No Way To Live
Gold trudged through the snow as he neared the summit of Mt Silver. He thought back to everything he'd achieved throughout his journey: collecting the 16 gym badges of Kanto and Johto, becoming the Champion, shutting down Team Rocket for good, even facing off against the legendary pokémon Lugia. He'd done it all.
But there was one challenge left, and it was at the top of this mountain.
At first, he'd wondered why Professor Oak was so insistent that he go to Mt Silver, but after talking to Blue after their battle, it was clear.
At the peak, was the legendary trainer Red. The same Red who had become Champion and defeated Team Rocket the first time round. But he had seemingly vanished without a trace.
Gold was shaken from his thoughts when he reached the summit, and he saw what he'd come for. At the end of the bluff that was Mt Silver's peak, was a solitary figure, staring down at the world, like an enigmatic guard.
The sound of Gold's footsteps through the snow alerted Red to his presence. He turned around, hand reaching for a Pokéball.
"Looks like I'm in for a battle." thought Gold, "But first…"
"If you think I want a battle, you're right." said Gold, breaking the silence. "But before we start, why are you up here? What made you settle up here of all places?"
Red seemed surprised by the questions. He looked up, fully showing his face, it looked rugged, and seemed to give the look of a truly powerful opponent. He spoke in a voice that sounded like it hadn't been used in a long time.
"This is the only place for me now. I don't belong down there anymore."
The answer given seemed to confuse Gold, so he probed further.
"But staying on top of a mountain? Is that really how you want to spend your life? As a barely remembered Champion who fled to the peak of the most treacherous mountain in Kanto and Johto? That's no way to live!
"You wouldn't understand what it's like. Having the media stalk you everywhere and having everyone want to take you on because you're the strongest Champion in living memory! This place is perfect for me, there's no one to bother you, and it's perfect for training." Red replied, his unreadable expression never changing.
Gold thought for a moment. He actually had faced the media frenzy when he beat Lance and became Champion. They were… persistent to say the least.
"But what about your mother? Or Professor Oak? Or even Blue? I know that you were rivals." asked Gold.
Red took a minute to reply, he looked like he was remembered what his journey was like. Then he spoke: "Maybe I should have kept in contact, but I won't leave here until I lose. If you're going to be the one to beat me, then you better be ready for the hardest battle you'll ever face." He finished talking, and threw a Pokéball, it opened, and out came a Pikachu.
Gold simply smiled "Let's go." before throwing one of his own Pokéballs, containing a Typhlosion. He was ready to show Red that his life was no way to live.
It was then that probably the most intense battle in history commenced.