Chapter Text
It was another day off from the battle tree. They're trying to fill out the rest of their Pokédex when they stumble across a Pokémon, the likes of which they've never seen before.
It looks kinda like a clown with a floating orb for a head. Neither of them has a clue what to think, but it's a challenge they're both willing to take on.
“I bet I can catch it before you.” Blue mutters and Red glares. Like that they're off. Each tossing out a Pokémon of their own and doing their best to fight the Pokémon, is it a Pokémon? They had been told by Sun that there were some weird creatures around, that were from Ultra Space.
It wasn't a difficult conclusion to draw that this was one of them. But that meant little in the face of something so exotic that could be a bragging chip to use against the other.
Or well that was the plan. Instead, they had gotten shoved by…something…after they had almost managed to weaken the beast enough to try and catch it. Next thing they knew they were in a heap with their Pokémon.
Red groans loudly and shoves Blue bodily off of him and ignores the indignant noises of protest.
“Uhhh.”
That was a far too familiar voice. Red looked up and locked eyes with Ash and groaned. Blue just cursed as he spotted the kid as well then, the champions looked at one another in realization. In that last second, they realize that the swirling thing they had seen was another wormhole.
“You're kidding me.” Blue breathed, Red just sighed before standing up with a groan. His Pikachu is quick to go greet Ash’s own who jumps down to meet him, Blue remained defiantly on the ground.
“What happened?” Ash asked. Before Red could fish out his phone to explain, Blue was already talking.
“One of these weird Pokémon sent us through a wormhole! That stupid clown thing it-” Blue continued complaining but Red tuned him out, a skill he had gotten really good at over the years. He looked back to his Charizard that was peering around curiously. Red followed suit and was shocked to realize it was Pallet Town, but not quite the one he remembers.
Which makes sense, it's not their world after all.
Finally, Blue stops whining only to come to the same realization as Red. “Huh.” He muttered as he sat up and looked around. His Blastoise was still splayed out happy with its place on the ground beside him.
“Ash, why did you just run…off?”
If Red didn't know any better he'd think the boy that ran up was a young Blue. What with the spiky hair, necklace, and attitude just oozing from him. But he does know better, he knows who this is.
Gary, Blues counterpart.
Really the only difference is the hair. Red wants to coo at him but restrains himself. Blue however has no such compunctions.
“Oh my.” That all too familiar shit eating grin appears as Blue finally stands up. “It's like looking in a fun house mirror.” Blue sounds gitty as he slinks over to Gary. Red immediately knows this is not going to go well.
The kid puffs up and glares up at a towering Blue, and Ash at Red's side snickers. Red can only guess how unbearable Gary is, considering he grew up with Blue.
“Who are you?”
“Blue and you're Gary.”
The kid seemed flabbergasted.
“How do you know my name?”
Blue blinks stupidly for a second before looking back at Ash in confusion. Ash thankfully understands.
“Apparently I was only gone for a day.”
Red blinks down at him in shock as Blue frowns off into the distance in thought. Ash shrugs, “I told Professor Oak what happened but besides him no one else really knows.”
Well that's something to consider.
Gary makes an angry noise at being ignored. Blue just pats his head sympathetically as he directs his attention back to the kid. Gary just vibrates in anger as Ash does his best not to laugh audibly.
“It's weird time and space stuff kid. We aren't from your universe and Ash was in ours for a bit over a week. We learned about you from him.”
Gary doesn't believe them, which is understandable.
Ash however is already explaining, “He's telling the truth. They are our counterparts in their world.” He gestures at Red. “Red is my counterpart.” He then waves a hand at Blue, “And Blue is yours.”
Gary still seems unconvinced, which is fair, but it's kind of hard to not somewhat believe. Blue looks so much like him after all, and with Ash and Red's Pikachus taking their places back on their respective trainers shoulders, it really makes a compelling case.
Red however, spares them all from what would almost definitely be an endless argument between the two Oaks.
‘What are we going to do now?’
Blue shrugs and Gary just looks between them lost, Ash isn't much better off but he's at least used to it.
“What is there to do but wait. It's not like it would take anyone long to realize we aren't at the Battle Tree.”
Red shrugs, he has a point but that doesn't help with the fact they're in this world now. Blue knows that as well, but before they can continue the conversation they are interrupted.
Two strangers approach. And…a talking Meowth?
The disguises are laughably bad. Suspicion radiates off them like static. Blue freezes mid-sentence, watching the trio sidle up to Ash with the subtlety of a bad stage play. Their eyes flick between Ash’s Pikachu and Red’s, calculating.
Red and Blue exchange a look. No. Surely not.
But Ash and Gary, of all people, seem unfazed. Blue’s already choking back laughter as the trio somehow con Ash out of his Pikachu with a routine so flimsy it wouldn’t fool a Slowpoke. Red just stares, caught between disbelief and secondhand embarrassment.
Then they turn to Red.
A mistake.
Red’s Pikachu doesn’t wait for orders. It lunges, teeth first, sinking into the nearest gloved hand with surgical precision. Red doesn’t flinch. Just scratches behind his partner’s ear, eyes locked on the trio with a raised brow that says: try me.
Blue wheezes. He’s doubled over, laughing so hard he nearly drops his Pokéball.
Red ignores him. A low whistle. Pikachu sparks then detonates, lightning arcs, smoke curls, and the trio crumples in a heap of singed fabric and regret.
The disguises melt away. Team Rocket.
Red’s posture shifts. One of his Pokéballs vibrates on his belt, pulsing with restrained fury.
But before anyone can react, Meowth groans, “You know what? Screw it.”
They spring to their feet in perfect sync, striking poses like it’s opening night on a doomed stage.
“Prepare for trouble!” Jessie declares, flipping her scorched hair with dramatic flair.
“And make it double!” James follows, voice cracking slightly from residual static.
“To protect the world from devastation!”
“To unite all peoples within our nation!”
“To denounce the evils of truth and love!”
“To extend our reach to the stars above!”
“Jessie!”
“James!”
“Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!”
“Surrender now or prepare to fight!”
“Meowth, that’s right!”
Silence
Red blinks. Blue stares. Red's Pikachu tilts its head confused.
Ash just shrugs. “They do that.”
Gary nods. “Every time.”
Red exhales slowly, like he’s trying to process a fever dream he's been suddenly pulled from. He glances at Blue, who’s now wheezing again, tears in his eyes.
“This world,” Blue gasps. “Ten out of ten.”
Red doesn’t respond. He just pinches the bridge of his nose and lets out a bone-deep sigh.
Ash’s Pikachu, finally recovered, launches a Thunderbolt that sends Team Rocket skyward in a flash of light and static.
Red watches them vanish into the stratosphere. He blinks a few times, trying to make sense of anything that has just happened and coming up embarrassingly short.
Blue was also trying to collect himself. He shot a glance at a still baffled Red and tried to weigh the odds of whether there was going to be a Team Rocket tomorrow or not.
Ash rallied and took the reins quickly, “Come on, let's go talk to Professor Oak.”
Blue perked up and was quick to start in the direction of the lab, his Blastoise returning to the Pokéball to rest up as did Red's Charizard. “Let's go see Gramps then…. wait I can't call him that here.”
Red laughed lightly. He pats Blue on the back from where he stopped, ‘You're going to anyway.’
“No I won't, shut up.”
Gary is giving Blue a look but is ignored. Ash just ignores them all as he continues walking and everyone is quick to continue following.
Walking into the lab Professor Oak is where he always is. “Hi Professor! Remember what I told you last month about the different universe. Well, it happened again.” Ash gestures to the two champions.
They each wave a hand in greeting.
Professor Oak lights up, wonder dancing in his eyes. He always has been so easily excitable by new and interesting things.
“Oh my hello there, it's nice to meet you both.”
Gary scoffs off to the side.
Red smiles and offers out a hand to shake which the professor takes easily. “Nice to meet you Professor, I'm Red.”
Ash looks shocked at the sound of his voice which is understandable, but it's not like he'd know how close the two are in their own universe.
Blue is next, “Hi gramps.” His face falls, “DAMN IT!”
Red immediately starts laughing as Blue turns bright red. “I thought you said you weren't going to do it?” Red asks between fits of laughter.
“I CAN'T HELP IT!” Blue growls.
Professor Oak is unfazed by this however, he just chuckles to himself. “Ash did say that you were counterparts. I guess you are Gary's.”
Blue just nods with a resigned sigh. Red speaks for him as he recovers, “Blue, Viridian City’s Gym leader, Pokémon Professor in training, and former Champion, I'm current.”
Professor Oak smiles and Gary chokes somewhere behind them.
From there the conversation is easy. They explained what exactly had happened and answered any questions the professor had. And there were a lot, most of which went over Red's head. He wasn't dumb by any means, but the questions were those posed from a scientist's perspective and well…Red wasn't that.
Blue however was in his element. The two Oaks were going back and forth proposing ideas and theories for why and how this all worked. Red was content to let them only throwing a few insults Blues way by sign during the whole thing. It only got him shoved twice, which might be a new record.
That was of course until Ash had piped in with a one off comment about the two of them catching every Pokémon they had run across, and from there the conversation had quickly switched.
This professor had never gotten all of the information from all the Pokémon. Information which Red and Blue had. He was ecstatic to see their Pokédex’s which were handed over easily as Blue also started rambling about the Alola versions of the Kanto Pokémon. The Professor begged to see them as well.
When the Professor got to the last entries of the Kanto Dex, he paused before looking up at them both in shock.
“You two…”
Blue is already smiling ear to ear as he realizes what the Professor was surprised by. “Yep, we caught everything in Kanto.”
Red smirks as he taps one of his Pokéballs it's scuffed and obviously well used. Articuno shimmers into being and with a low whistle it flies up and perches on Red's newly outstretched arm. The air drops quite a few degrees as it ruffles its feathers. Red scratches behind its head crest and it coos happily leaning into it.
Everyone but Blue steps forward to get a better look at the majestic Pokémon. The bird just ignores them however content to beg for scratches.
“Oh my. I never thought I'd ever see one in my life.” The Professor sounded gitty.
“We have the others as well.” Blue told him. “He even let me keep Zapdos.”
“Let is a strong word. It was pretty attached to you from the moment you met it.” Red grumbled rolling his eyes, “And you know that we can't exactly force them to stay.”
“Yes yes, they can come and go as they want, but they just like sticking around.” Blue finished the obviously commonly repeated sentiment. “Also, Leaf has Moltres for the same reason.”
A pause, “You know I'm still not convinced Articuno doesn't like you because of your time on Mount Silver.” Blue points out.
Red rolled his eyes, but notably didn't dispute it.
Oak looked back at their Pokédexes before pointing out that there were still two more. Red nodded and tapped two more Pokéballs on his belt.
Ash backed up preemptively.
The two new Pokémon look around curiously. Oak and Gary suck in a harsh breath and take a few steps back themselves.
Mew happily zips over to Blue who just rolls his eyes, but dutifully rummages in his bag and grabs out a berry and hands it over. In return the mythical zips around him happily and places itself on his head.
Blue just sighs.
Mewtwo on the other hand just remains where it is, but nods at Ash who gives a somewhat shaky smile in return.
“You really did catch everything.” Oak mutters as he steps forward once more.
“They don't like participating in battle, but they like traveling and respect us as powerful Trainers.” Blue explains as he finally fishes out another Pokéball of his own summoning Zapdos
The bird peers around before flying up to perch on Blue's now outstretched arm.
“Zapdos doesn't mind battle, enjoys it even, but it wouldn't exactly be fair to use him on my normal team as a Gym Leader.”
The two birds look at one another and start chittering happily.
Gary doesn't look at them the same after that, and Red resigned himself to not getting out of the lab for the rest of the day.
oO0Oo
Red had drug Blue with him to Veridian in the early morning. Mimikyu from its place on Red's shoulder is all but preening. Ash and Gary, from where they had been loitering about, had seen and followed close behind the pair.
Blue looked up at the freshly abandoned Gym in front of him. It brought back memories, not all of them good.
“So...what now?” he asks, not daring to question what exactly went on last night.
Red gives him a meaningful glance.
“Nope, no way this isn't even our universe. You can't make me.” Blue glares up at his friend.
The bastard laughs before waving his hand, acting like he wasn't suggesting that (he was they both knew it). Red raises a brow at him after he stops laughing, and Blue sighs.
“I mean…It's the only answer.”
Ash looks between them perplexed, he still doesn't understand how they communicate like this. He watches as they both glance at Gary, and then realization strikes him as well.
“You're kidding.” It's not much of a question, more of a demand, a plea even. They can't be serious. He glances back at Gary as well.
Gary finally looks up and scowls at them all. “What!?” He demands.
Blue smirks. “Well kid, Veridian needs a Gym Leader and you are the best option considering you're my counterpart.”
Gary perks up.
“But.” The kid scowls, “There is a lot you would need to learn first.”
“I can learn it all easily.”
Neither Red nor Blue look particularly convinced by that. But his eagerness is clear, Blue just opens the doors and steps inside surveying the place. It looks relatively unscathed, there are some claw marks on one wall and some scorch marks on another. Looks like Charizard had fun too.
He walks through prospecting the damage. It looks like Red did his best to avoid most of it. He ends up at the back looking at the black leather chair. He takes a seat as Red rolls his eyes predictably.
‘You're unbearable.’
“You love me.”
Before they can start arguing Gary cuts in, “What exactly do I need to learn? I'm already a good trainer, I'm much better than Ash.”
Red snorts, not even bothering to try and suppress his reaction. It gets a glare from Gary, but he's met with a look that says Red had judged and found him wanting.
Blue sighs, he doesn't doubt Gary is good but skill alone does not a Gym Leader make.
“I’m sure you're very skilled, but it's so much more complicated than that. You have to understand how and why things work and be able to point it out. A Gym Leader's job is to teach and help gauge how skilled a trainer is and where they need to improve.”
Gary doesn't seem convinced. Blue just sighs as he tries to figure out how to explain it differently.
“You know your whole job won't just revolve around being unbeatable right?” He asks exasperated.
The kid does not like this. “What?! Of course it is!”
“No, that's the Elite Four and the Champion’s job. A Gym Leader should be hard to beat, after all the point is to prove you understand battle. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't be beaten.”
“I thought you were Champion? Don't you hate the idea of being beaten?”
Blue sighs and leans back as his Umbreon jumps up and lays itself across the top of the chair. “I used to, I used to despise it. I wasn't a happy camper when Red beat me 30 minutes after I got the title I always dreamed of. And after that I absolutely wasn't keen on losing again.”
Gary seemed invested now as did Ash. After all Ash knew the basics, but this was more than what he knew about.
“But you can't power trip with kids. They don't deserve to be bulldozed because your ego can't take loosing. It's so much more rewarding to teach them than it is to never let them win. After all, it's much more fun to fight stronger opponents than weaker ones and when they come back to re-challenge you later it's exhilarating.”
He takes a breath.
“If you're willing to learn you'll understand, you'll understand that the first time you help teach a kid how to catch a Pokémon and they come back to challenge you later with a glint in their eyes. The feeling of accomplishment that first time is something you'll never forget. It makes everything worth it because who knows, maybe they'll become someone big one day and you had a hand in that.”
“That sounds boring.” Gary dismisses. Blue barks out a surprised sound before looking at Red in disbelief.
“Was I this unbearable growing up?”
‘You were worse.’
“That does not make me feel better.”
‘It's not supposed to.’
Blue scoffs before standing, “Look kid, you might not seem interested now, but this is stuff you have to accept and learn if you want to be a Gym Leader.”
Gary still looks truly unconvinced, but Blue knows it's not exactly something he can convince the kid of. Experience will truly be what does it, after all that's the only thing that worked with him.
Blue starts at the basics, he battles Gary and has him try and point out where mistakes were made. It doesn't go well because the kid just wants to fight and not actually think.
Blue is pacing back and forth as Red and Ash watch on in amusement. (He's already banished them both to the corner for commenting on how this whole thing was going.)
This feels like a penance, and Blue was not enjoying a second of it.
“Gary, kid if you can't explain to me how you lost your Nidoqueen to my Arcanine, which you should be able to take out with relative ease mind you, then how are you going to explain it to a trainer?” His Umbreon is sitting on the chair watching his trainer pace with Red’s own Espeon.
“I know why it's because you're better than me. You're a former Champion, I'm not.”
Blue pinches the bridge of his nose and exhales deeply. “That's not the point. It doesn't matter if that's technically why, it matters exactly how it happened.”
“Why does that matter? It happened.”
Blue deflated and looked off into the distance, trying to find any semblance of patience and coming up short. The muffled laughter he could hear from the corner was not helping.
“I'm sure this is the fifth time I've told you that the whole point is being able to tell people where they went wrong, you know, to teach them. You know the whole point of being a Gym Leader!”
Gary just shrugged and Blue just walked away ignoring the protests from his counterpart. His Umbreon just lays down unconcerned.
Blue had given up for the day after that, and the following one didn't go much better.
On the third Blue was repeating the same basics he'd been trying to instill. Gary was still ignoring it all. Telling the kid that part of his job would be teaching fresh trainers how to do the basics seemed to annoy him even more.
Blue just pointed out that not everyone has a Professor Oak and that some kids genuinely don't know where to start. That's where Gym Leaders come in.
Ash was starting to realize exactly what had mellowed Blue out.
Gary, however, despised the mere idea of lowering himself enough to teach kids. Blue just pointed out he was one which only got a scoff in response. Blue just put him to work helping clean the Gym since it was something they had yet to do after Red's little run through.
When asked why it was his job, Blue pointed out it would be his one day anyway and he's not getting out of manual labor. Besides, it builds character.
The scowl he received was expected but ignored as he walked over to another room and gestured for Red to follow him. Red did after nodding at Ash and then to one of the scorched walls.
Ash didn't argue he figured Red was probably onto something and it would also ease any resentment Gary would harbor.
“He's hopeless Red, absolutely hopeless.” Blue bemoaned as soon as the door closed behind them.
‘I don't think so’
“How can you not? He refuses to learn anything!”
‘No he's learning you just can't see it.’
“Oh, and you can?”
‘Sure, It's the way he hesitates sometimes to say something particularly mean. The way he pauses for a split second when you ask questions.’
“I think you're seeing things.”
‘No, you're just too close to see it.’
“I can't believe I was this bad. How did you deal with me and not just give up?” Blue asked as he turned to rummage through a box finding some cleaning supplies.
When he turned back around with his hands mostly full, Red continued. ‘You learned sign language for me Blue.’ He used the more familiar sign instead of the normally more formal one for his name.
“S-Shut up.” He growled embarrassed before pushing Red away, almost dropping something in the process. Red just chuckled and took some of the stuff from Blue before walking back out the door signing on his way out
‘It will be fine.’
In response Blue just grumbled. But he started to consider what other options he had. He could only come up with one that might work.
Blue dropped off the supplies and started digging through it before helping clean himself. Gary, who had been glaring at him, relaxed slightly.
Most of the rest of the day was just cleaning. Blue knew it had to get done despite wanting to put it off. It wasn't that bad though with all hands-on deck and even some of their Pokémon pitching in.
When they were done Blue beckoned Ash over to him, “I want you to battle Gary.”
Ash blinked, “Why?”
“Because you'll win.”
“You sound confident.” Ash grumbled.
Blue smirked, “Because I am.”
“Gary!”
The kid turned with a scowl, but it was quickly replaced with a smirk as Ash held up a Pokéball in a silent challenge. Blue backed away and went to stand next to Red who was smirking himself.
‘You're hoping for this to break some of that attitude huh?’
“It worked with me, did it not.” Blue shot back.
Red just huffed out an amused noise, ‘I don't know, I'm still not convinced to this day.’
Ash was confident as he threw out a Pokémon first.
Charizard appeared with a roar and in return Gary sent out his Electivire.
“Charizard flamethrower!” Ash shouted. Gary just smirked before commanding his Electivire to dodge it and quickly followed up with a command for wild charge after he was out of the line of fire. Ash however wasn't about to let that happen before Gary even got out the command in full Ash was already speaking, “Charizard up!”
And like a shot Charizard flew up and away. Red and Blue both made a pleased noise.
“Flamethrower again!” In retaliation Gary called for Thunder, but Charizard was faster, sending Electivire flying backwards.
Ash didn't let it go to waste either, he'd learned that from his observations at the battle tree. The biggest mistake made was always not following through. “AGAIN!”
Gary couldn't get his Electivire up fast enough to avoid the next blow. And while Charizard gets close he's still well out of range.
Electivire does manage to get off a Thunder however, sending Charizard to the ground but he recovers quick enough to send a Dragon Pulse when Electivire got too close while preparing to finish it with another move.
Gary calls back his fainted Pokémon with a scowl as Charizard stands once more.
Gary sends out Blastoise next, and Ash doesn't hesitate to call Charizard back and Pikachu is quick to take its place. The young Oak growls displeased but Ash is already calling a command, “Thunderbolt!’
Gary commands Blastoise to dodge but Blastoise just isn't fast enough. But Gary retaliates with Focus Blast, Pikachu shakes it off well. And with a Quick attack into Electro Ball, Blastoise goes down with an indignant roar from Gary.
Nidoqueen makes an appearance. And Ash seems to describe not to switch out which…is a design, but Blue has a hunch it's not really to be optimal.
Ash calls for a quick attack and Nidoqueen retaliates with earthquake, Pikachu avoids it to the best of his ability and lands his attack and an iron tail before High Horsepower takes Pikachu out of the fight.
It's not a ton of damage, but it's enough to be mindful of as Ash sends out Greninja. Water shuriken connects perfectly, landing quite a few hits as Greninja perfectly predicts how Nidoqueen will try and dodge. It's enough to take her out of the fight.
Gary seems to consider his next move for a moment before throwing out Scizor. Ash calls for Gunk Shot, which connects and poisons Scizor who takes it well and retaliates with Bug Buzz and sends Greninja to the ground. He's quickly recalled and Hawlucha is put in his place.
Gary barely blinks as he shouts his next command, “Use Slash!” Hawlucha jumps back and then flies up, but doesn't falter as Scizor gives chase. Ash watches carefully before calling for Hawlucha to drop and use Brave Bird.
Scizor can only get off another slash as it's sent up from the hit and then brought down hard with a Body Press. Scizor is out of the fight.
Gary looks a bit wild around the eyes now, but Ash seems nothing but pleased giving praise to his Pokémon.
Arcanine is out next and as soon as it hits the field it uses Flamethrower which Hawlucha does its best to dodge. Another Flamethrower is too much however and the Pokémon lands hard just avoiding a Flame Blast and retaliating with a High Jump Kick. But It gets caught by a Crunch from Arcanine and a point-blank Flamethrower takes it out of the fight.
Ash calls back Hawlucha before sending out Krookodile.
“SANDSTORM!”
Gary ignores it calling for Fire Blast that Ash meets with Stone edge blocking it and sending Arcanine flying backwards. It rallies quickly however and Gary commands Extreme Speed.
“Stone Edge again!” Ash calls but Arcanine avoids it and sends Krookodile to the ground.
“Crunch!” Gary calls. Ash, however, doesn't stand for it as he calls for Outrage. It's finally enough to take Arcanine down but Krookodile isn't in great shape.
Gary is panting but isn't done yet as he throws out his last Pokémon. Umbreon hits the field and Ash can't do anything as Krookodile continues its attacks.
Umbreon gracefully avoids the raging Krookodile and retaliates with Crunch and a well-timed Shadow Ball that takes it out.
Ash sends out Pidgeot. Gary tries for a quick attack but Pidgeot flies up and stays well out of range while sending an Air Slash down. Umbreon avoids it and retaliates with Shadow Ball that is also avoided.
Ash doesn't wait however and calls for a Steel Wing. And Gary Psychic. Both hit but Ash follows through, “UP!” Umbreon is quickly brought up and despite landing a Crunch Pidgeot remains stoic until Ash tells the bird to let go. With another Air Slash on the near helpless Umbreon and a Steel Wing to ensure the knockout, Ash is victorious.
Gary is stunned silent for once as Blue cheers and Red claps.
They call it for the day after that
oO0Oo
The next day when Gary walks in its far earlier then Blue had been expecting, and Ash is nowhere to be seen.
“You're early.” Blue observed with a yawn. He and Red had just decided to stay in the Gym for their duration of time in this universe. Arceus knows how many nights Blue had slept in here anyway as Red had pointed out.
Gary doesn't say anything, just elbows past Blue who just huffs. The former champion turns and watches as Gary just looks around before sighing.
“How did he win?”
Blue hums to himself and leans on the now closed door. “It's because he learned, he listened to what we had to say and took the advice.”
“But you're not teaching me what you taught him.”
“That's not necessarily true, I'm teaching you something different, but you can still learn the same way he did. The only difference is he can pick up on small things when I point them out. You're just ignoring them.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean when I ask questions about how you lose or what you did wrong, that's not just a Gym Leader skill, It also helps you learn what you're doing wrong as a trainer. But you know that.”
they're both fully aware of that. It's a very obvious observation, that's something you learn in your first year of being a trainer.
“You're being stubborn and ignoring the obvious. You're used to being the best but you're not anymore at least not against Ash. You can be just as good or even better, but you're coming up short now and you don't like it.”
“Like you?”
“Like me, but I just kept learning and gained skills in other areas. If I couldn't be the best at battling, I'll be as good as I can manage in anything I devote myself to. Just so happened to be that my most valuable skill was here.” He gestures around the Gym.
“And do you think that's where mine is?”
“Why wouldn’t it be? You just have to be willing to try, everything else will fall into place.”
Gary thought it over for a second before nodding and Blue just let out a sigh of relief. Progress finally.
Another few days of training and Gary was finally starting to get it, not all of it but enough that Blue felt like progress was actually being made.
During that time Ash had also rechallenged Blue and actually managed to win though it was exceedingly close each of them down to just one Pokémon. Ash was ecstatic and Gary seemed like he wasn't sure if he should be happy or upset about it.
Red and Blue however were equally proud and congratulated him.
It was later that day when Red fished out his phone and started typing before showing it to Ash who's off to the side of the Gym with him.
‘I've been meaning to ask. You told us about the insane things that have happened over here in your world. But you never mentioned really any of the champions showing up to help.’
“Oh yeah. No, it's very rare for any of them to show up and help with anything. It's usually just me and whoever I'm traveling with.”
Red paused for a long moment.
“Uhh Red?” Ash asked cautiously.
Red starts typing again before once again showing him the phone, ‘You're telling me that there were rarely any champions, if any helping you with disastrous events, that it was usually just you and your friends dealing with everything?’
“Uh….yeah?”
‘You're serious, aren't you?’
Ash just nods, completely lost on why he is so hung up on this.
Red just walks over to Blue completely ignoring Ash's confused noises and starts tapping his shoulder repeatedly.
Blue makes a disgruntled sound, “WHAT!?” he snaps when Red doesn't stop. His friend just grabs him and drags him back over to Ash and gestures at him a bit sporadically.
Both Ash and Blue blink at him utterly confused. Red gestures a bit more adamantly, and Ash hesitantly repeats what he told Red in hopes it's what he meant.
Blue freezes and his face crumples as Ash finishes his retelling. “You're kidding right?” He sounds a bit desperate.
Ash in complete honesty is beyond lost at what exactly has got these two acting like this. “I'm not sure what the big deal is.” He admits.
Blue ignores him as he looks back at Red eyes searching his. “Is he kidding?”
Red sighs before signing his answer, ‘I really don't think so.’
Blue explodes.
“WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! IF WE DIDN'T- WHAT PATHETIC EXCUSES- THEY DARE CALL THEMSELVES CHAMPIONS?!”
The sleeping piles of Pokémon curled up in different corners all startle awake at the shouting.
Gary and Ash share a concerned glance.
Blue paces back and forth as he digests this new information, “Wait ok hold on hold on. What exactly do you think champions are supposed to do?” It's directed at Gary and Ash.
The two share a look, “You're the spokesperson for the region and the most powerful trainer.” Gary answers before Ash can.
Blue gestures with his hand, “Anything else?”
“No?” Ash asks more than states.
Blue closes his eyes and breathes out a deep sigh. “We’re the fail safes and figureheads as well. We are the first line of defense if things go wrong because we’re the strongest. We are also involved in practically everything that happens in the region.”
“You're saying we, but you're not the champion anymore.” Gary points out flatly.
Blue rolls his eyes, “In Kanto’s eyes we're both the champions since we're evenly matched and also attached at the hip. You don't get one of us without the other.” He shrugs.
Red nods as he walks over not disputing it and thus proving it true.
“The point is it's quite literally the job of any Champion to help with anything that's going on in their region. Or to even go over to other regions to help if it's a big enough issue. So, It is an utter failure and an insult to the title that none of the champions ever help.”
Ash just shrugs, “I mean, I'm pretty used to it.”
Red huffs.
“You shouldn't be, in fact… you know Ash you should give the league another try.” Blue suggests his eyes lighting up with a familiar spark Red recognizes.
Red perks up but nods in agreement unsure of his plan but trusting him enough to go along with it. While also just agreeing with the sentiment.
“Wait, really?” Ash sounds unsure.
Blue smirks, “I mean you've been dealing with it all, you deserve the title if you can earn it. And besides you beat me I think you have a shot.”
“You weren't going all out.” Ash grumbles but Blue shrugs, “Maybe not, but I wasn't exactly going easy either. You're ready, I know you can manage it.”
oO0Oo
Red and Blue are in the Lab talking with Professor Oak and expressing their concerns to him.
“That is an issue I have seen but I wasn't exactly in the position to say anything.” Oak had admitted.
He wasn't wrong for as well respected as he was he was no Champion. It was also no small thing to try and reprimand a bunch of champions who were content with their title and little more. Red and Blue, however, had little better to do and they felt quite passionate about this perceived failing.
“Don’t worry about it Gramps. We can deal with it all if you could just call them and get them to come to the Gym. We would be more than happy to see what we can do about the rest.”
Professor Oak just chuckled and shook his head, “I'd be happy to just don't cause too many issues.”
Red chuckled, ‘We can't make any promises.’ Blue translates and The Professor just blinks at them.
It was as good as the Professor would get however and he seemed to know it, he just waved them off and said he'd send a message with one of the boys when he knew for sure. They thanked him and left.
“Do you think we'll be able to manage it?” Blue asked. Red shrugged, ‘I think we have a good chance.’
Blue just nodded, he had a pretty good feeling about it too. And they were about to have a pretty damn good bargaining chip as well.
The Gym was empty when they got there, which wasn't a surprise they just had to hope it would be good news when the two came back. Until then all they could do was wait.
It was a bit after midday when Ash came crashing into the Gym, eyes gleaming and Blue just laughed in delight as Red cheered.
“I DID IT!”
“We're so proud of you kid we knew you could do it!” Blue told him as he walked up and through an arm around him pulling him into a side hug. He was then released to Red who did the same.
“We told you you could.” Red grumbled lowly and Ash just nodded, still smiling ear to ear.
Blue looked up to see Gary who didn't seem to know how to feel, he'd been there. He left the two to go and check on his counterpart.
“So how does it feel?”
“Not great…should be me.”
“Yeah, well maybe one day it can be.”
“Do you really believe that?” Gary asked derisively.
Blue just shrugged, “I don't know me and Red go back and forth all the time. He just keeps the title because I got other stuff to do, and I really don't want it anymore.”
Gary blinked up at him in surprise, “What?”
Blue smirked, “I mean it when I say we're evenly matched. If we wanted to, we could trade the title back and forth. But he's better suited for it, and I'm better suited here.”
The kid didn't seem to know what to make of that. But he did insist Blue continue his lessons despite everything and the man easily agreed. And to little surprise the kid seemed to really be taking it in this time.
The next day when the two came over they said that the Professor said to tell them the champions would be over here later today. Little else was done but set up tables and chairs while trying to make the Gym look presentable.
It was a slow trickle but eventually everyone showed up, and they all seemed beyond confused at the sight of Red and Blue who weren't doing much but just waiting around.
Ash however got a warm greeting from nearly everyone. Gary too got a few warm greetings and the two kids seemed more than amused with the confused muttering and vague gestures towards their counterparts.
It didn't bother Red or Blue at all however, and when everyone was seated, they finally explained the purpose of all of this.
The chamber was quiet. Eight champions sat in a semicircle Lance, Steven Stone, Wallace, Cynthia, Alder, Iris, Diantha, and Leon each a symbol of their region’s pride. But tonight, pride had no place.
Blue stepped forward, steps echoing across the polished floor. He didn’t sit. He stood behind one of the three empty seats, flanked by Red, silent as ever.
“I’m sure you’re all wondering why you’re here,” Blue said, voice calm but edged.
A few murmurs of agreement. No one dared interrupt yet, but some of the looks leveled his way said that wouldn't last for long.
“Well, we asked for you.” He gestured between himself and Red. “Because we have concerns. Serious ones.”
He let that settle.
“Ash Ketchum, you all know him. About a month ago, he was pulled into our world. No warning. No support. Just a kid dropped into a completely different place that wasn't his home.”
Steven Stone leaned forward, analytical. “Another universe?”
“Yeah,” Blue said. “Ours. And we? We got sent here by an Ultra Beast. We’re stuck until Sun, our Alolan Champion figures out how to bring us back.”
That earned nods. They’d felt the cracks in reality. Some had seen them firsthand.
“But while we’ve been here, we’ve seen something that's worried us. Ash has stopped catastrophe after catastrophe. And most of the time? He was alone.”
Silence.
Blue’s tone hardened. “Let me rephrase. You’re telling me that none of you except maybe a handful ever stepped in to help this kid while he was saving your region?”
Cynthia’s gaze flickered. Diantha looked away. Leon’s usual swagger dimmed.
Blue frowned. “Then what exactly do you think your job is? To battle in stadiums? To wear a title and ignore the responsibility of it? You left it to a child.”
His voice rose, not in volume, but in fury.
“I wouldn’t be okay with that. I wouldn’t sleep at night knowing I let a kid carry the weight of the world.”
Alder stirred. “We didn’t ask him to—”
“No,” Blue snapped. “You didn’t. But you didn’t stop him either.”
Wallace crossed his arms, defensive. “Who are you to judge us?”
Blue chuckled not kindly. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pendant and a badge. Red mirrored the motion, stepping forward to stand beside him.
The room shifted. The air felt thinner.
‘We’ve earned our titles. We protect our people. We don’t abandon children to fight our battles.’ Red's normally smooth signing was more jerky, but Blue translated diligently as he always did
Blue's voice was low as he spoke his own thoughts again.
“We watched Ash for a week. Not because he needed us but because he wasn’t home. That’s what champions do.”
No one spoke.
Iris looked down, fists clenched. Leon’s jaw tightened. Cynthia’s expression was unreadable, but her silence spoke volumes.
The rest of the meeting followed in that same silence, and it was quite the gut punch to the guilty parties when Ash was introduced as their newest champion.
One who would actually do his job and show everyone what it meant to hold the title.
oO0Oo
Blue just lets out a sigh of relief. As soon as the meeting (ass chewing really) was done. As soon as everyone was out the door some quicker than others Gary had walked up to Blue.
“What else do I need to learn?”
Blue was hit with so much deja vu in that moment. He was transported back to when he had asked that exact thing of Brock all those years ago. He'd stumbled into the man's Gym, lost and utterly defeated after trying and failing to push away him and the other Gym leaders who had tried to teach him.
“Really you got most of it down I think, but you just need some practice and patience, something I'm not sure I can teach. A lot of people who will come here are going to be children and it's your job to help those around the city as well. A lot of knowing how to handle that is just trial and error.”
Gary seemed to think the words over before nodding to himself, “But you have tips, I'm sure.”
Blue put an arm around him, “Oh you bet I do!”
Ash and Red from their place of putting up the tables and chairs watch on with smiles.
“How in the world did you guys do this in just a week?” Ash asked with a snicker.
Red fished out his phone and typed an answer, ‘You guys really aren't that different from us. We just had to condense what helped us, and besides we couldn't have done it without you either.’
“I just beat him once.”
‘Yeah, and so did I when we were kids.’
The next day was nothing special and honestly a lot of sitting around as Blue discussed the technical stuff of running a Gym, which wasn't fun or exciting. It actually sucked. Having to have Gym Trainers, assistants, and greeters. It was a lot of work to get started.
Red looked about ready to fall asleep himself and neither Ash nor Gary wanted to know just how many times Red had to hear Blue complain about all of this. No one had a clue where to start however and decided to just relax for the day or they were going to until Gary had asked an innocent question.
“Wait, you caught the legendary birds. Does that mean you know where they are in this universe?”
The two men share a glance before Red signs out a response Blue translates, ‘Which one do you want to see?’
The answer is Moltres and they all start in the direction Red heads in as he hops on his Charizard. It doesn't take them that terribly long to arrive, and as soon as they step foot in the cave Red is already signing.
‘Remember this is a very powerful Pokémon who won't be as nice as ours.’ Blue translates as per usual.
And Red wasn't lying, the bird they met isn't exactly welcome to company and it showed it. They had to all dodge out of the way of a Flamethrower.
But neither of the men went to throw out a Pokémon. Blue just growls at them that It was their idea so they were going to deal with it.
So, Gary and Ash do just that. And with the two of them it doesn't take long to whittle the thing down until it is beyond tired but still spitting mad.
“Can…can we catch it?” Gary asks unsure. Ash doesn't seem particularly interested, just fascinated to see the bird up close.
“If you want to but it doesn't mean it will stay.” Blue told them as he walked up as well.
Gary decided he was going to give it a try anyway. And with the Pokémon in a Pokéball they left to go heal it up and show it to the Professor.
On the way back to the lab however, they are interrupted. Blue immediately is trying not to laugh as the same two people and their Meowth appear this time without a disguise.
Red just sighs deeply.
Before they can try anything however Blue chokes out a question, “Wait wait hold on. You guys know Team Rocket is disbanded right?”
The trio freeze.
“W-WAIT WHAT?” James asks.
Ash just nods, “Yeah Giovanni is gone, hey wait actually what happened to him?” Ash directs that to Red.
He shrugs a little too carelessly and Blue shakes harder as he tries to hold back any laughter.
“What are we going to do now?!” Jessie cries.
“We're out of a job!” James bemoans.
“How are we going to eat?!” Meowth asks.
Gary looks at Ash, “Uhh.”
“You can't seriously be considering it?” Ash asks him somewhat desperately.
Blue starts laughing, unable to help himself as he realizes what is going on. They can't be serious, they can't be!
Red also starts laughing as he puts the pieces together. Not long after they discussed the champions, Ash had admitted the Team Rocket members they had met at the beginning of the week had actually been more helpful than the champions themselves.
Which Red thought was quite telling.
He’d truthfully admitted they really weren't all that bad. Annoying yes but honestly, they seem to be good people at heart.
Gary gives them the offer without any preamble and it stuns the group silent.
“Are you actually offering that?” Jessie asks bewildered.
Gary shrugs, “I mean we need trainers and you guys are as good an option as any.”
Ash nods along with the sentiment.
Blue and Red are laughing so hard they're crying.
oO0Oo
The next few days nothing really happens. The Gym is set up and reopened with a new Gym Leader and the two older champions are just waiting for their ticket back home.
“You know I'm starting to miss home right about now.” Blue grumbles as he watches the first trainer in the new Gym. Umbreon is on his lap sleeping happily.
‘You and me both, but we're not done with the Battle Tree yet.’ Red's Pikachu and Mimickyu are at his side, chattering at one another.
“Yeah well I'm about tired of it, If I get thrown through one more universe I'm going to lose it.”
‘A yet unknown side effect of being a champion apparently. Up there with having to help fix a different universe's league of champions and restarting a Gym.’
Blue chuckles and rolls his eyes, “You know I think the universe hates us sometimes.”
‘No, it's just that we don't know when to quit.’
“Yeah…I think it's a bit of both.”
It's just over a week when that familiar rift opens up. It's after the Gym is closed and Ash and Gary are getting ready to go home.
Blue cheers at the familiar sight and when Sun comes bounding through with Solgaleo it's a welcomed sight.
“Sun! It's good to see you kid.”
“Hey guys I'm sorry this happened again. But you know how it is” The kid sounded tired, and the two men could relate.
“We know kid, we know.”
Sun happily greeted Ash again and introduced himself to Gary who introduced himself in turn and took it upon himself to explain what they had all been doing.
Sun seemed very intrigued by the whole thing, and they all chatted for a while longer but eventually it was time to go. Red and Blue started with their goodbyes, but they were cut off by a question from Ash.
“Wait. It would be really unlikely we will ever meet again. Is there any way we could communicate across universes?”
Sun seemed to think the whole thing over before looking at Solgaleo and then back to the portal. “Hold on, I have an idea.”
Before anyone could say anything Sun went back through with Solgaleo and the portal closed.
“We're never going to get home!” Blue cried dramatically. Red shoved him with his shoulder and Blue turned to scowl at him again, but before they could start fighting the portal opened once more and this time it wasn't only Solgaleo. Another cosmic looking Pokémon joined the metal legendary.
“This is Lunala.” Sun said.
“Huh.” Blue muttered impressed.
Sun asked for their phones which were handed over easily. He then explained what exactly they had requested to the legendaries.
Their heads started to glow with power and symbols appeared. With a flash of light the humans had to shield their eyes from, it was done.
They each took their phone back before the two men glanced at each other having a silent discussion on who was going to test it by going to the portal first.
They ended up deciding on Blue who gave his goodbyes before hopping back through the portal. A second later Ash’s phone pinged with a message and they all grinned.
“Well, now that we know it works let's get going.” Sun calls and yeah it really is time to get out of this world.
Red pulls them both into a hug and mutters his goodbyes before he's off.
As the portal closes it's just Ash and Gary that are left.
“Well that was something.” Gary mutters.
Ash chuckles but doesn't deny it.