Pokémon HGSS #32: Ruins of Alph Part 2
Silver emerged from the woods and out into the clearing. He had his usual grumpy look on his face with dark circles under his eyes. His clothes were untidy and his hands were in his pocket.
“Silver? What are you doing here?” Beatrice asked.
“And where have you been?” Jonathan asked.
Silver reached up and brushed some hair out of his face.
“Hello to you both,” He said. “I could ask you two the same question.”
“We’ve been on a very important mission,” Jonathan said.
“Sure,” Silver rolled his eyes. “Always running off on important missions. I swear you trainers are all the same. I’m doing the real work here.”
“How dare you. Jonathan helped save you! You got away from Team Rocket because of him,” Beatrice said.
“That’s definitely one way of putting it. I remember that I helped him take down Team Rocket in Goldenrod and I’m still doing it,” Silver said. “When the International Police swarmed that tower and grabbed the Team Rocket Leaders, the rest of the sniveling rattatas scattered in all directions. I’ve been tracking them down and making them pay.”
“So that’s what you’ve been up to,” Jonathan said. “We’ve run into a few Team Rocket members in Ecruteak. They were chased off by Morty.”
“Thanks for the information,” Silver said.
“So are you chasing Team Rocket through the woods?” Beatrice asked.
“No actually I’m here for them,” Silver pointed to something behind Beatrice and Jonathan.
Beatrice and Jonathan turned around and there were two Pokémon. There was Celebi, the Ilex Forest Guardian that whisked them here. And beside it there was another very similar Pokémon. It looked like Celebi but it was bright pink instead of green.
“Celebi,” Jonathan. “There are two of them.”
“And one’s pink,” Beatrice said.
“Yes, two Celebi live here in Ilex Forest. However, one is very different. It’s a variation of color from the regular Celebi,” Silver explained.
“Like the Gyarados at the Lake of Rage?” Jonathan asked.
“Sort of. That was caused by Team Rocket’s meddling. This is natural. All you have to know is that they are both here and that’s why I’m here,” Silver explained.
“What are you going to do with them?” Jonathan asked as he grabbed one of his Pokéballs.
“Calm down there, Pokémon Trainer,” Silver said. “I’m here to ask them for help.”
“So you’re not going to try to force them to help you by capturing them?” Beatrice asked.
“I don’t know how many times I have to tell you. I’m not Team Rocket. I’m not going to capture these Pokémon,” Silver said.
“You did steal your first Pokémon from Professor Elm’s lab,” Beatrice said.
“That…that was under different circumstances,” Silver said. “I don’t have to explain anything to you. I just need their help. Ok? Now please get out of my way.”
“What do you need help with?” Beatrice asked.
“Maybe we can help you,” Jonathan said.
“That definitely wasn’t my point,” Beatrice added.
“You two are so annoying,” Silver let out a sigh. “Anyway I’m here because not only is Celebi a forest guardian, they are also known for their Psychic powers to travel through time. I need to find someone and I know exactly where they are at a specific time. Celebi can get me there.”
“You’re going to time travel?” Jonathan asked.
“Yeah. Pretty much. These Pokémon will get me there and then that’s it,” Silver said.
“I’m going with you,” Beatrice said.
“No, you’re not,” Silver said with a laugh.
“I thought you didn’t want to help him,” Jonathan said.
“I want to keep an eye on him,” Beatrice said. “I don’t trust him.”
“You’re not coming with me,” Silver said.
“If Bea is going to keep an eye on you, then I have to go too. I have to make sure she’s safe,’ Jonathan said.
“Neither of you are coming with me. You can’t just barge into here and invite yourself to meddle in my business,” Silver said, folding his arms.
“Let me ask you this. Where are you going, is it potentially dangerous?” Jonathan asked.
“I can take care of myself,” Silver said. “I don’t need you.”
“Well too bad. If you are time traveling, you are taking us with you,” Beatrice said.
“Who died and put you in charge?” Silver asked.
“Bea has a way with people and Pokémon,” Jonathan said. “If you want Celebi to help you, it might be good to have her with you.”
Silver let out a sigh.
“I do not want you to go with me or think it’s a good idea. But I honestly have no desire to argue with you both. Just stay out of my way once we get there,” Silver said.
“Where exactly are we going?” Beatrice asked.
“Or should you say whe-” Jonathan started but Silver barged through the two of them and walked over to Celebi.
“Celebi. Guardians of the forest. I ask you for a favor. I must track down someone and to do so I must go to Saffron City. Three years ago. Can you take me there?” Silver asked the Pokémon.
“Saffron City?” Beatrice asked.
“I believe that’s in the Kanto Region,” Jonathan said.
“Celebi!” The two Pokémon nodded and then began to fly around the tree trainers.
“Once we get there, find some place to hide. Don’t do anything stupid,” Silver said.
Celebi began flying around them faster and faster as sparkles of pink and green seemed to be shed from the Pokémon. The colors swirled around them and began to shine brightly. It became so bright the trainers hid their eyes from the light and then suddenly the light was gone.
Looking around them, Jonathan immediately noticed that they no longer stood in Ilex Forest. Now they stood on the city streets in a large city. Large skyscrapers reached up into the sky. The streets were busy with crowds of Pokémon and trainers walking around. This place was much busier than any city in Johto.
“Did we make it?” Beatrice asked.
“Looks like it,” Jonathan said.
“Hmm,” Silver said before he started walking.
“Wait, where are you going?” Beatrice asked.
Silver didn’t respond. He just walked into the crowd, moving with a purpose.
“Guess we should follow him,” Jonathan said and Beatrice nodded.
They both took off after Silver, but he wasn’t slowing down. He weaved in and out of the crowd while Jonathan and Beatrice struggled to get past people.
“Excuse me. Excuse me,” They said as they eventually turned off of a busy street and into a narrow alleyway. Ahead of them, Silver had left the alleyway and now was making his way toward a large skyscraper that sat in the middle of the city.
“That must be where he is going,” Jonathan said.
“Then let’s hurry!” Beatrice grabbed Jonathan’s hand and they started to run.
Jonathan and Beatrice quickly caught up with Silver. He was standing on the sidewalk, standing in front of the large building. A sign above the door flashed, saying Silph Co.
“Hey SIlver -” Jonathan began to ask.
“Quiet,” Silver said, cutting him off. “Look.”
Silver pointed toward two people standing in front of the Silph Co doors. An adult gentleman seemed to be talking to a young teenager with bright red hair.
“Is that you?” Beatrice asked.
“Yes,” Silver said.
“And who’s that?” Jonathan asked.
“Giovanni. The leader of Team Rocket. And…my father,” Silver said, his words trailing off at the end.
Jonathan and Beatrice exchanged a look of bewilderment.
“Now be quiet and you might learn something,” Silver said as he went back to looking at the two of them.
“You…you told me you were number one in the world,” The younger Silver said. “Now you’re just going to quit?”
Giovanni took a moment and then let out a sigh.
“Sometimes in life you must acknowledge your own defeat before you can move on,” He said, his expression stern but also a bit sad. “I am going to go off by myself for a while. Once I am stronger, I will return and build back a stronger organization.”
“You’re nothing but a liar,” Young Silver yelled out. “You claim to be number one, but even with all of Team Rocket fighting for you, you failed. You were defeated by a child.”
“Putting together the potential of many is how you produce a power greater than any individual. That’s what an organization is. That’s what I set out to do when I formed Team Rocket. But in the end I failed to utilize the potential of my organization,” Giovanni said.
Young Silver just shook his head.
“One day you shall witness the revival of me and Team Rocket,” Giovanni said.
“I..I don’t understand you at all,” Young Silver said. “You don’t make any sense.”
“You are too young to understand,” Giovanni said. “But one day you’ll get it.”
“I don’t want to understand you! You’re nothing but a coward! You’re weak. I don’t want to be anything like you!” I will become strong and I’ll do it all by myself!” Young Silver yelled.
He then quickly turned and ran. He ran away from Giovanni and disappeared into the crowd of Saffron City.
“Sir, should I go after him,” One of the Team Rocket members asked.
Giovanni shook his head.
“If that boy wants to run off and prove himself, then that’s his business. We have other things to attend to. We better get out of here before the police arrive,” Giovanni said.
The Team Rocket member nodded and they both approached the glass doors of Silph Co and walked inside.
Jonathan and Beatrice looked over at Silver. He had a stern look on his face and his hands were balled up into fists. He looked like he was on the verge of either yelling or crying.
“Silver…are you…ok?” Beatrice asked.
“That was the last time I saw my father,” Silver said. “He had just been defeated by a Pokémon Trainer named Red. A mere boy had taken him down. And the whole Team Rocket organization fell apart.”
Silver shook his head.
“All he would talk about is how he was the best. How he had the best Pokémon. How Team Rocket was invincible. Then one day it’s all over. He just loses. Then he abandons me and I never see him again.”
“Silver, I’m so sorry,” Jonathan said. “That’s awful.”
“Is that why you hate Team Rocket so much?” Beatrice asked.
“They’re all a bunch of cowards. Cowards that worship an even bigger coward,” Silver said. “They think my father is some savior. Some great leader that would unite Team Rocket. But that night at The Goldenrod Radio Tower. Team Rocket called out to Giovanni. Begged him to come. But that coward didn’t even have the guts to show his face. That’s the real Giovanni.”
“So why do you care about him at all?” Jonathan asked. “Yeah he’s your dad, but he sucks. You don’t need him.”
“I don’t care about him,” Silver said. “That’s not why I came here.”
‘Then why are we here?” Beatrice asked.
“Wherever he is in our time, he’s too much of a weakling to face me. But now I get to go give him a piece of my mind and show him how strong I’ve become,” Silver said.
“Woah, wait, Silver. You can’t just go in there,” Jonathan said. “Won’t you mess up some time travel stuff or whatever?”
“Plus isn’t there some sort of security or something in there?” Beatrice asked.
“I don’t care. I will face him,” Silver said as he started to walk toward the front door of Silph Co.
“Woah, wait! Hold on!” Both Jonathan and Beatrice reached out to grab him.
“Let go of me!” Silver demanded.
“Just listen for one second,” Jonathan said as he struggled to keep hold of Silver.
“Don’t be so stubborn,” Beatrice said.
Again Silver tried to get away from Jonathan and Beatrice, but before he could get a few steps away, there was a bright flash of light.
“Celebi!”
The two Celebi appeared out of nowhere and began to circle around the trainers.
“No Celebi! Stop! I have to do this. I must face my father,” Silver shouted out.
However his pleas fell on deaf ears as the Celebi began to circle around them faster and faster and faster. The green and pink sparkles seemed to surround them and then in a flash they were gone.
Header Photo Credit to Sharona Paradox on Tumblr
https://sharonaparadox.tumblr.com/post/185212623528
All photos of Pokemon and related content used were taken from Bulbapedia
https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Main_Page
Allen The Writer 