After healing up our Pokémon, the six of us began our journey to Viridian City.

"The only way to Viridian City is through Viridian Forest," Georgia explained, "It's a large forest crawlin' with Bug-types and some Flyin'-types, too. Hope you're not too skittish 'round 'em."

"We'll be fine," Kat said, "We did a Bug Catching Contest in Johto."

After agreeing with the brunette, I turned to Caps to see him staring at the sky.

"Caps," I began, tapping his shoulder, "You okay?"

The self-proclaimed Champion didn't answer. I glanced at Caps's eyes to see the once sterling silver eyes were a shade of vibrant royal purple; they resembled that of a galaxy.

I've never seen eyes like that before.

"Caps," I said, snapping beside his ear, "You in there?"

The green-haired trainer blinked in surprise and turned to me. His galaxy-like eyes had changed back to silver.

"Sorry, darling; I guess I was spacing out," Caps said sheepishly.

"No kidding," I said, "Your eyes were like a galaxy."

"Yeah, that tends to happen when I space out... and when I'm looking forward to the future."

I reeled back in surprise.

"You can see into the future?" I questioned, "That's new."

"To you, anyway," Caps said casually, "However, what I saw wasn't good."

My face shifted from surprise to concern.

"What was it?" I asked.

"A run-in with an old... acquaintance of mine." Caps answered with an edgy look.

The Clefairy on his shoulder let out a cry before nuzzling her cheek against his.

An old acquaintance of his? How he puts it sounds like he and his acquaintance aren't on good terms.

"We aren't, darling," Caps replied, "Dare I say, he's an old rival of mine."

A rival? I wouldn't think he would even have one, considering his power in Pokémon battles and his psychic abilities.

"What's this about a rival?" Kat asked, looking back at us.

When Kat asked this, the others turned to us.

"Caps has reason to believe we may run into someone... unpleasant." I said.

"What? How do you know that?" Nina asked, "And who is it?"

"It's not Team Xenon again, is it?" Eric asked in an annoyed tone.

"No, it's not Team Xenon," Caps answered, "And I know this because I can look into the future, but it only happens when I'm spacing out."

Caps softly groaned and placed a hand on his head.

"The aftermath of such is an unforgiving headache," Caps said, "But this old acquaintance of mine, he was surrounded by a lot of... vegetation?"

"Vegetation?" Georgia parroted, "That must be Viridian Forest, I reckon."

"Do you know when they'll show up?" I asked.

"No, I don't..."

Caps sighed as he ran a hand through his green bangs.

"How annoying..." he sighed.

A look of concern was painted on my face. As we continued down the trail, dark green trees bowed over the path, leading into a dimly lit forest.

"This is Viridian Forest," Georgia said, "This forest is crawlin' with Bug-types, and people are known to get lost here."

"Do you know the quickest route through the forest, young cowgirl?" Caps asked, "I would greatly appreciate it if we get to the next city as soon as possible."

He must really not want to run into this acquaintance of his.

"Sorry, partner, but there ain't no quickest way through this forest," Georgia said, "We'd be lucky enough if we don't chase our tails walkin' through here."

Caps placed his hands on hips and sighed.

"Splendid..." he muttered.

"C'mon, y'all," Georgia said, walking ahead, "The quicker we get through this forest, the quicker we get to Viridian City."

Nodding to the cowgirl, we entered the forest and marveled at the towering trees. Through the thick canopy, the afternoon sun shimmered, leaving spotlights around the forest path.

"It's beautiful here!" Nina exclaimed.

"I'll say." Kat said.

Libby let out a cry before hopping off my shoulder and sprinting toward a pocket of light. She happily cried as she twirled around in the sun. Angel smiled and happily cried as she joined pre-evolution in the sun.

"Well, aren't those two adorable." Caps said with a smile.

"Angel and Libby are inseparable," Kat said, "When those two battle together, they're a force to be reckoned with."

"Now that I can confirm." Georgia said.

I chuckled as I watched the two Pokémon dance in the sun's spotlight. As we continued to walk, I admired the small Weedle and Caterpie scurrying across the ground and the Pidgey, Metapod, and Kakuna in the trees.

This is a Bug-type Pokémon's paradise.

When Libby returned to my shoulder, she let out a cry and smiled.

"Your fur's all warm now from being in the sun that whole time." I chuckled, stroking my partner's head.

I grinned before looking back at Caps to see his face full of concern. My grin faded as I reduced my speed to walk beside him.

"Are you okay, Caps?" I asked.

The self-proclaimed Champion glanced at me and sighed.

"I wish I were," he said, "What I saw, I know it is inevitable; I just don't know when he's going to show up."

I couldn't help the frown that appeared on my face. His Clefairy let out a cry and nuzzled her cheek against his, earning a small smile.

"Thank you, darling." Caps said.

"Nice to know you found people who care about you, Cappy." said a stray voice.

We all stopped and looked around.

"I'm not the only one who heard that, right?" Eric said.

"I think we all heard that," I said, "Who even was that?"

I turned to Caps to see his eyes shift from silver to purple. He sighed before walking in front of us into a pocket of light.

"Show yourself!" Caps called out, his voice echoing throughout the forest.

"No need to yell, Cappy," said the stray voice, "I read your mind the first time."

Then, a suave-looking man stepped into the light from a dark patch in the forest. His skin was fair, with silver eyes and green hair, but his features were more refined. He wore a suit similar to Caps's, but his suit was dark blue with orange and black accents.

He looks like an older Caps.

On the man's shoulder was a little dark purple and red fox that looked like a mini Zoroark. I pulled out my Pokédex and scanned the Pokémon.

"Zorua, the Tricky Fox Pokémon. To protect themselves from danger, they hide their true identities by transforming into people and Pokémon."

Zorua, huh? It must be the pre-evolution to Zoroark, then.

"That it is, my blue-headed friend." said the man.

My eyes widened at what the man said.

"You can read my thoughts?" I asked.

"But of course," he said, "Cappy, won't you be a dear and introduce me to your lovely little friends?"

The self-proclaimed Champion sighed before turning to us.

"Everyone, this is Roderick," Caps began, "My older brother..."

Our eyes widened.

"Your older brother?" Eric parroted.

"You never told us you had an older brother," Nina said, "Let alone a brother at all."

"He never does," Roderick chuckled, "He's that envious of me."

"Envious? Of what?" I asked.

When Roderick glanced at Caps, he smirked, causing Caps to look away and scowl.

"He's envious that I have a better understanding of my powers than him, and he's upset that I won't help him," Roderick said.

"Why don't you?" Georgia asked.

"Where's the fun in that? I love watching my baby brother try to grasp his powers. I will admit that he does have a good understanding of the basics of his powers, but he is nowhere near my level of expertise."

He's undoubtedly confident like Caps.

Caps sighed before turning to his brother.

"Alright, fine, you've made fun of me. Happy?" Caps impatiently asked, "If you're done humiliating me, we'll be on our way to Viridian City."

"Oh, I am never done making fun of you, Cappy," Roderick said, "And if you want the way out of this forest, I can guide you. I know the quickest way out of this forest."

"Didn't you say there was no quickest way out of this forest?" I whispered to Georgia.

The young cowgirl nodded.

"I'm just as lost as you, blue hair." Georgia said.

"No, thanks, Roderick. We're doing just fine on our own." Caps said.

When Caps walked past his brother, Roderick sighed and gripped the back of Caps's collar, bringing the self-proclaimed Champion to a halt.

"Now, now. That's no way to treat your big brother," Roderick said, glancing at us, "I insist. Please, allow me to lead you out of this forest and into the city. I would love to get to know you all better."

"Knowing you, you've probably read our minds and already figured out who we are." Nina said, crossing her arms.

Roderick laughed as he continued to hold Caps in place.

"You certainly are quick-minded, dear Nina," he said, "Apologies, I can't help myself sometimes when I meet new faces; I simply must pry into their minds just to see what I'm getting myself into."

You know, you could just ask...

"But where's the fun in that?" Roderick asked, finally releasing Caps, "Come along, then. Onward to Viridian City!"

The older man grinned before walking ahead. I frowned before approaching Caps to see him looking embarrassed and deflated.

I've never seen him look like this before.

"You okay, Caps?" I asked.

The self-proclaimed Champion glanced at me and sighed.

"I'll be fine," Caps said, straightening his collar, "My brother has that effect on me. Come on, before he starts invading your minds again."

The self-proclaimed Champion straightened his posture before following his brother with a defeated look.

"This Roderick character is rather mean, especially towards his younger brother." Nina said, starting to walk.

"Glad we're all in agreement about that," I said, "Yeah, sure, Caps can be like that, too, but his words never hold any malice. Roderick's words, on the other hand..."

The others nodded silently. I glanced ahead at Caps to his shoulders slumped, and his head slightly bowed.

This isn't the Caps I've come to know. Roderick just swooped in, took him away, and replaced him with this deflated person before me.

As we walked through the forest, Roderick looked back at us with a smile before reducing his speed to walk at our pace.

"So, how did you kids meet my darling baby brother?" Roderick asked, "I'm genuinely curious."

"Well, we met Caps in Ezonia when he was battling a trainer," Eric said, "He and his Pokémon are incredible in battle."

"He's also very strategic." Nina said with a smile.

"That's all well and true, but he has yet to prove it to me." Roderick said.

Rude much?

I glanced back at Caps to see him avert his brother's gaze.

"Well, he's certainly proven his strength many times," I said, "Both in battles and using his psychic abilities. I don't think there's anything left for him to prove."

"Except that he has to prove it to me," Roderick claimed, "He's tried and failed countless times but has yet to beat me in a Pokémon battle. That's why he left home to get stronger. And I noticed that his little Cleffa finally evolved into a Clefairy, so he's off to a decent start."

The Zorua on his shoulder smiled and let out a little laugh. I looked over at Caps to see the young man groan.

His brother sounds more like a bully to me, and Caps is like the pushover, which he is far from.

When we emerged from the forest, the dirt path ahead led to a pastel and silver city.

"That's Viridian City, alright," Georgia commented, "If we head through there and go down the route to the south, we'll reach Pallet Town,"

"Ah, so that's where you guys are going," Roderick said, "Any particular reason?"

"My uncle and cousins got a ranch down there, so I thought I'd take these guys with me to visit 'em."

The older man nodded with a smile as he continued into the city.

I can definitely see the similarities between the two brothers. They're both confident and bold but also quiet. Not only that, they look alike.

When we arrived in the city, trees of a vibrant hue of green were planted throughout the city.

"Wow. It looks like someone plucked trees from the forest and put them here." Kat said.

"Exactly what I was gonna say." I said.

We then started following Georgia to the Pokémon Center. When we arrived at the red and white building, we walked inside and handed Nurse Joy our Pokémon.

"So, Pallet Town," Roderick said suddenly, "Why are you going there anyway?"

Georgia turned to the man with an annoyed look on her face.

"I already told you," she began, "We're goin' 'cause-"

"I wasn't asking you," Roderick said before glancing at Caps, "I was asking him."

Caps looked up in minor shock.

"Me?" Caps questioned.

"Obviously you, Cappy, who else?" Roderick asked, "Why are you heading to a small town like Pallet Town? So you can get stronger and finally prove to me that your gift isn't a burden?"

Something in me snapped, and I stepped in between the two brothers.

"Hey, that's enough," I said, "You have no right to talk to Caps like that; he's your brother, for goodness sake."

Roderick's face darkened as his silver eyes started to boil purple.

"He isn't my brother until he bests me in a battle," Roderick snarled, "And until that day happens, he's nothing but a stranger to me with powers he doesn't even understand."

I felt myself clench my fists and glare daggers at the older man.

He's got a lot of nerve! Why I oughtta-

"Don't," Caps said telepathically, "Leave him to me..."

Caps placed a hand on my shoulder before pushing past me and staring at his brother sternly.

"You want me to prove to you I'm strong enough, strong enough to best you?" Caps questioned.

Roderick quirked a brow with an unamused look.

"Fine then," Caps said, stepping back, "Meet me on the battlefield."

Caps collected his Pokémon and waltzed away from his brother without another word. I glanced back at the others to see them wearing the same concerned and shocked expression.

Why do I have a feeling this is going to get worse before it gets better?