Flashback

3 Years Ago

Kanto Region

"Heart, I'm not exactly sure that we should be doing this!" Marina whispered, gazing around restlessly to see if anyone would catch her.

"Crystal, it's fine, I promise! Don't be such a baby," teased Silver.

"Then why are you hiding behind a tree, if everything's so 'fine'." She crossed her arms over her chest. She loved being right, especially since nowadays she seemed to be wrong about everything. Except for tonight.

Tonight, they were sneaking out of their small town in Pallet, and moving on to bigger and better things: Becoming Pokémon trainers. But they decided not to tell their parents about it. Because it was kind of a big deal.

"Heart, if we get in trouble for this, I won't forgive you."

"Oh come on Mari- I mean.. Crystal. This is how it has to be. We'd get caught in broad daylight."

"Hmm. Yeah. But it was awfully nice for Professor Oak to give us our very first Pokémon. And this cool looking Pokédex thingy!" she flipped the shiny red handheld machine open and closed.

"Um, he kind of has to. It's part of his job. And stop that! You'll break it! Jeez, do you know anything?" Silver huffed.

"Yes I do thank you very much! I'm just.. I'm so excited to be going on this journey! I've never been out on my own before. Me and my Bulbasaur are gonna win so many badges, it'll be a piece of pie!"

"I think you mean a piece of cake. And you keep telling yourself that, but it's harder than it looks. A little girl like you will get eaten alive in this Pokémon world." Silver smirked. Marina hit his head, full of messy blonde hair. His silver eyes grew wide in mock shock. "I'm gonna make you pay for that!" he screamed as he chased her.

The two ran down Route 1 until they made it to Viridian City, stopping to catch their breath, then collapsed on the pavement, laughing. Marina pulled back her short wavy chocolate brown hair out of her face right before it fell back again.

"Look at this place! It's incredible!"

"Crystal, it's just another town. What's so incredible about it." Silver got up and extended a hand to Marina, helping her off the grass.

"Yeah, but, I've never been outside of Pallet Town before! I could care less about Pokémon, really. I just want to see what's out there."

"But weren't you just 'so excited' to win badges and stuff?" Silver's eyebrows pulled together in confusion.

"Yes, I know. But that's just to see if I could do it. Plus, the badges are so darn shiny!"

No one said a word.

"Who the heck doesn't like Pokémon? "

"I never said I didn't like them. I just.. I like the idea of traveling. That's all. And with you and my Pokémon, I won't have to be alone. "Marina smiled, and Silver frowned in a response to her putting a hand on his shoulder. "Thanks for being my friend."

"We're rivals now, Marina. We can't be friends anymore."

"Then why did you just call me Marina!" she pointed a finger at him. "Ha-ha! Race you to the Pokémon Center!" Marina challenged in a childish manner and dashed into the red and white building, with Silver close behind.

"Nurse Joy! So nice to see you again!" grinned Marina, full of enthusiasm so late at night.

"Again? This isn't the same one, Crystal. "Silver set their stuff down in an empty room.

"But! But! She's got the same face!"

"Oh, you must be talking about my sister, in Pallet Town." Joy explained.

"Twins?" Marina guessed.

"Nooo.." Joy shook her head.

"Come on Crystal, stop bothering the nurse and let's go to bed. I'm sure she's very busy."

"Actually, I'm not. I don't get too many visitors who stop by this late. What are you two kids doing up at this hour, anyway?"

"So, you guys talk the same, look the same, and have the same name.. but you're not twins?"

Silver banged his head against the door. "Jeez, do you ever quit talking? We could have been asleep already!"

"Okay, okay. I'm coming, Heart! Don't be so grumpy." Marina went in their room and shut the door behind them.

Tomorrow, we start our journey together! How exciting.

Marina woke up the next morning. Without Silver. She climbed out of bed, and found a note lying on the counter.

Crystal,

I've went and gone ahead without you. You can't always rely on me. You've got to learn to figure things out on your own. No offense. Be safe.

Heart

"The only thing I'm offended by is how you think it'd hurt me if you left me." She folded the note up and stuffed it into the back pocket of her shorts.

I'm not a baby anymore. I just turned 14 a month ago.

Marina took in a deep breath as she stood in front of the doors of the Viridian City gym, prepared for whatever would happen next.

"This is it. Now or never. Here goes nothi-"

"Hey! Excuse me!" a young man came running toward Marina as he observed her giving herself a pep talk from a far.

"Yes?"

"No one's in that gym," he informed.

A creaky sound could be heard coming from the room Silver and Marina shared back at the Pokémon Center. Silver open the bathroom door just a crack and peered around the empty bedroom. Good. The coast was clear. He dragged his bags out and took a sip of the coffee that Marina had left for him on the counter.

Marina..

He didn't know why, but Silver had felt a sudden twinge of guilt appear into the pit of his stomach. Sure, he had lied, but it was better this way, wasn't it? Besides, he figured he'd catch up to her eventually. It wouldn't be so hard. It was Marina, after all. Oblivious, short, pudgy, happy-go-lucky Marina. Yeah. She'd never change.

Silver took in a deep breath as he stood in front of the doors of the Viridian City gym, prepared for whatever would happen next.

"Alright, here I come. I'm gonna be the best. The very best. Like no one ever wa-"

"Hey kid. Are you just going to stand there all day talking to yourself, or are you going to challenge me to a battle?"

Silver whirled around, now standing before a tall male in a purple sweater, one hand resting on his hip.

"Yeah, but-"

"Okay, then, come on! Right this way." The man took his hand and he led him into the gym. "My name's Blue, by the way. What's your name?" he smiled.

"Heart.." Silver blushed and looked down. Why was he feeling so nervous all of a sudden? Sure, he was about to have his first battle (with a gym leader, no less!), but it wasn't that kind of nervous. It was something else, and as Blue shot him another smile once more, Silver knew exactly what it was.