Silver exited the Pokeathlon, Meganium in tow. She was still panting a little from all the exercise.
Meganium loved the Hurdle Dash. She honestly wasn't very good at it: there were always several Pokemon who ran faster or jumped better, but she gave it her best shot anyway. Silver could never convince her to attempt the same jumps during battle: there, she preferred long range attacks or defensive utility moves. But there was something about the format of the Hurdle Dash that she seemed to like. So, if it was fun for her…
Besides, it was a good opportunity to get outside a little. The weather was good, and lots of people were out enjoying the amusement park next to the Pokeathlon. There were shops, a specific chocolaterie Kris was obsessed with, a Ferris wheel Lyra liked, and an arcade.
Silver sat on a bench, Meganium next to him. She usually liked to take a short break after the Pokeathlon: just sitting and basking in the sun. Petting her absentmindedly, Silver let his thoughts wander.
There had been no further attacks on Ilex Forest. No evidence of Team Galactic's presence in Johto. The G-men continued their investigations, but had no real leads: no reports of suspicious or abnormal activity, nothing at all. Silver wondered where his sister was. What she was doing. Why she'd made the choices she had. What he would do if…
He stopped himself. This was no good.
Meganium was now snoozing, her head leaning on his shoulder. One might think she needed a nap after her race, except Silver knew she had more stamina than that. His working theory was that she just liked using him as a pillow.
"You seem tired, girl", he commented, softly petting her head. "Maybe we should skip getting ice cream."
Meganium woke up and headbutted him.
He laughed. "Okay, sorry."
They got ice cream, then strolled around the amusement park. Silver picked up Kris's favorite pralines and won a Piplup plushie for Lyra from one of the arcade machines. It took him an embarrassingly high amount of tries before he managed to get the doll. Meganium stood by his side the whole time, like a good partner, looking judgmentally at all his failed attempts.
"You weren't helpful, you know", he told her with a faux-reproachful head shake after he finally won the damn thing and they went outside again. "You act like winning this stuffed Piplup is not a worthwhile endeavor."
Meganium glanced skeptically at the doll, then gave Silver a thoroughly unimpressed look. He laughed.
"Hey, I'm on your side", he told her. "I don't get the appeal either. But you know how much Lyra loves dolls. She has this giant collection… and she won't let anyone make fun of it either. She says it's 'vintage' and 'of high artistic value', and won't hear any arguments to the contrary. How can a plushie be vintage, I don't even… but whatever. She was really set on Piplup last time we were here. I know she'll like it."
"Aw", a voice cooed behind him. "How adorable."
Silver froze.
The voice was both familiar and strange: it had been Silver's favorite childhood sound, but a long time had passed since he'd heard it last.
"Chocolates, plushies… Look at you, all grown-up and considerate. You know how to treat your girls, huh? I always thought you'd make me proud."
A million conflicting emotions were fighting for Silver's attention. He pushed them all down - he'd deal with them later. For now, he turned around to face the woman he wasn't prepared to see again. She met his astonished look with a sad smile.
"Hello, little brother", Mars said quietly.
He had to notify Lance.
Yup. That's what he had to do. He was an agent of the G-men, for fuck's sake. The modified Pokegear was right there in his pocket. All he had to do was press a button.
It probably wouldn't do anything. Mars was great at disappearing into crowds. Silver didn't even entertain the idea of battling her. He didn't know if he'd beat her, but he knew she would be off the moment she saw him reaching for a pokeball.
Still. He had to notify Lance, or at least try. It was expected of him, and it made sense. There was so much at stake, and…
Mars took his hand. "Come on. Ride the Ferris wheel with me."
Head spinning, Silver started to follow her. He was stopped by Meganium tugging on his arm, growling at Mars.
"It's okay, girl", Silver muttered, petting her. "I'll be fine. Just… go into your pokeball for now, okay?"
Meganium looked skeptical, but she listened. After recalling her, Silver followed Mars to the Ferris wheel and they sat together inside a pod. Silver took note of the setting Mars had chosen: public enough to facilitate a meeting, but the pod afforded them some privacy. The wheel started moving, lifting them up.
"You've grown", Mars commented.
Silver did not respond.
"The folks in Johto talk about you, you know. You seem to be something of a celebrity here."
"That so?"
"Initiate of the draconid clan", Mars recited. "Chosen of Ho-Oh. The boy who shares the champion's bed."
Silver looked away from her, flustered.
"... Or maybe not?" she teased. "That's okay too."
"Uh…"
"Aw, no need to be embarrassed. It's important to take your time with these things."
How had the discussion taken such a turn?
"I'm not embarrassed. Quit smirking", Silver said, still not looking at her.
He pictured her grin getting wider. "Aw, it's okay! Not everyone moves at the same pace."
"No, I move… I mean, we do…"
"Oh, you do, do you?" She was in full big sister mode now. Relentless. "Well, I'm really happy for you. So, is it good?"
"Mars!"
"You guys try different things? It's nice to have variety."
"Mars, please."
"Of course, if you want variety, you'd have to last long enough-"
"I'm going to throw you off the wheel."
"Does she top, or what? She kinda gives off that vibe."
"I am not talking about this with you!"
Mars's laughter filled the air, flew over the Ferris wheel into the sky. Silver was still pouting; but when the laughter ceased, he let his sister ruffle his hair. "I really missed you, little brother", she said. Her voice was melancholy again.
"You came all the way to Johto to talk about my love life?" he demanded, finally turning to face her.
Her expression darkened. "I came all the way to Johto to change the course of history."
There was a pause.
"What do you want with Celebi?" Silver demanded.
"You know I can't tell you that."
Another pause.
"How did you know where to find me?" Silver asked.
"The league is not the only one with the ability to spy on people."
"You know-"
"Of course we know the league is on our trail. Oh, don't look so shocked. Added security around Ilex Forest? When nothing happened? Besides, I told you: the G-men aren't the only ones who can collect information. You're a member, right?"
"How did you-"
"I suspected. You just confirmed it."
Silver composed himself. "Then you must understand that you're taking a considerable risk in seeking me out."
She nodded. "Yes."
"Why?"
"Because… I care about you."
He didn't question it.
"And because… I have an offer."
"I am not joining your insane, genocidal group."
The hurt in her eyes should not affect me as much as it does, Silver thought angrily.
"Seriously, Mars, what is wrong with you? Destroy and re-create the universe? First Sinnoh, now… whatever this is. This isn't you. You've lost yourself since you started following that madman-"
"He's not a madman. He's a genius."
"He's a psychopath!"
"He's like a father to me."
Silver stared at her, incredulous. Her voice was steel.
"He took me in. Accepted me, believed in me. He cared for me when no one else did. You don't know what it's been like, okay? You don't understand him at all. He is everything they were not."
"Oh, that's precious", Silver scoffed. "So fucking touching. Doesn't it contradict your group's whole philosophy, though? Feelings are useless… they make you weak… blah, blah, blah?"
"Feelings are inevitable", Mars replied quietly. "Cyrus understands that, even if he doesn't express it. But humanity has become so lost to its worst feelings, so warped with suffering and strife, that there isn't any point in trying to salvage it. The simplest way to cure the world is to start over."
"This is delusional."
"It's the truth."
Silver sighed. "Mars, I'm worried about you. Let's say your leader succeeds. How do you know he'll even make you part of his new world?" From what Silver had heard of Cyrus, he was extremely dismissive of his grunts: discarding them as soon as they had served their purpose to him. Perhaps it was different for select commanders, but Silver somehow doubted it.
"He will." Mars, on the contrary, sounded quite confident. "I'm not crazy, Silver. I've just seen a lot, from a very young age. And everything I've seen convinces me that humanity, as it is now, is just not worth it."
"Don't talk to me like we didn't share the same childhood."
"I'm not. Quite the opposite. You of all people should understand, right? A world where a father can have his son mauled on a whim, and face no consequences… it needs a hard-reset."
"And what makes you think the world you'll create is better?" Silver demanded.
"I believe in Cyrus", Mars said simply.
Silver took a breath.
Oh, she was nuts, no question about it. Completely bonkers. But she believed what she was saying… and in a warped way, Silver understood her.
None of his current allies could quite understand how a childhood such as his and Mars' could affect a person. No one could really get it unless they'd been through it. How much it could poison your worldview; how lasting the damage really was.
If what Mars had said was accurate, Cyrus was to her what his friends had been to him. The first person outside their messed up past who believed she was worth something. The first person to help her.
That was huge.
Silver remembered the first people that helped him. Kris, Lyra, Lance, Elm… He'd needed their help to become who he was. He tried to imagine what it would be like if the first person to believe in him had been someone like Cyrus instead. Would he have turned out any better than Mars?
The Ferris wheel stopped. They got off and stood aside, looking at each other. Silver was struck by the vulnerability in Mars's expression: biting her lip, entreating him with her eyes. At that moment, she wasn't Cyrus's commander: she was just Silver's sister.
"Just think about it", she pleaded with him.
"I don't need to."
Mars sighed. "Until next time, I suppose."
He didn't have to let her decide when the next time would be. He could still alert Lance. Send a signal. By all accounts it was what he should be doing.
But he didn't.
Mars leaned forward and kissed his forehead like she used to, and he closed his eyes and pretended nothing had changed.
When he opened them again, she was gone.