Aurora POV

The Silver Gym stood before me, the tall, majestic walls reaching higher than two Charizards. Memories flooded through my mind, and I closed my eyes. I remembered when I fought Dare, who was called Horn then, and had tried to use a Psychic move on him. I smiled, remembering the look on Dare's face when he wasn't hurt at all.

"I remember this place," a soft voice came from behind me. An Absol padded up and sat down next to me, his sky blue eyes trained on the Gym. "The first gym I ever fought at."

"Yeah," I murmured, turning to Dare. "Remember when Sapphire beat the Torchic here? Not to be rude, but that was kind of funny."

Dare laughed. "Aurora!"

We fell quiet, still smiling, and studied the gym. It looked exactly how we had left it, with its gleaming silver walls polished and shiny. Then Dare said something I was surprised to hear-

"I'm sorry I had to fight you," he murmured.

My purple-pink ears twitched in surprise. I was about to reply when another voice spoke.

"Well, that's what gyms are for."

My mood changed from happy to sour in seconds as a Lucario strode around me and stood next to Dare. She glared at me. "Gyms only exist so Pokemon can fight each other, even if they don't want to."

"Asha," Dare said softly, "now's not the time."

"So when is the time, then?" Asha asked furiously, turning to Dare. "Every time I mention Pokemon rights to any of your new team, you always act like I shouldn't be talking about it. Don't you care? Didn't we agree that these gyms are awful?"

Dare fixed his gaze on Asha. "That was years ago."

Asha opened her mouth like she wanted to say more, but inhaled and walked away, her tail lashing.

"How do you even like her?" I asked once she was gone. "She hates me, Sapphire, and Shadow, and she just always complains."

"She was the first friend I've ever had," Dare whispered.

"Why should the order make any difference?" I exclaimed, irritated. "Just because she was your first friend doesn't mean you have to still hang out with her?"

Dare turned away. "You wouldn't understand."

I fumed. "Oh, okay, then. I obviously just don't understand friendships like you do. My bad."

"Aurora-"

"No. Listen to me for once. I want to know exactly what I don't understand."

Dare stared at me for a second, his eyes wide in surprise. Then he said, "I- I can't explain it."

Furious now, I stood up, lashing my forked tail. "That's exactly what you said when we asked why you wanted to talk to Asha. And look how that ended up? We've got the friendliest Pokemon ever with us now." Without waiting for a reply I stood up and stormed away, wondering where I could be alone. I scanned the area, and finally spotted a shaded tree with long branches.

I padded forward and rested under the tree, exhaling, wishing we hadn't gone out to find Asha after all.

"Aurora," said a voice.

"Can't you see I want to be alone?" I shouted, leaping up to face whoever had bothered me. I immediately regretted it when I saw who it was.

"Gardevoir!" I exclaimed, stepping back. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you."

The Gardevoir who had been an imprisoned Psychic nodded knowingly. "Sometimes I like to be alone too. Would you appreciate it if I left?"

"N-No, I'd like to be with you." I sat back down, resting against the tree. "You're fine."

Gardevoir hovered next to me. "I see you were just fighting with Dare and Asha."

I blushed. "Yeah... They're not being very fair."

"Asha doesn't like me, either," Gardevoir said thoughtfully. "I think it's because I am a stranger to her."

"She can at least be a bit nicer," I grumbled.

"That is true," Gardevoir agreed.

    She paused slightly, blinking. "I do not like the cold very much," she admitted. "I'm afraid going to this Snow Camp will be bad for my health."

    "Too bad we don't have any fire Pokemon with us," I said. "Or an electric type."

    "Hey! Aurora and Gardevoir!"

    I blinked, craning my neck to see a Snivy standing ten or so feet away. Sapphire snorted. "We're leaving. Are you coming or not?"

    We reluctantly stood up and padded to the group. There were seven of us in all; me, Gardevoir, Dare, Sapphire, Shadow, Asha, and Julie. People have us weird looks as we walked by- probably because they thought Julie was our trainer, and having six Pokemon out at a time was a little peculiar.

    "Well," I murmured, "to the Snow Camp."