The SILVER Team (PLOT)

"I'm sure," Blue began, giving Red some insight into the other man's mind. There was no hesitation there, not like the prior answer had been. Was that better? Did that bode well? He wasn't completely sure, but he found himself daring to hope. "You're not a burden, Red-I don't think of you as one. Even if you're not familiar with other places, that doesn't matter. You can still leave with me."

The simple invitation, with its equally simple dismissal of Red's anxieties, was another blow to his conviction and resolve. Blue was saying, right there, that no, he didn't have to die here. This didn't have to be his tomb, shared with the memories of the man he used to be. This wasn't the end. It didn't have to be. But in the face of all that hope, that offered helping hand, Red felt himself still tethered to the bleak shadows of his mind.

Dying here, finally succumbing to the numbness and agony, was, in his perspective, a penance. The only token he could offer to balance the scales against the monstrosities he had committed at the Plateau. To offer the only thing left in his possession with even the slightest amount of worth to the memory of those much, much better than himself. If he denied them that now, would they ever forgive him? Would leaving with Blue to pursue some sort of happiness further insult them and what he did to them? His debt... how would he ever be able to repay it without staying here?

Blinking, Red found that there were suddenly tears on his cheeks and quickly wiped them away. While he wasn't currently all that cold, he knew better than to have outright water on his very skin. He struggled to control his breathing and emotions, painfully aware that this would be the upteenth time he'd broken down in Blue's company, and swallowed before making a verbal reply. "I'll... keep it in mind." His voice wavered, betraying his turmoil, but kept himself turned from Blue.  It wasn't a concrete answer either way, but... at the moment, it was the best he could do. "...Thank you."

"I'll... keep it in mind," Red said to him, though his voice was anything except confident. "...Thank you."

It was probably his mind playing tricks, but Blue could have swore the night air felt a little colder. He'd really tried to show Red he meant every word he said, that the other man could travel with him, that he wasn't any kind of burden. Had Blue fucked up somehow? Had his words come across as fake? Anxiety brought a hundred different answers, and none of them were positive. Red wasn't even looking at him anymore-his answer had been vague, and Blue couldn't tell which direction it would go. Did he mean yes or no? To his building frustration, he had no real way of knowing, nor could Blue decide on whether he was overreacting or not. Great job, Blue, panicking over like seven words.

Still... sitting here and slowly freaking out over Red's answer wouldn't help make him feel any better about any of it. That, and he didn't think pushing the other man for further details would be a great idea, either. Weird as it was to think of Red as being fragile, well... in a way that's exactly what he was. He'd seen before what could happen when Red reached his limits, and this exchange had probably been tiring enough for both of them. It would probably be best to save it for morning, or whenever Red felt well enough to breach the subject again. With any luck, that'd be before they reached the summit. If Red's answer was no, then honestly, Blue would rather hear it sooner than later. It'd give him more time to think on what the hell he'd do.

"You're welcome, Red." Just speaking those words almost made Blue cringe-why couldn't he have thought of more to say? Something helpful for once, maybe. But if Red needed time to think on his answer, then he could at least give him that. Better to give him space than try and force the conversation to drag out.

"You're welcome, Red."

Red let out a small sigh of relief as Blue simply let the conversation go. He wasn't sure how he would have been able to keep talking, keep trudging through that conversation without completely revealing his plans for when he reached the summit. Why it was so important he stay. But he didn't have to. Blue had mercifully spared him.

Leaning back into Blue's warmth, mindful to keep the pokemon beside them warm, Red closed his eyes in an attempt to fall asleep. The next part of the climb was often the hardest and they'd need their strength for it to make it in one day. He let his head loll and rest on Blue's shoulder, their height difference actually making it a rather comfortable pillow. With another sigh, this one born of exhaustion instead of relief, Red settled a little more into Blue. Hopefully, he could turn his mind off long enough to pass out. "...Goodnight, Blue."

(Time skip next round.)

As much as he hated his simple words, they at least did the trick of letting their conversation trail off into silence. Without the need to answer Red or think on their future keeping him alert, Blue found that his earlier drowsiness was morphing into outright exhaustion. The warmth from the other three being near him only made his eyes feel heavier; Blue doubted he would be able to stay awake for very long. That was good, though-scaling a mountain wasn't some leisurely stroll, and Blue wanted all the rest he could get for the next stretch of their journey. That, and being asleep meant, for a little while, he could be away from his anxiety-ridden thoughts over what would happen if he and Red went their separate ways.

Soon enough, Red laid his head down on Blue's shoulder, which wasn't as uncomfortable and somewhat painful as he expected it to be. Blue obviously couldn't know if his own shoulder was an agreeable place to rest one's head, but if it helped Red sleep, he didn't mind. They both needed some rest. Some time without having to dwell on their uncertain futures.

"...Goodnight, Blue."

"Good night, Red," he answered before finally closing his eyes.

Red awoke gently; something he had not anticipated. He didn't feel particularly rested, but he didn't recall any nightmares. That was definitely a plus. He was warm, more than normal, and the shoulder under his head was only slightly uncomfortable. He roused a bit, blinking away the sleep in his eyes and mind and had to quickly remind himself that there was a little bat in his jacket.

Taking in a long breath of crisp clear mountain air, he turned his eyes to the soft grey light pouring in nearby. Little flecks of snow floated about to silently land on a gradually widening pile of the stuff. The blizzard had stopped, it seemed, for the moment. It was a rare window of opportunity to get to the summit.

With some regret, Red rose completely and gently nudged Blue's arm as he stood. "Come on; the storm's quiet for now. We need to get going."

When Blue opened his eyes again, the first thought in his mind was that his shoulder was lighter than it'd been before. That, and someone was nudging his arm... it couldn't actually be morning already, right? He could have sworn he'd just fallen asleep not too long ago. The fact Artorias was no longer lying right next to him made things even more confusing.

"Come on; the storm's quiet for now. We need to get going."

Oh. Right. They still had a summit to reach, didn't they, which meant it really was morning. His thoughts from last night were slowly coming back, which included their conversation from last night, but... that could wait until later. Even if Blue wasn't exactly well-rested, it was good enough that he could process what was going on, and didn't feel too sluggish. He'd need to be alert while they traveled, and that meant he couldn't dwell too much on what had happened yesterday.

As he got up from his now-former spot and prepared to leave, Blue spared a glance towards the edge of the alcove, and what Red told him about the storm calming down rang true-this light snow was nothing compared to last night's blizzard. That was a lucky break, even if it might only be temporary; now they just had to hope the weather wouldn't worsen during their trek towards the summit.

As they made the quick preparations to leave, it didn't slip by Red that everyone was completely silent. Even the rambunctious little bat kept himself quiet, apparently already aware of the gravity of their trek. Red generally loved the silence over noise, especially in his home, but now, he wasn't completely sure. It wasn't like the others to be... well, so like himself. However, he certainly wasn't up for changing that. While it was a little unnerving, he needed to focus on the climb. Weather permitting, they'd get to the top today.

And there... there, he'd have to give Blue his answer.

Once ready, he led the way outside, his small feet sinking through the fluffy snow. Not terribly deep, but it would hinder them at the higher altitudes. Still, it wouldn't be impossible. With the sky a grey blanket over the world and the snow consuming the ground, it was a task to remember that there was something else out there other than his monochromatic sanctuary. Such isolation would help him with the task at hand. As much as he wanted to sit and soak in his beautiful home, there was still his responsibility on the peak.

One step in front of the other. That's all that mattered at this point.

---

As expected, the trip had taken them the majority of the day. Red, focused on making as good time as he could while the weather was generously stagnant, didn't speak a single word. But hours later, after they passed the last marker for the trail, they came upon the old familiar archway that led into his den. The door he'd fashioned and erected himself was still in place, the door still shut. At least nothing had marched its way back in. A good sign.

As he reached for the handle, it occurred to him that, of all the places in this mountain, whoever cleaned it free of Infected would likely have hunkered down here, where there were already supplies and fortifications against the weather. His hand paused as it hovered over the door handle, unsure whether it needed to go to the pistol at his hip. Should he draw his weapon? Surely there was nothing to lose and everything to gain if he did. Still, why was he hesitating?

Get a hold of yourself, Red, it's a fucking door.

Shaking his head free of the conflicts, he simply opened the door and stepped inside. There was a snaking tunnel of about fifty feet, with many twists and turns, before the tunnel would open into a decent sized cavern. That was where he'd finally have to decide-- a thought that caused his heart to race, as he still hadn't settled on a choice despite hours to think. Out of habit, he stomped out the snow from his boots and moved forward a few steps before stopping completely, eyes wide with alarm. There, in the middle of the tunnel, was an open can of beans, its contents long gone and its edges scorched by what he could only guess was fire.

He held up a finger to Blue behind him, then bent and picked it up to examine the can more closely. Sure, it was the same brand he stockpiled, but he was never one to leave trash so close to the entrance. With a look to Blue, he pressed a finger to his own lips, signaling silence, and placed the can to the side. A swift motion brought his rifle to his hands, and with it, his body instinctively postured itself for stealth. There was an intruder here, after all.

Rage swelled in his soul. Who would dare taint his sanctuary, this solemn monument to his family and friends? Eating his food, littering his home-- the fury grew as he continued down the tunnel and more and more trash littered the ground. He was careful to not disturb any of it, as much as he wanted to. The bastard that had squatted in his home would definitely hear their approach. Still, Red continued on, his mind set on blasting the unknown intruder to hell, and he paused as the cavern's entrance finally came into view, its archway lit by dim firelight. Someone was definitely in there. With a glance back to Blue, Red rounded the corner, raised his rifle and.... froze.

There wasn't much change in his living area, other than all of the blankets everyone shared being compiled into one large, fluffy pallet. The fire was safely contained in the fire pit at the center of the room, illuminating the various trinkets and knickknacks Red and his family had come to love. A map of Kanto was in bad shape, but still somehow hanging from one of the walls. The old tent he'd used for travel and what marked his own personal room was still pitched, its door unzipped and open. And there, laying on the pallet, was a small yellow figure Red had thought long, long gone.

The rifle lowered and Red felt the color drain from his face. Tears welled up in his eyes as he stared, unbelieving, at the sleeping form of his best friend, safe in their home's warm glow.

"...Pika...?"

Immediately, those ears perked and twitched, his tail raised a bit and he turned. It was him. By some miracle Red wasn't altogether sure was reality, it was Pika. Out of the hordes of Pikachu he'd seen over the years, he knew, even against the fire's light, this was him. Everything suddenly clicked into place. The bone pit, the empty tunnels.

It hadn't been an intruder. It hadn't been Lance or even Blaine. It was Pika. He'd come home... and protected it.

Red suddenly found himself on his knees, vision blurred by tears and the rifle now on the floor and out of his limp grip. There was only a small moment where he wondered whether or not Pika even wanted to see him-- after all, the last time they'd been together, Red had slaughtered his teammates and brothers. But that fear was immediately dispelled as Pika propelled himself forward, already weeping himself, and tackled Red.

"You're home!" Pika cried, his voice muffled by Red's body. "You're actually here-- I knew you'd come back. I knew you'd come back!"

The entirety of their trek was thankfully spared any harsh weather, but it was also spent in silence. Blue wanted to say something more than once as the hours stretched on, he just... didn't. Artorias kept quiet too, though that wasn't any sort of surprise; he and Red both had that tendency to not say much. Speaking of Red-maybe it would have been smart to bring up their conversation from last night, but every time Blue reflected for even a few seconds on the answer he didn't want to hear, his stomach twisted itself into unpleasant knots. So instead, he kept his mouth shut and stewed in his own thoughts.

Late in the day, they reached the door that led to Red's old sanctuary. Blue wasn't sure what he felt upon seeing it-apprehension, maybe? Being this close to their destination meant that it wouldn't be long before they would be forced to bring up everything they'd talked about yesterday, which in turn meant Red's answer to his offer wasn't far off. Blue spent hours trying to avoid thinking about that, and now here they were, almost to the point where "not thinking about it" wouldn't be an option. Anyone would be anxious over something like that. Right? Him wanting to be anywhere except in this cave couldn't be unusual.

As they entered the tunnel, that unease only seemed to weigh heavier. For a fleeting moment, Blue wondered if the feeling would continue to worsen the more distance they covered-but all that became meaningless background noise when he and Red both caught sight of the object lying right there in sight, as though it'd been carelessly tossed aside. A can. An empty one. In any other context, it might've been an innocent, harmless sight, but Red hadn't been back here until this very minute. He also wasn't the type to throw shit around his own home, and that can looked charred-so who the hell had done this? Had it been emptied recently?

A thousand questions ran through his head, but Blue still stopped at Red's signal, waited and watched without speaking as the other man inspected the empty can. Maybe Blue was being paranoid, and this thing was only a remnant of when Red had last been on the mountain. He's human, after all, everyone leaves things lying about sometimes. That overly-optimistic thought, however, was quickly quashed when Red puts a finger to his lips; Blue immediately knew to not say a word, because if Red wanted him to be silent, that meant they weren't alone in here; giving away their location by talking would be monumentally stupid.

They made their way quietly done the rest of the tunnel, Artorias staying at Blue's side. Whoever was living here had left a fuckton of garbage everywhere, which Blue narrowed his eyes at; if even he was pissed seeing trash strewn about, then Red must be losing his damn mind. Seeing his old home messed up by a trespasser... though that begged the question: who, or what, could possibly be here? Was it the one who'd created that bone pit they'd seen before? That seemed the most likely answer, Blue thought as he followed silently after Red; clearing out a mountain of undead only to leave it didn't make any sense. That, however, only made him think of what might happen should this intruder decide to attack. Blue had stopped Red from using his guns before, but if worst came to worst, he couldn't deny that rifle might just be what would save their asses.

They went through the tunnel and finally, almost into the cavern itself; Blue stood behind Red and therefore had less view of what was ahead, but he could still see the firelight; there was no doubt now, someone other than them was here. Red gave him a single look before going ahead, and when Blue followed, the first thing he realized was that the man wasn't doing anything. He hadn't expected Red to immediately start shooting, but not even saying anything to the person or Pokemon that'd taken over his haven? A quick look at the room revealed a collection of Red's old belongings, nothing too out of the ordinary and certainly nothing that would stop the other in his tracks.

There was something laying there on a bed of blankets, though, that caught his eye. It was... it was a Pikachu. A Pikachu? What could Red possibly be thinking right now? If there were right words for this situation, Blue had no idea what they could be. He'd seen plenty of Pikachu in his travels, but to have one of the little Electric-types here, at Mount Silver, looking as if he'd always lived here...? No. It couldn't be.

"...Pika...?"

No way. No fucking way.

Red would never mistake another Pikachu for his own. Blue knew that. Just like how Blue could always tell Artorias apart from other Umbreon-like how he knew it was his Umbreon when he found him in Viridian Forest-Red knew this was his Pikachu. Which meant no matter how much his mind tried to deny it, this was really Pika, the same Pikachu Blue had thought dead throughout their entire journey. Pika-alive, well, in his old home, looking right at his old trainer. The shock of it all left him frozen, too; he didn't move even when Red fell to his knees, and his only comprehensible thought was what the hell is Pika going to do?

As soon as that question crossed his mind, though, Pika practically threw himself into Red's arms. "You're home! You're actually here-- I knew you'd come back. I knew you'd come back!"

Hearing Pika speak only short-circuited his thoughts further; even Artorias looked visibly stunned. Pika was alive. Pika was here. And the sheer magnitude of that one fact left Blue unable to say anything that would interrupt the reunion between trainer and Pokemon.

Everything shattered.

Red clung so desperately to Pika, his cracking sobs echoing in the cavern, he lost sight of everything else. Nothing else was with them. Not the dozens of cans of beans, not Blue or Artorias, not the fact that the sole reason he'd come up here had been to die. All that was in his mind was the familiar smell of the mouse's charged fur, the little happy squeaks of joy, the way his little nails dug into his clothes. All things he thought were forever lost were now overwhelming his senses. And he embraced it wholeheartedly.

It took a moment for Red to realize that Pika was actually speaking to him-- it sounded weird hearing his old friend's voice through the comm. "Oh my sweet God above, Red, listen! You have to get out of here; they're going to be back soon, and if they see or smell you, they'll hunt you down!" The words tried to cut into his elation, but for a while they simply bounced off. He looked down at his frantic Pikachu, who was continuously looking back to the door that opened to the peak, and Red dumbfoundedly followed his gaze.

"...'They'?" Red slowly echoed, still obviously not getting it. "Who--"

Pika's face grew pained, but he knew his trainer needed to know. He'd find out soon one way or another, after all. "Charlie and Vee. They survived, Red, and... well... they're not..." How did he tell his best friend that his family loathed him? "They won't be so happy to... to see you..." Oh, Red. Did he even hear what Pika was saying? He'd never seen the man so worn, so... broken... Was he hearing anything at all? Was he in shock? Hell, would that really be so surprising? Pika quickly tapped Red's arm for a reaction, anything, to show that Red's mind was still functioning. It was not.

His eyes trailed to find Blue and Artorias awkwardly to the side and his long ears perked.

"Artorias? Blue...? Why-- nevermind, please, get Red out of here before they show back up. I'm going to have a hard enough time getting his scent out--"

"'Leave'?" Red snapped out of the small stupor he'd found himself in the wake of all the shock. First Pika was alive and now two more of his team were still alive?! "I can't leave, I have to see-- Ow!" Red rubbed his arm, where Pika had just shocked him. One of the very few things he did not miss.

The little mouse snapped his fingers in Red's face, determined to get through to his trainer. "Hey! It wasn't a suggestion! Red, I love you, and I always will, but what happened at Indigo Plateau was... the most horrifying thing I've ever witnessed. And though I forgive you and know that you couldn't have done that of your own free will, Charlie and Vee do not agree. Please. They. Will. Kill. You. Get out. Please! They're due back any minute!"

"But--"

Exasperated, Pika shocked him again and turned to Blue, not minding the yelp of pain. "Please! Get him away from here!"

Blue and Artorias were, understandably, left to the side in the midst of the tearful reunion between Red and Pika. He was still so stunned by the revelation of the Electric-type's survival that he couldn't think of a single thing to say or do; he hadn't been prepared for this at all. What would he have said to them, anyways? "Good to see you again, Pika, glad you're not dead"? No, it was better to not intrude on such an emotional moment. Judging by Artorias' silence, he felt the same way, and was no doubt just as dumbfounded as Blue was. But while the Pikachu had been obviously happy to see his trainer alive and well, that excited voice soon gave way to a tone of unexpected panic as Pika attempted to get his trainer's attention.

"Oh my sweet God above, Red, listen! You have to get out of here; they're going to be back soon, and if they see or smell you, they'll hunt you down!"

What the hell-they? Who was they and why the fuck would they be trying to hunt Red down? The Pikachu's fear seemed to latch onto him, and Blue began to look in the same direction as Pika, as though he'd catch a glimpse of whoever it was the mouse was trying to warn them about. He had no idea who they could be; the only other Pokemon they'd encountered this entire time before now was Mikhail, who had been uncharacteristically quiet the entire time. His mind went back to how clear the tunnels had been; that could have easily been Pika's sole doing, but what if he wasn't alone? Again, Blue was left stumped by exactly who the Pikachu could possibly be with, and why the hell he'd tolerate Pokemon who were threats to his own, clearly still-beloved trainer.

Red echoed the same sentiment he'd been thinking, "...'They'? Who--"

"Charlie and Vee. They survived, Red, and... well... they're not..."

If Blue had been getting over his earlier shock, this knocked him right back into the realm of utter disbelief. Charlie and Vee too, not just Pika-? The entire time they'd been making their way through this mountain, Blue had thought all of Red's Pokemon dead, killed by their trainer, yet now Pika was here, and he was telling them he wasn't the only survivor. That was... goddamn, Blue couldn't describe what that was. Not once had he ever anticipated this happening. If even he was completely blindsided by all this, then what could Red be feeling knowing not one, but three of his old friends still lived? A part of him didn't want to think about it, especially when he'd never experienced the same kind of loss Red had.

"They won't be so happy to... to see you..."

Blue didn't need to be told by anyone else here what "they won't be so happy to see you" really meant. At that moment, all he felt was a growing sense of trepidation; they'd spent so long trying to get here, yet Blue wanted nothing more than for him, Artorias, and Red to go right back to the way they came from. Back down the mountain, where they knew things were safe. He knew Red wouldn't go without a fight, not when he'd just reunited with Pika, but Blue was not willing to take the Pikachu's warnings lightly. Not when it could mean Red would be attacked-maybe even killed-by his own Pokemon. Before he could voice his idea, though, Pika finally took notice of him and Artorias.

"Artorias? Blue...? Why-- nevermind, please, get Red out of here before they show back up. I'm going to have a hard enough time getting his scent out--"

It was then that Red finally snapped back to reality. "'Leave'? I can't leave, I have to see-- Ow!"

"Hey! It wasn't a suggestion! Red, I love you, and I always will, but what happened at Indigo Plateau was... the most horrifying thing I've ever witnessed. And though I forgive you and know that you couldn't have done that of your own free will, Charlie and Vee do not agree. Please. They. Will. Kill. You. Get out. Please! They're due back any minute!"

"But--"

Pika wasn't having any of his trainer's protests, and even though it was a necessary thing to do, Blue instinctively winced at Red's pained cry. The Pikachu turned to him and Artorias next, the desperation in his voice palpable. "Please! Get him away from here!"

Blue did not need to be told twice. "Red, you know Pika wouldn't be trying to get you out of here if you weren't in actual danger," he said, trying to stay collected even as the very real, very terrifying possibility of Charlie and Vee hunting down their own trainer loomed over them. Those two-they were powerful enough in the old days, god knew what they'd be capable of when they were hellbent on murder. He did not want to drag Red away from his own Pokemon and his own home, but if that was what it took to keep him from possibly getting himself killed... Blue didn't bother to keep the urgency out of his tone. Any other time, he might have been less blunt, but that was a luxury they did not have. "He's trying to keep you alive-so we're leaving, now."

Pika was asking him to leave? LEAVE? He'd just spent days climbing this fucking mountain after being away for literal years. Years. He couldn't leave. Couldn't. "Red, you know Pika wouldn't be trying to get you out of here if you weren't in actual danger," Blue began in a shaky voice. "He's trying to keep you alive-so we're leaving, now."

He couldn't look at Blue-- his eyes were involuntarily locked on his should-be-dead best friend. "...I can't..." Even with the threat of a bloodthirsty Charizard and Espeon after him, he couldn't leave. He couldn't leave that face. Couldn't tear his eyes away. But as Pika was about to try and shock more sense into Red -spoiler, it wouldn't work- a sound outside made the tiny electric mouse freeze in fear. His eyes went to the backdoor, leading to the peak, and Red was compelled to follow his gaze. It sounded like wings.

Because this was their home, there was no knock. Charlie and Vee simply walked in, both Pokemon shaking off a layer of snow. In the moment they laid eyes on each other, there was perfect silence. Even outside, the unpredictable weather had stayed rather calm, soft powder floating innocently in to their warm sanctuary. Red spied his sins-- cauterized wounds on Charlie and Vee's stomach and throat respectfully. The mental image of them burning their wounds closed spilled into his mind and he felt himself fall further into guilt. Seeing Pika had given him hope, but... no. He deserved to die.

They were obviously shocked, but Vee was always the quicker to react. Without warning, Red's rifle snapped into a thousand pieces with a blast of psychic power, causing Red to fall backward in shock. "Guys, please," Pika begged, putting himself between his comrades and his trainer. "We don't have to fight. We really don't-- we can... we can work through this."

"You're absolutely right," Charlie snarled. his massive fangs bared with tongues of flame licking hungrily behind them. Were they always that big? God, they were bigger than his fingers... "You can get the fuck out of the way and let us rip him apart."

//Blue, Artorias,// Vee began in their minds, his own physical voice having been robbed from him. //Leave. We have no quarrel with you.//