I faced a cave I knew was going to cause me trouble getting through. Is it too late to turn back and get a ride to the top?

"No, I have to go by foot or else I'll feel like taking a short cut would do me nothing but keep me from experiencing true training instead of skipping to the top. I didn't take this long in my journey just to cut in line. If it was that easy, I wouldn't have spent more than half a year roaming Johto" I talked to myself, but mostly had my Pokémon in my bag listen.

"To be all honest, I like the journey taking me somewhere. It shows how far I can get if I work hard. That's what I think most trainers don't understand. I believe I can make it to the top, despite my luck. I'll make it there on my own without making a short cut" I waved my finger "I probably would had been here earlier if I didn't go to the dance theater and met the god of the sky" What was that for anyway? It came onto me so suddenly when I just wanted to know more about this destiny of mine.

The gray skies were never really a bother. The blue sky I see now confuses me on why exactly the sky was that color, but it was a beautiful sight to see. My favorite part of the sky was the wonderful sunsets I never knew were real. The skies my parents wanted to see was now gazing down on me with it's beautiful colors. Summoning Ho-Oh was very random, but I don't regret getting involved.

I had woke up a few days ago from a dream that remained in my mind ever since that day. Every little detail was fresh in my mind, and it continues to confuse me on why I saw something so eerie with no explanation. It's the only thing that's been on my mind the entire time I had trailed up a mountain to head to a building titled the reception building of the Pokémon league.

I'm here... already so close to my goal already and I could hardly bare it. My heart was shaking and my legs were beating... Did I say that right?

"You still have so much more to do..." the woman in my dreams voice had echoed in my thoughts. I thought back at her frown when she spoke to me. After all I've been through, I had believed what I witness was her story, a story of the beginning... I walked towards the building while Pichu and Zorua had came out my bag and raced to see who would get inside the fastest. I shook away my train of thought and hurried after them seeing that they were stopped by a police man.

"Hold it!" He raised his hand and fixed his sunglasses "It's against the rules to pass these gates if you are not employed in this here building. It's a serious felony and I'm afraid I'll have to you to follow me" I took offense to this.

"What?! I'm not going anywhere with you! I didn't do anything wrong!" I fought back "My Pokémon were just having fun!"

"Only trainers who have proven themselves may pass" he continued. I lifted my bag and shoved it close to his face.

"How's that for proof!?" He took a moment before putting my bag down, staring at the badges pinned to it.

"You should had showed me that from the beginning!" I was noticeably annoyed "Please come this way and I'll register you"

"Some people take their jobs way too seriously" I sighed and handed my badges over for official approval. I got to look around while my registration was being processed and noticed a guard standing by a sealed door that had a sign up that read "Entrance to... Mount Silver!?" I gasped and ran up to him "Excuse me, am I able to go through?" He looked confused and stared at me for a moment.

"What? No, only may strong trainers pass through this point. You must show proof of your strength in order to keep youself from getting hurt. Pass this point is a place where very strong Pokémon lure and it's extremely cold! Even standing here is freezing" I looked around.

"It's freezing?" Can't really tell since my body heat is so naturally high "It feels good here, actually" I held my hips to feel the fresh air "So... If I manage to become champion of Johto, will I be able to pass you?" The guard laughed.

"The most you can ask for is a letter of approval from one of the Elite four members or current champion" I held my chin.

"If I knew it was that simple, I would had Lance make me a letter" the guard almost fell when I said that "What was all this for?" I smiled, knowing the answer "Well, I may not be able to be champion, but I'll get the approval once I explore a little"

"A-Are you that confident? You think you can just get a approval from the Champion?" The police officer looked offended "You dare to say his name like he's a familiar to a little girl like you" I faced him with my chin up, making him back off a little.

"Lance is my soon to be uncle!" I flipped my hair and walked away "I don't even need his approval to get pass those doors. I'll be getting there without any letter! Just because you laughed, I'm going to become the champion!" The guard stared at me before removing his sun glasses and smiled.

"You knew it was me, didn't you?" I giggled and took the hand he offered "It's good to see you again after a long while, was it?" I nodded.

"It was. It's good to see you, Aaron" he was the guy I worked with back at the bar "You haven't changed a bit, except for the uniform. You look professional"

"Well, what can I say? It's a better job than working for a criminal" we laughed together before he pet my head "You're still as short as ever, but I can't say that you're the same girl I knew before. Who knew you could smile so big?" I pushed him playfully.

"Shut up" I held my warm cheeks "I had a good life in the Johto region. I got to meet a lot of new friends and explore. I can't ask for anything more than the life I was blessed to have" Aaron weakly chuckled and looked down with a frown.

"You know... all this time, I had wished I knew about your problems from the beginning. We worked together more times than you danced, and I never got to learn anything about you while you knew so much about me. Since that day of court, I've felt guilt for not realizing you were suffering" I took his cheek to make him look up and look at my smile.

"I didn't tell anyone for that reason. I didn't want you looking at me like that. Everyone in that club had cared so much about me, but I couldn't ruin their peace. I've found mine, so relax and smile for me now" he finally smiled "That's better"

"What a delight to see a smile coming from your face. I'm sure everyone would love to see it. Have you stayed in touch with everyone?"

"Yeah!" No... There is only one person who still hasn't returned my messages or calls for the longest time "They all been good, but I noticed that Sunny stopped responding" his face fell gloom "What? What is it?"

"Nothing, she's probably just busy. You know, with having 6 daughters and all..." I watched him forcing a smile, but I didn't push and hugged him. He flinched and looked down at me "You're... hugging me?"

"Yeah. I got good at it, I think" he chuckled and hugged me back tightly.

"You have... I wish I got to hug you like this after court"

"Your registration is complete, Miss Zoe!" The police from before called on me. Aaron quickly let go of me and looked at the officer I was walking towards to.

"Zoe?" I waved to Aaron.

"See yah later!" I smiled big for him and collected my badges "I'm off to Victory Road and on my way to become champion!" I shot him a thumbs up "You'll see!" Aaron then smiled.

"Good luck. I'll be waiting for you here to open these doors, since you want to enter them so badly" I giggled and headed out towards Victory Road. I had healed my Pokémon at a resting area that offered snacks and drinks and gathered as much as I could before heading to the road with many Pokémon that kept bothering me. The path was easy all because Zorua had made an illusion to keep me from being seen.

"Your illusions are getting better" I said, spotting the exit already "it was only a few days ago that I was in my room getting ready for this trip. It had seemed like yesterday that I traveled through Johto and made it this far. I never saw myself getting here, but I didn't do it alone" I looked at Pichu and Zorua smiling at me from my shoulders "you all have been a big part in my new life... and I'm so happy we get to experience all this together"

My Pokémon smiled at me and looked back at something coming towards us. I turned around and saw the familiar red head boy running at me with his fist in the air, ready to attack. I stood in place and caught the hand before it should land on my shoulder, gripping on it hard while his fist were shaking and his tears were falling from his face.

"I thought you'd be here..." his voice cracked, slowly putting down his hand and looked down "You..."

"Valerie" I finished for him.

"Valerie... I had always wondered... what you meant when you asked me that question back in the Bellsprout Tower" I said something to him? My memory was a blur to be honest "You asked me... What did I...?" He bit his lips and shoved a picture at my face "This... Where did you get this?!"

"Keep your voice down. You'll attract wild Pokémon" I sighed and put my Pokémon down to face him directly "Silver, let me explain"

"I found this in my pocket after I left Ecruteak city, and when I saw it, I knew you were the one that put it there! You weren't at the dance theater anymore... so I made my way here to find you. Here you are"

"I'm surprise you think so highly of me to guess right away that I would be at a place like this" I smiled "I'm flattered" I held my heart "Though am offended that you came here just to punch me" he shook his head.

"I want to know where you got this picture!" He waved it around, trying not to look hurt "This... This..."

"My aunt had held onto that picture for a long time and gave to me before I moved to Johto. I hadn't noticed at the time, but I always wondered who this red headed baby with silver eyes was" I took his arms and rubbed them "My mind was a bit hazy, but it was clear as day. This woman is my mother" Silver's lips were trembling "When I was four, she went missing for about a year and came back telling us a man named Giovanni had took her away from us. I heard what happened and hated Team Rocket from a young age. She died in a fire that struck our home during a hurricane... and I had survived with Pichu. I told you the story of me getting kidnapped. They were Team Rocket grunts who were asked to search for me from Giovanni's request, and I recently found out he wanted to adopt me" I crossed my arms, continuing.

"The nerve... I had learned he had a son... and that had sparked the trigger" I didn't look at Silver, too hurt to say the truth "I learned who that baby in the picture was... The son she birth during the time she was gone" I looked at Silver's pale face and wide eyes.

"I had a feeling from the beginning, but I wasn't very sure. My moms side of the family are known to care for eggs, and it was why I gave you mine" it was hard looking at him in the eyes "Pieces and pieces were put together... I'm sorry you had to find out that way" he walked backwards for a few steps before sending out his Pokémon "What are you doing-?" I paused when seeing tears falling on his cheeks like a river.

I didn't question it any further and decided to play along with what he wanted to do to express the anger he wanted to let out.

He screamed and groaned very loudly through the battle, getting out of control and losing very quickly when he couldn't let out another attack through his sobs. He dropped to his knees and cried to the floor, pounding on the ground with his fist over and over again.

"I can't believe this... I don't know what I'm more overwhelmed about. The fact that I can't win after I gave it all I got... or that we're actually siblings!"

"Half... Siblings" I dared to correct "Why are you taking this so hard?" I was a bit uncomfortable.

"I spend all my life not knowing I had a sibling! How can I not take it hard!? I knew nothing about my mom. I was always neglected by my dad and the other guys that worked for him. I always wondered what would it be like if she stayed" he stood up and looked at me glancing away "She left to get back to her real family. She didn't care about me. I don't know why I bother remembering that woman. I had thought I forgot about her after my dad told me she died years ago, when he was leaving me and I became homeless four years ago. If it wasn't for seeing you, I would had still forgotten" he looked at the picture "You do look so much like her... I wish I can throw away this picture and forget her again, but I can't. Why is it so hard to forget the woman who never wanted me?"

"My family takes pride in the life we bring to this world. Even if it was... rape." I bit my lips "or accidental pregnancy. The Zoe women love their children more than anything" I rubbed my arm "We will never reject an unborn life that was given to us. Even you couldn't lie about throwing away Sneasel's egg" I glanced back at him "Did you even look at the back of that picture?"

Silver had looked at the back and lowered his head to hide his face with his hair "Your anger gets the better of you. You mistreat your Pokémon and get angry at the little things. You refuse to open your heart because treating people and Pokémon kindly is a sign of the weak, but you never got the chance to see true kindness and what it can do" I brought him into my arms "You couldn't experience it because of being abandoned. You're not alone here, Silver. I don't want to compare myself to you, but we both struggled in our life after our parents left our lives. We have each other now..." I removed myself and turned around when he didn't return my hug this time. I don't blame him "It's a lot to take in... I know. I just want you to know that you're not alone, and I'll be more than willing to hold your hand and show you the right way to a better path" I walked away from him "But it seems you still have to find your own way before you can take my hand. It's fine... I can wait" I smiled to myself "I'm not hard to find. See you, little brother"

He didn't run after me, but I expected him not to. He is still young and still needs to adjust to everything. There's enough time to do that. I just hope he doesn't abandon me and try to find his way in the dark.

I exit the Victory Road tunnel and was met with a large castle that was covered in stained glass of five different Pokémon elements; Psychic, Poison, Fighting, Dark, and Dragon. It was surrounded by beautiful flowers and they were bloomed much more beautiful than any flower I had ever seen since Ho-Oh cleared the skies.

"This is the Indigo plateau" I said, looking at the large castle "I wonder if Lance is with my aunt right now" I said to myself and looked at Pichu and Zorua running towards the field of flowers "What did I say about running off?" They came back to my side, scared to get in trouble.

I took out my long ticket that the guard from the reception area had given me, looking at every individual piece that could be easily ripped off 5 times. Every piece had a specific date to them, giving me the appointment time and day I can challenge each Elite Four member and Champion. My earliest appointment was with a Elite four member named Will, and that's tomorrow.

"Who knew there was appointment times for each member, but what do I know about the Pokémon league?" I entered the building while staring at my ticket "I have to challenge Will, Koga, Bruno, and Karen... then Lance" I tapped my chin and looked around the mall looking building.

"I'm really doing this... Taking on the Pokémon league? This wasn't even a goal of mine" I looked at my Pokémon "but the farther I go, the more I'll be ready to get to the place I need to be. I'm almost there..." suddenly thinking about everything I've been through all at once, I got weak in the knees, dropping to them to the floor "W-Weird..." I looked at my shaking hands, trying to laugh off my nerves "Did I get nervous all of a sudden?"

With every little thing I've done that lead me here today, I got overwhelmed at the pressure that was finally weighting me down after ignoring it for so long. I'm so close... yet for some reason I felt like if I fail now, I'll lose my opportunity.

"I'll be fine... I'll be fine" I took a deep breath and looked at my Pokémon comforting me. I smiled and pet their heads "I'm fine now, thanks"

"Looks like those weeks of therapy didn't do much for you, did it?" I looked up at someone standing in front of me. She handed me a hand. When I took it, I had looked up higher and looked in the eyes of the girl who's been there for me since she first laid eyes on me.

"Sabrina?"