"Pidgeot, Air Slash now!" Blue shouted to his Pokemon who was flying above the battlefield.

  "Machamp, use Bulk Up!" the gym leader called to his Pokemon,

  Both Pokemon called out and followed their trainer's order. Before Pidgeot could hit Machamp was able to pull off its move raising its attack and defense, when Pidgeot hit Machamp took some damage but seemed almost unphased by it

  "I see... Pidgeot, come in for another Air Slash!" Blue was hoping to cause the opposing Pokemon to flinch.

  While Pidgeot circled round to come in for another attack it gave the Machamp an opening,

  "One more time Machamp!" The gym leader boomed with confidence.

  The Machamp used Bulk Up, once again raising its attack and defense. Pidgeot closed in for its second attack, it hit but dealt less damage this time and didn't cause the Machamp to flinch.

  "Damnit..." Blue said to himself, agitated. 'Whirlwind isn't going to do anything and Return won't be effective... What would Red do in a situation like this?' he asked himself, remembering Red's battle a few days prior. His mind ran through different possibilities.
  He looked over to see Red already looking at him with a supportive smile on his face, their eyes locked, and Red gave him a thumbs up.

  Blue nodded and clenched his fist "We got this". He unclenched his hand and threw it in front of himself "Let's try this, Pideot, Mirror Move!".

  Pidgeot got ready as the gym leader called for his Machamp to use another Bulk Up. This time Pidgeot copied Machamp's move, both Pokemon having their attack and defense raised.

  "Hm, let's switch things up," the gym leader said "Machamp, Cross Chop now!"

  "Dodge it Pidgeot! Then Air Slash!" Blue shouted quickly. Pidgeot dove out of Machamp's reach narrowly avoiding the attack then readied itself.

  "Now!" Blue asserted himself.

  Pidgeot swung round landing its attack on Machamp, the Machamp fell to one knee, unable to move momentarily.

  "Machamp, Cross Chop again!" The gym leader ordered but Machamp didn't move.

  "Finally... This is it Pidgeot, Air Slash, and give it all you've got!" Blue bellowed, pointing directly at Machamp.

  Pidgeot called out while flying in with such speed, the crowd held their breath as the bird sped towards the Machamp, it's wings striking with ample force.

  Machamp fell back, a silence spread across the room. Both Blue and the gym leader watched on fiercely, desperate to know the outcome of the match.

  Red stepped forward and checked over Machamp, he put a hand in the air.
  "Machamp is unable to battle, Blue and Pidgeot are the winners!" he exclaimed as he swung his arm down to Blue's direction.

  The room was filled with cheers and applause.

  "Machamp, return," The gym leader said pointing the pokemon's Pokeball toward it. He laughed and approached Blue holding out his hand.
  "Congratulations Blue, I wouldn't expect anything less from a champion," he said with a softer smile. "Please, take this small token as a representation of your victory," he said opening his hand dropping a small badge into Blue's.

  "This is the Surge Badge that we give to anyone who earns the title of Kantonian at this gym, and I can say that you are definitely a true Kantonian" he laughed.

  Red and Blue thanked the gym leader and everyone else at the gym, they left the gym with Blue feeling ecstatic.

  Red quickly wrapped his arms around Blue catching him off guard for a moment but he soon relaxed and hugged Red back.

  "You totally killed it in there," Red said almost whispering, his voice softened more "Great job, I'm proud of you,"

  This made Blues face redden and he felt his cheeks warm up, he pulled back "Of course I did, 'cause I'm the greatest trainer there is!" Blue said trying to sound as confident as he could.

  Red laughed softly and smiled at him "I know" he responded warmly. He took Blue's hand and opened it revealing the badge he just received, he took the badge and pinned it to Blue's shirt.
  Blue didn't say anything yet still appreciated the small gesture and managed to pull together a sheepish smile, his cheeks still flushed pink.

  "Where to next?" Red asked with a gentle smile changing the topic for Blue, and he was still curious about the rest of the day's events.

  "O-oh yes" Blue replied and checked the time "We still have a little time before lunch so we can probably look around some of the stores here if you like,"

  "Sure thing" Red smiled.

  The two found themselves in a store filled with small trinkets and jewelry. They browsed for a while then Red found himself locked onto a pendant, he picked it up and examined it. A bright blue stone held in silver, he held it up towards the light as it beamed through.

  "What'cha got there?" Blue said as he came up behind Red gently hitting his palm on his back.

  Red was startled "I-oh, nothing..." Red replied nervously as he hid the pendant in his hand.

  "Sure looked like something," Blue said intrigued,

  "Don't worry about it" Red responded with a nervous laugh trying to play it off,

  "Hmm... sure..." Blue pouted, yet complied but wasn't satisfied not knowing what Red was up to. He kept an eye on him while he browsed the store a little longer, he watched him walk up to the cashier and pay for something, he assumed it was the same thing he hid from him but couldn't see exactly what he was paying for.

  When Red had finished paying he walked back over to Blue with no sign of what he just purchased in sight.
  "I'm done here if you are," He said smiling at Blue.

  "Yeah, so uh... buy anything nice?" Blue asked curiously,

  "Just something small" Red responded with a smile and nothing more, he headed toward the exit, Blue followed still curious but wasn't going to press him anymore about it because Red seemed adamant that he wasn't going to tell Blue what he bought.

  "Where next?" Red asked rather cheerfully,

  "Next stop is Malie Garden, it's where to tower is I told you about earlier" Blue replied,

  "Ah I remember, let's go then," Red said.

  They arrived at the garden they were met with two statues of what seemed to be Growlithe on either side of a path heading down the middle of the garden.
  Blue told Red that he could choose anywhere in the garden for them to sit and Red decided on the far left.

  Blue dropped the backpack down from his shoulders in relief and sat down on the soft grass beneath them, "Any particular reason you chose this spot?" He asked Red who was rummaging through his own bag.

  He pulled out his notebook and a rather worn pencil. "Yeah, it has a great view of the garden with the tower in the background" Red replied as he gestured to the scene in front of them.

  "Ah, of course, I see" Blue smiled as he watched Red for a moment as he got to work, it had been a little while since Red had drawn anything.
  He unpacked the food and drink he had bought that morning and let Eevee out of his poke ball.

  When Red saw everything Blue took out he realised what Blue had been doing out so early in the morning, he stopped drawing and placed the book down next to himself.
  "You know you didn't have to do all this," he said softly,

  "I know, but I wanted to" Blue smiled a grin back at him.

  Red sighed a gentle laugh "And you should still be resting, you were only discharged from the hospital a couple of days ago" he said looking at blue with concern.

  "Don't worry yourself; I'm feeling much bet-" Blue confidently started to reply but Red cut him off by taking Blue's hand in his own.

"I'll always worry about you," Red said as he looked at Blue intently "Because..." he gently brought his forehead to Blue's closing his eyes and placed his other hand on Blue's cheek and brushed some hair out of his face with his thumb "I love you, you're very important to me, and I just want you to be safe."
  He pulled his head back and gazed into Blue's eyes "I want you to take it as easy as you can for the rest of the day, you've done enough... okay?"

  Blue didn't say anything but stared back at Red, his cheeks warm, he nodded.

  Red smiled and carefully leaned in towards Blue. With no objection from him, their lips met in a soft and gentle caress, Red's hand still on his cheek. Barely breaking contact Red whispered "Good" and kissed Blue again.

  Blue eventually pulled away and grinned "You need to promise me something," he said.

  Red was a little puzzled "And what would that be?" Red asked,

  "When we get home you'll battle me" Blue replied confidently.

  Red thought for a moment "Sure, another win to my name would be nice" Red said in a jokingly cocky tone.

  "We'll see about that... Champ" Blue responded with a grin,

  Red groaned as soon as Blue called him that, there was a small silence before they burst out laughing.

  They spent the rest of their time in the garden eating their lunch and talked about their previous battles while Pikachu and Eevee played around them in the grass.