Feeling Blue: I
Ten years Ago...
Ocean waves were casually rocking back and forth across the shoreline of a messy beach. Large hunks of rock were strewn about it in a sporadic fashion, and as he looked around Blue found himself possessed by a powerful melancholy. This place, he had only visited it for a very short time in his youth. Filled with such determination on becoming champ, he stayed only long enough to defeat the gym leader Blaine and his team of inferno Pokemon.
"Not like that was much of a challenge," he thought while kicking a pebble. Still, it might have been nice to maybe… Just maybe have gotten to know the town a bit more before it was destroyed. Several months ago, he had heard the reports from Blaine. Large tremors had begun to rock Cinnabar day and night, and the stench of sulfur was starting to rise from the broiling sea. After the evacuation, Blue had watched from his old home in Pallet Town as the horizon exploded into a brilliant display of reds, yellows and oranges. As quickly as it had come though, the volcano had swiftly simmered as if it was perfectly content to have simply destroyed the town of Guren before returning to slumber. Now all that was left were trace remains of the abandoned Pokemon Mansion. Blue felt another wave of nostalgia wash over him, as memories of his first journey through Kanto became vividly fresh in his mind.
This was not like him, and he was growing irritable at the emotions churning inside. Why did he feel this way? Why harbor such sadness for a place that hadn't meant anything to him? Something about it he just couldn't understand. Without much of a care he began to climb the newly formed hill on the island. The fresh rock had finally cooled to the point where one could tread upon it but even then, he still felt the heat of the earth through his boots. He climbed until he could see down into the caldera of the Volcano, which had already sealed shut. One would hardly believe that such catastrophe would have been possible, looking at it now. His attention was then called back to the bare and empty island. Blue recalled how every city and town in the region usually had a sign to welcome visitors. Letting his actions guide him he began to scan the surrounding area, and after about fifteen minutes of searching, he had managed to construct a crude signpost out of the remaining wreckage of the town. Planting it firmly where a fossil research lab had once existed he wrote,
The Ravaged Town of the Past.
"There. At least now you've got something to show," said Blue. He was surprised by himself, talking aloud to the open air, creating the sign. Since when did he become so sentimental?
"Better be careful there Blue, or you'll wind up being more like that chatty gossip Red," he thought to himself. With a scowl he turned his gaze north toward the mainland of Kanto. Then he noticed that a shape was heading towards him, rising from out of the ocean. A large Pokemon with glimmering red scales, and a young trainer atop its head wearing a black and yellow hat.
"Well this oughta be good." He smirked as the trainer descended onto the beach, recalling his Pokemon before approaching.
"Who are you?" Asked Blue whilst orienting his stance to that of a very nonchalant person.
"I'm Ethan of New Bark Town" responded the trainer, "I'm the Johto League Champion and I am here looking for the grandson of Professor Oak. That wouldn't happen to be you by any chance, would it?" Blue felt his pride flare up instantly. He had heard that Lance had been dethroned, but by this kid?
"My name is Blue. I was once the Kanto Champion! Of course, that was rather short lived thanks to Red…" Blue shook his head, for moment losing his usual composure. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't keep his missing rival from his mind. "Anyway, look at all of this," he said gesturing to the empty island. "A volcano decides that it's going to erupt, and just like that an entire town vanishes off the face of the earth. All of us. We can all go on winning and losing in battles but no matter how strong we become, if nature even flinches we can all be overwhelmed within seconds. I guess that's just the way it is. Kind of puts things into perspective, if you know what I mean." The boy frowned, and Blue could see that his lesson had gone right over the young trainer's head.
"I am here to challenge you, as you are the leader of Viridian Cities Pokemon Gym. I have already gathered seven of Kanto's badges, yours is all that I need now."
"And what's a champ doing collecting another set of badges?" inquired Blue.
"Professor Oak. He promised me he would allow for my passage into the terrain surrounding Mt. Silver if I could gather all of Kanto's badges."
"So, my gramps has you jumping through hoops because he's worried you won't be able to hack it out there," said Blue with a cocky grin. "Alright I'll bite little Johto champ. I'm still a trainer after all, and when I see a strong opponent it makes me want to battle!" With that Blue fished a Pokeball from his pants pocket, tossing it high into the air. There was a burst of light, and then an enormous avian Pokemon sporting a beautiful plumage landed down next to him. He quickly climbed onto its waiting back.
'Come find me in Viridian cities gym! And I will show you what a top-notch Kanto trainer is capable of!" With that Blue and his Pidgeot soared away high into the sky.