After a long evening of watching the Pokemon League channel, and casting Gaia little glances out of the corner of my eye when I could be sure she was distracted, I managed to head off to the bathroom to change for bed. It was only after having a wash, did I realise just how much I was shaking.

Me, nervous? I asked myself. But it was true, I was.

Bloody terrified.

In just my first day, I had made enemies with the coolest pupil in the whole school, but I hadn't just beaten him, I'd humiliated instead. Before out battle, it was unheard of for a Pidgey to use it's opponents strongest move against them, let alone just beating a high calibre Pokemon such as a Pikachu.

And what made it even more shocking is that I could instantly tell just how close Ash and his Pokemon were; it was almost as if they were best friends. And I couldn't help but wonder if I would ever feel that same connection with a Pokemon of my choice.

Gathering what remaining strength I had left, I managed to fumble at the door and leave the bathroom, bid my room-mates goodnight, and as soon as my head touched the pillow, I was asleep.

The next morning, I was awoken by the thin stretches of the sun's rays peeping cautiously into the room, through a narrow gap in my curtains. After stretching hugely, I clambered out from between the sheets, and headed into the kitchen.

Max was sat on a stool, sipping at what appeared to be alcohol, his legs lying spread-eagled atop the counter.

"Morning." he said, a small smile breaking out over his lips. "Heard the news?"

I felt a furrow crease my brow.

"No...what's going on?" I asked, feeling slightly nervous. Somehow, I could just tell from his demeanour that this concerned me in some way.

"Well...after his little humiliation at your hands yesterday, the words out that Ash Ketchum himself, surely soon to be Pokemon League champion, is looking for another fight with you. He said that if you see him around, he'll name the conditions and the place."

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach, and my heart seized up and plunged into the icy depths below. The coldness spread slowly through me like small veins were snaking all around my body, slowly increasing their vice-like grip on my body.

"Do...do I have to turn up?" I stuttered.

Max swung his legs onto the floor, the heels of his boots thumping against the marble tiled floor. He rose his eyebrows purposefully.

"Well, put it this way. If you don't, it's likely that he'll hunt you down and quite possibly do something he won't regret at all for the rest of his life."

And with a gentle pat on my back, and a small scoff to himself, he left the room, shouting a casual "laters!" over his shoulders.

I sighed, then made myself a strong coffee. I'm not ashamed to admit that I added some of the alcohol that Max had been drinking into it. Still, I felt I deserved it. This can't end well for me...

I knew that because the fight would only be on his terms, Ash would wipe the floor with me. I would have one Pokemon, that I would choose today, and that would be it, where, knowing Ash, he would have the whole day off to search the grounds for wild Pokemon and train them up. Any one of them would easily be able to thrash me, probably without even trying.

It was for about ten minutes that I felt down in the dumps, when I heard a gentle creak from the bathroom, and out came Gaia, wearing nothing but a towel that preserved her dignity; unfortunately for me. Her hair was soaked through, and when she approached, she had a small smirk on her beautiful face.

"What's up?" she enquired, taking a seat on the stool next to me. I had to almost glue my eyes forward so that they would stop rolling slowly down to what lay below her heavenly face.

"I've just been challenged to a battle by Ash Ketchum, all on his terms." I replied, sounding as downcast as I probably looked at that time.

She nodded, clearly understanding why I was so depressed. Her arm extended and patted mine slowly, but with each touch, I felt a bolt of electricity surge violently up my arm. When she removed it, it was clear what she was going to ask of me next.

"Anyway, I can never seem to dry my hair off properly, would you mind doing it for me?"

I nodded, stuttered over a sentence, and took another towel she had brought out with her. I helped her dry it for about five minutes, taking my time to scan down her back, and a bit further. This is gonna be the only opportunity I have... I reassured myself, feeling slightly bad for what I was doing.

When I was done, she sprightly hopped up, gave me a little kiss on the cheek and disappeared again. When she was gone, I afforded myself a little smile, before checking my watch. It was just coming up to eleven, so I thought it was a good time to leave the dorms and speak to the Pokemon professor.

I closed the door behind me after I left, and joined the bustling crowds of people all heading out into the grounds, all to do what I could not; catch Pokemon. During free periods, the school actually advised students to do it! My heart sank just a little bit more, my parents couldn't even afford to buy me a cheap pair of Poke Balls...

I strode into the entrance foyer, and followed signs that led me downstairs several flights, and into a small reception area, which was ringed by purple comfortable couches, and in the far corner was a desk, behind which sat a woman, wearing the purple blouse of the school admin department.

She looked up from her computer screen, so I awkwardly ambled over.

"Can I help you?" she asked politely.

I gave her a small smile. "I'm here to see the Pokemon Professor."

She beckoned to the door on the left of her desk, and pressed a button on her desk. The door swung open.

I thanked her and walked into a large office, furnished with dark green leather furniture, which was flanked by a large roaring fire, in a very traditional fire place. The sides were carved into two large dragons, which I thought Max would like the look of very much. From one wing back chair, I could see two feet dangling, so I made my way forward slightly.

"Professor?" I asked tentatively.

"I heard you come in Max, I was just enjoying the fire. Do come over."

I heard the leather creak slightly, and the Professor got to his feet, and walked over to another corner of the room. Stood majestically there, twice as tall as the Professor himself was an incubator of some sort.

"This is my own, personally designed Pokemon machine. Inside it are three Pokemon in different Poke Balls, and once when you put your hand on the 'on' machine, the machine will decide which of these will be best suited to your personality. Are you ready?"

I nodded, swallowed hard, and placed my hand over the large green button. Almost instantly, the machine's lid opened and a Poke Ball was pushed forward into my outstretched, trembling hands.

I looked at the Pokemon Professor, and he gave me a subtle nod; a signal for me to open it. I pressed the button on it, it clicked open, and inside was a...

Until the next one guys! I hope you enjoyed the cliffhanger and want to see what Pokemon our intrepid hero gets! Adios!