Blue leaned back in his chair, phone pressed to his ear, a lazy grin on his face.
"Hello, Whitney. My dear childhood friend."
The voice on the other end was unmistakably Whitney's—breezy, teasing, and just a little annoyed.
"Well, well. Look who remembers I exist. Blue Oak, in the flesh—calling me after what, a month? Did you lose a bet or something?"
Blue chuckled, unfazed. "Relax, I've got a good reason. I'm calling with a job offer—tailor-made for you. You can say yes now and save us both time… or say yes later, after I sweeten the deal. Either way, we both know how this ends."
Whitney laughed, a low, amused sound. "You really haven't changed a bit. Remember when we were kids and swore we'd work together one day?"
"I remember you swore it. I just said it was inevitable."
"Well, it just so happens I've been offered a Gym Leader position over here," she said, her tone shifting slightly. "Think your offer's better than that?"
Blue's voice turned confident—cocky, even. "Oh, mine's way better. Come to Pallet Town. We'll talk over a good meal. My treat."
Whitney paused. He could practically hear her weighing the decision.
"…Alright, Oak. I'll hear you out."
"Perfect," Blue said, already smiling as he ended the call.
Of course he needed her. Whitney was more than just strong—she was notorious. Her Miltank was a terror that haunted the dreams of young trainers across Johto. What Kanto needed wasn't just a Normal-type Gym Leader.
It needed Whitney.
And Blue wasn't leaving without her.
———
Blue stood at the edge of Mt. Moon, arms crossed, grinning smugly. The late afternoon sun bathed the jagged cliffs in gold, while Cerulean City glimmered in the valley below, its rooftops catching the light like scattered coins. A few stray Pidgey fluttered past in the breeze, and somewhere inside the cave, a distant Zubat screeched.
Then, out from the cave mouth staggered a familiar figure: red cap pulled low, dusty clothes caked with dirt, half-torn backpack hanging off one shoulder, and an expression that screamed I have seen things. The look of someone who'd been chased by too many Geodude and regretted every life choice leading to this point.
"Red!" Blue called out, arms wide like a victorious older brother. "How's my favorite neighbor doing? First time through Mt. Moon, huh? Miserable place to start."
Red didn't speak. He never did much. Just gave a curt nod and summoned Pikachu onto his shoulder. The electric mouse's cheeks sparked faintly as it settled in, twitching its ears like it too was done with today.
Blue sighed. "I'm not here to battle, alright?"
Red blinked.
"...?"
That eternal confusion painted across his face—half suspicion, half boredom.
"To be clear," Blue said, raising both hands as if warding off another Thunderbolt, "I'm already Champion."
Red tilted his head slightly.
"...?"
"Yeah, long story. Look, you can challenge me once you've got all eight badges. I'm here for something else."
Red's brow furrowed.
"...!"
"Stop being dramatic!" Blue rolled his eyes and paced a little, kicking a pebble off the cliff's edge. "Listen, I'm in serious need of strong trainers. Kanto still has a bunch of Gym Leader positions open—Bug, Flying, Dragon, Dark, and Normal. Oh, and Blaine's technically still around, but let's be honest, I think he's finally cracked. His island's just lava and riddles now."
He gave Red a long, appraising look. The wind stirred the edges of Red's cap, and for a moment, Blue could almost see the fire in him—still banked, but growing.
"You picked Charmander, right? Your name's Red, your outfit is red, your soul is apparently red—you're a perfect match for the Fire-type Gym."
Red pointed at Pikachu, who sparked in protest.
"Yes, yes, you've got your little electric mascot. But it's about the theme! Fire fits your brand."
Red tilted his head.
"...?"
"Look, we'll keep it simple. Once you've got all eight badges, we battle. If you win, I leave you alone—forever. But if I win? You're taking the Fire-type Gym. And since you're such a stubborn legend-in-the-making, you're joining the Elite Four too. Deal?"
Red: "..."
"Perfect."
Red blinked slowly. "…?"
Blue groaned. "No, I haven't visited your mom in the past month. Why are you so obsessed with that?!"
Red's eyes narrowed with laser precision.
"…!"
Blue hesitated, then threw up his hands. "Yes, alright! I had a crush on her, okay?! Your mom is gorgeous!"
Red froze.
Pikachu turned—ears twitching.
Both stared at him.
Red: "...…"
And then, without a single command…
Pikachu hit him with a Thunderbolt.
"GAAHH—Damn, I hate Electric-types!" Blue choked, collapsing in a twitching heap. "...Still worth it."
Pikachu gave a satisfied snort.
Red adjusted his cap, turned without a word, and began his descent down the mountain trail. Pikachu followed, tail flicking like a banner of justice.
Blue lay there on the rocks, staring up at the sky through a haze of smoke, mouth twitching into a lopsided grin.
"Classic Red."
———
Later that week, in Pallet Town, Blue stood at the station as the train pulled in. Out stepped Whitney, dragging a suitcase behind her and radiating the exact same chaotic energy that had terrified both neighbors and Pokémon professors alike since childhood.
"WHITNEY!" Blue called, arms open wide.
"BLUE!" she shouted back, immediately dropping her suitcase to launch herself at him in a tackle-hug.
They spun once, laughing, before separating with twin grins. Somewhere beneath the years, they were still the same wild duo who'd met during a holiday trip over a decade ago. Same spark. Same trouble.
As they walked into town, Blue nudged her. "So. What's that horror of yours up to these days? Still traumatizing schoolkids and the elderly?"
"Don't insult my Miltank," Whitney said, mock-offended. "She's an icon. Still undefeated, thank you very much."
They sat down at the local café. Whitney immediately ordered enough food to suggest she'd either fasted for three days or declared war on the kitchen.
"Still the same bottomless pit," Blue muttered affectionately.
"You're just jealous I can eat six burgers and still sweep a team."
Blue chuckled. "You're the only trainer my Blastoise ever lost to."
"To be fair, he was still a Squirtle. I'm not saying it didn't count—but, like, it didn't count."
Blue rolled his eyes. "And yet somehow, you never let it go."
Whitney leaned back. "But whatever you did to Lance... that was brutal. He vanished into the mountains. Johto's in chaos. No Champion. No Elite Four. You didn't just shake things up—you detonated the system."
Blue blinked. "And the guy had the nerve to yell at me for taking a week off."
She leaned in, lowering her voice. "Alright, spill it. What's the real plan?"
"You remember all those 'crazy' ideas I used to rant about? Rebuilding the League?"
"Vividly. You were ten and trying to unionize Gym Leaders."
"Well… I'm Champion now."
Her eyes lit up. "No."
"Yes."
"You're actually doing it?"
"Every part of it."
She went quiet. Then: "You're not just offering me a Gym position. You're building something real. And I'm not strong enough for that."
Blue grinned and reached into his bag.
"That's why I built a team for you."
He laid five Poké Balls on the table with a smug flourish.
Whitney's eyes widened. "No."
"Oh yes," Blue said, practically glowing. "The perfect Whitney team."
She opened the first one.
"CHANSEY?!" she shrieked. "Outside of Nurse Joy, who gets a Chansey?!"
"Keep going."
She clicked through the others: Starly. Slakoth. Teddiursa. Munchlax.
Her jaw dropped. "IT'S PERFECT. Wait—who's the little bird? Wasn't Kangaskhan in that slot?"
"Yeah, originally," Blue admitted. "I know you want your whole 'cuddly team of Normal-types who are actually monsters' vibe. And you'll get a Kangaskhan, eventually. But I swapped it for Starly."
She narrowed her eyes. "Why?"
"Fighting-types."
She scowled. "Damn those martial artists."
"I know. But that puny bird? It'll wreck them. Just trust me."
Whitney stared at the Poké Ball, then nodded solemnly. "Alright, if it can crush the Black Belts, it stays."
Blue leaned forward, grinning. "Promise me one thing, Whitney. Start every battle with Miltank. Always. Nothing spreads despair like realizing the fight starts with her."
She squealed and hurled herself across the table again, locking him in a Machamp-grade hug.
"THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!"
After half-strangling him with gratitude, she sat back down and cradled her new Munchlax like a plushie.
"Okay, okay… I'll have to talk to my parents. They won't love me skipping Johto."
"They're retired, right?" Blue said, rubbing his ribs. "Bring them. Kanto's got no shortage of sunny little towns with porches and weird fruit trees."
"…That's actually not a bad idea."
"Got a preference for where you live? Quiet little hamlet or wild chaos?"
"Big city," Whitney said instantly. "You know I need drama in my ecosystem."
"Perfect. You're going to Viridian."
She blinked. "Wait. Wasn't that Giovanni's Gym?"
"Exactly. You're replacing him."
"But people avoided him until the last badge!"
"And they'll avoid you too. Out of sheer trauma."
"I'M NICE!"
"You're horrifying."
"Blue!"
He only grinned.
"Pack your bags, Whitney. Kanto's ready for you."
She let out a long, theatrical sigh. "First you bribe me with Pokémon… then you bury me in responsibilities. Classic Blue."