Chapter 1
Gold grins at his reflection, his pearly white teeth flash against his dim reflection on the bus window. The orange glow from the passing street lamps creates a photograph worthy effect on his reflection. It was already evening and they have not yet reached their destination, an island between Johto and Kanto, East of his hometown, New Bark Town. He sits beside his red-haired best friend, Silver.
"Hey, could you stop fidgeting, even for just a minute?" Silver said. He was getting tired of Gold, who has been shifting incessantly ever since they left Goldenrod City.
"I can't help it, I could get their faster riding Explotaro's back. They didn't even let us carry Pokemon!"
"It's a trainer's camp, dimwit. Of course they wouldn't allow Pokemon." Silver explained, though even he was not confident with his answer. It was odd how the Pokemon Association gathered trainers from all over the region, specifically asking each one of them not to bring a Pokemon with them. Gold thought it was a huge honor and dragged Silver along with him, they were in the area, after all, what with Gold's huge gambling problem and Silver's determination to end it. Gold nudged the seat in front of him, his Keds, a contraband from Unova, producing a screeching noise, where "The Third Man", Red sat in solitude.
"Hey teacher, do you know what they are up to?" Gold barked.
"Oh, uh, no." Red answered. Gold's senior has always stood out from the rest of the trainers. He was never one to initiate a conversation. Silver once said that Gold could learn from their senior's stillness. Red was from a different region.
"Where'd you spend your vacation?" Gold once asked the newcomer. Red thought for a while then answered.
"Mt. Silver." Red uttered, barely audible.
"REALLY?" Gold bellowed, causing Silver to cast a glare on him. Silver was very perceptive when conversations lead to a sensitive issue. To Gold, Silver must have thought that asking someone how they spent their vacation was prying on them and was rude. However, at that time, Red arrived with his arms and legs wrapped with bandages and his face scarred – which rumour was it, was a knife wound. Red was the subject of gossip that time, especially because of his sudden appearance, wounded and beaten.
"Hey, I made cookies!" Crystal appeared beside Silver and offered cookies wrapped in plastic and cellophane.
"I made too many and thought I could give it to you boys. I do hope you like it." Crystal bowed and raised the cellophane-clad cookies. In the background, Clair and Sabrina cackled boisterously, obviously aiming their laughter at Crystal. Crystal's cheeks turned a bright shade of pink and did not lift her head, arms still offering the confections.
"Thanks, I'm really in the mood for some sweets right now. Thank you, Crys." Gold took the bag from Crystal's hands and grabbed a mouthful. While chewing the treats, Gold said.
"Wow, these are really delish, Crys! I hope you still have a lot of extras when we get back from the trip." At his words, Crystal beamed a smile. Silver took a piece and gave the bag to Red who politely refused.
"Yeah, it's actually good. Thanks, Crys!" Silver genuinely said.
"Well, I better get back." Crystal curled her lips upwards and returned to her seat beside Whitney. Behind them was Jasmine and Janine. Two seats in front of them, Clair and Sabrina continued their laughter, without any intent to hide their ill intentions. The orange glow the passing street lamps cast catches Gold's attention once more. Gold became drowsy just as the familiar bumps of New Bark Town surfaces. Before passing out, he heard his classmates yelp and a familiar yet very foreign voice cuss and see the very same person attempt to pry open the windows.
GAME START
