While Ash had his battle with Gold, Professor Oak was having a meeting with all of the regional professors.
"So, I trust that Ash has visited each of you?" asked Professor Oak.
"Yep!" Said Professor Elm.
"That's right!" Said Professor Birch.
"Correct." said Professor Rowan.
"Yes," said Professor Juniper.
"He sure has!" said Professor Sycamore.
"Good. Now, I called this meeting to discuss a new type of Pokemon."
He held up a picture of a recently seen Pokemon. It was the same one Ash had seen that wasn't in the Pokedex. Professor Juniper took the page.
"It's a Zoroark," she said, "Case closed." Professor Rowan took the page.
"Now, now, let's not jump to conclusions. If this were a Zoroark, then why is it black and white?"
She looked at the page again, and frowned knowing that she had been proven wrong by the Sinnoh professor. Again. Professor Elm looked and straightened his glasses.
"Well, it looks like it's a-um...normal type?"
Professor Oak took the picture.
"We don't know what type it is. But I do know that this isn't it's normal size. Its actual size is exactly ten feet."
"Almost as tall as Arceus itself," Professor Sycamore noted.
"We've decided to name this Pokemon Missingno. We have no clue where it came from or why it's here. But I have the feeling Ash will catch it."
"IF he can catch it," Professor Juniper included, "If this Pokemon isn't in the Pokedex, then what makes you think it can be caught?"
"Juniper, my dear, every Pokemon can be caught..."
"I have a pupil by the name of Barry who begs to differ," Professor Rowan said, "I can't tell you how many times that pesky Mesprit's escaped him..."
Professor Oak chuckled.
In Johto...
Gold was down to his last two Pokemon while Ash still had all six left. Currently, Gold was using his Sudowoodo and Ash was using his Charizard.
"Sudowoodo, Rock Tomb!"
Rocks fell towards Charizard, but he dodged. Ash didn't say a word.
"Charizard, use Seismic Toss."
With blinding speed, Charizard grabbed Sudowoodo and slammed him into the ground. Sudowoodo fainted. Gold gritted his teeth. From the sidelines, Serena looked into Ash's eyes and saw nothing but fierce determination.
"We're almost done and you haven't lost a single Pokemon! And this is my best team!" Gold said.
Ash was still silent.
"GO! TYPHLOSION!"
The Johto starter looked at the Kanto starter before being returned by Ash. He then sent out Greninja.
"Typhlosion, Fire Blast!"
Ash stayed silent as Greninja dodged. Afterwards, Greninja used Hydro Pump, which landed.
"Aren't you going to command your Pokemon?"
"I am."
"There's only one trainer I've battled who's commanded his Pokemon without opening his mouth...Typhlosion, Smokescreen!"
The battlefield was suddenly filled with smoke and neither Ash nor Greninja could see anything. Gold waited for Greninja to move. He then heard Typhlosion roar. The smoke cleared and he saw his Pokemon frozen from an Ice Beam.
"NO, TYPHLOSION!"
Greninja ended it with a Hydro Pump. Typhlosion fainted. Ash returned Greninja and walked up to Gold, who was frowning. He offered him a handshake and smiled.
"Thank you, Gold."
"No problem. Congratulations."
He pointed him towards the elevator.
"I'm sure you know where to go."
While Ash was doing that, Serena ran up to Gold.
"Ash didn't talk that much...he's usually shouting."
"The only one who did something like that, and still does, is Red."
"The Kanto champion?"
Gold nodded. He looked at Ash descend from the elevator with a stern face.
"Ash, are you okay?"
His eyes were turning black instead of their normal brown. He said nothing and walked away. Later that day, everyone went to a Pokemon Center. Red and Blue were getting their fur brushed by Amelia and Silver. Amelia noticed Serena looking at Ash, who was stroking a sleeping Pikachu's fur with a serious expression.
"Something wrong?" Amelia asked.
"I'm worried for Ash..I'm afraid the battling's going to his head."
"It's not," Silver interrupted, "He's fine."
Suddenly, Ash got up and walked up to the three and smiled before walking out the door with Pikachu on his shoulder.
"Come on!"
Serena got up and followed Ash, to which Silver and Amelia followed.
"Ash, where are you going?"
Silver recognized where he was going and broke into a nervous sweat.
"What's wrong?" Amelia asked.
Silver stayed silent as they entered the caves of Mount Silver. Each Pokemon they encountered quickly ran when Ash approached.
"Ash, what's going on?" Serena said with her voice quivering.
Ash still said nothing with a face that was more serious than ever.
"Silver, do you know what's going on?"
Silver nodded as they approached the exit of the cave. It was snowing hard and one could barely see.
"Amelia and Serena."
The girls stopped to look at Silver.
"This is Ash's final and ultimate test..."
"What do you mean?"
"There's only one person that's been up here. He's trained here without rest ever since he left his home."
The snow cleared enough and the three saw Ash approach a boy with blood-red eyes, a red cap, a red vest, a black shirt, jeans, and red shoes. He also had a Pikachu on his shoulder.
"Serena and Amelia...we're in the presence of possibly the greatest trainer who ever lived."
The boy turned around and eyed Ash silently. Ash also stayed silent. Serena couldn't speak, as she was filled with fear. Amelia was just stunned. Ash grabbed a PokeBall.
"This is the last champion...Kanto Champion Red."
That was when the final battle began.
TO BE CONTINUED...