contains: some swearing, Gold/Silver in the HeartGold/SoulSilver gameverse (huntershipping), where the guys are about 17 at the game beginning.

The chapters are pretty short (800 to 2000 words), but it's a collection of Silver-centric oneshots rather than one epic saga so it felt nicer to split them up. The tone is generally more serious than Turning Points.

Anyway, I'd love feedback and ideas, so reviews are welcomed!

Sneasel

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"You stole that Sneasel," says Gold, pointing an accusing finger at the Pokemon.

Sneasel growls, stepping backwards to prepare a slash, but Gold quickly pulls his hand back before any injuries occur. Silver is equal parts proud of Sneasel and disappointed that bodily harm had been avoided – to make up for it, he steps towards Gold and shoves him backwards.

"Can't you see I'm training, wimp? Get out of here!"

"No!" says Gold, who is trying to look firm and in control in spite of the fact that he's fallen over into a puddle of mud. His Croconaw tries to help him up, eying Sneasel disdainfully. "You stole Sneasel, just like you stole Chikorita! Admit it!"

Silver snorted. "Yeah, and so what?"

"-because I talked to the guy you stole Sneasel from and he said- oh, you admit it then!"

"I said, and so what's it to you? It's just a Pokemon." Silver returns Sneasel to its ball. It doesn't look like they'll be able to get any more training time today.

"You beat up a guy and kidnapped his baby," said Gold, bristling.

"It's just a Pokemon," Silver repeats.

Croconaw jumps up and roars at him, a loud rage-filled roar that makes all the trainers in the field turn around in surprise. Gold pats him and Croconaw quiets, but they're both glaring at Silver – for a moment, Silver thinks that maybe it'll be easier if he just caves in now.

Then he laughs at himself for letting that sort of cowardly thought even enter his head.

"It's not just a Pokemon! It's a living person that can think and love and talk just like you, and you just took it from its own home! I... I can't believe you. You don't even care!" For some reason Gold looks... disappointed? Deflated? Silver doesn't want it to matter, but he... he doesn't like it, because Gold is judging him. It means that yet another person has decided that he's worthless after all.

"Yeah, well, it's none of your business anyway, you sappy idiot. God, you're so annoying. Just stop following me!"

"I'm not following you," says Gold. Croconaw makes a sound that might have been a cough, or a rumbling growl. "Uh, okay, maybe I am a bit. But only because you're... wait, never mind. And it is my business, you stole Chikorita from my neighbour's house and now you're doing it again!"

"What's so surprising? I'm a thief, isn't that right?" Silver sneers. It's not worth his time to explain himself to this idiot. Honestly, he's not even sure why he's engaging in this conversation. He reasons that it's probably because he likes seeing a weakling like Gold get so emotional and angry over some feeble Chikorita – well, Bayleef now – and Sneasel, although that doesn't explain why Gold's disappointment should affect him so.

"Yeah, I suppose so," says Gold coldly. He stands there for a moment, silently staring at Silver and the Pokeball in his hand. Silver can almost feel himself breaking down under that disheartened gaze, but he catches himself.

"Hmph." He pushes Gold over again, back into the puddle. Croconaw looks like it's only barely restraining itself biting Silver's legs off, so he shoves his hand in his pocket to touch the comforting presence of Magnemite. "Go train somewhere else. Wimp."

"That guy you stole Sneasel from," Gold says, getting up again and blocking Silver's path, "he was so scared you were gonna take his Shuckle too, that he even wanted to foster it out to me 'til he was sure you weren't coming back. So you can shut up about me being a wimp or whatever when you're just a fucking bully who can't even catch his own Pokemon."

Silver, in general, quite likes making people angry. For some reason, he realises, he doesn't actually like it when this boy gets angry at him. It's a strange feeling, not welcoming a fight, and it's stranger when it comes from a wimp like Gold – instead of someone like your father, a small voice finishes for him.

"Why, because you're so strong and powerful, huh? He can't have liked that Shuckle very much if he wanted you to take it."

"Shut the fuck up! You're not even listening!" Gold yells. His Croconaw snaps at Silver as he pushes past them, onto the path.

Idiots and bleeding hearts, those annoying trainers who 'care' about their Pokemon (tools) so much that they can't even keep them in a Pokeball. Silver has an urge to punch Gold, because he really isn't enjoying this and somehow he doesn't actually like Gold hating him. Punching people is usually a good way to end an annoying conversation.

But he doesn't. He slouches down the path – he doesn't even know where he's going, but it just has to be far away from Gold – and ignores Gold's furious protests.

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