"It's so dark in here."

"Yeah."

"How do you even know where you're going?"

"I dunno."

"You don't know?"

"I just do. It's like a reflex. I've done this so many times."

Cynthia and Red strolled casually through the wide caverns that spanned through Mount Silver's interior, long since dug through by some long gone colony of Steelix. Wild Zubats, Golbats, and Crobats hung drowsily from the ceilings, the cold temperatures making them too lazy to bother attacking. Occasionally, one or two of the cave bat Pokémon would trill out a greeting to which Red would reply with a pleasant hum.

Cynthia gasped as something brushed past her legs. The vague shadowy silhouette she'd been following whirled around revealing half lidded red eyes, a glimmer of worry sparking through them.

"What? What's wrong?"

"Something's touching my leg!"

Red glanced down for a moment before her half lidded gaze met Cynthia's again, this time filled with annoyance and amusement. Red knelt down to the stony ground. "It's just a little Larvitar." The Sinnoh champion felt brunette's hands clutching at the pants of other leg, mimicking the apparently tiny terror Pokémon. Cynthia raised an eyebrow, but she could do nothing but stand there awkwardly.

"Hello, little one."

A pause. "…Larvitar."

"Are you lost?"

"Vi."

"Oh? Then, what are you doing all the way out here?"

"Tar! Larvitar! Tar!" Proudly.

"Oh, I see! I did that a lot when I was smaller, too! But, why are you holding on to my friend?"

"Tarrrrr." The little creature growled out, angrily.

"Oh. Sorry about that. She's not really used to this place. She must not've seen it." Red sounded a little sympathetic and Cynthia found herself wondering what exactly was going on around her ankles. "Do you want her to say sorry?" There was a pause and Cynthia felt both grips on her legs disappear. Red stood back up and held a glaring Larvitar up. The brunette blinked at her after a moment of silence.

"Say 'sorry,'" she mumbled.

"…What?"

"Say 'sorry.' You stepped on this little guy's campsite."

"Lar!"

Cynthia stared for just a moment. This is so weird. Nonetheless, the blonde cleared her throat and said, "I'm sorry, Larvitar. I didn't mean to ruin your camp."

The Larvitar and Red exchanged a look, before nodding at each other, satisfied.

"Larvitar!" Cynthia looked at Red with an arched eyebrow.

"He says it's okay. He forgives you." She set the larval Pokémon down and he sped off through the caves with a single cry as a 'goodbye.'

Cynthia stared at her. Red stared back. Eventually, the Pokémon master reached out and grabbed her companion's hand with a languid sigh before pulling Cynthia along.

"Hm?"

"So you don't do something to get yourself in more trouble. Like stepping on a Steelix's tail or something."

"Okay."

"Anyway, you know that Pokémon I was telling you about? The grumpy one?"

"Yeaaah?"

"We're gonna go through his cave next so you can't be loud like you normally are."

"What?" Cynthia grumbled indignantly. "I'm not loud!"

"Yes, you are. And long winded, too." Red murmured drily.

Cynthia scoffed.

"It's true. When we first met, I thought you'd never just shut up and battle." Red gave her a cheeky grin. "I've never seen someone talk Mjolnir to sleep other than Blue."

Cynthia pouted. "I was just really excited to meet you." She smirked at the other trainer then. "I was expecting a wise enlightened grand master, not a smug little hermit with a really high winning streak and a silly novelty hat." She tossed her golden hair over her shoulders haughtily.

Red made a vaguely offended sounding noise and brought her free hand up to her red and white cap defensively, but didn't say anything more.

The Sinnoh champion snickered but stopped when she tripped over a stray stalagmite and just barely managed to avoid slamming her face into the dirt.

"Serves you right." Red said, amusement dripping from her voice like honey. She pulled her Pokégear from her pocket and turned the flashlight function on, illuminating a small area around them and casting dark shadows on the walls. "Really, for someone who could be called a ruin maniac, you sure are clumsy."

The blonde Sinnoh native was just picking herself off the cavern floors, readying a witty retort when she caught something looming over the younger trainer. It was tall – at least three feet taller than the brunette – varying shades of pink, with wide catlike eyes and an angry scowl on its face. Despite standing so near to Red, it had directed its heated gaze directly at Cynthia, almost ignoring the Pokémon master entirely.

The mirth in Red's eyes turned into concern at the fear on the older trainer's face. "Cynthia?"

"Behind you," was all the blonde said, lifting her finger to point at the creature.

"Eh?" Red turned to look behind her and the creature turned its furious glare on her, moving to place its three digit paws on its hips. Almost cartoonishly, she adopted a nervous disposition and moved away a couple steps. "O-oh, hey, buddy. I didn't know you were up, did you have a nice nap? Heh heh…"

To Cynthia's great surprise, a rich, deep, vaguely irritated sounding voice rumbled through the air. "I was. Until, you and your boisterous friend's bickering awoke me."

The Pokémon master couldn't help laughing. "See? Even Mewtwo thinks you're loud!"

Cynthia blinked. "W-wha?" But, Red had already turned again to talk to Mewtwo who looked drowsy, but still attentive…

"So, how have you been? I wasn't expecting you so early this year. Is everything alright in the Sanctuary?"

"I am well. The Sanctuary has been getting a bit crowded and noisy as of late and I decided to start my hibernation early this year." The hulking cat Pokémon yawned revealing sharp teeth and turned his attention on Cynthia again. "Who is this? A challenger for me or a challenger for you?"

Red was about to reply, when the blonde spoke for herself.

"Neither, actually. My name is Cynthia Shirona and I come from the Sinnoh region. It's a pleasure to meet you. I spend a lot of time researching legendary Pokémon and I'd never dreamed I would meet one in person. Let alone have a conversation with one."

"Really?" Mewtwo cocked his head to the side. "Well, I am sure as Red's chosen you will meet more than just me."

Red made a sharp choking sound at this, her cheeks turning pink. "She's not-!"

Mewtwo cut her off, chuckling quietly. "Not now. Yet, eventually." She turned even pinker, and fell silent. "But, I digress. It is a pleasure to become your acquaintance as well, Sinnoh Champion Cynthia. I do hope you have enjoyed your stay on the mountain thus far, despite the cold and snow and Red's temperament."

"Hey!"

"Thank you." She paused before continuing. "If you don't mind me asking: what does 'chosen' mean?"

"You do not know? I thought it was fairly obvious. Red is rather transparent when it comes to these things. But, if you truly do not understand, then I do not believe it would be right to tell you, Miss Cynthia. That is her privilege. Not mine."

Cynthia turned to face the brunette with an eyebrow raised questioningly. Red had long since resorted to hiding her face behind her hands.

"Okay."

"Now, I really must be going. You are not far at all from your destination, but be quick and careful all the same."

Mewtwo disappeared in a flash of bright light, teleporting himself deeper in the caves. But, fleetingly his voice echoed. "Do try to be quiet. I am trying to sleep."

Red grabbed Cynthia's hand again, pulling her along while studiously avoiding eye contact.

"Hey, wait," Cynthia said after a few more minutes of walking. "I never told him I was Champion of the Sinnoh region, how did he know that."

Red didn't respond for a while, but when she did all she offered was a quiet, "Mewtwo knows a lot. He sometimes even knows the future, too."

a/n: mewtwo ships it. mewtwo ships it so hardcore.

next time we'll see what everyone else has been doing while red and cynthia were romping around the mountain. and idk maybe i'll come up with an actual plot or something by then.

thanks for reading, please review and tell me what you think!