Silver woke up to a gentle smell of food. Rhyhorn was already awake, eating food with the pokemon from before. The boy went over with some food.

"Here." Silver smiled as he took the food and sat up. The boy sat down and studied the redhead as he ate up. "So... what are you doing here?" Silver paused before humming.

"My father was attacked and the region's been taken over. I'm here to get enough power to topple that person behind it." Silver paused as he finished his food. "But I'm already not doing well. Rhyhorn's my father's pokemon and we're already down." The boy smiled as he took his dishes.

"If you want, you can start off fresh." Silver raised an eyebrow. "There's a professor in town that can get you a pokemon. It could give Rhyhorn a rest and you'd have a base." Silver hummed as he continued. "Not only that, but I could join you, give you a rival." He paused as glanced at the boy as he went to put the dish in the sink before going back over.

"Fine. Name's Silver." The boy smiled as his pokemon got back up on his shoulder.

"Ethan."

~

They met at the professor's place as Silver gulped. Rhyhorn purred as they entered and paused.

"Hey Elm!" The professor nodded to him as he glanced over, seeming to scan the redhead. Rhyhorn steadied him as the professor went over.

"Ethan. Good to see you. Morning Cyndaquil." The smaller pokemon gave a whine as it hid its face in its trainer's jacket. They giggled before the professor turned to Silver. "And you are?" The redhead fell silent as Ethan smiled.

"This is Silver. He's looking for a pokemon that'll let Rhyhorn rest and he can shape his team." Elm hummed as he knelt down to the ground type.

"This is an older pokemon. Did a parent have this?" Silver nodded softly.

"My dad's. I took it just to have something while I traveled here to Johto." Elm hummed as Rhyhorn purred.

"Alright... well, since you'll need your own, I do still have two starters left." Elm stood up and went over to the two pokeballs. He sent them out, revealing a grass and a water type. "Totodile and Chikorita. I'll let you take one." Silver hummed at the thought. He then smiled and knelt down to Tototdile.

~

Silver paused as he petted Rhyhorn. He had messaged Leaf, letting her know that he was safe in Johto and had a pokemon so Rhyhorn could return. Ethan joined him as he returned Rhyhorn.

"Ready?" Silver nodded as Totodile gave a cry of confidence.

"Yeah... I'll need a center to send Rhyhorn home. But yeah. I'm ready."