Chapter 9: No answer

I woke up at seven in the morning to my pokegear buzzing in my ear. I grunted and snatched it up to shut off its wake-up call. I had twenty minutes to shower and eat, and then I had an event to get to.

"Good morning, Gold."

I glanced down at Slain sleepily. The massive guy was drying off from a shower. My other two roommates were already gone. "Morning," I muttered, slowly climbing out of bed and jumping to the floor. "Sorry, I've got to go get ready," I explained, snatching up my towel and some shampoo.

"No problem."

I threw open the room's door and stepped out into the hallway, feeling like a zombie. I didn't get as much rest on those hard mattresses, and I'd stayed up late waiting for Silver to call—which he hadn't. What was he up to? I'd called him constantly yesterday. I'd sort of wanted to talk to him about the whole Lance thing after he'd hung up on me the other day, but I knew I'd been overreacting. Silver was as loyal as could be to me at least.

I didn't let it bother me, or at least I tried. The redhead probably just forgot his pokegear (he did that often). Still, I knew Lance had stayed the night and that Silver had likely been with him all day… Part of not cheating was not putting yourself into the position to cheat. Lance wouldn't try anything would he?! Then again, they trained together often enough. I again knew I was just overreacting…

I stepped into the huge bathroom, off into the locker room. It was full of people getting ready for their events for the day. I stripped down and headed off to the showers, the thick steamy air making me even more lethargic. I found a free stall and hung my towel, stepping in and tugging the curtain closed behind me.

It took me a grand total of five minutes to scrub my hair and step out. I didn't have time to lather up and scrub down my body, and I didn't really have to shave. Two minutes later I was back in my room. Three minutes later I was dressed and heading to the cafeteria. I had 8 minutes to eat and get my butt to the dome.

I shoveled my breakfast into my mouth like a champ while my pokemon wolfed down their own breakfast. I hoped none of us would get sick from eating too fast. I felt I was back in high school, waiting until the last second to run out the door. I'd always gotten in trouble for using my skateboard or being tardy, sometimes both. Could it have killed me to wake up ten minutes earlier so I could eat at a reasonable pace? I chuckled and shook my head in dismay. Silver didn't even have to bother scolding me anymore.

Once I was finished, I put my dishes down on the ledge of the dish window and returned my fed pokemon. I had 2 minutes.

I jogged from the cafeteria to the dome. I made it in the nick of time. Just as I was about to enter the hallway where my event was taking place, my pocket started to vibrate. I removed the device. The lit-up screen displayed "Silver" as the caller. I winced. I really wanted to chat to him… but I had an event to get to. I'd call him once it was over in an hour and a half.

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I sighed quietly, gazing down at the device as Gold didn't answer. I put it back up to my ear, hoping the annoying automated voice was done lecturing about leaving a message. It beeped, finally. "Hey, it's Silver. I was just calling to let you know I'm alight. I'm sorry for not calling you yesterday."

I clicked the device off and rose to my feet. It was about 7:30 in the morning. Maybe he was in an event. I could go visit him—though I'd seen him two days ago, and I had to deal with that kid…

I'd wait for him to call me back. In the meantime, I'd work with Archen and his Unova pokemon. They were rare sights here in Johto. I knew most of them, though. I'd learned about all the known pokemon when I'd been…younger.

Also, I was sure I had some challengers to face. Maybe I'd sick Archen on them to test his skills. He seemed capable of devising a strategy. A knock on the door drew me from my thoughts. I was in the process of getting dressed and I'd just removed the towel around my waist. It was probably one of the cooks wondering if I wanted anything specific for breakfast. I snatched the towel off the ground right as the door opened.

I narrowed my eyes when I spied an obnoxious boy with messy brown poking his head in. "Silver…?" his eyes landed on me after tentatively scanning the room. Did they not teach manners in Unova? Obviously not.

I was surprised when the boy started to blush so red, I thought he was going to faint. We were both guys, and usually teens were past the worst of puberty at age 18… unless the guy was gay or maybe just incredibly shy. I wrapped the towel promptly around my waist and tried to look as intimidating as I could naked (easier said than done). "I'm not sure how it is in Unova, but in Kanto and Johto, you wait until someone gives you permission before you barge in."

He dropped his head, clearly shamed. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't even k-know if you were still here. I wasn't thinking… straight." The kid was still scarlet, eyes locked on the floor.

I sighed. "It's fine. Go ahead down to the kitchen, I'll be there in a bit."

He glanced up and gave a tentative nod before hesitantly slipping back out the door. I stalked over and locked it. I guess the kid was just lucky Gold hadn't been around. He would have hissed like a cat.

I dressed quickly, and a bit warmer today. I usually kept the gym cold, and since I'd be in there all day most likely, it was nice not to freeze to death. I wore a simple pair of dark jeans and a black turtleneck. So the outfit wasn't so plain, I pinned the gym leader's badge onto my collar. I usually kept it at home, but I really should have worn it more… An open long charcoal cardigan finished the look. I hummed as I looked myself over in the mirror. I did enjoy dressing up a bit.

Archen and most of the staff were in the kitchen, eating breakfast. There was bacon, eggs, biscuits, toast, and a large bowl of strawberries with a small bowl of sugar. They were showing off. I poked my head in the fridge and grabbed the fruit juice, feeling disapproving looks from the staff. "I can pour my own juice," I grumbled.

I sat at the table and happily set to devouring strawberries. They were my favorite fruit after golden apples. "Plans today, Silver?"

Why did everyone else's schedule revolve around mine?

"Just a plain day at the gym. It will be boring," I sighed. And it would. I wanted to do something fun today. That was the nice thing about Gold, he kept things lively. I'd never been much of a thrill seeker, but with Gold, surprises were just a part of my life. Damn, I loved strawberries…

Heather smiled apologetically. "Maybe this afternoon you can make something for Gold. I'm sure that boy isn't going to like cafeteria food."

I nodded in agreement. I would need to make something that didn't need to be in the fridge, though. Maybe some sort of desert. I tilted my head in thought. "Are those cheese biscuits?" I questioned, done with the strawberries.

Manny laughed. "Those are for dinner. No, these are flakey ones. Would you like cheese biscuits tonight?"

What did cheese biscuits go with? Crab. Yes, that sounded great. "And crab?" I asked curiously, already looking forward to it.

"Stuffed, legs, or a salad?"

"All of them," I groaned. Crab just sounded amazing. I'd had some with Lance yesterday, and now I was on a crab kick.

Manny laughed. "I'll see what I can do. We'll have a crab feast tonight."

I gave a pleased nod and bit into a piece of toast I'd covered in pomegranate jam. Heather loved to make jams. She made them herself with real fruit, and she tended to leave a bit of pulp in the spread, which I didn't mind.

Archen still had his gaze locked on his large ceramic plate. He hadn't eaten much at all. I frowned slightly. "Archen, you should eat up. You're going to be winning all my battles today—I hope. Lunch won't be for a while."

He flushed, much to my dismay. Maybe he was gay. I wasn't going to question it. I really didn't need some 18-year-old lusting after me—especially when he was in close proximity. Gold was fairly territorial, and I was easily pissed off.

At least the kid took another few slices of bacon. It smelt nice, but I was used to not wanting any. Thoughts of being sick to my stomach were a good deterrent. Instead, I finished my piece of toast and my juice. "Also, you may want to dress a bit warmer. It's cool in the gym, usually." As long as Mike didn't touch my thermostat. Most of my pokemon preferred it a bit cool, except Twister and Honchkrow, but when they battled their bodies warmed up.

"I'll try my best," Archen uttered nervously, looking about as white as a sheet. I almost felt sorry for the poor kid. But wasn't this what he'd expected when requesting to be an apprentice? I could always get rid of him.

I was done eating, so I pushed away from the table to go read. I was almost done with the book I was currently reading. It was about the legendary pokemon and the small amount of study on them. It had plenty of legends mixed in with it as well, and I enjoyed some folklore. I only got to read a few pages before Archen trotted into the living room. "I'm going to change," he explained.

I nodded and he took his leave. He'd been wearing a large pair of green cargo shorts, a long-sleeved red shirt, and a thin black vest that had seemed to be more of a fashion statement than clothing. I slipped on my shoes and wandered off to the garden to gather my pokemon. "I'm heading off to the gym!" I called out, while I wandered from the back patio to the large swimming pool off to the left of the backyard. Off to the right was a large deck overlooking the forest. I'd spent many nights watching lightning bugs with Gold on that deck…

Gyarados burst from the water, very happy. He'd enjoyed his scrubbing the other day. His scales were gleaming brilliantly. Feraligatr lumbered from the water as well, also very content. I smiled faintly. "Alright. Maybe I'll give you a day off. I've been battling you both pretty hard, lately." Who did I want to take? I needed to give my father's pokemon battles sometimes. I often practiced with them. I'd never truly be their trainer, but I did sometimes battle with them, which they really enjoyed. Thankfully my ability as the exchanger helped me form a connection with pokemon that weren't mine. I had an easier time controlling them, but my gift had its limits. I glanced over the massive field. My father's property extended all the way into the forest.

"King, Queen!" I called out, and after a few moments my father's two best pokemon emerged. They weren't fast, but I could sense how powerful they were. Nidoqueen nuzzled me once they'd reached me, but Nidoking stood back. They both remembered me from when I'd been a tiny child, and they were fiercely loyal. They actually weren't a mated pair, but they acted like an old married couple. "Would you like to come with me to the gym?"

They nodded and I smiled, reaching into my pocket to retrieve their ultra balls. I also collected Twister, Weavile, Dugtrio, and Rhyperior. Dugtrio had been a pain to find, though.

When I returned back inside, Archen perked up nervously. "I thought you'd left," he exhaled, a bit rattled. The kid was very jumpy.

"Let's go."

He clung to me like a shadow as I made my way down the bustling streets of Viridian. The city was a very busy place. It wasn't a massive city like Goldenrod, but it wasn't small either. The cities with gyms were always the largest in a region. Cars rushed past on the main roads that sliced through the town, people were stalking down the streets to get on the magnet train that now connected both Kanto and Johto cities like veins. But it wasn't all bustling city, it was still a quaint place in many areas that didn't even have roads. Around my father's mansion it was if time had stood still, where all the businesses were locally owned and had been there for decades. However, my gym was more towards the busier section of town, and it was only a block away.

I made my way over the wide white streets of Viridian, finally reaching my gym. The doors were open, and the lights were on. Mike and a few challengers were sitting along the bleachers that lined the right side of the gym when you walked in. He liked to give them tips on various strategies to use on me.

"Hm. You again," I noted of one boy. He wasn't very old, I'd guess him to be around 13 or so. He'd lost to me the past eight battles. "Trying for number nine?" He wasn't a bad battler, but just wasn't ready for a badge yet, at least, not from me.

He nodded enthusiastically and I chuckled. Mike raised an eyebrow at Archen. "Is he going to be battling?"

I gave a nod and plopped down beside Mike. "I'm hoping."

From the bleaches I watched Archen battle with his Palpitoad. His opponent was an older girl with a meditite. He wasn't bad. He managed to defeat her, and she wasn't a bad trainer. "So, I saw three of his pokemon yesterday. Which other ones does he have?"

"Only one. A deerling that is just about to evolve."

After the battle, Archen healed his pokemon and took on the next challenger. "You don't actually have to be here if you don't want, Silver. The winners can come in tomorrow."

I nodded. I could go visit Gold or something… "I've got to train Archen afterwards."

Then my pokegear came to life. I removed it from my pocket and smiled as Gold's name displayed on the lit-up screen. I flipped the device open and made my way to the entrance of the gym so as not to have Mike breathing down my neck. He did enjoy gossiping. "Hey, Gold."

"Hey! Glad I finally caught you! What have you been doing?" He sounded breathless and excited.

"Eh, a lot actually…" I held up one of my gloved hands. The cuts on my hands were still healing and they were burning and itching because of it. But they still hurt an absolute ton when I'd fist my hands. Idiot Lance, not that I was honestly mad at him. It'd been fun horsing around. "I was at the Dragon Den with Lance yesterday and we almost got ourselves killed by a freakishly large and pissed gyarados."

Gold chucked from his side of the line. "What else? You couldn't have spent the whole day with that cape-ophile. Which reminds me…"

Oh no. I was hoping Gold had forgotten! I sighed, time to face the music. I'd never lied about the kiss, but I'd never exactly volunteered the information either. It wasn't like I'd cheated.

"We kissed before you probably even had feelings for me. It was once. I got embarrassed and he just told me he had feelings for me, and that it was fine if I didn't return them back. I told him I wasn't ready for a relationship, and we have never brought it up since." Minus yesterday, but that was more me bringing it up in passing.

"You don't have feelings for him now?" Gold asked carefully.

I sighed in dismay. He was forever getting bristled over Lance. I just had to learn to accept it. "No," I chuckled easily. Lance was my mentor and friend. I wouldn't lie and say he wasn't attractive, but I loved Gold, simple as that. "Anyways, afterwards, I came back to Viridian and battled a few people…"

"Did any of them win? Or at least deserve a badge?" Gold cut me off.

"No."

He chuckled. "Sorry. Continue."

"Then one of them wanted to be an apprentice."

"I'm sure that ended badly."

"I wish."

"Wait, what happened? You didn't accept them, did you?" Gold uttered, completely baffled. It made me chuckle a little.

"I didn't. Yellow did. His name is Archen. He's not a bad battler, but he's weird."

"Archen… like the pokemon?"

"Yeah…"

"Does he own one?"

"Yeah…"

Gold snorted and I couldn't help chuckling at how ridiculous it sounded over the phone.

"But then Yellow dragged me off to give those kids a lesson on pokemon. Then she made me do slave labor all night."

Gold clicked his tongue. "It sounds like you've been busy in the two days you've been away from me. Were you lonely last night?"

I winced as I felt heat creep up my neck and blossomed across my face. "I was honestly too tired to care…"

"That's good."

"What have you been doing?" I asked, curious what he was up to.

"Well, I just took the gold in my last event! I've already won four metals. They've got some huge joke going on about my name and winning first place in all these contests. They don't mean too much, but it will feed in the week three results, and then of course the final tally results after."

I chuckled softly, a smile tugging at my lips. If he'd been with me, I would have kissed him, if for no reason but to feel his lips. "Maybe I could visit you tonight…"

"That would be nice," Gold admitted, and I could hear the smile in his voice. "Could you bring me some good food? Some enchiladas or those amazing cheese biscuits Manny makes? We don't have a fridge here, but you can still bring a ton and I'll feed the leftovers to my roommates."

I sighed in dismay. Unbelievable. He must had sensed our conversation this morning a region away.

"Oh, and visiting hours end at nine tonight…"

I nodded. "We're having crab for dinner tonight with those biscuits, so that shouldn't be a problem. And I can make you some of those demon rolls if you'd like."

"Bring me some craaab."

I sniffed. "Nope. It's all mine. Besides, I'll probably head over after an early lunch and then I'll leave to hoard all the crab to myself."

Gold chuckled. "Fine, fine. Call me on your way over. My last event today is at three until four in the afternoon."

I winced. "Maybe I'll watch, then. I'll take the train, it's faster." As much as I hated that damn train…

"Alright. Later."

The line clicked as Gold hung up. So I'd head over there after an early lunch, hang out until dinner, and then I'd head home. Sounded like a plan. That didn't leave much time for the gym, though. Then again, I had plenty of vacation saved up. In the next couple days, I wanted to take off for some solitary training. Archen could get rid of the weaker challengers while I was gone…I could get used to the whole apprentice thing.

When I entered the gym again, Achen was winning his second battle of the day.

I let Mike know my plans, and I called up the house so the kitchen staff could start on the food for Gold (I wouldn't have time to make it myself).

Archen finally defeated his second challenger, but he already looked drained. "He's probably not used to tons of consecutive battles," Mike offered. "Some trainers just can't do tons of full-scale battles in a row." That was one thing I prided myself in. Sometimes when a gym leader was lazy, they'd do an annoying thing like a one on one battle. But all the battles in my gym were full scaled, full team against full team (the smallest I'd go to was three on three). It took forever, but it helped to better assess a trainer. I couldn't begin to name the large number of trainers I'd fought who had one incredibly strong pokemon, and then puny little house pets as their other pokemon. That was just bad form and didn't show much skill as a trainer.

I stood up and took on the next challenger for Archen, and then the next while Mike instructed Archen on my battling. I cleared the rest of them out with only taking the time to heal once between the four battles.

I dusted my hands off on my pants and made a move to return Twister, but he was being extra sassy and wanted to stay out. "Anymore?"

"Nah. Only those six for today. You're free!"

I nodded and pulled out my pokegear to check the time. It was already one in the afternoon. I rolled my eyes. "I'm sorry, Archen. I'm going to have to deal with you another day, or maybe tonight. But for now, I'm headed off to Goldenrod."

He perked up. "Can I come…?"

Mike laughed. "If you want to watch Silver and Gold make out!"

I just averted my gaze; we'd probably end up doing a bit more than that. "I'd prefer if you stayed here." I sent a glare towards Mike. "I am meeting Gold."

"How's he doing?"

"Winning metals. What else?"

Mike nodded in approval and the three of us took our leave. I ate a quick lunch, grabbed the food for Gold, and then took my leave for the train station. The trip would only take an hour to get to Goldenrod. It was impressive how fast the thing was, but that hour of sitting there felt ten times longer than the flight there with a pokemon. There was beautiful scenery and the rush of the wind when you took a pokemon. There was stale air inside of a train car when you took the train. The worst part was being noticed. The Viridian natives usually didn't bother me unless it was to wish me luck with the gym, or to thank me, as embarrassing as it was. However, the traveling trainers tended to really gawk and would often bug me about a battle.

As a rookie gym leader, I'd been forced to have all my matches monitored for the first three years. Now I was past the inspection point, and I could honestly battle whenever and wherever I wanted. I could also give my badges out to anyone I wanted. Still, I preferred to keep my gym matches strictly to the gym. It kept my personal and professional life separate. I also prefer to have Mike around, as we'd become good friends and he was incredibly useful at getting rid of bratty trainers who refused to accept a loss.

So, I just told those trainers to go sign up for a match at the gym or declined their requests to see my pokemon on the train of all places. As I'd said: longest ride ever.

Thankfully, over the years, the magnet trains extended almost all over the place now. It was a straight west trip from Viridian to Goldenrod.

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AN: I'm sure it doesn't matter much, be I basically throw a dart at a board when I'm trying to decide travel times between cities. Try not to read into it.