Mount Silver

Around nine in the morning, Red was finished with all his morning routines. He spent the next 20 minutes trying to decide whether he should come back. Better late than never he thought but it seemed like such a long time, he might not be welcome anymore. Finally he decided it would be nice to go back and live a normal life. He's no longer a Pokemon Master so there's no need to stay up here anymore.

Red had his bag packed up with all of whatever he's brought up here with him. His Pokemon were in good shape and form except for Pikachu sho was still a little injured from the epic battle that took place just yesterday. Never before has he seen his Pikachu get dropped so hard. He really did get knocked out for a few minutes but even so, the loss has made a dramatic effect on the way Pikachu acted.

Pikachu wasn't really cheerful and happy like he usually is but more depressed and low on what seemed like motivation. Red sat with Pikachu at the dinner table which, something he figured wasn't really a necessary piece of furniture because only he and probably Pikachu eat here. The yellow mouse Pokemon stood on the table quietly speaking to Red in the sort of Pokemon language that only the trainer can understand.

"You'll be alright, and everyone will be there to meet," Red said trying his hardest to assure Pikachu that their arrival will be welcoming and warm.

"But what if they don't like us there?" Pikachu asked. In the three years they've spent here, Pikachu has gotten used to all the silence of the mountain, daily training and alone with his master.

"They will, don't worry,"

"Yeah you'll do all the talking right?" Pikachu said with a grin, clearly joking and mocking his master's ability to talk to other people.

Red chuckled at Pikachu's remark and ruffled the soft hairs on his head. Sue then came walking down the stairs having already done her hair and fully clothed herself for the hike through the mountain.

"PIKA!" Pikachu cried out giving Sue a cheerful good morning greeting and completely changing his mood.

Sue giggled while covering mouth with her hand. "Good morning to you to," she responded.

"So you alright this morning?" Red asked while standing up.

"Yeah I'm' cool," she said. "So you're coming back or not?"

"I reckon I should,"

"You don't seem so sure though. You know I just lost my virginity last night, the least you can do is come back,"

Red got the seemingly bad joke and smiled as Sue grinned and went in for a hug. "I am coming back, don't you worry,"

"PIKA, PIKACHU!" the yellow Pokemon cheered in excitement.

"Someone's eager to meet his friends again," Sue giggled. Red always admired her little giggle because it showed that she was in a good mood and not all sad or angry or depressed like she used to be after she found out that he had to leave. But now he can never imagine her not smiling.

As they walked out of the house Red stood there to admire it for one last time, knowing that he'll never probably come back for a long time. Sue stood there next to him thinking that it's best to give him a little encouragement and comfort. "You okay?" she asked putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah," Red answered giving a long, loud sigh and then chucking the keys under a rock next to the door of the house. "Let's go,"

The three, including the Pikachu on Red's shoulder trekked for about two hours. Sue followed Red's every footstep since he seems to know where he's going. After about the third hour Sue claimed she was a bit tired because Red appears to have powered through the dark cave and they're about half way. They sat in silence while they both rested on some boulders. Sue sat a little uncomfortable and twiddling with her fingers as if she needs to say something important.

"You alright Sue?" Red asked.

"I really should have told you about this earlier,"

"What is it?" Red sat close next to Sue while lowering the conversation to a whispering tone.

Sue shuffled around on her hard seat without looking at him in a sort of shameful manner. "You're mum's…not going to be there," She finally said. Red sat still in silence wanting a little more information and bracing himself for the worst. "About ten months ago, she was killed during her night shift at the Department Store," Sue continued. "Umm…I wish I could have done something at the time to save her but I cracked under pressure when it gun was pointed at my face. I've spent many nights wishing I could go back and change it. I wouldn't be surprised if you blamed me for her passing," Sue swallowed and then coughed. Her eyes have already began to tear up.

Red took her in and hugged her tight. She hugged back and they held each other in a warm and calm embrace. He always hated it whenever Sue would blame herself for a lot of things that go wrong and that involved her in some way. She used to do that a lot back in the day and Red hated it. She always gave herself such distrust while Amy – nicknamed Yellow back then – always looked at the brighter side and gave everybody the benefit of the doubt. "I don't blame you for it," he said. "Nor should you blame yourself. It's not your fault…so don't,"

10 months ago – Celadon Department Store

Sue remembers the night when Red's mother Melissa was killed as if it's a memory that shouldn't be forgotten. The images are so clear in her head, she can take out the most smallest of details. This isn't a good thing, remembering the death of a person who was more like a mother than a good friend. Melissa was working a special night shift at the Department Store, covering for co-worker which in this case was a friend also. Melissa's friend usually takes care of the night shifts but on the night called in sick.

It was around eleven p.m. and the store was nearly empty. The few people who were there stayed around the bottom three levels, Melissa worked on the fifth where nobody was around. It was a pretty uneventful evening. She stood at the register in silence waiting to see if anyone was going to come in but fortunately there wasn't, because now she's getting a better pay for coming in for someone else and doing it at night. So having to serve no one and do nothing while getting payed is just her idea of the perfect job.

Unexpectedly Sue came in which seemed to puzzled Melissa for a while. "What are you doing here?" She asked. "Shouldn't you be in bed?" Melissa said in a motherly tone.

"I just came to check on you that's all," Sue responded. "Plus nobody's home anyway. Gary and Amy are out and Grandpa is still in the lab,"

"Okay then," Melissa having accepted Sue's excuse, went onto ordinary service procedures. "Do you need anything?"

"No, I just wanted to see how you were doing,"

"It's nice of you to come here and check up on me but I'll be alright for the rest of the night, don't worry," Melissa reached over the counter and rested her hand on Sue's shoulder. "I'll be back soon," Her reassuring smile always gave Sue the feeling that everything was going to be alright.

The counter with the cashier and register was built near the entrance of the fifth floor while the rest was full of all the stuff for Pokemon and people. They items were in tall shelves and inside very wide but short white cupboards with top open doors. All this was basically in the deep end of the room, which is a feature made for all the floors of the Department Store.

The idea was that all the items would be placed in the all the shelves and cupboards in large space of the room. As soon as people got their things they would go to the register and walk out of the floor using the stairs about five meters away. This is so the people would get out as quickly as possible after buying.

In the deep end of the room, it was very dark because the majority of the lights were off, except for the ones over the counter. Since no one was ever here, Melissa left them off without knowing someone was hiding, waiting for their time to take action. A man appeared out of the shadows dressed all in black holding a black bag and carrying a pistol. Melissa caught the sight of the burglar but knew it was already too late.

"Turn around," he said ordered. Sue do so and jumped as soon as she saw the gun pointed at her. "Step away slowly, and put your hands where I can see them," As she stepped away she raised both hands at head height. Melissa sneakily placed her hand on the bottom of the counter trying to find the silent emergency button. "DON"T YOU DARE TOUCH THAT BUTTON!" he shouted at Melissa. She jumped in freight and raised her hands as well. "You didn't touch it, did you?" he asked aiming the gun at her head.

"No," she said shaking her head and trembling.

"Step away from it,"

Melissa slowly walked out of the register.

"And stand next to her. Don't even think about anything smart,"

The burglar made his way into the register and took all the money he can get his hands on. After an intense two minutes the sirens of some police were approaching which caught the attention of the burglar almost immediately. He zipped up his bag and ran to the window staring at the flashing red and blue lights in the distance.

"Didn't touch the button hey?" he snarled. Melissa was in shock, she didn't even find the button they're here anyway. "Turn around you," she did as she was told. "You've made a big mistake,"

"I swear it wasn't me," Melissa pleaded. "I didn't touch it,"

"Then why are they here?!" he shouted pointing the pistol at her.

"I don't know, please don't shoot, just take it go," Melissa was close to tears and feared for both herself and Sue.

"It's not my fault, but you lied to me," And then he shot four rounds into her torso. Sue yelped at the sight of the blood exploding from Melissa's stomach. The burglar ran back into the shadows to execute his escape route.

Sue quickly dropped down onto her knees. She picked up Melissa's head and rested it on she left shoulder. "Mel! Mel!" she called while slightly shacking her. "Mel!" she called again.

She breathing was fluttering and she began to turn cold already. "Look after…him for me," she whispered. "Okay?"

Sue nodded and understood who she was talking about. "Okay," she said as she wiped away her rapidly lowing tears from her face. "I'm sorry,"

"Don't be," Melissa's voice was soft and weak, clearly on the verge of death.

"Come on Mel," Sue said continuing to cry. "Just…just hold it for bit," It was obvious now that giving Melissa any sense of hope for survival was useless. "What about Red! Don't you want to see him again?"

"It's okay…I deserve this. You'll be alright," Melissa took in her last few breaths and then her body went limp, her eyes slowly closed and her head rested dead on Sue's shoulders. Being Sue's first time watching someone die in hers arms, all she did was cry, and this time didn't bother wiping the tears away because they'll just keep coming. Sue felt lost in a world of pain and torture, giving her a feeling of what it's like in psychological hell. Her mind couldn't digest the fact that nothing can escape death after the victim has entered it. So they will never come out.

Now Sue has to spend the rest of her life without seeing another motherly figure to look up to for values, ideals, and as a role model. A bunch of policemen came jogging up the stairs holding black assault rifles and aiming their guns at her. But a young man around his early twenties came running from behind holding his Poke Gear in his hand. "Wait, don't shoot her, she's innocent," he shouted at them causing the policemen to lower their guns. Sue starred at him and saw the phone like gadget and figured out why the police arrive without Melissa ever touching the emergency button.

In this time of trauma and pain, Sue acted irrational and was fuled with unnecessary anger. "You called them here!?" she shouted at the young man while standing but still crying. "She's dead now because you called them!" and then with nothing else to do, Sue ran off bawling her eyes out and out of sight from everyone.