Oh. My. God. I am soooooo sorry. First off I just started college and so my time's been limited. Also, I totally forgot the journal that I had been writing this story in at home (since I'm old fashioned and this is truly the first chapter I've written straight on the computer) and I had to write this all from scratch. (Ok, I really didn't like where I had been going before this, and I had had like three more chapters written out, but I just didn't like them. So all in all, I'm glad that I re-wrote this because I think this chapter is a whole lot better than what I was heading towards originally.)

Anyways, hopefully this goes along with whatever I wrote before, since I had to skim the whole thing just to figure out where I was going. So...enjoy (hopefully) and feel free to yell at me via reviews or private messaging for my over two month non-postathon.

...

T_T

Disclaimer: I don't own pokemon and stuff and stuff...

Red on shrugged his backpack as he continued on his way to Viridian City. The sun was just beginning to rise in the clear sky, slowing burning off the fog that had settled in the night. Pikachu was curled atop his broad shoulders, its long ears flapping softly with each step he took.

Normally, Red would use Charizard as his main mode of transportation, but on some occasions he preferred to walk to his destination. This was one of those times. Red needed to think, and he preferred it when he could be alone. It was still early enough that there weren't that many trainers out, which he thanked Arceus for. The last thing he wanted was to be disturbed from his pensive thoughts.

Red's eyes caught upon a flock of awakened Pidgey that sprung from the woods, soaring into the sky. The tiniest smile appeared upon his lips, and he tilted his head upwards, letting the morning sun touch upon his pale face. He let out a sigh as he moved his arm back to scratch Pikachu behind the ears. The electric mouse let out a pleased squeal, butting his head against his master's hand.

There was a slight breeze that rustled the nearby trees' leaves. The flowers danced in the wind and the clouds began to shift overhead to reveal the rising sun. Red felt completely at peace, and he wished that every time he came down from his icy domain that it could be as peaceful.

Red sighed, tensing his shoulders as he delved into the matters that rested upon his shoulders. Ash was a talented boy, no doubt a powerful up and coming trainer in the pokemon world. However, Red believed that it was a complete stroke of bad luck that the only championship that Ash had won was the Orange League, one that didn't even count as a proper League championship. Red had to admit that Ash was still young and naïve, as a boy his age ought to be, something that he himself missed out on. Ash deserved the time to be so, and yet Red knew how he craved to win a pokemon league. Winning the title of a champion is what every young trainer aspired to be. He was the rare exception, and look where he was now.

Was he really making the right decision, wanting to tell Ash? He felt like the main perpetrator in lying to Ash, and he had to remind himself that their mother was under just as much stress. But Red had to deal with the fact that if Ash found out that he was pokemon champion, he would destroy practically every hope and dream that Ash had under the pressure of being as good as him. Red never was one for lying, and if he could protect his half-brother's innocent aspirations, then he would. Red then decided that he would everything in his power to protect Ash from his true self.

The city of Viridian loomed ahead of him, standing proud before the sprawling forest that lay behind it. Red turned his head away from the city and looked ahead to the Indigo Plateau that was the revered home of the Kanto Pokemon League. And deep within its hallowed halls, the mysterious Elite Four, the gods of trainers that watched all the pokemon league battles in search of worthy trainers. He had been one of those trainers, once upon a time. Red still held some anger for Lance and his companions, but he knew such anger was ridiculous. He had isolated himself, not them.

As Red turned West towards the Indigo Plateau, Red had a small feeling of regret not going to see Green, but he shoved the feeling away. He had more important things on his agenda. Afterall, he had pushed all his friends away for years, and he could always do it again if need be.

Red felt a smirk pull at his lips as the guards in front of Victory Road eventually stopped him. When they asked to see his qualifications, he discreetly drew a pokeball from his belt, pressing the button before he casually tossed it in the air. The guards gasped, drawing back when they saw the giant orange dragon before them. Before they knew it, the trainer before them had mounted the beast and flew off, leaving them speechless.

As Charizard coasted over the plateau, Red kept his eyes peeled for a spot that was a fair distance away from the pokemon league so not to cause a stir when he landed. He found a copse of trees just outside of the northern entrance of Victory Road. Pointing downward, Charizard followed his silent order and, letting out a roar, descended towards the spot. Red easily leaped off the pokemon's back, returning Charizard before heading towards the magnificent building that housed the pokemon league.

Pikachu jumped down from Red's shoulders as he started up the hill, running beside him to keep up with his long, measured strides. No one was there to stop him as he entered the building, but Red hesitated for a moment as soon as he stepped within, catching his breath. It had been years since he was last here, and he felt a strange wave of nostalgia wash over him. He also felt a twinge of anger deep in his chest, and he narrowed his eyes.

There was a young lady at the front desk, but Red completely ignored her as he strode past her towards the large staircase that came down on either sides of the desk. The woman opened her mouth to protest at his rude entrance, but was stopped when his Pikachu turned to look at her, sending her a warning look. Red didn't even look back as he ascended the staircase. He stopped, however, when he reached the top, looking left then right, trying to remember which way was where his destination lay. After a moment, he chose left and continued on his way.

The main hallway was quite grand, but then again Red wasn't one for luxury. Scarlet drapes hung from the ceiling and large frames held pictures of all the Elite Four and Champions, past and present. Red's eyes pointedly darted to the ground as he passed by the frame to the left of Lance's, not daring even to glance by it. He couldn't believe that they still had a picture up. He supposed that even though the rest of the world had forgotten about him, the League obviously hadn't.

Along the hall were doors leading to each of the Elite Four's offices, although they were hardly ever used, considering that most of them preferred to lurk in their arenas. At the end of the hall was a set of golden doors that Red knew led to Lance's office.

Red walked up to the desk in front of the doors and glared at the young man that sat behind it. The young man looked up at him and flinched at the glimpse of Red's crimson eyes that bore into him from beneath the shadow of his hat.

"I-if you want to see Lance you have to authorized – " The man stopped abruptly as he felt the raging will of Red come down upon him. He almost fell off his chair as Red leaned forward, piercing him with his gaze.

"A-alright! Please, just go on through – " Red paid no attention to him as he walked directly forward, pushing through the doors.

Red's eyes cast over the room, searching for its occupant. Lance stood out on the adjoining balcony, his scarlet cape floating gently in the wind. His crimson hair stood a sharp contrast to the light blue tint of the sky. As he turned around, the air between them seemed to freeze with tension, their dark eyes locking into a dead stare.

Lance's expression lightened as he stepped forward, increasing the pressure tenfold. His cape swayed behind him, stirring the warm air that circulated throughout the room. Red stood his ground as the current reigning champion of Johto approached him. Pikachu's cheeks sparked in warning, his ears lowering dangerously. A smirk twitched on Lance's face, rousing an irritated feeling within Red.

"Red. I'm surprised to see you here, to say the least, considering the rumors have been saying that you died on that Arceus-forsaken mountain. And yet here you are. And what, may I ask, caused you to barge in here this morning?" Lance's voice dripped with poisonous charisma, both drawing Red in as well as intimidating him.

Red met his gaze with his own, his fists clenching together. "I came here to resign," he said evenly. "I no longer want to be the champion of Kanto."

Lance's eyebrows shot upwards, but then a sly smirk slid across his face, unnerving the trainer before him. "Are you serious?" He didn't need a confirmation to know the answer. Lance chuckled under his breath, it gradually increasing in volume. Red's guard wavered as he watched the man before him skeptically. "I'm afraid you can't do that, Red."

If looks could kill, then Lance would have been burning in underworld ages ago. While his face remained impassive, Red's eyes seared a dark red that flashed almost violently at Lance's words. "What the hell do you mean by that?" he demanded.

Lance laughed, turning back around to face the balcony, his long cape slicing through the air like a knife. Red stiffened automatically. "Despite your unexpected arrival here, Red, your timing is actually quite convenient. You see, Wallace and I are planning to host a tournament soon, one that will be unlike any other. This tournament," Lance rotated back around so he met Red's fiery gaze. "This tournament will be a calling for the strongest pokemon trainers in the world. All regional champions must be present to properly represent their respective regions."

Red didn't say anything. Lance's smirk widened. "You and I both know that it is a common misconception that I am both the Kanto and Johto champion. It was the truth many years ago, but now I am the champion of Johto and you are the champion of Kanto. Therefore, your presence is required for the tournament." Lance lowered his head slightly. "It is not simply a request."

Red's chest rose sharply as he felt he was almost being suffocated. No…he didn't want to believe him, and yet he knew it was true. Even if his appeal had been granted, his title wouldn't be changed until the coming of the next pokemon league meeting. Still, Red felt inevitably trapped, even more than he had before he had made his rampage up the plateau.

Lance crossed his arms, awaiting a comment from the champion of Kanto. Finally Red spoke.

"Fine. But after the championship, I want out. I don't want to be titled champion anymore."

Lance inclined his head, only stoking the fire burning within Red. "I cannot guarantee anything. The league is a whole other entity. Even though I am the champion, I cannot promise you that they will let you off so easily. After all, there must be a champion ready and able to step into your place if you just up and leave."

Red suppressed a growl. Green couldn't do it. He was already occupied. He doubted Gold would be up for a rematch in the form of an official battle. Red inwardly sighed. He was trapped between a rock and a hard place.

Red abruptly turned and left the room, not even giving Lance a second glace. He couldn't. Not after everything that man had ever done to him. Red's eyes narrowed as he stormed out of the building, his fingernails digging into his palms as he clenched his fists until they shook. It was all Lance's fault. And Red was going to make him pay.

Red landed with a soft crunch as his sneakers met the hardened snow of Mt. Silver's peak. Pikachu quickly leapt from his mount atop Red's shoulders, touching down beside him. The wind howled loudly around them, but Red hardly noticed. Pikachu watched as his master silently strode up towards the overlook that he often stood at that hung over the frozen ravine down below. The electric mouse noticed how tense he was, from the way his shoulders were hunched, not just from the cold, to the way that his silence spread to a malevolent aura that surrounded him.

Red kicked some snow off the tip of the overhang and watched it spin off in the wind as it fell down to the ravine. It was so easy. So many years he had contemplated it, standing on the edge of life or death. How had he not seen it before? Just one step… No, he couldn't think that way. Although he often doubted why he still even existed after it all, Red realized that he more to live for than just what first came to mind. He couldn't leave his pokemon behind. They were friends to the end, and abruptly leaving them would be like cheating. But he also couldn't leave his mother. She had already been through so much; it pained him to even consider what it would do to her if he were gone permanently. Then there was Ash. Surprisingly, Red found himself having paternal feelings for the boy. He was everything that he couldn't be, everything that he wanted to be, and for Red, that was too much. Even though Red hardly knew him, and Ash barely knew he existed, Red felt an obligation to him. To all of them. He couldn't betray them. It wasn't in his nature.

Red sunk down and sat at the edge cross-legged, ducking his head in shame. The action caused Pikachu alarm, and the faithful companion immediately rushed over, bounding onto his shoulder to make sure he was all right. Red let out the softest of chuckles, raising his hand to pet the furry cheek of the electric mouse. Pikachu settled between Red's legs, curling himself into a ball in his lap. Red smiled, looking up outwards at the snowy landscape.

Maybe he was wrong, wanting to resign from the league. Some of his greatest memories were made right there on the summit, with his pokemon, and they were ones he would never forget. No matter how much he tried to deny it, he was a pokemon champion.