Snippet #2677828

Winter heard the groan and he turned towards the retired champion as she buried her face in her hands. At that moment, something snapped in his head.

---

He was on his way. The sun was bright and cheerful, reflecting Winter's mood that day. It was the day he started out on his journey, they day he turned ten. He had just waved good-bye to Celadon City, his hometown. His parents hadn't wanted him to go, but they knew he had to find his own way and make his own choices and so they let him. And despite their differences in opinions, his parents were at the front of that crowd who waved him off on his journey.

Walking along the Route 7 roadway, he couldn't help but stare at his new buddy by his side. Lucky was trotting along as he usually did, occasionally looking up to stare at his new trainer's face. They both were excited more than they were nervous. This was the start of their new life together...a new journey to partake in. Together, they would triumph over anyone who dared to step in their way! They would be the Champions!

As they walked, Winter started to talk to him, "I guess we should get to know each other a bit more. What's your favorite color?"

"Squir!"

"Blue, huh?" Winter rubbed his chin in thought, "What shade?"

"Squir, squir!"

Winter laughed, "That's my favorite too!" He in fact had no idea if Lucky's favorite color was blue or green or red or even dandelion yellow. He just found in comforting to talk with his new friend. He figured he'd work on communication later.

Lucky rose a brow in partial confusion, partial amusement. It appeared he knew what Winter was trying to do and seemed appreciative for the silly gesture.

"Hey wait!"

Winter recognized the sound of the voice immediately. Turning around in confusion, she saw the bouncing curls of one of his best friends running towards him. He laughed and waved to her, "Hey Amy! You came to see me off?"

She stopped in front of him, out of breath. But she did manage to make out her words, "You...me...battle...now!"

Winter tilted his head in confusion, "Battle? But you don't have a Pokemon yet."

"Or...do I," she managed a grin as she held up a shiny red orb of her own. Winter's jaw dropped.

"Oh man, that's awesome!" Winter pumped his fist in the air, "But how? Why?"

"I did a little bartering," she said coyly as she twirled her hair within her fingers, "Long story short, I have to mow our lawn until I can go out and start my adventure. But, I got my Pokemon early!" she held the Pokeball in front of her like it was a trophy she had won, "And now you can have your first duel against me, just like you always wanted!"

Winter turned to Lucky, "How about it? You want to go up against Amy's Pokemon?"

The glimmer of challenge in Lucky's determined stare back told him everything he needed to know...yes he did.

"Alright, I guess you're my first real Pokemon Battle!" Winter smiled as Lucky stepped forward, "By the way, which Pokemon did you get?" He had a feeling he already knew.

She made a sideways glance at him before answering, "I think you know at this point. Go Bonnie!" The Bulbasaur came out of the Pokeball and hit the ground in an arched stance. She was ready to fight.

"Bonnie, use Tackle!" she pointed and giggled, "This is gonna be fun!"

The strike slammed into Lucky, causing it to stagger back, but not much. Winter smiled innocently, his eyes revealing much more than his mouth did.

"Alright, Lucky, let's do this! Hit it with a Tail Whip!"

Lucky shot forward, it's tail whacking hard against Bonnie's side. Amy crossed her arms.

"Oh, not going to do any damage, I see? Fine, I guess I'll have to do that myself. Another Tackle Bonnie!"

Neither of them had really battled up to this point, so it was a lot of back and forth between the two.

"Tackle!"

"Growl!"

"Tail Whip!"

"Tackle!"

Eventually, it was clear that both Pokemon fought hard. Both had their lashing dished out from their respective opposing sides and both were panting. But they were grinning. Lucky made the next call.

"Tackle, let's go!"

But the Squirtle didn't tackle. Instead, it opened up it's mouth and shot a stream of water to smash into Bonnie. Amy's eyes widened as the impact washed Bonnie next to her feet, knocked out from the blow.

"She...she fainted..." Amy recalled her Pokemon and stared at the orb, "I lost..."

Concerned, Winter ran over to her, putting his arm around her, "I-I'm sorry! I didn't know he was gonna use that move! I didn't even know he knew how to do it!"

But she wasn't crying. She wasn't even sad. She stared up at him and beamed.

"It's okay! You won fair and square!" And then she hugged him.

Winter wasn't sure how to react. How do you talk to someone you just defeated? Lucky approached and extended a hand for Amy to shake.

Laughing, she accepted it, "You fought very well, Lucky! You too Winter!"

"B-but..." Winter stammered, puzzled by her reaction, "Aren't you angry that I beat you? I mean your Pokemon!"

"Oh don't sweat it!" she replied cheerfully, "I can always take her to the PokeCenter to heal her up. Besides, I know she'd feel the same way. She'd be grateful she got the opportunity to fight, even if it was a loss on her end. Just like I was grateful I got the opportunity to fight you!"

Winter still didn't feel right, "But...a battle-"

"Is supposed to determine who is better?" she finished the thought for him, "Wrong. A battle is supposed to help you make new friends and bond with your current ones." she gestured to Lucky, "Your Squirtle had bonded with you a little bit more by fighting me just like my Bulbasaur has with me by fighting you. And both Lucky and Bonnie like each other more now that they know each other a bit better. Also, you and I are more close than ever!"

Her smile cut straight through Winter, filling his heart with a warm feeling as she went on, "Don't you see? That's why we take this journey. We make new friends, human and Pokemon alike. And we stick with them until the end." She wrapped her arms around Winter in one final hug, the tears spilling from her eyes, "I'll miss you, y'know."

Winter sighed emotionally as he hugged back, "Yeah, I know."

"We'll still be friends, right? No matter what?"

"No matter what."

---

"No matter what..." he murmured under his breath as the wind erupting from the Hyper Beam dissipated, leaving the room stagnant once more. Somehow, Rio had survived the blast. That was the second Hyper Beam that Lance had used that failed at knocking out one of Winter's Pokemon. He continued to flap his wings in rhythm, eyeing the Dragonite like candy.

Two more free shots. Two more Dragon Claws ought to do it.

But Winter's steely gaze was gone, replaced by a wise and soft one that seemed to cut deeper. He knew what had to be done.

Rather than call out another move, Winter pulled out Rio's PokeBall and opened it.

"Rio! Return, buddy!"

The Aerodactyl was engulfed by the red light as he disappeared from the face of battle. Smiling kindly, Winter stepped forward, a sense of purpose in his stride and a resolution in his heart as he made his way onto the field.

"I'm calling the fight here," he told the Dragon Master, "You and I both know how that one would've ended, so why continue?" he continued to walk forward until he was standing face to face with Lance.

"I came here to prove myself capable of the title of champion. I think I have more than done that. But I don't think these battles should always end in a complete take down of one side. Sometimes, friendship is more important than that." He extended a hand for Lance to shake as he turned to Titania, a deep and powerful expression on his face, "And I'd rather make friends to align myself with than enemies I need to wipe out completely."

His gaze settled on Lance, "So, what say you, Lance, former Champion of the Kanto and Johto region? Do you still believe in war and power and might? Or can you settle for a resolution and a compromise?"