Dreams

Hello there ladies and gentlemen. Thank you all for actually clicking on what can only be described as the most clichéd plot in FanFiction history, a school AU. In all honesty the school will play very little part in it, it's there because the characters are teenagers in the real world, so obviously they'd be in school, and it works as a useful way to have all of the characters meeting each other regularly. One thing you'll have to all bear with is that I'm using a British school for this, because I am British, and I'm not learning how an American school system works just for the sake of a fan fic. However, I'll include a "translation guide" just so things make sense. Don't bother reading the next paragraph if you're familiar with the British schooling system

In the English schooling system, there are two tiers of schooling. First is Primary school, which lasts six years and encompasses the ages 5-11 (4-11 in Northern Ireland). P2 would be equivalent to first grade in an American system, while P6 would be equivalent to fifth grade. Secondly, there is Secondary school (sometimes called Grammar or High School), which lasts seven years and encompasses the ages 11-18. First year is equivalent to sixth grade, and seventh year is equivalent to twelfth grade. GCSEs are taken in fifth year, and most students will take nine or ten GCSEs. In sixth year, students will sit their AS levels, which largely act as preparation for the A levels that will be taken in seventh year. Most students will choose four subjects to do for AS level, and then some will drop one subject for A level, leaving them three, while some will continue on with all four. Most British universities only require three A levels, but students with the ability to take four generally do so to improve their chances, and to compensate in case they mess up one subject. It is uncommon, but not unheard of for students to take more than four AS/A levels, I myself took five.

With that out of the way, onto the actual story. The label of Black/White on this fic does not mean that either is the main character, both are major characters and as such their relationship is probably the most major that this story will explore. The main character is probably Silver, but there should be a lot of focus on the sort of group dynamic that a school environment inspires. That said, Silver, Gold and Black will probably be the central characters. I'm aware the first chapter is mostly those three, but future ones should have a more rounded focus.

All surnames are Japanese translations of the characters' first names, with the exception of characters who already have names in the series (like Green Oak).

Sadly, I don't own Pokemon, Pokemon Adventures or pretty much anything else aside from a laptop and a guitar.

-x-x-

"Bye Mom, thanks for the lift!" And with that, Gold Kane stepped out of the car and off into another all-conquering crusade of the battleground that future generations would call 'The Place Where It All Began.' Or in layman's terms, school, but whatever works.

He did a quick scan of the slightly damp grounds outside the school, rain being an ever present curse in Viridian in September, and, like little flashes highlighted on a screen, two faces stood out. Well, in Gold's eyes it would be more accurate to say one face and one spectacular set of legs, but Crystal really did get annoyed when he called her that. In fact, Crystal got annoyed when he did pretty much anything, so it was probably a safer option to go talk to Black first.

"Hey Black, how's things man?" Not the greatest of rallying cries, but Gold had always left the eloquent stuff to Silver. Speaking of which, where the hell was he. "Is Silver in yet?"

Black turned around to the (slightly) older boy with a smile, unconsciously moving over slightly to give Gold a space in the small group that he had accumulated, "Hey Gold, yeah he got in about ten minutes ago, but he just headed straight inside."

Gold shrugged, "I'll see him in registration anyway. So, how was your weekend? And before you ask, yes, of course mine was more epic, but I'll let you have the first word."

Black laughed at his friend's antics, and said, "Pretty good, hung out with the lovely Miss Shiro over here," he extravagantly indicated one of the girls in the group, "And co," he indicated the other two, a bashfully smiling blonde girl and a glowering boy with glasses, "On Saturday."

"You're too kind," 'Miss Shiro' responded, giggling slightly, "Pity the film sucked. I mean the actors were great but they just didn't fit the roles at all, it was like the director just picked a storyline and some big names and slammed them together…"

White continued on her critique of the film, while Gold leaned over and whispered to Black, "I thought you were the obsessive one?"

Black nodded with a grin, but followed White's rant, offering a couple of 'uh-huh's and 'yeah's as appropriate, before the spectacled boy sighed, "Honestly White, you would have thought that you of all people would pick a film that you'd enjoy."

White stopped short, "Well the plot seemed interesting from the previews and the actors are all good, but-"

"And now you know how movie companies make money," he interrupted, with a small laugh.

White paused briefly, "Stop being cynical about my hobby Cheren!" She complained with a friendly tone, and the boy laughed again.

There was a momentary lapse in conversation, and Black took his opportunity, "Excuse me, I'll just be one second," he began, taking a step away from the group.

"Oh God here it comes," Cheren had time to say, his hands rushing to cover his ears before-

"I'M NOT GONNA GET A DETENTION TODAY!" Black yelled across the grounds, echoing faintly as every conversation was briefly interrupted, then recommenced, amid dark mutterings of "Every goddamn morning, seriously."

Gold laughed, "Good plan, how'd you get one yesterday? Steal a library book on travelling or something?"

Black looked defensive, "Honestly, how was I supposed to know that you're not allowed to install games on the school computers?"

The group laughed as one, and Gold commented, "The real crime here is that you didn't tell me you'd got a game running on the school computers. I feel betrayed."

"I only brought one controller," Black said with a laugh. "Besides, I already vowed never to play you at Halo again."

Gold ratcheted up the hurt look on his face, "You were playing Halo in school and didn't tell me?"

"Nerds," White faux-whispered loudly, causing Gold to laugh and Black to stop, sentence half-formed in his mouth, and flush slightly.

The conversation would have soon been over anyway, as Bianca unknowingly spoke the Words of Doom: "Oh, hey Crystal!"

"Hey all!" Crystal replied, having been walking past the group while chatting with an older girl who Gold would forever refer to as 'That Chick Red Likes.' Anyone else would have used that nickname away from the subjects, but Gold revelled in referring to her as such in Red's company, mainly because Red was way too cool to actually hit him for it.

"Hey Crystal, and the Chick That Red Likes," Gold said, flashing his trademark cheeky smile. Now that was a much better rallying cry. The girl in question blushed, while Crystal flashed her trademark reaction to anything Gold did. Unsurprisingly, it wasn't a smile, "Gold, shut up. And please stop calling Yellow that."

Bianca and Yellow both opened their mouths to speak, but were interrupted by, surprise surprise, Gold, "Not even gonna ask me how my weekend was?"

"You hung out with your ginger boyfriend and failed at chatting up every girl you met?" Crystal guessed. The rest of the group laughed, and White made a catlike gesture and hiss, the implication clear. Bianca had realised that there was little to no chance of her getting to chat to her friend, and joined in the laughter.

Gold chuckled, "I'm sorry, no matter how hot you may find the idea of me with another guy, it's not happening."

The group laughed again, and Crystal sighed deeply, "Shut up, Gold. See you around Bianca, and everyone else not named Gold," and with a cheery wave, she and Yellow departed, just as the bell rang.

Another foe, conquered by the mighty Gold. "OK, adios all," Gold said with a quick wave, knowing that the other four were in the same registration group, "See any of you at break?"

"Sorry man, got choir," Black responded, while the others nodded or shrugged vaguely.

Gold looked momentarily surprised, "You do choir?"

"Um, yeah?" Black responded.

Gold looked thoughtful for a moment, then turned his attention back to the conversation, "Anyway, see you all around!" And with that, he walked off to class.

-x-x-

"Silver, two things. First, where the hell were you? Second, I've had an idea."

"Mr Kane, please at least wait until you've taken your seat before swearing across the classroom," Came the exasperated voice of Roxanne, the young Geography teacher.

Gold briefly apologised, before rushing to his seat, "Well?" He asked, his voice blending in with the chatter of students in the rest of the class.

"Practicing," Silver said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Trying to learn this Dream Theater song-"

"I am not learning any of their songs, so stop right there," Gold said with a knowing smile. Some things, not even Gold could conquer. "You could have practiced last night, you missed me totally owning Crystal just there."

"I'm sure I'll catch one of the twenty repeats later," Silver said, rolling his eyes, "And I was busy last night."

"Yeah yeah, whatever. I swear she was blushing," Gold said with a conspiratorial grin.

Silver gave his friend a sidelong glance, "Are you sure we're watching the same show here?"

Gold once again released the look of fake injury, "How could you say such things? Don't answer that. Anyway, my idea. You know that new kid Black? About our height, dark hair-"

"The shouting one?" Silver finished.

"Yeah him, apparently he goes to choir. And I think we all know how powerful his voice is," Silver laughed briefly at that, "So I reckon he'd be pretty good lead vocalist material, what do you think."

Silver paused momentarily, "Gold, did you just have a good idea? When was the last time that happened?"

Gold grinned, "I don't think anyone can remember."

The conversation paused briefly for the two to call their names out for the register.

"So, shall I invite him round to mine this afternoon?" Gold asked.

"I'd really watch my wording if I were you," Silver said with a dark smile.

"Shut up, Silver."

"And now you're using your girlfriend's pet term for you on me. I do wonder about you sometimes…"

"Shut up, Silver."

The redhead smiled evilly as the bell went, "English now. Please remember that Crystal's legs are in no way related to Shakespeare no matter how much you look at them."

"Shut up, Silver."

-x-x-

"Hey Black!"

For the second time that day, Black turned around to greet Gold. This time however, Silver was trailing behind Gold and White was nowhere to be seen, as the three had just left their last class before lunch. "Hey Gold," Black said, slowing down to fall into step with the others, "So how did you find Crystal's Legs? Or, as the rest of us call it, Maths."

"Everyone's a comedian," Gold replied, once again reusing the injured look. Reusing the same jokes for embarrassment was his thing, people needed to stop doing it to him. "Seriously though; I have a proposition for you."

Black looked quizzical, as Gold asked, "What kind of music do you like?"

"Um, anything really…" Black responded, looking confused.

"OK, I'll be more specific, do you like rock?"

"Uh, yeah…?"

"Right, great. You're coming to my house this afternoon, OK?"

Black still looked confused, "I'd kinda planned to look up how to travel to North Korea this afternoon, so please explain?"

Silver rolled his eyes from the sidelines, as Gold raised his arm extravagantly, attracting brief stares from the other students milling towards the canteen, "I'm offering you the once in a lifetime opportunity to come and jam with me and Silver! Or sing, in your case."

Black looked curious, but still confused, "Is this because I'm in the choir?"

"Yeah! I figure you must have a good singing voice to be in the choir, and I know you have a really powerful voice because of all that screaming, so you'll make a good rock singer, right?" Gold said, as if it was the most logical thing in the world.

Black looked thoughtful, "Never thought about it like that, yeah I guess that could work. Anything you wanna try out?"

"Great!" Gold shouted, accidentally backing into a group of first years in his revelry, "Oops, sorry. Anyway, do you know any AC/DC? That's an easy enough one to start off on."

"Don't you even think of making a Back in Black joke," Black said with a glare. "Yeah I know Shook Me All Night Long, sound good?"

"Awesome! I'll see you after school then we can head round to my place to try it out!" Gold said with a massive smile on his face, as the trio entered the canteen. Another victory for the mighty Go-

"You really need to watch your wording."

"Shut up, Silver!"

-x-x-

"I do believe," Said a voice within the canteen, layered with honey and evil, "That someone is getting irritated with my dear brother once again."

"He's learned his craft from a master," Said another, drier voice, a voice that rested permanently on the edge of irritation.

"Oh shush, Green," said the female voice, "We all know you love me really." More honey, more undercurrents of evil.

Green stayed silent, and his friend chimed in, "Everybody loves you Blue, as you're so fond of telling us."

Blue sounded shocked, with some of Gold's fake injury mixed in by a true master, "Red, since when do you make sarcastic jibes?"

"Red can't be sarcastic, he's the good guy!" Gold shouted, sitting down next to the older trio, with Silver and Black in tow. "I don't think you've been introduced. Guys, this is Black, or, as you probably know him, the shouting guy." Black laughed, and waved hello, sitting down next to Gold. "Black, this is Green, the smartest person in the school, and the man who invented being annoyed."

Green rolled his eyes and continued to eat.

"This is Blue, Silver's sister, and the woman who necessitated that invention."

"That's a rather big word for you Gold," She turned to her brother, "Have you been teaching him tricks?"

Silver laughed while Gold looked embarrassed, "And lastly," He quickly changed the topic, "This is Red, a genuine hero." Everyone at the table except Red laughed, even Green smirked slightly. "Captain of every sports team he's in, friendliest guy you'll ever meet and saved a girl's life when he was eleven. Like I said, all around hero."

"How many times have you introduced me like that?" Red asked, while leaning across the table to shake Black's hand.

"Twelve."

"Do you have to include the saving a girl's life bit?"

"Of course he does!" Blue said, with a sickeningly sweet smile, "You're the hero and that's what heroes do, right?"

Red sighed, he'd given up asking them not to do that a long time ago.

"So, Red-"

"Do I detect the words 'That Chick You Like' heading towards this conversation?' Silver asked with a mocking tone.

"You know me too well," Gold said flamboyantly, "So, where is she?"

"Probably down by the river as usual," Red responded.

"Oh, so you know where she usually goes for lunch?" Gold said with a horrible attempt at a knowing smile.

"Do we have to go through this every lunch time?" Green asked, his annoyance clear in his voice, "Have you just run out of jokes or something?"

Gold looked offended and Blue chipped in, "Matchmaking is my job anyway, you're just ruining it with your messiness." She looked up from the table, "Speaking of matchmaking…" she said with a singsong voice that was layered so deep with evil that it could make a lawyer shudder. "Hi, Crystal! How was your weekend?"

If Gold was trying not to let the horror show on his face, he was failing horribly, although the same could be said for Blue's amused (or sadistic, depending on how charitable you were feeling) look. Crystal smiled at the older girl, "Pretty good, thanks. And for the reference, Gold, that is how you broach a topic about your weekend, not by just telling me to ask you."

"I was just trying to be polite and let you in on some of the unadulterated epicness that is my life, but you just cruelly brushed me aside," The injured look had returned once more.

Blue turned and stage-whispered to Green, "I would tell those two to just shut up and kiss already, but the sexual tension is just too funny."

Green rolled his eyes, Crystal blushed bright red, and Gold just laughed. Crystal turned her face away from Gold and stammered out an address to the rest of the group, "Um, I think I see Bianca over there, goodbye…" And with that, she departed.

There was a momentary silence, before Gold (who else) broke it, "She so wants me."

-x-x-

"Well that was incredible!" Gold shouted, collapsing sideways off his drum stool.

Silver smiled viciously, rolling off the volume on his guitar, "Something tells me that's not the first time you've said that to a group of guys, in a basement, while you're topless, lying on the floor, and out of breath."

"Seriously Silver shut up."

"That was pretty good though," Silver said, looking pleased.

Black laughed, switching off the microphone Gold had lent to him, "That was awesome guys! I never knew you two were this good."

Gold finished standing up and bowed extravagantly, putting his shirt back on as he spoke, "Why thank you. Anyway, I think we can definitely concur that this works."

Silver looked thoughtful for a moment, "Black, can you play any instruments?"

"I can sort of play guitar but I'm not great…" Black responded.

"Wanna try playing bass? Silver can teach you some stuff if you want," Gold interrupted, excitement in his voice.

"Yeah," Black said, smiling brightly, "I could try that. And that would mean…"

"We have a whole band," Silver cut in, with a genuine, non-sarcastic smile on his face.

Gold had a look on his face that said ten years' worth of Christmases and birthdays had just come early. "Right!" He said, uncharacteristically loud, even for him. "Let's get this man some essentials!" He picked up a large guitar case from the side of the room, "There's a really crap bass for you, should be good enough to learn. I don't even remember how we got that thing."

Black laughed, "I shall cherish this precious gift!"

"I'm sorry, the snarky one-liners using big words thing has already been taken by Silver," Gold responded with a grin, "Now, let's get you some Jamming with Gold and Silver 101." He quickly sifted through a pile of CDs that had been stacked on a CD player in the corner of the basement, "Here we go!" He handed Black a small stack of Metallica and Iron Maiden CDs, "Listen to these, let us know what songs you like, sound good?"

Black looked slightly overwhelmed, but grinned, "Yeah sure! Anyway, I probably have to go now, need to do Geography homework. Studying for The Dream!"

The other two nodded, you couldn't get in the way of The Dream. Black claimed his shouting habit, that the school was having such a lovely time adjusting to, had been learned from shouting his Dream very loudly out of his bedroom window every morning since he was seven years old.

After packing up, the trio made their way to the exit of Gold's house. Although this is a rather unfair trivialisation of a rather arduous task, as Gold's house, or mansion, to give it it's proper title, could be charitably called 'labyrinthine,' and uncharitably called 'a bloody confusing mess.' They chatted all the way about how awesome their new band would be, and even Silver seemed excited, for possibly the first time in living memory.

"Do you want a lift back to your place?" Gold asked, as they finally reached the front door. Black quickly shook his head, "Nah I'll be OK. A bit of fresh, chemically enhanced Viridian air will do me good," He said with a cheeky smile. "Seriously though, I'll walk, it's not that far."

"Suit yourself," Gold said with a shrug, and Black and Silver both moved to walk off. "Hey!" Gold called, "Where do you think you're going, ginger boy?"

"Home, Gold," Silver responded drily, "To study. You know, that thing that everybody else does."

Gold sighed, "I guess I'll have to be awesome on my own. Oh well," With an exaggerated sigh he turned back towards the main doors, "See you all tomorrow!"

-x-x-

Before anybody gets worried that this fic will just be me doing a massive self-insert with the whole band thing and Gold and Silver's music tastes, it won't be. The band will be important to the general plot, but more about the general drama surrounding the members, and the aftermath of their performances provides a good way to link up all the characters in a more casual environment.

So rest assured I'm not just going to go on about how awesome they play and the music they play because that would get really boring, really fast. I only included the AC/DC, Metallica and Iron Maiden references in this chapter because they'd have to have an audition song, and I wanted to use the "Jamming with Gold and Silver 101" line.

Anyway, thanks everybody for reading. Please, please, please critique the characterisation if you think it was off, because some of them are so hard to get right in a non-dramatic context. Seriously, in the actual manga there are pretty much no situations where Silver isn't being surrounded by drama and stuff, so I have no idea how he's supposed to act when he's just hanging out with his few friends. I figured being evilly sarcastic to Gold would be the most likely way for him to act, so that's how I'm writing him.