I am alone.
Those three words haunted Red's mind like a depressing eulogy.
He sat quietly before the campfire, bent legs close to his chest and back leaning against the rocky wall. He wrapped his arms around his knees, locking himself in his own warm grip. Gloomy red eyes stared a sullen glow, thinking of the empty void his life had turned into. A heavy sigh escaped his lips, as if trying to expel the burden that weighed his disrupted mind.
He may be the legendary Pokémon Master, but what's the point of celebrating if that title only brought him despair?
Another sigh blew through his mouth. Closing his eyes, Red slowly landed his forehead on top of his knees. His heart felt heavy as ever, as if ready to snap and fall into the darkest pits of his stomach. He hated being alone. He hated being isolated. He hated being lost.
For a man who bore the definition of 'strength and willpower', he sure felt useless and weak.
"Yo Red."
A voice snatched his attention, breaking Red from his silent mourning. Quickly the young man looked up, only to see a certain someone standing by his side and holding a picnic basket.
"Dude, you okay?" Green bent his legs beside his stunned friend. Wasting no time for an answer, his hand moved to Red's forehead, checking his temperature. "You don't have a fever. But your body is kinda heating up." A dry, somewhat disappointed sigh echoed in the dim cave. "Seriously, the longer you stay in this damn mountain, the quicker you're gonna have frostbite."
No words left Red's mouth, though it wasn't much of a shocker to the other boy. His red eyes however held a glint of shock. His eyebrows rose up his forehead, perfectly showing the expression of Red's many million questions.
Without saying another word, the young gym leader dug his hand into the brown basket. Red merely watched in stupor, both confused and curious as to what the brunette was doing. "Here," Green said, fingers holding a small packet of pills. "Eat some food and take two of these. I swear to Arceus if you don't take it, then I'll shove it down your throat."
Though Green gave the words of a threat, his voice was gentle and brotherly as ever, leaving Red in nothing but awed confusion. With a slow shake of his head, Green stood up and stretched his arms. "I'm gonna go feed the Pokémon first. Seriously what have you fed them? Snows and rocks?" Laughing alone at his not-so-funny joke, Green turned his heels and walked outside.
A few minutes passed by, yet Red still remained an unmoving, frozen state. He blinked a few times, spotting Green who was casually aiding to his team's hunger. His eyes then glanced to the single basket beside him. A green and red cloth acted as roof for the food, protecting it from the blizzard when Green came to Mt Silver. Lips pursed tightly, Red took the small sachet and removed the thin cloth.
His eyes widened to see his favourite food, spaghetti, all warm and deliciously placed inside the picnic basket.
A laugh burst from outside, making him look out in the distance. Green was seen laughing with his Charizard, the Pokémon preferably thanking him for bringing some – actual – food. Red then lowered his eyes toward the contents in the basket. It smelled ever so tempting, the scent slipping into his nostrils and sliding toward his grumbling stomach.
Another joyful laugh resonated from outside. And this time, it made Red flash the most genuine smile no one had ever seen.
Because as of that very moment, Red knew: I am never alone.
END.