The Brightest of Lights Flicker
IGN - Vigilantex
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Foreword - So I took a slightly different route with my story. I hope it still meets the requirements as I chose to reflect instead of portraying a chronological series of events. Alas, here is my take and I hope you enjoy.
It wasn't supposed to be this way.. not like this, and especially not now. And yet as I stood there, my knees shaking and weak in total disbelief, it was all I could do to catch myself before the dusky floor of the Pewter City Gym had risen to catch me.
Where had I gone wrong? Was I not cut out for this? Had I been so foolish to think I had what it takes to be a truly great Pokémon master? It was just a week ago from today that I set out from my humble roots in Pallet Town, but even before that day I knew, I had convinced myself this was my destiny, this is how I would make my mark. I would travel the Johto region in the footsteps of great Pokémon trainers before me and solidify my legacy in this great world of ours.
Images fleeted before my eyes. I recalled the first moment I laid eyes on Squirtle. I didn't need to see the other pokemon Professor Oak had to offer, I knew he was the one. I remembered our first battle with my childhood rival Davis, and my first taste of victory. And up until this point, defeat had seemed like something I would never have to experience. So foolish, so very foolish.
It had never crossed my mind to capture any other Pokémon. Squirrtle was all I had needed. We had battled our way through every obstacle thus far with relative ease and confidence. We had dispatched Bug Trainers and Hikers with an accompaniment of five or even six Pokémon in their party. And yet, we persevered, just me and Squirtle. So what went wrong? Squirtle had been so flawless, so dominating...
And then it hit me. It wasn't my pokemon that had failed me, it was myself. Walking into Pewter I was so confident in my ability as a trainer, that I didn't even take the time to visit the Pokecenter. We had just battled our way through the Bug Forest, I should have known that Squirtle was tired. I could even tell in the first battle on our way to Brock that he wasn't at full strength, but in a strange way, it was as if Squirtle was trying to hide it from me. I thought he was just trying to be tough because he really wanted to win, but now I see, more clearly now than ever before, that though he was incredibly exhausted. He hadn't been fighting for himself, he was doing it for me.
The shame I had felt was too much. I didn't even resist when a few tears crept slowly down my cheek. Squirtle had been my only friend on this journey, and I had failed him. I wasn't cut out for this. My Pokémon, my firend was hurting, and I couldn't be bothered by his wellbeing for the sake of winning. And as I sat there, arms folded over my eyes, all I could manage was to mumble over and over "I'm sorry.. I'm sorry Squirtle."
And that's when I felt a nudge against my right arm. I looked down only to notice those same familiar eyes. Nudging my arm away so that he could fit his large yet little head beneath it, he shook his head disapprovingly at my obvious sadness, and with his last bit of strength muttered "Squirtle."
"You did good kid, that's a great Pokémon you've got there. Did you come all the way from Pallet town with just him." - Brock
I nodded, as words were still beyond me.
"I see. Well that's quite an accomplishment. Look kid, losing isn't the end of the world. Do you think I got where I am today without losing every once in a while? Being a Pokémon trainer isn't about always winning, it's about your bond with your Pokémon. And I have to say, I haven't seen a bond like you and your Squirtle have in quite some time." - Brock
The gym Leader reached out his hand and helped me to my feet. I took one last look at Squirtle, and returned my friend to his pokeball for a well deserved rest.
"This isn't the end of the road for you, if anything, this is just the beginning of your own great journey. The potential is there, but it's up to you to realize it. Winning/Losing.. there are important lessons to be learnt with each battle. I wish you the best Coresant, you have a bright future ahead shall you choose to seek it. Even the brightest of lights flicker sometimes"
And with that, I left Pewter Gym. I had entered with my head held high, and my expectations only slightly lower than my ego. Despite the whirlwind of emotions I had just endured, I was only all the better for having dealt with them. This was the life of a trainer, the life I had chosen. Hardships are to be expected and will eventually occur. But I'll make it through.. we will make it through. And so I set off with my trusty friend to train harder, to become stronger. Look out Brock, Pewter City Gym leader.. I'll be back.
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