Chapter Blurb: Cloud and Silver's actions in Unova return to haunt them.

Chapter 15: Interlude - The Price of Freedom

While Ash, May, and Red continued their journey to save the plates, trouble stirred elsewhere. A rehabilitated Sapphire addressed a loose end that lingered for too long. "It's been a long time coming, Silver," Sapphire goaded.

The red-haired Silver gritted his teeth. His Zeraora panted, overwhelmed by Sapphire's Iron Valiant. "A Paradox Pokémon shouldn't be stronger than a Mythical Pokémon. It doesn't make sense," Silver sweated.

"You've become weak. Peace time has made you two soft, and Genesis isn't here to protect you anymore," Sapphire eyed an unconscious Cloud and Greninja after they failed to stop the Iron Valiant and Mega Blaziken.

Silver knew he had his work cut out for him against a Pokémon from Area Zero and a mega-evolved Pokémon. "You'll regret showing your face," Silver clenched his fists.

"Before I put an end to this, I'm curious. Why did you remain?" Sapphire raised an eyebrow.

"We have our reasons," Silver glared. "Now, you tell me. Why go through all the trouble of hunting us down?" He placed his hands behind his head.

Sapphire closed her eyes. "Besides Red, it was determined by the Malamar that those who betrayed Omega remained considerable threats to our plan. If I allowed you to roam free, who's to say you wouldn't interfere again? I'm not careless enough to underestimate you either."

"I'm flattered," Silver put his hand on his chest. He gave a sly smile, "But you're right. We don't like living in a world that's under threat. I'll do what it takes to stop you, even if it kills me."

Sapphire sighed, "Have it your way. It makes no difference to me. You've condemned yourselves to death for your betrayal."

"I have no regrets," Silver smirked.

Sapphire returned the cunning smile, "I know you don't." She directed Mega Blaziken and Iron Valiant to attack. "Spirit Break, Fire Punch. Go!" Mega Blaziken and Iron Valiant lunged at Zeraora.

"Plasma Fists!" Silver wouldn't back down without a fight.

"Zera!" Zeraora growled. Both its fists mustered blue electricity and blocked against the strikes.

Sapphire pressured it, "Don't stop!" Iron Valiant and Mega Blaziken delivered multiple melee strikes.

"Don't let them show you up, Zeraora!" Silver encouraged the Thunderclap Pokémon. His Zeraora didn't surrender an inch to the menacing duo. Each exchange between them caused a shockwave. The ground they stood on trembled from the might. "Fall back and use Acrobatics!" Silver ordered. Zeraora flipped back and used its paws to push itself toward its opponents.

"Double Team," Sapphire's Iron Valiant and Blaziken multiplied. Silver's eyes widened when Zeraora was surrounded. The Electric-type Pokémon attacked the copies, but it couldn't locate the real targets. "Now," Sapphire pointed. The real Blaziken and Iron Valiant leapt out of the crowd to deliver another blow to Zeraora.

Zeraora gasped when it saw the incoming attacks. "Zera!" the Pokémon got knocked back by Spirit Break and Fire Punch.

"Fire Blast, Blaziken!" Sapphire yelled.

"Blaziken!" Mega Blaziken released a violent stream of fire at the injured Zeraora.

"Catch it!" Silver punched the air.

Sapphire didn't expect the bold decision and watched Zeraora use Plasma Fists to catch the Fire Blast. "Ora!" Zeraora snarled as it struggled to control the Fire Blast in its paws. Fortunately, it got a grip of it and sent it back at Iron Valiant and Mega Blaziken.

"Counter with Fire Punch," Sapphire commanded. Iron Valiant stood behind Blaziken as the Fire-type Pokémon shoved its fist into the ground. A roaring fire burst from the ground that ate up the Fire Blast and caused the forest to catch on fire. The flames charged toward Zeraora, but the Pokémon stayed still.

Silver chuckled, "Blaze Kick!" Zeraora darted toward the flames with a flaming foot and emerged on the other side. It kicked Iron Valiant to the side and surprised Mega Blaziken with Plasma Fists. "Bet you weren't expecting that!" Silver celebrated.

Sapphire frowned as the forest fire behind her started to grow. "No, I didn't," she watched Iron Valiant and Mega Blaziken wince as they got up. "That's the last hit you'll get out of me," Sapphire threatened.

"I'm ready," the confident Silver held his arms out. Sapphire made eye contact with her Pokémon and nodded. Mega Blaziken and Iron Valiant lined up with Blaziken in front of the Paradox Pokémon. Silver and Zeraora braced themselves as they ran toward them. Suddenly, multiple copies of Iron Valiant and Mega Blaziken jumped out at Zeraora. The Thunderclap Pokémon reacted by countering with Plasma Fists against another round of Fire Punch and Spirit Break. However, it was defending itself against multiple copies now. Zeraora ducked and blocked each blow, but it started to tire. At the first sign of weakness, a copy of Iron Valiant and Mega Blaziken snuck behind Zeraora and fired Aura Sphere. Caught off guard by the tactic, Zeraora got knocked forward by the double Aura Sphere. The real Iron Valiant and Mega Blaziken charged toward it and knocked it back with Spirit Break and Fire Punch. "Zeraora!" Silver caught his friend when he flew back.

Sapphire gave the word, "Kill them." The copies of Iron Valiant and Mega Blaziken soared to fire a rain of Aura Sphere against the trainer and Zeraora. Silver and Zeraora watched in fear as the attacks laid waste to them. An emotionless Sapphire listened to their cries as she lost sight of them in the smoke. It was done. Sapphire left the scene with her Pokémon, letting the forest suffer to the flames.

The heat and smell of smoke caused Cloud to regain consciousness. When he opened his eyes, he saw the trees on fire and the sky covered in smoke. He saw his Greninja was still unconscious and reached for its ball. "Return," Cloud uttered as he struggled to lift his arm to recall his Pokémon. After getting Greninja back in its ball, he noticed there was no sign of Sapphire. "What happened?" Cloud groaned. "It feels like I got hit by a train," the blonde-haired trainer remembered getting struck by Spirit Break after Greninja got knocked out. "Silver?" Cloud looked for signs of his friend. He looked forward and saw two bodies lying on the ground. "Silver," Cloud grunted. He dragged himself to his wounded friend. When he neared them, he saw Silver's defeated Zeraora. "Silver," Cloud muttered.

"Hey, Cloud," an injured Silver turned to his head to smile at him. "I'm pretty beat up, huh?" he chuckled after he coughed up blood.

Cloud put his hand on his chest, "Save your strength. We need to make it out of here."

Silver nodded sideways, "I think my time's up, Cloud."

"Shut up, you're still breathing," Cloud protested.

Silver smirked, "Man, oh, man. The price of freedom is steep. This is what I get for helping you."

"We helped RED," Cloud corrected him.

His weak friend laughed, "No, Cloud. YOU helped Red. I chose to help you because I knew what it meant to you." Silver's remark caught Cloud by surprise. "Didn't expect that one, did ya?" Silver panted.

"You-you knew?" Cloud asked.

"I had my theories, but your face gave it away," Silver winked. Cloud frowned. "Gotcha," his friend chuckled again.

Cloud clenched his fist, "Stop talking. You're wasting energy. I need to get you out of here!"

"Stop it, Cloud," Silver argued. He looked away from his friend and stared at the raging inferno. He saw the trees die as the flames expanded. "You'd be carrying a corpse that would slow you down. And then you'd get burnt to a crisp. I can't have that."

"The Pokémon Center isn't too far," Cloud insisted.

Silver sighed, "You know it would take more than a Pokémon Center to save me. It's not happening. I'm bleeding out, and I can't move a muscle. I'm useless to you." Cloud hadn't noticed the puddle of blood flowing under Silver.

"Damn you," Cloud gritted his teeth. "I never took you one to surrender," he criticized him.

"I'm a realist," Silver countered. "Now, shut up and listen to me." Cloud's head perked up when Silver's voice got serious, "You need to live and I don't just mean right now. I mean LIVE."

"What are you saying?" Cloud could feel his heart racing.

Silver coughed more blood. "Get the hell out of here and promise me that you'll go home." Cloud looked at the pool of blood staining his clothes. "Don't look back," Silver mustered his remaining strength to grab Cloud's arm. "I know we promised to go home together one day, but it's not going to happen. It's time for you to heal, Cloud, and forgive yourself.

"It's not that easy," Cloud shut his eyes.

"Don't be a fool, you know you can do it. Getting home won't be easy, but you can do it. I believe in you. I never believed in anything growing up. My father was the mob boss of Team Rocket. My mother abandoned us when I was a child. I took refuge in Pokémon battling and wisecracks, but I still never believed in anything until I met you." Cloud squeezed Silver's arm. Silver smiled, "I was never good at making friends because I didn't think I could relate with anyone. Then I met you and things changed. I felt like I was seen. I wasn't the only one who had trouble connecting with the world. I started to believe in things. I started to believe in friendship. I believed in you."

Cloud muttered, "Why me?"

Silver shrugged, "We were both losers without an aim until we met each other. Then we set out on a journey to get our wish granted by Jirachi. Do you remember our wish?"

"To visit other lands," Cloud nodded.

"Who knew we'd end up here. And then Red found us. Well, you first," Silver gazed up at the sky. Despite the smog, he could still make out the stars. "We decided we wouldn't leave until we had enough adventure. Then you got us tangled in Red's mess and that became the adventure of a lifetime.," Silver's eyes shimmered.

Cloud blamed himself, "I'm sorry. I should've never gotten you involved."

Silver rolled his eyes, "Stop being a baby. I was grown enough to say 'no,' but like I said. I joined because I did it for you." Cloud remained silent. "However, it looks like the adventure isn't over and you'll have to continue without me before you can get home." Cloud's blue eyes grew.

"You know what you need to do," Silver frowned. "Ash and May. They're going to need your help on this one. Sapphire is going to blow all reality to kingdom come if you don't."

"I-" Cloud wasn't sure if he was up to the task.

Silver squeezed his arm tighter. "If not for them, then at least for your friend." Cloud sighed. "Although, I know you want to help them. As much as you'd like to act that you're too cool for them, you care about them."

"You're a damn good friend," Cloud's head sunk.

"So promise me!" Silver barked. "Promise you'll go home."

Cloud looked up at the stars. He knew it was his duty. "I promise."

Silver smirked. "Atta boy." He reached for a Pokéball in his pocket and returned his unconscious Zeraora. "I have one more favor," the man brought his Pokéball to his chest.

"What?" Cloud looked at the ball.

Silver took Cloud's hand and placed the Pokéball in it. "Please take care of Zeraora. I know he's a handful, but he'll grow on you. You'll make one heck of a team." Silver stared at the stars again as tears rolled down his cheeks. "I know it."

Cloud looked at it. It had a lightning bolt just over the button. He gripped it tight. "I will."

"Thank you, brother," Silver nodded. "Now, go. We're out of time."

Cloud lowered his eyes. "Silver."

Silver gave a weak grin. "I'll see you on the other side." Cloud saw him close his eyes as he took his last breath. He could feel the trainer's aura leave his body.

"Farewell, my friend," Cloud pulled Silver's hand to his chest. He remained by his side as the forest burned. He listened to the roaring of the fire as his tears mixed with Silver's blood. Now, go. Silver's words rang in his head. Cloud winced as he got on his feet. His body still ached, but a surge of adrenaline took over him. He zipped up his jacket to his mouth so that he wouldn't breathe in the smoke. He took in the sight of the fire once more and thought of Sapphire. Cloud vowed he would stop her, but he also intended to honor his promise. For a long time, he believed that there was no way home and that he'd never feel ready, but it was clear the time had arrived. There was no choice. It was his destiny. "Ash, May," Cloud clenched his fist. He turned his back on the fire and left Silver's body to rest. "We'll meet again someday," Cloud muttered.