I got the idea for this fic, so i thought I'd give it a go at writing it. Hopefully I've done a good job, but that's for you guys to decide. A big thanks to Javanos for being a great beta reader for me. If you've got a minute, be sure to check out some of his awesome fics. I'll let you get on with the story now. Enjoy.

I don't own pokemon.

"Ash Ketchum, your Pokémon are all healed," the pink haired nurse announced through the intercom. A young trainer stood up from the soft Pokémon centre sofa and walked towards the reception desk, greeting the nurse with a smile. The Pokémon centre wasn't anything fancy. A few plush green sofas were scattered either side of the front desk and a series of green videophones lined the creamy white back wall either side of the desk.

"Thanks nurse Joy," he said. The nurse handed him a tray of 5 Pokeballs, on top of the tray was his trusty yellow mouse companion, Pikachu. Ash retrieved his pokeballs and clipped each one onto his belt, before pulling his black shirt down over the belt, concealing the red and white balls.

"Pikachu!" the yellow mouse exclaimed, as it jumped onto its trainers shoulder. He greeted the little mouse with a quick scratch under its chin, earning a soft coo from the Pokémon. Ash smiled, before briskly walking outside the centre and was greeted by the golden glow of the morning sun. His feet stopped on the pavement outside of the centre. At either side of Ash was a bank of grass, with two benches sitting on top. The grass danced elegantly in the gentle breeze, while the sun shone down, causing the morning dew to glisten a beautiful shade of forest green. He glanced down the path, hoping to spot the familiar face he had been waiting for. After journeying through the Sinnoh region, Ash, Dawn and Brock had all briefly returned home. However, at the mention of a Pokémon contest grand festival being held in the Kanto region, Dawn jumped at the news and hopped onto the first available ferry. The budding coordinator arranged to meet Ash in the Indigo plateau Pokémon centre, since it was to be the site of the grand festival. However, the blue haired coordinator was yet to show up, causing a very impatient Ash to pace outside the front door of the Pokémon centre.

"Grrrrrrrrrr where is she!" Ash suddenly exclaimed, throwing his arms into the air and causing Pikachu to fall off his shoulder. The sudden outburst earned him a few discourteous looks from passers-by, but Ash didn't care. All he cared about was seeing his friend. Ash continued his pacing. 'Typical Dawn. When I tell her to be on time, she never is. She's probably still in the Sinnoh region, fixing her morning bed-head,' he mused. The sound of crying caused Ash to look up, averting his gaze from the ground below and he saw a young boy wearing a blue jumper and matching blue jeans, running towards him. In the boy's arms was a Pokémon, though what kind Ash couldn't tell since the boy's arms were covering it. The boy rushed past him and into the Pokémon centre. Sensing something was wrong, Ash followed. He walked back into the centre in pursuit of the boy. He spotted the boy at the counter, handing the ever-present nurse his Pokémon. Ash walked towards them, and saw a sight that made his stomach lurch. In the nurses arms was a Riolu, however, this particular Riolu had been injured pretty bad. Blood trickled out of its open mouth and its body was covered in deep cuts and gashes. In places, flesh was completely seared. Its limbs dangled limp towards the ground. Ash turned towards the boy, who was on the verge of tears.

"What happened?" he inquired. The boy looked up, finding the source of the voice. He looked at Ash and saw the concern on his face. He brushed a strand of brown hair out of his eyes before replying.

"Me and Riolu went up to Mt. Silver to train and when we reached the peak, there was someone already there. He didn't say anything, but he sent out a Pokémon. We had a battle and…a-and…" the boy collapsed in a heap on the floor, crying hysterically. 'What kind of trainer would do this to a Pokémon?' Ash thought, anger filling his head.

"Pika?" the little mouse asked. He noticed Ash's fists clench into balls. It was an unusual sight to see his trainer to become so angry. Ash started shaking, then, without a word, he ran out of the Pokémon centre.

"Pika pi?" Pikachu asked, curious as to know where they were going. Ash however didn't reply. Rage filled his head and warped his judgement. It didn't take Pikachu long to find out where they were going, however, as the figure of the huge mountain towering above them seemed to be getting closer. 'Whoever this trainer is, I'm going to find them' Ash thought. The only thing on his mind was showing this mysterious trainer a thing or two. He kept running towards the towering mountain, faster and faster, as if this was his only chance to confront the trainer. The memory of that poor Riolu haunted his mind, fuelling him to keep going. He came to a halt just outside a cave entrance. He glanced back towards the Pokémon centre.

"Don't worry kid, this trainer will get what's coming to him," Ash muttered, causing Pikachu to cock its head. It scared him to see his trainer so angry. Taking a deep breath, Ash entered the cave, allowing the cave mouth to swallow him into the darkness that lay ahead. Ash had travelled through Mt. Silver before, and knew the caves like the back of his hand. Well, he thought he did. He fumbled around in the darkness, his confidence of finding his way out had vanished into the blackness of the cave. It was hopeless. He was good and lost in this monstrous cave. If only there was light.

"Light…That's it!" he exclaimed, earning a small squeak from the curious mouse Pokémon.

"Pikachu, use iron tail," Ash ordered, thinking the brightness of his tail could help guide them to the exit. Pikachu, understanding its master's request, complied and seconds later, the dingy blackness of the cave was evaporated by the white glow of Pikachu's tail. Ash continued onwards, occasionally knocking a Golbat or a Geodude, until finally he saw a light. He rushed towards the light, desperate to get out of the suffocating darkness behind him. Closer and closer the light came, until Ash rushed through the opening and found himself on top of a snow swept mountain-side. The calming gentle morning breeze was gone. In its place was a howling wind that ripped through the sky. A shiver ran down his spine as the extreme chill of the high atmosphere invaded his body, like a thousand Dewgongs using ice beam. A sheet of snow obscured his vision, the snowflakes danced around him, haunting him, inviting him to get lost in the thick blanket of glistening white. Shielding his eyes, Ash pushed on, determined to find this trainer. His footsteps sounded like canon-shots as they broke the new fallen snow with a loud crunch. Pikachu, meanwhile, hid inside his backpack, avoiding the cold. Sometimes his trainer was really careless. After what seemed like an eternity of fighting the army of snow flakes, Ash caught a glimpse of red. He moved forward, and the shape of a tall boy took form, his red jacket billowing in the ferocious wind. His hat was pulled down, shielding his eyes from the snow. He stood there, gazing at the vast and vicious beauty of the mountain range below him.

"Hey!" Ash yelled, trying to make his voice heard through the howling wind. The trainer turned around, revealing the face of a teenage boy. His eyes however, were colder than the breath of an Articuno. He stood there, examining Ash, before raising his arm, revealing a pokeball in his hand. He threw the red and white ball into the air and with a brief pop, the ball opened, revealing a crimson red light. The light ran down to the snow covered ground, and a figure began to emerge. First its head sprouted, revealing two pointy ears. Next came a long tail, in the shape of a lightning bolt. The figure sprouted 2 small feet, closely followed by a pair of small arms. When the light disappeared, Ash was looking at a very familiar face.

"Pikachu!" the Pokémon yelled, rearing into battle stance. At the exclamation of the Pokémon, Ash's Pikachu poked his head out of the warmth of Ash's bag. Spotting the Pikachu, Ash's Pikachu leaped out and onto the ground in front of Ash, who watched the scene unfold with a confused look on his face. He glanced up at the trainer in red, wondering what his next action would be. However, he merely glanced at Ash and smirked, with a smile that was as cold and unforgiving as the mountain that they were on. Ash shivered, but for once, it was not from the extreme cold around him. He glanced down at his Pikachu, and saw it glaring at the other trainers Pikachu. He glanced back up at the trainer.

"Are you the trainer that injured that Riolu?" he asked. The trainer continued to silently smirk at him. Ash glanced down at the trainers Pikachu. It was slightly bigger than his, and had the exact same pair of cold, bitter eyes as its trainer. It's chilling gaze was firmly fixed on Ash's Pikachu.

"So, you want to battle?" Ash asked. The trainer didn't reply. Confused, Ash turned to his Pikachu, searching for some answers. Pikachu's gaze however, remained fixated on the other trainers Pikachu. The two Pokémon were staring each other down, trying to intimidate the other.

"Pikachu, you ready?" he asked. The rodent responded with a nod of its head.

"Alright, let's go!" Ash yelled, punching his fist into the air.

"Pikachu!" the electric type screamed. Sparks flew out from its red cheeks, and its tail was poised above its head, ready to launch the first attack.

"This battle is for that poor Riolu back at the Pokémon centre, so be sure to win it!" he told his partner, who responded with a nod of its head. He looked across at the mysterious trainer. He hadn't said a single thing so far. He continued to stare at Ash, coldly. Ash had never seen a trainer like this before. And quite frankly, it unnerved him to know that a Pokémon trainer could be so cold. He was like Paul times 10.

"What's your name?" Ash asked, hoping to get a response out of the trainer. Nothing. The trainer continued to smirk at him in complete silence. 'How is he going to battle if he doesn't talk?' he wondered. He dismissed the thought with a shake of his head. The only way to find out was by experience. He turned to his Pokémon.

"Okay Pikachu, use thunderbolt," Ash ordered. Pikachu charged up electricity in its cheeks, sparks flying around with a crackling hiss.

"Pikaaaaaaaaaa… Chuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!" It exclaimed. A bolt of thunder flew out of the little mouse, its path firmly set on the other Pikachu. The snowflakes fled from the bolt of pure electrical energy, clearing a path. And, with a loud crackle that echoed through the sky, contact was made. Several seconds later, the thunderbolt wore off and, surprisingly, the trainers Pikachu was stood there laughing. Ash glanced up at the trainer nervously, and saw the same smirk as always. The attack didn't do a thing. To say Ash was shocked was like saying Moltres was a little hot headed. He looked at his Pikachu, who shared the same look of shock. Shaking his head, Ash turned back to the trainers Pikachu.

"Pikachu, try using quick attack!" He commanded. Digging its feet into the snow, Pikachu raced off with a white beam of glistening light following its wake. When the attack was about to make contact, the trainers Pikachu suddenly vanished, leaving dust and snow to fly up, covering its escape path. Ash's Pikachu skidded to a halt, looking for the opponent. A few seconds later, a thunderbolt charged through the sky like a dragon chasing its prey, and made direct contact with Pikachu.

"Pikachu!" Ash yelled. His reply was a cry of pain from the little mouse. The thunderbolt suddenly stopped its onslaught and was replaced by the opponents Pikachu flying through the air towards Ash's Pikachu. Its tail was glowing a shiny steel colour, reflecting off the still falling snow. Ash could only watch in horror as the iron-like tail was slammed into his Pikachu. A cloud of dust and snow flew into the air, covering the mountain in a thick blanket of grey.

"Pikachuuuuuu!" Ash yelled. He couldn't see a thing, as he desperately ran into the smoke looking for his best friend. After a few seconds, the cloud dispersed, revealing a crater that had to be at least 30 feet deep. Ash ran over to the crater, and nearly fainted. Lying at the bottom was Pikachu. Its body was completely limp. Blood trickled out of what was left of its right ear, and gathered in a sticky pool of crimson next to the poor Pokémon. Ash reached down and placed a hand on its chest, and felt the steady pulse of its heart beating gradually slowing down to a faint whisper.

"Pikachu…" Ash muttered. His voice became shaky. His eyes glistened as newly formed tears dripped off his face and onto the little mouse companion below. Its body was heavily beat. Deep gashes lined its stomach and back from the impact. Ash grabbed Pikachu, before proceeding to climb back out of the crater. He had to get Pikachu to the Pokémon centre, before it was too late. He reached the entrance back into the cave, and then he turned to face the trainer.

"How could you…HOW COULD YOU?" he screamed. His tears of sorrow were replaced by those of anger and hatred towards the trainer in red. The trainer stood there. His smirk was gone, his cold gaze fixated on Pikachu, lying in its owners arms. Still, he remained silent. He returned his Pikachu before turning round to face the mountain range once more, leaving Ash out of his sight. Ash turned around; forcing the anger he felt to subside, before running into the cave to find his way back to the Pokémon centre…before it was too late.

Whaddya think? Leave a review to tell me your thoughts and be sure to add this to your alerts so you know when the next chapter is up. I won't have an upload schedule as such, but I'll try to upload the chapters as soon as I've finished them. R&R please :)