The wild Pokémon was shocked. The nice human who had battled so courageously had lost to the mean human. It was enough to drive it to tears. "Odd…OOOOODDDDD!"

The little Pokémon sobbed as it ran back to Route 23.

Brayden took Wartortle into his arms. Tears welled up in his eyes as he ran back into the Pokémon Center, refusing to hear whatever cruel remark Blue would certainly make.

He handed his Pokémon to the receptionist without a word, then made a beeline to the room he was occupying.

Numerous questions rampaged through Brayden's mind as he sat on the bed, trying to gather himself as the tears of sorrow continued to fall from his eyes.

"Why did we lose that way?"

"Why must Blue to be so awful to my Pokémon and to me?"

"How could I let my Pokémon down again?"

These thoughts tormented him as he thought of Pidgey, Mankey and Butterfree all falling to Blue's Fearow, and Wartortle going down to Ivysaur after he had evolved to defeat Fearow.

Brayden punched the bed cushions with both of his fists.

Then, the PC in the room turned on.

He had a call coming from Professor Oak's lab.

Brayden got up and accepted the call.

Instead of Professor Oak, however, his mother appeared on the screen.

"Mom?" he asked.

Denise's initial smile vanished when she saw the tears on Brayden's face.

"Brayden? What's wrong?" she asked gently.

Brayden explained everything that had happened that day. How he and his Pokémon nearly fell prey to the Zubat in Mt Moon, his loss to Misty, and how he forced Blue into a battle and paid the price.

"I'm a failure, Mom. My Pokémon were counting on me, and I was useless! I don't deserve to be a Pokémon Trainer!" Brayden shouted.

"Don't say that, Brayden. You won a Gym Badge, and your Pokémon love you," his mother responded.

Brayden was furious now. "So what?! It doesn't mean anything to Blue!" He screamed, tears still falling.

His mother was frightened by this. Brayden hung his head.

"I'm sorry, Mom. But I'm coming home. Tomorrow I'm going to Vermillion City, and from there I'll take Diglett's Cave back to Viridian City."

He thought quietly for a few seconds, then he added, "I'll release Pidgey, Butterfree and Mankey in the places I found them on the way. They're better off back in the wild than they are with me."

Denise was visibly disappointed, but if her son needed comforting, she wouldn't turn him away. But as she opened her mouth to tell Brayden this, a hand appeared on her shoulder.

"Let me talk to him, Denise," Brayden heard.

Brayden looked back up at the PC and saw Professor Oak.

"Brayden, I must ask you to reconsider your decision to quit your journey," Oak said sternly. "Releasing your Pokémon after bonding with them, without a good reason, is unhealthy, for both you and them."

Brayden shook his head. "With all due respect, sir, you can't change my mind."

Oak smiled slowly. "Maybe not, but your Pokémon can."

Brayden had been so distressed that he had not noticed his Pokémon enter the room. Mankey was hanging on his right shoulder, Butterfree was on his left shoulder, Pidgey was sitting on his head, and Wartortle was sitting on the side of the bed. The nurse must have heard Brayden's fussing and let his Pokémon out of their Poké Balls.

"Guys…" Brayden said quietly. He didn't know what to say.

The Pokémon all looked at him with sad expressions.

Brayden's expression darkened as he hung his head again. "I don't want to say goodbye, but you'll be happier in the wild! You won't have to suffer the sting of defeat anymore!"

"Will they, though?" Professor Oak asked him very seriously. Brayden didn't respond.

"Brayden, look at me, please," Oak said as kindly as he could.

Brayden did so, still sullen.

"Wild Pokémon battle in some form or another every day. Sometimes for food, other times it's for territory, they may even do so simply for sport. Releasing your Pokémon will not prevent unhappiness in their lives. In fact, it would do the opposite, because they would have to face those battles on their own," Professor Oak explained.

Pidgey rubbed his feathery head against Brayden's, confirming Oak's statement.

The realization struck Brayden like a smack in the face. In that moment, he remembered another reason why he couldn't release his Pokémon. More specifically, his Mankey.

"It's Mankey's dream to fight the Elite Four. I promised him we would get there," Brayden said.

"Mankey…" Mankey nodded sadly.

Releasing his Pokémon would truly make him a failure. He had nearly made a fatal mistake.

"Everyone…I'm sorry," Brayden said.

Wartortle jumped off the bed and hugged Brayden. Butterfree and Mankey each hugged a shoulder, and Pidgey laid down on Brayden's head.

Brayden returned Wartortle's hug, and then, a smile appeared on Brayden's face once more.

"Thanks for being my friends." he said. Each of his Pokémon returned his thanks:

"Pidge."

"Man."

"Free."

"Tortle Wartortle."

Professor Oak sighed in relief, and Brayden's mother shed a few tears of joy.

"I'm so happy that Brayden met these wonderful Pokémon," Denise thought. "He's always struggled at making friends, but these four accepted him for who he is. Maybe they'll even help him make a human friend!"

Once Brayden and his Pokémon were done hugging, his determination had finally been reignited.

"We're going to continue our journey!" he said to his mother and Oak. "We'll catch more Pokémon friends, train hard, and get those Gym Badges!"

"That's wonderful to hear, Brayden!" Denise said cheerfully.

"Indeed!" Oak said. "And Brayden, don't ever let Blue keep you down. I know you can surpass him one day! Never stop believing in yourself or your Pokémon!"

Brayden grinned and held up his fist. "You got it, Professor! Bye, guys!" he said, before shutting off the PC.

The sun was setting outside. They had lost today, but tomorrow would be different!

Brayden is back on his feet, and he and his Pokémon are ready to get serious! Next time: A New Poké friend, and a new (old) enemy!