Finding My Voice

Red Vs Blue.

My Pokémon landed as Kingdra took damage from Ivysaur's poison. "Giga Impact!" Kingdra lunged forward and rammed into the tiny turtle Pokémon, tossing him away.

Just what I wanted! Move to Kingdra! Squirtle's eyes snapped open as he charged in. Kingdra was completely exposed and now needed to recharge. Get above Kingdra and finish this with Skull Bash! Squirtle spun across the ground and jumped up.

He tucked his head into his shell, and fell into the opposing Pokémon. Kingdra was forced to stand there as Squirtle rammed his skull into the beast's head.

Kingdra tumbled over, and Squirtle stood victorious.

Blue clutched Kingdra's Poké Ball as he returned it, and began to laugh.

"I'm seriously losing to a kid? This cannot get worse! You're supposed to be a nobody! An easy target to prove how strong I am!"

"Blue, what is going on here?" Daisy asked him from the sidelines. "What is with you? It's like you've become a completely different person? Yellow feels the same way, you know."

Blue went silent for a moment. "Don't bring her up."

"What happened to you?" Daisy demanded. "What happened to my brother?"

"You ever wonder why I decided to take on the gyms here instead of finishing up Johto?" Blue asked. "I couldn't get the final badge. I beat Clair, but she wouldn't give me the badge until I passed a test in the Dragon's Den. Some trial of worthiness or whatever... and I failed. So I went to Kanto, where there were no tests. Only to be surpassed by everyone around me."

I looked at Blue and felt unsure of what I should do. Blue... you don't have to be stuck here. You aren't a failure, you're carrying on your parents' legacy. If you didn't want that you would've quit by now! Isn't the fact you've made me such a better trainer proof that you're good at this? Just because you aren't the strongest person in the region doesn't make you any sort of failure.

Blue paused, shaking his head. "I keep trying to block out the voice, but I can't. Is it... you? How are you doing this?"

Blue, you might be a bit of a jerk, but I can connect with people I have a strong bond with. We have a connection, doesn't that prove what I'm saying?

A small smile crossed his face. "Alright kid, let's finish this." He threw the Poké Ball into the air and Typhlosion appeared. The flames on his neck flared to life and the room temperature rose 10 degrees. "Give me everything you've got! We'll see if you've really learned!"

Squirtle faced down the mighty badger and started to run in. Rapid Spin! Squirtle dove into his shell and spun across the ice. "Typhlosion use Eruption!" White hot fire burst from his neck. A wave of molten heat melted all of the ice and slammed into Squirtle.

The turtle went flying into the air, at the limits of his stamina. Hydro Pump! Squirtle launched a torrent of water down at Typhlosion.

Blue's Pokémon held up his arms to absorb the attack. "Thunder Punch!" Electricity surged through Typhlosion's arms and up the stream of water, electrocuting Squirtle.

The turtle fell to the ground, having been defeated. I returned him and sent Pikachu in next.

Use Thunderbolt! Pikachu charged electricity around his body and launched it out at the foe. "Use Scorching Sand!" Typhlosion dug his claws into the dirt and kicked it into the air. Then, he spewed flames into it.

The cloud of sand absorbed Pikachu's attack. "Eruption!" From the sand, a rush of fire flew at my Pokémon. Dodge with Quick Attack! Then use Mega Punch! Pikachu darted out of the way of the fire.