Am I doing fine with my intros & ending statements...? Hmm. Oh, well. Carry on.

Previously, our heroes were making attempts to capture a Pokemon for our hero, Red. And they've just caught eyes on a Starly. But did he capture it? Well, let's leave that till later...

4 hours prior to the ViridianForest capture mission; our hero & Gale, as they were strolling in ViridianGrove, turned into a road into the west leading to Route 22.

"Back then, we can't access this Route here, right, Pika? This is my first time going here. Wow. Sure seems peaceful."

Red & Pika, along with Gale, checked out the grassy areas of Route 22. They could see many trees and a small river. The road also leads to another left turn, w/c then again leads to an uphill turn towards a grassy area. Up on top, they could see a plain road that leads to the grand building called the Pokemon League Reception Gate, or also called the Pokemon League HQ Front Gate. It is a building that serves as the badge checkpoint in order to qualify for the League, which is upheld once in a year, and in this year, it begins the next 3 months. So that's why Red & Pika have nothing to lose.

"...Wow. So this is the grand gate that you must enter to get in the Pokemon League, huh... I've never been here before.."

"Yeah, that makes two of us." Gale also stared with adoration.

"RRRGGGHH... YAAAAAHHHH! POKEMON LEAGUE, HERE WE COME~!"

"Ugghhh... Ouch... What was that yell about, Red...?"

"Oh, hehe, sorry... Got a little carried away... I was just overwhelmed with excitement. Hihi. Yahoo...! I'm finally going to enter the Pokemon League, and win it FOR SURE...!"

Just then, a familiar voice sneered from behind. It was Gray!

"Hmph. Quite some big dreams. But, yes, those are JUST big dreams."

"Huh...? Ah! Gray! What are you doing here? Already goin' to challenge the Pokemon League...?"

"Hmph. No, you idiot. You can't challenge the League yet. It's still too early. Besides, you can't even challenge it if you have no badges with ya. Hmph, but I don't expect you to know that... *Hmp-hm-hmph*"

"Hey, that's not nice!"

"Hmm? What's this? You can't even go out on a journey on your own, and you're accompanying yourself with a GIRL? Heh. Man, Red, you are hysterical. Hahahaha..."

"What-? Hey...!" Then Red stopped Gale with his arm.

"Hey, Gray. How about let's have a battle right now. In front of the Pokemon League. In that way, we can test each other's prowess before we each set on our own journeys. And may this also set as a remembrance when the next time we come back here.. Well?"

"Hmph. You're on..."

(Wow. These two seem to know each other very well. I'm impressed.)

Turn 1: Since Red only has his Pika, then he's sending it. Gray, however, sent out a different Pokemon. As he tossed out a Pokeball, out came an Elekid, with sparks flying.

"Red, I assume you only have 1 Pokemon on hand... Hmph. That's why we'll make this a 1-on-1 battle. (Pity on you.)"

"Sure. Let's go, Pika! Use Thunder Wave~!"

A weak electric surge shot out of the rodent's cheeks heading towards the striped Pokemon. Gary just smirked. "Hmph. Elekid, Safeguard." Just then, a yellowish forcefield enveloped Elekid and the Thunder Wave was made null & void. Red smiled, and so did Gary, leaving Gale confused. (Isn't Elekid unable to learn Safeguard?) ;Gale in her mind.

Turn 2: Red thought: (My Pika doesn't have any moves to counter an Electric-type like that, not without Pika's ThunderWave. I also can't use ThunderShock. Oh, well... Guess it's time to counter this with Speed!) "Pika, Quick Attack!" Pika dashed in a lightning manner, moving from left to right, almost invisible, and hit Elekid square on the stomach. Elekid groaned in pain. "Now, Elekid! Karate Chop!" Elekid raised its arm and quickly chopped Pika down to the head up to the floor. A loud thud was heard. Also, a jolt of electricity spread from Elekid's wrist to Pika's body.

Turn 3: "No, Pika! Urgh..." Pika was struggling to get up. Elekid was just right in front of him, mocking him & sneering. Pika tried his best to get up. That previous attack was none other than a critical hit, it even managed to deplete half of Pika's HP. Elekid was waiting for Pika's first move, which Red had noticed as a trap. "Pika... Double Team!" Pika created multiple shadow clones of himself horizontally from Elekid's front. Elekid himself was shocked. "Hmph. I've already foreseen this... Elekid, use Shock Wave!" Elekid shot out a lightning bolt at the air, which then spread into multiple jolts of yellow, golden electricity; hitting all the clones and the real one. Pika, after recovering from the shock. Tried to pull his fourth move, ended immobilized, due to the ability 'Static' of Elekid a while ago. Elekid, saw the chance, dashed towards Pika and, square in the stomach, punched with full force with an overpowered ThunderPunch. Pika flew & dropped into Red's side. Red lost.

"Pika... Are you all right? Pika, I'm so sorry. I... We lost."

"Hmph. Even you only had one 1 Pokemon, I was kinda expecting something better than that. Hmph, still pathetic as ever..."

This made Red's hidden emotion sparked within. A golden glime shone on Red's right eye. He stood up and looked down the floor, with an injured Pika on his arms. Just then, Gray left with a proud Elekid on his side. Gale tried to cheer Red up, but Red walked away & headed to the Pokemon Center. So Gale, left with no options, just followed.

[These turn of events happened between Chapter 5 & 6.] Will Red overcome these emotions? Or is he going to give up just 'coz of one loss? Stay tuned~!