The uncertain doubts that crept into my mind from those moments were detailed vividly. I remember when I was with Silver in an enclosed barred cell planning our best escape. We had attempted many times, but I could recall a moment where me and him had attempted to flee from within.

Many of these children like me were members. But one of these kids stood out among the ragged crowd. An international thief from New Bark Town, not local here from Kanto. The boy was native to the Johto region and they referred to Silver as the Crimson Flint.

Silver was a very astute trainer. Strong and resolute when it came to Pokémon battles. Very stubborn and negative much like Blue when it came to his fits of pride and bullheadedness. But who could blame his situation? His own father had left him when he was a very small boy and it was all that was left of his own family. He had no one, except me. We shared the same cell when we were captured by Hanz. So we were never apart from one another.

Crimson Flint hated the place, hated the environment that Hanz had placed us in. Of course, as I got to know the boy and developed a close bond. The boy shared with me a talent for Pokémon battles.

In fact I remember it quite clearly. The boy had a Sneasal. A Pokémon that did not originate from here and much like Ensign. Silver had the same attitude as him. Everyone was in the way and he was domineering for power. Many children in the group were quite frightened by him and at times would compare him to Ensign out of spite. But I wasn't afraid of him; he was different from Joker. He had a soft side about him, like when he cared for his Sneasal when he was hurt.

As young as he was at my age. Silver used his Pokémon to try and battle his way out many situations. His Pokémon clawed us out of the cell to free us kids from the barred enclosure and was able to hold his own against other trainers.

This Pokémon was one that even my current Kanto Pokédex would not be able to detect. Sneasal was an unknown type and much like the comparison to Ensign, had similarities to his. However, Sneasal was powerful; he was attune to his trainers presence and worked like clockwork to defeat a Psychic type Pokémon owned by an Apostle. One of the most powerful type variants in the Kanto region as the Heart of Ninth would brag.

The Pokémon had a star shaped head and a brown, tan torso. His special stats meant the most prominent of this Pokémon's talent was using psychic moves like Kinesis or Psybeam. This Pokémon was what the Heart of Ninth's called an Alakazam.

What was surprising about Sneasal was his intense agility and skill in upending Alakazam with those abilities. Mewtwo was certainly more powerful, but this Pokémon had the power to land critical, super effective hits against their opponents. If there was an Apostle member you would want to watch out for, it was him.

Silver was close to freeing us all from the compound weeks after we were kidnapped. Reaching his hand toward mine; he pulled me along for the escape. Our blood boiling over to the brink of faint. We raced with earnestness down towards the entrance with hope in our being. Our hearts battering with rapid exhilaration.

This feeling of being with him and the thrill of leaving Love's headquarters was the most intoxicating fun I ever had. Even before the time we were taken from our homes. Silver and I shared a moment of freedom that we never felt before.

Fleeing through many varying floors and corridors. Defeating many grunts along the way. We had many obstacles in our way, but we meticulously planned and prepared for such. After arriving toward the gate that lead out of Mount Silver.

Ensign had greeted us at the front with his mighty Legendary Pokémon behind him, summoning a flame that engrossed Silvers eyes, piercing them into an never ending scorch that blinded the boy from seeing any color of hope from them.

Using the flame as Dad described had demoralized and tortured his soul. Ho-Oh did not once leave a physical scar on his body except his eyes. But the negative energy left a permanent imprint of his spirit and was driven toward racking torment.

I was afraid his conviction and motivation from that time were out like a flickering candle. Our hope of escape had been squandered many times up until the point Autumn had rescued us.

Silver had told me many times when we were held captive in that horrible cell. That he would do every thing in his power to find his Dad and kill him.

A necessary evil I presume.

Though I certainly did not approve of Silver's motives. We related well together because we had both lost someone in our lives or so I thought in the past. Silver was loyal and would look up to his evil leader, like I did when we both decided that we all gave up. Ensign was our reminder to pursue your goals no matter how daunting the task was. If you did, with the type of charisma Ensign had. You always were bound to succeed.

There was a significance to the power Ensign had when it came to the move that Ho-Oh used to protect my father all those years ago.

Sacred Fire.

Where good or bad intentions were used in conjunction with the person or Pokémon that came in contact with it.

However, the parallels of our family were also there.

"Dad?"

Yes?" He asked with softness.

"Where is Silver now?" I puzzled.

My father took a moment to reflect. He smirked at the question knowing full well on the assurance about his whereabouts. Autumn was also conscious of who Silver was deep down when Ho-Oh pierced his heart.

"That troublemaker, well; he has someone that keeps him company every now and then in our neighboring region."

"Who?" I quirked with genuine curiousness.

"You'll know when you meet him. A fine young man, much like your boyfriend Red."

How unfair of my father to tease me like this. I certainly did not expect this whatsoever. He did it on purpose to witness my uncontrollable blush fits.

Excuse me but..

Does he know that I?...

"Dad, I hate you."

He laughed at my protest with glee. Smiling to himself as he approached my nose and reached down his bulky hand to pat my head with a gentle stroke. It was annoying, but he was my father after all.

"Silver is in good hands. He's got a rival in him much like your friends. Which I feel will set him right back on course."

Smiling with wide stipulation.This was reassuring to hear. I never understood all of the circumstances surrounding my old friends conflicts. But I was worried about him. He'd never tell me why or even who his father was at the time. But this makes me feel a bit better about what exactly happened to him is helping him cope from the past.

My father pulled a Poké Ball from his right hand clip and released a powerful form outside of it. This Pokémon was bird like in appearance. His hair slicked long with a rainbow trim. Talons that stretched several inches with massive claws protruding through his three pronged feet. This bird had a graceful look to him and had a gorgeous seven foot wing span.

That's what I hate about birds.

Their terrifying malleable form. Their massive claws and beak reminded me of the form that had terrorized me all those years. My knees buckled in fright and my heart fluttered with tense protrusion. My fear of birds was not helping the situation, but I felt a premonition right at that moment.

He's testing me.

"Leaf, now that you know that I'm alive, and that Ensign is a powerful threat to you. I need you to trust me." He said gesturing for me ride on this giant bird's back.

"Pidgeot will take you home and—

"No."

"No?"

"Dad, I'm done running away." I assured to him while unclipping the Poké Ball from my magnetic belt.

I've confronted threats many times before, but this time it was personal.

I'm so sick of him telling me how I should run my life. Telling me how I should survive. I want to prove to him that I'm not weak right here, right now!

"Running away from my past was what kept me in fear Dad. I'm not going back home and if you want to stop me. You'll need to do it by force." I said while nervously gripping my firm fist around the red and white capsule in hand.

My father was encouraged by my gaze. Fixing his eyes on my insubordinate, but determined look. He relented by clasping hold of his old battered Poké Ball in hand.

"Fine, if you win this battle. I'll let you continue on your journey. If you lose, you'll go home like I ask and watch over the household of your mother."

"Make your choice Leaf."