So I did warn y'all that this might happen, however it's not as random as you think. I kind of realized that between an AU fanfic and one based in the real universe, sometimes I have motivation to write for one, sometimes I have motivation to write for the other. So to keep myself in the game and interested when I lose motivation for one, I decided to publish my newest story, A Betrayed Champion!

It's set in the actual Pokemon anime universe rather than being an AU, so updates for both this and Parallel Rivals will be a bit random, since I never know when the motivation for one will come or go. I won't forget about either, and I'll try to keep it at just these two until I finish them both.

Also, in case readers from Parallel Rivals were wondering, I haven't come up with a set schedule, and in all honesty, it will probably stay that way. The only limitation I've set so far is one update every two weeks, for whatever story. I also have finals next week, so don't expect anything then of course.

Nevertheless, I hope whoever reading this enjoys the prologue!

Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN POKEMON!

Prologue:

To Win is to Learn

"And Greninja is unable to battle! Which means the winner of the Lumiose Conference is Alain!"

Ash sank down to his knees, hardly able to believe what he was hearing. Practically in a trance of reflex, he walked to the middle of the battlefield and exchanged a handshake with his rival, nodding numbly to his praise of his own skill before exchanging the same word, words he'd repeated to many rivals over. He wondered, as he walked back to his waiting room, what was different about this loss. He'd suffered many before, why did this hurt so much more?

"Because I was so close," he said aloud. "If I'd just been a little stronger… if we'd just been a little stronger…"

He sighed and sat down on a bench, closing his eyes as he thought. Only a month away from his fifteenth birthday, and he had six leagues under his belt. All of which never ended with him as the winner.

"Ash."

He snapped his eyes open and lifted his head, meeting the piercing green gaze of his sister, Jade.

"Serena, Clemont and Bonnie had to leave," she told him softly as she sat down next to him. "You already know that Serena wanted to pursue Showcases in Hoenn, but we just learned if she wants to participate in the next Master Class, she has to start earning those keys now. And Clemont had urgent business to attend to at the gym, and with his long absence, he needs to be there now and for a long while."

"Right," Ash murmured, sighing softly. "I won't be mad at them."

"Well you shouldn't be," Jade said lightly, gently bumping him with her shoulder. "It's not like they abandoned you for no reason."

He left out another soft sigh, and Jade dropped her smile as he let his head fall back again, watching him stare at the ceiling.

"What am I doing wrong?" he whispered. "I've worked so hard, trained whenever I could, but no matter what I do, it's never good enough…"

"Ash…" Jade said softly, gently touching his shoulder. "It's not about being the best. You can't compare that to 'good enough', especially when you're above that. I've watched you, you're not just good enough. You're amazing."

"Well then why can't I win one stupid league?!" Ash snapped, pushing her hand off and standing up. "If I'm amazing, if I've worked so hard, why is it not paying off?!"

Jade glared at him and straightened up, clenching her fists as a controlled annoyance began to brew in her eyes.

"Ash," she said, her voice hardening. "Don't talk to me like that."

Her brother shrank back a bit, but maintained the angry eye contact. Jade narrowed her own eyes, but after a few seconds, she let out a breath and leaned forward.

"Do you want me to help you?" she asked.

Ash blinked, doing a double-take. "Excuse me?"

"Do you want my help," she repeated. "You've seen my trophies. I've won the biggest league of my time, and dominated every other league I've set foot in here. Hell, you're lucky I didn't enter this one, or else your loss really would have been certain from the start."

"Your point?" Ash groaned.

"My point is that it's not just dumb luck that lets me win," Jade continued. "My Pokemon and I have strength and skill, and utilize many different tricks and tactics that we've learned and come up with over the years. If you accept my help, I can teach you everything I know."

"But…" Ash began, trailing off before starting again. "I always wanted to get better on my own…"

"Ash, even I didn't get better on my own," Jade said gently. "Each generation builds up the next, and that's how trainers improve. Just trust me on that one."

Ash sighed, knowing that if he looked into her imploring eyes, he'd just agree on the spot. But he could admit, he saw the truth in her words. He thought it over for a few more seconds, before straightening up. He'd made up his mind.

"Alright," he said quietly. "I want you to help me. I want you to train me, show me your skills, show me how you got to be as great as you are."

"Anything else?" Jade asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes," Ash said. He took a deep breath, looked her dead in the eye, and opened his mouth. And what he said made Jade's eyes widen and her mouth drop open, not because it was impossible, but because she knew that if he really wanted this to happen, she'd have to work fast so that he could compete in the tournament that would make this dream possible.

"I want you to make me a champion."