Chapter 1

Shadow was walking down the dirt road towards the city. He had already passed the sign that said Welcome to Poketropolis, and he was moving closer. Liera was supposed to meet him at the gates into the actual city.

Shadow was now a fully grown Garchomp. His rough, scaly blue skin was riddled with scars from past battles, and he had a large bruise on his stomach from that day. (A couple of Usaring wanted some money. Shadow liked that battle.) Liera wasn't going to like that. He could see the gates from where he stood, and the bright orange of Liera's skin.

Shadow still couldn't believe he stayed friends with Liera so long. Most of his others friends decided they hated either him or Liera. They had been through a lot together, and if it weren't for her, Shadow would still be a Gabite. He could see that Liera was, as per usual, looking at the advertisements for the 4 groups: the Yin Syndicate, the Order of Yang, the Gold Coalition, and Silver Sanctuary. An idea for a prank was forming in his head. They don't call me Shadow for nothin'! thought Shadow. He managed to sneak up on his best friend, but, also as per usual, Liera saw right through it.

"Shadow, you can't sneak up on Psychic types, you know that!" teased Liera.

"Eh, it was worth a shot, now, wasn't it!" replied the Garchomp.

Liera simply rolled her eyes and went back to what she was doing. Shadow sighed.

"You're serious about this," said Shadow, "aren't you?"

"Of course. You expected less?" replied Liera.

"Good point. Have you decided yet?" asked Shadow.

At this, she sighed. "No, I haven't." said Liera.

"Well, from my point of view, you really only have two choices." said Shadow.

"Oh?" asked Liera.

"Yep" answered Shadow. Then he pointed at the posters for the Order of Yang and Silver Sanctuary.

The poster for the Order of Yang had the leader of the group, Reshiram, and the two 2nd-in-Commands, Dragonite and Liera's brother, Latios. In the background, the group's symbol, the symbol for Yang, was predominant. The Silver Sanctuary poster simply had the leader, Lugia, imposed over the whole thing and the words Silver Sanctuary in gray letters.

"Understandable on both accounts," said Liera, "but let's just go in the ci- OMIGOD SHADOW WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR STOMACH?"

"I thought you'd see that. Or read my mind about it. Or something." said Shadow. "Let's just say I got into a fight."

"Shadow…" said Liera.

"What? They started it! They tried to mug me!" exclaimed Shadow.

"And that's all you got?" said Liera, mostly unimpressed.

"Yeah, a couple of Ursaring. One managed to catch me off guard and get me a good punch in the belly, and then I kicked their asses across the road." said Shadow.

"It's a good thing your strength hasn't gone to your head." said Liera. "Oh, Shadow, what am I going to do with you?"

"Come with me intothe city?" said Shadow. Then his stomach growled. "We need to find a place to eat, I'm starved."

"Whatever, come on" said Liera. Then they quickly entered the city of Poketropolis.