[published on the December 1st 2010, revised as of November 7th, 2011.]
It is snowing heavily on top of Mount Silver as Red throws an arm out wide, staring intently at the battle in front of him. His Pikachu, seemingly understanding, leaps forward, preparing a Volt Tackle. His body becomes cloaked in electricity, and he runs towards Ethan's Houndoom.
"Dodge and use Dark Pulse!" Ethan yells at his Pokémon, which dodges to one side at the last second and then opens its mouth, shooting a beam of purple-black rings at its opponent. Red's Pikachu is shunted back a couple of paces, the electricity around its body fizzling and dying.
Ethan goes in for the kill. "Take Down, Doomshine!" he yells, and his Houndoom roars in response. Doomshine glows white, and advances forward at incredible speed, smashing face first into Red's Pikachu. The Pikachu doesn't even cry out as it's lifted by the terrific force of Doomshine, flying through the air and landing heavily agains the ground, sprawed at the edge of Mount Silver, one small yellow foot dangling over the precipice. It has fainted, and Ethan has won the battle.
Doomshine howls in victory as Red recalls his Pikachu, retracting the ball and clipping it back into its rightful place on Red's belt. Ethan scratches his Houndoom between the ears, and and also recalls him, and suddenly the mountain is silent again.
Red stands and stares at Ethan and Ethan stares back, for an immeasurable period of time. Finally, Red smiles at the challenger; pleased that someone finally defeated him. Ethan smiles back.
Then a curious thing happens. Red fumbles with his belt, unclasping it from around his thin waist. He places it, Pokéballs attached, gently at Ethan's feet, before stepping back. Ethan looks on curiously for another minute, before taking the belt in his arms, cradling the six red and white spheres.
Red's eyes dance mutely, silent to the end. He then takes two steps backwards, still facing Ethan, and Ethan realises what's about to happen. He shouts, but it's too late to stop Red. With a final smile, be takes another step back, the heels of his scuffed sneakers at the very edge of the rock, his back to the edge of the precipice. Ethan is coming for him, but is too late.
Red takes one final step, and suddenly there's not rock beneath his feet, but air. Then he is falling, smile still on his face, happy with the knowledge that his life is complete. He is swallowed by the mist that clings to the mountain at the bottom of the summit. Ethan watches, and waits, but does not hear the sound of impact below.
There is no noise at all on the mountain, as snow covers Ethan while he stares silently down into white mist, which quickly rushes in to reclaim the ragged hole that Red's falling body tore on the way through. Ethan lies on his stomach like that for an hour or so, watching but not seeing.
Finally, he stands up, and cradling the six precious spheres that are the last remaining proofs of Red's existence, he begins his slow journey back into Kanto.