Snapple put his paw on my back as I set foot on the ground. I turned and let him hug me; fluffy, soft, warm fur assaulted my face. "I really do hate ladders. Since la ultima vez one of these broke while I was in the Ruins of Alph. I couldn't get up for days cuz my back hurt so much." Snapple nodded sympathetically remembering the time he had spent beside me until some nerdy guy found me. He pushed me away and nudged Pepe's ball.

After avoiding the broken bridge pieces scattered in the water, we landed on the back platform of the shrine. The damp smell was really strong down here, the wood wasn't helping. Some parts of the platform were spongy and I couldn't stop imagining it swallowing my foot up. A soft light spilled out of the back windows of the shrine, helping illuminate the dark cave. The walls glistened with moisture and the dark green waters rippled as some Pokémon swam by. Various trainers were on the side ledges of the pool practicing. Battle cries and noises came from all directions, mixing in with the roars of the whirlpools; disturbing the peacefulness of the place. It was still the middle of the day, and people would usually train around this time. The last time I was here it was evening and it was almost empty. The remaining trainers were resting or meditating, a gentle hum emanating from the dark corners.

Snapple randomly appeared and started to sniff at the air. His ears twitched up, his eyes narrowed, and the hairs from his back stood on end. With his flame shining brighter I had to cover my eyes, for they had gotten used to the darkness. He waddled towards the side of the cabin on his hind legs.

"Hey wait for me." I walked after him. He had stopped at the corner, staring at something. Adrenaline had already started pumping in my body, making my gut harden in anticipation. "What is it bud?" I put my hand on him as I made my way around; his fur was hot.

In front of us was the one and only in his entire fiery splendor. His red hair had caught fire with Snapple's flame bathing his face in an orange glow. His silver eyes sparked and seemed to swirl like molten metal. The scowl he had put up as soon as he saw me forced his soft features to tighten. His lips were in a pout, his freckled cheeks puffed out. He crossed his arms in front of his chest; the navy blue jacket he wore covered his slender frame. They looked looser on him since the last time we met. Feraligator was up and growling at both of us (but when I look back at this moment I could remember a gentle whine at the back of his throat as he gave Snapple a longing look).

So cute… I felt my body twitch forward, almost raising my arms up. Wait, what? What the fuck Gold? He's not a friend that you haven't seen in a while. Cute? Really whats wrong with you?! Tch. I caught myself from wondering into what that had meant. Instead, I cleared my throat and said "Whoah! I actually found you. How are ya?"

He raised an eyebrow. "…what? Are you here to make fun of my training?" He frowned again. Something I found that made me feel…troubled? I've never seen him smile, I wonder if I can make him-ah stop wondering off in thought again. He looks upset now. "Humph! I took my time coming all the way here, but the master won't tell me anything and he's making a big deal out of it…so I decided to train my Pokémon here instead. So with that in mind, please do me the favor and leave."

"Leave? Que pedo? I came all the way here from Mt. Silver to look for you." I was going to start to explain when his eyes widened with…shock, anger?

"What? Why would you…I see, so you do want to rub it in my face that you're the new champion? That you are better than me? Well, I have been training very hard. I challenge you!"

I sighed I knew it would end up like this. Why fight tho? Damn and I was hoping for…for what? Shaking my head I looked up at Snapple. He nodded and stepped forward. I wasn't sure this was the best place, but the situation already had me fighting for the win. Silver nodded, as if expecting my choice of Pokémon.

"Go Feraligator! Win this!" he stretched out his arm, gesturing to us and the field in his signature move.

I stepped back and clicked my tongue loudly. Both of us had come up with a new tactic where I didn't have to say anything and he knew exactly what to do. It mostly involved whistles, clicks, my body posture, and subtle hand movements. Snapple was ready to use whatever he deemed a good move when he saw an opportunity. This proved worthy when he was in a disadvantage, everyone knew that skills and brains won over strength and power (even tho I confess that's more my field than thinking things thoroughly. My Pokémon had caught me on it and we came up with new strategies.)

Boring battle stuff where Gold wins, but with only his Poliwhirl left (don't get me wrong, I love the battles, but it such a pain to write them) –

"Dammit! Why? I was so close. What is it that I'm doing wrong? What do you have that I don't? Huh!?" he clutched Crobat's ball to his chest.

"It's what I've been telling you. What everyone has been telling you man. You gotta love your Pokémon. Be a friend, not their owner."

"I know that!" he yelled. He sighed, "I already know! I've been trying… I, I just don't know exactly how." He put his hands over his face.

I stepped forward and cautiously put a hand on his shoulder. "Well, we can start by taking our Pokémon to the center. They got hurt pretty bad. Thankfully Pepe was my last standing Pokémon, he'll take us across."

He looked up at me like if I had appeared out of nowhere. Something seemed to 'click' in his eyes and he nodded. I gave him an encouraging smile and steeped to the platforms' opening.

I crouched down and let Poliwhirl out. "Alright, Pepe can you take both of us back buddy?" He looked behind me at Silver and gave me a questioning look. I shrugged, "Take him first, thanks."

We finally landed; heading to the stairs in silence. I was thinking of how I was going to handle this. I could only think of looking cool in front of Silver and not make a scene like some loser. He went up first. The ladder started to go side to side as he stepped with each foot. I quickly grabbed it to make it stop. He disappeared to the first level.

"Ok Gold. You can do this. He is waiting for you up there. Just climb, nothing is going to happen." I'm such a wuss. Fuck, just do it dumbass! And so I did. By the time I looked up and faced the entrance, my guts were really tight and ready to slip out. Según yo, I had my face normal but…

"What's wrong? You look pale. Gross!" Silver said with his arms crossed and his foot tapping away impatiently.

"Huh? Oh nothing. I'm fine. Just a little sick from climbing up is all." I cleared my throat, avoiding his gaze. "Let's go."

He didn't say anything until we reached the Pokémon center. Fresh cold air slid out the automatic doors and chilled my skin. Ah, I don't feel that good. "You go first Silv. Imma go buy some water and something to eat."

He looked at me weird or with worry. I really couldn't tell. I was about to turn around and head out when spoke loudly, "Wait. Leave me your Pokémon. And fetch me lemonade or something. Don't waist time going back and forth; I'll meet up with you at the Poké Mart."

I wasn't expecting him to say something like that. "Uh…ok. Yeah, then…" I handed over my only four Poké Balls. "Thanks?"

He rolled his eyes, "Hurry up will you. How slow." He said as he walked towards the front desk where Nurse Joy was watching with curiosity. We were probably the first interesting thing she had seen all day. That or she was trying to recognize our faces.

It had been a year or two since Silver had taken the Totodile. The professor had lifted all charges from him weeks after thanks to a little persuasion de su servilleta aquí. It didn't become sensational news or anything, there was a small headline of it in the local paper, but that was all. Now in my case, I wasn't sure what was going on. Obviously I was the 'new champion' whatever that meant. I had won over Lance a month ago and registered my name and Pokémon in the hall of fame. I was still in a bit of a shock and it didn't help when Professor Oak walked in with Mary talking at the same time. I was forced to sign some papers with who knows what on them. Lance and some lawyers, who appeared out of nowhere, were quickly explaining something, probably what was written down, but I was completely out of it. Then I was ushered home where my ma had had a congratulations banner and a little party with our neighbors. There was a week where my face was all over the television; reporters swarming in and out of the house asking questions like what I was going to do next. Me being me would answer, "I have absolutely no idea" with a grin. Soon they got bored and left. I got tired of being at home waiting for something to happen and ended up at Mt. Silver. And now, here.

Hi : ) Thank you for reading another chapter! This is going pretty slow… but I'm hoping it'll pick up in the next chapter…or two… *laughs nervously* Feel free to leave comments or what you would like to see in the future (I'm not so sure myself. This story is kinda being written as I go on)

p.s. For those parts that are in Spanish… I'm not sure if I should translate them or not. If anyone suggests that I should then I will, I'll either do them in parenthesis right after or here at the end. Thanks again 3