On Mt. Silver, a young boy was slowly making his way deeper into the mountain. Beside him was a Pokémon with the appearance of a yellow-and-blue beast, the heat radiating from its back keeping its Trainer warm.
Unlike the forests and rocky terrain outside, the innermost part of Mt. Silver was a strangely radiant expanse of white. It was a vast snow mountain, and the snow was falling heavily.
As he ventured further, the boy finally reached his destination. At the summit, a man in a red cap sat on a high stone platform with his back turned, dressed in the plain attire of an ascetic monk.
This was the secret Gold had discovered after becoming the Champion of the Johto League. Rumor had it that there was someone even stronger than the Champion training on Mt. Silver—a man whose exploits Gold had often heard about back when he left Johto for Kanto: defeating all eight Gym Leaders, dismantling Team Rocket, defeating the League Champion…
"Battle me!"
Gold raised a Poké Ball and shouted. The Typhlosion beside him immediately stood upright, fists clenched, the flames on its back blazing more fiercely than ever before.
The mysterious man turned around—expression cold, eyes devoid of emotion, silent. He thought to himself that ever since Green had leaked his whereabouts, countless nameless Trainers had come here seeking fame by defeating him. Yet none had forced him to bring out even his second Pokémon. Perhaps it was the loneliness of this frozen peak, or perhaps his power had simply grown far beyond ordinary people, leaving him isolated at the top. He had grown stronger, and more reclusive.
But today, this boy's arrival finally changed the look in his eyes.
"Come."
It was the first thing he had spoken in years, his voice almost mechanical. As soon as the words fell, he threw a Poké Ball. A flash of red light—and a small Electric Mouse Pokémon appeared on the snowy peak.
Pokédex: "Pikachu, an Electric-type Pokémon. Commonly seen."
"Then try this one!" Gold hurled his own Poké Ball. A massive figure emerged, instantly freezing the falling snow around it. A suffocating aura filled the air. Its skin shone silver-white, and its broad wings stretched like giant hands.
The Sea Guardian—Lugia!
The man's eyes lit up. Pikachu sparked electricity from its cheeks. A grand battle was about to begin.
Neither combatant noticed a faint, ghostly figure floating above them, quietly watching. His face was identical to that of the mysterious man below. Like a phantom—yet like an existence beyond this world.
His name was Red.
A few hours earlier, Red had been training his willpower in the blizzard. Then he awakened—realizing he was nothing more than a fictional game character. He remembered everything: receiving his starter from Professor Oak, battling Green, clashing with Team Rocket, the Elite Four, even his trip to Alola… But all without detail. He understood now—this world was just a programmed storyline. Even near invincibility couldn't change the fact that he was merely a puppet.
With that realization, Red's soul separated from his physical body.
And now, before his eyes, that body was serving as the final boss, battling another protagonist. This was the ultimate showdown! Red almost wanted to grab a bucket of popcorn.
The clash below grew fierce:
Pikachu vs. Lugia—electricity against flame, evenly matched.Snorlax vs. a strange Red Gyarados.Venusaur vs. Entei…Lapras vs. Suicune…Charizard vs. Ho-Oh…And finally, Gold's ace, Typhlosion, against Red's Mewtwo.
These players nowadays… always using Legendary Pokémon. Pathetic! Red scoffed inwardly. A true Trainer turns ordinary Pokémon into the strongest fighters.
When Gold finally claimed victory, Red's (physical body) let out a faint, relieved chuckle. He turned his back, falling into a strange silence. At that moment, a blinding white light flashed atop Mt. Silver. When it faded, Red's body was gone.
This was the ultimate battle—and also the curtain call. Red's physical body had completed all its missions.
Floating in the sky, Red's soul wondered: Where do I go now…?
He felt a vortex pulling him in. The colors of the world faded, leaving only black and white. Soon, he was swallowed, his consciousness fading…
When Red awoke, he found himself in a vibrant forest. He quickly realized—this was a real world. He had transmigrated.
Still in spirit form, Red hovered in the air. Suddenly, frantic bird cries erupted, and a dense flock of Spearow burst from the trees, flying in one direction. Curious, Red followed.
Rain began to fall.
Reaching a high cliff, Red saw a boy in a cap furiously pedaling his bike. In the basket—a dying Pikachu. A rookie Trainer who angered a Spearow flock and got chased? Red guessed, feeling powerless to intervene.
Crack!
The boy crashed with his bike. Pikachu was thrown aside. The Spearow surrounded them, ready to strike.
Suddenly, the naïve boy stood, arms spread wide in a T-shape, shielding Pikachu.
"Do you know who I am?! I'm the future Pokémon Master!" he roared, then whispered, "Pikachu, hurry… get in the Poké Ball…"
But the Spearow, not understanding human speech, shrieked and dove!
At that moment, Pikachu seemed to awaken its hidden potential. Trembling, it climbed onto its Trainer's shoulder, then leapt straight at the oncoming flock.
"Pika… CHU!!!"
With a cry, an immense bolt of lightning erupted from its cheeks. A massive thunderbolt struck from the sky, amplifying Pikachu's discharge into a devastating blast that struck every Spearow—and even cleared a swath of dark clouds above.
The flash blinded Red. He felt an overwhelming pull from the lightning, and his phantom body was dragged helplessly toward it.
Don't watch for free… That was his last thought.
The lightning faded. The terrified Spearow scattered. The boy and Pikachu collapsed into the mud, staring at each other. In that moment, their hearts were connected.
The clouds parted, and a rainbow appeared. A breathtakingly beautiful, rainbow-colored bird Pokémon flew past, its divine orbs falling to heal the pair.
"What Pokémon is that?" Ash looked up.
Pokédex: "Fearow, a common Flying-type Pokémon with a bad temper."
The beautiful bird dropped a shimmering rainbow feather that landed before Ash. He grabbed it in awe.
"So this is what wild Fearow look like? Traveling is amazing!" he exclaimed.
Just a Ho-Oh on par with my Charizard…
A deep voice suddenly echoed in Ash's mind. He jolted upright, startling Pikachu as well.
"Am I… possessed?"
Red: "Congratulations, kid. You just hit the jackpot."