Chapter1
Suspect

It didn't take much to judge that there was something off about that boy. Looks wouldn't show anything special about him. Age maybe around 11, average height, lengthy dark red hair, and seemingly slim body confined by a loose black blouse with red trimmings, comfortable trousers and boots. But Green knew better than that, whoever that boy was, he was far from ordinary, and not in positive way either. As they say, eyes are the mirror of soul, and in this case, it was more than accurate. Because those cold silver eyes didn't let anything show, and that told Green more than he needed. Quite smaller than himself (well, that was to be expected, really, after all the guy did look younger), the red-head spread around an aura of mystery but not in a metaphysical sense. It was something you felt from criminals. The trainer from Pallet Town knew that feeling all too well after dealing with Team Rocket, that uncomfortable shiver that the other's gaze would send down his spine. Yes, that boy definitely did not engage in legal works.

But that wasn't good enough of an answer to Green's questions about the stranger. It was far too little. That boy's presence nagged at his mind in an odd way, and he could bet it wouldn't leave him even if they parted there and then.

For now though, he took in as many details about him as he could in that brief moment they had to look at each other when he swung the door open, and his vision wasn't that clear due to the sweat rolling down his face. Oh right, it was not the time to wonder, someone was the floor of League's building he was on (if not the entire building as it was) into a gigantic oven, and that little one here was first suspect at hand.

"Sneasel! [Faint Attack]!"

He barely manage to get out the right pokéball and summon forth his Porygon 2, jumping back as the virtual Pokémon took the hit. The brat was fast, he had to admit that. Is this the guy who created this heat!? But...Sneasel was a Dark and Ice type... This didn't quite fit the picture.

"Sneasel! Again!"

Well, the one behind it or not, he definitely was hostile at the very moment, and gave no time to even call out to him to clear out that situation. And since he was the one who attacked first, it was only logical to pick up the glove and fight back wasn't it? The Porygon floated in place when the black Pokémon delivered another attack, eyes locked on him while he only slightly swayed in mid-air from the hit, unfazed otherwise.

"It's useless! My Porygon 2 is using an attack called [Conversion 2]! Now he can easily fend off any attacks from Sneasel! My Porygon 2 is type Dark in this battle! Your attacks might not be as effective as you think." Green said calmly, cold glare of green eyes locked on his opponent, hands tucked into pockets of his trousers casually. The heat in this place made thick drops of sweat roll down his face and neck, and the jacket with a furry collar did not help in the least. But the red-haired boy in front of him did not look any better. Could he really be the person who caused this enormous heat?

"I see. How interesting." Came a reply to Green's explanation. Well, the guy here wasn't an idiot, he took in every bit of information the Viridian Gym leader provided. But that hard look in his eyes... he wasn't aggressive. He was rather testing him, silver orbs hard and cautious. He figured he probably looked at him the same way.

But any further thought was cut off by a new wave of heat, and although Green stood his ground, the younger one swayed. He definitely wasn't the one to blame for current situation in the corridor. Green turned sharply towards where the heat seemed to come from in most strength. His eyes widened slightly at what he saw, and he wiped off some of the sweat dripping from his face with the back of his hand.

"We seem to have mistaken each other as the culprit for this heat...Look!" Green pointed towards the stairway at the end of the corridor. "That's the reason!"

As in a response to his words, the air moved as in from a deep breath, carrying a low growl with it. On the top of the flight of stairs the trainer from Pallet pointed to stood a Pokémon. First word to describe it would be a beast. Standing proudly on all fours, resembling a lion, with long brown fur and shining eyes. Its back and tail were made up of flames, burning calmly and causing the silhouette to radiate with light.

It's awesome! Then...

The opponent is...

Both boys locked eyes on the mighty creature and shifted to stand more firmly. The air was almost sparking with the tension as both within a second retreated their Pokémons and called forth new ones. Lights from pokéballs grew and twisted, forming giant, serpent-like shapes. When the glow faded away, two Gyaradoses towered over their trainers, roaring quietly and shifting long bodies around in anticipation, one of them blue, the other deep red. For a moment, there was almost absolute silence while the fire Pokémon before the two trainers eyed them and they returned the stare. They didn't exchange any words, not even look at each other, yet the command came in a perfect unison.

"[Dragonbreath]!!!"

The powerful attack, doubled, hit the legendary Pokémon and the beast flinched, letting out a pained growl, flames on its back fading a little bit.

"Alright!" It was the red-haired boy, but his relief was a bit soon as the opponent counterattacked with a fire breath of its own, forcing both Green and the kid to jump in opposite sides in order to immediately retreat their Gyaradoses and dodge the stream that could surely burn them alive. Even if it passed over a meter from them, they could feel the immense heat and it left them staring in the fire's wake with wide eyes. But that was a mistake, if you can call it one. The moment they looked back up at the stairs, the beast...

"It's gone!"

Curiosity was one thing, but it was not an opponent they could handle, most probably. Even so, the red-haired boy looked varily around, took something out of his blouse, and after a second he was already running towards side opposite from the stairs where the creature was.

Green turned after him and moved to follow, calling out "Wait!", but someone grabbed him by his arm and yanked back, holding in place. When he looked back, he couldn't help but tense up.

"Green!"

"Daisy!"

It was his sister indeed, but it didn't make him happy, not a tiny little bit. He wanted to follow that strange kid. Appearance of that fire Pokémon, the aura of mystery around the boy... He had no doubt that his suspicions about the kid were right. He didn't remember the portrait of Elm's Totodile theft suspect too well but he recalled the dark red, long hair. This one here could have been the thief. And if that was true, then he was also the one behind stealing professor Oak's Pokédex. If this all was right, then he had to find that kid no matter what and take him to the police...

"What happened!? The unbearable heat that I felt... it was created by a Pokémon? And you were fighting it?" The girl was visibly worried, gesturing lively and eyeing Green up and down all the time, as if wounds and terrible burns could pop up on his body any second. But her brother just looked away towards where the other vanished.

He gritted his teeth in frustration. He was angry with his sister. Not furious, just annoyed. He had him in his reach and now.. who knew when he would find the little thief. 'That boy...' Now it annoyed him more and more. Now it was not just a matter of handing him to the justice, but a personal issue. He had questions and he wanted answers. That red Gyarados, the odd feeling that he knew the fire beast, the level of skills he displayed...

"I know you want to find out more", his sister suddenly spoke up, "And I'll report this incident to people in charge. But you have to rush to the battle stadium now. There's a battle waiting for you"

For once his train of thoughts centred around the red-haired annoyance stopped and this bit of information from his sister cooled him down. That was right. He had a battle waiting, the kid was gone anyway and there was nothing he could do about it. If police finds him first, then it's even better, will save him the trouble of dragging him to them. And if they don't... he'll have plenty of time to look for him after this fight is over.

This was a matter of honour.

His previous teacher and master was waiting for him.

...and he was already late. Green grimaced to himself. That was not in good style...

xXxXx

Entei was gone. Again... Silver walked along the corridor, frustrated. He couldn't even find him on the radar anymore... There was a short electric buzz and the result of the battle that was held just now was announced.

"The student is the winner of this exciting reunion battle!"

He looked at the loudspeaker blankly then averted his gaze. 'Master... and student...' He turned away. 'I have no luck with such bonding.'

For a moment, image of the boy he fought along a while back flashed through his mind. Maybe it was his battle? Such people must have it good, to be close to others, to their family, to their teachers. They must enjoy life and memories. 'On the contrary, I hate my past...'

This was not a time to get down on it though. He had a final battle laying ahead of him.

FFFFFFFFFFF done at last. So ummm... hiya people I'm back after a waaay long break, and with most older stuff on hiatus and Pokémon Special ruling my world. W00T!

So like, yeah. I bet most of you already know where this thing is heading but... XD I HAD TO WRITE IT. Also expect some other Pokémon fics from me, I'm on a roll~

I'm using dialogues from English edition of manga but Green is GREEN, Blue is the girl, got it!? T^T

This version here is unrevised, I just wanted to put it up as soon as I could lD So if anyone spots a mistake please point it out to me~ Also, I'd really appreciate some constructive criticism. I have the feeling that my writing got rusty...