A/N: Another chapter. :D Continuing straight from Light's this time.

After Being Blue
Poke Ball 6: Unexpected

Blue stared.

Red's smirk melted a little as he stared back.

'Let me get this straight,' he said finally. 'You want to take over Indigo.'

Red snorted. 'I'm already at the top of Indigo,' he pointed out. 'I'm its figurehead, it's Champion. But because I'm just a kid…uurgh.' He broke off in annoyance, throwing his arms up. 'I've already explained this.

He had. That didn't stop the incredulous expression on Blue's face. They'd been joking about it just a few minutes ago, but this – this was serious. 'This is coming from the kid who dreamed about being a Champion.'

'So did you,' Red said flatly. 'And lucky you, not seeing what it really was.'

Blue scowled at that. It might have been a blow beneath the belt. It might not have been. Depended on what Red really meant – and Blue felt Red was being very slippery right then. If Blue said a wrong word, Red would just vanish – or just lose it…

Truthfully, Blue didn't like the way Red had said "we can wipe them out easily."

'What did you mean?' he asked, maybe a little tentatively, but curious. Still curious. 'By "wipe them out"?'

Red shrugged. He didn't look like he'd thought the idea through too well – but who knew. Maybe he had. Maybe he'd just skipped that little bit because Red was just too soft…

Except Red was the one who'd kicked him off the Champion's throne before he'd had a chance to get comfortable.

Then again, listening to Red, it was like the other had done him a favour.

'You've lost it,' Blue said finally, flatly. 'The whole reason they're walking all over you is because you're a kid. What else can you do?'

'That's why I need your help.' Red sounded frustrated now. Was frustrated now. Or he'd been frustrated for a long time, that time Blue had been wallowing in self-pity and his loss.

'I lost to you,' Blue said finally – and a little flatly.

'Once,' Red pointed out. 'We're still equals. We're still the best.'

Blue wondered how Red had come out with his ego. Had he let it on the Champion's chair?

Besides, it wasn't once. It was every single time they battled. Even if that one had been the most important match between them.

'You're crazy,' he sighed, shaking his head. 'Can't help you.'

Red frowned and turned away, offering a hand to his pokemon. Eevee sprinted up to his shoulder. Pikachu glared at Blue before hopping on to the other one. 'I guess we're on our own.'

Part of Blue wanted to stop Red from leaving. Yell "surprise" or something stupid like that. Then again, Red was the one being stupid. Or Blue. Or both of them.

Red might be out of his mind, but he was right about the corruption. And taking them on all by himself was typical Red. He was the guy who'd taken down Team Rocket after all.

But he was wrong about Blue being his equal.

'You lost to him because you're missing something important.' His grandfather had said that when he lost his seat. Blue had been angry and hurt then, but now...

He had to find that important thing first. No-one who didn't have that could help Red take down the League.'