Lost?

Just because I'm losing, doesn't mean I'm lost…
Doesn't mean I'll stop.
Doesn't mean I will cross.



Green fell on his knees.

'No…'

He looked up at Red who stood before him, and all that his childhood rival did was stand still and quiet.

He had lost.

He had lost his title as 'Champion'- only a few minutes after he had worked so hard to achieve it.

'No…'

His dreams had shattered.

His ideals had shattered.

His hard work had shattered.

His whole world had shattered.

After all his hard work, the young brunet had lost it all. The amount of effort he put in, alas it meant nothing. The sacrifices he had made so that his grandfather could recognize him, the work he put in so that he could make himself someone his elder sister would be proud of, the days he worked to step out of the shadow of his own best friend.

With one final fall, it was all gone.

Green stood up. And with all the energy left in his body, he forced a cocky smirk.

"Well, whaddya know? Little Red Riding Hood could do it afterall."

He said in a teasing tone, trying his best to conceal his despair.

But he knew he didn't fool his childhood friend even for a second. Afterall, it was like he could see directly into the young brunet's soul.

"You did your best, Green."

And Green's mask crumbled. With one sentence, his façade was obliterated.

"You should be proud of yourself. Kudos to you, Green."

And Green's disguise burnt even further. His head hung low.

He had finally heard the words he had always wanted to hear.

But not from his grandfather, or his sister. It came from the very mouth of the man he had been trying so hard to best.

"You did very well. Good job, Green."



Just because I'm hurting,doesn't mean I'm hurt…
Doesn't mean I didn't get what I deserve.
No better and no worse.



"U-um… Mr. Oak…" One of his gym trainers approached him while he was sitting at his desk, in his office at the gym.

"Yeah, what is it?" Green looked up from his papers, readjusting his glasses.

"Your grandfather wanted you to take a look at these." The gym trainer meekly walked in, placing a file on the gym leader's desk.

"Gramps, huh?" Green mumbled under his breath, sending the gym trainer out.

Green took a long breath. Painful memories invaded his train of thought. The young gym leader slowly opened the mystery file, still holding his breath in anticipation.

CRASH!

Green jumped as the ceiling lights shook. Rubble and dust fell from above, and commotion was heard from the roof of the gym.

The spiky-haired brunet quickly got up, running to the rooftop.

His mouth hung wide open in shock and surprise. He saw two things. One: the sign that said 'Viridian City Gym' was knocked down. And two: the culprit who did it.

Red calmly dusted himself off, calling back his Charizard.

Red then turned to face Green, waving hello.

"HAVE YOU FINALLY LOST YOUR MIND?! HAS THE SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURE FINALLY GOTTEN TO YOUR HEAD?! BECAUSE ANY 'SANE' PERSON WOULD FEEL ATLEAST SOME EMOTION WHEN THEY KNOCK DOWN THE GYM SIGN AT A GYM!" Green screamed in blind fury, as Red just stared back at him blankly.

"What are you doing off that Arceus-damned mountain anyway?!" Green asked, still very much infuriated.

"You called out to me." Red stated nonchalantly.

Green stared at Red as if he spoke a foreign language.

"No Red, I didn't. How can I call you when you don't even own a phone?!" Green screamed in utter anger, the blank face of his childhood friend pissing him off even more.

"Green, did something bad happen?" Red asked, tilting his head slightly.

"SOME MADMAN WITH NO LANDING SKILLS WHATSOEVER DESTROYED THE ROOFTOP SIGN AT MY GYM INTO PIECES." Sarcasm dripped from the brunet's voice.

"Did something bad happen, Green?" Red asked once more, this time more sternly.

"No! Get it?! A million times n-" The young leader froze.

He then sighed tiredly.

"I got a file from Gramps." Green stated, running his hand through his spikes.

"Did you open it?" Red asked.

"No, I was interrupted." Green spat acidly, eyeing the Pokémon master angrily.

Both Red and Green kept quiet.

Until a rumble was heard from the black-haired boy's stomach.

"Wanna grab lunch?" The stoic champion asked, looking at his stomach.

Green sighed bitterly. Yes, this is what the real Red is like. Nothing fancy, just an idiot who wants his best friend to treat him to lunch.

"No seafood." Green stated his conditions, the both of them releasing their respective flying-types.

Yet as strange as it is, this so called 'idiot' knew exactly when his best friend felt down, and was always there to cheer him up.



I just got lost…
Every river that I've tried to cross,
And every door I ever tried was locked.



Green had always tried to live up to his family name. His grandfather was an infamous researcher. His elder sister was a well-known expert on Pokémon 'happiness'. His parents were directors on the board of the Silph. Company until they met in an accident.

And he wanted to top it all off by being the Champion of Kanto.

Something he achieved after so much work, but only to have it taken away from him in mere minutes.

But that's how life is, right?

You can't always have what you want.

You can't cross every river.

You can't climb every mountain.

You can't open every door.

You can't win every race.

You win some, you lose some.

He finally understood. And to think, that it took him so long to realize something so simple.

"I'm cold, Red."

"Go home, Green."

The two rivals stared each other down, sparks flying as their eyes met.

Amongst the blowing harsh winds of Mt. Silver, the two prideful personalities clashed not in a Pokémon battle, but a senseless bicker among themselves.

Green was lost for a while.

But maybe, getting lost actually helped him find his way?

In the middle of their staredown, the two rivals smiled at each other.

Each grateful to the other.

Green wished that he could live this life forever. But deep down, he knew things would change.

But until that happened, he would enjoy whatever he had left.

'You did very well. Good job, Green.'

'You called out to me.'

Green stared at Red. The Pokémon master hadn't noticed yet, but even if he did, it wouldn't stop Green anyway. A small smile crept onto the brunet's face.

There was no way he was letting this go.



Oh, and I'm just waiting 'till the shine wears off.



END.