A Not-so-Gold-Plated History!

Can't I Have an Ordinary Birthday for Once?

(A/N: Green is the boy, Blue is the girl.)

DISCLAIMER: Luna doesn't own Pokemon or the characters mentioned except Gold's mom, dad, and Star!

Gold yawned as we woke up. At first, he was confused why he was in his bed, not the couch, when he remembered - his birthday was today! And, oh, yeah, because of that Crystal had made him actually go to bed instead of watching TV until he fell asleep.

Gold tossed on his hoodie, goggles, and cap and made his way down the stairs, a Chansey handing him his billiard cue as he passed it. He was pretty sure something bad was going to happen today, since Dexholders almost never got a peaceful day. By now, Gold was off the stairs and walking into the living room. He saw his mom sitting on the couch, sadly staring at a picture in her hand.

"Mom?" Gold asked. "Are you okay?"

Gold's mom, Cora, looked up. Gold could see that something was troubling her - and then he cast his eyes down as he looked at the picture in his mother's hand... and nearly gasped.

The picture was faded, with no frame to protect it. It was just a piece of laminated paper with a photo... but...

It has three people - a woman, a man, and a little boy. Gold recognized the boy as himself, and the woman as his mom. But then who was the man?

"Mom?" Gold asked hoarsely. "Is that man my..."

"Father?" Gold's mom looked Gold in the eye as he sat down beside her. "Yes, he is."

Suddenly, Gold felt as if he was a little boy again, a boy who wanted to know the answers to everything. The way he was before his whole life changed.

"What happened to him?" He asked. "Why... did he leave?" Gold's voice choked on the emotion.

"Gold, oh Gold," his mom sighed. "Okay, I'll tell you... everything... from the very beginning."

"You see, your father was a good man at first. But, for some reason, he thought having you and I w-wasn't enough! Around the time you were born, he started dating this woman named S-Star and g-gambling... a-a-almost 24/7. When you were 3, I told him t-to leave... so you wouldn't have to grow up knowing how bad your father was. After that, I-I... I don't know exactly what happened... b-but h-he went to live with Star a-and I th-think th-they have a d-d-daughter... a-and Gold?"

"Yes?" Gold looked into his mother's eyes. She was crying now, almost engulfed in the negative memories.

"I-I know this is your birthday... but Gold, can you try to find out what happened to him? I know I shouldn't care... but I really want to to know what happened. Please, Gold!"

"Yeah," I patted her reassuringly. "I'll do that. You can count on me!"

~~~TIME SKIP~~~

Ding-Dong! Gold opened the door, wondering what was on the other side.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Multiple voices burst out. Gold jumped, looking to see who was there.

Crystal. Silver. Blue. Green. Red. Yellow. Ruby. Sapphire. Platinum. Diamond. Pearl. Black. White. Whitley. Blake. X. And Y.

"Aw, thanks guys!" Gold grinned. 

"Crystal stepped ahead of the group, holding a cake. It was, of course, Gold's favorite flavor - chocolate - with gold lettering spelling out "Happy Birthday, Gold!", in what looked like Crystal's handwriting. 

"Well, come in!" Gold herded all the Dexholders into the kitchen, where Crystal gently placed the cake on the table. Then, the group sang 'Happy Birthday' and gave Gold his presents while Yellow cut the cake and Platinum handed out the slices.

While eating his cake, the group watched Gold open his presents. Since Silver and Red were closest to him (seating position-wise), Gold opened their gifts first, starting with Red's. His gift was one of those "Trainer's Ultimate Poke Ball Pack!" things you saw in the Poke Mart that Gold didn't wanna blow his money on instead of more gambling and food. He tore the box open wondering what was inside even though he could've just looked at the back where the contents were listed.

"5...6...8...10 Poke Balls...mm...12 Great Balls...6 Ultra Balls, 2 Heal Balls...Sweet!" Gold snapped the lid closed and continued opening his gifts. 

After all the gift-opening and cake-eating, Gold decided to tell his friends about his mom's request.

"Uh, guys?" Gold looked at all his fellow Pokedex holders. "I hate to make this peaceful day a bad day as much as you do, but my mom...er...wants me to search for my dad and figure out what happened to him."

"And you need our help?" Silver guessed.

"Yeah," Gold nodded. "now, this is harder then it seems. We have no idea where he could've gone and what clues we have except that he went to live with this woman named Star and they probably have a daughter. Also-HEY MOM!" he shouted the last part toward the living room.

"Yes?" She called back.

"What's my dad's name?"

"Maddox."

"Well!" Gold turned back to his friends. "We're going to search for a guy named Maddox who went to live with a woman named Star who might or might not have a daughter. You in?"

"Of course," Platinum smiled.

"Mm-hm!" Diamond agreed, donut in mouth.

"Yeah!" Pearl grinned.

"Uh... sure!" White nodded.

"OH YEAH!" Black yelled, startling a lot of people, not including White, Whitley, and Blake, who also agreed after the noise was gone.

"Sure," Green supplied.

"Aw, of course!" Blue winked.

"Sounds good ! I'll help!" Red patted Yellow. "You will too, right?"

"Wha-oh! Yes!" Yellow nodded.

"I will help," Ruby said.

"Me too," Emerald pointed to Hoopa. "and we can go places faster with this guy,"

"Hoopa!" Hoopa agreed.

"Ah sure, I'll come since you guy are comin'," Sapphire said.

"Sure," Y nudged X. "You're coming!"

"Mrmf," X mumbled.

"Okay! Mom, we're heading out!" Gold called.

"Already?" White wondered. "Shouldn't we plan things out a little?"

"Whadda ya mean? We've got an Police Officer, 2 thieves-"

Blake glared at Blue and Silver, who returned the favor,

"-All our good skills, our Pokedexes, and our Pokemon! So we're off!" With that Gold jumped out and into the street on his skateboard, the others following on a Pokemon or running on foot.

"Try Goldenrod City first to see what people knooowwwww.........." Gold's mom's voice trailed off as the giant group sped off.

And just like that, a new adventure began!