Burning Leaf

Red's finally in a relationship now. I thought it'd never happen.

I'd grown up alongside Red. When our friend turned mean and started being a bully, we still had each other. When we turned ten, Red ran out into the wilderness alone, but Professor Oak stopped him and brought him back to the lab. He called me over, and, together, we chose our first Pokémon. He chose Charmander, and I was left with Bulbasaur.

Our rival took Squirtle, and I watched as, almost every time, his Pokémon used its type advantage against Red's Pokémon. During those times, I'd felt like it was my duty to protect Red. I had the Pokémon who our rival's was weak to. But Red had the Pokémon strong against mine.

Just like that, I knew I had a weakness for Red. I knew I wanted to protect him. One day, and I met up in Lavender Town, where we met our rival. Our rival taunted us for coming when none of our Pokémon were dead. He told us he'd make them faint, with the implication that he wished he could give us that reason for being there. I hated our rival then. For making Red hurt.

Later, Red left for Silph Co. alone, to battle Team Rocket. He had me wait behind, but I followed him. Even though he was stronger, I had seven Gym Badges, and I could do things he couldn't. When I found him, our rival had battled him in the middle of the takeover and left him to battle a dangerous criminal all alone. Red could have died, but our rival just left.

I found Red then, and told him I'd help him, but Red said no. He took my hand, and he told me to go back and make sure the hostages were okay. I understood. This was his battle.

I still remember the warm flutters down my arm and the feelings a ten year old girl couldn't understand when he took my hand again and gave me a Poké Ball.

It was a Lapras, he told me. It had been given to him by a Silph employee out of gratitude, but it was too young to fight, and I should go take care of it. I didn't want to leave Red. But I did.

We got our eighth Gym Badge and defeated Team Rocket together. Just as we'd always been, we were inseperable. We crossed Victory Road together, and found ourselves at the Indigo Plateau, ready to battle for the Championship.

Red almost lost to me, but it was better to say that I had almost won against him. I was better at battling, but he was better at raising his Pokémon. The way they battled, in sync with one another, could not be matched. Not by me, not by anyone. Red truly was the strongest Trainer in the world. A real, once-in-a-lifetime prodigy.

Or so we thought. I could only watch as our rival beat him to his goal. I feared for the worst when Red was down to his last three, but the more our rival boasted about his strength, the more it became apparent that he would not win. This was Red's final test, and in a matter of turns, Red's last three Pokémon were still standing, happily cuddling up to their Trainer as our rival's last battler was recalled. He'd won.

Professor Oak was happy for us. He gave us a new Pokédex upgrade and told us about all kinds of new species in the Islands. Our rival, too, was told to set out and explore. But Red left then, saying he needed to train more.

I saw him again several times when we explored the Sevii Islands. Our rival recovered the Sapphire, and I, the Ruby. Without their help, I sought out and took down the last of Team Rocket.

By then, we were old enough to know better about our feelings. Red was my first kiss.

He told me he had to go train alone and do some soul-searching, and Professor Oak gave him special permission to enter a harsh part of the world too dangerous for normal Trainers. I was scared for Red, but the Professor assured me he'd be fine. Red never called, never visited, and we grew sick with worry, but we were proud of him.

Our rival went on to become a powerful Gym Leader. I continued as a wandering Trainer, and, soon, our rival joined me. He'd grown up and learned to care more for his Pokémon, and so it wasn't long before he learned to be my friend again.

One day, he left to find Red, and left me alone. He did what I could never do, and he brought Red back, all on his own. I'd never seen Red smile so much. Our rival told me that Red had been very depressed and quiet, but he'd made him see sense and brought him around. Just like Red had done for him.

Red promised he'd come back for me, but instead, he's come back for our rival. We were almost together, just young kids getting ready for the adolescent thrill of romantic discovery, but Red isn't looking at me that way anymore. He's looking at our rival in ways I know he could never look at me. His feelings are strong, and our rival makes him so, so happy.

All I've ever wanted was to protect Red and make him happy. Seeing him happy is all I've wanted from him. And I'm happy for him, because he loves our rival, and our rival loves him. Our rival is, deep down, a good person. He's even friends with the Johto Champion, the golden-eyed boy who says he beat Red.

I'm happy that Red is happy, but maybe I'm selfish, too. Red spares my feelings by not talking about it and keeping away from our rival when we're together, but he knows I'm hurting.

I'm happy for him, but is it so wrong that I'm a little jealous, too?