Me: Hi people! That's right, I'm not dead, my computer had a virus so it had to be fixed. So here's another chapter. One good thing about this reset is I have word 2007 instead of my crappy old one.

Chapter 11

With the first battle just finishing it was now time for Pearl to face up against Harry.

Pearl sat on the bench taking deep breaths, fearing going up against a boy 3yrs older than herself.

"Deep breaths, just stay calm." Pearl muttered. Piplup was getting tired of her constant muttering and breathing so blew bubbles into her face. Pearls head sprang up. "Hey! God you can really tell your mom's Empoleon's kid. Well, I'm not gonna use you anyway, it's about time I used Chikorita after the training I did with her yesterday. So get in your Pokè ball." Pearl said as she returned the water type. The Pokè ball shook in her hands but she held it closed.

"Would the semi-finalist come to the stage please!" Lillian called. Pearl sighed and walked out. Alessandra returned from the toilet and called to her.

"Good luck Pearl! You can do it!"

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The green haired boy walked out from his side of the field. Pearl looked at him, examining her opponent.

Next to him was a Roselia that seemed very well trained. But with 3 years extra experience it didn't surprise her that much.

"I don't know why you've even bothered coming on stage, kid, I'm way stronger than you. It's obvious you're gonna lose." Harry smirked.

"As if, Harry. I think I know who your dad is, and you've definitely inherited his narcissist attitude of his." Pearl growled. Harry laughed.

"Well, my father was also a great co-ordinator, Oak, and I also inherited that. So, I'd stop insulting me if I were you, or I may go have to hurt you're little weakling Pokémon more than necessary." He said. "My dad did know your mother and your aunt, and he was stronger than the two of them."

"Oh yeah? Then how come Auntie May beat him, huh?"

"Favouritism. Now, enough of the chatter, we're here to battle." Harry smirked.

"Go!" Lillian yelled.

"Go Leaf!" Pearl called as she released her Chikorita. Pink flowers burst out around the small green Pokémon, she hit them all away with her leaf.

"Rose, step out!" Harry said calmly. The Rolselia spun out gracefully.

"Use Razor Leaf!" Pearl commanded.

"Magical leaf Rose!"

Pearl's attack was dodged easily and the magical leaf started to head towards Leaf.

"Eep! Dodge it quick Leaf!" Pearl exclaimed. The small grass type leaped out of the way but the attack turned and hit her, knocking her back to the floor. "What the hell?!"

"Magical leaf never misses. Now magical leaf again!" Harry smirked. Pearl's Chikorita didn't stand a chance against the attack. The Roselia was too high of a level and she was already badly hurt.

The poor Pokémon lay unconscious before even 1 minute of the time had gone by. Pearl's eyes watered, and soon she had burst out crying as the red X's appeared on the judges screens. She quickly returned her Pokémon and ran off the stage. The judges and Lillian stared after her with concern whilst Harry just smirked.

"She deserved it."

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Pearl hadn't stopped at the prep room. She ran straight past Alessandra and the other contender and outside. She sat on a bench and started crying. (Scene sound familiar?)

"Hey, what's wrong miss?" A young boy said as he walked towards the crying girl. Pearl didn't look up at the boy. "Hey, do I know you?" Pearl then looked up. The boy had ginger hair with a green headband and blue eyes. He was wearing a black t-shirt, jeans and a yellow jacket with a green V on the front. "Well, well, if it isn't Pearl Oak! Nice to see you again."

"Leaf?" Pearl asked through her tears and sobs.

"The one and only." Leaf grinned. "You haven't been to Cerulean to us the past year or two."

"We've been busy. And you're not the only Leaf, I nicknamed my Chikorita Leaf." She sobbed. "But she's defeated now, all because of me, I'm a weak trainer."

"Hey, hey, hey. You're not weak. You're a beginner trainer, you're going to lose every now and again, just try harder next time. You'll be able to win." Leaf encouraged as he sat next to the sobbing girl. Pearl didn't stop sobbing.

"There hadn't even been a minute of the battle before I was out! I'm not cut out for this, mom managed to get further in time than that when she lost the first time."

Leaf put an arm around her shoulder causing the young female to blush.

"If you speak like that you'll never win." He said. Pearl looked up at him confused.

"Huh?"

"If you don't believe in yourself you lose all confidence in battle. I should know, when I started on my journey 3 years ago I made the same mistake in gym battles. You just need to have faith in yourself and your Pokémon, and then you'll have a greater chance." Leaf smiled. "Now c'mon, let's go find whoever you're travelling with. Then we can go find Yellow."

Pearl nodded and stood up, wiping her tears from her eyes.

What the older boy was saying made sense. She would take his advice into account and work on her strategies.

"Alessandra is in the prep room still." Pearl said. "Francesco is in the stands and Ruby's in a Pokè centre bed."

"WTH?!" Leaf exclaimed.

"She almost drowned yesterday. But she's fine." Pearl explained.

"Was it rashness? Y'know, like her dad was when he was young?"

"Now, it was an accident. She has a friend Dragonair too now. Now c'mon!" Pearl said as she dragged him towards the contest hall.

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Me: Yup! End of that chapter and she lost! Recognise this? It's actually based of an episode. I'm so glad I could get this up! R&R!