Fallarbor Town had a quiet charm that snuck up on you.
To Steven, it was the kind of place where you could breathe. The crisp air, the soft sway of ash falling from Mount Chimney in the distance, and the way wild Numel wandered near the outskirts made it feel more like a sanctuary than a stopover.
To Joseph, it was just another resting point—a brief lull before the storm inevitably circled back.
Eevee sat perched beside him on a low stone fence, her ears perked, listening to the wind. Her silver fur glistened faintly in the dawn light, reflecting the sunrise's sleepy orange hue.
"She's restless," Joseph muttered.
Steven stood behind him, adjusting his coat. "She's a reflection of you."
Joseph turned to grin. "And you're sounding more like Father every day."
Steven smirked. "If I were him, I'd be asking you why you're not in a boardroom instead of standing on rocks with a shiny Eevee and a backpack full of berries."
"I was in a boardroom," Joseph said, stretching. "I just hated it."
Steven chuckled. "Yeah. I remember."
By mid-morning, they'd finished packing up supplies and were ready to begin their journey to Lavaridge Town. Professor Cozmo had safely made his way back to Rustboro, sending a brief message of thanks and a rather generous donation of Evolution Stones to the Stone family collection.
Not that Joseph needed them—his inventory was already stocked with everything from Thunder Stones to rare Heart Scales from back when he'd grinded the Trainer Tower in FireRed for fun.
Steven, however, had questions.
"So," he asked as they left Fallarbor behind, walking the forested trail toward the base of Mount Chimney, "you knew those grunts were going to be in Meteor Falls. How?"
Joseph considered the question for a long moment before responding. "I didn't know for certain. I just had a feeling."
Steven gave him a sidelong glance. "That's not the first time you've said that."
Joseph didn't respond.
Eevee leapt into his arms as they reached a fork in the trail.
"We'll take the cable car up Mount Chimney," Joseph said.
Steven hesitated. "You sure? We could take the Jagged Pass route—get some training in."
Joseph looked at him. "And let you trip on gravel and get ambushed by Machop while I pretend not to laugh?"
Steven rolled his eyes. "Fine. Cable car it is."
The car ride up was calm, aside from Eevee eagerly pressing her nose to the glass, tail twitching. The volcano loomed above them, silent and massive, its belly slumbering for now.
Joseph's thoughts were far away.
In his head, he was sorting through his PC box.
Not the one here in Hoenn—his Emerald box. He'd already organized his Level 100 team with proper held items. Leftovers on his Blissey, Focus Band on his Flygon, Scope Lens on his Absol.
But it was his FireRed box that was calling to him.
The next arc—if the anime's pattern held true—would take him closer to Kanto soon. Maybe not right away, but the signs were already falling into place.
And he had plans for that region.
He would be ready.
Lavaridge Town greeted them with hot springs, the scent of herbs, and elderly ladies who insisted Joseph take free towels and spa coupons.
Steven was a little embarrassed. Joseph, as usual, took it in stride.
The real draw of Lavaridge was the Gym—and although Joseph had no desire to officially challenge it, Steven was already preparing.
They sat in the hotel lounge that night, Eevee snoozing beside a tea cup, as Steven read through battle reports and trainer strategies.
"Flannery's been on a hot streak lately," he said. "Her Torkoal is no joke."
Joseph leaned back in the couch, tossing a Lum Berry into the air and catching it. "Don't overthink it."
"I'm not."
"You are."
Steven sighed. "She's using Overheat to bait switches. Most of her opponents underestimate her coverage."
"Then don't switch. Tank it. Win. Simple."
"You make it sound easy."
Joseph glanced at him. "It is easy. For you, anyway."
Steven looked away at that, as though embarrassed. "Still. I don't want to let you down."
Joseph froze mid-sip of tea.
Then, quietly, he said, "Steven."
His little brother met his gaze.
"You couldn't let me down even if you tried."
The next morning, the Lavaridge Gym was alive with energy. Crowds gathered outside, Flannery's reputation as a fiery rookie Gym Leader drawing interest from locals and travelers alike.
Joseph leaned against a tree outside, Eevee perched lazily on his shoulder, tail flicking.
Inside, Steven was battling.
And Joseph was smiling.
Because while he'd always had the strength to crush Gym Leaders, what he truly cared about was watching his little brother grow into the kind of man the world would admire.
Steven won the match, though it wasn't flawless. He fumbled once—nearly lost his Skarmory to a sneaky Will-O-Wisp—but pulled through with a strong final strike from his Aggron.
Afterward, they met by the hot springs again, the Gym Badge gleaming in Steven's hand.
"You watched?"
"Of course," Joseph said. "I even cheered a little."
Steven snorted. "Sure you did."
Joseph's expression turned serious. "You're improving. Faster than I expected."
Steven looked up, uncertain.
Joseph's next words came with weight.
"When the time comes, you'll be the one who carries the Stone name. Not just as Champion, or League Advisor, or whatever title they throw at you. But as the one people trust."
Steven blinked. "And what about you?"
Joseph smiled faintly. "I'll be the one who fixes what no one else can. The quiet one. The shadow."
Steven's reply was soft. "You've always been that."
They sat in silence for a while, the heat from the springs mixing with the rising mountain breeze.
That night, Joseph took out his PokéNav, eyes narrowing as a bulletin caught his attention.
A storm had appeared off the coast. Sudden, fast-moving. Unnatural.
His fingers moved quickly, pulling up weather patterns, radar images.
And then he saw it.
A strange energy signature. Serpentine. Moving with the storm.
He didn't say a word to Steven. Just patted Eevee gently and walked toward the cliff's edge, letting the wind whip through his coat.
Above the clouds, for just a second, he saw the shape.
His Rayquaza.
Watching.
Waiting.
And then it vanished again.
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