Gold was battling. Flames and sparks were flying all around the snowy mountaintop as he was calling out orders to his Typhlosion. The blizzard was intense, and Gold could barely see his opponent, but he knew this was a fight he had to win. He could see his Typhlosion was on the verge of collapse, so he knew he only had one chance left.

"Typhlosion, Blast Burn!" he yelled at the top of his lungs.

The words had hardly left Gold's lips when his eyes shot open. He sat bolt upright and looked around him, wondering what had become of the snowy battlefield he had been on just moments before. To his surprise, he was no longer on a mountaintop, or even on Cinnabar Island – he was in his own bed, in his own room in New Bark Town.

After a few moments, during which he worked out that his battle in the blizzard had just been a dream, he realised that he wasn't alone in the room. To his right stood a pink-haired nurse and a pair of Chansey, and to his left…

"Gold!" cried his Mom, tears in her eyes, as she almost threw herself at him, holding him in a tight embrace.

Gold winced a little, feeling sore all over his body, but returned the hug as best he could.

"What… happened?" he asked, looking from his Mom to the nurse, and rubbing his head, "Last I remember, I was on Cinnabar Island."

Both women looked shocked.

"Cinnabar Island?" his Mom said, "I heard a knocking at the door about 15 minutes ago, and found you collapsed on the front porch. I called the nurse here as soon as I got you inside, and she had her Chansey tend to your wounds."

"Huh?"

Gold couldn't understand it; he was sure that the attack on Cinnabar Island hadn't been part of his dream… Slowly and slightly painfully, he pulled back the covers of his bed and stood up.

"Gold, where are you going?" his Mom asked, concerned.

Gold walked to the other side of the room and turned on the TV, as his Mom and the nurse exchanged baffled glances. Gold flipped through the channels until he reached the news and, as he feared, was met by images of burning buildings and fleeing crowds.

"The attacks lasted only a few minutes," the reporter was saying, "But this small island community has once again been devastated. Eyewitnesses report sightings of a cloaked figure attacking first the Gym, then civilian buildings. Gym Leader Blaine was rescued from his Gym by his Pokémon after the attack, and is currently being treated at the Cinnabar Island hospital, which was thankfully untouched; doctors say he is in a serious but stable condition. After last week's attack on Blackthorn City, citizens of Tohjo are starting to fear a resurgence of the criminal organisation Team Rocket."

Everyone in the room stared transfixed at the screen, watching the scenes of destruction. Gold had moved back to sit on the edge of his bed, and his Mom grasped his hand.

"You… you were caught up in that?" she asked.

"Yeah… Although I have no idea how I got back to New Bark Town," Gold replied.

The nurse recommended that Gold get plenty of bed rest, leaving the house to return to Cherrygrove City soon after the news transmission ended. After making sure he was alright, his Mom also retired for the night to let him get some sleep. Laying back on his bed, he glanced at the window, seeing that the first rays of sunlight were just peeking over the horizon. As he was about to close his eyes, he noticed something on his bedside table. Putting out his hand, he took hold of the dark green envelope, with his name written in silver letters. His curiosity mounting, he tore open the envelope and took out the beige paper. Unfolding it, he read the hand-written letter:

Gold,

I brought you to safety after the attack on Cinnabar, but you are still in grave danger, so don't stay in one place for too long.

The answers you seek lie in the Cerulean Cave.

Gold didn't recognise the handwriting, and as the letter was unsigned, he had no idea who had sent the message. He replaced the letter on his bedside table, and laid back down again; he was too exhausted to think things through now. Before long, his exhaustion took over and he drifted off to sleep.

It was around midday before Gold woke up from his deep slumber. Still aching a little, he got to his feet, took the letter from his table, and made his way downstairs. His Mom was sitting at the table already, watching the news of the attack on Cinnabar Island; from the bags under her red eyes, Gold suspected she hadn't slept much last night. She smiled at him as he came down the stairs and sat down at the table, where his Mom had already set out his breakfast.

"How are you feeling today, sweetie?" she asked as he started to eat.

"Still a little sore, but better than last night," he answered, "Any more news on Cinnabar Island?"

"The Gym Leader is still unconscious, but the doctors say he's going to be fine," his Mom explained, "The attack only lasted a few minutes, so luckily not too many people were hurt."

"Did they find out who did it?" Gold asked.

"No-one knows for certain," his Mom replied, "But they're advising everyone in Kanto to be extremely cautious for the time being, especially at night. People think that it might be related to the attacks in Sinnoh."

Gold was all too aware of what attacked Cinnabar Island, but he didn't want to worry his Mom unduly. Swallowing another mouthful of breakfast, he took the letter from his pocket and showed it to his Mom.

"I found this on my bedside table last night, do you know who sent it?" Gold asked.

"It was lying on your chest when I found you on the doorstep," she replied, looking the letter over, "I have no idea who it's from, though. Please don't tell me you're thinking of going out to Cerulean Cave! The nurse told you to rest."

Gold was silent for a few moments. Honestly, he was scared of going to the cave in Cerulean City. He had only been there once before, after battling Cerulean City's Gym Leader Misty, and the Pokémon there were terribly powerful. He knew it had once been the home of Mewtwo, and if the mysterious creature was indeed related to the Genetic Pokémon, then he had a horrible feeling that it might be waiting for him in that cave. On the other hand, the writer of the letter wouldn't have saved him from Cinnabar Island, only to throw him right back into danger, would they? Perhaps the 'answer' the letter alluded to was some clue about the creature…

"Mom, I'm sorry, but I think I have to," Gold said putting his hand on his Mom's, "I know it's dangerous, but if last night's attack is related to the ones in Sinnoh, and if they're likely to continue, then I have to do something if there's a possibility I can help stop this, right?"

His Mom was nearly in tears with worry.

"And besides," Gold continued, trying to force a smile, "I've got my Pokémon with me, remember? They'll protect me."

His Mom thought for a few seconds, then nodded; of course she was scared about the prospect of her son going to such a dangerous place, but he was one of the most decorated Pokémon trainers in the region, and now he was nearly seventeen years old, she could hardly keep babying him.

"Just promise me you'll be careful," she said.

Gold walked around the table to her and hugged her close.

"I promise," he said.

Gold flew on his Togekiss in the direction of Cherrygrove City. He had changed his outfit from his signature red and yellow gear to a black hoodie and black jeans; if he might be seen, he didn't want to be recognised easily. In the years since his first adventures in Johto, the Goldenrod to Saffron Magnet Train service had been vastly expanded, stretching to almost every city in the Tohjo area. Therefore, Gold had decided to take the Magnet Train from Cherrygrove City to Cerulean City, a much faster option than flying on Togekiss. Once he reached Cherrygrove, he recalled Togekiss and quickly made his way to the train station, purchasing a ticket and getting on the next train to Kanto, his hood pulled up to obscure his face. Luckily, the train left seconds after he stepped onto it, and sped off towards Kanto. Looking around at the other passengers from under his hood, it was clear that everyone was nervous; people were whispering in little groups, and everyone looked worried. Gold glanced around at every corner of the train carriage, keeping an eye out for any shady characters that might be following him; the anonymous letter had said that he was still in grave danger. However, he didn't notice anyone watching him, so his nerves were calmed, if only slightly, allowing him to get a few hours' sleep.

As the sun was just setting below the horizon, the train pulled into Cerulean City station.