So a legend is born in Johto, a legend that travels across regions and wastes no time in beating Lieutenant Surge for the Thunderbadge. Lance grins contentedly when an annoyed Janine calls the League about three weeks later, demanding to speak to her father to understand why her poison tactics didn't work against Gold.

His grin grows even wider when he hears Koga mutter into the phone, "I don't know, Janine. He beat me, too- no, I am not losing my touch- might I remind you that you lost to him as well?"

It takes Gold two months, but finally he finishes off Blue's Pokemon- a battle Lance wishes he could have watched since Blue is by far one of the toughest trainers he has ever had the privilege of knowing. Professor Oak calls with the results, exuberantly bubbling over with the fact that he has sent Gold to find Red on Mt. Silver. "It's a new era, a new journey!" he says excitedly. "Dear me, maybe he can actually find Red and that boy can come down from the mountain!"

"He has been gone for far too long," Lance agrees thoughtfully. "Perhaps he may come down in time for the Gym Leader challenge at the end of this month. I believe Pryce mentioned something about taking a vacation for several weeks... someone will need to upkeep his Gym."

But a month comes and goes, and still no sign of Red or Gold. Lance wins the challenge handily and for the time being occupies top spot in the League; nothing really changes except for the surprise defeat of Morty by Falkner's more experienced Flying Pokemon. Yet everyone holds their positions; nobody beats the Elite Four until the semis, where Will loses to Karen and Bruno loses to Koga. Karen, the winner against Koga, promptly falls to Lance's faster Pokemon- as it should be, she says rather regretfully later.

One day, Lance looks up to the sound of his door opening, and Karen and Will walk in, Gold sandwiched between both of them. At first glance, Lance observes that Gold has grown taller, his face more mature. But upon closer inspection he notices cuts and bruises and scrapes, probably from scaling Mt Silver, Lance thinks to himself. "Are you okay?" he asks first.

Gold slowly nods his head.

Lance frowns. "Did you beat Red?"

The young boy shakes his head.

"He couldn't find him the second time," Will offers when the silence grows too thick. He winces when Karen pokes him in the arm. "Don't hate just because you don't have psychic powers!"

"But you found Red the first time," Lance clarifies, just to be sure.

Gold nods.

So Red is still alive… and missing. Lance sighs and beckons for a chair for Gold. "Well, you tried. Have a rest. Tomorrow I'll move out and you can have this room for yourself."

Gold catches Lance's arm as the man is about to leave, shaking his head wildly.

Lance raises his eyebrow and turns to Will, who steps forward, clearly happy to be able to help. "I think he's saying he doesn't want to stay here."

"Why not?" Lance asks in surprise. "It's got everything he needs. Facilities. Training-"

Gold stares long and hard at Lance, and the Dragon user comes to a realization. "Oh. But you don't need any of those things."

"He wants to beat Red," Karen says quietly. "Even I don't have to be a mind reader to know that."

The golden-eyed boy nods.

"But you're the Champion," Lance says.

"Not till he beats Red," Will points out. "He's here because he needs training."

"Practice battles."

Gold bobs his head.

Lance glances around at his office. "Well," he sighs, "I suppose I could stay here and hold down the fort."

"Um, Lance?"

The former Champion looks at Will, who shrugs sheepishly. "I think Gold is saying that he doesn't want to stay here."

"As in…"

"As in, he doesn't want to be cooped up in a tiny room," Karen says flatly. "It's fine for you, Lance, but this boy is a nomad. He needs to get out and travel the region, capture Pokemon. In fact, I bet Professor Oak gave you a Pokedex, didn't he?"

Gold produces a red machine, and Karen throws up her hands. "That man gives every young trainer one of those."

"What Karen is very undiplomatically saying is, Gold has other duties other than Champion duties to perform," Will cuts in. "Duties such as finding Red and defeating him, duties such as completing the Pokedex, and duties such as mapping out the region for future trainers."

Karen glances at Will when he makes that last part of the statement, and Will shrugs. "He showed me his Pokegear."

Lance looks at Gold. "Are they right?" He ignores Will's muttered, "Of course I'm right, I'm a psychic".

The Champion nods again, and Lance sighs. "Okay. I'll call you if there is a trainer who bypasses Pryce and Clair. Then you'll come right back. Right?"

Gold grins from ear to ear, and Lance is stricken by how similar he and Red are.

...

"So you're going to be at the League as usual, then?"

Lance nods before he realizes that Clair can't see him nodding. He mentally curses Gold for nodding too much, but bites his tongue before replying. "Yes, I suppose so. Someone needs to keep Koga in his place."

"Pity," Clair says wistfully. "I was hoping that you could come visit sometime."

"I still can," Lance points out. "Now that I no longer have to stay at the League in case a trainer comes along, I'm free to go visit trainers and Gyms. When are you free?'

Clair snorts. "I'm a Gym Leader. I'm free any day."

"What about training?" Lance teases.

"Training can wait. Seeing my favorite cousin is more important."

"Oh, so it's 'my favorite cousin' now, is it?"

There is a pause, then Clair mutters, "Fine… so a battle would be good training."

"I thought so," Lance grins.

...

Gold drops by often, awkwardly waving hello as he battles for sport against the Elite Four. Lance is amazed at how quickly Gold grows along with his Pokemon, old and new alike as he brings in his former team and new Pokemon to train for a battle he still has not yet won. The Elite Four offer their help when they can; Will offers Gold tips on speed attacks, Koga offers tips on disguising true intentions, Bruno trains Gold's team in endurance, Karen teaches strategy and Lance teaches power. Gold is a fast learner, and after a year, Will comes in to tell Lance that he feels like Gold is the teacher and no longer the student.

The Gym Leaders join in the fun, too, constantly training against Gold when he drops by their towns. Lance is pleased with the improvements in their battling skills- by the time the next Gym Leader challenge rolls around, the battles are incredibly fast and powerful and everything a Champion might expect from elite trainers.

So a year after Gold has made his incredible journey to the Indigo Plateau, Lance sits in his chair and thoughtfully reflects the events of past years. "It's been interesting, huh?" he says to Pryce, who is deliberating his next move.

"Not so interesting that I still can't win," Pryce says grumpily.

"Not chess. This last year."

"Oh, Pokemon. Why didn't you say so?" Pryce taps his walking stick on the floor. "Gold is a good change for all of us. We were getting… laconic."

"He defeated us and Team Rocket in the same year. Other trainers might take years to do that."

"He still hasn't beaten Red," Pryce notes.

"No… but then again, Red is in a league of his own." Lance taps his fingers thoughtfully. "Maybe some day Gold will be in that league."

"Makes you wonder- are there going to be more trainers like these?" Pryce takes out one of Lance's pawns. "Or are these simply child prodigies?"

"Who knows," Lance says absently. "Who knows, maybe there are more trainers like these in other regions."

"Maybe," Pryce agrees. "But in the meantime, checkmate."

"Pryce, you cheated," Lance says flatly.

"No I didn't!"

"Yes you did," Morty says from where he is napping on the couch.

Lance grins as he leans back in his chair. At least this year I won't be bored, he thinks to himself. At least for now.

At least for now.