With the ill-faithed Pokemon Battle drawing nearer, Ash is bothered by the fact that he has no Pokemon on hand. As a matter of fact, he has no Pokeball to start with. Meanwhile, Calem has the right Pokemon to challenge Ash. He has been training it ever since he initiated the battle.

One week before the battle

Ash POV

"Ringgg!" the school bell sounds. To me, the time spent in school is the time wasted in finding a Pokemon for the battle. It seems impossible to gain the trust of any wild Pokemon to battle for you without the use of a Pokeball...

"ASH!" a voice echoes in my ears.

It is Calem's. I come to my sense as I was staring into blank space. "Ash, have you given up? I dont see your Pokemon!" Calem exclaims proudly.

"No, I haven't. I will find one to fight you!" I say confidently.

"Sure, go ahead, you won't even have the time to train it for a battle," Calem explains.

After digesting his words, Calem does make some sense. He adds, "Good luck to even finding one!" as he takes his lift.

Gary comes around the corridor and says, "What a cocky Calem! Make sure you destroy him!"

"But I dont even have one."

"I could lend you one from my Grams. Charizard? Venusaur? Blastoise? Anyone of them will be strong enough to rekt Calem!" he exclaims.

"No, I can find myself."

"HOW TO!" a high pitch voice that did not come from Gary's mouth reach my ears.

I turn my attention to her in disbelief. She starts her interrogation. "Why didnt you tell me about the battle earlier? Why do you always have to keep things to yourself? Why are you always so selfish? Why? Why?" Her voice becomes louder and louder but lucky for us, most of the students have left the school so not many are around the school premises. Her face starts to boil red hot. Her blue eyes turn into a death stare, I cannot simply look into her vicious eyes. She clenches both her fists. After a while, she releases the pressure she mounted on her palms and walks away from me.

"Your new girlfriend?" Gary whispers to me.

All I could do is to nod in response to his question. He adds, "Then why dont you chase her back?"

I could not think of a reply so I just walk away from Gary, in the opposite direction to where Serena was going. My steps become smaller and smaller as I second thought on my actions. Then, I trace myself back to Serena.

Finally, I find her outside the school library. I grab her hand from behind her. I say, "Serena."

She swings my hand breaking free from my grip and turns around. She looks into my auburn eyes and says, "Ash, is there anything else I need to know, other than that Calem's battle?"

Feeling afraid, I did not dare to look back at her eyes, I could only stare at the blue ribbon I gave her as a symbol of my love on her chest. However, she notices it. Using her left hand, she grabs the blue ribbon and threatens to remove it.

"Ok ok, I say."

I add, "Calem wants a 1v1 Pokemon battle on 3rd February to settle an old score."

"Where?" she asks.

"At Old Pokeford Stadium," I reply.

"Oh no-o, that place is owned by Jason!"

"Who is he?"

"He is Calem's father and if not wrong, he is 16 by 3rd February, so he will not be breaking the law!" Serena explains as she becomes more worried about me, holding her hands up in worry.

I grab her cold hands and tell her, "It is ok, everything will be fine, I promise."

"How can you be so calm, it is obviously a trap Calem sets up for you!" Serena says, as my calmness makes her even more panicked.

She adds, "I cannt take it!" as she releases my grip and runs away yet again. Her silhouette becomes smaller and smaller, yet I could not think of a way to stop her. I just cannot. Whatever I do, I just make her even more stressed. Haizz, I just dont understand girls. When I am angry at she, she dont like. When I am calm in front of her, she still dont like. What complex nature women can be...

Serena POV

As I distance myself from Ash for the second time, I will involuntarily look backwards several times to see if Ash was coming back. However, to my disappointment, he did not. Did I hurt his self-esteem? Or was he acting calm just now?

After waiting for Ash, he still did not reappear. Hence, I decide to find Calem.

Upon arriving in front of Calem's house, his door opens when I am about to knock on his door. It is as if he knows my presence. He says, "My, my, Serena, you looking for me, to say sorry about this morning?"

"No, I want you to back out from the Pokemon battle with Ash," I reply straight to the point, not intending to waste any time.

"Oh-h, so you know about it just now? And also why should I withdraw?" Calem boastfully says.

"Because~~" I stutter on my reasoning.

"Why Serena?" as Calem takes a step forward and grabs my both my shoulders with his hands.

After gaining the courage to say the reason, I break his grip and take a step backwards and say, "Because it is a trap, a trap that will cause Ash to break the law!"

"So you know, you are so smart." as he takes yet another step forward and strokes my hair the similar way he did back when he was my boyfriend.

Yet again, I stop him and take a step back. I say, "Calem, please cancel it. I beg you!"

"NO, I cannot, I cannot let Ash steal my girlfriend, THIS BATTLE WILL SETTLE EVERYTHING!" Calem yells at me.

Now knowing Calem's full and clear intentions, I stand dumbfounded. He adds, "Also did Ash propose the cancellation of the battle!"

He pauses for a moment, expecting me to reply, however, I did not. He continues shouting, "NO HE DID NOT, SO WHOEVER LOSES WILL HAVE TO GIVE UP ON YOU!!!"

"NO, I WONT WANT TO BE WITH YOU, YOU MANIAC," I reply, trying to be as fierce as him.

"WE WILL SEE," Calem says as he leaves for his garden behind his house. 

I too leave the place disappointed not to be able to help Ash. Thinking back on Calem's words, Ash does really treat me real well, as if he will leave me one day. Does this mean that even he himself dont have the confidence to win? That's true since he does not have any Pokemon...

Feeling thorough worrisome for Ash, I slowly walk home under the snow which has become lighter as January is about to end. As I find my way home, I stare down on the ground. As I did not have a third eye on my forehead, I accidentally knock down an old man. "Sorry, I am so sorry," as I lean my body forward in apology. 

This old man turns out to be Professor Oak. I quickly pick up his things and hand them over to him. "It is ok, young girl."

I ask, "Professor Oak, dont you know me? I am Serena, from Oak High School!"

Before he could reply, "CCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHHHUUUUUUUUUUUU!"

A very bright yellow lighting is sent upwards to the sky, right in front of my face. It is so thick, so strong. Professor Oak turns around and notices the sparks. I request, "Professor Oak, could you follow me there. I want to see which Pokemon has such enormous power." 

Professor Oak hesitates for a moment and agrees. We two chase after where the lighting comes from. When we are at sight of the Pokemon, it unleashes yet another strong thunderbolt up towards the sky. All we could see is a bright yellow circular centre. Other than that, I notice a human, about 50m away. He is slowing creeping his way to that charged Pokemon. He seems like he wants to capture it, but does not look like he has any Pokeballs. Professor Oak tells me, "Dont go any nearer, Serena, it is too dangerous!"

I reply, "I must, that guy is Ash! He too is also in danger!"

"Ash? What is he doing there?" Professor Oak asks.

"I think he is trying to capture it."

"But-t he is underaged." Professor Oak explains

"That's why I need your help now!"

"How can I help?" he asks

"Lend me a Pokeball for Ash," I ask nicely and politely

"Are you nuts, if he is caught, I will also be thrown too." he defends himself

"Just do it, Professor, please!"

Hoping to touch his feelings, I state my request again this time more convincing, "Professor, please lend Ash one before it is too late!"

"Alright, here you go!" as he hands me a red and white ball with a button to be pressed in the centre.

As if in movies, I run towards Ash, only thinking of how to pass him this ball. At the same time, my eyes are always hooked onto his body, always hoping that he will see me.

Finally, my running sound is heard by Ash and he looks at me. This is my chance. I scream, "ASH TAKE THIS!" as I throw the ball on the hand as far as I can. I could only see the ball spinning in mid-air, waiting to be used.

I see Ash takes a leapt and catch the ball in hand. He even waves the ball back at me, and mouth what I understand as 'thank you!'

After that mouse Pokemon calms down from the huge discharge of electricity, it looks weak. Taking a second look, that Pokemon looks like the one back in Kanto. Its long tail, hairless top, sharp ears and skinny looks make sure my judgement even more accurate. It is that same Pikachu! That Pikachu will always spend time with us, Ash and me during that summer camp playing together. It loves climbing onto both our shoulders from one end to another and eventually jump off in style. Sometimes, we will chase after that Pikachu while playing catching.

And now Ash is trying to catch it to battle Calem!

Since it looks weak, Ash seizes the opportunity and throws the received Pokeball at that Pikachu. As it spins it in mid-air again, this time I clasp my hands together praying that Ash will catch it. As soon as it makes contact with Pikachu, the button clicks open by itself and the top red portion of the ball opens. Red light of Pikachu soon enters the Pokeball which then drops and rests on the ground.

The ball shakes sideways for the first time but nothing happens, no escape whatsoever.

The ball shakes sideways again, the second. Yet, nothing happens again.

The ball shakes for the third and final time, this time more violent and faster...

---

Stay tuned for the next chapter to find out if Ash successful captures that Pikachu!

Other than that, I would like to say thank you for all the support you readers have given me, clearing both my doubts and yours. Now, this is the second month going into this book. And to be honest, from the beginning, the ending has been planned.

Also, talking about plans, I have thought of how my next book will be like. I think a little sneak peak will not do much harm :D.

As usual, see you in the comments section below. Enjoy!