They weren't talking.

Red fidgeted, stopped himself from fidgeting, and started fidgeting again. Green stormed along the not very empty corridors of the half-sunken ship. His cloak rippled in the self-made wind. Pikachu watched the cloak enviously- it was a new addition to his wardrobe.

Red lifted his hands, about to sign something. His hands fell back to his sides with a half-sigh. Charizard and Arcanine ripped through the ranks of grunts, the two fire Pokémon attempting to out-do each other with heat. "So then." A chill ran down Red's back at that carefully calm, deadly voice. His poker face didn't let up. "Is there a reason why you finally decided to stop playing dead?"

He hadn't been playing dead exactly. Red really hadn't. Blue knew where he was. Though, he had disappeared for awhile in Smash Manor, avoiding interacting with his home world.

Green was staring at him, expecting an answer. "I-" His fingers paused as he struggled to find words to say. Green called him a chatty gossip all the time, but Red struggled hard with words and human emotions. Master Hand had promised him that he would learn how to connect to people if he came to the Mansion. All Red had gotten was an isolation of a different kind.

But still… "I was asked too by a friend."

Well, part of it had been his own idea.

Green flinched. His mouth opened, closed, and Red could hear teeth grinding together. "So are you saying that if I had asked you to come down, you would have? That you would've left behind Mount Silver and come down and at least reassure your mom you aren't dead?"

Red looked to where Charizard spun, sending several smaller Pokémon flying. For Green? Would he have been willing to face those memories and nightmares? Especially so shortly after everything had happened and he was still mad at Green?

"I-I don't know."

Green got the look on his face Snake got whenever he was receiving bad news. "You don't- why not? What did I do that your new friend didn't? How did they get up that mountain anyways?"

How could you explain alternate dimensions to realist? "Arcreus help me Red, would you just talk to me? I can't- I can't read your expressions anymore. You've changed!"

Green has changed too, willing to ask questions and help. Red can remember the time in Silph Co. when Green had explicitly said he didn't care about Team Rocket- he was just there to battle Red. Green took a deep breath, calming down. Something new as well.

"Sorry. I shouldn't- I had this half-baked idea in my head y'know. That we'd see each other and everything would be fine. But I guess I carry grudges too well for that."

Green turned away, and Arcanine bounded next to his side. The fire Pokémon pressed his nose against Green's side, before peeking at Red. Red looked down at it, and signed, "Guess I'm not much better."

If he were truly a good person, like Peach, Zelda, Link, or- or anyone at the Smash Manor, he would've admitted it was his own fault. They would've forgiven Green by now. Why couldn't he be like Dedede who forgot years of being beaten up by Kirby to give his rival a huge hug after seeing that he was alright? Why couldn't he be like Link, both of them, and Zelda to be willing to work with Ganandorf even after so much heartache and sorrow was brought by the man into their lives?

But he wasn't them, he was himself.

Red was a ten-year-old child who decided to save a region- not even the world, just a region- and paid a price for it. It could've been steeper. He could've lost a lot more then that. He could've made Green pay a price for his own decision. It wouldn't be fair.

That didn't mean Red wanted the world to be fair though.

"What do you mean by that?"

Some higher-ups of the situation were coming out of the wood-work now, blathering on about their greatness. Green and Red ignored them, Red's Pikachu and Green's Exeggucator making short work of their Pokémon while Charizard and Arcanine rested next to them. Red fumbled for words for a few seconds, before falling back to a miserable shrug.

"I hated you for a bit. After I won the Championship."

Green's eyes widened, mouth falling open like a landed fish. Red looked everywhere but Green. "That's why I turned down the throne- I was going to try and beat you at it, except you still beat me. I just wanted to be better then you. So I made you the Five-Minute-Champion instead."

"Now just a minute-" Green began, only to cut himself off as Red's fingers ignored his voice.

"I was the one who put in your application to become the Eighth Gym Leader. I did it because I figured that it might make you seem worse. You couldn't be Champion, so you had to settle for a Gym Leader instead."

It was a plan that only a ten year old could think of.

It was a horrible, rotten, plan that Red had grown to hate with every fiber of his being. "I knew you'd hate it. Hate being tied down. I thought with that, you would forever be known as the looser you kept calling me."

It was funny how a ten-year-old mind could erase the fact that insults went both ways, and Red had plenty of nasty names himself. Green was lunging for his hands, in an attempt to make him stop, but Red couldn't. If he stopped now, it would be like admitting he was in the right. That Green didn't mean anything, that it was all Green's fault. Even when it wasn't, it was just a ten-year-old kid too stupid and proud to ask for help.

"But then I kept having nightmares and I got mad at you so I left. And I didn't know where to go, because I didn't want to leave Kanto, but I didn't want to stay and Mount Silver was the only place I could feel safe."

Green swore at him, and caught his hands, forcing them to still. Pikachu sent the last few remaining Pokémon to their pokéballs. Red took a deep breath, looking everywhere but Green. This was why he didn't interact with people-

"I'm sorry too okay?" What did Green have to be sorry for?

"Don't give me that look. I- I was in the wrong okay? At Silph Co. I should've helped you instead of just challenging you to a battle I already knew I was going to loose. I should've stuck around. And I should've helped with Team Rocket. But I didn't. I just didn't do anything. I took that gym leader job because I wanted too. I could've turned it down, but I wanted too Red."

Green let go of Red's hands, and looked down at his own. "I wanted to be somewhere where I could keep an eye on Kanto, and actually do something this time around. To help... help where I didn't you. When Gold was off taking care of Johto, I took care of Kanto."

This… wasn't going the way Red thought it would go. He had expected a lot of the blame to be shifted to him, where it should be. "Anyways-" Green strode forward to pick up a map left behind by the higher-ups they had just fought. "We should finish this."

Green had calmed down a lot over the years. "I guess you don't want to see me, so should we separate?"

Red immediately shook his head. Pikachu jumped onto his shoulder, leaning towards Green. Ears twitched, and the yellow mouse reached out a paw to hook onto Green's cape. "Piiiiika!"

Green choked as the fabric around his neck tightened. Red hurriedly began working to unhook claws. Pikachu scowled as he was lifted into the air, away from Green's fabric. The cloak was dragged off too, leaving Blue in just his black jacket. Green and Pikachu glared at each other. "Give that back."

"Pika." Pikachu turned his nose up already attempting to make a nest with the fabric. Red just allowed Pikachu to do it, enjoying the sensation of his paws on his shoulders. True, it was a bit too hot here to really enjoy it, but-

"That's mine Red."

Green glowered. Red stared back, face not twitching. Then, Red stuck his tongue out.

If there was anyone around to see, they might've been surprised at the speed the two boys could move at. Green lunged, arms outstretched- Red ducked, and sped off down the hallway leading to the outside. Their Pokémon, left behind, stared for a few moments, before slowly following after the two boys.

"Come back here you little-"

"Can't catch me!" Red turned, sticking out his tongue and using a finger to pull down at the lower lid of his right eye.

"Oh that does it-"

Green gestured to Arcanine, "Let's go!"

A spark filled Red's eyes, as he gestured to Charizard, pointing directly at Arcanine. "Let's go!"

The two Pokémon smirked, the beginnings of fire licking along their fangs. "I guess we still talk the best through one way and one way only- battling. Right now, I'm really in the mood for a battle!"

Red smirked. "…"

Charizard and Arcanine clashed in a storm of flame.

Lucas sank a little in the warm water. Ness kicked at the water as Toon Link melted into the rock. Nana had left to the separate Onsen to soak in the water, but she and Popo talked to each other through the thin wall. Stephen kicked at the water lazily, dragging wet fingers through Wingull's feathers.

Ionia cheerfully chirruped as he sank into the warm water, leaning against Lucas. Lucas smiled slightly as he began to clean Ionia. None of Stephen's Pokémon really liked water.

Ness leaned forward to ask softly, "Are you going to go back Lucas?"

He… really didn't know. Lucas's eyes fell on the water, watching it ripple. Toon Link splashed towards the other end, blond hair floating in the water gently. He liked it here- but Lucas was getting the feeling that here wasn't where he was supposed to be.

This world wasn't as perfect as it seemed from the outside. Wild Pokémon were dangerous, humans were as well. It wasn't as perfect as he thought it would be. But there was also kindness. The sea captain that had talked with him, Steven, the Nurse Joy's, and Stephen had all helped him, and taught him so much. But- Lucas glanced shyly upwards towards Ness.

His friends were here. They had struggled across the distances with barely a thing between them. They had come all this way- "W-Would you like me, to come back?" The mumbled question was almost lost among the swishing water.

"Of course." The answer was immediate and Lucas's heart slowly unclenched. He was wanted. He was needed.

Mewtwo had said that if those at the Smash Mansion had asked, he would return to even the darkest of places. Lucas smiled at Ness.

"Then I'll come back."

Ness's grin was completely worth it. Lucas's heart eased at the smile. A shy smile appeared on his face, gently smoothing out the worry lines that he didn't even know had developed.

Stephen paddled over at those words, a line drawn between his eyebrows. "Are you going Lucas?" There was a tiny tremor to his voice. "Right now?"

Ness's mouth opened, and Lucas shook his head. "No, I'm going to stay a bit longer." He still wanted to see so much, and he still had about four months before he needed to leave. "I still want to explore, and then Red-"

"Red? Do you mean- Red from Kanto?" Stephen's wide eyes stared directly at Lucas. "Like, the unbeatable Red of Kanto?"

"I- uh- N-No?"

"Nu-uh, don't lie to me. I mean, you got all sorts of weird crap going on, so it would only make sense. Plus the whole deal with that really weird Pokémon coming in to your room to give you that message- I mean, I get you're not from around here, and neither are those guys, but that doesn't really matter. If you know Red, does that mean you know where Ruby and Sapphire?"

"I-I don't, but I don't think Red is the one who-"

"Does he know? I mean, if he's super strong, which he gotta be with that Lapras, then probably Sapphire sought him out to battle him." Stephen kept his limbs to himself, but Lucas felt like he was being shaken down. Ionia chirruped softly, looking between the two.

Stephen abruptly withdrew, mumbling, "Sorry. Forgot the rules."

Rules?

What rules?

"What rules are those? Lucas?" Ness looked to Lucas, who shrugged, staring at Stephen.

Stephen looked up. "It's the rules my parents gave me for being friends with a introvert. Since my cousin Wally was smaller and weaker then me, they wanted to make sure I didn't accidentally hurt him. They told me that it was okay if Wally didn't reply, just watch what he does. Places that are quieter and more out of the way are better. Those sorts of things."

Oh, no wonder Lucas was so at ease around Stephen. Though he did feel kind of bad about the fact that Stephen had been adhering to some kind of rules- "Lucas and I had a lot of fun with them, I mean, look at this place! It's really funny, and the Mr. Saturn I think they're called, are a lot of fun. See, they're stacking up again."

Sure enough, the Mr. Saturn's had gathered once more to begin their ladder game. "But- I really want to find them. The lost champion and contest master of Hoenn. They've been gone for so long, and Wally misses them." Stephen's voice dropped softly, "Even if they don't want to be found, I still want to find them."

Ness swung his feet back and forth for a few moment, before grinning, "If they're so strong, then why did they disappear?"

Lucas glanced away- he could be considered strong back home. He had beaten Pokey and survived his brother. It was just simply that- well- it was too painful to look back at what had once been, and realize that it could never be again. Perhaps Ruby and Sapphire had felt the same way.

"I don't know why." Stephen said softly. "Red of Kanto, Sapphire of Hoenn, Black of Unova, Platina of Sinnoh- a lot of champions have taken to disappearing after a bit. They save the region, and then they vanish without a word."

Red had vanished as well? But he had appeared in Smash Manor, so it must've been something like that. "Two years. They've been gone for two years. That's a long, long time. And- And- there's been more that disappear after a few months of being the Champion and such."

Red hadn't been in Smash Manor for two years.

Stephen sighed as he sank further down into the warm pool of water. He blew out bubbles nosily. "I just want to help my cousin Wally, and their poor parents. I mean, they never say anything, but whenever they come onto television, they always look so sad."

Not saying anything… huh. Lucas's eyes closed for a moment. "I can text Red and ask him, but he hasn't been responding lately."

Stephen grinned, "That's fine!"

Popo began to drown on the far end of the pool, unused to the heat. All other conversation was suspended in that moment and lots were drawn to go check on Nana.

Toon Link lost, and got a hammer to the face to the terror of his friends.

Snake threw open the door to the Manor's dining room. There were a total of five people still in the room: Captain Falcom, Olimar, Zelda, Mario, and Mr. Game and Watch. The 2-d character looked up with a loud beep, drawing the attention of Mario, busy messing with his DS phone.

"The kids are missing."

The simple statement brought around five blank stares. A pikmin's head tilted slightly, humming softly. It's flower glowed softly. Snake took a deep breath. "All of the kids have disappeared. Ness, Toon Link, Nana and Popo left this morning. I shadowed them for a bit to keep an eye on them, before that Pokémon in that lake decided to attack. When I looked back, they were gone."

That caught everyone's attention. "Where were they headed?"

Zelda rose to her feet, eyes on Snake as he jerked his thumb backwards. "Towards the mountains. Nana and Popo had climbing gear, but I figured it was better to keep an eye on them since Red and Lucas pulled their little stunt. When I got that stinkin' Pokémon to stop attacking, they were gone."

If the announcement that Red and Lucas had disappeared had brought about chaos, it was nothing compared to the concentrated effort put into rounding everyone up this time. Pikmin scurried along tiny ledges carrying letters to Smashers asking if they had seen the kids.

More and more people gathered, the volume of the room rising with each new addition. Were all of the kids missing? No, Diddy Kong was asleep next to Donkey Kong who had threatened them with a fist if they dared wake him up. Did they clear their visit to the mountain with Master Hand? No, according to Snake that had been keeping an eye on them and they had snuck out without telling anyone. Were they still on the mountain?

Some thirty-odd smashers trooped out to the mountain range, Sonic leading the way.

The blue hedgehog glanced up the mountain, and zoomed up it quickly, parkouring his way up the steep cliff. Pit flew up beside him, resting every so often as he couldn't actually fly. Meta-Knight began to circle around to the other side of the range, as Kirby zoomed past on his Dragoon.

It took about five hours to confirm their worst fears-

The kids had vanished. There were footsteps, and a crumbled ledge that Pit landed on carefully. Snake and Ike attempted to track them, using footprints, but there was only ascending footprints, no descending.

"I don't see what else we can do." Captain Falcon brought a close to the activities. "We need to tell Master Hand, and end looking for now. Night is coming in soon, and we're not going to find them like this. We're the one who'll end up missing."

Mr. Game and Watch beeped loudly. R.O.B. nodded in response to the beep. "We can continue searching if that is okay. Both of us can see in the dark quite well, and do not need rest like most living creatures."

Lucario dropped down from above. "I too will continue this search. Darkness means nothing to my aura's. And it might even help, their bright light moving apart the darkness."

Other Smashers were beginning to chime in now, interrupted by Link. "We can't all stay. Someone needs to alert the Hands. And we're all exhausted. If we rest, then we can be ready to search tomorrow morning."

There were a couple of dry, angry mutters. But the humans and non-humans slowly trooped back to the Manor, grumbling. Lucario's eyes closed, the sensors on either side of his head humming softly as his psychic energy spread through the area.

He frowned slightly, as there was a faint, faint light shimmered in the air, like some kind of portal. But it wasn't active-

"R.O.B."

The robot rolled towards him. "Is it possible for there to be portals out here?"

R.O.B. hesitated for a few moments, chips whirling. "Yes. The portals would be left-over artifacts of both Master Hand's and Tabuu's work in this world. Why do you ask?"

"Earlier, I went through a portal to give a message to Mewtwo. The energy I sense now is the same as then. Could these portals be activated?"

R.O.B. rocked back and forth on his gyros, considering the problem. Mr. Game and Watch trundled up the mountain, walking up ledges too thin for anything other then a two-dimensional character to walk up. "We would have to consult Master Hand for more information."

Lucario looked to where he had felt the slight light and disabled portal. Mr. Game and Watch 'leaned' over the edge it was standing on, beeping hopefully. "I believe Mr. Game and Watch can activate the portal if we want to double check."

The black creatures had come from Mr. Game and Watch blood. If it wanted, then it probably could activate the portal. "I- I would like to see if he can. If only to see what is on the other end."

R.O.B. looked up, towards where the black figure slowly made his way upwards towards where Snake had determined the children had climbed. There was clearly a crumbled platform, and the figure stopped at it.

Then, it abruptly jumped off. Lucario and R.O.B. gaped at the plummeting figure as it fell. It beeped twice. "Lucario, Mr. Game and Watch requests that you check to see if the portal is in the correct spot for falling."

Lucario closed his eyes, and opened his inner. When the oddly colored aura of Game and Watch dropped directly through the remnants of the portal, the Pokémon's eyes immediately snapped open. "It did. It went right through the portal."

Lucario turned, looking to where the distant light of Smash Manor could be seen shining. "I will go inform Master Hand. If you two will stay here and guard the portal, I would be very grateful." There was no telling if even the remnants would disappear.

R.O.B. and Mr. Game and Watch nodded, Mr. Game and Watch juggling some kind of food item above his head. Lucario took off through the trees, watching them rush by- a sharp, blue blurr rushed by him, and the two creatures skidded to a stop.

Sonic and Lucario stared at each other. "Going somewhere?"

"Got a lead to where they might've disappeared, but I need Master Hand's input."

Sonic extended a hand- "Wanna lift?"

Lucario would never, ever admit to screaming in terror on that thirty-second run back to Smash Manor.

a/n:Congrats Guest on getting Pokemon X (I'm still waiting for my pokemon games...) And I hope that you've enjoyed your friends playing Pokemon azure! But anyways, we return once more to the smash manor! Oooh, the kids are going to be in so much trouble.