Archive of Our Own ^beta

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#1 - Beginnings
They met one sunny afternoon in New Bark Town, just two shy kids laughing as they jumped in piles of leaves, tossing them at each other like old friends, already wishing the day would never end.

#2 - Aspiration
Inspired by the legendary Trainer from Pallet Town, they made a promise to chase greatness together — and from that day on, they called each other Gold and Crystal, a reminder of who they were and who they dreamed of becoming.

#3 - Chaos
They traded sheepish grins while their teacher scolded the entire class — after all, it was their lunchtime scuffle that somehow turned into a full-blown school-wide brawl.

#4 - Mischief
Hand in hand, they wandered through the forest, sharing eerie smiles and laughing in loud, cackling bursts — enough to send shivers down the spines of anyone who happened to pass by.

#5 - Enigma
Though separated and filled with fear and frustration, they held onto hope — both determined to uncover the truth behind the mysterious Pokémon known as Unown.

#6 - Understanding
To everyone else, they were mysteries — but to each other, they were open books, wearing their hearts on their sleeves with ease.

#7 - Kindle
As she fumbled with the knife, he slipped in close behind her with a quiet laugh, their bodies brushing as her breath caught, and with a warm hand over hers, he gently guided the blade—soft, slow, patient—teaching her the rhythm of cooking together, where closeness came easy and love was quietly blooming.

#8 - Emberlight
At the Ecruteak Dance Center, she let out a contented sigh and rested her head on his shoulder, grateful for this rare moment of quiet—just the two of them, enjoying the Kimono Girls’ performance, wrapped in the gentle warmth of something quietly unfolding.

#9 - Lovestricken
In the heart of Goldenrod City, the two of them were impossible to miss—her clinging to his waist like a lifeline, him furiously ringing the bike bell as they tore down the road in a whirlwind of shrieks, laughter, and shouted warnings, the whole wild, electric, slightly unhinged spectacle so hilariously chaotic that it could only have sprung from the unstoppable partnership of those two maniacs hopelessly in love.

#10 - Genesis
From afar, the two eleven-year-olds exchanged bright, knowing grins as they held up their Pokédexes and cherished starter Pokéballs, hearts racing with the thrill of a shared dream just beginning, then tucked their devices into their pockets and dashed toward each other, high-fiving with a spark of something special—something in mid bloom—before racing off in opposite directions, laughter trailing behind them like a promise: that no matter the adventures ahead, they'd meet again soon, stronger, braver, and ready to chase their childhood dream side by side.

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#11 - Pickle
He groaned—she’d been perched on his shoulders for over three hours, stuck between choices, trying to pick the perfect hundred apples from the orchard.

#12 - Parallel
Sometimes, when he looked closely, it was like staring into a mirror—she was the female version of him, from the way she dressed and spoke to the things she did… even down to how life had made them both grow up at the ripe age of eleven years old.

#13 - Nostalgia
At first, the duo couldn’t decide whether to be horrified or amazed when they met Celebi in Ilex Forest—but as they watched themselves meeting their other half for the first time, it was hard not to smile, just a little.

#14 - Resolve
Just outside Bell Tower, Kris sat sideways atop Suicune, legs neatly together, calm but fierce as she flung a Pokéball forward and declared, “We need to find Ethan—now!”

#15 - Pursuit
Far from the Burned Tower, Raikou raced through the landscape with Ethan on its back, wind roaring past as Ethan shouted into the distance, “Where are you, Kris?!

#16 - Linger
They walked side by side through Cerulean Cave, pausing every few steps to take in the shimmering crystals—silent, awed, and quietly content just to be together.

#17 - Night
In their shared room in Celadon City, they lay fast asleep, facing each other, hands unconsciously entwined, their bodies gently pressed close—wrapped in the quiet comfort of simply being near.

#18 - Belonging
She let out a joyous laugh as he spun her around, the two of them waltzing through a ballroom full of others who, like them, had been forced to grow up too soon—both of them happy knowing they’d finally found their people.

#19 - Fracture
Their first real argument was loud, raw, and cutting—him desperate over her reckless need to save everyone, and her furious that he wouldn’t just be like the rest and let her push him away.

#20 - Unraveling
Their first real reconciliation was just as intense—but in silence, sorrow, and softness. He held her close, whispering quiet promises into her ear, while she broke down in his arms, wishing they hadn’t been the ones forced to grow up too soon.

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#21 - Ascension

In another universe, he was known as “The Hatcher” and she as “The Catcher,” but in this life, they were proud to stand together as “The Champion” and “The Downfall of Team Rocket.”

#22 - Snacktastic

In Mahogany Town, inside the former Team Rocket hideout of a cozy Souvenir Shop run by a kind woman, Ethan and Kris—mid-sleepover and fresh from a midnight pantry raid—clinked their Rage Candy Bars with a triumphant, cheerful “Cheers!”

#23 - Pursuit

“Catch me if you can!” Kris taunted with a mischievous grin, dashing headlong into the Ruins of Alph as Ethan growled in frustration, vowing that the wild woman would pay for her sneak attack.

#24 – Conflicted

One fourth of the time he was annoyed, another afraid, another proud—of her wild, impulsive, boisterous, loud, flirty, prideful, snappy, snarky, determined, sarcastic, heroic, powerful aura—with the final part simply forgetting that the aura was only a mask hiding the truth: she was still a scared kid who longed to laugh and play in the autumn leaves with him, just like when they first met.

#25 – Envy

She sometimes wished she had his quiet, thoughtful, intuitive, simple, calm, patient, gentle, yet determined fighter’s spirit—unaware that he only wore it to keep pace with her and to pretend there wasn’t a missing piece in both their hearts.

#26 – Cosmic

In the end, no one besides the two of them could ever truly understand the hearts of all beings in the universe—not just humans, Pokémon, and even Arceus—but more importantly, each other.

#27 - Unspoken

After defeating Falkner, Johto’s first Gym Leader and a master of Flying-types, and training with him for a while, the New Bark Town duo decided to stay in the city a bit longer—Ethan trying to enjoy the sights while quietly wrestling with a growing unease as she spent more time with Falkner, learning how to find and bond with new Pokémon; though Kris reassured Ethan it was all for their Pokédex goal and reminded him, with a closeness that felt both comforting and painfully distant, that he was still her partner and closest friend—so Ethan, though disappointed and jealous, said nothing because he trusted her, while Kris, taking the long route to the Gym, told herself his frown at the Pokémon Center was just concern for their mission, then quietly noted that they were too different to ever be more than childhood friends… even as a faint ache in her chest whispered that maybe, just maybe, she didn’t want that to be true.

#28 - Anchor

Kris had always gone with the flow, battling on instinct and improvisation, but nothing ever worked against Gym Leader Whitney’s Normal-types, and maybe it was because she wasn’t good enough—or maybe because she never let herself pause, rest, or reflect—until Ethan, who understood her better than she did herself, took her hand one day through the Goldenrod tunnel, and as she protested, he gently pointed out that her constant rushing forward without rest or strategy was why she kept losing, and when her eyes dimmed with the weight of that truth, thinking she might as well give up as a Trainer and a fighter against Team Rocket, he grabbed her shoulders, locked her in a soul-deep stare, and reminded her that they were partners—meaning she didn’t have to carry everything alone, and could finally allow herself time to breathe, train smarter, use defense and status moves, and even enjoy the journey and their time together, something she’s never forgotten, now walking beside him toward Pasio as one of the strongest Trainers alive.

#29 - Parallel

It ached to see the Viridian Gym Leader and former Kanto Champion, with Kris after she defeated Red—who, not for the first time, vanished without a word—because in Red she saw pieces of Ethan, both in the best and the most painful ways, silently promising herself she’d never let Ethan’s journey end the same way, nor let her own childhood trauma and forced maturity push her toward the same extreme coping, while Ethan, finishing his battle with Blue and seeing echoes of Kris in his loud voice and carefully hidden emotions, made a quiet vow to carve out a brighter path for both Kris and his new friend—believing that his and Blue’s still-present, if slightly grown-up, childish spirit might just be enough to change the ending this time.

#30 - Hijinks

He giggled—no, snorted—as she snatched the mic like a stage-stealing villainess with glitter in her veins and chaos on her agenda, winking as she announced with dramatic flair, “Ladies and Gentlemen! I’m Kris, a girl who lives to break rules, and Ethan, this partner of mine, the quiet one next to me? Don’t be fooled—he’s packing enough silent chaos to short-circuit a power grid,” which had Ethan smirking just in time for Kris to barrel on, “We’re hosting the radio show today—surprise! Weather’s warm, skies are sunny, and the Kimono Girls’ Festival is next week, so today we’ll be talking about, uh…”—cue the spiraling panic and rapidly darting eyes—until Ethan, the MVP of timing, tapped her shoulder and handed her a magazine like he’d just gifted her the secrets of the universe, and in that instant, with a spark in her eyes that screamed horror for some adult Champion, Kris lit up like a holiday Ampharos and declared, “Let’s talk about Champion Lance—the Famed Dragon-type trainer of Kanto and Johto—and how his team choices are… well, let’s say, suspicious at best!” and she dove in, still bubbly but now sharp as a Honedge, “He’s got three Dragonite—which, okay, commitment—but the rest? Not even Dragon types! We’re talking Flying-Water, Flying-Rock, Flying-Fire—someone please explain how we’re still calling him a Dragon Master when his whole team looks like it is a whole Flying-type group!” and just like that, laughter exploded across the regions, ricocheting all the way from the Paldea region, where trainers reportedly fell out of chairs, while far away at the Kanto Elite Four building, a certain caped Trainer groaned loud enough to rattle his own Champion plaque, probably cursing in every known regional dialect—and Kris, absolutely unbothered, casually added, “Maybe we should just call him the Famed Flying Trainer!” which set off more cheers, howls, and unhinged applause echoing to the Johto Radio Tower, whether from an unnaturally good audience or the two’s own giddy ears was anyone’s guess, but one thing was clear—Lance was absolutely, thoroughly, and creatively cursing the entire existence of these two impossible, but amazingly entertaining trainers, originating from New Bark Town, and their taste in microphones, not that either of the duo cared, at all, though even they had to admit hearing distant groaning and faint, multilingual swearing was kind of impressive, and just then, someone near the tower window shouted, “I like the alliteration in that new title!”—and that’s when Ethan finally cracked, letting out a deep, warm, musical laugh that startled even himself, a sound so good it felt like sunshine, bells, and healing potions rolled into one, making Kris grin wider than the Kanto Cycling Road, because honestly, this ridiculous plan to hijack a radio show and roast a Champion live on air might’ve just been their greatest (and most memorably, chaotic) idea yet.

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#31 - Serenity

Ethan sighed contentedly and rested his head on Kris’s shoulder, where she smiled gently, brushed his hair aside, and, realizing he’d fallen asleep, nestled in beside him—because after sharing Jubilife Muffins and Old Gateaus on a picnic, what better way to spend the afternoon than with a quiet nap together?

#32 - Chosen

Sometimes, it’s the Pokémon who choose their partner—like when both Kris and Eusine encountered Suicune and had to prove their worth; yet while the devoted Eusine stood in awe, disappointment, and confusion as the Aurora Pokémon unexpectedly chose Kris, Ethan just chuckled, unsurprised, sensing that Suicune saw what he had always seen beneath Kris’s flirty, hot-headed, brash, and mischievous nature: a heart of gold, willing to sacrifice everything—even forfeiting her rivalry with Eusine—to help an injured Cleffa heal and reunite with its parents.

#33 - Click

Jasmine, the Steel-type Gym Leader of Olivine City, wasn’t sure if she was more shocked or touched when the two dorky, mischievous kids from New Bark Town—Kris and Ethan, the partners in crime infamous for hijacking the Goldenrod Radio Show and roasting Champion Lance (with Jasmine being one of the ones who laughed in agreement)—responded not with impatience or mockery when told she couldn’t battle due to caring for a sick Ampharos, but with genuine concern, immediately offering to help: Ethan pushed himself to sleepless, caffeine-fueled extremes researching a cure while also tending to Ampharos during Jasmine’s breaks, and Kris stepped up to cover Jasmine’s Gym duties like a fierce, capable pro—and by week’s end, as Jasmine searched for a thank-you gift she knew they’d try to refuse, she found it: Ethan, now sick himself, resting his flushed face reluctantly on Kris’s lap as she sternly spoon-fed him tomato soup, banned caffeine forever, and scolded him for his self-neglect while Ampharos cuddled beside them—so Jasmine just smiled, snapped a photo, and titled it “The Two Dork Partners and Their Pokémon Child.”

#34 - Hope

Late at night in the Pokémon Center, Ethan—sick, flushed, and utterly betrayed by his own immune system—whined, “Why must you do this to me?!” as Kris, after wrestling him into taking his medicine, wrapped him in layers of blankets, tucked him in like a burrito, fed him broths and soft foods he swore would make him explode, scolded him for his sleep-and-meal-deprived state, let all their Pokémon cuddle him, and told childhood stories until he quieted—only to freeze when Kris, pressing a cold compress to his head and stroking his cheek, softly admitted how much she loved seeing him let his guard down, how she admired his strength, his healing nature, his unwavering support, and how—just this once—she wanted to be his sword, to protect him, and to be the one helping him recover, with Ethan turning away in embarrassment, though Kris, determined to break through his barriers like he broke through hers, jumped on top of him on the bed, gently pinned him down, turned his chin to face her, stared into his wide, stunned eyes, and confessed that all she really wanted was him—laughing with her, pranking with her, fighting beside her, and trusting her to hold him close—with their faces less than a millimeter apart, her warm breath brushing over his lips, and Ethan hitching a breath, wondering if they were about to… until Kris, suddenly flustered, leapt off the bed, leaving Ethan breathless and heart racing, unsure if they had almost kissed, as Kris teasingly added that, besides, he was just very adorable like this, causing Ethan to turn the deepest shade of, to Kris’s delight—with her smirk widening—before he ducked under the covers, while she grabbed a book and mused that he was just too cute to share with anyone else, too easy to tease, too precious to let go, and maybe—just maybe—someday, she’d be brave enough to stay right there by his side… for good.

#35 - Unnerving

It was hard to say which was more terrifying—stoic, silent Ethan suddenly breaking down in loud, emotional bursts, or loud-mouthed, hot-headed Kris going completely mute and eerily calm, a rare and chilling shift that only ever happened when someone had seriously hurt the other.

#36 -

“It’s a deal!”, there were two rewards, depending on who won the Pokémon battle, with Ethan declaring she would have to meditate for an hour each day of the week and let him borrow h er mail, when she asked for what he told her to choose her reward not willing to tell her about wanting to read the gossip part of the magazine to find new things to yell, on the phone, at the magazine company for revealing about his private life, not wanting an angry and concerned Kris to get involved, while Kris requests, if she won, to be allowed to tickle Ethan for an hour and voice record it, which intrigued Ethan as Kris, looking too much like Ethan’s female doppelgänger at the moment, gave her own, mysterious smile, simply noting that he had his secrets and she had hers.

#37 - Sound

"Thank you for paying up your loss," teased Kris, delighting in her triumph from the Pokémon battle as she loomed over Ethan, her grin wickedly playful, fingers dancing mercilessly along his ribs and stomach while his laughter—bright as sunlight and melodic as chiming bells—spilled out in helpless peals, which she gleefully recorded as her new ringtone.

#38 — Reflection
That night, with a bittersweet sense of resolve, Ethan—knowing Kris, who for reasons he couldn’t explain looked hauntingly like a mirrored version of himself—was fast asleep, quietly slipped a note onto the table, slipped out the door, rushed into the elevator, and once reaching the bottom floor, darted outside to call upon Pidgeot, burying his face in its warm feathers as they soared into the night sky, the Pokémon Center and Kris shrinking into a distant dream while he tried in vain to fix his thoughts on the mission with Silver to infiltrate Team Rocket, unable to shake just two aching questions: would Kris ever forgive him—and why, at that final moment, did she look so much like him?

#39 — Echo
Paralyzed between a scream and a punch, Kris stared blankly at the note—‘I’m sorry’—as a hurricane of questions tore through her mind, yet only one solid thought took form, beating louder than the rest: ‘Ethan, please be okay!’

#40 - Bloom

Kris couldn’t help but flash back to just a few days ago—when Ethan, flushed with victory and breathless from their final battle against Team Rocket, turned to her with wide, hopeful eyes and confessed, voice trembling but full of fire, “I’ve fallen in love with you for as long as I can remember!”—a moment so raw and earnest it echoed louder than any battle cry, and later, as they wandered through a blooming garden in Goldenrod City before taking on the Johto Elite Four, he paused by a patch of flowers, gaze soft and faraway, then turned to her with a radiant grin and said, “Hey, when this is all over… let’s meet back at New Bark Town. Okay?!”—and Kris, swept up in the whirlwind of it all, still reeling from the quiet, anxious boy she’d grown up with now standing before her as someone brave, grounded, and unshakably sincere, found herself laughing—not a small laugh, but a luminous, full-hearted kind of laugh that fluttered up from her chest like petals on the wind—as she whispered “Yeah!”, and just like at the very start, they traded gleaming grins, high-fived with a spark of something eternal, and ran off in opposite directions, Poké Balls and Pokédexes in hand, their childhood dream now within reach and their hearts already racing toward the moment they’d meet again.