Chapter 8:

Nugget Bridge


"Red!" Blue screamed from the top of his lungs.

The white mist still hung around the bridge and clouded his view. Had the gas from Mount Moon spread this far or was the weather naturally foggy around these parts?

Underneath him he heard the calming sound of water rushing against rocks, the cliff side and deeper downstream.

Above the sun was a blurry bright spot against the gray mist.

Blue took another tentative step forward, despite him being certain this wasn't the dangerous mist from the Mount Moon tunnel, he still tried to keep his breathing steady and to himself.

Another footstep, the bridge creaked.

Somewhere up ahead he heard the sound of someone sobbing.

Was that Red?

"Oh. Thanks Arceus," Blue began to move faster.

As he came closer the mist pulled away, revealing that the person crying wasn't Red but instead a young child he didn't recognize. He was clutching a bug catching net and was sobbing uncontrollably. Around him signs of a battle adorned the ground like scars on flesh.

Blue knelt down next to the child. "Hey-hey, are you okay?"

The kid looked up to Blue, his eyes teary.

"One move…" the kid sobbed. "He took out my entire team with just one move!"

From somewhere else Blue heard another wail.

Blue quickly got up and moved further up the foggy bridge. Again the mist pulled away, this time revealing a little girl who sat on the floor. From her throat she released an arduous cry.

A passed out Pidgey lay on her lap, its body swollen and its feathers ruffled.

"What happened? To you?"

The girl finally noticed him and reached for his arm. Cold hands clasped around Blue's wrist.

"Trash," the girl said with teary eyes. "That was the move, Trash!"

"What's going on here?"

"There's a monster!" the girl managed to produce gasps and sobs. "Someone must stop him.

"A monster?" Blue tenderly unwrapped the girl's hands from his arm and stepped away.

Worry began to cross Blue's mind. If Red was out here and there was a monster, then he could be in danger!

Blue moved further ahead. The sound of a scream erupted from somewhere in the mist. A cry of agony and defeat. When Blue arrived he found the same scene.

A broken person laying down in defeat. "A Nidoking," the kid with a baseball cap sighed. "A Nidoking."

Blue's eyes widened. The dread inside his stomach began to increase. If there was someone out here with a Nidoking then Red with his Squirtle wouldn't stand a chance.

Blue began to run into the mist.

Oh Red, what has gotten into you? Blue couldn't help but to feel a little bit mad at his friend. Rushing into danger without a care for the world, chasing some foolish dream and leaving everyone at home worried.

That look Red had last time he saw him, something was wrong with Red. Maybe he was sick or something, he needed help. Blue hadn't said it out loud, but he very much considered the possibility that a spirit had begun to possess him. Everyone Blue had spoken to said the same thing.

Something about Red was different. It was as if he hardly saw them more than…well, characters in a novel, or a video game. It worried Blue to see his friend be so lost.

And now he had run off into Mount Moon, even though the news had warned it was dangerous and buzzing with Team Rocket criminals.

Blue passed by another girl lying on the ground.

Blue didn't even stop this time, instead he ran faster. It almost felt as if the bridge was growing in length while he tried to run. The sound of his footsteps echoed behind him, the rhythmic tap of his soles against concrete.

And then he saw it. A man lying on the ground, blood seeped from a wound in the side of his head. A gruesome sight that almost made Blue vomit.

Lying in the pool of blood next to the man was a brick.

Blue immediately recognized the uniform of the man. "Team Rocket?!" He couldn't help but to yell out in bewilderment.

Blue began to run faster. Adrenaline pumped through his body and kicked his legs into higher gear. He had to get faster, to reach Red before the monster found Red first.

"Oh, there you are!" The mist dispersed and his childhood friend finally came into view. "Red!"

The kid turned around slowly as Blue came closer.

Something's wrong. Red was calm, no not just calm, it almost looked like he was relaxed.

A smile passed over Red's lips. "There you are Blue, I was waiting for my rival battle."

"Rival battle?" Blue asked as he jogged closer. "No no no, you got it all wrong. Red, you need to come home. It's not safe out there, there's a monster here looming on this bridge and there's something dark happening with Mount Moon. Your mom is worried."

Red tilted his head. "Rival battle."

"What?" Blue asked. Red's expression didn't waver, instead he kept his pose perfectly, his cold red eyes fixated on Blue "No, listen we NEED to get away. There's danger out there!"

Red tilted his head in the other direction, his eyes remained fixed on blue.

"So you're not here for the rival battle." Red finally concluded. He turned his face away. "How am I supposed to grow without a rival?"

"Rival?" Blue muttered. "You left Pallet Town before I even tied my shoes."

"But I still need a rival," Red softly whispered to himself. Blue questioned whether Red could even hear him. "A rival will help me push further, to be better and even faster."

"I'm not your rival, you idiot!" Blue almost shouted. He tapped himself. "I got here by train because your mom and Oak are deeply worried about you. Forget about this entire Pokémon Champion business and come home with us, we can sort this out together."

"I don't need a rival," Red clenched his fist in front of his chest. "I don't need any rivals anymore. I can just run on my own."

A tear fell from Red's face. He looked Blue in the eyes. "Thank you Blue, you made me realize. I can be my own Rival. Goodbye."

With those confusing words, Red turned around and ran away from Blue. A melancholic smile was on his face as tears of joy fell down onto the bridge.

"What?" Blue questioned out loud.


A/N Bully Red speedrun his character Arc. Also we're really close to hitting the 40 followers mark! If you don't follow and favorite yet, please do consider it! It would make my day.

-CaptainMoonShine-