Atlas' POV

I didn't believe my eyes. Inferno was running from Fuchsia City at top speed towards us.

"You're alive, yay," Ace shrugged. "You're crying, Ace," Eclipse added. "Hush," he replied.

Inferno did something unexpected. He wrapped his arms around me for a hug.

"Did something in the forest scare you?" I ask. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to act the way I did," he apologized.

From the corner of my eye I saw a flash of grey in the woods nearby. I decided to ignore it.

"You've already beaten Koga, hmm?" Eclipse asked. Inferno nodded and showed us his badge.

"Poison-type gym, no problem for me and Blaze." I turn to his side. He had four Pokéballs attached to his belt.

"You got some new Pokémon?" I ask, pointing. Inferno nods and tosses is three of them.

Out came a Pokémon similar-looking to Ace's Growlithe, a Ponyta and an Eevee.

"Flare, Wildfire and Ignis," Inferno smiled, pointing to the owners of each name.

"Which Pokémon is Flare?" Ace asked. Inferno pointed to the one on the left.

"No, what's the Pokémon's name?" Ace repeated. "Arcanine, just give your Growlithe a fire stone," Inferno explained.

Ace still had one from a while back. Before he could present it to Growlithe, it backed away.

Growlithe growled at the stone as if it were an enemy. "It's Ash and Pikachu all over again," Eclipse mumbled.

"Who?" Everyone asked. "Nothing," Eclipse quickly replied. I gave him my 'you know what' look, yeah it's getting old.

Suddenly, Growlithe leapt towards the stone and started glowing white. When the light disappeared, Growlithe had evolved into an Arcanine.

I pulled out my Pokédex and quickly scanned it. "Arcanine, the legendary Pokémon," it began.

"A Pokémon that has been admired since the past for its beauty. It runs agilely as if on wings."

I pocket my Pokédex and shrug. "It's a fire-type with no immunities, quiet powerful," I say sarcastically.

Suddenly, a Pokémon appears out of nowhere. "Mine!" I exclaim, sending out Beedrill.

It had dark blue skin and a red feather on its head. I pull out my Pokédex, which I had just put away.

Nothing happened. "Unidentifiable Pokémon," the Pokédex stated. "What?!" I exclaim.

I toss a Pokéball anyway. The wild Pokémon escapes the Pokéball and attempted to run.

"Beedrill, string shot!" I call. Beedrill fired a thread towards the Pokémon's leg and dragged it back.

"Poison sting!" Beedrill fires a projectile at the unknown Pokémon as I throw my Pokéball towards it.

Seconds later, it was mine. I decided to go to the Pokémon Centre to see if Joy knew anything.

"Sorry, never seen it before," Nurse Joy frowned.

"Unidentifiable Pokémon?" someone asks. I turn to the voice and see a light-blue haired boy leaning on a wall.

"Lemme see your Pokédex." I hand it over to him and he taps into it with a screwdriver. "Is that safe?" I ask, uneasy.

The boy nods and puts it back together, then clicks a button near the top corner of the screen.

"Voilà," they exclaim. "You're French?" Ace asks. "Non, I just like the language," he replied.

"Say, what's your name?" I ask, turning from him to my Pokédex screen. "Je suis Frostbite," he said.

"I am Frostbite, is what he said," Eclipse added. "Oui, oui," Frostbite muttered.

"Yes, yes," Eclipse translated. "I don't know much but still, I like it," Frostbite smirked, handing me my Pokédex.

"I've added a National Pokédex, now you can identify Pokémon from other regions."

Inferno's eyes widened as he leapt up. "Say, does this Pokémon's name ring a bell?" Inferno asked.

Frostbite turned to him. "Shoot," he ordered. "Marshadow," Inferno muttered.

Frostbite's expression changed. "Is this the only region you've been in?" He asked.

Inferno nods as Frostbite frowns. "Eclipse, you remember me, correct?" He asked, scratching his chin.

Eclipse nods expressionlessly. They both seem to agree on something without words.

"Let me ask you a question...Inferno, was it?" Frostbite began. Inferno nodded, Frostbite continued.

"Does the name Shade sound familiar?"

"He had a Marshadow and a...Mimikyu, I believe?" Inferno answers.

Frostbite's eyes widen. "You beat Shade?" Inferno shakes his head.

"No, I lost, he let me live." Eclipse looked ready to cry. "He's only after me," he muttered.

...

Still confused, we left the Pokémon Centre ignoring the discussion. Ace headed off to beat Koga, and I sent out my new Pokémon.

"Sneasel, the sharp claw Pokémon," my Pokédex started.

     "Its paws conceal sharp claws. If attacked, it suddenly extends the claws and startles its enemy."

     I checked it's attacks and typing. "Dark-Ice?" I mutter. "Dark isn't even a typing."

     "It is in Johto," Frostbite said from behind me. "Where?" I ask. "Next region from here," he answered.

     "It probably traveled from there to here on plane." I turn to Sneasel, realizing that he was like me.

     Ice represented my cold heart and dark was my evil side.

     According to 'Inferno's Super Accurate Dictionary,' or 'ISad,' an Atlas was an evil, cold hearted person.

     Another fact is that an Ace was a type of hammer. Get it, 'cause Inferno is calling him a tool?

     Now Ace is giving me 'the look'. I decide to go train with Sneasel, my cold-hearted companion.

     It apparently steals eggs from nests, so that's pretty dark - Oh god, the puns.

     "Sneasel, use ice shard!" I call. It swiftly shot a price of ice at an Oddish.

     The Oddish attempted to use absorb, but Sneasel dodged and countered with slash.

...

     After a days' worth of training, Inferno had found another fire stone, gotten a Flareon, and trained Wildfire until it evolved into a Rapidash.

     Also, my Pigeotto evolved into a Pidgeot and lots more. Sneasel and I made a combo. You'll have to find out what that is.

     "Ace, it's time to stop," I mutter from the bench. He was giving me the 'you know what' look.

     I fell asleep and awoke to beat Koga the second I woke up.

...

     Eclipse had beaten Koga first, then me, then Ace, then Luna, then Crystal.

     Can I catch my breath now for a few chapters?

     "Ace, STOP!" I yell.