This'll be shorter than the average chapter, but it's chock-full of action! Here we go.

-The Missing Champion-

"Thunder!"

Mt Silver's highest peak was illuminated briefly, snow-covered stark whiteness against the dark indigo of the evening sky, by a burst of electricity that struck its target, a blue turtle-like Pokémon with two large cannons jutting out of its shell, and felled it instantly.

The Pokémon that had launched the attack, a beige Dragon-type with wings that were way too small to hold such a great body aloft, zipped by, turning loops in mid-air and roaring, "Dragonite!"

"Tch. I'd expect no less from a Champion," the Blastoise's trainer, a brown-haired young man donning a red and white baseball cap with a Poké Ball emblazoned above the brim, said. "Alright. Charizard, go!"

An orange, bipedal, dragon-like Pokémon burst forth in a ray of crimson, roaring a gout of flames as it faced off against its opponent.

Lance smirked, though the expression was a tad bit forced. The younger male's team was incredibly strong. This was his second to last Pokémon and he was seriously beginning to rethink his chances of winning this battle.

"Dragonite, Hyper Beam!"

"Charizard, Flamethrower!"

Simultaneously, the Pokémon opened their mouths, the former's eyes glowing white as a massive ball of like-coloured energy swelled, while embers swirled in the latter's; a beam of light shot forth to meet a pillar of flame, the two attacks connecting dead-on and pushing back and forth in a tug of war for supremacy.

Unfortunately, it was the flames that won and Lance's Dragonite's attack was cancelled out by a blazing torrent that sent the Pokémon crashing to the ground where it fell still.

One Pokémon left. The Indigo League Champion swore quietly, recalling his fallen Dragonite and pulling the final red and white sphere from his belt. This was it.

"Go! Aerodactyl!"

The ancient Pokémon sprung from its Poké Ball, screeching as it flapped gray, bat-like wings, and Lance commanded, "Rock Slide!"

He heard the younger man swear before the low roar of two rock faces sliding past one another drowned out the sound of his voice: a landslide of earth came pouring down from the peak. Charizard managed to dart out of harm's way for a time, but the larger projectiles managed to strike it, knocking it out of the air; its crash-landing created a crater, dust and fragments of stone obscuring both combatants from view.

It could only Flinch as Lance pointed and said, "Finish it with Ancient Power."

The Aerodactyl opened its great maw, jagged teeth parting to reveal a silver sphere of energy that blasted forward and struck the Charizard in the middle of its crème-coloured stomach, instantly reducing the Pokémon's Hit Points to 0.

He was still in this.

"You've gotten better, Lance," the Trainer acknowledged coolly, recalling his Fainted Pokémon.

"And you're as strong as ever, Red."

Red—the true Champion of the Indigo League. Only here in the mountains could one experience such a harrowing test of strength and quick thinking. Once upon a time, he had wiped the floor with Lance, only to turn down the title of Champion in favor of secluding himself on Mt Silver, leaving whispered rumors of his greatness in his wake.

At only 16, he had already become something of a legend to young Trainers who aspired to be the very best.

Lance had been trying in secret to convince the young man to come down and join the other Champions for years to no avail.

"Heh. I think I should end this." He glanced down at the yellow and black mouse-like creature at his feet. This Pokémon needed no Poké Ball—nor would it submit to being contained in one. It had been his very first Pokémon at the beginning of his journey and remained by his side after what felt like a lifetime later as his strongest ally. "You ready, Pikachu?"

"Pika!" it chirped, hopping forward, electricity sparking in the red spots on its cheeks.

"Aerodactyl, Rock Slide!" Lance ordered, his cape fluttering as his Pokémon flapped its great wings to gain altitude, eyes glowing blue as it created another rain of boulders.

"Get close to it, Pikachu."

"Chu." With a curt nod, the electric mouse was off, its little body a yellow blur as it bounced from boulder to boulder, the attack serving as a network of platforms rather than a threat.

Just what was he up to?

"Knock Pikachu away with a Wing Attack!"

The Aerodactyl's wings glowed white, but Red only laughed. "Volt Tackle."

Instantly, the Pikachu's body became enveloped in a crackling mass of electrical energy and it leaped, flying at the winged Pokémon at a speed that couldn't be avoided; the collision created a blinding surge of light that sent a wave of heat out in all directions.

When the light had faded, Pikachu was sitting atop the back of an unconscious Aerodactyl.

"Beaten again," Lance groaned, scratching the back of his head. "And you seriously won't come back with me?"

"I prefer the solitude up here, Lance," the young man responded seriously. "I didn't defeat you for your title—I defeated you to prove to myself that I was stronger." He smirked. "You still owe me lunch, though."

"Yeah, yeah, I didn't forget." He recalled his Pokémon, his pride a bit sore. "Let's stop by the Pokémon Center at the foot of the mountains, then."

Ah, well. There was always next year.

-End Chapter-

I went with the Red from Pokémon Crystal Version and added a bit of Ash from the anime (minus his total lack of badassery). I remember being terrified of him as a kid o-e He was quite possibly the toughest battle I had ever faced-which was why it was curious that Lance was Champion and not him. I know, I know, the Silver/Gold/Crystal Versions didn't have Volt Tackle, but that's a pretty important move from the anime so I think it can be forgiven for cheating. Haha. Let me know what you thought.