A/N: I've loved Pokémon since it came out when I was little, but I'd never gotten a chance to write any of it (that you've read). I especially love the personalities of the characters in the games themselves (or the manga!), so I'm aiming to write based off of Red, Blue, Green, and all of them. Please read & review, I'd love to hear your opinions/critique! Enjoy!

(There will definitely be some Originalshipping once the story gets going. I love those two so much. c:)

Several years ago, a boy of around fourteen sat, shivering, near the peak of Mt. Silver. Though the sat safely inside a small cave, the world outside roared with brutal winds and harsh, pelting rain. All the boy could see outside were gray storm clouds and nothing beyond.

Red, the Kanto League Champion, sat, waiting. He had won his title two years prior and had been the Champion ever since. While the success he had had was truly amazing and fulfilling to his wildest dreams, he was plagued by another thought. Being a League Champion was also rather lonely. He'd been sent to train on Mt. Silver, specifically until a worthy challenger found him with the intent to take his place.

His arms tightened tightly around the small, furry mouse in his lap as he shivered violently. "At least I know I won't have to be prepared for a challenge in this weather, Pika," he said to the mouse, a smile cracking on his chapped lips. Thunder boomed outside, rumbling in the clouds.

The mouse looked up as its owner stroked its yellow fur, scratching its head lightly. Pikachu snuggled up in Red's arms, half-asleep, trying to ignore the biting cold.

"It'll be over soon." He nuzzled his face into Pikachu's warm fur. He began to think about the past three years. He hadn't been permanently doomed to wait on Mt. Silver for two years straight (several incidents in Kanto and Johto had allowed him to return to the ground for short periods of time*), though at times, it sure did feel like it. He could barely remember what day of the week it was, and his Pokédex hardly ever had a signal for him to check.

Hours passed (or were they minutes?), and suddenly, Red heard the long-lost sound of footsteps. He carefully shifted Pikachu from his lap to the rock floor, rose to his feet, and peered out into the darkness. Near the back of the cave, someone was coming up the winding staircase. He was completely taken aback. This hadn't happened in months, and especially not on a terribly stormy and cold day like that day.

Red wordlessly reached for his Pokéballs, huddled inside his jacket, and clipped them to his belt. He adjusted his cap and slipped on his short-sleeved, red jacket. It was okay, he thought to himself, he had trained yesterday, and his Pokémon were in tip-top condition.

However, another part of him, a more wearier part, told him otherwise. Red turned to face the cavern wall. "This is it," he whispered, rubbing his hands together to generate warmth. "This is the day I lose my title."

"Hey! Is Red here? Y'know, the Champion?"

It was a familiar voice; he had heard it before - slightly nasal, all-knowing and obnoxious at times, but here and now, he sounded serious. Red turned slowly to face Gold, the boy whom he'd once trained with, in the dim light, his billiard cue in hand and confidence flaring in his golden eyes. He hadn't felt the spark of excitement before a battle in ages. He'd almost completely forgotten the feeling of going into a battle with true anticipation, not knowing what the outcome could possibly be. He'd only been battling young, unskilled trainers or amateurs; every outcome was the same.

Battling with people like the gym leaders, or even Green, had never been like that. It was unpredictable and filled with passion. Red had immersed himself in it back then. Even those days felt as though they were decades ago to him.

"Hey, Red." Gold grinned slightly, snapping Red out of his daze. "I finally trained enough to be really ready for this." Upon seeing Red's blank gaze in reply, Gold reiterated, "I'm here to battle you, man."

Red wordlessly looked to his right, nodding at Pikachu. The mouse seemed to understand what his trainer was thinking, and moved ahead to position itself in battle stance. The mouse's eyes sought Red's, and it looked sympathetically at its trainer. Red repressed a smile. His hand lingered on another Pokéball at his waist as Gold prepared his first Pokéball.

Red felt tired. He didn't feel as though he needed sleep, but as though he was ready to fly away elsewhere. He needed to leave. The solid rock walls had been his home for two long years. Was that what being a Champion really was? Would the rest of his life slip away as he waited, lonely, in confinement for the remainder of his days?

Recalling the lush, green fields and open skies of Pallet Town, Red closed his eyes. If being lonely without passion was what a Champion was, then, he decided, he wasn't cut out to remain a Champion forever.

Thunder rolled again, and lightning split the sky, allowing a bit of light in the cave and illuminating Red's pale, exhausted features.

Gold called his first Pokémon, and before the battle began, Red already knew that he had lost.

A/N: * = I read the Pokémon Adventures manga, so a lot of my references/time frames in this story will be based off of that. Red is seen in the Yellow & GSC arcs when dealing with the Elite 4 and the Mask of Ice. I'm assuming he returns to Mt. Silver to await Gold after they train together & everything. So to clear up any confusion, this deals with the manga characters, refers to events in the manga, but Gold defeating Red is game-verse. It'll play a good part in the story, trust me! :3