The person turned with a smirk and caught the Pokeball he had thrown in the air.

I gasped. " G... G... G... Gary?"

Gary grinned and walked in front of me. " Hey, Mimi. Suprised to see me?"

My head started to spin slightly , but I brushed it off. " What do you think?"

Gary sheepishly rubbed his head. " Yeahhhhhh... Well I beat the four Elites and became Champion! So now I have to battle you! Ready?"

I managed a tight smile. " Guess I don't have a choice."

Gary patted my shoulder and walked to his side. " Of, pfffft. You'll be fine."

He threw a Pokeball. " Pigeot, let's go!"

I looked at Pikachu. " You can do this!"

" Pipipi!!" She jumped to the ground.

Gary held up the mega evolve stone Professor Oak gave us.

It reacted with Pigeot, and it evolved into Mega Evolved Pigeot!

" Pikachu, use recover...." I muttered weakly.

Pikachu looked back at me, confused. " Pi?!"

" What?*

" Pipipi!!"

" Heyo?"

I turned to see Growlithe standing behind me, worried.

" Oh, no, I'm fine." I said airily. " I just need to....."

Then I fainted.

In the middle of an official battle.

" Heyo?!*

" Mmmmmm..... Growlie?"

" Heyo!"

I blinked a foggy eye open.

My puppy pokemon was on my chest, looking at me concerned.

" Oh, Growlie, I'm fine. In shock, but fine nonetheless..." My voice wavered and I looked away.

" Growlithe, I have to fight Gary. My Gary. I don't know if I want to..." Tears welled in my eyes, and I buried my face in my hands.

Then, I felt two arms wrap around me and hold me close. " I've got you, Mimi. I'm here."

I blinked, startled, and looked up through blurry eyes. “G-Gary?”

Gary nodded, a soft smile on his face. “Who else would it be, silly? You fainted right in the middle of our battle.”

I felt heat rush to my face, and I tried to pull away, but he didn’t let me. “I’m sorry… I don’t know what came over me…”

“You’re nervous,” he said simply. “I get it. But you don’t have to be. You’re one of the strongest trainers I know, Mimi. You can do this.”

I sniffled, shaking my head. “It’s not about strength, Gary. It’s you. I don’t want to fight you…”

Gary pulled back slightly, his hands still resting on my shoulders. “Why not? Is it because you’re afraid of losing?”

“No!” I said quickly, my voice firm. “It’s because I care about you. I don’t want to ruin what we have. What if this battle changes everything?”

He tilted his head, studying me. “Mimi, battling me won’t change anything between us. If anything, it’ll make us stronger. Besides, you’re not just battling me—you’re proving to yourself that you can do anything. And I know you can.”

Growlie let out a soft bark, wagging its tail, and Pikachu hopped onto the bed, her little paws resting on my arm.

“Pika pi!” she said encouragingly.

I couldn’t help but smile at their support. “You really think I can do this?”

Gary grinned, his confidence contagious. “I know you can. And if it helps, just think of it as a practice match. No pressure.”

I let out a shaky laugh. “Yeah, right. ‘No pressure,’ he says.”

He chuckled, standing up and offering me a hand. “Come on. Let’s finish what we started.”

I hesitated for a moment before taking his hand. As I stood, I felt a surge of determination.

“Okay,” I said, looking him in the eye. “Let’s do this.”

Gary smirked, stepping back and tossing his Pokéball into the air. “That’s the Mimi I know. Pidgeot, let’s get back to it!”

Pidgeot cried out, its wings spreading wide as it hovered in the arena.

I turned to Pikachu and Growlie. “You two ready?”

“Pika!” Pikachu nodded fiercely, sparks flying from her cheeks.

“Heyo!” Growlie barked, wagging her tail.

I stepped back into my trainer’s box, my heart racing but my mind clear. “Pikachu, let’s show him what we’re made of!”

Gary grinned, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “Bring it on, Mimi!”

And just like that, the battle resumed, but this time, I felt ready. Ready to face him, to prove to myself what I could do, and most importantly, to have fun with the person who believed in me the most.

We would battle....

As soon as I regained my consciousness.

Again.

Because I may or may not have hit Jynx's Pokeball in my head while I was throwing it.

And it may or may not have caused me to faint.

Gary groaned loudly from across the battlefield, dragging a hand down his face. “Mimi, are you serious right now?!”

Pikachu and Growlie ran over to me, both looking deeply concerned.

“Pika pi!” Pikachu nudged my cheek with her nose.

“Heyoooo?” Growlie barked softly, pawing at my arm.

Meanwhile, Gary sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he walked over to me. “Okay, that’s it. Forget battling—you need a helmet.”

I blinked my eyes open, groaning as I sat up with their help. “What… what happened?”

Gary crossed his arms, raising a brow. “You beaned yourself with Jynx’s Pokéball.”

“Oh…” I muttered, the realization sinking in. “Oh.”

“Yeah. Oh.” Gary deadpanned, but his lips twitched like he was holding back a smile.

I rubbed the spot on my forehead, which was now throbbing. “Guess I should’ve aimed better.”

Gary couldn’t hold it in anymore. He burst out laughing, his hands on his knees. “Mimi, you are unbelievable. Only you could faint in the middle of a battle twice!”

I huffed, trying to stand, but my legs were a little shaky. “Well, excuse me for being a little accident-prone.”

Gary grinned, offering me his hand again. “C’mon, klutz. Let’s get you up.”

I took his hand, standing slowly with Pikachu and Growlie on either side of me. “You’re never letting me live this down, are you?”

“Not a chance,” Gary said with a wink. “But hey, it’s just another reason why you’re unforgettable.”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help smiling. “Flatterer.”

Growlie barked excitedly, wagging her tail, and Pikachu hopped onto my shoulder, nuzzling me.

I looked at Gary, a new determination sparking in my eyes. “Okay, now I’m ready.”

“Third time’s the charm?” he teased.

I smirked. “You’ll see.”

And this time, I threw the Pokéball with precision and confidence. Jynx emerged, ready for battle, and Gary’s grin widened as the match truly began.

Just as soon as I stopped throwing up out of nervousness.

Gary’s grin faltered as he watched me double over. “Oh no… Mimi, are you—”

I held up a finger, signaling him to wait, as I barely managed to stumble to the side of the field. Pikachu hopped off my shoulder and stood next to me, rubbing my back with her tiny paw while Growlie whined, pacing nervously.

“Pika piiiii…” Pikachu said softly, her ears drooping.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” I croaked, wiping my mouth with a sleeve. “I think it’s just the adrenaline. Or… you know, the five chocolate bars I had for breakfast.”

Gary smacked a hand to his forehead. “Mimi! Seriously? Chocolate bars?”

“Don’t judge me, Mister Champion,” I muttered, stumbling back to my side of the battlefield. “Some of us don’t have a personal chef like you probably do now.”

“I don’t have a—” Gary groaned, throwing his hands in the air. “Whatever. Are you actually ready this time, or should I call Nurse Joy?”

“I’m ready,” I said firmly, though my legs still felt like jelly. “Jynx, let’s do this!”

“Jyyyynx!” she sang, striking a dramatic pose.

Gary smirked, his confidence returning. “Alright then, Pidgeot, use Hurricane!”

The Mega Evolved Pidgeot took to the sky, summoning a swirling vortex of wind that barreled toward Jynx.

“Jynx, counter with Ice Beam!” I shouted, my voice steady despite my shaky knees.

Jynx unleashed a beam of icy energy, colliding with the Hurricane. The clash was spectacular, with ice shards and gusts of wind scattering across the battlefield.

Gary raised an eyebrow. “Not bad, Mimi. But let’s see how long you can keep up!”

I wiped my forehead, glancing at Pikachu, who gave me a supportive nod. “Don’t worry, Gary. I’ve got more than a few tricks up my sleeve.”

And despite my earlier mishaps, I felt a surge of determination. This battle wasn’t just about proving myself—it was about having fun, no matter how many times I embarrassed myself along the way.

And as I embarrassed myself even more by just suddenly bursting into tears and running out of the room, leaving poor Jinx and Pikachu and Growlithe just standing there, utterly confused.

Gary stood there, frozen, his hand still mid-gesture to command Pidgeot. “Mimi?!” he called after me, his voice filled with a mix of confusion and concern.

Jynx tilted her head, her lips puckering as she looked back at Pikachu. “Jyyy…?”

“Pika…” Pikachu shrugged, scratching her head. Growlithe, however, didn’t hesitate—he bolted after me, barking loudly.

Gary sighed, running a hand through his hair. “What the heck just happened?”

Pidgeot landed gracefully beside him, tilting its head in question. Gary shook his head. “No clue, buddy. No clue at all.”

I sat behind the Pokémon Center, my knees pulled to my chest as tears streamed down my face. “Why am I such a disaster?” I muttered to Growlithe, who had nestled beside me, whining softly and nudging my arm.

“It’s just… Gary’s so cool, you know? He’s confident, he’s strong, and he doesn’t throw up or faint in the middle of battles. Meanwhile, I’m over here being a complete wreck!”

Growlithe barked softly, nudging me again.

I sniffed, wiping my tears with my sleeve. “You’re right. I shouldn’t be comparing myself to him. But it’s hard, Growlie. I just want him to be proud of me.”

“Hey.”

I jumped, looking up to see Gary standing there, his hands stuffed in his pockets and a rare, soft expression on his face. “You okay?”

I looked away, embarrassed. “I’m fine. Just… needed a break.”

Gary chuckled, sitting down beside me. “Mimi, you’ve got to stop running away from me. First, you flee the battle, and now you’re hiding out here? What’s up with that?”

I hesitated, then blurted out, “I just don’t want to disappoint you!”

Gary blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Disappoint me? Mimi, are you serious? You’re literally one of the toughest people I know. Do you think I became Champion without embarrassing myself a few times along the way?”

I gave him a doubtful look. “You? Embarrass yourself? When?”

Gary smirked. “Oh, let’s see. There was the time I tripped walking up to the League podium, the time I accidentally sent out a Magikarp in a tournament, and let's not forget all those times you beat me."

I looked away. " It's just.... It's.... It's...."

Before I could stop myself I grabbed Gary and hugged him tightly, pouring all my anger and sorrow away.

And Gary just hugged me.

Like any boyfriend would.

Gary held me close, his arms steady and strong as I sobbed into his chest. "Hey, hey, it's okay," he murmured, his voice soft and soothing. "Let it all out, Mimi. I’m not going anywhere."

I clung to him as if he were the only thing keeping me from falling apart completely. “I can’t do this, Gary,” I whispered between sobs. “I’m not strong enough. I keep messing up. I’m a joke.”

Gary pulled back slightly, his hands resting on my shoulders as he looked at me with those steady, confident eyes. “Mimi, you’re not a joke. You’re not weak. And you’re definitely not someone who gives up.”

“But I feel like I’m failing at everything,” I choked out. “Battling, being your girlfriend, even just standing up for myself. It’s like every mistake I’ve ever made is catching up to me all at once.”

Gary sighed, brushing a tear from my cheek. “Mimi, everyone has doubts. Everyone messes up. But those mistakes? They don’t define you. What defines you is how you keep going, no matter how hard it gets. That’s the Mimi I know. The Mimi I fell in love with.”

My breath hitched, and I stared at him, my tears slowing. “You really mean that?”

“Of course I do,” Gary said firmly. “You’re amazing, Mimi. And yeah, you’ve had a rough patch, but who doesn’t? You’re stronger than you think, and I’ll be here to remind you every single day if I have to.”

For a moment, all I could do was look at him, his words sinking in. Then, without thinking, I kissed him—a soft, desperate kiss filled with all the emotions I couldn’t put into words.

When we pulled apart, Gary smiled, a little sheepishly. “See? There’s the Mimi I know. Bold and unpredictable.”

I let out a watery laugh, wiping at my eyes. “Thanks, Gary. For everything.”

“Always,” he said, taking my hand. “Now, how about we go back to that battlefield and show everyone just how amazing you are? No more running, no more doubts. Just you, me, and that unstoppable spirit of yours.”

I nodded, feeling a flicker of determination reignite in my chest. “Okay. Let’s do this.”

With Gary by my side, I knew I could face anything—even myself.

Yeah, right.

Who says that, a girl who can't even throw a Pokeball without doubting the team she put together?!

Pikachu, Aerodactyl, Omnistar, Slobro, Seel, and Jynx... They were all my strongest Pokemon.

Yet as I stared at the Pokeball in my hand containing Jynx, I couldn't help but think... Should I have put together a different team?

Gary, who was standing there, arms crossed, sighed and walked to me. " Hey, Mia."

" Yeah?*

" I think we might need to consider therapy for you."

I groaned, dropping the Pokéball back into my bag. “Oh, come on, Gary. I don’t need therapy. I just… need to figure out why my brain insists on sabotaging me.”

Gary shook his head and grabbed my hand. " Come on."

" Where are we going?" I asked, confused as Gary led me out of the building.

Gary didn't even look back. " We're going to Nurse Joy. This much stress isn't good for anyone, even I know that."

I was about to protest more, but Gary tugged me along with a surprising amount of determination. His grip on my hand was firm, but not too tight, just enough to make me realize he wasn’t letting me back out.

“Gary, I’m fine,” I tried again, but it came out weaker this time. My mind was still a storm of confusion, doubt, and self-criticism. He wasn’t wrong; the stress was getting to me. But I wasn’t about to admit it.

“Stop fighting me, Mimi,” Gary said, looking over his shoulder with a raised brow. “We’re almost there anyway.”

I sighed dramatically. “Fine. But I’m telling you, this is all unnecessary.”

We reached the Pokémon Center, and the doors slid open automatically. Nurse Joy was behind the counter, smiling as usual. When she saw us approach, she gave us a warm greeting.

“Hello, Gary! Mia! What brings you here today?”

I didn’t even get a chance to speak before Gary was already talking, almost as if he couldn’t wait to get his point across. “Mia’s been stressed out. She needs a break—stat.”

Nurse Joy’s expression softened as she glanced at me, noting the exhaustion in my posture. “I see… It’s important to take care of yourself, especially when you’re training and battling so hard. Why don’t you come sit down for a moment, Mia? I’ll make you some tea.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but Gary shot me a look.

I knew that look.

The “I’m-not-letting-you-escape-this” look.

“Come on, Mimi,” Gary said, gently pulling me toward one of the chairs. “Just a quick break. It’s not going to kill you.”

I reluctantly sat down, sinking into the comfy chair, my body finally allowing itself to relax a little. Nurse Joy quickly prepared a small pot of tea and handed it to me with a gentle smile.

“Drink this,” she said kindly. “It’ll help calm your nerves.”

I sighed and took the cup, letting the warm liquid settle in my hands. The scent of the tea was calming, and for a brief moment, I actually felt a little lighter.

“See?” Gary said, sitting down next to me. “It’s not so bad. Now, just take a deep breath and think for a moment. You’ve been working yourself ragged, Mia. You don’t have to do everything perfectly. You’ve got your team, and you’ve got us. We’re all here for you.”

I looked at my reflection in the tea, then up at Nurse Joy. " Do you guys think professor Oak would like all my Pokemon and I just jump from a cliff and see the afterlife?"

Gary blinked, clearly taken aback by my sudden shift in tone. Nurse Joy’s face softened, concern flickering in her eyes.

“Hey, hey, Mia, don’t talk like that,” Gary said, his voice quieter but serious. He leaned in closer, placing a hand on mine. “You’re not alone in this. We’re all here for you. Trust me, Oak would never want to hear you talk like that.”

I pulled my gaze away from them both, unable to meet their eyes. “I just… I don’t know anymore. I’m so tired of doubting myself and everything I do. It feels like no matter how hard I try, it’s never enough.”

Nurse Joy took a deep breath before speaking, her voice calm and gentle. “Mia, sometimes, when we feel like we’ve failed, it’s not because we really have. It’s because we’re carrying a lot more than we should. You’re allowed to feel tired. You’re allowed to feel frustrated. But you have to know that you're not alone. We see how hard you’re trying. You’ve accomplished so much already.”

I shook my head. “But it’s not enough. It never feels enough…”

Gary squeezed my hand, looking at me with an intensity I hadn’t seen before. “Mia, it’s enough. You’ve beaten some of the toughest trainers out there. You’ve got an amazing team, and you’ve got people who love and believe in you. You don’t need to carry this weight on your own. Let us help you.”

" But you guys have your own things going on. You don't need my added stress."

Gary took my hands. " Mia Elizabeth Ketchum, look at me."

I looked at him.

" You carry out burdens too, you know."

I shook my head. " But-"

" But nothing. You keep all out burdens, you help us. Now let us help you."

I took a deep breath, but it didn't help. The weight of everything I was feeling—doubts about myself, the pressure to be perfect, the fear that I wasn't enough—felt like it was crushing me. I pulled my hands away from Gary, pacing the small room, my breath quickening.

“I can’t…” I muttered to myself, my mind racing. “I just—there’s so much going on. I’m not even sure where to start. It’s too much, Gary.”

Gary stood up, watching me carefully, his brow furrowed in concern. “Mia, you don’t have to do it all at once. You don’t have to carry everything in one go.”

I shook my head, the panic rising in my chest. “But I’m failing at everything! At being a trainer, at being a friend, at—at being myself! I’m not who I thought I was… I don’t know who I am anymore!”

My voice cracked as the tears started to spill over. My legs gave out beneath me, and I collapsed on the floor, burying my face in my hands as the sobs wracked my body.

Gary knelt beside me, his hand on my back, but I couldn’t stop. It felt like the floodgates had opened, and everything that had been building up inside of me came rushing out.

“Mia, hey,” Gary said softly, but I couldn’t hear him over the storm of thoughts and emotions in my head. “It’s okay. You’re not failing. You’re not alone in this. You never have been.”

I looked up at him through tear-filled eyes, but all I could see was my reflection—someone who was weak and broken, someone who couldn’t even keep it together long enough to fight.

“I can’t do this…” I whispered, more to myself than to him. “I’m just… too much of a mess.”

Gary’s hand gently cupped my face, lifting my gaze to meet his. His eyes were steady, unwavering. “No, Mia. You’re not a mess. You’re human. And you’ve been trying so hard. But you don’t have to do it alone. You’re not a burden to us. We want to help, we want to be here for you.”

I swallowed hard, the raw ache in my chest not yet gone, but somehow, his words made a tiny crack in the wall I’d built around myself.

“You’re not alone,” he repeated, his voice firm, yet tender. “You’ve got me. And you’ve got everyone who believes in you. Just… let us in, okay?”

The world still felt heavy, the emotions swirling like a storm inside me. But for the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to lean into the support, to trust that maybe, just maybe, I didn’t have to carry it all by myself.

I nodded weakly, still shaking, but there was a faint glimmer of hope. "Okay... I'll try."

Gary smiled softly, pulling me into a hug. "That's all I ask for. One step at a time, Mia. You don’t have to have it all figured out right now. Just breathe, okay? You’re not in this alone anymore."

And as I rested my head on his shoulder, I realized that maybe—just maybe—I didn’t have to have everything under control. I could take it one day at a time.