A/N: Thank you to all you wonderful reviewers! I'm thankful that about every one of you seems to enjoy my writing and this really pleases me =) I'm also sorry for such long updates. Sometimes life just seems to consume us most of the time.

Insecure

In-se-cure: adj. 1. Inadequately guarded or protected; unsafe. 2. Unstable; shaky. 3. Lacking self-confidence; uncertain.

This feeling was something that most people didn't know about him. It was because he tried his best to hide it deep within and let different emotions take over. Sometimes it was pride, but most days it was that damn cockiness that he let loose on everyone so that his insecurity could be blocked. He hated it, he absolutely loathed this feeling. It made him feel friggen weak and that made him cringe with disgust at his own self. But like a broken record, it came back every time he took his spot on the arena and in front of his opponent. It hit him like a rush of wind, whistling through his raven hair and fluttering under his vest so that it swirled around him. What if he couldn't win?

The answer was obvious; he would think with a snort, everyone would be disappointed in him. Seriously, after you continually boast that you're the best and nobody could ever beat you in a thousand years, then of course if you actually fail you would disappoint them. Not only that, but he could already see the tears that would well into his eyes as he would fall to his knees and suffer the embarrassment of a lost match. He was so insecure with himself that he would occasionally give in to those that told him he only won on sheer luck. This made him angry with himself and so he pushed his pokemon to their fullest, only to gulp back his eagerness as he pulled out a pokeball in a tournament.

In the beginning he had been fearless. He had never doubted himself or his skills in training his pokemon. Back then, he knew he would win because he was determined too and wouldn't ever give up. He had been a mere child with big dreams and an even bigger mouth, and pushed past all the limits that tried to bind him. Brock had been like a father and he counted on the older boy's support during that time. The squinty-eyed teenager may have been a crazy skirt chaser, but he had plenty of wonderful advice and a kind heart that spurred Ash to win just for his older friend. Misty, on the other hand, had been that annoying little voice that was supposed to be in the back of your head. You know; the one that told you if you don't do the work than don't expect to get paid.

She was his motivational speaker most days. When he would suddenly get lazy and take more than a few days off she was there to yell and insult him back into shape. She was also the person that made his ego deflate, at least when she actually got to him. In his younger years he tried to ignore her rather than listen to her. Then came that fateful day where they had to go their separate ways. Sure, he had been sad when she left but he was suddenly excited that he wouldn't have someone to make him look like a fool anymore. When May and Max came around it was like Christmas. He could brag and prance around like he knew everything and anything when it came to pokemon and battling. Sadly, he became May's coach and she ended up turning into a coordinator than a trainer and Misty had giggled from the other side of the video phone saying how funny it was that he failed. He brushed it off with a comment that May was born to be a coordinator and she really didn't have the edge for a trainer anyways and that he had done everything right. Her response was a mischievous smirk followed by a goodbye, I have to get back to the gym and good luck with everything.

It wasn't really until he traveled the Sinnoh region that he began to feel weird about battling. It was just strange because he couldn't really explain how he began to doubt himself. He figured that growing up had a little bit to do with the problem, seeing as how that when you get older you seem to care a lot more of what people thought. He also began to fear that maybe Brock didn't really expect more out of him and that his new friend Dawn wasn't really too impressed with his battling style. He felt like he was losing his own edge, that maybe it really was just luck that got him to the Sinnoh league. It was because of this that when he sank his head into his pillow the day before his first match that he thought that he might lose. He thought that maybe he wasn't strong enough or able enough to get far into the tournament.

It surprised him when he gave a heavy gruff and lifted himself off of the bunk bed and escaped from the dark room that was filled with happy sleeping people and pokemon. He padded down the pink carpeted hallway and made the way towards the lobby, the room dark, empty, and silent. He walked softly towards the phone booth and sat down in the roller chair before flicking on the switch and dialing a familiar number that he had memorized by heart. With a breath that he didn't know he was holding he waited as a certain redhead answered, and her face appeared with a smile and her cerulean eyes bright from the early morning. Her mouth had dropped open slightly and her eyes widened, but she regained her composure and greeted him with a cheery hello. He found that he couldn't answer and dropped his head so that his face was hidden from her view.

He sighed as she questioned what was wrong and bit his lip before finally muttering about how he was feeling about the upcoming match. He let all his anguish gush out from his lips, explaining that he didn't think he was ready, that he was sure to lose and he probably wouldn't get very far. He wasn't the greatest trainer and he wasn't the strongest and he was doomed to disappoint those who had hope for him. His heart crumbled as the redhead began to laugh, her eyes closing as she held onto her stomach while her cheeks turned pink. He questioned her actions and she only replied with a shake of her head, her shoulder length hair flying about her as she did so. She continued to tell him that he was a drama queen and needed to get a grip. If anyone could win this league it was him so why was he acting like a girl? Her face softened and her lips formed one of the sweetest smiles that he had ever seen and she told him that she was rooting for him and that she believed in him and she knew that he was one of the best.

He grinned by her compliment, knowing that Misty really never told anyone out right about how she was feeling. Suddenly his spirits were raised and his heart thudded rapidly against his chest as he thanked her and told her how much it meant that she really had faith in him. She nodded her pretty head, her face slightly red when she replied that if he was going to win he needed his sleep and that she would close her gym just to watch him on the television. He told her to have a good day and she bid him goodnight before hanging up and he stood up with a smile. No matter the outcome of tomorrow he was no longer feeling insecure. Somehow he knew that he could win because he had people that believed in him.

A/N: I liked this one. I got the inspiration chatting with my friend about how the most confident and outgoing people out there are really insecure inside. Like the hottest guy has the biggest ego because really he doesn't think he is that hot. Same with girls and same with mostly everybody, and that's why even though they portray Ash as one of the most confident characters in the anime, I think he's just a bit insecure as well. And one of the things to cure this is to have that one special person to tell them how great and amazing they really are. So please review if you liked this one=) It will be much appreciated.

~waterfalls