Twin Heroes - 1

“Despite now being known as a place where differing ideals and cultures mix together in harmony, Unova has a long history of internal conflict going all the way back to its beginnings.

“It’s important to note that Unova’s first recorded rulers were the twin kings, known best as the heroes that brought the region together by saving it from impending war. However, it would seem that they set a tradition, as many of the region’s future conflicts would follow the same pattern as theirs’ had.

“The twin kings were the first to unite the people of what is now Unova under a single banner. With the assistance of a dragon pokemon - the identity of which remains uncertain - they lead the attacks against invading forces hoping to take the land. When the war was over, they were soon accepted as leaders of the newly formed region, both kings possessing equal power. For ten years of their rule Unova prospered and began to grow.

“However, both brothers believed the other was unjust; the younger became aware of inequalities within their kingdom and confronted his twin about it. The elder, however, saw that their kingdom was still young and, at the time, would not be able to handle the changes being proposed. This difference in ideals eventually began to drive the twin kings further apart until it was clear to the elder of the two they could no longer rule together. Believing it was in the kingdom’s best interest, the younger king’s power was slowly lost to his twin until he was left with none.

“Unova’s first civil war was ignited when the younger brother and the citizens whose equality he had advocated for tried to take a portion of the region for a second kingdom where he might rule as he saw fit. This, of course, would have created two kingdoms that were both far weaker than the original and likely to fall. Fighting was said to have first broken out when the brothers’ dragon parter, considered to be the final remaining symbol of the kings’ unity, split itself into Reshiram and Zekrom, one to each side with either brother. Both kings mistook this as a result of the actions of the other, and - White, are you even paying attention?”

Cheren looked up from the textbook to find the brunette was out cold, using her own books as a pillow. Her hair had fallen in a knotted mess in front of her face, making her look more like a piloswine than a person at first glance. He scowled. When White had accepted his offer to help her study, he’d at least expected her to pay attention. Of course, he wasn’t like he could say he was surprised. To her, ‘studying’ meant copying all of his answers.

He slammed the book shut with a sigh, effectively jolting his friend from her nap. Her immediate reaction, once she was conscious enough to realize what had woken her, was to shoot him a long glare. He brushed it off with an unapologetic shrug - it wasn’t like it was his fault that she was being lazy. They both sat silently for a few minutes, White sending a cold stare his way. After a little while, it became clear to Cheren they’d continue sitting around like this if he didn’t speak up.

“Alright, tell me: do you realize if you don’t catch up on the schoolwork you missed while we were all traveling you’ll end up pretty much screwed over.”

“That’s we,” White was quick to correct him, though she seemed less than enthusiastic. She spent most of the time pulling back strands of hair that had strayed into her face while she was napping, “because you and Bianca missed just as much, so it’s not just me.”

“Except we’ve had three months already, so Bianca and I have both already caught up,” Cheren couldn’t help the exasperation that made its way into his voice, “and you, on the other hand, haven’t done a thing.”

White flopped back in her chair, tipping it onto its back legs. It seemed like she was trying to be obvious about rolling her eyes at him. She kicked her feet up on the table, using it to rock herself back and forth in her seat. It took her a moment to come up with something to say in retaliation, and Cheren couldn’t tell if it was because she was still half asleep or if he’d actually managed to get his point across. (Evidently, he hadn’t.)

“Alright, but you’re forgetting I am the champion now, so I don’t see why I have to do this.” She sounded almost too nonchalant about it. Did she even care? “As long as I keep the title I’m pretty much set for life, right? I just need to get appointed officially, and I’m sure most of the league knows I could handle it. It’s simple.”

Several things went through Cheren’s mind, most of them insults. How he’d been friends with her for so long was completely beyond him. If anything had changed between the two of them since they were kids, not counting their age, it was how used to her thickheadedness he’d gotten. And even then, sometimes he was still amazed by how hard it was to even try and make sense of her logic. He straightened up the books on the table between them - as well as pushing her feet back off the edge - while working out a reply. He hoped he could make her realize she was being too stubborn, at least just this once. Really, all he was trying to do was help and, as usual, she definitely did not care.

“Well, to start, hinging everything on whether or not you keep your title is really stupid,” cue White rolling her eyes at him once again. He disregarded it and went on, “Then, of course, the champion position and title are two different things. You just have the title right now, which you know doesn’t make money other than championship winnings,” he ignored her mumbles of ‘yeah, I know’ as well, “and whether or not you actually get the position is decided by the league, and because of the responsibility demanded by the title, and the influence it would give a person - that is, you - over the league - even if you do know most of the gym leaders pretty well - it’s typically accepted that finishing high school is a standard requirement for-”

“Alright, shut up!” White groaned, throwing her head back it frustration. Cheren fell silent. He crossed his arms on the table and leaned forward, realizing there was no way she’d let him get a word in until she was finished. Unsurprisingly, she was quick to pick it back up, “If I wanted a fucking lecture I would’ve asked, but I didn’t. I knew most of that already - do you think I’m an idiot or something? Next time just tell me about the requirement, that’s all I needed!”

“So, you’ll actually put effort into studying?”

White’s first response sounded something like ‘smug asshole’, followed by a sigh. For a minute, Cheren was sure he’d only accomplished in taking them three steps backward in the conversation. She stopped leaning back in her seat, setting her chair back on all four legs and propping her head up on the table. Pieces of hair fell astray again, though she didn’t seem to give it any mind. Her second response, once she’d calmed down a bit, was at least less irritable than the first.

“If I do have to learn this shit, do you think you could at least make it less boring? Even going to the museum would be better than listening to you read straight out of the fucking book for hours. I don’t think I can remember a word you said.”

The fact you were sleeping probably had something to do with it. Cheren bit the retort back, knowing it would only be counterproductive at this point. (That, and it would be pretty immature to bring back up.) At least now they were getting somewhere, and he did have to admit that she was making a good point. Even he had been getting sick of the study session before he’d noticed she was out cold. Doing something different seemed like a fantastic idea right about now; he actually found himself a little more relaxed in just thinking about it.

“I have to go all the way to Nacrene with you? What a bother,” while he tried to keep a straight face, White’s smirk was making it difficult. Even if she could be a pain in the ass (especially more often than Cheren would like, he might add), they had been friends for so long it was hard for him to be too mad with her for much time. And, to be fair, it wasn’t like she ever did anything much worse than just getting on his nerves. “I just hope you know I’ll leave you behind if you fall asleep again.”

“Can’t say that doesn’t sound fair. Meet up there tomorrow morning?”

“It depends, I don’t know if I can trust you not to sleep in all day.” He caught White trying to hold back a snort; they both knew that was the truth. “But it seems like a good idea, if you ask me, so it sounds like a plan.”