Complementary Contradictory

It all started when the clashing colors met. It was almost a miracle that the two even met, and certainly a miracle that the two even became friends, although a bigger part of being rivals. The two were of the same age and same height.

Green Oak strive to be the best, he was intelligent, quick-thinking, and was talented in training Pokémon. He did not want to let his esteemed grandfather down, neither did he wanted to worry his sister. All he wanted was to be not just good, but excellent. Spell-bounded by the various Pokémon matches he saw on TV, he started having the Champion mindset and bugged his grandfather to properly give him a Pokémon to call his own. His life was going to smooth-sailing, and he was sure of it.

Until that boy with the red eyes appeared.

Daisy Oak had dragged her reluctant brother to their new neighbor's house, in an attempt for him to make friends. Mrs. Hilton was all for the idea, cleaning the house all spick and span, sincerely hoping that the two opposites could have an amicable relationship. Neither knew each other's name, however, both knew that neither complemented each other like two peas in a pod. And when the two were pressured into introductions, Green had mumbled his name much while Red muttered his name almost inaudibly. Upon hearing each other's name, the two confirmed that indeed, it would be terribly difficult for them to get along.

The two of them were so contradictory and contrasting, and their relationship went off all unbalanced and uncertain, with their first meeting ending off with a fistfight, their dislike for each other brewing constantly. And if nothing could have gone worse, Green went so far as to proclaim himself as Red's eternal rival, much to the latter's chagrin.

If anything clicked between the two of them, it was their shared dream of becoming a trainer. They could talk all things Pokémon all day long, and if anything, it was this shared connection that set the basis for their strange relationship.

They were rivals, and they were friends.

They were Red and Green, opposites on the color wheel.

They complemented each other, oddly. Whenever one failed, the other would pull him up, and they would often run around the town, young, wild and free, and neither could have imagined their lives without the other.

Yet as they grow older, Green Oak would notice how much better his childhood friend was than him. Whether it was athletic abilities, skills or raw talent at training Pokémon, Red had always been better. And Green hated it. He hated his friend, his rival who was more excellent than he was. He would spout mean words towards the boy, who did not understand why he would do so, and as an act of defiance and defense, Red would push him away. Their friendship soon dissolved into a heated rivalry, and both were constantly against each other. Even during their respective journeys to become the Champion, they would clash, repeatedly.

It was until the Championships finals, did their rivalry reach a climax, creating a Pokémon battle that would have been dubbed legendary, a battle where Red would have triumphed over Green, a battle that would have produced the youngest Champion in history, regardless of the results.

They were Red and Green.

And they were connected in the strangest ways possible.

The door to his ward swung open, and Red's eyes flitted over and he fixated his gaze upon his expected visitor.

"You're a big, fat, idiot," Green huffed. "A real idiot."

The corners of Red's lips turned up slightly as he nodded solemnly. His rival dropped his bags, stomping straight towards, his fists ready to hit him straight in the gut, but Green managed to hold it in, and grunting in annoyance, he released his grip and glared at his rival.

"Just...," He sighed while slapping his forehead. "What in Arceus were you thinking?"

Red stayed silent, while Green clicked his tongue in response to the trainer's lack of words. He was so ready to scold him, to chide his rival, but upon laying his eyes on that face he had not seen in ages, he lost all words, and merely glared at his friend, frustrated and furious.

"You just had to leave me behind," Green murmured. "You just had to, didn't you? Saying not even a word of goodbye and going up on that freakish mountain?"

"... Green, I-"

"Did you think if you were to stay there forever, you can just become a hermit and achieve nirvana, huh? Did you? You did, didn't you? And look at you right now, in a dumb coma for six months, and now stuck in bed, bandaged like an Egyptian mummy?" The Gym Leader fumed. "Leaving me stupidly and constantly worried about you for three bloody straight years like it's none of your business, I bet you were secretly happy about that, weren't you? Leaving me to constantly wonder if you have forgotten about me, and just angry at myself because I thought I wasn't good enough. Do you even-"

"Green-"

"-Consider me as your rival!? Do you even consider me as a friend, even a little bit!?" He yelled that last bit, tears already threatening to roll out after he had released all that pent-up frustration and hate for the last three years. A painful silence fell between them, and Green started panting, trying to take in a deep breath after saying everything so fast like a shotgun.

"... I'm sorry." Red said softly, his eyes looking at his sheets. "It was my fault."

"Of course, it was all your fault, if you had just told me your problems, things wouldn't have-" Green suddenly paused, and Red looked up, his eyes widening.

"Don't look at me," Green muttered.

"... You're crying." Red said out loud, dumbfounded.

"Well, duh?" Green uttered as he wiped off his tears. "Who wouldn't cry after seeing your best friend after three freaking years? Great, now I feel like I'm the idiot."

Red chuckled, earning an irritated glare from Green who sent a hard punch towards Red's shoulder. The boy winced in response, and endured the pain, for he knew, he deserved that.

"... I'm sorry." He said again. Green let out a snort and then plopped himself down onto the chair next to the bed. The clock's ticking filled the air, replacing the silence, as both boys said nothing to the other. They did not need many words, and simply sitting there, facing each other, was enough.

"Hey," Green was the first to break the silence. "Thanks."

"... What for?" Red asked, curious.

"For being alive." He then turned away to hide away from the embarrassment.

"... Thanks too." Red said softly. "For worrying about me."

"Don't be cheesy," Green simply answered, still avoiding Red's gaze.

"... I'm not."

"Yes, you are," Green finally turned around. "We both are."

"... Maybe."

"You're being awfully infuriating in a long while."

"... I guess."

It came off as a "pff" sound, and soon, unable to hold in their laughter, the two friends started laughing at each other. They chatted and joked about, and talked mainly about the changes during Red's absence. And Red was quite stunned by the amount of change that had occurred during the past three years.

Professor Oak and some of his other friends had actually commercialized the Pokedex, ultimately, combining all Pokémon from all six core regions, creating the National Pokedex, with 721 Pokémon, in which a total of 50 legendary Pokémon were waiting to be filed inside. Only trainers approved by Professor Oak himself were allowed to receive one.

"I have one too," Green triumphantly said as he waved the red device in his hand.

Red's head started to hurt, when he realized the 151 Kanto Pokedex pages he filled was just a measly one-fifth of all the pokemon in the world. The League itself had many changes, such as the new Elite Four, Karen, and Will, while Lance became the default Champion, as the higher-ups being tired of leaving the seat empty, with Fuchsia City's Gym Leader Koga replacing the Dragon Master among the Elite Four. For the Gym Leaders, Koga's daughter has replaced him.

Around two years back, Johto and Kanto joined hands and started sharing Elite Fours and Champion, where another 8 Gym Leaders were added. Soon, more and more talented trainers started popping out more frequently. And one of the Johto natives had actually taken hold of that grand title of Champion, in which Lance had gracefully passed it on before the man himself started traveling to the other regions.

And to Red's absolute surprise, this Johto native was none other than Ethan.

And apparently, immediately after Red's retirement, the higher-ups abolished the system of challengers battling the Champion every day. Instead, the fight for Champion was four days a week, each day limiting only seven challengers. It was a fairly sudden change and created a stir for a while, but after the little ruckus died down, the League operated as per normal.

"I never understood why were they so harsh on you," Green muttered. "It was just... weird. Almost as if they just wanted to make things tough purposely for you."

Red shook his head before he looked out of the window, staring at the trees that swayed gently in the air.

"... I really didn't want to return." He suddenly said. Green widened his eyes, surprised, yet hurt at the same time.

"All that fame, that attention... I was... Sick of it," He sighed. "I kept thinking, what if... I return, and I'm just... not me, again?"

He turned back to look at Green, who merely regarded him with a confident grin.

"You have me, don't you?" He said.

Red blinked his eyes, while suddenly reminded that all this time, he could have gone to his only rival, to his one and only best friend.

He really was an idiot.

"... Thanks."

"Don't be cheesy."

"... Same to you."

"Shut up,"

Red let out a chuckle, amused at their conversation, yet feeling incredibly comforted by it.

"Actually, I was wondering something," Green spoke. "How did you get crushed by a golem? I know you're clumsy, but not this clumsy to the point of killing yourself."

Red went stiff, while his mind recollected the strange heat that had enveloped him in pain and that strange voice.

It's time.

That was all he remembered before he was attacked by the Golem. Red stared at Green blankly, wondering where the voice had come from, but he could not quite pinpoint any distinct memory where he had heard it.

"I... Don't know."

"You don't know?" Green asked incredulously. "What do you mean?"

"I just...," Red sighed. "Don't."

It didn't take long for a month to pass by, and Red was to be discharged the next day.

Throughout that one month, his mother would come by every day, and both of them would catch up with one another, and it was during those times when Red felt more human than ever before as he immersed himself in those conversations. Green would come by to visit once a week, and often, they would just crack jokes and get into their silly arguments. His friend had also reported his return to the League, and the organization permitted him to do what he wanted, which also meant he was spared from announcing a public return, for now. As for Ethan, the boy had been quite a busy little Champion and never had the time to visit Red ever since that particular visit.

He was quite ready to start a new journey if anything else.

If Green had not convinced him that the passing of three years was enough for him to safely travel around Johto without getting himself drowned in fame and recognition, he would have attempted to find another isolated spot for himself so that he could escape from the unpredictable tides of society. And perhaps, now was quite the good time to start another chapter, and for him to do what he liked best: traveling. He could see new sights, battle more trainers, and fill up the National Pokedex. Yet he was at a loss. For he did not know how he should tell his mother about his plans.

His mother had always been a thoughtful parent and had brought him up all by herself, so it would be wrong for him to continue adventuring as he liked. But Red just wanted to go out there like what Green had said. And this was quite the difficult moral conundrum that he honestly, did not know how to tackle.

Suddenly, a knock on the door brought Red back to his senses. A medic walked into the room gingerly and nervously gazed at the former Champion.

"Excuse me, Mr. Re… no, I mean… Mr. Champion, there's a letter from your mother."

"... Red is fine, Mister."

The medic was even more uncomfortable when such a famous trainer was speaking to him so courteously. He hurriedly placed the letter on the side-table and rushed out, earning a sigh from Red. The teenager then retrieved the brown envelope from the bedside table, tore it open, and took out the paper.

He started reading:

Dear Red,

I'm sorry for being unable to be with you on the day you're getting discharged. It hurts me that this is the only way for me to speak about the very important things I've kept in my heart for so long. Knowing you, you've most likely decided to travel, and I've already asked Professor Oak, and you will be sent to New Bark Town, where one of his acquaintance will guide you. You will be able to start your journey from there onwards. I've also prepared your luggage. There are sets of toiletries that can last you for months and new clothes. Hopefully, they fit.

I've bought a new cap for you too! And it is the same old red color that you love.

I know that for past few years, you've been struggling. My greatest weakness was my inability to share your troubles, and my greatest regret was to be unable to love you for all the days you have disappeared from my life. I'm a failure as a mother.

I could have tried to find you, but I didn't. I gave up, just like how I did with your father.

Let me talk about your father, my lover. We've hardly talked about him, and I thank you for being so considerate about this sensitive subject. And yet, I wished I had talked to you more about him, and share more of my own troubles with you. I had been thinking: if I had told you about your father, maybe, just maybe, you wouldn't have left.

But you're back here again, and I will tell you. Everything.

I was from a rich family in Hoenn, and your grandfather a strict and money-minded man. He insisted on me getting married to a man with high prospects, but I disliked everything regarding the wealth of others and was recalcitrant. I was a headache for my parents, but since I was the only pathway to a continuous prosperity my father wanted to possess, he tolerated my rampant defiance.

Then I met your father, who at the time we met, was a wandering trainer and referred to himself as Leto. I was aware that it was not his real name, but I did not mind. He was my everything, but your grandfather was absolutely against our relationship, and it did not take long for me to be locked up in my own room, separated from your father.

Then he came. I had no idea how he got past the security, but he came in like a storm, devastating the house and he whisked me away all of a sudden. He told me that we could live in Kanto. And so I eloped with your father. We then settled down in One Island, had you and lived in bliss. Until he left five months later.

Not a word, not a note, not anything. I did not understand at all. My search was fruitless, and I gave up after a few years. After the two of us moved to Pallet Town, the rest was history.

So now here I am, asking for a favor. Please, find your father. I may be asking too much, but for once, I don't want to live the rest of my life without seeing him once again. Enclosed in the letter is his picture.

Honey, continue your adventure, live your life for yourself. We won't meet for some time. Weeks? Months? Years? Everything in the future is unpredictable. You will once again be moving forward, alone, and it pains me to be unable to stay by your side physically during your travels. Be brave and press on. Cry when you want to. Laugh when you want to. Be angry when you want to. Emotions are a fickle thing. And when you need me, just read this letter, or call me with the Xtransceiver, because I will always be with you.

Loving you forever,

Mum.

The last few words were smudged. Then he realized his own blobs of tears were dripping down, right onto the paper, smudging the words even more. His hands trembled as he found the faded picture he chanced upon so many years ago in his mother's study. At that instant, he winced as he felt his chest tightened, his throat getting sore and numb. He buried his head in the sheets, letting out soft hiccups.

And there, he cried.