Silver’s Journeys Chapter 2: A Friend For Life The ribbon lay on his bed, next to Cleo, the Spinarak. Silver was adjusting his belt to hang loosely around his waist. His inside pockets of his shirt were lined with Poké Balls and potions. He lifted his satchel over his head and slipped his gloves on. Spinarak woke up and shot some string at the ceiling. She swung onto his shoulder and nibbled his ear. He stroked her and headed downstairs. His Mum and sister, Magenta, were waiting at the table. Magenta looked up and smiled. “Here he is! The new champion of Jubilife!” “Come on, Sis. It was one battle.” He said, rolling his eyes. “It could have been anyone.” “Yeah, but it wasn’t just anyone, was it. It was my lil’ bro!” “But I’m just saying…” “Silver! Just accept her compliment!” “Sorry, Mum.” His Mum was going on TV again tonight with Smeargle. Magenta got up suddenly and blurted something out so quickly that Silver missed it. She darted upstairs and then ran back down. “She’s gone!” She had tears in her eyes. “Frea! She’s gone! My beautiful Frea!” She burst into tears and Silver got up and walked to the door. “Don’t worry, Magenta, you’ll have her back soon.” He opened the door and ran outside. “Wait! I’ll come too!” Magenta called. She also slipped on her gloves and took out a Poké Ball. “Come on out, Sonic!” She opened the ball and a bat like Pokémon appeared before her in a flash of white light. The Zubat looked at her and released a high pitched squeak. “Let’s go!” And with that the two took off. About two hundred metres ahead, Silver was about to be stopped. Spinarak bit his ear and Silver tripped over in pain. “What was that?” he asked his partner. The spider merely clicked and looked at the bushes ahead. In the distance a cave entrance was clearly visible. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of the dark.” Silver smiled at her. Then, a fellow thirteen year old emerged from the cave, caressing a Butterfree. Spinarak scuttled up to the bushes and reared back. “No!” Silver whispered. “You dare!” Spinarak released a shot of silk from in between its pincers. It struck the boy between the eyes and pulled him over. Silver ran towards him. “Oh God. Are you OK?” he asked. “Yeah I’m fine.” replied the boy. Silver extended an arm towards him. “Thanks. I’m Huey.” “Silver. Can I please look at that Butterfree?” “Uhh… it isn’t mine. I was walking through that cave and I heard a cry of pain. This Butterfree was trapped under a rock. It must have lost its trainer. So yeah, I don’t see why not.” “My sister lost hers this morning. I was just wondering if it was hers.” He examined the wing and, sure enough, a spider was marked on its wing. Magenta was just appearing over the horizon and Sonic was at her side. Spinarak had now emerged too and walked guiltily over to Silver. “Here’s the little devil” Silver said. “Sorry, we’ve only just started battling and she got carried away. We won the Jubilife Tournament so I thought she would be under control, but I was wrong.” “Silver… whew… I’m glad to see you’re OK! Give me my Butterfree you thieving little…!” “No, Magenta. This is Huey. He saved Frea.” Silver said, jumping in front of her. Huey told her the story of how he found her. Cleo gave two clicks and signalled again. A Poliwag had appeared next to Huey. “Oh yeah. Meet Tadpole! My partner.” Huey had a huge smile on his face. “Awesome! Hey, Huey, Magenta. Would you be interested in say a… three way battle?” Silver asked. “Yeah sure!” they both said. All three trainers were in a triangle. Tadpole stood in front of Huey, Frea in front of Magenta, Cleo in front of Silver. They all eyed each other until: “Stun Spore now!” Frea shook and let out yellow powder which headed toward Tadpole. Cleo shot a String Shot at Tadpole and pulled him away. Using the string, she then did a Poison Sting attack, feeding the string back into her mouth. The Poliwag screeched as it hit and fell back. Frea launched her own String Shot at Cleo, who narrowly avoided it. Huey then commanded Tadpole to use Hypnosis on the same target. Cleo made the mistake of turning her head and fell asleep. Frea then used Tackle on Cleo who was lifted of the ground. Frea turned around and launched her String Shot at Cleo again and flew so low she gathered dust. She flew over Spinarak and picked her up. Tadpole fired Water Gun shots at Frea missing each time. Cleo then opened her eyes and used an unknown move. A black blob appeared in the sky and Frea flew right into it, taking Cleo with her. Tadpole took the opportunity to jump up and shoot another jet of water into the blob. It went straight through, but came out green. Frea and Cleo emerged again in negative colours. They fell from the sky, Cleo seemed unharmed. “When did Cleo learn Night Shade?” Magenta asked. “Since it got picked up by your Butterfree I suppose.” Silver replied. Butterfree rolled over and stopped moving. She had fainted. Cleo seemed at full power again when facing Tadpole. She glared at him and then charged. Tadpole ran too, growing bigger as it went. The point on Cleo’s head glowed purple and Tadpole grew bigger and bigger. When they were centimetres away, Tadpole released the bided energy and shot at Cleo. The point was not enough to stop it. They rolled around on the floor together, generating a cloud of dust. All three trainers shielded their eyes as the wind blew the dust around. “Magenta! Help!” Silver shouted. “Sonic! Use Gust!” A strong wind emitted from the Zubat’s tiny wings. The dust blew away, revealing the scene that was encased beneath it. Both Pokémon lay on the floor. Unmoving. “I don’t believe it” said Huey under his breath. “No way” muttered Silver. “It’s a tie!” squealed Magenta. Huey and Silver ran over to their fallen Pokémon. They picked them up and looked at each other. They nodded and shook hands. “Awesome battle” said Silver. “I agree” replied Huey. “So do I” said a mystery voice. The three trainers turned around. “Hey, Magenta. Long time no see.” “Cynthia!” said Magenta excitedly. “Who?” the two boys asked. “Cynthia. She enrols trainers for the Sinnoh League Challenge. But, why are you here? “That battle was excellent. I knew from when I met you both three years ago that it would run in the family. It has been three very long years since I enrolled you, Magenta. How far have you come?” “Two badges only I’m afraid, but Frea, Rosie and Sonic have grown rapidly.” “I’m not here for you today though. Silver and Huey have caught my attention. Their talents are like none I’ve ever seen in a boy of thirteen. Your Pokémon clearly respect you.” “Are you offering us a place in the Sinnoh League Challenge? If so, we want to travel together, so if you enrol me, Silver will have to definitely get a place or I’m out!” Huey exclaimed. “You have just met and yet your friendship is strong. You can be sure that you will both get in. Do you accept?” “Go on, Silver. We can all travel together. It will be great” Magenta said. “Well. Huey is in.” “Well done, Huey. Now. Silver. To help you decide. If you accept, you can become the world’s best trainer, battling different people and seeing different Pokémon. You will get Gym Badges to mark your progress and to show your skills. So are you in?” Silver closed his eyes. He could imagine all the confetti falling as he had just beaten the Sinnoh Challenge and won the Pokémon League. His eyes opened and everyone was looking at him. Cleo had recovered in his arms and was looking up at him with content. She gave two clicks and the face on her back became a smile. “Alright. I’m in” “Great decision. Here are your official badge cases and Pokégears. You two are our newest challengers! Many challenges are ahead. Be ready for anything, but most importantly, have fun along the way. I bid you farewell!” Cynthia released her Garchomp and flew away. “When do we start?” Huey asked. “Whenever we’re ready I guess?” Silver said. “OK. I’ll meet you two at my house in Floroama tomorrow. Then we’ll start our adventure.” “Right.” “Gotcha” “The three of us, friends forever!” Silver said. Silver’s journey was about to unfold. The moment he’d always dreamed of, was happening.