(A/N): Hey guys! I´m back with my second story and this one is going to be a bit longer. Again I excuse me for my English. There are probably some mistakes in there (time and such things), but I´m from Germany and only 16 years old so my English is still not the best. Though I very much appreciate all reviews from you! It´ll help me a lot in my next chapters. Oh, and it´s going to be a Pokeshipping story (of course), but that not until the first chapter.

I think I´ve said everything. Now it´s up you if you like it or not.

All I´ve left to say is: Please R&R! ;)

Disclaimer: I don´t own Pokémon.

Crushing Defeat

Chapter One

Ash´s POV

It was one of the most important battles.

A battle, me and my Pokémon trained months for, to finally beat him.

My biggest rival. Paul.

Standing there, with no more Pokémon to battle with, all exhausted with nothing more in my hands, I gave up.

*Flashback*

"Ursaring use Hammer Arm", Paul commented.

"Pikachu Volttackle!"

For a moment I thought I could still win this, but it was hopeless. Right from the beginning. Pikachu raced towards Ursaring, but it wasn´t fast enough. After Ursaring activated it´s Guts Ability, it was way stronger than before. Ursaring´s Hammer Arm and Pikachu´s Volttackle collided with full power and a huge explosion filled the surrounding area of Lake Acuity. I heard Pikachu crying out his name in pain, and in this moment something inside me cracked.

I lost. Completely.

Pikachu is thrown into Lake Acuity by the impact of Hammer Arm. Ursaring stands there, roaring in rage and throwing it´s arms around. But all I was focused of was Pikachu, who not directly appear at the surface. I ran into the water to look for my best friend. Finally I saw him, slowly drifting to the surface of the water.

*End Flashback*

Now, a fainted Pikachu in my arms, I stood at the riverside, wet clothes clinged onto my body, but I didn´t care. My brain switched to autopilot.

"I send you my Pokémon", I heard Paul saying to his older brother Reggie. I raised my head to look at him. He nodded to the referee as a thanks, then he turned to me.

For a moment we just stood there, watching the other for any sign to command the battle, what I usually do. But I wasn´t sure about my voice so I remained silent.

"Heh, so you have nothing to say to this so called ´battle´? Your pathetic as always, just like your Pokémon." At this I clenched my fists, but I didn´t made no move to say something.

"Hey!" I looked over to where my friends were standing and saw an angry Dawn taking a step in Paul´s direction. "Don´t you dare talk to Ash and his Pokémon in such a way! They put up a great battle and you should pay them much more respect, because they deserve it!"

Usually it makes me smile when my friends stand up for me. It´s a way to show that you can always count on them, no matter what.

But now it only deepened the crack inside of me, and it was almost painful to hear such words when I don´t deserve them.

"Stay out of my way, troublesome. Your as pathetic as he is."

Dawn started to say something, but was cut off by Reggie, who stepped between them.

"Paul. I think you have to go no, don´t you?" His voice was calm, but I could hear the suppressed anger behind it.

"Why do I even care?" With that Paul gave me one final glare before he turned around and walked away.

"Isn´t he going to the Pokémon Centre?", Brock asked.

"I´ll take care of them later, don´t worry", Reggie responded. He turned to me and gave me an encouraging nod. "Great battle, Ash. I hope we´ll see each other soon. Take care", and Reggie followed Paul into the setting sun.

I didn´t even recognize how late it had become. I looked down where Pikachu still laid unconscious in my arms. Without another look to my friends I turned on my heels and walked to the Pokémon Centre. Nurse Joy ran towards me as soon as she saw me. She must have noticed the look on my face, because she just took Pikachu carefully and I followed her to the recovering room with my other Pokémon. There I released all of them, so Nurse Joy could take care of them.

Before I reached the door I looked back at my exhausted team. Tears started to fill my eyes and I lowered my had, so no one would see them.

"Thank you all so much for this battle. I know you all gave it your best. Now you guys have a good rest, you deserve it." At the end my voice cracked and I opened the door.

"Pika … Pikachu .. ", I heard Pikachu saying, but I walked out of the room and onto the corridor, closing the door behind me.

The crack grew more and more.

Brock and Dawn waited for me outside the room.

"Hey man", Brock began as I stood in front of them. "Do you need something?" "No", was the responds and I shook my head. "Ok. But if you need anything, just call me or Dawn. We´ll be there for you." I nodded and whispered a small ´thanks´, then I went through the main door, outside, into the setting sun.

It would get colder, but I didn´t care. I walked onto a small hill that surrounded Lake Acuity and sat down.

I watched the sun disappear behind the mountains.

This was one of the most important battles. And I lost. I didn´t disappoint only myself, I could live with that, but most of all I disappointed my team. We trained so long and so hard and it was because of my damn bad battle strategy that we lost.

Suddenly I knew what began to broke inside of me. It was my will.

My will to be the world greatest Pokémon Master. My will to give it all and even more I got to achieve my dreams. My will to fight for the good inside of humans and Pokémon.

My will to fight for me and my Pokémon.