Story of Ritchie (LeagueShipping)

"And Ritchie is the winner!"

The crowd erupted in cheers as the announcer raised Ritchie's hand into the air. Ritchie beamed and waved to the crowd with his opposite hand.

Ash had a look of near horror on his face. He couldn't believe he'd just lost. They had both been on their final Pokémon, Ritchie's Charmeleon against his Squirtle. Ash figured he had the type advantage over Ritchie and was positive he would win the match.

But Ritchie's Charmeleon was quick and was able to pull off a critical Tackle attack, then finished Squirtle off with Dig. Ash was appalled.

He stepped over to his Squirtle and patted it on the head.

"Good job, Squirtle…" he said solemnly. "You did…great."

"Squir…tle…" Squirtle breathed before Ash returned it to its Poké Ball.

He remained on the ground and glanced over at Ritchie, who was still waving to the crowd. He was now on his way to the finals round.

Ash had been so close…

Ash sat on a bench in the Pokémon Center connected to the stadium. Since the next match was beginning soon, the Center was pretty much empty. Ash was debating whether or not to watch Ritchie's final match. Ritchie was his friend, but Ash was still very disappointed in himself with the previous match. He knew that if Misty and Brock were here, they would be chewing Ash out about being such a baby and that he should watch Ritchie's match regardless.

Even Pikachu was disappointed in Ash, not because of the match but because he was sulking about it instead of cheering on his friend.

"Pika-pi!" Pikachu yelled at Ash.

"Pikachu…" Ash glanced at his yellow Mouse Pokémon. "I don't know if I can..."

"Ash!"

Ash's eyes widened as he heard a familiar voice call out to him. He didn't want to turn around.

"Ash," the owner of the voice was now standing in front of him.

It was Ritchie.

"What is it…?" Ash refused to look at him.

"Hey," Ritchie said. "That was a really great match. You shouldn't be disappointed in your Pokémon."

"I'm not disappointed in my Pokémon, I'm disappointed in myself!" Ash clenched his fists.

"Ash, you shouldn't be. You raise your Pokémon very well and they aren't upset with you. You should know that."

"Ritchie, you did a good job, but…I just…" Ash lowered his head further.

"Ash, I'm sorry for this."

"Sorry for wha—?" Ash raised his head and began to ask, but was suddenly interrupted by a sharp pain on his face.

Ritchie had slapped him.

"Ash Ketchum! You're a better person than this!" Ritchie said, obviously enraged with Ash's negative attitude. "Sure, you lost the match, but that doesn't mean you're a loser! I know you wanted to win that trophy, but there can only be one winner and this time it isn't you! But trophies are just material reminders of your victory. That battle out there between you and I was one of best I've had in…my whole life! Your strategies are astounding and you care for your Pokémon very much, which is reflected in every battle you have! And for that, you're a winner in my book!"

Ash was still a little shocked about Ritchie having slapped him, but listened carefully to everything Ritchie had said. And he was right. A trophy was just a trophy and if his friend saw him as a winner whether he won the battle or lost…that really meant a lot to him. Much more than some stupid trophy.

Ash couldn't help but smile brightly.

"Thanks, Ritchie," Ash beamed. "That means a lot to me."

Ritchie returned Ash's grin. "I'm glad."

"But wait, isn't your match starting soon?" Ash asked. "What are you doing out here?"

"Trying to cheer you up. Helping out my best friend is more important to me than some silly trophy," Ritchie answered.

Ash was surprised. Ritchie would give up his match to help make Ash feel better. He really must have meant a lot to Ritchie.

Ritchie surely meant a lot to Ash.

"Well, I thank you, but we still have some time! I want to watch you kick some ass! Let's go!" Ash grabbed Ritchie's hand and began running toward the stadium.

"Ha, of course!" Ritchie laughed.

"And even if you don't win…" Ash began, "you're a winner in my book as well!"

"Thanks, Ash!" Ritchie said, gripping Ash's hand tighter as they ran toward the stadium together.