This was the second story I wrote that was set in the Pokémon world. It was about Ash and some other characters from the TV series and some new ones like Nessa. It features a lot more Pokémon battles. In the background is Ash's dealing with the situation he was left with at the end of the previous story, "Goodbye Raichu". In the foreground is Ash helping Nessa understand what it means to be a Pokémon trainer.

I recommend that you read "Goodbye Raichu" before you read this one. Otherwise you would spoil the first one.

Ash and Nessa

Chapter One -- Nessa Challenges Ash

The two challengers stood facing each other at opposite ends of the stadium. At one end was a sturdy, sixteen year-old boy with a firm look of determination in his face. At the other stood a short, scrawny, ten year-old girl looking quite apprehensive. Lights came on, illuminating the ground and the contestants, accentuating the differences between them.

"Challenger Nessa from Celadon City wishes to challenge Cerulean Gym Leader Ash Ketchum," announced an adjudicator. "You may use up to two Pokémon each. The contestant with no Pokémon able to battle loses the match. Begin now!"

"Don't think that I'll be easy on you," Ash warned the young girl. It was his usual opening line, but was often untrue. Ash never wanted to crush his gym challengers, only to defeat them in a way that spurred them on to try harder next time.

"You don't need to be," came an unconvincing reply.

Ash took a Poké ball from his belt and threw it into the stadium. The red and white halves hinged open while in mid-air, and from inside it materialized a purplish blue turtle-shaped figure. "I choose Wartortle for my first Pokémon," called Ash.

"Then I choose Pikachu," replied the girl, similarly throwing a Poké ball that released a small yellow mousey-looking creature with tall ears and a zig-zag tail. "Your water Pokémon is no match for my electric type."

Ash felt a touch of envy as soon as he saw the Pikachu. His own very first Pokémon was a Pikachu, but they parted ways some months earlier, and Ash missed his former companion deeply. Nessa's Pikachu looked in poorer shape than the one he used to have, though--it looked almost as scrawny as her.

Ash wasted no time. "Water gun!" he commanded.

"Evade the attack," called out Nessa.

Wartortle obediently opened its mouth and aimed a torrent of water out of it towards its opponent. The smaller Pikachu was quick off the mark and easily dodged the attack.

"Thundershock!" Nessa ordered her Pikachu, excitedly. Pikachu tensed its face, spat a few sparks from its cheeks as if to prime itself, and shot a bolt of electricity at Ash's Wartortle.

Being slower than Pikachu, Wartortle could not avoid the attack. The thundershock hit its mark and stunned Wartortle, but it managed to withstand it, and in a moment was ready for its trainer's next command.

Poor Nessa seemed more stunned than Wartortle. "But I thought water Pokémon were weak against electricity..."

Unabe to regain her composure in time to direct Pikachu, Ash seized his chance. "Wartortle, skull bash, now!" ye yelled, pointing at his opponent's Pokémon.

Wartortle took several bounds, then dived head-first, straight towards its little opponent. "Pika!" it cried. Without direction from Nessa, Pikachu was unsure whether to attack or retreat. It looked back at her uncertainly.

"Oh no," exclaimed Nessa. She lifted her Poké ball and attempted to recall Pikachu. But she was too late. The blue missile struck its target and knocked the yellow mouse down.

Nessa and Ash watched and waited. Pikachu tried to get up once, twice, then fell flat on its face, too dazed from the impact.

"Pikachu is unable to battle," announced the adjudicator.

"Oh!" gasped Nessa. She recalled it into its Poké ball and stopped to think. Ash noticed a worried look on her face.

"Please decide which Pokémon you wish to use next," advised the adjudicator. "Otherwise you will have to forfeit."

Without saying another word, Nessa threw another Poké ball into the arena. A lizard-like Pokémon with a flame at the end of its tail appeared.

"Wartortle, return," called Ash, recalling his first Pokémon into its Poké ball. Choosing another, he called out, "I choose you! Go, Bellsprout!"

Nessa gasped as she saw a wobbly, stalky, plant-like creature with a bell-shaped head appear. "But Ash," she said, "Wartortle had the type advantage over Charmander. Your Bellsprout'll be weak against my fire type."

"There's more to Pokémon battles than matching types," replied Ash. "Let's go."

"Charmander," ordered Nessa, "ember attack!"

"Stun spore," commanded Ash simultaneously.

Both Pokémon sent forth their attacks, Charmander issuing a burst of flame from its mouth and Bellsprout spraying out a mist of fine particles. Charmander's ember struck its target first and sent Bellsprout reeling over backwards, obviously shaken by the blast. The stun spore then reached Charmander, who haplessly breathed some of it in. The effects were immediate: Charmander became unsteady on its feet, then it started coughing, shook violently, and finally fell over, paralyzed.

Ash's attention was directed to his own Pokémon. "Bellsprout, are you OK?" he called. He banked on Bellsprout being able to handle one ember attack, but not two. So he had to act quickly in case Charmander recovered.

"Bellsprout, vine whip, now!"

Bellsprout got back up onto its root-like feet and shot out two green tendrils towards its weakened opponent.

Meanwhile, Nessa was trying to coax her Pokémon up. "Come on, Charmander, you can do it! Try and get up."

Charmander struggled to overcome its paralysis and pushed itself unsteadily onto its feet. But before it could gather the energy to continue the fight, Bellsprout's vine whip struck with a crack, knocking it over again.

"Charmander," cried Nessa, almost in tears, "Please keep fighting."

Ash was moved. Nessa seemed keen and genuine, but she was hopeless. He didn't want Charmander to suffer any further attack, but as a gym leader, he couldn't intentionally allow someone to beat him.

"Bell!" uttered Bellsprout, eager to prove itself to its trainer.

"Wait, Bellsprout," Ash said. Then to Nessa, he asked, "Do you forfeit?"

"I...I don't know," Nessa sobbed.

"I still have Wartortle," reminded Ash. "There's no point letting Charmander suffer. You need to have it treated at a Pokémon Centre."

"All...all right. I...forfeit."

"Nessa has forfeited the match," promptly announced the adjudicator. "The victory goes to the gym leader."

Poor Nessa burst into tears. She returned Charmander to its Poké ball and started to run out.

"Wait!" Ash called out.

Nessa stopped and turned around. Ash ran up to her.

"Nessa, don't give up."

"That's easy for you to say. You're a gym leader. You're not as bad as me. No-one can be as bad as me."

"Nessa, you need to learn a lot more about training Pokémon, and you have to keep practising. One day, when you're ready, you can come back and try again."

She looked down thoughtfully at the Poké ball in her hand. A tear fell onto it. She wiped another from her cheek with her free hand. "I've got to take Charmander to the Pokémon Centre."

"You know where it is?"

Nessa nodded. "I'll be OK." She went off, still sniffing. As she reached the doorway, she turned back for a moment and looked at Ash, then went on her way.