One last strike.

One more until bed. Come on, Silver. You can do this. He's done it every night for almost two years…

"Silver, get your sorry ass over here!"

Why me? What had I done to make him so cold?

"SILVER!"

I walk silently and slowly. When I approach him, I stare at my feet and mutter out "Yes, Lance?"

I brace myself for what is about to happen because I know what will occur next.

"Get over here. Now." he snarls.

His tone gives me shivers as I walk toward him. This man is a champion and people would kill to fill my shoes. If they knew how he acted outside of the Johto League…

As soon as my body is in distance of his arm, he throws me into a wall, and I feel a sharp pain in my back. I fall to the floor.

Punches and kicks are thrown at me in his fury.

Have I done something wrong?

Ever since I turned eleven and received (stole) my first Pokemon from Professor Elm, I had looked up to this Master of Dragons. Even being in his presence mystified me. However, this blessing because a burden.

I come back to reality, and the throbbing pain of my arm makes me scream. It is definitely broken, I decide as I begin pleading for mercy.

He lets out a wicked laugh and gives one last blow before staring at his work, satisfied.

Why does my pain amuse him?

He strides off to bed and leaves me to lie on the cold wooden floor. Cuts, bruises, and bashes cover my body. I get up using my pain-free (or as much as it could be in this situation) arm and limp my way to a Pokemon center. All nurse Joys have medical training with humans.

This Nurse Joy in particular, however, knows me well. I often come in with Lance's Pokemon to heal them for him while he is working, and for my own purposes such as this one. She sees me and gets her first aid kit and helps me to the back room. I pass by the Pokemon infirmary. I notice something out the corner of my eye.

A Typloshion.

The memories floor back to Gold and I as children. I would always fight him because I wanted power. I smile to myself. Ever since Gold had been defeated by Lance during the Elite four when he turned fourteen, we hadn't seen each other since. I thought about him sometimes, wondering if by now he had done something with his life. Was he still training, and preparing to battle Lance? And more importantly, what would he do to win?

The nurse rests me on the bed and hands me a letter. "I thought health care was free here." ,I laugh. She smiles at me.

"Actually, a boy with dark hair came in. I think he wanted to see you, but I told him you were with Lance. He gave a cowardly look and told me to give this to you.", she stated.

I froze.

Gold.

I nod and thank her. I open the letter as she leaves.

Dear Silver,

We need to talk about Lance. Meet me at Elm's lab in New Bark Town.

-Gold

I read the letter over and over. I sigh and fall asleep.