DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN POKEMON

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Chapter 2: Taking a Loss

"Since Ash's Charizard is unwilling to battle, this has been declared an instant forfeit. Therefore, Ritchie's Pikachu is the winner and Ritchie will be moving into the next battle round of the tournament.", shouted out the referee.

A younger 10-year-old Ash looked at what had just been said.

He had lost.

Lost his very first league.

He looked his pokemon, Charizard. He was just laying down there on the battlefield, taking a nap and not having a care about anything single thing in the world.

Not even his trainer.

Ash's ears fell deaf on everything else that was happening. He had just taken a heavy and humiliating loss that could leave deep marks. A loss that proves that he's just not ready to hand a strong pokemon like Charizard.

But who was he kidding? Charizard wasn't that powerful. At least not to Ash. Ever since evolving from Charmeleon, he had had almost no training and participated in almost no form of event of gym battle. And still, Charizard thinks himself as extremely powerful. Too powerful for a wimpy trainer like Ash Ketchum.

Ash just did what he does after the end of a battle.

"Charizard, return.", said Ash as he returned Charizard to his pokeball. Charizard attempted to roast Ash with one of his classical Flamethrowers again before being returned, but Ash narrowly stepped aside, letting it miss and Charizard returned to his pokeball.

Ash pulled down the brim of his cap over his face, letting it to be covered in shadow, and walked off from the stadium.

Soon, his two travelling companions, Brock and Misty, caught up to him. They both had their bags with them on their backs. Pikachu stayed with them so he could watch from the stands of the stadium. He then jumped on his trainer's shoulder like usual.

"Ash?", asked Misty with concern to her friend.

"I don't wanna talk right now, Misty. I've got too much on my mind right now and I am not in the mood for talking about what just happened back there.", murmured Ash in disappointment.

"What are you going to do now?", asked Brock.

"I'm gonna take my pokemon back to the Pokemon Centre to get healed. In the meantime, I'll get some food for myself.", said Ash, "What are you guys going to do yourselves?"

"Well, I want to go see my family back in Pewter City. And see how my Dad is coping with being the gym leader again.", said Brock.

"And I've got to head back to Cerulean City to resume my duties as being a gym leader again. And I have to make sure that my sisters aren't giving away badges for free like they usually do.", said Misty.

"Okay.", said Ash softly.

"Ash, we're sorry that you lost the league, but we're your friends and we support you all the way. You'll win next time. We're sure of it.", said Misty, patting Ash's shoulder.

"Yeah, not every trainer wins on both their first try and on their first year of being a trainer. I'm sure you'll do way better next time.", said Brock.

"We still support you in all your battles, Ash. Just remember that.", said Misty, "Don't think that we're leaving you just because you lost."

"I understand. Thanks, you guys. I'm lucky to have friends like you guys.", said Ash happily, before he pulled out Charizard's pokeball and frowning, "Unlike someone."

"Good to hear, Ash.", said Brock.

"Yeah. So I guess this is good-bye for now, huh?", asked Ash.

"Maybe. We'll be sure to keep in touch with each other. Write letters, send emails, talk over the phone.", said Misty.

"Maybe if we all went on journeys at one point in our lives, we might cross paths and we can travel together again.", said Brock.

"We might just do that.", said Ash.

"Well, see you later, Ash.". said Brock as he turned and left the Pokemon Centre.

"Yeah, see you another time, Ash. And good luck on your future journeys.", said Misty as she followed Brock.

"Good-bye, Brock and Misty.", waved Ash to his friends when as they left.

Although Ash was still deep in his foul mood, but he was feeling a little better.

"Right. Gotta get my pokemon checked.", said Ash to himself her Chansey were waiting for any trainers to drop off their pokemon.

"Welcome to the Pokemon Centre, Ash. What can I do for you?", asked Nurse Joy.

"Can you please heal my pokemon?", asked Ash as he handed two pokeballs to Nurse Joy, excluding Charizard's pokeball since he barely did any battling.

"Sure.", said Nurse Joy, "They should be ready in an hour to be picked up."

"Okay, I'll go to the local restaurant to get dinner in the meantime with my other pokemon. I'll be sure to be back by then.", said Ash.

"Alright, young man. Have a good evening.", said Nurse Joy.

Ash and Pikachu left the Pokemon Centre and soon found the restaurant they were looking. It wasn't anything fancy. It was a two-storey restaurant with a veranda that had lost of tables and chairs. There were trainers of all ages eating peacefully with their pokemon. Most of them were trainers who competed in the league while others were trainers who came to watch their friends compete.

Ash took a seat at one of the tables. He then called out his Butterfree, Pidgeotto, and lastly, Charizard.

Butterfree had recently come back to him, prior to the Kanto League. He found out that the pink Butterfree that he liked had broken his heart when he caught her making out with a Venomoth. Butterfree was so angry and heartbroken that he set off on a journey to find his trainer again. He succeeded and has been with Ash ever since.

Haunter and Primeape had also returned from their respective locations, but Haunter had evolved into Gengar. He had been with Sabrina long enough so that she had returned back to sanity and rebuilt her relationship with her parents. Sabrina sent Haunter a few weeks before the Kanto League since Haunter was still technically Ash's pokemon.

Primeape came back from training with Anthony. Anthony said that Primeape had learned much from him, but he preferred to stay with Ash since they both each other's mutual respect.

Both Gengar and Primeape had battled against Ritchie's Charmander and Butterfree in the recent battle round and they were both resting at the Pokemon Centre.

So, guys, ", said Ash a fake smile to his pokemon, "Most of us gave it our best at the Kanto League this year and I'm really proud of you. So lets make tonight a great one and enjoy ourselves."

Ash passed around menus that were mean for pokemon. They were filled with delicious different selections that any pokemon would just die for. "You guys can pick out anything you want that's on the menu. It's your reward for working so hard this past year. Just name it and you'll get it. I'll be sure to get something for Gengar and Primeape when we go to pick them up."

The pokemon looked through the menus while, Ash looked through a menu that was meant for humans. Soon, they all picked out what they wanted. A waiter soon came by and took their orders.

Ash was actually starting to feel happy again. He may have lost the Kanto League, but food was something that always cheered him up instantly.

Their food soon came. Ash placed the food bowls in front of the right pokemon. He firstly placed Pikachu's bowl of food in front of him since it was topped with some ketchup.

"Here's your food, Butterfree.", said Ash as he placed Butterfree's food in front of him.

"Freee Free Eeeeee.", cooed Butterfree in happiness as he began to munch on his food.

"Pidgeotto, here you are.", said Ash as he handed Pidgeotto her bowl of roasted seeds and bread.

"Pidgeeooooo!", chirped Pidgeotto in delight as she dug in.

Lastly was Charizard's food. Ash's smile turned into a frown.

"Here's your food Charizard,", said Ash to Charizard before whispering to himself, "Not that you deserve it."

Charizard just grunted in response and immediately dug into his food. Ash then sat down to eat his own food at the table.

Ash dug into his own food, but he ate at a slow pace, probably either because he's finally learned to eat slowly, or that losing the Kanto League has taken a heavy toll on him.

Pikachu, feeling concerned for his friend and trainer, decided to put down his food and make conversation. "Pi Pika Pikachu."

Ash looked up from his food. "Are you wondering what we're going to do after we leave the Indigo Plateau, now that our journey through Kanto is over?"

Pikachu nodded in response.

"Well, I honestly don't really know. I suppose we could return home for a little while. Or I could catch some more pokemon to add to our team. Or we can look for another region to travel and compete in another league.", said Ash downheartedly.

"Pika Pika Pikachu!", squeaked Pikachu, trying to cheer his trainer up.

"Yeah, you're right, Pikachu. I shouldn't feel so down just because I lost. There's always next year and many other leagues out there to challenge. And this should be a reminder that I must not fool around anymore and start training with my pokemon for real now.", said Ash as he began to smile.

Pidgeotto and Butterfree heard this as well. They chirped and cooed in agreement with their trainer that it was time to get serious and that they were going to get stronger. Well, Charizard just continued to eat his food, completely uninterested in what the conversation was regarding.

Minutes passed and Charizard finished eating his food. But his belly still grumbled in protest that it wanted more food. He stated to eye Butterfree's food with a determination, seeing the delicious nectar and various other sweet foods that Butterfrees love.

Without even thinking of Butterfree, he reached forward to Butterfree's bowl and swiped it from right from him. Butterfree looked up in shock.

"Freeee Frrreeeee Eeeeee!", shouted Butterfree loudly at Charizard, demanding his food back immediately and reminding him that he already had his food.

"Pidgeooooo!", screeched Pidgeotto at Charizard, mad that he took Butterfree's food.

"Huh?", Ash looked up from his food to see what all the commotion was about.

Charizard just gave a small smirk and proceeded to eat Butterfree's food without a second thought. Butterfree started to tear up in sight of his dinner being gobbled by the greedy dragon.

"Charizard! What do you think you are doing?!", shouted Ash at Charizard, "That was Butterfree's food! What do you think gives you the right to take someone else's food?!"

Charizard laid down on the ground and grunted, not having a care about what had just happened. He breathed a Flamethrower at Ash, hitting him square in the face and leaving it a dirty black.

"That does it! Charizard, return. I've had just enough of you.", said Ash with an angry scowl on his face as he returned Charizard to his pokeball without any regrets.

Butterfree was still crying over his stolen food. The bowl was completely licked clean.

"Buttefree, come here.", said Ash in a more calm tone to his pokemon. Butterfree fluttered over to his trainer.

"Buttterfree, I'm sorry about what had happened. I'll tell you what. I'll buy you a jar of Combee Honey to cheer you up. How does that sound?", asked Ash, rubbing Butterfree's head.

Butterfree, hearing the word honey, instantly went to a joyous mood. He fluttered around Ash's head in happiness.

For the rest of dinner, things were rather quiet. And after they Ash paid, he received Primeape's and Gengar's food and the gang left for their room to get sleep.

And Ash had a plan for tonight regarding Charizard.

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