An AU of an AU? Definitely nowhere near canon here, just trying this out for fun!

[exileforfreedom]

[A ten-year-old boy is standing outside of the Viridian City gym, looking up at the building where he'll earn his eighth badge. Less than a year ago, this boy began his journey as a Pokemon trainer. But six years before that, he was a fleeing Champion, age eleven

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[reachforfreedom]

[It's been the same damn challenges by the same Johto trainers over and over and over. Blue gave up trying as hard as he used to when he first became Gym Leader. Why bother? Neither Chris nor Kagura knew a thing--even if at one point he had hope in one of them. That things could possibly change because of them--but who was he kidding, lumping highly unrealistic hopes onto a poor kid?

He hated how he couldn't lift a finger to help any of his rivals. More precisely he didn't like himself. He kept waiting and waiting for a right moment to make a move, any move against the Project but days became months and the months became years. How... how long has it been now?

Blue inhales before dragging out a sigh at the sound of the door opening. Great, a new challenger. Maybe it was one of those Johto kids again--or a clone or...

He really didn't care who it was. Blue merely kept his gaze upon the gym floor. Who to start out with... did it really matter? The results were always the same. Always, always, always-]

[exileforfreedom]

[Red looks around the gym. A... Maze of some kind? The spin panels surprise him, and it takes him a while to find his way through, thanks to getting dizzy.

He's confused, though. Where are all the junior trainers? All the other gyms had them, why is this one so empty? So quiet? It's... Kind of spooky.

Eventually he'll find his way through. That guy... Is he the gym leader? Something about the figure struck Red oddly, like he was familiar... But he's sure he's never met the Viridian City gym leader before.]

... Are you the gym leader?

[reachforfreedom]

...I am.

[Blue responds simply. That voice wasn't of Chris' and definitely not Kagura's. It sounded close to a friend of his, but it's been...shoot. How long was it since he saw any of those three? Pushing those thoughts aside he slowly lift his gaze only to find himself staring.

Red. It was Red! He looked exactly like he did all those years ago. Swallowing, Blue found his gaze lowering back down. He could feel himself starting to shake. How? Why? Was Mount Silver not safe enough? This had to be a horrible nightmare, right...? Why else would Red be here as if he hadn't aged a day and...]

...do you even remember who I am?

[exileforfreedom]

... I came for a battle.

[Red is confused. What's with that reaction? And that question... Nothing's adding up. Maybe you've spent a bit too much time alone with the spinny panels.]

[reachforfreedom]

[Blue could slowly feel all that frustration he's been holding in boil up. How stupid was he to believe any promises made to him? He endured staying in this gym because they promised not to lay a hand on any of them. How stupid, how naive-!

He had to get Red out. He had to get him out, like with Taniyah. Think...think... he had to convince him somehow. Yet how?]

...sorry. You came a little too late. My official team's been wiped out earlier by a trainer from Johto. [...] But if you want, you can try a hand against me in an unofficial battle.

If you win, I'll give you my badge but if you lose... I want you to do me a favor.

[exileforfreedom]

[Aw, man... Stupid Johto trainer. Red wanted to battle his official team! Oh, there's still a way to get his challenge!]

... A favor? [Like running an errand or something? Red can totally do that. He'd even run by Celadon to get you some tea, man.]

[reachforfreedom]

That's right. It's a simple one, really--but let's not worry about it for now. The rules are simple it'll be one against one. No switch outs.

So? Are you up for it? I'll warn you--my true team is stronger than the one I use for gym battles.

[Even after all the years he's been apart from Red, he still knew what buttons to push with him. He'll smile a little warmly. He had to win this one battle...for Red's sake.]

[exileforfreedom]

... [You really do know his buttons. No way is he backing down from a challenge like this!! He's got his game face on as he reaches for his belt.

Hmm... What Pokemon to use... Maybe... Yeah!]

... Inundan. [SUP I'MMA KINGDRA.]

[reachforfreedom]

[A Kingdra? Right. Of course he'll have a different team now. Sighing he'll toss and catch his Pokeball within his hand a few times before finally throwing it into the battlefield. Eventually Eevee pops out from her ball. She twirls around a bit, excited to be out, before eventually standing her ground.]

Go ahead and take your first shot. My girl can handle anything you hit her with.

Vee!

[exileforfreedom]

[Who knows what happened to Fulmine and the others...

An Eevee? This gym leader must be planning something. Red will carefully consider his options.]

... Pulsas Draconis. [Have some Dragon Pulse.]

[reachforfreedom]

[Eevee will be hit by the attack. Despite this Blue smiles, but it's gone as quickly as it appeared.]

...get in close, and use Toxic.

[His Eevee will close in quickly before readying it's attack. Enjoy being barfed poison being poisoned!]

[exileforfreedom]

[... Poisoned. That's not good... But Inundan can take it for a bit.]

... Glaciales hiems. [This is a Blizzard attack.]

[reachforfreedom]

[He's starting to see Red's old battle habits shining through. That just might help him get a slight leverage on this battle.]

Eevee, Protect.

[Blizzard avoided :3!]

[exileforfreedom]

... Again. [Hey have more snow. Protect can't help ya this time, right?]

[reachforfreedom]

Dodge it.

[Well Blizzard having a 70% accuracy his Eevee's able to dodge. Only because the RNG overlords took Blue's side.]

Shadow Ball.

... I'mma be a little evil here

[exileforfreedom]

...! Dodge! [He hasn't seen an Eevee do that! Inundan successfully dodges!! ... Oh wait the attack is kind of on a collision course with Red now would you look at that.]