Chapter Text
I can’t believe it. Silver just trapped me in a cave with no light whatsoever, and I have no idea what’s going on. The cave walls echo Cyndaquil’s whimpers of fear and my shouts for someone to help get us out of here.
After all me and Silver went though, just for him to trap me in a cave like that? Who does that? Will I be stuck here forever? Does Silver like me or something? Does he have a problem that I’m gay? Is it that I got on his nerves too much? Is it my looks that made him trap me in here? Did I ever buy that snack for Cyndaquil? What am I gonna eat? Will I even eat again? Will I be forgotten in this cave, left to rot for eternity? What day is it? What kind of Pokèmon are in here? Is there a way out?
“Quill?” ‘Gold?’ Cyndaquil says, resting on my foot and rubbing his furry head on my leg. It’s only when he brings my attention back is when I realize I was hyperventilating. Calm down Gold, It’s going to be alright. I say to myself and I rest against the wall, sitting down. Cyndaquil makes himself comfortable in my lap, and I get a little sleepy. I yawn and think about my bed at home, and then feel helpless. I’ll just be forgotten here, won’t I? Nobody will remember I exist in the first place…But then I get an idea.
“Hey Cyndaquil, can you set your flames on?” I ask. Cyndaquil hops out of my lap and ignites his flames, providing light and warmth in the dark and cold cave. Finally, I can see stuff. We search the cave, but we can only make it a little far because there’s a huge boulder in the way. I would try climbing it, but then I might not be able to get back. Not to mention that Cyndaquil might not be able to hold onto me well as I’m climbing.
“I guess we’re stuck, Cyndaquil…” I sigh, going back to sulking against the entrance. I give up all hope of escape but Cyndaquil doesn’t because he tries pushing the entrance open.
“It’s no use Cyndaquil. We’re stuck here forever.” I sigh, sadness coming from nowhere making me feel like crying. Cyndaquil huffs at me and then goes back to trying to open the entrance.
“Didn’t you hear me? It’s hopeless. Don’t waste your energy doing that.” I say.
“Quil, Cynda Quil!” ‘Gold, just try!’ Cyndaquil fusses. I guess it wouldn’t hurt. I heave myself upward and then lean against the rocky door putting all my weight against it, when suddenly it falls forward with a thud, making me fall over and knocking the wind out of me. The light from the sun hurts my eyes and I shield myself from the radiant rays as I try catching my breath. Cyndaquil hops onto my back when I hear someone ask;
“Are you okay?” What do you think, I just got the wind knocked out of me.
“I wonder.” I exhale, still laying on the stony entrance to the Dark Cave.
“Rude. Are you just gonna lay there or…” They ask. It’s a girl, but I’m not sure who.
“Yeah, sure. I’ll just lay here for the rest of my life.” I say sarcastically. I hear the girl huff. She picks up Cyndaquil from off my back and I get up, snagging my bag from inside the cave.
“Is this your partner Pokèmon?” The girl, now identified as a Lass, one of the many trainer classes in the Johto region. She looks at Cyndaquil, holding him in her hands.
“Yeah, so can you put him down?” I ask. She frowns.
“Can you not? I want to see his adorable face a little longer.” She says, rolling her eyes. But that’s MY Pokèmon chickface. Such a jerk.
“Just give him back, he’s my Pokèmon.” I say, trying to refrain from calling her a bad name. She finally gives in and hands Cyndaquil back to me. I snatch him away from her and she puts her hands on her hips.
“Hey! You’re such a jerk!” She says, sending her partner Pokèmon, a Pidgey out. “I want a battle, right now!” She demands.
“Fine. Let’s do this Cyndaquil!” I say, and he leaps from my arms, and getting into a battle stance, igniting his flames. The Lass whispers something to her Pokèmon before the battle starts. The battle goes by fast, and the winner should be obvious, it was me, of course.
“How did you win?” The Lass asks, a bit more calmed down. I explain how I battle to her, using smokescreen to make it so her Pidgey couldn’t see Cyndaquil, so it had a hard time fighting him.
“Well, I want a rematch someday. Do you have a Pokègear or a phone or something? I can give you my number.” She says. I pull out my old Pokègear and she snorts.
“What?” I ask.
“You don’t have the new Pokègear? Everyone has one!” She says, laughing at my old model.
“Oh, shut up. Do you want my number or what?” I say slightly irritated. She calms down from her giggles and we finally exchange numbers. That took way longer than it needed to. I totally forgot her name though. Brigit or something? Bailey? Bagel? Maybe I’m just hungry. That’s gotta be it, right? Hmm, I forget if I ate anything this morning, didn’t mom pack me someth-
“Cynda?” ‘Gold?’ Cyndaquil says. I look and give him my attention.
“Yeah?” I say, a little frustrated that I was pulled out of my thoughts. Cyndaquil points south with his snout.
“Cyndaquil Quil Cynda.” ‘Cherrygrove is down there.’ He says. “Quil Quil Cyn?” ‘Weren’t we going?’ Oh yeah, that’s where we were going. Why do I forget everything??
“Cyndaquil, I don't even know where I would be without you. Lost, probably. Do you know how to get there? I…Forgot.” I say. Cyndaquil nods.
“Alright, lead the way bud!” I say, following him all the way back to Cherrygrove. We walk for a while, and we finally make it back, and I get the map card from the old man who was kind enough to give me one.
“What now, Cyndaquil?” I ask, sitting on a bench outside the Pokèmart, enjoying a snack. Cyndaquil shrugs and goes back to eating the berry I gave him. We sit around a little longer, until Nurse Joy from inside the Pokèmon Center comes out and taps me on the shoulder lightly, and I turn around.
“Sorry to bother you, but is your name Gold?” She asks. Cyndaquil brings his attention to her.
“Yep, that’s me! What’s up?” I ask, a little confused.
“You have a call from New Bark, could you please come with me inside?” She asks, and I get up, and motion to Cyndaquil to get up. He picks up his berry and nudges my snack to me, and I grab it, as we follow Nurse Joy inside.
When we get inside, we walk past the lobby into a small area with various computers made especially for calling people on, and I see a computer with my mom on the screen. She waves at me and Nurse Joy once she notices that we’re in the room. Cyndaquil hops onto the chair in front of the desk with the computer and then on top of the desk itself, and the motions for me to sit down.
“I can leave if you’d like.” Nurse Joy says, watching as a couple walks in with a Pokèmon that seems to be burned.
“Yeah sure, you can go.” I say, Nurse Joy bows and leaves, and I sit down and see my mom with a frustrated expression.
“Gold, what did I tell you about manners?” She fusses and I sigh.
“Fussing already mom? Shouldn’t you say hi first?” I ask, smiling. Mom shakes her head and smiles.
“You're right, Gold. Sorry!” Mom says, and Poli puts his head on mom's shoulder. In case you were wondering, Poli is my moms Politoed, who saved my life on multiple occasions. But that's a story for another time!
“What are you callin’ me for mom? Is something up?” I ask, and Cyndaquil waves at Poli, who waves back.
“I was calling to ask if you caught that criminal that stole Totodile from Professor Elm. The poor Pokèmon must be so scared…” Mom sighs. Criminal? What criminal- Wait a minute…
“Silver!” I shout, and a few heads turn to me. Cyndaquil gets alarmed at my sudden reaction, and uses ember on my face. As I panic and pat the burn dry, mom only sighs.
“What does Silver have to do with anything?” Mom asks, clearly confused.
“Well Silver is the name of the guy that stole Totodile from Professor Elm, and he's really ho- Uh, I mean….he’s my rival.” I say. Whew, almost said too much.
“Gold, you left New Bark Town with Cyndaquil because you were going to catch Silver, and bring back Totodile. Are you still looking for him?” Mom asks. I know you told me not to lie, so I’ll just drag out the chase for Silver as long as I can!
“Y-yeah! I’m totally looking out for him. When I catch up, he won’t know what hit ‘em!” I say. Mom sighs and smiles.
“Alright Gold. Be careful, okay? And don’t forget, I love you baby!” Mom says.
“I love you too ma, and I’ll see ya later! Bye to you too Poli!” I wave at them before the connection is cut, and heave a sigh. Cyndaquil looks at me a little angrily.
“What?” I ask. Cyndaquil huffs and then faces away from me defiantly.
“Quil, Cynda!” ‘You lied!’ He says sitting down, pouting. Aww c'mon… you just had to raise a sense of justice into Cyndaquil didn’t you Elm?
“But Cyndaquil, you can't blame me, I completely forgot that I was looking for Silver to catch him anyway! And besides, I'd feel bad turning him in.” If I did that, I'd never see him again and…I like him. He's a good guy, but I just have to prove it. But how…
“Quil. Cyndaquil Cynda.” 'Gold. I can tell you like him.’ Cyndaquil says. Shoot, I'm caught…Am I that obvious?
“Err…how about we make a deal, wait, a gamble. Well no it would be called a deal. That's not the point though is it? Wait, what's the definition of gamble…oh yeah, I remember now. What was I talking about again?” I ask.
“Cyndaquil.” ‘The deal.’ Cyndaquil chimes. Right Right…
“Yeah that. The deal is that I spend a little more time with him, but I promise, I’ll turn him in, Okay?” I beg. Cyndaquil huffs.
“Quil.” ‘Fine.’ He says, hopping off the desk and landing in my lap. Yesss. Now I just gotta find out where Silver went…