These Silver Eyes

  Chapter 13: Supernatural

  "Silver, you've been officially authorized to carry extra pokemon."

  I blinked, surprise on my features at the information just given to me. I turned towards Lorelei with a tilted head.

  My aunt was smiling, before it was swiftly wiped away. "Well... it has come to my attention that you've been illegally carrying 7 pokemon with you... but you merely circumvented it, by allowing Janine to hold one of your pokeballs at all times," Lorelei informed me, pinching her nose as a slow exhale left her.

  "Seeing as Janine is no longer traveling with you, that brings you back to the core issue of only having 6 slots as your limits... while you carry 7, which is illegal. It's very illegal, Silver."

  My aunt seemed to stress that point and I nodded in agreement, getting her to let out another sigh at the total lack of fear and guilt on my face.

  "I got nowhere to send my pokemon," I said bluntly.

  Lorelei stared at me. "I assumed as much... but why not Viridian? That is where you are sponsored after all."

  "No," I denied, almost ferociously. I had to remind myself to remain calm.

  "My team stays with me."

  My aunt gazed at me with a tender expression and nodded. "Understood. That's why I allowed this. And before you ask, no I did not pull any strings. I gave a logical reason why and used your accomplishments of both the S.S Anne and Silph Co to further support it."

  She really did know me well. Her logical reasoning was sound.

  "When you inevitably go over your limit again, do speak to me. I will see what I can do for you," she informed me.

  Seriously, she knew me too well.

  "...Thanks Aunt. That's real sweet of you," I said truthfully, patting her on the head.

  Lorelei actually rolled her eyes. "Is a hug too much for you?" she asked, crossing her arms with a frown that looked too much like mine.

  Her shameless statement, brought a bark of laughter out of me and I pulled my aunt into a tight hug. "Thank you, Aunt. I appreciate it."

  She smiled brightly and squeezed me in return. "You may tell your other allies that they have received the same benefit as well. One extra slot for Green, Gold and Crystal."

  I nodded thoughtfully. "I'll let the Color Gang know."

  Lorelei blinked owlishly and gazed into my eyes. "Color... Gang? Wait a moment... it has just occurred to me, that you are all named after the color of your eyes," she gasped in realization.

  "Weird right?" I questioned in amusement.

  "Most strange," she agreed. There was a fascinated glint in her eyes.

  "I've never met anyone with a color as their name either... You all have the same color name as your eyes, happen to know each other and are some of the most talented trainers in your age group," she mused.

  I snorted. Was this main character privilege? Being the only one that existed with your name?

  Fun stuff. It was just one of those things I guess.

  I released Lorelei from the hug and began stretching.

  "I'm going to go bathe. We're gonna leave in the afternoon, since Janine wanted to hang out a bit before we left," I announced.

  Lorelei nodded. "Understood. Should you not wake Green up?" she asked in some confusion.

  My companion was unconscious to the world, sleeping with a happy grin on her face. She was drooling because even though she claimed not to, Green did in fact drool, and she had a death grip on Charcadet, who happily snored away as well.

  "Just let me enjoy some peace for a moment," I requested with a tired exhale. "Green's a terror in the morning anyways. She'll throw a fit at seeing it's only 6 am. I'll wake her up in like an hour or so after I'm done bathing."

  My aunt nodded understandingly. "Most have issue with awaking at 6 in the morning. I find it peaceful. The quiet, the atmosphere and the general peace, feels satisfying to me."

  I grunted. "I can agree to that. Getting the day started early, just feels more efficient."

  Lorelei smiled. "To that, I wholeheartedly agree. Now, go bathe. I'd like to take one as well. If you want we could-"

  "No. I'm not taking a cold ass bath with you. I know for a fact you don't put an ounce of heat in your water so I'll pass because I put a lot of heat in my water," I said dryly, grabbing a towel.

  My aunt blushed in embarrassment. "It helps me relax and clear my mind. You should try it one day. It's incredible for waking one's body up."

  "I'd rather die."

  "You're being dramatic, Silver. The cold is not as bad as you make it out to be." Lorelei shook her head at my words, taking a seat on our bed and pulling a book out of her bag.

  I stared at her incredulously. "I don't even think you're worth arguing with."

  My aunt spluttered at my words. "You are so incredibly rude-"

  I shut the door to the bathroom before she could even finish her sentence and stretched, groaning in satisfaction as my bones cracked in all the right places.

  I lazily scratched my cowlick and said, "I'm probably gonna hear about that afterwards."

  Eh, that was for future me to worry about. Current me could just laze about in the water.

  "Oh, Trainer Silver! Trainer Green!" Nurse Joy called for us, the moment we appeared in the lobby.

  Green and I perked up at that, turning towards the Nurse Joy who was beaming at us.

  "One moment please! I have a package for you two!" she announced, waving us over with the unnatural cheer that her and all her sisters had.

  I missed Joy. Next time I go to Hoenn, she was the first thing I was going to visit.

  I raised a brow at her excitement but nodded anyways. The two of us walked over to the Nurse, who proceeded to pull out two packages.

  "What's this?" Green asked curiously.

  "A gift, from Silph Co!" Nurse Joy explained, a bright smile on her face.

  "It's a reward to thank you for your help. So many people had nothing but praise for the 4 heroes who helped save Silph Co."

  I scoffed at her explanation. Heroes. Right.

  Green elbowed me in the ribs.

  "So did Gold and Crystal also get rewards?" I asked curiously, expecting the box with a neutral expression.

  Joy nodded happily. "You all received gifts! Many people that worked for the company, had nothing but praise for you all! Silph Co truly appreciate your efforts!"

  They probably wouldn't appreciate the fact that I had their only Master Ball.

  Green and I accepted our packages easily, staring at them with curious eyes.

  "Thanks Nurse Joy!" Green chirped, dragging me away to a more secluded spot.

  All the while, Lorelei trailed us with a small smile.

  "That reminds me. I have the items needed for your Charcadet," she informed me.

  "Oh yeah," I mused, nodding at that.

  The two little armor things that would decide what Charcadet wanted to become. I guess we should get him started on that.

  Our group sat down, ignoring some lingering gazes, and I wasted no time in opening my package.

  "At least anticipate it a little! You aren't savoring the surprise!" Green complained, following my lead with a scowl.

  I ignored her, rolling my eyes at her little tantrum, and inspected the contents.

  It was nothing too impressive. A variety of potions; 20 Hyper Potions, 10 Max Potions, 6 Full Restores... a couple of Max Revives, 5 of every pokeball...

  And in my package, was the TM for Psychic. I double checked with Green to make sure she didn't have it, before I began laughing wildly.

  Green saw the TM and sighed in disbelief.

  Seems like Sabrina actually had a code of honor. When I told her she should give me the TM I rightfully deserve... I didn't think she'd actually do it! Maybe the drama queen of a gym leader wasn't all that bad...

  Nah.

  I chuckled to myself and focused on the last object in my package.

  My brow raised in some curiosity. "Oh? What's this?" I mused, grabbing the gray watch out of the bag.

  It looked familiar. It wasn't an X-transceiver I know that... but they had somewhat similar properties.

  I had seen this before but I can't remember where.

  "Ohhh what is it?!" Green asked curiously, inspecting her similar green watch with wide eyes.

  Lorelei peered at it and identified our objects immediately. "That's a Poketch. It's a device that is typically manufactured in the Sinnoh region. A watch that doubles as a communications device with a variety of features that benefit both humans and pokemon," she explained.

  I hummed at that, impressed by the piece of technology.

  "You can link it with your Pokegear. It's a quick and efficient way to access applications. It also comes with its own applications, not that I'm aware of them."

  Green and I listened to her explanation, flicking our devices on. We took the time to link it to our Pokegears and I blinked, impressed as my information showed up on the advanced watch.

  "That's a nice reward. They even picked a nice color for me," I praised, latching the gray watch onto my wrist.

  "Haha we can communicate even faster. Look Silvy, it even has a walkie talkie feature!" she grinned, showing it to me.

  "We just have to do that... and then this and tada!" Green laughed.

  The last part of her sentence blared on my watch and I snorted in amusement.

  That walkie talkie feature was very handy. I wonder if someone heard us trying to use it in Silph and had it added to our devices, because I don't think that was a typical feature.

  "This is good quality of life. Faster to use than the Pokegear too. We'll have to communicate later with our gang... I'll convince Jasmine to get one too," I mused.

  "Get what?"

  We perked up and Green grinned as Janine smoothly slid into our booth. She was holding a bag that smelled way too good and pulled out the contents, revealing 4 bentos.

  "Poketch. Gift from Silph Co," I informed her easily, grabbing at one of the bento without hesitation.

  "You should buy one!" Green beamed, grabbing another with the same level of shamelessness.

  "Hello Janine," Lorelei greeted, accepting the bento out of Janine's hand with a polite smile.

  Janine smiled. "Hello Elite 4 Lorelei and a Poketch? Alright, I'll ask father for one. I upgraded my Pokegear as well," she mused, pulling out a gleaming purple Pokegear.

  My eyes glinted. "It worked out well I take it? Nice outfit."

  Our former companion nodded happily as she broke her chopsticks and dug into her plate. She neatly grabbed some rice and chewed it with a hum, taking the chance to show off her casual black crop top along with her jeans.

  "We did a little shopping yesterday... it appears we'll have to do a bit more today."

  I snorted abruptly at that, a chuckle leaving me. "So you figured out you really are a spoiled princess, huh?"

  "Almost overwhelmingly so," Janine agreed.

  Green cackled. "Wow! Who woulda thought Silver was right!"

  The ninja sighed despondently. "It's frustrating that it happens so often."

  Lorelei gazed at us with an exasperated expression. She was neatly and swiftly eating her bento, all while shaking her head at our antics.

  "I cannot believe you've influenced Janine, to shamelessly use her benefits," my aunt muttered.

  I shrugged. "I know what a spoiled person looks like. If I wanted, you would spoil me endlessly with no shame at all."

  Lorelei opened her mouth... and then shut it.

  "That's very fair. The offer will always stand," she decided bluntly.

  "You shouldn't ask him. Just do it. Silver is the type to appreciate gifts given to him without him saying a thing. You should see how hard he tries to hide his smile, whenever Green gives him something," Janine advised.

  Green perked up at that and shot me a blinding grin.

  Everyone ignored my incredulous glare and I watched as Janine diligently dug into her bento with no shame at all.

  "Ms. Lorelei, did you know Silver doesn't know how to use chopsticks?" Janine mentioned innocently.

  Lorelei blinked at that, red eyes immediately darting over to me and taking note of my very awesome and completely usable spoon and fork combo.

  She actually looked offended, as if me not using chopsticks was an egregious error in the matrix.

  "Green, if you would?" she asked, standing up.

  My companion nodded happily, standing up and swapping spots with her.

  I twitched in disbelief, even as Lorelei sat right next to me, sidling as close as possible.

  She snatched the spoon holding the egg, dropped the egg back into the bento and placed the spoon to the side, replacing it with chopsticks that I awkwardly held.

  "No see, you're holding it incorrect, Silver. Like this," she murmured. She placed those ice cold hands, that I was getting far too used to, on my hand and guided me on how to hold them.

  I can't believe this.

  "Count your days," I mouthed to Janine.

  She laughed shamelessly, digging back into her bento with a superior expression.

  "If I can't beat you, I'll just sick your aunt on you," she mouthed right back.

  "Pay attention, Silver," Lorelei scolded. "Try. Grab that egg."

  I twitched again, baleful scowl forming on my face.

  Janine was so dead.

  "Well done, Oberon," I praised calmly, watching as he felled the Wigglytuff.

  As his adrenaline died, my Teddiursa turned towards me with a wide smile. The aggression on his face vanished and I scooped him up easily as he charged me.

  "You're getting bigger too. Good, that means your healthy," I muttered, inspecting him with curious eyes.

  I didn't actually want him to evolve just yet but I did still plan on using him against Blaine.

  Oberon beamed and reached into his little fur pouch, pulling out a ruby pendant to offer me.

  I blinked owlishly at it, grabbing the gift.

  "Are you secretly a Meowth in disguise?" I asked curiously. I inspected it and scratched my head in confusion.

  When did he even get this? Just how deep was his fur? It had been growing quite a lot since I captured him but this was getting ridiculous.

  I know Teddiursa's with Pickup had a pouch beneath all that fur but... but just what did he have stored in there? How much could he hold?

  Eh, I'd figure it out as time went on. The surprise was pretty fun.

  "This is pretty cool. I think I'll put this one on," I decided, pocketing the ruby pendant.

  Oberon cheered happily and clambered onto my shoulder, sitting there with bright smile.

  I chuckled in amusement, eyes shifting over to the girl approaching me.

  "That was totally cool!" she gushed, not put out by her loss.

  I grunted in disinterest, barely paying the blonde much attention.

  My dismissal, was of course met with an unsurprising amount of resistance.

  "Your Teddiursa is so cute outside of battle. But he's a surprising little beast isn't he?!" she pressed.

  I finally shifted my gaze towards her, tilting my head and locking onto the person with a neutral expression.

  Pretty but largely uninteresting otherwise. She had some teal eyes of note but that was about all I noticed.

  "I don't know why you challenged me to a battle," I said bluntly.

  The girl blinked, twitching in surprise. "Huh?" she said dumbly.

  I effortlessly caught Charcadet and placed him on my other shoulder, tilting my head at the girl the entire time.

  "You aren't a battler," I observed coolly, leaving it at that.

  I could have explained to the npc that they battled purely with fundamentals and book knowledge but there was no point. That would require having a conversation and I couldn't be bothered.

  I turned away from the spluttering girl and stared out at the sea.

  We were at the beach on the outskirts of Fuchsia. It was about time we got ready to head out and that meant traversing through Route 19, which was basically all water.

  The beach was fairly packed. There were families strewn about, kids playing with their water pokemon... one kid trying to play with his grumpy Magby.

  How quaint. I wouldn't have applied such an environment to Fuchsia.

  "I didn't think you were capable of changing your clothing," Janine pointed out.

  I scoffed. "You're one to talk."

  "It's not an insult you know. I actually think you look good, besides the fact that you're still obsessed with only wearing 3 colors," she praised.

  To prepare for for our very watery trip, I had reluctantly opted out of wearing anything long-sleeved. I currently donned a black hawaiian shirt with red flowers dotted over it, along with some simple black shorts.

  "Three? I use black, red, gray and sometimes purple. That's four," I grunted, raking a hand through my hair.

  Where the hell were Lorelei and Green at? They did say they had some last minute stuff to do.

  "I'm going to be getting Petrel's Gengar."

  I paused at that and turned towards Janine. She had said it so lowly, I almost thought it was a trick of the ears.

  "Is that so?" I asked calmly. The two of us stared at each other for a long while... before I eventually nodded with a smirk.

  "Use it better than he could. Then show him the fruits of your labor," I advised.

  She nodded in agreement. "That was never in doubt. I'll make you proud."

  "Me? Why?" I asked.

  Janine smiled mysteriously, a dangerous glint in her eyes as she placed a hand against her pocket. "No reason."

  I snorted abruptly. "Right. No reason. Okay," I chuckled.

  She laughed lightly and dusted herself off. "People are beginning to recognize me. I'm going to go now. If I call you by the end of today, it's because I got the Poketch."

  "Did you bust out the tears?" I asked in amusement.

  Janine blushed in embarrassment and nodded. "They were extremely effective," she mumbled.

  Before I could even think to start teasing her, the ninja vanished from her spot.

  I stared at the empty spot and chuckled.

  To think she was actually going to get the Gengar. It was only something I sort of implied when I gave her a keystone... and even then, I didn't think she'd straight up ask for Petrel's own Gengar.

  What a thought. Maybe I corrupted her more than I intended to. She almost seemed unhinged.

  Good for her.

  I idly released Freyja from her ball, aiming it at the water, and watched as she let out a happy cry. She immediately lunged for me, only to let out a gasp of horror at spraying me with buckets worth of water.

  "Don't worry about it." I waved her off. My damp hair was now rooted to my head and I figured might as well get soaked early so that I could get used to it.

  Freyja crooned apologetically, a guilty look in her eyes. She nuzzled me and I snorted, patting her scales easily.

  "Woah!" someone gasped in the distance.

  It was then I noticed how many eyes were on Freyja and I.

  My Milotic left out a confused noise, still surprised by how much attention she was getting these days.

  Poor Freyja was still under the assumption that she was just slightly better than a Feebas. She had the confidence now, but she didn't grasp just how incredible she was.

  I snapped a finger and the approaching crowd screeched loudly, as a vicious Hydreigon appeared next to us. The pseudo legendary snarled at them, three mouths snapping warningly.

  Whoever thought of approaching me, wisely changed their decision as I continued to dote on Freyja.

  "I got a lot of new moves I want you to learn, Freyja," I commented idly, smiling fondly at her.

  Freyja gazed at me with a determined gaze and I laughed.

  "You're going to be my ace in the battle against Blaine, okay? It's your first time being the ace so let's give them a show they won't regret." I smirked and ran a hand against the cream colored spot between her hair like fins.

  Freyja let out a cry of determination, making my body go lax and causing the beach to let out a collective sigh. They momentarily forgot their terror at the very active Hydreigon and went back to doing whatever they had been doing before.

  Seriously, her and Gaia were going to make me lose my edge.

  "I'm sure you know, but everyone's eager to be the strongest on the team. When you were a Feebas, you didn't ever believe that was going to be you... but now you're in prime position to usurp the #1 position. I'll help you of course," I smiled.

  There were so many moves I wanted her to learn. I wanted her to hit as hard as Ares, while being as frustrating to defeat as Gaia... and overwhelming in a way unique to her.

  Freyja was going to be a real juggernaut. Completely unstoppable on the battlefield.

  "Silvyyy! We're ready!" Green shouted eagerly. She was wearing brown shorts, sandals, a brown sunhat and a long sleeve, form fitting green top that probably absorbed water quite well. The top looked a bit like something a surfer would wear.

  Lorelei also wore a sunhat, but her hat covered far more of her features than Green's did.

  She was wearing a long, purple, sarong skirt, and a flowing red hawaiian shirt, that was open to show a simple black tee underneath.

  "What took you guys so long?" I asked gruffly, watching them fearlessly approach the Hydreigon.

  "I required some last minute shopping," Lorelei explained, running a hand against Freyja with a small smile.

  "I told myself that if I wanted to go to Seafoam, I'd buy the necessary stuff for it. Since we're going, I decided to do that!" Green beamed.

  I stared at them and just waved it off. "Yeah yeah. Are we ready to go?"

  My group nodded.

  Another gasp erupted from the crowd, as Green and Lorelei both released their respective Lapras.

  I resisted the urge to whistle at the sheer size difference between my aunt's and Green's. Lapee was the average size of a Lapras, if not slightly larger but Lorelei's Lapras eclipsed her by a solid three feet.

  This was the cornerstone of her team after all. My aunt's Lapras was stern and kind, much like Lorelei herself. She was no nonsense, enforcing whatever the Elite 4 member said with a firm expression.

  She was also a complete monster. For all the battles she no doubt partook in, Lapras looked pristine. There was not even a blemish on her shell.

  Lapee eagerly swam up to the master levelled Lapras and the two immediately began conversing with one another.

  "Freyja, you're gonna be swimming me to Seafoam Islands. You fine with that?" I asked curiously.

  Fine, seemed to underestimate just how excited she was at the prospect of basically having me to herself. Freyja let out a noise of joy, practically singing to my bones and scooped me up with her ludicrous new strength.

  Without any hesitation, she sat me down on her giant body and rocketed off in any random direction.

  Good to know the Swift Swim from being a Feebas was still in effect...

  "Freyja, you're going the wrong way," I explained patiently.

  ...But maybe she was just a little too excited.

  Freyja abruptly stopped at that, submitting me to another large spray of water.

  "M-Milo..." Freyja mumbled, looking back at me and meeting my exasperated expression.

  "You're excited and testing out your new body... so I'll let it be for now. Take this time to train yourself though," I advised, watching as Lorelei and Green swam at a leisurely pace... in the right direction.

  "Lotic!" She said confidently.

  She adjusted her course and caught up to the two Lapras. She had a look of determination on her face and I could even see the water around her rippling as she began training herself.

  I smiled and ran a hand through her scale, before releasing Oberon from his ball. I'd bring out Charcadet but... the little fella got especially feisty when he got hit with water unexpectedly.

  "Alright Oberon... you're probably going to evolve into an Ursaring sooner rather than later but I don't want you to rush into it, okay? Evolution is an important process and we don't quite know your issues yet. But in the meantime, let's practice with something new."

  Watching Oberon at the Rocket Invasion, gave me a very fun idea and it was time for me to begin the early stages of it.

  My Teddiursa gazed up at me expectantly and I smiled, leaning against Freyja as she leisurely swam across Route 19.

  "I'm going to teach you how to wrestle and the core of it will revolve around Seismic Toss and Play Rough for now."

  Oberon nodded eagerly and I laughed because he probably didn't even know what wrestling was.

  Watching Oberon suplex a Pangoro, filled me with way too many ideas. I remembered how Ash's Charizard had a pretty unique version of Seismic Toss... so I was going to do the same thing.

  "Alright first things first... the core of your wrestling, will be making sure nothing ever gets away from you. I'm going to teach you how to grapple and utilize submission holds. We're just gonna give you an idea now. This should circumvent your biggest issue of being a close ranged specialist."

  He nodded eagerly. I smiled.

  Oberon had an exceptional amount of physical strength. Teaching him how to wrestle would be a great boon, that would turn legitimately terrifying when he became an Ursaring.

  Ursarings were dangerous and wild creatures. You never wanted to run into one because they wielded a devastating amount of strength and they were very much not afraid to use it on anyone foolish enough to step into their territory.

  God forbid you try and steal one of their berries. Oberon himself had a stash of food that he kept religiously and my little Teddiursa had amassed a little reserve of them when we traveled through the forests of Fuchsia.

  He was a good forager. Now I'm going to turn him into a monster of a wrestler. Wonder how many looks of terror I could invoke when trainers had to watch Oberon suplex their pokemon.

  "Silver you're making a scary face!" Lorelei called out.

  "It's your evil one. The one you make whenever you realize something that's going to cause misfortune for someone else!" Green supplied helpfully.

  I flipped them both off and continued my thought process.

  "I also want you to get used to channeling the different types of energy your learning. Fairy should be the most important for now... and maybe I can get you started on a ground type move for Blaine," I mused.

  Yeah, that would be pretty good. If only I had the TM for Earthquake. I'd just teach it to Oberon and even if he couldn't use a full fledged one, it'd still be more than good enough do what I wanted it to do...

  Actually...

  "Sorry Oberon, I'm suddenly giving you a lot of homework. After I give you the rundown on wrestling, I'm going to teach you a really useful move called Bulldoze that'll help you out a lot," I chuckled.

  Which reminded me...

  "Hey Leaf! Did Flint give you a TM?" I asked.

  She turned towards me and nodded. "Yeah! Rock Tomb! I've never used it though so it's just been sitting here."

  Stupid rotten old man.

  "Lemme use it," I told her.

  Green was about to nod, before she cupped her chin.

  "Call me cute... and Green! And then I'll do it!" she demanded.

  Lorelei stifled a laugh, at the sight of my eye twitching.

  "Freyja, drown her," I requested calmly. "We'll just take it by force."

  Green spluttered. "Y-You maniac! Freyja wouldn't drown me but just the fact you told her to, is insanity!" she gasped, hugging Lapee fearfully.

  Freyja, who had been guiltily charging up the water, slowly banished it at the absolute faith Green had in her.

  I grunted. "You're too nice, Freyja. Fine. Will the adorable Leaf allow this humble redhead to use her Rock Tomb TM?" I asked mockingly.

  She lit up. "I'll take it! Here you go!" she cheered.

  I accepted it with a roll of my eyes. "You know you're dead, right? Seriously, what did you expect?"

  Green squeaked in horror.

  Nothing eventful happened on Route 19. Unlike in the games, psychopaths were not the type to battle your surfing pokemon so we just idly scoured the route.

  We would occasionally see a swimmer but this far out, they were just people who were lazing about with their own water types or training for something.

  All of them never failed to do a double take at seeing a Milotic and two Lapras.

  Sometime during the trip, Lorelei had allowed some of her water types out. There was a sleek and powerful Dewgong, swimming next to us. It had noticed Freyja practicing with the water around us and curiously swam up.

  I didn't know what they were talking about, but I imagined by the understanding coo's coming out of her, it was a teaching moment.

  Lapee on the other hand, was being given advice by a Cloyster and Lorelei's own Lapras.

  Lorelei and Green were chatting about something involving Lapras and I took the time to teach Oberon fundamentals.

  Eventually, Charcadet got tired of being confined in his pokeball and released himself from the ball. To protect himself from the damning water, I just handed him over to the ecstatic Green, since Lapras were better at protecting from getting sprayed.

  It was peaceful... but not all peace was meant to last.

  A horrible shiver went through my body, as the temperature suddenly dropped. It got so cold, that my mood instantly soured.

  "Fucking hate this stupid cold," I hissed, rummaging through my bag.

  Charcadet must have sensed my pissy mood because the little fella did the herculean task, of detaching himself from the Green chatting with Lorelei.

  "Char!" he whined, holding out both his stubby hands.

  I glanced over at him and watched as Lapee dropped him off onto my lap. A sigh unintentionally left my body, as he instantly heated me up and I squeezed the little man.

  "You're not leaving my side for this trip," I said bluntly.

  "Cadet!" he cheered, seeing no problem with that.

  I smiled at him. "That reminds me. We should talk about your evolutions. You're nowhere near ready, but it's good to know what you're training to achieve."

  Charcadet's eyes turned into stars and he nodded vigorously.

  I smiled at him and pulled out my pokedex, flipping over to the pages that signified his evolutions.

  Armarouge and Ceruledge were two very different evolution paths for the Charcadet line.

  Aramarouge utilized the cauldrons on its shoulder as a cannon. The armor gave it the ability to use psychic powers...

  It was a ranged specialist, utilizing the cannons to fire powerful waves of fire, while also using it as a medium to channel its psychic abilities. They were said to be honorable, believing in fair play for battles.

  Ceruledge were the complete opposite. They utilized blades that were filled with ghostly and fiery energy. In battle, the swords could grow into greatswords that increased its closed ranged ability. Unlike Armarouge, they would utilize any means for victory.

  Both of them were pretty damn cool. I didn't really care which form he opted to become. I'd make either work well enough, so long as he didn't become completely useless in my presence.

  If he did become useless in my presence, then I'd just give him to Green. Better for her to have him than me and he could still see me whenever he wanted.

  Charcadet was sat on my lap, gazing curiously at the screen. His eyes were uncharacteristically serious and he was muttering in his tongue.

  Whatever he was debating was clearly of great importance.

  Eventually, he turned towards me with resolve in his eyes...

  And shrugged.

  I blinked. "You don't know yet, huh?"

  "Charcadet!" he beamed.

  I just laughed. "Alright then. That's fine with me. We'll go at our own pace," I assured, rubbing his armored head.

  "We still gotta focus up on your training though. You're old enough to really get into it..." I mused, running a hand through my hair.

  There was no shot he'd be ready in time for the final two gym battles... but maybe I could get him league ready if he showed promise.

  "Alright. Salazzle gave you pretty good fundamentals on understanding your flames... Let's teach you Fire Spin and Will-O-Wisp."

  "Char charcadet!"

  I laughed at him, before my attention was grabbed by the awed noise Oberon let out.

  Following his gaze, showed me the full moon above. He was utterly enraptured by the thing and I chuckled.

  Oberon loved the moon. I'd always catch him staring up at it when it was night time and he especially loved, when it was a full moon or the rarer New Moon.

  When there was no moon out, Oberon seemed to have taken a newfound joy in just gazing into my eyes. Apparently, they were not only a good substitute, but one that Oberon utterly adored.

  That was cute. Metang told me Ares mentioned my eyes "roaring like the moon".

  Seems both of them were quite enraptured by my eyes... Oberon moreso. Ares seemed enraptured by my entire character in general.

  Chosen trainer and all that jazz. I'm beginning to think she was dead serious about that and would attempt to kill anyone else who attempted to use her.

  Sigh, she was so adorable.

  "You really like the moon, huh?" I asked him softly, stroking his hair gently.

  He nodded rapidly and I chuckled.

  I'd have to keep in mind to bring him out more during the night. He'd probably appreciate it, especially during a Full or New Moon.

  I slid a pair of black gloves on, thicker than normal but not restraining my dexterity, and sighed to myself.

  Not even inside yet and I was still freezing to death. The cold caressed me to the bone and made me let out short breaths. There were no trees around, the foliage of Kanto unable to sustain themselves under such intense colds, and I idly grasped my canteen, full of hot tea (I had a huge pack of it, along with a nice pot that would heat up even under the cold).

  "You're being dramatic," Green exhaled, watching her cold breath form in awe.

  "Are you cold? Would you like to stay near me for warmth?" Lorelei asked, instincts flaring up at the sight of my shivering.

  I stared at her flatly and greedily hogged the utterly pleased Charcadet and Oberon. "You'll make it worse. Don't you dare put your hands on me. Look at what you're wearing and you're totally unfazed."

  True to my words, Lorelei had swapped out of her beach attire and was now wearing a snug long sleeved black shirt, that looked made of cotton, along with a long purple skirt.

  Despite the fact she had covered up almost all her skin (she was still wearing sandals) for the occasion, her outfit was absolutely useless for intense colds unlike Green and I…

  Yet, she was faring the best out of us.

  This was bullshit. My aunt basically had an ice type physiology and I was doomed to suffer instead.

  "Seriously, you're so dramatic," Green sighed.

  "Would you stop reading my goddamn mind?!" I snarled at her.

  "No! I worked hard to earn this skill! You didn't make it easy for me so I'm not stopping!" She blew a raspberry at me. Larvee, who was camping in her puffy jacket, laughed cheerfully at the move.

  I was wearing a black coat that stopped to my knees, with a long sleeved purple top underneath. My black winter snow pants were protecting me very well and they were tucked into some comfy boots.

  To finish it off, I had a gray beanie atop my head, the spiky parts of the bottom of my red hair spilling out.

  Green had naturally ditched her previous outfit in favor of a thick blue jacket, blue snow pants, a blue scarf, thick green gloves… green earmuffs and blue boots.

  Clearly, she was very prepared for this. My companion looked overdressed compared to Lorelei and I… which was funny because of the insane warmth Green tended to have.

  I blew a breath of cold air and stuffed my gloved hands into my pocket, thanking my past self for buying thermal outfits. Hoenn had made sure I was prepared for my environment.

  Still didn't stop the cold. This fucking sucked. I shoulda bought a thermal mask or some shit. The air hurt.

  "So you never did explain why, but is there any specific reason you want to explore Seafoam Islands?" Lorelei asked happily.

  She was currently taking lead, something neither Green and I had issue with... because it was one of the few times my aunt looked so visibly excited.

  She really was too happy to be traveling with me to a place dominated by ice. Maybe one day we could take a vacation to Mt. Silver...

  Yeah right.

  "I'm hoping to encounter something," I said vaguely, eyes darting over and inspecting the twists and turns of the cavern.

  Lorelei's eyes widened slightly. "An ice type?" she asked immediately, closing the distance between the two of us.

  "Yeah." I nodded my head, not even flinching as she stood way too close to me. I experimentally tapped her cheek just to make sure it was made out of human flesh.

  My aunt didn't even flinch at my actions, just allowing me to push her cheek further in.

  Definitely a human cheek alright...

  "Which are you thinking of? What ice type do you prefer?" Lorelei asked in succession.

  I smiled at her. "It's a surprise. If we run into it, you'll know. Try not to freak out too much though."

  Lorelei had a curious expression on her face. My aunt gazed at me for a long while, seeming to mull something over.

  "If I were to pick an ideal ice type for you… I'd say it is Sneasel. Fast and agile, with hard hitting attacks. You would find quite a bit of success with one," she said confidently.

  That made me pause. I turned towards her with a searching eye.

  "What makes you say that?" I asked, unable to mask the curiosity in my voice.

  A Sneasel? That was far too on the nose to be a coincidence.

  "I'm rather confident when it comes to the ice type and you are practically a Weavile in human form. Currently, I do believe the only ice trainer on my level is Elite 4 Glacia of the Hoenn League," Lorelei puffed up proudly.

  "I have a few ice types in mind when it comes to who you would synergize well with. Weavile is just the one I would say impulsively."

  I smirked proudly at her. "That confidence sounds like me, aunt."

  Lorelei coughed as Green nodded eagerly in agreement.

  "If I didn't have Loki, I'd probably have a Sneasel," I said eventually. "But since I have Loki, I don't really want a Sneasel anytime soon. I have perfect synergy with him as well."

  I'm convinced if I, as Silver, were made in more recent times instead of the second region, my signature would probably either be a Zoroark or Weavile. They both fit me extremely well. Maybe that's why I was given Loki... because a Zoroark allowed for more criminal activities than a Weavile did.

  Lorelei nodded at that. "Striking a balance with your team… strong Generalist are a nightmare but they are incredibly rare and most find it difficult to reach the top. Very well, I can still see you with quite a few different ice types. I'm surprised you don't have one yet... but the ones I envision aren't the easiest to encounter," she mused.

  "What about me?!" Green asked eagerly. "What ice type fits me?!"

  Lorelei smiled slightly. "You may think this a jest… but I do believe Lapras is the perfect fit for you. If not that, perhaps a Froslass or Glaceon."

  Green squealed excitedly. "Wow! You really know your stuff!" she awed.

  I rolled my eyes because of course it was that. Lapras was a pokemon regularly associated with Red… who was Green in this world so it was expected that Lappy would be perfect for her.

  "Do masters have an affinity at spotting good pokemon for trainers?" I asked suddenly, shivering slightly as a breeze brushed against me.

  "Not all do. Karen can only do so with a select few trainers because in her words "Not everyone should own a Dark type but they force it". I suppose I see where she is coming from. Dark types seem to be some of the most misunderstood pokemon," she mused.

  Karen huh? The Dark Elite 4 girl? It just occurred to me that she was already an Elite 4 member in this world. Was it because Lance was Champion instead of Elite 4 himself?

  Food for thought. I wonder if she'd be able to tell if I deserved a Dark type. I imagine if the old version of me had a monotype, it'd be Dark... but I also did have three fucking water types in an alternate timeline...

  Huh, no wonder Gold thought Totoree was a perfect fit for me. I wouldn't be surprised if he actually was the starter I was supposed to steal.

  Lorelei didn't seem to notice my inner thoughts (they were pretty damn random) and continued her explanation. "Agatha does not possess it at all… though I cannot tell if that's for lack of ability or because she truly hates everyone and therefore, doesn't try. I do believe she harbors a personal distaste for ghost type trainers in particular which could play a large part," she muttered with a disturbed expression.

  "That sounds like me... minus the distaste for ghost type trainers," I mused.

  "Yes, you just hate everyone equally instead. I actually shudder at the thought of you and Agatha ever meeting," Lorelei sighed.

  "Isn't she like 100 years old? If I talk too hard, she might die," I said idly.

  Lorelei opened her mouth and closed it. "Please don't ever say that around Agatha... and no, she is not that old."

  "If you don't want me to say it, make sure we never meet. You and I both know I'm going to say it."

  I was satisfied at my aunt's silence. She really did know.

  "Oh! What about Bruno and… Lance?" Green asked tentatively.

  "Bruno is prone to keep to himself. I don't believe he has the talent for such a thing. As for Lance… he's the best," Lorelei said carefully, gauging my reaction for some reason.

  Oh goddamnit.

  I glared at them both. "Stop treating me like you're walking on eggshells. I won't kill you for talking about him. Just don't talk to him about me," I hissed, genuinely affronted that they were trying to coddle me like this.

  Both Lorelei and Green had the decency to look guilty.

  "...My apologies. We are being overly considerate and as a result, are coming off as offensive," Lorelei apologized.

  I huffed and waved her off. "Get on with it. You said he was the best?"

  Green beamed. "What did he think I was best with?" she asked curiously.

  My aunt wracked her memories for the answer. "I believe he said Altaria and Goodra."

  My companion awed at that. "Those are such cute pokemon! I wouldn't be mad at that! Unfortunately for them, I have Dree!" she beamed.

  Lorelei nodded proudly. "He was surprised by how much affinity Silver and Ares had. In fact, Lance seemed convinced that Silver could become a dragon trainer."

  I raised a brow high at that. "Dragon? The fuck?" I mused.

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  "Language," Lorelei chastised with a small sigh.

  I ignored her.

  Me? A dragon trainer? On basis of what?

  I dunno. Best not to dwell on it I guess. It was probably something that I'd discover later on in my lifespan when I had all the details.

  "He thinks you'd be great with a Gible and a Flygon as well," Lorelei added thoughtfully.

  I twitched, heinous glare making its way to my face for a split second. Gible was a cool pokemon but I wasn't interested in catching a ground type so it could kindly fuck off.

  As for Flygon? I'd die before willingly catching one. Definitely not interested in it.

  "Affinity this, affinity that. If I catch something, it automatically has good synergy with me. That is my gift," I said blandly, marching through the cave.

  Lorelei smiled fondly. "A wonderful mindset, albeit far too arrogant considering it's you. Despite that, it's a thought process that you clearly put to good use."

  I grunted noncommittally. "Yeah yeah. Now let's keep moving."

  "These waters are vicious," I pointed out idly, staring at the fast current with a searching gaze.

  Lorelei nodded in agreement. "Most will find it very impossible to ride such waters."

  I hummed at that. We were in a pretty isolated part of the cave, having found it after Lorelei decided we should take a break.

  This is where she liked to set up camp whenever she was done training. Apparently, she was a common visitor of Seafoam.

  I cupped my chin thoughtfully and gazed at the water. Despite the intense speeds, I could appreciate just how clear it was.

  Seafoam in general seemed generally untampered by human hands. It was just a mess of cold and ice blue in every direction with a few rest spots that helped out.

  I experimentally blew out a visible breath, before releasing Freyja from her ball.

  Freyja let out her customary croon, before a shudder left her body and she whined instead.

  A chuckle left me as she pathetically wrapped her entire body around me and I soothingly pat her scales.

  I noticed it before but as it got colder, I wasn't the only one who seemed to get more miserable. Freyja did too.

  I also noticed that with her sparring with Ares, she seemed to take a lot more damage from my Shelgon. Coincidentally, Gaia's grass type attacks didn't do nearly as much damage as they should.

  Pseudo Dragon was right. I'm very sure Freyja inherited the properties of a dragon type to some degree.

  How though? Her draconic reservoir was higher than the average Feebas, sure... but to have so much that she practically became part dragon?

  Very suspicious.

  "Hey girl, you're going to hate me," I smiled apologetically.

  Freyja gazed at me questioningly. With how she was wrapped around me, it put us face to face with each other.

  Her red eyes, always filled with a heartwarming amount of adoration, had a questioning tint in them and I sighed.

  "The currents of Seafoam are very strong... I want you to swim against it," I said bluntly.

  ...

  "M-Milo?!" she spluttered, glaring at me with all the fury of a chipmunk. Freyja adored me way too much for her glares to be intimidating but I still felt a tad bad. I'd have pinched her cheeks, but I was still wrapped up by her body.

  "You're... squeezing me a lil bit there," I muttered warily.

  She glared at me, despite instantly loosening her grip.

  "I know girl but no pain no gain. You don't have as much resistance to ice types, that I expected you to have and these currents are really strong. You can do physical strength training, resistance and conditioning all at once," I listed for her.

  Naturally, Freyja was not feeling very reasonable.

  "Lotic Mi mi!" she ranted, glaring at the intense currents like they were poisoned.

  I sighed tiredly. "You've got Icy Wind practically mastered girl. How about while you practice in there, you can practice with this TM for Ice Beam?"

  I flashed her a winning smile and waved about the TM.

  Freyja stared at me, unimpressed.

  "...Right. Okay, when we enter a better environment, you can sleep on top of me while I clean your scales for as long as you want," I decided.

  That won her over immediately. My Milotic nodded rapidly, utter delight in her eyes as she nuzzled her face onto my cheek.

  "Milo," she crooned.

  I sighed. "Yes yes, I'll still teach you Ice Beam."

  Great. Now I had three goddamn spoiled queens on my team. My poor humble Freyja, gone and replaced by pretty girl Freyja.

  "Milo," she warned, glaring suspiciously at me.

  Why could everyone read my mind now? Was I too predictable?

  "I want you to learn Surf. It's not the strongest water move, but it's the most overwhelming and that's what I want to focus on for now," I murmured to her.

  My goals for Freyja were grandiose. They were the same as my goals for every single one of my members.

  There were so many moves I wanted her to learn now that she had evolved... but I'd have to start small.

  "How's Confuse Ray? I know I had you learn it as a little side project because I didn't have much to teach you but did you manage to understand it?"

  Freyja puffed up, almost looking offended at my question. Understanding how a move worked, was practically all she could do as a Feebas... so of course she'd get it.

  I laughed at that. "Right right. I'm sorry. C'mon, let me give you Ice Beam and then you can go in the water."

  She huffed and nodded, right before I returned her.

  "Using the strong currents as a training method... that's quite ingenious," Lorelei smiled at me, having finished setting up my tent.

  Don't ask me. She just insisted on it. Maybe she saw how miserable I was.

  "It's a multilayer form of training. She'll get a lot outta it," I smiled, watching as Freyja begrudgingly entered the ice cold water.

  "That's genius! Lapee, you should do the same!" Green awed.

  The Lapras was far less reserved on the matter than Freyja, slowly moving towards the water before entering it.

  I watched the two flail about slightly in the vicious water, before leaving them be.

  It would be good training. She'd hate me (no she wouldn't) but the benefits would work out well in the long run!

  I released the rest of my team, only let out a strangled gasp, as I was immediately swamped by a miserable Gaia and Ares. They tackled me to the ground and I hissed, as the ridiculously cold floor sent a sharp and shocking feeling through me.

  "Goddamnit you two!" I hissed, shuddering horribly.

  They both had the decency to look horrified at what they had just done to me, hastily yanking me up off the floor.

  "Charcadet!" I barked, rubbing my arms with a heinous glare.

  Charcadet perked up and disentangled from the exasperated Green, rushing me with a cheerful noise and tackling into me.

  I let out a sigh of relief and squeezed the fire type. "I'm making a fire. This is unbearable."

  Lorelei dearly looked like she wanted to protest at my decision but she went silent as she gazed at the dead look on my face.

  I must have looked entirely too grumpy and my aunt probably realized that testing me was the dumbest thing someone could do right now.

  I did watch her twitch though, as I pulled out an artificial campfire (made by Silph Co!), along with a fire pit to contain the flames from spreading... not that they would in this cold ass place.

  Charcadet's eyes lit up, literally, and without my say so, he fired a weak flame in the pit.

  Gaia, Ares and I all let out sighs in unison, as it immediately heated us up. We lazily leaned against one another and basked in both the heat of the fire pit, along with Charcadet's natural warmth.

  The little guy looked over the moon. Ares was very standoffish most of the time so to see her willingly this close to him, was a joy for the youngest on my team.

  As Lorelei began twitching even more I lazily turned towards her.

  "Hey Aunt, you should come join our pile. There's still room for you," I said placatingly.

  The very obvious bait, wasn't so obvious at all because my aunt's silent complaints flew out of the window and she effortlessly slid into the pile.

  Whipped.

  Green was in my tent because of course she was but I imagine she'd come out, see this and join the pile.

  "Gaia. I've come to a realization that might put you on a whole other level from other Meganiums," I said idly, leaning against her side and feeling the way her powerful body shifted with just her breathing.

  Gaia glanced down at me curiously, an excited glimmer in her eyes, and I smiled at her.

  "How's your super secret technique?" I asked, watching as Ares shuffled atop my legs. She was only using half her body but I was still pretty goddamn trapped by my overgrown dragon. Considering my aunt was now completely hogging me on top of that...

  The things I do for these people.

  I idly ran a hand against her my big dragon's and listened to her deep rumbles of content.

  "Ganium!" Gaia said confidently.

  "Not mastered but you're about to make a breakthrough?" I questioned.

  She nodded proudly and I mulled that over.

  Safeguard was a strange move. It didn't adhere to any specific type, so the move was given a Normal typing... but there was nothing normal about it. It was actually more so intune with the mystical arts, which typically leaned into psychic and fairy moves.

  Considering Gaia already understood the intricacies of Reflect and Light Screen, summoning the protective barrier wasn't hard, but she was likely using it to shield from damage, instead of effects.

  "Think of it more like Light Screen instead of Reflect... but even then, you're materializing Light Screen to protect you from taking damage... try thinking of it as a way to protect you from mental problems and take it from there. The basis of this technique, is tranquility and the urge to protect not just yourself, but others too."

  Mental problems wasn't all there was to it, but it was a good way to start.

  Gaia mulled my words over and nodded, some realization making its way to her features. She gazed at me lovingly and nuzzled my cheek.

  "Ganium!" she demanded suddenly and I sighed tiredly.

  "Whatever you say, your highness. These are the next moves I want you to not only learn... but master like never before."

  Gaia's very breath could bring life to plants. Meganiums were a pokemon so deeply intune with nature, they scarcely had an equal. Their vitality was so great, just being near one could enhance regenerative capabilities.

  For how much flack they got, Meganium were a very powerful pokemon just outside of battle... and mine was going to be the greatest in due time.

  She was Gaia after all.

  "I want you to learn Natural Gift and Nature Power, Gaia. Two moves that draw on what power you the most," I smiled.

  Two moves that would bolster her offensive capabilities tenfold. Nature Power was a move that drew from the terrain around, firing off a move depending on what you got.

  Natural Gift, the one I was more excited about, was a little more intricate. It drew from mostly berries... but at a higher level, I'm sure she could draw from all aspects of this Earth. Gaia already had an advantage when it came with tuning to nature, these moves would be very valuable in the future.

  For now, just practicing with the berries would be good. I had a plethora of them anyways. But soon, we'd draw from more than just berries. Gaia would live up to her namesake and Natural Gift was the secret behind it.

  This was the move I was actually more excited for her to master...

  If she managed to get both down, Gaia would have an answer to every type. She'd be the real goddess of Earth when I was done with her.

  Just the thought excited me like nothing before. I was going to have her master Nature Power and Natural Gift... and not only that, there was a reason behind her breath being able to revive dead plants.

  If she could revive them, who's to say she couldn't outright create them?

  Gaia, who was quite the mind reader (okay seriously, why could everyone read my mind?!) when it came to me, practically salivated at the ideas running through my head. She had been slightly confused before but now? Now she was all aboard.

  "One at a time. Secret move first, then we'll get you started on these. You'll be a one man army when I'm done with you," I swore.

  "Ganium!" she cheered excitedly. Considering the move she was learning wasn't very dangerous at all, she just remained rooted to her spot and began practicing Safeguard.

  At feeling the slightly calming effects washing over me, almost like a warm hug, I sighed to myself and pulled out some candy to snack on.

  It was supposed to be soft (I hated hard candy) but I don't know what I expected chewing into the cold Staryuburst (kill me).

  I hissed violently and forcefully crunched it, holding the rest of the candy near Charcadet so it could thaw a bit. Right before they began thawing, Lorelei helped herself to about a quarter of the pack and easily popped one in her mouth, chewing with a hum.

  "At this point, I feel like you're making fun of me," I said flatly.

  She tilted her head, running a hand through my hair. "Why would I do that? I'd feel terrible. You do look quite miserable."

  "I am," I huffed.

  My aunt nodded sympathetically. "Not to worry, I'm sure we'll find that pokemon you're encountering soon enough."

  I said nothing, just allowing the rhythmic scratching of my head to lull me a bit.

  "How's Dragon Pulse going?" I asked Ares gently, running a hand against her cool shell.

  She looked practically comatose, the freezing temperatures of Seafoam putting her in half hibernation. I felt bad for submitting her to this but at least we were suffering together... because I was damn near close to hibernation myself.

  "Dramatic!" Green shouted from a distance.

  She squealed, at the piece of hard candy crashing against her forehead and glared at me, nursing the red mark all the while.

  Ares grumbled tiredly, eyes drooping as the chilling breeze sapped her of her energy.

  I nodded. "Freyja helped you control it? So you can fire one off?" I asked.

  She nodded begrudgingly, glaring at the Milotic.

  "You aren't just going to let her take the lead now are you?" I asked in amusement.

  "Shel Shelgon!" she snarled in anger.

  I smiled in amusement. "Alright, I won't make you too miserable but we should get you on a move. While your lazing about on my legs, let's learn Focus Energy. This is a perfect move for a rowdy girl like you."

  Ares turned her glare towards me, only to melt immediately as I reached down to scratch the opening right above her eyes. She squirmed happily and let out a pleased sigh, going limp on the spot.

  "You have a lot of power but you lack the control. So we're going to cheat with Focus Energy since you can learn it. Even without it activated, you should eventually get a grasp on how to control," I informed her.

  It should also double as meditation. Ares would need to be calm and steady to properly channel her energy. Focus Energy would help her not only control the output, but thin and shape it in a way that made every hit stronger.

  A fantastic and simple technique, that would go a long way in satisfying her anger in the long run.

  "Gon," Ares grumbled, not all too pleased.

  "Would you like to run around instead?" I asked curiously.

  The silence pleased me. Ares just burrowed deeper into me, allowing me to scratch her some more.

  "Close your eyes and take deep breaths, Ares. In and out. That's the first step," I instructed easily, continuing my administrations.

  Ares followed my instructions easily, breathing in and out... in and out...

  "Oops. She fell asleep," I muttered fondly, staring at my dozing Shelgon.

  I guess the cold really was too much for her. I don't blame her... it sucked.

  I easily placed her back in the Luxury Ball (at least it would be warm in there for her!) and tried to get some feeling back into my legs... giving up after a moment.

  "Fat ass," I grumbled under my breath, knowing Ares would maul me if she heard me say it.

  It was all muscle but still. Goddamn was she heavy.

  The air around me shifted slightly and I watched Loki summarily take the spot Ares was just at. His glorious mane of hair brushed against me, Lorelei and Charcadet, getting my little fella to laugh happily, and I smiled as he curled his lean body into us.

  I pulled out my Zoroark's brush and began the arduous process of taming his hair. I diligently brushed from top to bottom, before pulling out a comb to get rid of the knots.

  "I'm going to teach you Psychic eventually but you need another utility move," I said conversationally.

  Loki sighed leisurely, letting out a noncommittal grunt to let me know he was listening.

  "Nasty Plot. Should be one of your most valuable moves to get," I explained.

  Nasty Plot was a very effective move for Dark Types and any mischievous/problematic pokemon in general. By stimulating their brain with bad thoughts, they were allowed to generate more power from certain moves.

  It wasn't every special move, but for Loki, it'd be quite useful. Certain moves got stronger with negative emotion, much like how certain moves got stronger when you were calm, or positive.

  Loki nodded thoughtfully, only to yelp as I slapped the back of his head with no force.

  "Stop moving so much. I'm trying to brush your hair," I scolded.

  Charcadet burst into laughter at the whine my Zoroark let out. The little guy pat him gently, as if saying "there there", and let out a cheerful hum.

  "You are in a rather agitated state," Metang chimed helpfully.

  They were utterly unfazed by basically any change in weather. I'm sure if my steel type had been with me the entire trip of Hoenn, they'd be antagonizing me there too.

  "A correct assumption. You are so shielded yet are defeated by a mere cold breeze. Quite the trainer I have."

  I resisted the urge to gnash my teeth. "Don't you have anything better to do you sassy piece of scrap metal?" I hissed.

  "I have gained sufficient usage of Magnet Rise, Miracle Eye and Psychic. I am merely practicing with them."

  I blinked owlishly. "How do you have control over Miracle Eye?"

  "The Gym Leader who you seem to despise, aided me. She found me most intriguing and wished to know how I could possibly tolerate your presence."

  I blinked even harder. "You trained with Sabrina?!" I asked incredulously.

  "Correct."

  "You fucking traitor! Why are you just now telling me this?!" I barked in confusion.

  "Because you are dramatic. The mutual hatred you have for each other, is one only you and the psychic human share. Neither our teammates, nor Sabrina's, have issue with each other... nor do we have issue with the other's respective trainer."

  I twitched. "Loki go spar with Metang. They just learned Miracle Eye so I think they need the help," I said calmly.

  "Using your guard fox is rather cheap, Blight."

  Loki blinked at the command and stared at me.

  "Are you being petty?" he asked curiously.

  "...No," I denied.

  "So yes. Alright, I refuse. I don't wanna move," Loki decided.

  I fucking hated my team. What was wrong with them?

  "I believe this is the part where one would say, we love you two?" Metang chimed, voice terribly amused.

  I hissed violently at them. "If not for Loki sleeping on my legs, I'd battle you myself."

  "For some reason, I do not doubt that claim... this is a true testament to how psychotic I perceive you."

  "Thank you. That made me feel better."

  "...That was not a compliment. How on earth did you take that as a compliment?"

  Green and I stood across from each other, arms crossed as we observed the battle taking place.

  It was a little more serious than a spar, Oberon and Togee locked in combat with one another.

  The two fought vastly different. Togee wasn't even close to having as much firepower as Oberon was, his little body not equipped for that, so he fought the best way he knew how.

  By being a frustrating little shit.

  Oberon let out a battle cry, eyes flooding with unrelenting aggression as he rushed the stationary Togee. While not the fastest, the Togepi was even slower than my Teddiursa.

  It didn't take him long at all to reach Togee and Oberon snarled, claws outstretched to tear into his best friend.

  Togee hissed, a nasty look in his eyes. Before Oberon could close the distance, he was wrapped up in a sheen of psychic energy.

  He effortlessly broke out of Togee's psychic, but it gave the fairy enough time to blow a kiss towards him.

  The Sweet Kiss made direct contact and Oberon's wild swing, crashed into nothing at the sudden disorientation in his body.

  Togee smirked and let out a battle cry, forcing the icy cold rocks below to bend to his will. He lifted as many as he could and smashed them into his buddy with no remorse whatsoever.

  The Togepi was a tricky bastard to fight, making up for his great lack of power... with a very underhanded mindset that was down to do anything to win a battle.

  Case in point, as Oberon locked onto Togee with a furious snarl, confusion beginning to wear off, the little shit yawned. A bubble popped against Oberon's face and his furious expression, lessened in harshness. I couldn't see, but no doubt his eyes were getting drowsy.

  The Togepi wagged its finger with a dangerous glint, Metronome taking effect swiftly, before he gained a surge of power in his tiny little fists.

  Power-Up Punch by the looks of it, crashed directly into Oberon's sternum, while boosting Togee's physical strength as well.

  Quite the lucky roll he got.

  Oberon wheezed, eyes closing more and more as the urge to sleep nearly consumed him.

  Togee grinned menacingly, a yellow sheen covering his body, as he began channeling a devastating amount of energy into his little body.

  Only a psycho like Togee would be so willing to use Double-Edged with no hesitation.

  He rushed Oberon without anymore waiting, streak of yellow following him as he prepared to full body tackle the Teddiursa.

  Right before he could connect, Oberon's eyes snapped open in a raw moment of rage and the bear roared in a worrying amount of anger.

  "Sleep resistance?" I thought in concern, eyes narrowed.

  I was a second too slow, to prevent Oberon from hoisting the surprised Togee right out of midair. He let out a howl of fury and power bombed Togee right onto the floor.

  Oberon snarled, red in his eyes as he lunged at the cowering Togee again...

  "Gaia," I said coolly.

  ...Only for two vines to wrap gently around his midsection, hoisting him out of the air. He struggled valiantly, but even his impressive strength, was nothing compared to Gaia.

  "How odd," Lorelei murmured, echoing most of our thoughts.

  My nearly silent footsteps snapped Oberon out of his haze and he blinked, a look of horror crossing his face as he stared at the wary Togee. He guiltily turned towards me but I walked past him for the time being.

  Green was nursing Togee now with a small frown. The concern in her eyes was blatant and I crouched in front of Togee with a grimace.

  "Sorry little man. That's on me," I apologized.

  "Are you okay, Togee?" Green asked gently.

  The Togepi glanced at the both of us crowding him and nodded bashfully. For some reason, he looked quite pleased at the attention.

  "You did really good. But you were too eager," I informed him.

  Green nodded in agreement. "Next time, let the sleep actually take effect before charging in like that. Other than that, you did great," she smiled warmly, spraying him down.

  "T-Tog," the Togepi mumbled.

  I tilted my head in some confusion before chuckling and ruffling the top of his head. "Keep it up and you'll be a real menace. I'd hate to fight you."

  Togee lit up at that, red forming on his cheeks. It was honestly pretty adorable, but extremely out of character for the Togepi.

  Why was he suddenly so embarrassed—

  Green and I's mouth opened in shock, as a sudden white glow enveloped the Togepi and we stepped back.

  Togee was close to evolving, definitely so... but to be honest, he had been ready for a long time. Why was he suddenly evolving now?

  Togepi's evolved with high friendship and Green showered her entire team in enough love to evolve them from birth.

  "Togee will never admit it but your acknowledgement means the world to him," Loki explained easily.

  My acknowledgement...?

  Huh. Why the hell would Togee want my acknowledgement?

  "You are his father," Metang said flatly.

  You know, that actually made sense. I just didn't know Togee looked up to me so much. I knew he was warming up to me but was the little man putting on a tough guy act this whole time?

  Clearly the answer was yes... because Togee the Togepi was gone and in his place, a Togetic stood proud.

  He grew taller, though not by much and lost the eggshell body, the white spreading to all parts of him instead. The red and blue triangle ring pattern remained on its body, stopping right below its long neck.

  A long neck, wasn't the only thing Togee gained. His legs had grown as well, attributing to his increase in height and to finish off, there were a pair of wings on his back that he shakily flapped, giving him airtime for a split second, before he collapsed back onto the floor.

  Green squealed in excitement, shock wearing off in favor of unrestrained joy. She easily hoisted the surprised Togee up and squeezed him tightly.

  "Yay! You finally evolved Togee! I'm so proud of you!" she gushed, spinning with the Togetic.

  How could someone have so much energy? We were still smack dab in the middle of Seafoam after all.

  I just rolled my eyes and let it be, letting them have their moment and turning towards Oberon.

  The bear looked petrified, just gazing at Togee with an all consuming guilt. That was his best friend he was about to slash into so mercilessly after all.

  I frowned.

  "What did they do to you, Oberon?" I muttered to myself, crouching in front of the tangled up bear.

  While naturally aggressive in battle, Oberon could control it to some degree against allies. But right then and there? It seemed like his anger got the best of him.

  Not to mention, his resistance to the sleep...

  Clacking alerted me to the sound of my aunt approaching and she stopped right next to me, gazing at Oberon with a contemplative eye.

  "Silver, I never asked for the specifics... but you captured Oberon soon after the Game Corner was exposed. Did you perhaps take him away from Team Rocket's clutches?" she asked.

  I nodded. "He followed me from the Game Corner. After asking him some questions... I realized it'd be best if I took him with me instead of handing him over."

  "He was quite young and weak back then and his reaction to almost being put to sleep..." Lorelei observed with a frown of sorrow.

  "You noticed it too," I grunted, crossing my arms. "They must have put him to sleep a lot."

  My aunt's frown grew more severe. "How utterly awful. You did a good thing, taking him in Silver," she said fondly.

  I said nothing at that, observing Oberon with a critical gaze.

  Gaia released him without me having to say a word and I watched him stumble about slightly, before I caught him in my hands.

  "You alright?" I asked him calmly.

  Oberon shook, eyes darting in every direction away from me.

  I sighed. "Hey, Oberon I'm pretty tired and it's getting late. Wanna sleep with me?" I asked randomly.

  My Teddiursa jolted in surprise. He finally looked me in the eyes and reeled back, likely because there was no anger in my eyes.

  I had to be patient with Oberon. Getting mad because he was experimented on, was a dickhead move.

  He nodded hesitantly and I nodded along with him.

  "Do you have trouble sleeping?" I asked him curiously, watching idly as Green and nearly all the pokemon crowded the Togetic. The only one near the two of us, was Lorelei and Metang.

  Togee looked floored by the attention, before the little shit puffed up and began to brag, accepting Lapee's affections with no shame in his body at all.

  Oberon mulled my question over, before nodding hesitantly.

  "Urs," he mumbled.

  I frowned slightly. "Why didn't you tell me?"

  It was my mistake for not noticing but Oberon always insisted I return him at night and he always seemed to be asleep when I did rounds.

  Oberon trembled.

  "Teddi... Teddiursa," he explained.

  "He is used to pretending to sleep. He has gained a resistance to forceful attempts... and he did not wish to appear weak to you," Metang translated, tone blank.

  I bit back the urge to snarl at that, a dark look taking over.

  "You pretended to sleep to avoid getting larger doses pumped into you?" I asked.

  I felt my heart pang as Oberon nodded with teary eyes.

  "How awful. I..." Lorelei whispered, holding her chest.

  I stared at him. "Oberon, I won't think any less of you no matter what. You're my pokemon, little man. No matter what, I'll be on your side okay? I'll help you," I swore.

  "Just trust me, alright? I won't get mad at you."

  Oberon gazed at me and sniffed, burying his head into my shoulder and shuddering weakly against me.

  I had Oberon for a long time now... and I never noticed that he had such issues sleeping.

  A hand brushed against my other shoulder and I turned towards my aunt with a visible frown.

  "It's not your fault, Silver. Blaming yourself is illogical, when you can instead use that to help Oberon more," she said softly.

  "She is correct. It is foolish to blame yourself for the actions of another. You wish to help the cub with his problems, not harm. There is no reason for you to wallow."

  I pursed my lips and nodded.

  They were right. No point being miserable about it.

  "I understand if you don't wish to, but Jynx has earned a license for therapy. She would be more than willing to talk to Oberon and give him ways to calm down," Lorelei suggested quietly.

  "Therapy? How the fuck does a pokemon earn a license for therapy?" I thought in confusion.

  Lorelei's Jynx was insanely useful. She could goddamn do everything at this rate. She cooked for Lorelei, got her clothes ready, did laundry, was a therapist... and an absolute menace to battle.

  What a one woman army she was.

  "I think that would be good. I'm a little unprepared to really dig through Oberon's issues," I admitted.

  Proud I may be, that flew out of the window when it came to my team (and anyone I cared about). I wasn't going to sit here and pretend like I knew all the answers to Oberon's issues.

  In the first place, we had the same issue. I was experimented on too... but I was lucky enough to not remember it.

  "Oh Silver, just what you're doing is enough," Lorelei murmured, pulling me into a tight hug.

  She squeezed my shoulder with a gentle smile. "You're trying so hard to help your team. I'm so proud of you."

  I froze and not because of the weather.

  Proud of me, huh?

  "I hope you don't mind the occasional meetings between them. Oberon seems to have a lot of unpacked issues... I can only imagine how worse he might get as an Ursaring," I sighed, nursing my sleeping bear.

  "We'll deal with it as it comes. I would suggest having him meditate... and this also gives me more excuses to visit you," she smiled.

  I huffed in amusement. "Shameless. It's actually a little adorable how much bolder you're becoming with your freakish behavior towards me."

  Lorelei blushed in embarrassment. "Didn't you say you were tired? Go to sleep."

  I rolled my eyes. "Yes mom. I'll get right to it," I said mockingly, knowing damn well I wasn't going to sleep.

  A wheeze left me, due to Lorelei suddenly squeezing the ever living shit outta me. There was an absolute look of delight on her face and she began gushing over me of all things.

  I watched in confusion, just allowing her to dote on me because this was just what made her happy.

  ...Was she that excited that I listened to her demands? Surely she knew it was sarcasm, right?

  I'm sure it didn't to be said... but some may have forgotten and admittedly, I didn't put too much stock in it...

  But my Aunt was a fucking monster of a trainer. We were still traveling through Seafoam and my aunt decided to personally test Green and I for fun.

  One pokemon. She had battled me with one goddamn pokemon.

  Her Ninetales had stepped onto the field, the regal fox practically glowing with how perfectly conditioned it was, summoned a snow storm and proceeded to wreak havoc on me.

  Even without the downright boosting nature of Seafoam, I would have gotten trashed. The Ninetales just conjured his preferred weather (not even hail damnit!), vanished into it and laid waste to me.

  Loki's illusions meant nothing when a powerful blizzard tore up the entire battlefield. His speed completely failing against the much faster Ninetales from Alola.

  Worst, Alolan Ninetales typings did some unspeakable things to my team. Ice and Fairy countered 3 of my fighters right off the bat. With the knowledge that Freyja had properties of a dragon type... that made 4 of my members.

  In the future, when I had either of Charcadet's evolutions and a full fleshed Metagross, it wouldn't be as impossible but for now? Goddamn.

  Metang was beaten just as fast as my other members. Through it all, Ninetales remained as pristine as ever.

  I huffed moodily, watching as my Aunt approached me with a measured pace.

  I glared at her and she sighed.

  "Am I allowed to give constructive criticism?" she asked.

  "No," I grunted.

  I was ignored. "You labeled our little spar a waste of time because I was overwhelmingly stronger than you. You believe that you are unable to learn if an opponent eclipses your strength. Not only that, your core issue, is that you are a sore loser. It's okay to lose, Silver," she chided.

  I scowled at the truth of her words. "Why would I sign up to lose?"

  Lorelei pinched her nose. "If you were to be tutored under someone, would you be upset that they beat you? They are your teacher after all, so it's to be expected they can defeat you."

  "I don't want a teacher."

  "You're missing the point," she explained patiently. "You knew already that I was stronger than you. Why is it that actually battling, has upset you?"

  "I don't like losing," I said bluntly.

  "Because you treat everything like they have stakes. There was nothing behind that battle but assessing where you stand," Lorelei told me.

  "Yeah Silvy! I got stomped too!" Green chimed in.

  Yeah she did. She lost even faster than I did. Lorelei had opted to show her how she battled with her own Lapras and it was a sight to see.

  Lorelei's Lapras was an actual tank who summoned a mist so thick, attacks found it difficult to even pierce it. That damn mist almost looked solid.

  Not to mention her complete control over rain, snow and hail... She swapped them on a dime, using it to bolster whatever move she was about to do. It was done with such smoothness, you would think the weather had a mind of its own that was in perfect sync with Lapras' intent.

  I saw how envious Freyja looked at that. Her control over Rain Dance was superb but the ease at which Lapras controlled it, was what we wanted to achieve.

  ...Ugh, fine goddamnit.

  "I get what you're saying," I said blandly, almost spitting the words out.

  It wasn't about winning or losing. It was about learning from the exercise. Like a spar.

  "Don't look so rotten admitting that," Lorelei murmured. "How about we continue walking and I give you some ways to improve?"

  I nodded, idly watching Oberon smile tentatively at the kind Jynx.

  "Alright," I agreed.

  Tips from Elite 4 Lorelei would surely be a boon. I didn't want to overly rely on her because I was my own trainer but I wouldn't deny some advice.

  Hatcher Boy: Why didn't you guys tell us we got a limit increase to 7, huh?!

  Catcher Girl: Hi Green. Hi Silver. Professor Oak just told us our limit has increased to 7 due to our efforts at Silph Co.

  Green :D!: Sorry, I forgot and Silver probably remembered but he's in such a grumpy mood that I doubt he'd mention it.

  Hatcher Boy: When isn't he grumpy?

  Catcher Girl: I saw him sleeping with a scowl once.

  Green :D!: This grump is pretty fair I'd say. We're at Seafoam Islands right now and Silvy genuinely can't stand the cold. He looks like a soaked Persian!

  Hatcher Boy: Should you really be saying that right next to him? Silver hits like a truck.

  Green :D!: He's too miserable to do anything strenuous right now. Ms. Lorelei is doting on him but he's glaring very hard at our messages!

  Catcher Girl: Why doesn't he message back?

  Hatcher Boy: He always does this! He should be more social.

  Green :D!: He's too comfortable to move... and I think texting might be too much action for him.

  Catcher Girl: Wow, that bad?

  Green :D!: I actually feel bad. He's so out of sorts! He doesn't even bite back on my teasing as much :(.

  Hatcher Boy: I'd pay to see that. Take a picture.

  Green :D!: I expect good payment for this because I'm definitely going to die later. My WhisCash App is $LeafGreen

  Hatcher Boy: Deal.

  Catcher Girl: You two I really don't think this is a good idea... maybe we should just use the Poketch to call each other instead of texting-

  Green :D! has sent an attachment.

  Catcher Girl: Aww he's so adorable!

  Hatcher Boy: You switched up your tune really quick. Hard to imagine someone as fierce as Silver could look so tiny!

  You: Have you two ever been waterboarded?

  Catcher Girl: U-Um... I tried to tell them not to!

  Hatcher Boy: Dude I just searched that up. What the fuck? How do you know what that is?

  Catcher Girl: Language, Gold.

  You: If you know what's good for you and your livelihood, you'll stop the conversation here.

  Hatcher Boy: Can I use that photo as your profile pic?

  You: Sure.

  Hatcher Boy: ...Nah that's a trap. I'm pretty sure you'll kill me.

  Catcher Girl: W-Well anyways, we spoke to Professor Oak and even he was confused about Explotaro! He's going to do a bit more digging but I'm sure he'll find out what's going on with him!

  Hatcher Boy: I've never seen him so invigorated! The Professor sure is a nerd! I'll leave that up to him but we've just been training! Explotaro is definitely a ghost type though! He misses you Silver!

  Catcher Girl: Misteree misses you too. While we wait for the professor, we've been honing our skills and getting our team levelled up! We might take a little longer to battle the 7th gym but it'll be worth it!

  Hatcher Boy: Professor Elm is even gonna visit too! It's been a long time since we saw him... and why aren't you two replying?

  Catcher Girl: I think Silver is killing Green as we speak.

  Hatcher Boy: Huh... if he's doing that to Green, what the hell's he gonna do to us?

  Green :D!: I... hurt. I hurt so bad. I'm charging you double Goldy.

  You: You two just wait your turn.

  Catcher Girl: Wait, I didn't even do anything, Silver! Surely I'm not included in this?

  Hatcher Boy: More motivation to train the body. He can kick our ass sideways but not for long!

  Catcher Girl: Gold you hopeless idiot! He's gonna kill us!

  You: Collateral. Bye.

  I huffed, ignoring the messages afterwards.

  "Was this truly necessary?" Lorelei asked, gazing at the whining Green with pity in her eyes.

  My companion was holding her head and hiding behind Lapee, who could only shake her head in a "You asked for it" manner.

  A shiver ripped its way through my body and I glared ahead. "Yes it was," I bit out, tightening my gloves to no avail.

  Lorelei shook her head. "I find it so odd that the cold has reduced you to this. You would have been miserable growing up on Floe Island... though it isn't quite nearly as cold as Seafoam," she mused.

  I hissed in response.

  "Oh dear, you're becoming more feral by the second. You're not even speaking anymore," she murmured in concern.

  My aunt placed a cool hand against my beanie.

  "What exactly are you attempting to catch, Silver? We've still not encountered it? I worry for your sanity."

  "Not yet but we should be close. Tomorrow is the deadline for me."

  It took herculean effort for me to say that and I stamped back into my tent to get some much needed sleep.

  "Oberon, Charcadet. I'm going to sleep," I called out.

  They both lit up at that and charged me with no hesitation, tackling into my middle and clinging onto me.

  "W-Will you hurt me if I enter that tent?" Green asked tentatively, watching me return my entire team with an anxious expression.

  They all very much refused to sleep out in this unbearable cold, much preferring the luxurious stasis that was the Luxury Ball.

  I glared at her. "I might."

  She squeaked. "B-But I'll be cold and if we all bundle up together, we'll be way warmer! Pleaaaasee!" Green pleaded.

  I twitched. "Fine. You're lucky you're warm."

  Green cheered happily and bolted into my tent without any hesitation.

  "If audacity had a human form, Green would be their partner in crime. How is she even real?" I asked in disbelief, watching her jump onto the bed.

  "..."

  I blinked and stared at my aunt, who was looking at me in equal amounts of disbelief.

  "Did you say that on purpose?" she asked curiously.

  "Say what on purpose? My quote?" I asked in return.

  I scratched my head. "Of course I did. Green has an insane amount of audacity."

  She continued to stare at me, long enough that it was starting to become a little awkward.

  "I see... very well. Let us also go to sleep," Lorelei said eventually, seeming to give up on trying to understand something.

  I tilted my head and shrugged.

  I wasn't going to pry. Not my thing.

  Seafoam got colder the further down we descended. Not only that, the size of the rooms began narrower, until we seemed to be on a large straight path with water on both sides.

  The already subzero temperatures, somehow got worse and as a result, I got grumpier.

  Cold seeped into me, with no regard for whether or not I'd appreciate it. Even my weather resistant outfit was doing a poor job now. It was rare to see me without Charcadet latched onto my body now.

  I didn't miss how often Lorelei shot me a concerned look but I ignored it, just pushing on forward with a cold resolve that matched the temperatures of this cave.

  By now, I couldn't really much feel any of my limbs. The ice had numbed me a while ago and even Lorelei was beginning to take note of the below average temperatures. She had wrapped herself up in a tight sweater, letting out visible breaths every second.

  The blue rocks had vanished in favor of ice white stones, by the time we had reached the lower levels of the cave. It was difficult to see a different color.

  The only time you would see anything different, is by looking at the raging waves. Even with how cold it was, the waters still flowed in seafoam. They did not freeze over, ice blue liquid increasing in ferocity the lower you went.

  It was nice that they hadn't frozen over. The raging rivers, were the only sound you could hear normally as you went deeper. They had gotten weaker but it was better than nothing.

  Despite the chilly breeze, there was hardly any other ambient noises.

  Pokemon like Zubat and Golbat avoided the lower levels like the plague, so it was eerily silent.

  But that didn't mean all pokemon vacated the lower levels.

  No actually, the pokemon on the lower levels were really strong.

  A bruised Gaia hissed violently, eyes gleaming with bloody murder as she hoisted up a giant and vicious Dewgong, before body slamming it into the Kingler next to it over and over again. She finally grew tired of doing that and just strangled the seal in midair, vines wrapped tightly around its mouth to prevent it from firing anything.

  Saury, who looked quite miserable, growled lowly and wrapped a plethora of vines around the stunned Kingler.

  At once, the two completely drained the water types of their remaining energy, using it as fuel to revitalize themselves.

  "The pokemon of Seafoam do get stronger as you go lower," Lorelei mentioned. She watched, with only a slightly disturbed expression, as Gaia tossed the vicious Dewgong into the current.

  I grunted, yawning slightly as I leaned against my Meganium. Her bruises had vanished by now and she grunted sourly, only slightly uplifted at my pats.

  "I suppose it makes sense you'd want a stronger member. You're growing at a swift rate," Lorelei mused.

  Bless her innocent soul.

  "Have the currents gotten slower? They've never been this slow," my aunt wondered.

  No truly. Bless my aunts poor innocent soul.

  The slower currents, seemed to finally alert my aunt that something was wrong and she turned towards me with a frown of contemplation.

  "Silver, can you tell me why you came to Seafoam Islands? What pokemon are you trying to catch?" Lorelei asked suddenly, narrowing her eyes suspiciously at me.

  I stared ahead, continuing my pace evenly and making sure I didn't trip onto the ice below. Charcadet stood cheerfully atop my head, pointing forward dramatically with a surprising amount of balance.

  "Hey Aunt Lorelei. Do you trust me?" I asked in return.

  "Aunt Lorelei?" she muttered in disbelief.

  I was honestly impressed that just me saying that, managed to fire off every single warning signal in her head.

  "Silver, what are we doing at Seafoam?! We've encountered nearly every pokemon that inhabits this place and Seafoam rarely has ice types that aren't water because of the surrounding environment!"

  My preciously innocent aunt, who seemed to finally realize I was not here to catch anything, was gazing at me with wide eyes.

  I blew out a cold breath and returned Gaia to her ball, rubbing my palms together to try and generate a little bit of heat.

  I failed spectacularly.

  Seeing that I was focused on the marvelous task of heating up, Lorelei looked at Green with a questioning glint in her eyes.

  My companion shrugged helplessly.

  "I've got no idea. I just follow Silvy's lead. He normally has it handled... I probably should have asked though, he woulda told me," she mused.

  She was absolutely right. I woulda told Lorelei too if she pried further... before now at least.

  Lorelei twitched. "Have a little more doubt in your heart, Leaf Green! You didn't question him even a little bit?! You should know Silver the most by now and you know that you always have to question his intent! I can't believe I didn't dig any further myself!" she bemoaned. She removed her glasses and hastily wiped them, making them even foggier in the process.

  Green laughed sheepishly, backing away slightly. "Sorry about that, Ms. Lorelei."

  I grunted at that, continuing to walk forward until I was met by just water. There was no more land visible ahead and the furious sea, calmed tremendously.

  Judging by the look in her eyes, it wasn't supposed to be this calm. While still moving viciously, it was now sailable by an exceptional pokemon.

  "This isn't... I've never seen these waters so calm," she muttered, staring ahead.

  "We're gonna swim across it," I said coolly.

  She jolted, staring at me in confusion. "Beyond this water, is mostly uncharted territory, Silver. It's just more water. What is even ahead that has piqued your interest so?"

  I huffed. "Something very strong. Be on your toes. In case things go south, we'll need a fast teleporter," I said blandly.

  Despite being incredulous, like I knew she (and everyone in this world) would, Lorelei still followed me with Green trailing me immediately.

  My aunt wordlessly summoned her giant Lapras, the strongest member of her team, and we all got atop the stern yet kind water type.

  The water was still strong, but Lapras sailed through it effortlessly. She cut through the water like they listened to her and I was a bit envious at that level of control.

  As we surfed across, Lorelei took the time to reprimand me sternly. It was very easy to do, considering she had taken the rear and was holding onto me.

  "Whatever you're doing Silver, we're going to have a firm talk about what you should and shouldn't tell me. I give you quite a fair bit of leeway but even I have my limits," she said softly.

  She trailed off, eyes going wide. Whatever she was about to say, died on her lips due to the sight of a small opening being revealed.

  It was a passage that was being hidden by the strong currents. Now that the water wasn't harshly battering the caves as much, we had access to an unreachable part of Seafoam.

  I let out a cold breath, watching as the cold air lingered and regarded my aunt.

  "I pushed some huge boulders in the water to slow the currents down last night. Since the room was so narrow, it worked out. Strength training for Oberon," I explained.

  Charcadet, who had sleepily been dragged along last night, nodded in agreement.

  Lorelei gaped at me. "B-Boulders?! But why would you do such a thing?! I've never even known such a passage existed! I've frequented Seafoam incredibly often… how is it that you know about a thing?! Your reaction to the cold suggests you'd likely never visit this place, much less come so far down!"

  I took a deep breath, regretting it as cold filled my lungs. "Gimme a bit more time and I'll explain it to you… you deserve that much for trusting me this much," I said truthfully, looking her dead in the eyes.

  Lorelei opened her mouth… and shut it at my earnest look.

  Ah, she was so whipped.

  "Okay... afterwards," she decided.

  I smiled and let her squeeze me, turning back ahead even as we leisurely sailed into a new room. No one mentioned how Lorelei's Lapras was getting slower but it was something we noted with silent concern.

  Lorelei shot her first pokemon a look and Lapras craned her head, smiling in reassurance.

  "Say aunt. You like ice types right?" I asked gently.

  "That's quite the nonsensical question, Silver… which leads me to believe you're about to say something ridiculous."

  "Can you tell us what you know about Articuno?" I continued, ignoring the blooming in my head.

  Lorelei blinked at the question, not quite catching on yet.

  Green's jaw dropped as she immediately caught on.

  "Articuno... the legendary bird of ice, said to be one of three birds who helped shape the Kanto region. I've always found myself enraptured by tales of it... complete mastery over the ice element, allowing it to form the ocean's cradle alongside Moltres' fire. They say one flap of its wings, can chill the very moisture around it, causing snow to fall," she explained easily.

  I smiled thinly, exhaling as the pressure washed over me effortlessly.

  "Snow... like this?" I asked, pointing at our surroundings.

  "While I do not know... I would be inclined to say... to say..." Lorelei trailed off, as the realization slowly began to hit her.

  Green shuddered, a mixture of anxiety and anticipation coursing through her body no doubt.

  Seafoam did not snow. Despite the bitter cold air and the subzero temperatures, there was no precipitation in the previous floors of Seafoam.

  Here? It was snowing. Small snowflakes encompassed the entirety of the secret room we were in. They kissed my exposed face, sending an even deeper chill through me, that was somehow worse than anything I had experienced in this place so far.

  "Be ready to run. I have no idea what's about to happen," I said softly, as we landed on a platform.

  Lorelei opened her mouth, only for nothing to leave it as we took in the sights around us.

  Even I was left speechless... because all around us, frozen statues littered the piece of land we just set foot on.

  Humans and pokemon alike, all with expressions that looked far too terrified to be fake. Either the person who sculpted these, was a psychopath...

  ...Or they weren't sculptures.

  "W-W-What?" Lorelei rasped in disbelief, eyes wide in horror as she turned towards me…

  She must have seen the equal level of shock on my face... because my aunt didn't question if I knew about this.

  "U-Um... I don't think these are sculptures," Green stammered in terror.

  Her eyes were rooted on one particular statue and I drank in the details, a bead of sweat forming on me that instantly froze.

  It was a man, sat on his ass and a single arm outstretched, as he tried to crawl away from whatever was ahead of us. The look on his face... the utter terror etched onto the statue... that was too real to capture. No human mind, could ever convey terror that raw.

  There was a statue of a Charizard next to him... and a little ahead of them both, an orb was suspended in midair, completely blank white and frozen in time. It didn't seem to register the gravity around it, that would have long ago demanded it fall to the floor.

  I hesitantly reached into my pocket and pulled out a regular pokeball, inspecting it and the orb... and finding that they were the exact same size as each other.

  Yeah... well shit. This wasn't a good idea. We should probably turn back while we had the chance-

  My aunt let out a gasp, as the room's settings suddenly changed from gentle flakes, to a snow storm.

  Why?

  Because lying slightly ahead, in a bed of ice, eyes closed and shrouded in crystals… was a large and ethereal blue bird.

  A sky blue plumage, curled up wings that looked sculpted with ice, a crest on its forehead that consisted of three rhombus shaped feathers…

  Slowly but surely, cracks began forming on the crystal, sounding similar to if you were to stand above a fragile bed of ice... right before it plunged you into the cool depths below.

  Red eyes, that had opened up the moment I focused on the avian, locked onto us and the short gray beak opened.

  The crystal surrounding the ethereal bird, completely shattered like a glass pane and we reeled back. The noise was deafening, but not nearly as deafening at the terrible shriek Articuno let out.

  At the same time, the freezing temperatures of Seafoam somehow got colder to the point where not even Lorelei seemed unaffected by it any more.

  "WHO DARES DISTURB ONES SLUMBER?!"

  I watched in actual disbelief, as the edges of my hair began tinting blue before my knees buckled at the incredible pressure that crashed into us.

  It felt like I was trapped under a ton of snow. The aspect of ice's presence didn't just chill me to the bone... it seemed to chill my very being. My emotions dampened, my thoughts slowed, my body was trapped beneath the snow...

  Unable to move, unable to think...

  Unable to breath anything but the ice above me. Ice that would in due time, freeze the world. The oceans, the lands, the sky... Why resist-

  Enough.

  I gasped harshly, blinking as I forced myself to regain clarity. I hastily grabbed and shook both Green and Lorelei, watching as their glassy eyes gained a bit of light in them.

  Worryingly enough, I noticed that Lorelei took a tad longer.

  "S-Silvy," Green rasped. "Your eyes!"

  I couldn't question what the hell she was talking about, because I felt a set of another pair of, much more intimidating, eyes lock onto me immediately.

  I turned to face Articuno, who was looking at me with eyes that didn't even seem like actual eyes. The sheer primordial might in those glassy mirrors, let me know that this wasn't any normal pokemon.

  This was a legendary. Something that could kill me if they sneezed in the wrong direction.

  The strongest habitant of Seafoam, shrieked and summoned a giant hail storm that threatened to consume the entirety of the cave.

  "Articuno!" I shouted firmly, putting a steel in my voice.

  To my immense surprise, the bird actually paused at that… and the hail storm died down back to the powerful snow. It stared at me curiously, a flash appearing in its glassy eyes.

  I don't know if it was because the bird was shocked someone dared to speak to it in such a manner... but I'd take what I can get.

  God, I already knew Articuno was a bitch to deal with.

  "Silver," Lorelei hissed at me, face filled with both awe and horror. "You are in so much trouble."

  I nodded in agreement.

  "Articuno, I want to talk to you. I'm not here to fight. Throwing my life away to someone of your stature, would be stupid of one as lowly as me," I said bluntly.

  Predictably, my words of appeasement, took the murder out of its eyes and the birds outstretched wings, curled back into its body.

  Green's jaw dropped at that and it finally hit her what I was about to ask the bird.

  Articuno must not have expected my attitude. It reminded me of the world I was in, where talking seemed to only be an option after you've properly won a battle.

  The legendary was likely expecting a fight, not for a little human to speak to it like such a thing was normal.

  "You wish to speak to one?" Articuno asked, eyes narrowed. "Nonsense. There is nothing of interest you have to say to one. Begone while I am this patient."

  I huffed at the abrupt dismissal. "There is a legendary pokemon in the Kanto region that can and will threaten your livelihood," I said bluntly.

  A tense silence washed over the area, only the sounds of the snow storm carrying.

  Eventually, even that died down, due to Articuno being merciful enough to release it's immense pressure.

  I heard Lorelei and Green let out a sigh of relief at that, causing me to stare back at them in concern.

  Articuno spread its wings and landed a distance away from me, natural pressure of just its presence, freezing us.

  "What is it that you are speaking of?" Articuno demanded, gazing down at me. I would almost call it curiosity, but I didn't think you could give something like Articuno, human emotions.

  Just looking into its eyes, was almost overwhelming. Despite that, I grounded myself and stared at it with no visible fear.

  "It's exactly what I said. There's a legendary pokemon in the Kanto region that can threaten you directly. It's not Moltres or Zapdos either," I said evenly.

  Articuno tilted its head suspiciously.

  "A threat to one? Explain yourself!" it demanded, like I wasn't already planning on fucking doing that.

  I sighed, reining in my foul temper for my own good. I had no intention of ending up like those statues back there.

  "It's a man made legendary. One with the DNA of Mew, the ancestor. It is currently in the clutches of a dangerous group that want to control everything through force and they will come for you eventually because you are powerful and pose a threat," I explained calmly.

  The entire time, the ethereal and unnatural gaze of Articuno stared a frigid hole into me. With one flap of its wings, I'd no longer be alive. With a small souring of its mood, I could be buried in ice.

  For all the mystical air surrounding it, Articuno wasn't very tall. The bird had opted to stand upright in front of me so I could look at it directly.

  That didn't change the fact, that the bird was wielding an unfathomable amount of power. If it got any closer to me, I'd probably collapse on the spot.

  If I didn't know before, I knew now.

  Legendaries were untouchable. Gods in every sense of the word and boldly approaching one like Articuno… wasn't the most intelligent decision made by me.

  And Mewtwo was a legendary... one with the DNA of Mew, who was almost certainly more powerful than the three birds.

  Fucking hell.

  Articuno's expression turned into one I'd call pondering, at my words and for a second, for just a second, I thought it was going to believe me.

  But of course, things were never meant to be that easy.

  The bird's expression turned baleful in an instant and it shrieked at me loudly, causing me to step back and cover my ears.

  "You think one a fool?! A creation of mortals, capable of endangering my siblings and I?! What utter nonsense are you spouting? Why would they dare to send you here in this form?!"

  I grunted, coat flailing as the storm picked up viciously.

  "What are you talking about?! No one sent me here!" I shouted in confusion.

  "What do you gain by making a mockery of one, abomination?! What do you gain by describing yourself? Is this an attempt at my life? You will be buried in ice for such insolence!" Articuno shrieked loudly, voice filling the entire cave as a hellish pressure crashed onto us.

  I froze… and not because of the freezing temperatures.

  Describing… myself? What the hell was Articuno talking about?

  Articuno was clearly done listening and I hissed in disbelief.

  "Enough of your games! Join the other fools who would dare attempt to contain one! I will deal with the consequences after you've been dealt with!"

  Lorelei and Green took a step back with wide eyes, as Articuno prepared to freeze me and me alone in a block of ice for all eternity. I was a bit too occupied to notice that her Jynx was out, stunned into reverence at the sight of the Articuno.

  I snarled in annoyance, a pulse of something insidious crawling through me. "STOP BEING FUCKING STUPID, YOU DAMN BIRD!" I roared, fed up with all this stupid shit.

  …

  Articuno stopped shrieking, regarding me with a look that could kill and I scowled at it, a vein of annoyance throbbing at the sheer stupidity being displayed.

  "Are you out of your fucking mind?! I'm not playing a game here! Why would I put myself in front of a legendary that can kill me for the sake of a fucking joke?! Can you think for one second? What would I achieve by doing that?!" I shouted over the heavy winds.

  "…"

  I huffed. "Whoever the hell you think sent me here, didn't. If they sent me here to kill you, I think we'd already be fighting! I don't even know what you're talking about!"

  The bird narrowed its eyes in contemplation.

  "It is true. By now, I would have expected you to show your true form and begin attacking one…"

  Articuno glared dismissively at me. "Very well, you have proven your point. If you truly do not wish to attack one, there is no reason to bring ire unto oneself."

  The ice type curled into itself, moving, without moving, to the spot it rested previously at.

  "Leave one's sight. One grows tired of this conversation and one grows tired of your presence."

  I stared at it. "And the legendary I mentioned?"

  "There is no man made creation capable of stopping one. Not those puny containment devices many have tried to capture one with and certainly not this being made with the Progenitor's essence you speak of. Leave one's sight, false mortal. One will not repeat itself. You've made a pointless journey."

  Articuno's eyes bored into me, frozen and unfeeling despite the way it spoke. Despite the anger it had just expressed, those eyes remained rigid, peering at me like I were an insect the entire time...

  Except now there was some wariness in them.

  "If it is made with the Progenitor's essence, then have the Progenitor deal with it."

  "And how am I supposed to find the Progenitor?" I asked slowly.

  "One does not find the Progenitor. Such a childish creature, follows its own whims. If it sees the need to interfere, than the Progenitor will interfere."

  …

  I took a deep breath and turned away from the bird.

  "Your funeral. Have a good rest, Articuno," I muttered darkly, marching out of the cavern.

  Green and Lorelei watched me with wide eyes, turning towards Articuno, who had entered an idle state once more.

  The bird spared the two a glance. There was no animosity in its eyes like it had for me but that was about it.

  It's gaze lingered on my aunt for a moment, before it let out an arrogant shriek and shut its eyes, giant crystal forming around its body once more.

  The dismissal was loud and clear and I shook my head, raking a hand through my hair.

  Stupid fucking bird.

  There was a tense silence, as the three of us sat near the entrance of Seafoam.

  I didn't even get to bask in the warmth (it was still cold as hell) that being free from that cave granted me, mood completely soured by my encounter with that arrogant bird.

  Lorelei saw it fit to teleport us out after the encounter and the three of us were now sat in my tent, silently eating our food. The only noise, was the afternoon wind and the crackling fire in the middle of us.

  Good thing my huge tent was fireproof...

  Green nervously wrung her hands, gazing between Lorelei and I… and only growing more nervous at seeing the two of us stare holes into our respective bowls. Neither of us seemed keen on saying anything for the moment and the one time we made eye contact, it lasted less than 5 seconds.

  We weren't even eating the contents inside. I just picked at the beef with my chopsticks, eventually giving up and letting the somber Oberon and Loki split it.

  I'm pretty sure the reason Lorelei and I refused to say anything, was because the both of us were properly gathering our thoughts.

  I was still reeling, from the less than stellar meeting with Articuno and my near death experience.

  Lorelei was probably reeling for similar reasons, not to mention the information I revealed to her and Articuno at the same time.

  Like aunt, like nephew I guess.

  "Silver," Lorelei said finally, after an eternity of silence.

  "Hm?" I replied easily, meeting her gaze.

  "Can… can we talk about that, please?" she requested softly.

  I blinked slowly and grunted.

  Talk? That's it?

  Sure. I already promised her I'd talk.

  "I tried to recruit Articuno to help me against Team Rocket," I said bluntly. "I failed. It thought I was lying and accused me of attempting to assassinate it. From the sounds of it, it really hates my guts."

  "It… thought you were lying?" Lorelei repeated in disbelief.

  "You could tell that it hates you?" Green asked in concern.

  I blinked and hissed. "So I was the only one who heard it?"

  Lorelei and Green both nodded in unison.

  "Good. Articuno's a real bitch," I scowled.

  "Silver!" Lorelei chastised firmly.

  I scowled. "I warned it of what Team Rocket had and the arrogant prick didn't even bother moving its fat ass. Stupid bird."

  Fine. Don't say I didn't try to warn it. Whatever happened next, Articuno only had itself to blame.

  "...So Team Rocket truly created a Legendary Pokemon? With the cells of... Mew?" Lorelei asked tentatively, looking perturbed by that notion.

  "Yeah. I thought that info woulda been able to convince Articuno but clearly I underestimated a legendaries aptitude," I replied bluntly, scowling to myself.

  So I was still a little pissed at the encounter. Sue me. Being completely disregarded by some shit that, while strong, couldn't stand against what the hell I'm trying to warn it of, was really irritating.

  Lorelei let out a rattled breath, finally coming to some sort of realization. She removed her glasses, wiped them and placed them back on, a newfound resolve in her red eyes.

  I guess me actually awakening a legendary was the final straw. Was she about to chain me to her until I was strong enough to defend myself?

  "Silver… I know almost everything about you," my aunt said softly.

  I stilled at that. My eyes narrowed warily and a spike of danger, jolted my body.

  "Everything?" I asked cautiously.

  "Please hear me out first before you make any rash decisions," Lorelei pleaded, a rare look of fear on her face.

  Hear her out… Ah shit. My aunt totally figured out how big of a criminal I was.

  Well shit. The jig is up and I couldn't even escape either. We were still on Seafoam Island and there was no way I was outswimming any of Lorelei's water types.

  If only I had a flyer... none of her pokemon could fly.

  I pursed my lips as I registered the look she was giving me. My aunt was making an out of turn expression, fear on her face that I had never really seen before.

  What was there for her to fear? She could capture me in a second. It's not like I could stand up to her in any capacity.

  ...But did she want to capture me? She wouldn't have told me otherwise would she?

  Ah, my aunt was afraid of how I was going to react to being exposed. Considering I was already plotting on how to escape... it was valid.

  Lorelei looked like she was evaluating the best way to say this, without me doing something incredibly stupid. "I… am the only one aware that Gaia is the very same Meganium from Elm's lab. Coincidentally, I'm also aware that you likely received Metang and Ares… through less than conventional means."

  …

  "Crap," Green squeaked in horror.

  "...Green is innocent," I said calmly, watching how carefully Loki stared at her. He didn't look nearly as stressed as I was feeling, which calmed me down slightly.

  Green's eyes widened in horror. "What?! N-No I'm not! I'm super guilty too!" she interjected, ignoring my incredulous glare.

  "No you aren't, idiot! You were still in Kanto when I was in Johto!" I snarled.

  "N-Nuh uh! Togee is my pokemon but he was stolen too!" my companion revealed shamelessly.

  I turned towards her with wide eyes. "What the hell are you doing?!" I hissed.

  I knew Green was stupid but this was on another level. Was she seriously trying to go down with me?

  "Well, I'm partly the reason you got caught anyways! I don't think a single soul would know who you are, if you didn't travel with me!" Green protested.

  "That doesn't matter, moron! I didn't tell you to try and take the bullet with me!"

  "Too bad! We're in this together!"

  Lorelei grabbed and pulled the both of us into a tight hug, causing Green and I too immediately go silent.

  "I won't… I can't bear to reveal this information to anyone, Silver and Green. Not with what I know," Lorelei said forlornly, squeezing us both with.

  I was stunned at that. I'm sure Green was the same.

  "...What?" I asked in confusion.

  Lorelei was one of the most professional people in all of Kanto and Johto. You'd be hard pressed to find a bigger stickler.

  If she found something out, retribution would be swift and efficient, with hardly a chance to escape.

  This went against her principles. I should be in jail right now.

  "In the time I've gotten to know you… I've learned that everything you do is for a reason. There is an intense logic, masked by utter insanity. You took Gaia to gain more power in order to defend yourself… against Team Rocket. Much like how you just approached Articuno to ask for its aid… now I understand."

  Lorelei gazed at me in sorrow, no hint of the Elite 4 member she no doubt was.

  "Team Rocket has access to a legendary and you're making preparations to battle it aren't you?"

  …

  I sighed in exhaustion, expression weary. "That legendary they've got… it's the one that destroyed the S.S Anne. I felt it arrive."

  Green shuddered. "Silvy didn't see but… but the ship was there for one second and it was gone the next. Destroyed in a blink… I've never seen something so powerful. The pokemon who did it, wasn't even in sight."

  Lorelei shut her eyes and sighed.

  "Oh to deal with such a burden by yourselves… I wish I were there sooner for you," Lorelei lamented in despair. Her eyes were shut and she crushed the both of us against her frame, letting out a shaky exhale.

  "…"

  I grunted. "There's nothing you can do. That's why I tried asking Articuno for help."

  "...I understand. Articuno's power was unlike anything I've ever seen. I shudder to think what the legendary under Team Rocket is capable of." Lorelei sounded tired just mentioning it, brows furrowed wearily.

  "This is incredibly foolish of me, but you've turned me into a fool so... against my better judgment, I will withhold this information to the best of my abilities. Of course, I still have to ensure the League is prepared for sudden attack… but I will not involve you whatsoever. We must prepare for war."

  Lorelei began muttering to herself, running through what she was going to have to do once she got back to Indigo.

  All the while, Green stared at her in amazement.

  Me? Not so much.

  "Why aren't you selling me out?" I asked with a frown.

  Lorelei stopped her musings and turned towards me. "Why?" she asked in some confusion.

  I nodded. "It's your duty. You're an Elite 4 member and I committed some serious crimes. You should be turning me in," I pointed out.

  My aunt actually looked hurt by my words. My gut twisted as she flinched back slightly.

  "Is that the impression you have of me? That I'd forsake one of my last family members, all for the sake of my duty? Without even attempting to understand the nuances?" Lorelei asked quietly.

  I opened my mouth and shut it because that's exactly what I thought. Duty for such a high ranking person, should always come before anything personal. To let personal matters affect your job, was a disaster waiting to happen.

  "Ms. Lorelei," Green interjected gently, holding both the woman's hands. My companion shot me a soft look, before turning towards my aunt.

  "Silvy has a hard time opening his heart. I won't speculate what happened but... it's not that he doesn't trust you. He's just afraid to get hurt by the people he likes. It's not that he thinks you'll turn him in with no hesitation... he's just forcing himself to think that because on the low chance that you do, he won't be as hurt about it because he was right all along," she explained patiently.

  I sat rooted to my spot, gazing at Green with wide eyes.

  Since... since when did one of my best friends know so much about me? That wasn't... that wasn't something I'd ever say about myself, but Green said it with such certainty, that I digested it and found myself unable to deny her claims.

  Lorelei put a hand over her heart at that.

  "Just what did they do to you?" she asked herself quietly, bawling her dainty fist up.

  My aunt took a deep breath to compose herself.

  Then she gave me a look so tinder, I gazed away... only for her to forcefully turn my head back to face her.

  There was a passionate look on her face and she squeezed my cheeks gently. "You asked why I did not turn you in? Because I understand why you took the actions you did. While I believe there were better solutions... I don't know the situation you were in at all to judge so ignorantly."

  "You believe that the ends justify the means… and despite that, you still haven't done anything truly heinous in terms of crimes, besides steal pokemon that you treat with nothing but love," Lorelei said softly.

  "Even Elm is defending you. He doesn't know your identity but he believes you aren't terrible… and I agree wholeheartedly with him."

  Lorelei rubbed her head. "The worst thing you've done, is give me a headache and a recent drinking problem. With the information I'm equipped with, you're merely trying to give yourself the best opportunity at survival. I'd be no less a monster, as Team Rocket if I scorned you for trying to survive under such desperate situations."

  She sighed. "I cannot fault you for your eccentric methods. I'm realizing that I'm the only adult you can rely on… and considering we began speaking approximately 4 months ago..."

  "…"

  I sighed in total defeat. "Are you really the only one who knows?"

  Lorelei nodded. "Yes. You've covered your traces incredibly well... to the point where there isn't quite any proof pointing at your guilt, despite your more than rare team. I believe there was some initial suspicion but it seems to have mostly vanished."

  I nodded slowly. "There… are still things I can't tell you. But… but I trust you. I'll tell you what I can but right now, I'm tired," I said eventually.

  Lorelei had a look of relief at that. "Thank goodness. Please take your time. Right now, we have more urgent priorities. If Team Rocket truly does have a legendary, how are we to defeat them? Would Articuno have been a sufficient source?"

  "No," I said bluntly. "Articuno would have lost completely on its own."

  My aunt looked sufficiently horrified at that detail.

  "But… that power was so overwhelming," she muttered. "You mean to tell me, they have something more powerful?"

  I nodded and sighed. "There's something else you should know…"

  Lorelei turned towards me, concern visible on her face.

  I stared at her for a while, before sighing.

  I was a coward.

  "I took Metang and Ares from the Stone family and the Draconids," I informed her.

  Lorelei blinked and let out an audible groan.

  "I knew it." she rubbed the bridge of her nose and I imagine if she had a drink, she'd be chugging it right now.

  "I suspected such a thing but to think you had zero traces of being in Hoenn... Not only that, you managed to take two pokemon under the noses of two of the most prominent families in Hoenn history…"

  My aunt gazed at me. "You have an incredible talent in the art of stealth, Silver… though I do hope you don't use it for such terrible things anymore."

  I grunted, not missing how Green was staring at me.

  She probably realized that the information on Metang and Ares was not what I intended on telling Lorelei.

  ...I couldn't tell her about my relations with Team Rocket. Not now. That was too much for me at the moment.

  "So, how did you feel seeing an actual Articuno?" I asked curiously.

  Lorelei blinked at the sudden question, before she reached out and pinched my cheek. Despite the stern squeezing, I didn't miss the awed smile on her face.

  "Despite the stern reprimand I plan on giving you… I'm happy to have seen such a mythical sight. A legendary ice type… how incredible. Granted, we nearly died but that was still amazing! To see Articuno in the flesh... depictions of them, don't come close to the real thing!"

  I snorted. "Dork. But I'm glad we got something positive out of this disaster of a trip."

  Honestly, the bright side, was that I didn't have to experience that type of cold again for a long time.

  It was seriously miserable. Get me away from Seafoam for an indefinite amount of time.