Silver - Ice inside your Soul.

I'd been waiting a while now. So it was a shock when she suddenly stumbled to a stop mere feet away from me. She looked more amazing than ever now she was dry, her hair had fallen into loose curls, and wasn't hidden by her hat. She didn't wear the coat I'd brought her anymore, but a red blazer and a navy dress. She had her white stockings on with dainty red shoes that were clearly not designed for cave trekking, she was stupidly impractical like that, but it's what I liked about her.

I'd forgotten what I'd planned to say. Apologies weren't my forte. That strange connection we always seemed to get occurred again, only her eyes were not friendly and curious anymore. She stared at me blankly, like all the sparkle that I'd once detested had run dry. I hated that it wasn't there. I hated that I was the one to drain it from her. She looked behind her, as if she were looking for some way to escape.

"Soul-" her name sounded so right on my tongue, like I should have said it time and time again after the journey to theBellTower. Only I'd gone and screwed it up, and she ran away leaving no trail for me to chase. It wasn't until I stopped at a gym and noticed her name inscribed in the winner's trophy did I realise her plan. She was carrying on as if I'd never met her. This had been the only place I knew I would find her. Victory Road.

I'd braced for another slap, but she made no move for me. All of her body language was screaming hesitancy, her stiff upper body, her clenched fists, her bent legs as if she were about to turn and run. But she made no move. She just stood there, lifeless, frozen. "Who do you think you are?" She whispered, her eyes slowly dragging back to me.

My initial reaction was to humorlessly laugh, because the joke was I didn't know who I was anymore. Back before I knew her I was a nobody, not even my family registered my existence. Once I'd found my goal in life, I'd found a purpose, a pokemon, but it wasn't enough. Until battling her was my goal. I was acknowledged by her, she was always interested in what I had to say, despite how vile I was to her. Those six words she'd just said were a learning curve for me, I realised that I was a nobody without her. She was a light, and with or without me, she would be a star.

"I cleared the way for you." I mumbled pathetically, gesturing to the exit of the tunnel.

She snorted lifelessly, her cheerful personality had gone, leaving behind a bitter, sarcastic version of herself. Almost a mirror of me. "How sweet."

"Please Soul-" Begging, there's a first; "please forgive me."

Her eyes closed tightly, and she tried her best to breath evenly, but it was ragged, forced. She was in pain. It tore me to pieces to see I'd inflicted that. I was as much a monster as my father. I ought to be shot, but that would be an easy way out. I needed to make her better.

"I trusted you." She rightfully accused me. "I trusted you wouldn't betray me." I remembered vividly what she'd said to me at theSproutTower. She'd thrown my words back in my face, I deserved everything she could hit me with.

"What can I do?" I asked her helplessly, surprised when tears started rolling down my face, another first. "Tell me how to make it better!" I took a step closer, and her eyes shot open to stare at my feet. My hands reached for her, palms up. I didn't know what to do. I desperately wanted to comfort her, but how could I soothe a pain when I was the one causing it? The longer I stood here not fixing it, the more pain I was causing. Her composure was crumbling before my eyes.

"You know," She was suddenly talking, but it was clearly to herself; "back in Azalea town, when I had that cold. I thought I was safe with you caring for me, because we were friends. I knew I would do anything for you, because that's what friends do. I'd never had a 'friend' like you before. A 'friend' who questioned the rules of our relationship, who put himself before me. I didn't notice how selfish your actions were. You're a cold hearted criminal, Silver."

"I'm not anymore." I insisted; "Please realise that I changed, you've changed me!"

She glared at me as I walked closer, she clearly didn't want me near but she wasn't listening to me. I wanted to grab her shoulders and shake her until she understood. I wanted to hold her waist and clutch onto it so she couldn't walk away from me as I begged forgiveness. But I should know that I couldn't get anything from her when I didn't deserve it anymore. She'd given me enough, and I'd beat the generosity out of her until she'd snapped.

I could only try to bring out that generosity once more as I fell to my knees, arms out pleading. "I didn't mean to hurt you, I wasn't thinking. I was an idiot. Please Soul! Plea-se..." My voice broke at the end, and I could barely talk anymore. If the Silver I once was could see where I am now, he would have laughed mercilessly at the state I was in, but I had the experience of this journey now, I was no longer that Silver. I couldn't even imagine being that Silver anymore. My emotions controlled me now, and there was no way I could shut them back again. I placed my hands on my face, hiding myself away from her, hiding her away from me too. I couldn't stand the guilt.

The force of her pushing me snapped me out of the mess I'd been in. My hands caught me as I fell onto my back, my legs sprawled in front of me. I looked up to see her glaring over me. "If you've changed, then you have to prove it."

I nodded, "Tell me how and I will."

Her voice sounded tearful, but it was the most emotion I'd had from her so far. "You fix every problem you ever caused, and maybe I'll start to believe you."

I immediately knew which problems she was talking about, but it was easier said than done. Still, I nodded; "Of course."

She walked past me without acknowledging my response. I scrambled back onto my knees to face her. "Soul!" She stopped walking, but did not turn to face me. I wasn't sure what to say, but my new, frantic emotions said whatever they felt like; "You don't know how much you mean to me..." I laughed weakly; "Even I didn't know how much you mean to me until you left. I've been numb without you, frozen."

She hesitated, but she turned her head slightly over her shoulder; "Then thaw the ice in your Soul, Silver."

She walked away without turning to look at me, and I stood to run after her, but my legs stayed planted. They knew not to follow her, we had nothing more to say for now. I needed to do as she said, and regain her trust.

I silently willed for her to defeat Lance, initially because I didn't like him, but I reminded myself that she was doing it for herself, not for me. Though my prayers would not be the reason for her winning, I wasn't satisfied until I'd finished wishing for her success. My legs robotically began walking in the opposite way she had gone.

Thaw my Soul.

I knew she meant clear my conscience, but I couldn't help but think of the implications. I had to save her, because I wasn't the only one icy and numb, I'd frozen her too. Thaw my Soul, she'd told me how, and begged I would do so.

My fingers ran over the pokeballs over my belt, and I knew what I needed to do.

Hey guys! Long time no write, huh? Wow. Sorry about that. I've been having a difficult time writing at all recently, but a song I listened to suddenly reminded me of this. I felt I needed to finish it. Cookies to anybody who recognises the song that influenced me.

So only one more chapter to go, and even if I've lost all of my readers because I left it so long, I thought I should finish it as a thanks for your support anyway.

And another apology for the shortness of this chapter, there wasn't much more I could say in this one, but it's one of the most important chapters out of the whole fic; the turning point of Soul's tsundere'ness. If that's even a word. XD

Anyway, thanks again for reading this guys! And reviews, though not deserved, would be greatly appreciated. :)

And also! Could you fill out my poll please! It'd take two seconds! :D