Ash had woke up to the sound of a weird noise occuring right next to him. He sat up and began to rub the sleep out of his eyes. He picked himself up and noticed the sound coming out of the object on the table next to him.

"Oh...right. The alarm." Ash mumbled, clearly half asleep still.

He hit the snooze button and stepped out of bed to stretch out some. He saw the mouse Pokemon was still asleep in the bed, so Ash just let him take the extra rest this time. Ash changed his clothes and began to walk out of the room to where Anabel was surprisingly already waititng on him.

"6:45. Not bad. Just need to make it a habit, and you will be just fine."

Ash nodded as he grabbed a cereal box and some milk with a bowl. He made some cereal and began eating it. He stopped for a second to ask a question.

"So what is the plan today? Do we need to do more paperwork?" Ash asked.

Anabel shook her head, which shocked Ash a little bit. "No. I thought about it a bit and I want to test the power you have right now. Go get your Pokemon ready and meet me at the tower in a bit."

Needless to say, Ash shot up like a rocket. He finished his cereal in a hurry and began moving into his room to wake up Pikachu. The Mouse Pokemon was mad, but hearing the words battle brought excitement to him. But strangely, he felt a slight... ominous presence... as well.

They ran out the door and started for the field he left all of his Pokemon in earlier yesterday. Anabel and Espeon exchanged glanced between each other and laughed a lot at his reaction to what she said about a battle. Little did Ash know that Anabel did this to find out exactly what the main problem is that Brandon and Scott are suggesting.

Ash was going through his team to make sure he was going to make the right choice of Pokemon throughout this fight. "Alright everyone. Anabel has asked us to battle her today, so I am going to need all of your help today. Are you ready?"

After they gave a loud yell of approval, Ash returned his Pokemon and made his way towards the Battle Tower with a grin on his face. However, he could also feel that something was poking at him slightly and making him feel slightly depressed for some reason. Ash just decided to shrug it off and try to psych himself up.

Once he made it to the front entrance, he saw Anabel waiting for him with Maron right out beside her. Anabel had a determined look on her face and saw that her eyes were glistening with a sense of battle. Ash knew she looked ready for it, but as for himself, he could still feel that ominous feeling affecting his will.

Anabel smirked. "I'm ready for you this time Ash. What about you. Ready to lose?"

Our hero could suddenly feel the cold feeling stuck in his head. Ash simply gave no response, which was unlike him, and slightly unnerved the others around him. What they didn't know was that Ash was messing with some odd conflict in his brain, which seemed to be putting him down.

'Please. You think you have any form of power to defeat someone such as her. She beat you before way easily, and you only beat her last time because a miracle happened to occur the moment things started to seem bleak for you.'

Ash mentally frowned. 'Just what are you? Why do you continue to do this to me?'

'Because you're not worth anyone's trouble. Why should someone as powerful as this girl even bother to help someone like you? Why are any of them attempting to help you? It's because you are well-known. That's the only reason, which is to make a quick dollar off of you because you are known throughout the regions you have been to as a top trainer, which is just a simple lie. You have luck, but your luck will soon run out, and you will break.'

Ash just refused to give any more thought, but then looked up as he felt multiple pairs of eyes focusing down on him. He gave them a strange look as if to wonder why they are all staring at him like that.

"Are you guys ok?" Ash asked.

Anabel gave a slow nod. "We just asked if you were ready to lose..."

Ash shook his head slowly. "No. Now let's just get through this."

Anabel and Maron exchanged a glance of worry, as they knew that Ash was way more enthusiastic about battles than what he was showing right now. Anabel silently promised herself to continue to keep an eye on Ash while she tried to keep a straight face, though she was worried dearly for him.

"Well alright. Let's go to the battlefield and start it up." She said.

They stepped into the elevator and began to go up several levels to the floor where the battlefield was at. They comtinued to climb up different floors while Ash was forced back into his own head and began hearing arguing thoughts.

'You think you're so high and mighty as a trainer that has seen so much. Not even experience can amount to what power the Frontier Brains have within them. You will never defeat them. Just give up and go home already to save yourself the embarassment.'

Ash grit his teeth. 'Quit!'

They reached the floor of the battlefield and exited the elevator, where they each took different positions on the field.  Ash put on a confident look that he would make this a battle to remember. However, he himself was not sure that he could pull this off in his current state.

Little did he know that Anabel was noticing his issue in his emotions. It took her a bit of time, but she finally figured out what the major problem was. Now the main goal was to see how badly it affected him when it came to a battle.

Maron looked between the two and nodded. "Alright. This is a battle between Salon Maiden Anabel and trainer Ash Ketchum. This is a 2 on 2 battle. Now let's begin. Trainers, reveal your Pokemon."

Anabel nodded. "Ash, pay attention in this. In a battle like this, when you are the one who is challenged, then they get the first move. However, you must release your Pokemon first. Just keep that in mind. Now, go my friend."

She released a Pokemon which Ash noticed it was a Mismagius. "Wow. That's a new one."

Anabel smirked. "I have more Pokemon than you think. They are just as powerful as my other Pokemon. You better watch your step Ash."

Ash smiled. "Alright Anabel. Let's kick this up a notch. Torterra, I choose you!"

Ash released the Continental Pokemon into battle right up first. He was confident in this choice of Pokemon, as Torterra can be tricky for many to get around.

Maron raised his hands. "Torterra vs Mismagius. Battle begin."

Ash decided to start off by testing the waters. "Torterra, use Energy Ball."

Anabel kept an eye on both her and her opponents Pokemon carefully. "Use Shadow Ball to clash with it, then fire a Will-O-Wisp into the smoke in front of you."

The two attacks collided with each other, which caused a smoke explosion in front of them. However, Ash didn't expect the Will-O-Wisp to come through the smoke in front of him. He had to think fast before Torterra get's hit by the attack.

"Dodge left." Ash said quickly.

Torterra managed to move to side not a moment too soon, as the Will-O-Wisp flew right past them. However, Ash had to keep his guard up against some one like Anabel.

"Torterra, use Rock Climb to get close to Mismagius and start firing multiple Energy Balls."

Torterra hit the ground with his claws and sent Mismagius up higher into the air on multiple rocks and began climbing up the rocks he created with his attack. Anabel wasn't one to fall short on such a battle on this.

"Dodge the Energy Balls and take the Rock Climb head on since it won't affect you. I know you can do it my friend."

Mismagius began shifting around as she swiftly avoided the Energy Balls with ease. Once Torterra ended up getting close, she stood still to take the Rock Climb. As Anabel stated, the Rock Climb fazed right through, which caused a wide-eyed look to appear on Ash's face.

"Oh no. Torterra, get out of there!"

Anabel pressed on and took advantage of the close quarter space in front of them. "Hit Torterra with a Will-O-Wisp. After that, follow up with a Shadow Ball."

"Torrrr!" Ash formed a more distraught face whenever Mismagius formed magical flames once more and landed them on Torterra directly. Then a Shadow Ball began to form in front of the Pokemon once again.

Ash could feel the panic in him arising. He had to block and possibly find a way to hold the timer off that was placed on him by the Will-O-Wisp. 'Maybe if I could...' He snapped his fingers. 'That should do it.'

The voice re-entered into his mind for a split second. 'A simple surrender would make it easier on you. Why don't you just go ahead and do that?'

Ash shook the voice out of his head and went ahead with his idea. "Use Leaf Storm in a circle around you. Then use Synthesis to recover your health."

The turtle Pokémon began forming a shield made out of the Leaf Storm that it created and began gathering light from around it to heal itself. A light glow was seen coming off the grass type, but as some of the burns were still kicking in, it formed light, but visible winces on it's face.

Anabel smiled. "Commendable, but not enough. Use Psychic to take the Leaf Storm and attack Torterra with it. Then use Shadow Ball once more."

Once the blue glow appeared around the Leaf Storm, Ash could feel the loss appearing. "Maybe if I-"

Maybe if you what? Try an Energy Ball? Anabel will just stop it with Shadow Ball and Psychic. Face it. You lost.'

Ash looked utterly distraught as to what to do. He decided to try something unorthodox, but it may not work. But he had a feeling and he decided to go with it.

"Torterra, get over the top with Rock Climb."

Anabel gasped in shock as to what his idea was. And she couldn't believe the results either, as Torterra caused a hill of rocks to appear below him and push him above the Leaf Storm, which did little more than hit the rocks below the Grass type.

Ash smiled. "Now run straight towards Mismagius and fire an Energy Ball."

"Dodge it my friend." Anabel told Mismagius.

As soon as Ash saw the dodge beginning to take place, he smirked. "Gotcha. Now Torterra, use Leaf Storm in a spiral straight towards Mismagius."

Torterra then launched a countershield-like Leaf Storm straight towards Mismagius, who formed wide eyes. The attack hit on though she tried to dodge the attack coming at her.

"Maaaa!" Mismagius let out a cry of pain and began falling to the floor. Ash let out a smile that he managed to land a hit.

'Yeah. One hit. Like it will make a difference.'

Anabel looked up at her falling Pokémon. "Come on my friend. I believe in you. Wake up. We can't lose yet."

Upon the instant of hearing her trainers voice, Mismagius caught herself from her fall and tried to surpress the pain by letting out a cry that would freeze a crowd.

"Mismaaaaaagius." The Magical Pokémon looked ready to go one more round. Ash was shocked at what just happened and how Mismagius could take a Leaf Storm and wake up that fast.

Anabel smirked. "I knew you could do it. Now use Shadow Ball on that Torterra."

Ash was about to call out a command when the voice stopped him again. 'What is the point. You aren't a match to her. Just give up.'

'SHUT UP.'

However, that moment hesitation was the cost of that match, as Anabel had managed to have Shadow Ball flying towards Torterra, who was about as frozen as Ash. The attack hit with little difficulty, and Torterra was seen with swirls in it's eyes.

"Torterra is unable to battle. The winner is Mismagius. You can now take the time to swap your Pokémon."

Anabel began swapping out her Mismagius, who was looking exhausted from that battle. Ash also returned his Torterra as well and started to reach for a Pokeball.

Ash then started having a bad feeling. He then took a look at his next Pokémon's Pokeball, then he looked at Pikachu, and lastly set his eyes on Anabel, who was bringing out another Pokémon. Ash started to have a really interesting feeling start to occur within him, but he didn't know why, so he just spoke his mind.

"Hey Anabel? Can I ask you a question?"

Anabel looked mildly surprised but went with it. "Uhh sure. What is it?"

"That last Pokémon... it wouldn't happen to be your Metagross, would it?" Ash asked with his head hanging slightly.

Anabel gave a look of pure shock out as if someone had managed to pull a surprise on her. She looked at her Pokeball, then she set her eyes on Ash with a confused look.

"What? How did... what?" Anabel had a baffled look on her face.

Ash knew what that expression meant. "So my feeling was correct. Pikachu, could you go over there for a minute?"

"Pika?" Pikachu gave a weird look to Ash, but politely obeyed. He ran across the field and sat next to Anabel. Everyone looked at Ash, who just started moving away.

Anabel called out to Ash. "What are you doing? We still have another match to go!"

Ash sighed as he stepped in the elevator. "I already lost. You beat Torterra, and my last Pokémon was Buizel, who can't even touch Metagross. And with Mismagius still up, there is just no point."

Anabel then started running towards the elevator with Maron and Pikachu right behind her. "But where are you going?"

Ash looked up as the elevator was almost closed. "To think. Don't look for me. I just need time alone."

"But wait!" Anabel made it as the door closed and the elevator started falling.

She looked stunned for a second, and then she hit the elevator door as she fell to her knees. "I don't understand. Why won't he let me help him with this."

Meanwhile, Ash had just started his way out the door and began walking towards the Pokémon Center that Anabel mentioned the other day. Apparently, there was a nearby town that was somewhat small, but had a great community.

Ash continued down this path until he saw a sign that pointed to the town that was nearby. He could see it below him at the bottom of the valley with Tohjo Falls being seen along the horizion. The sign read 'Tohjo Town.'

"Better hurry up." Ash said as he broke into a run towards the town Pokémon Center.

In minutes, Ash made it to the Pokémon Center and ran up to Nurse Joy. "Can you help my Torterra?"

The nurse took the Pokeball. "Give me a little bit."

While Torterra was being healed, Ash had taken a seat by one of the televisions in the Pokémon Center. He sighed as he brought out his Buizel, who was giving him a look of sadness. Ash felt bad that he chose to stop so soon.

"I'm sorry Buizel. I just lost my cool and my feelings got to me. Can you forgive me?"

The Otter Pokémon jumped on the seat next to his trainer and patted him on the back. "Bui bui."

Ash smiled. "Thanks. I promise that we will get stronger."

"You seem a bit worse for wear. What happened to you?" Ash turned around to see a blonde-haired man with a Leafeon and Glaceon on his shoulder looking at him.

Ash sighed. "Why do you want to know?"

The man frowned. "Wow. Some battle you must've had. Tell me about it."

Ash shook his head. "I don't want to trouble you."

The man smiled and took a seat across from the raven-haired trainer The two eeveeloutions jumped onto opposite ends of him and layed down on the seat. "You're not doing that by any means. I just think you need a listener right now."

Ash looked up to stare the man in the eyes. He had sea blue eyes that stated experience and focus, but also held a sense of calmness and curiosity.

Ash nodded. "Alright. If you are that curious about me, I'll tell you."

So he spoke. And he continued to do that for what felt like a short amount of time, but what Ash didn't realize is that it was roughly about a full two hours of explaining and rambling. But what was even more surprising is the man continued to listen without ignoring any details. When Ash finished his story, the man nodded.

"I see. A confidence issue. You need help to get through something like this."

The man scanned over Ash and noticed how friendly he was with his Buizel. "Yet you seem to believe in your Pokémon without a doubt. Take this book. Though reading was never my thing, this book had me hooked on the particular way that most of us fight. Just give it a try."

"Ok, sure. But why?" Ash asked as he took a book the man handed him. He took a glance at the cover, which was brown cover that showed a red, blue, and green flame almost in a triangle formation surrounded by a yellow circle. On the bottom of the cover, it stated "The Battlers Art: The Three Fighting Spirits."

"To help you find enjoyment in what you do again. And I am familiar with one of the Frontier Brains of Kanto, yet it has been a while since I have seen him. I know that studying under some of the strongest is never easy, but let your friend help you. I think you will both have something to gain from this. If you ever need to talk, I'm going to stick around for a while. As for the voice thing, ignoring it isn't working it seems, so see if this Anabel person can help you with that."

Ash smiled. "Thanks. Just who are you anyways?"

"I'm Caleb. It was nice to meet you." The man stated as he and his Pokémon walked away.

.........

Anabel was just sitting in her home on the couch with Pikachu and Espeon right next to her. They could sense the emotions that she had that continued to affect her since Ash walked out on their battle. She had her knees up against her chest as she continued to wait on him to come home.

She finally had grown impatient with him and decided it is time to take action and go find him. She stood up and grabbed her shoes from by the door and began to move.

"Anabel, what are you doing?" Espeon asked her trainer.

Anabel slipped her shoes on. "He is taking too long. I'm worried about him. I think I know where to go look to find him."

Pikachu shook his head. "Look, Ash has a reason for everything he does. I would be able to tell if he is in any danger. He is fine."

Anabel nodded. "Yeah. Your right. He is probably just fine, but I just can't help but worry."

"Ash can make anyone worry. He is the most reckless person you can meet, but he can also be the nicest." Pikachu stated.

Espeon looked at Pikachu. "I think it's more than that. We both know what I mean Pikachu."

"Oh right. We need to figure that out still." Pikachu said.

Anabel blushed as she sat back down. "Just don't take matters into your own hands."

.........

Ash walked into the door of the house and saw Pikachu, Espeon, and Anabel waiting on the couch. They looked at him for what felt like an eternity, but was only for a few seconds. Within the next moment, Anabel was on her feet and ran towards Ash. She hugged him tightly, which made Ash blush slightly.

"Ash, are you ok?"

Ash nodded, and due to his major (AND COMPLETLY STUPID) denseness, forgot the position he was in. "Yeah, I'm fine. It took a bit of extra thinking, but I realized I need some help if I am going to get over my problems."

Anabel let go of him and took a look at him in a slight motherly fashion. "Are you sure nothing happened to you?"

"I'm sure. You can trust me." He looked away. "I'm also sorry that I ran off like that. It was rude of me to leave like I did."

Anabel smiled. "Ash, I understand. You are having trouble, and sometimes, you need your own space."

"Well I think that now I am ready to face facts. My problems are affecting my battle skills. Not only am I afraid to lose, but I am also afraid to see my Pokémon get hurt."

"Ash, you need to realize that Pokémon enjoy battles much like trainers. You know this. After all, that's part of the reason why many trainers and Pokémon have this unspeakable amount of trust in each other. I doubt that things would come to this, but if the bond is deep enough, they would die for us just as we would for them."

Ash nodded. "I understand. Now I am ready to continue my training. And after this, I don't plan on just giving up on the battle anymore."

"Alright. Well then you better get ready here pretty soon, because we are going to try something that I feel like may help your Pokémon get tougher. It also may help you feel your fighting spirit again."

Ash clenched his fist and gave an intense smile. "Alright. I will be ready."

Anabel began walking back to her room with Espeon right behind her. "Good. Also get yourself a drink or something. Your voice sounds like you were talking for 2 hours."

Talk about eventful. Ash is loosing his fire, Anabel is trying to help him get it back, Pikachu and Espeon know Anabel's feelings for Ash, and a new character is on the horizon. Yet this story is still only just kicking off on the fourth chapter. Let me know what you think. Is the story moving too fast? Does my detailing need work? Let me know. I read basically all the comments I can. Also, I already have many other chapters ready to go, but I hate spamming notification boxes. Let me know if you want me to add more chapters faster or not.

Now comment question: If you lived in the Pokemon world, what profession would you strive for? For me, I would honestly aim for Gym Leader. If not, then Frontier Brain, because I am all about battling others. But yeah, I have a school band concert to get ready for. Hope you all have a wonderful day.

-Bl0t0rch