it all.

Why did he have to be the same as this dork all the time? The same dork who still played with plushies? He was the professor himself's grandson, for crying out loud!

Basically, he was starting to find this friendship boring.

Who was going to be champion when they reached their end of their journeys anyway? He had never thought of that when he was small. But increasingly, it nagged in his mind.

Who was going to become champion?

It was as he was watching one of his favorite animes that he came across the term "rival". And it all clicked.

Rivals constantly pushed each other to be better, they competed, they always tried to be the best. That's what he wanted. That's what he needed.

He had raced Red to school that day, a sunny morning when he had just turned 9. As expected, he got there first; after all, running fast was the one thing he was always better than Red at. Though Red could run longer than him, and that made them even again. Even if running faster was cooler, in his opinion.

"Haha! I won! I won!"

Red took a deep breath and scratched his head. "Man… You're always so fast! I can't keep up!"

Green grinned. "Man you're slow! That the best you can do? Then again, what did I expect?"

Red blinked.

"What? Green-"

"Whatever, smell ya later! See ya in class!"

"Wait, Green!"

That afternoon, test scores were announced. Green was admiring his when Red and Leaf had come along.

"Hey Green, what did you get? I got a 92-"

"Haha! 92?! I got a 97! Wow, I expected better from you!"

Green grinned when he heard Red's score, almost shoving his test in Red's face.

He knew he'd win the morning race; this was all the more sweet.

Red and Leaf looked at him, confused looks on their faces.

"Oh well! Try better next time! Or are you getting stupid, Red?"

Red grinned nervously.

"Uh… Green? What are you saying? You've been acting weird today…"

Green snorted.

"Wow, you don't get it? Red! I want you to be my rival! And rivals don't settle for blah scores like that!"

Red had looked at him with so much confusion then. But it felt good. He liked this. He could get used to this.

First test scores, then the championship, then Leaf's heart.

Maybe it would hurt a bit for Red, but Red would surely understand soon.

Their Pokémon journey couldn't come soon enough.

The next day at gym, Red jumped one layer higher on the vaulting box than Green, and Green was sure to express his distaste after class.

"Green, did you see that?!"

"Augh, I know. I'll do better next time, I swear!"

"Green, what are you saying…?"

That seemed to hurt Red. He paused. But tough love was what Red needed.

"I meant what I said! Now outta my way!"

He pulled his arms through his shirt and left, leaving Red in the changing room.

The next day when he came into class, Leaf was glaring at him, standing by Red's side.

Oh, so she was taking his side.

Jealousy swelled in him. She'd surely see who was better!

Soon, he got Daisuke chastising him, then his sister. But what did they know?

Red started helping out at the lab more often instead of hanging out with him around this time. Gramps loved this. They were pretty close already, but he now always looked so happy whenever Red visited or passed by him on the street. Gramps once even called Red "Like a third grandchild".

He always had to share with Red, didn't he?

He continued to challenge Red as time passed. Leaf's pranks got more extreme, and as he tried to prove how good he was for her she'd just glare at him or even slap him. But surely, someday she would see he was better for her. And surely, she did actually love him, she just couldn't admit it!

He counted the days until their journey began.

Yes, it couldn't begin soon enough.

Author's Notes:

So it begins…

Also, HC that Blue/Green is surprisingly smart despite acting like a jock. Like he and Red are competing for the top spots in test scores here. He is a strong trainer after all, he isn't stupid.

I write Red as this bullied kid because of being a dork and written like someone who is Autistic (inspired by the rumor that Satoshi Tajiri himself is Autistic, though I found out that it's just a rumor), and Green/Blue and Leaf are his only real friends his age. So yeah, this is pretty hard on him. But man the drama is juicy and I love it.

Please comment if you like this!