"You got a Pokemon at the Lab."

"Yeah, it's really awesome! I love Fire-types."

"….. What a waste. A wimp like you."

"Huh?"

"Don't you get what I'm saying?"

"…"

"Well, I too, have a good Pokemon."

"Wha-"

"You'll see what I mean! Totodile, go!"

"Wait, what are you-

"CYNDA…QUILLLL!"

"Gold!"

A voice was calling his name. A feminine voice. Gold stirred, still caught in the throes of his dream.

"Silver…?" He whispered, somewhat hopeful.

The voice giggled. "Who's Silver?"

Gold snapped open his eyes. To his horror, he saw a familiar pair of brown ones, staring into his own.

"LYRA!" Gold quickly jumped up in his bed. "What the heck are you doing here?"

"I just came to see how you were doing…" She muttered in her defense.

"And you just had to come into my room and wake me up?" Gold said grouchily. Lyra pouted, and sat on the floor, making a point to ignore him. He sighed, then got up and crouched next to her on the floor. "Okay, I'll bite. What's up?"

Lyra took a Pokeball out of her pocket, and twirled it on the floor with her finger. "I just wanted to show you my new Pokemon, is all…."

"Well, then, show it to me."

Lyra smiled, and stood up, Pokeball in hand. "Go, Berry!" She said as she tossed it in the air. The ball opened, revealing a Clefairy. The Clefairy landed softly on the floor, with a flutter of its tiny wings.

"Wow, Lyra…" Gold whispered in awe. "Where'd you get one of those?"

"I…uh…" Lyra thought for a moment, "I got it from my pen pal in Kanto." She grinned, then patted Berry, who smiled at her touch. "He's was just too kind in letting me have his Pokemon." Her eyes sparkled, "You should meet him, Gold, he's so nice!"

"Oh…" Gold felt a little sad at the thought of Lyra having a pen pal, who just happened to be a boy. A boy, who was giving her gifts. Gold felt a slight twinge of jealousy, and then a little satisfaction at the thought of this person being a whole region away.

Lyra stared at Gold with curiosity. "Something wrong?"

"Nothing."

Gold absentmindedly glanced at Berry, who was leaning with one arm against Lyra's leg and listening intently to the conversation. Berry looked from one trainer to the other, and then winked at him.

Gold was taken slightly aback by the Clefairy's suspicious attitude, but after continuing the conversation with Lyra, completely forgot about it.

After spending the morning talking and reminiscing, Lyra and Gold decided to go for a walk in the park with their Pokemon. Char, Gold's Quilava, trotted alongside him, making sure to avoid the water fountain. Lyra's Chikorita, Leaf, was doing the opposite – playing in it.

"Leaf, please don't splash Char, she'll get hurt." Lyra warned, but the Chikorita appeared to not be listening. He was having fun, and so was Char… right?

Maybe she's playing hide-and-go-seek…. Leaf grinned. Well, I'm going to be the first one to find her! He quickly ran in the direction of her scent, giddy at the thought of finding her so they can play more games.

Gold realized what was happening, and sat down on a bench to watch it unfold. It was very entertaining to see the Pokemon running and laughing together, it made him forget his worries. He and Lyra talked a little bit more, and eventually the topic came upon Pokemon.

"Are you planning on getting any more Pokemon besides Char and Joy?" Lyra asked. "You might never know they'll get lonely." She threw a sideways look at the wrestling Pokemon, and laughed.

"Haha… umm…"

"I don't know." Gold leaned back against the bench. "I haven't really considered it, but I will need more if I'm going to get through the Pokemon League in one piece." He sighed. "I don't really have any catching experience, though…."

She turned her head back. "Well, why don't you go ask one of those Ace Trainers to help you?" She pointed at one of them. "That person looks experienced."

Gold looked in the direction of her finger. The person seemed to be in an intense fight against a Lass, but the Trainer was obscured by the shade of a nearby tree.

It was apparent that the Lass was on the verge of tears, as her Jigglypuff was being severely beaten by the other Trainer's Pokemon, a Totodile.

"C'mon, Jigglypuff! You can do it!" The Lass called out to her Pokemon. "Use Sing!"

The Jigglypuff tried to sing its soothing lullaby, but all that came out was a sick gurgle. Her throat was deeply scratched from the Totodile's Cut attack from previously, and she could not make a sound.

"Useless." The mysterious Trainer muttered, "All of them. Toto," The Trainer turned to its Pokemon, "Finish her."

The Totodile smirked, and extended his short claws, which glimmered with a dark light. Gold recognized it as Dragon Claw. "No way…" He said to himself. Only one Totodile he's seen knew that move. "That Trainer… can't be…"

"Can't be what?" Lyra asked. Gold didn't respond, but quickly got up and ran towards the battlers with no inclination of stopping. "Gold, wait!" She called out to him, but he wasn't listening.

The Totodile charged straight at the Jigglypuff, its claws poised to attack. "DIIILLLLEEE!" It cried out, jumping up, preparing to bring down the Dragon Claw on the injured Pokemon.

"Jigglypuff, No!" The Lass screamed, hopeless, her tears falling on the battle-torn soil. The Trainer grinned, victory was inevitable. The Trainer's Totodile slashed hard at the Jigglypuff, who let out a silent cry, then was still.

The Lass crouched next to her precious Jigglypuff, grief ridden all over her face. "You did great, Jigglypuff. Thank you." She forced a smile, and the Pokemon uttered out a weak noise, showing its admiration for her trainer. The Lass grimaced, and she whisked the Pokemon away in its Pokeball. "You can rest now…"

Gold arrived at the scene just as the Lass left, Lyra tailing behind him.

"That poor Pokemon…" Gold sighed, as he knelt next to the spot where the Jigglypuff once lay. He smoothed the dirt out with his fingers, feeling the wetness of the Trainer's tears. Lyra stopped next to Gold, panting like she had run a marathon.

"Gold?" She put a hand on Gold's shoulder. "Are you okay?"

Suddenly, Gold heard the crunch of leaves. Both turned at the direction of the noise.

"That girl was weak." A voice droned, "Wasn't even worth my time…"

Gold stood up, facing the Trainer. "Let me see your face…." A fire burned in his golden eyes. "You monster!"

"Why should I-..!" The Trainer spat back.

"Just do it!"

"Fine."

The mysterious Trainer stepped out of the tree's dark shade. Trademark red hair glimmered in the sunlight, along with a black jacket and dark blue pants. Shimmering silver eyes under a glaring look framed his countenance.

Gold stared at the familiar person standing before him. "Silver…." He quietly whispered, his face unreadable.

"Gold…?" Lyra cautiously asked, "What's going on?"

Gold stepped forward, and pulled out a Pokeball containing Char. "Stay back." He put an arm in front of the concerned Lyra, shielding her from what would come next.

"Silver…"

"Yes?"

Gold held out his Pokeball, eyes ablaze in determination.

"I challenge you to a battle!"