"Why so edgy, Silver?" Ashy asks me as her Yamna-called Silverwing- swoops down on my Loudred-called Screech. Her black bangs fall in her face as she grins. Silverwing hits Screech hard in the gut, sending her flying.
"Loudred!" The Pokemon screeches, as she hits a rock, and slides down it.
"Yamna!" Silverwing says, before flying up into the air again. I grit my teeth, and turn towards my sister.
"Why am I so tense?" I ask with a laugh. "This is going to be the last time I'm going to see you until we're both 18-and a hell of alot stronger." I tell her. "I want to prove to you how strong I am right now-and then again once we're older."
Ashy won't wipe that grin off of her face. "Mhm, sure. Oh, by the way, have you checked out Screech lately? I think if you do, you'll know who's the true winner in this battle right now."
I frown, not knowing what she means by that. I glance over my shoulder, and my jaw goes slack. Screech, is slumped against a rock, and had fainted. I scowl, but mutter, "good job, Screech," before returning her to her pokeball. I place her ball back where it belongs before walking towards Ashy. I stick my hand out to my sister, "Nice job, sis," I say as I shake her hand.
"Thanks bro." She grins. "You put up quite a good fight," she says as Silverwing lands on her shoulder.
"Yeah, you too." I say, before hugging her. "Try to stay out of trouble during your journey, okay?"
I feel my right shoulder become wet. Ashy's...crying. "Yeah," she says, voice cracking, "You too. Don't get caught by that douchebag we call dad, now, ya hear?"
I pull away with a sad smile, and nod. "Yeah 'course you in four years," I tell her.
Ashy nods with a smile to match mine, "Yeah..." She hugs me one more time, and whispers in my ear, "Goodbye," before pulling away, and running off.
"Bye Ashy!" I shout after her, cupping my hands around my mouth. There's a sickening feeling in my gut, as I realize this that I won't see her ever again. Will, not ever again. I'll get to see her in four years, but you know what I mean! I let out a small sigh.
Time to take on the world alone...
Four Years Later
"Silver," Nurse Joy calls out in the Pokemon Center. Right now, I'm waiting for Tsunami-my Feraligatr- and Snatch-my Arbok- to get all patched up, so I can go to the next gym. I look up at Nurse Joy in confusion. Has something gone wrong, perhaps? "Your sister Ashy just called, she needs to speak to you." Nurse Joy says.
I nod and stand. "Okay," I look over at the row of video call computers.
"3rd one from the left," Nurse Joy says, before heading in the back with Chansey. I nod and call after her, telling her thanks, before heading to said computer.
I type a few onto it, before there are two clicks, and suddenly Ashy's face pops up on the screen. "Hey Ashy," I say, "What's up? Haven't heard from in like..."
"Four years," Ashy says.
"Yeah, four years." I say, "Long time."
Ashy raises an eyebrow at me, and an amused smile spreads across her face, as her Glaceon-called Glacier- jump up onto her lap. "You've forgotten, haven't you?"
"Forgotten what?" I ask her, confused. Slim jumps up onto my lap.
"Stunky!" He says. I cover his mouth with one hand, signaling for him to be quiet.
"Remember that deal we made when we were fourteen? That we'd meet up again when we were eighteen, and battle again to see who was stronger?" My eyes widen in shock. I really had forgotten about that! Shit! I hear laughter, and I look towards the screen to see Ashy laughing her ass off. "Oh my god, you really did forget! That's hilarious!"
"Yeah yeah it's soo frickin' funny," I say with a roll of my eyes, "In more pressing matters-where are you at? Are you in Sinnoh?"
"Yeah, it just so happens I am. I'm in Hearthome City right now, where are you?" Ashy asks.
"I'm in Veilstone-but we can meet each other halfway, in Solaceon Town." I tell her.
"Sounds great-see you in a few," she says with a large grin.
"See ya," I say, before ending the call.
I get up from the seat and head over to the counter, just as Nurse Joy returns from the back. "Oh hello Silver, what can I do for you?"
"Are Tsunami and Snatch healed yet? I kinda have to meet my twin sister, and I'll need them when I do." I tell her. Nurse Joy blinks, and doesn't ask any questions about it.
"Well they are, but I want to keep an eye on them just for a little bit. I don't think it'd be wise to put them into battle right away..." She says.
"I won't put them into battle, Nurse Joy," I tell her, "They'll be on the side lines. Please Nurse Joy!" I beg.
She thinks about it for a minute, before sighing, and saying. "Alright, hang on." She said, before heading into the back room. She comes back out, with Snatch and Tsunami. I smile at them, and beckon them to me. The come over, and I rub their heads, before return them to their pokeballs. Nurse Joy watches without saying a word.
"Thanks Nurse Joy," I tell her as I put the pokeballs away.
"You're welcome, Silver," Nurse Joy says, "Now, be safe."
"I will. Thanks again," I say, before heading out. I feel her gaze heavy on my back as I leave. It must have run through all of the Joy's that my father's Giovanni, and they must have also told each other what happened to Ashy, and I. Everyone Pokemon Center I've ever been too, the nurses have watched me with an eagle eye, and always seem a little unwilling to let me leave.
I walk outside the Center, and grab my bike. I don't usually ride my bike, but I need to get to Solaceon Town quickly. I fling one leg over the bike, and put my left foot on the pedal, before pushing off.
"I thought you'd never get here," Ashy laughs, her cheshire cat grin planted firmly on her face. Silverwing hovers around her, and I can see the recognition in it's eyes.
Come to lose again, eh? Silverwing thinks to itself, although I think it forgot I can hear it's thoughts.
Not this time, Silverwing. I think back to it. I can tell Silverwing is alarmed, because it doesn't think anything else. "Well, I'm here now." I say, as I practically toss the bike to the ground. I look my sister up and down, as I ask, "How have you been?"
Ashy gets up from the place she's leaning on, and shrugs, before saying, "Good I guess. Good as you can be with Team Rocket goonies following your every move. You know how many times I have made those three idiots-what are their names, Jessie, James, and Meowth?- "blast off at the speed of light"? An ungodly amount of times." She tells me with an angry sigh.
I chuckle at that. "Sucks to be you then, because I haven't seen anyone from Team Rocket sense we were fourteen." I tell her.
"Lucky duck." She says with a snort. "Anyways-I didn't come here from Veilstone to have idle chit chat with you-not that it wasn't fun," Ashy says with a grin, "But I really want to see who's the better twin."
I nod in agreement. "Best two out of three?" I suggest.
"No, I don't have time for two out of three. One on one, like when we were kids. Silverwing vs Screech." She says, clapping her hands together.
"Fine, fine, okay." I say, pulling out Screech's pokeball. "Go, Screech!" I say as I throw out her pokeball.
"Loudred!" She cries, as she comes out and lands on her feet.
"Go, Silverwing!" Ashy calls, and the Yamna flies out in front of her.
"Let's go!" Both of us shout at once.
"Silverwing, use gust!" Ashy yells. The Yamna flaps it's wings towards Screech, who braces itself.
"Screech, use bite!" I command.
"Loudred!" Screech cries, before flinging herself at Silverwing, biting down hard on it's head.
"Yamna!" Silverwing cries, and both Pokemon fall to the ground. Dust blows up in every direction, blinding both Ashy, and I. I hear her cough, but I just shield my eyes, and wait for the dust to clear up.
Come on, Screech...I think to myself.
I'm okay, Silver, Screech thinks to me. I jump in surprise, forgetting all about my connection with Pokemon. I begin to relax, as Screech adds, But I don't think Silverwing will be recovering anytime soon. As Screech finishes the sentence, the smoke clears, and I can see Screech shaking the dust off. But where's Silverwing?
Ashy and I hesitantly walk forward, and I can't help the grinning from taking over my features as I see Silverwing had fainted. Ashy looks shocked. She, obviously thought she'd beat me easily, like when we were kids.
But we aren't anymore, and I've gotten a whole lot stronger since then.
Ashy picks up Silverwing with a sigh, "Obviously, you're the stronger twin...right now," she says, her face solemn at first before it blows into a full on smirk. "I will beat you later, once I've gotten stronger."
"Mhm," I say with a roll of my eyes. "Suureee."
"I will!" She says, scowling at me. I chuckle at her.
"Well, I'm going to get going. I need to get to Pastoria City," I tell her.
Ashy's face drops. "Noo please don't go." She pleads. "I haven't seen you in four years, and probably won't for another four years!"
I look at her and sigh. "Fine fine okay...Although it'll be pointless for me to stay, because we'll have nothing to talk about," I say, as I cross my arms over my chest. There's a moment of silence, before I say, "See? Told you. Now, if you excuse me..." I begin to walk away, when suddenly...
"Wait!" She calls, grabbing my right wrist, "I got some people I want you to meet. There back in Hearthome at the Pokemon Center."
I tense up at the word, "people". "Ashy," I say, warning her, "You know I don't do well around new people...And-"
"And that's why you're that lonely asshole who travels around the Pokemon World moping around and never makes any friends." Ashy says, practically mocking me. I glare at her, and open my mouth to say something, when she sighs, and says, "Look, I know you don't do well around people you don't know, but can you just try once. For me? I think if you met them, you'd really like them. And I'm being dead serious." She says.
I look at her with a frown. "You don't know that. For all you know, I could hate them. Look, don't try pressuring me into doing something I don't want to do. You'll just end up with two "friends" who hate you because your brother was a total asshole to them."
Ashy pouts, and sticks out her lower lip, giving me these big puppy dog eyes. "Aww...come on brother! Do it for me? Pllleeeaaaseeee? It won't be that bad! And if you want to leave after being there for five minutes, then by all means you can leave! But can you plllleeeeeaaaasseeeee do this for me, just this once?" She asks, and I can't say no.
I mean, she's my sister. When she wants something, she can make me putty in her hands. She knows all the right buttons to push, because we were the only friend the other had when we were kids. It's not like adults wanted their kids to be friends with Giovanni's children.
"Fine, Ashy." I tell her with a sigh.
She grins widely, and says, "Great, come on." Before dragging me towards Veilstone City.
What have I gotten myself into?