For April Showers Bring M-AU Flowers, Day 2 Prompt: Buried
Lavender Town was quiet, save for the wind and the soft chime of memorial bells.
Blue didn't plan on staying in Pokémon Tower for too long. He would get in, catch a ghost Pokémon, and get out. He didn't think he would be kneeling in front of a grave.
The headstone was simple. Only one word, "RATICATE". He said no when they asked him if there was anything else he wanted written. He couldn't think of anything.
He didn't cry. Not really. His eyes just still stung from the mist of the harbour, that's all. Still, the empty Pokeball in his hand found itself stained with tears. Blue felt Charmeleon brush against him, trying to comfort its trainer. He tried to smile a little, to show it he was okay. He did honestly appreciate its warmth, Pokémon tower was much colder than he thought it would be. Still, Charmeleon looked up at him with a look of concern. Gramps always told him Pokémon were smart creatures, and Charmeleon could tell Blue wasn't okay.
Charmeleon. How long has it been since he received this Pokémon from his grandfather? His first Pokémon. Yet he still didn't name it. What would he have done if Charmeleon was the one in this grave? Raticate wasn't his favourite. It wasn't his first Pokémon or his first catch. It dawned on him he didn't pay it much attention, not compared to Charmeleon or Pidgeotto. I should have taken better care of you.
Blue was snapped out of his thoughts as he heard Charmeleon chirping. Without turning his head, he moved his eyes right, to see Charmeleon brushing against an Ivysaur, like two old friends hugging each other. Not just any Ivysaur, he realized.
His fears were confirmed when he heard footsteps approaching from behind him, and he could see the shadow of a boy his age stop by his left. He didn't need to look up to know who it was, and for a rage to start building up in him.
"What are you here?" he asked, trying to keep his voice down. He waited for a response. After a brief moment of silence, he heard the sound of someone taking a breath to begin speaking, but no words.
"This is your fault!" Blue finally spat out, voice low and sharp. He turned around to face his rival. "You should have kept that monster in check!"
Blue wished Red was here to gloat, to rub it in. It was an awful thought, but it would have given Blue some real hatred to fuel him. Instead, Red's face wasn't smug, or even full of pity, It was unmistakable guilt. Red opened his mouth again as if to speak, but the words once again eluded him. That was the hardest part of this for Blue. The fact that there was no one to blame. It wasn't Red's fault, he was just trying to win, just like Blue was, and he certainly didn't give the order to kill. He couldn't blame Red's Nidorino either. It was a Pokémon and Pokémon fight.
Blue finally broke down crying. It was an ugly noise, one he would be embarrassed about making in front of Red, but the fact that Red was here at all virtually left Blue's mind at that moment. It was just Blue and his tears. Until he felt Red place his hand on his back. He looked up to see Red, who had his eyes on the headstone. The other boy knelt alongside Blue and placed down a bouquet Blue hadn't even noticed him carrying in front of the grave.
Red made eye contact with Blue and managed to give a small smile. The gesture was enough to make Blue do something he would never dream of, pull his rival into a hug. Red was shocked for a moment, but soon he returned it. "He liked battling you," Blue told him softly, he knew that was true.
The silence stretched out, as the two rivals sat there together. They didn't have to say anything, the quiet was enough. It was strange, but comforting in a way. Blue had never felt this close to Red before. They had been at each other's throats since day one, but now, here they were, sharing a moment of grief. It was nice.
I've always had a soft spot for edgy fan theories about children's media.