Pokemon: Nothing to lose, Everything to gain

Episode 9

Anyway, sorry for not uploading yesterday. I wasn't feeling like it. But here is episode 9. 
And before I start THANK YOU FOR 300 VIEWS.  I did not expect this cringy mess of a story to get 300 views. So, now, here is episode 9

Gary: I challenge you to a battle, Ash Kechum
Ash: (Should have thought this was coming)
Ash: I accept
Ash: (Why do I feel a bit more confident and into it. This has not happened before. But how-.) Remembers what happened at break with Serena
Ash: (Did she do this?)
Ash comes down to the battlefield

Gary: Umbreon, let's go
Ash: Let's go, Charizard
Gary: (Brings back old memories huh)
Gary: Shadow Ball
Ash: Dodge it
Gary: Psychic
Ash: Fire Blast!
*Fire Blast hits Umbreon
Ash: Dragon Pulse
Gary: Protect
Ash: Seismic Toss to finish it off
Seismic Toss hits

Referee: Umbreon is unable to battle! Charizard wins!

Gary: Electivire, I choose you
Ash: Fire Blast
Gary: Thunder
*the two moves collide
Ash: Seismic Toss
Gary: Thunder Punch
*Thunder Punch hits Charizard
Ash: Carry on, you know you can do it
Charizard executes Seismic Toss
Ash: Fire Blast!

Referee: Electivire is unable to battle! Charizard wins

Gary: (He sure is strong but he won't be able to overcome our bond)
Gary: Blastoise, let's win this. TOGETHER!
Blastoise comes out
Ash: His first pokemon. His first pokemo-

Ash's P.O.V. 
6 years back
Ash: Pikachu! 
Pikachu: Pika Pika
Ash: Come on, buddy. Our first steps in the Johto region.
PIkachu: Pika pi
Ash: You know.....I think I can go on travelling forever in my life........as long as I am with you
Pikachu: Pikachu. *nods

Back to reality
Gary: Use Hydro Pump
Charizard looked inquisitively at Ash for commands
Ash: Dodge it
Charizard tries to dodge it but fails 
Gary: Now's our chance. SKULL BASH
Blastoise strikes Charizard with its skull.
Ash: Dragon Pulse
Gary: Bite
*they strike eachother
Ash: Fire Blast
*Fire Blast hits Blstoise
Gary: Bring Charizard back down to earth with Hydro Pump.
*Hydro Pump going towards Charizard
Ash: Dodg-

Flashback to 5 years back
Gary: Use Hydro Pump
Ash: Dodge i-
Ash: No!
Ash: Pikachu rush in at it using Volt Tackle
Pikachu rushes at the hydro pump with Volt Tackle, breaking through it and hitting Blastoise.
Referee: Blastoise is unable to battle! Pikachu is the winner! And with that Ash has advanced to the semi-finals of the Johto League

A very slight smile forms on his face, invisible to all except a certain someone
Ash: No! Use Outrage
Charizard rushes into the Hydro Pump and hits Blastoise
Referee; blastoise is unable to battle, Charizard is the winner!

Ash: Return, Charizard!
Ash walks away
Gary: That was a good battle, Blastoise. Take a long rest.
Gary watches Ash as he leaves. 
Gary: He hasn't changed one bit, has he

But that wasn't entirely true, Gary.

Ash: (I haven't felt like this in so long. I never remember getting this fired up for a battle in froever. But I battled others before, so why today.....)
A certain honey-blonde girl with short hair comes into mind
Ash: (Why do I feel like this? Why does she remind me so much of Lillie? I need to stay away from her. I can't let her meet the same fate as Lillie. I just can't)
Another part of his mind
Ash: (Why do I want to talk with her though. She's so caring, friendly and patient. If I stay around her, maybe I would feel better.)
Ash: (No, I can't risk her. It's all my fault Lillie is dead. I don't know what I would do if Serena, Serena also-)
Ash: ......................

With Serena in her mind
Serena had been observing the battle carefully and noticed something very different in Ash. He didn't seem nearly as cold today as he did the last day. Then what happened?
Then she saw what happened in the final battle. Ash's slight smile went invisible to all except you guessed it, Serena! 
Serena: Is he smiling? But how? Is he finally warming up a little? 

After the battle ends
Serena: I need to go over to him today after school today. I might beak through him today. Ash, don't worry. Whatever you have gone through, it's all in the past. Your friends will stand by you. I will stand by you.